text:
Last saturday I participated on my first trail running event, Helsinki City Trail. The second time arranged HCT is second biggest trail running event in Finland and it has three different distance options, 5km, 11km and 21km. All these trails run in the middle of Helsinki Central Park. I chose the 11km option as this was my first trail run and I'm not that good runner 😅 This was also good change to test my new gear, Merrell Trail glove 3 running shoes and Suunto Spartan Sport watch (reviews coming later).
You can see the whole route here in the movescount
The 11km and 21km routes start from North-Helsinki, Paloheinä recreation area and run through the Helsinki Central park to south and the finish-line was near Olympic Stadium (last year the finish line was inside the stadium but it is under construction atm). The trail varies between grassy hills, fields, dark forest with narrow paths and rocky bedrock. The trail was good combination of what the Helsinki central park has to offer.
The total number of runners on the starting line was 852 which makes HCT second biggest trail running event in Finland after Bodom Trail. 87 runners on 5km, 412 runners on 11km and 353 runners on 21km.
The trail starts with steep hill what the runners have to climb twice (see the graph for altitude profile). After the hill the trail continues to forrest with fairly easy terrain and after that there is field that runners go across. Then the forest continues and you cross couple bridges over busy highways and when get closer to Helsinki center and finish-line the terrain gets steeper and with more and more bedrock-areas that seemed slippery for people with studded shoes. After last ascent near the finish-line remember to pose for the photographer and enjoy the downhill to the riding field where the finish-line is located.
I was in the slowest group since I had no idea what my finishing time would be. On road I can do 10k for about 55 minutes and on HCT 11km my final time was 1:16:17 and considering this was on trail, I'm really happy with my result.
The atmosphere and the services at the event were top notch. There were even some nice people cheering in the middle of the forest.
Trail running middle of the capital city made me realize how awesome and diverse Helsinki can be!


text: Here are two pictures from last night at my girl Shady's 17th birthday party. A lot of loud music and dancing and pretty pink birthday cake made the evening amazing. I wore a white dress from Thailand that my auntie got for me like 2 years ago and I hadn't worn it once. Will post more pictures once I've got them.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Dentures and partial dentures in Los Angeles, California, are offered by our dentist at Smile Perfector Dental Group. Dentures are good choice for restoring the smiles of people who cannot have implants, or who need a more affordable solution. To learn more, and to book your appointment, please contact our friendly team at 323-634-6334.


text:
[REPEAT] Scott Burns [2]
REPEAT is a special interview series underwritten by CliftonLarsonAllen where we take a deep dive inside the minds of Minnesota's rare repeat technology entrepreneurs. Repeat means to start a tech company, exit said company, and return start another one.
Scott Burns cofounded GovDelivery in 2000 and subsequently sold the software company once and for all in a merger with Granicus in 2016, after selling it to Vista Equity Partners one month prior. He then returned to cofound Structural — an employee success software firm — in 2017. (Part 1 of our interview can be read here).
You said that joining McKinsey in 1997 was one of the best decisions you have ever made…why?
It's a super intensive introduction to professional life, full of on the job training and mentorship.
What I really liked about it at the time was the scientific method with trial and error type of rigor applied towards business problem solving. So someone like me right out of school could be assigned to a complicated problem faced by a large business with a mix of detective work, outside research, data analysis, and create a solution to one or more of their most pressing problems.
This allowed me to get into business alongside some very smart people both inside McKinsey and on the client side. It was a really rapid fire and intense introduction to business analytics, problem solving and management.
Why did you leave?
After two years there, in 1999, I had finished their analyst program and I wanted to get some firsthand entrepreneurial experience with a smaller company…so I joined a Colorado startup called SafeRent as employee number eight.
The President was also from McKinsey, she was a great mentor to me, and we set out to reinvent how people were approved for renting apartments. We created a data model that made renter screening more accurate and cut the time from days down to 30 seconds. That company went from zero to over a million in revenue in just about eight months, with 50 people and a bunch of venture capital.
During that process I went from being the CEOs chief of staff to head up marketing. And the reason I left is because, in the long run, I just wasn't passionate enough about the market even though the value proposition was great and the business went on to a nice exit.
What happened next?
I was accepted into Stanford for business school and intended to go there in the fall, but instead ended up committing to be CEO of GovDocs (which later became GovDelivery) with my co-founder, Zach Stabenow. That was mid-2000. We had been trying to launch the business in our free time on the side as a way for people and companies to download and print out government mandated signage like those minimum wage posters you see in the employee breakroom from the Web instead of ordering print copies. I went full time because we saw a larger opportunity to create a platform governments could use directly to communicate with the public, and that is what became GovDelivery.
How did you two know each other?
We're both from Minnesota and got to know each other while ski racing in Vermont years before. We became roommates when I moved back to Minnesota after college in 1997 and talked a lot about doing something entrepreneurial until we launched GovDocs on the side. Then, we basically recruited anyone who was free or cheap to help us start the company. We were truly bootstrapped because it just wasn't fundable in the beginning.
Is this how GovDelivery began?
Yes. When I left SafeRent and was waiting for Business School, I went full time at GovDocs. I began exploring whether there was an opportunity to create a software company that sat between the government and the public, which was how the idea was born in 2000. At this point, I was really foregoing a full ride to business school from McKinsey for this startup idea so it was really a gamble, but I got caught up in the dot come hype and went for it.
Our first customer for what would become known as GovDelivery was the City of St. Paul, followed by South St. Paul, and others around the state.
Was there any pressure from those around you not to start your own company and instead pursue the safe route of going to business school?
There was really a lot of positive support and no naysayers. It was the dotcom era and everyone thought being an entrepreneur was worth all of the risks.
How did it go at the onset?
To be honest, we thought it would take off faster than it did. There was this period of elation and joy after we won our first few customers.
But the flywheel never really got going, at least for some time. You always start with a lot of great intentions and momentum…it's like Columbus searching for America, I'm sure the first part of that journey was just amazing. And you better start that way!
There ended up being longer sales cycles than we anticipated, the dotcom bust happened and then there was 9/11. It took some serious heaving lifting, a lot of trial and error over years of work, before we found our groove.
What did you learn?
I developed humility. I learned to love every day. I learned to focus on the task at hand. You have to want to be an entrepreneur for the right reasons, not just because of the allure of success and money. Laying the bricks is the hard part and it's dirty, so the happiness and satisfaction must be there for the day to day and not just the big milestones.
How long did you lay those bricks for?
For the first five years…
And how did you know when that period was over?
In the mid 2000s…once there was some predictability to sales. You are gaining traction when you know good things are going to happen, you know why they are happening, and then you can measure them. The second step was when I realized that 95% of the great things happening in the company didn't have a lot to do with me. Then I knew we had a team that could start to scale.
The two triggers to our success were getting larger clients like the Federal government and unlocking network effects.
Getting bigger clients was a straightforward calculation… they paid us more than the small clients and weren't much harder to land. The network effects were the real innovation. As a digital communications platform for government, we started allowing our clients to collaborate with one another to reach more people. This works in government but not in the private sector because government clients don't compete with each other. That realization and rollout took a long time to realize, and I truly believe now that a software company can gain only gain traction when it unlocks some sort of unique value in data and/or network effects. Just competing on functionality is like running on a treadmill. You can never move fast enough to get ahead.
So you had two companies/products going simultaneously?
Yes…GovDocs was more of middle man business gathering documents and selling access while GovDelivery was the true software play. We raised about five million total during the first nine years before the split in 2009 and both companies went on to find their separate successes after that.
What happened in 2009?
We sold a majority stake in the company and this gave us new energy, capital, and a chance to regroup. At the same time, Zach spun-out GovDocs as part of that deal.
Why the decision to sell?
After nine years we were beginning to wonder if it was time to return some of the investment capital we had raised over the years…we had over 75 investors on our capitalization table by that time. It also gave us a new shot in the arm as a different type of company after so long.
And you stayed on as the CEO?
I did, but I also got some much needed liquidity…
How did that feel?
It was a big relief! I was finally able to pay back my family and friends and former colleagues from McKinsey with a nice return.
What was that like taking their money initially?
It was rough…I think raising money from family and friends is a double edged sword…I mean my plan if GovDelivery failed was to move away.
Yes…you never know the types of thoughts that will go through your head until you've asked and accepted money from so many people like that. Honestly, taking professional investment capital is better in that sense because it's business and it's their business, and there's a portfolio they are dealing with where gains offset losses. With individual investors, there is more pressure and more emotion.
Where were you at inside as an entrepreneur when you decided to continue as the CEO of GovDelivery after that point?
I was worn down in 2009 and the edge was dull, but my motivation was restored. I wasn't financially in distress anymore and was in a better headspace personally.
It brought a lot more joy to the job which helped me become a better manager and leader.
My work became something that I found challenging but not nearly as stressful. It was awesome to take more calculated risks, much more so than when I had my dad's money in the company, for example.
The psychological benefits of liquidity can be just as, if not more, than the financial value.
How would you describe your evolution over those years to get to that point?
I started becoming more of a manager and less of a straight up entrepreneur. That requires more teamwork, collaboration, and trust that people can take control of the business given the tools to succeed. It really accelerated after 2009.
Is there a difference between an entrepreneur, CEO, and manager to you?
I don't think there has to be…but a naive entrepreneur believes that ideas matter much more than they do. And we all learn that ideas are a dime a dozen and don't matter because from where I sit right now I can see dozens of people with great ideas who will never execute in the first place, or if they do, they will fail.
Entrepreneurs also think that they matter more than they do. A good leader will spend 90% of their time trying to figure out how to hire and empower the best people. A poor leader spends 90% of their time trying to execute. To me, that's the difference in mindset and time management which is maybe the difference between an entrepreneur and a CEO.
A good entrepreneur is willing to take risk, embraces trial and error, and believes in themself. Yet you really can't scale a business without learning the leadership part and trusting those around you.
Did you see yourself as an entrepreneur at the time, back in '99 when you started?
I think I'm an entrepreneur by default, it's definitely more of my natural state. I had to learn to to lead and be the CEO at a higher level.
Where did the business go after 2009?
2010 was a great year for the business…we had a recent acquisition that paid off, expanded the team, and brought things together. In 2011, we hit a bit of a rough spot when our confidence got ahead of us, but basically from 2010-2016, we hit our goals all around. It was a rigorous high growth rhythm we got in that kept the business growing at a 20-30% annual pace, growing every single quarter for many years to follow.
And then you ended up selling the company again, this time for good, right?
Yes we built it up for up for another seven years and sold GovDelivery to Vista Equity Partners that merged us with Granicus in October of 2016.
Does that feel like a long time to run a company?
Did your interests ever wane or did you get bored, contemplate not being the CEO of GovDelivery?
It is always a struggle for me to balance family and work. There were some years in there that I was traveling 30-45 weeks per year, on the road, missing my family — which really makes you question your pursuits.
There's people in career paths who say they have 20 years of experience, but really they have five years of experiences repeated 4 times over. It's like they know their space and can do it, but they tend to put things on autopilot after a while, going through the motions.
And there's other people, those which I can relate to, who have a lot of freshness in their daily life. I am always trying to change, improve, reinvent, and make myself better and more relevant in everything I can do. I'm driven to want everything to be better including myself. It's just the way I'm wired and that keeps me pretty fresh.
Personally one of the most energizing things is working with new people and seeing what they can accomplish. The only time I ever got even a little tired of things at GovDelivery was when we didn't hire anyone new for a few months.
Did you ever feel stagnant?
I don't think it's healthy for anyone who is in a growth environment to feel like their butt is cemented in the chair. Because we were always growing and hiring, it made those 17 years at GovDelivery feel like 17 different one year jobs.
How many acquisitions did you make overall while at GovDelivery?
Govloop, which was the best acquisition we ever made, came right before we sold the first time in 2009
And then there were three different small product companies following that: GovInteract, NuCivic, and Textizen. We also acquired our UK-based reseller.
Those were fairly small and easy to swallow acquisitions. My lesson from doing those is that we did some things well by keeping people on board and motivated. We brought good value to our clients and grew our revenue. I probably would have gone faster on integration…at times we tried to maintain separate brands and maybe moved too slowly on the integration.
Another lesson would have been to get more of our people on board for better cultural integration. And, there was one case where we didn't do adequate diligence, which is definitely a mistake I'll only make once.
How was the sale to Vista Equity Partners/Granicus, different than the first sale from 2009?
Well, it was a lot larger. It was a rigorous process that started with a lot of inbound inquiry around the company. It was a four month and very intentional process that went smoother than the first because we were doing much better and had a lot of confidence in our future.
Following the GovDelivery + Granicus merger, why did you decide to start another company?
I found myself in the middle of a very good setup for a mid life crisis. That is, I was paid out and had achieved a great sense of accomplishment looking back over the years, but didn't know what to do next.
I contemplated a variety of things, but thought 'what would I do if I couldn't fail', that old adage. And taking personal risk has always been a part of me, which really strengthened my view that I wanted to continue living that way.
So I went on a bit of a quest to find the types of people that I wanted to surround myself with. High on that list was Scott Dorsey, my long-time mentor and the co-founder and CEO of ExactTarget which sold to Salesforce for $2.5B out of Indianapolis. His new Venture Studio, High Alpha was the founding investor in my new company, Structural. Chip House, my co-founder at Structural was also high on my list of potential collaborators because I tried and failed to hire him while at GovDelivery and knew we would work well together. Once I came together with those two individuals on getting a new company going, it was irresistible.
Risk is something that terrifies most people, what makes you different?
It's about framing risk based on life experiences and perspective. The first thing for me, is that I have a thought process that considers what I want to accomplish in this world and the type of impact I want to create. At the same time, I realize that much of what we do is very significant to us as individuals, but it's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things – which helps frame the risk as more rational and less dramatic.
I know that 'if i fail' not everyone is going to be worrying about it or looking down on me, because, for the most part, they won't even care. And I learned a lot about that growing up ski racing because it felt so important at the time, but when I went from winning to struggling, people move on and don't really focus on it.
I don't worry so much about the 'old Scott' view where I thought I would need to leave Minnesota if I were to fail.
Also, I don't have a lot of financial needs in terms of my happiness, combined with having grown a nest egg that means my family has their needs fulfilled now regardless really.
Overall, for me, the rewards of entrepreneurship are so great that they overwhelm the risk.
What do you intend to do differently with Structural as an entrepreneur and leader than you have before?
First of all, I was much more deliberate about the people involved in the core of the company. We had great people at GovDelivery, but I didn't think about how to compose the team, because I didn't even know that was important. I am also much more passionate about this space and the problem. I intend to be more bold, asserting what we are capable of, and pushing the business forward faster.
The experience that people had with me during the first decade at GovDelivery was that I was a very low trust CEO, now I have become the opposite.
When and why did you decide to become an angel investor?
In 2010/2011 I had some money and made my first angel investment. It's because I want my behavior to align with my beliefs and history, and I think that reinvesting is a form of paying forward what has been given to me along the way.
Really my angel investing first and foremost is a tribute to the people who took a chance on GovDelivery. The second thing is that I like having a stake in fun and interesting businesses, it's a great way for me to continue with lifelong learning.
My angel portfolio of about 10 investments is really more about businesses I am interested in than those I think they will payoff. My venture fund investments, like Matchstick Ventures, on the other hand I do have a high expectation of return.
How do you think being an entrepreneur has shaped you as an investor?
I'm such a passive investor that I see my best role as an effective cheerleader and a very targeted advisor on sales and strategic issues from time to time. I'm investing with and into founders/CEOs I see potential in and trust so generally I sit back and admire what they accomplish.
What are those characteristics that you like to invest in?
Something that strikes me as unique insights into the market…something that as an entrepreneur you see ahead of the curve in a new way. I also like to see who else is investing as there are a lot of great investors in town who are more professional at it than me and take a lot more time to do it well.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for the opportunity. I like to share the story in the hopes that it inspires someone reading this to start something on their own, or to consider what their next company could look like. We can never have too many entrepreneurs in Minnesota.


