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I'm back with another installment of "Emi attends another workshop" or something like that, haha. You might remember that I attended a textile exhibition of sorts back in March this year. What I didn't realize is that these Nuno-Haku events happen relatively often (yipee!). I started following their page on Facebook so that I wouldn't miss out on a thing.
When I had a look on their website, it seemed they were already up to "volume 7" of the series, and this one was a two-parter! Unfortunately, I missed the first week ("In love with skirts weekend" is the literal translation) because I was too busy in the countryside playing paparazzi to my daughter's dragonfly whispering activities, but we came back in time for the second week ("A weekend of weaving, embroidery and crafts" is how I translate it -- albeit very roughly).
There was definitely a little of everything! You could attend a workshop for tapir "doll"-making, a workshop for weaving on a loom (check out that loom! I don't think I would have relished setting it up), a workshop for knitting, and there was even an embroidery demonstration. A lot of them had filled up by the time I got there (because I didn't reserve a spot in advance online).
Fortunately, I was able to sign up for a fun little button-making workshop sponsored by Sunomoto, which was the one I had my eye on. It looked simple and fun, which is my theme for the summer. Oh, who am I kidding? That is my life motto, haha.
Turns out it isn't necessarily that simple. But it IS fun! Clay button-making is a lot like making candy, if you've ever made those rolled candies with the images inside. Haha, does that even make sense? I don't know what they're called in English, but in Japanese they're called "Kintaro Ame." (There's a really cool video in this post that shows you the process.) The concept is the same. You roll up the clay into a long cylindrical shape, enclosing different colors to make the image inside the circle. I don't think I'm doing a good job explaining this, so I'll let you look at the pictures.
We were given a few small pieces of clay and asked to soften and roll them out to a specific length and width. Can you tell what it's going to be? It's a very Japanese image of "summer."
Now, I was doing all right up to the point where we were told to "squish" the rolled clay together to get all the air out. It was during the cutting process that I failed, haha. We were given razors and told to slice our buttons to the width we preferred (it was recommended we go with 2.5mm or 3mm). And for some reason, I was having great difficulty making sure it was the same thickness at the top and the bottom of the circle, much to the amusement of my crafty friend who was with me. Let's just say I would never get a job at a bakery slicing bread, ha ha ha!!
Can you tell what it is now? If you guessed "katori senko" (or the incense that acts as a mosquito repellent), you would be correct! Whenever I visited Japan in the summer as a child, my relatives lit these up outside to ward off the mosquitoes, and I remember the smell of the incense used to waft in through the screen doors. I always wondered whether they were effective. But they have always been a big part of Tokyo summers for me -- along with fireworks, watermelons, and Obon dancing. More on that in another post.
So in case you weren't convinced that my buttons were indeed wonky, you can see some of the pretty (and evenly sliced!) creations by the other students in the workshop as models of what the finished buttons should look like. (And yes, that's my sad little carrot in the upper left corner next to my buttons. I thought my girls would want some pretend food.) Don't you think this would be a fun activity to do with kids?
This was just a basic class, but apparently there is a whole specialized course you can take if you wanted to learn more advanced techniques. Check out the buttons you can learn how to make!
I think I even heard the workshop leader say that there is an "MBA" course where you can become certified to sell buttons and teach people how to make them! Pretty neat. But after this experience, I might just stick to sewing, hahaha. Thanks for reading, and I hope you're enjoying your summer!


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Patrick turned 6!
Dang is that one cute kid or what?! I love him!!! So much!!!
I met him at his school with lunch from Jack in the Box (his favorite grilled cheese sandwiches)
He was so excited!! He had a birthday crown on when I got there. I'm so glad I got to spend that special time with him.
For dinner we had Mimi's which he loves and then we came home so he could open Grandma and Grandpas present.
I love that face!!!
I seriously love this kid like crazy and even though he challenges me to have more patience, I wouldn't have it any other way. He is so smart and I'm loving that he is letting me read Harry Potter to him. We have so much fun together and I'm loving watching him learn and get older.

subset: commoncrawl


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Pink Button App Goes National
Post-Accident App Going Nationwide
Columbus, Ohio's Bob Juniper is on a Mission to Protect Drivers
COLUMBUS, OH – Bob Juniper of Three-C Body Shop envisioned a mobile application drivers could use after experiencing a collision – just press a button and all the hassles of the accident are taken care of for you. That vision is now the Pink Button app. The Pink Button has been so popular with Three-C's customers that the innovative Juniper has partnered with the Columbus, Ohio technology firm, Rampart to create Instant Crash Helpers and bring the app to body shops and drivers around the country.
Here's how the app works. First, download it for free. After an accident, just open the app and it automatically sends your GPS coordinates to your body shop, alerting them that you're in need of assistance. Rest easy – the app displays a map that shows the body shop's tow truck approaching the location of the accident. Other automated features that make your experience easier include sending automated text messages to family members, contacting rental car companies if the body shop isn't sending one from its own fleet, and beginning the repair process through your auto insurance company. Simply put, the app provides everything a driver could need after a non-injury accident.
Another aspect of the process that makes it ideal for drivers is the fact that it prevents the insurance company from imposing one of its "preferred shops" on a flustered driver who may not even be aware of his/her rights to choose the body shop he/she wants. The body shops that specialize in high quality repairs and have demonstrated a commitment to exceptional customer service are the ones that will be offering this app from Instant Crash Helpers to their customers. The insurance companies' "preferred shops" are a part of Direct Repair Programs. It's their priority to fix the car inexpensively rather than correctly. At body shops like Three-C, the customer and his/her car is the priority. That's why the Pink Button was created – it's all about the driver.
Three-C's customers have been raving about the Pink Button since that app was launched. When Columbus driver, Lori was in an accident, she was glad to have the assistance of the Pink Button: "I was involved in an accident in the downtown area of Columbus on a Sunday evening. It was getting dark and everything was closed. I had no idea what I was going to do with my car. It was not even drivable and I didn't know any towing companies or body shops. I mentioned Three-C Body Shop to the police officer who had come to do the accident report. He told me he had the Pink Button collision repair app on his phone. He allowed me to use the app and Three-C called in less that a minute. They sent a rental car out to me with the tow truck, and I was back on my way in less than an hour from the time the accident had occurred. I was extremely impressed at Three-C's high level of service."
Media Contact: Bob Juniper (mobile) 614-403-1408
Three-C Body Shop has been Central Ohio's finest in collision repair for decades. Its mission is to "improve all aspects of collision repair including quality, production efficiency, safety, public image and intervening with insurance companies on our clients' behalf in order to best meet the needs of our customers." Visit https://threecbodyshop.com/ and http://www.instantcrashhelpers.com/ for more information.


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Alumnus Starts Enviro-Group; Credits UMBS with Inspiration
Mark Fate returned from his 2012 session at the Biological Station emboldened. Not only had he overcome some initial squeamishness about slogging through mucky, leechy waters in his Algae class, he "realized I have a skill set I can apply to science."
Fate turned his newfound skills and appreciation for the world around him toward his hometown of Ionia, Michigan. He founded the Ionia Environmental Improvement Coalition (IEIC). Fate and IEIC were profiled in this week's Ionia Sentinel-Standard.
Release Date:


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This project is a great melding of modern and classic. The four bedroom house is located in Nort Haven Village, NY. The fully shingled walls and steep gables give it that northeastern feeling but I imagine the pallet would feel right at home here in the northwest. I especially enjoy the rain screen siding that passes over windows in the portion that connects the gables. The LVL stair treads are really nice too.
More here: here


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Forest Tree Class files patch used with the CitiesXL Layout File Creator
- Installation Pre-requiste(s):
- None
If you are going to register on XLNation, please make sure you do not use a proxy server.Dismiss Notice
If you use a proxy server your registration will most likely get blocked due to spammers and hackers using proxy servers to hide their real IP address.
If your using your home or work IP address and have not received your registration email, check your spam folder.
Dependency Altiris Prereq Forest Tree Patch 1.00
Prereq Forest patch needed for the Cities XL Layout File Creator


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Though it's been a while since Gutsy was released, I couldn't try out for various reasons. But finally I got my hands on Gutsy DVD edition, and I sat about installing it on my Dell Inspiron. I noticed first signs of trouble when Gutsy was taking unsually long to boot up. Switching to verbose mode, I knew something wrong when I saw
hda_intel: azx_get_response timeout
Initially I thought it was a problem with the live environment, however when install was done, my fears were confirmed. Indeed, Ubuntu wasn't able to play any sound. This was a bit surprising since openSUSE 10.3 detected all of my hardware flawlessly(even more weirder was that Kubuntu Feisty had no problems with the sound!)
A bit of Googling and I found there are few solutions to this problem, which is because of ALSA. Apparently version lower than 1.0.15 has bugs and problems especially with Intel HDA codecs. So let's see some solutions:
Solution 1:
The most common solotion given was to open up terminal and type
sudo apt-get install module-assistant
sudo m-a update
sudo m-a prepare
sudo m-a a-i alsa
However I couldn't try this, since I didnt have an active net connection.
Solution 2:
Another solution is to obtain ALSA-1.0.15 and compile it from sources, as indicated below
sudo apt-get install libc6-dev
sudo apt-get install patch
w get ftp : // ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/driver/alsa-driver-1.0.15.tar.bz2 (remove the spaces after ftp and the colon, and in between w and get)
tar xvpjf alsa-driver-1.0.15.tar.bz2
cd alsa-driver-1.0.15
./configure --with-cards=hda-intel,emu10k1
sudo make install
Again, lack of an active internet connection prevented me from testing this out. Then I came across solution 3, which was easiest of the lot.
Solution 3:
Here, open the terminal and type
sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-generic
This works great! If you want to obtain the packages from the DVD use aptitude instead of apt-get, ie
sudo aptitude install linux-backports-modules-generic


