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LIVERPOOL, England — Luis Suárez has made bad choices over the years in much the same way that an overaggressive taxi driver does: consistently and spectacularly.
There was the time Suárez fought with a teammate at halftime over the machinations of a free kick; the time he made an obscene gesture with one hand (while pointing to the gesture with the other); and the times — plural — that he was caught on video inexplicably biting an opponent on the field.
Suárez, Liverpool's star striker, is not proud of these moments. But he has made a concerted effort to make better choices over the past year, both on the field and off, as he has led Liverpool to a spot in next season's Champions League. With a bit of luck this weekend — O.K., more than a bit — the Reds could even win their first English league title since 1990.
Decision-making — from both the club and its top scorer — have been at the heart of the team's surge. In a rare interview recently, Suárez played down his personal successes (he has scored 31 goals and was a runaway winner in voting among his colleagues and the country's soccer writers for player of the year) but conceded that, lest he ever forget his penchant for poor choices, he has a constant reminder of the consequences embedded permanently on his right arm.
"Yes, this was one of the worst decisions," Suárez said through a smile, rubbing the tattoo that spreads down from his shoulder. Sitting nearby, his wife, Sofia, grimaced. "I don't even know what to say about that," she said. She then stuck out her tongue.
When Suárez was 18, he and a cousin in his native Uruguay decided to get tattoos and opted to eschew such extravagances as a proper tattoo parlor or someone with any sort of experience in the art. Good taste kept Suárez, 27, from describing in detail exactly what his cousin sloppily carved on him back then, but Sofia, who has known Suárez since childhood, rolled her eyes. "There are no words," she said. "I tell him how much I hate it all the time."
More recently, Suárez attempted to assuage the situation by having a new, twisting design tattooed on top of the old one. The results were mediocre. "It's tribal!" he said, with forced enthusiasm, as he revealed the reconditioned tattoo. When it was pointed out that "tribal" is often one of those descriptions people use for tattoos when they don't really know what to say, Suárez nodded desperately. "This is true," he said.
Fortunately for Liverpool, Suárez's attempts at an image cleanup on the field have gone more smoothly. He began this season as a virtual pariah in Merseyside — suspended for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, he then tried to force a transfer from the club. At the time, he cited a desire to play in the Champions League immediately, and Arsenal made an offer of about 40 million British pounds (almost $68 million) that was ultimately rejected by Liverpool officials. Suárez then reversed course and, in fully enigmatic fashion, signed a contract extension to stay.
Still, there was fallout from the contretemps, and Suárez had to make things right with his teammates and Liverpool's manager, Brendan Rodgers, which he did, in an apology to the team. He also had to serve the rest of his 10-game suspension for biting Ivanoic on the arm in a game near the end of the 2012-13 season — an incident similar to a carnivorous episode Suárez had in the Dutch League in 2010.
"Obviously, it's not the most attractive image that I can have for myself," Suárez said. "But that's not what I want to be remembered for. I want to do things right. I really, really do."
Since returning to Liverpool's lineup in late September, he has stayed closer to that self-imposed line. And while it is easy to focus on Suárez's scoring totals, a closer look at his play shows a greater maturity within his game. According to the analytical website StatsBomb.com, Suárez has scored more league goals this year compared with last (31 to 23) despite recording fewer total shots per 90 minutes played.
In other words, his shot selection has improved — as evidenced by his increased shots-on-target percentage — and he has also given the ball away significantly less (4.3 times per 90 this year, as opposed to 5.6 last season), which fits with his lower number of dribbles.
"I think the supporters have seen him mature over the course of the last season," Rodgers said recently. "His development over the last year has been remarkable both on and off the field, and Liverpool have benefited from that."
Suárez also has a league-leading 12 assists this year, and his attacking partnership with the young English forward Daniel Sturridge (21 goals) has been a revelation.
"Every forward is selfish, and any forward who tells you he is not selfish is a liar," Suárez said. "I love scoring. But at the same time, if I see that someone is in a better position, then I will pass to them because that is the right thing to do."
That said, Suárez makes no secret about what motivates him. "I'm a forward," he said. "I'm a striker. We want to get goals; we want to be involved. We want to be the stars of the show. That's the way it is."
Packaging that necessary brashness into a more palatable public persona — and overriding the backlash from Suárez's mistakes, including a racism charge in 2011 that he still disputes — has become more of a priority for him lately, particularly since this year is almost surely the biggest of his career. In addition to his output for Liverpool, Suárez will play a key role for Uruguay's national team at the World Cup this summer.
Four years ago, Suárez was mired in another controversy after he intentionally handled the ball to deny Ghana a late goal in the quarterfinals. He does not apologize for his action, saying any competitor would have done the same, but in Brazil he hopes to become known for pushing Uruguay, a perpetual overachiever, even further in the tournament.
His wife said she had never quite understood the focus on her husband. The scrutiny and criticism he has faced in England have been, at times, overwhelming, so "it helps, sometimes, that it is in English," she said through an interpreter.
She added: "I don't understand everything they are saying about Luis. I think that is good."
Sofia says she has worked with Luis to perfect a sort of bunker mentality while at home, a tactic that helps keep Suárez grounded. When things are particularly rocky — after the most recent biting debacle, for instance — the couple retreats even further.
"One time I went to look at the Internet and was just bouncing around, looking at a few sites to see if they were saying anything about Luis, and he came running over," Sofia said. " 'Stop! Don't read it!' he told me. He was very serious about it."
Suárez laughed as he listened to the story, noting that Sofia often makes sure to remind him that, in her mind, he is hardly a star. After he scored four goals against Norwich City this year, for example, he was floating when he arrived home only to receive a ho-hum response from his wife. "I had to ask her if she knew how big it was to score four," he said. "She said: 'Yes. I do.' And then she went back to talking about the children."
It was a charming anecdote, and Suárez's devotion to Delfina, 3, and Benjamin, 7 months, is genuine. But as with any athlete, it is difficult for the public to know just what to make of Suárez, particularly when he is in his irritating, captivating mode during games.
"I go through so many emotions I can't explain," he said, and he does not regret his wild gesticulations, the pushes and the exaggerations after seemingly any contact that are designed to put the referee in a difficult position.
It is who he is, Suárez said, just as his breakdown in tears Monday after Liverpool seemingly tossed away its title hopes by blowing a three-goal lead and certain victory in a 3-3 tie with Crystal Palace was natural, too. He wants to win, however he can. He wants to score, however he can. And when he does, his celebration is simple: He kisses his ring finger as a show of affection for his wife, then his wrist where the names of his children are tattooed.
It is a celebration, he said, of his life's best choices. The tattoo on his shoulder? He ignores it completely.


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Steel Cut Oats Burger
Yes, it's a "burger" made from – among other things – steel cut oats. The idea is not new, but I became aware of it when I decided to do a bit of research on what I could make with some leftover, cooked steel cut oats. You're probably ready to bail on this post, but hang in there with me.
Start with a base of onion, carrot, garlic and some leftover steel cut oats.
Cook the onion in some sunflower oil for about 4-5 minutes. Then add the garlic and carrot and continue to cook over medium heat. Things are smelling pretty good right about now.
Add in the steel cut oats and continue to cook for a moment. Then, you'll add mushrooms and cook another few minutes.
Once cooked everything's melded together, you'll add the nuts, breadcrumbs, egg, soy sauce, salt and pepper, and parsley, shape the mixture into a patty and fry for a few minutes on each side. This step is tricky and I did find the mixture a bit loose, even after adding the beaten egg. So, I improvised and used a cookie cutter to hold the mixture together while cooking and it worked for the most part.
I have to say, I was so pleasantly surprised by the taste of this "burger". In both texture and taste, it, for me, approximated a grilled beef burger. I'll admit, I'm not a beef aficionado, but I do eat beef about once a month, and it's usually a really good burger, so I'm able to make an educated comparison here. The combination of the earthy mushrooms, slightly crunchy nuts and texture of the steel cut oats magically combines to make a tasty vegetarian "burger".
Printable recipe
I think you should try it and come back to let me know what you think!
by Elizabeth | Labels: main dishes , oats , pecans , steel cut oats , vegetarian , walnuts
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subset: commoncrawl


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New hardcover books teach kids through superheroes, gaming, art
There's no shortage of sci-fi, fantasy, and comic-book culture aimed at budding brains these days.
But a trio of new books goes straight for the nerd gene (and nerd parents' wallets) by putting arcane vocabulary, legit logic and encyclopedic knowledge of superheroes front and center in learning.
Whether you want to raise your kids to be rock-solid argumentative souls, dedicated gamers, or comic book devotees (or hell, all three) publishers are mining classic geek material for book-length educational products. It was bound to happen.
Check them out below, and see how we rank them according to our patent-pending, entirely objective scale-of-1-to-10 Nerd Book System.
Harry Potter update through the eyes of Rita Skeeter
Rita Skeeter is back, for all you witches and wizards who haven't heard the news. And it doesn't seem like she's changed at all since we last heard from her.
On Tuesday, J.K. Rowling released an update on the Golden Trio for her Harry Potter fan website Pottermore, though Today.com has the full article. Skeeter's column is part of a series of Quidditch World Cup pieces written to coincide with the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Harry, Ron and Hermione are in the Patagonian desert for the final: Brazil vs. Bulgaria. Will it be another case of the opposing team winning, but Krum catching the Snitch?
This is Rowling's first written piece on Harry, Ron and Hermione since "Deathly Hallows" was published almost seven(!) years ago. And this takes place three years before the epilogue. There's so much new information in this post, I don't even know where to begin. Below are some updates on some favorite characters.
Warning: If you haven't yet read Rita's column, there are spoilers below!
Wayne Knight of Jurassic Park, Seinfeld alive and well, despite huge hoax
No, Wayne Knight, the man who played Dennis Nedry in "Jurassic Park and Newman on "Seinfeld," is not dead, despite a massive Internet hoax claiming his demise.
As a matter of fact, so many believed the hoax, it was trending on Twitter in the U.S. this weekend.
Knight took to Twitter Sunday to reassure all he is alive and well.
Does someone have to DIE to trend? Geez! Thanks for all the love everybody. I didn't know you cared. Glad to be breathing!
— Wayne Knight (@iWayneKnight) March 16, 2014
Fans breathed a sigh of relief.
The only thing cooler than knowing Knight is still kicking is the fact that he retweeted my joke about who was behind the hoax.
Han Solo's Star Wars blaster is up for auction… and I want it!
Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.
Han Solo's original DL-44 blaster prop is up for sale on invaluable.com, and at a range of $200,000 to $300,000, it is a steal. (By the way, can anyone spot me $299,980? It's for, uh, work supplies.)
Some of the auction description is as follows: "It would have been used in the majority of scenes that feature Han, with the heavier, live-fire weapon being used for close-up shots. Particularly noteworthy scenes requiring this lighter version are when Darth Vader uses the Force to lasso the blaster out of Han's hand in Empire, and in Jedi when Han wrestles with a Stormtrooper to regain possession of his blaster during the Rebels' encounter with Imperial forces on Endor."
Now, there is a catch… Read more…
Denver author Jason Heller takes home Hugo Award, the sci-fi world's highest honor
Jason Heller yesterday achieved something most science fiction writers only dream of when they're dreaming up all the insane, brilliant stuff they write about: he won a Hugo Award.
The highly coveted prize, which the Denver author received at WorldCon in San Antonio, recognized his contributions to the sci-fi and spec-fiction magazine Clarkesworld, which won its third Hugo in the category of Best Semiprozine (which is not, as it may sound, a cybernetic ocular implant or pharmaceutical derivative).
The category denotes "an established format of science fiction and fantasy publication that focuses on short fiction," according to a Clarkesworld press release. Heller, who served as the magazine's nonfiction editor in 2012, shares the award with his Clarkesworld colleagues Neil Clarke, Sean Wallace and Kate Baker.


