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India's import of gold may have risen by 15 per cent to 75 tonne in January as bullion traders purchased more of the precious metal in anticipation of hike in customs duty.
On January 21, the government had raised import duty on gold and platinum to 6 per cent from 4 per cent with immediate effect in order to curb imports of the precious metals so as to check the widening current account deficit.
However, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had indicated measures to curb gold import at the beginning of the month.
"Gold imports are likely to be higher this month. On January 2, the Finance Minister had said the Government will take measures to bring down imports. This led traders to buy more gold before the duty was announced," All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation Chairman Bachhraj Bamalwa told PTI.
Asked about the quantity of gold import in the current month, he said, "Imports will be around 75 tonne as compared with 65 tonne in January 2012."
After the hike, Bamalwa noted that quantity of gold imports have been very less. But the shipments would improve in the next month because of 'wedding season', he added.
In 2012, India's gold imports are estimated to have declined to 750 tonnes from 969 tonnes in the previous year, Bamalwa said, adding that the figures are yet to be finalised.
On gold prices, he said: "Domestic rates have increased after the import duty hike. The increase has not been felt due to rupee appreciation and a decline in international price by $35 an ounce in last one week."
Going forward, prices will be under pressure as clearance of gold futures in the domestic and global exchanges are happening simultaneously, Bamalwa added.
Gold prices in the national capital fell by Rs 15 to Rs 31,085 per 10 grams. Prices have come down by Rs 285 in the last two trading sessions. In the international market, gold prices remained almost stable at 1,657.31 dollar an ounce.


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In Biology 2, the juniors just completed a unit on biotechnology and genetic engineering. During the course of the unit, they explored a variety of methods that scientists use to modify organisms. Examples of genetically modified organisms range from the creation of medicines such as insulin to sheep who give milk containing silk protein to pest-resistant crops. Students explored the advantages and disadvantages of each technology and presented their
-Melinda Bennett, Minneapolis South High Biology
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The Calvinist
by Caleb Coy
He looks behind him, the thunder and the flash having come and gone. Houses to the left of him and houses to the right, solid and continuing. He feels them rising and swallowing the people inside further inward, people reaching outward with desperate fingers, to take him or have him take them he does not know. He knows that if he fell he would hit the ground, and this has never changed. Angels would not catch him.
He runs so fast because when he is fast the world behind and in front of him is slow, and he closes his eyes and imagines he is slow and floating through the air. A car could come at him and he could step away in time and see himself smash up against the car.
A neighbor whose name is already in one book or another steps out of his house and waves slowly at the boy going by. Waving with his only arm, the other gone. Three birds in their lawn chairs each sing hello, each in succession, so that backwards they would sing no different. Everything is in place and where it shall be, and all will be numbered accordingly, separated and sucked into a pocket, and what is done will be done and come to its own fruition.
When he hit the ball he saw it soar. The ball was thrown and in between the throwing and the hitting the ball traveled its path, and when he hit the ball it would go up and away and he would direct its course. The crowd cheered anyhow, and his parents cheered also, but he knew that his parents would cheer for him whether he hit the ball or not. He once saw his sister dancing, and she leaped into the air like her feet would never hit the ground. His cleats collide hard on the pavement in constant rhythm. Clot. Clot. Clot. Clot. She twirled her feet around the point of her toes and her arms arched in the air to a point above her. She leaped and her legs went forth from beginning to end and she would never come down.
He hears the cicadas calling and saw one on his shoulder in the dugout. When he ran from the park, they followed him. If he looks back they will fade away slowly; if he looks ahead the sun goes down.
There were locusts in Egypt and not in the wilderness. The blue houses crescendo on either side and are never-ending walls. The book is written on a table in the living room, all there for the reading, beginning to end, and nothing is that is not between its covers. There is a great big man with great big glasses who reads the book without opening it. When he returns home he returns again and again and again.
You run to first base because it is the first place you go. When you run home, it is the place you were destined to go. You have no say in the matter. He runs in his uniform by a nameless woman whose name is already in one book or another. She is going back into her house. She is already inside, tripping down the stairs; she is not yet to the curb, opening her mail. She is at her door. It is exhaustively settled.
He had tried to hold the bat right, as he had once tried to hold a pen to speak. The words were written beforehand. The pen could not speak in words, the strain was beyond him. The pen knew not what to say. The bat swung where it did. He wants to know what it is like to feel that he has control over an event. He is under a cloud that goes with him.
If he was preserved he could not be rubbed out. Yesterday was today prolonged until today. He runs beyond the trees and in winter the snow will fall on the trees and they will be dead. If he gathers the leaves now the snow still falls at its appointed time. A child is born before it is conceived and its name is written in one book or another, and it is already dead. It will all be swallowed up. His sister dancing, several alternate sisters all dancing with the same movements, coming back together and swallowing each other up into one. She leaps and never touches the earth again. They already knew they would be clapping for her, as they were clapping for him.
If he looks back he will fade away slowly; if he looks ahead the sun is gone down. The book is on the table and is already written: Nothing is left but to read it. If he turns left or right, this also has been written. When he hit the ball and sent it upward, it would be swallowed in the sun and never come down. He ran to first base and continued beyond. The ball came down and never touched the earth. He ran on down the line as it was swallowed in the glove. They called to him, but he ran past the fence and into the trees. He ran to where he knew not where because when he ran he was already there. They did not know they would be calling to him, confused and shaking their heads, but it was going to happen. He would not be forming a circle with the team and praying at the end.The people in blue houses did not care. There was a lot for each, and each would meet his always. He runs to where the grass is not growing, the low trailers in the filthy lot. His cleats kick up the dirt and it fades behind him, never touching the ground. Shirtless children chase an injured bird that cannot fly. A dog barks because it smells him already.
They had always told him to make a decision, one or the other, when to hit and when not to hit, and to have a good eye. When the ball was thrown he had already hit it, because one leads to the other between the covers of the book. If he closed his eyes it would never make it to him. If it moves to him, it will make it but it has not yet. But he is running, he is already there, and his face will run with blood, with all things once and always in their fruition.
He sees himself still at the plate, and there are two of him, one who is safe and one who has run between the houses looming over him to touch one another and fall. He thinks of the one who was safe, and what he might be doing in this moment, if they would be cheering for him. He is running under the houses but he does not stop. The horizon is drawing a purple curtain over the sun, and is a wall where one can run no further. If he runs, he ends, and if he ends he has ended. The other him is safe at home, his uniform is being washed, and he is complacent at the table, returning to the plate again and again and again. While the shirtless children chase the wingless birds that cannot fly.
He runs by a child holding a cicada, a child with beady eyes. He hears the cicadas and the barking. The dog is mangy, scarred, and chained to a stake. It barks with bared teeth and slanted eyes, and its saliva falls to the ground and touches the earth. The bird's feathers float away and they do not touch the earth.
He can run but the blue houses will fall over him and when he runs in the road and drowns they will swallow him. Everything is in place where it shall be and will be numbered accordingly, separated and sucked into a pocket, and what is done will be done. If he looks back he has faded away slowly; when he looks ahead the sky has come down.
The waters come down slowly, like blood and saliva touching the earth. The chairs are filled when they are fashioned, and the glass shatters when it is framed. His cleats kick up the dirt and he runs into the open jaws that will then come down upon him.
He runs to be swallowed by the fanged gates that open wide when the chained hound leaps upward with its toes and never leaves the ground.
Caleb Coy lives in Christiansburg, VA with his wife and son. He has previously been published in Connotation Press and Contemporary American Voices. His debut novel, An Authentic Derivative, was self-published in 2015.


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An annual screening of the best Ohio-made horror shorts.
As the home for horror in Columbus and statewide, once a year we collect and present the best scary, unsettling and frighteningly funny horror shorts from local filmmakers in one competition screenings. Winners get cash prizes and coveted screening slots before major studio features.
Back to All Film Series


