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Note: the following post is an excerpt from the new book, Stresscraft: A Whole-Life Approach to Health and Performance. For more information or to purchase, click here.
"Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found."
Anne Morrow Lindbergh
We all take hits in life. We all get sick on occasion and most of us get injured at some point. Most of us suffer setbacks in our careers, our love lives and our finances. Naturally, some suffer more than others, but one thing is certain: getting knocked down is a human universal. So it comes as no surprise to find that resilience is a hot topic these days. The fields of positive psychology and business management are abuzz with talk about who's resilient and how we might promote it in our families, our communities and our organizations.
Officially, resilience is defined as a process whereby "individuals exhibit positive behavioral adaptation when they encounter significant adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress." Experts have a good deal to say about the psychological details of this process, but most of us are quick to resort to metaphor. Most of us use words like "rebound," "elasticity," "recovery," and "bouncing back from adversity." When battered by the trials of athletic injury and broken relationships, many of us talk about "making a comeback."
These metaphors are sometimes valuable and can even be inspirational, but they also contain a trap and a misconception. When we talk about rebounding, we're imagining a return to some ideal state of the past: homeostasis, equilibrium, or a golden age in one form or another. We want to make a comeback to a time of health, happiness, athletic excellence or financial prosperity. If we're just resilient enough, we can rebound back to where we want to be.
This notion of resilience is not just limited to our individual lives. We also hear the same theme in conversations about environmental issues and the state of the natural world. Many activists long to return the biosphere to some ancient state of biological health and sustainability. We romance a golden age of the past, when plants, animals, soil and water lived in a state of harmony. If we could just return to that state of equilibrium, all would be well.
But of course, we're mistaken in both cases. There is no going back and in this sense, there can be no rebound, elasticity or resilience. The body does not go backwards, nor does the mind or the spirit. The thing that we call "health" is not a steady state that we can return to, it is a process of forward motion. The same holds true for the biosphere at large. Habitat is always changing, adapting and evolving. There is no ideal state of ecological perfection; all is in motion.
We misunderstand our bodies and in turn, our lives. When we experience an injury or illness, it appears that we "heal." After a few days or weeks of rehab, the body returns to what looks and feels like its original state. We're "as good as new" we might say. But actually, we aren't. If we were to really get down and take a close look at the microscopic details of our physiology and our biochemistry, we'd see changes. Every encounter with the world transforms the body in some small way. Every experience changes the flow of information, the arrangement of cells, the composition of membranes and the behavior of neural networks. And it always goes forward.
If injured, the body repairs the damage, but leaves scar tissue behind on tendons, ligaments and muscle. If we get an infection, the immune system "learns" about the pathogen and produces appropriate antibodies that linger for months or years. If we are traumatized by stress, cascades of neurotransmitters change the sensitivity of membranes and facilitate new patterns of activity. In no case does the tissue return to its original state. Every event in our lives is written into the microscopic state of the body. In a sense, this thing we call "healing" is an illusion. The body does not go back to an older state of structure or function, rather, it goes forward to a new state of integration.
And so, our talk of resilience is misplaced. So is our talk of "rebounding" and "making a comeback." This is a fact that's sometimes recognized in alcoholic counseling programs, where people are advised that "There is no recovery." In other words, it's pointless and even counter-productive to pretend that one could somehow leapfrog back to a golden age of health and sobriety. No, the experience has changed the alcoholic's body and life, not to mention the lives of people around him. His brain has changed, his metabolism has changed and his cognition has changed. This is the raw material he has to work with right now. There is no going back. Thus the sound advice to "heal forward" and "do the next right thing."
The same principle holds true for any encounter we might have with challenge, adversity and stress. These experiences not only change our bodies, they also change our minds, our spirits and our personalities. In fact, they change everything from the microscopic qualities of synaptic membranes all the way up to the level of social organization and community. Every encounter and experience creates change. This is what we have to work with.
So there can be no going back to some romanticized state of health or a pre-stress utopia. We are here today with the bodies and lives that we have. We may have been hammered by the world, beaten up by the workplace and abused by the people around us, but this is the body and the life that we have to work with. The challenge is to integrate the injury, metabolize the illness, absorb the stress, grow forward and branch out. Instead of longing for a golden age of the past, use these adversities as nutrients for new ideas, new behaviors and new relationships.
The past is gone.
Stop wishing and start creating.


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Gift Planning
Gift Planning
There are many kinds of planned gifts, all of which offer significant tax benefits to the donor, among them:
Bequests - Assets transferred through a donor's estate. Any asset may be given in this way, though we most commonly receive cash gifts set out in a donor's will. Other bequests include the proceeds of life insurance policies and retirement plans.
Gifts of a Future Interest in Real Estate - Some donors make gifts of personal residences or second homes, retaining, the right to use them for their lifetime.
Charitable Lead Trust - With this gift a donor removes specified assets from his/her estate, receives immediate tax savings and provides the school income from those assets for a period of years. At the end of the gift period, the assets may be returned to the donor or, tax free, to a third party. Parents and grandparents find the charitable lead trust an excellent way to provide for a future generation while accomplishing good work today and decreasing their likely estate taxes.

subset: commoncrawl


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FDA Approved Drugs
Search by brand name for drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale in the United States.
Each listing contains a brief description of the indication for use. Click on the drug name for a complete product
profile, including general information, clinical trial results, side effects and manufacture information.
Naglazyme (galsulfase)
For the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome)
Naltrexone Hydrochloride Tablets
Generic equivalent of Revia
Namenda (memantine HCl)
For the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
Namzaric (memantine hydrochloride extended-release + donepezil hydrochloride)
For the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type
Naprelan (naproxen sodium)
Treatment for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Narcan (naloxone hydrochloride)
For the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose
Nasacort AQ (triamcinolone acetonide) Nasal Spray
Treatment for allergic rhinitis
NasalCrom Nasal Spray
Over-the-counter nasal spray for treatment of all nasal allergy symptoms
Nascobal Gel (Cyanocobalamin, USP)
Treatment for vitamin B-12 deficiency
Nasonex Nasal Spray
Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis
Natazia (estradiol valerate + dienogest)
For the prevention of contraception
Natazia (estradiol valerate and estradiol valerate/dienogest)
For the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding
Natesto, (testosterone) nasal gel
For the treatment of deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone
Natpara (parathyroid hormone)
For the control hypocalcemia in patients with hypoparathyroidism
Natrecor (nesiritide)
For the treatment of patients with acutely decompensated congestive heart failure
Nayzilam (midazolam)
For the treatment of intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity
Nerlynx (neratinib)
For the treatment of HER2 breast cancer
Nesina (alogliptin)
For the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus
Treatment to decrease the chance of infection by febrile neutropenia in patients receiving chemotherapy
Treatment for thrombocytopenia
Treatment for slow white blood cell recovery following chemotherapy
Neupro (Rotigotine Transdermal System)
For the treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome
Neupro (rotigotine)
For the treatment of Parkinson's disease
Neurontin (gabapentin)
Oral treatment for the management of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN)
Neurontin (gabapentin) oral solution
For the treatment of partial seizures in pediatric patients three years of age and older
Treatment of partial seizures in adults with epilepsy
Neutroval (tbo-filgrastim)
For the reduction in the duration of severe chemotherapy-induced neutropenia
Nexavar (sorafenib)
For the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma
Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium)
For the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, the healing of erosive esophagitis, and the treatment of symptomatic GERD
Niacin extended-release tablets
NicoDerm CQ
Treatment for smoking cessation
Nicorette (nicotine polacrilex)
Over-the-counter aid in smoking cessation
Nicotrol nasal spray
Treatment for nicotine addiction
Nicotrol transdermal patch
Ninlaro (ixazomib)
For the treatment of multiple myeloma
Nitrostat (nitroglycerin) Tablets
For the acute relief of an attack or acute prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease.
Nocdurna (desmopressin acetate)
For the treatment of nocturia due to nocturnal polyuria
Treatment for Breast Cancer
NORCO tablets (Hydrocodone Bitartrate/Acetaminophen 10 mg/325 mg)
Treatment for moderate to moderately severe pain
Norditropin (somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection)
Treatment of children who have growth failure
Treatment for rosacea
Treatment for deep venous thrombosis
Northera (droxidopa)
For the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension
Norvir (ritonavir)
Treatment for HIV infection
Nourianz (istradefylline)
For the adjuvant treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease experiencing "off" episodes
Novantrone (mitoxantrone hydrochloride)
For reducing neurologic disability and/or the frequency of clinical relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis
NovoLog (insulin aspart)
An insulin analogue for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Novolog Mix 70/30
Subcutaneous injection for the control of hyperglycemia, associated with type 1 and 2 diabetes
Novothyrox (levothyroxine sodium)
For the treatment of hypothyroidism and suppression of thyroid-stimulating hormone
Noxafil (posaconazole)
For the treatment of fungal infections
Nplate (romiplostim)
For the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura
Nubeqa (darolutamide)
For the treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Nucala (mepolizumab)
For the treatment of severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype
Nucynta (tapentadol)
moderate to severe acute pain
Nuedexta (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate)
For the treatment of pseudobulbar affect
Nulojix (belatacept)
For the prevention of organ rejection following kidney transplant
Nuplazid (pimavanserin)
For the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease
For the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis
Nutropin (somatropin-rDNA origin)
Treatment for growth hormone deficiency
Treatment that consists of recombinant growth hormone product
Monthly vaginal ring for birth control
Nuvigil (armodafinil)
For the treatment of excessive sleepiness
Nuwiq (recombinant Factor VIII)
For the prophylaxis and treatment of hemophilia A
Nuzyra (omadacycline)
For the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections
Nymalize (nimodipine)
For the reduction of incidence and severity of ischemic deficits following subarachnoid hemorrhage
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The threat of breast cancer is something women live with everyday. We might not think about it constantly but it's one of those background worries we have for ourselves and the women we love. It's also likely we know one or more women who've had a breast cancer diagnosis.
A couple of months ago I noticed a lump in my breast and was referred to see a specialist by my GP. Thankfully, nothing sinister was detected and more often than not this is the outcome in these situations. However, that doesn't mean anyone should take any chances and it's vital to go to your doctor as soon as you see or feel anything abnormal.
After getting the all clear I asked my specialist, Professor Mokbul, if he had any preventative advice and he gave me a sheet of recommendations which I've shared below. They mainly consist of general healthy lifestyle choices but if there's anything you're unsure about please seek advice from your own doctor. I'm sure it doesn't need saying that I'm a beauty blogger who has had no medical training and my intention is just to pass on some information that might be interesting and helpful. I also don't want to make anyone feel bad for not doing everything on the list – I think most of us would find it hard to tick off all the recommendations. Like everything in life, we do the best we can!
General Advice
Limit alcohol consumption to a maximum of one glass of wine per day
Optimise body weight and undertake regular exercise (20 minutes daily)
Minimise the intake of red meat, processed meat, animal fat, sugar and sweets
Expose your skin to natural sunshine for 20 minutes daily
Increase intake of olive oil, garlic, onions, lefty vegetables and fruits especially cherries berries and pomegranates
Vitamin D3 (1,000 iu daily or 10,000 iu once weekly)
Omega 3 (1-2 grams daily)
Specific Nutrients
Polyphenols (green tea and fruits)
Genistein (soybean in moderation)
Curcumin (numeric)
Resveratrol (red grapes, raspberries and blueberries)
Sulforaphane, Indole3 carbinol and thiocyanate (cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, sprouts, broccoli, kale and cauliflower)
Lactobacillus (low fat natural yoghurt)
Caffeinated Coffee
I think most of the points are quite straight forward and self explanatory. The one that I had no knowledge about is Genistein but I recently came across this article which I think help explains why it could be beneficial. For more information on breast cancer generally Breast Cancer Care is packed full of helpful, useful and supportive advice.This post contains press samples unless otherwise stated. Please visit my Disclosure page for more information