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Do you shop at Kroger? If so, you can help support the Emma Durham Foundation every time you shop at Kroger! It's fast and simple and doesn't cost you anything! When you shop at Kroger and have identified the Emma Durham Foundation as your organization, Kroger will donate a portion of your purchase to our foundation.
Here's how:
- Sign into your Kroger.com account: Kroger Community Rewards
- Click Enroll or Re-Enroll Now
- Search for Emma Durham Foundation (#82822)
- Click Enroll
It's THAT simple! You do need to re-enroll every August but it only takes a few quick clicks of the mouse to do it.
Don't Forget to Smile! 🙂


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The (Real) Power 50 of 2016
Thank you to those who attended the 2016 (Real) Power 50 event!
To read the May issue, click here.
Click here to read the Digital Edition of the May issue.
View the full list of Minnesota Business Real Power 50 Alumni
**Note: For details about last year's event, and for the 2015 list, click here.
About the list
John Moe is the author of three books: Dear Luke, We Need to Talk, Darth, the Deleted Emails of Hillary Clinton, and Conservatize Me. His writing has appeared in numerous humor anthologies as well as The New York Times Magazine, The Seattle Times, MSN, and many more publications. He has hosted nationally distributed public radio programs such as Wits, Weekend America and Marketplace Tech Report and his radio work has been featured on All Things Considered and Morning Edition.
Al Coleman, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty
Aleesha Webb, Vice President and Commerical Relationship Manager, Minnesota Bank & Trust
Amanda Brinkman, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Deluxe
Amee McDonald, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, jabber logic
Andrew Dayton, Co-Founder, North Corp | Askov Finlayson
Andrew Eklund, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ciceron
Ben VandenWymelenberg, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, WOODCHUCK USA
Brenda Sallstrom, Co-founder and Principal, Envoi, LLC
Brendon Schrader, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Antenna
Caren Schweitzer, President, Creative Resources
Carlos Landreau, President, The Landreau Group
Cathy Connett, Chief Executive Officer, Sofia Fund
Chris Culp, President and Founder, The Excelsior Group
Christine Chalstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer, Shepherd Data Services
Clarence Bethea, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Upsie
Dale Cook, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Learn to Live
David Burley, Owner and Chief Executive Officer, Blue Plate Restaurant Company
Don Ness, recent Mayor of Duluth (owner of Ness Partners), Ness Partners
Dr. Simone Ahuja, Founder, Owner and Innovation Strategist, Blood Orange
Dug Nichols, Chief Executive Officer, Kidizen
Ellen Valde, Assurance Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Eric Dayton, Co-Founder, North Corp | Askov Finlayson
Heide Olson, Financial Architect and Chief Executive Officer, All in One Accounting
J. Marie Fieger, President, Nemer Fieger
Jack Fiterman, Director of Strategic Acquisitions, Liberty Diversified International
Jeff L Fritz, President, Insite | Storyworks1
Jeff Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Collective Genius
Jody Kern, Private Mortgage Banker, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Joy McBrien, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Fair Anita
Judy Lysne, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lifeworks Services, Congratulations on the announcement of your pending retirement!
Justin Grammens, Owner and Founder, Recursive Awesome, LLC
Justin Porter, Vice President Operations, Kipsu
Kai Worrell, Chief Executive Officer, Worrell Design
Katherine Forrester Schneewind, Owner and Wealth Management Advisor, Forrester and Associates
Liwanag Ojala, Chief Executive Officer, CaringBridge
Luz María Frías, Vice President of Community Impact, The Minneapolis Foundation
Mark A. Cohn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aspirity Holdings LLC
Marni Hockenberg, Founder and Principal, Hockenberg Search
Matt Frauenshuh, Chief Executive Officer, Fourteen Foods
Meghan Wilker, Chief Operating Officer, Clockwork
Nils Snyder, Senior Vice President, Colliers International
Nina Hale, Founder, Nina Hale, Inc.
Rassoul Dastmozd, President and Chief Executive Officer, Saint Paul College
Ryan Kanne, Director, U.S. Commercial Service
Shawntera Hardy, Co-Founder, Civic Eagle
Stacey Stratton, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, True Talent Group
Stephanie Shimp, Owner and Senior Vice President of Brand and Marketing , Blue Plate Restaurant Company
Terri Soutor, Chief Executive Officer, FastBridge Learning
West Stringfellow, Vice President of Internal Innovation and Operations, Target
Wokie Weah, President, Youthprise


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River Region Rentals
Welcome to River Region Rentals – Montgomery, Alabama's source for residential property management services. We offer the care and attention your rental investments need to perform at their best. Please take a look around our site to learn more about our services, our company and our available rentals!
At River Region Rentals, we focus on providing quality management for both owners and tenants. The goal is to provide tenants with a great place to live by being supportive and dependable, creating an environment that encourages quality tenants to stick around. At the same time, we help home owners to better manage their investments by providing professional guidance and sound advice, working diligently to protect their assets and improve the return on their investments. Although we don't engage in the buying and selling of real estate, we will be happy to point you in the right direction for these services.
Communication is key to successful management. We invite you to get in touch with our team if you own residential rental property in Montgomery, East Montgomery, Prattville, Millbrook or Wetumpka. Let us design a custom management plan for you and your investments.
If you would like to know more about any of our available rental properties, please contact us today!


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Lawyers for RK Netmedia, owner of porn site Reality Kings, still refuse to concede that a 15-year-old runaway who went missing last year is the same person who starred in one of its hardcore films.
But the evidence is getting pretty conclusive.
In response to a lawsuit filed by the runaway's mother, RK claimed that the actress going by the name of Bieyanka Moore filed a valid Nevada learner's permit and a social security number identifying her as then-19-year-old Tyler Chanel Evans.
We recently spoke to Evans herself-- a now 20-year-old exotic dancer in Nevada-- who told us that the runaway stole her ID and copied down her social security number.
That claim is partially corroborated by public records. It appears that the runaway-- who we've been calling C.S.-- went on a mini-crime spree in Nevada with Evans' ID, getting arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and grand larceny.
We've received confirmation from the area's local district attorney's office that the runaway was responsible for crimes in which Evans was charged. We can't see those police reports because C.S. is a juvenile, but we did find the cases on Clark County, Nevada's criminal docket online.
Check out the clerk's notes below (click to enlarge): "Wrong subject booked on arrest warrant," is written under one case. Under the other: "The individual arrested in this case was not Tyler Evans. The individual was a minor who is being dealt with in the juvenile system. Case dismissed."
It appears the minor used the learner's permit-- which was expired--and social security number to obtain a valid learner's permit, with her photo on it, through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. A spokesperson there says that to renew an expired permit, a written driving test is required but no additional documentation is necessary. C.S. also would have had to forge Evans's signature.
Of course, the other issue is whether the runaway actually stole Evans's information, or-- as the lawyer for C.S.'s family claims-- the stripper was in on a scheme to get the minor into porn.
Later today, we'll be publishing a longer news story on the Bieyanka Moore case, including excerpts from our interview with Tyler Chanel Evans.
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
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Bieyanka Moore Underage Porn: The Identity of Her Agent, Co-Star, and Damn Near Everybody Else Involved
Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.


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Teen Training
True Core CrossFit Teens Program (TCT) is a strength and conditioning program designed for athletes and non-athletes alike aged 13-18 years old. The program combines age-appropriate weightlifting and gymnastics with high intensity training to deliver optimal fitness and performance, as well as establish a lifetime love of fitness. Proper weightlifting techniques are emphasized by our CrossFit certified trainers, to enhance strength and power, while also focusing on basic gymnastics to increase agility, mobility and flexibility.
We strive to create a safe community space for all levels of teen athletes to come together for fun and fitness. Most teen athletic programs focus on one specific sport which can, and often does, lead to overuse injuries. Our goal for your teen is to create an all-around athlete that will excel at any sport or physical task thrown their way. We want the teens in our program to develop a positive body image, improve cognitive function, protect them against injury by teaching proper body mechanics, and create a community of like-minded, confident individuals that can turn to one another for support. CrossFit not only teaches one how to work out, it teaches all of us how to be better at life, from thinking, to moving and everything in between.
Our Teen classes are held Tuesday & Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. A typical class involves:
- Warm Up & Mobility
- Skill/Strength Work
- Conditioning (WOD)
- Recovery & Mobility
To schedule your FREE introduction, please fill out the online contact form HERE and someone will be in touch!