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About a month ago some of my single friends and members of the young wives association were having our usual gist sessions and we discussed every thing from career, fashion, music, fellowship and finally we hit on marriage I was teasing one of them who is a couple of years older than l am about when she would finally get married and without even letting me land one of the other single ladies present scowled at me and asked "is the marriage thing really worth it?" I was amazed because this is someone who was so into love and relationships back in our Uni days…what could have happened in the last 5 years to make her say that?
I was amazed at her response because this is someone who was so into love and relationships back in our Uni days…what could have happened in the last 5 years to make her say that?
When she narrated different stories of unsettled homes less than 6 months in marriage and some other marriage issues I began to understand her viewpoint.
Lately, social media has taken us into the homes of some of our beloved celebrities and we all have started to realize that beyond the glitz and glamour of expensive weddings, vera wang gowns, mai atafo suits,Instagram and facebook loved up posts,#mce and #wce real life issues come up in all marriages.
Trust me I'm not speaking as an expert or anything like that coz the truth is when it comes to marriage, no one is an expert.All I know is that marriage requires some kinda major level of commitment that if you know you ain't ready for all that just jejely and gbadunly stay single.
Another thing I would say is if you aren't ready to stay through the good and the bad, happy and sad times, boxed up and broke ass times then just maybe marriage is not really your thing.
Look at our parents, many of them started from the bottom and now they have risen to greater heights because they were patient with each other and they never gave up but what we see today is women or even men who want someone with a million dollar bank account.
Not like that's a bad thing but let's be real we don't have so many of those out there, our economy is hard enough so everyone is a general manager of the little change they earn, so why not pick your own man or woman and build that million
naira dollar empire together?
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Like I said earlier I'm no expert in this marriage things either but one of the major reasons I wrote this is to let people know that as much as it is good to build your home on Christ, he would not come down and work it out for you, I stand to be corrected.
In my opinion, I think it's your job to work out your marriage with fear and trembling. Even the bible says faith without works is dead so asides putting faith and belief in God to make your marriage a great one it requires your effort and no it's not just some minimal effort but thoughtful, planned and consistent effort from both parties.
Let that CCT formula never ever be forgotten;
Communication(not just wetin we go chop this night kinda talk but are you happy being married to me kinda talk on a regular so things can keep improving, share thoughts and ideas)
Care(not just I love you after each phone call but how far with your goals for the year that's some deep level of caring and commitment to your spouse, the little things count)
Trust( don't get all paranoid because that lady admired his dressing, quit the where were you 2 minutes ago questions trust your spouse and be trustworthy too).
All in all marriage is a full time job there is no part-time to it, so be ready to "work, work , work, work ,work, work" in Rihanna's voice.
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Marriage can be beautiful, ask couples who have done it 40 years and counting but it's not beans Mehn!
For y'all who are not married yet, please do a lot of getting to know each other and let God guide you. It's important you read Before you say I do
Be sure you can stick to that person when the beauty and charm begin to fade and when the money goes honey would you be ready to stay?
Think about it!
Those are my thoughts, so if you ask me I think Marriage is worth it.
Marriage is honourable in all!
A/N: What are your thoughts?
do you agree to the fact that marriage is worth it? Don't just read, please share your views
Till I write you again…Toodles.
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No sooner had the buzzer gone at 9.30 this morning than holdfasts were being quickly being finished and it was on to lasting. Lasting pliers are one of the more difficult tools to master, akin to learning to drive. Legs, arms, biceps, hands and fingers all come in to play.
Squeezing your last tight between your legs and chest to immobilise it, with one hand you have to flex the pliers to catch the leather, to leverage them using the foot, to pull the leather back and to then use its nose to hold the leather in place. With your other hand you scrabble and fumble for a nail to drive in.
Not satisfied with their lasting success, they are also tackling putting on bristles with equal gusto...
We shall see tomorrow if their efforts are repaid kindly - fingers crossed. Until then happy shoemaking!


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What power does a word have? To a writer, words are vastly important. This morning, listening to the radio, I heard the word "anodyne" and knew that, first, I didn't know what it meant and second, I would find out before morning's end.
"Anodyne," I discovered, means "serving to alleviate pain" or "not likely to offend."
How apt a definition, I thought, as I mulled over how words can so easily inspire or cause offense, and yet, how often we fling them about without appreciating their effect.
The Associated Press announced that they would no longer use the term "illegal immigrant."
Immediately, folks lined up on either side of this word debate. "Political correctness," shouted those who throw that label at any innovation with which they disagree. Others, including many religious folks who work with immigrant people, saw wisdom in the decision. "Illegal immigrant" so quickly descends to merely "illegal" as if that singular, ugly word sums up a fellow human being whose hopes and aspirations are akin to our own.
A term that used to be freely used, including by professionals, is "mental retardation." It was not invented or intended to be pejorative, but to define a certain level of intellectual ability. But one need only occasionally visit a school playground to realize why there's a movement to "eliminate the R-word."
Words fall from favor, and rightly so. But one word that always lifts the heart and never falls from grace is the word "hope."
The season leading up to and including Lent and the triduum saw momentous things happen in our Catholic Church, and if you weren't left speechless — wordless, as it were — by the events of this spring, you may have been like so many with whom I spoke and consistently defined this period by one word: hope.
First, we saw Pope Benedict XVI make a gracious and spirit-filled decision to step down from his weighty burdens. The ordinary Catholics I meet — the ones who reside in pews on Sunday and not in the sometimes nasty alternative universe of constant blogging — thought this move very practical and timely. Bishops resign at a certain age, why can't a pope pass his duties to another, younger person? They saw it as a sign of, yep, hope.
Then, everyone used the word "hope" as the selection process began, and hope translated, as it so often does, into millions of silent prayers. Pope Francis, a Jesuit (which made my Ignatian heart soar), responded by asking for our blessing, and then making the significant gesture of visiting a youth prison and washing the feet of young prisoners — male, female, Catholic, Muslim. People I knew were absolutely thrilled by this.
But sadly, there are some who are harshly criticizing Pope Francis already, even his beautiful trip to the prison. Fortunately, for my adult life, I've remained with Catholics who, despite difficulty, live in a sense of hope.
Can we criticize a pope? Of course. We don't belong to a cult. We belong to an ancient community that's lived through contentious times but professes a faith in conversation with reason. We discuss, we debate.
But I want to be like the American nun interviewed on television after the pope's selection. Why, she was asked, do you have such hope? She smiled broadly and said, "I live in hope." That's why I'm a Catholic. That's where I want to live, too.
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DALLAS – Haynes and Boone, LLP attorneys have a long history of being recognized by their peers as the Best Lawyers in Dallas, an annual list published by D Magazine. This year the magazine singled out 19 firm attorneys for the honor.
They are as follows:
• Robert D. Albergotti, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights• Thad Behrens, Business Litigation• Michael M. Boone, Mergers & Acquisitions • Stacy L. Brainin, Criminal Defense/White Collar • George W. Bramblett, Jr., Business Litigation • Ronald W. Breaux, Antitrust Litigation • Deborah S. Coldwell, Franchise/Dealership • Nina Cortell, Appellate • Greta E. Cowart, Employee Benefits/ERISA• Ernest Martin, Insurance Law • Joyce G. Mazero, Franchise and Distribution • David L. McCombs, Intellectual Property • Barry F. McNeil, Antitrust Litigation • Charles F. Plenge, Employee Benefits/ERISA • Ann Saegert, Commercial Real Estate• Gregory R. Samuel, Securities and Corporate Finance • Janice V. Sharry, Securities and Corporate Finance • Albert C. Tan, Finance • Susan A. Wetzel, Employee Benefits/ERISA
Lawyers included in the list are first nominated by their peers, and once balloting is complete, all nominations are evaluated by a panel of eminent Dallas-area lawyers and D Magazine editors before the final list is generated. The complete list can be found in the June issue of D Magazine.
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Turmeric's Health Benefits
Ancient Cultural Roots Bring Turmeric's Health Benefits to San Francisco's Indian Cuisine
In India, colds and flus are often soothed with a steamy cup of haldi doodh, a warm, sweetened concoction of milk steeped with turmeric. And because of its striking golden color, the drink seems somewhat magical.
You've probably heard of—or maybe even had—a turmeric latte. These strong, earthy drinks seem to be popping up everywhere in San Francisco these days. And while you may have thought this drink was just another new health trend, it actually has deep roots in Indian culture. It seems that ancient wisdom knows what modern science shows.
In this part of the world, people are only now jumping on the turmeric train for the multitude of health benefits it offers. But in Indian culture, turmeric is so much more than a healthy spice; it is a cultural, spiritual, and culinary symbol for healing, vitality, and celebration.
The Power to Heal
Modern science is starting to discover turmeric's abundant physical healing properties, many of which have already been acknowledged by traditional Ayurvedic medicine. From reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, cleansing the liver, and even protecting against certain cancers, turmeric has been touted as a powerfully therapeutic spice. Although a less common practice here because of the predominantly fairer skin tones, in India, people even apply a paste of turmeric topically to treat an array of skin conditions from acne to eczema and even insect bites.
But ayurveda also believes that turmeric's healing abilities go beyond the physical body to soothe and balance the body's chakras (or energy centers) and stimulate agni (digestive fire). And when used to treat colds and flus, it's as much the physical healing properties of turmeric as it is this energetic quality that helps people heal. Even if the symptoms don't clear up right away, it rejuvenates on a soul level and brings hope.
At DOSA, we capture these healing, revitalizing qualities of haldi doodh with our Samovar Hot Tea, a modern take on the traditional beverage. This soul-warming hot drink invigorates the body and spirit with a blend of turmeric, fragrant sage, spearmint, Samovar tea, and blood orange. The bright yellow hue and the citrusy scent create a zesty and uplifting drink.
Turmeric as Celebration
This uplifting quality of turmeric is likely the reason that it is a key component of many celebrations in India. The Haldi ceremony, which takes place a few days before a Hindu wedding, is a sacred, celebratory ritual in which turmeric plays a central role. Relatives gather in the home of the bride-to-be and cover her face, legs, and arms in a bright yellow paste made of turmeric, rosewater, and sandalwood powder that is believed to cleanse and purify her before marriage and to offer lifelong protection for the couple.
Today in San Francisco, we take the celebratory nature of turmeric to the next level in our Flower Child cocktail. We infuse gin with turmeric to create a bitter, golden liquid, then balance it out with a hit of lemon, spiced agave for sweetness, and egg whites for a lush mouthfeel. While the purest of health enthusiasts may think the idea of putting turmeric in an alcoholic drink sort of defeats the purpose, to us it pays homage to the deep cultural link between turmeric and the joy of celebration.
Balancing Flavors
Turmeric is found in an abundance of Indian dishes and is a key component in many of DOSA's house-made spice blends. Because of its pungent, bitter flavor, turmeric is more often a supporting spice in a dish rather than the main seasoning. In masala dosa, for example, turmeric is what gives this hearty, savory spiced potato filling a sunny yellow hue. The bitterness can't be tasted because it is subtly balanced by fragrant curry leaves, sharp mustard seeds, and warming ginger to create a harmonious blend of bold flavors.
While the many wonders of turmeric are still being discovered by modern science, traditional wisdom has given us great insights into many of these properties. No, science will probably never know if this ancient root may have the power to heal more than our physical bodies, balance our energy, or give rise to celebration. But maybe it doesn't have to. Maybe it's enough to believe that if a nubby little root can inspire all of this, there has to be more to it than what meets the eye. To experience all the benefits turmeric has to offer, come to DOSA and taste how we use this prized spice in our delicious South Indian cuisine.