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ncrice needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 49 designs submitted by 21 freelance designers.
I would like a logo that fits within the space I've given it (see image). Colors need to work with the site design as well. Mark needs to be a creative combination of the letters "NR" (monogram)
Desired Color Scheme:
red, black, gray ... any colors that fit within the site I've designed. Feel free to experiment with shades.
Desired Style:
techy, edgy, modern.
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
Please see the image/comp for the website header I have designed for a reference by clicking here. The logo will go in the empty space at the top-left.
I'm looking for a logo for the website "NathanRice.net" that fits the following criteria:
- Must fit with the style/colors of the site I have designed (see above link to image).
- Must fit with in the dimensions I've given it (see above link to image).
- Must include the .net extension in the logo. The .net doesn't need to prominent though.
- Must have a mark, made by the creative combination of the letters "NR" (monogram). I am also open to marks other than the combination of "NR" ... but only if they are highly brandable and creative.
- The mark must be brandable and recognizable. I am partial to more abstract marks.
- The words "Nathan" and "Rice" should be contrasted somehow. They need to obviously be 2 different words (for legibility).
- Simple is fine, but too simple is bad.
- Preferred fonts would be thin, short, but I encourage creativity, so feel free to experiment.
- Must be scalable. Vector or high res photoshop.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Here in the offices of The Curmudgeon, we can be rather easy to please on occasion, which is why we're happy to see the official White House portrait of Bo, the Obama Portuguese Water dog, released to the press. Fuzzy press releases from the occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue are nothing new, but Bo's picture is: Never before has a U.S. First Dog been asked to sit (and stay) for an official photograph.
After the photo session, Bo took questions from the assembled reporters. When asked about the economy, Bo said, "Clearly, the cost of dog biscuits has risen substantially, and in a country such as the United States of America, no dog should go hungry, especially puppies. We have offered Ralston Purina a 1 Billion bailout. They are expected to accept the offer and make dog biscuits more available for those canines in need." The first dog also spoke on education reform: "There has been too much emphasis on sit, stay, play dead, and shake hands. I think there needs to be more attention paid to the classics such as "A Dog's Tale" by Twain and Jack London's "Call of the Wild."
When asked to comment on the Kittykat war, the first dog spoke passionately on the subject: "The ongoing war between cats and dogs has been around since time immemorialrial, and it's time it stopped. Can't we all just get along? I am sending in 200,000 more critter catchers to round up the insurgents, and the captives will undergo extensive….um….personality re-education. "
When asked to comment on reports that he had humped the leg of the First Lady, Michelle Obama, Bo appeared to blush, and then said abruptly, "No comment. This press conference is over." He then bound away towards the white house with secret service agents running behind.
Happy Father's Day!


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So, there's a term that's been floating around for a couple years in the health and wellness sphere, but it's still not one you're likely to see plastered on the pages of magazines or even books for that matter. The term is Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome and if you're a woman who feels tired, overwhelmed and generally "off" there's a good chance you've got it goin on. Before you panic, though, keep in mind that Adrenal Fatigue is NOT a disease nor is it something sufferers are plagued with for life. Rather, it's a syndrome, which essentially means it's a name for a bundle of symptoms that no one can quite put a finger on.
The name Adrenal Fatigue is actually a misnomer, as it implies that your adrenal glands (which sit on top of your kidneys/renals) are tired, which in fact they are not. However, I personally think it does a wonderful job of explaining just how adrenal dysfunction feels, because at the end of the day there is an intense fatigue of both the body and mind. A better, more correct, title is actually HPA-Axis dysregulation which stands for Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and describes the chaos that occurs when those three main organs responsible for your stress response are out-of-balance, overworked and unable to cope with the demands placed upon them.
So, while I've talked a lot about adrenal fatigue in posts, I realized that it may not be exactly clear what I'm referring to and wanted to throw together a description to avoid confusion. Before we move on, I'm going to list out the common symptoms of Adrenal dysregulation, but please be aware that stress in the body can take on hundreds of different faces, and this list is by no means exhaustive. If you have several of these symptoms mixed with some others not on this list, I would highly suggest speaking with a practitioner about the possibility of adrenal dysfunction, hormonal imbalance or digestive problems.
Feeling burned out, overly stressed or unable to unwind
Bloating after meals
A burning or gnawing feeling after meals
Excessive hunger or no appetite at all
Any and all digestive issues including heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea or constipation
Moodiness and irritability
Lightheadedness, particularly when going from sitting to standing
Harsh PMS or menopause
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar swings)
Frequent nausea
Feeling unmotivated or "lazy"
Intense fatigue
Brain fog or feeling spacy with an inability to concentrate
Joint pain, muscle aches or sensitive skin
TMJ or jaw clenching
Anxiety and depression
Cravings for sugar or salt
Feeling tired but can't sleep – Tired and wired
Frequent colds or flus that lasts for weeks
A feeling of shaking or vibrating on the inside
Feeling abnormally cold or hot
Flushing easily, particularly during winter
Dizziness or feeling disconnected from conversations and activities
Intolerance to caffeine or alcohol
Weight loss resistance or "spare tire" despite lots of exercise
Low sex drive or inability to orgasm
So, what causes adrenal fatigue? Well, in a word: Stress. But I'm not just talking about emotional, or perceived, stress. I'm also referring to physical stress which is just as harmful to the body as mental stressors. Essentially, your adrenals are the organs in your body responsible for managing the stress response in your body, whether it comes from external or internal sources. Some of the main external sources of stress I see are food intolerances, over-exercising, environmental toxins, and eating a diet high in sugar. Some internal sources include negative emotional experiences, worrying or apprehension, perception of fear or anxiety and internal inflammation. When your brain registers stress of any kind, it sends a message down to the adrenals to release stress hormones, mainly cortisol and epinephrine. For purposes of this post, we'll mostly be focusing on cortisol, but it should be noted that the effects of epinephrine take several days to exit the body and is highly stimulating. Not a state we want to be walking around in consistently.
Cortisol gets a bad rap, but it's really very vital to our survival. Cortisol has several functions, but three of the most notable are to raise blood sugar, raise blood pressure and to work as an anti-inflammatory substance. The first two are key players when we are under stress becausestress is known as expensive. What does this mean? It means that when we are stressed (again physically OR emotionally), our body requires more nutrients than normal to function. This means that we are using up blood sugar faster, which is full of nutrients we get from our food. So, cortisol signals to the body to produce more blood sugar out of stored energy found in our muscle and liver. This is how we continue to produce energy during activities like exercise. Cool, right?
Well, yes and no. If we only triggered this response every once in a while, things would be great. Cortisol would do its job and then a negative feedback loop would turn production off body allowing us to come back to center. Unfortunately, we are being bombarded by stressors these days, particularly environmental and food stressors, and are triggering this response almost all day long. From traffic accidents to sugar donuts for breakfast and fights with our boss or spouse we are under constant attack. Chronic elevated cortisol leads to raised blood sugar and raised blood pressure – for a while. And here is where adrenal fatigue sets in…
Eventually, in the presence of all this sugar in the blood from cortisol doing its job, the cells become resistant because they're packed to the brim and don't need anymore. Basically, they push the plate away and tell us they're full. At this point, we may have plenty of circulating cortisol, but it's messages are not being received and we actually see blood sugar begin to decline and blood pressure as well. It's like someone put a cement wall up between cortisol and the cells and no communication can take place. This is in the later stages of adrenal dysfunction and what contributes to symptoms of fatigue, lightheadedness, feelings of insatiable hunger or weakness and hypoglycemic episodes. Now, we have a cycle where we are stressed to the max and still pumping out cortisol but not feeling it's effects because the cells won't let it in. So, we continue to pump out more and more essentially "exhausting" or fatiguing the adrenal organs and the entire stress response.
As with any syndrome, disease or condition, these details are more nuanced then we can describe in one measly blog post. But hopefully it gives you an idea of how Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is essentially a stress syndrome of the 21st century. Never before in history have we been bombarded by so many external and environmental stressors or been able to explore our emotions beyond survival. While this has afforded us many opportunities and growth, it's also opened up a whole new can of worms when it comes to our tolerance levels for stress. So, what are some of the biggest ways we can make a dent in our stress cup?
Here are the ones I see most in practice that are really putting a burden on people's bodies:
1. Food intolerances and poor digestion. Eating something your body can't process every single day is stressful. Period. It will be nearly impossible to clear up imbalanced cortisol without also addressing digestive function and food choices because every cell in your body is dependent upon those nutrients, so I highly suggest taking on some sort of elimination protocol or hooking up with a practitioner who can guide you through the process.
2. Over-exercising and training. You remember how we mentioned that cortisol raises blood sugar and pressure? Well, it's main job is to do this during intense activity, which also includes exercise. Assuming you have no other stressors, this would be fine. But pile it on top of everything else going on in your life and it's a recipe for disaster. Try cutting down on intensity, duration or frequency to give your adrenals the rest they're craving or add in some gentle exercise in place of your regular routine.
3. Lack of sleep. The body repairs and detoxifies while sleeping. If we aren't giving it the rest it needs to do these jobs, it will become congested and backed up which leads to things like recycled chemicals and hormones. This is stressful for the body as your toxic load builds up. Sleeping does more than just make us feel good and it's important to respect the processes of repair just as much as the others. Hacking your sleep will be on the best decisions you can make for your health.
4. A negative emotional outlook or self-loathing and perfectionism. Ok, so this one is really much larger than one sentence can sum up, but taking a serious approach to shifting your mindset is the most important key to clearing up adrenal fatigue. Sadly, this piece is missing in most protocols because we get so caught up in the nitty-gritty physical aspects of healing and miss out on all the juiciness that comes with the spiritual, energetic growth. Many people say that they were never able to shift out the adrenal fatigue cycle until they finally began some sort of emotional stress reducing practices.
5. Not making any time for connection and fun. Bluntly put, I know this can be hard when you feel like shit. You may not feel like connected with friends and family or you may not have a whole lot of interest in activities that used to bring you joy. That's ok. Do them anyway or find some new ones that agree with your symptoms more. Eventually, when you are feeling better, you will be amazed at the growth and strength of your relationships for having weathered the storm together. Writing in a gratitude journal can very soothing to the body as it releases feel good hormones and allows us to step outside of our mind's chatter for a moment. Even if you only find a moment's worth of peace, cultivating authentic, vulnerable relationships will go a long way in making the healing process easier and more enjoyable. And if you're worried, try having a conversation and letting those around you know that you may not be fully yourself right now and could just use a little support. Most people are very willing, loving and accommodating if you give them the chance to be. Remember, they love you too.
So there you have it. A generalized look at what this thing called Adrenal Fatigue actually is and some ways to help mitigate the nasty symptoms that come with it. Again, if you are reading this blog and feel like you might be experiencing this condition, never hesitate to reach out to a practitioner or do some research. There are so many valuable resources online and some great practitioners who are aware of stress' harmful effects on the body. It is very real and very important so don't let anyone tell you it's all in your head or that you just need to "try harder" to feel good. Until next time.
Much love,