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The 61st Irish Fencing Varsities were held at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland on March 14-15. UCD Fencing finished the season strong with a second place showing, behind only Trinity College Dublin.
The competition pits teams for men's and women's sabre, foil and épée against those of other universities from across Ireland in best-of-nine matches to five points each. Ten universities participated, with 149 matches up for grabs. Trinity College Dublin won gold with 34 victories, while UCD finished alone in second with 28. University College Cork and Queen's University Belfast drew even at 26 victories, with the bronze going to Queen's on a tiebreaker.
UCD was led by an exceptional performance from the women's épée team. Despite being shorthanded for the entire competition and forfeiting three bouts in each match to opposing teams, the duo of Kate Coleman-Lenehan and Sive Brassil went undefeated, the first time such a feat has been accomplished at the competition in living memory.
Strong showings from men's épée and both sabre teams helped UCD secure second place overall. Men's épée won six of their seven matches, dropping one only to Queen's University Belfast. Men's sabre won six of eight matches, while women's sabre won five of seven, both falling only to teams from UCC and Trinity. The foil teams did their part, with the men's team winning three of six and the women's team winning two of five.
UCD Fencing will end the 2014-2015 season by facing off against Trinity for the Colours next month.


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im on a dell 610 latitude running windows seven but it came with xp only 500 available ram space is that why my windows are running so slow
I Have a dell studio laptop with Windows 7 install on it. Few weeks ago sudently I couldn't watch any videos on any browsers installed on my laptop (Explorer, Firefox, Chrome). When I open a page that contains a video the page don't respond anymore. I checked that I had the lastest version of adobe flashplayer and adobe shockwave player, to be certain I redownloaded them. The videos still couln't work. So I started to search for some answers on the internet but I couldn't find any. So I lunch a system restore and all went back to normal. Few weeks later the same problem appends so I did a system restore again. At this point I tought it was a problem with the windows update but when after the system restore I reinstall the updates the problem didn't show off. Finally today I was watching a video on my laptop (not on the internet) and the player crashed. I went on youtube to see if I could watch videos and gest what I can't. I can't even see the ads that shows up in the yahoo homepage. I ready the make an other system restore but I want to get rid of this problem once and for all!!!! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME


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Learning to Learn!
At Westerton we aim to produce children who are confident, life-long learners. We know, through extensive research, that intelligence is not fixed at birth and that children (and adults!) have the capacity to learn throughout their lives and, 'grow their brains.' This is not as far-fetched as it sounds! Research shows, that as we learn something new, our brains create new neural pathways and the 'learning' parts of our brain strengthen and the learning becomes easier. It is critical that children understand this and know exactly how to become a successful learner.
Which mindset are you?
Have a look at the statements below. Which mindset best describes yourself?
A fixed mindset is the result of a continual focus on ability rather than on achievement and effort. People with a fixed mindset avoid challenging tasks for fear of failure, thus missing many valuable learning opportunities.
At Westerton we encourage children to have growth mindsets (referred to as 'green brains' with the younger children). We can develop our growth mindsets by using our, 'Learning Muscles.'
By using our learning muscles, everyone can grow their brains and become successful learners. At Westerton we know there are things we can't do …….YET! However, we know how to learn well and we relish a challenge.
In lessons, teachers talk to the children about which learning muscles to use to complete a task. All of the children in school have had a talk about use of their learning muscles and a competition has been held to draw a character to represent one of the eight muscles. Each year group took one of the learning muscles, and School Council chose the winners!
Well done to:
Nursery - Terry "Have a try" Triceratops
Reception - Determined Donkey
Year 1 - Use Your Imagination - Elly Bat by Simar J
Year 2 - CoCo the Cooperative Chameleon by Tamzin G
Year 3 - Curious George by Sophie S
Year 4 - Concentrate like Curly Caterpillar by Caitlin M
Year 5 - Keep Improving like Hector Hedgehog by Elora P
Year 6 - Enjoy Learning Like Edgar Emu by Grace H
Westerton Primary School's Learning Muscles
School Council did an assembly to launch our Learning Muscle characters. The presentation included a PowerPoint presentation of the Learning Muscle winning designs and a YouTube clip "You can learn anything" and the following script:
Councillor A: At Westerton, we try to have a growth mind-set or a 'green brain'. We try to develop this growth mind-set by using our 'Learning Muscles'. Much like the muscles in our arms or legs, our learning muscles grow and work better through repeated use and practise.
Councillor B: By using our learning muscles, everyone can grow their brains and become successful learners. We know there are things we can't do…YET! However, we know how to learn well and we relish a challenge.
Councillor C: A few months ago, each year group were allocated a Learning muscle. Then we held a competition to draw a character to represent the learning muscles.
Councillor D: The School Council had the privilege of looking through all the entries and choosing a winner from each year group. Well done to everyone who entered – we were very impressed by all the entries!
Councillor E: We will briefly introduce you to each of the winning characters and how they represent the learning muscle. We will clap the winners all together at the end.
Councillor F: First we have Terry the 'Have a Try' Triceratops designed by Nursery. Hello Terry, can you tell us a bit about yourself.
Terry: Hello. I'm very excited to try new things and give new opportunities a go. I know that when I try new things, I might mistakes at first but that's ok.
Councillor F: Next Reception designed Determined Donkey. Hello Donkey.
Donkey: Hello, I'm here to remind you to not give up and stay determined. When I'm learning I know that I need to work hard and practise a lot. I ask my other donkey friends to help me sometimes but I always keep going!
Councillor G: Thank you Donkey. Our third learning muscle was designed by Simar J in Year 1. Hello Elly-Bat. What Learning muscle are you?
Elly-Bat: Hello, my name is Elly-Bat and I'm the learning muscle for using your imagination. I'm part elephant, part giraffe and part bat – hence my imaginative name! I try to be creative and look for new ideas and ways of thinking.
Councillor G: Our next learning muscle was designed by Tazmin G in Year 2. He's called Coco the chameleon. Tell us about yourself Coco.
Coco: Hi, my top-tip for learning is to be able to cooperate. This means listening to others carefully and sharing ideas. I like to work with my friend George here.
Councillor H: Hi George. What learning muscle are you?
George: Hi, my name is Curious George who was designed by Sophie S in Year 3. I like to ask questions all the time. I look for patterns and try to research answers to the questions I'm asking.
Councillor G: Next we have Curly the caterpillar, designed by Caitlin M in Year 4
Curly: Hello, I represent the concentration learning muscle. When I'm on the look-out for fresh, juicy leaves, I have to concentrate hard. I ignore all the other distractions around me and get lost in the task. That is what you should do when you're learning!
Councillor H: Thank you Curly. Our seventh learning muscle is Hector the Hedgehog who was designed by Elora P in Year 5. Hi Hector.
Hector: Hi, I'm here to tell you to keep improving like me, Hector the Hedgehog. I always look through my work carefully and try to improve one small thing at a time. I don't compare my work to any of my other hedgehog friends because that won't help me to improve. Instead, I look back at my own work and try to be better than last time.
Councillor A: Finally, our learning muscle from Grace H in Year 6 is Edgar the Emu.
Edgar: Hi, I've enjoyed listening to all the other learning muscles because that's what I'm all about – enjoying learning. I'm feel proud of my achievements and I enjoy working hard because I know this leads to successful learning. Even though my head is only small, I can feel my brain and my intelligence growing by the day with the help of all my other learning muscle friends.
Councillor B: Thank you learning muscles and thank you to all of the winners of the competition. If your entry was selected today then please stand up. Well done everyone! (Clap)
Councillor C: Thank you for listening today. Try and use your learning muscles in lots of different situations. Remember, the more you practise, the bigger your muscles and your brain will get! Let's watch this short video to remind ourselves of this.


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- Honest and transparent quotes
- Quality services at an affordable rate
- Prompt service even at a short notice
When it comes to professional and responsible rubbish removal, we are the very team that most people could always count on. Founded on the goal of completely satisfying all our clients, we always make sure that we would be able to give them the best solution that eliminates their stress in doing the rubbish.
Services that are truly unmatched:
- Rubbish clearance
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Looking for a team that you can truly rely on?
Cannot find the exact service that you need? Just feel free to contact us at 0203-322-27-57. We will take care of it personally for your total satisfaction.
It is our goal to achieve the best possible way to reduce your wastes without causing any harm to anybody. At The House Clearance, we seek to provide our customers a different kind of service that does not only satisfy their needs but also that of the nature's.
Bringing out what's best for you
If stress is your problem, then our team can take care of it for you. We have a wide range of services with a complete array of facilities. If ever you would be working with us, you would surely want to work with us again.
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Reasons why we are leading:
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Working with us will always be a great privilege. Let us help you deal with your rubbish no matter how small or big it is. From residential rubbish to the commercial ones, we guarantee to deliver our services at the highest possible standards. You would certainly want to be with our team for the rest of your house clearance service in Paddington W2.
We can handle any mess just for you. Just give us a call and we will promptly attend to your needs. You do not have to wait because we are the very team who can quickly act upon things for the full satisfaction of our customers.
Finest customer service in doing rubbish
As much as possible, we want to help you get away with stress in dealing with all types of rubbish. That is the very reason why we are here for several years. It is our aim to give you the most affordable and stress-free alternative to hiring a skip. Your rubbish is our great concern.
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- Daily and one-time rubbish collections
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Whether you are in a domestic or commercial sector, we are just the team that you can totally depend on. We will not just effectively deal with your rubbish requirements but also ensure that the rubbish we collect will be disposed of properly in accordance to the standards.
We do not just aim to completely clear out your place but also give you a complete peace of mind on all the services that The House Clearance has rendered. Our team is known for having the most excellent customer service in town. All our customers would never have to look much further.
There is no better team to give you a more convenient and easier rubbish clearance other than our team. Contact us at 0203-322-27-57 or send an email and let us know what we can specifically do for you.


