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World Factory
We constantly push the bounds of what theatre can be. What if it is an interactive business game where your newly formed team of six make decisions on how to run your Chinese garment factory in competition with fourteen other groups? What if, before and after, four actors present economic, political and social arguments for and against the globalised garment supply chain, flanked by giant video screens? What if the whole show makes you sit up and question whether you should buy that cheap top you're only going to wear once? Welcome to World Factory at HOME.
A theatre show should, I believe, be judged on how it makes you feel at the end of the performance. For an hour and a half you're listening to arguments and putting forward your own to persuade your team. Profit or social responsibility? High risk or low? High fashion or reliable workwear? Play by the rules or bend them? There's a hint of adrenalin. But at the end, right at the end, you see how this industry works, and its economic and human consequences. You see the impact of your choices. This show leaves a powerful impression.
The whole event takes place on the main stage. Four actors (Lucy Ellinson, Heather Lai, Jennifer Lim and Jamie Martin) act as coordinators, or dealers, throughout the game part of the show. At the start they portray economic and social figures. At the end they look at how well each team has performed, and they consider alternative, possibly better, futures. They provide the energy for the show, and they provide the overall arguments that underpin everything we, the interactive audience, do.
This show is an incredibly well researched and intelligent look at the reality of the global garment industry. The focus is China, but it could be Africa – the next stop on our quest for ever more disposable and lower cost clothing. It's highly interactive, great fun, intelligent and a real eye opener.
World Factory is at HOME from 7 to 10 December 2016.Follow @quietmandave


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This weekend we celebrated Michael's golden birthday with:
- A small (admittedly a bit over the top) Japan themed birthday party with a few of Michael's friends
- Rice Krispie Treat "sushi" (I made Fruity Pebbles Treats for the center of the roll, instead of using gummy worms, which I highly recommend for the overall consistency factor. Also, I used Fruit by the Foot instead of cutting up Fruit Roll ups--definitely a time saver.)
- Tons of Japanese treats (He loves all things Japan. Also Batman, hence the t-shirt.)
- Brunch at Portage Bay Cafe
- A sunny weekend
- A 6.5 mile, meandering walk around Green Lake, Tangletown, Phinney Ridge, and Ballard
- Mighty-O Donuts
- Brunch at Phinney Market Pub & Eatery (What? Two days, two brunches. And donuts. Don't judge.) :)
- A double feature (Friends with Kids, 21 Jump Street)
As you can see, my weekend included a lot of food, and a lot of quality time with my man. No complaints here.
Happy birthday sweetie! I love you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bath Bomb Cauldron and Jack o' Lantern
Halloween is about to come and you must see for something new to surprise your friends, here you go with the whole new bath bombs. These Halloween bath bombs i.e a Cauldron and Jack o' Lantern, are exactly smells like cupcakes and pumpkin pie. but overall they are very cute. Just see how they can really make your impression stronger among your friends in the Halloween bath decoration.
Via: Bath Bomb Cauldron and Jack o' Lantern


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Hello all, I've been preparing for the PGRE this october, with a few hiccups along the way. I've not taken thermal physics, so I basically can't answer any of those problems haha.
Anyways, what I wanted to ask was:
I just recently took a practice test and got a 640. I know this isn't atrocious or anything, but I still have a ways to go to get a better score. To those who've been preparing or who've taken the test: What seemed like the most important thing to study/be able to do?
Anything that helped you guys prepare/up your scores?


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How you grocery shop is KEY. I pretty much have my little lazy girl grocery shopping down to a tee. Lazy girl meal prepping means ZERO cooking involved. Cooking takes way too much time if you are anything like me.
Food is important! Similar to how we put gas in our cars in order for them to run, we have to also fuel ourselves to be able to have energy for everything we have to do during the day.
Keep in mind, what I pack for myself works for me. I do not recommend eating what I eat because I'm not certified to give you a specific meal plan & how, what and when you eat depends on how active you are, gender, height, weight, and what you are comfortable with. There are many factors to take into consideration when figuring out how much food you need & what foods are going to work for you & your lifestyle. Please do, however, take some ideas from me & read this post on how to find the perfect amount of food to eat for yourself!
As a girl-on-the-go, I like to make things EASY. I like simple, 5 minute type of meal prep.
The longest and most time-consuming part of my meal prep is going to be grocery shopping.
Thankfully, I live less than a mile away from a WinCo. I LOVE WIN CO. (Win Co is a grocery store in my area with very low prices for those who do not know)
Win Co has OK produce, OK meat, OK eggs, good fruit, good whole grain breads, amazing seeds & nuts, and you can find a wide variety of snack/packaged foods (but BEWARE & READ LABELS). *Future post on nasty ingredients to watch out for is coming!!*
If you are on a budget like myself Win Co is an awesome place to get the basics for your week.
Shopping list:
- Fruit! I basically pick the cheapest/freshest fruit for whatever season we are in. Currently: strawberries, black grapes, pears, banana, apples.
- Veggies. I pick up carrots, cucumber, celery & salad making (UM hello DOLE Chopped Sesame Asian Salad–all done up for you and ready to take with you)
- NUTS. I love Win Co's trail mix medley they have going on, they have such variety. I look for ones with the least salt, no chocolate and lots of flax & pumpkin seed! A pound of pistachios is also necessary of course.
- Snack food! My snack of choice are pretzels
& That's all I get for lunchies from WinCo.
I'll also stop by Trader Joes every couple of weeks and grab some more fruit, coconut milk, spices, bagels, any other random thing I can't resisting grabbing. Last week I bought Gluten free pumpkin spice pancake mix (like why?), Anyone else guilty of buying random stuff at Trader Joes?
Can't leave Trader Joes without:
- RX Bars (protein bars with WHOLESOME ingredients)
- Coconut milk
- Kombucha
- applepears (thats an apple and a pear in ONE fruit! amazing-ness)
First things first, get out your Tupperware and make a salad.
Bringing a salad on the go and eating one every single day will save your life. It's such an easy way to get your veggies in. I found a salad that is super tasty, affordable, and sooooo easy to take with me.
DOLE CHOPPED SALAD KIT – Sesame Asian is my FAVE.
I pack this baby nice & tight in a Tupperware & I am done with my salad.
- Next I will be sure I have FRUIT. Fruit is so filling, full of carbs and sugar – PERFECT for fueling you with some serious energy. I like to pack a banana and either an apple or pear.
- I pack a small bag of carrots to get some more veggies in.
- A protein bar is PERFECT also! Make sure you check the ingredients before putting it into your mouth. Protein bars are good to have "just in case". Sometimes I will randomly be really hungry in the afternoon or stuck in traffic on the way home, you just never know when you need a protein bar.
- I pack a little more than a cup of nuts with me which fills me up for at least an hour & a half but pair it with some fruit and you will be full for hours.
Now I know a lot of you probably follow some major instagram famous fitness models that pack ground turkey or chicken, veggies, and potatoes every day for every meal but what works for them & their lifestyle most likely wont work for you. I found out that eating meat with every meal is not what I need with my lifestyle, I also found out many other interesting facts about myself by calculating my macro's. Read my post on Macros to learn more on how you can find out how much and what foods you need to eat, I highly recommend this in order to really understand yourself and crush your fitness goals!


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L'Oreal Professionnel
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All life transitions happen in three stages.
Preparation- A time of great planning and anxiety where the looming change is approaching and we are separating from our past perceptions of who we are.
Culminating Event- The moment of "In between" when we are neither here nor there. The experience during these times is very "here and now" oriented. We may feel overwhelmed like we can't find solid footing.
Acclimation- This is the "calm after the storm" where we slowly piece our selves back together. Grief can loom over this stage and thoughts of the past. However, it is also here that we settle into the new patterns of a new life.


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At the microscopic level, light-matter interactions can organize colloidal matter via a process known as optical binding. Optical binding refers to the creation of arrays of microparticles formed in the presence of laser fields, the inter-particle spacing being determined by the refocusing and/or scattering of the laser fields by the microparticles. In this paper we investigate one-dimensional optically bound arrays of microparticles using a femtosecond dual-beam optical fiber trap, and develop a means to visualize the field intensity distributions responsible for the optical binding using two-photon fluoresence imaging from fluorescein added to the host medium. The experimental intensity distributions are shown to be in good agreement with numerical simulations, thereby validating our new approach to visualizing the fields responsible for optical binding, and the physical model of optical binding as due to refocusing of the fields by the microparticles.
©2006 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
OSA Recommended Articles
M. C. Frawley, I. Gusachenko, V. G. Truong, M. Sergides, and S. Nic Chormaic
Opt. Express 22(13) 16322-16334 (2014)
O. Brzobohatý, T. Čižmár, V. Karásek, M. Šiler, K. Dholakia, and P. Zemánek
Opt. Express 18(24) 25389-25402 (2010)
Pavel Zemánek, Alexandr Jonáš, Libor Šrámek, and Miroslav Liška
Opt. Lett. 24(21) 1448-1450 (1999)


