text:
Indeed, we are, four months on.
The news on Monday that the Pyongyang Marathon was cancelled came as a shock to some of us. It is certainly terrible for the tourism industry: that event was to anchor their biggest week of the year, since there is no Arirang performance in 2015.
However, maybe its not as bad as it seems? As Koryo Tours put it: "It is still unclear when the borders will be reopened, but we were also advised not to cancel our March tours, and to expect an update on the border situation at the end of February. If you are booked on any of our tours in March or April then please do not hesitate to get in touch."
We've heard similar advice about our late March and April programmes. The Pyongyang rumour mill (and its extensions in Beijing, Dandong, Yanji and elsewhere) clearly thinks that quarantine will be lifted or adapted in the coming weeks. The questions are:
-Are the rumours true?
-If so, when exactly is the change coming?
The answers remain: "we don't know".
For CE this uncertainty has been damaging, though not on the scale it has been for the tour companies. We lost significant funding from a donor who needed to sponsor a project before the end of the fiscal year in March. Given that we have been unable to guarantee that March in-country programmes will go ahead, the funder had no choice by to reallocate the money.
We hope to execute the programme regardless and we are extremely grateful to have a team of workshop leaders who have a very flexible attitude towards this "stand-by for news" position we find ourselves in.
Fortunately, we have - despite the Ebola measures - been able to organise a study trip to Singapore. We'll see if participants in entrepreneurship training will also be participants in quarantine.


text:
Hey people !
How are you guys doing! It's summer here already and i am hating it. We are almost in the peak of the this summer season and I am not at all a summer kinda gurl.I really hate stepping out of my home in these sunny noons but sometimes you can't just help it. Sope here I am sharing with you guys one of my summer casual looks!!
Ripped denims is one of the basic essentials of these summers and a perfect one for a casual day look.What I personally love about ripped denims is they are so much comfy unlike those skin tight denims which doesn't evn have space for the air to pass by lolz!! . I took these pair of denims from the Lifestyle stores and they are from ONLY. When it comes to denims ONLY is my most preffered brand as they have a great fitting and comfort.
Moving over I tucked it with a full sleeve pink top which I bought it from the local market in Linking Road Mumbai. It has some great detailing on the shoulders and is so comfortable when u have to carry it on a summer day.To further complete the look i wore these printed canvas which I bought it from Koovs .I am simply in love with these shoes, they are so much comfy and can be paired with almost anything be it shorts,denims, skirts or jumpsuits . It goes well with almost everything.
Last not the least my Michael Kors handbag. I am currently obsessing over this one. I am too particular about my handbags and this is something i have been wanting for so long and finally i bought one from Michael Kors store at Palladium Mall Mumbai
Denim- ONLY
Shoes- Koovs
Handbag-Michael Kors

subset: commoncrawl


text:
An administrator can take advantage of the international spam feature of EOP to block messages written or sent from certain countries.
The process to block messages from certain countries/languages is performed on the content filter layer of EOP protection, which means that the header and message body of the message will be taken in consideration.
In order to configure, we must be logged on the Exchange Admin Center of a tenant with Office365 or EOP service. Click on Protection andt then Content Filter. Select Default and click on Edit.
In the new page, click on international spam and on the right side we have the option to enable messages written or messages sent from the defined countries. To add a country to the list on either option, just click on Add.
The following list will be displayed and the administrator has to double click on each country/language that you want to block at EOP level, after defining, click on OK and then save.
How can I check the existent messages to see their language and country?
Before applying the feature you may want to do some research to check where the messages are coming from and if they will match the security that you are planning to configure on EOP. You can use your own external messages to check it out, basically you need to get the Internet Headers of any external messages, and since that message was received by EOP, then a X-Forefront-Antispam-Report will be added to the message and there are two fields that identify country and language, which are CTRY: e LANG: as show in the message below.
If you don't want to spend too much time looking at the header you can always use EXRCA.com and that information will be displayed on the second section. We wrote a Tutorial about the step by step how to get the Internet Headers from Outlook and using EXRCA, you can check it out here: http://itprocentral.com//why-it-is-taking-so-long-to-receive-a-message-in-my-exchange-server/
It is really simple to block messages by country/language using EOP, however we live in a global society and check if the but we live in a global community and you may be surprised to find out that a country that you have never heard before , so before applying this protection make sure that your organization does not perform business with those countries.


text:
Apple Backtracks, OKs Nine Inch Nails iPhone App
It appears that Apple has once again backpedaled on an App Store decision.
Days after Apple rejected an app from Nine Inch Nails due to its explicit lyrics, the company has reversed course.
"NEWS FLASH: Apple has approved the NIN iPhone app update. Should be live in a few hours," NIN frontman Trent Reznor wrote on his Twitter feed Thursday.
Reznor said that the app is "unchanged" from the one that was rejected and that all "issues seem to have been resolved."
After the initial rejection, Reznor took to the band's message board to question why Apple allowed its songs on iTunes but not in the App Store.
"You can buy The Downward F****** Spiral on iTunes, but you can't allow an iPhone app that may have a song with a bad word somewhere in it," he wrote. "Geez, what if someone in the forum in our app says F*** or C***? I suppose that also falls into indecent material."
This post originally appeared on AppScout.
|Full Apple Product Coverage


text:
Good morning, everyone! This is my first post on RTTC as a high school senior, which is just crazy! We started school on Tuesday, and I can tell it's going to be a fun, but hard year. I'm taking 3 AP level classes this year, and if you combine that with being in 3 chamber groups and training 12 hours a week, I'm not going to have tons of spare time on my hands. So, I'm trying to get as much baking in before my schedule starts going too crazy!
One of the classes that I'm most excited to take this year is culinary. Because of my past food experiences (aka this blog and my mom's a chef and I love to cook), I was able to skip the basic classes and go right into the advanced class. The class is revolved around creating detailed menus, each with multiple parts. I don't exactly mind being able to bake in the middle of the day, either. 🙂
One thing that I realized on RTTC was the lack in gluten-free recipes. No one in my house has any need to eat gluten-free, but I realize that my family is fortunate, and many other families have to eat a wheat free lifestyle. While I did make the crisp with a gluten free topping, I wanted to experiment a little more with gluten-free baking. I stumbled across the BabycakesNYC cookbook, and this vegan, low sugar, gluten-free muffin immediately caught my attention. It's nearing the end of summer, so I wanted to make sure I could get in all my peach baking before apple/pumpkin (aka fall baking) begins again. Enjoy!
Ginger Peach Corn Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
Roasted Peaches
- 4 cups sliced, fresh peaches, peeled (if desired)
- 1/2 cup agave nectar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2/3 cup almond milk (can use rice milk to make it nut-free)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Baking Flour
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2-3 teaspoons ground ginger (personal preference)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 3/4 cup agave nectar
- 1/3 cup applesauce
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper/Silpat.
- In a medium bowl, toss together the peach slices, agave nectar, and lemon. Spread the peaches evenly on the baking sheet and place in the middle rack of the oven for 20 minutes, or until the sugars on the outside are caramelized. Let the peaches stand until cooled, approximately 30 minutes.
- Keep the oven at 325 while preparing a 12-muffin baking tin. Combine the almond milk and the apple cider vinegar, and let sit (this creates a buttermilk-like substitute).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, cinnamon and ginger. Add the oil, agave nectar, applesauce and vanilla to the dry ingredients and stir until the batter is smooth. Pour in the "buttermilk" and mix gently until just incorporated.
- Pour 1/3 cup batter into each muffin tin, until it is practically full. Top each muffin with a roasted peach wedge (or 2). Bake on the center rack for 22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the muffins cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish. Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Gluten free, low sugar, vegan, and dairy free? Sounds like a winning recipe.
-Rayna 🙂


