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lightly, not being more conscious about my food intake even though I made some gains in the gym (though not too much). But I guess that is the difference between me and a lot of the other people that seem to adorn the web every day. The had some reason to do it, whether it was to spurn the old significant other that made fun of them of just the fact they had more time to go to the gym after giving up television or got a better job. Me, it just seems like my general goal has been aimless and spastic at times. My goal of getting under 230 by Ragnar Las Vegas (November 8th) is so far away and doable that I have kind of slowed myself down in the process. I know I can hit that goal, for one of my goals this year has already happened! Sure, convincing my friend to get a smart phone finally is not much of a goal, but it is saying something. I have almost payed off my mechanic for the car work from more than month ago and I'm about to clear my ticket from my record some time this week. I guess all the money goals and getting even have sort of distracted me for the most part, but hey, sometimes you have to fix your life to fix your health. All this stress about money has often times made me want to stress eat (failed on the control a couple times) and tire me out. But that is part of the process, for having an uneven life can lead to some uneven problems and weight loss. And then throw in my goal to run 600 miles in a calendar year, for I am well on my way to busting that goal, for I am 80% there with four months to go.
Anyway, this week has been kind of strange and stressful for me as I work on a couple things in my life. The first one has been the fact I am trying to reduce or possibly eliminate my coffee drinking. I kinda held back this past week, drinking about 20 ounces a day for the first three days of the week. It was needed I guess, for I really started getting distracted this week with various stuff online and with my old television DVD set Fringe. Since I am on the last season of the show, which I didn't get to watch when it first came on, I have been staying up too darn late. And then there was the blog and the late evening running, and it kind of presented some sleep problems where needing coffee the next morning was a necessity. But then came Thursday and Friday, where I finally got cracking on the reduction and felt the pain quite significantly. But the weirdest thing was not just the lack of energy I had, and while I would certainly like to blame the coffee, it really had more to do with the difficulty of the workouts I have been doing as of late.
Like always, I seemed to have lit a fire under Jon when I mentioned I need to get some better work done in the gym. Trust me, I need it, but man it hit me pretty hard this week. Last Saturday was a pretty good precursor of what I wanted to see and do, mainly because I keep falling into these bouts of laziness. Anyway, after taking Sunday off (mainly to watch Fringe and walk the dogs and of course, it was Easter so I ate quite a bit of food, hehe), I came upon Monday with a vengeance. My body was feeling much better, for after going the entire weekend without coffee, I had some that morning to kind of relieve the stress. Two days without coffee when you are used to drinking 30 or so ounces can be pretty hardcore. The headaches I had all weekend made me glad I was't working. Either way, the theme for the week seemed to be dual circuit training, and Monday started off with some heavy arm stuff. I started off with eight Floor Bench Presses at 145 pounds and 8 pull-ups, doing three sets at that weight before pumping the bench press weight up to 155 and doing three more sets (I had to use a band for the pull-ups.…still too damn weak to do them straight up). The tricky part about doing floor bench presses is the fact you cannot lose control, or else you are going to have some serious elbow pain from letting the weight drop. The benefit of doing bench presses that way is it forces you to utilize your entire upper body, with a little bit of engagement in the core. While you might not be able to do as much weight, it is much more comprehensive. My next set then focused on the shoulders and the back, for I was doing 10 barbell rows at 155 and 20 single arm front raises with 40-pound weights. After struggling through the first circuit of exercises, this one turned out to be a breeze. My legs based circuit wasn't too bad either, for I powered through four sets of Goblet squats with the 53-pound weight and four sets of Squat-Push-Presses with the 55-pound dumbbells. If anything, the full body bench crunches I did to end the session was what really pushed me over the edge, for I was killed just doing those! And then to top it off, I decided to put in some mileage on the track, pushing out four miles as I seek to correct my form a little and regain some strength.
I put in four more miles on Tuesday, so by the time I showed up on Wednesday, I was pretty much tapped. But this was a day I couldn't afford to really slack off, because Jon had some good stuff planned for me. First, he had me do a plethora of chest presses, first doing 15 reps with 55 pound weights and then doing 10 more with 45-pound weights after just a 15-second rest interval. Throw in some jumping jacks and this was absolutely killing me. While I am pretty good with the chest presses at 55 pounds, I rarely do it for speed, much like what I was doing on Wednesday. Basically, Jon was having me work one specific body group while focusing on a little cardio to tire me out in between. Not only did this force me to be a little tougher and more focused, my entire body was simply burning from the hell he was putting me through. The toughest part of the workout was obviously the legs, and this was quite a doozy. I would start off with 10 hang clean-squats with the heavy sandbag, then move over to do six reps with the dead lift at 225-pounds and then do 10 TRX jump squats. With each round, we took off one rep on the deadlift and added more weight, which eventually saw me doing two lifts at 305 even after all the work I had put in up to that point. Doing this round was so tough that I actually suffered slight cramps when I was doing the jump squats o the TRX, which just went to show that when you really push yourself, unusual injuries are going to occur. Heck, I messed up my arms pretty good doing the sand bag hang cleans, for even though I wore long sleeves, I still got some bruising due to the brushing of the bag.
The injuries didn't really stop there either. On Friday, I decided to do at least a five-mile run, and the difficulty of doing that is the fact my body still isn't ready for longer distances. But I have to get the ball rolling sometime. The most difficult aspect right now is keeping my right foot pointing straight, for the fact it still sticks out a little is something I have to keep in mind when running. I see a lot of this poor running form on the tracks at night, for a lot of beginning runners often have that "swooping" motion on one of their legs when they are not paying attention. I can see how it has affected me for the negative, for my IT band and my ankle are sore just from the running. It used to be so easy just letting go and doing whatever way I wanted, but this is the new me that needs to try and actually fix stuff, not let things go. I know I ran a good time that night, averaging out at 9.56 per mile even though I was dragging. Not having my coffee during the day seems to have an adverse affect on my energy levels going into the evening hours, and I noticed I was quite tired on both Thursday and Friday. I suppose this change in my life will be a norm until my body adjusts, but man, it is feeling pretty weird right now. But on the other hand, I did eat kind of light all day!
Saturday was another good day for me. Once again, Jon decided to put me through hell even though I had already been dragged through it during the week. But then again, he didn't know what I was going through, and I really didn't want him to know. I wanted to be challenged. Anyway, more circuit training hell, at least that's what I wanted to label it. I started with some simple stuff, like more goblet squats and step back lunges with overhead presses. But today was "tear my hands" up day, a day where I had to do some monkey bar work and some pull-up work. Throw in some burpees and some exercise ball flies and you had a pretty decent workout (did I mention I needed to do this four times!). Jon challenged me to try six, but there was just no way. By the time I did my final monkey bar run, my hands were shot. The skin on the bottom of my hands were so irritated that I had trouble gripping the dumbbells on my exercise ball flies. I finished my day up with some crunches and had to assess the kind of week I had. For the most part, I did pretty well. I stayed within my one-hour limitations and managed to get the basic challenges that Jon set up for me. While I will someday be able to push it a little harder, it was not to be this week. Personally, I kind of missed doing this kind of training, merely because it gives you a clue about where you might need to improve and give you a reason to push harder, giving you pointers on what you can go faster on and what you can go slower on.
My week of pain is not quite finished, for I intend to do another run today at Reid Park, for there seems to be a pretty good amount of people taking a nice Sunday run or walk. As for me, this week of pain has led to this--wrecked hands, bruised arms, tendinitis inflamed forearms, sore ankles and a searing headache (caffeine is one hell of a drug). Some might say this is stupidity, the results of an idiot taking it too hard to achieve weight loss. For me, sounds like another good week of work.
About Parsons Training
Parsons Training is a Tucson leader in fitness and personal wellness training. Every personal trainer with this company designs and implements effective fitness programs for their clients; these programs serve as the foundation for good health, fitness, and wellness. Additional information about Parsons Training is available at http://www.parsonspersonaltraining.com
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Meet the Author
Steve, a Parsons Training Client, went from 400 pounds to Running half-marathons, from lifting pizzas to lifting hundreds of pounds through training with us.
When you read this blog you are reading through the eyes of someone who is winning the battle of real weight loss. Steve is not a fitness professional, but he is someone we can all learn from.
Steve shares his journey once a week here on our blog. We hope that you find a spark of inspiration from reading his blog.
Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. The author of this blog is an independent writer and is not an associate of Parsons Training, LLC. Any information or images displayed are done so solely at the authors discretion. Any dietary or fitness commentary is exclusively that of the author and in no way dictated by the company.


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At Signal Security, we understand that children are a parent's life and joy and as a result, take their safety and security very seriously. With parents increasingly working longer hours and after-school care and baby sitters not always available, intercom and home surveillance systems are becoming popular as a great means of ensuring safety for your children when adult supervision isn't available.
To assist with keeping your children safe, we've put together our top tips on how to best prepare your kids when adult supervision isn't available. Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


text: This unique and adorable tablet sleeve is perfect for anyone who has a mini tablet and is looking for a cover they can take with them to work, school, or just a regular coffee shop. The design of the sleeve has a pocket to put notebooks, pens, cellphones, or anything else you need for a convenient case that doubles as a clutch. The cute design and colors will make this sleeve a conversation piece that's sure to not disappoint! Make this gift for someone in your life who likes all things whimsical, functional, distinctive, and fun!


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I know, how crazy that sounds! Who would even think of that? Well, this gal did, that's who! I absolutely love this vintage inspired towling fabric. Not only does it remind me of the days of drying my grandma's dishes with her, but this fabric really does the job!
I freehand each bird with my sewing machine on one side and then freehand the name of the bird. A great new item to collect! Machine washable!
Have a favorite bird you want? Just convo me through my etsy shop! Happy collecting!


