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The century that Tendulkar will perhaps never make is creating more noise than the ones he made. Why is this happening? Because he is a player who plays for records, a great player who plays for himself and not for the team or the country and what do you call such a person? "It is below his so-called DIGNITY to call him a selfish player" his dignity, his vanity and his pride is much higher than the country's pride and that is because he is considered as a deity in his country. When a man is worshiped like a deity then instead of him becoming strong, he becomes weak. At a time or, at a level he gets scared that he is failing his followers and his fans and tries very hard to get or achieve the goal and keeps on failing every now and then. That makes everyone believe that he is afraid of reaching the milestone – there are already many milestones in his life and yet he is afraid in achieving this.
What was wrong in Shoaib Akhtar writing a line in his controversial book that Tendulkar was once afraid of him? It was like Akhtar throwing a stone in a beehive, the whole of India was after Akhtar and not only they attacked him, but they canceled the launching of his book in 5 major cities of India even, people like LataMangeshkar the squeaky singer tried to wrestle with her dead vocal cords and blabbed out that Akhtar has no right to pass such derogatory comments about their god? What was that derogatory comment? He only said, Sachin was once scared of him. If a 5.7 ounces red cherry weighing about 160g. in weight zoom pasts your head at 100 miles per hour speed, one is likely to take evasive action, it is normal. Just because Tendulkar is considered as a god he is above all these trivialities? If he is such a great maestro then why is he struggling against so many teams since the last one year to accomplish his life time goal? His strike rate is pathetic, his scores are pathetic and yet he is getting a chance to play because he is 10 – DullKar and he is in the team because of his past glories.
I am not saying he will not make his hundredth hundred, eventually he will but at what expense? Is there any respect left in telling that this great little master-bater is struggling for runs and that is because he is afraid in his nineties. Even his son told him, Dad why do you get stuck into 90's? Are you scared? I will tell you something: don't stay in the 90's just hit a couple of fours and a six and you will be out of the 90's. These may not be the exact words but, he did say something on those lines and I wonder what Tendulkar must have told him? May be he said, my son I am not your uncle Sehwag or that Crazy Afridi and I don't have those guts!
When Kapil Dev was close to breaking Sir Richard Hadlee's world record, he was totally out of form in fact his bowling was "Disgustipatingly" Pathetic and in some matches he was not even getting a single wicket and yet they continued with him till he broke the record. There is something called grace, which is lacking here in case of Kapil Dev and Tendulkar both, one was and the other is still struggling and only God knows how much pressure they carry when there are so many and so much expectations from them?
Instead of scoring 76 at a strike rate of 51 if Tendulkar has scored that 76 in 51 balls, I would have said, at least he tried, he tried to play for the team and the country and did not bother about his records but, it was so obvious from the way he played in the first innings he was shaky and got out at 7 and to rebuild his image he went back into his shell ………… THIS IS NOT CRICKET…… this is MisBAket. If Misbah plays like that I can say that is what he is but Tendulkar has once again disappointed.
People specially Indian fans may not like my criticism because, it is not coming from within but, from outside. I am sure there are more Indians who are more disappointed then us and they follow him like a Ishwar and Parmeshwar and in the recent WC in India, one of his fans committed suicide by hanging himself only because Tendulkar did not score a century and the deceased has high hopes that his master will score a century and when he failed him, he was so ashamed that he took his own life.
In my opinion, neither the people nor the player himself should take this seriously, a game is a game is a game – its not everything, its not your life, it is not somebody's else life that he kills himself for a trivial thing. One thing is for sure, the BCCI and its selectors will keep on selecting him till he makes that 100th 100. I hope Tendulkar is not suffering from primary or secondary hypertension but, he is suffering from the "white coat hypertension" which happens to patients when they see a doctor their BP goes up, in his case it is the umpires who wear white coats, when he sees them his BP goes up.
The more Tendulkar will delay in achieving this milestone, the more his ratings will go down among those who say Lara is better than Tendulkar or, Viv Richards is better than Tendulkar and even those who compare him with Sir Don Bradman would be compelled to believe that Don was Don and he cannot be compared with anyone because of his strike rate and his average.
It is time that our Indian fellow bloggers to come out and comment on this, defend him or curse him it is up to you but, silence is not the answer.


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Because I didn't know how to love, living with my autistic son was a nightmare.
Don't get me wrong; living with autism is always tough. The tantrums, rigidity, disconnection, and what I lovingly used to call my son's "Martian behavior" can traumatize the most Wonder Woman of the warrior-mom species. And I was definitely not warrior-mom material. No way.
So when my 5-year-old son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism, I fell apart. Depression, despondency, and fear overwhelmed me. Plus, I couldn't let go of my vision of the child I thought I would have. I was not supposed to give birth to My Favorite Martian. Grieving that vision took me a long time.
So it wasn't just Ben's autism that made my life hard for me.
The day we received Ben's autism diagnosis, I thought my life had ended. But it is now clear to me, eight years later, that Ben's diagnosis was actually a key that unlocked a sort of "Love Classroom," in which I ultimately learned the fundamentals of unconditional love, while in the embrace of someone who didn't seem, at the time, to love me back.
I loved Ben passionately. From the day he was born, I was a hard-core baby addict, a don't-mess-with-Baby-or-I-will-kill-you kind of mama. No one ever told me you actually, literally fall in love with your baby. But I did. I kind of lived for him. And Ben was very happy. He was smiling, busy, and active, living in his own perfect little world -- a world into which no one else was invited.
More from The Stir: 16 Incredible Autism Tattoos Showing Support & Awareness
The only person with whom Ben ever connected was his little sister, Alina. I saw him reaching out to her, and trying to engage with her. But not with me -- never with me.
Eventually, I discovered the connection between autism and food, detoxification, and other organic factors. Based on what I learned, I changed our lifestyle -- a lot. I also discovered a transformational social skills development program called The Son-Rise Program®. Through these interventions, Ben transformed from a typically autistic child into an interactive, self-aware, and connected young man. Today, in fact, Ben writes children's books -- about friendship!
But Ben wasn't the only one who changed. As I mentioned, Ben's autism wasn't my only problem. I was so stuck on the person I wanted my child to be that I almost missed who my child actually was. Yes, autistic behaviors are hard to deal with. Yes, for years he didn't look at me, hug me, acknowledge my presence, or seem to love me. He acted out and couldn't connect.
More from The Stir: Autism Advocate Temple Grandin Reminds Us the 'World Needs All Types of Minds'
But in response I judged him, and I judged myself for judging him. I thought if Ben couldn't be like other children, then he wasn't going to be okay, and, moreover, that I was a failure -- as both a mother and as a human being. I was exhausted, not just from Ben's autism, but also from my own self-hate and negativity.
As we worked with Ben, however, I began to see him differently. I became able, somehow, to accept and love the child in front of me, rather than the vision of some child who was never going to be my kid.
At a certain point, I just decided: I'm not gonna wait to be in a relationship with my child. I'm not gonna wait until he's "cured," or "good enough," or "normal enough." I'm not going to miss out on being in a relationship with my child, with who he is, right now.
Going through this process with Ben taught me to see the person in front of me, rather than some vision of who I think that person should be. I apply this principle to my daughter (now a tween), to my husband (who is endlessly husband-y and therefore the constant potential recipient of my judgment), and, with greatest difficulty, to myself. I feel this level of acceptance underlies actual love.
As a result of our journey with autism, I now consciously choose to experience, to love, and to accept the people in my life -- rather than wait in judgment for them to change into who I think they should be.
I'm not gonna wait.
I don't do this perfectly yet, at all. I probably never will. I still yell at my kids, still criticize and try to control my husband, and still put way too much pressure on myself to be perfect. But that's okay. I'm not gonna wait to love myself, either.
How about you?
Susan Levin, author, lecturer, health and parenting blogger, and Certified Nutrition Consultant, is also the mother of a child who recovered from autism through holistic interventions. Susan's company, Unlock Your Child, offers online programs and one-on-one coaching for families around the world who are affected by autism. Susan's book, Unlocked: A Family Emerging from the Shadows of Autism (Skyhorse Press 2015), is available on Amazon and Audible, as well as at the finest bookstores. Susan lives in New York.
Image via iStock.com/Nadezhda1906

subset: commoncrawl


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Scott's Shavers is a Malaysian startup aiming to be a household name in shaving and men's grooming in Malaysia and South East Asia.
We noticed in late 2012 that prices of razor cartridges become too expensive with latest five blade razors costing nearly double its three blade ranges.
We want to bring down prices of razor blades as well as having a shaver that looks good.
We want to constantly evolve to be better and we aim to do that over the next few years!
Contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or 0123021234 (whatsapp only).
Shavers and More Sdn Bhd. Metropolitan S. Jalan PJU 8/1 Damansara Perdana. 47820 Petaling Jaya. Selangor


