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Archive for August 2010
Explaining The EDL And The Guardian.
My reason for writing the post, Imagine you're a British neofascist, was to convey the political absurdity of the Guardian's original photograph.
The implied meaning of the photo was to connect the EDL with Israel, and so in turn to Jews.
It was to imply, in a not too subtle fashion, that Jews could be EDL thugs too, that was the message coming from the Guardian.
This was not the first time that I have run across this (implied) argument and when you consider the politics and history behind it then it doesn't bear much scrutiny.
However, let us step back and be clear that the EDL leadership are made up of neo-Nazis and their allies.
We know this from circumstantial evidence, video footage, the publication of EDL events on neo-Nazi bulletin boards and above all from the statements of the one-time founder of the EDL, Paul Ray.
Ray admits that neo-Nazis took over the EDL in a video clip, here.
But perhaps we should consider some of the underlying issues and see what comes out.
In this form of arguing by innuendo, what we are meant to believe is that the neo-Nazis and their close associates, who actually run the EDL and decide policy, have suddenly taken a liking to Israelis, and by inference Jews.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Clearly, an alternative line of reasoning is possible, that the neofascists within the EDL are lying about their motives.
It is a simpler and much more straightforward answer because otherwise we have to explain away why neo-Nazis would suddenly take a liking to Israelis, and Jews.
The problem being is that, neo-Nazis don't like Jews, and in particular Israel as it is seen as the centre of Jewish power. That is something that all neo-Nazis fear the most. A central theme to Nazism is the notion that Jews control and manipulate events around the world from a central location, in this case Israel. [Warning: illustrative links to original Nazi propaganda, nasty racist material.]
It is hardly credible that entrenched neo-Nazis would suddenly wake up one-day and decide "Yes, we like Israelis."
It seems incongruous, and ever so improbable.
Why people would advance these arguments in one way shape or form I can't say, they are nonsensical because you have to assume a multiplicity of tenuous assumptions, that just don't hang together naturally.
For example, firstly, you have to assume that neo-Nazis are honest about their motives. Secondly, that you can take their word as truthful. Thirdly, that they are sincere in their beliefs. Fourthly, that they have changed completely, to now liking Israelis and Jews.
Which is all rather ludicrous and contrary to the evidence.
Possibly the reason that this argument, by innuendo, is pushed is that those people advancing it are completely ill-informed about the nature of the EDL?
Or conceivably they know next to nothing of politics or history? Perhaps they haven't thought about the issues? Maybe they are prisoners of their own prejudices, they want to believe the worst and so do.
I can't say one way or the other but what disturbs me is that seemingly highly educated individuals would erroneously jumped to the conclusion that neo-Nazis have suddenly grown a love for all things Israeli, and Jews in particular.
It doesn't make sense.
Surely, following Occam's razor, the simpler answer is probably the correct one? And in the case of the EDL that means they are merely putting on a front and lying.
Of course, if you're going to seriously argue the EDL really like Israelis and Jews then it is incumbent on you to provide some concrete evidence other than a flag.
Also you would have to explain how neo-Nazis have come to this conclusion and why. Above all, you would have to explain how neo-Nazis have dropped their all-consuming hatred of Jews and are now to be taken seriously.
It's not too surprising that those most keen to advance these arguments are often themselves fierce critics of Israel, but to argue that the neo-Nazis in the EDL leadership should be taken at face value is naive at best.
Some gullible types might be taken in, but that doesn't change the historical evidence nor the fact that the EDL leadership are neo-Nazis and their allies.
Again, so anyone trying to advance this argument would:
1) have to explain why the EDL leadership are not neo-Nazis
2) need to argue why those neo-Nazis are sincere and should be taken at their word
3) detail precisely why the EDL had taken this position, etc etc
I favour the simplest answer that the neo-Nazis in the EDL are lying and using this as a ploy to wrong foot their opponents.
Seriously, why should we believe the EDL?
What compelling reason is there that we should suspend our natural scepticism of political activists? If we would take the words of mainstream politicians with a pinch of salt, then surely the EDL's and their assorted neo-Nazis' deserve more than a handful?
Ultimately, the EDL are not what they say they are, and anyone semi-serious on these issues shouldn't be fooled by them, and certainly not Guardian journalists.
PS: I am away for a few days, so if you haven't commented before you'll get stuck in the moderation queue for the first time, that's how it works.
Please be patience .
Oh, and any would-be EDL supporters, please read my comments policy, twice.
Update 1: I thought it would make it easier to post the previous instalment, Imagine you're a British neofascist, below:
This is going to be difficult, but imagine you are a British neofascist:
"Further, imagine, that you long for the days when you can openly worship Nazism, as your forbears in and around the leadership of the British National Front used to do.
Imagine your frustration, you are a British neofascist and yet you can't be open about it, you can't express your admiration for David Irving or visit extreme right-wing Japanese groups without someone finding out.
In short you are in a pickle, you want your odious ideology to succeed but realise that most people would sooner eat their own vomit than join you in the Nazi salute.
Then you have a bright idea. Why not hide the extremes of your neofascist ideology? Why not wear a suit? Why not try to pick on the weakest in society as your heroes from Nazi Germany did, but do it with a twist?
Cunningly, as a devious British neofascist, you would not attack the ultimate target: Jews, directly
No, that wouldn't work, so you have to think of another scheme.
Who to attack? And who to whip up hatred against? Who to use to build a street army?
Then in a flash it occurs to you, you'll attack immigrants, but stop, that hasn't been too successful for the BNP. What else can you do?
Ahh, attack Muslims, but not directly, not whilst wearing your suit.
So you infiltrate a new organisation, you make sure that all your neofascist and neo-Nazi pals are in key positions of power, and eventually take it over.
Still you're worried, as a devious British neofascist, that your political enemies with see through these tactics, and then it hits you, how to throw them off the scent?
Pretend that you like Jews. Get one of your knuckle headed friends to get an Israeli flag or two. And when you walk around wave it a lot. What a laugh!
Your mates think it is funny, they hate Jews with a passion, but it is a big wind-up and people don't know how to react, many stop and think, others are fooled and some like your natural opponents in the liberal minded Guardian suddenly think that a bunch of neo-Nazi skinheads have converted to Zionism, how wrong could they be!
All the same, as a British neofascist, you don't mind if the Guardian takes pot-shots at Jews.
In fact, you think it is funny, that highly educated journalists don't really understand modern neo-Nazism, letting you have your way. And once you've whipped up enough hatred against the Muslims then you can turn to other ethnic minorities, and eventually Jews.
Whilst all this is happening you, as a British neofascist, will have an able ally in the Guardian as they don't much care for Jews or Israelis either. Plus the fact they haven't worked out that you can't stand Jews or liberals, but their gullibility blinds them to the fact that neofascists are frequently dishonest about their motives.
The Guardian types don't know that you will do anything to get power, even tell fibs. But none of that will matter once you've grown from a proto-street army to an organised force, all of that will be too late.
But, as a British neofascist, you thank your lucky stars that the Guardian editorial staff seem to know next to nothing of history, care even less and have their own set of prejudices.
Then you trot off to polish your steel capped-boots, ponder a recruitment campaign at the Guardian, all with a smug grin on your face."
Imagine that.
Guesting At CiF Watch.
I have a guest post up at CiF Watch, imagine you're a British neofascist.
Samar And Juwariya Atique.
I am indebted to Stroppyblog for highlighting the plight of Samar And Juwariya Atique, two sisters who were viciously attacked when a jug of acid was thrown in their faces, Southall Black Sisters has more:
"Donations are desperately needed to finance the medical costs and rehabilitation of Samar (31) and Juwariya (25) Atique whose young lives and hopes were brutally crushed in October 2009 by two men who threw a jug of acid on their faces as the women were returning home from a day's work in a rickshaw. Their crime – Juwariya had turned down a marriage proposal from one of the men!
They sustained severe burns and injuries to their faces, their eyes and their upper bodies. In acid attack cases, the victims should be hosed down gently with a continuous stream of water immediately to stop the acid continuing to burn into their flesh. But they did not get treatment for five hours after the incident because the woman doctor was threatened with a similar attack by these men and their families. Their eyes were infected and continually pouring out pus. They may be blind for life. They will need to have reconstructive surgery on their noses and lips. Their eyelids were burnt away so they also suffer from itching and dryness in the eyes. Their first operation did not take place till 5 months after the event. To date they have had 3 operations and they will need many, many more. They live in Delhi but they have to travel to a hospital in Chennai, nearly one and a half thousand miles away, where they are getting subsidised treatment. One of the sisters is suicidal, they are both suffering from depression but neither of them has had any counselling sessions as yet. Post-operative care and rehabilitation will take years.
They were independent working women, whose incomes contributed to the expenses of a joint family of 11 people. Samar worked for an IT company and Juwariya, ironically ran her own beauty parlour. One other sister and brother have had to give up their jobs in order to look after them leading to a loss of four incomes. The reduced family income is less than the monthly cost of routine medical expenses like bandages, antibiotics and painkillers, let alone the cost of going to Chennai for surgery, let alone the costs of daily life. So far, they have managed with donations and loans from family and friends. Poverty has compounded the consequences of violence.
This case came to the attention of Southall Black Sisters earlier this year. Although we do not usually have the capacity to run international campaigns, we felt that the horrific nature of this particular attack served as a salutary reminder of the extreme violence that women round the world continue to face should they make the smallest strike for freedom and assert their most basic rights, in this case, the right to choose their own partner/spouse.
The immediate target for fundraising is £21,000 for microsurgery to be carried out on Samar's eyes. There is some hope that her sight may be saved although Juwariya's is irretrievable. Of this sum £11,000 has already been raised. However the very rough total estimated costs of all surgery, including longterm rehabilitation, are: £250,000. It is impossible to be precise partly because every decision for futher surgery depends on preceding operations. The following are some examples of costs:
Average monthly cost of care: £1350 (bandages, medicines, nursing, local hospital visits, nutritious food)
Each visit to the Chennai hospital: £12,000 (based on their previous trip)
Every return flight to Chennai costs: £985 (for 3 people)
Counselling: £30 per session"
Donate here.
Facebook, Wine And Bits.
I haven't posted much on technology for ages, so I thought for those of you more interested in politics that I would briefly outline things.
Facebook has added "location-based services", but if you want to turn them off here's how to do it.
A new version of Wine is out, it allows you to run Windows applications under Linux and is first rate.
There is more than one way to execute Windows applications on Linux, using Virtual Box is another method and virtual images are exceedingly flexible, if you have the space.
Perplexed nontechnical readers may be wondering why they would want to run Linux? Basically it's an alternative to Microsoft's operating systems, Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7.
Linux does essentially the same, better and often quicker.
Linux will run on comparatively slow hardware and make it usable, it is free and comes with access to thousands of applications, also free. Microsoft operating systems tend to need lots of memory and modern hardware to run at acceptable speeds.
If there's a job you do under Microsoft Windows then 98% of the time you can find a good as, if not better, Linux alternative, free.
I won't deny that initially Linux can be a little bit hard to set up, sometimes, but once it is there you'll find it rocksolid and you won't need to reboot every couple of hours, as with Microsoft operating systems.
Linux is used extensively in business and a sizeable percentage of Internet service providers will host their pages under Linux, my bet is that WordPress runs on Linux so you are reading these pages courtesy of Linux, either directly or via Google, which extensively uses Linux.
I favour several versions of Linux, (there are lots!) PClinuxos, MEPIS, Antix Linux and Mint. They'll do for starters.
Basically, you download a big image (called an ISO) burn it to a CD, reboot and install using that, following the defaults, but reading the screens very carefully. Have a spare CD ready.
The alternative is to use Unetbootin. Have a blank USB ready, it will overwrite it completely. Download and execute Unetbootin, it will prompt for which version of Linux you'd like, after which it will download the ISO and burn it to the USB stick. Again, once it has been successful, reboot and install if you wish.
Personally, I would start using a spare machine if you have one, an old one, just to get use to the installation procedure.
These copies of Linux will boot a Live version running from the CD/USB and then give you the option to install on the hard drive if you want. You will need to partition the disk (the hardest part), which makes space for Linux. Then do the install. Easy. Normally takes anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes!
Have a play around on that spare machine and you can't do much damage.
Jack Writes.
Jack of Kent covers two issues that I had been pondering, the death of Dr. Kelly and the charges laid against the founder of Wikileaks.
I am not sure what to make of Dr. Kelly's death, there is quite a lot of conflicting opinion.
As for Wikileaks there's been a number of pieces in the press on how the security services in various countries wanted to clampdown/disassemble/neutralise Wikileaks because of all the embarrassment that they caused, but again I'm not sure.
More On Irrationality.
Adam Holland skewers the cranks, bigots and historically illiterates congregating around David Horowitz's blog.
Elsewhere Jeff Goldberg reminds us:
"In 2003, Imam Rauf was invited to speak at a memorial service for Daniel Pearl, the journalist murdered by Islamist terrorists in Pakistan. The service was held at B'nai Jeshurun, a prominent synagogue in Manhattan, and in the audience was Judea Pearl, Daniel Pearl's father. In his remarks, Rauf identified absolutely with Pearl, and identified himself absolutely with the ethical tradition of Judaism. "I am a Jew," he said.
There are those who would argue that these represent mere words, chosen carefully to appease a postentially suspicious audience. I would argue something different: That any Muslim imam who stands before a Jewish congregation and says, "I am a Jew," is placing his life in danger. Remember, Islamists hate the people they consider apostates even more than they hate Christians and Jews. In other words, the man many commentators on the right assert is a terrorist-sympathizer placed himself in mortal peril in order to identify himself with Christians and Jews, and specifically with the most famous Jewish victim of Islamism. "
Into The Realm Of The Irrational
Ben Cohen covers the disturbing treatment of Cliona Campbell.
JP reports on very worrying developments in the Netherlands:
"Jewish schoolchildren feel intimidated and the school authorities are either indifferent or unable to assist them. To avoid harassment, some children are obliged to change schools and even hide their Jewish identity.
A few weeks ago a local Jewish TV station (Joodse Omroep) broadcast scenes of anti-Semitic harassment in the streets recorded by a hidden camera which followed a rabbi accompanied by two students. This provided chilling testimony of the intimidation to which Jews are subjected.
In response, the Dutch police announced that they might use "decoy" Jews – police dressed in traditional Jewish garb – to entrap anti-Semitic hooligans. Rabbi Jacobs responded by stating that such initiatives would be futile unless accompanied by greater emphasis on education, stressing that not only Muslims were engaged in anti-Semitic agitation.
"I witness Dutch non-Muslim youngsters also shouting at me in the street" he stated."