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Fathers around the world want to love and care for their children. But for some fathers, the ability to provide for their children can be just out of reach. This is where organizations like World Vision come in to empower these fathers and provide them with the tools that they need to build a sustainable future for their family. In honor of Father's Day, learn about one of these fathers and why he continues to farm for his daughter's future.
By Stefanie Glinsk
Sweat drips from Isaac's face as he plows his fields under South Sudan's hot sun. He has been working hard, and the results are tangible. Just a few yards over sits his wife, stirring a boiling pot of fresh eggplant. Tebila, their young daughter, plays next to her, eagerly waiting for her lunch. The family has been eating nutritious meals for the past year even though parts of South Sudan have declared a famine.
Isaac, his wife, and daughter live a short drive from Juba, in Rejaf. Nestled on the bank of the Nile River, with lush green fields growing a variety of vegetables, it's a beautiful spot. Here World Vision has set up farming projects helping locals diversify their crops, and with the help of petrol-powered water pumps, irrigate their fields.
"I now grow seven kinds of vegetables and get to sell the majority of it at the market," Isaac explains.
Though his daughter is just a toddler, he's eager to send her to school when the time comes. "I became a farmer when I was 13, and now, 10 years later, it's still what I do," the young father says. "I don't want the same for my daughter."
He's originally from a small town in Central Equatoria but has been working in Rejaf for many years. "Once fighting broke out in my town, I decided it would be better to stay close to the capital," he explains, adding, "I still don't know what has happened to my parents. I haven't seen them since the attack on my village."
Farming has drastically changed for Isaac since working with World Vision. "I didn't have irrigation before and most of my seeds died. My wife and I were very hungry back then," he remembers.
For the past year, his high-quality seeds came from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. "Before that, I often bought bad seeds at the market," he says. "We were very short on money."
Isaac gets to go to one of Juba's main markets several days a week, selling his fresh produce. "I'm even saving a little bit of money now," he proudly shares.
With South Sudan's soil being one of the most fertile in Africa, it is no wonder that Isaac's vegetables are growing strong. "The Nile has enough water for all of us farmers in the country," he says, pausing his work for a while and eyeing the lunch his wife has prepared.
"I'm thankful for the help we have received. When I look at my daughter, I know that I will be able to send her to school one day."
As he starts eating, his eyes gaze over the neighboring fields where other farmers are working.
World Vision has supported over 3,700 households here, teaching farming skills and supplying seven types of vegetables. Isaac is just one of them.
There are many parents who are struggling to provide for their family, like Isaac once was, especially in the midst of a famine. In honor of Father's Day, take a minute to send an email using our easy form. Thank Congress for prioritizing aid for the famine in FY17 and ask them to continue to show their support in the FY18 budget.
Photo: Isaac with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Tebila. Isaac has been a farmer since he was 13 and never went to school; he is now almost 24. World Vision has supported him this past year by providing training, seeds, and irrigation. The family now has a balanced, nutritious diet, and Isaac can sell his vegetables at the local market. © 2017 World Vision/ photo by Stefanie Glinsk


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This is the site of the Big Four Inn, which burned down in 1949. All that stands is the chimney. Big Four Mountain looms above and the meadows are inviting on a mile long trail to the Ice Caves. Please note: Read signs and make sure all of your party stays a safe distance from the caves. Note: There is a separate trailhead for those choosing to go all the way to the Ice Caves.
Get there: From Granite Falls take the Mountain Loop all the way to the parking lot, 24 miles from town.


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Forumwarz is the first "Massively Single-Player" online RPG completely built around Internet culture.
You are currently looking at Flamebate, our community forums. Players can discuss the game here, strategize, and role play as their characters.
You need to be logged in to post and to see the uncensored versions of these forums.
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i can have free BP please?
|Posted On: 03/06/2009 6:39AM
|View turtlefayce's Profile | #


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We started Partnership with Children's first Art Group! The process of making objects and images is, I hope, going to excite our students and get them re-engaged in school. We've got 10 kids signed up, all of whom have low attendance. Each session will include a little art history, and then will focus on an art-making activity that weaves in social and emotional skills like team-work, problem-solving, and respecting others' opinions.
In the first session we did our standard introductions and ice-breaker activities so everyone could get to know one another and start building a sense of trust. The next session, called "On an Island", should be really interesting because the students will have to imagine they are stranded on islands! Working in groups of 2 or 3, they will have to think about what they need to survive on their islands. Then they have to create a drawing of the island and all of the items they have decided they need to live. Since they are working in teams the students have to listen to each others ideas, which can be a real struggle for teenagers. It will definitely be interesting to see what they come up with and how they learn to work together to complete their "islands"!
The next session we're going to explore how music impacts emotions. We'll play different genres of music and have the students draw and paint to explore how the music shapes the type of art work they create. We're hoping this activity helps the students delve more into the various emotions they experience and how to express those emotions in a positive way.
Can't wait to see what the students create!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Art as Expression
Posted by Tales of an NYC Social Worker: Opening Hearts, Opening Minds on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 0 comments
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#1 You suck.
#2 Can I stop doing this now? It's not fun anymore, kthnxbai.
#3 Where did you disappear off to?
#4 Make up your mind, or I'll do it for you.
#5 I lied, I just hate your friends.
#6 I'm gonna have way more fun.
Ah, now that's freeing. And no, they're not all to the same person. 😉


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Celebrating the Return of Summit's Community Canvas!
The Summit Federal Credit Union invites the public to contribute to a Community Canvas at Artist Row Sunday September 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City of Rochester Public Market. The Summit Federal Credit Union is the primary sponsor of Artist Row, a juried art show, sale and event featuring over 200 artists as well as musical entertainment and food trucks. Admission to Artist Row is free.
The Summit's Community Canvas starts as merely a blank canvas on an easel, but anyone attending Artist Row who wishes to paint something on it may do so. The resulting art piece, which shows the collaborative contributions of all those who lent a creative hand, will be displayed at The Summit's Main/Winton branch in the weeks after Artist Row.
"As a locally-grown credit union, we are proud to support the City of Rochester Public Market and all it provides our community," said Twanda Christensen, Marketing Manager for The Summit. "Artist Row gives us a chance to celebrate local creativity, and our Community Canvas is a fun way for people to get into the spirit of this lively event."
Since 2012, The Summit Federal Credit Union has been a leading supporter of the City of Rochester Public Market, including the Monthly Healthy Tasting, Artist Row and the Market Trolley. 2016 is the 12th Annual Artist Row, planned each year by the Friends of the Rochester Public Market. Besides the support of The Summit Federal Credit Union, Artist Row receives additional support from the City of Rochester and other local sponsors.
About The Summit Federal Credit Union
Founded in 1941, The Summit Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned, full-service financial cooperative. With approximately $800 million in assets, The Summit has over 230 employees and provides a full range of affordable financial products and services to approximately 80,000 active members in Central and Western New York. For more information, visit www.summitfcu.org.


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Sandals Resorts in Grenada
An exotic, unspoiled hideaway, Sandals Grenada will offer guests a romantic, authentic Caribbean vacation while providing the Luxury Included® amenities and exceptional service that have come to be associated with the Sandals Resorts experience.
Come experience the very pinnacle of luxury all-inclusive Caribbean excellence. Sandals delights couples in love with supreme luxury resorts in St. Lucia, Jamaica, Antigua and the Bahamas, featuring gourmet candlelit dining for two, gorgeous tropical settings and some of the world's most exquisite beaches, If you are planning a wedding, Sandals is the leader in Caribbean destination weddings and honeymoon packages. Learn More About Sandals Resorts
Defying every convention of traditional design, the new Sandals LaSource Grenada takes innovation beyond the realm of imagination to create an extraordinary resort unlike anything you have ever experienced. Pools in the sky and living rooms in swimming pools. Private plunge pools, cascading waterfalls and meandering river pools. Here, in the heart of Grenada's exclusive Pink Gin Beach, on an exotic island paradise where the intoxicating scents of spice and tropical blooms make a heady elixir for romance, we've taken the best of everything to create a whole new Sandals experience… one that takes you beyond the unexpected.
Sandals Grenada Highlights
- 4 Villages: Pink Gin, South Seas, Lover's
- Hideaway, & Italian Village
- Caribbean's most innovative rooms and suites
- Only 257 rooms and suites
- Romantic Tranquility Soaking Tubs on patios and balconies
- Magnificent Skypool Suites
- Butler service in top-tier categories
- Unlimited fine dining at 10 restaurants
- 6 full-service bars
- Unlimited premium brand drinks
- Unlimited Mondavi® wines
- State-of-the-art fitness center and spa
- 5 pools and 2 whirlpools
- Unlimited Scuba Diving
- Unlimited land and water sports
- Romantic Fire Pits
- Huge variety of tours available
- Just minutes from the airport
- Free non-stop round trip airport transfers
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas
Destination Grenada
Known as the "Island of Spice" Grenada is a truly exotic paradise, one that just happens to be the perfect landscape for a Sandals Resort. This "Island of Spice" is known for it's remarkable natural beauty, pristine beaches, impossibly blue seas, and a veritable treasure trove of spices – cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and particularly nutmeg, it's most sought-after spice.
Sandals Resorts Include:
- Destination Jamaica
- Sandals Montego Bay
- Sandals Royal Caribbean
- Sandals Ochi
- Sandals Royal Plantation
- Sandals Negril
- Sandals South Coast
- Sandals Carlyle Inn
- Destination Saint Lucia
- Sandals Regency La Toc
- Sandals Halcyon Beach
- Sandals Grande St. Lucian
- Destination Bahamas
- Sandals Emerald Bay
- Sandals Royal Bahamian
- Destination Antigua
- Sandals Grande Antigua
- Destination Grenada
- Sandals LaSource Grenada
- Destination Barbados
- Sandals Barbados
- Sandals Royal Barbados
Also See Beaches Resorts:
- Beaches Resorts – for Everyone
- Beaches Resorts Special Offers
- Beaches Negril, Jamaica
- Beaches Ocho Rios, Jamaica
- Beaches Turks & Caicos
- Beaches BFF Girls Getaway


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Sun 13Oct
Back To The Old Skool : Black History Month Special (16+)Glee Club Birmingham
COBO presents Back To The Old Skool : Black History Month Special
Back To The Old Skool brings a Black History Month Special with acts from your favourite old skool comedy shows such as Real McCoy, Blouse and Skirt & The A Force.
All under 25s may require government-issued photo ID. (See FAQs)
Part of Birmingham Comedy Festival, Friday 4 to Sunday 13 October 2019. For more information, see: http://www.bhamcomfest.co.uk/
Advance price
- £17.50 Show Entry
- + £1.60 booking fee per ticket
- Doors open 6:00 PM
- Last entry 6:45 PM
More info
- Seating type unallocated
- Food available yes
- Minimum age 16