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Commentary | So Charlie Crist joins the Democrats and tells us what we already know — the former GOP lawmaker, who broke ranks to support President Obama, has made a permanent and official shift to embrace reason — vocally moving away from the party that has taken a sharp turn to the "very conservative" in recent years.
As Crist joins the Democrats officially, who among us did not (at least fleetingly) consider the old cliche about how if you are not liberal when you're 20, you don't have a heart, and if you're not conservative at 50, you don't have a brain? It seems Crist is the latest datapoint in an increasing re-commitment to liberal values among baby boomers.
And now that Crist joins the Democrats with a tweet heard 'round the political blogosphere, we're sure you're not surprised to hear that his former fellows in Florida's GOP have embraced the decision with tact and humility, congratulating the former governor on his ideological awakening. Just kidding!
They actually released a statement slamming Crist and saying they didn't want to be friends anyway. The Florida GOP said in a statement early today:
"Charlie Crist's first official act as a Democrat was to tell a lie about why he is now pretending to be one … The truth is that this self-professed, Ronald-Reagan Republican only abandoned his pro-life, pro-gun, conservative principles in 2010 after he realized that Republicans didn't want to send him to Washington D.C. as a senator, especially after he proved he couldn't do the job as governor."
Well, if that's not some break-up sour grapes business, we don't know what is.
Still, Florida Dems haven't been tripping over themselves to fully embrace Crist as a leader just yet, and departing Florida Democratic Party chairman Rod Smith quipped recently that just because a new congregant is recruited, "you don't make them the preacher."
Crist's aisle cross has not been addressed in-depth by the former governor following his tweet showing a picture of his shiny, new registration. Do you think Crist joining the Dems is another signal the GOP's message needs a large-scale overhaul?


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Schlumberger's Factory Drilling approach brings together technologies targeted at high-intensity drilling operations, such as those found in North American unconventionals. In this exclusive interview at the 2014 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, Jon Hill, VP, Marketing & Technique for PathFinder, a Schlumberger company, explains how fit-for-purpose technologies, such as PowerDrive Archer and PowerDrive Orbit, can be used to maximize drilling efficiency and optimize the completion of unconventional resources.
Home / Microsites / IADC/SPE Drilling Conference / Drilling efficiency, optimized completion key to Schlumberger's Factory Drilling


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Hi everyone! Happy July! For my column this month I am sharing with you an apricot pie with homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Triple vanilla bean ice cream in fact! (It does require an ice cream bowl attachment to your electric mixer, so I hope you have one and if not you'll be inspired to get one).
Apricot pie was my absolute favorite when I was a kid. Nothing else compared. The funny thing was that for me it was a winter dish, we always made it during the cooler months even though apricots aren't readily available until the summer.
Apricot Pie: Pastry 500g plain, all purpose, flour 250g cold butter, cubed 2 eggs, at room temperature 1 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons cold water Whisked egg to coat the pastry
Filling 1.5kg tinned apricots, chopped 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or 1 vanilla bean seeds removed. 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons corn starch
Fresh raspberries and ice cream to serve
Method Place the flour onto a clean surface and make a well in the centre. Place in the middle the butter, eggs and salt. Using your fingertips mix the butter, eggs and salt together, then slowly draw in small amounts of flour until the mixture resembles a grainy texture. Once mixed, add cold water, two tablespoons at a time, followed by the last tablespoon. Keep mixing the dough until it begins to hold together.
Knead the dough a couple of times until smooth. Roll the pastry into a disk and refrigerate covered for at least 20 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the fruit into bit sized pieces and place into a large bowl. Add vanilla and cinnamon and mix well.
In a small bowl combine the brown sugar and corn starch until completely mixed. Set aside. By the way, the props were given to me on loan from Robert Gordon Australia.
Preheat the oven to 180 C.
Remove the pastry from the fridge and halve. Keep one half in the fridge. Roll out the first half to 2-3cm thickness. Using a greased pie tin, press the pastry into the pie tin, leaving a sufficient amount of overhang. Prick the entire base with a fork and allow to rest in the fridge for 20 mins. Roll out the rest of the pastry to a 2-3cm thickness. Using a pastry cutter, cut lattice pieces to an even size. (If you are not feeling adventurous you can have a solid top case without the lattice work. Just roll out into a disk and set over the top of the pie once filled).
Remove the pie tin from the fridge and sprinkle one third of the brown sugar/corn starch mixture over the base. Add half of the pie filling, followed by another third of the sugar/corn starch mixture. Add the remaining filling then sprinkle the remaining sugar/corn starch mixture over the top. Place the lattice pieces over the filling from top to bottom. Peeling back every second lattice piece, place your lattice pieces from side to side, alternating to get a cross work pattern. Trim the sides of the top and bottom of the pastry with a pastry knife or sharp scissors so the sides are flush with the pie tin. Place the pie in the fridge to settle.
For those of you feeling daunted by pastry, I can totally understand those feelings I had it for many years too. The turning point for me was this pastry recipe, just fool proof every time. The more you work with it, the most you understand it and there becomes a sense of knowing when it feels right.
Cooking should be fun, so if you aren't game to try the lattice work, that is totally ok. A simple disk on top of the pie with a small hole cut in the middle is absolutely divine too. Simplicity is perfection right?
If you do feel game for trying the lattice work, because it is actually easier than you think, then my advice for first timers is to make 1.5 times the pastry recipe calls for. (I've added some notes at the end of the post). This will give you more pastry to play with whilst you roll, cut and figure out what you're doing. There might be some pastry wastage, but it ensures your pieces for the lattice are even in thickness and size, not only for cooking the crust evenly but also for your own confidence in cutting the lattice work.
TIP: Need some help with how to create the lattice? Check out this video.
Using the left over pieces, roll into a disk the size of the pie tin. Cut thin strips to make the braided boarder, cut about 9-12 strips. Using three strips per braid, pinch the tip of the strips together, then braid. Once you have braided the length, pinch the end together. You'll need around 3-4 braids.
Baste the pie with egg wash and place on the braided boarder. Coat it as well with egg wash.
Place in the oven at 180 C for 45-60 mins, or until golden brown.
Triple Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
1 1/2 cups milk (full fat) 3 vanilla beans, seeds removed 4 egg yolks 1/2 cup caster sugar 300mls pure cream
Method In a small saucepan, heat the milk and vanilla seeds and bean pods gently over a medium heat. Once bubbles start to appear around the sides, remove and allow to infuse for a further 5 minutes.
In an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks and sugar until the mixture is pale and creamy.
Remove the bean pods and add the cream. Gently stir.
Slowly add the milk/cream mixture to the egg mixture and continue to beat until fully combined.
Store the mixture in the fridge for at least 4 hours or until completely chilled.
Using an ice cream mixing attachment and direction/settings for your machine, add the mixture slowly and churn for the requirements of your machine. Remove once mixture has increased in size and is light and fluffy, and allow to freeze in an airtight container overnight.
Once frozen, scoop and serve with the apricot pie.
Notes: Make the ice-cream the day before you are to serve it to ensure it has frozen completely unless you have an industrial ice cream machine.
Ice cream recipe makes approximately 1L. Check your machine for instructions and adjust accordingly.
For newbie pie bakers, make it easier on yourself by making 1.5 times the pastry recipe if your attempting the lattice work:
750g plain, all purpose, flour 375g cold butter, cubed 3 eggs, at room temperature 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 8 tablespoons cold water
This month I've shared two recipes with you, firstly because pie and ice cream were made for each other, but also as I will be away in August so I won't have a column up for you again until September. See you again end of summer! - Rachel
(Photos, text, recipes: Rachel Korinek)