text:
I wanted to post about this since it's currently something I've been thinking about and trying to get a handle on. Now I love the internet (I mean, who doesn't?!), and generally, I love social media too. It's amazing being able to connect/share with people from around the world, see there are others out there like me, and take in the all-you-can-eat buffet of art/inspiration.
The thing is, (like any good old fashioned addictive substance) when we have anything so good, we have a tendency to overindulge, and rather than take a sip, we inject in it via an IV connected to a firehose. This, unsurprisingly, can in turn take something that was helpful and twist it into something that does more harm than good.
I'm completely writing this from the angle of being an artist online and keep in mind, I'm generally referring to myself. If you connect to this post, awesome, if you don't, then hey, I give you kudos on your fine restraint.
Let's start by saying, the internet has everything we could want as artists. It has all the tutorials, resources, books, and online courses you could ask for. It has all the reference imagery you will ever need and more. What's a horse look like? Done. What's a horse look like wearing a suit? No problem. What's a horse look like after being cursed into a half man, half robotic lion body by a norwegian warlock in the 18th century? Pshhh Easy. Need some inspiration? How about an ever growing collection of every artist's work in the world? The networking and connecting tools, the outlets and means to get instant exposure, the peers and professional to ask any needed questions. The Everything.
And though the internet has everything at our ink stained fingertips, it still in no way makes us a good artist. That part will always come down to us sitting down and actually *not* using the internet.
"But Cale, shut up for a minute, I just posted my latest piece and it's already killing it at 200 likes! The internet has been great for helping me improve and see what the people like." Ok, first of all, no need to tell me to shut up. Second of all, while that can totally be the case, I've found it can also do the opposite. Let's dig in.
Twitter, instagram, facebook, tumblr, behance, dribbble, snapchat...
In today's artist enviroment, social media seems to be king. More and more people are joining, following and posting on all the different sites, making it a great area to share your work.
In doing this you're also able to get what I like to refer to as 'Artist Heroin', which is the instant gratification of people seeing and 'liking' your work. Once a piece has run the course of it's attention lifespan, what do you do? Same thing as Heroin Hank, you go search out your next hit.
Let's take a brief moment to explore 'likes, favs, retweets, reblogs, etc.'
I'm just like you guys, I like getting likes. I like seeing that folks enjoy my work, how can you not?! Who doesn't?! Liar, I say! Liar! I mean as artists we all hunger for attention and praise on some level. The thing is, with the social media system, we can start to judge and aim our own work based on these random 'likes'.
If a piece of art you did gets 300 likes do you then consider it a success? If another piece you did only gets 5 likes, then do you view it as more of a failure and something you are less proud of? Let me say, that you should not.
The pride you have in a piece will always long outweigh and outlast the attention it did or did not receive. Many of the things I am most proud of have had the least amount of popularity on social media.
I've begun to find the 'hunt for likes' is sort of like the rich man's greed. No matter how many you get, you just want more without any real fulfillment along the way. We start becoming so caught up in these numbers, comparing ourselves to what others get, focussing our art towards what is popular, only to look over and see any random cat post garners a billion likes. It's really not worth getting too caught up or attached in the 'likes'.
I think it's important to sit back at certain times and remember a 'like' is a click of a button that has no consequence for the clicker. "Click" "click, click" "click"
A split second 'click' from some random people should not be one of your deciding factors on what you create, how you create, and the worth of your creations. If you can, stay grounded in knowing that your art, and how you feel about it, is much more important than the internet reaction it receives. Not to say it's bad thing to want likes or have your pieces be popular, just try not to get tooooo caught up in what the internet craves.
The Overload
Social media can be an overload of everything. Overload of information, inspiration, and general noise, where as you look at everything but actually aren't absorbing anything. Depending how many artists you follow, you can easily have new artwork landing on your feed every refresh.
I think a common switch can happen with this, where instead of feeling inspired by all the art, you begin to feel stressed, guilty, and panicked that you need to get something out there to stay relevant in the chaos. A fear of being forgotten in the abyss of the internets. Feeds that lack of focus and short attention span I think. "Get something out now!" "No time to think or work areas I'm not good at!" "I don't want to disappear like Marty McFly!" It's ok to not post all the time. The comparison problem can really devour you if you let it sink it's teeth in. There will always be people on your feed posting new amazing art, winning awards, getting attention, and breaking the internet with likes/retweets. None of those people are you (clones excluded), and that's the only person you should be comparing against. We are all striving for something more and every one of us, successful or not, can easily lose ourselves in the comparison of what others have.
With so many people devouring content like gummy bears, the lifespan of a piece of art on social media can be pretty damn short. If your primary destination for art is social media then it can be hard to persuade yourself to spend buckets of time on a new piece, when it's likely going to be off the radar in a couple hours. The other situation many of us have found is the piece you spent 30 minutes on get's tons more attention than the piece you poured your heart and time into. "It seems that everyone likes it when I do quick 'speed painting' pieces, well guess that's my thing!" No! Dammit Cunningham. You can't take the attention you do or don't receive as critique of your work. If you want actual feedback to learn from, you need to find peers or mentors that will spend the time to look at your piece and say more than "cool!" "OMG" "awesome!" "What brush did you use?".
While on the topic of posting, just because you drew something, it doesn't mean you need to post it. Remember the Chuck Jones quote
'Every artist has thousands of bad drawings in them and the only way to get rid of them is to draw them out.'?
You do need to do thousands of bad drawings as you grow and learn (and thousands more after that) but honestly no one needs to see all those drawings. It is ok to have artwork you've done not posted on the internet.
I just mention that because it almost seems like the two are connected these days, you draw and then you post. I know I do…more than I should o_o
The other aspect of posting and sharing is you don't want to seem like a car salesman or robot of self promotion. "look at me!" "Buy my thing!" "I said look at meeeeee!"
Obviously you don't want to waste away your day on social media, but if you only come on to hawk your latest art or product without ever engaging or giving that love back, then who really wants to keep paying attention or showering you with admiration. It's a two way street and I would say it's always nice to spend some time to give other's work the attention you hope to get.
You're an artist, and as an artist, you need to grow, and growing takes time.
As it stands I think most of us can't go 15 minutes without taking a break to look at our phones or check our feeds. I think this is a problem. To create you need to get your head in a separate space, in your own creative space, not in a space constantly buzzing with random opinions, perspectives and influences. You need time and a space for you, to make things that come from you. It can take time to get in this space, but you need to give yourself that time. If you break off and take a second to go check all your sites you instantly throw yourself out of that space, filling your head back up with other things, other art, other ideas.
When you're given a pencil and a piece of paper, you draw. When you're given every conceivable and inconceivable thing at your fingertips, how are you expected to just draw?
There needs to a be a balance.
In today's world you pretty much need to be using the internet to establish a presence and get yourself out there, you should be!
It's an amazing tool with free resources abound to share your work. I've personally self educated myself, built my career, and met many a inspiring and great people through it.
Some things I'm doing:
- I installed 'StayFocused' to my browser to block sites for certain times of the day to prevent the subconscious habit of taking breaks to check feeds and instantly sink an hour.
- I don't keep social media feeds open as tabs on my browser and turned off notifications on my phone! We're gonna be checking every 10 minutes anyway, so no need to also have it constantly vying for your attention and taking you out of your zone.
- Devote certain times to posting, commenting and replying.
- I'm trying to get better at sketching away from the screen (though of course this can be hard if you need reference imagery).
- When I see art, imagery, photos, reference that jumps out to me, I have it to a inspiration folder I save them to in order to actually spend time looking at them later on.
There is an endless supply of things to get out of the internet - the inspiration, the resources, the information, the contacts, the exposure, the ability to easily share your work, the everything.
Just try to use the internet, not be consumed by it.
Now time to check if I got any likes on this post… refresh… refresh...


text:
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are due to the penetration of the edges of the nail plate into the soft tissue of the toe. It begins with a painful irritation that often becomes infected. With bacterial invasion, the nail margin becomes red and swollen often demonstrating drainage or pus. For people who have diabetes or poor circulation, this relatively minor problem can be become quite severe. In this instance a simple ingrown toenail can result in gangrene of the toe. Patients with joint replacements or pace makers are at risk of bacterial spread through the blood stream resulting in the spread of infection to these sites. These patients should seek medical attention at the earliest sign of an ingrown toenail. There are several causes of ingrown toenails: a hereditary tendency to form ingrown toenails, improperly cutting the toenails either too short or cutting into the side of the nail and ill-fitting shoes can cause them. Children will often develop ingrown toenails as a result of pealing or tearing their toenails off instead of trimming them with a nail clipper. Once an ingrown toenail starts, they will often reoccur. Many people perform "bathroom" surgery to cut the nail margin out only to have it reoccur months later as the nail grows out.
Treatment for ingrown toenails is relatively painless. The injection to numb the toe may hurt some, but a skilled doctor has techniques to minimize this discomfort. Once the toe is numb, the nail margin is removed and the nail root in this area is destroyed. Most commonly, the doctor will use an acid to kill the root of the nail, but other techniques are also available. It may take a few weeks for the nail margin to completely heal, but there are generally no restrictions in activity, bathing or wearing shoes. Once the numbness wears off, there may be some very mild discomfort but rarely does this require pain medicine. A resumption of sports activities and exercise is generally permitted the following day.
There are very few complications associated with this procedure. Reoccurrence of the ingrown toenail can occur a small percentage of the time. Continuation of the infection is possible which can be controlled easily with oral antibiotics. On occasion, the remaining nail may become loose from the nail bed and fall off. A new nail will grow out to replace it over several months. With removal of the nail margin, the nail will be narrower and this should be expected.
To prevent ingrown toenails it is recommended to wear properly fitting shoes and to trim the toenails straight across and not to short.
It is important for you to understand that the information provided is of a basic educational nature only, and does not constitute medical advice nor should it replace a medical consultation or the advice of your doctor.
Precision Podiatry has made and will continue to make efforts to include accurate and current information on this website, however, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the material provided, or any results obtained from the use of such material. Precision Podiatry makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness, timeliness or usefulness of any opinions, advice, services or other information contained or referenced in the website. All medical information presented should be discussed with your health care professional.


text:
Port Chester, NY: Zyloware Eyewear has announced the expansion of the Stetson Slims Collection in January 2015.
Stetson Slims is appealing to men of all ages, with construction that is extremely lightweight, comfortable and fashionable while still maintaining the durability of a thicker zyl frame. Stetson Slim's flexible stainless steel core wire temple eliminates the need for a bulky spring hinge or thick temple enhancing its lightness. When the Stetson Slims are worn, the weight is distributed throughout the zyl frame, relieving your nose of the pressure nosepads would normally leave. This makes Stetson Slims among the most comfortable zyl frame available.
Lightweight and comfortable, fashionable zyl makes a Stetson statement. Maintaining the classic square shape and durability of the Stetson brand, the Stetson Slim 315 is a full rim zyl frame featuring a gradient front on the Grey Fade (152). A metal rivet will catch your eye on the thin zyl temples that feature stainless steel core wire that makes this frame extremely flexible so spring hinges are not necessary.
Colors: Grey (100) Grey Fade (152)
Sizes: 54-18-140
Special Features: Full rim zyl frame; Rivet on each temple; Accommodates progressives
The thin profile and durable quality of the Stetson Slim 316 appeals to a wide range of wearers. Reach the ultimate balance of bold and traditional with this full rim, contemporary rectangular shaped frame. The unique cut, stylish zyl temples feature a fashionable metal rivet and flexible stainless steel core wire increasing the comfort of this frame.
Colors: Tortoise (024) Grey (100)
Sizes: 52-17-145
Special Features: Full rim zyl frame; Rivet on each temple; Accommodates progressives
The Stetson Slim 317 strikes the perfect balance between fashion and function. This rectangular shaped frame is ideal for the customer looking for a lightweight, durable semi-rimless metal frame. This updated sheet metal frame has a modern appearance making it appealing for men any age. The striking Black frame features flexible tortoise temples with two metal rivets.
Colors: Black (021) Gunmetal (058)
Sizes: 54-19-145
Special Features: Semi-rimless metal front; Rivets on each temple; Zyl temples; Snap-in
silicone nosepads; Accommodates progressives
For more information, retailers may contact Zyloware at 800-765-3700, via e-mail at
email@example.com, or online at www.zyloware.com.