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With baby number 2 on the horizon, due to arrive in the next 7 weeks, I am feeling two things about the postpartum period. One is very reflective and two is the need to have 'my house in order', so to speak. I have found myself going back to my experience with a newborn for the first time and planning ways to be more prepared for what I know is coming.
There's tonnes to expect, a lot that people do not and probably cannot prepare you for. Changes to your body, sleeping patterns, energy, attention/focus, relationships (with spouse, friends and family). It is extremely overwhelming, exhausting and it does take its toll if you do not manage the situation. Also if you are managing the situation, it is still a very difficult process to go through in the first few weeks of your baby's life.
My own experience was traumatic. I was ill prepared. I didn't even know the basic fact that I was going to have sleepless nights that could go past 12 weeks. I had no clue that I would have to wait 6 weeks to have sex again and also didn't expect to not want to have sex for a WHILE. The postpartum phase starts when baby is born and continues to about 6 weeks of your baby being alive.
Postpartum depression is often spoken about and there is enough content online about how to identify and manage it. This is a good article on postpartum depression for further reading. What I think isn't spoken about enough is just the postpartum struggle in general. How freaking hard it is. Below are the things I struggled with and I'm preparing myself mentally for:
Bonding with baby
The first time my baby and I made contact the emotion I had was a bit intimidating for me. I didn't feel that initial amazing bond. I saw a little baby that I could barely hold in my arms confidently, staring at me with so many questions that I didn't have answers to. I felt an overwhelming pressure to be perfect. And that set the tone for our postpartum period. I felt like a mess and like I was fumbling, trying to figure out who I was and what I was doing.
This time around I will give myself time to get used to being a mommy to this baby and to not feel the pressure of being perfect from the get go.
The painful nipple
I had a bad breastfeeding experience with baby no 1 but I will not dwell on this, you can read my experience here. I will say that I failed the first time, I plan to try this time around but I have an equal respect for formula feeding because fed is best. The PAINFUL nipple, let's just take a moment of silent for the painful nipple. This is something that really freaks me out.
Nipple cream and ice packs will be my friends for this and I will put mind over matter. The pain does pass.
The constant crying
I generally can't stand loud noises so the baby crying in the first few weeks really affected me. My daughter had colic (yes it was real colic, even if you do not believe in colic, I experienced it with baby no 1).
I eventually got used to the crying and so I will just keep calm and drink wine. The point is to remember that the baby crying is actually communication and not complaining that you are a crappy parent.
Relationship woes
Hubby and I experienced some relationship blues. We sipped on relationship on the rocks for several months when baby came. I actually was preparing myself mentally for divorce. I must tell you, this is completely NORMAL. Speak to anyone that isn't sitting on a high horse or isn't married to Mr Perfect and they will tell you that it does take a toll on the relationship.
My husband and I have spoken about how we have been through it before and when I go into my psycho moments due to hormones he won't take it personally. We are going to just be gentle and forgiving during the adjustment. We have a 3 year old toddler so this will be a bit different. I look forward to sharing my experience with you.
The lonely feeling
It did not matter how many people were around me during the postpartum period, there was still a feeling of loneliness inside me. Like I was the only one going through what I was going through. It wasn't a constant feeling but it did show up from time to time.
Speaking to other moms going through the same or who had been through it did make me feel better. This time around I am going to embrace and own what a strong and powerful supermom I am. At the same time I will allow myself to cry when I need to and just feel the emotions for what they are.
The recovering body
A major thing I was not prepared for was the change that hit my body the first time. I didn't expect it was going to be so different and uncomfortable. I was recovering from stitches, dealing with a throbbing vagina and hemorrhoids. My boobs and love handles had stretch marks which thankfully faded to at least 80% after some time. I still looked pregnant and OH the aches and the pains.
This time around I know what to expect so I will stock up on: Preparation H for the hermorrhoids, lots of epsom salt for my salt bath for the stitches and throbbing vajay. The new body will be embraced, loved and thanked for bringing out a little special human into the world again.
Wish me luck! Due date is currently 23 March, counting down each day 🙂


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Azura Wangui Hale and Sancha Victoria Meso
At the rate Kenyans are exceling in the global market it is safe to say we have the best crop of talented people leaving a mark everywhere we set foot.
At the just concluded Mini Miss World competition held in Greece, Little Miss Kenya eight year old Azura Wangui Hale and 11 year old Sancha Victoria Meso under the Pre-Teen category spent a week in Greece from 24th September to 1st October at the Little Miss World festival.
The two princesses competed with other children in different categories including costume, talent and eco project. Little Miss Kenya Azura received 'Princess Mini Miss World' and 'Best Talent' awards.
Sancha on the hand was crowed 'Princess Little Miss World' and was awarded the 'Best National Costume.'
"Am so proud of the girls. It was very competitive and they made it. Azura's talent stood out from the rest and we were sure she would get the crown." Tinah Lughano Little Miss Kenya National Director said.
Out of the 37 countries that participated, Kenya was one of the four African countries that was represented with South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia also taking their finalists.
''The children had a life time experience learning and sharing other countries culture, food, dances, dressing and they even learnt a few languages.'' Tina says.
The Gala show was themed ancient Greek with all the children dressed in white tunics with a touch of gold and danced to Greek music.
Source: sde.co.ke


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I have been thinking about this for quite some time. I think it's because I drink an obscene amount of water every day and have the bladder, which I assume is, the size of a grain of rice and I spend a lot of time peeing. Classy, eh? Anyway, there are a couple of things that I would like to discuss on how you should act and appropriate behavior when you are in the bathroom.
Flush the Toilet: You'd think this was a no brainer. Who doesn't flush the toilet? We aren't toddlers anymore and we should know better, right? Wrong. You would be surprised how many times I belly up to a urinal and the person before me hasn't flushed. What is wrong with you? Do you know how gross stale urine smells? If you don't, let me tell you. It smells bad. People will tell me they don't flush the toilet because the handle has so many germs on it. Hi, you know how you solve that problem. You wash your hands, with soap, after you pee. Magically, the germs go away. So please, do not leave your yellow treat for the person who comes in after you. It's uncouth.
Don't Talk to Me: I really cannot stand when people talk to me in the bathroom. No quality conversation can happen when you are in the bathroom. It's just not the place for it. You are partially exposed and you are releasing impurities from your body and some homeboy wants to chat with you? "Hey man, what's going on?" is a typical question you get when standing at a urinal. "Uhh, peeing" is my typical response. I know some people talk and try to avoid the awkwardness, but trust me, it just makes it more awkward so please don't converse with me.
Don't Spit Your Gum in the Toilet: You would be appalled, ladies, to see how many guys spit their gum in the urinal. What kind of jackass are you? You do realize, that your gum doesn't flush down the urinal and some poor janitor as to physically put his hand in your stale pee (I am assuming you are the same jerk who isn't flushing the toilet) to clean it out. I mean, is it that hard to spit your gum into the trash can 2 feet away? The one thing I can hope is that maybe all of these are accidents. I cannot tell you one man I have not seen out of the corner of my eye who doesn't spit into the urinal before they pee. I think it's part of our DNA.
There are so many other tragedies that occur in the bathroom and I really don't want to go into all of them, but these 3 really irk me. Please prove that you are an adult and at least follow rules 1 and 3. Otherwise you are just a gross weirdo.