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Bullying is a term used more frequently these days. Bullying is not always easy to define, but as it is harmful to everyone involved we believe that bullying is made up of actions that:-
- Are repetitive, wilful or persistent
- Are intentionally harmful, carried out by a group or by individuals
- Create an imbalance of power which leaves a victim feeling defenceless
Actions that are considered to be bullying include:-
Physical actions such as pushing, kicking, hitting, pinching, threats or damage to belongings.
Verbal actions such as deliberately and frequently excluding children from social activities, ridiculing, humiliating and tormenting
Racist actions such as gestures, taunts and graffiti.
Unwanted physical contact or abusive comments of a sexual nature.
Bullying is not a fall out between children or an argument over a game of football.
What to do if your child has been bullied.
- Calmly talk with your child about what has happened to them. This may need to be at a time after they have initially told you, as they may be too upset to explain themselves clearly.
- Make a note of what your child says including who was involved, where and when it happened, what actually happened and how often it has happened.
- Reassure your child that they have done the right thing in talking to you about this and that they are not alone in dealing with it.
- Explain to your child that they should report any other events to an adult in school immediately.
- See your child's teacher and explain what your child has told you, including any other times this may have happened and any other issues these children might have had with each other in the past.
What to do if your child is bullying other children:
Children sometimes bully others if they do not know that what they are doing is wrong, if they are copying others, if they haven't learnt better ways to mix with children, if their friends encourage them to or if they are going through a difficult time and they are acting out aggressive feelings. To help you can:
- Explain to your child that what they are doing is unacceptable and makes others unhappy.
- Show your child how to join in with others without bullying.
- Discourage other members of your family from using aggression or force to get what they want.
- Give your child lots of praise and encouragement when they are co-operative and kind.
Updated September 2017


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Organ donor episode of Holby City criticised
5th August 2013
NHS Blood and Transplant have accused BBC drama, Holby City, of scaring off organ donors.
Read All ►
Organ donation soars
11th April 2013
Organ donors have risen 50% since 2008.
Read All ►
Germany in organ donor scandal
8th January 2013
Investigation in east Germany over allegations that doctors manipulated an organ waiting list.
Read All ►
83-year-old man is oldest living kidney donor
17th May 2012
The NHS Blood and Transplant Service has said an 83-year-old man has become the oldest in the UK to donate a kidney.
Read All ►
Transplant surgeons' breakthrough
4th April 2012
Machine that keeps blood pumping around stomach of dead donors has saved organs which would normally be discarded.
Read All ►
Call for organ donors to be offered funeral expenses
11th October 2011
A leading ethics body says organ donors should have funeral expenses paid for the NHS.
Read All ►
Leading surgeon calls for more donors
6th July 2011
Retiring surgeon says people should 'think positively' about organ donation.
Read All ►
A record 18m register as organ donors
23rd June 2011
NHS Blood and Transplant say 18m have registered, but even more need to sign up.
Read All ►
Body can be reprogrammed to accept donor organ
19th May 2011
Scientists say the body's natural defences can be 're-educated' to stop them attacking organ transplants.
Read All ►
Call to legalise sale of human organs
5th January 2011
Leading surgeons want the sale of human organs to be legalised.
Read All ►


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Central Plant Retrofit
Series-Counter Flow Retrofit
Replace and increase capacity of existing chiller plant
Existing plant consisted of two 550-ton chillers piped in parallel, with chilled water flow maxed for the existing piping network and no available electrical capacity. The new larger system would need to be designed at the same chilled water flow and be much more efficient in order to match existing electrical service.
This was achieved with the design of two 700-ton magnetic bearing chillers pipe in a series-counter flow configuration. The plant regularly operates at 20+ chilled water delta T and is saving Irvine Company over 1 million KwH per year.
LOCATION: Symphony Towers, San Diego, CA
CLIENT: The Irvine Company
INDUSTRY: Commercial High Rise


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It's that time again. Time to step back and take a look at all that you have, all that you love, and take a moment to say "thank you" to the powers-that-be. This is truly one of my favorite holidays. There's a chill in the air and a warmth in the home that goes deeper than what any radiator or fireplace can give. Everyone gets the day off of work (unless you are, God-forbid, in retail) to feast on some of the best homemade dishes you will have the pleasure to partake in all year long. It is a day of friends, family, and carb-loading. What could go wrong?...
Okay, so you could forget to thaw the turkey, make the terrible assumption that the grocery store already took the giblets out of its nether regions, or experience a real-life Christmas Story, and have the neighbors' hounds burst through the kitchen door and eat it right off the kitchen table.
And that's just the turkey. Don't forget the side dishes and all that could go wrong with them, including what your body will inevitably do after eating what amounts to three full meals of rich, heavy, fatty foods that you have spent all summer long avoiding so you could be "swimsuit ready"!
And the so-called "friends and family"!? After the contentious election year we just suffered through?! Good luck with that! I for one have already received the "Reminder" email not to discuss politics or the election in general at Thanksgiving dinner as "not everyone invited shares your views."
So, who needs a drink?! Well here are a few you can try, depending on your particular ailment.
There's the You Drank Too Many Cocktails But You Still Really Need Another Cocktail cocktail:
SHO SHO - (it's like a healthy juice smoothy with liquor)
1 ounce Akanone Carrot Shochu, 1-ounce oloroso sherry ,3/4 ounce lime juice, 3/4 ounce carrot-ginger syrup, root beer, Garnish: candied ginger
Then there's the "Day After Dealing With My Family" cocktail:
THE PRESBYTERIAN (Cause you may need some religion after the in-laws visit)
Scotch + ginger ale + club soda = simple perfection.
And lastly, there's the Day After THANKS-Fatty McFatpants-GIVING cocktail:
PENICILLIN COCKTAIL (A shot of this will do any body good)
2 oz blended scotch, 1 oz ginger honey syrup, 1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1/4 oz Laphroaig
Hopefully, one of these cocktails will cure what ails ya. Heck, hopefully, you will be one of the few individuals that won't need any of these!
Regardless, all of us at WORK Labs wish you a truly lovely Thanksgiving holiday!
P.S. Just a little design blast from the past...
Happy Turkey Day Y'all!


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When we got word of Katy Perry's Simpsons debut, we got to thinking about our favorite musician cameos on the show. We ended up with 19 worth celebrating, and you can check them out below. Heads-up, though: Some of the video footage below features non-English narration before, after and sometimes in between musical moments. Yay, Internet!
Michael Jackson in "Stark Raving Dad" (Episode 3.1)
Homer lands himself the the looney bin, sharing a cell with a white man claiming to be the King of Pop. Jackson performs an unforgettable piano number called "Happy Birthday Lisa."
Spinal Tap in "The Otto Show" (Episode 3.9)
After a Spinal Tap show, Bart feels inspired to pursue a career in heavy-metal guitar. Naturally when the topic of face-melting guitar solos pops up, so does Otto, to show him a thing or two with the ax.
Aerosmith in "Flaming Moe's" (Episode 3.10)
Moe entices Steven Tyler and Co. to perform "Walk This Way" after offering pickled eggs as payment.
Red Hot Chili Peppers in "Krusty Gets Kancelled" (Episode 4.22)
Bart convinces the funky radio rockers to play the last Krusty the Clown Show episode instead of Moe's empty bar.
The Ramones in "Rosebud" (Episode 5.4)
The classic punk minstrels attempt to serenade Mr. Burns on his birthday ending the set with a warm, "Happy birthday, ya old bastard."
Robert Goulet in "$pringfield (Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)" (Episode 5.10)
What's more wholesome American Christmas than gambling complexes and Goulet caroles? Exactly.