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Curb appeal is one of the most important factors to getting people in the door to your home! We, as humans, judge books by their covers and homes by their exteriors- when potential buyers pull up to your listing, they yearn for the iconic expression of the season. Those first impressions need to be positive get people to look at your home, so how can you up that curb appeal this Spring?
- Make sure that the front of your home is welcoming. Paint the front door a nice contrasting color and add a nice wreath. Be sure your old light fixtures are replaced (if needed) and all bulbs are in working order (and match!)- it's all about the little things. Finally, place seasonal potted plants on each side of the door or down the front steps as a welcoming entrance.
- Power wash your siding to get rid of dirt and moss. Revealing your beautiful home is a must!
- Freshen up dull paint, especially the trim. If you have wood siding, make sure it is sealed and there are no soft spots. Putting your best foot forward will ensure the best offers.
- If you have a porch or deck– give it a good power washing or fresh coat of stain. Put out your furnishings and be sure that they are clean. A fresh set of cushions are the perfect way to liven it up! You want your potential buyers to imagine themselves in these same spaces you've created memories in over the years! A welcoming, bright, well tended yard will do just that.
- Repair any walkways and stairs damaged by the harsh winters. This is true curb appeal for many from young couples, imagining a family of babies and toddlers running and climbing, all the way to elderly buyers, who desire less maintenance and need level ground.
- Trim and shape all perennials, and make sure your gardens are weeded. Throw a fresh layer of mulch down and remove any of plants that come up but look out of place.
- If you want to take some of your plants with you to your new location, place those flowers and plants in planters. Digging things up from the garden AFTER an offer can strike a nerve, but potted plants can come with you easily!
- Trim overgrown shrubs and prune all of the dead branches. Clean, well kept properties exude confidence in themselves! It's all about what people see when they drive up- the epitome of curb appeal!
- Give your lawn a good edging. It is not just neat and clean, it is truly eye-popping! Again, clean lines!
- It takes more than well-tended gardens. Try planting colorful floral groupings that will catch the eye of passers-by. In nature, everything is in odds- something to keep in mind while planting. Threes and fives often look beautiful, and give a nice grouping of color and vibrancy!
Creating the perfect curb appeal for your home is a fun way to freshen up and see your property in a whole new light! Even if you're not listing, giving your gardens, entrances and outdoor spaces TLC each season will benefit you greatly when you are ready to sell!
Do you have questions about curb appeal?
Call Donna at 401-935-8202 or email email@example.com


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[JURIST] Former Ugandan health minister Jim Muhwezi [New Vision profile] went to trial Monday on charges of embezzlement and abuse of office. Muhwezi is alleged to have misused $4.3 million in grants donated to the government of Uganda by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and the Immunization (GAVI) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria [advocacy websites] to help develop vaccines and immunizations for AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. In 2005, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria froze an additional $150 million in grants [BBC report] after investigators noticed discrepancies when converting the money from US dollars to Ugandan shillings. Muhwezi has denied [BBC report] all charges.
Four other former senior government officials, including three of Muhwezi's deputies, have also been implicated in the scam. Muhwezi and his deputies were charged and released on bail [BBC report] in May. Muhwezi had acted as the minister for primary education until 1999, when suspicions arose surrounding his personal finances. He became minister of health in 2001 but was dropped from the cabinet after investigations began into the vaccine and immunization scandal. BBC News has more.


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A personal view on SL Style & Fashion
On days like these … music plays on the background … pier … and traces of candle lights reminding of moments when I felt fragile and strong at the same time. Present and past, time has stopped this evening … memories melt in the rays of sunset … it's quiet around the pier and in my mind … a shadow of melancholy and lessons learned…
Water flows … visions of you and me … and in its embrace I feel ready to learn again …
Skin: –Belleza– Mya Sunkissed TLC
Eyelashes: Izzie's Eyelashes v 1.06
Hair: Truth – Caprice – frappuccino
Nails: Synthetique Medium Fierce Nails
Dress: Zaara : [Mesh] Aamani wrap dress *candy*
Earrings: [ glow ] studio – The Pyramid Earrings
Est. 2010
Men's and women's SL Fashion
A blog about fashion and Dunes in Second Life
All Things Fashion...
By Editorial Clarity
A blog for fashion victims
Simply Fabulous Free and Under L$75 Finds in Second Life - Since 2007
............**** just folies!**
Furniture & Decor
Second Life und alles, was mir so einfällt
Welcome to ModifyUp. Modify with us !
Avatars with Extreme Flavor!


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4826 Pecan Ln - Granite Falls
- Single Family Home
- Price: $245,500
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 2
- Basement: Yes
- Heated Square Feet: Main 1920 - Unheated Main 672 - Unheated Basement 2408
- # Fireplaces: 1
- Year Built: 2003
- MLS Number: 9589669
- Elementary school: Baton
- Middle school: Hudson
- High school: South Caldwell
- Area: Southwest Caldwell
CUSTOM BUILT HOME. Lovely brick home with a rocking chair front porch. Very open spacious living room with maple floors. The dining room features ceramic tiles and a bay window. Kitchen has good cabinet and courtertop space. Counters are Corian. Cabinets are of good quality. Nice laundry room off kitchen which doubles as a pantry. Nice master with the shower and tub in master bath. Home has custom molding, 9' ceilings, central vacuum system, nice workshop in basement. A nice screened back deck overlooks the back yard. Double car garage parking on main level and in basement. Paved drive on main and basement levels. Very nice one level living. Situated on 1 acre outside city limits.
- Appliances: Cook Top, Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Wall Oven
- Interior Features: Central Vacuum, Gas Logs, Molding, Pantry,Walk-In Closets, Laundry on Main
- Heating: Forced Air Gas
- Cooling: Central Air
- Parking: Double Garage Attached, Double In Basement, Paved Drive
- Foundation: Full Unfinished Finished
- Exterior Features: Deck, Porch, Porch-Screen, Scenic View, Underground Storage Tank, Fuel Tank Owned
- Lot Acreage: 1.02
- Lot Zoned: RA-20
- Subdivision: None
- Exterior Siding: Brick Veneer Full, Vinyl Trim
- Flooring: Carpet, Tile, Wood
- Water Heater: Gas
- Water: Public
- Sewer: Septic Tank
- Lot Description: Level
- Water - Lake - Stream: None
- Property Style: Ranch/Basement - Stick Built
Directions: CONNELLY SPRINGS RD TO UNION GROVE RD, LT ON JM CRAIG, LT ON LEE PEARSON, LT ON PECAN, HOME ON RT.