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Hillwood is in the central north of Tasmania on the east bank of the Tamar River. Located between Launceston and George Town, Hillwood offers visitors access to seasonal fruits through farm-gate sales, a popular cafe on the waterfront and good picnic areas in a beautiful and peaceful river setting.
Hillwood consists of over 300 properties. About two-thirds of the area of Hillwood is rural resource zone – that is, land which is used for agricultural purposes. It includes fruit farms, hobby farms and other agriculture. The waterfront is highly sought after for housing.
Hillwood has a football ground – home to the Hillwood Sharks, a Memorial Hall, fire station and a pontoon popular for fishing. It does not have its own school, post office, church, general store or medical services. Some groceries and meals are available at various businesses. Postal services are available at the Mount Direction Petrol Station. The nearest medical services are at George Town or Launceston.
Information about population growth and composition of Hillwood may be found on page 4 of the Hillwood Structure Plan.


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Bye Bye, Love
I've french-kissed exactly one girl in my lifetime.
The year was 1995. Bill Clinton was president. Bill Gates was getting ready to announce Windows 95. And Atlanta was putting the final touches on the '96 Olympics.
I don't know the exact day of the kiss, but I know the exact week—the third week of March.
The number one song in America that week was Madonna's "Take a Bow." We weren't allowed to watch MTV in our house back then, but the music video begins with a sepia-toned Madonna hugging a television set that's showing scenes of a sexy Spanish matador. Later in the video, she rubs her hands all over the TV screen as if she was polishing a giant crystal ball. Lyrics...
Take a bow, the night is over
This masquerade is getting older
Lights are low, the curtains down
Wish you well, I cannot stay
You deserve an award for the role that you played
No more masquerade,
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
Say good-bye (Bye bye), say good-bye
Of course, as I assume all Madonna videos do, she ends up hooking up with the dude in the end which is precisely why we weren't able to watch MTV at our house.
In 1995, I was a 7th grader at Forest Hills School in Florence, Alabama.
It was your average public school, grades K-8. In junior high, I was always on the fringes of the popular crowd—never quite cool enough to break into it, but close enough to not feel like a loser.
In 6th grade, we were all just normal kids—candy, cartoons, and video games. But in 7th grade, everyone started pretending to be an adult—who liked who, love notes in class, and a liberal use of cheap cologne.
Another stop on the journey through adolescence back then was school dances. They were chaperoned by teachers and usually held on a Friday night in the cafeteria. They'd turn off all the lights, set up some multi-colored disco lights, and hire some crappy local DJ who would scandalize our pre-pubescent, Alabama ears with the raunchiest music the mid-90s had to offer. I can remember dancing to "Pony" by Ginuwine which is a terrible song for kids. I have no idea how they got away with it, but they did. Everybody brought a date to the dances and grinded the night away.
The first dance I went to in 7th grade was the Sadie Hawkins dance.
And this was the only dance of the year where it was okay for the girls to ask the boys to be their dates. Bevin, a really sweet girl whose family went to our church, asked me to be her date. Of course I said yes.
My only memory of that night was not knowing what to do when the first slow-dance song came on. A white, pre-teen, Baptist male is as equipped to dance in public as an armless monkey is to use Snapchat. Nevertheless, I was determined to try.
When the song came on, I found Bevin. I gave her an awkward look and squared my body up with hers. She put her hands on my shoulders. I didn't know what to do, but reciprocation seemed like my best move. So I put my hands on her shoulders.
She looked at me funny.
We both stood there for a few seconds, arms out, awkwardly swaying back and forth like two kid mimes pretending to be the London Bridge. Feeling sorry for me, Bevin eventually reached up, grabbed my hands and placed them on her hips where they belonged. I looked around and noticed all the other guys doing the same thing. I was mortified.
The school dances were always monitored by teachers which all the cool kids thought was lame. In our world, the real action happened at the movie theater.
On Friday nights, the cool kids of Forest Hills would all meet up at the Hickory Hills theater and go to a movie. This theater was in a strip mall, and it was anything but charming. Built in the 70's, it was cheap suburban brutalism—a big block of a building with plain beige stucco walls. There was an Arby's in the parking lot, and our teenybopper mob would overrun the place after the movie. They couldn't make Jamocha shakes and fries fast enough.
Back then, all the cool guys would ask a cool girl to be their date to the movie. And EVERYONE knew what would happen when you took a girl to the movies...
sucking face.
Making out at the Hickory Hills theater was a sacred rite of passage in Florence. Pretty much everyone got their first kiss in those hallowed halls. I'm not sure how long it had gone on, but I think my older brothers' friends did it too.
By 7th grade, the pressure was on to get my first kiss.
I was trying to break into the cool crowd, so in March of '95, I worked up the courage to ask a girl to be my date to the movies. I'll call her Jessica.
Jessica was a card-carrying member of the cool crowd. Her family had money, and she was very, very cute (I looked her up recently on Facebook, and she's still very pretty. 13-year old Brett had good taste in women).
Back then it wasn't cool for your mom to roll up to the front curb of the theater in the minivan and drop you off. No, not cool at all.
So I had my mom drop me off waaaayyy in the back of the parking lot, near the highway. Now I could make a much more chill entrance—casually strolling up solo, wearing my freshest Tommy Hilfiger polo and Timberland boots. I guess people just thought I walked there myself. Cool Brett, cool.
On this night, I met Jessica outside the theater. There were maybe a dozen kids all huddled up on the curb. They all decided to go see one movie, but I had a plan: Jessica and I would go to a show by ourselves. I didn't want to kiss this girl with the other idiot-guys watching. So we chose "Bye, Bye Love," a PG-13 rated rom-com about three divorced men trying to find love. Perfect movie for a pre-teen date. 😑
We grabbed some popcorn and found seats right in the middle of the theater.
I had not thought through seating, and this was a terrible strategic decision. I realized tons of people behind us would be gawking at my first make-out sesh. I started getting nervous.
The movie started, and I couldn't have been less interested in it. Oh, Randy Quaid, you're trying to find love again? Well, so am I, so get in line.
I was a man on a mission: Kiss. This. Girl. And I'd heard enough locker room talk to know that this couldn't just be a peck on the lips. It had to be full on, tongue and everything.
About 15 minutes into the movie, I mustered the courage to reach over and hold her hand. Phew. Got that out of the way.
15 more minutes passed. Randy Quaid was still annoying.
Excited but nervous, I knew what I had to do. My hand was sweating profusely, and my heart was about to explode right through that knit polo.
It's go time.
She's sitting on my left. I look at her and wait for her to look at me. Our eyes lock, and she gives me a bashful smile. Boom...that's the green-light.
I lean over, pucker up like they do in the movies, and attach to her face like a human vacuum cleaner.
This is a first, so I quickly realize I don't know what to do next...
In the movies, they wiggle their heads back and forth so I try that. I've always been kind of a germaphobe so that crosses my mind. Germs. Ew. NVM. Keep going, Brett....
Tongue! The guys said to use your tongue. So I do. Lots of flapping...like the tail of a dog eating a bucket of cupcakes. She does the tongue thing back. Good sign! She's into it.
I don't know how long we held the kiss, but it felt like forever—10 seconds, maybe more.
Seemed like I hit the quota of time, so I pulled away and leaned back in my seat.
Boom. Bam. Done. Bazingo. I did it! I'm a man. I just kissed a girl! I'm a man now! *beats chest* *howls at moon* *rips knit polo*
The movie went on for another hour, and I can't remember if Randy Quaid found love or not. We kept holding hands, but that was it.
Still sitting in the darkened theater, I began replaying the episode in my mind.
Hmmmm...that wasn't what I thought it'd be. Kind of weird. Didn't really feel anything. Is that normal? Am I supposed to feel something? I mean, this is THE thing everyone is talking about...kissing. And boys—men—are supposed to love kissing pretty girls. I dunno...just didn't feel it.
We went and got our Jamocha shake and fries. About 10 o'clock, mom pulled up, and I got in the front seat. I never spoke a word of it to mom and just stared out the window the whole ride home, thinking...
I didn't feel anything. Weird... 👊
B.B.P.S. - Enjoying BBP? Feel free to share!
All photos by Sterling Graves. Copyright Blue Babies Pink & Sterling Graves.
B.T. Harman is the creator of Blue Babies Pink, a Southern Coming Out Story in 44 Episodes.
B.T. is a consultant, writer, and speaker living in Atlanta's historic Cabbagetown neighborhood. He was previously a vice president for Booster, an Atlanta fundraising company, where he helped the organization raise $150 million for elementary schools.
B.T. is passionate about storytelling, leadership, good design, Seth Godin, SEC football, Chick-fil-A, Taylor Swift, archaeology, European Travel and CS Lewis.
B.T. also serves on the boards of directors for Beloved Atlanta and the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
To learn more about B.T., visit his personal site at btharman.com.