text:
people in Thailand were not aware of what was happening
as they slept on Tuesday 19 September. For that evening, it slowly
became clear that a military coup was taking place. The first coup to
take place in Thailand for 15 years. Read
whether the coup has affected travel to, from and within Thailand.
Below we feature a few pictures of the morning after - the day Thailand
awoke to some shocking news and some unusual scenes on the streets of
the capital city of Bangkok.
would like to remind you that all images and pictures on this site are
copyright (notice below pictures). All the pictures below are available
on demand in high resolution format. Please feel free to visit all our
other galleries of pictures
from around the world where we have many more pictures of Bangkok
and pictures from other countries in Asia and around the world.
also: Flights In and Out of Thailand's Airports - Latest Developments
click on any of the pictures of Bangkok below to see the larger version
which will open in a new window.
also: Flights In and Out of Thailand's Airports - Latest Developments.
do take note that all pictures and images on this site are strictly
copyright and it is strictly prohibited to use in any form, any of these
pictures, without prior permission from ASIA Travel Tips.com If you
would like for whatever reason to use any of the pictures please Contact
Us giving full details of your requirements and use.
other recent news regarding:


text:
Glenn Beck has repeatedly claimed to be a prophet, saying that virtually everything he has ever predicted has come true. On his radio show this week he showed how he does this and it's just like a "psychic" does a cold reading — make a huge number of vague claims that can be made to fit virtually any situation.
On his radio show today, Beck hauled out his trusty chalkboard upon which he wrote down his thoughts about President Obama, Russia, and the North Korea/Sony hacking incident in order lay out at least 20 absurdly vague predictions about looming global chaos and conflict:
"It's what's coming," Beck warned.
- Chaos in Russia
- Russian expansion into the Ukraine and beyond
- War with the West
- War in the Middle East
- War involving Syria and Iran and possibly North Korea
- Chaos in Europe
- Muslim extremists in Europe
- Nazis/Communists/Anarchists in Europe
- A caliphate in the Middle East
- Terrorist attacks in Pakistan
- Terrorist attacks spreading into India
- Terrorism in Australia
- Terrorism spreading into Asia
- Communists in South America
- Hyper-inflation
- Border conflicts
- Chaos in the United States
- Race riots in the United States
- Political chaos
- Banking chaos
- The rise of a police state
In other words: "I'm getting the letter J. Does that have any meaning to you? Do you know anyone whose name begins with J?" You throw enough bullshit at the wall and some of it is bound to stick. This is how you become a "prophet" when you have an audience full of credulous and ignorant people with an overwhelming need to believe.


text:
What the papers say: Wenger backs Tony Adams as Pompey boss/
We're all about making your life easier here at Arsenal Addict, where our team of Addicted editors spend every spare second scrutinising news coverage to make sure you're kept up to date with what's going on at our beloved club. So if you don't have the time to trawl through the UK's national newspapers for Arsenal stories, be sure to check back here where we'll do the work for you.
The News of the World - ARSENE WENGER TARGETS TOON THREE
ARSENE WENGER will start his radical transfer-window surgery with a three-pronged raid on Newcastle.
The Mail on Sunday - Wenger backs Arsenal old-boy Adams to come good at Pompey
Tony Adams, once Arsene Wenger's talismanic captain at Arsenal, takes his Portsmouth side to the Emirates today for the first time as a fully fledged manager amid growing pressure after three straight league defeats.
The Sunday Express - WENGER: WE'RE STILL GUNNER WIN CROWN
Arsene Wenger last night claimed that Arsenal can win the Premier League – despite being a whopping 10 points behind leaders Liverpool.
The Daily Star Sunday - WENGER: WE CAN STILL WIN TITLE
Arsene Wenger last night insisted Arsenal can win the Premier League – despite being a whopping TEN points behind leaders Liverpool.
The Sunday Times - Tony Adams must be given time, says Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger says Tony Adams should be given time to prove his worth at Portsmouth, and warns that England will never produce top managers if clubs continue to sack them in panic after six months.
The Independent on Sunday - Adams returns home but odds are that he will be leaving soon
Tony Adams returns home today. Well, not so much "home" in the physical sense, as he never actually played at the Emirates, never raised his right arm there to trigger the offside trap that made him the bandleader of Highbury. But in the spiritual dimension, Adams's slippers will forever reside at the Arsenal.
The Sunday Telegraph - Arsene Wenger calls for Portsmouth to be patient with Tony Adams
Arsene Wenger has issued a warning to young managers and illustrious former players like Tony Adams over the possible "trap" of being fast-tracked into a top job.
Got an opinion on these stories? Then share it with your fellow Addicts using our comments section.