text:
4 designer team | 2 days (!) | Side project - Global Service Jam SF | 2014
Nomad is a destination-oriented packing service that alleviates the expense, anxiety, and monotony of travel luggage.
NoMad's packing service lets people pack online and have their clothes, hygiene items, and essentials ready for pick-up at their destination. The concept combines the ease of a "RedBox"-esque pickup experience with the cultural immersion of AirBnB. You pick your size, identity, and style via our online portal before your trip and everything you need for your adventure is ready and waiting at your destination.
Work with a team of strangers to develop a realistic prototype for a new service in just 48 hours as part of the Global Service Design Jam. The Service Jam's big theme is "doing, not talking." The idea is to put aside the spin and let the prototype tell the story. So watch the video first, but if you want the behind the scenes story, read on...
After an evening of brainstorming around the topic, I joined with others interested in prototyping a service around the idea of "Airbnb for travel clothing."
The idea was to make it easier to travel by renting clothes onsite at your destination when traveling. We choose to focus on adventurous travelers who, whether traveling for work on fun, wouldn't need the same outfits for every trip because we wanted our service to provide more than just shipping of your existing wardrobe.
Just because you're limited in time doesn't mean you can't do research! We made a quick research plan and then hit the streets to see how they approached packing and clothing for travel.
We used a number of service design frameworks and tools as well as good old fashioned post-its to start hashing out how the service would actually come together. With limited time we tried not to get hung up on details, but plenty of healthy debate ensued about the many possible routes for funding and developing the service. A quick blueprint was very helpful to see all the needs and logistics we needed to account for, and the business model canvas helped us think about advantages and disadvantages of different value exchanges.
As we ideation we fell into some informal principles / value prop elements that helped guide us through the myriad of decisions we needed to make. We wanted to help travelers:
Before this became the new Airbnb slogan, we were thinking this was an unmet need for travel clothing.
Our teammate from Brazil pointed out that bright, busy patterns were THE style for workout leggings in Brazil, at a time when in the US black was the only color your could buy. You'd stick out as an obvious tourist sporting your black lululemons in Rio! As she predicted, two years later the trend has come to the US and everyone's now sporting colorful workout pants.
But what if you could land in a new place, and be able to blend in a little better by following cultural clothing norms? Not by appropriating traditional attire mind you, but just by making it easy to blend in a bit by dressing up a bit with minimalist black in New York, and going hip casual for SoCal.
The hassle of packing for a trip isn't just about physically moving the items from place to place, it's also about gathering and preparing them. We wanted to allow travelers to choose the items they wanted for a trip quickly and easily, and even help them out in deciding by letting them know what they might need based on the weather and popular activities at their destination.
Part of the fun of building a service is to get creative with the business model. Once we hit on the idea of having people try out unique clothes in different destinations, we added the possibility of getting the clothing at low cost as promotion. We figured some people would also want to keep some of the clothes they discovered traveling, with a fun try before you buy model. Unlike many mail-order clothing rental services, our had an added advantage in this realm - it's now attached to a happy travel memory. Our quick research found people loved to have origin stories for the things they owned and wore, so we felt that wearing an outfit on a fun trip would make them even more likely to purchase it if it was a good fit. This model also takes advantages of people's natural loss aversion to not want to give up the clothes they've grown attached to, and fundamental attribution bias where they're likely to like the clothes more because they're associated with their fun trip.
This opportunity exists because dealing with bags when traveling is a hassle. We knew to succeed our service would need to anticipate and eliminate as many possible hassle painpoints as possible.
We tried to make the clothing "shopping" experience quick and easy, while still letting the user pick their own items if they chose. For those with less time or preferences, we offered recommended kits as well.
On the destination side, we originally wanted to deliver a traveler's clothing directly to her hotel. But we knew that customer expectations were high with this type of high-touch and high-stakes experience, so we wanted to simplify to eliminate as many possible failure points as we could. After all, just one bad experience that leaves a traveler with no clothes in a foreign country (!) would turn them from a fan to all-star detractor in no time. So we decided delivery could be an add-on service, but the core experience would have airport pick-up and drop-off, giving us greater control and less moving parts.
We also incorporated a few service-recovery opportunities to quickly fix anything that could go wrong, such as having some extra supplies available onsite at the pickup station in case an order was bungled, and alerting a user if they seem to be under-packing for a trip.
In order to be the perfect antidote for the stress and dehumanizing unpleasantness of modern air travel, we wanted to make our service cheery and fun. We wanted to let travelers know that we were on their side, and looking out for them. To that end we added some special touches, like a note from the person who prepares your bag, a ribbon around the bag, and some unexpected welcome gift.
Having now fallen fully in love with our ideas, and having thought surprisingly thoroughly through the service, we now how to make all that thinking come to life. We had to prototype the whole service experience, and get it on video ready to share to the group, in just a few hours. Acting out the service gave us a chance to illustrate some, but not all, of the articulations of our principles that we intended to include. We had to throw together a basic play-by-play, "screens" for our shopping experience, and a set for all of the backstage and frontstage action, and actually make the video. We had to cut out some service recoveries and other nuances for time and simplicity's sake. Luckily one "take" of the video did our ideas decent justice, because that's all we had time for!
The goal of this project was just to learn and have fun, and I'd say in that regard it was a great success. I had a great time going from forming to performing so quickly with a small team of different types of folks.
I really enjoyed thinking through the service, hashing out the details, and bringing it to life. Our concept was very well received within the SF Jam group, and I later saw a similar service launched IRL, though they focus more on business travelers. Hard to say if they were inspired by our work, but either way it's good to see more startups taking a truly service-oriented approach rather than just providing a function.


text:
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association inductees Ohio High School Basketball Coaches into its Hall of Fame each year. The first year of induction was in 1987 where 9 legendary coaches were inducted into the initial class. The year, 2013, marks the 27h year that a class will be inducted in the Hall of Fame. This years inductees include Bill Cady of Cincinnati LaSalle, Mike Gallagher of Wooster, Mark Huffman of Monroe Central and Carl Wolfe of Racine Southern. The total now stands at 130 Members who have been inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
The procedure used for the selection of candidates into the Hall of Fame is as follows: (1) Voting takes place at the OHSBCA Fall Meeting, (2) No more than four people shall be inducted in any one year, (3) The candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be considered to be the Class for that particular year, (4) Committee will make a recommendation to the District Directors of the coaches to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, (5) District Directors will vote to approve the recommendation of the coaches to be inducted in the Hall of Fame and (6) A majority vote for each candidate is required.
The criteria a nominee must posses in order to be considered as an inductee are: (1) coached Varsity for twenty years, (2) won 300 Varsity games, (3) was a member of the OHSBCA for the last ten years, (4) an active member in the OHSBCA as a Director or Officer, (5) coached in State All-Star Games, (6) achieved Tournament success and (7) retired from active coaching for one full season before his/her induction date. The criteria to be considered for Honorary Membership is the person must contributed to the total development of the sport of basketball in a non-coaching or coaching capacity.
* Denotes Honorary Member