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July 11, 2018
When Buying a Short Sale Home is the Right Fit
Posted in Short Sales by Richard Eastern
Purchasing a home can feel overwhelming at times, but a short sale home offers a unique opportunity for a prospective buyer. A short sale occurs when a homeowner owes a lender more than their home is worth, and the lender agrees to let the owner sell the home and accept less than what is owed. Lenders may agree to a short sale because they believe it will net them more money than going forward...
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July 09, 2018
How Staging Your Home Well Impacts Its Value
Posted in Selling by John Trupin
For more than 20 years, the benefits of staging a home have been well documented. Numerous studies show that staging helps sell a home faster and for a higher price. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 88 percent of homebuyers start their search online, forming impressions within three seconds of viewing a listing. When a home is well staged, it photographs well and makes the...
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July 03, 2018
Introducing the NEW Windermere.com
Posted in Windermere by Shelley Rossi
Around the halls of Windermere, we've decided that 2018 is the year to hit #refresh; it started with the launch of the refreshed Windermere brand earlier this year and today it continues with the unveiling of our refreshed website! The new Windermere.comis a result of a lot of research and input from our agents, franchise owners – and most importantly – consumers. As you can probably tell...
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July 02, 2018
Hosting the Right 4th of July Meal for You
Posted in Living by John Trupin
The 4th of July is a day of patriotism, revelry, and family. It gives friends and families an opportunity to gather for a day of relaxation, celebration, and of course, food! There's nothing quite as quintessentially "summer" as a 4thof July cookout. With that in mind, we decided to look at a few ways to best set up this tastiest of traditions.
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June 29, 2018
Building Your Home's Amenities Into Experiences
Posted in Luxury by John Trupin
The value of a home is more than what it can be bought and sold for – it also lies in how it makes you feel. Security and comfort are vital components, as well as convenience; however, what many buyers are looking for in a home in 2018 are amenities that deliver a luxury experience. With that in mind, we decided to take a look at a few ways a home can add an "experience" that sets itself apart.
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June 27, 2018
The Risks and Rewards of Purchasing a Bank-Owned Home
Posted in Buying by John Trupin
The process of purchasing a home directly from a lender can be long and arduous, but could very well be worth it in the end. If you have your sights on a particular home or are looking to find a deal on your first, working directly with the lender may be your only option. Purchasing a bank-owned home is not for the faint of heart, here are some tips for negotiating the REO process:
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June 26, 2018
What to Expect From Property Taxes in Washington State in 2018-19
Posted in Economics 101 Videos by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Why have property taxes gone up so much in Washington State this year and what can we expect them to do in 2019? Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner answers the question that many homeowners are asking.
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June 25, 2018
What's in a Condo? The In-Between Style of Home That Might Be the Right Fit for You
Posted in Buying by John Trupin
Condominium homes are a great, low-maintenance choice for a primary residence, second home, or investment property. This alternative to the traditional single-family home has unique issues to consider before buying, as well as unique benefits. Here's some background information to help you decide whether purchasing a condo is a good match for you.
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June 22, 2018
Beyond Alexa - Other Smart Appliances You Can Use In Your Home
Posted in Living by John Trupin
A month ago the nation's largest home-building company, Lennar, announced they would begin including Amazon's "Alexa" smart speaker system as an integrated function in new homes they construct. In the United States alone there are reportedly at least 39 million privately owned smart speakers, and the growth seems likely to only continue. With an eye to the future, we decided to shine a light...
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June 20, 2018
Windermere Hosts Fourth Annual Washington Waterfront Home Tour
Posted in Luxury by John Trupin
Do you find yourself drawn to the water? Are you at your happiest launching a boat on the beach or fishing off a dock just yards from your back door? If you dream of a waterfront life, then you're in luck! This June 23-24 we are hosting the fourth-annual Washington Waterfront Home Tour. More than 60 homes from as far north as Birch Bay, down throughout the Puget Sound, and even...
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I posted last week about the tense summer of 1862, 150 years ago. This coming weekend, you have a chance to what those those young Dryden residents of long ago would have found when they first arrived to go off to war.
The press release is fantastic, with a detailed schedule. I can't improve on it, except to say that this is brilliantly tied to Dryden history despite being in the Town of Ithaca. Definitely, please come explore.
An Opportunity This Weekend to Live the History of the Civil War This weekend will provide the opportunity to experience what life was like 150 years ago, as the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission sponsors "The Civil War: Living History," a two-day-long demonstration of life in Civil War times.
Members of Company E of the 148th New York Volunteers will set up camp at the property of the Ithaca Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Association, 638 Elmira Road in the Town of Ithaca. (Look for the banners.) On Saturday, August 25 and Sunday. August 26, from 10:00 to 5:00 each day, the men of the Company, and those who accompany them, will demonstrate how people lived, coped, fought and died, and the causes of that war.
The soldiers will call roll, drill, cook, and perform period music with a sing-along. Staff from the Tompkins County Public Library will be there to tell stories of the era, and the Civil War Commission will connect each visitor with a soldier from the county who served in the 137th NY battalion, a Civil War nurse, or a member who enlisted in the United States Colored Infantry.
The program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Tompkins County Tourism Program. County Historian Carol Kammen, co-chair of the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, stresses that the purpose of the Living History event is not to glorify war, but to remember it and learn the lessons of another day. "While the Encampment Weekend will be entertaining and educational, this demonstration is meant to serve as a reminder of what soldiers sacrifice in wartime, what it takes to prepare for combat, what it is like to be left at home, what patriotism means," Kammen states. "The weekend is planned to help us empathise with those of the past, and to stir our imaginations: to make history come alive."
The event is free and everyone is welcome--to spend the day or just an hour or two. Company members will be in uniform, and there will be others in period dress. The Encampment will take place rain or shine, but not if there is thunder and lightning.
150 years ago, in August 1862, the call went out throughout the Union for volunteers, and men lined up in every town to serve. At that time, the 148th New York Volunteers formed in Geneva, filling its ranks mostly with young men from Seneca and Ontario Counties, but also including two men from Tompkins County.
The current Company E of the 148th is known around the country for the authenticity of its reenactment, and appears frequently at Civil War battlefields and days of commemoration. The Company is coming to Ithaca at the invitation of the County Civil War Commission. Below is the schedule of the Company's events this weekend:
Saturday, August 25:
10:00-10:30: Roll Call & Manual of Arms
10:30-11:00: Children's Games - Civilians
11:00-11:30: School of the NCO, The Corporal- Ray Derby
11:30-12:00: Cooking Demonstration - Civilians
12:00-12:30: Lunch, Discussion of Soldiers' Rations
12:30-1:00: Free Time
1:00-1:30: Shooting Demonstration
1:30-2:00: Civilians Craft Projects (to continue through the afternoon)
2:00-2:30: School of the Musician, The Bugle - Jim Goloski
2:30-3:00: Civil War Camp Music
3:00-3:30: Bayonet Drill
3:30-4:00: Children's Games - Civilians
4:00-4:30: Equipment & Uniforms of the Infantry
4:30-5:00: Shooting Demonstration
Sunday, August 26:
10:00-10:30: Roll Call & Manual of Arms
10:30-11:00: Children's Games - Civilians
11:00-11:30: Reading of the Articles of War - George Shadman
11:30-12:00: Cooking Demonstration - Civilians
12:00-12:30: Lunch, Discussion of Soldiers Rations
12:30-1:00: Free Time
1:00-1:30: Shooting Demonstration
1:30-2:00: Civilians' Craft Projects (to continue through the afternoon)
2:00-2:30: Chaplains of the Civil War, The Bugle - Marty Hillman
2:30-3:00: Civil War Camp Music and Civil War Games: Horseshoes and Baseball
3:00-3:30: Camp Inspection Discussion
3:30-4:00: Children's Games - Civilians
4:00-4:30: Equipment & Uniforms of the Infantry
4:30-5:00: Gun Cleaning/Shooting Demonstration
Two other events will be associated with the Living History weekend. On Saturday, beginning at Noon, the Ithaca Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Association will hold a chicken barbecue, and on Sunday, beginning at 8 a.m., there will be a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Joseph Sidney Camp #41 of the Sons of Union Veterans, proceeds from the sale of food to go to these organizations.
The Civil War Commission urges all to experience the Living History weekend to go back in time to consider the hard decisions and experiences of people who lived in Tompkins County 150 years ago, in a nation at war with itself.
(Disclosure: I am a member of the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission.)Posted by simon at August 20, 2012 7:29 PM in history , recreation


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Your First Audiobook Part 3/
Once upon a time James Wymore was tied to a table by his wrists and ankles while a group of hooded figures chanted dark, arcane utterances while fell incense hung in the air. I don't have a point with this one, I'm just describing his typical Tuesday night.
It'll be a quick one this week, I think. We're progressing apace on the audiobook from. I think we've done four or five sessions now, and I'm at another recording as this posts.
I'm coming to the conclusion that my voice can't handle more than a hour or so of real recording. That wouldn't be enough to do this professionally, but it gets the job done for me. If we get started about noon, I can really start feeling the strain around one. I might need to figure something out about that if we do another of these with a tighter timeline.
I don't know if that just gets better with practice or if I'm using my voice wrong.
Last week's was rough, but we're getting through. I average a lot of errors per page at the beginning and end of a session, but in the middle, I can get close two a page.
I'm more than a third of the way through the book at this point. If today is a really good recording session, I'll come close to half. Practically, I'll probably hit the halfway point next week.
We've recorded the screamiest scene, which the producer says will be the hardest edit of the book. Other than that, we're just plodding slowly towards our goal.
Talk to you next week. TTFN.