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The Milwaukee Public Library provides materials, services and facilities for all citizens of Milwaukee and others in order to meet present and future informational needs and raise the level of civilization in Milwaukee.
The Historic Third Ward Association acts to expand and enhance the district as a creative, livable and exciting mixed-use neighborhood while preserving its historic character.
The Foundry Educational Foundation strengthens the metal casting industry by supporting unique partnerships among students, educators and industry, helping today's students become tomorrow's leaders.
The Boys and Girls Club is a youth guidance organization dedicated to promoting health, social, educational, vocational, cultural, character and leadership development. It aims to help young people to improve their lives by building self-esteem and developing values and skills during critical periods of growth.
Council #10 supports the efforts of educators and support personnel working in the southern Milwaukee suburbs. By pooling the resources of its member organizations, Council #10 coordinates the exchange of information and the development of joint goals and programs in order to empower its members in their quest for fair and equitable treatment. By improving the welfare of its members, Council #10 believes that the education of students and the quality of community life will be enhanced.
Vernon Hills, a not-for-profit provider of health care and senior residential services in Southeastern Wisconsin, is committed to the continual enhancement of the quality of care and the quality of life of the persons it serves.
The Medical Society of Milwaukee County is an organization of physicians that provides leadership responsive to the needs of its members and collaborates with others to improve the community's health by maintaining the highest possible standards in the practice of medicine.
Our mission is to help Marquette, as an urban, Catholic, Jesuit institution, become one of the nation's distinguished universities; and to this end, we strive to bring all alumni closer to the University and one another in the Ignatian tradition of care for each person. (Marquette University Alumni Association)
We aim to
transform society and culture by providing aspiring leaders with
opportunities for self-renewal and development of leadership skills, values
and behaviors. (Wisconsin Leadership Institute)
email@example.com ▪ email@example.com
© 2016 Creative Information Systems
Revised: June 20, 2016

subset: commoncrawl


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When I committed to being a full-time ski racer, I had great expectations for what that commitment meant. It meant that I would make grander goals, I would get to travel more and go to school less. I would have access to incredible training in unbelievable venues. I would also have a legitimate excuse to fill my closet with strictly lycra based products.
Unknowingly (or ignorantly), I also committed to being broke. To many people, professional athletics inspires a vision of wealth and fame, one filled with Nike commercials, free sneakers and 24 hour traveling DJs (I'm looking at you, LeBron). For me, it means higher intake of cheap, processed carbs (so. many. tortillas.) and a greater appreciation for what it meant to afford clothes without lycra in them.
This year, despite the massive amount of work being done by the NNF, athletes like myself are responsible for footing a pretty huge bill to fund our aspirations. Even US Ski Team athletes have that responsibility, as funding during Olympic years sees little variance and can even go down (wait…what?)
Many of my contemporaries invest themselves (you see what I did there?) in the same old run of the mill techniques for fundraising—like sponsorships or part time jobs—but, as our country climbs out of the gaping oblivion of financial crisis, I think that now is a time for innovation.
After weeks of observing the world around me, I've devised a foolproof list of ways to fuel a fledgling ski career. Stopping short of prostitution and selling my organs (both of which, in the words of my good friend from school, are "right up there with babysitting as far doing very little and making a lot"), this list may just be the first step in a long, lucrative career:
1. Beg. Yes, there are such things as affluent beggers.
2. Hustle. All I need is a shaky entrance into the local master blaster's club meeting. Next thing, smooth money.
3. Street performing. Ever seen a backwards rollerskier playing the harmonica while painting caricatures? With her feet? Upside down? Yeah, me neither.
4. Get really good at online poker.
5. Open a toll road.
6. Become a meth lord.
7. Rollerski 100 Kilometers through New York and Vermont with your teammates and ask everyone you know to donate to the cause (read:charity). Do it on August 25th. Promise to tweet and instagram your way through the day, which will inevitably lead to embarrassment and shame, but also massive amounts of entertainment (@anniePokorny, @anpokorn). Write hilarious blog posts before and after the events that say something about prostitution and meth.
Meh. On second thought, maybe I'll get a part time job.