text:
Linguine with Clam Sauce
Many Italians and Italian Americans refrain from eating meat on Fridays. The practice goes back to the days when the Pope asked people to sacrifice meat eating for God. Rumor has it the real reason was that the fishermen were paying him off because they needed more work. Who knows?
Whatever the reason, it has become tradition. Some only eat fish on Fridays during Lent, but others keep it up all year long. Even if you don't reserve your fish eating for Friday, your mouth can't help but water when presented with a dish of linguine with white clam sauce. Truly, it's one of the simplest dishes to cook.
Now, this is one of my favorite meals. I love shellfish and pairing it with pasta cooked al dente is the stuff of dreams. But I have to admit that the clams I get in the United States are never as delicious as the ones I get in my family's native Ischia, Italy. And bad clams can leave a bad taste in your mouth (literally). In any event, I am still able to get decent clams Stateside, and I often indulge. Frankly, I don't think I could live without them. Ok, so I could but who wants to?
Anyway, without further ado, discover how to make linguine with clam sauce.
Pasta (linguine are obviously ideal, but I have used fettuccine – as in the photo above – and spaghetti)
Clams (I usually have between .5 to 1 lb. to go with a pound of pasta)
Olive Oil
Garlic (2 to 4 cloves)
Salt (for the pasta water)
Fresh parsley
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Black pepper (optional)
For starters, you have to wash your clams. This is an important, often overlooked step, to preparing clams. Put the clams in a bowl and cover them with cold water. Add some ice and about a tablespoon of vinegar to the water. Don't worry, you will not taste the vinegar when you cook the clams. It just helps draw out the sand and grit. Then, place the bowl in the refrigerator. I try to do this overnight, which means getting the clams the day before you are actually going to cook them. If that's not possible, you should at least leave the clams soaking for a few hours. If you take shortcuts, you risk having sand and even a pebble or two in your sauce or having extra salty clams. None of these outcomes is desirable. When you are ready to cook the clams, take the bowl out of the fridge and dump the clams into a colander. Then, run cold water over the clams a bit. Then, use a vegetable brush to scrub each clam with nothing more than cold water.
Now, you're ready to actually start cooking. I lightly coat the bottom of a dutch oven with olive oil and turn on the stove to a medium high flame. Sometimes, I add a clove or two of garlic to the pot before adding the clams. Put the cover on the pot. In about 10 to 15 minutes, the clams should open and be done. Give them a minute or two more to make sure they are good and done. You want them to not only be open but for the clam to easily come out of the shell.
In the meantime, boil the pasta. Make sure to boil the water like an Italian and keep the pasta al dente.
While the clams are cooking and the water is boiling, you can start the sauce. Saute the cloves of garlic in olive oil. I actually would use about one-quarter cup of olive oil. You can remove the cloves from the oil once they brown but before they burn. Once the clams are done, reserve the liquid in the clam pot and remove about half (if not a little more) of the clams from their shells. Reserve the clams still in their shells. You will add about one-third of a cup of the liquid and all the naked clams (don't judge, that's what I call 'em) to the garlic-flavored oil. Saute it all to blend over a medium-low flame. Be careful not to burn the oil. When you're about ready to add the pasta to the sauce, add the red pepper flakes if you'd like. Heat through for a minute longer and add the pasta to the sauce. I usually shut off the gas at this point, but many Italians leave the flame on its lowest setting for this part. Stir the pasta into the sauce. Once the sauce is coating the pasta, you can plate the meal for each of your guests. Top the pasta with chopped fresh parsley and some of those clams still in the shell. Never ever put parmigiano on pasta with shellfish. Please. Don't. Do. It. The Italians might arrest you. I'm only slightly exaggerating.
Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10. For more handmade crafts and party gear, visit the Italian Mamma store on Etsy.
How to Boil Pasta Like an Italian Mamma
You probably think boiling water and putting pasta in the pot is easy peasy. You think I'm crazy for even writing about something so basic that even the worst of cooks can handle it. That's what I thought, too…until I met my in-laws, who live in southern Italy. Actually, even boiling the pasta is an art over there. None of us – even the best trained Italian Americans among us – know what we're talking about. Here's what I have learned:
Fill the pot with water, leaving at least two inches clear at the top of the pot. Put the pot on the stove and turn up the gas (or electric) to the highest setting. On my LG stove, it's "SuperBoil." Make sure you are using a big enough pot for the amount and type of pasta you are boiling. For instance, long pasta, such as linguine or spaghetti, need a wide pot, so you can get the whole pasta into the pot at the same time. When you use a tall, narrow pot for spaghetti, the top of the spaghetti might not get into the pot at the same time, and it will be harder than the other half. Or you'll end up breaking the pasta into smaller pieces, which defeats the purpose of serving spaghetti over, say, shorter penne. Of course, if you're boiling an entire pound of pasta, you need a big enough pot, so the pasta doesn't all clump together and fail to cook evenly. But you know this stuff already, right?
Do NOT put salt in the water at the start. Be patient. See, already the Italians are getting tricky. When the water begins to boil, generously add salt. Italians tend to use a thick sea salt And they are still pretty generous. My husband insists on bringing salt (both fine and doppio) from Italy to use in our American kitchen. He says American salt is never enough, nor does it provide any taste. I don't know about all that. I often use plain, ol' American-purchased salt with similar results to his, but this is how seriously he and his people take the process.
That's right, Italians encourage people to stir the pot (usually both literally and figuratively). They're that kind of people. That's what we love about them. Every so often, you must stir the pot, so the pasta doesn't get sticky or attach itself to the pot's bottom.
Italians will laugh at you if you overcook the pasta. And 99.9 percent of the time when Americans boil pasta, they overcook it. There should still be a little bite to it. Pasta should never be soft, nor should it break in half when stabbed by a fork. You want it to be al dente. It should be cooked but still somewhat firm. Don't throw it against a wall to check. Just take a bite. If it's a tubular pasta, make sure the boiling water is not sitting in the tube before you bite into it. Otherwise, you will burn your tongue. Trust me, I know. Fresh pasta or gnocchi is a little different; in that case, you boil the pasta until it rises to the surface of the water.
That's right, there's a right way and a wrong way to strain pasta. Most Americans throw the pasta and water in a colander and let all that starchy goodness slip down the drain of the kitchen sink. Italians will stand by and cry foul if they ever witness this atrocity. Trust me, I know this, too. Use a slotted or colander spoon to move the pasta from the pot of water to the pot of sauce, which should be on top of a low flame. Then, you should take a regular spoon and add between 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water into the pot with the sauce and pasta. This will thin out the sauce and coat the pasta, so the sauce better adheres to it. Now, you're ready to serve it. Bet you learned a thing or two, right?
Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10. For more handmade crafts and party gear, visit the Italian Mamma store on Etsy.
Pesto Change-o!
When I went off to college 20 years ago, my zio made me a few jars of pesto for the road. Yep, that's right. Other kids got dorm essentials, such as a comforter or beanbag chair. I received jars of homemade sauce and lasagna for freezing. My zii, parents, and nonni would leave messages on my voicemail (that was a thing back then) asking whether I was eating enough. "Franci, you eat-a? You betta eat-a. Don't come home skinny skinny, ok?"
I can't deny that many of my new friends were downright jealous. So, I shared. Pesto was one of our favorites. Back then, we often ate it with angel hair spaghetti because that was the preferred pasta of a dorm mate. Just a couple weeks ago, I dreamed of Zio's pesto. So, I made my own. But my husband always opts for thicker, long pasta, so we went with fettuccine as you can see above.
Many people think the keys to good pesto are lots of garlic and olive oil. Oh, how they are wrong. Pesto is all about the basilico, known to Napoletani as basinigol' and to Americans as basil. Ours comes from from our garden in the backyard, but you can get the good stuff at the Farmer's Market or even your local supermarket. The good news is that you can freeze pesto in ice cube trays and stock up for winter when basil isn't as available.
Here's how to make it:
3 to 4 cups Basil
2 to 3 Garlic cloves (peeled)
1/2 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup Pignoli (pine nuts)
Large pinch of salt
1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Grab your food processor and dump all the ingredients, except the olive oil, inside it. If you want to unlock the flavor of the pine nuts, you can toast them first. Some people do. Some people don't, but it does add a little something, something to your pesto. Then, start pulsing the ingredients to combine them and slowly add the olive oil as you continue pulsing. Some recipes have you stir in the cheese after the oil is added, but I've done it both ways and it doesn't make a difference to me. Refrigerate for up to one week. Freeze for up to a year. Or you can use it immediately. I spread it on sandwiches that I pile high with either chicken and cheese or fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. I have also paired it with ricotta and used it to top pizza. Of course, Italians, who tend to be traditionalists, use it to top pasta cooked al dente (as you see in the photo above). But I've also heard of people taking those frozen cubes of pesto and using them to spruce up their Sunday sauce. You could easily substitute plain basil with one of those cubes in any recipe calling for it. Any Italian will tell you, pesto is easy and fresh and perfect for a summer meal. You can find all sorts of new takes on the classic pesto sauce in the July/August 2016 issue of Food Network Magazine. Most importantly, follow the example of Italians, and don't forget to stop and smell the basil every once in a while. You won't be disappointed.
Di Meglio has written the Our Paesani column for ItaliansRus.com since 2003. You can follow the Italian Mamma on Facebook or Twitter @ItalianMamma10.
Sunday Is Funday for Italians
Our Sunday meals have always been epic. The food will never let you down and there's enough of it to feed Zio Luigi and any other Mario brothers (real or imagined) who stop by. The family is always on fire, sometimes literally, depending on who is manning the kitchen. And you will almost always get one of those really great stories out of the day. While things have simmered since my father's parents passed away, we still have our fair share of memorable pasta dishes, antics among the cousins, and battles for zia supremacy in everything from Italian cards to washing dishes to making lasagna. Let's face it, those ladies are always gonna win. Just get over it already. As a tribute to all those really great days and a way to give outsiders a peek into our Italian world, I recently wrote all about Sunday Funday for ItaliansRus' Our Paesani column. Check it out and have your own Sunday Funday next week. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Di Meglio uses the written word to help families create memories and stick together. You can follow her on Facebook at Francesca's Newlyweds Nest and on Twitter @ItalianMamma10.
Beach Fare
There are no boardwalks at the beaches on the island of Ischia, which is off the coast of Naples in Italy. But many restaurants and pubs, with owners who hope to quench the hunger and thirst of beach goers, line the sand. Many of them look like the stands and shacks that are typical of an American boardwalk. While I indulge in frankfurters, fries, fried oreos, or homemade ice cream back home at the Jersey Shore, I will find almost none of that on these here shores. In Ischia, even the beach stands feature home cooking – the kind your mamma would be making for you. The other day, when my husband, teenage niece, nearly 2-year-old son, and I pulled up to the Bagno Corrado stand at San Pietro Beach, we had bruschetta – toasted Italian bread with tomato salad on top of it – for antipasto and the surprising pasta dish in the photo above. The sauce featured fresh tomatoes, chunks of swordfish, and the flower of the zucchini plant. Of course, since it is a fish dish, there was plenty of fresh parsley to boot. It was sweet and savory. And the swordfish melted in your mouth. It is hardly the kind of thing I'd order down the shore, but it was perfect for a beach day in Italy. Still, my niece dug into a Nutellotta, which is a cookie bowl dressed in Nutella and filled with three scoops of vanilla gelato that are covered in more Nutella and whipped cream with a few more cookies sticking out of it. She loved every bite. Who can blame her?
Di Meglio is the author of Fun with the Family New Jersey (Globe Pequot Press Travel, 2012) and the Guide to Newlyweds for About.com.