text:
Tell me a little about you and your company.
Vickie and I actually have several current ventures, all under our limited liability company, Two Southpaws Enterprises (est. 2005).
We created Vegetarian Zen in March of 2013, shortly after we became vegetarians. Our mission and vision:
Vegetarian Zen is committed to providing informative and entertaining content, including recipes, tips, products, and services, to both current and aspiring vegetarians and vegans in an open and non-judgmental manner.
Vegetarian Zen is a top online resource and community for those trying to live a healthy plant-based life style. Our products and services provide education and aid for understanding and simplifying living a plant-based lifestyle.
Since June of 2013 we have produced a weekly podcast on which we discuss topics pertaining to plant-based eating, animal activism, and then environment. We also blog about these topics on the Vegetarian Zen website and share recipes and other resources.
Over the past two years we have developed a strong community of "Veg Zenners" and we communicate with many of them regularly via our website, email, and through our closed Facebook group, The Peas and Carrots Society.
We have a second podcast, Productivity Power Up, which we began in June of 2015. On it, we discuss ways to increase productivity, both in business and in personal life. Vickie is a skilled productivity coach and has done more than 30 individual and group training sessions at her corporate day job. It's not her paid position (she is a Business Analyst Manager at a top mutual fund company); she does these sessions because she is passionate about productivity. We began the podcast now as part of the development process for Vickie's private coaching business.
Additionally, I (Larissa) have my own business, First to Final Copyediting. This is a new business venture for me, established in July of 2015. My mission at First to Final Copyediting is "to provide high quality copyediting services to authors, bloggers, entrepreneurs, and students in order to help them maximize the quality and effectiveness of their writing projects". I am in the process of adding a copywriting component to the business as well.
How long have you owned your own business?
We established our LLC in 2005 and have had several small business ventures through it since then. For a time we operated an eBay consignment business. Vegetarian Zen was established in March 2013, Productivity Power Up in May 2015, and First to Final Copyediting in July 2015.
What made you decide to start your own business?
We have been together as a couple for nearly 14 years. Vickie has been with the same corporate job for 18 years, and I have held a few different positions in that time. I was an archaeologist (field and lab) until health problems forced me from the field and shortage of grant funding cost me my lab position. I worked for a construction company for 4 years, where I worked my way from temporary Administrative Assistant through Executive Assistant, Project Assistant, and ended as the Design Project Coordinator. I was a researcher for various university professors when I was working on a graduate degree in History. My last position was as the Volunteer Coordinator for the National Audubon Society's center here in San Antonio.
We have always wanted to work together. Our initial foray into eBay sales (before selling for others on consignment) was really just a test to see if we could work together effectively. We determined that we can, and we actually complement each other very well. Our efforts since then have been geared toward to our ultimate goal of being self-supporting and location-independent. This has not been without significant struggles!
What was the best advice you received when you started your career?
From Larissa: For me personally, some of the best advice has come from Vickie herself, and has involved learning to let go of the limiting beliefs and advice of other people. I turn 44 next month, and from past experience I should have learned long ago to let what my parents and well-meaning friends say that I should/can do or not do go in one ear and right out the other. Easier said than done, but I'm finally learning, and am seeing change in myself as a result.
From Vickie: Best business advice I've ever received from a couple of trusted peers at different times was essentially to choose your battles wisely. Some things aren't worth your time and energy. Passion is something that should be saved for things that are worth fighting for.
What do you wish someone had told you when you started your business?
From Larissa: I wish someone had told me how emotional having my own business would be. Joy, surprise, anxiety, anger, frustration, intimidation, self-doubt, alarm, amazement…it has been a roller-coaster ride I never thought I would take, but one I wouldn't trade for anything.
From Vickie: While there is a lot of great advice out there, you can't consume it all nor should you try. When we started I was taking courses and signing up for everything. While there are some great resources out there, you can also overwhelm yourself. Slow down and learn what you need to learn as you move along your journey rather than trying to cram it all in as if you're being tested on in the next day.
What are the three skills that new entrepreneurs need in order to succeed?
An open mind
A passionate heart
A thick skin
What routines do you have in place to help your days run smoothly?
I do make schedules, but I'm afraid I'm not the best at adhering to them. Once I got over my stubbornness, I have found that having a productivity expert in the house is an incredible asset! I've tried a number of different systems for keeping track of my tasks, projects, and goals, but what works best for me is a sort of hybrid system that is based on paper but that also has a digital component.
I plan out my days as much as I can, structuring work sessions around household chores, errands, and appointments.
How do you find balance as an entrepreneur?
It's difficult, especially because we each have our hands in several different ventures. Vickie and I have planning meetings throughout the week to keep abreast of what each person is working on, to plan content (podcast topics, blog posts, social media interactions, etc.) ahead of time, and to brainstorm new ideas.
What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?
From Larissa: Right now, I like being able to be home to take care of our aging dog. Molly Brown is nearly 13, and she has developed significant health issues over the past two years. We both feel grateful that I am able to be here to watch over her during the day and help her when she needs it.
From Vickie: Being an entrepreneur is a creative outlet for me. I have some flexibility in my corporate job but there are definitely limits and things that need to be "bought off" on. Larissa and I can make decisions about direction and what we create within our company in order to offer our community value very quickly.
What do you do to unwind?
I love to read fiction. Vickie is more of a non-fiction reader. One of her current favorite pastimes is online poker (the not-for-money kind!). She also has a degree in music and plays guitar, which is another way she likes to unwind. We are both huge horror movie fans, and one of our favorite Friday or Saturday evening treats is to settle in with a snack and a good (or cheesy, depending on our mood!) scary movie. I am a birder, and now that it's cooling off a bit here in South Texas, we'll be able to head back out to the parks and spend time with my feathered friends.
What is a project that you are working on right now or just finished?
My biggest "just finished" project was establishing First to Final Copyediting. I did it completely without contracted help, from creating the business entity to building the website, to marketing and writing copy. It's the first business I established completely on my own.
Vickie was one of a small number of people selected to do a TED-like talk within her company. She is currently working hard preparing her talk, "Zen and the Art of Being Me".
We are also working on development and launch of our first product for Productivity Power Up (can't release additional details yet!).
How can people get in touch with you?
email@example.com / email@example.com
email@example.com / email@example.com
Do you want to be featured in our entrepreneur spotlight interview series? Reach out to us at firstname.lastname@example.com or fill out the application today.


text:
5 Stand Out Senses (or, 5 SOS_001)
On the first day of autumn this year, I started doing something new:
Instead of instinctively reaching for my phone when I woke up, I altered the course of my hand to land on my sketchbook. On that morning and every morning since, I tell email and weather and Instagram to slow their role, then breathe deeply for a beat or two as I sit up and place the black leather-bound book on my lap. With mechanical pencil in hand, I start thinking of three gratitudes to honor. I limit myself to three things for two reasons: 1. I'm a bit long-winded and flowery in my writing (can you tell?), and 2. I usually have to pee pretty badly first thing in the a.m. (Yes, I force myself to stay in bed until all three things are fully jotted down, and no I don't want to end up like the old lady in the field-trip scene of Billy Madison.)
I chose to start this practice on a day of astrological -and for me hugely symbolic- transition. Summer is my favorite. It's the undeniable best. It's my groove. And I feel down when the plug is pulled on that groove. Summer is lingering in the heat of the late sun, it encourages movement/gathering/revelry/travel, and despite my "adult" status, it still pulses with the wild freedom that punctuated childhood.
To me, fall has always stood for massive change, both in lifestyle and scenery. It is the uniquely melancholy combination of returning to rules and the shedding of summer's luscious verdancy.
In an attempt to get ahead of that shadow feeling, I thought a good practice would be to welcome the day not focusing on the negative aspects of the new season, but by paying homage to ALL THE RAD THINGS in my world.
This morning's first entry was so simple, but so important. "I am grateful for my 5 good senses. Sight, sound, scent, taste, and touch are all in fine working order, and for that I am so damn lucky." Maybe I should put them to proper use!
Below are five stand out discoveries that have nourished me over the past week. I want this to become a weekly post, likely issued on Friday/Friyay afternoons. For now, here's the first installment of 5 Stand Out Senses (5 SOS_001)...I know, 001...Ambitious, right?:
1. Sight
Francis and the Lights
I suppose these rightly fall under "Sound," as well, but I'm really digging the constraint of the single take illustrated in these two videos.
Fantastic things about "Friends":
- Kanye's jacket
- @ 1m26s when Francis crosses the edge of set, from rehearsed order in the white envelope to chaotic freakout in the darkness.
- Thinking about how many times Bon Iver rehearsed the synched dance alone in his living room.
A fantastic thing about "Like a Dream":
His mastery of my move.
2. Sound
The new album "WALLS" by Kings of Leon. (WALLS = We Are Like Love Songs)
This is the band's first release since September 2013. It feels great to hear from them because in an ever-oversynthed world, they are straight-up Rock & Roll.
Start to finish, WALLS is so satisfying...save for #6 "Muchacho," which rambles with the monotony of a tumbleweed. Things kick off explosively with "Waste A Moment" and "Reverend," but I'll peg my favorite song as #4 "Find Me." It recalls "The Boys Of Summer" by Don Henley, which is massive praise.
3. Scent
This is a snapshot of the corner of my desk where I house facilitators of good smells and good feels. Here's a list of what they are and why they're awesome:
- Paine's Red Cedar Incense - Epitomizes that the best things in life are (nearly) free. I adore everything about this product: 100% natural/chemical free/sustainable production and sourcing, made in Maine (their About page makes me want to visit and hug the entire team), price ($6 for 32 cones and holder), packaging (!!!), and one of the most evocative and comforting scents for fall. (Another epic option is the sampler incense set by Incienso De Santa Fe, which also has glorious branding.)
- Palo Santo Smudge Sticks - "Palo Santo" translates from Spanish as "Holy Wood." It is sourced from Ecuador and traditionally used to clear spaces of negative energy and stagnation. The link above takes you to the online retailer Mountain Rose Herbs, which provides a more in-depth product description, and is an overall fantastic marketplace for all things herbal and healing.
- Chikuno Charcoal Purifying Cube - A really beautiful example of form + function.
- Marble Candleholder by Fort Standard - Brooklyn-based makers of functional and fun objects in gorgeous materials. I also met one member of the design duo at an expo last year. Major babe.
- Matches from CAP Beauty and Warm NY - The extent that I love these shops/brands is too vast to delve into here, but what the heck, maybe just a little! Without exaggeration, CAP Beauty and its founders Kerrilynn Pamer and Cindy DiPrima played a pivotal role in the way I care for my skin and body, and provided a case study for the business I eventually hope to grow...slowly, steadily, sincerely. Warm NY is truly the warmest nook of Hamptons-meets-SoCal culture in New York City. Every attempt to "pop in for a quick look" has stretched to hours bouncing between their fragrance wall, the back room of coffee-table dream books, and legit meaningful talks with the sweet and stylish women who work there. Also, they have the best mottos: "Beauty is wellness, and wellness is beauty." (CAP) "Go where its warm." (Warm NY)
4. Taste
Question: You get one food and one beverage for the rest of life - what are they? (Let's figure in spring water w/lemon and a solid multivitamin to cover our bases...)
Answer: OYSTERS. DIRTY MARTINIS (just the tiniest bit dirty).
5. Touch
Walking barefoot. Outside. On a natural piece of land. Like a human.
One of the many gifts that's come as a result of moving from New York City to the middle of the New England woods is my ability to experience nature readily, often, and without barriers. It's become a nearly everyday occurrence to take a long walk through surrounding parks and trails, and it feels right when I forego rubber soles. By allowing my feet to touch the ground, I feel not only more observant and respectful of the changing terrain (and whatever critters come to pass), but awakened to my own animalness.
I'm reminded that I'm enough: me and my skin and the clothes on (or not on) my back and my breath through the trees... Now disregarding the many silly things that clogged my head and my happiness back in the urban jungle. I went months without feeling dirt or grass under my toes, but certainly feeling strangled by the ever-mounting stressors of an unfulfilling job and human gridlock.
There are an increasing number of studies scientifically proving the myriad benefits to human health through "earthing" or "grounding." For those locked in city centers (or anyone not desirous of frost-bite in the dead of winter), products such as these mats can be a huge win.
But if opportunity permits, I urge everyone to shed their sneaks/stilettos/self-consciousness and truly connect with the world.