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ISO20121 certification ceremony on 28 August, 2015 Sustainable MICE Campaign 'Be a Green Man'
25 September, 2015, Daegu, Republic of Korea: Daegu Convention and Visitors Bureau(Daegu CVB) leads sustainability of Korea's MICE industry with ISO20121 Event Sustainability Management System certification.
Daegu CVB obtained first ISO20121 international standard certification in Korea's MICE industry and hosted ISO certification ceremony on 28 August, 2015.
Established as a first CVB in Korea, Daegu CVB has been promoting Daegu as a convention destination for international events for the past 10 years, while diverting form 'one time only' events in order to maximize economic, socio-cultural, and environmental ripple effects in Daegu. Daegu CVB has been striving to obtain ISO20121 certification in support of promoting Daegu's city brand image 'The Sustainable MICE City, Daegu'.
With the signing of 'CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) & Green Agreement' in February 2014, Daegu CVB has been running a sustainable MICE Campaign 'Be a Green Man' during major MICE events hosted in Daegu.
During the 7th World Water Forum, Daegu CVB utilized recycled materials, minimized the use of banners and waste to save cost, and planned to stimulate regional MICE industry through a strenuous effort in using local vendors and products. Also Daegu CVB created 'Forest Carbon Offset' with eco-friendly campaign, managed 'Carbon Kid Detectives' program, and operated school gardening program to foster voluntary carbon-reduction activities which contributes to the local community.
Daegu CVB selected a goal and value to achieve sustainable development, in coordination with its stakeholders (host, companies, public sector organization, education agency, and civil society). DCVB was able to establish a sustainable MICE management system based on the cases used during previous MICE events. Such effort received recognition and ultimately led to ISO20121 certification - a well-known global standard.
Staff from Daegu CVB stated "ISO20121 certification will help efficient budget planning and improve participant satisfaction, which will then increase Daegu's competitiveness to host international conferences. It is significant that this certification provided realistic ways for MICE to contribute to the local community and its economy."
"Daegu CVB will continue to support the region's MICE industries so that they can take part in MICE activities. This will help Daegu to play a leading role as a sustainable MICE city, both in Republic of Korea as well as overseas."
Media enquiries:
Sung-mi JANG
Manager / Destination Branding Team
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Myung-hee KWON
Director / Destination Branding Team
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Hey friends! I can't believe we are well into January 2018 already. If I still wrote checks, I would definitely still be writing 2017 on them. Cooper just went back to school yesterday, so in the absence of our normal routine I'm just getting to the point where I really feel I can look back on the 2017 and set some goals for 2018.
I want this blog to be a way for me to look back on family memories as well as a way for you to get to know me and my family better, so I thought I would do a little 2017 recap! Warning: this is a picture heavy post, at least more so than normal.
2017 was a good year for the House family. It was not without its challenges, but it was overall a very rewarding year for us. Jason was promoted and pinned to Chief Petty Officer, we joined a church, Cooper was saved, and both Cooper and Jason were baptized. Those were just a few of our blessings!
{Left} January is a birthday heavy month for our family, as we celebrate Cooper's birthday, my dad's, my sister in law's, my brother's, and my birthday. Cooper's 7th birthday was a Pikachu affair and as you can see, he was quite excited.
{Top Right} I hesitated to add this to our review, but as this was a huge learning lesson in 2017 and I'm big on transparency, it makes the list. About a year ago, we found out all three kids had lice. LICE. Yep, it is as horrible as it sounds. I know some moms are very laid back about lice – and we are proof that it can happen to anyone, especially if your child is in public school – but I have to say this totally rocked my January boat. Picture was taken the morning we found out…. at church…. in front of all our friends. I told you it was traumatic.
{Bottom Right} On January 29th, we celebrated my 38th birthday!
{Top Left} I started letting Cooper help out in the kitchen more. His specialty is tacos!
{Top Right} Sister was looking extra sassy this day – the day we found out Cooper had the flu. He was out for a week and dropped 5 pounds, which is 10% of his body weight. February was spent working on his eating and increasing his calories so he could gain the weight back.
{Bottom} Valentine's Day! It's always a celebration at our house. Jason and I don't go out to eat or anything like that, but we do like to get a few presents for the kids and have a special dinner at home.
{Top Left} My nephew turned 16! If that isn't enough to make you feel old, I don't know what is. I remember driving from my college dorm to the hospital to meet him during my sophomore year.
{Top Right} St. Patrick's Day is always a day my kids look forward to. Our leprechaun visits and plays tricks throughout the day, and he also leaves small presents, like Lucky Charm cereal for breakfast. My kids always have a blast trying to catch him, but he's a wily fellow.
{Bottom} Our MOPs group (Mothers of Preschoolers – we have since changed the name to Lily Moms) always has Tea & Testimony during our March meeting. It's such a special time! The table leaders create a gorgeous tablescapes with china, and our leadership team brings in tea party themed food. We have several ladies who come in and share their testimony. It is for sure the most special, emotional, spirit filled meeting of the year.
This year, I was one of the ladies who shared their testimony. I was absolutely terrified and to be honest, I don't remember much about what I said, but finally speaking out about my struggles with PPD and depression were so freeing. It was SUCH a good day – definitely in my top 10 of 2017.
The picture on the right is my table, Table 7. These ladies were such a blessing to me in 2016-2017 and I'm so very happy God put us in each other's lives.
At this point I started using a collage for my pictures, and they loaded not in order. Bare with me! I'm not going to detail every single picture, but hopefully you can look and link them to the happenings.
Jason worked the outage in March in Votgle, which meant we didn't get to see him much (he worked 12 hour days, with a 2+ hour commute, 6 days a week). In April we made up for that with lots of quality time! We attended the rodeo and our local children's museum {middle top and middle}.
We also had lots of fun Easter activities! My dad's company puts on a breakfast and Easter Egg hunt, we dyed eggs at home, and we had an Easter egg hunt with our Sunday School class.
On Easter, we went to church and then had lunch at my parent's home with my parents and brother's family.
My niece turned 12 and we celebrated with dinner at a Hibachi restaurant {top right}.
Cooper had a musical performance at school called Awesome Animals {top left}.
Not pictured: In April was when we found out that Poppy has alopecia.I'll tell this story in more detail in a future blog post, but this was a challenge as well, and one that God has used to teach me that I am not in control and yet – He still works all things for our good.
May was filled with more family fun! We celebrated Cinco de Mayo with embroidered dresses (for Poppy) and margaritas (for me). For Memorial Day, we went up to Columbia and my brother rented a boat for the day. The top left picture is of me and Cooper, right before I lost my hat to the wind! We also celebrated Mother's Day with church, lunch of my choice, and NAPS – every mother's dream, #amiright? {bottom middle}
May was a bit of a bittersweet month, as it was the last month of MOPs, and it meant saying goodbye to Table 7. Our friend Mo moved way, and we lost two other girls who were unable to return to Lily Moms this year, so this goodbye celebration was extra special {middle left}.
Another top moment of 2017 – THE DAY COOPER WAS SAVED! {Middle right} I had prayed and prayed about this, and I had asked God to let me be the one to have the conversation with Cooper. The is nothing like the feeling of pride and thankfulness of knowing your child has made the most important decision of his or her life. You can see I had been crying (happy tears) – I am blessed beyond measure to know I got to pray that prayer with my son.
We rounded out May with the last day of school, and celebrated our summer days with trips to the lake and to play putt putt.
Not pictured: We joined our church! We had been attending for year, and made the decision as a family that this was where we wanted to make our church home.
More summer fun – trips to the zoo, to the movies, eating doughnuts at Dunkin Doughnuts, and play dates with friends.
We also went on a beach trip with my parents and my brother's family, which was so much fun. My kids love their cousins, and my niece and nephew are absolutely fantastic with my kids. We spent every single day at the beach, tooling around in the golf cart, eating delicious meals, and occasionally going out to eat for dinner. It was low key and utterly glorious.
In June, I decided to cut Poppy's hair into a little bob {middle right}. Her hair had gotten so thin you could see her scalp, and her hair was scraggly. I decided to cut it off and it instantly added volume! Shortly after I cut it, it started to grow back in and thicken up.
The saddest part of June was that my precious chihuahua George {bottom left, the dog on the left} passed away. He was 14 years old and passed away peacefully in his sleep.
July was really low key. We didn't really do anything for the 4th of July besides swim and do some sparklers in our yard. We did go to see Despicable 3 at the movie theater, we visited a snow cone stand that opened down the road, and Sullivan started indoor t-ball!
August is when things really started to get busy! My mom's birthday is on August 1, and Poppy's in on August 8th. We knew Jason would be headed out of town for 2 weeks for his Navy Annual Training, so we had Poppy's birthday on the last Saturday in June. It was low key, just swimming at my parent's pool with my family, but she had a blast.
On August 3rd, we went to Open House at Cooper's school. Cooper got to meet his teacher and we got to register for the year. This was the day that we found out Jason had made Chief! We had no idea what they entailed at the time. {Bottom left} Poppy was wearing her anchor dress in honor of the occasion.
Jason left that Saturday to head to Maine for 2 weeks, and my solo parenting gig commenced. That happened to fall during the first day of school, Sunday School promotion, and Poppy's birthday. We made sure to celebrate big – I did a Back to School decorated table and dinner, and of course there were lots of pictures taken to be shared with Daddy.
The t-ball league that Sullivan participated in requires parent involvement – you basically stand with your child and coach them. This was quite challenging as I also had Poppy, so Cooper stepped in and helped me coach Sully {middle}.
Poppy loved Trolls, so I used that theme to decorate the table. As you can see, she was THRILLED with her Trolls costume.
While Jason was gone, he was also participating in Chief Season, which is a 6 week period where you go through trials and training of a sort to be accepted by the Chief's mess. At the end of the season, if you are accepted, you are pinned Chief Petty Officer. Jason came home mid-August and immediately stepped back into work (during the day) and his Chief duties and training (nights and weekends) so we really only saw him in passing. He basically only slept at the house. It was tough, but very much worth it.
Another top moment of 2017: Jason and Cooper were baptized! {Middle right} is Poppy blowing dandelions at the baptismal luncheon, where they explain to the kids what will happen during their baptism and let them put their feet in the baptismal pool (which is outdoors, and is fed by a creek on church property). {Top middle and right} Jason was raised Catholic, and was baptized as an infant. When we joined our church, our church requires that if you are transferring from a different denomination you be baptized. Jason was happy to do it, and it was such an incredibly special day to be able to be baptized with Cooper.
Yet another top moment of 2017: Overcoming my anxiety to co-host a bible study at church! I led the study, Listen Love Repeat by Karen Ehman, with my Lily Moms Mentor Mom, Linda. {Bottom left} This was our first night of the study!
{Top left} Our Women's Ministry Kickoff Dinner took place in August. We have table hostesses that decorate tables to match a theme of their choice, and the church brings in a speaker, who happened to be Karen Ehman, the author of the bible study I was leading {middle}. It was such an honor to meet her!
{Middle left} I told you August was busy! We had leadership training for Lily Moms, which is always so fun. We kick off with a dinner on Friday night and then train all day on Saturday. This was one of our ice breakers. This year I served as Social Media Facilitator and a Table Leader.
September was less busy than August, hallelujah! Our kickoff meeting for Lily Moms was postponed because of bad weather, but we were able to enjoy a Lily Moms popsicles play date in the park {bottom right}. Jason was working crazy hours, so the kids and I amused ourselves by picking out Halloween costumes {bottom left}, attending the fall carnival at Cooper's school {top left}, check ups for Sully and Poppy {top middle}, and cheering on on Gamecocks.
We also celebrated Sully's 4th birthday {middle}.
Jason was finally pinned Chief Petty Officer, and we celebrated by attending the Khaki Ball {bottom middle and middle right}. This was another top moment of 2017!
Since we had to postpone our first Lily Moms meeting, we didn't kick off until the end of September, but it was a wonderful meeting with tons of faces, old and new {top right}!
The temps finally began to cool down the slightest bit in October. Jason went right from Chief season into an outage at work, so we didn't see much of him again until the beginning of October. We celebrated his Chief achievement with a quick trip to Charleston {bottom row} where we ended up bringing home Saylor!
If you've followed Saylor's story, you know we got her from a dishonest breeder, and she got sick just days after we brought her home. When I took her to the vet, she was diagnosed with giardia and parvo. It was very touch and go for a while, and I spent several days getting up every 2 hours to give her food and water by syringe, but she pulled through! My girl is a fighter and we are so happy that she's part of our family.
We took family pictures in October {middle left} and Poppy had her first dentist appointment {middle}, which she handled wonderfully.
We attended lots of Halloween events in October – a pumpkin painting party with our Table 7 Lily Mom friends {top left}, a Halloween party at my dad's work {top middle}, and Spiderman Sully even went to get ice cream with us one night at Dairy Queen.
We continued our yearly tradition of visiting Steed's Dairy {bottom right}. That same night, we attended our friend Andrew's birthday party and the kids bobbed for apples for the first time {bottom middle}.
Other fall traditions included our Boo To You Halloween Dinner and carving pumpkins {bottom left and middle right}.
Grandma Mary visited from Illinois and we went to Boo at the Zoo {middle left}, Halloween story time {top right}, our Halloween Lily Moms meeting {top middle}, and the fall festival at our church on Halloween night {middle and top left}.
I participated in a Jesse Tree Advent ornament swap at church and had to prep 25 ornaments representing a candle/light {bottom right}. At the actual exchange {middle left} I was blown away by how creative the other ladies at my church were. Everyone really did a phenomenal job!
We had tons of fun at the fair – Cooper was old enough this year to ride some bigger rides, and Sullivan and Poppy thoroughly enjoyed the kid rides {bottom left and middle, middle right}.
Poppy developed quite a fondness for her brother's too small crocs. She didn't even care if they matched one another or her outfit – this girl is all "rocks" all the time {middle}.
We were invited to a friend's birthday party and the kids got to ride horses for the first time {top right}.
We celebrated Thanksgiving with family, and the next day I started putting up Christmas {top left and middle}!
December was busy! Of course it always is, but with Cooper being in school now I have to add in school commitments and parties to an otherwise packed Christmas schedule.
{Bottom left} Cooper did a presentation on Mexico and Jason and I got to attend. Here he is, giving his presentation to his dad. He was SO funny. The teacher had the rooms set up in stations and the kids had to visit each station and find a fact to add to their "passport." Cooper spoke SO softly and kept his eyes on his paper the whole time, and kids kept saying "what? what?" I had to have a talk with him about the importance of speaking up in the right circumstances. He is LOUD at home but is so reserved in public.
Our church held a family night in December with a Narnia theme. I had no idea what to expect, but I was blown away! They had photo booths and characters, plenty of crafts, games, bounce houses, food, and even smores. Our children's ministry has been doing a series on Narnia and its biblical parallels, so this was a great way to wrap up the series {bottom left and middle}.
We visited Santa {middle right}, attended a Christmas party at my dad's work {bottom middle}, and Jason and I attended our Lily Moms leadership Christmas party {middle left}.
I ended up cutting Poppy's hair once again into a short bob… she started to lose hair again and it just looks fuller when I lose some of the length {top right}.
We had our Women's Ministry Christmas party and they always give out prizes for the most festively dressed. I was determined to win! I did some deer makeup with a red glitter nose, and I wore Poppy's reindeer antlers in my hair and my most sparkly sequin jacket. I did win a prize! {top left and middle}
We attended a Polar Express event at our local museum! They got to sit on the museum's train and have a simulated train ride with a conductor. They finished the even with a visit from Santa, milk, and cookies. {bottom middle and right}.
Cooper was part of the children's Christmas choir this year and sang with the adult choir during our Christmas musical {bottom left}.
We held our Lily Moms Christmas party and it was a blast! We had a tacky Christmas sweater theme, so naturally I wore a Christmas sweater, plaid leggings, and Mickey Mouse crocs. {middle right} What's more tacky than crocs? Adult sized Mickey Mouse crocs.
Jason and I attended his work Christmas party. We go every year because not only do they host an incredible party, but they also give away some incredible door prizes. This year's prizes includes Roombas, iPads, grills, and gift cards galore. Sadly, we didn't win, but maybe next year. We did have fun in the photo booth though! {middle}
Our family Christmas get together also had an ugly Christmas sweater theme but I think most of my family forgot to participate, ha! Poppy dressed up as a gingerbread woman, and I put back on my reindeer getup minus the makeup. {middle left and top left}
We enjoyed our annual How the Grinch Stole Christmas night – I always decorate the table and do some fun food and activities – and we wrote our Christmas lists on special shrinking paper {top middle and right}.
{Bottom middle and left} These are more pictures from our family Christmas celebration.
{Bottom left} I love little girls in sweet Christmas dresses. Poppy has worn this dress two Christmases in a row.
{Middle left and right} Another one of our traditions is to dress up in Christmas pajamas, go to eat at the Steak and Shake (yep, in Christmas pajamas!), and then drive around drinking hot chocolate and looking at Christmas lights. This year I found matching pajamas for the whole family, and to my surprise Jason was completely on board for Operation Christmas Jammies. We had an absolutely blast and I love sharing this sweet tradition with my kids.
We managed to fit in a few more annual Christmas activities – Lights at the Zoo {top left and middle} and Lights of the South {top middle and right}. Checking out Jason and Poppy in the Cinderella carriage. Daddy will always be your first prince, Poppy Grace!
We finally made it to Christmas! We attended church that morning, and then headed home for quick naps before returning to church for the Christmas Eve service {bottom right and middle}. My parents spend the night at our house on Christmas Eve, so we returned home to eat dinner, decorate cookies for Santa, and help Santa put together some gifts {bottom left and middle right}.
Christmas Day is always so wonderful when it is experienced through the eyes of a child. The kids had tons of time to enjoy their gifts before my brother's family arrived in the afternoon. We spent the evening opening presents, eating dinner, and playing Minute to Win It games.
I have no pictures for the time between Christmas and New Years – we laid low and hung out at the house. We took lots of naps, watched movies, played games, and in general just enjoyed our time off school and work! On New Year's Eve we picked up groceries before returning home to eat our traditional cheese and fruit plate. Jason set off a few fireworks and we talked about our goals for the year. We were all in bed and asleep well before midnight!
If you made it to the end, thanks for sticking around! It was an amazing 2017 and I can't wait to see what 2018 brings.