text:
Day Pack
Day Pack
from 5.00
Choose from either a 25L or 45L daypack.
For a full days adventure where you will need to carry rainwear, snacks, water & something warm we recommend the 45L size.
For shorter walks where you will be back at your base for meals and don't need to carry as much then the 25L pack will be the one for you.
Both packs have waist belts to take the weight off your shoulders and allow for extra comfort
Add To Cart


text:
© 1998-2019, Palestinian Media Watch, All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction permitted, with the following attribution:
© Palestinian Media Watch – www.palwatch.org
Entire Page
Rewriting history
Jewish history rewritten
Rewriting history
Rewriting the history of the Land of Israel in order to deny Israel's right to exist is central to Palestinian Authority (PA) policy. Long before it started the PA terror campaign (the "Intifada," 2000-2005), the PA was fighting a history war – erasing Jewish history and replacing it with a fabricated Palestinian history. This rewriting has two central goals:
1- Erase the Jewish nation's 3,000 year history in the Land of Israel;
2- Invent ancient Palestinian, Muslim and Arab histories in the land.
The goal of this historical revision as a political strategy was first expressed publicly at a conference of Palestinian historians in 1998, when rewriting history was linked to the political goal of denying Israel's right to exist:
"Dr. Yussuf Alzamili [Chairman History Department, Khan Yunis Educational College] called on all universities and colleges to write the history of Palestine and to guard it, and not to enable the [foreign] implants and enemies to distort it or to legitimize the existence of Jews on this land... [History lecturer Abu Amar] clarified that there is no connection between the ancient generation of Jews and the new generation." [
, Dec. 4, 1998].
Erasing Jewish history in the land of Israel is followed by the PA's invention of ancient and modern histories that support its political ideology and claim to the land of Israel. The Holocaust and other aspects of Jewish history are alternately denied, downplayed or distorted. Another distortion is to hide from Palestinians that Jesus was a Jew who lived in the Land of Judea/Israel. PA leaders repeatedly define Jesus as a Palestinian who preached Islam, thus denying not only Jewish history, but also the history and legitimacy of Christianity.
Citing numerous examples, this section will document that these and other historical revisions are an integral part of Palestinian policy and are used to create political ideology.
Jewish history rewritten
Denial of 3,000 years of Jewish history in the land of Israel is the foundation of all PA political ideology. To accomplish this, the PA systematically distorts both ancient and modern history, ignoring both archeology and historical documentation, and replaces them with an odious fictitious history. The new history demonizes Jews, accusing them of having been evil and destructive throughout history, and thereby triggering non-Jews to justifiably hate, persecute and expel them. This rewriting forms the basis for the Palestinian Authority denial of Israel's right to exist.
Topics on this page
1- Jewish history in Land of Israel erased
2- Jerusalem's Temple/Jewish history denied
1- Jewish history in Land of Israel erased
View All
Denial the Jewish history and connection to the Land of Israel has been policy since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority.
This video is a recent example of a PA academic, denying the existence of thousands of Hebrew language coins, Hebrew texts and Hebrew Bullas (seals) carrying biblical names that that have been found in the Land of Israel.
Lecturer, Urban Planning, Bir-Zeit University, Dr. Jamal Amar
"There is a view that where it [the Dome of the Rock] stands was the Holy of Holies of the fictitious Temple – and by the way, that is merely an illusion. There is no remnant of it. It's a myth. A story of no value, like the Arabian Nights, and other legends… Only in Palestine… [after] 60 years of digging, and they've found nothing at all. Not a water jug, not a coin, not any earthen vessel, no bronze weapons, no piece of metal, absolutely nothing of this myth, because it's a myth and a lie. This digging has not left a single meter [unturned], but it has achieved absolutely nothing." [PATV, June 23, 2009]
PA TV reporter: Israel "steals" Palestinian dishes, commits "evil assault" to "Judaize our dishes, attributes them to its truly fake identity"
Source: Official Palestinian Authority TV, Jan. 20, 2019
Official PA TV reporter:
"We will get to know this [food] festival and the Palestinian dishes featured at it that we are preserving. The occupation is recently attempting to steal this Palestinian heritage… We are very happy with this festival, whose messages are important in light of the evil assault on our heritage and on all the components of the Palestinian identity…"
Director of the Al-Sham Lands Master Chef Samer Abu Jum'a:
"We want to instill knowledge in the young people about the Palestinian cuisine, and to give them a new vision of our Palestinian dishes. Let's not forget to protect them from Judaization and the evil assault against us, and the theft of Palestinian dishes. A number of dishes have been stolen." …
"What was your impression of the Western world, given that the occupation is attempting to Judaize our dishes and attribute them to its truly fake identity? … Tell me how we can spread the Palestinian dishes more and fight the evil assault on our Palestinian heritage and on the Palestinian dishes, which the occupation is of course attempting to attribute to itself."
Click to view video
Click to view bulletin
Op-ed: Western colonialism tried to "erase the Palestinian identity, history, and existence" and established Israel "to serve the goals of the capitalist West at the expense of the Jews, who were misled in the name of religion"
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 8, 2019
Excerpt of op-ed by Omar Hilmi Al-Ghoul, regular columnist for the official PA daily
"Western colonialism in general, and British colonialism in particular – in cooperation with the Zionist movement, and later with its physical base, the colonialist State of Israel – attempted during the 30 years of the Mandate, from 1917 to 1948, to change the social, demographic, economic, and legal systems on the ground in order to erase the Palestinian identity, history, and existence, and to establish the rogue state [Israel]. This was in order to serve the goals of the capitalist West at the expense of the Jews, who were misled in the name of religion, and in the name of slogans preparing the groundwork for negating the other – such as 'a land without a people for a people without a land,' 'the promised land,' and 'your land, Israel, from the Nile [River] to the Euphrates [River].' Simultaneously, hundreds of thousands of Jewish, Zionist, and other immigrants, some of whom were escaping – to anywhere – from the tragedy and hell of European fascism and Nazism, were brought [to Palestine]… They established the colonialist State of Israel."
Click to view bulletin
Click "full article" for more information
Op-ed by PA daily editor-in-chief denies Jewish history in Israel and Jerusalem; compares Palestinians to Jesus
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 7, 2019
Excerpt of an op-ed by official PA daily
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
Editor in Chief Mahmoud Abu Al-Haija
"From the Damascus Gate Plaza – whose name became the Martyrs' (
') Plaza following the last uprising in Jerusalem (apparently refers to several months of deadly Palestinian terror attacks against Israelis 2015 - 2016 –Ed.) – you reach a stone staircase… that descends into history… Most of the Israeli occupation soldiers here are from the Falash Mura (i.e., descendants of Ethiopian Jews; see note below) who say they are Hebrews! They tremble inside the guard posts, and sometimes some of them are close to the gate checking ID cards. They are afraid and avoid looking in the eyes of the owners [of the ID cards], the residents of the city. Around them is a purely Arab hubbub: the voices of the Arab farm girls selling vegetables in wicker baskets and youth ridiculing the occupation soldiers among themselves and laughing at them. The soldiers understand nothing of what is happening, which causes them to grip their automatic rifles tighter… The Falash Mura soldiers and the rest of the Zionist occupiers, who never in their history crossed the Euphrates River and who arrived from across the Atlantic Ocean, are a foreign sight (sic., the majority of Jews did not immigrate to Israel from across the Atlantic Ocean, and the Jewish people originated in Israel)."
Click "full article" for more informaiton
PA envoy: "The Palestinian people has been suffering for 70 years from evil plots that have strived to falsify its history, erase its identity, Judaize its holy sites, expropriate its land, [and] steal its natural resources"
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 16, 2018
Headline: "The Arab League held the occupation government legally and criminally responsible for its crimes"
"Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Egypt and its Permanent Representative in the Arab League Diab Al-Louh… said to the Arab League extraordinary council at the permanent representative level that the Israeli occupation is continuing to commit crimes against our people in all forms and manners. He noted that the Palestinian people has been suffering for 70 years from evil plots that have strived to falsify its history, erase its identity, Judaize its holy sites, expropriate its land, steal its natural resources, and destroy its social, cultural, and economic infrastructures. The goal of all these criminal plots and of the racist Israeli settlement policy is to erase the Palestinian presence from this land, destroy the elements of the Palestinian people's resolve in its homeland, and deny the Palestinian person his humanitarian and political rights so that he will remain dependent on the will of the Israeli occupier."
PA Foreign Ministry accuses Israel of stealing archeological artifacts and carrying out "falsification or Judaization" of archeological sites
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 12, 2018
Headline: "The [PA Ministry of] Foreign Affairs and Expatriates demands an international investigation on the issue of antiquities theft by the occupation"