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At the end of an alleyway in London, a dark blue Jaguar is found neatly parked into an inconveniently placed brick wall. There is no sign of the driver, or any clue as to who they were.
Meanwhile, a group of cynics who are fed up with how futile the world has become decide to payback society in a series of the most bizarre and pointless terrorist attacks ever. The world's media attempt to discover if there is any link between these two incidents, or a link between any of a number of random incidents they overheard being discussed down the pub at lunchtime.
are so many funny scenes it would take forever to list them
all (well, 396 pages anyway).
Booklore, 30th June, 2001
fast -paced... I haven't read a book like it at all.
CrossTalk Magazine, Summer 2001


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You can buy the Sphero SPRK+ from Best Buy Canada $150 (CAD) or from Best Buy US for $130 (USD).
I first got a chance to play with a Sphero back in 2013. The robotic toy ball was fun and a unique twist on remote controlled vehicles. Fast forward to 2016, and Sphero is a household name! Their partnership with Star Wars turned the ball into the BB-8 (which continues to be a popular seller). In fact, they've been pushing the BB-8 with 'FORCE' control a lot this year at Best Buy. Going in a slightly different direction, the Sphero SPRK+ focuses on entertaining education.
Sphero SPRK+ is a mix of Coding and Fun
The Sphero SPRK+ has inductive charging (you place it on the pad and it charges immediately). It has a 60-minute battery life, and it has a top speed of 7.25 km/h. It also added a scratch resistant UV coating this year to keep the clear ball in perfect condition. Where the education element starts is in the Lightning Lab app. The app enables and teaches the user some basic coding. You can program Sphero SPRK+ to go in a direction, turn, come back, flash any colour in the rainbow and more. While the coding language is in a kid-friendly fashion, it is quite robust with deep control.
Where it gets more fun is that you can upload your codings, and download others. You can attempt challenges, and mazes and more. It is highly interactive and gives anyone using it an introduction to coding. While it's great for kids (age 8+), I personally had a lot of fun with it. I also think that experienced coders could do some unique things with it that my basic brain cannot imagine. But all the building blocks are there for this to be an amazing tool.
Other features of the Sphero SPRK+ are a gyroscope, accelerometer and it's full colour spectrum LED lights. It connects through Bluetooth SMART with a range of about 30 meters. The design itself is both shockproof AND waterproof – so feel free to take it into the pool.
View the other Techmas Giveaways here!
Full Contest Rules and Regulations here.
Disclosure: Techmas is something that I personally put together. As early as September I start making contact with brands to see if they are interested. They don't pay me. What they do provide me with is a unit to unbox, and one to giveaway.


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The Membership Plan makes taking music lessons easy. Designed for adult students and kids alike, this is the ideal plan for students who generally want regular weekly lessons at the best price per lesson.
- Receive the best price per lesson – save almost $1000 per year!*
- 20% off**
- No long-term contracts
- NOT a year-long commitment!
- Drop out anytime with 1 month notice
- Awesome Member benefits including:
- FREE Music Theory Workshops
- FREE Practice Room Time (subject to availability)
- FREE Recording Sessions
- FREE Recitals
- Best price for Jam Nights, Song Nights, Kids Jams and more
- Regular payments in easy automatic monthly installments
- Simple payments with your card on file, on the 1st of each month
- Price based on 4 lessons/month
- Adjusted every quarter as needed
- Simple weekly scheduling
- Simply choose your preferred time and day/night
- Rescheduling available (please see policies)
- No charge for weeks when you are unavailable
- Complimentary make-up lessons 3x/year
- Open enrollment – become a member anytime
- No hidden fees, no registration fees
- Professional administrative staff at your service
- Contact our office anytime
- No miscommunications with an instructor about dates or payments
- Current billing information kept on file
- 2 months (first/last) due upon enrollment
- Prorated if starting mid-month
- Accounts are paid one to two months forward
- Example: If you join on Jan 1st, you pay for Jan and Feb up front, and on Feb 1st your card is automatically charged for March; etc.
- 1 month notice to dropout
- Due by the 1st of the month
- Review our policies
Purchase Membership
Complete Your New Student Form
Q: Can I change my regular lesson day/time?
A: Yes. Please review our policies for your scheduling options.
Q: Am I still charged for a lesson if I don't have a lesson scheduled for a particular week?
A: Nope (see Adjustments and Scheduling in the policies).
Q: I'm only in Boston for 2 or 3 months – can I still become a Member?
A: Yes. You can specify an end date to your membership when you enroll, or you can always give one month notice to end your membership.
Q: Can I start in the middle of the month?
A: Yes. You can start anytime, and we will prorate your first month's payment.
Q: I don't want to dropout, but I'm going to be away/very busy for a specific time period coming up. Can I put my membership on hold?
A: Yes, with 2 weeks notice. While we recommend weekly study, if you are heading to India for a month or have a big promotion coming up at work, we can pause your membership. Depending on the circumstances, we may need to arrange a new lesson day/time for you when you return.
Q: I'm not sure how long I'd like to study with you. Should I still join the membership plan?
A: Yes. The membership plan requires a 2-month minimum commitment. For most students, 2 months of lessons is a good starting point. If after a few lessons you're still not sure, you can simply fill out a dropout form (due by the 1st of the month), and you won't be committed to any lessons beyond what you initially paid for. If after the 2-month period you decide you'd like to continue, you can simply re-join the membership plan. We also offer single lessons and the 4-pack.
Still have questions? We're Here to Help.
Not sure if the membership plan is right for you? Let our pro office team help you set up your lesson plan.
Contact Us Today
*Membership price compared to single lesson price, 60-minute lessons, 50 weeks/year.
**Compared to single lesson prices