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1. PET TWIN. I know it's a common observation that people look like their pets, but it was still a shock to me when my daughters saw a recent picture my wife had taken of our dog and said, "That looks just like Dad!" Of course I don't see any resemblance between my physiognomy and a Yorkshire Terrier's, but I am a little worried that others might draw the same conclusion my daughters did. At 54, I'm too settled with my looks to consider any extreme makeovers that might make me appear less canine-like, but I have made one important change. I no longer complain about the expense when my wife takes our dog to a professional groomer. I am suddenly very invested in making sure our little Yorkie always looks his best.
2. HIGHER PURPOSE. I was sitting with my youngest when she told me she had realized her true purpose in life. Given her musical and scientific talents, I thought she might tell me her life mission was to play some incredible piece of music that would lift people's spirits or to discover a cure for a hitherto intractable disease. But instead she announced to me that she had realized she had been put on this earth "to eat roasted potatoes." Ah, yes, she is truly her foodie mother's daughter.
3. WATER HAZZARDS. As someone who downs several large oversized glasses of water per day, I can't understand why my daughters can never finish the drinks they serve themselves. They litter our house with half-filled glasses of water or juice, and invariably when I reach for something on an end table or our kitchen counter I knock one of those neglected drinks over. As a result, simply moving through my houses forces me to be constantly cleaning up messes. It seems there are two possible explanations for why my daughters don't dispose of liquids they no longer have any use for: 1) They forget their father is a klutz, or 2) They know their father is clumsy and they deliberately leave these booby traps around the house to torture me. Frequent readers of Dad Flashes probably won't be surprised to learn I'm convinced the accurate explanation is #2.
4. FOREIGN FOREVER. When I was in college, I took a class in Medieval Literature and was shocked when my professor read Beowulf to us in Old English. None of the Germanic-sounding syllables he uttered bore any resemblance to the language I knew and spoke. I had a similar experience when my youngest was chuckling over a text she received because her friend was being funny by using a "texting style from when we were in the sixth grade." My youngest is only in the ninth grade now, but apparently new forms of texting abbreviations have evolved in that three-year timespan. When I asked for more details, my daughter told me, "She was typing things like LOL, BRB, and GTG. No one uses those anymore, unless they're being ironic." Yeesh, just when I thought I might become fluent in texting abbreviations, I have to discover there are whole different epochs to them. There's no way I'll ever figure all of that out. So go ahead, girls, text your LMBOs, NSFLs, and SWAKs til your heart's content. I have now accepted your codes will be as forever impenetrable to me as the language of the Anglo Saxons who roamed the British isles a millennium ago.
5. NO MORE RECALL. In my younger days, I could quickly recall the name of every movie I'd ever seen, and if friends were trying to think of a movie title as long as they mentioned at least one of the actors in it and even the briefest synopsis, I could readily identify it for them. They called me the walking movie encyclopedia. (Yes, encyclo – because my youth was decidedly pre-Wikipedia.) Those days, however, are long gone. Now I have trouble recalling the names of movies I've seen in the past year. Last week, my wife and I got into one of those conversations in which both of us were trying to recall the name of "that movie with Gwyneth Paltrow's mother playing the mother of the star of that TV show about the women in prison, and the love interest is that handsome kid the girls had on a crush when he was in the high school musical movie." And that was one we had just watched a few weeks earlier. (For the record, it was The Lucky One.) At this rate, it won't be long before I have trouble figuring out what's going on at the end of a movie because I can't remember what happened at the beginning.


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I woke from a deep sleep to the rythymic sound of thwacking. In my sleep-muddle state, it sounded to me like someone chopping down a tree with a very strong axe, and I thought 'Why would anyone be cutting down a tree in the middle of the night?'
Then we looked out of the window and saw the orange haze of flames. And came out onto our front steps and saw this:
I didn't realise how high the flames were until I saw it on the camera screen. The smoke was billowing and orange embers crackled and shot high in the night sky.
We live down a small lane and opposite us, on the corner, is a compound that is home to about 50 or so Laotians. They are the teachers and their families of a nearby school.
And last night their homes went up in smoke.
The fire must have started quickly. There was hardly anyone around on the road though I could see people carrying things out of their homes and occasionally running down past us with bags.
Once we were outside, the thwacking noise was quickly replaced by loud popping sounds, like crushing bubble wrap. Over the tin roof we could see white sparks flying and realised that it was the electricity wires inside the compound short circuiting. Then the connecting electricity pole on the nearby corner exploded in white light and the lights around the compound went dark.
As for us, our fear was that the flames would leap across the narrow lane and into our garden. It would be easy enough if the old, giant mango tree in their yard caught fire. Its huge spreading branches reach almost across the lane, brushing against an equally tall tree in our garden. Fortunately, though, there was no wind.
By now it was about 4.00am, the fire was well and truly blazing and had been for at least half an hour. The fire engines hadn't arrived though we had called them, and I imagine the neighbours had too.
I cranked up our garden hoses and started spraying water across our wall and onto the road and their tin roof. The hoses were frustratingly short and there was also the worry about the still-sparking and popping electricity cables. Nobody else seemed to have hoses out and the neighbours were more concerned with getting their belongings out of the burning buildings.
Then I heard the wail of fire engines in the distance.
One of the first things the emergency crew did was to switch off the neighbourhood electricity. People were gathering out of nearby homes, clad in pyjamas and shorts, standing under the now defunct electricity pole and staring at the unfolding drama.
The fire engines carry their own water as there are no hydrants around. Four engines squeezed their way down the narrow lane, spraying water from every vantage point.
The flames subsided; replaced by billowing smoke. Everyone just stood back and watched. The fire fighters were inside the compound and spraying water from the tops of the trucks. The neighbours spread out down the lane. One helpful guy chased and caught a scrawny rooster that had escaped its owner (and the fire).
Dawn was starting to break and people dispersed a little. I went home to check on the kids who had slept through the entire episode and were still fast asleep. When the sun rose at 6am, I returned to see the damage...
Smoke still rose off the hot embers and metal corrugated roofs. Frayed electricity cords dangled everywhere. Two fire fighters remained, dragging the heavy hoses across the debris.
When the blaze was finally out, it was time to pack up and go home. This fire fighter above took off his boots and emptied out the water. The hoses were loudly cranked back into the engines and they rumbled noisily away.
This home above was one of the lucky ones that escaped the fire. Though as you can see, its construction of wooden planks, cement blocks and sheets of tin doesn't make it particularly fire proof.
Such is life in Laos. But alongside dubious building construction, this fire showed me evidence of the Lao spirit of resilience and pragmatism. Nobody was hurt in this fire, thankfully. But 9 families lost their homes and the community in which they lived. Yet at no point was there hysteria, panic or even despair, though people were witnessing their homes go up in flames.
This afternoon, we visited the compound where everyone was hanging out in the yard / parking lot. People were talking and laughing, drinking beer and commiserating, while kids rode their bikes around and played.
In times of trouble and grief, people bring food. We brought our signature homemade cupcakes.
And we'll be bringing more practical things over the next few days. I tried to imagine if it had been my house that had gone up in smoke. And I like to imagine that people might extend a hand of friendship then. After all, everyone loves cupcakes, right?
I have set up a fundraising page to help these families with basic household goods and food. Please give generously. Thank you.


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Regardless of the industry – for-profit or non-profit, corporate or ministry, sacred or secular, etc., one of the greatest needs every leader inevitably wrestles with is a shortage of workers. You can watch the news and see how monthly job reports influence current politics. You can speak with corporate leaders and they'll undoubtedly offer their thoughts on job vacancies and the absence of certain skilled workers. So on and so forth… And while we can debate the cause of such shortages – i.e. certain groups having limited access to quality education, poor high-educational models that need updating in order to stop equipping students with skills that don't meet today's job markets, etc., our religious institutions are not exempt from struggling with the same issues.
Having served in various aspects of Christian leadership for nearly a decade, I can't even count the amount of times that the different ministries I've served in/with have required individuals to wear one too many hats in order to pull off a project or event. I've listened to so many leaders protest the fact that only 20% of their congregation seems to be engaged and doing all the work needed while the other 80% "sits by." I've sat and wondered why ministries hired unqualified people to do professional tasks like legal and accounting when they have lawyers and accountants sitting in their very pews. And I find myself struck with the question… Are we successfully equipping our followers to truly understand and value what it means to do "Kingdom work"?
In his book titled Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor, Prof. Ben Witherington III offers, "We are all called to be workers and that is an essential part of our purpose and mission on earth, … Work is what weaves together the very fabric of a called person's identity, and fulfills it." In other words, our concept of "work" as Christians should be more than just the occupations we pursue. Our perspective must move from doing a job, to pursuing a purpose. As leaders, it is our responsibility to aid our congregations in effectively making this transition. Here is a suggestion:
"Our perspective must move from doing a job, to pursuing a purpose."
We must help our followers transition their understanding of "work" from that of occupation to vocation. As Jeff Goins explains, the word "occupation" comes from the same root as the English word "occupy" – meaning to take up space. And often, this is how we tend to think about jobs that are occupations. Namely, they take up time and their purpose is simply to pay the bills. But what if we were called not simply to "occupy" spaces, but to see and pursue our purpose to be missional in the spaces we're called to?
To this end, Witherington offers, "Work, from a Biblical point of view, involves calling, vocation, and, if done right, ministry." In other words, work is not simply that which we do. On the contrary, from a Kingdom perspective, work is the vocation(s) which we are called to do. Witherspoon goes on to support this, defining a vocation as "what one is equipped and trained or gifted and experienced to do." This may be a job that should actually be seen as a mission field. This is using the gifts and talents we've both nurtured and acquired to serve outside of our jobs in our Christian communities (i.e. as a Church trustee, elder, administrator, accountant, counsel, usher, etc. in our church). This is volunteering to serve outside of our churches, helping to meet the needs of those around us in our larger communities. Whatever it is, the point here is to be intentional about seeking and discerning God's will for one's "work."
To help your congregants see the difference, begin by helping them wrestle with the underlying questions here – What could you do? vs. What should you do? Yes, seeking and discerning God's will is sometimes easier said than done. However, this is where discipleship is critical. Helping our followers develop a healthy theology of work/vocation will help them develop a Kingdom perspective of what it means to do God's work. If we are successful, we may just find that yes, as Jesus said, the harvest is plenty (Matt. 9:37). However, the workers who understand their role as vocation-minded, mission-driven, Christ followers will be plentiful as well.