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It's been years since I posted a holiday gift guide, mostly because finals always had me too distracted to scour the internet for the appropriate goodies! But this year, I had a little time to pick out some special items. These 63 pieces of clothing, accessories, kitchen gadgets, pantry items, stocking stuffers, and more are the ones that stood out to me. I'd be happy to share these gifts with any of my loved ones, and I hope that some of them will speak to you, too.
1. Three piece organic soap set, $23.95, found on ForAnima.com.
2. Bath salt and lip balm set, $19.00, from the Orange Owl.
3. LVX nail lacquer set, $36.00, found on Vegan Cuts.
4. Complete bare bones body kit, $25.00, found on Vegan Cuts.
5. SW Basics lip balm flights, $18.00, found on One Lucky Duck.
6. "Leave her blushing" 3 blush and vegan brush set, $34.00, from Tarte.
7. Set of 4 mini lip tars from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, $20.00, found on Sephora.
8. 3-piece hand buttercream set, $10.00, from 100% Pure.
9. Rosy Christmas shower gel and lotion set, $15.95, from Lush Cosmetics.
1. Knitted slouchy beanie, $39.50, on Etsy.
2. Tote couture blue tote, $35.00, on Lulus.
3. Infinity scarf by Shiraleah, $26.00, from Herbivore Clothing (and any of the Herbivore tees are a great gift, too!).
4. Women's faux leather moto jacket, $48.00, on Alternative Outfitters.
5. Shelley nude cream faux patent leather flats, £89.00, from Beyond Skin (available online).
6. Lirola wrap dress in plum, $98.00, on Foranima.
7. Travel love bird wallet, $15.00, on Vegan Cuts.
8. Ballerina dress, $82.00, from Five Bamboo.
9. Equinox flats in vine, $$56.00, from Hydra Heart (vegan, organic, and handmade–love them!)
1. Hand cut belt in future leather, $80.00, from Brave Gentleman.
2. Mint cilantro chili sauce 2-pack from Bandar, $7.00, on Vegan Cuts.
3. Upcycled beer bottle tumblers, $56.00, on Uncommon Goods.
4. Baja slip on sneakers in navy by Seavees, $59.99, on Mooshoes.
5. Make Your Own Bitters Kit, $48.00, from Food52 Provisions.
6. Verve iPad sleeve from Matt & Natt, $35.00, on Mooshoes.
7. Tribest personal blender, $49.95.
8. Organic shave grooming cream for men by Herban Cowboy, $9.49, on Vegan Essentials.
9. Chili salt trio, $38.00, from Food52 Provisions.
1. Sleekstore collapsable colander, $19.99, on Fab.
2. Kitchen tablet stand, $29.50, from Pottery Barn.
3. Freshforce citrus juicer, $31.75, on Fab.
4. Cuisinart immersion blender (so great for winter soups), $34.95, on Amazon.
5. Verterra Compostable Dinnerware From Fallen Leaves, Set of 25, $15.00, from Food52 Provisions.
6. Fruit and avocado tool set, $19.99, on Fab.
7. Ball American Heritage Collection Pint Jars (Set of 12), $24.00, from Food52 Provisions.
8. Paderno spiralizer, $39.95, on Williams Sonoma.
9. Le Creuset heritage rosemary gratin dishes, $49.95, on Sur La Table.
1. Dried mulberries (my favorite dried berry), $8.99 per pound, from Nuts.com.
2. 1 Gallon Ceramic Deluxe Kombucha Brewing Kit with Cloth Cover, $60.00, from Food52 Provisions.
3. DIY water kefir grains, $16.99, from Cultures for Health.
4. Breakfast in bed sampler (pancake mix, granola, oatmeal, and maple syrup), $34.00, from Purely Elizabeth.
5. Wholegrain Freekeh 4 Pack, $20.00, from Food52 Provisions.
6. Caviart vegan caviar 4 jar set, $24.00, from Vegan Cuts.
7. DIY Kimchi Kit with Signed Copy of The Kimchi Cookbook, $34.00, from Food52 Provisions.
8. Sprouting kit gift pack, $29.00, from Vegan Cuts.
9. Cacao butter, $24.99, from Navitas Naturals (you could give this along with some dried fruits and cacao powder for a DIY raw chocolate gift set!)
1. Zyliss julienne peeler, $7.99, on Amazon (perfect for making zucchini noodles without a spiralizer).
2. Mediterranean spice trio, $15.00, from Food52 Provisions.
3. Nut milk bag from Elaina Joy's Pure Joy Planet, 7.50, on Amazon.
4. Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat Tea, $4.99, on Amazon (or wherever sold).
5. EcoJarz drink tops, $18.95, on Vegan Cuts.
6. Bring Joy tote bag, $9.00, from Janae of Bring-Joy.
7. Dusty Rose convertible vegan gloves, $16.00, from Alternative Outfitters.
8. Sampler pack of Emmy's macaroons, $14.00, from Vegan Cuts.
9. Gnosis Chocolate gingerbread bar, $7.99.
Big thanks to this post by Kristen of Rage Against the Minivan for putting some of these organizations on my radar.
1. Rescue Chocolate 6-pack, $29.00, on Vegan Cuts. Organic, fairly traded, and 100% of net profits directly benefit animal rescue organizations. The peanut butter pit bull bar is bliss.
2. Goat ornament, $15.00, from The Time Travel Tabby Cat shop on Etsy. The Time Travel Tabby Cat online store features adorable felt ornaments, and two of them directly help to benefit animals. 10% of the pig ornament proceeds go to Pigs Peace Animal Sanctuary and 10% of the goat ornament proceeds go to Peace Ridge Animal Sanctuary.
3. Handmade soap, $5.50, from Shea Yeleen (online or available at Whole Foods). Shea Yeleen International is 501(c)3 nonprofit that promotes sustainable economic development in rural sub-Saharan Africa. The company empowers and trains women to produce handmade shea butter soaps and products in women-owned shea butter cooperatives. The women are given a fair wage through the soap profits. The soaps are vegan, with coconut oil and shea butter bases.
4. The Madeline hat, $27.95, from Krochet Kids International. This company offers 3 year programs to women living in poverty in Ugunda and Peru. The women learn to krochet hats in order to become empowered and independent. Many of the hats are acrylic, nylon or bamboo.
5. Priya full length cotton punjammies, $35.00, from the International Princess Project. This organization began when founder Shannon Keith traveled to India and learned about the magnitude of the local sex trade. She learned that women who had escaped the sex trade stood little chance of surviving outside of brothels without a new occupation, as well as aid in rebuilding their dignity and overcoming the trauma and unjust social stigma attached to their experiences. She and some friends founded International Princess™ Project to advocate for these women and empower them to live in freedom. They began to collaborate with local seamstresses to help train the women to sew cotton pajama pants (punjammies). The project now employs over 150 women and girls. Each pair of pants is named after one of the seamstresses.
6. Think Pink necklace, $30.00, from 31 Bits. 31 Bits began when a 21-year-old college student took a life changing trip to Ugunda, and witnessed how difficult it was for women who had grown up in wartime to achieve security and empowerment. She also noticed how beautiful their beaded, homemade jewelry was. She and a group of friends returned to Ugunda a few years later on a mission to help women in Ugunda to share their talents with a new market, and in so doing find independence. They implemented a five-year holistic development program in Uganda, wherein women receive health education, finance training, counseling, and business training. After five years in the program, the women graduate, leaving with an education, a career, and newfound community.
15% of the Think Pink necklace proceeds go to breast cancer research, in addition to providing the 119 women currently in the 31Bits program with a fair wage. The beads are made from recycled paper. (Note that some of the headbands on the site do contain leather.)
7. Blue Ripple Scarf by Beth Begany, $20.00, on the Our Hen House Etsy Shop. 100% of proceeds go to support the work that Our Hen House is doing to spread awareness about the plight of animals across multimedia platforms.
8. Nouri Bar 12 pack, $39.99, from Nouri Bar. I love Nouri Bars: they're organic, raw, vegan, crafted with simple ingredients, made locally in the DC area, and for each bar you purchase, the folks at Nouri supply a wholesome meal to a child in school in a third world country. They do so by working with local food growers and farmers, so as not to disrupt local economies. I plan to write more about Nouri in the future, but for now I'll just say that it's wonderful to meet business owners who are equally focused on animal and human rights.
9. Farm animal sponsorship, $15.00-$200.00 per month, from Farm Sanctuary. Your monthly donation, starting at $15.00, will help to shelter, feed, and support the care of a rescued farm animal. You can also give a sponsorship gift to a friend!
Phew!! That was a lot of gifts.
Of course, donations to animal rescue operations, farm sanctuaries, and other charitable organizations that align with your values also make wonderful holiday gifts, to yourself or to others. And if you are able to adopt an animal in need, you'll be giving him or her the most wonderful holiday gift of all: safety, warmth, and love.
As excited as I am about all of the gift ideas I just shared, I have to confess that my favorite type of holiday giving is the edible kind! So, starting tomorrow, I'll share 9 ideas for easy, delicious, edible vegan gifts. A fun challenge for me, and fun inspiration, I hope, for you.