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Electronics Printable Version
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- Ohms Law
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- Full-wave Rectifier Explanation Shows how it works.
- EEVblog David Jones' video blog - lots of tutorials and interesting stuff.
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- Volts Amps Watts Very Simple Power Calculator.
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Order Larger Quantities of Books at Wholesale Prices or Send a Message or Suggestion about Parkinson's Treatment
Please feel free to contact Dr. Okun with any questions, feedback, or information on Parkinson's disease. If you have a treatment tip or secret please feel free to share it.
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For Wholesale Purchases through Books4Patients, LLC, please send us a message with the number of books you would like to order, a contact name and phone number, and a shipping address. We will call you to confirm the details. We offer a 10% discount on orders of 1000 or more books, 20% on 2000 or more books, 30% on 3000 or more books, and 35% on 5000 or more books. Discounts subtracted from the $13.99 retail price. Shipping charge is not included.
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Your Skills, Our Career Opportunities
PolyOne offers exceptional careers in an array of functional areas in locations around the world. Learn more, then explore specific openings in each area.
Focus Programs
Campus Recruiting
PolyOne is the perfect place to start your career, whether you're an MBA student, undergraduate or recent graduate. Our leadership development programs are designed for recent MBA graduates and undergraduates to grow via broad exposure to across our organization. Career-specific programs range from logistics to sales to finance and marketing. More...
Military Veterans
As a global leader, we work hard to integrate military veterans seamlessly into a professional career at PolyOne. We need experienced people with a global outlook who are able to create solutions and lead teams. Military veterans are a natural fit and we're proud to offer careers to veterans including enlisted, junior officers or officers. More...
Functional Areas
Our sales team is as diverse as our business, ranging from "traditional sellers" to chemical engineers who are on the sales teams to lead a more technical conversation with customers. Regardless of their title or department, they all benefit from having exciting and cutting-edge products and services to provide our customers. Our sales team is very collaborative, working together to satisfy our customers' needs. For example, one seller might be talking to a customer about our TPE materials for a toothbrush that they need, and at the same time, connect the customer to another seller who focuses on our colorants.
Our marketing careers range from product management to pricing to industry management to marketing communications to strategic insights. Each is unique, but together, they contribute significantly to our success. Marketing job types include:
- Product Management: Focuses on the product lifecycle
- Pricing: Maintains focus on pricing services and products for our customers
- Industry Management: Focuses on the wide array of industries that PolyOne serves
- Marketing Communications: Owns our brand, drives communications and awareness
- Strategic Insights: Focuses on assisting with our AOP process and maintaining our Knowledge Center
R&D and Technology
Innovation and formulation are at the foundation of what we do, and we are seeking technologists in all areas who have a desire to continue to learn and think outside of the box.
Every one of our R&D and Technology associates plays a unique but critical role, from our associates focused on improving processes and working with internal manufacturing, to our analytics team who use data for problem solving and reporting, to our application development technical service associates who educate our customers on how to best run our products and provide troubleshooting as needed.
Supply Chain and Logistics
This group of talented associates ensure you get what you need, where you need it, when you need it and how you need it! You'll find individuals in these roles in both our regional offices as well as located in our manufacturing facilities. We also employ sourcing professionals who ensure we receive our raw materials and services at appropriate costs and within the ideal of service level agreements.
Customer Service
Our customer service associates are a vital link to our customers, providing them with superior service along with the superior products and services we provide. They take ownership of the customer experience, and internally, interact with several other departments within the company.
Environmental Health & Safety
These dedicated associates spend each and every day finding ways to keep our associates as safe as possible and implementing sustainable processes to keep the world a safer place for today and the future. You can find our EHS associates in our manufacturing facilities providing the necessary training to our associates on how to remain safe. We also have Product Stewardship associates that create and update our MSDS sheets, ensuring all of our associates understand specifications and potential hazards.
Our manufacturing roles are diverse. Some of our associates work with extrusion, others with sheet, some with liquid colorant, and others with powder colorant. We have quality labs in our manufacturing facilities, creating the need for technicians to assist with on site material testing. We employ maintenance personnel, engineers, production associates, warehouse teams, and quality technicians within each of our locations.
The consistent thread between all businesses is that the manufacturing processes keep our company going and help us to grow and deliver value to the customer. These associates' level of quality directly impacts the customer's satisfaction, and their ability to be nimble allows PolyOne to successfully partner with customers.
Apply Today
Human Resources
Our HR team plays a key role in finding, retaining and developing our most important asset—our people! Join our team in a variety of roles, ranging from recruiting to compensation and benefits to organizational development to payroll. HR job types include:
- Recruiting: The company's ambassadors; getting to know talented candidates and helping the candidates know PolyOne
- Compensation and Benefits: Ensures we remain competitive in the market with the foundational rewards we offer
- Training and Organizational Development: Focuses on providing professional development opportunities across the organization and retaining top talent
- Payroll: Ensures everyone's paychecks are correct and on time
- HR Generalist: Supports our client groups on all people matters
Information Technology
Our IT team proactively works to find new technology to keep our global associates connected with each other and with our customers. They partner with the businesses and functions to provide solutions and help improve effectiveness and efficiency. From our performance management system to budgeting tools, IT integrates all of our functions into consistent systematic approaches.
Our finance team supports our businesses and functions to ensure we are working effectively and efficiently with our money. They provide key insights to assist with making key and strategic decisions. Our finance associates have the ability to develop their skills working with either our corporate teams or each of the businesses. We also employ professionals in accounting, accounts payable, tax, treasury, and internal audit.


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Warm breeze heralds the "Pakistani Spring"The elections were rigged to reduce the Islamist footprint inside the political structure. This could only be achieved at the cost of encouraging regionalism. No prizes for guessing who did this.
It is wrong to say that Musharraf the Magnificent did not have his way. This election proves that only Musharraf the Magnificent can secure 99.99999% of the Pakistani national vote. Everyone else has to be content with less than 0.0999% percent each.
The great fear in the ... well.. you know where... was that the unwashed masses of Pakistan would rise up in a tumultous anger and drive the Magnificent one from power. In the vacuum created, a number of strange unpredictable creatures would appear possibly wearing many hues of green. Today, with the establishment of a bulwark of "moderates" in the Parliament, the Islamists will find themselves fighting an "elected parliament" - instead of a "military dictatorship" - in that terribly semantic way that is so popular these days.
Cohabitation is a sensible choice - since ... you know who... has been unable to conceptualise an alternative to Magnificient One. As you can see the army has begun its long and arduous march towards the barracks. Agitating against cohabitation will simply bring the "Pakistani Spring" to an end.
Might as well sit on the beach and enjoy the breeze.
Needless to say a storm brews just o'er the horizon.


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The Broadway Brews Project rolls on with the release of the third beer in our lineup, brewed by cast members of the musical Waitress in collaboration with Sixpoint Brewing, to benefit the Adrienne Shelly Foundation.
It's time to taste "It's for Adrienne" Cherry Cream Ale - but good heavens! We're missing one brewer, the beer has been poured, and we can't taste until the entire team is present. How long will we the torture continue? Click on, find out, and enjoy a terrific night full of brews an Broadway, with special guests from up and down the Great White Way.
Special thanks to lensers Dane Agostinis, Kristen Beth Ludwig and Jennifer Evans, and as always, the good folk at Rattle N Hum West! Cheers!


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Sundried Southend Triathlon.... Please help make this happen
The Sundried Southend Triathlon is donating event profits to Havens Hospices charity. We are always looking for more volunteers to marshal the event and help out on the day. No previous experience is required. If you are interested, please get in touch and we'll be happy to give more information.


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There's only a few days left to have a chance at snagging a cool $1,000 this month, courtesy of GoPro! Don't fret if you haven't been able to film the line of your life quite yet though. With 4 more monthly $1k winnings and a grand prize of $20,000 still up for grabs, we can't wait to see the gnarly lines you guys throw down!
Our very own Mr. Bishop is helping to judge all of your entries alongside GoPro editing maestro Abe Kislevitz, & Nick Hamilton from Transworld Snow.
Only raw, unedited clips will be consider as viable entries! The judges will also be looking at the following criteria:
Cinematography + Composition — 25%
Perspective and Degree of Shooting Difficulty — 25%
Performance + Style — 25%
Overall Beauty + Lighting — 25%
Good luck and fuckin' send it people!
Full details, judging criteria and official rules here.