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Do you know what the Great GoogaMooga Festival is? It's a real thing. It's a real, awesome thing.
GoogaMooga is a food festival. It is also a music festival. The festival lasted 2 days (Saturday and Sunday) and was hosted in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY. Several well-known.restaurants, breweries, and wineries were present at the event. Additionally, well-known musical acts (such as The Roots and Daryl Hall & John Oates) closed out the events each night. General Admission to the festival was free, as long as you could score a ticket. There was also an "Extra Mooga" experience that you could purchase for an obscene amount of money and you would have access to a bunch of really cool events with celebrity chefs. I didn't take advantage of that because really, it was too expensive and I just wanted to hang out with some good friends and get a few bites to eat.
I showed up on a sunny Saturday afternoon to partake in the day's events. The day's events included demos, presentations, and bands at various locations within the GoogaMooga grounds. Upon arriving, one of the first things I saw was a huge and beautifully colorful cake. Yep. That's right.
Pssst....it's not real...
The GoogaMooga section of the park was set up with various stations. There was a wine tasting pavilion, beer tasting pavilion, a Burger Experience, Tony's Corner (restaurants chosen by Anthony Bourdain), Pizza Experience, Sweet Circus (desserts), Coffee Experience, Hamageddon (think pork and bacon products), and a Marketplace (assorted vendors). There were other areas, but really, too many to list here. But I think you get the idea.
Unfortunately, the line to get an ID was at least an hour's wait. Since it was close to 80 degrees outside and my friend Kat and I were starving, we decided to go ahead and begin sampling the food. Our first stop was the Marketplace. Kat led the way to the Sullivan Street Bakery station. She picked up a tomato strecci (the prosciutto and mozz panini was already sold out at 2pm!) and we picked away at the delicious treat.
We got sidetracked for a bit because we needed to find another friend and there was next to zero cell service in the park, due to all the supporters of this event. After 30-45 minutes of scouring the park in the heat, we managed to pick up said friend. After such an intense experience, of course it was time to purchase more food. One must keep up one's energy!
We meandered over to the enclosed Northeast section of the park, where we really had our hearts set on a Luke's Lobster roll. However, as soon as we realized the line was out of control (aka would take about 30 minutes to get through), we changed our minds. After all, we've all had Luke's fabulous lobster numerous times before. I settled on a Char No. 4 Pork Fennel Sausage. I only got a half serving since I was saving space for other goodies later on. Yeah, it was amazing. I totally should have gotten a full serving.
My friend Kat visited Maharlika for Filipino food and came away with a combo. The combo consisted of grilled corn with cheese and shrimp paste mayo, as well as a Longga Dog, which is a sweet sausage also covered in the shrimp paste mayo. To wash it all down, Maharlika provided a Mango Kalamansi water, which is a sweet and refreshing mango drink.
The new addition to our group, Saya, stopped by Kutsher's Tribeca and picked up a beautiful smoked pastrami on rye. Along with a Mango Kalamansi from Maharlika, of course.
We chowed down on our food as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band jammed on the GoogaMooga mainstage. They were kind of phenomenal. They're definitely worth checking out on iTunes/Amazon/etc...
After hanging out for a bit, we managed to round up two additional members of the posse. By now we were really starting to feel the heat. Since we were tired, wanted great seats for The Roots concert later on and the lawn was starting to fill with blankets, we staked our own claim to a spot on the ground and relaxed for awhile. Of course, it took only 2 minutes for someone to begin talking about dessert.
The Sweet Circus area contained the dessert vendors and so Kat, Saya, and I decided to head over there. As we were passing the Marketplace once again, I realized that I hadn't yet explored the opposite side of the Market building. I immediately spotted my favorite Brooklyn candy makers, Liddabit Sweets. They have THE best sea salted caramels ever. As in, ever. And the maple cotton candy? I die.
On Saturday, they didn't have any caramels for sale, but they did have chocolate honeycomb caramel popcorn available. Yum! It was scrumptious. I was supposed to wait and eat it later on, but then I realized the chocolate would just melt in the heat. So of course I had to eat it all right away!
We kept moving on over to the Sweet Circus, but once again we got sidetracked. This time we were sidetracked by a beautiful fruit sculpture. It says "The Great Googa Mooga". Amazing. I don't know who the artist was but this was pretty genius.
Finally, we made it to the Sweet Circus area. Delicious sweet treats were in abundance everywhere! Several of my favorite places were in attendance. I puttered around, looking at everything in sight, and finally decided on what I should get...
...a Sweet & Salty Brownie from Baked.
OK, I also got a pineapple jalapeno popsicle. That's much harder to take pictures of though.
After a long wait to purchase water to wash this all down, we all reassembled at the blankets and chilled out for an hour or so. Then guess what happened.
We were hungry again. I like to think of it as fueling up for The Roots performance. Yeah...
What we really wanted was food from Red Rooster. The line had been amazingly long earlier in the day so we figured now was the time to pounce. Well, pounce we did not, because Red Rooster was already sold out of food. As we were checking out other vendors' wares, Kat spotted macaroons at Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe in the Market. Clearly we needed to check out this situation. They had every possible flavor of macaroons available (can you see them on the chalkboard?) and everything looked so appealing.
After our macaroon stop, we ended up back in the Northeast section of the park, still looking for a last minute snack before the concert began. Since most vendors were running out of food, we were down to a few selections. Our friend recommended Red Hook for the arepas, so Red Hook it was. After a half hour wait in line, we finally picked up two cheese arepas, drizzled a sour cream sauce over them, and returned to our spot on the lawn just in time for The Roots to make an appearance.
Let's talk arepas. These things are good. I've never had them before so I can't compare them to anything else that I've eaten, but if you can imagine two fluffy cornbread patties sandwiching a round of melted cheese, then that would be this. Amazing. And the sweetness and tartness of the sour cream completely enhanced this experience.
And The Roots were onstage! They were excellent. It was my first time seeing them live and it was well worth the wait. They started out with a fabulous tribute to Chuck Brown, a DC go-go legend. Then they played songs that I knew and many that I didn't. But that didn't matter because once you get into a good groove, it can go a long way. You don't have to know actual words!
I was thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day, and just to put things into perspective, our day began around 2pm and ended at 8pm. Overall, GoogaMooga was a really cool experience and I'm glad that I went, even though there were ups and downs associated with the Saturday event.
Lots of really cool food options in one area, a variety of talented musical acts, and an assortment of food-related demos.
There were a ton of people at the festival which means that the lines to get an ID were super long (as in more than an hour's wait) and the lines to get food and water/beverages were long (as in at least a half hour's wait). Many vendors also ran out of food relatively early in the day, which was a bit of a letdown since I couldn't try everything I wanted to.
There were a few other things that sort of worked against the festival, but were not actually the festival's fault. For example, the heat of the day was unbearable at points. Not GoogaMooga's fault. Since there were so many people confined to such a small space, there was no cell phone service. My friends and I nearly had a meltdown. It was pretty sad to see adults almost cry over the lack of internet, Twitter, and text messages. Miraculously, we survived. Who knew?!
I heard Sunday went a lot smoother than Saturday did. Obviously, they learned from our Saturday experiences. I would expect that next year's GoogaMooga (will there be one?) will run even more smoothly. All that being said, it was still a great idea and I think (hope!) it shed more light on a variety of music, restaurants and businesses in the NYC area.


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Apparel Makers Join Forces to Ensure Worker Safety in Bangladesh
More than 1,500 garment workers died and more than 1,000 were seriously injured in three recent highly publicized tragedies in Bangladesh, the collapse of the Rana Plaza and a sweater factory fire in Dhaka in 2013 and the 2012 fire in the Tazreen garment factory. People in these factories work deep within the supply chain of large apparel makers and retailers. Global companies that source their products from Bangladesh have been under extreme pressure to take action that will help avoid such accidents in the future.
In May of this year, three weeks after the Rana building collapse, a number of clothing makers around the world joined together to create a legally binding agreement to improve safety and working conditions for factories in Bangledesh. More than 70 apparel companies, mostly European, and a few American brands including PVH (parent of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger), and Abercombie & Fitch signed on.
The five-year agreement calls for independent site safety inspection and public reporting of the results. It also requires these companies to help finance safety improvements in the factories of their suppliers. Companies also commit to stop doing business with factories that fail to make the necessary improvements. The agreement has been backed by IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union, which represent workers in 140 countries.
Many large U.S. retailers who refused to sign the initial agreement worked over the past five weeks to develop another plan announced on July 10th, called The Bangladesh Worker Safety Initiative. So far 17 retailers have signed on, including Wal-Mart, Target, Gap, J.C. Penney, Nordstrom, Kohl's, Macy's, Sears, The Children's Place, and L.L. Bean.
This plan, also a five-year initiative, calls for common safety standards, inspection of all Bangladesh factories in the company's supply chains within the first year, public sharing of the results, and financing for improvements. Yet some international labor organizations, including the Worker Rights Consortium, have criticized the agreement as not enough to make meaningful changes. For example, inspections will be completed by firms hired by the retailers rather than independent third parties and there aren't sufficient consequences for companies who don't respond to issues.
The European Union and the United States have both put Bangladesh on warning that they would lose key trade privileges if the country's industries didn't greatly improve working conditions.
Sources and for more information:
Michael Kramer, How clothing makers can step up to ensure worker safety, GreenBiz, July 10, 2013. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2013/07/10/clothing-makers-must-step-up-worker-safety?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRokv63NZKXonjHpfsX56%2BwkUKK1lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4DTsdrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSLHEMa5qw7gMXRQ%3D
Emily Jane Fox, Wal-Mart, Gap sign Bangladesh safety agreement. CNN Money, July 10, 2013
Tara Norton. Putting More Muscle, Brains and Heart into Sustainable Procurement, BSR, May 29, 2013. http://www.bsr.org/en/our-insights/blog-view/putting-more-muscle-brains-and-heart-into-sustainable-procurement
A Deeper Look: Lessons from Rana Plaza. BSR. 2013. http://www.bsr.org/en/topic/rana-plaza


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Do you have a child with speech or language difficulties? As a former Speech-Language Pathologist, I have a great interest in helping young children's speech and language skills. Parents make great teachers. I've been homeschooling for 9 years now and this time has further reinforced the idea that parents can do a great job teaching their children. I've found this to be true even when I'm helping my child learn a subject that is unfamiliar to me. I just need to acquire the tools necessary to facilitate my child's learning.
Back in 2008, I put together a website to give parents tools to help their children learn to talk. I often used these strategies when I worked with young children. Recently, I updated the site and included a section where you can get personalized recommendations. To get the personalized recommendations, you would need to fill out a questionnaire about your child's speech or language skills. I will then review your answers and get back to you with a list of activities you can do to help your child's speech or language skills at home.
While normal development varies greatly, difficulties with speech or language skills in the earlier years can translate into difficulties with academics in the school-age years. I've also discovered that helping your child at younger ages is quicker and easier than waiting to see if things resolve on their own. Stop by the Help My Child Talk website and check out the different strategies that many speech therapists use to help young children learn to talk.