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Tuesdays in January at UCB Chelsea
You don't need a dick to tell someone to suck it, and you don't need a dick to be a kick ass improviser. Suck My Dick.
Starring Your Future Crushes:
KK Apple, Jenna Barron, Amanda Dieli, Mo Fry Pasic, Molly Gaebe, Stacy Hayashi, Devon Knight, Grace Leeson, Chloe Marsh, Alex Otis, Melanie Owens, Rachel Pegram, Gaya Rajagopalan, Bridgette Rizkalla, Glo Tavarez, Rosie Whalen
Directed by: Shannon O'Neill


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learning Quran made easy!Welcome to Home Quran School
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The online Quran class timings are flexible at Online Quran Teachers, and the students can schedule the classes accordingly.
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All our tutors are qualified Qaris and Islamic Scholars. They have great experience in memorizing the Quran for adults & kids.
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Learning Quran with tajweed is a Course where a student will learn the correct pronunciation of the Arabic alphabets, how to join letters and learn how to read the Quran.
The teacher will guide students the points where & how to the Arabic letters correctly. After learning Qaida, the student will read the Quran under the best online Quran teachers. After this course, your kid will start reading the Quran with correct pronunciation in the Arabic accent.
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Home Quran School does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, student, parents, client.


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paidContent - A Plan To Upend The Domain-Name System Runs Into Opposition
ICANN, the non-profit group that regulates domain names, wants to vastly expand the number of "top level domain names" beyond the 21 that currently exist, such as .com, .net, and .mobi. But the proposal, which is expected to go into effect next year, is running into lots of opposition. ICANN says that by adding top-level domains it will "promote competition in the domain-name marketplace" and prompt "innovation." At the first public meeting held on the initiative, however, the response was largely negative, at least according to a report on InternetNews.com. Several lawyers said the plan could put a big burden on groups such as sports leagues that might feel the need to purchase all the domains related to their trademarks in all of the new top-level domains. A lawyer for Turner Broadcasting also said it could create new opportunities for sites to try to steal other sites' identities, leading to the possibility of fake news stories that seemed real.
The vocal opposition follows written criticism ICANN has received from several groups including the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Telecommunications Information Agency, which have said that the new domains will likely create confusion among consumers and also force trademark owners to defensively purchase domain names. The DOJ and the NTIA both want the initiative delayed until ICANN completes a study to determine some of its economic implications, according to a report on the ICANN website. ICANN doesn't seem inclined to bend. It says it has already spent $13 million on designing the program and lists a number of initiatives it is undertaking to respond to the feedback.
Under a draft plan, anybody will be able to apply for a top level domain name, although they will have to fork over a $185,000 application fee to ICANN first. ICANN will then evaluate applicants based on whether they are financially and technically able to run a registry. Once an application is accepted based on those criteria, ICANN will invite third parties to post any objections they may have, before ultimately deciding whether or not to give the entity the go ahead.
By Joseph Tartakoff