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Real Sociedad v Barcelona: Illarramendi targets surprise
Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi is optimistic about his side's chances of beating Barcelona at the weekend.
Asier Illarramendi is confident Real Sociedad have what it takes to spring a surprise in Saturday's La Liga match against Barcelona at Anoeta.
The Basque side were beaten 4-0 at Camp Nou earlier this season, but they have a good record versus the Catalans on home soil.
Sociedad have won four and drawn two of Barca's last six visits to Anoeta in all competitions, and Eusebio's men will be full of confidence after surprising Sevilla 2-1 last week.
Markel Bergara's opener and an own goal from Grzegorz Krychowiak earned the points, ending Sevilla's incredible 17-match winning run in all competitions at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, although Bergara was then sent off midway through the second half and is suspended for Saturday's clash.
"I think we're going into the game in good form and at a good moment," former Real Madrid midfielder Illarramendi told the Sociedad website. "We're feeling strong and full of confidence and excitement, even though it will be another difficult game.
"Barcelona will be coming here to take all three points, especially after slipping up against Real Madrid.
"But we'll be more relaxed after our win last week and we have done well against Barca at home over the past few years. Let's hope this time it turns out well for us again. We are at home and we're fired up for it. We are always extra-motivated when we play against Barca - or any of the big sides.
"We'll be going all out against them, to play how we know, with intensity and determination. They've got players with a lot of quality and players up front who are prolific scorers and that means we have to make sure we commit as few mistakes at the back as possible.
"We know that we can beat them, they haven't beaten us here during the last four years. We have that in mind and if we have done it for four years running, we can do it again on Saturday, or at least draw. We'll be putting all of our strengths into winning the match."
Barca, meanwhile, will be desperate to return to winning ways in La Liga after last week's 2-1 Clasico defeat.
Luis Enrique's men still hold a six-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid in the league table, with Real Madrid seven points off the pace in third, but they can ill afford another slip on Saturday.
The champions saw off Atletico 2-1 at home in the Champions League quarter-final first leg in midweek, with Luis Suarez netting twice as Lionel Messi continues to look for his 500th career goal.
The Argentina international has scored 499 at senior level so far, but missed out on the chance to reach the landmark against both Madrid and Atletico.
Messi netted once when both sides met at Camp Nou back in November.
Key Opta facts:
- Real Sociedad have drawn more home games against Barcelona in La Liga than against any other side (23).
- Barcelona have gone 11 league games away from home without a defeat, just one short of their best run with Luis Enrique in charge.
- Real Sociedad have gone three league games without a win at Anoeta, their worst run at home since Eusebio took charge.
- Neymar has won more fouls than any other player in La Liga this season (102).
- Barcelona have not won any of their last two league games. They have not gone three without a win in the competition since May 2014.


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(1956- )
Alvin Mack was born in Bella Coola, British Columbia. He is the last son of renowned carver William Mack. Inspired by his father, he began to experiment with carving yellow cedar at the age of 13. Even in his youth, Alvin was successful in producing quality monumental totem poles, and ceremonial items containing traditional Nuxalk art forms.
Wanting to learn more and take his art more seriously, Alvin enrolled in 'Ksan School of Northwest Coast Art, whom he was taught under master carvers, Earl Muldoe, Walter Harris, Vernon Stephens, and Ken Mowatt, graduating at the top of his class in 1985.
Upon his return to Bella Coola, Alvin immersed himself in the culture of his Nuxalk ancestry, translating the Nuxalk mythology into every "art project." During this time, he also taught himself to engrave in gold and silver jewellery. His works has been shown all over the world.
Traditionally, the culture of the Nuxalk was passed on through their art, but had been through what they call a "Sleeping Period" after the epidemics of disease and clashes with the new world. Now in a period "The Reawakening", the Nuxalk people are bringing back the arts and customs of their culture for future generations. Alvin has been a leading force in the revival of the visual arts in his community, teaching in Acwsalcta School, he has viewed his employment as "paying back to the community."
Alvin is highly regarded in the Nuxalk community, and enjoys a prestigious place in the modern society of today. He has pursued his design and fabrication of jewellery, recently graduating from a two-year program at the Vancouver Community College because he feels that it is important to broaden his education not only for himself but for the experience and knowledge he can share with others. Alvin creates outstanding works in several mediums, and has led many major projects in the community that you can witness in the beautiful valley of Bella Coola, B.C.
Artist Statement, 2009
© 2020 Spirit Wrestler Gallery. All Rights Reserved.