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Friday's session are Apple Computer Inc., Royal Philips Electronics NV and Cephalon Inc.
Maxim Integrated Products Inc. MXIM, +0.77% is expected to report earnings per share of 48 cents for the fourth quarter, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.
Occidental Petroleum Corp. OXY, -2.32% is expected to post second-quarter per-share income of $2.79.
Peoples Energy Corp. PGL, +0.26% is expected to report earnings per share of 6 cents for the third quarter.
Washington Post Co. WPO is expected to post second-quarter earnings per share of $9.51.
WebSideStory Inc. WSSI is expected to report second-quarter per-share income of 12 cents.
After Thursday's closing bell, Apple AAPL, +0.36% has discovered additional evidence of irregularities related to its stock-option grants. The company said it will delay filing its report for the latest quarter, and will likely need to restate its historical results to record non-cash charges for stock-option grants. See full story.
Philips PHG, +1.22% said it has inked a deal to sell an 80.1% stake in its semiconductor unit to a private equity consortium consisting of Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts & Co., Silver Lake Partners and AlpInvest Partners NV. See full story.
Cephalon CEPH said it swung to a profit in the second quarter and lifted its forecast for the full-year 2006 period. See full story.See After Hours column.
Watch list
Activision Inc. ATVI, -1.79% said its quarterly loss widened and sales dropped 22% as the video-game industry continues to suffer a slump on an ongoing shift to next-generation gaming consoles. See full story.See After Hours column.
Applied Micro Circuits Corp. AMCC said its fiscal first-quarter sales rose to $69.7 million, up from $64.7 million in last year's period. The company didn't provide net income data due its internal review of its stock-option accounting.
Chiquita Brands International Inc. CQB, +1.86% said second-quarter net income fell as fuel costs rose and regulatory changes in the European banana market resulted in lower local pricing and increased tariffs. The banana company said quarterly net profit hit $22.9 million, or 54 cents a share, compared with $63.6 million, or $1.36 a share, during the same period in the prior year.
Crocs Inc. CROX, +1.58% said second-quarter net profit rose to $15.7 million, compared with $3.35 million during the same period in the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose to $85.6 million from $25.8 million in the prior year. See After Hours column.
Crown Castle International Corp. CCI, +0.32% said the Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting an informal inquiry into matters related to whether grants of stock options have been backdated. The company also said its second-quarter net loss narrowed from the same period in the prior year, while revenue reached $193.8 million, compared with $168.2 million in the prior year.
CV Therapeutics Inc. CVTX posted a net loss of $73.1 million, or $1.59 a share, for the second-quarter, compared with a loss of $51.6 million, or $1.43 a share, the year before. Revenue rose to $6.85 million from $5.75 million. See After Hours column.
Denny's Corp. DENN, +0.60% said same-store sales for company-owned Denny's restaurants rose 3% in July. The Spartanburg, N.C.-based restaurant chain said the guest check average rose 4.2%, while guest counts fell 1.1%.
Dominion Homes Inc. DHOM bell said it swung to a second-quarter loss as revenue declined on fewer closings and a decline in gross profit margin. Dominion said quarterly revenue fell to $75.8 million from $105.2 million in the prior year.
Sales of its animated feature "Madagascar" helped DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. DWA swing to a gain for the second quarter and beat analysts' earnings forecasts. See full story.
Dynamic Materials Corp. BOOM, +0.93% reported second-quarter net income of $5 million, or 41 cents a share, compared with $2.1 million, or 18 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue at the metal products company was $27.8 million, up from $18.4 million last year. See After Hours column.
Gateway Inc. GTW reported a fiscal second-quarter loss of $7.7 million, even while revenue rose, as the No. 3 U.S. personal-computer company saw a complete turnaround from its year-ago profit. See full story.See After Hours column.
HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. HCC, +0.28% said it has agreed to acquire Allianz Health for $140 million in cash and reported a 38% jump in second-quarter net income. See full story.
Icos Corp. ICOS reported second-quarter net earnings of $6.8 million, or 9 cents a share, for the three-month period ended June 30. In the same quarter last year, the Bothell, Wash., biotechnology company lost $22.6 million, or 35 cents a share.
International Rectifier Corp. IRF, +0.00% said fourth-quarter net income hit $31 million, or 43 cents a share, compared with $24.7 million, or 35 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.
Invitrogen Corp. IVGN posted a higher second-quarter profit but revenue that missed Wall Street's expectations. See full story.See After Hours column.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. JPM, -0.12% said it restated its 2005 year-end financial statement at the request of securities regulators over the way it had classified three years' worth of mortgage investments. See full story.
Leap Wireless International Inc. LEAP reported second-quarter net earnings of $7.5 million, or 12 cents a share, compared with $1.1 million, or 2 cents a share, in the same period last year. Quarterly revenue rose 18% to $267.9 million vs. $226.8 million.
Longs Drug Stores Corp. LDG, -12.12% said July retail drug store same-store sales rose 2.4% compared with last year.
Navistar International NAV, -2.17% said in four weeks it may announce layoffs at its Chatham, Ont., heavy truck assembly plant. The job cuts would be a result of an expected market decline because of the truck industry currently buying ahead of the stricter emissions regulations beginning in January.
Openwave Systems Inc. OPWV reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $4.67 million, or 5 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $62.3 million, or 91 cents a share, in the same period last year.
Parker Hannifin Corp. PH, -1.64% said total orders rose 14% in July compared with the same month last year.
PDL BioPharma Inc. PDLI, +0.63% posted a wider second-quarter loss due to increased costs, and said its terlipressin treatment failed to show statistical significance in a clinical trial. See full story.See After Hours column.
Ryerson Inc. RYI, +1.11% reported second-quarter net earnings of $22.2 million, or 76 cents a share, compared with $25.7 million, or $1.12 a share, in the same period last year. The Chicago-based metal company said quarterly revenue fell 0.8% to $1.51 billion vs. $1.52 billion due to the loss of two major customers and the sale of its oil and gas business in the first quarter of 2006.
Travel services provider Sabre Holdings Corp. TSG, +0.24% reported a 23% drop in second-quarter profit, hit by a tax reversal and higher operating costs. See full story.
True Religion Apparel TRLG earned $4.9 million, or 21 cents share in its second quarter, up from $2.4 million, or 18 cents, in the year-ago period. Sales at the clothing maker stood at $30.7 million, up from $22 million.
United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp. UAUA, said traffic in July increased 3.4% to 11.07 billion revenue passenger miles. Load factor, or the percentage of a plane filled with passengers, rose 1.3 percentage points to 87.7%, while net capacity rose 1.9% to 12.62 billion available seat miles.
Univision Communications Inc. UVN, +16.67% said its second-quarter profit was $107.4 million, or 32 cents a share, compared with a profit of $36.1 million, or 10 cents a share -- including the writedown of a loss in the fair value of an investment -- in the prior year. Revenue rose to $634 million from $508 million.
Visteon Corp. VC, -2.43% shares jumped on reports that the auto parts maker has hired two investment banks to explore the sale of the company.
WebMD Health Corp. WBMD said the second-quarter net loss hit $1.16 million, or 2 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $1.55 million, or 3 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose to $56.6 million from $41 million in the prior year.


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Last Updated on
The Pros and Cons of Privatizing CMHC
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is in the news again after Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty released the 2013 budget on Thursday March 21. New changes are coming that will, once again, limit the use of portfolio insurance by mortgage lenders.
Portfolio insurance, also known as bulk insurance, is a product which caused CMHC to eat up most of its $600-billion limit on the mortgages it insures. Anyone with less than a 20% down payment and borrowing from a financial institution regulated by the Bank Act, must purchase mortgage default insurance. Those with more than 20% do not have to buy that insurance but lenders have been purchasing it on behalf of these clients because the loans were more easily securitized with federal government backing.
CMHC, which controls about three quarters of the mortgage insurance market, is 100% backed by the federal government. The two private insurers, Canada Guaranty and Genworth Financial, control the rest of the market and are 90% backed by Ottawa. Their limit is $350-billion each.
The new rules introduced by Flaherty will gradually limit the sale of insurance on a conventional mortgage — those with more than a 20% down payment — which may cause lenders to, once again, tighten-up their mortgage approvals.
Perhaps it's time to revisit the role of CMHC and consider privatizing the crown corporation.
For years, lenders have known that Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has had an advantage over private mortgage insurers since its policies are backed 100% by the feds, unlike the 90% guarantee given to private insurers.
In a report written in 2011 by Jane Londerville , Associate professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies at the University of Guelph, who also teaches real estate finance and appraisal, has recommended privatizing the CMHC to level the playing the playing field.
"I'm not saying it's the right answer," Londerville said in an interview. "But if we want mortgage insurance that benefits the consumer, then we have to look at ways to make the insurance market more competitive. This would likely lead to lower mortgage insurance fees."
Lawrence Smith, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto co-authored a Federal Task Force Report in 1979 that discussed the role of CMHC and if there was a case for privatizing it then. At the time, it was a radical idea, but an idea whose day may be finally coming.
"We clearly needed CMHC 60 years ago," he said. "However, times have changed and the reasons it was created in the first place no longer exist."
CMHC was created in 1946, and then known as Central Mortgage and Housing Corp. The mandate of CMHC was to administer the National Housing Act and the Home Improvement Loans Guarantee Act. Essentially it was created to help soldiers returning home from the war access affordable mortgages.
By the 1950s, CMHC was in the affordable public housing business. The agency's social policy portfolio expanded, with assisted housing and assisted home-ownership programs, on-reserve housing, and green energy and conservation programs. CMHC also grew its mortgage loan insurance program by requiring those with low down payments to purchase mortgage insurance.
Finn Poschmann, vice-president of Research at the C.D. Howe Institute wrote in the Globe and Mail recently that CMHC may be doing too much – that's its role has expanded into territories where it may not belong. He asks these questions: Why does the Crown Corporation do all of the things it does? Why aren't social housing and related social programs part of a division of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, where similar social programs reside? Why aren't housing market data functions handled and financed by Statistics Canada? Why aren't green energy programs parts of Natural Resources Canada?
With regard to mortgage insurance, Poschmann wrote, "This usually is a profitable business – people must buy the product, and to do so at the price CMHC sets. But why does the federal government hustle mortgage insurance, and not auto insurance?
Taxpayers have often raised concerns that backing mortgage insurers is risky business and can end up costing them as it did in 1979 when CMHC didn't have enough in reserve to cover claims and needed government assistance. Since then, CMHC increased premiums and have been more cautious about maintaining its reserves.
"Having a competitive market for mortgage insurance greatly benefits home-buyers and would likely lower insurance fees," said Londerville.
To foster a more competitive environment she recommends that CMHC be repositioned as an affiliated non-Crown public entity and ensure the government backing for this new company is equal to those terms available to private insurers. She also recommends the federal government set lending criteria.
Londerville, Smith and Poschmann all agree that CMHC should not be wound down but its role should change.
Statscan could take took over housing market data, and energy-conservation programs can migrate to other federal departments said Poschmann. CMHC's financial market functions are already overseen by Finance and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, which also inspects private insurers.
The mortgage insurance program, meanwhile, would be an attractive investment for a well-capitalized domestic financial institution, such as a pension fund — the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan already owns half of one of the private insurers, Poschammn added.
Smith said the government should consider establishing CMHC as a re-insurer rather than a primary insurer as it is now. Reinsurance is the most common risk-transfer tool used by insurers to manage risk. Private mortgage insurers use it, as does Export Development Canada, a federal Crown corporation with a significant export credit insurance business.
Reinsurance is risk-sharing between the direct insurer and the re-insurer who agree to fulfil certain obligations under certain conditions, like any legal contract. In the case of mortgage insurance, it could be agreed that if there is default up to a certain amount the re-insurer will pay the difference, thereby sharing the risk.
"There are still many questions to answer about CMHC," said Smith. "We may not need it as it exists today — its role must be redefined."