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Regina, Saskatchewan
July 20th, 2017
(check against delivery)
Good afternoon, everyone.
My thanks to the Canadian Club of Regina for providing me the opportunity to be here today.
From national security and human rights to cyberspace, from policing and prison reform to fighting wildfires – there's a lot on the public agenda these days for the Minister of Public Safety. But instead of "talking shop", I promised to talk today about the environment and the economy – so that's what I will do.
First, on the economy – I'm happy to report some very good signs of progress over the past year and a half.
As a relatively "new" government – 20 months in – we firmly believe that Canada's biggest national economic problem over recent years has been a growth rate that is just too slow.
Through most of the 1990's and well into the first decade of this new century, our country was able to count on average annual economic growth of 3% per year, or better. That growth was the key to our prosperity. But it stalled in 2008. And ever since, Canada has been limping along with meagre growth, averaging only about 1.5% per year.
That's simply not good enough to generate the jobs, the incomes and the economic confidence necessary to meet the needs of Canada's middle-class and all those working so hard just to get to the middle-class.
In such circumstances, a policy of austerity would not be unhelpful. So instead, we've implemented pro-active measures designed to drive greater growth, namely:
- a middle-class tax cut AND a more generous monthly family benefit for raising kids – to increase disposable incomes and thus the spending power of regular consumers; plus
- investments in higher education, skills, science, innovation, trade, and especially infrastructure.
Such a policy begs two questions. First is it affordable?
The answer is "yes" because Canada's federal debt ratio – that is, the size of our debt compared to the size of our economy – is currently the best in the G-7 and among the very best in the western world. Since the early 1990's, we've more than cut it in half. And that's a key indicator of economic sustainability.
Looking ahead, our very good debt ratio is projected to remain flat over the coming five years, and then decline even further thereafter. So yes, our plan IS "within our means".
Secondly – is the plan working?
And here, the latest numbers are really encouraging, as confirmed in favourable report cards recently from both the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Canada.
Close to 400,000 net new jobs have been generated over the past 20 months. Mostly full-time jobs. And Canada's economic growth rate is now back ABOVE 3% again on an annualized basis – DOUBLE the average of the past 10 years.
No one is celebrating just yet. A lot more progress still needs to be made for Canada's middle-class, and for various sectors and regions. But so far, so good.
And with respect to the environment – I'd like to offer some perspective on an issue that the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan need to find a way to work on, carefully and thoughtfully together, and that's the delicate intersection between the economy and the environment, especially Climate Change and the pollution that comes from carbon emissions.
There are five key points to register:
- First, Climate Change is real. It has done damage already, including here in Saskatchewan. It will do much more unless we are serious about addressing it. There's never a "good" time to do so, but time is running short. Further delay will make the solutions more difficult.
- Secondly, our comprehensive national policy framework on Climate Change and economic growth – which has the support of every provincial and territorial government (except Saskatchewan and Manitoba) – includes the principle of carbon pricing, but also A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THAT which must be weighed TOGETHER as a complete package when the framework is judged.
- Third, flexibility is a key principle which enables each province to tailor the various elements of the framework to suit their circumstances, including federal funding for innovation and infrastructure, and significant exemptions for particular sectors important to Saskatchewan like farming and small oil and gas operations.
- Fourth, the revenue that comes directly from carbon pricing must go to the people of the province in which it is raised – not to Ottawa – and depending on decisions made in Saskatchewan, that revenue could empower the province to REDUCE many existing provincial taxes quite significantly – to promote investment, jobs, innovation and growth.
- And fifth, putting a price on carbon pollution is the key to something very important to Saskatchewan, and that's getting pipelines approved – so our resources can reach global markets and get global prices, while Saskatchewan companies like Evraz Steel are busy making the pipe.
I know these are hot topics – prone to misunderstanding and strong emotions. Before I venture into that minefield, let me put things into the broader context of overall Canada/Saskatchewan relations.
With our federal focus on middle-class growth, we have an overall approach to the economy that fits well with Saskatchewan's demographics:
- our middle class tax cut helps a majority of Saskatchewan taxpayers;
- our targeted Canada Child Benefit, provides significantly more cash every month, tax free, to 9-out-of-10 families;
- and our increased investments in students, seniors and Indigenous people help large segments of Saskatchewan's population.
We've also generated good results through federal-provincial agreements in which our two orders of government have worked well together. For example:
Water is always a key Saskatchewan concern. One of the first things the provincial government raised with me right after the last federal election, was their request to get control over 19 federally-built water dams across the Province. But they were concerned about legal liability. So we transferred not only the dams, but also $365 million to offset any risk and bolster Saskatchewan's bottom-line.
We are strengthening the Canada Pension Plan, especially for middle-class Canadians who are the least prepared for a secure retirement – including a large number of Saskatchewanians. And the provincial government was a constructive player in getting a better CPP deal for the whole country.
We also concluded another new agreement with Saskatchewan – on healthcare. We'll be injecting a further $350 million into the provincial treasury over this coming decade for better mental health and homecare – two areas of real need in Saskatchewan.
In world trade, our government has vigorously pursued Saskatchewan's priorities in global markets – like getting more beef and pork into Asia and Latin America, preserving crucial access for our canola in China, signing a comprehensive trade deal with the European Union and a new free trade agreement with Ukraine.
We got rid of U.S. Country-of-Origin labelling. We have Saskatchewan's support in the battle over softwood lumber. We're on the same page with NAFTA. And we're pushing very hard to maintain a sensible, integrated steel and pipe industry across North America – supporting Evraz here in Regina. Taken together, these efforts are worth billions of dollars to western Canada.
Right here at home, we have expanded federal support for affordable housing in Saskatchewan – $54 million MORE is coming from the Government of Canada over the next two years for housing. And during that same period, there's also an estimated $39 million MORE for Early Learning and Child Care.
We've extended the existing contract for training military pilots at "15-Wing" in Moose Jaw – that's worth tens of millions of dollars to the local economy.
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, we're investing more than $12 million in Saskatchewan arts, culture, community infrastructure and celebrations – through more than 200 projects all over this province.
We've put $150 million into world-class scientific research and innovation at the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina and First Nations University.
More broadly, over the past 20 months, we've announced some 250 federal investments to help Saskatchewan grow – now totalling close to half-a-BILLION federal dollars – for a vast array of public INFRASTRUCTURE projects (highways, bridges, transit systems, water and wastewater facilities, and much more).
And over this coming decade, a further $900 million will come into Saskatchewan from the federal government for green infrastructure, public transit, culture, recreation, and rural and northern projects, plus another $700 million for conventional municipal works.
For Saskatchewan and the West, our government has also introduced new legislation on moving grain by rail to better support farmers, including a more useful definition of what constitutes "adequate and suitable" service, greater transparency, an on-going and improved revenue cap, new tools to promote competition, and reciprocal penalties that (for the first time ever) will also apply to the railways.
And perhaps most appropriate for today's discussion – we have approved four major new pipelines (two for oil and two for gas), to move western resources into both North American and global markets – at better prices than we've been able to get before.
Not counting the revival of the KeystoneXL pipeline into and across the United States (which we have always supported), the OTHER TWO major OIL pipelines that we approved last December ("TransMountain" and "Line-3") are worth more than $11 Billion and will generate more than 22,000 jobs. The bulk of the contracts for the pipe so far are going to Evraz.
And that takes me to Climate Change – a global problem, largely the bi-product of human-made emissions of greenhouse gases which pump pollutants like carbon into the atmosphere.
Is Climate Change serious? Virtually every respected scientist around the world says it is.
Does it affect us here in Saskatchewan (where we are sadly the heaviest emitters of greenhouse gases per capita in the country)?
Yes, it does. One example is the greater frequency and severity of damaging summer storms which trigger significant flooding.
We've had extensive, costly floods in two of the last five years. Parts of the oilpatch were shut in. Farmland was inundated. Crops and livestock were lost. Communities were isolated. Municipal, provincial and private infrastructure was swept away.
Manitoba and Alberta have also suffered similar major flooding. The losses ran into the billions. And last fall, it was Cape Breton. This spring – Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and British Columbia.
And in between the wet years, we've had droughts and wildfires. Remember the mass evacuations from northern Saskatchewan two years ago, and that beast of a wildfire that swept through Fort McMurray last year. And British Columbia right now. Again, the losses add up to billions of dollars, plus higher taxes and insurance premiums.
So yes, Climate Change is extracting a toll, which will continue to worsen if concerted action is not mustered. Doing little or nothing is not cost free – not to mention what carbon pollution means for the long term health and well-being of our children and grandchildren.
So where do we find that critical intersection between a strong economy and a cleaner environment?
Canadians truly want both – simultaneously, together. Some say that's impossible. You have to pick one or the other – the economy OR the environment. You can't have both.
But most Canadians respectfully disagree. In fact, in this day and age, effective economic policy and credible environmental policy go hand-in-hand. To a significant extent, the former (that is, our economic success) depends on the latter (our environmental credibility).
A classic illustration is our valuable oil and gas sector which generates good jobs and a lot of revenue, but also significant pollution in the form of carbon emissions and Climate Change. It's odd that we tax the production of our resources, instead of the associated pollution. In other words, we penalize the good, not the bad. That seems a bit backwards.
From an economic standpoint, we naturally want to maximize our profits from selling our hydrocarbons at the best world prices. But we are blocked from the best prices because we don't have a transportation system – that is, pipelines – to get our oil and gas into world markets.
Our existing pipeline system serves only North America. It doesn't connect in a commercial manner to offshore exports. So we sell at a discounted North American price.
That's why – both in Opposition and now in government – we have always supported properly approved pipelines, especially aimed at offshore exports. Even before he became Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau was making that point – in presentations in Washington, DC and Calgary, and also here in Saskatchewan.
He spoke to the Regina Chamber of Commerce in June of 2014, saying it's a fundamental responsibility of the federal government to get our resources to world markets.
So how do we get the necessary approvals to build those pipelines to world markets? Among other things, we get them by being credible about environmental stewardship.
That means we aren't "rip and run" developers. We apply intelligent environmental rules and procedures. Our decisions are science-based. We're conscientious about Climate Change and preserving a clean environment for our children.
In other words, we establish our credibility by proving to our customers, and to our critics and to ourselves – and to all those who would ultimately challenge us in Court – that our development is responsible and sustainable, with declining emissions over time.
If we're NOT strong on these issues – the legal, environmental, Indigenous and community opposition to pipelines will be insurmountable. No projects will get done.
The previous government pretty much proved that point. Through 10 years of down-playing the importance of Climate Change, they were unable to advance a single project that would actually get Canadian oil and gas into offshore export positions.
So how do we fix that? How do we attain convincing environmental credentials to build pipelines for offshore exports, and thus get world prices for Saskatchewan? The single most credible step is putting a price on carbon pollution. That's the key that unlocks the door.
Because that "key" forms the heart of our policy, we were able to say "yes" to the TransMountain project from Edmonton to Vancouver. That means billions of investment dollars and thousands of jobs – including a very big contract for pipe recently awarded to Evraz in Regina.
Similarly, we were also able to say "yes" to Line-3 which will move Saskatchewan resources southeast across the prairies and into the United States.
By pricing carbon, for the first time ever, we get the incentives the right way around, encouraging – in a market-based manner – cleaner operations and lower-carbon innovation. As I mentioned earlier, it's a bit counterproductive that our society imposes significant fees and charges on good things like the clean water we want to drink or the higher incomes we want to earn, but pollution is free – no matter how damaging it is. The incentives are backwards.
In another field of fiscal policy, the Saskatchewan government recently demonstrated the validity of this "incentives principle" in its 2017 provincial budget. It cut INCOME taxes while increasing CONSUMPTION taxes. That's an example of getting fiscal incentives the right way around. The very same principle would apply to how best to reduce pollution while maintaining a strong economy – incent the economy, not the pollution.
So we've been working very hard on a comprehensive, but very flexible pan-Canadian policy framework for BOTH economic growth and the fight against Climate Change – together.
That framework has earned the support of at least eight provinces and three territories spanning the full spectrum of partisan opinion from right to left. Reform Party founder Preston Manning supports the principle, as does the Conservative Leader of the Opposition in Ontario, and the Conservative Premier of Manitoba, and even the former senior policy advisor to Stephen Harper (Mark Cameron).
Support also comes from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Mining Association, all the major financial institutions, the insurance industry, many municipal leaders and the top CEO's in the oil-patch.
On the opposing side, there are some who argue that Canada should just drop the fight against Climate Change because the U.S. government says it is pulling away from the overarching Paris Climate Change Agreement.
But that process takes four years and ignores the fact that many American states, municipalities, businesses and industries are still very much engaged and committed. So is the rest of the world – all countries, except Syria and Nicaragua, are sticking with the Paris Agreement. And in June, our House of Commons voted overwhelmingly to support the Paris Climate Accord – with only a single Conservative voting against (and she was from Ontario incidentally, not Saskatchewan or Alberta).
Canada's pan-Canadian Climate Change framework consists of several inter-related elements which, taken together, produce the desired outcomes.
The central pillar of putting a price on carbon pollution, does NOT necessarily mean a carbon "tax". There are several different ways to do it. The exact design is for each individual province to determine, according to what will work best for them.
British Columbia chose a tax. When they started, they were all alone. It was implemented nine years ago and BC today has the strongest economy in the country. Carbon pricing has not rendered them a basket-case, nor has it destroyed their competitiveness.
Ontario and Quebec are taking a different route, choosing a market-based Cap-and-Trade approach, in collaboration with California. Alberta has a hybrid system. Other provinces are still working on their details.
But within each one, there is substantial room for flexibility to address the needs of sensitive sectors. For example, the BC tax doesn't apply to on-farm fuels. In Alberta, they are implementing "output-based allowances", as recommended by the private sector, to safeguard the competitiveness of industries which are emissions-intensive and dependent on trade. Ontario is using other flexible design features to accomplish the same.
So flexibility and the opportunity for complete provincial control over the design of carbon pricing are two essential features of the pan-Canadian framework. Another is that all the direct revenue from carbon pricing must remain in Saskatchewan.
With a system designed and controlled by the province, what would that new revenue empower Saskatchewan to do? The choice would be entirely up to the provincial government, but here are a few of the options:
- Saskatchewan could choose to slash its personal income taxes, or cut business taxes, or chop property taxes on farmland, homes and small businesses.
- Or it could provide offsetting assistance to people or to sectors of the economy that need some special help with their costs or their competitiveness or their energy efficiency.
- Or Saskatchewan might decide to pay down its debt, eliminate its deficit and build a genuine heritage fund.
- Or it might invest more in education, science and technology, healthcare or infrastructure.
- Or to strengthen exports, Saskatchewan could reduce provincial royalties on oil and gas and potash.
There is a broad range of possibilities to promote Saskatchewan's growth, job creation, innovation, competitiveness and productivity. The only hurdle to overcome is the assumption that the status quo is as good as it gets – that nothing "better" is possible.
As I mentioned earlier, in its 2017 budget, the Saskatchewan government changed a number of provincial taxes. The net result is an increase in the overall provincial tax burden of more than $820 million per year. Over five years, that would add up to a provincial tax hike of more than $4 billion.
It's interesting to note that a carbon price in Saskatchewan over five years would most likely amount to LESS than that. If you adopt the design techniques from other provinces that would be most advantageous to Saskatchewan – like BC's exemption for farm fuels and Alberta's 5-year break for small oil and gas operations – the dollar impact in Saskatchewan comes way down. But still the revenue from carbon pricing could allow Saskatchewan to roll-back a substantial portion of the provincial tax increases imposed last March. That's just one of the options.
The second key element in the federal framework is innovation. The Government of Canada is doubling its investment in the science and technology of cleaner energy. And in our most recent budget, we announced $2.4 billion to support cleaner technology. That could include Saskatchewan's Carbon Capture and Storage technology (CCS).
I'm happy to tell you that I was the federal Minister of Natural Resources who began supporting this important Saskatchewan science nearly 20 years ago – through the Petroleum Technology Research Centre at the University of Regina, and the Weyburn/Midale test site.
Incidentally, a price on carbon would help make CCS more attractive as a cost effective technology. And it can be sold around the world. Think of the polluted mess they've got on their hands in China and India. CCS could help make a significant difference there. And in the United States too.
Federal innovation investments will also promote more renewable fuels, energy efficiency, ways to cut methane, carbon sinks in farmland, wetlands, permanent cover and agro-forestry, increased use of crops that fix nitrogen, even modular nuclear power stations. The field is vast. And Saskatchewan could lead on many fronts – with strong federal support. That is part of our framework.
The Government of Canada also stands ready to work with utilities like SaskPower to build smart new electric power grids. That is, in part, what our new Infrastructure Bank could be used for – to link heavy emitters like Evraz Steel, the Co-op Refinery and Upgrader, and all the potash mines to clean hydro power (from Manitoba or the NWT). That would make a huge difference in Saskatchewan's carbon footprint.
And speaking of infrastructure – think about large, innovative water control systems to deal with those sudden, violent summer storms that dump a year's worth of rain in a couple of days, and do so much damage – the consequence of Climate Change.
With astute science, engineering and planning, we could develop a network of upstream water control structures – large and small – together with properly designed channels, reservoirs, wetlands and wooded areas to manage that water in a smarter, more efficient way, countering the debilitating cycles of uncontrolled floods and scorching droughts.
A good place to start might be around the Quill Lakes where a water disaster is developing before our very eyes. There's also a lot of potential – and need – in the Assiniboine, Qu'Appelle and Souris basins. And more.
With the right vision and determination, we could better protect livelihoods and public and private infrastructure downstream, while creating upstream water-based opportunities for greater diversification, value-added economic development and recreation. Helping with all this is what our federal Green Infrastructure Fund is for. Again, it's part of the pan-Canadian framework.
The whole package is large and it needs to hang together. Cherry-picking would defeat its effectiveness. It's all inter-dependent, anchored in the principle of carbon pricing in which everyone participates fairly.
And to underscore my first point – a price on carbon is the key that unlocks pipeline approvals to get western oil and gas to more markets at better prices. And to support jobs in steel plants in places like Regina.
Despite $11 billion in private-sector pipeline investment and 22,000 jobs, there are many strong opponents who believe these projects should not proceed. But we can face their criticism, honestly and with conviction, asserting these projects are the right thing to do – not just economically, but also because they are rooted in the environmental integrity that comes from putting a price on pollution.
Within this framework, I hope we can find room for all governments to work successfully together. With ingenuity and goodwill, I believe we can position Saskatchewan to grow and thrive for decades to come.
Thank you for listening.