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- We (meaning just me) don't like tofu. We (meaning both of us) were picking up a few groceries and the tofu curiosity got the best of me. I picked up a package, and I've been thinking on it for a week or so. So I tried making some at lunch today as a test run. Oh, I really don't like it. Now I have to tell you that I've always kept my mouth closed when it comes to food. I wanted Shane to grow up with "fair and balanced" taste buds. You know, if a Mom says "yuck" chances are the kids will think it before he/she even tastes it. Thus Shane grew up with lots of different great ideas about food, and I didn't have to make a lot of mac & cheese and hot dogs or a separate meal every day! But I deter from the....tofu...gelatin-like-wiggly-really-yucky tofu. I guess you know by now that I've saved Jerry from having to try this!! ( I truly apologize to anyone that likes this bean-curdy wet food. No - I admire you!)
- I was making Karen P's wonderful Cherry Bars (again). I didn't have the extra margarine/butter for the recipe, so at that moment I was very thankful for lessons I learned as a little girl. "Substitute because the store is far away (and probably closed), so you'd better learn what can work." Both my Grandma Matvey and my Mom lived with this theory. And we did live out in the country. There was a small store with short hours, but otherwise groceries were 30-45 minutes away. So to make a long story short, I needed to find a substitute . I pulled out my yummy homemade applesauce, and added that instead of the butter/margarine. Perfect! Jerry feels very spoiled. Thanks for the recipe, Karen! It's become one of our favorites!
- One sauce will work for many recipes. Do you know creamed tuna and peas on toast? Well, that white sauce works for country fried steak, bicuits and gravy, and I used it this evening to make a cauliflower casserole. I topped the casserole with a little bit of asiago cheese and fried onion. Again, Jerry feels very spoiled.
Cooking and baking is just something that is in my blood - much like it's in my mother's and four sisters. I called my mother to say hello this morning, and she told me the house smelled good because there was a pot roast in the oven. I learned to make a good pot roast from her. My oldest sister Linda is really good at making things healthy. I've learned how to alter recipes from her - not because I've asked much, but because I've listened. Patti, one of my younger sisters is adventerous in the kitchen, and I love watching all the things she tries. She loves Rachel Ray - isn't that fun that Rachel Ray has taught all of us so much? The first time I tried Snickers Salad is because my youngest sister Julie made it. Ooh, my family is hooked on that salad! And you should have seen the Italian spread my sister Shelley made at Christmas last year. It was a ton of work I am sure, and boy was it good!!
I know that a part of the way to my hubsy's heart is through his tummy. After all, the very first thing I ever made for him was caramel brownies. And he hasn't left me since! ;)


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As discussed in a previous tidbit, people are over-confident in their abilities for many reasons. Here's an example... The price of wine varies enormously by vintage. There is a HUGE industry in predicting which young wines will become expensive when they've aged. There are highly trained and well paid professional wine tasters who assess this through their taste buds and also by using all kinds of weather data. Someone built a simple statistical model based on just three variables: amount of rain during the winter, amount of rain at harvest, and the temperature during the summer. In a fair... more
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Freelance chef Jason Carruthers has joined the crew onboard the 37 meter Formula 1 inspired motor yacht AURELIA for the upcoming Balearic Island yacht charter season. Jason has spent the last 15 years traveling and honing his culinary skills, both on land an onboard private yacht charter vessels. His travels have helped him develop an extensive knowledge of international cuisine. Now living in Palma Mallorca, Carruthers joins the 6-person yacht charter crew on board the sleek superyacht, whose home port is also Palma.
Carruthers explains how he developed his talents for cooking:
"As a private chef I have worked on land and water and cooked in some incredibly remote places where sourcing ingredients can be a daily challenge. With extensive catering and consulting throughout Europe and working with chefs of all origins, I have been able to absorb a great knowledge of international cuisine."
Aside from his culinary talents, Carruthers also holds an endorsement in Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (SCTW Maritme), as well as certificates in hygiene, and firefighting, and sea survival.
As he has previously worked on yachts, Jana Sheeder, President of 1-800 Yacht Charters sees Carruthers as a natural fit to serving onboard motor yacht Aurelia – one of her most popular Balearic Island yacht charter vessels.
"Sometimes, chefs with limited experience on a yacht have difficulty with the transition from working in a restaurant or private home to serving onboard a superyacht," says Sheeder. "Jason has a solid boating background, having served as both a chef and deckhand on motor yacht HUSH [38m] and motor yacht Osiana [25m]. He can drive a tender, take a turn on watch, and assist with safety issues."
Jason's new home at sea, Heesen yacht Aurelia (priced from €105,000 per week), is well-known in the Balearics.
Yacht charters in Spain require the vessel secure a Spanish charter license in order to begin an conclude charters within Spanish waters. Possessing this license gives Aurelia a distinct advantage over other charter vessels. Without this license, a yacht can either start or end a charter in Spain – but it cannot do both. This forces unlicensed yachts to spend part of the charter period in far-away France – adding additional fuel costs to the charter customer's tab (not to mention the loss of precious charter time in Spain).
Aurelia offers accommodations for eight guests in four staterooms. With her non-traditional paint scheme inspired by Formula 1 racing team colors, the yacht is instantly recognizable. And just like a F-1 race car, this yacht is fast – hitting speeds of over 30 knots, while similar-sized motoryachts cruise at no more than 12-15 knots. Charting a yacht with such impressive speed capabilities means Balearic island yacht charter clients can explore the entire chain of islands – from Ibiza to Mallorca, within a week-long getaway.
Smile, stop drooling, pick up your phone, and TEXT: I WANT TO CHARTER to 305-720-7245 to start planning your Balearic Island yacht charter vacation onboard Aurelia, or one of over a dozen yachts with Spanish charter licenses, represented by 1-800 Yacht Charters.
This entry was posted in Yacht of the Week Educational and tagged 1-800 Yacht Charters, Balearics, fast superyacht, Jana Sheeder, 1800yachtcharters, president of 1-800 Yacht Charters, Spain yacht charter, F1, Formula One, Aurelia, yacht charter Balearics, yacht charter Spain, Which superyachts are legal to charter in Spain?, Menu, Chef Carruthers, Race-Inspired, HUSH, Osiana, Spain yacht charter license, Text to book, 305-720-7245, sea bassPosted on


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Charles Kresslein is an Of Counsel in the Baltimore, Maryland, office of Jackson Lewis P.C.
Mr. Kresslein represents employers - which have included Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, non-profit organizations and public sector entities - in a variety of labor and employment law areas, including employment discrimination and harassment (including the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act), the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, wrongful discharge, wage payment claims, employment contract disputes, employment torts, occupational safety and health, and disputes involving violations of non-competiton agreements, trade secrets and related issues. He represents clients in a variety of industries, including the healthcare, restaurant/hospitality and financial services industries.
Mr. Kresslein regularly advises clients on day-to-day workplace issues, including compliance, litigation avoidance and limiting liability with respect to the full range of employment decisions, ranging from hiring to discipline and termination. He frequently drafts and advises clients with respect to employment contracts, severance agreements, compensation plans, personnel policies and other human resources documents. He also conducts seminars for employers on various workplace topics, including sexual harassment.
Mr. Kresslein routinely represents employers in employment-related litigation in state and federal courts, arbitration and agency investigations/proceedings before the EEOC, the U.S. Department of Labor and other federal, state and local administrative agencies. He has experience in all phases of litigation, from discovery to trial to appeal.
Prior to working for Jackson Lewis, Mr. Kresslein worked at a small labor and employment boutique law firm in Baltimore, and as a labor and employment associate at a leading global general interest law firm. He also worked in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Senate, Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for employment, where he represented Senate offices with respect to their internal labor and employment law matters.
Professional Associations and Activities
- District of Columbia Bar
- Maryland State Bar Association


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Interesting writeup over on PHPArchitect.
That is the most important thing that Flex brings to Flash: professional grade tooling. The Flex framework, which Adobe has open sourced, makes application development quick and painless for programmers familiar with event driven programming.
One of the things that fascinates me about the Flash Platform is the number of different types of web professionals it attracts. Those web professionals have very different goals so we largely try to stay out of the way an let them create what they want. But to make them productive we create tools and sell them. But trying to have one tool that does everything isn't practical. Flex was always intended to be a developer-centric way to create Flash applications and I think Flash Builder 4 is going to show that off better than the previous versions.