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Death Parade
Sometimes when preparing for battle, a Witch will summon a deadly shade to lead an army of ghosts into battle. It is debated if this is death himself, but what is known is that the suffering souls shackled to him serve to enhance the shades power in combat.
This set is a 28-30mm scale collection of chained ghosts led by none other than death himself. Perfect for your role playing or fantasy battle games.


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Autodesk Senior VP of Manufacturing Buzz Kross Joins a World-Class Faculty of Autodesk Certified Experts.
Kanwar Anand, President and CEO of KETIV Technologies, a leading Autodesk solutions reseller for the West coast, announced open registration for KETIV AMA 2011, the computer aided design training event for mechanical design and engineering professionals.
Co-sponsored by Autodesk, the Academy is held in two locations for people in our service area to attend closer to home.
KETIV AMA 2011 - October 5, 2011 at Cerritos Sheraton in Cerritos, California
KETIV AMA 2011 - October 27, 2011 at Autodesk in Lake Oswego, Oregon
KETIV AMA 2011 provides incomparable opportunities to acquire new skills, explore the latest solutions, and network with peers. Each session addresses the real-world needs of designers and engineers today.
"We're pleased to offer quality sessions with top trainers at two convenient locations," said Mr. Anand. "With such an assortment of topical learning, participants should register early to reserve their seat."
KETIV AMA 2011 includes 16 sessions in four tracks. A look at Autodesk's web services will be a popular session. Other sessions include Practical Tips for Inventor, Vault for Data Management and PLM, and Product Design Suite. Hands-on instruction for Autodesk Inventor Publisher, Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk Simulation, and Autodesk Factory Design Suite software will round out the Digital Prototyping lineup.
A brief video is available on the KETIV-TV YouTube Channel at http://youtu.be/AuJKjjlp3YU.
For details including sessions, instructors, and how to save on tuition, visit ama.ketiv.com or phone Kathy Ortega at 866.465.3848.
KETIV Technologies is a leading Autodesk solutions provider with 25 years' experience delivering CAD software and services in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Focused on the manufacturing, civil engineering and process plant industries, KETIV's team of industry experts increase the profitability of engineering companies by helping them simplify the process of conceptualization, design, and production.
Aug 30, 2011
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Product Description
The beauty of the Charlene Bed lies in the simplistic and straightforward look of the style. However, this piece also exhibits a reliable and sophisticated approach. With elegant and spaced lines providing an essential glow that finishes off the Low Foot End Bed. The open space beneath provides a genuinely minimalist approach and is highly convenient for storage with crafted crates. Or even perfect for fun hiding spots… No matter where you are in your life or what your needs are the Charlene Low-Foot Bed (Mahogany) – Double Bed offers both style and convenience with grace and dignity. This is what makes the Charlene by Michael Calvin unique and special – perfect for your household.
The Charlene Low-Foot Bed (Mahogany) – Double Bed by Michael Calvin:
Another great thing about the Charlene Low Foot End Bed is that it comes in a range of different sizes providing enough variety for you to find the perfect fit for your uniquely sized and shaped bedroom. The available fits range from five different sizes. Just request, and we will provide; no hassle and no regrets. Without further ado here are our sizes for you: 91cm, 107cm, 137cm, 152cm, and finally the wonderfully luxurious and large 183cm.
Added on to all of this we also offer different woods for your own Charlene Low Foot End Bed. This means that you can mix and match or style to a tee your own room's bed and its surroundings. A few key furniture pieces to look out for when ordering your preferred bed with its specific wood are cabinets, cupboards, dressing tables, and any wood framed mirrors as these have a more significant effect on the overall look of the room than one might give them credit for. Furthering on the topic, these beautiful, quality woods are Chestnut, Mahogany, Oregon, White, and Rustic. So, go ahead and find your favorite while we provide the perfect final product.


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In academic PAL sessions, students are guided through course concepts by their PAL Leader, a competent student who has been trained in group-facilitation techniques.
Know what you're looking for? Go to:
- Which subjects are currently participating in PAL?
- Why become a PAL Leader?
- What happens in PAL sessions?
- When does the programme run?
- How do you apply?
- How have previous PAL Leaders found their experience?
- Academics: what is PAL?
- Art
- Classics
- Clinical Languages Science
- Economics
- Law
- Mathematics & Statistics
- Pharmacy
- Psychology
- Develop real-life transferable skills, often sought after in graduate jobs.
- Improve your presentation skills and self-confidence.
- Develop your skills in facilitating and coaching other students, and your ability to tailor you communication to different audiences.
- Develop your time-management skills, your ability to think on your feet and to troubleshoot.
- PAL Leadership shows an employer that you have gone above and beyond your degree and that you have been interested in contributing to the wider University community.
- Students bring lecture notes hand-outs and textbooks to refer to in the session.
- As PAL Leader, you agree with the students which material they want to review, improve or understand better.
- You will be trained in how to structure and lead flexible sessions so everyone can participate.
- PAL Leaders do not teach, lecture or give out the answers.
- PAL Leaders do help with problem-solving, study skills, exam techniques, coursework and assignments, and presentations.
- PAL Leaders know what their students are going through because they 'have been there' and been successful.
PAL sessions run weekly within the duration of a module - so if the module is one term, there will be at least 8 weeks of PAL sessions. Training for PAL Leaders takes place over two days at the start or end of the Autumn term, or the start of the Spring term.
As the programme is only running on select modules, you will be informed by your lecturers if the opportunity is available to you. The PAL Coordinator will then explain in more detail PAL and the application process.
How have previous PAL Leaders found their experience?
Really rewarding! It's a great way to remind me of the topic too.
It feels great to have an impact on someone else's university life.
Very useful for my development and for the academic skills. I really enjoy it!
I am enjoying it, I feel good leaving knowing that I have helped someone get to grips with something difficult.
- A global model: PAL runs at many Universities across the USA, Europe, Australasia and the UK.
- Peer Assisted Learning is a scheme which tends to improve student retention, grades and performance for those who attend regularly.
- It is particularly effective when aligned with content or modules deemed conceptually difficult.
- Students in the higher years of specific programmes - PAL Leaders - are recruited and trained to facilitate weekly study support sessions for students in the lower years.
- PAL sessions offer a safe and friendly place to help students improve study skills and to deepen their understanding of the course subject.
- PAL Leaders structure the sessions based on material covered in lectures and seminars, and will also plan their sessions around students' particular requests.
The University of Reading is now a member of the PASS/SI network of peer learning provision and its PAL scheme is endorsed by the European Centre for SI / PASS which is Lund University, Sweden. The University of Reading is recognised as having staff who have become qualified certified Supervisors and can provide PAL leaders with the required high quality training and professional development.
To read our blog post about PAL, click here.


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Birmingham Bloomfield Audiology
BBA is a premiere Metro Detroit hearing center since 2003. We provide many hearing solutions along with diagnostic services.
Birmingham Bloomfield Audiology - Family Care
BBA is your Care Partner involved with the patient's care by their entire attending healthcare team, including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, social workers, and more. Attending to the patient's specific stage in life, we work together to assist the patient and their family.
Pediatric Hearing Aids and Audiology
Ability to hear may affect your child's ability to speak and understand language. Our Audiologists specialize in testing techniques to assess your child's hearing sensitivity.
Adult Hearings Aids and Audiology
We support hearing at any age, beginning at birth. BBA is dedicated to the hearing healthcare of its patients.
Testing and Services
Using advanced equipemt and technology, our licensed clinical Audiologists provide personalized care and services for all types of hearing challenges.
Birmginham Bloomfield Audiology
Location and Contact
3500 West Maple Suite C
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48301


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Main features
- Stretch cotton denim
- Standing collar
- Long sleeve
- Button opening
- Insert with darker fabric
- Pockets with flap and welt on the front
- Strap at the bottom
Made in: Turkey
Product code: 2KD6535A3_901
98% Cotton 2% Elastane
Clothing care
- Maximum temperature: 30°C. Gentle cycle
- Do not bleach
- Do not tumble dry
- Line dry in shade
- Delicate iron at maximum temperature of 110°C. without steam, which could damage the garment
- Do not dry clean


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Thermal Spa / Jacuzzi Covers assist greatly with heat generation and retention. Heat pump settings can be lowered and savings achieved where a cover is in use.
Download our Spa/ Jacuzzi Covers brochure here.
Spa/Jacuzzi Shock Cord Cover
The Spa/Jacuzzi Shock Cord Cover adapts to standard sizes via an elasticated fastening system. The cover allows one to achieve the right tension with a system of elasticated cords and eyelets sunk in the decking or coping. Easy to use and lightweight, it completely seals off the water and reduces general maintenance. When using this cover in conjunction with a Thermal GeoBubble cover, heat retention is improved. The Shock Cord Cover prevents leaves and debris collecting in the water while the Thermal GeoBubble cover, lying in direct contact with the spa/Jacuzzi water, assists in heat retention.read more
Spa/Jacuzzi Solid Cover with hooks and eyelets
This easy to use lightweight cover completely seals off the water and reduces general maintenance. We recommend using this cover in conjunction with a Thermal GeoBubble cover. The solid cover will then be the outer cover, preventing leaves and debris collecting in the water. The Thermal GeoBubble cover, lying in direct contact with the spa/Jacuzzi water, will assist in heat retention.read more
Hardtop Spa/Jacuzzi Cover
The Hardtop Spa/Jacuzzi Cover gives a more structured and aesthetically appealing finish to the spa / Jacuzzi. With its built-in thermal properties, it assists with heat retention, allowing heat pump settings to be lowered. This hard-top solid cover can be secured in such a way to prevent children accessing the water. The Hardtop Spa/Jacuzzi Cover is sold directly to the trade in quantities of 10 or more.read more
Thermal GeoBubble Cover
The Thermal GeoBubble Cover is designed to utilise the sun's rays to gradually warm the entire pool using solar energy only. It floats on the surface of...read more
PowerDome is the most affordable way to simulate an indoor pool area or spa/Jacuzzi, eliminating the need to build an enclosing structure or conservatory to keep the ambient air warm and comfortable and to shield the water from the cooling effects of wind and rain. In cooler weather and at night, you'll no longer feel the nip of the surrounding air - it will completely revolutionize the way you use your outdoor spas/Jacuzzis and pools.read more