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Profile of a Rare Book Dealer: William Reese
I'm excited to introduce you to William Reese of William Reese Company. William's shop is located in New Haven, CT. With a cataloged inventory of over forty thousand items, and a general inventory of over sixty-five thousand items, William Reese Company is among the leading specialists in the fields of Americana and world travel, and maintain a large and eclectic inventory of literary first editions and antiquarian books of the 18th - 21st centuries.
Take a look at the William Reese Company website HERE! This shop is located at: 409 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06511.
I had the pleasure of interviewing William; I hope you enjoy his journey of book buying and selling as much as I did.
Q: Tell me a brief history about yourself and your path to bookselling.
A: My path to bookselling began at a young age, growing up in a house full of books in rural Maryland, where the only outside amusement was a flickering black and white television. Books were far more appealing. After going to school in Baltimore, I arrived in New Haven, CT as a Yale undergraduate forty years ago, in 1973. I've lived here ever since.
Q: How long have you been buying and selling rare books?
A: I began dealing in books while a sophomore at Yale. While in high school I had done a lot of book scouting, especially once I got a driver's license. I really came to it through my love of American history, which led me to seek out books not readily available. Yale librarians were generous in mentoring me, and through them I became better acquainted in the big world of rare books. When I had a chance to buy a library, it seemed like a natural step.
Q: What is your preferred genre and what is the price range of books you deal in?
A: Americana, in the largest sense, is my specialty. That really includes the Western Hemisphere from Columbus up to the closing of the frontier - about 1900. These days I also do a lot of travels and voyages throughout the world, especially the pacific; and natural history and cartography, again Western Hemisphere.
My firm also deals in 18th - 20th century literature, although it's not my personal specialty. We sell books from the $20-$25 level up to handling items into the seven figures. The core of our stock is in the $500-$10,000 range.
Q: What are some of the most interesting books you've come across?
A: I've handled some wonderful things: The original Louisiana Purchase Proclamation; one of four known copies of the first printing of the Gettysburg Address; every one of the major Americana color plate books and atlases, sometimes multiple times. One of the most interesting items I ever sold was a manuscript map of part of the Valley of Mexico done about 1560, and just had an entire book about it published by the Yale University Press (Mary Miller and Barbara Mundy, editors, "Painting a Map of Sixteenth-Century Mexico City" (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012). Finding that map was a great thrill.
I've long collected personally. I formed big collections of the WWI English poets Robert Graves and his friend, Siegfried Sassoon. These have mostly been given to Yale. I now collect Herman Melville, a group of English writers I like, books of American views and scenes from the 18th and 19th centuries, and early American natural history books.
Q: Why do you think books are important in our time of digital media?
A: Digital media is a wonderful thing for pure words. It cannot yet reproduce the qualities of an engraving, mezzotint, or lithograph, any more than a photo of a painting can replace a painting. Once one digs a little deeper, a researcher will realize there is information in paper, bindings, annotations, provenance, and other physical clues of a book that do not translate fully to digitization. Books remain a stable platform that have worked for a thousand years. Remember there was a time when microfilm seemed the cure-all!
Q: What has been the biggest challenge you have experienced in rare book dealing?
A: The biggest challenge in building a rare book business is capital. It is expensive to maintain a stock of rare material. Balancing hard-headed business with the passion for books needed to be good in the business means great discipline in buying right to sell at the right price.
Q: What has been your proudest moment of rare book dealing?
A: I'm proudest of some of the customers I've worked for and the confidence they've placed in me. I won't name them, as they tend to be very private people, but I've helped build collections for some very rich, very well-known, and also very smart people.
Q: What is the best advice you've been given as a book dealer, and what advice would you give to a would be book dealer?
A: When I started in the business, in 1975, I bought a collection which had a section of Civil War books I knew nothing about. My mentor, the great dealer Peter Decker, then 83, had helped me buy the books. When I said I didn't know about Civil War books, he said, "Well, you're a bookseller. Figure it out." That was excellent advice I've followed since.
My advice to anyone starting out would be mundane: Have a good business plan. It's a business like any other, and requires the same application and attention to the bottom line. Don't buy something just because you love it - you have to know how to sell it, too.


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March 2nd, 2017 | Shoots,Weddings | Subcribe to RSS
JOY! If there is one word to describe the wedding of Gerard and Nadine, this would be it – what a priviligde to experience their wedding.
Thank you Gerard and Nadine! You guys are awesome it was so great capturing all the laughing, the spectacular venue, happy tears and..joy! <3
Venue: Centre for the Book, Cape Town
Assistant: Chantall Marshall
let me know what you think
Sonja Immelman
March 3rd, 201710:19 am
Wow wow wow!! Hoendervleis mooi!!


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New legislation allows Eagle Ford counties to keep some of its mineral wealth, which is good news for the failing road system.
Governor Greg Abbott recently signed SB 951, overturning an old provision that stripped counties of the proceeds from the minerals that ran under their roads. Since 1960, the state has received all mineral royalties, even though they do not maintain county roads.
Over a 40 month period, the money for drilling under roads in Karnes, DeWitt and Gonzales counties generated $16 million for the state. The new law allows the counties to keep this money, which will be vital to maintaining their road systems that have been significantly impacted by the shale boom.
Eagle Ford Roads Impacted by Higher Traffic & Inadequate Funding
Eagle Ford production has been great for local economies, but has taken its toll on their roadways. Small gravel roads originally built for passenger cars now host huge rigs that travel at high speeds and often create deep, hazardous craters. Some road edges are shredded and the pavement can unexpectedly drop off half a foot.
The bill was filed by State Sen. Carlos Uresti who also worked last session to gain an additional $225 million to counties for road repair.


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by Sarah Z. Wexler (Brooklyn)
If you ask me, there's nothing prettier or more fragrant than peonies—and lucky for us, they're in season! I snipped this one from my mom's garden and the scent is already filling up my living room. Buy a bouquet or even a single stem to transform your home (and when they're not in season, try Thierry Mugler's Angel Peony perfume, which comes seriously close to the real thing).


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Please visit our RETAIL sites. ONLINE shopping under development. Thanks for your patience!
Please click on links below to view cards:
You've Got Soul Mail Cards
Animal Spirit Cards
Flower Essence Cards
Please click on link below to view watercolor paintings:
Watercolor Painting Gallery
You've Got SOUL MAIL cards, Animals Spirit cards, and Flower Essence cards are now available at the following retail shops:
Mother Nature's Gift Shop at the Butterfly Estates in Ft. Myers, FL
Gift Shop at Shangri-La Springs in Bonita Springs, FL
"The ability to foresee, visualize, and create your idea in your mind is the most powerful resource you have." -George Washington Carver


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Your Source for Education Design and Planning
The University of Michigan
Landscape Architecture category
The Medical Center Courtyard is the most important focal point of the University of Michigan Medical Center campus. Within the medical center area, the courtyard is an activity hub of several surrounding hospitals.
The Courtyard is a contained space defined by the University of Michigan Hospital to the north and east, and ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFEATURED IN2000 Architectural PortfolioSUB CATEGORYLandscape Children's Hospital, Holden Women's Hospital and several smaller medical facilities to the south and west. Originally, the space consisted of a parking lot and a road that allowed access to fire and emergency vehicles. The university saw the opportunity to create a major space that would serve as an organizing element for the medical center and become a space for social congregation.
To achieve this goal, parking was relocated to the perimeter, and an access road was incorporated into the design to meet ADA and emergency accessibility. A combination of paved areas, seat walls and benches was used to create interaction space for children and adults. A centerpiece of the space and focal point for The Courtyard is an amphitheater, which takes advantage of the natural grade. Bold patterns provide visual interest when the amphitheater is viewed at the ground and upper levels of surrounding buildings.
Note: Area = 1 acre
Courtyard, south end
Courtyard amphitheater
Courtyard, north edge
© 2019 Penton Media, Inc.