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There are some situations that life circumstantially puts us in and we just conform as need be but we never thought of their harmful effects. One of these situations is prolonged sitting at office desk.
You arrived at work as early as you can, said hi and hello to one or two people and went straight to your seat. As if your buttock is glued to the seat, you did not stand up until it is close of work. Even for you to go to the toilet is wahala. If this is you, read on to know the side effects of sitting all day.
Stiff neck and shoulders
When you start turning and moving your neck like an Agama Lizard, your neck is telling you that you should take a break. This is same with your shoulders.
Diabetes Risk
According to research, people who sit for too long are more vulnerable to diabetes. Prolong sitting increasing your insulin resistance. If this happens, you may open the floodgate to diabetes.
Hip problems
Marathon sitting can make the hips become tight and limited in range of motion because they are rarely extended.
It increases your cancer risk
Quite surprising but this is what several types of research reveal. For example, a German meta-analysis concluded that people who sat for the longest period each day were 24 percent more likely to develop colon cancer than those who took breaks.
Ineffective brain function
When you sit at your desk for the whole day performing different tasks, you will become saturated and tired. As a result, your brain will be unable to function properly. At this point, you will either be forced to take a break or just sit doing nothing. This is because your brain performance has declined.
Weak Bones
Walking, running, and exercising strengthens the bones and vice versa.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops within a deep vein in the body, usually in the leg. When part of this clot breaks off, it can block the flow of blood to other parts of the body such as your lungs. This can be very dangerous.
Adeniyi Ogunfowoke
Latest posts by Adeniyi Ogunfowoke (see all)
- How Fintech is Disrupting Businesses in Nigeria - April 6, 2019
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The Great Condo vs. Home Debate: 7 Things To Consider Before Purchasing
Are you confused if you're more suited for owning a condominium versus a single-family home? Both can be wonderful options, but it depends largely on your lifestyle. Here are a few ways to decide:
1. Neighbors
Like the idea of being close with your neighbors? Well, with a condo you'll definitely achieve that! Living in a condo, you'll be (physically) closer to your neighbors than in a single-family home. But that might not always be a good thing…
2. Amenities and Fees
Condos can offer you a lot of fun perks. Swimming pools, fitness centers, shopping centers – there's no reason to leave the building! But those amenities come with fees, which are usually fixed and non-negotiable. Make sure those amenities are worth the fees you'll be paying.
3. Rules
Along with those amenities and close neighbors come rules. Sometimes really strict rules. Some condos don't allow you to have home-based businesses or even pets. Make sure your lifestyle matches with the rules you need to follow if you buy a condo.
4. Storage
Have a large amount of collectables? A condo might not be the best place to keep them since they're a bit tight on space.
5. Maintenance
Does the idea of a maintenance-free lifestyle appeal to you? With on-site maintenance personnel, condos can offer you just that.
6. Yard
Speaking of maintenance-free, do you also hate yard work? Private yards are either small or non-existent when it comes to condos. But if you have a green thumb and love gardening, you may want to consider sticking with a home that offers you a yard.
7. Security
Condos offer pretty great security, with keyed entries and sometimes armed guards. Plus you'll be close to a lot of people if an emergency ever emerges. If security is on the top of your priorities, a condo may be a great way to go.
So what do you think? Are you more of a condo or single-family home type of homeowner?


text: Hydrea London Elephant Ear Sponge Large (11.5cm) £7.47 Was £14.95 saving you 50% 74 reward points UK Delivery £1.95 - Free when you spend £15 In stock -This product will ship on Monday if ordered today. Multi-buy discounts Buy 2+ Buy 3+ Buy 5+ 5% off7% off10% off 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 Add to basket 100% Secure Shopping Product code: 8848 Description Contents Notes Reviews Questions Description Hydrea London Elephant Ear Natural sponge is a bath accessory that is great to the touch with exfoliating properties. Smooth on one side and rough on the other so you can choose which one is applicable for your skin type and sensitivity. Contents Elephant Ear Sponge Large - 4-4.5" (11.5cm) Notes Although there are 42 hand done stages of processing to bring this sponge to you, in rare cases a bit of ocean debris may remain in the sponge. Check your sponge before use, for any impurity. After every use rinse well and squeeze out all the excess water, then allow to dry naturally. Do not bleach, boil, machine wash, or wring. Sea Sponges are 100% natural and biodegradable. Reviews Below are reviews of Hydrea London Elephant Ear Sponge Large (11.5cm) by bodykind customers. If you have tried this product we'd love to hear what you think so please leave a review. Leave a review Score Comments Name Email Submit review Questions & Answers Below are questions that bodykind customers have asked us about this product. If you want to know more about this product please don't hesitate to ask us a question. Ask us a question Question Email Confirm Email Submit question


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The Story of Winslow The Old Trails Museum's permanent exhibit debuted on the museum floor in 2015. The text panels are spread throughout the museum and tell the general history of the town alongside images and artifacts donated by decades of museum supporters. Topics include: Area pre-history, including Meteor Crater and Columbian Mammoths Hopi, Laguna, and Navajo peoples Historic trails and early residents, including the Mormons' Brigham City The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Area ranches & ranchers, and trading posts & traders Winslow's Harvey Houses, Harvey Girls, and La Posada Hotel US Route 66 and Winslow's historic airport Civic life including military service, medical care, and education Community life including organizations, recreation, and entertainment OTM debuted the Journeys to Winslow exhibit in October 2017 in the Skylark Courtyard, which is a stop along the Journey Through Winslow Pathway. Developed by Tess and Lawrence Kenna, the Pathway is a trail for residents and visitors to explore Winslow's history and current downtown revitalization, and its other stops include the World's Smallest Church on Route 66 and historic facades and murals throughout the downtown historic district. The Kennas funded the reprinting of Journeys to Winslow, which was originally developed by OTM for the Winslow stop on the Arizona tour of the Smithsonian's Journey Stories exhibition. Journeys to Winslow-Panel 1-The First Peoples of the Southeastern Colorado Plateau Journeys to Winslow-Panel 2-Early Trails Across the Little Colorado River Valley Journeys to Winslow-Panel 3-The Railroads Build a Town-Early Days Journeys to Winslow-Panel 4-The Railroads Build a Town-Early Industry Journeys to Winslow-Panel 5-A City in Motion-The Heyday of Rail Travel Journeys to Winslow-Panel 6-A City in Motion-Modern Modes Journeys to Winslow-Panel 7-Winslow Today-Commerce...Read More
Explore our exhibits and programs on the history and cultures of Winslow, Arizona.
The mission of the Winslow Historical Society is to receive, preserve, and interpret the history and cultures of the Winslow area, to engage and enlighten all visitors to the Old Trails Museum's exhibits and programs.
The Old Trails Museum's extensive collections include objects, documents, photographs, textiles, and oral histories donated by current and former Winslow residents. OTM welcomes appointments with professional, press, and family researchers.