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Never have I waited in such anticipation for a restaurant to open. It was 2 months overdue but it didn't matter because I was just glad it was finally open. Why? What's so special about this place?
This restaurant is part of my childhood and it makes it quite nostalgic for me. I remember going to Salt n Pepper in Lahore, Pakistan when it used to be in a basement and even then it's burgers and food, in general, used to be so popular that every trip to Lahore had to include a trip to Salt n Pepper. Fast forward 2 decades and this restaurant has turned into a hugely successful food conglomerate that not only ended up expanding to the full length of the building whose basement it occupied but also opened many other successful restaurants, each with their own niche. So when I found out, through their head chef in Pakistan, Mr Tauseef Butt, Salt n Pepper was to open it's first international branch in London, I was beyond excited! This wasn't some franchise opening their doors, but the first of it's international chains. Some of my drool-worthy favourites they serve up back home are as follows. Taste has priority over presentation but who cares if the food is this amazing! : The stuffed chicken breast with pineapple sauce and Pakistani VIP #foodcoma
The exterior of Salt n Pepper with its seating outside and deck chairs gives a feeling of summer in the middle of, soon to be, a long winter. I love the fact they proudly display huge text emblazoned outside stating "contemporary Pakistani cuisine" which not many Pakistani restaurants in London would do!
On arrival, we were greeted by the staff and it was lovely meeting their GM Max Paswal who was very attentive and got us seated. Once comfortable, we were asked if we would like to drink anything. Max sat down with us and made us feel extremely hospitable. We were given a full background of what had been going on prior to Salt n Pepper opening, the delays they experienced and how they worked really hard to ensure they opened as smoothly as possible. Whatever it may be, I'm so glad they finally decided to open.
I loved the way they've designed their menu because at the beginning they have a map of Pakistan which highlights all the major cities and provinces of Pakistan. It also gives a background on Pakistani cuisine and the origins of some of the main dishes in the menu. For e.g the Balti dish that you get fed in most of the restaurants in London is not meant to contain 50 different spices. It is very concise and has dishes ranging from "handis" (meat dishes traditionally cooked in clay pots) to their ever popular grilled meat minus the nausea-inducing food colouring, a good selection of vegetarian dishes and traditional Pakistani desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth.
It's great to finally be able to experience food from a really famous Pakistani food conglomerate that is cooked the Pakistani way. To ensure the authenticity of their food, four of their main chefs were sent to Pakistan to train in one of the Salt n Pepper restaurants in Lahore. These people are serious about their food and you can tell how passionate they are. It took them 8 years to finally make a move outside of Pakistan and they did not take this decision lightly.
It is far easier for a food business from abroad to get set up in Pakistan because you don't have a gazillion regulations to follow. Yet, these guys persevered and are finally open for business. As Max said." They didn't come here to open another curry house" nor are they here to please everyone meaning they're not going to make their curry sauces out of some sweet curry paste or alter the taste of the dish other than what it should be. They want to set themselves apart and in the process are setting out to re-educate the locals on what Pakistani food is really about. Hence, their choice of such a prime location behind the National Gallery in Leicester Square away from the "curry belts".
The Food
Now time to talk about the food- I bet you were waiting for this! We decided to order off their special all day taster menu which had all the dishes I wanted to try. I wanted to try their karahi, how well made and spiced their biryani was and quality of their grilled meat. So we ordered seekh kebabs (mince meat cooked on skewers and traditionally grilled over charcoal), chappali (you'll find different spellings) kebabs that are flattened mince meat kebabs originating from Afghanistan but very much a part of Pakistani cuisine and can be as big as your hand! The word chappali comes from Pashto word Chaprikh which means "flat", Lahori chicken karahi and chicken biryani with a side of one garlic naan and one plain naan. (I will refrain from calling it naan bread because naan already implies it's a bread so don't quite understand the addition of bread next to naan in every single Asian restaurant!)
While we were waiting for the food, Max told us that they have chefs from all over Pakistan as well as some local chefs from England. They have a BBQ specialist, a curry specialist, "tandoor" specialist and even someone who makes an epic fully spiced biryani for the staff! (I was told I can order that too if I order a portion of 10-20 servings!) They make all their mother sauces fresh every single day. Everything that's not used is thrown away because "if your basic ingredient isn't fresh then your whole dish gets ruined."
Alcohol is served on the premises so no need to bring your own. They have a big collection of whiskey so those into their drinks can indulge themselves quite happily with a curry main. The food finally arrived and the aromatic smell of spices and grilled meat was delicious. I just hoped the food was as good as the smell. I wanted to try the seekh kebabs first as they are one of my favourites back home.
I braced myself and took the first bite. If you've seen the cartoon movie Ratatouille, then you must've seen the scene where fierce critic Anton Ego takes the first bite of Ratatouille and it takes him back to his childhood; that time he took his first bite of Ratatouille his mum cooked for him.
That was me.
The seekh kebabs tasted the exact same as they did when I first tasted them in Pakistan, and every single time thereafter. Food has the ability to invoke emotions in you that render you speechless. With a sense of euphoria, I moved onto the chappali kebabs- they were so tender and well spiced that I could've eaten them on their own.
After the chappali kebabs, I moved onto the much anticipated Lahori Chicken Karahi (my favourite!). It wasn't swimming in oil and had fresh green chillies and sliced ginger mixed in the gravy- just how I like it. However, I would've liked a bit more spice to it but then again that varies from person to person. I like spicy food anyway!
Last one up from my mains was the Chicken Biryani. This was the only dish I gave feedback on as it wasn't spicy enough to be a biryani and did not seem like it was cooked like a biryani. I looked and tasted more like a chicken pulao which is more subtle in taste compared to a biryani. Every spoonful of a biryani should pack a punch. Nonetheless, the rice was fluffy and aromatic.
Generally after eating a meal that should normally be shared by at least 3 people, I'd be ready to be carted off in a wheel chair. Or if you eat such a meal in a regular curry house you'd still be digesting it in the morning. Surprisingly, I did not feel heavy and fortunately for me, I did not feel like I was going to be sick. It was as if I had a home cooked meal and felt completely at ease ready to devour the dessert!
So, for the dessert we ordered two variations of a kulfi (a popular dessert in the sub-continent, it is denser and creamier than ice cream)- a mango kulfi and malai matka kulfi. The mango kulfi came in a regular ice cream bowl but I loved how well presented the matka (clay pot) kulfi was including the pot it came in topped with shavings of pistachio. Both were delicious! I was surprised to find out these kulfis are made by Italian gelato manufacturers in Italy. The owners tried the local suppliers but the kulfi they were selling is not the real deal. Not happy with the quality and lack of authenticity, they supplied an Italian company with the kulfi's recipe and had them manufacture it for them. All I can say is- wow! They also have a "daal halwa" (popular Punjabi lentil dessert) in the menu on the insistence of Ms Nina Akbar who absolutely loves it and made sure that is one dessert her husband definitely included in the menu.
You can tell this isn't just any business venture for Mr and Mrs Mahmood Akbar (owners and founders of Salt N Pepper UK). They are hardcore and passionate foodies who have decades of experience in the food industry, love food and the idea of sharing well-cooked delicious meals with their loved ones. A testament to the fact that they were entertaining their guests on their own turf rather than taking them to any other high profile restaurant that London has to offer- such is the confidence in their own food and their graciousness in accepting feedback. One can only hope this venture is successful as they've put in a lot of love and effort into it. Since it's a soft opening, they're working on making it better every day based on their diners' suggestions and what they come across themselves.
Do visit Salt n Pepper, it's a personal recommendation of mine.
View the Salt n Pepper menu.
Location: The closest station is Leicester Square station and the restaurant is located at 32 Orange Street WC2H 7HQ, behind the National Gallery. For the exact details, click here.
Contact number: 0207 9302 939
Twitter: @SaltnpepperUK
Some suggestions I'd like to make:
- The London food palate is very experienced and most of the people living here are well traveled and aware of different cuisines- they're spoilt for choice so Salt n Pepper should not be scared to experiment or try something different even if that means serving up dishes proper "Lahori style"
- The chicken biryani definitely needs to be more spicy and more biryani-like
- The Pakistani VIP should make a surprise entrance for a limited time to gauge how diners would react to it. I think it will do really well.
And lucky for you! They are also running a 50% off all day taster menu till 20 October 2013.
So, If you're around central London and confused about where to eat, then do give these guys a call! Their GM Max Paswal and their courteous staff will take good care of you. They've not only brought over authentic Pakistani cuisine but also the warm Pakistani hospitality that not many people get to experience in London.
P.S.: The day after I woke up, I had no stomach pains neither did I feel like I was still digesting my food from the night before, even though I ate like a total pig; says a lot about the quality of their food. Here's hoping the standards are upheld and the food is as delicious and consistent on every single trip!