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Learn how Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality can be an effective tool for educators. Since 1999, EON Reality has been providing educational institutions, such as Imperial College, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Oral Roberts University, and Nanyang Technical University, with complete Virtual Reality solutions that help their students learn faster, improve retention rates, and make better decisions. Our latest offering, the EON AVR Platform, provides a campus wide platform to empower your faculty to create their own VR/AR applications to enhance their lessons and let their students learn by doing in VR or AR.
Oral Roberts University's AVP of Technology and Innovation, Michael Mathews will co-host this webinar and walk through the immediate impact that AVR is having in education.
Sign up for this webinar on January 31st at 9:00 AM PST ( 18:00 CET) to understand how you can leverage these technologies and help your faculty innovate.
You will specifically learn:
- The immediate impact that Oral Roberts University has experienced with EON Reality's AVR Solution.
- Why AVR greatly improves teaching and learning outcomes compared to other technologies.
- Why an enterprise-wide AVR approach is the best method to leverage the value and benefits of AVR.
- How AVR affects the following student outcomes:
- Helps colleges and universities teach more in less time
- Advances education from memorization to higher skills such as critical thinking and problem solving
- Improves attention in the classroom and awaken a student's curiosity for learning
- The key benefits and results other institutions are seeing from Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality based learning
- Case studies and examples of how other schools have implemented the AVR platform


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Christina Milian feat. The Dream "Supersonic"
Say what you want about these two, but if you are a fan of the Dream, I assure you he is going to take care of his girl. And if Christina wants to sing, well darn it, Dream is going to make it happen. He has lent his expertise penning hits for several of your favorite entertainers, including himself. Its only fitting that he set the standard for his new Wife and Mother of his future child.
As a music fanatic, I thought it appropriate to share with you some tracks that I may love that may not yet be in heavy rotation, or known for that matter. Trust me, I have a pretty good ear for the hits, Stevie Wonder being my favorite artists, you know I cant go wrong. Each week I will do an edition entitled "Turn it Up Tuesdays".
Look forward to hearing new music, a hit that you are not currently hearing on the radio, but should not be slept on.
This track is sexy with a bounce. Hope you enjoy!
The following link will take you to a site to listen as well as download the new track "Supersonic"


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Monday, May 23, 2011
Dorm Room Dinner: Saucy Mama's Tricked Out Taco Tart
Okay, I'm going overboard. But, I can't stop thinking about how good it is. In fact, John and I desperately wanted more but were too full to eat it! There's something to be said about Saucy Mama's Santa Fe Chipotle Dressing. It makes it spicy, yet creamy. So, in addition to the salsa, it is at the same time a cooling agent and heat seeking missile.
Anyway, this is the perfect dinner for a Monday night when you are a lump after your first day back to work. I use refrigerated pizza dough which rolls out easily and forms the shape of the pie without much fuss. This is also a great use for any taco leftovers you have, whether it be meat or chicken. If you are making it with leftovers you can just throw everything together and into the oven for 20 minutes.
Serves: 5
1/2 pound ground turkey
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 refrigerated pizza dough
1 cup salsa
2/3 cup Saucy Mama Santa Fe Chipotle Dressing
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cook the turkey in a skillet and season with salt and pepper. Grease a 9-inch pie pan and roll out the pizza dough to fit into the pan. Mix turkey with salsa, and Saucy Mama's Santa Fe Chipotle Dressing. Place into the tart shell and top with grated cheese. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Serve immediately in slices.
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Welcome! I'm Dani (aka the Growing Foodie), just a girl balancing her career and passion for all things edible in NYC. I hope you'll join me in my adventures in life, through food. (Click for More)
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Our relaxed requirements mean 80% of all who apply for business financing get funded!
Time in Business:
Must be in business for at least six months.
Business must be located within the United States.
Monthly gross revenue:
Must be able to show monthly gross revenue of at least $15,000.
Credit not a barrier:
We offer solutions for business owners with a wide range of credit scores, including bad credit.*
Industries we serve:
Hundreds including: restaurants, retail, florists, dry cleaners, hotels, personal services, automotive services, manufacturing, distributors, and many more!


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Each year, the generosity of SAR parents, alumni, grandparents, parents of alumni, faculty, staff and friends allows us to create exceptional opportunities and experiences for our students. While tuition supplies a strong financial base, philanthropy heightens the level of compassion, ambition and creativity that would not be possible through tuition alone. SAR welcomes your support to ensure that all students can benefit from an SAR education. We are proud of our ongoing quest for excellence in Judaic and secular studies that helps to shape intellectually independent, creative and curious students, rooted in Torah and mitzvot.
Whether you are considering a gift to the Annual Fund that makes an immediate impact, or an endowed gift that lasts for generations, your contribution to SAR sustains our reputation for excellence. Together we can empower the next generation of Jewish leaders, learners, parents, and community members with the knowledge, tools and abilities to take on the challenges of the next decade.
We recognize that tzedakah, no matter the dollar amount, is a highly personal matter to which a great deal of thought is – and should be – devoted. It is also an extraordinarily meaningful way to become involved in the life and growth of an organization, and a mission, in which you believe.
We thank you for making SAR a giving priority!
- Guardian Circle, a major donor program
- The SAR Anniversary Dinner
- The Shavuot Appeal, aka, #BEE4SAR
- Shop for SAR!
- Program Sponsorship
- General Contributions and Tribute Cards
Guardian Circle, a major donor program
Annual commitments by SAR donors of $10,000 or more, provide a strong support base for SAR's annual operating needs, allowing SAR to be fiscally strong while maintaining a good understanding of our progress towards the ultimate goal of funding the gap between revenues and expenses.
SAR provides Guardianship Circle donors with an annual recognition package customized to include your family name in the programs that matter to you -- whether it's sponsoring grade specific celebrations, alumni events, adult education, or one of our many other community programs. We welcome your participation.
If you are interesting in participating in our Guardian Circle Campaign, please contact Heidi Greenbaum via email: firstname.lastname@example.com or by phone 718-548-1717 x1256
The SAR Anniversary Dinner
Each year the SAR Anniversary Dinner is a wonderful celebration of SAR and our honorees. It is a much anticipated event that has come to be known as a special evening, with the warmth and flavor of all things SAR. It is also our largest single fundraising event of the year that enables SAR to fund requests for scholarship assistance-- a critically important program at SAR. See www.sardinner.org for more information.
The Shavuot Appeal, aka, #BEE4SAR
Fun & exciting, the Shavuot Appeal is SAR's final fundraiser of the year. Donations made to the Shavuot Appeal complete our annual operating budget and are applied to our tuition assistance program as well as to enhance our curriculum and special programs. Seewww.bee4sar.org for more information.
Shop for SAR!
Support SAR when you Shop!
- To connect your AmazonSmile account with SAR simply click on the following link
- Register Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy as your charitable organization
- Always make sure to shop via smile.amazon.com
Stop&Shop A+Rewards Program
- You can enroll your Rewards card online
- Or by calling 1.877.275.2758
- Please register SAR using our school ID#07912
- Everyone is able to register up to two schools
- If you do not know your Stop & Shop Card number, you will need to call the Stop & Shop hotline at 1-877-366-2668, option 2.
Program Sponsorship
SAR's students and faculty count on our parents, grandparents, alumni and friends to celebrate and support our milestone events. There are numerous opportunities to sponsor programs at all grade levels. In gratitude for your sponsorship, SAR will acknowledge sponsors: at the program in the program and/or announcements ▪ in the school online newsletter ▪ in the Annual Report (sponsorship gifts are included in annual giving amounts).
General Contributions and Tribute Cards
Each day in our tefilla, we thank God for granting us a living Torah and an altruistic and giving spirit. Every day at SAR we declare our commitment to bringing Judaism to life through learning and action, and it is that spirit that shapes life at SAR both in and out of the classroom. Through chesed, community service, hands-on learning, and a rich array of co-curricular opportunities and programs, students discover the excitement of bringing learning to life.
➤ Be our partner in this mission and show your support here. The only gift too small is no gift at all!
➤ If you would like to make a payment towards an existing pledge, click here.
➤ Make a donation 'in honor of' or 'in memory' of a loved one, friend or colleague, and SAR will send one of our new personalized tribute cards.
These cards, which feature original artwork, are meaningful chaggim, birthday, baby, celebration or memorial gifts, in support of the SAR Scholarship Fund.
Meet the Team
Heidi Greenbaum
Director of Development
email@example.com, x1256
Sara Hasson
Associate Director of Development
email@example.com, x1300
Heidi M. Kane
Manager, Community Engagement
email@example.com, x1268
Tami Tropper
Development Operations Manager
firstname.lastname@example.com, x1275
Ways to Give
Ways to Give
Credit Card
Make your donation securely online or call us at (718) 548.1717 x1275. We will gladly take your credit card donation by phone. Please do not email or fax your credit card information.
Make checks payable to SAR Academy with a note on the check memo line or enclose a note indicating the designation and mail to: SAR Business Office,655 West 254th Street, Riverdale, NY 10471.
Matching Gifts
If you or your spouse are affiliated with an organization that will match gifts to private secondary schools, please forward the matching gift form (obtained from the organization's personnel office) along with your gift to SAR. SAR's Tax ID Number is 13-2646185.
Check here to see if your company matches!
If making your gift online, please mail the matching gift form (including your name, address, class year and how you would like SAR to credit your gift) to SAR Business Office,655 West 254th Street, Riverdale, NY 10471.
Stock/Securities/Wire Transfers
Please contact us at (718) 548.1717 x1275 for assistance and for appropriate letters of instruction to your bank or brokerage company.


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The American Kennel Club's definition of Tracking: "AKC tracking events are the competition form of canine search & rescue. These Tracking events provide training for dogs and their handlers to meet some human needs for tracking and finding lost humans or other animals, as well as, demonstrating the extremely high level of scent capability that dogs possess.
There are three levels of competition. The Tracking Dog (TD) test is the entry level test with a short, but challenging track ending with a glove for the dog to find 30 minutes to 2 hours after the track was laid.
The Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) test, which is substantially more difficult, requires the dog to follow scent over extensive terrain and through many obstacles, such as woods and plowed fields, while discriminating between tracks of other humans, while indicating 4 different articles left on the track 3-5 hours before.
The Variable Surface Tracking (VST) test is the newest tracking test and is directed towards urban search & rescue efforts. The test requires dogs to follow aged scent over several surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, bricks, vegetation, etc., while indicating plastic, metal, leather and fabric articles left on the track 3-5 hours before. A dog acquiring all three tracking titles earns the coveted Champion Tracker title."
Tracking Links
- How to get started in Tracking
- The different AKC & SBCA titles and their abbreviations
- AKC Tracking Regulations
- Where to find harnesses
- Archive Database Tracking Records from 1936 (first year) to date
- Ask a tracking trainer a question
- Ask a tracking judge a question
- Current Year Statistics
- Upcoming Saint Bernard Performance Events


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Sun, 23 January 2011
Shout outs today to Polish soul singer, Pinnawela. Even though we haven't spoken yet, I'm already looking forward to it. "Fly Away" comes from the album titled Soulahili. Read all about Pinnawela on her Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/pinnawelamusic . Be sure to check for us on Facebook and Twitter as we begin our heralded blast. Yep, that is what we do. Enjoy and keep in touch!
DJ Come of Age
Direct download: 11-pinnawela-fly_away-empik.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:56pm UTC


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Jul 28, 2012
A searing investigation and/or general heckling from Larry and Stew about news services and current affairs shows plugging chips, bulk discounters, shops, their own crappy shows. Also it is revealed why women's cricket leads inevitably to Biblical-style dire consequences, but on the other hand, there is no circumstance so tragic or annoying that it can't be made cheerier by a lovely paella. Unremitting gibberish all the way.
CLASSIFICATION WARNING – Virtually no identifiable content whatsoever, other than occasional swearing, groin jokes and paella.