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CLEARWATER — In front of what looks like a small church auditorium just off U.S. 19, boys in oversized T-shirts kicked a soccer ball between parked cars on fenced-in grass. About 70 anxious adults walked through the doors of the Croatia Club of Tampa Bay to attend what for many was the most anticipated party in years.
Inside, the Croatian and U.S. flags hung from the ceiling, separated by a large cross. A flat-screen TV plugged into a laptop played the Croatian channel HRT 2's World Cup broadcast as fans watched from stiff, padded chairs.
The Croatian men's soccer team's rise to the World Cup final — following down-to-the-wire victories over Denmark, Russia and England and culminating in a 4-2 loss to France on Sunday — motivated members of the local Croatian community to meet each other and celebrate together.
At halftime, as Croatia trailed 2-1 and the crowd opened boxes from Country Pizza Italian Grill, Tanya Weiss of St. Petersburg stepped outside for a cigarette.
"My nerves are shot," she admitted.
Weiss, who was born in Croatia, desperately wanted a win.
"The country's been through so much."
Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, but years of violence with Serbian armies followed. The nation's economy collapsed after the war and fell into crisis again in 2008. Its unemployment rate was more than 12 percent in 2017.
Weiss had just returned to Florida from her last trip visiting family. One of her Croatian cousins studied agricultural engineering in college but was stuck working in a factory.
She teared up.
"Pretty soon, Croatia is going to cease to exist if things don't change."
Fans were caught between reflecting on the state of their country, clamoring for a championship and appreciating what they already had — an afternoon together with family and friends in a small diaspora.
Weiss, who has spent 28 years in Florida, learned of the club this week, looking online for other Croatians watching the final.
Another first-timer, 37-year-old Anthony Kraljic, said he has yearned to get closer to his heritage. The World Cup run was "a catalyst." It provided a set time and easy excuse to meet new people.
At the same time, his mind drifted back to his trips to Croatia.
"We're still feeling the blight," he said. "There are still bombed-out areas." He said he's only visited twice.
Those who return more frequently often visit during the summer, said club President Katica Pavicic, so she wasn't sure how many people would even show up to Sunday's viewing party.
They couldn't start planning until Croatia won its semifinal match Wednesday, said Marina Cordas, who tended the bar
By kickoff, every one of the green glass bottles of Croatian favorite Karlovacko was gone. It's hard to find the authentic beer locally, she said, and once the game started, fans had to switch to Stella or Bud Light.
Cordas, 50, moved from Chicago in 2003. She said Croatians used to meet and throw picnics in Seminole Park. In 2010, the club opened, giving the community a concrete stomping ground.
"It (was) time for us to build a home," she said.
As it became clear Sunday that Croatia would lose, anxiety bubbled into frustration. After a French goal, Weiss got up and left early. Kris Medic, 63 and of Belleair Beach, didn't sit down the entire second half.
Yet as soon as the game ended, the crowd broke into applause.
Medic, who runs the club's website, walked to the front of the room and began recording with his phone. He directed everyone to cheer.
They did, though not as loudly as they did for the team's first goal. Chants of "HR-VAT-SKA" — the Croatian name for the country — faded in and out.
Medic said he was showing "love of the homeland." He's lived in the U.S. since 1981 and says most of his American friends can't find his country on a map.
"America is home, but Croatia is homeland."
To him, the loss is no shame for a country of 4 million, not much bigger than the population of Tampa Bay.
"It's the best ever for a small nation like us," he said, smiling.
A man rushed up, cheering, and brought Medic a small, clear bottle and plastic cup. He poured a bit of Slivovitz, a light-colored plum brandy. Medic threw it back.
Contact Langston Taylor at 727-893-8659 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow @langstonitaylor.


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Doctor's Bag Style Handbag OUT OF STOCK
One-of-a-kind Tuareg Leather Doctor's Bag style handbag. Closed with push button snap. Opens like a traditional doctor's bag to one main compartment. All handworked: Please note that this is not manufactured and will have imperfections in leather and dye patterns.
• Color: Red Trim & Handles, Tan Body, Mustard Yellow & Teal Dark Green Patterns
• Size: Bag Closed: 12" long x 9" high x 6" deepest, Straps: top 9 3/4" from side slaps, rise 7" above top of bag
• Materials: Leather, Dye


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Perhaps the stoopidest of these things is of course getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Or a bull dozer.
Having sex while driving drunk is also a very bad idea.
If you're three sheets to the wind and driving a car (or bull dozer), seeing the flashing lights on the top of a cop car certainly won't make you any less drunk, but they will make you find Jesus real quick.
During the brief few moments just after being lit up (no pun intended) by the Fuzz and actually pulling over to the side of the road to be unceremoniously (and deservedly) hauled off to the County Big House, a drunk driver will by instinct reach for something mask the smell of alcohol on his breath - gum, mints, underwear.....WHAT. THE. FUCK.
Now, to a Former Professional Drinker such as myself, I can assure you that gum or mints do not mask the odor of likker on one's breath.
Especially if one has over indulged.
Other than the obvious public safety concerns, this incident raises some other pressing issues.
- Could Mr. Zurfluh not have taken an alternative method of transportation to safely make it home without endangering other Canada-ites roaming the streets of Stettler innocently smoking some fine Canuckistani Cabbage (pot)?
- A moose-drawn carriage perhaps?
- Couldn't he have sheltered overnight in a Canada-ite Roadside Drunk Tank?
- Also known as an "igloo".
- I bet Messieur Zurfluh has participated in a robust round of Curling while blasted out of his mind also.
- Is the word"Zurfluh" Canada-ite Language for "underwear eater" ?
- Does sucking down Second Hand Ass distort a Blood Acohol Content reading by a Breathalyzer?
- If it does, Second Hand Ass should be bottled and sold at all Canada-ite Likker Retailers throughout the 10 Provinces and 3 Territories of the Great White North.
- Unless the term Second Hand Ass has been copyrighted by Canada-ite Hookers.
- Marketing Idea: Why Let Your Breath Smell Like Likker When It Can Reek of Second Hand Ass!
- Eh?
***Hat Tip stoo, Dumbass Emeritus***
***Hat Tip stoo, Dumbass Emeritus***


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About Kaweco Liliput Ballpoint Pen - Blue Aluminium
The Liliput Ballpoint Pen - an elegant little number, ideal for either pocket or handbag! First produced by Kaweco in 1910 when it was made from black ebonite, this modern day model is CNC machined from solid aluminium and then anodized to give a rich blue finish.
The Blue finish was an experimental colour and was not released for general sale, a rare opportunity to acquire this unusual pen!
The Liliput ballpoint takes Kaweco Soul D1 refills and is supplied with one blue refill. Retractable point using the end push button.
Presented in a retro-style Kaweco gift tin.
View the Kaweco Pens range.
|Product Type
|Ballpoint Pen
|SKU/Product Code(s)
UK Delivery
We dispatch all orders over the value of £15 with free postage. There is an option to upgrade your postage to 1st class signed for or Special Delivery for the following supplemental costs:
|Order Value
Royal Mail 1st Class Standard
|Royal Mail 1st Class Signed for
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|Up to £14.99
|£15.00 to £49.99
|£50.00 to £124.99
|£125 +
Most orders received before 12 noon Mon-Fri will be shipped the same day and will generally arrive within three working days after posting. Please note this is based on stock availability and the ability of Royal Mail to meet their own delivery guidelines. We will endeavour to contact you if our stocks are depleted at the time of your order. Orders placed after 12 noon on Friday will be dispatched the following Monday and are subject to stock availability.
Special Delivery
Orders to the value of £125 or more are sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery 1pm at no extra cost, but please note that the actual dispatch date will be subject to stock availability and day/time of order. Orders must be placed before 12 noon. Please feel free to speak to our sales team to check stock availability and despatch times before you place your order.
Saturday Delivery
We cannot guarantee items that are sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery 1pm will arrive the next day before 1pm on Saturdays as this is affected by your local sorting office.
However you must place your order before 12 noon on the Friday if you require this service. Please feel free to call us for stock availability before placing your order.
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Orders sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery will require a signature. If there is nobody to receive the goods, the carrier will leave a card. It is your responsibility to contact the carrier to rearrange delivery or to collect them from your local sorting office. If the goods are returned to us having had no contact from the customer requesting a re-shipment, your order will be automatically refunded. Your postage will not be refunded, only the value of the item stipulated on your order.
International Delivery
Shipping costs to international locations vary according to the size and weight of your parcel. The shipping cost will be displayed in your basket before you checkout and you will have the option to cancel your order before payment should you decide the shipping cost makes your purchase beyond budget. Please note that we reserve the right to adjust delivery charges for foreign orders over 1kg in weight. We will always contact you if this is the case and give you the option to pay extra or cancel the order.
Note that for international orders we will ONLY deliver to the address of the card used to purchase the goods.
Customers outside the EU will be charged the VAT-exclusive prices shown on the site. UK Value Added Tax (VAT, currently 20%) will be deducted at the point of sale for all countries outside the EU. However, as with all foreign imports, you are liable for any taxes and duties imposed by your local taxation authority (e.g. customs duty, excise duty and/or import VAT). It is important that you check these rates before ordering as The Hamilton Pen Company will not be held responsible for any additional charges.