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Yesterday we celebrated Katie's 9th birthday with these Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats! I like to call them PB&J Dog Treats, but I confess—they don't contain any jelly (that's a good thing, btw). But when I was making these dog treats they smelled EXACTLY like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hence the name!
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats Your Puppy Will Love!
Made with oatmeal, peanut butter, blueberries, applesauce, and a little salt, these homemade peanut butter dog treats are amazing. And boy, does Katie love them! It was hard to get her to stay put for this photo, but in general, she's a pretty well-behaved dog—especially for a treat!
Other Homemade Dog Treat Ideas
Now, if you've been following my blog for a while, you know how crazy we are about Katie. I like to call her "a big part of our little family." So about 3 times a year I whip up some sort of homemade treat—typically to celebrate her birthday, adoption day, or the holidays. So far that has created a nice little line-up of treat ideas for dogs. If you're interested, here's a quick list:
- Peanut Butter Whole Wheat Dog Treats
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Dog Treats
- Sweet Potato Jerky Dog Treats
- Frosty Fun Frozen Peanut Butter Dog Treats
- Blueberry Banana Frozen Dog Treats
I'm sure we'll keep adding to the list and experimenting, but that's a pretty darned good list so far! 🙂
My Recipe for Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats with Blueberries!
This recipe is super easy to make and contains only healthy, real ingredients that are safe for your furry friend. Although you can roll out these treats and cut them into different shaped biscuits, I chose to make them into "thumbprint" cookies like you might make with jam.
Also, I made the treats nice and small since Katie is only 19 pounds, and we want her to stay healthy and fit. Depending on the size of your dog, you may want to increase the size of the treats.
Finally, to help visualize the recipe's instructions, I inserted a quick, "how to" picture at the bottom of this post. As they say, a picture (or 2 or 3) is worth a thousand words!
We hope you enjoy making these Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats with Blueberries as much as we did. And we can promise you, your dog is going to love them!
- 6 cups rolled oats, regular or quick
- 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup applesauce
- 6 heaping tablespoons peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
- For best results, use a food processor with a sharp mixing blade. Add rolled oats into food processor bowl and pulse for 10 - 20 seconds. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until completely blended.
- Scoop out large handfuls of dough and roll into small logs. Then break off small pieces of dough and roll between your hands and place on prepared cookie sheets. Then using your thumb, press the dough ball to create thumbprint treats.
- Bake in
oven for 25-30 minutes or until the treats start to brown on the edges. Cook and store in an airtight container for several months.
You don't want whole or large pieces of blueberries in these treats since they may retain moisture and increase risk of spoilage for these treats.
These treats should be baked thoroughly so they are dry and crunchy. Moist, soft treats will spoil more quickly.
If you want to add a little breath-freshening power to these treats, try adding the optional parsley!
Kitchen Resources and Tips for Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats with Blueberries:
- I love my Cuisinart Food Processor. It makes it super easy to whip up a batch of dog treats!
- A high-quality baking sheet is indispensable in the kitchen. Here's one from NordicWare that's similar to what I use.
- These Homemade Peanut Butter dog treats make wonderful gifts. Just fill up a pint-size mason jar with them, add a bow or some ribbon, and your friends and their dogs will love you forever!
Quick, How-To Instructions for Making These Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats:
As promised, here's a quick, visual guide for making these dog treats. I promise, they're super easy to make!


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5 Tips for the Perfect Holiday Brunch
- Tips & How To's
- 12/13/16
- Share
A holiday brunch is a wonderful time to get together with friends and family amid all the hustle and the bustle of the season. Brunch should be a laid-back, relaxed meal that allows you to focus on catching up with company and savoring delicious foods and drinks without any pressure. Keep things as simple and effortless as possible with our five tips for the perfect holiday brunch:
1. Choose Simple Eats
Nothing zaps the joy of a brunch faster than chaos in the kitchen! Having to run around the kitchen all morning or stick by the stovetop cooking eggs or pancakes to order can make a holiday brunch stressful instead of sweet. Instead, choose to serve foods that are simple to prepare as well as those that can be cooked all at once and then that stay fresh for a few hours. Great brunch food options are frittatas, quiches and simple pastries made from refrigerated, prepared dough. While it can be nice to prepare complicated dishes, sometimes keeping things easy is the best option when it comes to brunch.
2. Strike a Balance
A great brunch offers a variety of dishes and a sumptuous spread, so strike a balance between menu items. Serve a mix of sweet and savory items instead of just staying with one way or the other.
3. Make Dishes the Night Before
In the same vein, doing all the preparation you can the night before makes things go much more smoothly in the morning. You can prepare frittatas and other baked egg dishes the night before, as well as sausages or other meats and baked goods like cakes. Setting the table the night before also helps you keep the focus on the fun come morning!
4. Mix Up Frozen Concoctions in Seconds
Light and refreshing frozen concoctions are a must-have with your holiday brunch. The Margaritaville® Tahiti™ Frozen Concoction Maker® makes serving large groups a breeze. Its fully-automatic operation and three blending stations enable you to make multiple types of frozen concoctions at once. For a holiday brunch, bright and sunny frozen concoctions made with ingredients like orange juice, champagne and grapefruit juice are great picks, as is the always-classic bloody mary. It's also a good idea to have non-alcoholic beverages on hand as well - the Tahiti™ can mix alcohol-free drinks like orange juice and seltzer or pink lemonade. In addition to the frozen concoctions, make sure coffee, tea and water are available in ample amounts.
5. Set the Scene
Brunch is about good eats and tasty drinks, but it's also about a warm and welcoming ambiance. Set the scene for a cozy and relaxing holiday celebration with warm touches like string lights and evergreen centerpieces or pine sprigs scattered on the table. For a holiday brunch, go low-key and quirky with plates, glasses and tea cups for a perfectly relaxed look.
Remember to enjoy your frozen concoctions responsibly and follow all drinking laws.


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Published at Thursday, August 01st, 2019 - 15:36:14 PM. Wedding Venue. By Amot Graf.
There are a wide range of different styles to choose from, from restaurants to rustic barns or boutique hotels to former palaces. Be warned that unfortunately, as is so often the case, you tend to get what you pay for. Furthermore, peak season Saturdays will usually be booked up 9 months or more in advance, so in order to secure the best venues it is important to either be flexible with the wedding date or start your venue search a year or so in advance. Be warned!
Wedding is the most important day in a person's life, so everyone tries to make the wedding day unforgettable. Although all arrangements for the wedding play an important role for making the event successful, but the importance of venues is greater as compared to all other arrangements. Venue is a place that is specified and designed to hold wedding ceremonies.
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Choose a format
Hard Copy
Online Access
Course Description
Charts are a great way for accountants to add a visual representation to financial and numerical data, making the numbers more easily understandable - and more memorable. This course will help you improve presentations and efficiency by teaching you how to create effective and useful charts in Excel.
You'll learn:
- The different chart types Excel offers and how to use them
- How to link Excel charts into PowerPoint and Word
- How to create custom and default charts
- How to improve your presentations through formatting
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the different chart types, their components, and their appropriate use.
- Recognize the different steps involved in creating charts and the relationship between the source data and the spreadsheet.
- Recognize how to edit existing charts by resizing, change the chart type, move chart elements, and add/delete data series by using contextual tabs menus and shortcut keys.
- Recognize how Excel treats numerical values and how to apply formatting techniques and insert objects to a chart.
- Identify the default Excel chart type.
- Recognize the steps required to create custom chart types and how to save them as templates to improve efficiency.
- Recognize the different methodologies of linking Excel data and the use of static Excel data in PowerPoint presentations.
- Recognize how fonts, colors, graphics, documentation, and printing can impact the professionalism of a PowerPoint presentation.
Table of Contents
Learning Objectives
Overview of Chart Types
2016 Charts
Creating a Chart
Quick and Dirty Method of Creating a Chart using F11
Quick and Dirty Method of Creating a Chart using ALT+F1
Creating a Chart from Scratch
Moving your Chart
Change Chart Type
To Add or Modify a Chart Element:
Editing and Updating Charts
Adding in a Series
Delete a Data Series
Moving Series within the Chart
Switching Row and Column Display
Using Numbers on the X Axis
Change Data Series
Formatting and Adding Graphics
Review Exercise
Review Questions
Creating a Default Chart
Custom Chart Types
Review Questions
Different Chart Types
Pie Charts
Formatting a Data Point – Slice of Pie
Formatting the Entire Pie (Excel 2007/2010)
Formatting the Entire Pie (Excel 2013/2016)
Changing the Pie Design (Excel 2007/2010)
Moving Slices
Format Data Labels
Changing the Pie Design (Excel 2013/2016)
Moving Slices
Format Data Labels
Combination Charts
2 Y-Axis Charts
Review Exercise
Stock Chart
Creating Stock Charts
Waterfall Charts
Treemap Charts
Formatting a Chart Axis
Y Axis Scaling
Printing Charts
Review Questions
Link Excel Data into PowerPoint Presentations
Paste Link
Review Exercise
Review Questions
Finer Points of Presentations
Using Graphics in Documents
Worth a Thousand Words
Guidelines for Making Good Presentations
The Basics
Keep It Simple
Colors and Fonts
Misuse of Graphics
Review Questions
Review Question Answers and Rationales
Qualified Assessment
Answer Sheet
Course Evaluation
Choose Your Preferred Format
Online Access
Get immediate access to a robust collection of learning and reference materials, allowing you to dive deep into the information you need. Our self-study materials are authored by top-quality, industry experts who focus on helping you grasp concepts quickly using real-life examples. Download your CPE to any device, and take it with you so you can learn when and wherever you want. Complete your CPE with an online exam, and enjoy instant grading with the option to print your certificate immediately upon passing.
Hard Copy
Our self-study materials are authored by top-quality, industry experts. You'll receive a bound notebook of all the course materials, shipped to you within one business day. In addition, you'll also have full online access. Each self-study package includes a robust collection of learning and reference materials to help you cover the information efficiently and put it into practice immediately.
Self-Study Video
Experience high-quality instruction with our Self-Study Videos, available to you 24/7. With more than 80+ videos currently in the Western CPE Self-Study Video library, you can see and hear our expert instructors deliver the information you need in a dynamic way that allows you to immediately apply your learning. Unlike a live course or webcast, you can complete the course on your own time, playing and pausing as needed. Self-Study Videos allow you to complete your CPE requirements on your own time.
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Monty's Beach Lodge
This is where Blissed Out Yoga Retreats were born. Tara spent a couple of months at Monty's in the Spring of 2013, teaching yoga to the guests that stayed and volunteered at the resort. This place is like no other. Leaders, Monty and Gerry, have created a beautiful foundation in which they are constantly giving back to the communities in Nicaragua. As a guest, you are automatically giving back to the community as well, as a portion or your cost to stay is put right back into the community. While living at Monty's for a couple of months, Tara had the opportunity to volunteer and connect with some amazing groups from Canada/US that visit here regularly to donate and volunteer their time to these community projects. She fell in love with the generosity and love that filled Monty's Beach Lodge and has been inspired ever since to continue to help and to share in this experience with others. While retreating here with Tara, you'll have the opportunity to feed the children that live at a garbage dump community as well as get involved in any of the other community projects you might be interested in. Come and experience Central America like never before. Monty's Beach Lodge invites you to a rustic hide-away on Nicaraguan's gorgeous north Pacific coast. Our palm-thatch lodge and restaurant sits on a breathtaking sandy surf beach, just on the edge of the traditional fishing village of Jiquilillo. You will relax our our wide open beach, play in the warm surf, and kick back with fresh food and good friends. At Monty's, stay and play and experience all the warmth of Nicaragua at your pace.
Volunteer Work
"We are very proud to be able to serve the communities surrounding our Beach Lodge and Surf Camp. Currently our projects are focused on Jiquillio, Chinandega and the communities in between. Working with local leaders, partners Monty and Gerry work hard to create projects which serve the community in health, sports, education and ongoing sustainability. We believe we are all connected and if we can serve others, we also feel served. Their joy is our joy.
We have volunteer activities and specific projects that are constantly changing as needs in the community surface. If you are interested in helping or have a specialized skill, let us know. You can help while vacationing at Monty's or contribute from afar."
Jiquilillo, Nicaragua
This endless pale-gray beach (pronounced heekeeleeyo) frames what you thought existed only in tales that begin 'You should have seen it back when I was first here…' The picture-perfect fishing village fronts a dramatic rocky point, where tide pools reflect the reds and golds of a huge setting sun, Cosigüina's ragged bulk rising hazy and postapocalyptic to the north. The region remains largely undeveloped, despite its beauty and accessibility, because a devastating 1992 tsunami wiped this village out completely.
Read more from Lonely Planet