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Are we thirsty for brand brand new knowledge? Do we want to have the improved bargain of web pattern basics? Do we want to urge your skills as well as have your startup the success from the start? All this is probable with the brand brand new plan launched by TemplateMonster TM Certification Center.The plan is absolutely free, so everyone fervent to sense is welcome to enroll. No make the difference how experienced we are, how many projects we have launched, as well as what web pattern heights we have already reached, TM Certification Center has something which will match we specifically.TM Certification Center is done up of free courses for beginners as well as experienced webmasters. While the former can discover peculiarities of every CMS as well as improved sense functionality enclosed in to any of them, the latter can endorse their tall turn of imagination in web pattern as well as growth as well as turn certified TM partners.Lets right away see what TM Certification Center includes for any of these two large groups of users.Courses for BeginnersThe courses cover the basis which beginners need to know about the many popular CMS, i.e. WordPress, Joomla, OpenCart, as well as PrestaShop. You have been offered sets of lectures dedicated to any of the aforementioned calm management systems. By enrolling in to any of them we may design to get extensive information about the selected CMS, the make up as well as functionality. You will be means to see how their admin panels look as well as feel from the inside so which we can do all installation as well as start customization work upon your own.Each march of lectures will give we step-by-step instructions upon how to work with the processed thesis concordant with the selected CMS, implement as well as manage it, as well as squander the functionality with modules. In the finish of the course, we will pass quizzes which will exhibit how well we have accepted the supposing information.Certification for Experienced WebmastersThe march is intended for freelancers as well as web pattern studios which know how to work with processed website templates, as well as the ones launched by TemplateMonster in particular. The audience purchasing pre-designed web solutions is very diverse. In many cases, people hire the veteran webmaster who can personalize the selected thesis in the approach which matches their requirements perfectly. TemplateMonster has motionless to launch the Certification Center for webmasters in sequence to have certain which the end-user will be supposing with the highest quality of services possible.So, if we know how to work with TemplateMonsters themes, we can pass the quick as well as endorse your deep believe of how their WordPress, Joomla, OpenCart, as well as PrestaShop themes have been organized. As the result, successful completion of the march guarantees which we will turn the TM partner with the personal certificate. It will provide your tall turn of imagination in the field.Each owner of TM obligation will be combined to the localized list of TemplateMonsters partners. This will assistance we find brand brand new clients as well as enlarge your business opportunities.So, if we have been ready to grow as the veteran as well as achieve brand brand new knowledge, join TemplateMonsters Certification Center now!Read More at Learn CMS Basics as well as Become TemplateMonsters Partner with Certification Center
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A Business Literally For The Birds
Rosie the green-winged macaw twitches her neck from side to side and says hello. Adults and children alike stop in their tracks, mesmerized by her animated motions and long, bright-red tail feathers.
Bruce McGonigal's face lights up when he talks about his birds. With his company, The Bird Guy, he shares his knowledge with others about birds at schools, libraries and parties.
"Birds are my life," says McGonigal, who has more than 100 tropical birds including macaws, African greys, Alexandrine parrots and cock-atoos.
People can hire The Bird Guy for an hour, a day or a week to bring several of his feathered friends to an event. Photos can be handled in several different ways. A professional videographer and photographer, McGonigal is flexible and says he doesn't mind if customers want to use their own digital cameras. He can take a photo for them using their camera, or he can use his own.
When the Navy veteran is hired for school events, he demonstrates bird basics, which include a display of the types of birds, various perches, different cages and how to tell which is a male or female. He also breeds the winged creatures.
McGonigal says he always had pets as a child while living on the Mainland, including fish, gerbils, alligators and raccoons, and his grandfather had a parakeet that went along on family vacations. But that wasn't his inspiration for the business. He worked with Rich Miano Sr., father of UH football assistant coach Rich Miano, taking photos of people with birds in Waikiki. McGonigal says he struck out on his own soon after with a spot at Koko Marina next to a water sports activity shop. He notes his approach is a soft sell, not an aggressive style.
"There's many a refrigerator magnet out there that has a photo I took of people with my birds as a souvenir of their trip to Hawaii," he says proudly. "Some people tell me it was the highlight of their trip."
He also was based near Hilo Hattie for about a year, and then at Aloha Tower from 2002 to 2006.
"People came back every year to have their photos with the birds," he recalls. "One woman from Australia even took her photo at Hilo Hattie and then managed to track me down at Aloha Tower. She was looking for me, and she found me."
McGonigal says right now he is again looking for a place to be based.
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Selecting AWS as a preferred cloud infrastructure provider delivers a deployment option for Skuid customers to consolidate data and unify their user experience across a wide array of platforms
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (PRWEB) November 29, 2016
Today, Skuid announced the latest release of its no-code user experience platform, called Skuid Brooklyn. With this release, customers can now join disparate data sources from nearly any enterprise software platform, quickly assemble bespoke applications, and deploy a gorgeous, easy-to-use interface on any device — all without writing a single line of code. Notably, Skuid has added Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a preferred cloud infrastructure provider, complementing the company's longstanding partnership with Salesforce. Skuid will be demonstrating the new capabilities at AWS re:Invent this week at booth #2643 in Venetian Sands Hall D or online during their launch webinar.
"Enterprise software, even in the cloud, has become so fragmented. Our customers have been struggling to 'defrag' their data sources to create truly useful apps, while leaving their data where it rests. With Skuid, they can bring everything together into easy-to-use apps tailored to every role in their company. Selecting AWS as a preferred cloud infrastructure provider delivers a deployment option for Skuid customers to consolidate data and unify their user experience across a wide array of platforms," according to Ken McElrath, Skuid CEO. "Skuid will be able to deliver its core UX platform-as-a-service to a much broader market, empowering citizen developers everywhere."
Experts agree that delivering a better user experience can dramatically increase productivity. But according to New Development Platforms Emerge For Customer-Facing Applications, a June 2014 Forrester Research report, "Hand-coding is too slow to develop and deliver many of the applications that companies use to win, serve, and retain customers."
Skuid's no-code platform makes a better UX possible with a dramatic reduction in time-to-market and significant cost savings versus writing code. Amanda Joslin, Group Product Manager at Intuit, shared how Skuid helped with the company's transition to a cloud-based subscription model. According to Joslin, "We saved thousands of lines of code. Without Skuid, we wouldn't have been able to do all of that work in the same time frame."
Another customer, Alec Elmore, President at OpenGate Consulting, commented on the rapid speed and flexibility that Skuid's new release offers.
"With Brooklyn, Skuid takes the friction out of a true business/technology union. It redefines how organizations deploy enterprise applications by truly aligning process and technology," he said. "This platform will allow technology to move at the speed of business."
With Skuid running on AWS, also called "Skuid Native," customers can create apps up to 90% more quickly and gain unlimited flexibility to work with all types of enterprise platforms. According to McElrath, "Skuid customers have been asking to use Skuid as their standard UX platform across all their enterprise data sources. With Skuid Brooklyn, we are fulfilling that dream today."
Skuid customers can expect their data to be as safe and secure as ever. Skuid will adhere to the shared security with AWS. AWS will be responsible for infrastructure security, including facilities, hardware, and networking. Skuid's security will cover apps built with Skuid, data credentials, and the operating system. Skuid is pursuing SOC2 status as well as EU-US Privacy Shield and SafeHarbor, and is following industry best practices for security prevention and detection.
Skuid is a cloud UX platform for creating bespoke apps at blazing speed without using code. With the Skuid's innovative approach, business users and developers alike can point and click to connect to data from any source, including salesforce.com®, Oracle®, SAP® and Microsoft® then easily assemble applications, portals and sites with a set of drag-and-drop user interface components. Skuid has offices in Chattanooga, San Francisco, London and Zurich, with more than five million users in over 30 countries.


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The preacher in the pulpit proclaims the acts of salvation in the event of the Exodus: a whole people is redeemed out of slavery; a treacherous sea passage is negotiated miraculously; God saves his people — by grace! The pastor in the parish has the responsibility of insisting that the Exodus event continues to be a design for salvation to the person who does piecework in a factory, to the youth who pumps gasoline, to the woman in the daily negotiation with the demands of diapers and career, to the man trying to achieve poise between ambition in his profession and sensitivity to his wife and children at home. Pastoral work is a commitment to the everyday: it is an act of faith that the great truths of salvation are workable in the "ordinary universe."
Eugene H. Peterson, Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980), 33.


text: Love these guys. I wanted so much to be a witness to their exchange of vows in one of my favorite places on earth, Hanalei Bay. They said some lovely things to one another in front of their closest family members on September 26 on Hanalei beach. I was in a class in Montana. But the next time we all were in Golden, during Thanksgiving weekend in October, we took some photos out on their amazing land in the Blaeberry. It wasn't Hawaii warm, but it wasn't quite Golden cold either. Somewhere in between. Love and laughs and some puffy down jackets between locations got us through the shoot. Yeah Jeff! Yeah Katie! So stoked for you two.


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Lessons Learned: Audits, Appeals and How They Impact Bracing
Posted by Linda Collins | March 06, 2014
Join us for a Webinar on March 13
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
Auditors are increasingly focusing on bracing products and denying payment on claims. Join us for this informational webinar to learn about the current audit situation, what you can do to increase your chances of a successful audit, and how to appeal your bracing claim denials. The webinar is offered free to Ossur customers.
Title:Lessons Learned: Audits, Appeals and How They Impact Bracing
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2014
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
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The Source for O&P Reimbursement & Regulatory News & Analysis


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Louisville Slugger Museum and Visitor Center
Louisville, KY
The history of baseball is intertwined with the history of Hillerich and Bradsby, the family-owned company that manufactures Louisville Slugger baseball bats. This museum commemorates the facts and legends of the revered sluggers and their bats. Exhibitions include a re-creation of the stadium that includes the playing field, press box, and bleachers in an unforgettable immersive experience. From a 'walk through' forest to a factory tour, visitors are able to learn the craft of bat making.
Visitors can learn about the science of bat making while experiencing a 90 mph fastball. Exhibits also trace the process of making a Louisville Slugger from the cutting of white ash timber in the forests of New York and Pennsylvania, to the shaping of billets, and the final turning of the bats in the factory in Louisville. Life magazine voted the Museum and Visitor Center as one of the 10 "must see" attractions in the United States.