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5 thoughts on "Aj jane fir kyun…."
Beshak…in sha allah
Beshak…in sha allah
The Journey is the Destination
The Most Beloved
Learning, One Word at a Time
In the Words of an Indian Revert Muslimah
Shaan-e-Ulama Deoband - Resource of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah
Rejuvenate, relish and rejoice!
However random it might seem, everything in this world has a pattern
Striving for the Pleasure of Allah & His Gardens of Bliss
Ad-Da'wah Ilallaah
When you live in the shade of Seerah, you live graciously and gloriously!
IN THE Name of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate. Welcome to my blog. 99 Jannah Dr, Jannahville.
Food. Lifestyle. Ramblings
Surviving London..
Story of a white pearl that turned to ashes while waiting for a pheonix to be born inside her !
"Home is where the Hearth is"
Based on the syllabus framed by the UAE Ministry of Education, and beyond.
to be our best, purest selves in our worship for Allah Subhana wa Ta'aala
Let's 'live' and not 'survive'.
"The Goal to which Islam Leads Is PEACE"
The Interests of a Pakistani Woman
Not Haha funny
flowing thoughts
#stories #about #islam #life
Mind Body Soul
Spread bliss and Stay Blissful!
For those who love to experiment with cooking!
I think therefore I blog
If you're given the truth accept it, even from an enemy. If you're given evil reject it, even from a friend - Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood RA
Becoming A Muslim Gentleman.
A Day Dreamer's Diary
Performer | Poet | And if anyone could do it, anyone would be me.
me, myself and i, my life, my challengers, my goals, my falls and alot of the lessons learnt
A Woman modestly dressed is a pearl in a shell.


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Zombies have always had a home in the modding scene (just check out the latest mod countdown if you want proof). It should come as no surprise that one of the most anticipated games of 2008 is Valve's cooperatively driven take on the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead. In it, the story focuses on four individuals and their harrowing battles against the hordes of the infected that roam the streets. What about other survivors? What would they look like and what kind of deformed monstrosities would they be up against?
We want you to tell us! Send in your concepts of what you think would a good addition to the L4D universe, be it another survivor or infected boss monster. Have your concept chosen as the winner win copies of Left 4 Dead for you and your friends plus more! Entries will have to submit works-in-progress to the competition forum thread and the submission period ends November 15th, so get crackin'!
For full details, check out the Left 4 Dead contest profile. Good luck!


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Johns Hopkins Health - Managing ADHD
Fall 2013
Issue No. 22
Issue No. 22
Managing ADHD
Date: October 15, 2013
With new research pointing to a long-term illness, parents have resources at the ready
Children grow up far too quickly. Often, parents are told kids will leave behind conditions such as allergies or asthma as they age. Nevertheless, research from Johns Hopkins shows that children who have moderate to severe cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) won't grow out of it much, even with medication. The findings open a broader discussion of how parents can best manage what in most cases will be a chronic, not passing, illness.
Over a six-year period, researchers followed 207 patients, mostly boys, ages 3 to 5. Although problems decreased by year three compared with the baseline, symptoms remained moderate to severe through the entire period. Nearly nine out of 10 met ADHD impairment criteria at the end of the study.
What can parents do? Use the tools right in front of them, says Mark Riddle, M.D., a child psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins and one of the study's authors.
"First and foremost is early identification," Riddle explains. "We can't cure ADHD, but there are a lot of things we can do to reduce symptom severity, and that will impact the child's development and family life."
Next, when ADHD is diagnosed, consider medication for the child, if appropriate. And it's imperative that parents monitor the effects of the medication over time. No less important, however, is behavior management training for the parents, Riddle says. "It really requires super-consistent parenting," he says.
Finally, make use of appropriate school intervention, a formal plan developed with teachers and school psychologists.
"Usually, when those three things are in place," Riddle says, "life can be a whole lot better for the child and for the family."
Helping Your ADHD teen cope
Puberty can be difficult for parents raising teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). What should parents do?
First, if medications are involved, keep an eye on dosage, says Mark Riddle, M.D., a child psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins. "Use the lowest dose that sufficiently reduces symptom severity and doesn't cause problematic side effects," Riddle says.
Parents should also approach their child as the adult he or she is soon to become, Riddle says. "Teenagers want to feel normal. Parents can reinforce normality by emphasizing their child's strengths and accomplishments and by reiterating the importance of the teenager's job in taking prescribed medication and attending prescribed therapy sessions," he says.
Parents' well-being is equally important. Take it easy on yourself, Riddle says. "Parents who are experiencing stress while managing their child's symptoms or behavior need to appreciate that this is common and is not a reflection of bad parenting," he says. "Even the best of parents can get entangled in a cycle of good and bad behavior with their adolescent."
Watch This!
Watch a video featuring Johns Hopkins child psychologist Carisa Perry-Parrish, Ph.D., and child psychiatrist Marco Grados, M.D., discussing the parenting challenges of ADHD and different treatment options to manage the condition with both medicine and evidence-based behavioral therapy.
For more information, appointments or consultations, call 877-546-1872.


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Why I Admire the Women of Jerseylicious (Just Hear Me Out)
I have a confession: I really like watching Jerseylicious.
I guess it's not that big of a confession when you consider that my guilty pleasure TV habits already include watching Bad Girls Club, Real Housewives of Atlanta and Hoarders, but I didn't really think I had any more room for mindless TV addictions.
I've proven myself wrong.
Jerseylicious is a reality show about the hair and make-up artists of a salon in New Jersey called Gatsby Salon and the employees who left Gatsby to start their own businesses. Gatsby is owned by a woman named Gayle and at this point in the season Gayle's entire staff is female. All of them are from Jersey and fit the stereotype: big hair, orange tans and ridiculously long French manicured tips.
But, believe it or not, that's not why I can't stop watching.
I absolutely love how each of these women is about her business. They have big dreams and don't seem to let a single thing stand in their way of achieving them. My favorite of the crew is Olivia (shown on the top right), and no it's not because we share a love for pink and zebra print.
Olivia knows what she wants.
She is 24 years old like me and works at the Gatsby as a makeup artist. She's very outgoing, confident, driven and assertive. With only a few years of experience – if that – under her belt, she's passionate about what she does and has ambitious goals. She is determined to make a name for herself.
She makes mistakes, but owns up to them.
In one particular episode, Olivia's relationship with another makeup artist at Gatsby takes a turn for the worst. As a result, Gayle suspends her for a week to think about her future at the salon. After four days she comes back, asks to speak to Gayle and presents her with an ultimatum. She stupidly places Gayle in a situation where Gayle has to choose between her, a fairly new makeup artist that she loves, and Doria, an experienced makeup artist with a long history at the Gatsby. Dumb move.
After being practically kicked out of Gayle's office, Olivia spends the rest of her seven day suspension thinking long and hard. When she comes back to talk to Gayle, she immediately apologizes and instead presents her with a proposal that she believes would satisfy the both of them.
She takes risks.
Presenting Gayle with an ultimatum was definitely a risk - one that obviously did not work out in her favor. However she didn't let that stop her from getting where she wanted to be: lead makeup artist at a salon. The first thing she does is set up a meeting with Doria to work out their differences and come to a mutual agreement that would improve their working relationship. Then she went back to Gatsby to meet with Gayle and present her proposal: work at the Gatsby part-time and work at another salon as a lead makeup artist part-time.
By doing this, she ran the risk of being fired. While Gayle definitely cares about Olivia and is committed to her professional development, Olivia's behavior in the past has at times been very bad for business. Fortunately, Gayle gave her blessing and Olivia now has the opportunity to prove herself elsewhere. I can only imagine the excitement and nervousness she must feel about this next step in her career.
Sometimes role models and lessons come from the most unlikely places. I honestly never would've thought I'd be writing about a reality TV show, far less Jerseylicious, on this blog one day. I honestly just couldn't help but admire Olivia as I watched last week's episode, and I had to share with someone.
So, yea, I know I probably haven't convinced you to go catch up on the season. (That's fine with me anyway since I don't get compensation based on your actions after reading this.) However, if you happen to scroll through your TV guide looking for something to watch and it comes up, give Jerseylicious a chance. Olivia and the other women on the show are very savvy business women.
What's not to love about that?


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Sunbusters Window Tinting uses LLumar window film along with other economical window films to make your car cooler from the scorching summer heat and help protect you and your interior from the suns damaging ultraviolet rays. Our LLumar window film is backed by a lifetime warranty nationwide against bubbling,fading and delamination.
Before Sunbuster's Window Tinting (left), After Sunbuster's Window Tinting (right). View our gallery to see more before and after photos.
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- Reduces up to 99% of the suns harmful cancer-causing uv rays
- Increases skin and eye protection
- Reduces fading and cracking
- Prolongs the life of all rubber, plastics and vinyl
Reduces Heat
- Reduces up to 65% of the heat
- Increases air conditioning efficiency
- Improves occupant comfort
Reduces Glare and Fatigue
- Improves vision and safety
- Reduces glare and eye strain for drivers and passengers


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Dominic Wilcox teamed up with interactive arts and technology expert Becky Stewart and Northamptonshire shoe maker Stamp Shoes to create these GPS shoes inspired by the Wizard of Oz. In order to create the fully functioning prototype, Wilcox worked with interactive arts and technology expert Becky Stewart and local Northampton shoe maker Stamp Shoes. The project was commissioned by Global Footprint, a Northamptonshire-based visual arts and living heritage program and is currently on display at Dominic Wilcox's solo exhibition at KK Outlet, 42 Hoxton Square, London, until the 26th September. One of the things that's working with this project (in addition to the clever conceptual twist) is the seamless blend between technology and craftsmanship. Wilcox uses traditional shoemaking techniques and materials that give the footwear a sense of nostalgia with a contemporary twist. It's a good example of making the technology discreet by integrating it directly into the aesthetics and styling. This fashionability also reduces the dork-factor found in a lot of wearable concepts out there these days. Keep moving us forward Wilcox!
Here's more on Wilcox' approach:
For more information, go to Dominic Wilcox or Gizmag.