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Contact Us
About Us
About Our Bike
What To Expect
Our Partners
In The Press
Meet The Team
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Tour Pics
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The Rules
Sign Our Digital Waiver
Book Now
Booking Calendar
Pedal For A Purpose
Gift Cards
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Plan Your Event
Bachelorette Parties
Bachelor Parties
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Our Partners - Things To Do Tonight in Springfield MO
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Our Partners
Home Of The Trolley Bike
All of our tours start and end in front of
Lost Signal Brewing Company
. Lost Signal is known for fine craft beers, amazing barbecue and good times. Dine inside or on their patio. If you're looking for things to do tonight in Springfield MO, then come down to Lost Signal for dinner before your tour on The Trolley Bike and let them take care of the rest.
The Trolley Bike Is Powered By Shock Top
Shock Top
believes in living life to its fullest. In fact, it's kind of their mantra. So do yourself a favor: grab some Shock Top, grab some friends, book a tour on The Trolley Bike and Live Life Unfiltered.
Official "Boosters" For The Trolley Bike
On The Trolley Bike, our booming stereo, killer light system and our beloved electronic assist are all Boosted by NorthStar. Constructed locally in their North American facility here in Springfield MO,
is a global leader in designing, manufacturing and deploying an innovative range of batteries and site solutions.
Official "Pit Crew" For The Trolley Bike
The team at
Queen City Cycles
makes sure The Trolley Bike is always tuned to perfection so Springfield's Pedal Powered Party will always run smoothly during your tour. They are passionate about bikes and all riding styles. Their specialty is service and they can fix anything from the smallest to the biggest mechanical issues. That's why we're proud to partner with Springfield's bike repair experts.
First Uber Free After Trolley Bike Tours
Need a safe ride home after your Trolley Bike Tour? We've partnered with
to provide your first Uber ride free up to $20. If anyone in your group hasn't used Uber before, they can sign up and use our promo code to get a free ride home. Just ask your Conductor for details after your tour.
Official Tour Stops
Hotel Vandivort
is Springfield's urban boutique hotel. They offer special $5 "shot sized" versions of their signature Walnut Street Smash or Smoked Old Fashion cocktails for our Trolley Bike groups. And no Trolley Bike tour is complete without stopping in Hotel V for a legendary
Hotel Vandivort Bathroom Selfie
Dublin's Pass Irish Pub and Restaurant
is where people meet to share a meal, to share a pint, to share a story and a laugh. So pull up a stool, enjoy some authentic Irish food and a perfect pint. You're a stranger at Dublin's Pass, but only once. They even have a shot called "The Brewser" (vodka, triple sec, OJ & Red Bull) named after our mascot Brewser available for only $3 during your tour stop.
Big Whiskey's
serves only the best food and drinks in a fun and comfortable atmosphere, while providing excellent service to all their guests. They have a great patio, quick lunches, and one of the best steak dinners Downtown. Trolley Bike tours have two specials shots to choose from for only $3 per shot that are fruity and delicious. The pink "Biker Babe" shot or the blue "Biker Boy" shot. These also have $5 Trolley Dips for a great snack: White Queso Spin Dip, Yellow Queso Dip and Buffalo Chicken Dip.
417 Taphouse
is what you get when you take a bar with an awesome kitchen that specializes in hand cut fries and chicken & waffles and then add the area's only self serve draft beer option to create an experience like no other in town. Trolley Bike tours get $3 orange push up shots.
Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar
is your classic live sing-along piano bar. The show revolves around your requests. Great nightly drink specials with a fun atmosphere. Trolley Bike tours get in without paying a cover charge.
is your father's sports bar
– a bit of nostalgia that "Tastes Like College" with classic, flavorful American food you will see prepared in front of you and a game you can actually hear. Trolley Bike tours get $2 Miller Pints and Trolley shots for $2.
University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
visitors delight in their first-class accommodations and resort-style amenities. Trolley Bike tours get 10% off drinks at their Lobby Bar and/or 10% off Grande Drinks in the Q-Street Perks Coffee Shop.
Maes Gelateria
is the freshest gelato place in Springfield. All their gelato flavors are made fresh in house and guests can see the churning machines where the gelato is made fresh daily. Trolley Bike tours get 10% off their regular prices.
Bair's Downtown
is a sports themed family restaurant as well as your neighborhood bar and grill. Trolley Bike tours get $3 Fireball and Jack Fire shots and specials on Bud and Bud Light 16 oz aluminum bottles and domestic pitchers.
is your campus pub and grub with live music and great drink specials. Trolley Bike tours get get $3 Fireball and Jack Fire shots and specials on Bud and Bud Light 16 oz aluminum bottles and domestic pitchers.
Ebbets Field
is a great little burger and beer joint inside a historic craftsman home with a seasonal patio and outdoor bar. Food and drink specials daily. Trolley Bike tours get $2 Trolley Roger shots.
Civil Kitchen
is located on the Square with a fully made from scratch menu and a full bar with 28 beers on tap, hand crafted cocktails and an extensive wine list. Trolley Bike tours get $3 Red Berry shots.
Mane Salon & Social House
is Downtown's premiere full-service salon. The only one that features a full-service bar. Trolley Bike tours get $1 jello shots or $1 boozy bears and a discount card good for $10 off any cut and color or $5 off any nail service.
Just south of the Missouri State campus,
Bambino's Cafe
offers casual dining, great food and a friendly staff. Their menu features pastas, paninis, and more. Trolley Bike tours get $1 off orders of Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Garlic Cheese Bread or Toasted Ravioli.
Keeping with the grand Irish tradition, there's plenty to do at
Finnegan's Wake
from shuffleboard, darts, a game of pool, or watching your favorite game on one of their 5 big screen TVs. Trolley Bike tours get $4.50 pancake shots.
's name says it all. You stand at the counter and choose everything from the crust to the toppings. Their special brick fired oven will have it ready in just a couple of minutes. Trolley Bike tours get mini Trolley pizzas for only $3.
If you're not having fun at
Best Of Luck Beer Hall
, you're doing it wrong. 40 well-curated taps feature craft beer, punch-style-cocktails and wine. A large "court" located in the center of the hall has an array of yard games such as bocce, bags, washers and more. Their kitchen features American Butcher-style small plates and dishes served family style. Trolley Bike tours get shots of their punches for only $4.
Want To Partner With The Trolley Bike?
If you'd like to propose a collaboration that's a win-win for both sides, then we'd love to hear what you've got in mind. Send an email to
[email protected]
and let's figure out if we'd be a good fit for partnering together.
Read Our Frequently Asked Questions
Now Hiring Conductors For The 2019 Season


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My Journey Through War and Peace
Melissa Burch
Gaia Press (2016)
Reviewed by David K. McDonnell for Reader Views (02/17)
"My Journey Through War and Peace" by Melissa Burch is the author's memoir of her experiences in the 1980s, including her freelance filmmaking in Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. It also includes her strained relations with her family, her loves at home and abroad, and her quest to find independence and self-identity.
Her retelling of the Afghanistan experience is the best element of the book, by far. At only 21, she went to Afghanistan to film the Afghan-Soviet war. She was assigned by an Afghani leader to a seven-man mujahedeen unit. The unit was ordered to ambush a Soviet convoy so she could film it for an American and British audience. Burch did shoot an ambush, with the Afghan destruction of a Soviet truck and the Soviet destruction of an Afghan village. Burch later shot footage of an already-downed Soviet helicopter. CBS News spliced the footage of the small ambush and the helicopter scene, together with someone else's training footage, to present it as a much larger battle.
Burch returned to Afghanistan a few years later to track down a story of local cease-fire. A local mujahedeen leader and his Soviet Red Army counterpart tacitly agreed to stop fighting. It appeared to be an amazing story, and Burch had to cross the treacherous mountains from Pakistan to get it. She got the story, with the necessary film, but no one wanted to air it. It simply did not fit the network's narrative for what was going on in the war.
Both Afghan stories, as well as a later film expedition in the Soviet Union, are told crisply and with surprising detail – surprising since the book was written decades after the experiences. They also lay the foundation for her life journey, since her dangerous and arduous reporting was unappreciated by network news.
Burch mixes the overseas stories with remembrances of her home life in Washington, D.C., and her return trips to visit her family. Her relationship with her mother was especially poignant. The mother was an alcoholic and sometimes overbearing. She was also the family breadwinner and a feminist and, ultimately, an inspiration to the author.
The author's father was a Zen Buddhist, as the author eventually becomes. The book is designed, in part, as Burch's quest for spirituality, which ultimately leads her to Zen Buddhism. In this area, I felt the book didn't quite get there. There is little of her experiences in the 1980s that would inexorably lead one to Zen. Perhaps her memoirs of the next decades might fill in this gap.
Unless the author is already rich and famous, it is difficult to make a memoir entertaining or engrossing. Yet Burch does a wonderful job in translating her personal experiences, though decades past, into a compelling and inspiring story.