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I went to SXSW Interactive in Austin, Texas earlier this year, and while I was there, I was lucky enough to be able to visit Hill Country Weavers (not just once, but twice!), and amongst my haul of goodies I bought two balls of Berocco Ultra Alpaca with the intention of making a nice cuddly wrap.
Amazingly, for me, the result was actually a nice cuddly wrap (as opposed to buying yarn for a project, having it languish in stash hotel for months then doing something else entirely with it) and the yarn was so lovely that I started working on it almost as soon as I got home.
I came up with a stripe pattern that went:
5 rows teal 3 rows purple 1 row teal 3 rows purple 5 rows teal
then reversed the colour bands
Luckily for me, I had just enough yarn to make it work and finished it over Easter, on a visit to my boyfriend's parents.
I so desperately wanted to finish it so I could wear it down there, envisioning a nice crisp spring walk along the beach wearing it, that I crocheted the whole 5 hour journey from London to Devon, complete with over the ear LED light so I could continue in the dark. Whenever we drew up next to another car, I kept getting funny looks. Can't imagine why.
It hasn't had much use this year, but I dug it out this morning because it's been such miserable weather here, and this is just the thing for a horrible grey day.


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Elderly people in most countries in Asia live with their offspring at home. They choose to take care of their grandchildren, as their sons or daughters and their in-laws are working. Such phenomenon is very common. But, in China, there is a great tendency of those elderly people to live in Kaijiancare. There are many reasons, why those retirees prefer to spend the rest of their lives within elderly care in China, which are high in demands during the past decade.
The first reason is convenience. Nothing feel more comfortable than sharing stories, ideas, and dreams to others with similar ages. This is what seniors feel when they live in Kajiancare. Though grandparents mostly have close relationships with their grandchildren, they still consider that they feel happier when they spend days in doing activities that seniors are used to do.
The second reason is the existence of social media. Based on recent researches, retirees don't have to worry about losing contacts with their relatives, even if they dwell within senior nursing homes. Elderly people can explore their hobbies perfectly on the nursing homes, while they can share everything with their family members, who live far away from them.
The third and the foremost reason is the excellent service that many elderly nursing homes provide. China has been improving the service for the retirees, due to the high population of elderly people in the country. Many retirement homes are equipped with good amenities and experienced nurses. All of those special services don't cost a fortune.
Those are the main reasons, why living in Kajiancare is worth considering. There are times when parents feel upset when their daughters or sons send them to the senior care homes. But, once they meet others with similar ages, they will feel like 'home' because they are filled with love and joy, accordingly.


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Welcome to the CRC 1242 / SFB 1242
Welcome to the Collaborative Research Centre 1242 (Sonderforschungsbereich 1242) located at the Faculty of Physics and the Faculty of Chemistry
Non-Equilibrium Dynamics of Condensed Matter in the Time Domain
Non-equilibrium states can be created in condensed matter through ultrashort pulsed external stimuli such as light, pressure, electrical voltage or particles. This Collaborative Research Centre aims to achieve a material specific, microscopic understanding of such non-equilibrium states.To this end, new tools in experimental and theoretical physics will be developed to describe the time evolution from the moment of the stimulus to a state close to equilibrium in time and space.
click here for a more detailed outline
or here for general information on Collaborative Research Centres (external link)


text: The blog has taken a bit of a backseat lately, but what I realized I missed the most is sharing these monthly photo posts! I used to journal a ton (especially in my angsty tween/teen years - yikes!) but have found less and less time to do so as the years progress. I think these posts, are in essence, a little photographic journal of the things I experience each month and I love that one picture is always enough to jog an entire string of memories! I hope you had a wonderful November - and here's to all of the festive happenings to come in December!


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paid a visit to our friends at the lost abbey in their new cardiff location. stop by and check it out for yourself. The Confessional.
our people have the coolest cars.
off to the recycle bin ye goes!
brandon, our assistant brewer, really gets into his work.
fresh out of the oven and ready for your face.


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Politics & Government
Henry Clay High School students join fairness rally in Kentucky Capitol
FRANKFORT — Ben Swanson, a 16-year-old junior at Lexington's Henry Clay High School, stood front and center with about 25 other young people leading a rally Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda to support anti-discrimination legislation.
Swanson, president of the school's Young Democrats club, enthusiastically chanted along with more than 200 others at the rally: "Together we stand, together we fight, we demand our equal rights."
Swanson and several of his classmates at Henry Clay took a school field trip to participate in The Fairness Coalition's rally for anti-discrimination proposals in this year's state legislative session.
"I'm straight but I think everyone should have the same rights I do as a straight person," Swanson said. "That's why I'm here."
The Fairness Coalition consists of five organizations working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in Kentucky. Its member organizations are the ACLU of Kentucky, Fairness Campaign, Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, Kentucky Fairness Alliance and Lexington Fairness.
The coalition is backing three bills, all of which have appeared in previous law-making sessions.
Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, and House Bill 171, sponsored by Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, would amend the Kentucky Civil Rights Act to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" among classes of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Marzian also is sponsoring HB 377, an anti-bullying measure that would include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students among protected classes. It is known as "The Sam Denham and Miranda Campbell Stand Up for All Students Act," named for two Kentucky students who committed suicide after being bullied about their sexual orientation.
"We are making progress," said Chris Hartman, director of the Fairness Campaign. "In the five legislative sessions I've been doing this, we've never had so many show up to lobby as we did this morning. We had over 100."
Supporters delivered to the legislature more than 11,000 constituent post cards advocating passage of the bills.
Asked about the bills' chances of passage, Hartman said he is optimistic that HB 171 this year will get its first-ever committee hearing.
But Martin Cothran, a spokesman for The Family Foundation, said the legislation is not needed.
"We oppose these bills," he said, noting that there already are laws dealing with discrimination and bullying and contending that the bills could hurt freedom of religion and speech.
Marzian told the crowd that the "fight for fairness has come a long way" since she joined the legislature in 1994.
She said legislators who support fairness bills used to spend their time "fighting bad legislation. Today we are proposing good legislation."
Johnny Cummings, mayor of Perry County's Vicco, population 334, said to loud applause that he is "so proud to come from a little town that passed a fairness ordinance."
In January, Vicco became the smallest town in America to adopt an anti-discrimination law based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Swanson said he considers fairness "one of the major issues of our times."
"That's why I got about 12 students from our Young Democrats group and the school's Gay Straight Alliance to come to Frankfort," he said.
Swanson's proclivity to political issues, he said, stems from his parents, Mark Swanson and Nancy Schoenberg, and his participation in the Kentucky Youth Assembly, a three-day student-run model of the state legislature each November.
As president of Henry Clay's Young Democrats, he has helped get the 35-member group to discuss issues ranging from politics in the Middle East to the environment. He is optimistic that anti-discrimination bills now being filed in Kentucky's General Assembly will someday become law.
"I think this is an issue that will take a while and a lot of hard work to become law," Swanson said. "But I think we are on the right side of history."