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To find elegant women's shoes is not an easy task and female feel it a challenge. You may undertake a lot of tension and time investing to land on your own to the very best choice that will match your taste and style. Trendy ladies fashion shoes are constantly offered in various forms, sizes and styles that will provide you a fresh sophisticated look without effecting your beauty and sophistication.
One can find variety of designs for women shoes according to prevailing trends. The different branded companies not only used to display their trendy designs online but they offer online shopping and shipping services. You can find a lot of stores having thousands of branded shoes for women and you may love to buy due to flexibility in price. You can search for women's shoes by size, color, style, and brand. You may opt to read reviews for selection of your heart loving shoes. You may also find the ideal college and office flat as well as sassy knee high shoes.
These women shoes ranged from flats to pretty pumps, sleek boots, loafers, sneakers, clogs, athletic shoes and so forth.
Apart from above mentioned variety, cutting edge type of shoes has its long range with unique and marvelous features.
- Super designed heeled boots,
- Comfortable Sandals with metallic heel for tour of warm areas,
- Sneakers with zebra, leopard and galaxy prints.
www.yourmomhatesthis.com displayed a variety of woman shoes and flats to make your selection and search easy.


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(Or how a child can see the pretty in everything).
|We're waiting for rain. The resilient 'Smooth cat's ear' weed provide the only flowers to be found in bloom.
Our chooks are going through their annual moult and the orchard is dotted with white feathers caught in the dry grasses and dead leaves. The leghorn rooster is losing his magnificent long tail feathers, one by one.
|Barry Lyndon crowing. He has already lost a few of his tail feathers.
These feathers normally sail like grand pennants in the breeze as he strikes a pose to crow, but now can be found at the bottom of the chook shed near the water bucket, trampled and dirty. There is a time at the end of the moult when he loses all his long tail feathers. At the risk of personifying an animal, I do believe that he is quite embarrassed about the entire moulting process.
The other day Sylvie and I took a long twilight stroll and photographed all the types of feathers, looking at each one and noticing all the differences, some are long and straight and some are soft and fluffy, and others are very fine, almost transparent and gossamer thin.
|Just a few of the feathers that can be found scattered about the orchard.
When I finished photographing the rooster, Sylvie said, "Turn around Mummy, I have a surprise for you" and she presented me with a feather bouquet, complete with the florets of the only plant in flower at the moment, the Smooth Cat's Ear. It was a lovely gesture made from the heart and testament to a child's natural instinct to see beauty in all they encounter, including moulted feathers and common weeds.


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Not many of us remember the day in 1986 when Italians around Rome's Spanish Steps hurled handmade dried pasta in protest of a fast-food franchise opening there.
But the Slow Food Movement (eating locally grown and harvested food and taking time to enjoy it) has been growing internationally ever since—and its presence in Palm Beach is particularly evident at Cafe Boulud.
No, no one's flinging farfalle there.
For the last couple of summers, Cafe Boulud's Chef Zach Bell has featured third-Thursday-of-each-month Slow Food dinners benefiting Slow Food Glades to Coast, the local chapter of Slow Food USA.
Now he has decided to continue them throughout the year, especially since locally grown produce hits its stride in South Florida's gentler fall, winter and spring climes.
Even better news: Each month's $60 three-course, wine-paired Slow Food menu can now be deconstructed — you can order a la carte from it, choosing one, two or three courses with or without wine.
Last month's Slow Food menu featured Glades frog's legs with Meyer-lemon tart, frisee and lemon-balm vinaigrette; broiled spiny lobster with fava-bean stew, grapefruit and herb salad; and mango sorbet with kalamansi ice cream.
"Really, what drives each menu is the best vegetables available at any given time," says Bell, a Slow Food Glades to Coast member and proponent of public-school wellness programs. "To me, what Slow Food is about is rediscovering local food traditions and taking the time to enjoy the process of sharing meals together."
Cafe Boulud's next Slow Food dinner: Oct. 15. As always, you may be handed flash cards and flyers about the foods and farms featured on the menu.


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The Green Circles initiative aims to develop a future proof region with a sustainable economic growth and healthy living environment.
The partners have their own ambitions and the initiative seeks to integrate these. Heineken brewery has the ambition to become climate neutral and climate proof. The initiative seeks opportunities to use landscape and ecosystem services.
Read Full Technical Report here!
Case Study Description
- Water-management issue to be addressed
- Decision support to client
- Temporal and spatial Scale
- Knowledge Brokering
Data Description
- Lessons learnt
- Importance and Relevance of Adaptation
- Pros and Cons or Cost-Benefit analysis of climate adaptation
- Policy aspects
Reference information
Water-management issue to be addressed
The current drinking water supply in the Randstad region is dependent on river water. Climate change could threaten the water supply, as periods with extremely low discharges may occur more frequently in future. Drainage of surrounding agricultural land will further increase soil subsidence. This will have a negative impact on water quality and loss of biodiversity. The green circle case study seeks innovative solutions and will address these in an integrated, holistic way. Sustainable development and business development will go hand in hand.
Stakeholders involved in the Green Circles initiative are the HEINEKEN brewery, Dunea (drinking water company), the Province of South Holland, The water authority and Alterra. Heineken's production process depends on the supply of drinking water because it is used to produce brewing water. Green Circless will work with water chain partners to utilise water flows more efficiently.
Decision support to client
The ambition of the Green Circles initiative is supported by offering support to planned workshops. SWICCA will offer tools to visualize climate projections to make visible to the stakeholders how the area may develop under climate change. We will seek to map future climate and future land use scenario's. By combining both, we create 'possible futures'. These will be used as a background against which opportunities will be identified to to create an economically powerful business in an attractive environment offering positive living, working, recreation, and business opportunities. We aim to use Touch Table technology to visualize the scenarios.
Temporal and spatial Scale
The Green Circles initiative focuses on the Zoeterwoude greater area, located within the Randstad. The initiative looks at the full production chain and therefore the area is not limited to the location of the brewery only. Water is being infiltrated in the sand dune area along the coast and transported to the area. The area represents the low lying part of the province of south Holland. The polders in the area are among the deepest in the country.
Knowledge Brokering
A first workshop was held where all stakeholder formulated their dreams by asking: what do I want, why do I want that, what is the reason behind that, and so on. This resulted in the underlying objectives and those often reveal similarities between the different parties. The workshop approach is a technique to stimulate collaboration and to create a joint ambition. It also sets stakeholders in a positive frame of mind.
Next, we gathered relevant climate impact information from C3S and from other national sources. A summary of the key indicators was prepared. All information was visualized in an attractive 'story map' in collaboration with CAS (Climate Adaptation Services). We presented the Story Map to the region during the stakeholder workshop on 28 September 2016. A second stakeholder workshop was organized on 24 January 2017. In groups we discussed how the 'dreams' that were identified during the earlier workshop are potentially being influenced by climate change under the various scenarios (expressed in the story maps). The focus of the workshop was to establish a joint ambition. Concrete ideas came out, such as a water storage facility that uses the roof area of the various buildings from the industrial zone. Ambassadors to carry the ideas forward were nominated.
Climate Impact Indicators
Pan-European Indicators
Key indicators are soil subsidence, salinization, sustainable transport system, biodiversity and availability of sufficient clean drinking water in the future. A number of indicators that have a relation with climate change are relevant for the case study:
- Drinking water production for the brewery.
- Clean and healthy water in the surrounding area.
- Biodiversity (wetlands and extensive agricultural areas or meadow lands).
- Reducing the rate of soil subsidence.
- Sustainable transport (via water).
Climate change will have an impact on these water topics. Possibly, the low water discharge extremes will become an important indicator. However, these low flows are available through the Dutch Delta Programme. This data was based on climate scenarios that were released in 2006. We will analyse to what extent the more recent climate information coming from the SWICCA partners will lead to new insights.
Local indicators
Impacts on water quality and biodiversity will be quite difficult to establish. This requires modeling of nutrient inputs, but also the understanding of complex relations between internal and external eutrophication (phophorous and sulphate which is determined by the inlet of water from other sources, the rate of peat oxidation) (peat soils as dominant soil type in region).
Pan-European data to local scale
Read Full Technical Report here!
Step 1: Development of a joint ambition for the region and the stakeholders (the brewery, the province, the drinking water companies, water authority). A workshop was held where all stakeholder formulated their dreams by asking: what do I want, why do I want that, what is the reason behind that, and so on. This resulted in the underlying objectives and those often reveal similarities between the different parties. The workshop approach is a technique to stimulate collaboration and to create a joint ambition. It also sets stakeholders in a positive frame of mind.
Step 2: In the Netherlands we have an authorized set of scenarios prepared by our met office (KNMI), which contain ensembles of downscaled regional climate models. We will collect existing climate data from the Dutch met office (KMNI scenarios 2014). A summary of the key indicators (max hourly rainfall; dry days, summer rainfall) will be prepared.
Step 3: Analysis of the key climate variables from the SWICCA Climate Impact Indicators. We will perform a comparison of the SWICCA indicators and the indicators from the KNMI scenario's to identify possible differences or consistencies in the crucial climate indicators (like tropical days, consecutive dry days, summer rainfall and river discharges).
Step 4: Development of visualizations of future scenarios in an attractive 'story maps'. In our experience the stakeholders do not have the time and interest to read technical reports and model outputs. So we will develop story maps. These summarize the key issues in sets of GIS maps and artist impressions.
Step 5: Workshop with the stakeholders to analyse the 'dreams' that were produced under the various scenarios (expressed in the story maps). The approach deliberately avoids 'solving problems'. We focus on establishing a joint ambition. The realization of the ambition will take many years, during which climate change will take effect. How can we take that into account and what can each of the parties involved do to realize the ambition under a changing climate? We use climate change to design a robust pathway to realize the ambitions.
Lessons learnt
We learnt so far that the stakeholders in the Groene Circles initiative are triggered by opportunities and value creation rather than by threats and risks associated with climate change. There is a real need to better visualize climate change impacts in such a way that a connection can be made with the ambitions of the client. We developed a visually attractive story map to visualize the future scenarios. The SWICCA Copernicus project contributed to raising awareness and a sense of urgency to take climate change into account. The stakeholders in the Green Circles initiative, with Heineken as a key partner, have expressed their intentions to develop adaptation options and measures. Participants of both workshops expressed their appreciations on the in the climate visualizations which improved insight in local site specific consequences. We learnt that the SWICCA indicators need to be translated (interpreted) to add meaning at local level. Therefore there is always a need for local tailoring and and decision support.
Importance and Relevance of Adaptation
The stakeholders in the Green Circles initiative are interested in climate change information. Particularly they are interested in visualizations, and improved insight in local site specific consequences. The SWICCA project has contributed to the development story maps, to translate the indicators to site specific consequences. Wageningen Environmental Reserach organized workshops within the context of the SWICCA project. Together with the local stakeholders we discussed potential site specific effects of the indicators. We involved a landscape architect to facilitate the workshop and to translate ideas into designs for the area. We learnt that the SWICCA indicators need to be translated to implications at local level. The stakeholders involved appreciated the complete overview, covering the local and European perspective. The results will be integrated in the report and highlights will be included in the story map of the Province of South Holland.
"Copernicus provides a means for us to understand the potential impact of climate change and take measures to protect our valuable resources," commented Jan Kempers, Sustainable Development Manager at Heineken Netherlands Supply.
Pros and Cons or Cost-Benefit analysis of climate adaptation
The general positive remarks about the SWICCA indicators was that they offer a European perspective. The local data from the climate atlas are limited to the Dutch situation. Water availability for drinking water and industrial water use depends on water flow in the catchment of the Meusse. The SWICCA indicators were used to analyze water flows during the summer period. Moreover, the EU perspective is also very relevant for the agriculture and also for the tourism sector. Some negative remarks on the SWICCA indicators were that they seem too general and not detailed enough to support local decision making processes. The Dutch climate scenario's show more detail and have been approved by policy makers. The regional climate atlas has also a more detailed scope than the SWICCA service can provide. Alterra has included all indicators in a powerpoint presentation that was discussed during the stakeholder meeting. Alterra also produced a map that summarizes all climate impacts for the region. A report was submitted to the regional water authority. The key results of the workshop have been integrated in a regional 'story map' for the province South Holland. The report (in Dutch) gives an overview of:
- climate change across Europe, showing the changes on the key water indicators from SWICCA. This map should give insight in the major changes across Europe
- Maps of local climate impacts for the province of South Holland, showing how floods and drought risks and heat stress will have an impact in the region. This will be based on the national climate scenarios and data from the climate atlas for the Netherlands (and not the SWICCA indicators)
- A local summary map of the case study area.
Policy aspects
The province of South Holland adopted a regional adaptation strategy. The province strives for more self sufficiency in water use because water availability can not always be guaranteed. Also the adaptation strategy addresses the importance of bringing soil subsidence to a halt.
Eveliene.Steingrover‹at›wur.nl (contact Groene Cirkel)
Paul.Opdam‹at›wur.nl (contact Groene Cirkel – water domain)
Purveyor: Hasse Goosen
Value added by Copernicus Climate Change Service:
Eveliene.Steingroverwur.nl (contact Groene Cirkel)
Paul.Opdamwur.nl (contact Groene Cirkel – water domain)
Poster: The Green Circles Initiative and Brewing a Better Future