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American Daniel Rose, of Spring fame, has opened a nostalgic, classic French bistro in a landmark-worthy café near the Paris Bourse, with such traditional fare as pot-au-feu, calf's head in ravigote, mackerel in white wine, and, of course, steak-frites. He is clearly moving against the current grain of bistronomy sites run by non-French chefs. And bravo!
He has a good head on his shoulders and a will to please, as well as a talent for knowing what people want to eat today. And he's realistic. I so totally agree with a recent quote from him: "Food is 20% about cooking, 50% about buying, and the rest is cleaning up and organizing."
I am a pushover for oysters of any kind, and his rendition of warm oysters broiled with a touch of spinach and a healthy dose of thick Normandy crème fraîche totally made my day. The serving was of three oysters, I could have easily had six!
The first-course salad of beets and smoked eel, bathed in a horseradish-rich cream made me feel very energetic, but I found the eel rather tough and out of place in this creation.
The pot-au-feu was totally satisfying, more of a modern and light version, blasted with fresh herbs and lime, offering a voluminous amount of fresh vegetables, including thick rounds of leeks and plenty of cabbage. Less convincing was his rendition of steak-frites, perfectly cooked but the beef was rather tasteless and without character. The frites however were crisp, delicious, welcome.
Desserts included a perfectly moist and successful autumn fig tart and a thyme sorbet that was, unfortunately, far too aggressively infused to be appealing.
Service is direct, friendly and quick. Giant rounds of gougère welcome you at the table, and the wine list offers many treasures, including my favorite Grenache-rich Domaine Saint Prèfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape from talented winemaker Isabelle Ferrando; Léon Barral's always reliable red Faugères; and Lucien Crochet's white Sancerre.
Although the décor and the space are classic bistro, with a long, narrow dining room and space so elbow-to-elbow you almost injure your neighbor, I would have preferred a lighter look than the olive-grey tones of the dining room. But I'll be back, maybe even for breakfast, when they are open Monday through Friday from 9am.
La Bourse et La Vie | 12 rue Vivienne | Paris 2 | Tel: +33 1 42 60 08 83 | Métro: Bourse, Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre or Quatre Septembre | Open Monday through Friday 9am-2pm & 7-10pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday | 36-50€ at lunch and dinner | www.labourselavie.com
For more Paris restaurant reviews, get The Food Lover's Guide to Paris 5th edition, or download the app!


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Artificial Grass in the past
Evergreens UK were a pioneer in the field of landscape artificial grass being one of the first companies in the UK to supply and install artificial grass for landscaping along with Verde Sports. Verde Sports focussed mainly on specialist sports surfaces such as indoor bowls flooring and LazyLawn whose core business was the supply of artificial grass for the domestic landscape market.
During the early years many of the surfaces available were made only from polypropylene which whilst providing great durability, were harsh to the touch and didn't look very realistic. The surfaces were ideally suited to outdoor pool surrounds, roof gardens and balconies but lacked the realistic look for garden lawns.
Around 2001 the acquisition of LazyLawn by the Evergreens UK Group was complete. This increased the core products and services offered to include production of golf mats, supply and installation of artificial grass and event flooring.
The early 2000's were a rapidly changing time for the artificial grass industry. For years manufacturers were not interested in producing products for the Landscape market. Suddenly they became aware of the potential growth of this sector. For many years landscapers had been asking for new yarns and colours to be developed. The message from manufacturers was very much that the Sport sector was much larger and landscaping only represented a small side line to keep winter production going when demand for sports pitches was low.
However, now, many manufacturers have elevated Landscape products and consider them on a level playing field with sports surfaces. Moreover, there are now many new boutique producers manufacturing unique and extremely high-quality products only for the landscape industry.
The Future Of Artificial Grass
Now with the backing of manufacturers and new yarns being produced specifically for the landscape market, including Lazy Grass which was a fibrillated yarn, the market has grown massively.
This huge volume increase in work has also required an increase in installation teams across the UK. Evergreens UK has at this point decided to offer the LazyLawn Licence to independent companies who want an add to their current mainly landscape businesses. Evergreens UK now have around 22 local installation offices from Scotland to Cornwall and specialist departments covering every type of artificial surface from rubber wet pour to professional putting greens.
Now is the time of Wonder! When the Wonder Yarn was being developed Evergreens UK knew it was something special and year on year it has proven to be our bestseller. Used for high traffic areas from busy lawns to school playgrounds Wonder Yarn has a proven track record. In 2016 Wonder Yarn was awarded Which? Best Buy after being blind tested against the major competitors. Wonder Yarn success is down to the yarn profile being 'W' shaped with 3 backbones where other profiles use a 'V' structure and only have one backbone. This makes Wonder Yarn incredibly durable due to this structure.
The Chinese Are Coming!
During the early to mid-2000's Evergreens UK started to research the possibility of importing artificial grass from Chinese manufacturers. During the first few years of a partnership with a Chinese manufacturer we had products tufted and backed in China but produced using European yarns from Radici.
Over the next 10 years Chinese manufacturers increased their investment in new purpose-built factories and invested in new UK made Cobble tufting machines. This has substantially increased the quality of the products manufactured. However, importing yarns from Europe was expensive and restrictive to development. Many Chinese manufacturers then invested in new yarn production plants to enable new profiles to be quickly and cheaply designed with colour alterations for individual market requirements.
So, What Now?
Well the Chinese manufacturers are fully established with state of the art plants. FIFA approval is being readily given and many Chinese producers now feature in the Top 5 artificial grass producers in the world. Artificial grass as a finished product is now being supplied to distributors and other manufacturers around the world using effective Chinese yarns along with raw yarn products to allow European and US manufacturers to make artificial turf products.
So, What Is The Future?
Hybrid Grass is a new technology being used in sports pitches combining the benefits from both natural and artificial pitches. The technology for various patents varies but include either natural growing turf through an artificial grass mesh or to fibres injected into the current pitch surfaces. This may at some point become a solution for high traffic areas like schools and commercial areas. However, it would still require general lawn maintenance. So the reality is that over the next few years the polymers used in the yarn production will be improved, along with new creative and complex yarn profiles giving greatly enhanced performance over the lifetime of artificial grass areas.
Yarns and Backing Materials
Radici Yarns
Mattex Backing & Yarns
Tencate Yarns
Artificial Turf Tufting Machines
Examples of Landscape Artificial grass suppliers Pre 1990
Our Useful Stories
Benefits of an Artificial Grass lawn
Event Flooring Projects
Pros & Cons of Artificial Grass


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The Squal Theater has built a reputation as one of New York's most outlandish troupes, largely because -- according to legend, anyway -- they don't rehearse. They just decide what they're going to do, and then do it.
When applied to a classic like "The Three Sisters," this approach could simply mean bad Chekhov. What emerges is something quite different, however. the play has been drastically reworked, according to the company's own lights: Three young men play the title characters, dressed in white shirts and trousers, toying with appropriate props. They remain mostly in the same positions throughout, and no other actors appear. An invisible prompter supplies their lines, which they repeat with a minimum of expression, accompanied by a violinist wearing a skeleton mask.
The net effect is a sort of ritual -- a play pared down to its most basic elements, yet drenched in its own proper atmosphere. If this is Chekhov transmogrified, it is also Chekhov distilled. The essence of his great play has been caught in a few key words and gestures that impress us all the more by their resonance in such a radically unconventional evening at the theater.


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Welcome To Tiny Talk.
Your child's speech will impact the rest of their life. My name is Jennifer Holcombe, and I am passionate about working with children and their families, equipping them to be better communicators. Just like a puzzle, every piece/person in a child's life is important and serves an essential purpose. It is my mission to help children put together the missing pieces in order to find their voice and communicate with the world around them. Whether your child is a verbal communicator or non-verbal communicator, every child deserves the gift of speech. I currently offer speech and language services in my office in North Hollywood, as well as in clients' homes within the greater Los Angeles area.


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We have a bit of snow on the ground now, and the nip in the air that told us it was Fall further plunged down to a chill that announces the coming of an even more frigid temperatures. With all the tv ads about the holidays reminding us that it's just around the corner, it made me think that once again, another year is coming to a close, and I have a few books that I feel an urgent need to read before the year is out.
(Okay, I wanted to read everything in my TBR, but hey. That's really impossible.)
I've never been one to make goals. Primarily because I don't have the discipline to stick to anything. These books on my list are the ones that every time I see them on my shelves, I feel the irresistible urge to forget which book I'm on at the moment and damn the consequences.
So as soon as possible, these books are the ones I'm going to prioritize.
Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan
Sweet Tooth is a story about an MI5 operative who fell in love with the person she's trying to spy on. This will be my first McEwan, but hopefully not the last. I just think it has an interesting plot point, and it will be my first read that features a spy.
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
This trilogy just put out its last instalment, which I thought is great since I don't have to wait for another book to come out. I'm sure this needs no introduction since most of you have probably read this one already.
When the World was Flat by Ingrid Jonach
This book doesn't look very well received based on the ratings in Goodreads, but I'm curious about the story. It's supposedly Sci-Fi based on Einstein's theories, so hopefully, I won't be bogged down with all the pseudo-intellectual stuff.
Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen
A woman having an affair with EAP, became EAP's wife's confidante. The plot thickens.
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
I've been curious about this novel since I saw it at the bookstore. I've just put off reading it for numerous reasons. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to finish this one before the year is out.
Anyway, that's my winter reading list.