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For the final day of New York Comic Con, Marvel lead off with the "Amazing Spider-Man and Beyond" panel, where Arune Singh, Marvel's Director of Communications, hosted a discussion with "Amazing Spider-Man" and "Superior Spider-Man" writer Dan Slott, "Morbius" writer Joe Keatinge, "Daredevil" scribe Mark Waid, "Avenging Spider-Man" and "Robot Chicken" writer Kevin Shinick, "Scarlet Spider" and "Superior Spider-Man" artist Ryan Stegman, and "Venom" writer Cullen Bunn and artist Declan Shalvey, and editors Steve Wacker and Ellie Pyle.
"If you haven't heard, by mayoral decree, today is offiicially Spider-Man in New York City!" Singh began, to cheers. He mentioned Spider-Man's birthday card in the Marvel booth, which is looking to set a world record for most signatures on a birthday card.
Singh also mentioned that today is the last day to download an "Ultimate Spider-Man" Infinite Comic for free-tomorrow it will be $2.
The panel kicked off with Slott talking about "Amazing Spider Man" #696 cover, with Doc Ock knowing Spidey's identity. #700 is the final issue of the series, but Wacker said "we have plans for what comes after." Singh, meanwhile, said "you will be so pissed off."
Wacker said that "a select few fans will have their letters answered by Stan [Lee]" in #700."
Moving on to "Avenging Spider-Man" #15.1, the other Marvel comic coming out on December 26, Wacker spoke favorably of the team of Christopher Yost and Paco Medina. But, Pyle added, "read #700 first."
Singh noted that "Amazing" #700 will ship a week early to retailers because of the Christmas holiday and, "if any of you spoil this issue, you never have a right to complain about us spoiling issues in the mainstream media ever again."
Shinick's "Avenging" arc will be feature "Deadpool in high school," which the writer admitted "doesn't make sense because he's not Deadpool in high school." But it'll all make sense, Shinick added, when "the Hypno Hustler returns."
"Superior Spider-Man" was next, which Singh said would "feature an all-new Spider-Man, and it ain't Peter Parker." He asked Slott, "Why do you hate Spider-Man?"
"That's a 'when did you stop beating your wife' question," Slott laughed.
"I love my wife, I wouldn't replace her," Singh shot back,
"You've only been married a week."
After the banter, Slott said that Peter might still be in the book. "This is a much creepier Spider-Man than we've seen," Slott said, describing the book as "dark and weird." "Within two hours, the internet had turned that into 'grim and gritty.'"
Stegman said he's "using a lot more nib" in his art, "so maybe I'm the one making it grim and gritty."
Wacker noted that "a lot of people see Spider-Man as very light," but "even from the beginning, when Uncle Ben died, it was darker than pretty much anything that had come before."
Slott compared the tone to Gwen Stacy's death and "Kraven's Last Hunt." Then, "You want Spider-Man and Mary Jane back together? They're back together! But he's not Peter Parker."
Keatinge came up next, talking about "Morbius the Living Vampire." "He's relentless in trying to do good, but he always messes it up," Keatinge said of the character. The book will "look at horror in the Marvel universe, and it's not monsters."
"Daredevil" and Mark Waid stepped up next. Waid credited his "murderer's row of artists" for the title's Eisner win. "It was a huge risk to take a left turn from the last twenty five years of it being a crime noir book, and stepping out of the shadow of Frank Miller," Waid said, but fans' support made it work.
Waid said that, though the "the first year of the book has made Matt Murdock's life fairly pleasant," this would shift. "The theme of the book has been 'actions have consequences,'" Waid said, and one of the dark loose ends would come back. "He'll need help from a certain webslinger and the all-new Stilt Man-I can't believe I just said that." Issue #23 makes the Marvel NOW! debut and "reveals the mystery villain who's been playing Matt since issue #3," Waid said. "You'll also see a lot more of Hank Pym, because I love the Matt Murdock/Hank Pym friendship."
Singh spoke briefly on Brian Michael Bendis' "Daredevil: End of Days" with artists Klaus Janson, Bill Sienkiewicz, David Mack, and Alex Maleev. Wacker added that "these are a lot of the guys whose shadow the ongoing book is living in."
Bunn and Shalvey spoke about "Minimum Carnage." Shalvey joked that "with the other books going darker, Venom is going to get lighter, with an all-white costume." Shalvey added that the book features "more symbiotes per panel than any other book."
"Venom" will be relocating to Philadelphia. "Assuming Flash Thompson survives 'Minimum Carnage,' Venom needs a change," Bunn said. "Philadelphia is where he thinks he can be the hero he needs to be."
"Everybody's so mean, he'll seem nice by comparrison," Singh joked.
Wacker said that the change reflects the desire for the Marvel U to "expand beyond six blocks in New York City." On "Scarlet Spider," Wacker noted that his new life isn't working out so well, though, and at some point he'll "have to deal with the new Spider-Man in New York City."
For "Hawkeye" by Matt Fraction and David Aja, Wacker described the book as "what Hawkeye does on his days off. Javier Pulido will rotate arcs with Aja, Wacker said.
"Captain Marvel" came up next, and Singh said "we've been honored and flattered by the response to this book." "We're trying to bring her up in a big way," Wacker added. "One thing I said, she should never sit around wondering what to do--she can fly," he added, saying she "follows Captain America because she has to, but she should be the leader of any team she's on."
"Punisher: War Zone," a miniseries wrapping up Greg Rucka's run with the character, was next up. "It's a five-issue cat and mouse chase," Wacker said. "You will believe Frank could keep away from the likes of Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Widow," he said, noting Rucka had planned this out in detail. "There's a way you can stab someone in the neck that cuts off their vocal chords--and Greg knows this."
"Welcome to kids' day at New York Comic Con," Waid said.
At this point the floor was opened to questions.
The first asked whether there would be repercussions from the "Spider-Men" miniseries.
"Is the new Spider-Man Miles Morales, is that what you're asking?" Slott asked.
"We're not going to follow up 'Spider-Men' right now, but it was one of the best miniseries of the year," Wacker said.
In response to a question about Flash Thompson discovering Spider-Man's identity, Wacker said, "There have been discussions, but the 'Superior Spider-Man' throws that out of whack."
Wacker gave advice to writers that they should carefully consider a character's traits to drive story. Waid said his thoughts for Stilt Man were, "why would anybody hire this guy to steal anything when anyone can see him coming twenty blocks away?"
"Right, if you can find the situation where he's the answer to your problem, you've got your story."
Asked whether the Superior Spider-Man is someone we've seen before, possibly a reformed villain, Slott said only, "Our first arc is called 'Hero or Menace.'"
On the subject of Alpha, Slott noted that "Spider-Man's greatest tragedy was losing his Uncle Ben; Alpha's greatest tragedy is losing his powers." This, he suggested, would influence the character's evolution.
"'Avenging Spider-Man' is continuing," Wacker said, even with "Superior's" launch.
One fan was hoping for Spidey to get together with Captain Marvel. "There's no plans for them to become romantic," Wacker said, "though Peter would love to date Carol Danvers, as anyone would." He said having them date would be too expected, and he sees them as friends that respect each other.
A fan from Houston appreciated that "Scarlet Spider" was set in his city. Wacker said that he has family there and "as crass as this sounds, it's the nation's third largest city and I thought we could get a lot of promotion out of it." Stegman, the series artist from the start, said he also has family there, though he noted that "I visited and saw they don't have a lot of skyscrapers, which was troubling."
Slott said he was not influenced by the Ultimate universe, which has also taken Peter Parker out of the Spider-Man suit. "I don't want what they're doing to affect what I do in my book," he said, even if that meant neither universe would feature Peter Parker.
Lightning round questions revealed that Anti-Venom will appear again, and Dr. Strange's "One More Day" spell will "maybe" feature in plans coming up. "But one thing we're not doing is un-doing this or not," Slott said.
"The new Spider-Man is going to be clearly working in Spider-Man's world," Slott said when asked whether the new Spidey would have to "clean up" fallout from "Amazing's" final arc. Mister Negative, Overdrive, and Vulture will appear early in "Superior."
A young boy asked "why you don't do 'Spider-Man 2099' comics anymore?" Amidst loud cheering, Wacker said, "We'll do it for you," though he couldn't promise "when or where."
"The Superior Spider-Man has serious Spider-Man pedigree," Slott said when asked again if this is a character we've seen before.
The final fan spoke about his struggles with cancer and thanked the panelists "for the great work you do in inspiring people."


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The builders haven't dug up my herb garden yet so my Angelica has been left unmolested. It's just started flowering – my understanding is that, once it's finished, it will die. My husband's mum asked whether I was going to glacé it (no, have no idea how I would do that).
I noticed a bee on one of the flowers so this has now become a "desirable" plant from my point of view. Perhaps when this one dies, I'll plant another. It's quite an interesting, structural plant.


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I didn't grow up celebrating Easter (religious or non-religious way) so I don't have to follow any tradition. I create my own tradition-our tradition with my family.
I bought some dye-egg kit last year from their Easter clearance sale. I'm just not ready for the vinegar smell and stained fingers yet so I found three fun ways to decorate eggs without using dye.
1. washi tape
Can you tell my recent obsession? It's washi tape.
The thin strip one is pretty straight forward. If you don't have a thin strip in hand, you can cut the standard washi in half with a X-acto knife.
I got the butterfly shape paper puncher from local Michael's. It costs around $5. If you are looking for a cheaper option, I believe The Purple Alphabet recently shared a kid's activity post in her Instagram where she showed a puncher that is from the Target Dollar Spot.
2. Sharpie
No drawing technique needed. A google image stencil and dot the dots using your sharpies.
3. Temporary tatoo
This is the easiest way! The eggs turned out to be so so cute.
Which no-dye method is your favorite? Or do you have other non-traditional ways to decorate Easter eggs? Let me know.
Happy Easter!


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Win $200 from Fedhz Blogversary/Bday Contest
I saw this contest few weeks ago but I didn't dare to join because of my hectic schedule. As I wrote some posts I saw this again from Chris with her Mommy Moments. I guess, this is the right time to join. This is a great contest, you can Win $200 from Fedhz Blogversary/Bday Contest. Try to click the link to know more about it and on how to join. It's easy. Fedhz is celebrating her first blogversary with her birthday celebration in November. It's a double celebration that's why she is giving away huge gifts for the winners. So why wait, join now and enjoy the fun. Hope you won't forget to mention my name if you join the contest. Let's celebrate with Fedhz on her great celebrations!