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Barb Sahl made raised beds from concrete pavers and two by fours that are sturdy enough to sit on, saving her knees. Photo taken May 7 by Barb Gorges.
Published in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle May 29, 2016, "Got rabbits? Try raised bed gardening."
By Barb Gorges
Rabbits made her do it.
Barb Sahl, a Laramie County Master Gardener, told me she was a ground-level vegetable gardener for the first nine years at her place on Cheyenne's south side, but she switched to raised beds to keep the rabbits out of her garden.
There were other considerations too. Raised beds would help keep her dogs from running through the radishes and it was a way to deal with a persistent weed problem.
Sahl was also thinking about her aging knees, knowing her days of kneeling would end in the future.
With that in mind, she installed eight beds using a system of landscape pavers, then added five stock tanks.
Below you will find information about the history, types and benefits of raised beds in our area.
Genesis of the raised bed
The stereotypical vegetable garden has rows of vegetables. The bare ground between must be kept weeded.
An alternative is to grow vegetables like flowers, using wide beds, 2 to 4 feet wide (depending on how far you want to reach) and grow your plants more closely. This shades out the weeds and you never step into the wide beds, keeping the soil from getting compacted. The paths between beds can be mulched.
A wide bed can be planted at ground level, or with a bit of soil excavated from what will be the paths, made into a flat-topped mound. The soil in the mound will warm up earlier in spring, allowing earlier planting, though the plants themselves may still need protection from frost at night.
If the bed is amended with compost or with soil brought in, fertility and drainage can be improved.
In 2012, I tried the mound method. I had few weeds and great results. The path around the bed was deep in tree leaves collected the previous fall. However, the edges of the mound had a tendency to erode after heavy rains.
Last summer my husband and I converted to what gardeners normally envision a raised bed to be, a contained mound.
Types of raised beds
Gardeners have been inventive at using whatever is at hand to make the walls of a raised bed: bales of straw (hay has too many seeds that will sprout), wood, rock, brick, concrete block, old stock tanks. Raised beds work for flowers as well as vegetables. Sahl even has her raspberries in one to keep them from spreading.
Wood: Raised beds can be built to workbench-level ("elevated" beds) or the sides can be as low as a single 6-inch wooden board—though that won't keep the rabbits out. However, Sahl soon realized plain wooden boards would decompose and she would have to replace them sooner than she'd like.
Thirty years ago, raised beds using old railroad ties were fashionable, but it was found that wood preservative chemicals from that era are toxic and can migrate into vegetable plants.
Currently, "ground contact pressure treated" wood has an environmentally friendlier preservative but there is still controversy.
If in doubt, use cedar or redwood. Either, though more expensive, should last a lifetime.
Raised bed kits often contain posts with brackets that hold wooden boards. Another version I'm trying this year, available locally, is steel plates 18 inches tall and bent 90 degrees which fit around the outside corners of the bed and screw into place.
In another bed we built 15 years ago, using plastic dimensional lumber, the corners are held together by brackets on the inside. Surprisingly, the galvanized steel has not rusted out.
This detail of Sahl's raised bed system shows the brackets used to hold the concrete pavers upright, connecting them to the 2 x 4s along the bottom and the top. She will put drip irrigation (the black plastic hoses) back in when planting the beds. Photo by Barb Gorges.
Pavers: Sahl used a system she found from Lee Valley Tools that starts with a frame of pressure treated two by fours outlining the shape of the bed. She made hers 2.5 feet wide by 8 feet long. Steel brackets attach to the frame and are designed to hold pre-cast concrete pavers upright. Sahl's pavers are 16 inches square. More brackets along the top edge of the pavers attach to another frame of two by fours, making the structure strong enough to sit on. The brackets are ordered as a kit and the gardener buys the wood and pavers locally.
Concrete block: Mark and I tried a concrete block raised bed for our vegetables last year, but we didn't stack the blocks on boards like Sahl did her pavers. After this past winter's freezing and thawing, the walls undulate. Also, for the nine months of the year nothing is growing in it, the bed looks just like a pile of ugly gray concrete—right in the middle of the view from our favorite window.
Sahl's recycled stock tank helps contain the spread of her raspberry patch. Large holes in the bottom of the tank are necessary for good drainage. Photo by Barb Gorges.
Stock tanks: This style is simpler, but perhaps harder to find, prep and install.
Sahl uses this method and got the idea from a relative who uses rusted-out tanks in her garden.
Sahl found her own stock tanks on Craig's list. We're talking about the long, narrow ones made of galvanized steel. Sahl's are 2 to 2.5 feet across by 6 or 8 feet long by about 2 feet deep. Since they weren't rusted out on the bottom, she drilled lots of holes for drainage. If she were to do it again, she suggests just cutting out portions of the bottoms.
How to install a raised bed
Find a flat, sunny location within range of your hose or drip irrigation system.
Plan the bed's width so you can reach the middle comfortably, and maximize the dimension of materials to be used. The shape can be square, rectangular or even L or U-shaped. Sahl left enough room between beds for her wheelbarrow.
Because Sahl has a weedy infestation of skeleton-leaf bursage, she chose to cover her site with weed barrier cloth and then covered that with bark mulch between the beds.
Under normal conditions, you would remove pre-existing vegetation as you would for any other garden, especially if you aren't building your raised bed very high—you need to allow for root growth.
Unless your building materials are ephemeral, temporary like straw bales, be sure to use a level to keep everything square and neat looking. Get corner posts set straight and boards horizontal.
How to fill a raised bed
Sahl wanted completely different soil for her beds than what was in her yard so she ordered a load that was a little sandier, with less clay. It's important that it is good quality, she said, and not full of weed seeds. She has grown a wide variety of vegetables in the eight years since and is very happy with the results.
If you are growing vegetables, you may want to mix in a lot of compost like that available through Cheyenne's compost facility. In future seasons you won't have to till, just add a couple more inches of compost, perhaps in the form of the organic mulch you use on the surface—leaves and grass clippings, etc.
For flowers, be aware that hardy native perennials do best with less fertile soil.
Sahl has made tomato cages from concrete mesh that fit her raised beds perfectly. She can wrap them in plastic to protect the plants from frost early in the season.
Raised beds also lend themselves to the addition of trellises, cold frame covers, mini-hoop houses, hail guards and drip irrigation systems. See previous columns on those subjects at www.CheyenneGardenGossip.wordpress.com.
Details of Sahl's raised beds, late August 2016: (clockwise from top left) onions, cabbage, raspberries, tomato, carrots.
Gorges raised bed, July 2016.


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Eluent Generator Parts and Accessories
- Products [9]
- Learn More []
- Documents & Support []
Dionex™ ICW-3000 Online Water Purification System Replacement Parts (Thermo Scientific™)
Replacement parts include mixed bed ion exchange cartridge, inline filter kit, 0.45mm end filter, 0.05mm UV lamp and circulating pump.
Dionex™ Mixer Kits for Carbonate Eluent Generator Cartridges (Thermo Scientific™)
Select the Mixer Kit for the analytical needs depending on the Carbonate Eluent Generator Cartridges in your lab.
Dionex™ Carbonate, Methanesulfonic Acid, and Hydroxide EGC Eluent Generator Cartridges (Thermo Scientific™)
Automate eluent generation and prevent baseline shift, increase sensitivity, improve resolution, and more by using Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ EGC Cartridges.
Dionex™ Reagent-Free™ Controller DX-120 Adapter Cables (Thermo Scientific™)
Upgrade your legacy Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ ion chromatography (IC) system with this required cable.
Dionex™ ICS-6000 EG Eluent Generator Kit (Thermo Scientific™)
Run ion chromatography gradients as easily as isocratic by installing the Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ EG Cartridge Kits in the Dionex ICS-6000 EG Eluent Generator.
Dionex™ EWP Electrolytic Water Purifier (Thermo Scientific™)
Use this device to generate ultrapure water for sample and standard transfers in trace anion and cation ion chromatography (IC) applications.
Dionex™ ICS-6000 EG Eluent Generator (Thermo Scientific™)
Use the Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ Eluent Generator in the ICS-6000 HPIC™ system to enable online electrolytic eluent generation using DI water and cartridges.
Dionex™ ICW-3000 Online Water Purification System (Thermo Scientific™)
Choose an ideal solution for the direct supply of ultrapure water to RFIC-EG Ion Chromatography systems with the Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ ICW-3000 Online Water Purification System.
Dionex™ RFC-30 Reagent-Free™ Controllers (Thermo Scientific™)
Save time and eliminate sources of variability; upgrade your legacy ion chromatography system with electrolytic eluent generation and suppression.


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So, my parents showed up at my house last night. From out of state. A week early. To surprise me. Boy, was I ever surprised. I was playing on the computer. Well, looking out the open door to the front porch with a rocks glass of bourbon, smoking, and thinking about whether actually eating dinner was worth the effort it would take to whip up something creative out of the condiments that are the lonely occupants of my refrigerator. And they pull up and turn into my driveway. All I could think was..."ummm, this looks kind of bad."
I got to sit up late with them and gossip about my siblings.
When I woke up this morning (at around 4:30--which I habitually do in order to have a couple of uncluttered writing hours while I'm fresh) my mom got out of bed, too. She puttered around and made coffee while I was trying to adjust to having a human being moving around my house when I just wanted to write, and think, and wake up. And she wanted to talk to me.
And why not? She just drove a thousand miles for that very reason. So I closed down the piece I was working on, and sat on the porch in the dawn with my mother. We watched birds at the feeders in the yard, and drank coffee. I don't even remember what we talked about.
It was one of those moments, you know? And when I lose my mother to illness or accident or Alzheimer's, I hope that this morning is a clear memory. Just the feeling of it all. The companionable silences, the flavor of coffee, the damp chill of a pacific northwest morning. I hope I can remember every second.


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Come say hello and hear Natalie play at her night at MoMo's hosted by Sound Purpose.
The last 'Shindig' at MoMo's was a huge success and they have asked us to host another night! Usually we host parties every three to four months, but we agreed to do one more session before we all disappear for Summer. So here it is, June 30th, all of us back to back! We will hit the decks from 10pm until 3am.
Come say farewell before jet setting off for summer holidays and boogies by the sea.
The guest list is limited so please rsvp for free entry.
Momo, 25 Heddon St, Soho, London W1B 4BH
Natalie (Sound Purpose)
Alex Lambert
Dr J
David Ventura
Arrive early to guarantee entry!