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The other Forth bridge - 50 years of the remarkable road crossing
It is 50 years since the Forth Road Bridge opened to traffic, easing the crossing between Edinburgh and Fife and transforming the journey from north to south.
When it opened in 1964, it was the fourth biggest suspension bridge in the world and the longest outside the United States.
Five decades on, it carries 24 million vehicles across the Forth every year, but its days as a mass transport route are numbered.
A new crossing will open in two years' time and the Forth Road Bridge's role in the life of Scotland will be greatly reduced.
Those that work on the bridge now and those who helped to build the structure 50 years ago think that role has been undervalued.
Bridge historian Lillian King told the BBC programme The Bridge: Fifty years across the Forth: "Building the bridge absolutely transformed the country and transformed trade.
"When you think of the volume of traffic that goes across that bridge, and did from the beginning, people must have been just desperate to get this bridge open."
She adds: "They had been trying for at least 200 years to get a bridge or a tunnel to cross the Forth because they were aware that this was a main link between the south of Scotland and the Highlands."
Train travellers had been able to cross the estuary via the Forth Bridge since 1890.
The road bridge that was built alongside it has long lived in the shadow of its iconic neighbour.
The utilitarian design of the road bridge, the traffic congestion and the maintenance problems that have dogged it in recent years have further downgraded this once great engineering feat.
"There are people who say that the road bridge is just a viewing platform for the rail bridge," says Kate Downie, artist in residence at the Forth Road Bridge.
"But I think of them as a bit like salt and pepper. You can't have one without the other."
Traci Liebisch, who is responsible for inspecting the road bridge on a daily basis, says the bridge is a "grand old lady".
She says: "I personally think she is quite an historic monument and Scotland should be proud of having a bridge like this.
"I think she's done not bad in her 50 years. I'm proud to work on a structure like this, that is known world-wide."
Before the road bridge opened on 4 September 1964, cars could only get across the Forth on a ferry.
Four ferries criss-crossed the river, with services running every 15 minutes at its peak.
Each ferry took about 30 cars, but they could also carry lorries and buses, caravans and passengers.
Stephen Reid, who was one of the ferry skippers, says that in the early 1950s the ferry could sit at the pier for 15 minutes and leave empty because nobody had cars.
"Then all of a sudden everybody had cars and we just could not cope," he says.
Construction of the bridge began in 1958.
At the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world was San Francisco's Golden Gate, and the bridge across the Forth was based on its distinctive design.
Barry Colford, who is the current bridge master and chief engineer, says: "All the traffic, all the load of the bridge, is suspended in mid-air. It is very simple.
"It is just like a rope bridge over the Andes, except it is made of steel."
The three large suspension bridges that had been built before the Forth had all been in more "benign" climates and there were worries about the stormy Scottish weather.
Historian Lillian King says: "The thing they were afraid of was a repeat of the Tacoma Narrows bridge in America that shook itself to bits in gales not half the strength of the ones that hit the Forth."
Barry Colford says: "The Forth bridge had a stiffening girder because of the lessons learned at Tacoma in 1940."
By the time construction started in September 1958, the estimated cost of the bridge and its approach roads was £16.2m.
No company in the UK was large enough to take on the job alone so a consortium, the ACD bridge company, was formed.
The first job saw divers helping to build the dams that would allow water to be pumped out so the towers could be sunk into the river bed.
Once the newly-assembled steel towers were in place wire-mesh catwalks were installed high above the water to give the bridge workers access.
Jimmy Lafferty, the steel-erecting foreman, was officially acknowledged as the first man to walk across the river on foot using the catwalk.
But two young engineers had in fact made it across before the walkways were finished.
Hector Woodhouse, an assistant engineer on the bridge, says: "They had not quite finished the mesh but we were not going to stopped."
His pal Alan MacDonald, a section engineer, adds: "We did a tightrope act down the cables so that we could become the first people to cross the bridge."
The pair stepped off together to both claim to be first.
The antics of Hector and Alan confirm Lillian King's assertion that health and safety was nothing like as rigorous as it is today.
She says: "Seven men died in the making of the bridge but only four men died on the bridge itself."
On 22 June 1962 the single worst accident of the whole bridge project was when Masterton viaduct, a large section of one of the approach roads, collapsed, trapping four men beneath it. Only one survived.
Once the towers and walkway were in place the next job was to spin the cables that would hold the bridge in place.
The main cable is made up of more than 11,000 high tensile steel wires and the process of "spinning" involved each individual wire being carried across the Forth on a large pulley system.
The work went on 24 hours a day. At either side of the river the wires were encased in concrete anchorages.
The spinning of the cable took nine months, with some 30,000 miles of wire being carried back and forth across the water.
By 1963, the towers and the cables were in place and the "Meccano set" work of erecting the deck could begin. It was built from the towers outwards
Ms King says: "This is a precision piece of work. You see it come out bit by bit. It is like building a tunnel, you wonder if it is going to match up when you get to the middle point."
On the 20 December 1963, the north and south sections of the bridge were joined in the middle, forming the basis of the fourth longest suspended span of steel roadway in the world.
Current bridge master Barry Colford says: "The people who built the bridge and the engineers who designed it without computers, with seven-figure log tables, it is quite incredible how well it is built when you look at the tools they had to do it with."
The Forth Road Bridge was finally ready for its grand opening on 4 September 1964, a day so foggy the bridge could not be seen from the riverside.
The Queen officially opened the bridge and as her car drove across at 11am the fog started to lift.
George Barnett was a tea boy and handyman during the bridge's construction.
He was chosen for the honour of unfurling a flag before the Queen crossed the bridge.
He said: "I was 18 when I hoisted the flag for the Queen. It was a great feeling.
"Three weeks after it we got paid off. That was the bridge finished. We all shook hands and went our different ways."
During the six years it took to construct, amateur film-maker Jim Hendry was given special access to the bridge and the men who were building it.
Fifty years on, the men who built the bridge were invited to watch Mr Hendry's film and were still proud of what they achieved.
Hector Woodhouse says: "Look at it. It is mathematics in action isn't it?"
Assistant engineer Douglas Strachan says: "It was three-and-a-half years of my life and I can drive over it in one-and-a-half minutes, but there is satisfaction. I can see something as an end product to my civil engineering career."


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We've done our own due diligence on chicken wing research (check the best in NYC, Chi-town, and SF), but when it comes to dedication to sauce-drenched Buffalo wings, the dude behind The Great Chicken Wing Hunt (in theaters and online Jan 14) truly is a rare bird.
Documentarian Matt Reynolds amassed a ragtag crew of fowl fanatics (including a competitive eater named Thor) and spent three weeks hitting over 75 wingstaurants in the "Wing Belt", an area comprised of upstate NY, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Ontario.
With a scoring system developed by University of Michigan scientists (presumably to the dismay of their superiors), the wing hunters rated each wing and crowned an experimental champion who shook the idea of a Buffalo wing to the bone. To celebrate, here're ten of Matt's favorite spots from along his travels, though you'll have to watch his film to find out which of these he liked the most.
Atomic Wings
Various locations
"All things every wing chain should be. Consistently good, with an array of heat levels, including three high-heat sauces: abusive, nuclear, and suicidal. The owner claims (and from what we can tell it's all true) that he pretty much introduced Buffalo wings to NYC in the 1980s, having gone to school in Buffalo and apprenticed at the legendary wing house Duff's, one of the first places to make wings after the Anchor Bar."
Geneva, NY
"Tucked away in a small town in New York's Finger Lakes region, Abigail's is home of wing genius Marshall Grady, inventor of more than 100 types of wings, many of which are solid, but ultimately unmemorable. The exception is his take on Buffalo sauce, which he calls 'Bleu Bayou', and which might just be the next big thing in wing sauces."
Dorato's, Sutter's Mill, and Across the Street Pub
Albany, NY
"The Wing Hunters called these the 'Albany Triumvirate' -- just solid, solid, solid across the board. Albany is a very strong wing town and these three epitomized how to do it right: fresh, never frozen wings. Change deep-fryer oil frequently. Fry at temperature and at length such that skin is crispy and meat is tender and juicy (but never pink!)."
Mudville 9
New York City
"A well-appointed, but not especially memorable, sports bar in NYC's financial district. Not memorable except for the wings -- consistently good across the board, with a great, great ultra-hot hot sauce made with fresh peppers. Wing Hunt focused on Buffalo wings, but it's worth mentioning their fine array of novelty wings, including one of the best honey-mustard sauces out there."