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Wake & Bake
Espresso & Cannabis
Start the day with a relaxing blend of coffee and cannabis. It will mellow out your morning and put you in the perfect mood to cruise through the day.
All of the Old Pine Candle Co. products are small batch and hand-poured with 100% American Soy Wax and phthalate free fragrance oils. Each candle should produce approximately 50hrs of burn time.
For Approximately 50hrs of Burn:
Trim the wick to 1/4" before lighting, every time. This will help prevent soot and smoke (aaaah clean burn).
We recommend creating a "burn pool", the first time you burn your candle. To do this, let the wax melt completely to the edges of the container. This will prevent tunneling or uneven wax melt.


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As we get ready to give thanks for all we've received this year, many of us are preparing to pay that good fortune forward to those less fortunate.
This Thanksgiving, several of our area restaurants are giving back to community members in need. They are contributing a combination of financial and in-kind donations and are encouraging their customers and the public in general to join them in the effort. Giving new meaning to the words "Food is Love," here is a sampling of just a few restaurants in Oregon trying to make a difference for the neighborhoods they serve:
On Nov. 23, the German pub/biergarten will hold its annual Thanksgiving Day Feast. The restaurant will open its doors at 6 p.m., to serve its annual free turkey dinner. Nearly 100 pounds of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and sides will be on the menu. Even though the event is free, guests are encouraged to donate to those in need, AND also bring a side dish to share.
Salt & Straw
For the third year in a row, the Portland-based scoop shop is teaming up with Urban Gleaners, a nonprofit hunger relief charity. For every Thanksgiving Celebration series pint sold, Salt & Straw will donate another one to Urban Gleaners. The goal: increase the number of people Urban Gleaners is able to serve and bring holiday cheer to those in need.
Verde Cocina
On Thanksgiving Day, the Portland-based, gluten-free, paleo and vegan-friendly cafe and catering company is closing all of its locations except one – in Sylvan Heights, where it will serve a family-style meal to guests at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. What's on the menu? Guests can choose between a turkey, salmon or stuffed delicata squash entrée, plus dessert. Advance tickets are $40 per adult and $12 per child. Tickets on Thanksgiving Day are $45 per adult and $15 per child. All proceeds will benefit the Oregon Food Bank. And if you can't make the dinner, but still want to contribute, learn more about the Oregon Food Bank and make a donation.
Leave a Reply.
January 2020


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Places to Donate Hair
Donating hair is a great, inexpensive way for people to get involved with a charity. Most hair donations are from children who want to help other children; however, anyone can donate hair. Whether you do it on your own or attend a hair cutting and donation event, you'll never regret helping someone in need.
Locks of Love
Locks of Love is perhaps the best known and longest running hair donation charity. The mission of Locks of Love is to make hair prostheses for financially disadvantaged children who suffer long term hair loss from any illness. Hair donations must be at least 10 inches long and bound in a ponytail or braid. All hair colors (except gray) and textures are welcome. You can even donate your permed or colored hair as long as it's not damaged.
If you can print the hair donation form from the Locks of Love website, do so. However, you do not need it to donate hair. Instead, you may print your name and address on a full size sheet of paper and send it along with the hair to:
Locks of Love
234 Southern Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33405-2701
Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign
The Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign works with the American Cancer Society to give free human-hair wigs to women who are suffering from cancer. Many women choose the Pantene program because it only requires an 8-inch ponytail. if you've bleached your hair or used permanent dye on it, you can't send it in. If you used vegetable dyes, rinses, and semi-permanent hair color, you can.
National Donate Your Hair Day and Events
One unique feature of the Pantene program is the National Donate Your Hair Day. You can find out more by following their blog. On this day, a lot of salons will help you donate your hair by offering a free wash and style, or a discounted price on cutting. In addition, your area may be sponsoring a local event where you can go and get your hair cut and send it off right there. If you want to organize an event, see the Pantene website Plan an Event page.
Sending Your Donation to Pantene
Like with most other places, you will need to have your hair cut above the elastic band and then wait for it to completely dry. Once it's ready, send it to:
Pantene Beautiful Lengths
Attn: 192-123
806 SE 18th Ave.
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Wigs for Kids
Wigs for Kids exists to help children who are struggling with the repercussions of hair loss caused by any condition, including burn accidents, cancer or alopecia. Similar to Locks of Love, Wigs for Kids provides hair systems. The hair systems they provide allow a child to engage in normal activities without worrying about whether or not her hair is going to fall off. Children can even go swimming in a Wigs for Kids hair system. This organization requires 12-inch lengths of hair, but they don't accept gray or chemically treated hair.
Wigs for Kids works with hundreds of salons across the U.S. that offer free or discounted services for people who are donating hair to this worthy cause. Once you've gotten your hair cut and downloaded the necessary form, you can send your hair to:
Wigs for Kids - Hair Donation
24231 Center Ridge Road
Westlake, Ohio 44145
Wigs 4 Kids
Wigs 4 Kids is a non-profit organization partnered with the Childhood Leukemia Foundation. It serves children ages 18 and under who live in Michigan and are suffering from hair loss. While the program is focused on the state of Michigan, its scope is far reaching. The Wigs 4 Kids Wellness Center not only provides hair systems for kids, but also provides allied health services and holistic support services for these special kids and their families.
Donating to Wigs 4 Kids
If you wish to donate your hair to Wigs 4 Kids, you'll need a minimum of 10 inches. It cannot be chemically treated or colored and it can't be more than 10% grey. If you live in Michigan, you can visit Go Green Salon, which is located next door to the Wigs 4 Kids Wellness Center. They charge $40 for a consultation, cut and style, but 50% of that fee goes directly back to Wigs 4 Kids along with your ponytail. If you don't live nearby, you can mail your donation to:
Wigs 4 Kids
30126 Harper Ave.
St. Claire Shores, MI 48082
Children With Hair Loss
Children With Hair Loss is a foundation that provides wigs for children in need in Michigan. The program offers both long term hair replacement packages and short term options for children who have lost their hair temporarily. The organization supports itself through generous donations, partnering with the community and by selling branded merchandise. If you'd like to make a hair donation, ensure that your ponytail is at least eight-inches long, and send it to:
Children With Hair Loss
12776 S. Dixie Hwy
S. Rockwood, MI 48179
Angel Hair for Kids
Angel Hair for Kids is an arm of A Child's Voice Foundation. The foundation itself has several programs, one of which is Angel Hair. Angel Hair provides hair for financially disadvantaged children in Canada. If you are in Canada and would like to help, you can send your hair donation to:
3034 Palstan Rd., Suite 301
Mississauga, ON
General Donation Requirements
Before you chop your hair and send it off, do make sure that you check the donation requirements of your preferred charity. In general, the following guidelines are common for all organizations that accept hair:
- Hair has to be put into a ponytail or braid and cut above the ponytail holder.
- Donation length requirements vary from eight inches to 12 inches.
- Layers are typically okay, as long as the shortest layer is at least the minimum required length.
- Hair must be clean and dry.
- Hair cannot be chemically altered.
- Hair must be natural - synthetics are typically not accepted.
- Hair that is from the floor is unusable.
- Your cut off ponytail or braid should be packaged in a zippered plastic baggie and then put in a padded envelope
- While it's generally not required, it's always appreciated if you send a small donation along with your hair to help defray costs for the organization.
Do make sure that you read and follow all instructions carefully. If you don't, the organization will not be able to use your hair and it will have gone to waste.
A Life-Changing Donation
If you're looking to make a donation with a measurable, nearly instant impact, this is it. A hair donation is a tangible gift that will change someone's life immediately.