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Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.
Operational business intelligence
How to enhance your data science storytelling
How do you create substantive, compelling stories for business executives from cold, hard numerical data? Experts share their tips on how to improve your data storytelling skills. Continue Reading
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The fast-food giant is acquiring Dynamic Yield, a big data analytics platform, in pursuit of a more personalized customer experience on drive-thru and digital orders. Continue Reading
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KPIs help companies gauge success, but how do you choose the right metrics to create useful reports? Here you'll find 10 KPI examples to inspire your executive dashboards. Continue Reading
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A real-time indoor tracking system and analytics software help Florida Hospital combine nurse location data with patient records for analysis. Continue Reading
Data-driven management processes need careful driving
Businesses are increasingly putting data and analytics at the center of their management practices. That can lead to better decisions and efficiency gains, but also cultural clashes. Continue Reading
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GIS data analyst Andy Cain always knew location analytics could help develop deep business insights. Now he has the opportunity to show how as part of an initiative at Con-way Freight.Continue Reading
Operational intelligence technologies are making real time a reality
While many take the traditional route to business intelligence, forward-thinking companies are taking a more operational approach. By integrating BI and analytics, these companies are enabling improvements of business processes -- in real-time. ...Continue Reading
Operational BI process puts better business practices within reach
In a Q&A, consultant Rick Sherman discusses operational business intelligence and offers advice to companies looking to use the approach to manage their operations more effectively.Continue Reading
Integrated analytics gives users operational intelligence edge
Embedding analytics capabilities in operational processes can pay big business dividends by enabling front-line workers to optimize how things are done, consultant David Loshin says.Continue Reading
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Real-time analytics brings BI data directly into business operations
Giving end users immediate access to operational data for real-time business intelligence can help drive better decisions, if it fits business needs.Continue Reading
Decision management: Reaping the rewards, skirting the pitfalls
To adapt to never-ending marketplace changes, threats and opportunities, businesses face growing pressure for effective decision management. But before implementing anything, they need to take a few critical steps and learn to measure results.Continue Reading


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Watch out for this Trademark Renewal Scam
Have you ever received a letter from the "Patent&Trademark Bureau" in Philadelphia? I received one recently. They wanted to charge me $925 to renew one of my trademarks. The letter looked real. It had the correct information for my business and for the trademark. It even had a graphic representation of the trademark and the serial number of the mark. And, to top the realism off, it had an official-looking barcode on the letter. But it's not for real. It's a scam, as in "a dishonest scheme, a fraud."
Reading the Fine Print
In the important information section, the fine print, of course, the company does represent itself honestly. This company admits that it is "a private business that is not endorsed by the U.S. government." It's just that many people don't read the fine print, or they think they must comply by sending the letter back and paying $950.
The "Patent&Trademark Bureau" did get one thing right. In order to maintain your trademark, you must re-register it every 5-6 years. But they got the amount wrong; the actual filing fee is $100.
How You Know a Letter is a Scam
1. Wrong Agency. The U.S. government agency that registers patents and trademarks is the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (not Bureau). It's in Washington, D.C., not Philadelphia (but Philadelphia has a nice patriot sound, don't you think?).
2. Mistakes. The address is 1500 Market st, 12th Floor. In the "Important Information" section there is a poor sentence: "trademarks may be lost if they are failed to be renewed...." Typos, grammar, and spelling errors are common in this type of scam.
3. Wrong Link. If you enter the name "Patent&Trademark Bureau" into your search engine, you'll come to the website of a company (It's .com, not .gov). So you know it's not part of the federal government. There is little information on the site, only a few pages.
4. They Are Billing You Directly. The USPTO says,
"...fees required to maintain U.S. patents and trademark registrations must be paid directly to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)..."
Just to be clear, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office says,
"All official correspondence will be from the "United States Patent and Trademark Office" in Alexandria, VA, and if by e-mail, specifically from the domain "@uspto.gov."
This is just one example of the types of solicitations the USPTO is informed of. The USPTO says that it does not investigate these charges, but it does have information about some of the types of solicitations and businesses reported by consumers. The "Patent&Trademark Bureau" is on this list.
In case you were wondering how this company got my registration numbers and the logo, don't forget this information is in the USPTO database and anyone can search on the database of active trademarks.
Be wary if you receive any of these types of correspondence: offers of legal services or trademark monitoring services offers to record trademarks with U.S. Customers and Border Protection, and private registries for trademarks.
How to Keep Your Trademark Alive
To maintain your trademark, you must file a "Declaration of Continued Use," swearing (in writing) that the trademark is in common use commerce.
You must file the "Declaration of Use" between the 5th and 6th years after the registration date. Then the registration will continue until the 10-year mark. You must submit another "Declaration of Use" between the 9th and 10th year after the registration date, and keep submitting every 10 years.
The filing fee for this declaration is $100 for each class of goods or services in which the trademark is registered.
Specific information must be included in the declaration, and only someone who is properly authorized to sign on behalf of the company may sign the declaration.
File a Complaint
If you receive one of these solicitation letters and you want to file an online consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov.
Other scams and frauds against businesses to watch out for include business registration and trademark renewal scams and fake emails from the IRS.


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Ilgın Commercial Exchange was established on 25.09.2001 with the approval of Ministry of Industry and Commerce. After holding the first election, Exchange Assembly and Governing Board were constituted and Mustafa ERTOK was appointed as the Secretary General.
The administration and organization of Ilgın Commercial Exchange was defined in accordance with the law no 5174. President of the Assembly, its members, terms of references and the authorization of the Assembly as well as President, members of the Governing Board and duties and authorization of the Governing Board were defined in the Law no. 5174 on The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey and the Chambers and Exchange Commodities.


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Recent Posts
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Category Archives: personal power
Unlearning depression?
Would you, for a moment, entertain with me the possibility that depression is not "an illness", so much as a perfectly natural response – or group of responses – to certain experiences or changes, or even to 'good manners'? What … Continue reading
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As they say, "some days are diamonds, some days are pearls" and some are akin to lumps of coal. I spent yesterday doing research around a couple of pet subjects, instead of writing, and ended up frustrated. That's rare for … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Internet, personal power, psychology, Reflection Tagged blogging, choices, consciousness, personal growth, power, psychology, reflections 6 Comments