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With just one week left before the Iowa caucuses, Rick Perry wasted no time breaking the Christmas campaign freeze today, releasing a new commercial that blasts his Iowa rivals as creatures of Washington.
Capitalizing on the latest political headwinds, the new 30-second spot targets the "do-nothing" Republican Congress, Washington's pariah du jour after last week's payroll tax debacle. Conveniently, the ad ropes four of Perry's rival candidates into the attack, noting that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Sen. Rick Santorum, and Reps. Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul have spent a combined "63 years in Congress, leaving us with debt, earmarks, and bailouts."
The spot goes on to talk up Perry's plan to cut Congressional pay and install a "part-time Congress."
Interestingly, Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, is left out of the latest Perry attack. While the reasons for the omission are obvious — like Perry, Romney has never served in Congress — it's an indication that the Perry campaign has shifted its focus to knocking the other not-Mitt Romney candidates out of the race.
Watch the video below.


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I've been a fan of Sarah Anne Lawless's blog for a couple years now. If you're already familiar with her work, you know she handcrafts beautiful flying ointments and other herbal preparations for ritual and writes some of the best posts on magical practice available. (If you're not, let's fix that!) I've always admired her refusal to shy away from difficult but oft-ignored parts of spiritual work, instead approaching them with equal parts gravity and wit. Oh, and she shares citations for all her research at the end of each blog post. How's that for raising the standard of excellence in the metaphysical community? Mystics, step up your game.
It's a huge honor to host her here for Cosmic Chat. She's given me a generous look into her astrology chart, and with fascinating results. Enjoy!
Leo sun, Taurus moon, Libra rising
A professional artist, writer, and folk herbalist, Sarah currently lives on the West coast of Canada with her husband, their son, and a fat old black cat. She was born and raised in the wilds and small towns of the Pacific Northwest from Cormorant Island to a stone's throw from Alaska. Brought up on the folklore and fairy tales of her Irish and Scoto-Scandinavian ancestors, but also immersed in the myths, legends, and traditions of First Nations people, her work is heavily influenced by the lore, flora and fauna of both the Old and New Worlds. An animist and naturalist, her temple is the great old growth forests, her gods are the genius loci and the ancestors, and her familiar spirits are the animals, insects, plants and trees.
Before we start and for those that might be new to your work, can you tell us a little bit about your experience with astrology and the sacred arts?
I first found my way to magic through the arts of astrology, palmistry, and herbalism. Actually, they all kind of flowed together like a wonderful threesome of magical goodness. When I was a teen I didn't have access to books on witchcraft, Wicca, or paganism. I spent hours in the library reading books on the zodiac signs and the planetary associations of the fingers and mounds of the hand in palmistry. I took clippings from gardening magazines that featured any plant folklore relating to planetary and elemental associations. I lit candles on the full moon and asked for blessings for my friends and family. When I was in my early 20s I absorbed Linda Goodman's Sun Signs and used her Love Signs book to help myself and my single friends who were dating. It seems silly now, but I still love those books and her advice was always eerily spot on.
The Farmer's Almanac was also my gateway drug to using astrology in magic. I had old copies that had articles and diagrams on astrology and the body. It taught gardening with the moon phases, the importance of solstices and equinoxes, the dates and times of the rising and setting of the moon, sun, stars, and planets for the year, and so very much more. I still refer to The Farmer's Almanac as a folk magician's handbook and I still buy a new edition every year. This may be why, even after more than a decade of the study and practice of magic, I'm still a simple folk magician and folk herbalist in the end.
What is your favorite part of your birth chart (if you had to choose)?
My grand trine of my Sun, Moon, and Jupiter is pretty awesome. My father did always say I must have a golden horseshoe up my butt because of the ridiculously unfair amount of good luck I have. Like anyone, I've had some bad experiences in my life, but I always seem to come away from them unscathed --if wary and wiser. It's also likely the reason for what I call my "annoyingly cheerful" disposition. On the flip side this can make it seem to others like I've been lucky with my success and had it fall in my lap, when in fact there is a lot of time, hard work, sweat, blood, and tears behind the things I have accomplished.
Is there a part of your chart that you find particularly challenging? If so, how do you work that to your benefit?
I've never had my chart done up by a proper astrologer before, so most of my astrological knowledge is based in folklore and the odd book. One challenge I've never been able to overcome is how people think of and treat specific sun signs. I'm a Leo and not many people or books have much to say about us that is good. I often found myself unwilling to share what my sun sign was because I was afraid of it changing people's opinions and attitudes towards me. If it weren't for the late and lovely astrologer Linda Goodman, I probably would have believed the bad press. She had a soft spot for Leos as well as the oft maligned Scorpio (one of my favourite signs) and gave me confidence to wholly embrace both the awesome and difficult aspects of my personality.
Did you know that asteroid Hekate is exactly conjunct your midheaven? Seriously, she's within a fraction of a degree!
How amazing! I didn't know as I'd never looked up the placement of additional asteroids or stars in my chart before. I have had a very long love affair with the moon, the underworld, and witchcraft. I'm sure some would take Hekate appearing in my midheaven as an explanation for my fascination with poisonous and entheogenic herbs and their ancient ritual purposes. Studying them keeps leading me back to Hekate and her mythic garden of magical, medicinal, and poisonous plants which mirrors my own. And, you know, there's the whole obvious I'm a witch thing... Methinks it's probably not coincidence.
You're the first person I've ever read for that had a kite aspect pattern. (Author's note: a kite is formed when a planet opposes one point of a grand trine, and she has two!) How do you feel that alignment working in your life?
I heard from some astrologers that a kite can cause issues with money and I've definitely found this to be true for myself. For a long time I didn't have a good relationship with money as I saw it as the root of all evil. I spent many years intentionally being poor because I thought it would make me happy, but I learned having too little money and too much money can make people stressed and unhappy --what we need to find is balance somewhere in the middle that is right for our individual needs. A friend once told me to see money instead as an exchange of energy, of giving and receiving. I was always better at giving gifts than receiving them. They told me if I had no problem supporting people with my dollars who were doing things I thought were amazing, why wouldn't I let people do it for me? That conversation allowed me to see my relationship with money differently and the change in thought process freed me to run my own business, advertise myself, and be successful without feeling guilt or shame about it.
I don't know a lot about kites, but haven't read anything positive --it's all disasters and blocked off grand trines. If anyone knows the good that can come from having kites in your chart, I'd love to hear your experiences or opinions in the comments.
Author's note: I've always thought of kites as being a Grand Trine with more direction! Whereas a grand trine person can end up resting on their laurels, the opposition at the enter of the kite spurs them on the achieve more than they would have otherwise, even if it's through difficult circumstances. It sounds like once you were able to come to terms with the opposition part, the energy started flowing more easily for you.
Right now, lucky Jupiter in Leo is heading for your Sun, and will meet up with your Venus and Mercury in Virgo later this year. What part of your life would you like to see expand as a result of all that?
My little family is in for some very big changes once the Sun is in Leo and I'm hoping the luck will lead to smooth transitions, happiness, and the closeness of family with the help of the aspects mentioned above.
Saturn is hovering on your Mars all year and will be especially close during his foray back into chthonic Scorpio over the summer. How do you hope that energy will show up in your life and business? (I think this is great recipe for powerful saturnine magic!)
Oh, there will definitely be some saturnine magic going down! The plants in my garden who fall under Saturn's wise gaze and influence have grown exponentially over the past month and will be ready to harvest come July. It has been a few years since I was able to grown them as I was living in an apartment with no room or balcony, so I am very excited to be able to make magical and medicinal goodies with fresh herbs again. They are so much more potent, especially when I have grown them myself and made sure they have happy offerings of bonemeal, incense smoke, tobacco smoke, and blessed water. Growing and working with solanaceae and artemesias makes me stupidly happy. By the end of the summer they will be transformed into herbal ointments, smudges, smoking blends, and an elixir or two --blessed and prayed over.
Does astrology play a part in your spiritual practice? If so, how?
Though I am mainly known for my art and writings, I have also worked for many years as a folk magician and folk herbalist. My use of astrology within these practices is kept pretty basic; paying attention to the phases of the moon, the rising and setting of the sun, what zodiac signs the sun and moon are in, what planets are currently visible in the sky shining over me, what planets and elements are associated with the herbs I am using, and so on. I've also found a basic understanding of astrology is incredibly helpful as a tarot and palm reader. When I do readings or spellwork for people I like to ask them their sun and moon signs as well as their ascendant so I can completely customize the reading and working to them. It makes it more personal, but also gives much better results.
I love to collect rain or spring waters during the full moons in the spring and use them for blessing and healing. I will do prosperity work during the waxing moon and before or during midday when the sun is at its peak. I like to harvest healing herbs and flowers in the morning and banishing and cleansing herbs in the evening. I also prefer to harvest herbs when their planet or the moon and sun is in a favourable position as I believe it makes them more powerful --like harvesting moonwort under a full moon or St John's wort at midday on the summer solstice. The same goes for the rites performed using the waters and herbs I've harvested from nature. To me, astrology is about paying attention to the natural world around you, its ebb and flow, and matching my arts and actions to its cycles so they become syncronized and magic becomes as effortless as breathing.