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Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
I am throwing a 40th birthday party and am looking for funny prize ideas for game winners. For example, dinner for two (then you give them a box of mac and cheese, that serves two), a chance to win $100,000 (then give them a lottery ticket), or a new car (winner gets a match box car).
By Karen
A new designer outfit = a yard of fabric, spool of thread and hand needles; new mixer for the kitchen = wooden spoon; bouquet of flowers = dead roses or just stems (? not great but all I could think of); set of living room furniture (bed room, dining room) = miniatures from the craft store for dollhouses; washer and dryer = metal washer and a kitchen towel; a box of diamonds = a box of cards with only suits of diamonds; portrait of a US President = $1 bill; a $100 bill = an invoice/bill for $100 for services rendered; exercise equipment = a square block with instructions to place on floor, walk around it 6 times [thereby having walked around the block 6 times], a large rubber band for stretches, a cotton swap tinted black for a dumbell/barbell weight.
I'm having my 40th birthday party in July and my theme is a Runway Diva/or just a Diva. Any ideas on centerpieces or decorating?
By Wanda
The Dolly Mamas are a lot of fun. Here is a link to their site and you will fall in love with them in a heartbeat.
Another site if the mama's are a bit too old is this one
http://www.soph hilosophies.com/
Both are too cute!
Happy Birthday!
I am planning a 40th birthday party for my mom, and need help with ideas. I want it to be a dressy occasion, something fun and very memorable. I have a color scheme (teal and purple, her favorite colors).
I've hired a DJ, and have a location with a dance floor, tables and chairs, but I'm not sure what else to do, such as games, and how to make sure everyone has fun and stays interested. I'm obviously not 40, so I'm not sure what would be especially appealing to this age group. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
By Holli from Portland, OR
Depending on the time of day, there are a lot of things you can do food-wise without spending a bundle. Chips and dip, tortilla chips and salsa, etc. A gal I know heats cocktail wieners with BBQ sauce, then skewers them on toothpicks. Not expensive, but adds a touch of class.
For music, the "oldies" like the Eagles, BeeGees, Fleetwood Mac (I confess, I liked Barry Manilow). whatever music your mom likes...
btw. I think your mom's lucky to have a thoughtful kid like you!
Share on ThriftyFunCheck out these photos. Click at right to share your own photo in this page.
I made this cake for a very good friend. It's a chocolate cake decorated with black and red fondant. It was her 40th birthday so I wanted something simple but spectacular! Everyone at the party loved it!
Source: My own cooking and imagination
This page is about 40th birthday party centerpiece ideas. A party for this landmark birthday deserves unique table decorations.
This is a page about 40th birthday posters and photos. A fun visual display can be created with a collection of life photos for this monumental birthday celebration.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
My husband will be turning 40 in March and I am in desperate need of celebration ideas. It doesn't necessarily have to be a party, but I can't let this big event go by unnoticed. I stay home with our two year old and don't work so I don't have a huge amount of cash at my disposal. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
GRL611 from Philadelphia
Can you get someone to watch your 2-year old for a few hours, either as a favor or a tradeoff. Is there someplace local that he really likes to go? Do you get together with other people a lot socially? Perhaps you could plan a potluck surprise party, with a couple of people he doesn't see often but would like to. Maybe a movie with coffee and dessert out afterward. (01/15/2009)
This is a great idea for any birthday of importance, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, etc. and it's free! I like to write a list called "40 things I love about you". ( or 50 things if they are turning 50, or 70 things if they are turning 70) I write fond memories I have of the birthday person. You can list qualities you admire about the person or sweet memories you have about the person.
Be specific and write details, it makes it more meaningful. I've done this for lots of different people in my family and they were all deeply touched by the time, effort, and kind words. It's always been a huge success! It does take some time. I would recommend you write 10 a day rather than sit down and try to come up with all 40 or 50 at once. It's much easier to do it in small doses. Have fun. Be creative. Make them laugh. Make them cry. You will enjoy it too! Lee in FL (01/16/2009)
By Lee Taylor
Every time one of my siblings has turned 40, we have had a sit down meal with my parents and all the spouses. I am one of five, so we had about 12 adults. We had no kids at the meal. We cooked a nice meal and had a cake. It always turned out nice and it is great getting together with my brothers and sisters. You could do the same for you husband and his family. This was not very expensive, since it was just a meal and I always got food on sale.
I think time spent with loved ones is the most important thing. Now my oldest sister is coming up on 50 and we will probably start it all over again! Hope this helps. (01/27/2009)
By Linda
My mom had a surprise birthday party and she didn't have a clue. Except, you are more creative than my dad, so anyway. We had kabobs and a ballroom dancer cake (with Barbie) because she ballroom dances. We had a picnic. Don't plan any games, just invite tons of friends. (02/03/2009)
By Ava
Jojo from Australia
The funniest game I ever saw. Get a blindfold, a metal spatula, a big metal mixing bowl and a large bag of cotton or faux cotton balls.
Scatter the cotton balls on the floor. Blindfold the participant. They have two minutes, or whatever, to pick up as many cotton balls with the spatula and put them in the bowl as they can. Try this out before the party. You'll see what I mean.
We once surprised a friend by having the party at his place. I lived next door; had lifted a key. I took him out to dinner while everyone else was getting his place ready for the party. Every time I started to go home he kept looking around, because he was expecting a surprise. He looked all over the restaurant, even checked out the men's room. Finally, we went home. Boy was he surprised! He even got his place cleaned. Not a bad deal. (09/08/2005)
By Carrie
I just had my 40th birthday and my sister and daughter got together and told everyone they knew to send me 40 "items" in the mail. This started like 2 weeks before my birthday. I got everything from cotton balls, to pennies and stamps. It was a lot of fun. Took me a couple packages in the mail before I figured it out though. (09/09/2005)
By Nancy
I just came from a 50th party where the birthday boy's wife had this very creative poem hand lettered on a big poster board using candy bars taped to the board in the appropriate places. The sweet treats are in ALL CAPS in the "poem."
Do you hear SNICKERS from those around you?
Do you feel your bones CRUNCH?
Are you getting ZERO sleep?
Is your memory gone because your head's full of ROCKS?
Do you have trouble remembering WHATCHAMACALLIT?
Do you have BUTTERFINGERS?
Is all your ENERGY NOW gone?
Well, some may say you're at that age beTWIX youth and senility!
Don't be a crybaby at turning 50!
Now that you're getting CHUNKY, you may not TAKE 5 and have MOUNDS of fun.
The MOMENTOS that you get will remind you of your age.
So INDULGE yourself and get GOOD-N-PLENTY drunk and SKOR lot of laughs.
After all, you're still aM-AZING and worth 100,000 GRAND.
So, grab a BIG CUP and have a few CHUCKLES and party your BUNS off and have an EXTRA Happy 50th birthday!
By Julie
People seem to want to do party themes on the era someone was born, but it would be so much fun to do something on the era someone was a teenager, whether 70's or 80's. A 70's disco or 80's Dynasty style party would be fun. Everyone could dress the part and have food and music from that era. Since our teenage years are usually pretty memorable, it would be fun to have a party that would be memorable, too. After all, the over the hill parties are done way too often. (01/10/2006)
By Nancy
A fun 40th birthday party is a 70's theme. Your party will certainly be remembered when everyone has to come in their bell-bottoms! The 70's are definitely "in" now with lots of interest in the dress and fads.
You can decorate with an informal gathering of bean bag chairs and disco bead curtains at the door entryways. Play clips from 70's TV shows or movies and competing teams guess first what movie/show the song was from. 70's theme parties are really popular and go over well with guests of all ages.
Dee http://www.fun-theme-party-ideas.com/70s-theme-party.html (01/20/2006)
By Dee
A Casino style party is fun. I went to one for my friend's 30th birthday. The hostess rented the tables with the dealers. We played with chips and the person with the most chips at the end of the night won a prize.
You can get lots of other ideas from this web site:
By Marta


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Together Again. Again!
Performed by Ensemble Pamplemousse from their music video album, This Is the Uplifting Part.
Performing Christopher Bailey's Composition for S#!++\/ Piano
Live at JACK in Brooklyn, NY
Tell Your Momma
From the album release of Misinterpretations and Exxaggerrattions @ Cornelia Street Cafe in NYC. This song is a special selection that is not included on the album. So you can ONLY hear it here.
VIII for Piano by Juraj Kojs
From the video album, Action Music by Juraj Kojs and performed by Ensemble Pamplemousse.
Red Gloves (2015)
The Red Gloves began as a theater piece inspired by hand gestures from everyday life. From sipping tea to a boxing batch, we took the gestures we were most attracted to and began building scenes.
As we worked the piece became less about the specific gestures and more about the gesture of creating together. While we were making the piece, I began to think of us as a Little Rascals Gang in the world of performance art.
Commercial Vignette by David Bird
Live performance at St. Peter's Church hosted by Qubit.
Late Night New York
Live improvisation on Late Night New York at the Parsons the New School for Design
Corky Boom Boom
A live cover of Die Antwoord's Fatty Boom Boom. Arranged, performed and filmed by Corky Has a Band. (explicit lyrics)
8 Iddy Biddy Pieces
An improvisation by Professor Tickles (aka David Alan Broome) at Iowa State.
The ABZ's
Music video the alphabet - Corky Has a Band.
Corky Has a Band performs for WQXR's Battle of the Boroughs.
In the true spirit of a battle, we took some lame 4-chord tune the band before us played and did it better.


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Populist President
To my surprise I read some recent quotes from the Iranian president. "2 children is not enough for families" and "Iran has the capacity of 120 million people". It seems there is not going to be any end or even a break in the chain of shocking surprises that Mr. President is giving us and the world!
I wonder if he really analyze what he is saying or he is just pouring out his spontaneous ideas? Although most of the evidence suggest the latter, but I can hardly believe a man holding the title of president of a big country talk non-sense spontaneously. So I am obliged to assume he is talking consciously according to a plan and following specific intentions and interests. But what are the real benefits of such populist point of views?
October 24, 2006 Posted by RF | IRAN, Social and Politics | Leave a comment
About ME
It is not easy to describe oneself in only a few lines. You may better know me by surfing my blog pages, or my photoblog. However, a brief about me. I am 31, male and Persian. Born in Tehran, Iran and also living there. I am working in oil industry for a company called Schlumberger. Due to nature of my job I travel a lot. My main hobby is photography and I do it as a way to express myself.
My nickname is VISTA which has different meanings in Persian and western languages. In Persian it means "knowledge" and in many western languages including English it means "scenery" or "view".
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What is a Safety Certificate?
Under the provisions of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 (the 1975 Act), county councils, unitary authorities, metropolitan or London boroughs are responsible for issuing and enforcing a safety certificates in respect of any sports ground in their area which has been designated by the Secretary of State. These are sports grounds that, in his opinion, have accommodation for more than 10,000 spectators, or 5,000 in the case of Premiership or Football League grounds in England and Wales.
The 1975 Act defines a sports ground as a place where sports or other competitive activities take place in the open air, and where accommodation has been provided for spectators, consisting of artificial structures, or of natural structures artificially modified for the purpose.
A safety certificate will set the permitted capacity for the sports ground together with the detailed terms and conditions with which the ground management must comply in order to operate the sports ground at its permitted capacity.
Although the safety certificate is issued by the local authority responsibility for the safety of spectators at the sports ground rests at all time with the sports ground management. This will normally be the owner or the lessee of the sports ground. More detailed information on safety certificates and the safety certification process is available in the Guide to Safety Certification.


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IZO Home Goods Premium De Lux - 12" x 20" Oblong Cushion Premium Loft Angel Cluster Fiber Blend - Top Hotel Quality Pillow Form Insert Cotton Covered - Machine
- These small clusters of polyester are fluff able like down, hypo-allergenic, and washable. Cluster fiber pillows are fuller than batting forms and they are firmer than polyester/down and feather forms.
- If you would like a pillow that you can squish, fluff or will hold a karate chop, you might want to consider Our Premium Loft Angel Cluster Fiber Blend Fiber Fill pillow
- Proven to allow air to pass easily from the outside to inside the form when fluffing. Which is the reason why this pillow will always remain bouncing and lofty?
- Rejuvenate a decorative bed pillow or sofa pillow
- Top Hotel Quality Hypo-allergenic Perfect for 10" L x 18" W Cover - Made In USA By IZO All Supply - Washable
Add comfort to your décor with our Premium Pillow Inserts. Our pillow inserts are made with 100% Premium Polyester Cluster Fiber Covered in 100% Cotton Fabric, will be softer, silkier and more durable! Filled with Slick Cluster Polyester Fiber, used in Luxury / Resort Hotel Applications. Inserts are both soft and comfortable, yet firm to retain shape. This pillow insert is recommended for use in our 10" x 18" Pillow Covers, giving you a nice, snug fit. Wonderfully Made in the USA - Is Machine Washable
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IZO Home Goods Premium 95% Feather 5% Down, Square Decorative Pillow Insert, Sham Stuffer, 12" W x 20" L


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Defensive Foul, not a rip through, shooter goes straight up, Foul in the act of shooting Defensive Foul, not a rip through, shooter goes straight up, Foul in the act of shooting
This is an example of a defensive foul, initiated by an offensive player moving into a defender's outstretched arm. If contact is made when a defender is in this position, even it is initiated by the offensive player, it is a defensive foul, as the defender is responsible for his extended arm. On this play, the defender extends his arm, and as the offensive player starts his upward shooting motion toward the basket, he creates contact with the defender's extended arm and he draws the defensive foul. Since the contact occurred during the shooter's upward motion, this would be ruled a foul in the act of shooting. To avoid being assessed a defensive foul, the defender must pull his arm back to avoid contact or position it vertically overhead.