text:
We were overjoyed to learn about Anne Barge's launch of CURVE COUTURE + we are excited to host one of the 1st trunk shows of its kind - created exclusively for all women's beautiful shapes and sizes
The Anne Barge Bridal collection has announced a new collection featuring gowns in U.S. bridal sample sizes 16-20, a radical + refreshing change from the existing size 4-8 samples in stores and rotating on trunk shows now. According to company president Shawne Jacobs, this new endeavor is a response to demand from retailers across the U.S. with clientele seeking high-end bridal couture that celebrates all shapes + sizes.
The trunk show will consist of 15 best-selling styles from past and current collections!


text:
Born and thriving in Los Angeles, Lostboycrow is a free-spirited soul telling his story through song. Rare Candy recently sat down with Lostboycrow (LBC) in LA -- over shawarma and churro waffles -- to talk about making albums in the modern music world and how the river runs.
Rare Candy: Why did you choose a three part debut as opposed to one longer release?
Lostboycrow: Going into this year, right as I was deciding to make the album, I listened to Blonde by Frank Ocean so much. That album is kind of what did it for me. I've always wanted to do an album. I think a lot of artists probably feel that way too, because you can get to know someone from an album. As a listener, I get to know an artist, and I get to know myself. I thought, "Wow I don't listen to albums anymore," mostly because people aren't making them. So I knew I wanted to make an album, and then when I heard Blonde I was like, "Enough is enough, I have to make an album. This is such a lost art." So, I decided to do a three part album, three Legends, so that I could treat each release as an EP with singles and videos.
Most everything I've been able to do I've been able to do a lot because of Spotify which is a playlist world, a singles world, a streaming world. I want to be conscious of that. I love putting out singles because they can have an individual life of their own on Spotify. I'm still putting out quite a few singles; I'm just tying them all together with the project -- the narrative, as well as lyrically and visually. Essentially, I'm just releasing singles like always except now there's a story, now there's something for people to actually cling onto to get to know me and get to know themselves, and see my progression as a musician and a singer rather than just: "Oh cool, another single!," "Oh this is a different direction."
RC: You're constantly releasing new music and new singles. What is the planning process for that like? Especially with the Legends, were the songs written together, or did things connect as you went along? A noticeable connection is how in Traveler: the First Legend you threw in the lyric, "spin the globe" on the title track, and the single for the Second Legend is called "Spin the Globe."
LBC: Thank you for noticing! It was a little of both. I've been able to write and record so much music that I have everything planned out, so by the time you're hearing a song I've had it done for a year or so. I had some songs done a while ago, like early 2016, and then, when I decided to make the album, I realized this was a whole project. As I was able to finish these songs and color them in, I knew exactly where I was going and could make the lyrical connections. That was something that I would want as a listener, and that was something I wanted to give as an artist. With the singles, I wanted to make everything cohesive so that I could do everything to make people see that this is a whole journey, a whole progression. It's not just me releasing singles. The next Legend, the second one, is a bigger jump musically. It's little weirder, a little more hip hop influenced at times. Lyrically, it's a lot more nostalgic.
RC: Since the Legends are three pieces of one story, do you think each chapter reflects a different part of you or a different part of your life?
LBC: Absolutely. Originally, I wasn't quite sure. I didn't know how much I wanted to base it off of my personal life, so each one is kind of different. It's partly a story I created, but a lot of it is coming from real places. Each chapter, each Legend, is me exploring a different part of something I've learned. I keep an open mind, and I've waited to finish the third Legend until closer to when I'll put it out, even though I have a lot of the songs. I don't want to know where it's all going yet.
Each Legend has a caption underneath. The first one was "split the road, spin the globe." The second one is "somewhere with no one," and the third one is "the river runs free." I keep saying that lyrically, and I'll keep referencing the river. Also, each Legend has a symbol with it. The First Legend has trees, wind, and fire. The Second Legend has mountains, representing the tough part of the journey, looking backwards and forwards, and finding perspective. The Third Legend has the river. The river runs downstream, and you learn from it. You learn from where you've been, what's coming at you, and then the river takes you somewhere. It's very fluid, but it also has a purpose, and it's moving somewhere specific.
I decided to make the First Legend about a lot of what I went through right before and right after I moved down to LA. It's full of excitement. I reference Romeo and Juliet a lot, because that is what it reminded me of, especially the Danes and DiCaprio version, because it was very, "let's take on the world for no reason except for the one we make." It's this us against the world theme, while also asking, "Who am I?" There is a lot of blind pursuit in love and music. Looking at "Real Name," "Verona," and "Traveler," the First Legend is very much in love with the idea of things and people. The Second Legend is very introspective and retrospective and romanticizes the past. It's a little sad, but it's also continuing on the adventure, it's almost the cynical sort of nostalgic, romanticizing people and the past.
The Third Legend represents what I feel I've learned the most this year, which is that everything is free and fluid, you don't own people, you can't be married to people or ideas or things, and you have to keep an open mind. It's very experimental with sounds and has some new producers that I teamed up with.
Rare Candy: The way you live your life is very much geared towards what you love. You're very free spirited, but you're also guided by your passions. How have you been able to maintain this laid-back yet focused mindset?
LBC: Observing my own struggles, small victories, and friendships, the biggest thing I've learned this year, especially with the idea of "the river runs free," is that everything I've been interested or passionate about in my life hasn't been in vain, it's revealed itself slowly. It's been interesting to see how I can do music, but I still incorporate so many pieces of what I love. I think that when you are honest with yourself and follow what the universe gives you and gifts you, whether it be a talent or an interest or both, hopefully the universe will be good to you in return. The universe will help you use those gifts. I think I have to believe that just because that's what I've seen in my own life.
RC: Knowing you personally, I wanted to ask about a side of you that doesn't always come through in interviews: your love for theater and film.
LBC: Theater and film are so powerful. I know for me, it inspires me more than music. I can't even put into words why, but there's something very powerful about someone making a play or a film. You can capture things in such a way. It's like real life, active, shoved in your face, a really good opportunity to actually see and understand. I'm a visual learner, so for me it's huge to be able to watch a scene unfold.
Another thing that you can do with theater and film is teach. If I go out on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura and hold a sign that says NO DAPL and shout and get angry, that's great, people should do that, but no one is going to learn anything. If I make a film that has some of those characters and some of those issues in it, but that's not what the film is about, that's just real life. People are going to be touched by that, and they're going to learn. Even more so than from a song, because a song can be really preachy too. So much of acting and film is not saying anything; it has a chance to be even more powerful.
A lot of my inspiration for songs does come from theater, but it's really coming from human experience which you see all the time. However, in a film you can watch it again and again, you can see it up close, and you can really read someone's facial expression. I am moved by films more than anything, and I think my next album after this one will be pretty heavily influenced by film, as well as Simon and Garfunkel, the Beach Boys, and Kendrick Lamar.
RC: Going back to your new album, how do you think the process of making Traveler: The First Legend has been different from your past work?
LBC: A lot of the songs on Traveler were gathered from the past year and a half. "Nobody Knows" was written almost three years ago. The songs all ended up working together, and I think that's also why I felt like tying them together lyrically and visually. I feel like that's how music is made nowadays, because everything is a session with somebody new. I've been fortunate enough to have three people, sometimes four, that I work and vibe with. So every Lostboycrow song is going to be with one or multiple of those people, and I love that.
It's intentional. We live in a world of singles, and there are even people who aren't just dropping singles, they're dropping albums, a collection of songs with a myriad of producers over years. I've done that, but the lost art is me and Real Miilk, Dylan William, of flor, Maro, and my buddy Jimmy going into a studio, a physical space, for two weeks and taking all the sketches that we have, ideas that I have, and coloring them in in the same place, the same environment, an environment that affects the sounds you're making. To intentionally, kind of quickly, force ourselves to make an album is something I get excited about. I've tried to bring people together as much as I can. A few of the songs on the next couple of Legends are with Maro and Real Miilk and me. I love that. I did one with Zach Grace, of flor and Dylan William, of flor, and that was really awesome, kind of a cross-pollination of my favorite few people. That's the lost art that I get really excited about.
RC: It sounds like you've developed a great system and a great environment for yourself.
LBC: Yeah totally. I know people that write every day, or make a goal to write every day. I don't feel that at all. I'll still probably write more songs this year than I've ever written because I have my people. I feel that freedom to just gather an idea from something, anything, and then, when it comes time, with the help of others, I know I'll have something to go off of, and we'll be able to make a song and color it in.
RC: You get asked about your move to LA pretty frequently, but it sounds like you're truly at home here and that it's opened doors for you.
LBC: I'm living all my dreams, truly. I got to become who I always was when I moved down here. I cannot describe to you how much it feels like that, how perfect it is. What I try to do, what I try to stress with songs like "Real Name" or "Spin the Globe" is exactly that. All I can speak about is my experience. I know I have a very easy life right now, compared to a lot of people, like I can go to Whole Foods and get a snack. That's insane. I feel like physically moving here allowed me to create that space and that new home, with no pretext, no pretense. Lostboycrow was birthed anew, but I am who I always was, and I had those experiences that all those songs are about. I feel like I lived a totally different life. I hope people feel empowered to do the same, whether it's a physical journey or just a mental one, to not being afraid to start over and find your people wherever they may be. Those people will help cultivate your passions, and that's how you'll know that they're your people and vice versa. That's how Lostboycrow started: it was Dylan and I in this house with our friends. That's what cultivated me, and I feel so blessed to be able to live whatever fairytale reality I'm living right now. It's real, and it's so cool.
Website: http://lostboycrow.la/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lostboycrow
Flor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florsounds/
Maro's Twitter: https://twitter.com/maromakesmusic