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CMC MISSION MILONGA with 2014 World Champion Lorena Gonzalez Y Gaston Camejo
from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Saturday April 14, 2018
from 8pm-12am
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1664234420330638/
8-9:30pm: Workshop with guest teachers Lorena Y Gaston: Enhance your dance with deeper connection and musicality in the pauses and phrasing of different orchestras.
See youtube: https://youtu.be/mpOIiSLAL2w
9:30pm-12am: Milonga with traditional Argentine Tango music by DJ Asvin
Surprise Live music Intermezzo
$30 general/$25 seniors & full time students with ID for workshop AND Milonga
$15 general/$10 seniors & full students with ID for Milonga only
Please, bring snacks and refreshments to share!
This is a fragrance-free event. No cell phone use permitted in the hall.
Every 2nd Saturday of the month, CMC and Tango dance faculty member Sonja Riket host a monthly Milonga (Argentine Tango social dance gathering) with a drop-in class and dancing to Tango music from the Golden Era and beyond. This Milonga series will include live music and dance performances by local and international Tango guests.
Enjoy dancing in the beautiful Victorian concert hall with smooth wooden floor and outdoor patio! Come to listen and watch or join in the dance. All ages are welcome!
More info: Sonja Riket 415.661.1852
Community Music Center - Concert Hall
544 Capp St. SF, CA 94110
(415) 647-6015 • www.sfcmc.org
Parking garage at 21st St & Bartlett
and lots Capp St (b/w 19th& 20th and 21st&22nd Str)
Also street parking at Folsom St., 2 blocks away
with 2014 World Champion Lorena Gonzalez Y Gaston Camejo
from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sunday April 15, 2018
from 7:30pm-11:30pm
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/143401396493782/
7:30-9pm: Workshop with Guest Teachers LorenaYGaston: Enhance your dance with deeper connection and musicality in the pauses and phrasing of different orchestras.
9pm-11:30pm: Milonga with traditional Argentine Tango music by DJ Ashvin
10pm: Dance performance by LorenaYGaston. See youtube: https://youtu.be/mpOIiSLAL2w
Advance tickets at Ashkenaz website: $20 workshop only/$10 Milonga only/$25 workshop and Milonga
At door: $20 workshop only/$15 Milonga only/$30 workshop and Milonga
This is a fragrance-free event.
More info: Sonja Riket 415.661.1852
As part of the World Dance Hall program, Ashkenaz and in house Tango Teacher Sonja Riket pair up to host a monthly Milonga every 2nd (sometimes 3rd) Sunday of the month.
Tango Revelation Milonga is a social Argentine Tango dance gathering. It is led by award-winning Tango teacher Sonja Riket, who teaches at Ashkenaz since 2008. This Milonga series includes a dance class, dance performances and live music by local and international Tango guest artists. Argentine Tango was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay in the late 1880's as a dance and music of immigrants. Grown into a worldwide phenomenon, it continues to cross the boundaries of race, culture, language and social status. It encourages the spontaneous inclusion of music and dance in our everyday life as a communal experience.
In 2017, this event evolves out of the "Tango Revolution" Milonga, which began in 2005 at Café Revolution in SF's Mission District , then found a home at Café Trieste Downtown SF from 2007-2012 (with the Tango Revolution Orchestra) and at Berkeley's Café Mediterraneum from 2012-2016. With a slight change of name to "Tango Revelation", we continue to envision Argentine Tango as a relational matrix of connection to ourselves, each other and our world.
We offer the beautiful connection between human beings in the Tango Embrace as a common language and antidote against the isolation, separation and fearful existence we are led to believe is necessary. To complement our screen-oriented lives, we need to slow down, rediscover the joy of body-based expressions and create live gathering places among ourselves in a spirit of harmony and well-being! What better way to come home to ourselves and connect with each other across our differences than the non-verbal power of a music and dance embrace, listening and moving together as one? Come find out what Tango can reveal to you!
Ashkenaz is always all ages.
The café offers beer, wine and a vegetarian menu.
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center,
1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702
510.525.5099 – www.ashkenaz.com
Parking in mall across the street
More info on the artists:
Lorena González Cattáneo and Gaston Camejo are originally from Uruguay.
Since 2006 Lorena devoted herself to several dance disciplines such as jazz, belly dance, flamenco, salsa. Her strongest background is the fact that she worked in traditional multicultural tango places or "Casas de tango" in Uruguay, where the past and present of the tango from Montevideo mix and remain intact.
Since 2012 she trained with many Tango masters in Buenos Aires and in 2014 wins the World Tango championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gaston Camejo danced with the National Folkloric Ballet of Uruguay. In 2013 he met Lorena and moves to Buenos Aires. Since 2015 they merged their artistic careers, something they have dreamed of since long ago and begin together to bring the tango around the world.
They constantly strive to accomplish tango that does not just refer to its technical side, but that conveys artistic achievement beyond the movement.
See youtube: https://youtu.be/mpOIiSLAL2w
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Colonoscopy in York
- Overview
Give us a call
Or call us on
Are you in need of quick access to a colonoscopy? At Nuffield Health York Hospital our expert endoscopists regularly perform colonoscopies and you can expect to receive your results as quickly as possible.
Why choose Nuffield Health York Hospital for your colonoscopy procedure?
If you need a colonoscopy, we can help you skip the waiting lists and provide you with rapid access to an affordable private colonoscopy procedure at Nuffield Health York Hospital.
Our specialist general surgeons are experts in diagnostic treatment and you can expect to receive a detailed diagnosis and the findings from your procedure as quickly as possible.
Colonoscopies are often performed as a day case in York, even though your time in hospital will be relatively short, you will still get to experience our first-class inpatient rooms to relax in before and after surgery. Each of our private patient bedrooms includes a widescreen TV, radio, unlimited free WIFI and a spacious en suite bathroom.
How to book your colonoscopy at Nuffield Health York Hospital.
If you have been referred by your GP or another healthcare professional, you can call to book your private colonoscopy today. Before your procedure you will likely need to attend an initial consultation with one of our general surgeons to discuss your health concerns and possible treatment options first.
To begin your treatment journey, please call our dedicated hospital enquiry team on 01904 715 111. If you are unable to call, please fill out a contact form above and a member of our York enquiry team will get back to you at a more convenient time to answer any questions you may have.
What is a colonoscopy?
- A colonoscopy is a test regularly carried out at our Hospital in York, which allows our consultants to look at the inner lining of your large intestine, (rectum and colon)
- We use a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope to look at the colon
- A colonoscopy helps identify conditions such as ulcers, colon polyps, tumours and inflamed areas of inflammation.
Are there any alternatives to a colonoscopy?
Yes, other options can include a barium enema (an x-ray of the large bowel) or a CT colography (a special scan of the large bowel).
What does a colonoscopy procedure involve?
- If appropriate, the endoscopist may offer you a sedative or painkiller
- A colonoscopy usually takes between half an hour and three-quarters of an hour
- The procedure involves placing a flexible telescope into the back passage and blowing some air into the large bowel to get a clear view
- The endoscopist will be able to look for problems such as inflammation or polyps
- They will be able to perform biopsies and take photographs to help make the diagnosis.
What complications can happen?
- Allergic reaction
- Breathing difficulties or heart irregularities
- Making a hole in the colon
- Bleeding
- Incomplete procedure.
How soon will I recover after my colonoscopy?
- If you were given a sedative, you will normally recover in approximately 2 hours
- You may feel a bit bloated for a few hours but this will pass
- Your consultant will report back to you the findings of your colonoscopy
- Most of our patients are able to go back to work the day after the colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is usually a very safe and effective way of finding out if you have a problem with your large bowel.
Colonoscopy consultants at York Hospital
Haxby Road, York, YO31 8TA
Guide price
|Initial consultation
|from £200
|Main treatment
|Post-discharge care
|Pre-assessment, Main treatment and Post-discharge care
|Guide price
The guide price stated above is an approximation of the cost of treatment only. The final price may vary according to Consultant fees, prosthesis or drugs used and any pre-existing medical conditions which may alter your care pathway. You will be given a fixed all-inclusive price for treatment following your initial consultation with a Consultant.
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Here on Earth, when you boil a liquid, it evaporates and turns into a vapour until it's cool enough to condense again. But astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have shown that something else entirely is happening in a microgravity environment.
They found that vapour condensed into a liquid, even when the temperature was 160 Kelvin above the substance's normal boiling point - a new phenomenon that's stumped scientists.
Previous research has already shown that microgravity has strange effects on boiling liquids. On Earth, a process called convection plays a crucial role in heat distribution - gravity causes cooler parts of the liquid to sink, while the hotter parts rise, and this spreads the heat around inside the liquid.
But in microgravity environments, such as on board the ISS, that doesn't happen.
To overcome this, the ISS has devices called heat pipes - partial vacuums that transfer heat from somewhere hot to somewhere cooler without the use of a mechanical pump.
They work by containing a small amount of liquid that evaporates off a hot surface, and then condenses back into a liquid when it comes into contact with a cooler surface, thereby redistributing the heat.
Through capillary action, the liquid then travels back to the hot surface to repeat the process indefinitely.
Except this new study by researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York and NASA's Glenn Research Centre shows that might not actually be happening on board the ISS.
In fact, the vapour is doing the opposite of what you'd expect - it continues to condense at the heated end, which is an issue for the future of engineering systems.
"Traditional heat pipes are divided into three zones: evaporation at the heated end, condensation at the cooled end, and intermediate or adiabatic in between," the researchers write in Physical Review Letters.
"The microgravity experiments reported herein show that the situation may be dramatically more complicated."
The new study builds on previous observations in 2015, when researchers noticed that increasing the heat input to a heat pipe didn't cause the device to dry up at that end as you'd expect - but instead caused liquid to accumulate there.
To figure out what was going on, researchers conducted a new experiment on board the ISS using pentane in a heat pipe. They found that as they increased the amount of heat input to the surface, the amount of condensation increased - contrary to what you'd expect.
This continued to happen, even at temperatures of up to 160 K above the normal boiling point for pentane - after that it wasn't safe to continue the experiment.
"The hotter the surface, the more vapour was condensed onto it," the researchers explain.
Liquid above its boiling point is generally said to be in a 'superheated' state, and the researchers describe the hot end of the pipe as being "flooded with superheated liquid" in this experiment.
For now, the researchers aren't entirely sure why this is the case, but their theoretical explanation is that it's something to do with a phenomenon known as the Marangoni effect.
This happens because of the capillary structures built into the heat pipes, and it results in cooler liquid with higher surface tension 'pulling' hotter liquid towards it.
Basically, the hypothesis is that because the surface tension isn't uniform along the heat pipe, the temperature gradient varies over its surface.
"In the end, the effect produces Marangoni-driven flows - one from the heated end to the cooled end, and another from the centre of the pipe to its edges," explains Lisa Zyga over at Phys.org.
"These flows occur even in the hot 'evaporation zone' of the pipe, and they generate an instability in the liquid layer that reinforces the condensation."
Interestingly, this phenomenon does occur on Earth as well, but on a much smaller scale because gravity restricts the return of liquid from the cooled end of a heat pipe to the heated end.
The team now needs to continue investigating exactly what's going on, and test their Marangoni hypothesis in microgravity.
"We, and a number of others, have shown that adding a second chemical component to the system can negate some of the detrimental features observed during operation with a pure fluid," one of the researchers, Joel Plawsky, told Zyga.
"We will be trying experiments, similar to the ones we have already run, with fluid mixtures."
It's not just interesting physics - understanding how this works could be the key to building safer spacecraft cooling systems in future. And we're definitely going to need them.
The research has been published in Physical Review Letters.


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Kosovo/General Affairs and External Relations Council
Brussels, February 18, 2008
It took a long time but this was normal. We'd talked about Kosovo so often and, if we hadn't ironed them out we'd at least reduced the difficulties during previous meetings. This isn't an easy decision and I'd above all like to say to you that it isn't a victory of one over the other. It isn't a victory of the Kosovars over the Serbs, it's a victory for peace, it's a victory for common sense, and it's certainly a victory for both peoples because they're undoubtedly going to move – separately perhaps initially, but together in the very near future – closer to the European Union and towards a more peaceful Balkans.
What appears extremely symbolic to me is that it's Slovenia – i.e. the first country to break away from the Yugoslav federation, after so many years, and now holding the European Union presidency – (…) who is making it possible for the last region of that Yugoslav federation, to be independent.
As you know, independence was announced yesterday and the first statement by the 27, and if you don't mind I'd like to stress "by the 27" – this is a victory for the European Union – was discussed word by word and agreed by everyone. It imposes nothing on anyone. I don't know how many countries will recognize Kosovo's independence, some say 16, others 19. Some will certainly do so at a later date.
As far as France is concerned, we intend to recognize Kosovo's independence – President Sarkozy has written to this effect to the President of Kosovo. [With this letter] French recognition of Kosovo's independence becomes official.
May I, who was responsible for two years for that region of Serbia, add a very personal word. I'd like to send this message of hope to the Serbs: this isn't a defeat for them. On the contrary, it's the possibility for them – and I believe they expressed this by voting for Mr Tadic – to move closer to the European Union, to come to us when they wish to, having, of course, met the requisite conditions, but to come when they wish.
I have no doubt: one day, I don't know the date, I don't know the year, Kosovars and Serbs will be together again in the European Union. And perhaps other Balkan alliances will be forged.
At any event, for me, it's a victory for common sense, for peace, for the peoples, and it's the end of the sufferings. Once again, I'm thinking of the Serbs, of the difficulty they've had, will very probably have in recognizing that it's now, despite being the cradle of their religion and of part of their civilization, an independent country.
Of course, we have to stress the necessary respect for the basic document, the United Nations, Martti Ahtisaari's document. This will have to be implemented: access to all the religious sites, I'm talking about the monasteries which are so important for the orthodox religion, about respect for the minorities, about protection of the minorities. These provisions, which come from Mr Ahtisaari's report, were reproduced in the constitutional document which the Prime Minister, Mr Hashim Thaçi, put before the Kosovan Parliament yesterday.
It's the end of a very long crisis, of a period of great tension in a place in the world which has experienced others – even its name, the Balkans, conjures up images of turmoil: "Balkan situation". I hope this is the end of it and that the reconciliation starts right now even though I know it will take a long time. Even though I know it will need several generations. The first generation already knows this. Not only the young today, but also those (…) who have lived under the United Nations administration, UNMIK, UNSCR 1244, etc. (…)
Once again, it's no one's victory. On the other hand it's to an extent a victory for the international community, for what's called multilateralism and an enormous victory for the United Nations. It's the first time in the world's history that such a conflict sees not only the arrival of peace at the end of some years, but of the solution: this independence, which is an exception. (…) It's an exception which mustn't serve as an example. This independence comes at the end of nine years. For those who don't believe in the United Nations, it's nevertheless a fine example to give them.
For me personally, who was involved every hour and almost every minute, night and day, for a very long time in dealing with the scars, crimes, revenge attacks in Kosovo, I'm very happy for all the people, all the communities and, once again, it's the Serbs I turn to first. (…)./.