"The [PA] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates demanded that UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) and the [UN] World Tourism Organization launch a serious investigation on the issue of the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian antiquities, as they are severe violations of international law… The ministry explained yesterday [Nov. 11, 2018] that the investigation would be a prelude to pressure on the occupation authorities to return all of the archaeological items that they have taken over by force, and stopping the falsification or Judaization of these archaeological sites. [The ministry] noted that 'the settler tourism' that Israel's official establishment is organizing, supervising, and funding in cooperation with the settler councils in the occupied West Bank… has escalated recently, and the colonialist mentality is not stopping here, but rather is moving on to also taking over the archaeological and tourist sites, stealing the Palestinian antiquities, and presenting them – both in Israel and outside of it – as 'antiquities that were found in the West Bank' in order to establish the occupation's narrative."
Click "full article" for a longer excerpt
PA TV: "Israel has not stopped stealing everything that belongs to Palestine and affiliating it with itself, and marketing it as part of its alleged heritage" including snakes, as part of "Judaizing" the land
Source: Official Palestinian Authority TV, Nov. 7, 2018
Official PA TV News, on Israel declaring the Palestine Viper its national snake
Official PA TV newsreader:
"In Tel Aviv, what is called the [Israel] 'Nature [and Parks] Authority' has announced the Palestine Viper as a national symbol, after calling it the [Land of] Israel Viper. This comes as part of the occupation's programs that are meant to steal everything Palestinian."
Official PA TV reporter
: "As part of the operation of Judaizing the land of Palestine, the occupation intends to steal the cultural and civilizational heritage, and especially the popular foods and clothing, and the animals' names… The Israeli Nature Authority announced the change of this snake's name – which is known historically on the Arab and global level as the Palestine Viper that continues to constitute a national symbol from among the symbols of biodiversity in Palestine. Israel has not stopped stealing everything that belongs to Palestine and affiliating it with itself, and marketing it as part of its alleged heritage. It is attempting with all of its might to convince the world that it has the right to Palestine and is rooted in history through its attempts to distort the facts on the ground. Even the snake – whose homeland has been stolen, whose name has been stolen, and who the occupation falsely affiliates with itself – is additional proof of its effort to write its history, even if through theft."
Click "full article" for more information
View All
2- Jerusalem's Temple/Jewish history denied
View All
Denial of the Jewish history in Jerusalem and the existence of the Jewish Temple is a central component PA political ideology. This denial started with Yasser Arafat and continues to be reiterated by academics, politicians and religious leaders. The PA systematically distorts the ancient history of Jerusalem, ignoring the vast historical documentation and thousands of archeological finds related to Jewish history that have been found in Jerusalem.
This music video, broadcast regularly on PA TV through 2008 and 2009, denies any historical connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem, repeats the libel that Israel is planning to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque and calls on Allah to protect the mosque.
"Oh [Sons of] Zion, no matter how much you dig and no matter how much you destroy, your imaginary Temple will not come into being… [Allah protect Al-Aqsa] from every thief and every oppressor."
Full text: "Al-Aqsa [Mosque] is ours, Oh Muslims, Al-Aqsa is ours, our Al-Aqsa screams and shouts, Al-Aqsa is ours. Oh Arabs and Muslims, no, no, Al-Aqsa is ours. Oh [Sons of] Zion, no matter how much you dig and no matter how much you destroy, your imaginary Temple will not come into being… My land, my Jerusalem, my blood and my honor will not be scorned. Al-Aqsa is ours, how you suffer! How you have bleed for years! How you scream! How you call out to the millions! What are you hoping for, what are you crying for? Saladin [Muslim conqueror of Jerusalem in 1187] ! Al-Aqsa is ours. Oh Allah, protect Al-Aqsa, Oh Allah, Al-Aqsa is ours, [protect Al-Aqsa] from every thief and every oppressor." [PA TV (Fatah) Sept. 23, 2008 – Oct. 25, 2009]
PA daily describes visit of Jews to the Temple Mount who "invaded" the Al-Aqsa Mosque and heard "explanations about the myth of the alleged 'Temple' during their provocative tours"
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Mar. 29, 2019
Headline: "Over 50 settlers invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the occupation closed the Damascus Gate"
"Fifty-six settlers invaded the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque yesterday [March 28, 2019] from the Mughrabi Gate… and listened to explanations about the myth of the alleged 'Temple' during their provocative tours, before leaving the blessed mosque."
Click to view bulletin
The PA and its leaders consider all of the Temple Mount an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore they view any presence of Jews on the mount as an "invasion." It should be noted that Jews who visit the Temple Mount only enter some sections of the open areas, and do not enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock. Israeli police ban Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount because of threats of violence by Palestinians.
Palestinian Fatwa Council: "The Al-Aqsa Mosque... is entirely Islamic, and any interference in its affairs by non-Muslims is illegitimate"
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Mar. 15, 2019
Headline: "The [Palestinian] Supreme Fatwa Council emphasized the Islamicness of every part of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque"
"The Palestinian Supreme Fatwa Council emphasized that the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, with all of its mosques, domes, plazas, and courtyards, aboveground and underground, is entirely Islamic, and any interference in its affairs by non-Muslims is illegitimate. The council emphasized yesterday [March 14, 2019] during its meeting, led by [PA] Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories and [Palestinian] Supreme Fatwa Council Chairman Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, that the Al-Aqsa Mosque will remain an Islamic mosque in spite of the haters and the aspirations of the greedy, and that neither the occupation nor any power in the world can change the description of this mosque that belongs solely to the Muslims."
Preacher at Al-Aqsa Mosque: "The Al-Aqsa Mosque belongs solely to Muslims"
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Mar. 2, 2019
"More than 30,000 worshippers held Friday prayers at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Gate of Mercy Mosque within it, amid an increased presence of the occupation forces. Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher Sheikh Muhammad Salim condemned the occupation authorities' escalation through decisions to distance guards, security personnel, sheikhs, clergy, and Jerusalem citizens from the blessed mosque, and emphasized that the Al-Aqsa Mosque belongs solely to Muslims."
Click to view bulletin
Abbas' Advisor: The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, including the Western Wall, belongs only to Muslims
Source: Official Palestinian Authority TV, Feb. 22, 2019
Supreme Shari'ah Judge, and Abbas' advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash:
"They [Israelis] want to find or make a foothold for themselves in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. And this will not happen as long as we are alive… Because whoever thinks that they can forsake one millimeter of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque is also liable to forsake the noble Kaaba [in Mecca] or the Quran… Let them search elsewhere for the realization of their fairy tales. But here, this mosque is ours and it will remain ours as long as the world exists… Al-Aqsa is not up for bargaining, and every inch of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, including the Gate of Mercy and the Al-Buraq Wall (i.e., the Western Wall of the Temple Mount) and the Al-Buraq Plaza – all of it is an Islamic waqf (i.e., inalienable religious endowment in Islamic law), the nation's waqf."
Click to view video
Click "full article" for more
PA governmental spokesman: The Al-Aqsa Mosque and everything in the area "is an Islamic mosque that belongs to the Muslims only"
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 19, 2019
Headline: "The [PA] Presidential Office and government condemned the occupation's steps at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jordan sent Israel a letter of protest"
"The [PA] Presidential Office and transitional government yesterday [Feb. 18, 2019] strongly condemned the occupation's steps at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and its gates... Official [PA] Government Spokesman Yusuf Al-Mahmoud said yesterday evening… that the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque – which sits on 144 dunams (i.e., approximately 35.6 acres) that are surrounded by walls, and includes 200 structures – includes the Southern Mosque (i.e., the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself), the Dome of the Rock Mosque, the madrassas (i.e., Islamic religious schools), the dome structures, the stone platforms, and others, and everything that is connected to the walls from the outside; it is an Islamic mosque that belongs to the Muslims only."
Click to view bulletin
Click "full article" for more information
Cartoon in PA daily depict Jews painting over woman's face representing Jerusalem
Source: Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 14, 2019
Cartoon published in the official PA daily
Headline: "Jerusalem"
The cartoon shows the head of an Arab woman wearing a head covering, apparently representing Jerusalem, and in the background are the silhouettes of mosques and churches. Three small Jews wearing kippahs (Jewish skullcaps) and standing in cranes with Stars of David on them and on a platform are painting the woman's face and head covering. Around the woman's neck is a security wall.
View All
Topics on this page
1- Jewish history in Land of Israel erased
2- Jerusalem's Temple/Jewish history denied
Entire Page
Join PMW's campaign to close Fatah's terror promoting Facebook page
Click to send email to Facebook #CloseFatahFB
PMW report: Fatah's official Facebook page in 2018
A platform for glorifying murder and promoting terror
PMW report: The Rajoub File
PMW report: The Rajoub File
PMW report: The PA's billion dollar fraud
PMW report: The PA's billion dollar fraud
PMW on Facebook
Follow PMW on Facebook
PMW on Twitter
Follow PMW on Twitter
PMW on YouTube
Subscribe to PMW's YouTube channel
PMW report on PA Antisemitism - Overview of 2015
PMW special report: PA Antisemitism - Overview of 2015
Purchase "Deception"
directly from PMW
PMW report on PA education
A recipe for hate and terror
Gaza War 2014
See PMW coverage of the war
Home Page
Videos & TV
Op-eds & books
PMW Bulletins
Special Reports
About Us
PMW Impact
Support Us
Contact Us
© 1997-2019 Palestinian Media Watch
Reproduction Rights