text: Bella Luce Lighting opened up their boutique lighting shop in Watlington high street and were looking for a high-end, glossy, brochure style website to promote their exquisite range of lighting products and showcase the talented artists responsible for the creations. The key objective of the website was to excite the end user and encourage a visit to the shop. Working with their established logo we introduced a supporting colour palette and a modern typeface. We then designed and built a fully responsive website with a beautiful and simple interface, using large imagery and in-built galleries. As product imagery was key in the design of this site we fully managed a product photoshoot at Bella Luce's shop to shoot the website hero shots. You can check out the website here.


text:
Sometimes, magic happens.
A few weeks ago, I published a short story called "The Toy Maker". This story was inspired by Boudicca's Hestium. One of my favorite places in Second Life, Hestium had recently been rebuilt. New houses, new fictional residents, new lives and, of course, new stories. Hestium has been a source of inspiration and ideas for many of my projects. But this time, I decided to write a whole story based on it.
Boudicca read my story and had a few ideas of her own. Mind you, we didn't talk about any of our projects but, somehow, one thing led to another and...
I visited Hestium once more to check for myself. And this is what I saw.
Claire's new home.
The toy is still there.
The upper floor.
Claire still has her animals.
And the sea...
Before I left, I took a moment to think this through. I took what Boudicca created at Hestium and brought characters to life. And Boudicca read my story and "wrote" it further. And we never talked about this, or planned anything.
Sometimes, magic does happen.


text:
Follow along as we tour the Northeast/
On Wednesday, January 9, sixteen members of Duelly Noted will pack into two college vans and embark on our third annual winter tour. This year, we'll be performing at Union College and Amherst College as well as in Kinnelon, NJ and Barrington, RI.
Follow along below as we make our way around the Northeast. We'll be posting pictures, videos, and tweets from group members.


text:
Mahsa Vahdat was trained in classical Persian singing and regional folk music by master musicians in Iran. After Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979, public female singing was banned. To this day, female singers can only perform for authorized women-only audiences or alongside a male voice, and can never perform solo in public. Mahsa Vahdat's repertoire is inspired by regional and traditional music from Iran infused with her unique and resilient artistic sensibility. Her song lyrics are mostly mystical and love poems by great Persian poets like Hafez, Rumi, and Saadi, who lived several centuries ago; as well as contemporary Iranian poetry speaking about Iranian society.
An active campaigner for human rights, Mahsa is an award-winning ambassador of Freemuse, an independent international organization advocating freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide. She has attracted considerable attention with her work on the record Lullabies from the Axis of Evil, and her new solo album The Sun Also Rises.


text:
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (NYSE: OSG) ( "OSG"), a provider of
energy transportation services for crude oil and petroleum products in
the U.S. Flag markets, announced today that it has signed a binding
contract with Gunderson Marine LLC ("Gunderson Marine"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. ("Greenbrier"), for the
construction of one 204,000 barrel capacity oil and chemical tank barge
for dual mode ITB service pursuant to U.S. Coast Guard NVIC 2-81, Change
1, for anticipated delivery to OSG during the second quarter of 2020.
This barge will be constructed at Gunderson's Portland, Oregon building
facilities and will be built to comply with MARPOL Annex VI Regulation
13 Tier III standards regarding nitrogen oxide emissions within emission
control areas. The state-of-the-art 581' tank barge is among the largest
in the history of Gunderson Marine, with origins on the Willamette River
in Portland dating to 1919.
OSG intends that the vessel, following delivery, will be registered
under the U.S. Flag with a coastwise endorsement, allowing it to be
employed in Jones Act trades. The barge will be constructed to pair with
existing tugs within OSG's current fleet for operation as an articulated
tug barge or ATB unit. The agreement with Gunderson Marine also provides
OSG with an option to construct a second sister barge which would have a
scheduled delivery date during the 4th quarter of 2020.
"The Gunderson Marine contract for construction of a new barge is an
exciting development for OSG," said Sam Norton, OSG's President and CEO.
"This transaction represents the first significant new capital
investment into our Jones Act businesses in nearly a decade and is an
affirmation of our commitment to operate ATBs, as well as tankers,
within this market. Following on from the two tanker contracts announced
earlier this month, this additional newbuild initiative underscores our
leading presence in the U.S. Flag petroleum transportation sector. We
look forward to the contribution that this effort will make to our
long-term success."
"Our partnership with OSG for new ATB construction builds on Gunderson
Marine's strong reputation for providing safe and efficient ocean-going,
Jones Act barges for the transportation of petrochemicals, crude oil,
refined petroleum products and chemicals," said William A. Furman,
Greenbrier Chairman and CEO. "Operating from the largest side launch on
the west coast, Gunderson Marine is the only shipyard in the western
United States with successful experience in building ATBs of the type we
will deliver to OSG."
"Gunderson is a great place to work and our agreement with OSG fortifies
a strong baseload of business over the next few years," said Mark
Eitzen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Gunderson. "We have
recently added more than 100 workers to our Portland waterfront
operations to support our expanded manufacturing of both marine and rail
products. We expect to add at least 150 new jobs over the next several
months, all with competitive pay and benefits, as our total employment
in Portland moves above 1,200 people."
About Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (NYSE:OSG) is a publicly traded company
providing energy transportation services for crude oil and petroleum
products in the U.S. Flag markets. OSG is a major operator of tankers
and ATBs in the Jones Act industry. OSG's 23-vessel U.S. Flag fleet
consists of seven ATBs, two lightering ATBs, three shuttle tankers, nine
MR tankers, and two non-Jones Act MR tankers that participate in the
U.S. MSP. OSG is committed to setting high standards of excellence for
its quality, safety and environmental programs. OSG is recognized as one
of the world's most customer-focused marine transportation companies and
is headquartered in Tampa, FL. More information is available at www.osg.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements as defined under the
federal securities laws. Words such as "may", "should"," believes",
"estimates", "targets", "anticipates" and similar expressions generally
identify forward-looking statements; however, statements other than
statements of historical facts should be considered forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are based on OSG's current plans,
estimates and projections, and are subject to change based on a number
of factors. Investors should also carefully consider the risk factors
outlined in more detail in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for OSG and in
similar sections of other filings made by OSG with the SEC from time to
time. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements and written and
oral forward-looking statements attributable to OSG or its
representatives after the date of this release are qualified in their
entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this paragraph and in
other reports previously or hereafter filed by OSG with the SEC.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180731005932/en/
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.Investor Relations & Media Contact:Susan
Allan, 813-209-0620[email protected]
Sign up to receive free Oil & Gas 360 Newsletters


text:
LPE Scholarship Fund
The LPE Scholarship Fund is an annual fundraising appeal to help close the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of education at our Dual Language Immersion School. Contributions result in tangible benefits for the students during the current school year. Gifts to the LPE Scholarship Fund allow the school to give our talented faculty critical resources to provide an outstanding education experience for the children.
Your gift to the LPE Scholarship Fund allows the school to continue offering the highest quality programs for young children in our community while minimizing tuition increases and providing financial stability for the school's future success.
We ask that everyone participate in the annual LPE Scholarship Fund campaign – a gift of any size from every family, every faculty member, and every board member.
No matter the size, each gift helps strengthen our school community.
Your gift is tax deductible. To donate now using PayPal or a credit card, please click here.
We thank you for your contribution to our children's future.


text:
PIGSquad Talent Talks cross elements of a talent show or lightning talk in an evening of tutorials, showcases, lectures – you name it! Join in to hear about developers' personal experiences with their projects, get the low-down on an interesting new tool, or witness a different perspective on aspects of game design.
If you're interested in giving a presentation, or have any questions, contact us.
Attendees are required to follow the PIGSquad Code of Conduct.
We will be updating this event listing with our agenda as we move closer to the event.