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Deuteronomy 22:28-29 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
28 If a man encounters a young woman, a virgin who is not engaged, takes hold of her and rapes her, and they are discovered, 29 the man who raped her must give the young woman's father 50 silver shekels, and she must become his wife because he violated her. He cannot divorce her as long as he lives.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
You'll get this book and many others when you join Bible Gateway Plus. Learn more


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Michael Vick is Cocksure Against Cockfighting
Is it a case of the fervor of the newly enlightened, or is it a way to improve his public image? We're not sure, but yesterday, Yahoo News reported that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has urged Alabama lawmakers to increase penalties for cockfighting!
Michael Vick served a 23-month prison sentence for his involvement in dog fighting. When his sentence ended, Vick told Humane Society President and CEO Wayne Pacelle that as he grew up, dog fighting was part of his culture, and that he "never sufficiently questioned it as he grew into manhood."
Vick now wants to discourage others from making the same mistakes about animal cruelty, and that certainly includes cockfighting. Calling Alabama's $50 maximum penalty the "weakest" in the nation, Vick called for stiffer sentences.
Cockfighting is like an old-fashioned duel, but there's certainly no honor involved, and roosters are the combatants. With razor sharp blades attached to their legs, the roosters head into an arena, where they fight to the death. The crowd gathers, placing bets and cheering them on. Some people even bring their kids. It's enough to make you sick.
Cockfighting is illegal in the United States, and a felony in 39 states, but this chart shows that it is a misdemeanor in Alabama, with penalties ranging from $20 to $50. In contrast, in Oregon, for example, cockfighting is a Class C felony, with a maximum sentence of five years, and a maximum fine of $125,00.
The problem extends beyond the well-being of the birds. Sacramento Animal Control Officer Ruben Hernandez warns that roosters move from location to location in order to avoid detection, and that "this movement of birds can spread diseases such as Avian Flu, which can jump to humans."
Whether you believe in Vick's rehabilitation or not isn't the issue. The real issue is that cockfighting is evil, and requires severe punishment.


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Are you preparing for living and working in Angola? Or are you already an expat and have recently relocated to Luanda, Huambo or some other international Angolan city?
The expat relocation to Angola is definitely an exciting international opportunity and cross-cultural adventure: Visiting the landscape such as the Miombo woodlands in the hinterland, getting to know how Angolan folks celebrate Agostinho Neto's Day, or acquiring a taste for Angola's popular dishes like muamba de galinha…
However, InterNations does not only address expats in Angola. We have brief overview guides for various locations around the world – from working in Thailand to living in Cuba.
Relocating to and living in Angola necessitates lots of reliable information on different facets of Angolan expat life. Many questions come up when living overseas in Angola: ʺAre we, as expats, liable to Angolan income tax law?ʺ, ʺHow can I send money orders home from Angola?ʺ, ʺHow to find a trustworthy maid in Luanda?ʺ, or ʺWhat are the requirements to get a Angolan residence permit for my wife?ʺ
Looking for so much information on working and living in Angola is rather bothersome and requires a lot of time. The InterNations Expat Guide for Angola is designed to help you and offers trusted information on all issues of interest to expats living in Angola. Various topics are covered in our Angola Expat Guide from travel and accommodation, to education & children or culture and sights, up to housing & household. Such characteristic questions that concern expat life abroad as ʺHow do I successfully navigate Luanda's traffic?ʺ will no more remain open.
Are you curious about expatriate living outside Angola? Then read more about our various expat guides, such as living in Sweden or working in USA!
In addition, our expat listings for Angola include recommended entries for services and organizations catering to expatriates' needs, like colleges and universities or car rental agencies. By becoming part of our community, you can also participate in the InterNations Forum and discuss with other internationals about your expatriate experience living abroad in Angola. We'll be delighted to greet you with a warm Olá among our InterNations members living and working in Angola.


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Shine the Divine:
Creativity IS a Spiritual Practice
When we see through our hearts, we recognize that every single one of us is infused with creativity. Divine Sparks are embedded in everyone and everything. It's up to us to be courageous, to look and listen deeply, to find the sparks, gather and release them back into the universe, transformed into something new. Join me as we wake up to the sacred-ordinary blessings waiting to greet us each and every day.
Wonderful photos and words!
Have a happy weekend!
The first I read and still my favorite Mary Oliver poem after all these years. Perfect for the end of January....ReplyDelete
Lovely poem and beautiful views of the sky! Happy weekend, Laura!ReplyDelete
Yes, Mary Oliver knows the true heart and shares it. Just as you do, Beautiful One! Happy Friday and big love to you.ReplyDelete
Yes, Mary Oliver knows the true heart and shares it. Just as you do, Beautiful One! Happy Friday and big love to you.ReplyDelete
:)When god is with us, we need not be scared.ReplyDelete
oh, that tugging at the ankle... so strong sometimes, as the voices can be. i hear what you say about her knowing you, this echoes profoundly in me too...ReplyDelete
Scarred, scared and sacred pretty much describes all of us, doesn't it?
Feast Without Seasons
great share; have a nice Saturday
much love...
what a marvelous poem, her name is new to me! thank you.
I especially like your last line with its playing with anagrams, yet all fitting so well. your sky photos are stunning!
You story haiku is lovely. Your haiku of God's love holds nothing but truth.ReplyDelete
Lovely photos and moving words.ReplyDelete
Mary Oliver writes so beautifully and I always feel such wonder that she can share feelings many (most? all?) of us have so beautifully and so truthfully. You have done a wonderful job yourself of that! Lovely lovely haiku.ReplyDelete
I love your poem. And the photos that illustrate it.ReplyDelete
Laura...Your pictures are so pretty, and the Mary Oliver poem is so meaningful. You write beautifully, too. The first photo makes me think of myself when I am out walking and my back goes into spasms and I have to lie down either on the cold ground or a bench if I can find one. That is when I look up to the heavens through the trees and pretend I am Georgia O'Keefe with her camera. I have a print of hers where she shot up through the trees. She is one of my favorite artists, and I love to pretend I'm her there on the ground. Thanks for your visit to my blog today. It was good to hear from you.ReplyDelete
Definitely wonderful winter atmosphere with these bare trees! Nice pictures and great poem!
Fine Sky Watch images, Laura!
«Louis» thanks you for your visit to San Francisco Bay Daily Photo. :-)
Great photo and love the haiku and Mary Oliver is always wonderful ~ Happy Weekend ^_^
carol, xxx
so ein Blick in den Himmel..wundervoll
LG vom katerchen
I have not got a Mary Oliver poetry book but this posts jolts my mind to get one...her words, your words fill a space that needs filling.
Re: Your poodle bath time, reminding you of sheep in their fluffiness, my two fluff balls are 7&6 this year, this is how long I have been meat free, the resemblance is too great!...x
Gorgeous sky photos !ReplyDelete
Thank you.
All the best
I love this poem by Mary Oliver. Her poetry strikes me the way it does you - so personally. I like the pictures you posted with her poem.ReplyDelete
yes...Mary Oliver touches me and seems to be my words for so many occasions.
Fabulous pictures and words. This poem spoke to me of what I have been agonizing over...and all along it was me, my voice and I finally breaking through!!ReplyDelete
I love this poem by Mary Oliver and it has been very meaningful to me for years! great shot that you have shared also. Beautiful depth of field!ReplyDelete
Branches a lovely when it's bare!ReplyDelete
Beautiful heart felt words Laura from both of you. Thank you for sharing.ReplyDelete
Beautiful words and pics, as always.ReplyDelete
It's really a wonderful thing when one can find a poet that inspires you, as Mary Oliver inspired you! Beautiful poetry - both.ReplyDelete
I like how you shared your love of Mary Oliver's poems and the inspiration she is for you. For some reason, some poets and writers can give us the impression they know us.ReplyDelete
scarred, scared and worn sacred...smiles...i like that...
and its so interesting too when you find one that so speaks to your heart....i know a few that feel that way about mary....
It's so fascinating when one gets the inspiration from a great poet of Mary's stature but also from the great pics. Well crafted Laura!
It's so fascinating when one gets the inspiration from a great poet of Mary's stature but also from the great pics. Well crafted Laura!
I LOVE this! :)ReplyDelete
This poem illustrates what I love about the interconnectedness of poets and their work.ReplyDelete
Mary Oliver. She knows the treasures of life like the back of her hand. She puts it in words, and I think, ah....yes, exactly.
I think of you often, though we have never met in person, and I pray even more.
Very nice sharing.
Les photos de ces arbres sont vraiment sublimes, j'aime leur graphisme... Félicitations...ReplyDelete
Les photos de ces arbres sont sublimes, j'aime leur graphisme . Félicitations !!ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem by Mary and I loved your inspired words,specially the last line!ReplyDelete


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So, I wasn't a big fan of my first attempt at a blog button but am so much happier with this one! Have a look :) :
Yayyyyy :D.
Complete credit to the original background goes to Pippins Nest!
I really like the button! It's really pretty and I love the background of it. :) I also love your blog theme... I'm obsessed with owls!
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Thanks ladies :):)ReplyDelete
Please leave a comment, I love reading each and every one of them :).
This blog is an award free zone. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and I appreciate them :).