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Slava Korolenkov Workshop
Slava Korolenkov works with each student individually based on their current level. First, he shows how to create a successful composition and to find the right tonal relationships. Each student will then work under his guidance and will receive all necessary instructions and corrections. Slava's goal is to help his students reach the next level of mastery, which will help them realize their most ambitious artistic goals.
Thanks for your interest in a Master Series workshop
with Slava Korolenkov.
To Reserve Your Spot
- Complete our online Registration Form
- Mail or hand-deliver $100 non-refundable deposit to:
Art Academia
28 East 3rd Ave, #101
San Mateo, CA 94401
- Please write your check to: Master Series
Important Dates & Policies
- Registration deadline is April 1, 2016
- Total balance must be received by March 25, 2016
- Supply list will be emailed once deposit is received
- 10 students minimum; 15 students maximum. If minimum enrollment is not met, workshop may be canceled - in which case all students will receive a full refund including deposit
- No refunds will be issued after April 1, 2016 unless canceling student is able to find a substitute student to take their place
- In case of cancelations, students will be enrolled from the waiting list in the order their deposit and forms are received
Contact Information
- Contact: Inna Polnar
- Phone: 650.759.4745 or 650.579.4456
- Email: email@example.com


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Thomas Robins published the first entry into his Desperate to Escape series in September of last year and I've been hooked ever since. It's exciting, really — getting to read some great science fiction, all while seeing a brand-new author develop and bloom right before you. (Full Disclosure: Thomas and I are both in the WOOL fanfic charity anthology WOOL Gathering and his story "Eight" is my favorite of the bunch.)
Today we are blessed with Part 3 in Robins' ambitious tale, ready for download on Kindle. I was lucky enough to be an early reader of DTE3, and I have to say: Robins steps up the story to another level I didn't know he had in him.
So what's the story with DTE?
Basically, DTE tells the story of a young woman named Ineeka from inner-city Chicago. As a reader, we see two stories told in parallel tracks — one is Ineeka's quest to escape from Chicago, from her past, from her nature, from what could have been her destiny. The alternate story is of Ineeka as an astronaut, taking a passenger to the International Space Station and the unexpected adventure that follows in orbit of Earth. Ineeka was so desperate to escape her life on Earth, that she wound up leaving the planet entirely.
From there Robins does an exceptional job following Ineeka as she battles her figurative demons back on Earth and the literal enemies she has once she reaches the ISS. With each new addition to the story, Robins amps up the drama and the action as his skill as a writer continues to improve.
I think a lot of people can really relate to Ineeka's situation. Her mistakes from her adolescence threaten to ground her from NASA before she even has a chance. She dreams of flying…away from Chicago and her life there. It would be easy for her to stay. It would be the well-worn path taken by so many young women, not just in the inner city, but all over this country. I see it myself in rural Illinois. Girls latch on to a guy. They don't work as hard in school because they think they can just depend on Mr. Good Ol' Boy the rest of their lives. (Maybe they can, maybe they can't — that isn't the point.) They mentally hit stop on their education and any dreams they may have had and slide into a sense of apathy. They stay within 15 miles of their high school most of their lives and by the time they reach middle age, they wonder what happened to their childhood hopes and dreams.
Ineeka is not that girl. She is strong and confident. Even with every obstacle and hurdle in her way, she manages to make her dreams come true. It may not come in the traditional way, but just as her name suggests, Ineeka is not the traditional girl. As Robins takes us from the peril the entire world is in at the end of Part 3, it will take that tenaciousness for Ineeka and the rest of the human race to survive Part 4.
Robins has gotten a lot of compliments on his portrayal of the Earthside story through Parts 1 and 2, but his spaceside story in Part 3 holds its own. I kept rushing through Ineeka's Earth struggles to get back to her issues in space.
If you haven't yet checked out Thomas Robins' Desperate to Escape, here is Part 1, and Part 2, and finally, Part 3. All just 99 cents with Part 4 destined for your Kindle this summer. Get this book — you won't regret it.


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Each one of us has experienced upsetting situations at one time or another. You might cope with these events and the feelings they trigger by simply putting them out of your mind. But somehow, those negative occurrences just keep wiggling their way back in to your thoughts and feelings.
How can you deal with past negative events so you can move forward?


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The CAMCO Difference: Why the Right Brand of Industrial Lubricants Matters
How can you save money by spending more for CAMCO products, you may ask?
The answer is simple: CAMCO hydrocracked lubrication products last four to eight times longer than conventional mineral oils. Not only does longer life result in less overall need for oil, but low volatility also means less lubricant consumption. Therefore, it means less oil consumed, less oil purchased, & less waste oil for disposal.
We've listed a few common questions and answers about CAMCO industrial lubricants. Read on!
How Can CAMCO Products Last 4 – 8 Times Longer than the Oil I'm Using Now?
Extensive engineering and research goes into the development of a synthetic lubricant to determine the chemical composition of the base stock and additive package needed for each application. Since lubricants must co-exist with some chemicals, the selection of additives (chemicals) must be carefully chosen to assure chemical inertness and compatibility.
Synthetic oils are built from the ground up on the molecular level to find the desired qualities that meet your lubrication needs. Importantly, they also meet manufacturers' specifications while a given product or chemical is being pumped or compressed.
Are All Synthetic Oils Alike?
No. There are several base stocks in synthetic lubricants, some compatible with mineral oils and some not. While many synthetic lubricants blends are made from the same base stocks, the additives that are used enhance lubricant performance during the selected task and determine how fluids differ.
CAMCO lubricants are formulated with propriety-additive packages chosen from carefully selected additives, combining the best technology available. All of this sets CAMCO ahead and apart from the competition.
Links to Related Websites
- www.coolairinc.com/products.html
Cool Air Incorporated Ammonia Leak Detector Products
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Code of Federal Regulations
- www.epa.gov
Environmental Protection Agency
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United States Department of Agriculture
- www.the-infoshop.com/study/ti4663_synthetic_lubricants_potential.html
Market Research Report: Synthetic Lubricants
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Machinery Lubrication Magazine: Understanding Food-Grade Lubricants
And—as always—we make it easy to order. Simply call us at (763) 205-0828.


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When the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations was launched, in 2001, the price of oil was $25 a barrel, a ton of rice cost $170, China's current account surplus was two percent of the country's GDP, U.S. financial institutions were at the vanguard of globalization, and the term "sovereign wealth fund" could have been mistakenly thought to refer to the retirement kitty of an aging monarch.
As of November 10, 2008, oil was going for $65 a barrel, and rice for $515 a ton. China and the oil-producing states have trillions of dollars at their disposal. The U.S. financial system, in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, is teetering between socialization and oblivion. As all these changes have unfolded, the governments involved in the Doha talks have, Nero-like, spent too much time dwelling on minor issues while ignoring the burning questions. After the failure of the recent round of negotiations this past July in Geneva, the international community will be tempted to resuscitate the Doha process. Indeed, as part of calls to reshape the international financial system -- under a proposed Bretton Woods II -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pushed for the completion of the Doha Round.
But this effort to revive Doha seems inadequate because the existing Doha agenda does not respond to the challenges posed by increasing global integration. Fluctuating commodity prices, threats to the economic security of middle-class workers, financial instability, and environmental insecurity have significant global implications that demand a multilateral response. Going forward, a new round of Bretton Woods talks is needed to develop a more ambitious agenda than Doha has and to involve a broader set of institutions than just the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Since the mid-1990s, world trade has grown rapidly, at a pace of approximately six percent a year -- twice as fast as global economic output. During that time, however, WTO members have not adjusted the maximum levels of tariffs and other barriers that
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How to Deal with Insects
Panels one and two are only slightly exaggerated, and depict the conversation I had the first time I encountered what Floridians refer to as "Love Bugs."
Aside from the dialog being a bit jokier in the comic, the differences between what you see here and what really happened are:
It wasn't just a couple of bugs on my head. The person I was talking to and I were standing in the middle of a noticeable cloud of the wretched things.
The conversation wasn't between me and Rick while wearing street clothes. It was between me and a coworker while we were both wearing 1920s bellhop costumes.
I kind of like the fact that I have a life that I have to make less surreal in order for it to be relatable.
You can comment on this comic on Facebook.
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).


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5 Chicago officers face firing over slaying of black teen
CHICAGO, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The chief of Chicago's police department recommended on Tuesday that five officers be fired over their role in the 2014 shooting death of an black teenager, an incident that heaped national scrutiny on the nation's second largest police force.
Superintendent Eddie Johnson recommended to the Chicago Police Board that officer Jason Van Dyke who shot Laquan McDonald 16 times, be fired, along with another four officers.
The shooting made national headlines and sparked wide protests after the release of a dashboard video more than a year after the incident. The video shows the officer continued to fire after McDonald, 17, had fallen to the ground.
See images from the scene:
See Gallery
The Chicago Police Department has been under federal investigation over officers' use of lethal force.
The recommendation marks the start of formal proceedings in the officers' firing. The Police Board, whose nine members are appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, must consider Johnson's recommendation and then make the decision on firing the officers.
Van Dkye is facing charges of first-degree murder and is on unpaid leave. He has pleaded not guilty.
"Today, the Superintendent filed with the Police Board charges against five members of the Police Department alleging multiple rule violations stemming from the police involved fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald," a statement from the Police Board said.
"The Superintendent has recommended that each of the five officers be discharged from the Chicago Police Department."
The Police Board, whose nine members are appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, must consider Johnson's recommendation and then make the decision on firing the officers.
"The public is reminded that the filing of charges is not evidence of guilt," the statement added.
Sergeant Stephen Franko, officers Janet Mondragon, Daphne Sebastian and Ricardo Viramontes are named along with Van Dyke. According to charges released on Tuesday, all allegedly made false or inaccurate statements about the circumstances surrounding McDonald's death.
An initial status hearing for the cases is scheduled for Sept. 19.
The police reports on the October 2014 shooting conflicted with video footage of the incident, sparking accusations that Van Dyke's fellow officers were trying to cover up an unjustified shooting.
Emanuel fired police Superintendent Garry McCarthy in the wake of the video release, and thousands of protesters took to the streets of Chicago over McDonald's death and the subsequent handling of the case.
Initially Johnson recommended that 10 officers be terminated, though that number dropped to seven because some officers retired, among other reasons, the Chicago Tribune reported. It was unclear why that number dropped to five officers.
(Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)