text:
NASCAR evaluates 2015 rule changes during Michigan Speedway test
|Tuesday, August 19th 2014, 10:02 GMT
NASCAR evaluated six different rule change options in a test at Michigan Speedway on Monday as it investigates ways to improve the quality of Sprint Cup racing for 2015
You have viewed over 15 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.


text:
Hot Picks
An Interview with Stephen David Brooks, Director of Flytrap
by Mike Haberfelner
June 2016
directed by Stephen David Brooks on (re)Search my Trash
Quick Links
Your new movie Flytrap
- in a few words, what is it about?
Paranoia. It�s about the people we pass every day as we walk down the
street, our neighbors, the clerk in a shop. What do we really know about
them. Who are they? What are they capable of?
is a pretty wild genre mix, blending a hostage situation with science
fiction, dark comedy with paranoia mainstays - so do talk about that
unique genre mix of Flytrap
for a bit!
For me genre comes from the original concept.
The sci-fi/hostage situation came logically from the original premise. The
paranoia angle really came from the character of James Pond. It�s his
worldview. A scientific fact-based world view that is lacking in real
world human qualities. So he�s naturally curious and also naturally
paranoid about things he doesn�t understand.
(Other) sources of inspiration when writing
Well I�m always influenced by other films. For Flytrap
I drew
inspiration from Stanley Kubrick. You will see distinct influences from
The Shining and oddly enough Barry Lyndon. My other great inspiration is
Andrei Tarkovsky. In particular his film Stalker. Which is somewhat opaque
in parts and requires the audience to read into the motivations of the
characters. Tarkovsky once said: �Never try to convey your idea to the
audience, it is a thankless and senseless task. Show them life, and
they�ll find within themselves the means to assess and appreciate it.�
Now I couldn�t make Flytrap
completely opaque as it still needed to
appeal to mainstream audiences. But there are Tarkovsky touches in the
film if you look for them.
few words about Flytrap's
very own brand of humour?
It�s a family thing. I can only
describe it as Brooks humor. My father had it. My uncle had it. My cousins
have it. My cousin�s son has it! There must be some odd genetic mutation
that has been passed down from generation to generation.
What can you tell us about
your directorial approach to your story at hand?
I want the audience to feel that they were in the room with these
characters. Trapped looking for a way out. I wanted the audience to feel
James Pond�s creeping sense of dread and his claustrophobia.
Do talk
about your cast, and why exactly these people?
Well I first worked with Jeremy Crutchley in Johannesburg
South Africa many years ago on my first professional writing job, an
adaptation of a Stephen King short story called The
Mangler. Jeremy is a
huge star in South Africa. I told him after the first day on set that one
day he would star in a film for me. I didn�t think it would take this
long. But sometimes good things take time.
Ina-Alice Kopp is attached to another film in the pipeline. I met her
through the producer of that film. Once I had cast Jeremy Ina�s image
immediately popped into my mind as the perfect Mary Ann. Her acting style
is completely opposite that of Jeremy and I think that added an
authenticity to their interaction.
Billy �Sly� Williams has been in my last 3 films. He starred in my
feature directing/writing debut Heads N TailZ and my short Binky. So it
was natural to cast him in Flytrap. Billy and I are like Scorsese and
DeNiro. We have a shorthand way of working together that is almost
Jonah Blechman was a gift from the casting gods. Well, specifically,
from Stanzi Stokes who also represents Ina. In fact Stanzi found all the
remaining cast members. Her taste in talent is extraordinary.
I just have to make you talk about the unfittingly colourful dresses
of your lead actress Ina-Alice Kopp for a bit, which fit the movie quite
so well - so care to elaborate, and who chose them, actually, and were
they designed especially for Flytrap?
I have to give Ina credit for the dresses. She found them on a website. They come in a variety of colors and patterns. I loved the idea that
Mary Ann changes outfits so often, yet always to the same basic dress
design. Just a different color scheme. It helps show her evolution as a
of course also have to talk about Flytrap's
musical score!
Well Simon Boswell is a genius. I first encountered his work in Richard
Stanley�s Hardware. I was lucky enough to hang out a bit with Richard in
LA in the mid-90�s and saw his cut of Dust Devil, which also features
Simon�s score. To this day that is still my favorite film score. At that
point I promised myself Simon would score a film for me one day. And he
Simon is a BAFTA nominated film composer who has worked with Dario
Argento, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Danny Boyle amongst others. Simon has a way
of capturing the feel of a film, enhance it without overwhelming it. That
is quite a unique talent. He also has a great sense of theme and
variations on a theme. You don�t just get a musical backdrop with Simon,
you get Don Giovanni.
And the 3 songs in the dance scene are from one of my favorite bands,
the Santa Barbara based The Tearaways. The end title song is also one of
You of course have to talk about your
very restricted locations for a bit, and what kind of a challenge was it
like filming there and keeping things interesting?
The key
was to plan a different shooting strategy for each scene. So we changed
angles, lenses. Sometimes we moved the camera other times it was
stationary. Also DP David Hardberger changed the lighting for each scene
to not only show changes in the time of day but also to alter the look
from scene to scene to keep it fresh. We also carefully staged each scene
so that the actors were in different parts of the room in each scene. Even
when they are in bed they switch sides.
can you tell us about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
on set atmosphere was focused but relaxed. I don�t run a tense set. I
think that�s counterproductive. We were moving pretty quickly so
everybody had to bring their best abilities to set in order to pull it off
and that required relaxed focus. We were shooting 8-10 pages a day so we
had to be on point!
can you tell us about critical and audience reception of your movie so
So far audiences in every screening have laughed at
the right points, and sensed the growing tension as the film progresses.
Even the audience at the world premiere at ECU The European Independent
Film Festival in Paris reacted this way. And that was with French
Any future projects you'd like to share?
I just finished filming a new top secret streaming series called Strings.
I�m not allowed to say too much other than the cast includes
some social media stars with millions of followers.
Also Iris, a short I directed last year, just won the Platinum Remi at
Worldfest Houston and will have its world premiere on July 19 in New
York City at the New Filmmakers NY Festival.
got you into filmmaking in the first place, and did you receive any formal
training on the subject?
I started shooting stills when I
was a child. I had an old Nikon SLR and some vintage lenses. That�s how
I learned about composition and how lenses control the perspective and
feel of the image. Then I started making short films. I did eventually go
to UCLA to study. However most of what I�ve learned I gleaned from
working on sets in various capacities and watching how other directors
What can you tell us about your
filmwork prior to Flytrap?
I was a VFX supervisor early in my career. I was mentored by two time
Oscar winner John Dykstra as well as VFX legend Harrison Ellenshaw. I
worked on various movies from Spaceballs to Dick Tracy. I was always
writing in my spare time and by this time I had 12 finished screenplays. I
moved into professional screenwriting when Tobe Hooper hired me to adapt
the Stephen King short story The
Mangler. I went on to write a couple of
other movies for Avi Lerner while directing 2nd unit on those
In 2003 I finally made my writing/directing debut with the multiple
award winning Heads N TailZ. The film won the Audience Award at
With Film in Los Angeles in 2005 and that proved to be the first of many
festival screenings and awards. The film is now streaming for free on the
ECU European Film Channel.
Just prior to making Flytrap
I made a short called Binky starring the
two co-stars of Heads N TailZ Billy �Sly� Williams and Lucy Jenner.
who inspire you?
Stanley Kubrick. Andrei Tarkovsky. Mike
Nichols. David Lean. Danny Boyle, the Coen Brothers, Frank Capra. The list
goes on�
Your favourite movies?
Space Odyssey, Dr. Strangelove, Stalker, Andrei
Rublev, Who�s Afraid of
Virginia Woolf, The Graduate, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr.
Zhivago, Trainspotting, Best Years of Our Lives, A Serious
Man, It�s A Wonderful Life.
and of course, films you really deplore?
Ha! No. I admire
anyone who can complete a film and get it in front of an audience. If I
don�t like something it�s just a matter of personal taste.
movie's website, Facebook, whatever else?
The official Flytrap
page is:
The official Flytrap
Facebook page is:
My official site is: http://www.stephendavidbrooks.com
Jeremy Crutchley�s page is:
Jeremy Crutchley�s Facebook page is:
Ina-Alice Kopp�s website:
Ina-Alice Kopp�s Facebook page:
Composer Simon Boswell�s page: http://www.simonboswell.com
Simon Boswell�s Facebook Band page:
The Tearaways page: http//www.tearaways.com
The Tearaways Facebook page:
Feeling lucky ?Want tosearchany of my partnershops yourselffor more, better results ?
The links belowwill take youjust there!!!
Find Stephen David Brooks at the amazons ...
Looking for imports ?Find Stephen David Brooks here ...
eThaiCD.comYour shop for all things Thai
Something naughty ?(Must be over 18 to go there !)
find Stephen David Brooks at adultvideouniverse.com
Official Facebook Page for Strings series:
Official Page for Iris: http://www.iristhemovie.com/
Heads N TailZ on ECU The European Independent Film Channel (free to
stream worldwide)
Binky is available to screen for free here:
Anything else
you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
star Ina-Alice Kopp is Austrian! And our casting director Stanzi Stokes is
also Austrian!
for the interview!
Thank you!
� by Mike Haberfelner
Legal note: (re)Search my Trash cannotand shall not be held responsible forcontent of sites from a third party.
Thanks for watching !!!
Robots and rats,
demons and potholes,cuddly toys andshopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to ChillYour Bones tois all of that.
Tales to ChillYour Bones to -
a collection of short stories and mini-playsranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalypticto the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle,
all thought up bythe twisted mind ofscreenwriter and film reviewerMichael Haberfelner.
Tales to ChillYour Bones to
the new anthology by Michael Haberfelner
Out now fromAmazon!!!
On the same daya Burglar wants to kill youand your Ex wantsto make up ...
... and for the life of it, you can't decideWHICH IS WORSE!!!
A Killer Conversation
produced by and starringMelanie Denholme
directed byDavid V.G. Davies
written byMichael Haberfelner
starring Ryan Hunter
andRudy Barrow
out now on DVD


text:
Nowadays, there is huge demand for good artworks. There are so many art collectors all over the world, who constantly search and buy good artwork through different channels or sources. In this scenario, artists have better opportunity to sell their artwork for better price. If you are an artist and looking for some ideas for selling your artwork, then you can simply go through this article. One of the most recommended ways for selling your artwork is participating and displaying your artwork in art fairs or exhibitions.
As art exhibitions are visited by lot of amateur and serious art collectors, your artwork can get better attention from potential buyers. Another better way to sell your artwork in retail market is going through online. You can sell your art through your own website or through some third party website. The biggest advantage of selling online is that you can attract more number of potential buyers throughout the world in limited time span.