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"When an asshole whose opinion you didn't seek makes a comment about your makeup, pull out your compact mirror and politely ask him or her to turn themselves inside out for you."
It's solid advice, and the strong opening lines of a poem by Sha'Condria "iCon" Sibley. In the work, titled "In My Skin" (which you can watch her perform above), the poet checks the notion that wearing makeup is somehow a weakness.
"This is not shame. This is cringing each time I hear someone say the word 'makeup' as if it is the curse, when the only curse has been my bad skin and makeup has been a blessing." Preach.
Sibley continues, "Not all of us have the privilege of using #NoFilter or #IWokeUpLikeThis. Some of us wake up dreading the breakout brewing beneath our epidermis...this is not self-hate; this is loving the skin I'm in."
Though the poem was first performed at the 2016 Women of the World Poetry Slam in March, its message serves as a comforting reminder: Beauty isn't about conforming to trends or feeling the pressure to look perfect without a trace of makeup. Beauty is about doing whatever feels best for you, whether that's going all-natural or experimenting with 100 layers of fill-in-the-blank. You do you.


text: 29th Apr 11:08 This week I've been looking into a few finance verticals and found an interesting illustration of just how much power one trusted link can have. Take a look at the results for "loans" and see how many links the top sites need to have to get their rankings. Now look at the figures below and see how few links some of the sites have - proof that it's quality and not quantity even in this industry. If you can go and find a link that is so powerful that it propels you to the top of the search engines then it can be worth paying a lot of money for. Of course if it stands out like a sore thumb then don't expect it to last very long. 5.4 million links 3 million links 556 links (and one from economist.com) 9,000 links 13.5 million links 3400 links 37000 links 362 links (including one from economist.com). By Patrick Altoft print this article Return to marketing news headlinesView Marketing News ArchiveShare with: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn


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U.K-based metallers POWER QUEST have completed work on their new album, "Blood Alliance", at Foel Studios (PAUL RODGERS, NAPALM DEATH, THE WILDHEARTS) in Wales next for a late March European release via Napalm Records (early April in the U.S. and January 19 in Japan through Marquee/Avalon). Eleven songs were laid down for the follow-up to 2008's "Master Of Illusion", including one bonus track. The CD cover artwork was once again designed by Felipe Machado (BLIND GUARDIAN, SILENT FORCE) and can be viewed below.
Commented keyboardist Steve Williams: "Well, it has been a long time coming but finally the fifth POWER QUEST album is done and I don't think I have ever been so excited about releasing an album. All the guys have given 110% to this record and I'm proud of them all. It's without doubt the heaviest POWER QUEST album yet but without sacrificing the POWER QUEST melodic tradition. I just can't wait for you all to hear it!"
"Blood Alliance" track listing:
01. Battle Stations
02. Rising Anew
03. Glorious
04. Sacrifice
05. Survive
06. Better Days
07. Crunching The Numbers
08. Only In My Dreams
09. Blood Alliance
10. City Of Lies
11. Time To Burn (Japanese bonus track)
POWER QUEST is confirmed to play HardRock Hell Ibiza in June 2011 and will announced more U.K. festival appearances shortly.
POWER QUEST in May announced the addition of vocalist Chitral "Chity" Somapala and guitarist Gavin Owen (of Welsh metallers TRIAXIS) to the group's ranks. The band stated at the time, "Chity is well known and highly regarded worldwide in the rock and metal scene and has recorded, toured and made guest appearances with the likes of AVALON, FARO, FIREWIND and RED CIRCUIT, as well as fronting his own band CIVILIZATION ONE. His unmistakable style has been compared favorably with Ronnie James Dio, Klaus Meine and Johnny Gioeli."
POWER QUEST in March parted ways with singer Pete Morten and guitarist Ben Randall due to "musical differences."
POWER QUEST's last album, "Master of Illusion", was released in 2008 via Napalm Records/Avalon Marquee (Japan). Guest musicians on the CD include keyboardist Richard West from the U.K. progressive metal band THRESHOLD, Jorn Viggo Lofstad from the Norwegian power metal act PAGAN'S MIND and FOURWAYKILL singer Chris Neighbour.
POWER QUEST is:
Chity Somapala - Vocals
Steve Williams - Keyboards
Andy Midgley - Guitars
Gavin Owen - Guitars
Paul Finnie - Bass
Rich Smith - Drums
Photo credit: Dijana Capan


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Articles and Applications
Showing items tagged: carrier gas
Blood Alcohol Content Analysis using Nitrogen Carrier Gas
Results are used in court to provide quantitive levels of BAC, which makes it one of the most commonly practised analyses in forensic laboratories. The large number of samples and requirement for speed of sample processing mean that analysis needs to be conducted quickly, whilst giving reliable and accurate results.
Complex Mixture Using Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas
Abstract The following technical brief aims to demonstrate the performance of GC-MS using hydrogen as a carrier gas. Here we compare the performance of hydrogen and helium for the analysis of a complex mixture. The results show that by using hydrogen, chromatographers can achieve superior results to helium, with faster run times and taller, sharper peaks.
Hydrogen Carrier Gas for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Analysis
Many labs are facing helium supply difficulties and rapid price increases as a result of the helium shortage. Lab managers are therefore looking for alternative carrier gases and for many GC applications, hydrogen provides an excellent alternative to helium. Using a hydrogen generator can supply gas to a whole lab and at the same time remove the danger of storing hydrogen in the lab. Laboratories that switch gas supply from helium to hydrogen can see a number of benefits including reduced overheads, faster throughput and even improved separations.


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I heard a question asked backstage today as Ronnie O'Sullivan powered into a 10-2 lead over Barry Hawkins at the Crucible: who's doing the exhibition? It referred to what would happen if the semi-final finished with a session to spare, leaving Saturday afternoon snooker-free but the real answer to the question is simple: Ronnie O'Sullivan is doing the exhibition.
Because that's what it has been at times in Sheffield this year. Sport can be great theatre and snooker, especially over the long format under which the World Championship is played, has historically provided great, edge of the seat drama, keeping the watching millions fascinated.
But top level sport can also be a demonstration of sheer talent and sometimes you just have to admire the greats.
The O'Sullivan- Hawkins semi-final may still end tonight with a session to spare. Few are predicting a comeback as Hawkins struggles to cope with the man, the player, the force of nature he is facing.
However, like the greats of the game before him, O'Sullivan does not have to apologise for his excellence.
He has set the benchmark for the rest to aim at and, so far at this World Championship, few have got close. Joe Perry did have the champion on the ropes in the second round but failed to knock him down. Shaun Murphy was blown away. Hawkins is merely hanging on.
The last line of defence will be Mark Selby or Neil Robertson, two players who have beaten O'Sullivan in finals. It won't be a formality against either but the five times world champion will start favourite.
He has that aura that Steve Davis had, that Stephen Hendry had, the same one other great sportsmen like Tiger Woods and Roger Federer possessed: they could intimidate opponents without having to do anything. Conversely, though, it is everything they have achieved which causes the intimidation in the first place.
O'Sullivan has not been flawless in this event. Early on against Murphy he was patchy but over so many frames of snooker you can't expect to go without slumps. Overall, he has played to a consistently high standard, one with which the rest of the field has failed to cope. Again, this is their fault, not his.
If anything, O'Sullivan's pick and choose approach to the circuit has made him more dangerous. When he turns up now it is usually because he wants to be there, rather than going through the motions. He is focused for tournaments and mentally prepared. I think as well that his long stated indifference to records has waned the closer he has got to breaking them.
The bottom line is that O'Sullivan is the best player in the game at his best. Even not at his best he remains very difficult to beat, particularly on the Crucible stage.
Photographs by Monique Limbos.


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30 Things I Don't Know by Age 30
by Erin BagwellFounder of Feminist Wednesday Director of Dream, Girl
In honor of my 30th birthday, and all those lists that tell you what you should know by the time you turn 30, I'm going to tell you all the things I don't know and would like to learn.
I would like to learn how to scuba dive.
I would like to learn how to effectively save money and be more financially literate.
I'd like to learn how to build my physical health into my daily routine.
I'd like to learn how to cook. I can currently make a handful of meals. And be handful I mean two things (a fajita and penne vodka pasta) so I'd love to increase my cooking repertoire to up to at least ten things.
I'd like to get over my fear of going to the dentist. I haven't been in four years (I know, I know, I know) that's insane. I just need to go.
I'd like learn my transcendental meditation mantra.
I'd like to learn how to use the NYC bus public transportation system. After living in the city for seven years I have no idea how to take a bus.
I'd like to learn how to use a DSLR camera which might surprise people since I made an entire documentary on them but Mary, Francesca, and Victoria did all our shooting.
I'd like to learn how to worry less about money, and be better at naming the narratives around money that pop up and freak me out.
I'd like to learn how to write a song.
I'd like to learn how to be a mother.
I'd like to learn how to be open enough to receive and make a million dollars.
I'd like to learn how to push people towards their dreams without being overbearing or obnoxious or unhelpful. I have a few people in my life who I'm watching walk towards their passions and it's such a balance to figure out how best to support them.
How to de-clutter my house! My garage (the big closet in the front of my apartment) has been driving me mad for the last five years. I can't figure out how to have storage without it overflowing on top of me when I open the door.
How to forgive myself.
How to be more present in my life and in the now.
How to cast a proper spell.
How to win an oscar.
How to let people out of my life that no longer see me. It's always the people that don't get it, and don't see your worth that you want to impress. I'd like to learn how to let those people go and focus on those who love and support me.
How to be a better ally for people of color, trans-people, LGBTQ people and anyone who feels marginalized in the feminist movement.
How to not hyperventilate when doing my business taxes.
How to be a really good public speaker.
How to be more authentic in my brand.
How to ride a horse.
How to make a really delicious cocktail.
How to support and give back to communities and organizations that support young women.
I'd like to learn how to convince my husband to let me get a puppy.
I'd like to learn to be happier,
and have more fun.
Those are the top thirty things I'm going to be thinking about, working towards, and trying to improve over the next couple of years- what is something you want to learn or get better at? Share your top three in the comments below!