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WWE WrestleMania XXI Feature Preview
We take a closer look at the PPV-themed wrestler from THQ.
GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.
We last saw WrestleMania XXI in January, when the Studio Gigante-developed grappler was just coming together in playable form. At that point, large chunks weren't ready for prime time, so it was tough to get a complete feel of where the game was heading. THQ recently dropped off a slightly more polished build, so the overall picture of WM 21 is starting to get a bit clearer. The game still has a ways to go in terms of wrestler artificial intelligence, not to mention some spit and polish, but it seems to be heading in the right direction.
It looks like the roster has been finalized for WrestleMania XXI (something that wasn't the case in our previous look), and the lineup of superstars features a broad variety of talent from the WWE stable...across all weight divisions. Sure, you'll find the requisite appearances by Triple H, Rey Mysterio, HBK, and the Undertaker, but some of the newer up-and-coming stars in the WWE talent pool are also prominently featured, including Charlie Haas, Garrison Cade, Rene Dupree, and the always lovable Eugene.
You'll meet a good chunk of these superstars both in and out of the ring in the career mode, which has been given a noticeable upgrade from THQ's WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw. The biggest change is in the quantity and quality of voice work found in the career mode. Not only does it seem like the WWE talent is no longer "phoning it in" this time around, but also your created wrestler is the beneficiary of some voice talent as well. We're very pleased with what we saw of the cutscenes in between career mode matches so far. Not only is everything acted reasonably well, but also there seems to be a good amount of care taken in the direction and blocking of the scenes. These aren't just standard two-camera shots of superstars jawing at each other; we've seen some interesting camera movement, well-animated player models, and, best of all, some really funny writing. In fact, when your career-mode wrestler initially meets Kurt Angle, the first thing out of your player's mouth is: "Hey! You're Kurt Angle. Didn't you use to wrestle?" OK, so it works better in the game than in text. But trust us, it's a pretty funny line.
All in all, the career-mode cutscenes are one of the highlights for us so far, as they feature the kind of backstage banter, alliances, and run-ins found in WWE Raw and SmackDown! each week. The biggest downside is that there is only one available voice for your created wrestler, and the tone of that voice doesn't always match up to the wrestler you created from scratch.
And speaking of the create-a-superstar feature, we've seen more in-depth character-creation tools in previous WWE games, but the one in WrestleMania XXI is certainly no slouch. You'll start off assigning a name, nickname, and hometown to your created grappler, and then you'll get to the fun stuff, which consists namely of designing the body, face, and outfit for your imaginary wrestler. Most of the body manipulation is controlled by horizontal and vertical sliders, which are used to adjust the length or width of your wrestler's eyes, nose, forehead, lips, and jawline, among other features. Next up is the costume, and WrestleMania XXI gives you plenty of options for hairstyles, head wear (including masks), and gear for both your upper and lower body. Once you've got your created mat technician squared away with an outfit, you'll be able to design his move set, finisher, and taunts, as well as ring entrances, which can be personalized all the way down to the custom-soundtrack-supported entrance music, background video, pyrotechnics, and fan signs in the audience.
Creating a wrestler will only be half the fun, as WrestleMania XXI will also let you create a championship belt from scratch. You'll give it a name, decide whether it's a single or tag team championship, then go about designing everything from the color of the belt, to the center plate, to all the trimmings. Many of the center plates, for example, are based on pay-per-view events or titles, like the hardcore championship, for example. But with color options and plenty of supplemental designs to choose from, you'll be able to create a belt that's as unique as you'd like it to be.
WrestleMania XXI's WWE shop will include tons of unlockables, including: WWE legends, such as Jimmy Snuka, The Rock, and Andre the Giant; wrestling arenas, such as the WrestleMania PPV environment; WWE superstar intro movies; clothing choices for your created wrestler; and attribute points for characteristics like stamina, speed, strength, and countering.
Reversal of Fortune
In-ring, Studio Gigante continues to develop the game's wrestling engine, which is most notable for its pro-reversal system, a mechanic that lets you reverse nearly every blow or hold, provided you have quick enough reflexes. Here's how it works: During a match, a small icon will illuminate under your wrestler's health and heat bars, indicating a small reversal window for a particular strike or hold. Hold down the right or left trigger on the Xbox controller and you'll successfully pull off a reversal of the move, such as catching a guy's leg during a gut kick or blocking a vicious strike to the face. Hold reversals tend to involve more-complex animations. As a result, you might slide out of a body slam or roll your opponent into a small package pin attempt.
Since our last look at the game, the reversal windows seem to be shorter than before, making effective reversals for quick strikes, such as slaps and punches, pretty tough. Once you get the hang of reversing holds, however, you'll find the action to be a very formidable weapon in your grappling arsenal. The other main controls include the use of the X button for strikes and the A and B buttons for a variety of grapples. To pull off a quick grapple, for example, you tap the A button in combination with the directional pad, while a strong grapple is executed by holding the A button and the D pad in unison. When executing a submission, you'll rapidly tap the face buttons to put the maximum pressure on your opponent while trying to get him to tap out.
Because no wrestler can make it in the WWE without heat, WrestleMania XXI includes a heat meter that will build up as you perform crowd-pleasing maneuvers in the ring. These can include high-risk aerial attacks or taunts designed to rile up the crowd. Fill up your heat meter to its max and you'll be able to pull off one of two finisher moves before moving in for the pin.
The build we had of WrestleMania XXI had some pretty serious AI issues, especially regarding tag team matches and wrestler run-ins, which usually either resulted in extended two- or three-on-one gang-ups on our controlled fighter (with no interference from the ref), or the interfering wrestlers merely walked the perimeter of the ring without even trying to get involved in the match. Provided these glaring problems are addressed--and we have no reason to expect they won't be--the game will probably provide a pretty good challenge, as even the AI-controlled characters commonly make use of the strike and grapple reversals, especially at the higher difficulty levels.
For those times when you're looking for some human competition, WrestleMania XXI will include online play that will surely be a step up from WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw for the PlayStation 2. The most significant upgrade will be in the types of matches available online. Not only will you be able to choose from any of the match types found in the single-player game--single, handicap, triple threat, fatal four-way, and, yes, bra and panty, among others--but also, specific rule sets will be available at your fingertips, such as cage match, hell in a cell, TLC, and ladder match. While we didn't have an opportunity to check out how the online play performs in our preview time with the game, these online options are a big step up from previous THQ wrestling efforts.
Graphically, the player models are some of the best we've seen in this generation's slew of wrestling games. While the models' mouths don't really sync up with the cutscene voice-overs, it's not distracting, because the players' gestures are so natural-looking. In the ring, we noticed a lot of missed punches and kicks (especially when attacking during a hold animation between two other opponents), but this is nothing new for wrestling games.
Finally, while the voice-overs in the cutscenes work to great effect, the ringside commentary still has a way to go. The combinations of Michael Cole and Taz (from WWE SmackDown!) and Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross (from WWE Monday Night Raw) create some lively commentary, but neither team is very accurate at this point, and sometimes statements directly contradict one another. We're hoping the level of ringside voice-over meets the high bar of quality that the cutscenes have created when the final version of the game is shipped.
WrestleMania XXI is quickly approaching its April 3 pay-per-view date, and the game of the same name will be arriving even sooner. While there's still some work to go before it arrives in retail stores in fighting shape, we like the features we've seen so far. And we especially like the online play, which looks to be the most sophisticated yet seen in a WWE entry. We'll have more coverage of WrestleMania XXI, including a full review of the game, in the coming weeks.
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Khan Younis
Watch: Hamas outlines 'Deadly Ambush' on IDF in 2014The Al-Qassam Brigad published a documentary detailing the execution of a road-side ambush of IDF forces during Operation Protective Edge.
Islamic Jihad terrorist killed in latest Gaza tunnel collapseFor the second time in a week, Islamic Jihad terrorist killed in tunnel collapse in Khan Younis.
Israeli Bedouin teenager breaks into Gaza, disappearsJauma Abu Ganima, a resident from the south, crossed the border before IDF soldiers could stop him, and disappeared into Khan Younis.
Children simulate terror attacks in Gaza play'Children's festival' features mock IDF soldier abductions, revolts against Israeli police.
Gaza Schoolchildren Traumatized by Sounds of Hamas TortureShrieks and cries of pain from nearby police building regularly interrupting lessons at Khan Younis school.
Four Clumsy Hamas Terrorists Injured in 'Work Accident'Accidental explosion in Gaza leaves four terrorists with 'moderate and dangerous' injuries.
Gaza Rocket Narrowly Misses Sderot SynagogueTerrorists fire rockets at southern Israel, narrowly missing worshippers. IDF responds with direct hits on terror targets.
Five IDF Soldiers Wounded in Gaza; Four Terrorists KilledFive IDF soldiers wounded in explosion as they work along the Gaza border. Four terrorists killed in ensuing gun battle.


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The JL Crowe High School was constructed in 1951 and was opened for classes in 1952. It provided instruction for grades 10 to 12 and Senior Matriculation (sometimes called grade 13). When the Trail Jr. High School closed in 1983, grades 8 and 9 were transferred to the Crowe. The school was replaced with a new building on the same site in 2010 and the original building was demolished.
The Crowe, as it is affectionately called, was named after James Lloyd Crowe, and active member of the School Board for many years. The school serves communities in the Greater Trail area.


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Series Outlook: Red Sox (17-17) at Rangers (18-17)/
On Thursday, the Rangers capped off a brutal 1-3 home-and-home series by shutting out the Rockies, 5-0. Aside it being Matt Harrison's first win since late 2012, and the much anticipated major league debut of top prospect, Rougned Odor, there are few positives to take from this week against Colorado. I thought last week's sweep at the hands of the Athletics was the worst baseball I'd seen from Texas in at least 5 years, but they may have trumped themselves.
Still, 18-17.
To date, the American League is so wide open. It's like if you stretched your arms so far back as to make the widest possible distance between both of your hands. You know, before all the lactic acid builds up and it starts to hurt.
Here are all the American League teams with records of .500 or better:
- Detroit, 20-10
- Oakland, 20-15
- Baltimore, 18-14
- New York, 18-15
- Seattle, 18-16
- Texas, 18-17
- Toronto, 18-17
- Boston, 17-17
- Chicago, 18-18
And here are the rest of the AL teams:
- Anaheim, 16-17
- Kansas City, 16-18
- Cleveland, 16-18
- Minnesota, 15-18
- Tampa Bay, 15-20
- Houston, 11-24
Basically, crap. That's a lot of teams in the same range. The Rangers are 2.0 games out of first place in the West, and 0.5 games out of 4th place. It's been 35 games and we've already seen Texas win 8 out of 10 and lose 9 of 11; this has been a weird ass season up to this point.
Undeterred, because it's just baseball, this weekend the Rangers begin on their quest to create some separation from the rest of the pack.
Oh, and they're playing the World Champs:
Friday -- Clay Buchholz (2-2, 5.63 ERA, 4.17 xFIP) vs. Yu Darvish (2-1, 2.87 ERA, 3.53 xFIP)
Saturday -- Jon Lester (3-4, 2.59 ERA, 2.58 xFIP) vs. Martín Perez (4-2, 3.59 ERA, 3.59 xFIP)
Sunday -- Jon Lackey (4-2, 3.72 ERA, 3.38 xFIP) vs. Robbie Ross (1-3, 4.74 ERA, 3.87 xFIP)
It can be argued that Martín Perez has been the Rangers' most valuable pitcher so far in 2014, but over his last two starts his ERA has ballooned from 1.42 up to 3.59 -- over two full runs. In two starts. I don't want to get involved in the speculation game by saying things like "maybe the league is catching up with him," or "maybe his arm is tired from the early workload," but mostly because I'm not buying it. Perez is a helluva pitcher, and I anticipate he gets back on track this weekend against the Red Sox. (Well, I suppose that last sentence is a speculation, but whatever.)
Boston is a stiff opponent, so, as always, two out of three would be appreciated.
Go Rangers.