text:
Home Time - Home! (June 5)
We're home! We made it to Toronto... we survived another chase trip!
Like the years past, this chase trip did not disappoint. We saw old friends, made new friends, relived old adventures and had new ones. I can't wait to do it again next year.
Thank you all for following along whether it was through this blog, Twitter, Facebook or Youtube.
Home Time - Second Travel Day Home (June 4)
Well, we got a later start than planned. I think we're all exhausted from the amount of chasing and driving we did. We started off in Greenville, Illinois went through Indianapolis, Indiana, Fort Wayne, Indiana, through Ann Arbour, Michigan then through Detroit, Michigan into Ontario. The plan was to drop equipment off at Brad's home in Niagara, Ontario so we made it to Niagara late. We're currently at Brad's place in Niagara, putting equipment away, showering and eating real food. Good night all!
Home Time - First Travel Day Home (June 3)
Basically back where it all began we headed from Garden City, Kansas to Great Bend, Kansas to our lucky Subway with Scott, Dave, Chris and Dan. We had a deal that if storms didn't start to get going as of a certain time we would part ways. Well, the storms weren't cooperating so we said our sad goodbyes to our friends and left them to their storms.
In the end Scott and Dave said they saw a little bit of structure but nothing much so they headed home as well. We drove extensively making the 8 - 9 hour drive to Greenville, Illinois. Greenville is actually a nice little town and it has a really nice Super 8 hotel for future reference. Ok, to bed, a lot of driving to be done tomorrow.
Chase Day 16 - Hey, There's Always Campo! (June 2)
There's a new saying in the storm chasing community when there's little-to-no chance of storms, "Hey, there's always Campo!" Reference to the May 31, 2010 beautiful, low probability tornado in Campo, Colorado. Many videos of the tornado can be found here: Campo, Colorado Tornado.
So we woke up in Amarillo, Texas (again) and headed through the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles to southern Colorado. Conditions weren't all that favourable but hey ... there's always Campo! So we made our way through the town of Campo and stopped to take fun pictures in front of the sign (such as this one of Dave):
Well the storms eventually got going and we headed to the storms just north of Springfield, Colorado. The storms weren't overly impressive but they did produce some great lightning and a rotating meso then dissipated. The gusts were picking up as the storm collapsed so we headed back to Springfield, Colorado then east to Ulysses, Kansas. Then it was time for gustnadoes ...
As the storm was gusting out it was producing many gustnadoes. We stopped in Ulysses, Kansas and let the storm overtake us. It split around us and we ended up with just a bit of wind and dust and so ended our last chase day.
We headed to Garden City, Kansas, basically where it all began to spend the night.
Chase Day 15 - We Shouldn't Have Moved (June 1)
Woke up in Amarillo, Texas and headed to Gruver, Texas at the Texas/Oklahoma border. Saw a small rotating updraft ... and it's gone! That was it. As we headed back to Amarillo we heard that the motel we were staying at had golf ball sized hail! We should have just stayed there and saved gas money! Ah well, such is the life of a storm chaser. We were all craving Mexican food so I tweeted out the the Twitter-verse for some recommendations of good Mexican restaurants in Amarillo. We were recommended Abuelos which was great! If you're ever in Amarillo and want good Mexican food, head there it was delicious. We spent the night in Amarillo again.


text: Meet the Team: Elly Simmons August 30, 2016 James Colvin After a brief delay, we return to our introductions series, this time talking to Elly Simmons, William's wife and head of Herringbone Marketing! Hi! Give us a quick introduction; who are you?Hello! I'm Elly Simmons, and I manage marketing and PR for Herringbone!Tell us about your career!Well, I am currently studying for my PhD at UCL, and work commissioning Maternity Services for the NHS. Whilst doing this, I have helped William by managing the social media and marketing aspects of Herringbone - I am much handier around an Instagram account than he is!What is it you do at Herringbone?I help the social aspects, designing the posters and adverts, posting on Instagram and Facebook - pretty much, if it goes on the Internet, I've had a hand in it! And while I may not design the actual kitchens, I've certainly picked the colours and designs for our own!What project are you most proud of in your time with Herringbone?Well, I'd be remiss to not mention our home, which we had to gut out and completely redo! It certainly was a challenge!Why should people go with Herringbone? Recently completed kitchen in Canterbury. #herringbonekitchens #canterbury #kitchen #brass #design #quartz #style #kentlife #interiordesign #interiors @cosentinona @busterandpunch William is a fantastic designer, and knows exactly how to involve you in every aspect of the design. Not only that, but we know first hand exactly how good our process is, having just completed it, and this knowledge and skill is unrivalled - we couldn't be happier with our new space! What about you would people be surprised by?You may not be able to tell from this, but I'm not a native Kent-ian - I'm actually from Michigan! (Although, I'm sure this won't surprise you if we met because of the accent!). Go Blue!


text:
At Kious Tent Rentals in Jonesboro, AR, we strive to be YOUR one source for your party and event needs. As a professional party equipment rental service, we are constantly updating and expanding our equipment to provide you with the latest and highest quality rental products.
We Offer:
Make your kid's party or special occasion that much more memorable with our rentals!
From fun bounce house inflatables to elegant event tents, we have everything you need for your kid's birthday party or event. We are partnering with the best people in the area to provide you with a complete party or event solution. Serving clients in surrounding areas of Jonesboro, AR, we have served parties and events both big and small.
Video By: Joey Glaub


text:
Archive for
looking for an idea? Just look around …
March 27, 2012
If you follow my blog you know I love Magnificent Nose. It's another WordPress blog. Recently Sara Goas, one of the writers who contributes, had a great post: "Inspiration" — a fictional story about an English teacher, her students and ideas — and where they come from.
I loved this story because my entire career has been about ideas. So for me, it was very personal. Thankfully, it's only happened to me once, but I have suffered through writer's block, and let me assure you, it's terrifying. So I know first hand just how hard to come by an idea can be; and, like the teacher in Sara's story, I also know where to look for inspiration.
All around me.
People watch, in other words. Listen to what people say — about everything. About the books they're reading, the movies they've seen, the fights they've had with their spouses, how their kids are driving them nuts, why they want to lose weight, why they want to gain weight, why they hate their job, what they're looking for in a relationship, what they like to eat, why they can't eat broccoli, where they like to travel, what the dog did, what their mother-in-law said, why they broke up, what they like and dislike about themselves.
Pay attention to what they do when they're checking out the cereal aisle in the grocery store, when they're stopped at a red light beside you, at the movies, in the departure lounge at the airport, at the dentist's.
Become a voyeur. Eavesdrop. Just try to be discreet about it.
Which reminds me of a 'discussion' I once had with a former boyfriend. Okay, he was pissed off and decided to let me know it. We were at a restaurant and when we were having our appetizers he suddenly stopped eating. Waving his fork in my face he threatened to leave if I didn't start paying attention to the conversation he was trying to have with me.
Instead of listening to him it seems that I was totally engrossed in a couple sitting two or three tables away from us. They sat there like two total strangers. There was no warmth between them … no familiarity. They weren't speaking. They weren't even looking at each other. They were each lost in their own thoughts, and even looking in different directions.
Without really being aware of what I was doing, I couldn't take my eyes off them. And unconsciously, as I sat there watching, in my head I was imagining their entire relationship and what had led up to this oh-so-lonely dinner, where the only thing they were sharing was the table. What's more, I was writing dialogue — which I was sharing with my boyfriend, instead of having a conversation of our own. Hence his frustration.
He wasn't wrong, of course, but the writer in me was happy. In the space of the hour or two that we all found ourselves under the same roof, between what they didn't say, and their body language, I got enough material to write a book, or a movie or a play — or, as it turns out, even a good portion of this blog.
See. Ideas are everywhere. So let this be your warning. If you ever feel someone staring at you, it's probably me. Don't take it personally. And please don't think I'm being nosy or rude. I'm just counting on you for some inspiration.


text:
Power StartDate: Sat June 15, 2019Time: 9:00 am - 9:30 am
A Half Hour of Learning That Will Inspire Your Entire Week!
In this rapid fire half hour together we will explore one theme
that will motivate you to dig deeper into the values that drive your life.
Just before morning services on Shabbat, we come together to work out our minds
and push our beliefs while we share a cup of coffee and friendship.