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About Rumi
We're a team of US military veterans sourcing the world's most valuable spice - Afghan Saffron
Mission Statement
Named after the 13th-century Persian poet, Jalal al-Din Rumi, our company partners with Afghan farmers to bring top-quality, sustainably farmed saffron to customers around the world. Started by a team of US military veterans, Rumi sources saffron from local Afghan farms and employs more than 1900 women in Herat, Afghanistan to hand-harvest the delicate crimson stigmas of the flowers. Committed to empowering Afghan women and bolstering the country's economy, Rumi reinvests back into agricultural and manufacturing infrastructure. We are laying a foundation for peace, one saffron flower at a time.
Connecting Afghanistan
"When goods do not cross borders, armies will."
– Frederic Bastiat
Rumi began with a mission to cultivate peace in Afghanistan. We believe that creating demand for Afghan agricultural products will catalyze rural economic development. Over 80% of the Afghan population is reliant on the rural agricultural economy. The success of the saffron industry not only helps farmers and the women providing direct labor it touches every member of the village. In our second year, we have seen output from our existing partners double and triple, while new farmers have asked to join our network. Connecting Afghan farmers with the global market is key to unlocking the economic potential of Afghanistan.
The Team
Our Collective Experience
Rumi's founding team consists of military veterans who all served in Afghanistan with the US Army. We have developed strong Afghan networks and on-the-ground understanding of how business is conducted. With our prior networks and in-country expertise, we have built the critical relationships, partnerships, and organizational infrastructure necessary to operate within and out of Afghanistan. Our competitive advantage is our ability to navigate the Afghan business landscape, which is built on trusted relationships.
Why Afghanistan
With hot, dry winds over semi-arid lands, Afghanistan's growing region is ideal for growing saffron. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, the International Taste and Quality Institute of Brussels awarded Afghan saffron 1st place out of 30 competing regions. Rumi saffron is tested in accordance with ISO (International Standards Organization) protocol 3632 and surpasses the highest standards for Category 1 saffron by over 25%. Our test results show that our farmers are producing some of the world's best saffron.
Among the most prized spices in the world, saffron has a complex flavor that is both semi-sweet and slightly bitter. Also known as Red Gold saffron comes from the interior of the amethyst-colored saffron crocus and must be hand-harvested due to its fragility. The flowers are taken from the field in the early morning as soon as they open and then transported to a facility where the three stigmas (attached to the crocus by yellow filaments called styles) are hand-separated from the blossoms. It takes 450,000 stigmas (or 150,000 blossoms) to make a kilogram of saffron.
"Rumi Spice is food as a force for good."
We are proud to announce that Rumi has earned certification as a B Corporation, a testament to the company's commitment to social and environmental ethics, transparency and accountability. From day one, Rumi was laser-focused on the "why" of our work. Mission and purpose are at the core of everything we do—economically empowering Afghan farmers, inspiring Afghan women through direct wages, and building out Afghanistan's agricultural infrastructure.
Now we join a global community of 1,500 other Certified B Corporations in over 120 industries and 40 countries with 1 unifying goal – to redefine success in business. As a B Corp, we promise to meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.


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New Posts Coming Soon
Please return again in a day or two!
What Are the Latest Security Innovations of 2018?
With American companies spending hundreds of millions of dollars on surveillance every year, they're often gathering more information that they can use.
Many companies love to spend money on gadgets. But without the proper training, these security innovations go to waste. Spending money on the wrong systems will cause employee frustration but make a company no less safe.
The tried and tested methods of securing a perimeter can't keep cyber hackers out if your networks are unsecured. Conversely, if all of a company's resources are spent on cybersecurity but someone could just walk in and take out a server, that's also a problem.
That's why so many of the latest security innovations take on an integrated approach. If you're looking to stay ahead of nefarious actors and protect your business, follow these three trends in business security in 2018.
1. Multi-Sensor Cameras
As camera image quality has improved, so has their ability to see 360 degrees around an area. Some cameras now come with the ability to not only detect motion but also to differentiate between animal and human motion in an area.
Multi-sensor camera can better pinpoint where potential intrusions are located and zoom in better than ever before. Camera systems are now integrated with mobile devices, apps, and networked interfaces to be viewed remotely from any location.
2. Better Drones
Drones are a great way to survey a large area or a dangerous facility. Not every work site, manufacturing facility, or construction project is easy to keep an eye on. There could be many ways for intruders to access your facility that could lead to damage or theft.
Having an agile, light, and fast drone allows you to take a look at every angle of your site to make sure that no one has gotten into sensitive areas. Drones are the newest and most dependable way to protect your facility.
As HD camera technology improves, the cameras also allow you a better look in and around the area, day or night.
3. Two-Factor Authentication
As hacking technology improves, two-factor authentication becomes the way for companies to keep their networks secure.
After a password is cracked, your mobile device will be triggered asking for a specific alphanumeric code. After a minute or two, that code will expire and a new one will be generated.
Through lost revenues, potential lawsuits, and damaged reputations, the average data breach now costs companies around 7 million dollars. Rather than having a static code to protect your surveillance system or digital networks, use two-factor authentication to add extra protection.
The Latest Security Innovations Can Save You Money
With the amount of money that can be lost through a security breach, you're always better safe than sorry.
For every innovation made in security, there's someone who has an incentive to crack through it. Staying on top of what's new is essential to being competitive as well as protected.
If you're looking for a new security system for your facility or company, contact us for more must-haves that need to be on your list.
Why Your Small Business Needs a Security System
When you're running a small business, making ends meet can be tough, so luxury expenses fall by the wayside. Maybe you don't need a new cash register after all. The bathroom remodel can wait for another year.
But one item is often called a luxury when it's really a necessity: a small business security system. In fact, having a security system can actually save you money in the long run. Here's how:
Benefits of a Small Business Security System
There are countless ways a security system can benefit your business, depending on the features you choose. But here are some of the most fiscally helpful reasons for a security system:
Reduce Losses from Burglaries
This is the most obvious benefit of a small business security system. Cameras and other security features are deterrents for would-be burglars.
According to the FBI, the average loss from each burglary is $2,119. At that rate, a security system can pay for itself in spades.
Even if you do become a victim of theft, a security system can reduce your losses. Video surveillance makes it more likely that the police can catch the offender(s). If they do, you may be able to receive restitution.
There's another added perk to this lower crime risk, too: your customers will notice it. Security cameras make customers feel safer in your business. Ultimately, this can give you more business as they'll choose to shop with you rather than a less secure competitor.
Faster Emergency Response if Necessary
If you do get burglarized, having an alarm button can make all the difference in the result.
Imagine that your business is being robbed. Your employees would need to wait until the thieves leave to call 911. Through their shock, they would struggle to give the address and explain what happened. By the time the police arrive, there's no trace of the burglars.
If you have a quick-trigger alarm, though, the police can be on their way the second the robbery begins. They may even arrive and catch the burglars before they can escape.
Controlled Access Saves on Locksmith Services
If you have a traditional lock and key, you need to have the locks changed every time an employee leaves or is terminated. These costs add up quickly, especially if you have high turnover.
But if your small business security system includes a controlled access door, these expenses are gone. Each employee can have their own code. When you have turnover, simply deactivate the ex-employee's code at no cost.
Protection Against Liability Fraud
It's no secret that there are fraudsters who will fake an injury to sue a business. Video surveillance is your best defense against this problem.
Whether it's an employee or a customer, a video security system will show you exactly what happened. If the claim is legitimate, you can resolve it quickly rather than spending money investigating. If the claim is fraudulent, you have definitive proof.
Lower Insurance Premiums
Insurance companies recognize the many costs a security system saves. That's why many of them offer insurance discounts for security systems.
In some cases, these discounts are enough to pay for the security system over time. But each insurance carrier is different, so check with yours to find out if you could be saving money.
Start Saving with a Small Business Security System
Every small business owner asks, "Can I afford to get a security system?" With all the costs above that you risk without one, can you afford NOT to have a security system?
If you're in the York, PA area, contact our security team to find out how you can secure your company and your savings now.
Integratable Audio/Video Security System
Ask Kleppers about the AX Series which supports up to 8 interior master stations and 120 door or interior stations. All components are wired using CAT-5e/6 cable. A wide variety of system components are available to meet almost any specification. Contact Kleppers today at (717) 848-1754 or visit https://www.kleppers.com.