text:
Today, organizations face many challenges in granting access to the applications and devices their users need—while keeping their assets secure. What if there was a way to enable users to…Read More
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the next iteration of intelligent business applications via the cloud. Dynamics 365 fuses CRM and ERP (Dynamics AX) capabilities by delivering new purpose-built applications to manage…Read More
The Microsoft Product and Services Agreement (MPSA) At-a-Glance allows customers to purchase not only licenses, but also License and Software Assurance (SA), and online services like O365 under one agreement…Read More
Adobe's Creative Cloud (CC) – the powerhouse collection of subscription-based, local-installed applications – received a monumental update on June 18, 2014. The 2014 CC release was a milestone in Adobe's…Read More
In June 2013, Adobe reinvented itself by creating a new licensing model, the Value Incentive Program (VIP), which is a brand new way for Adobe to update its industry-leading lineup…Read More


text:
Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Shakes Japan Sparking Tsunami Fears/
Magnitude 6.0 earthquake shook Japan's Hachijo-jima island at 7:42am UTC 2017-11-09.
Hachijo-jima is a volcanic island in the Philippine Sea home to 8,000 people and 287km south of Tokyo, Japan. This 6.0 magnitude quake came 14 hours after a 4.6 magnitude one in the same area.
Japan is sitting in the "Ring of Fire" where about 80% of Earth's earthquakes occur. Fortunately, there are no reported deaths or building damage and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue any tsunami warnings.
This may trigger frightening memories of the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdowns from a 2011 9.0 earthquake tsunami, which has since mutated sea life in the Pacific Ocean.


text:
Well, chances are you don't remember, so I will be kind enough to remind you about how I briefly mentioned my mum was coming to visit, along with my best friend, her mum and my beautiful, crazy godson.
That was back in February and boy did it come and go, I had planned to write a blog on the whole visit, but with days off scarce to none and season in full swing, before I knew it, it was 2 months later and putting up the post just felt a little random.
'So if it was random then what's the difference now' do hear the critics say, well as well as wanting to write about the visit, I had also planned for my mum to have a little guest feature. Now true to our relation, my mother holds the number one record in procrastination, with myself close behind in second, so essentially the apple really didn't fall at all.
Basically, the whole blog plan has been on the back burner until now, so this blog is in fact more from my mum, it's was a chance for me to really understand how this time away has affected her and for you to get a little candid insight into where my personality comes from. I must stress that I had no input in this, I'm not even going to correct her grammar (as much as it hurts me), it was scary to read because more than ever I saw myself in her, but anyway this is my muse, my mum…..
What an experience but before we get to that let me tell you a little bit about me.
My name is Maggy, Madge, Marjay , mum depending on which mood my wonderful children are in.
I have three children who I dote on and have since the day they were born done everything from football matches to dancing competitions and basically my life has just been about giving them the best I can.
So the question what do you do when you kids are now all grown up don't need you as much as they used to and have now started to try to spread their wings and gradually fly out of the nest with hopefully the aim to fly back once in a while.
"The life and times of a redundant mum" well not as drastic as that but wow it really is a shock to the system. This is how it all went down.
In August 2016 Chantelle Aka "2nd born child" aka "Warrior Princess" decided to spread her wings and fly across the waters to Miami for a year. Ok I said yes and I did encourage her but until that day actually comes you think it never will but it did. So we all piled ourselves off to the airport to see her off. It was a very emotional day with tears from all corners. Have you ever had to be stronger than you think you are. This was one of those days. Someone had to be strong for everyone and keep a dry face even though all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry till I had no more tears to shed.
In September our last born child O'jay aka "Marksman" spread his wings and went off to university in Birmingham not too bad only down the road fair enough but in the space of two months the busy home got quieter and to be honest at first it just felt like they had both just gone away for a week or two.
Then what happens!! Our first born child Georgette aka " My free spirit hippy" is getting ready to start her 6-month adventure travelling!!! OMG!!! Travelling on her own. Absolutely not having that !!! err….. she's a grown woman with a mind of her own. You've got to let go Maggy!! But she's the only one left in the nest!! Girlfriend!! Get over it and let her go!!! (Sorry guys that's how my brain thinks and works just thought I would let you in for a second now get out!)
To be honest I think Georgette prepared us more than ever for getting used to having an empty nest. She was hardly ever in up until she went off exploring the world!!
Anyway in January off myself and her dad went to the airport again to see her off backpack in tow.
Wow another emotional day very mixed emotions the fact that she is so brave and doing this on her own!!
We came home and guess what. Silence no kids, no music, no xbox noise going on in the background no lovely aroma of cakes what!! How on earth do I cope with this!! Come back guys all is forgiven. Maybe it's a dream I will wake up and find them all in their rooms doing their own thing alas!! The chicks have flown the nest!!
The next chapter begins.
When your mind works overtime and a million questions keep popping up it can wreak havoc. When the children left on their journeys I asked myself one thing. Did we do a good job in the way we brought them up??? Hmm what a question to ask yourself. Little did I know that the answer was going to come sooner rather than later
On the 21st October 2016 I was invited to attend Chantelle's graduation and accept her certificate on her behalf as she was unable to come back for the ceremony. It was an amazing day with nothing but praise for her and what she has achieved "the proud mother" yes I was so proud and coming back to the question I asked myself did we do a good job of bringing up these wonderful children, I met some of Chantelle's uni colleagues some much older than her. I was told by one of these lovely ladies that I have a very respectful, polite and lovely daughter who shows that she has been brought up well…… err is this my Chantelle!!!! Naaa!!! lol just kidding I was and am so proud of her and yes! Was the answer to that question proud mummy yet again!
To all the mothers out there whose lovely kids have flown the nest my question is how do you cope.
I personally just keep busy and not give myself time for my mind to run wild but trust me it did and still does.
First it was the worry. Are they ok. Are they coping ok. What if they need me I'm too far away but do you know what? I am so proud of my young adult children and I owe it to God how he has guided us to bring up his custodians because they are level headed, respectful and humble and that's confirmation enough for me that with those traits they will go far.
***Wipes Tears***
Every kid thinks the world of their parents, I'm no different. Both my parents were the first generation to immigrate to the western world from Nigeria. Do you know what kind of courage that takes? To move half way across the world to start a better life for yourself, by yourself under the age of 20. How can I not draw inspiration, courage and enlightenment from them?
My mum put every dream she had aside, to make time, headspace and energy for us. Never forced us into anything particular, she rarely missed a match, never missed a dance competition, cherished our wins and pushed us harder when we lost.
I can never repay my mum for the sacrifices she's made, but I can make her proud, I can make her happy and I can show her that she did a bloody good job.
"You made us believe. You kept us off the street, put clothes on our back, food on the table. When you didn't eat, you made sure we ate. You went to sleep hungry, you sacrificed for us. You're the real MVP"
-Kevin Durant, 2013


text:
La Grande Épicerie on the right bank
With a strong concept, the giant-size gourmet food shop Le Bon Marché crosses the Seine and opens a new address in the 16th arrondissement of the right bank.
Fish, cheese, meat, deli products, produce, wine, luxury items… The list of what you can find at the new Bon Marché is almost endless. Like its elder located on Rue de Sèvres, the premises can be visited like you would a museum, strolling from stands to counters, and from counters to well-stacked shelves. Gustatory delights come one after the other: black-truffle olive oil, jars of acacia honey from the Jura region, wholegrain brown rice, bars of chocolate from Angelina… In the entrance, the "market square" displays the most beautiful fruits and vegetables, colourful yet seasonal. If you care to have lunch in the neighbourhood, there is no need to venture outside, as the Rive Droite restaurant located on 2nd floor overlooks the street. Under chef Beatriz Gonzalez's impulse, classics of French gastronomy are revisited and paired with flavours of Mexican cuisine.
La Grande Epicerie Rive Droite
80, rue de Passy
75016 Paris
+33 (0)1 44 14 38 00