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Ziggy's Constructing Supplies
With actual property being so laborious to promote these days many people are content material just staying of their unique house. At present, on-line sales make up only four.5{d7a98e54bc687566bd78c43078e40616f08210cb3e197f349aee2914d6fce641} of Dwelling Depot's web gross sales and only 2.5{d7a98e54bc687566bd78c43078e40616f08210cb3e197f349aee2914d6fce641} of that of Lowe's. On the lookout for high quality construction merchandise? Should you're considering of sprucing up your own home, there are a number of ways you can get further savings at dwelling improvement shops that you won't learn about. Following an unsuccessful enlargement try that resulted in the closure of its final seven remaining massive-field shops in China in 2012, House Depot doesn't at the moment have any retail outlets in that nation.
Timber, shrubs and flowers will abound in garden centers and shops across the Denver area as you store for just the suitable colours and designs for your panorama challenge. Past householders making frequent stops to their native residence-enchancment shops, the most important chains are additionally trying to cater to contractors and building companies which can be busier than ever.
Not till stores like Lowe's started popping up in the early twentieth century did we begin seeing bigger entities grow to be highly competitive in opposition to the …


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The Community College of Allegheny County provides a supportive and transformative learning environment that prepares graduates to meet critical needs in the region's workforce.
At CCAC, we believe that life outside the classroom is an important part of your college experience. Each CCAC campus has a variety of activities to enhance your lifestyle – including athletics, cultural events and personal development seminars.
The CCAC Educational
Foundation is the fundraising and benefactor arm of the college. It seeks to
create vital connections between the college and the wider community
to ensure the ongoing viability of the college.
There is always high demand for flaggers in the construction
field. A Flagger is the most important job on the worksite. They
protect not only workers but also pedestrians and drivers.
Being a flagger is a blend of technique, communication and being
alert. Becoming a flagger can also be your first foot in the door
to the construction field.
This four-hour certification course will provide you with the skill
set to be a safe and effective flagger. Upon completion of this
course you will receive your certification that will last for four
In this four-hour course, participants meet the following
As Certified Flagger Instructors through ATSSA, our expert
instructors teach you everything you need to know pertaining to
Traffic Control Safety. Training is interactive and informative and
each participant will receive a Flagger Handbook and
Workbook.Class Schedule
Registration Options
For more information please contact:
Dr. Francis J.
Beverly Stellfox
Account Executive, Workforce
Development Program Coordinator
Professional Continuing
email@example.com email@example.com


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Some of the major disadvantages of multinational companies include the use of slave labor, may push local businesses out of the market, encourage too much expenditure on consumers, may pose a threat to the environment and may become a monopoly. These companies have the financial and resource power to achieve certain things within a short time which is why they also have these disadvantages.
Since most governments have made it a point not to meddle in the business environment by putting too much regulations, some companies may take advantage of the situation to make abnormal profits by:
Using slave labor: this basically refers to paying workers an amount that is not reasonable. The fact that too many people are unemployed in a region may embolden a company to take advantage.
Local businesses: local businesses that lack the infrastructure and financial capability to carry out vigorous campaigns and distribution may quickly be pushed out of the market forcing them to shut down.
Environmental threat: unless a multinational company upholds ethical practices, it may carry out large operations with regards to production. This may easily cause environmental degradation.
Consumer expenditure: a multinational company can easily come up with offers or promotions that will ultimately cause consumers to use more money than they realize.


text: This month my thoughts here are sparked off by one famous book, now some 650 years old and conclude with another just published . . . I'm not quite sure where October has gone. As usual, it started with my birthday, and as usual we had a lunch at the But 'n' Ben in Auchmithie to celebrate, though not on my actual birthday, which fell on a Sunday. Instead our younger son came round with wife and four small children. Lunch out wasn't until the following Wednesday. My main birthday present from my husband was the glorious new edition of Piers Plowman from Folio, which has the original text on the left-hand pages and a rendering in modern English on the right-hand pages and is illustrated by beautiful woodcuts.


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The process of applying for a job is a little bit like running a gauntlet. First there is the cover letter, then the resume, and then at least one interview. If you slip up at any point, you can ruin your chances of getting a job. While focusing on what to do right will help you to successfully navigate your job search, you should also watch out for the following pitfalls.
– Spelling and grammar mistakes. Employers see a surprising number of typographical errors and spelling mistakes on job applications, which can hurt an applicant. This shows a lack of attention to detail, which is a must in many positions.
– Irrelevant information. On a resume, irrelevant information can bog down a recruiter and keep them from seeing things that might pique their interest. Your resume does not need to include every job you've ever had, particularly if you've worked in several industries.
– Not showing results. Resumes should discuss results and not responsibilities. In most cases, a job title alone gives a recruiter a good idea of what you were supposed to do, and you should not supplement it with a list of those things. Potential employers will be much more interested in what you accomplished.
– Failing to prepare references. References often take a backseat to other parts of the job search, but they can be very important in closing a deal. Make sure to tell your references what you've been up to recently so that they have positive things to say to anyone who calls them. Always take the time to let them know when they might be receiving a call and, of course, make sure you know what they'll say before you list them.
– Poor body language. During your job interview, the way you hold yourself will tell the interviewer a lot about you. Slouching, crossing your arms, not making eye contact or looking away, and forgetting to smile can seriously hurt your chances of getting the job.


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For all the ways you drive your equine...
Chimacum Tack would love to stay in touch!
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Tourists to be shut out from national parks, monuments under government shutdown
A midnight deadline to avert a shutdown passed Monday night, the National Park Service was preparing to put a closed sign around America's national treasures.
Congress missed its deadline to keep the government running, and the National Park Services' contingency plan states in the event of a shutdown all activities at the parks, except for necessary emergency services, would be immediately suspended and the parks would be closed indefinitely.
Not only would the public be unable to enter the parks, visitors currently camping or staying in a national park would be ordered to leave within two days and all roads leading to the parks would be closed.
Additionally, officials tell Fox News the National Park Police in Washington plan to barricade all monuments. In the case of open-air monuments that have no physical barrier, such as the World War II memorial in downtown D.C., the police would have to go to extra effort and expense to create one to keep the public out.
The national monuments that would close include the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Alcatraz Island near San Francisco and the Washington Monument, National Zoo and the Smithsonian in D.C.
In a statement at the White House press room Monday evening, President Obama cited the shuttering of monuments as one of the effects of the shutdown that will have a palpable impact on Americans.
"Tourists will find every one of America's national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, immediately closed," he said. "And of course the communities and small business that rely on these national treasures for their livelihoods will be out of customers and out of luck."
The closures have the potential to affect hundreds of thousands of tourists who travel from all over the world to visit the monuments every day, some for the first or only time in their lives.
One special group that would be affected is a group of Mississippi World War II veterans who plan to travel this week to visit the World War II Memorial in D.C.
For many of the 91 veterans, who are traveling to D.C. via the non-profit Honor Flights, this will be the only chance they will have in their lifetimes to visit the memorial.
The shutdown is also expected to have a huge effect on thousands of National Park Services employees, with staffing cut to the "very minimum" necessary. Over 21,000 employees in parks nationwide would be furloughed.


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Dive into the exciting and diverse world of classic and collector vehicles, and you'll find loyal fans for every conceivable mode of vintage transportation. You may even be surprised to find there's a die-hard following for emergency vehicles.
A great spot for catching a multitude of restored police cars and fire trucks is the 2012 Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show. Held in North Aurora over a period of three days, the annual event and parade is now in its 15th year.
Want to keep reading? Check out our full feature on the Daily Herald HERE
** All photos and content by Classic Recollections and may not be used without permission. 2012 © **
Categories: Show, Uncategorized


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CranialTrauma.co.uk was rented a few years ago, after too much drink and lots of confusion.
Since then, it has mostly laid dormant, until recently after moving both cities and hosting providers, I finally got off my ass and installed WordPress.
I've had a few blogs over the years in different names and places. This one I hope to use for a few reasons.
Predominantly, I keep finding myself doing things (usually on with or near a computer) that aren't documented particularly well. Apart from wanting to share this with the world, I also find myself needing to keep a record of what I'm doing. I'm sick and tired of forgetting how I got things done. And I don't as rule remember where the hell I left the notes I made when I was doing it -So being on the web makes sense.
I find myself amused by stupid trivia and minutia. I also have an awful memory; this means I can record it (and in a more searchable and controllable way than facebook). I also find writing quite enjoyable and a space to rant is always healthy.
Mostly though, I just want people to think I'm cool, so a web 1.5 blog it had to be. /me shudders slightly. (this entire line is a joke).
Its worth noting that blog entries especially with regard to events, places and general shit are mostly fictional. Some of it is based on truth, bits might have happened, but its best to see most of it as fiction, or possibly a long term thought experiment, it is by no means reality and should not be seen as real.
That said, any technical articles, especially code instructions will be factually accurate (a. because I don't get amusement watching people hose their systems and b. because I plan on being able to copy/paste it in the future. That (that) said, any story surrounding the code snippets is likely changed, distorted, or just has no bearing on the reality of events at all. I'm not going to highlight fictionalised bits of storytelling because the entire site needs to be consumed with plenty of water and enough salt to massacre an elephant.
Lastly, I feel I should point out that anything expressed in this site is (fiction, but) wholeheartedly mine and mine alone. Often past and present employers (potential employees and probably even friends) have not, do not or will not share my views, beliefs, ideas, methods, conclusions or presentation of facts or interpretations of technical merits -in fact, often they will have a whole other set I've failed to even conciser. C'est la vie; this is a massive positive. The best engineering teams in the world are comprised of diverse unique people who all believe in doing a job well, who all want to impress and who are all willing to be proven wrong -or more precisely, willing to have their paradigm shifted.
— edited December 2013, last edited August 2008 (holy carp!).