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Police are probing multiple allegations of assault after attending an incident in Lurgan at the weekend.
Police have asked for witnesses to the incident, which happened in the William St area at around 2am on Sunday morning (June24), to contact them.
A PSNI statement said: "Police were called to an ongoing incident, following which there have been multiple allegations of assault.
"If you were in the area and witnessed anything you think may be of any use to our ongoing investigation please contact Police by calling 101, quote ref 211 of 24/06/18."


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We're cautious about toys for our cats, and so like to make our own catnip toys. This way, we can choose organic catnip and use up scraps of 100% cotton fabric. We made these little heart-shaped catnip mice out of charm pack squares, but they're a purrfect way to use any scraps of fabric. We're pretty sure any cats will love them since we had oodles of feline assistance and product testing during their construction.
We liked these new charm pack options available from Fat Quarter Shop. They're not all specifically Valentine themed, but they're sweet nonetheless: Kewpie Love 5" Stacker by Kewpie for Riley Blake Designs, #Love Charm Pack by Sandy Gervais for Moda Fabrics, North Woods Charm Pack by Kate Spain for Moda Fabrics, Vintage Picnic Charm Pack by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics.
Sewing Tools You Need
- Sewing Machine and standard presser foot
Fabric and Other Supplies
- Scraps of cotton fabric; we used several 5-inch squares from charm packs in our stash
- Catnip. We used organic catnip (available at most pet stores).
- Cotton cord. Six inches (per mouse) of ⅛" cotton cord for the tail.
- Five inches (per mouse) of thin cotton or hemp cord, or embroidery floss for each set of whiskers.
- Small scrap of black felt (for eyes)
- A handful of polyester fiberfil per mouse
- Knitting needle, chopstick or point turner
- All purpose thread to match fabric
- See-through ruler
- Fabric pen or pencil
- Iron and ironing board
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- Pinking shears; optional
- Tape measure
- Seam gauge
- Seam ripper
- Straight pins
- Hole-punch; optional
- Hand sewing needle
- Large-eyed embroidery needle
- Small funnel
Getting Started
- Download and print the Catnip Mouse Heart Pattern.
IMPORTANT: The pattern is ONE 8½" x 11" sheet. You must print the PDF file at 100%. DO NOT SCALE to fit the page. There is a guide rule on the page so you can confirm your final printout is to scale.
- Cut out the heart shape along the solid line.
- Place two charm squares right sides together. Pin the heart pattern onto your charm squares as show below.
- Cut out pattern, through both layers, using pinking shears (as we did) or scissors.
- Cut ONE 6" length of cord for the tail.
- Insert the tail between the layers of fabric, curling the tail so it does not extend outside of the fabric anywhere except between the humps of the heart – let the end of the cord stick out there about a quarter inch so you can better hold it in place as you stitch over it later.
- Use your fabric pencil to mark the two on-seam dots (indicated on the pattern piece). This is the small gap you will leave open to turn the mouse right-side out.
At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board
- Set your sewing machine to sew a short stitch length (we used 1.5mm). A shorter stitch length is better for curves. Sew slowly, stopping, with your needle in the down position, and pivoting in small increments to create a smooth curve all around the mouse. Remember to lock your seam at both marked dots, leaving a small gap for turning.
- Clip your curves (this will help your curved seams create a smooth line). Be careful not to cut through your seam.
- Gently turn your heart right-side out. Use your chopstick, knitting needle or point turner to gently shape and smooth the heart.
- Fill your heart about ⅓ full with polyester fiberfil, pushing it gently toward the seam to give the finished "mouse" a bit of chubbiness.
- Using your funnel, add about a tablespoon or so of catnip. The chopstick will help push the catnip through the funnel. Finish stuffing the mouse with remaining polyester filler until pleasingly plump.
- Hand stitch the opening closed.
- Thread your large-eyed embroidery needle with your whisker cord and pull through the top of the mouse as shown.
- Tie a knot at the end of each whisker.
- To create the mouse eyes, use either a hole punch on your black felt, or cut two small circles with scissors.
- With your sewing needle and a length of black thread, sew the eyes to your mouse.
Some cats can be really rough with catnip toys, so please supervise your pet's use of this or any toy. Check often for rips or tears and discard it if it becomes torn.
Project Design and Sample Creation: Alicia Thommas


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We start our engagement with our clients by understanding their requirements and how they are aligned with their business objectives. We then identify with you the People, Processes, and Technology required in order to deliver the business results, projects or programmes successfully.
At Makaya Group we understand the challenges facing today's organizations and are on hand to help with a practical business orientated approach. We work closely with our clients in these three key areas to ensure project performance is optimised in line with strategic goals, leveraging our wide knowledge and experience to design and implement joined-up, measurable solutions.


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Jonathan Rimmer rounds up the best new tracks from Scottish artists, or at least artists who are Scotland-based or on a Scottish label - he doesn't judge
Jarlath Henderson - Courting Is a Pleasure
Genre: Traditional, Folk, Singer-Songwriter
County Tyrone-born but Scotland-based songwriter Henderson is a quite sensational vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who deserves to make a big impact this year.
Having collaborated with the likes of Lau and Capercaillie, Henderson knows his chops when it comes to folk music. However, while he draws from traditional modes for his vocal and whistle melodies, he uses a distinctly modern style of production.
On 'Courting Is a Pleasure' these melodies float alongside plucked guitar and electro bass, an intriguing mix that works surprisingly well. Though he's an experienced artist, upcoming album 'Hearts Broken, Heads Turned' is actually his first ever solo record.
It'll be interesting to see if the arrangements on the rest of the album are as fascinating as this one.
The Insomniac Project - Vacillation
Genre: Synthpop, Electronic, Disco, Funk
Glasgow six-piece The Insomniac Project were clearly born in the wrong era. So adept are they at reviving the sounds of bona fide disco funk, you'd think you'd travelled back in time if it wasn't for their subtle electro house influences.
Produced by Lewis Gardiner of fellow synth-poppers Prides, the band's second single, 'Vacillation', demonstrates the maturation of their sound. Vocalist Deborah Lang really comes to the fore on this one, belting out the verses like she was Glasgow's own Donna Summer.
The band also really announce themselves this time around. The boogie bass lines are back but there are various flourishes and jam-esque deviations as the song unravels. I'm interested to whether the band choose to continue down this more progressive route or whether they opt for a more streamlined pop approach.
David Thomas Broughton Feat. Aidan Moffat - Words of Art
Genre: Folk, Experimental
David Thomas Broughton was a new discovery for me, I must admit, which is odd because he's worked with everybody under the sun. His upcoming album, 'Crippling Lack', is similarly collaborative, described as a "a trans-continental triple-vinyl album, released in three different volumes with three different labels in three different countries".
The lead single, "Words of Art", is also quite long-winded. Broughton's quivering voice radiates emotion, fighting for attention with the seductive tones of Aidan Moffat while an ascending guitar line plays slowly in the background.
There's something quite unsettling about the track that's hard to pinpoint, particularly as Moffat provides some quite philosophical musings on reality while strings build up behind him.
Whatever your interpretation, it's an affecting single that's bound to arouse curiosity for the full 'triple-vinyl' LP (Volume One is out now).
AmatrArt - Soft Skin
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative, Electronic
When I reviewed AmatrArt back in February , I commented on their struggle to utilise their better qualities and, in particular, incorporate electronic elements into their sound.
Whatever my reservations were, they've more or less vanished listening to new single 'Soft Skin'.
The band's jagged indie/electronic hybrid is more convincing, as they discerningly temper their intricate guitar lines with subtle washed out synths throughout. The intermittent vocal harmonies that serve as the most immediate hook - and to be honest, the band rarely stick at one idea for too long anyway - are also hypnotic.
Whether this track has made me a fully-fledged convert, I'm not sure. My previous advice was to rein in their experimental sound but this Glasgow band clearly have barrels of potential and I may well be proven wrong.
Man of Moon - Sign
Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock
The world and his wife went berserk when this Edinburgh duo released 'The Road' last year.
Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it's rare to see a new Scottish band receive so much hype from one single.
How have Man of Moon responded to the acclaim? By more or less following the exact same formula that made their debut such a success. Like 'The Road', 'Sign' is a slow burning guitar with psychedelic production and a big rousing crescendo.
A strong core sound isn't the only reason they're one of Scotland's best new bands, though. There's a real dynamism at play, particularly in the way they transition between different sections. Their moody vocals and reverb-soaked guitar lines feel raw and evocative.
It's early days yet, but Man of Moon have belied their age with another immaculate single. Their new 'Medicine EP' drops 6 May.
Machines in Heaven - 20xx
Genre: Electronic, IDM, Indie Electronic
One of Scotland's most frequently impressive electronic acts, Machines in Heaven have slowly evolved from simply producing all-encompassing electronica.
New single '20xx' sees them taking a more glitch-pop approach while retaining the vast soundscapes of previous releases.
This shift in focus leaves them somewhere between Boards of Canada and The Knife, a unique musical perspective. As expansive and textured as they try to be, the retro synths and French house basslines tend to fill up the mix - which is no bad thing if you're a fan of that synthwave sound like I am.
The band's new album, 'Phenomenology', comes out on 13 May and I'm curious to see how often the band truly burst out of their shell. They hint at it enough here.
Sinderins - Fayre
Genre: Folk, Rock, Psychedelic Folk
Stars of last year's Tenement Trail festival, Dundee's Sinderins are building a solid reputation as a live band around the country. Their new single, 'Fayre', is as good an introduction to their folk-rock meanderings as any.
Your opinion of them will inevitably depend on how you perceive vocalist Dave Webster. His assertive falsetto is undeniably shrill and the focal point of the track.
Instrumentally the band take cues from Jethro Tull and The Beatles, complimenting his poetic lyricism with energy. Ultimately, it's Webster's vocals that will make this or break this. He injects the band's earthy sound with a transcendental quality that elevates them to another level.
Their self-titled debut arrives in June.
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Picture courtesy of Somhairle MacDonald