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Episode 102 | Miscarriage & Trusting Your Gut with Josefina Sanders
Today Dannie and Caitlyn are talking with Josefina Sanders, founder of Love Offering. Love Offering is the platform Josefina uses to Communicate Love, Create Art, Cultivate Community, and Celebrate your Journey!
- Who inspires Josefina in her business & personally
- Struggling with pricing to thrive in a community
- How inclusivity is something that she is passionate about
- How to give yourself grace as an Etsy shop owner
- Why you need to prepare when you decide to take your business full-time
- Creating a list of needs & wants for your business
- How having a miscarriage propelled her into going full-time
- Learning about yourself in your journey and allow changes
- Using pain as a purpose & leaving a legacy
josefina's BIO:
Love Offering is the platform Josefina uses to inspire people to create a culture of unity, self care, genuine, and slow living. As she continues to bloom in her artistic journey, she's known for her captivating minimal yet elegant fine art and, her incredible talent of communicating intentionality, mood, and emotion in all that she does.
Core Values: Community, Creativity, Integrity, and Generosity
Josefina aspires to live a life of intention, love people, and serve well through all that she does. She's has been featured in many publications such as, Southern Bride, Borrowed and Blue, The Imperfect Boss, Rising Tide Society and more.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Etsy Shop
Dannie's Website | Dannie's Instagram || Caitlyn's Website | Caitlyn's Instagram


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Foundry - Nuke
Foundry's industry-leading Nuke® range offers cutting-edge toolkits covering node-based compositing, editorial and finishing across solutions that deliver unparalleled speed, functionality and collaboration possibilities. Nuke is also expandable with Foundry plug-ins and applications like Cara VR™, Ocula® and Furnace.
Whether you're a single shot compositor or working across projects end to end, you can find all the tools you need to get the job done fast, without quality compromise, in Nuke Studio®, NukeX® or Nuke.
Which Nuke is right for me?
Nuke is an award-winning node-based compositor, that provides state-of-the-art tools designed to streamline day-to-day workflows and help achieve highest quality results in less time.
NukeX combines the core functionality of Nuke with an out-of-the-box toolkit of advanced 2D and 3D features, reducing the need to round-trip to other applications.
Nuke Studio is a complete VFX, editorial and finishing studio for both creative individuals working end to end and collaborative teams engaged on quick-turnaround projects.
See the Nuke products comparison page for more information.
New in Nuke 11.3The latest release Nuke 11.3 comes with new features and improvements. For a complete list, see the release notes here (PDF).
Expanded Live Groups
New functionality offers greater control when managing Live Groups, especially for larger teams and more complex pipelines. Overrides now allow users to maintain user knob values when versioning up a Live Group. New locking functionality introduces an editable and non-editable state in place of the previous "make local" workflow, providing more nuanced control when changes are made. Both of these features introduce new UI indications and additional Python hooks for integration.
Selection modes, bounding box and channel UI updates
Nuke 11.3 brings updates to the UI for bounding box size and channel count which make it easy to see the state of these common performance bottlenecks at a glance. New selection modes give artists more options for selecting areas of objects in 2D and 3D views.
Particle simulation performance improvements
NukeX's particle system has been optimized to produce up to 6x faster particle simulations and 4x faster playback of particles in the viewer. In our tests, improvements are seen at any scale, with more improvement in simulations with a higher number of particles. For custom particle plug-in developers, while existing code will still compile, you can take advantage of new APIs to benefit from similar performance gains. See the documentation for full details.
New Vector Corner Pin for Smart Vector workflow
A new VectorCornerPin node has been added to the Smart Vector toolset in NukeX. This node uses Smart Vectors to warp a corner-pinned image between keyframes. The user can set keyframes using 'to' and 'from' knobs, just like in the CornerPin node, but between keyframes the source image will move according to the additional Smart Vector input. This allows users a high level of control to constrain elements in a specific location, while still utilising the power of Smart Vectors to drive the underlying distortion of an element. Using the Vector Corner Pin can reduce the need to create multiple VectorDistort nodes with different reference frames and mix between them.
About Nuke
Nuke's extensive node-based compositing toolset gives you the power you need to tackle your projects with confidence. Nuke includes all of the 2D compositing tools you'd expect, together with a full 3D system, plus tools for stereoscopic film and deep image compositing built right in.
Nuke's unparalleled flexibility, customisability and collaborative workflows help you and your team get the highest quality results—fast. This award-winning toolset is the core that the Nuke range is built on.
- Highest quality results
Used by many of the best VFX houses in the industry on the biggest blockbuster movies, Nuke makes producing pixel perfect, film-grade results both painless and creatively satisfying.
- Complete compositing toolkit
Nuke's advanced node-based compositing toolset includes over 200 different nodes, plus a true 3D system, deep compositing tools and support for stereoscopic workflows in the base application.
- Speed and efficiency
Work quickly and interactively with Nuke's cutting-edge toolkits, GPU acceleration and fluid workflows. Everything you need to get the job done fast is built in and ready to go.
- Scalability
Nuke's node graph, resolution-independent processing, and collaborative nature ensure that the scope of work you can handle with Nuke—both technically and creatively—is unmatched.
- Collaborative workflow
Efficient, collaborative workflows lie at the heart of the Nuke range. Whether you're working in a group of artists or running an effects department, Nuke makes teamwork seamless.
- Open and customizable
With major operating system support, low hardware requirements, a Python API and seamless compatibility with other members of the Nuke family, Nuke is a perfect fit for your pipeline.
About NukeX
With NukeX, you get the powerful compositing toolset, the collaborative workflows, and the avenues for customization and pipeline integration of the Nuke core, together with an advanced toolset of 2D and 3D functionality right at your fingertips, reducing the need to round-trip to other packages.
NukeX takes care of the heavy lifting so you can focus on being creative. With less need to pass control back to the 3D team, you can more easily maintain your creative intent, and get the job finished faster.
- Ultimate compositing toolkit
NukeX includes all of Nuke's industry-leading node-based tools, including a true 3D system, deep compositing tools and support for stereoscopic workflows, so you can tackle any project.
- Less round-tripping with 3D packages
NukeX's 3D compositing system includes a 3D Camera Tracker, Point Cloud generator, Model Builder, and Lens Distortion tool, all designed to seamlessly integrate into your compositing workflow.
- Cross-team collaboration
With the same collaborative workflows as Nuke—including groups, backdrop nodes, sticky notes and precomps—NukeX lets you easily communicate, share and work together with others.
- Advanced tools for film-grade results
Developed by Foundry's award-winning research team, NukeX offers advanced vector-based workflows for shot clean-up, GPU-accelerated retiming, realistic motion blur, warping, and more.
- Share the workload
Share out important day-to-day compositing tasks with a wider team of artists with two Nuke Assist licences that provide core nodes for performing paint, roto, shot clean-up and rig removal.
- Tailor it to your taste
Like Nuke, NukeX lets you create your own toolkit of common setups and presets to apply across multiple shots or share with other Nuke artists, or write custom tools with the Python API.
About Nuke Studio
A unique and seamless combination of visual effects, editorial timeline and finishing, Nuke Studio lets you composite, conform, edit, color-correct, add effects and playback at 4K. With this end-to-end solution, you can run a whole project from a single desktop, even during client-attended sessions.
As a supervisor or team lead, Nuke Studio's powerful collaborative controls let you distribute shots, easily manage and review versions, share comments, and make tweaks and adjustments within a single cohesive package.
- Compositing and much more
With the full power of NukeX's advanced node-based compositing built in, Nuke Studio includes all the tools you need to get the job done, whether you're working alone or as part of a team.
- Collaborative control
Generate and share Nuke scripts, collaborate with annotations, easily manage versions, and make tweaks any time. With Nuke Studio, handling multiple shots across a team is a breeze.
- Speed and efficiency
Work fast and interactively with Nuke's cutting-edge toolkits, GPU acceleration and fluid workflows. Everything you need to get the job done fast is built in and ready to go.
- Full online-editing toolkit
With its multi-track editorial timeline, Nuke Studio's intuitive and familiar editorial tools get the job done fast, whether you're editing on set, conforming online, or just knocking out quick edits.
- Flexible to the core
At its core, Nuke Studio shares Nuke's flexibility, with the ability to script your own tools on the timeline, a Python API, and seamless integration with the other members of the Nuke family.
- Power and performance
Built to meet the needs of modern production work, Nuke Studio offers unparalleled levels of power and confidence whether you're a team with a deadline or alone with a client.
About Nuke Render
Nuke Render license – for anyone rendering Nuke files on additional network nodes.
System Requirements
Have a look at the system requirements for Foundry Nuke here.
Foundry – Maintenance
Foundry's maintenance offering is included free for the first year with all Nuke® products, Mari®, Hiero®, Katana, and the Foundry Collectives. Maintenance is subject to annual renewal.
As part of maintenance, you'll get all new features, bug fixes and updates, through both minor and major releases. In addition, you get exclusive access to both technical support, and to beta programs, where your voice helps to shape the future of our products.
Read more about Foundry's maintenance here (PDF file).


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As I've previously mentioned to my beloved Facebook family, my goal is to return to doing videos on the regular. So, after a 3 year hiatus, I'm finally relaunching my Sexpot Studio series, and will be offering 2 minute doses of insight and inspiration on various topics. Stay tuned! In the meantime, you can take a listen to the brand new Sexpot Studio intro below. Thank you to all who helped bring my audible vision to life.
Vocals by Christen Zook
Vocal Melodies by Kristy B and Yours Truly
Music Produced by Rickochet at Rickochet Beats
Vocals Tracked/Recorded at Bonzoland Recordings by J.B. Day
Vocals Mixed by Ron Roy at Threshold Studios
I'd like to extend an extra BIG thank you to Christen for coming up with the "Awaken Your Soul" tagline for Sexpot Studio. When we were laying the vocal track, I hummed a melody that I had no words for and within minutes, Christen filled it in with, "Awaken your soul with Sexpot Studio".
I love it so much!
What I also love is Christen's new Damien Rice cover called, My Favourite Faded Fantasy. Listen below and please share it if you feel so inclined as it's only HER BIGGEST DREAM EVER to be able to sing with her greatest musical inspiration, and what better way to make that happen than to get her angelic voice on Mr. Rice's radar.
If you don't already know, Christen is also the beautiful voice behind the track, Hard For This (High For This cover), which I created as a tribute to The Weeknd as well as a backdrop to a portion of my modelling portfolio. Enjoy!