text:
ISPM 15 (International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is an International Phytosanitary Measure developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) that directly addresses the need to treat wood materials of a thickness greater than 6mm, used to ship products between countries – therefore it is a regulation for wood packaging material in international trade.
ISPM 15 sets out harmonized expectations for the application of treatments to render wood packaging material practically free of quarantine pests, requiring that they be debarked and then heat treated or fumigated, with a mark of compliance.
The IPPC-ISPM 15 certified PalletBiz franchisees are permitted to produce wood packaging materials of purchased debarked and heat treated wood.
PalletBiz targets to comply with all relevant ISO standards within the Packaging & Handling industry. These international standards enable us to serve our clients with the best products possible while following global regulations, and also prove that what our business provides is real QUALITY.
Some of our franchisees have obtained ISO certifications in Quality Management (ISO 9001:2015) and Environmental Management (14001:2015). Our mission is to have all PalletBiz franchisees ISO-certified in the coming years.
Not all PalletBiz entities hold all certifications. For an overview of which certification each company holds, please click hereAll rights reserved - PalletBiz logo & trademark, products, and Franchise system is owned by PalletBiz Franchising Kft - Tel: (+36) 1 464 9500 - firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
The sign outside of Tabb's, a restaurant in the Riverview section of Norfolk, had two words on it. "Shad Roe." So I'll be heading there with a couple of friends tomorrow for lunch. We like the restaurant because of their local seasonal seafood. In the fall we go there for oysters, in May we drop by for soft shell crabs. Tomorrow it will be, for me at least, shad roe. I've never had it, but I've always wanted to give it a try.
Seeing that sign reminded me of this time last year when I was invited to join Jeff, above, a Native American, for an afternoon of shad fishing on the Pamunkey River. Jeff is a member of the Pamunkey tribe and lives on their reservation. The tribal lands are on the point of land on the left side of the map, just below the road marked Pocahontas Trail. Jeff launched his skiff along with maybe a half dozen other members of the tribe. He ran downriver and fished the stretch of water below Johnson Landing. It was a beautiful, quiet river.
There are a handful of tribes in the area and two of them, the Pamunkey and the Mattaponi, have reservations that were created by treaties with England that date back to the 1600's. All the these tribes were part of the once powerful Powhatan Confederacy that occupied eastern Virginia. It was on their land that the Jamestown colony was founded.
The history of these tribes dates back thousands of years and fishing these small rivers has been both a source of food and an important part of the tribal tradition. I've always found the Native Americans to be very friendly but at the same time very private. I felt honored to be allowed a peek at their way of life. Jeff was a great host, friendly and knowledgeable. He talked a lot about the tribe and the fishing. He is involved with some archeological digs on areas thought to be historic tribal centers. Like a lot of tribe members he had left the reservation when he was young but found the urge to return home as he grew older.
Jeff set his nets in the late afternoon and then motored towards shore where he met up with another member of his tribe. This was an older gentleman, a man who had in fact taught Jeff how to fish. We sat along shore and made small talk while the nets drifted slowly downriver.
After a little more than an hour we ran back out on the river. It was easy to see that he had caught some fish, the floats bobbed up and down as the fish struggled in the nets. I think Jeff brought in about two dozen American Shad. Some of the fish were ripe and he milked those fish for their milt and roe. He would carry that back to the tribe's fishery where the eggs would be hatched and the fingerlings eventually returned to the river. The rest of the fish - and roe -were harvested for food.
It is an afternoon that I will remember for a long time. I have of course visited Jamestown and nearby Williamsburg to see the historical sites there. But that history dates back just 400 years. A few centuries hardly compare with the 10,000 year history of the Native American tribes. And this bit of history wasn't in a museum. It was truly a living history, one that I got to see as we drifted down a gentle river in Tidewater Virginia.
I had a quiet evening at the office yesterday. Not much going on so I walked over to the Elizabeth River waterfront. No snowbirds anchored out in Crawford Bay. Too cold. But in a week or two we'll start seeing the boats heading north along the ICW.
Weather looks iffy for sailing this weekend, but I do hope to get out for a while on Sunday.


text:
In this era of career-driven busyness, with an array of options, decisions, and stress right at our fingertips, it's easy to get lost in the mess of it all. Decisions are everywhere, and most people start their day with one that affects both their creativity and their confidence: what to wear. Fashion fatigue is a real thing and so many women are moving toward capsule wardrobes consisting of several staple pieces, items, and styles that are easily mixed, matched, and used again and again in order to fight off the dreaded Monday morning fashion show. Lucie Fink of Refinery29 recently did a video on this topic, which gives a great rundown of what it's like to utilize a capsule wardrobe for a week.
When pulling together a few key pieces to use repeatedly, it's important to mix old and new, classic with trendy, to maintain that fresh feeling. Confidence is so important and sticking to items that have a traditional base with a flair for the latest trends allows you to use and reuse your capsule wardrobe while treating the sidewalks like your personal catwalk. A summertime capsule wardrobe means more vibrant looks, so finding bright colors and simple prints and patterns in timeless pieces, such as shifts, pencil skirts, bateau cuts blouses, and classic dress shirts, ensure looks that will be versatile enough for the office and nights out on the town.
Building a capsule wardrobe is not just about the look and style of pieces but also the quality of the pieces you are buying. Designer labels may cost more, however, the quality of those items is something those brands stand behind. Look to department stores with great reputations, like New York icon Bloomingdales, that offer a wide array of top brands and designers for items in which you can invest. Don't be afraid to utilize store website's Trend tabs and Basics lists to narrow your search for the best staple pieces.
For Summer 2018, keep an eye out for solid colored pieces that will allow for easy color-blocking. A longer, A-line dress can be paired with a blazer and pumps for the office, and sandals and a cardigan for a breezy night out. Linen pants in a neutral color, and even boyfriend jeans, are as timeless as Jackie O and can be styled with nearly any type of blouse for a quick pairing. Maxi skirts are another wardrobe staple that fit and flatter any shape and size for a high fashion look. When deciding on tops, a classic white dress shirt will never go out of style, as well as boat neck cotton tops or a simple V-neck. Stick to simple pieces free of graphics to ensure you look your Audrey best.
While creating your own quasi-uniform capsule wardrobe may seem a little reminiscent of school-girl days, businessmen have been pulling off the repeat look for years. If suits can be worn every day with little to no variation, there is no reason to not have your own take on the everyday uniform, for both morning and night. Make an inspiration board, check out some department store Lookbooks and guides, and show off your trendy take on a simplified, classic wardrobe. It's worth it to have one less decision to make in the morning.


text:
Volkswagen Jetta Sport 140 DSG
** Beautifull * Low mileage * Automatic ** SIXERS GROUP 'APPROVED USED' VW Jetta for sale at Safeway Vehicle Sales in Lake. Model: Sport 140 DSG Year: 2011 Number of Doors: 4 Engine CC: 2.0 Fuel Type: Diesel MPG (Combined): Co2(g/km): 138 Road TAX: £ per year Colour: Black Transmission: Automatic Mileage: 23370 MOT Expires: 01/09/2019 Service records at:11k, 21k, 23k miles Cambelt replaced at: 23k miles Insurance Group: 17E HPi Checked: Yes / Clear SPECIFICATIONS *Air Conditioning (AC) *Reversing Camera *Front and Rear Parking Sensors *Cruise Control *Traction Control (TC) *Alloy Wheels *Aux Input Socket *Automatic Headlights *ISOFIX *Airbags *Power Steering (PAS) *ABS *Electric Windows (EW) *Central Locking(CL) *Remote Locking (RCL) *Alarm *CD Player *Stereo This 'APPROVED USED' Jetta is offered for sale by Sixers Group, prepared to the highest standards as follows: - Serviced: as requested by the manufacture guidelines. - Warranty: chosen by you from our extensive range of products. - Pre Delivery Inspection (PDi) conforming to high standards required by 'The Good Garage Scheme'. - HPi checked: meaning its clear of any previous Finance or Total loss insurance claims. (unless otherwise stated above) - Professionally valeted using Autoglym products. We're happy to arrange finance for you, Part Exchange welcome and Drive Away Same Day possible. Further details of this vehicle and our products can be found on our website at www.sixersgroup.co.uk Please come and view this car at SAFEWAY VEHICLE SALES – Newport Road, Lake, Isle of Wight, PO36 9PF Opening Hours 8.30 - 6pm Monday to Friday 8.30 – 5pm Saturday Any queries or questions please contact Chris Chambers: Tel: (01983) 405522 or Email: email@example.com SIXERS Group stock a wide range of vehicles including Low priced Part Exchange to Clear. We're sure to have the type of vehicle you are looking for. Please check our website for a full stock list with Finance options.
Other ads of seller Safeway Vehicle Sales | SIXERS Group


text:
Wedding Guest Dress
The wedding season is upon us and it can be an expensive and daunting task trawling the shops looking for the right kind of garment.
At one point my husband and I were averaging 6 weddings a year. One year we had 12 and 3 were all on the same weekend! Now, naturally it makes sense to wear a dress more than once with those kind of invite numbers. BUT, it doesn't always work out like that does it? City weddings call for a totally different vibe to say, a country wedding in a wild flower meadow!
Sometimes there is a dress code (helpful), sometimes there isn't (not as helpful as you might think) My point is there are A LOT of things to consider and A LOT of choices. Below are some of my selects, i hope you like.


text:
Originally Posted by Bean:I agree. I really dislike the concept of being gated completely out of doing something that one should be able to do even at a minimal level of capability.
The ability to also repair specific systems with specific tools x specific classes would also be neat. You can't repair a deflector array because it needs the ability to use a level 9 tool, and you are a level 6. (for example)
Getting a message like "You must be a Level 43 Doctor to use the Autolytic Sequencer" is not going to make me determined to spend more time in that game grinding XP to level up to 43. All it's going to do is irritate me that I'm being rather obviously manipulated by greedy developers who want more of my subscription fees while I grind, grind, grind for no other reason than to be permitted to use some object that can't possibly be worth all that effort. Enough of that kind of nonsense and I'm gone.
I'd much rather see a "percentage of success" system where the more skills and the better tools you have that are appropriate for a given task, the better your odds of success. Anybody should have at least a minimal (say, 2-5%) chance of succeeding at most tasks, but having the right training and tools can significantly increase one's chances of success. Critical failures and successes might be fun, too -- a character who has high levels of all the skills that are applicable to a particular task, and who's got high-quality tools appropriate to that task, ought to have a chance of extraordinary success.
A game with that more welcoming "fuzzy" approach to content accessibility (rather than the binary "you can/can't do it") could keep me playing for a long time.