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The following experts have contributed answers to this edition of Ask UXmatters:
- Leo Frishberg—Principal Architect, User Experience at Tektronix Inc.
- Pabini Gabriel-Petit—Publisher and Editor in Chief, UXmatters; Principal User Experience Architect at BMC Software; Founding Director of Interaction Design Association (IxDA); UXmatters columnist
- Steven Hoober—Mobile Interaction Designer at Cummins and Author of Designing Mobile Interfaces
- Adrian Howard—Generalizing Specialist in Agile/UX
- Mike Hughes—User Assistance Architect at IBM Internet Security Systems; UXmatters columnist
- Jordan Julien—Independent Experience Strategy Consultant
- Tobias Komischke—Director of User Experience, Infragistics
Q: In your experience, what are the gaps between the agile development model and user experience design? What is the best way to fill these gaps?—from a UXmatters reader
A Key Gap: UX Needs a Clear Product Vision
"Agile is a development methodology and UX design is a design methodology, so right there is a reason why there are gaps," answers Tobias. "Principally, in agile development, developers are fully aware that they don't have all of the inputs and knowledge up front—that is, they don't know what the final product will be like until they've completed the last iteration's build. During each sprint, the team looks at a part of the whole product and works on that. Therefore, the team acquires knowledge and understanding during the individual sprints. Yes, there is a master set of features that the team determines up front and that carry through in the project's backlog, but there are a lot of issues and details that they'll identify during the course of the project. For an agile purist, there's nothing worse than 'Big design up front.'
"In contrast, in UX design, we want to know everything that's relevant up front; that's why we make so much effort to carry out proper context-of-use analyses. We want to anticipate and envision the product holistically—and not just its parts—as soon as possible. What will it look and feel like? This does not mean that we take only one shot at the design—we do ideate and iterate, but we typically want the knowledge to be as complete as possible at the beginning. For UX folks, it's all about the big design up front, because we want to define and design the product as one holistic user experience and, at the same time, minimize concept ambiguity during implementation.
"Of course, the reality of how these two differing philosophies are lived through the reality of our projects is not black and white, but any possible shade of gray in between those two extremes."
What should you do when you're not getting the requirements you need? "Just volunteer to write the vision statement when everyone else seems frustrated by a lack of a clear direction," suggests Steven. "Go to the Business Analyst and help him write the user stories. Soon, you'll be a part of the process and can argue for better inclusion in it. For example, depending on how far you want to push it, doing pre-iteration zero holistic wireframes instead of just whiteboards, hand waving, and just sprint-ahead design work."
"On more than one occasion, I've done just that," says Pabini. "Recently, when working with a development team that didn't have well-defined user stories that would allow them to define priorities or the scope of each iteration of the project, I volunteered to write the user stories myself. Having a clear vision and requirements are essential prerequisites to doing effective UX design, especially when working on a tight schedule. Whenever these are lacking on a project, I do whatever I can to bring clarity, even if it means that I need to take a greater role in requirements definition than a UX professional typically would."
"Oddly, I don't see any gaps at all," replies Leo. "In fact, I've been a strong proponent of UX as an agile process. Consider these overlaps: Both disciplines believe in iterative development; both believe in frequently obtaining user feedback; both believe in driving development by thinking in terms of user input rather than system output. Where they digress is in their focus: the agile model was created to implement software; user experience is about designing experiences. But these two different goals don't map at all. Consider this typical interchange:
"Software Scrum Master: 'What are we going to deliver in our first release?'
"UX / Product Owner: 'It's too soon to know—we don't have a product vision!'
"While the agile folks decry doing 'big design' up front—because it fails to 'deliver anything real and actionable, is subject to change, and doesn't reflect true user or customer needs'—UX folks are sometimes hard pressed to take an incremental approach to defining product vision. But this is a false tension: UX folks have plenty of tools that let them engage users to rapidly identify the vision for a product, which is a key necessity to help drive the trajectory of development. In the end, defining product vision is a far better investment of resources up front, because it helps you to avoid massive refactoring downstream."
Some Definitions of Agile Terminology
By Pabini Gabriel-Petit
theme—A collection of related user stories that has a descriptive name. To reduce the amount of time and effort they'll spend on estimating, developers can aggregate related user stories into a theme, then treat them a single entity during estimating or release planning.
epic—A large-scale user story that gives an overview of a feature that provides value to a user. An epic often constitutes a theme on its own. Writing epics is usually preliminary to writing more detailed user stories.
user story—A description, in users' terms, of desired functionality that provides value to a user—that is, something a user wants. User stories break down an epic into smaller, more detailed descriptions of pieces of functionality that a developer can implement during a single iteration.
conditions of satisfaction—Details of a user story that are written in the form of acceptance tests. By the time a user story gets designed, conditions of satisfaction should exist for it.
Writing User Stories
"Colocated product development teams typically capture user stories on note cards. But if you're working on a distributed team, you can start by identifying themes that describe specific features and capture their epics and user stories in separate tables. These tables may comprise the following columns:
- User Role—As a user, I can…
- User Story—I want to…
- Value—So I can…
- Conditions of Satisfaction—Verify that…
- Notes—Details from discussions
- Priority
- Level of Effort
"Write an epic describing each feature, then iteratively break the epics down into user stories. But avoid decomposing epics into user stories too far in advance. When writing user stories, determine the proper level of detail to provide, as follows:
- Write small, fine-grained user stories and conditions of satisfaction, and capture any notes from discussions for top-priority features—that is, features the development team will implement in the next few iterations. As a team, set priorities and estimate the level of effort for these user stories. User stories should typically take only 1 or 2 days to implement and no more than 10 days.
- Write an epic and the key user stories—and any other user stories your team wants to capture—for features the development team will implement during later iterations.
Write only epics for low-priority features that the team plans to develop in much later iterations, features that the team may defer to a later release, or features that the team may decide not to implement.
"There are two ways of adding detail to user stories: by writing additional, more fine-grained and subordinate user stories or by adding conditions of satisfaction to existing user stories. These approaches are not mutually exclusive."


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Apple is reports its Q2 earnings today at 5pm ET. Analyst expectations are mixed, but most see for the first time in years a lower profit.
All eyes are on Apple today. Apple stock has fallen over 40% over the last couple of months. It closed yesterday at $398, which is a bit higher than end of last week. Analysts predict that Apple's first profit decline since 10 years ago.
CNet reports that Apple is though also expected to post record sales for a second quarter. Which is interesting because there is lots of talk about declining iPhone sales. The big driver for declining profits are the lower gross margins Apple is able to get from its products. On the other hand nobody in the industry has such high gross margins.