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Stagg G Force And Z600M TCH
G Force
Depending upon your view of automotive iconography, the G Force is either hot-rodder cool or car-show dilettante dorky. But wherever your aesthetic values may lean, it's unlikely that anyone will deny the G Force's dragster-inspired "curb appeal." From the checkerboard graphic to the pumpkin-orange finish to the bug-eye pickups and chrome exhaust pipes, this guitar cries out for attention, and it's not much of a stretch to envision Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen collecting a few hundred to decorate the walls of his pinball and video-game rooms.
Construction quality is average to good. The paint job had two or three ragged spots (and a few chips due to shipping or handling had me questioning the robustness of the paint), the neck pickup rattled against its mounting bracket, and the neck-pickup Volume-knob post was about as loose as it could be without falling off. Everything else was tops, and the thick,
D-contour neck boasts very nice jumbo frets (although the ends aren't buffed smooth). Playing the guitar is, of course, a standing-only affair—especially as the usual trick of placing the V-shaped wings between your thigh as you sit down to play is somewhat compromised by the exhaust pipes. (Wafer-thin guitarists will be able to pull off this stunt with ease, however.)
True to its racer pedigree, the G Force loves to rev up and roar. The pickups hit an amp's front end with a fair amount of muscle, and the tone is always articulate and evenly balanced across the strings. Whether played through an amp (a Fender G-Dec, a Marshall half-stack, a Vox AC15, and a B-52 AT-100) or recorded direct (via a Line 6 PODxt Live, and an M-Audio Black Box and FireWire 410), the G Force delivered a pretty fearsome snarl, and its clean sounds
possessed a nicely aggressive skank. The guitar is very responsive to the dynamics of your attack, and it handles volume manipulations without a significant loss of highs or low-end content. The Tone knob? Forget about it. It won't do much for you—which makes it difficult to pull convincing jazz timbres out of this baby. But as this machine was obviously built for rockin', the emphasis on in-your-face tones is both expected and welcome.
I had a blast riffing around on the G Force, and if "fun quotient" were the sole rating for a guitar, I'd give this fastback a 9.5. But even with some construction issues dampening the jollies a tad, this is still a fabulous ride for any player with the balls to rock on while sporting exhaust pipes.
Cosmetically, the Z600 is a somewhat amusing mix of a streamlined shred rod (its slim, torso-hugging body and sharp cutaways) and a whacked-out, pawnshop Italian job (the D-contoured, almost-baseball-bat-thick neck and wonky headstock with way cool "hologram" logo). I found the neck a bit too thick for consistently comfortable shredding, but Associate Editor Jude Gold and Senior Editor Art Thompson had no problem with its girth. Similarly, I was more bothered by the guitar's sharp fret ends than was Art, who found the frets to be reasonably well seated and dressed for an instrument in this price range. There was no debate, however, about the appearance of some dead spots around the fretboard. The buzzes and dinks can be eradicated with a comprehensive setup, but this condition leads me to suspect that Z600s may not be ready to rock right off the shelf.
There were also some poorly sanded edges on the body, a paint glop in the slot for the pickup-selector switch, and the otherwise stunning blood-red finish was a bit murky in spots. With the exceptions of (once again) a neck pickup that clatters against its bracket and a rutted Tone knob, the sophisticated-looking black hardware is well done.
The Z600's hum/sing/hum configuration delivers a pretty meaty and versatile tonal palette. The neck humbucker offers a bluesy chunk and snap that evokes a little SRV, and the neck hum/sing combo adds some funky bell-like tones. Go for the single-coil alone, and you'll get a punchy and articulate scream that's perfect for über-gain shredding. I used the sing/bridge hum combo for acoustic-sounding parts, as the timbre was full and jangly with an airy shimmer. The bridge pickup alone pumped out a rather weird bark that I employed solely for layering and massively effected sounds. As with the G Force, the Z600M's tone control is best left full up.
Overall, the Z600 is kind of a strange duck. On one hand, it really is a pretty cool guitar that's easy to play (as long as you dig thick necks) and offers some very bitchin' tones. But the setup and finish glitches were unexpected, as many other instruments in this price range manage to avoid such imperfections. I'd happily recommend the Z600 as a kick-ass spare for gigs, but Stagg has a ways to go before this model could make the grade as a working guitarist's "number one."


text: Happy Girls 12:00 AM Its the truth. Share This Story Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin this Post Tags: audry hepburn, just me Newer Post Older Post You Might Also Like 0 comments Aww! How sweet of you to leave a comment! I love reading them and replying to them. If you are new make sure to leave a link to your blog so I can come visit and say hi!


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Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup/
America's Test Kitchen (ATK) mailed me their new cookbook and asked me to make something. Twist my arm.
I get loads of solicitations in my inbox, and I say no to 99.9% of them. I don't want to clog your feed with product placements and fake enthusiasm for cookware or food novelties that no one needs. Practice is really the key, not expensive pans or specialty food items. And ATK espouses that so beautifully. I've learned so much from letting those 50 test cooks do the work and then tell me about it!
America's Test Kitchen 100 Recipes has countless gorgeous photos and the rationale behind every recipe. The back page says, "Master twenty recipes in this book and you will have earned the right to call yourself a great cook." I love that. It's not about novelty or creativity. Just getting in the kitchen and doing it. (And knowing a good recipe when you see one. Or letting ATK take care of that for you.)
When I get a book like this in my hands, I'm always looking out for one thing--something to answer the perennial question of family dinner. For me, that's got to fit this criteria:
- 30-40 minutes
- Kid-friendly (thankfully, that's pretty easy with my kids)
- Not a heavy reliance on meat. I tend to use meat more as a flavoring than a main dish, and the more I read, the more I want to eat lower on the food chain.
- Bonus if I don't have to go to the store.
This soup fit the bill. And as it happens, people will be eating at three different times tonight (basketball season is upon us), so something that can be easily heated up is even better.
This soup gets its creamy mouth feel from olive oil and bread that becomes a silken puree in the blender. And the croutons are good, old-fashioned full-of-butter cubes of loveliness which I'll need to hide so they don't get devoured without the soup. All it needs is a salad or some grilled cheese sandwiches. Or both, if you don't have to make six trips to the Boys and Girls Club gym.
In this week of giving thanks, it occurs to me how many millions of people might not be in the mood, and how underservedly lucky I am to have a stove to cook on, a pantry that's filled, and a bed to sleep in. It's always cold somewhere, and I hope the love I give today, in the kitchen and elsewhere, warms this world up a little bit. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.
Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup
Serves 6-8. Make sure to purchse canned whole tomatoes in juice, not puree. If half of the soup fills your blender by more than two-thirds, process the soup in 3 batches.
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
1 bay leaf
2 (28-oz) cans whole tomatoes
3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, crusts removed, torn into 1" pieces
1 Tb. packed brown sugar
2 c. chicken broth
2 Tb. brandy (optional)
1/4 c. chopped fresh chives
1 recipe butter croutons (see below)
Heat 2 Tb. oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, if using, and bay leaf. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 3-5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and their juice. Using potato masher, mash until no pieces bigger than 2 inches remain. Stir in bread and sugar. Bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until bread is completely saturated and starts to break down, about 5 minutes. Discard bay leaf.
Transfer soup to blender. Add 1 Tb. oil and process until soup is smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and repeat with remaining soup and remaining 1 Tb. oil. Rinse out Dutch oven and return soup to pot. Stir in chicken broth and brandy, if using. return soup to boil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle with chives, and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with croutons.
Butter Croutons
Thick-sliced bread works best. Do not use thin-sliced. Either fresh or stale bread can be used. If using stale, reduce the cooking time by about 2 minutes.
6 slices hearty white sandwich bread, crusts removed, cut into 1/2" cubes (about 3 cups)
salt and pepper
3 Tb. unsalted butter, melted
Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and heat to 350. Combine bread cubes and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl. Drizzle with butter and toss well with rubber spatula to combine.
Spread cubes in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet. Bake croutons until golden brown and crisp, 8-10 minutes, stirring halfway through baking. Let cool on a baking sheet to room temperature. (Crotouns can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.)