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Implementation Phase Council
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Mid-Continent University is a Great Commission, Baptist, undergraduate and graduate, teaching institution whose primary purpose is to provide Christ-centered quality higher education. Instruction in the Bible and liberal arts is provided to traditional and non-traditional students through on-campus and off-campus programs that equip them for Christian leadership and service in a diverse society.
Mid-Continent University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA), and Master of Science (MS) degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4501 for questions about the accreditation of Mid-Continent University.
At Mid-Continent, students pursue majors such as Behavioral Studies, Biblical Studies, Business Administration, Christian Education and Leadership, Elementary Teacher Education, English, General Studies, History, Mathematics, Missions and Evangelism, Psychology and Counseling, and Social Studies. Teaching from a Christian worldview, the university today continues in its long tradition of educating students for Christian leadership and service in a diverse world.
|1949 – 1951
|Curry O. Simpson (part-time)
|1951 – 1953
|Harry E. Harp (part-time)
|1953 – 1957
|W.A. Sloan
|1957 – 1976
|O.C. Markham
|1976 – 1980
|Wendell H. Rone Sr.
|1981 – 1987
|Raymond E. Lawrence
|1988 – 1997
|LaVerne Butler
|1997 – 1999
|David L. Jester
|2000 – 2014
|Robert J. Imhoff
|2014 -- 2014
|Ken Winters (Acting President)
|2014 - Present
|Tom Walden (Acting President)


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Originally posted by Zoyd23
Seems like your logic is equally faulty...without the two images to compare who knows?
I find it amusing that so many want so badly to believe the palestinians...as if they are good guys.
This is not the first time palestinians have staged photos for PR purposes...they are masters at PR...that's where a great deal of the millions we send them each year goes--right back in the pockets of big PR firms.
Does anyone up here think the palestinians are interested in truth? What about freedom? Do you think you'll be free under Sharia law?
I find it amusing that so many want so badly to believe the palestinians...as if they are good guys.
Originally posted by leeb768
reply to post by Corruption Exposed
Compare my photo to the photo posted by the OP. All I have done is highlight the out-of-place shadow. Why do this? It adds nothing to the meaning of the photo.
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
I think the discrediting was as much ignorance as anything else. Prior to taking a course on Photoshop and another on Photography/Digital Image preparation in commercial graphics? I never would have believed that EVERY photo we see is "photoshop'ed". Every single one...with almost 0 exception. Changes for tone, color, warmth, exposure and contrast (with layers within the layers of meaning to each of those categories) are not just common ...but 100% standard practice.
The ignorance comes in when people think "Photoshop'ed" means altered in any way for meaning and context ...not simply appearance and visual fidelity. They change EVERYTHING because photos rarely ever pop the way we want them to on the shutter/sensor click. They need...help...to look like they're supposed to. That doesn't mean anything, in even small ways, was changed for the meaning of what the photo shows happening.
This photo, I'l willing to bet, isn't worth much more than a passing glance and comment about the ghoulish nature of photojournalism ....until they spent hours in Photoshop to get the environment and ambiance feeling 'just so'...and then it becomes a world award winner. Nothing of substance has changed...just everything about how it feels to look at.
Originally posted by old_god
reply to post by Corruption Exposed
Of course it's a fake, any news about Gaza is not real, everyone should know that by now...I mean when you got the wankers across the border choking the life out of these people why should we care right?


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How do you approach Mercury Retrograde?
Do you clear your schedule, cowering at home with a cup of hot tea until the cosmic weather clears? (See above.)
Do you become paranoid, afraid the vague email you received from your boss is a certain indicator that you'll be jobless within a week?
Or, do you go about business as usual, brazenly signing documents and making new travel plans despite the ubiquitous warnings?
For the record, I don't endorse any of these methods.
As a professional astrologer, I've had more than my share of queries regarding how to deal with Mercury's retrograde phase. After listening to this conversation for years, I've come to decide that on the whole, our community's relationship to this transit is unhealthy... even my own.
If you're not privy to the cosmic lingo yet, here's the skinny: when Mercury retrogrades, the planet appears to be moving backwards in its orbit.
Astrologically speaking, it's a total Communication Breakdown (couldn't resist a good Zeppelin reference!). Signals get crossed in conversations, computers and vehicles go haywire, travel plans fall through, and Murphy's law is the order of the day.
Best mystical practices say it's possible to circumvent the negative effects of Mercury Rx (shorthand for retrograde) by doing activities that start with the prefix re-. Revise, review, renew, replenish, you get the idea. Taking a spiritual approach is the best plan of attack with this transit, but that doesn't change the fact that Mercury has a reputation for being a Trickster. There's no real way to fully escape the awkward nature of this period.
As with most things in my life, I plan ahead as much possible. Mercury Rx is no exception. I created specific game plan with tasks that I could do during the transit to makeover my blog and refresh my brand. But when it came to day-to-day activities, I was still stuck in fear mode.
Would starting that big project during the retrograde lead to dissatisfaction with the finished product?
Would calling a new primary care physician lead to a bad relationship with that service provider in the future?
Would trying that new recipe during Mercury Rx mean I 'd end up hating it afterwards?
In an act of desperation, I turned to my ever-practical beloved for advice. He told me,
"You've got to live your life. Mercury retrograde is not an excuse."
This made me think: how much of our fear of Mercury retrograde is rooted in personal insecurities and fear of failure? Starting a project, making a doctor's appointment, or even trying a new food are absolutely necessary, and we shouldn't consider putting them of due to some silly astrological transit. It's natural to be wary of the unknown and nervous about starting, but don't let Mercury Rx be an excuse for procrastination.
Instead of operating from fear, use your astrology know-how to your advantage! Start working on your big idea, but don't go public with it until after Mercury goes direct. Schedule that doctor's appointment, but make sure you put it in your Google calendar and keep copies of all the documents you might need. And try a fresh recipe if you want! Mercury Rx is a great time to think outside the box and try something outside your routine. Put a positive spin on things, and you'll get much better results, I promise.
Let me be clear: the astrological prescriptions are there for a reason. Doing something new during Mercury Rx, or any other tough transit for that matter, may make it more difficult, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do. Don't put it off. Trust in the infinite that your timing will be perfect, regardless of the cosmic weather.
If you need to do something, do it. The universe WILL support you.
Here's to a happy and productive Mercury Rx!


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Immerse yourself in Asheville's cultural side with a wide array of museum exhibits, spotlighting the region's rich history, world-class art, and music heritage.
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instar(redirected from INSTE)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia.
Any of the successive nymphal stages in the metamorphosis of hemimetabolous insects (simple or incomplete metamorphosis), or the stages of larval change by successive molts that characterize the holometabolous insects (complex or complete metamorphosis).
[L. form]
instar/in·star/ (in´stahr) any stage of an arthropod between molts.
A stage of an insect or other arthropod between one molt and the next.
Any of the successive nymphal or larval stages in the metamorphosis of insects.
[L. form]
instara larval stage of insect development. The first instar hatches from the egg and after the first moult (see ECDYSIS becomes the second instar. Thus a third instar larva is one which has completed two moults.
a stage between molts in the development of an insect in which it undergoes a metamorphosis and changes its shape to a degree away from the first instar and towards the final one. The number of instars in an insect's metamorphosis varies widely between species from 5 up to 20 or more.


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When 61-year-old Stockholm resident Irene Krumm became short of breath in April 2012, she called her doctor. "I have asthma, but this was different," she recalled. X-rays showed a nodule in her left lung. Could it be cancer?
Some of Krumm's fear dissipated when she met Peter Dahlberg, MD, a general and thoracic surgeon who practices at the Vibrant Health Family Clinics. "He put me and my husband, John, at ease. He was so kind," she remembered.
Dahlberg explained her options, and Irene chose robotic-assisted thoracic surgery. "It seemed safest to me," she said. "And if it was cancer, Dr. Dahlberg could remove the lung right then. I didn't want to wait too long or have another procedure."
River Falls Area Hospital is the only medical center providing robotic-assisted surgery in western Wisconsin. "We offer comprehensive team-based care, everything from a nurse navigator to surgeons with extensive robotics experience," explained Dahlberg.
Robotics allows thoracic surgery to be performed through a series of small incisions instead of one long one. For Krumm, this meant four small incisions - rather than a large incision and a long scar on her chest.
Robotic instruments extend the surgeon's reach, and tiny inserted cameras help him or her see deeper inside the body. This allows the surgeon to use minimally invasive techniques in places that are hard to reach or where there's risk of bleeding, such as the lungs. "Patients heal faster and can get back to their lives more quickly," Dahlberg said.
Krumm was taking care of her grandchildren after about three weeks and was fully healed in 12. "I'm back to work at the Pepin High School cafeteria, feeling fine," she said.
Fortunately, Krumm's nodule turned out to be benign. "As I was coming out of the anesthesia, with my children around me, Dr. Dahlberg told me it wasn't cancer," she said. "I put my arms in the air and said, 'Thank you, Lord.'"
Krumm is grateful for the "phenomenal" care available right in River Falls. "I knew I was in good hands," she said.