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Arrington Marine Sales Unlimited is a leading boat, outboard motor, and marine dealer in Greenville, Texas. Whether you're looking for watercraft from Evinrude, Larson, or Honda Marine, we've got it.
It's no wonder customers from Dallas, Mesquite, Garland, and other local areas trust Arrington Marine Sales Unlimited for maintenance, boat sales, and engine service. If you live near Hunt County, Hopkins County, or Collin County, stop by our store, or browse our extensive online catalog from anywhere in the world!
Our phone number is (903) 883-4206; give us a call or send an email to email@example.com. We're waiting to hear from you.


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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Fairy Dust by Mo Manning
13 comments:
This is beautiful Kelly and I love that gold frontage or melt art gold. Lots of gorgeous die cuts too! So many details to admire. Great inside and out!ReplyDelete
You 've created another real beauty!
Hugs, Cathy
Gorgeous card Kelly, Love the gold...the image is beautiful...Stunning work as always Love it inside & out... Hugs May x x xReplyDelete
Oh Wow!! this is gorgeous Kelly… what a beautiful colour combo… I love the sweet image and the embellishments are stunning… especially love the rolled roses and snowflakes! :-)ReplyDelete
Hope you are having a good week!
Big hugs
Sue xx
So dang pretty. I love that you decorated the inside as well. Who ever gets this card will feel very special :)ReplyDelete
Wow this is stunning, my friend. So very elegant. Love all the details and the sparkle.ReplyDelete
Gorgeous , girl!!! You done good with that silver and gold!!ReplyDelete
Mo Manning is so talented - I love everything she does. I need to make a journal just of her work. I want one of those little snow fairies to come live with me and my cats, and my goats, and my chickens! Beautiful card Kelly!ReplyDelete
Merry Christmas!!
Oh how beautiful, the little fairy looks like she is blowing out the word Peace, that was very clever of you Kelly. Love how you coloured her and the gold Frantage is so beautiful, it gives such a rich look to your beauitful card. Hugs, Anne xReplyDelete
This is such a beautiful, festive card, Kelly. Love the cute image and all the gold & silver accents and other gorgeous details. A work of art, my friend!ReplyDelete
Absolutely stunning beautiful card!! Love it!! The multiple layers and the layout design are awesome!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 21, 2013 at 2:37 PM
This is gorgeous Kelly, I love the pretty die cuts and all the sparkle, beautifully doneReplyDelete
Hugs Julie P
Holie Crapolie Kelly! You knocked this one righ outta the park... it's beautiful! This is one of my all time fave images and I LOVE how you've designed this. All of the gold bits make it so regal and elegant and I think this is one of my favourite cards you have ever done! It's magical and beautiful!ReplyDelete
What a gorgeous riot of festive sparkle - fabulous!ReplyDelete


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Allison Draper, Photographer: Capturing Culture
Junior Allison Draper summed up her photography philosophy: "I like to think of it as capturing the culture, capturing the beat, the pulse of a place."
And Draper has had plenty of opportunities to do so. Practically born with a camera in her hand ("my mom used to buy me disposable cameras") and with an intrinsic love for travel, she has captured many cultural scenes.
In fact, traveling was all the Orange County, California native knew growing up. She would tag along on her dad's business trips, using that disposable camera. In seventh grade, she went to Italy for an exchange program, lived with an Italian family and "realized the culture around [her]." When Draper took pictures of the landmarks, she included people in the shots.
On a trip to China, she took pictures of kids playing chess in the park and people in the temple rather than the temple itself.
"I didn't realize you could take artsy or abstract photos," Draper said, until she starting taking an intensive art program at the California Conservatory of the Arts. "That was when I got into [that genre] more."
But attending Pratt Institute in Brooklyn made Draper realize abstract and "artsy-fartsy" wasn't really her thing. "It was all art for art's sake," she said. "All these hipsters denying commercialism, like, look at my blurry picture of an apple, it's beautiful, it's organic." Draper rolled her eyes.
And while she may not love all genres of art, Draper insists that even if she doesn't prefer them, all art forms can be appreciated.
"I love film but you can't shoot film all the time," Draper said. "Nobody shoots film in the real world. Oh that's nice, but you actually have to grow up and get a job."
At Pratt, Draper found that her old-Hollywood, commercialized shots weren't exactly accepted. "My view on art was different than a lot of people's I encountered at Pratt," she said. "No one wanted to make money from their work." Draper found her foundational goals to be incompatible with theirs.
Instead, Draper prefers showing a place without being blatant about where or what it us. "I like when you can take a street photo of New York City and you know it's New York City even though there isn't a yellow cab in it," she explained.
At Pratt, she began branching out from photography in her artistic endeavors. Though she does not believe one can "become" an artist, one can definitely improve by formal training.
"I could barely draw a stick figure [when I started]," she said. "Pratt helped me with the technical stuff."
Draper also realized that a degree in photography bound her to the field of photography. She transferred to King's to pursue broader studies, while staying in the city and being a part of an art-centered culture.
This past summer, Draper interned for a small university in Paris where she worked as an assistant and photographer for the school. "I would just document things," she remembered. She shot whatever they needed: pictures of the faultily or classrooms, of Paris, the school, students interacting and landmarks. She traveled Barcelona to photograph an event for the school and a few other European cities including Helsinki and London.
Draper's style is reminiscent of old movies and romanticized travel. But Draper does not create these moments; she simply perceives them, she said, realizing their worth and simplicity. She added that a good picture taken with film is so much more rewarding than one taken with a digital camera.
French street photographer Robert Doisneau influences Draper, along with Annie Leibovitz and Brian Bowen Smith.
Draper has a particular fondness for the photos she took this past summer. She had hours and hours to wander around Paris; one of her favorites from the trip is a film shot of a man making balloon animals in the gardens of Tuileries. She was about to snap the photo when he turned to look at her.
"It was the perfect picture," she said.


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Study: Uncertainty rules smaller nations' rush to gas
Smaller nations' plans to invest in natural gas should proceed with caution, according to interim results of a study by MIT Energy Initiative in collaboration with the Cyprus Institute.
Smaller nations' plans to invest in natural gas should proceed with caution, according to interim results of a study by MIT Energy Initiative in collaboration with the Cyprus Institute.
Funded entirely by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, the study is part of a larger report that will further take into account the changing dynamics of the regional and global gas markets and give a comprehensive view of the implications for long-term development of natural gas in Cyprus and other similar nations.
Using Cyprus as an example, the study takes an independent look at the economics of developing gas. The researchers expect to finish the report in August 2014.
"While natural gas is often cheaper than oil and gives off fewer emissions, developing the resource comes with risks, especially for smaller nations," says Sergey Paltsev, an author of the study and a principal research scientist at MIT Energy Initiative.
Because the "cost for these smaller nations makes up a larger portion of their economies," they need to have "proper expectations…before spending the money." Researchers found it will take the country about 5 years to put Cyprus's gas resource to use and the required investments will comprise up to a quarter of the country's gross domestic product.
"That's a substantial amount of a country's economy dependent on a resource that has proven to be unpredictable in the past," says Paltsev. "Natural gas development is so new to such regions," he says, and the global gas market is "changing so rapidly, that there's a large amount of uncertainty."
Paltsev believes what's happening in Cyprus is a good model for other countries like it that are exploring gas. The nation has been slowly recovering from a near collapse of its banking industry and searching for revenue. A major gas discovery off its coast 2 years ago has been viewed as an opportunity.
The latest estimate of the resource is about 5 tcf (OGJ Online, Oct. 4, 2013), a small fraction of the global natural gas resource. Francis O'Sullivan, director of research for MIT Energy Initiative, says it is unlikely Cyprus will ever be a major player in the global gas markets, "but that doesn't mean natural gas can't benefit the country's economy if developed properly."
The study notes that, with the country's population at about 1 million, Cyprus "has enough natural gas to power the country for nearly a century–while significantly reducing its use of foreign oil."
LNG vs. pipeline
With estimated reserves ample for domestic use, the Cyprus government has planned to build gas liquefaction to export gas to such places as Europe and Israel. LNG has been the preferred option over pipeline because of political tensions in the area due to the island being divided since the mid-1970s. Turkey occupies the northern half.
While a clear political maneuver, the study notes, building an LNG plant would also create jobs and raise revenue. Depending on the tax scheme, it may raise $1.5 billion in taxes.
At the same time, building the plant would cost about $6 billion for a country whose GDP is about $25 billion. The cost of building an LNG plant, however, is far more than the cost of building a pipeline, though LNG offers greater flexibility to adjust production to changing natural gas prices and market supplies.
O'Sullivan and Paltsev warn that even projects that start out having clear economic gains can become less profitable because of poor technical planning and execution or bureaucratic and regulatory delays.
"Prices change, projects get delayed, overrun costs pile up. These are all unforeseen risks that can come up and must be properly mitigated," Paltsev says.