text: Working with Laura has truly changed me for the better. She's opened my eyes to so many facets having to do with grief and how it all intertwines into other aspects in life. Her optimistic, encouraging and loving spirit is a joy to know and interact with. Her style is "real" and completely genuine. She seems to know exactly what you need to do to get to the root of the issue within a matter of minutes of talking about it. I attended the Grief Recovery 2-day workshop and not only was I changed for the better after it, but I saw some amazing transformations in the hearts of others. I highly recommend working with her!- Gina B., Austin, TX


text:
We have been living in Omaha for a year now (more on the later), and it's time we move over to Des Moines. Tomorrow, 7/24, we are going to DSM for a couple of job interviews and to try to look at some apartments. I have an interview at Mars Cafe which I'm pumped about, and Keeva has an interview at La James cosmetology school. She would like to both teach and work in a salon, so pray for that and God's direction in those choices.
We also need a place to stay asap. It would be ideal to rent a place for 1-2 years and begin house shopping as we get our bearings in the city and God opens up opportunities and directs us to more specific areas on the map. We do think it will be between 31st and downtown, and Ingersoll and University (or so) area, which is still a good swath of land.
So pray for those opportunities and for God's direction in that. We believe that jobs and places to live should be so much more that just that, and that God wants to use them for redemptive Gospel community. E


text:
"From Pioneers to City Slackers"/
Buy your tickets for Achshav Yisrael's Second Event!
Achshav Yisrael's second event, "From Pioneers to City Slackers: The Evolving Image of Israelis On the Silver Screen," will take place on Sunday, November 15, from 3-5 p.m. in Koret Hall.
Israeli cinema is cutting-edge and exciting, and offers a wonderful glimpse into the nuances of Israeli society. During the program, we'll learn about the evolution of Israeli cinema with Dr. Eran Kaplan, an expert on Israeli film and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Professor of Israel Studies in the Department of Jewish Studies at San Francisco State University. This will be an interactive presentation, including film clips, a conversation with Dr. Kaplan, and a chance to dialogue on the issues.
This event is presented in partnership with the Jewish Film Institute.
Tickets are $10 per person.
Parents, please note that childcare for kids one year and older will be available on-site for the cost of $5 per child. This fee can be paid directly on the ticket sales page.
Click here to purchase your tickets, or visit the CBS Facebook page and click the "Buy Tickets" tab.
ABOUT ACHSHAV YISRAEL: Achshav Yisrael's mission is to provide quality programming about Israel to Congregation Beth Sholom and the broader community. Achshav Yisrael programs are open to all age groups and will occur on a regular basis. We intend to create a safe space at CBS for community exploration of Israel.
Achshav Yisrael Steering Committee Members: Eileen Auerbach, Alex Bernstein, Becky Buckwald, Sandra Cohen, Betsy Eckstein, Eva-Lynne Leibman, Lucia Sommers


text:
Related Articles:
Friday, 27 January 2012
The Benefits of Health Insurance Quotes
When buying health insurance it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what company to go with. You do not want to pay too much, but you want to have enough coverage. Luckily, health insurance companies offer quotes for their services so you are able to see what you can get with their company for what amount of money without being obliged to purchase anything. With you can compare quotes from different insurance companies, as well as the companies individual benefits. If you do not compare different companies and just sign up with the first one you come across, you can end up hurting yourself financially later on and maybe even physically if certain injuries or illnesses are not covered by your chosen insurance.
By obtaining health insurance quotes from a variety of companies, you can make sure you are not paying more for a company that has fewer benefits and a higher deductible. The money you save every month can go to more useful places and you can feel secure knowing you have the best insurance for you and your family. If you already have health insurance, but are not happy with it, this is the perfect time to compare health insurance quotes. With the amount of health insurance companies and plans available, there is no sense in staying with a company that only causes heartache. Sometimes along with quotes, there are reviews of the company and its ease of use. Why save money only to spend hours on the phone trying to reach someone? Research different companies, compare quotes and be confident in your decision before buying health insurance to ensure a smooth transition.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Winter Mini Photo Sessions
Winter Mini Photo Sessions
A mini photo session is the perfect opportunity to get some professional holiday photos of your furry loved ones. Use this mini session to get some images of you and your pet or just use the session to get photographs of your dog.
This mini session will be posed photos in front of a holiday background/christmas tree. Includes 5 high res digital downloads.
Add To Cart
Included in Package:
- Approximately 30 minutes of shooting time with one pet. Additional pets or humans are $25/each
- Photographs of your pet that showcase their personality.
- Online gallery with 5 high resolution digital downloads.
Extra prints and products can be ordered separately.


text:
Easy, Healthy Meals for Creative Entrepreneurs (or anyone)
I went to college and graduated with a degree Health Science Education. That's a really fancy way of saying: "I learned how to educate people about wellness." My dream job was working as a worksite wellness coordinator for big corporations and/businesses. I wanted to step in and help full-time workers find wellness and a healthy lifestyle while at work.
And what's crazy to me is that, as my business has grown and I've shared my own personal tips and tricks for living a healthy life, people have expressed a lot of interest! So, in some way, I am kinda living my [past] dream job while also running my dream business. Crazy how things work out, huh?
In a random texting-turned-phone-conversation with my sister, I was convinced to start an Instagram account to share and show more of my approach to wellness and the decisions we make to have a healthy household. Everyone will have a different approach and different convictions, but this is where I share recipes, new purchases, and ways I am working on detoxifying our household (one step at a time).
Since there has been so much interest, I will also be sharing more blog posts about wellness and healthy living. Hopefully these posts are helpful and spur you onto wellness!
For me, healthy eating is one of the most important aspects of living a healthy lifestyle. Food is fuel. And your body needs good fuel to work properly. My food philosophy is put perfectly into words by Michael Pollan: "Eat real food. Mostly plants. And not too much."
In our family, we do our best to eat limited processed foods. When we go to the grocery store, our items mostly consist of vegetables, fruits, eggs, clean meats, whole grains, and some dairy. I eat a mostly dairy-free and gluten-free diet. This is mainly because I feel better without them and I don't like much dairy. Beans and legumes are also too harsh for my gut, but they are a great source of protein and vitamins!
All that being said: you have to find a balance and food philosophy that works for you. Amidst the veggies and protein and whole foods, I also love french fries and sweets. There's a balance for everyone and you can only do your best!
I am not a fan of guilt, so don't let anything in this post make you feel guilty.
The journey to wellness is a marathon, not a sprint.
Now that we've had a thorough introduction to my wellness philosophy (SORRY), let's talk about some easy recipes to add to your meal plan this week!
I've done the dirty work of finding the recipes, so just click the links and get to cookin'!
Zucchini Noodles with Pumpkin Seed Pesto
Quinoa Salad
Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Balsamic Roasted Veggie Bowl
Some recipes I've created:
Turkey and Veggie Rice Bowls
Cook ground turkey in pan on stove top, season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Chop veggies into 1" cubes (I typically do carrots, brussel sprouts, and onions), toss in avocado or olive oil. Season with sea salt, pepper, and garlic. Roast at 400 for 20-30 minutes. Add cauliflower rice or brown rice to bowl, top with veggies and turkey. Drizzle with favorite *clean* dressing (meaning it doesn't have additives or sugar). This is one of my favorites.
Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes
In the morning, place 1 lb of chicken breast or thighs in crock pot with ½ cup of water. Cook on low for 4 hours. When chicken seem cooked through, add a can of fire-roasted tomatoes and shred chicken. Let sit with top open until excess liquid evaporates. Add homemade taco seasoning (2-4 TBSP chili powder, 2 TBSP cumin, 1-2 tsp sea salt, 3 tsp garlic powder) and stir. Keep warm. Clean sweet potatoes and poke holes in potatoes. Wrap in foil. Place in 400 degree oven and bake until soft. While cooking, chop raw bell peppers and onions. Mince fresh cilantro. Cut lime. Smash avocado and mix with sea salt and lime (season to taste). When potatoes are done, slice in half (my husband eats the whole potato, I eat half). Top with chicken, veggies, cilantro, lime, and avocado!
BBQ Chicken and Veggies
Chop veggies (bell pepper, onion, and zucchini) into 1" squares. Dice chicken thighs into 1" squares. Place in plastic baggie and drizzle with olive oil. Season with garlic powder, sea salt, and pepper. We use a tray like this and my husband cooks on the BBQ. I then add some kale or lettuce to a bowl and eat with veggies and chicken. http://amzn.to/2Dh5aku
Roasted Cauliflower (add to any dinner or lunch)
1 head organic cauliflower
Salt, pepper, garlic
Chop cauliflower into 1" pieces. Toss with oil, sea salt, pepper, and garlic. Put on baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes (or until soft). Switch to broil and bake for 2-3 more minutes. Enjoy!


text:
One of my favorite experiences is discovering a new dish especially if that particular dish resonates so much that it becomes one of those dishes that form such a strong memory of taste that I'll chase it for the rest of my life. Overly dramatic? Maybe. But, I do keep saying how much I love food.
According to the internet (take that for what it's worth), the Uitsmitjer, in its simplest form, are fried eggs served over ham and toast. Sometimes there's dutch cheese too. It sounds easy enough but that ingredient list is so versatile that there can be some amazing creativity applied to the way it's made. Also, Uitsmitjer literally translates to "The Bouncer" in English (this will be important later) which makes it so much cooler than any other regular breakfast sammy.
My first discovery of the Uitsmitjer was in Philly during the 2016 Democratic National Convention. I decided to go to The Dutch in Pennsport for breakfast since 1) I woke up earlier than my colleagues 2) I was hungry and 3) it was a chance to spend some quiet time amid all the din of the convention. The Dutch is located in a quaint little row-housed neighborhood that seemed quiet and hip. The Dutch's version of the sandwich had two eggs sunny side up, guanciale and melted gouda on top of grilled rye bread. There may have been a salad and pickled veggies too.
"Holy sh*t, that's good", was my first and only reaction. The eggs were cooked perfectly runny so that they mixed into the guanciale and gouda in just the right, messy way. While I love the smoky earthiness of gouda and it's definitely one of my favorite cheeses, the star of this dish is the guanciale. Smoking pig cheek and slicing it thin like bacon should almost be illegal for how good it is. The abundance of fat gives it a much crispier texture than bacon and the flavor is considerably more poignant and sweet. This is simply the most perfect breakfast sandwich ever....well, at least until I find the next perfect Uitsmitjer.
The Corner Charcuterie Bar is another one of those quaint neighborhood restaurants located in Hampden (jut a a bit north of downtown Baltimore). They've quietly built a reputation as a place that serves good drinks, great food and provides a chill, hip atmosphere. They're also probably in the running for one of the top five restaurants in Baltimore. I had gotten a chance to go there until recently and I would be hard pressed to disagree with any of those assessments. It's too bad that the restaurant is being sold since I don't think I've frequented it nearly enough.
I was happy to discover that they also had their own version of the Uitsmitjer and properly refer to it as "The Bouncer" on the menu. This version is served as a "Teaser" (got that right) during dinner service. It's got a fried duck egg, fried prosciutto and melted gouda on top of a piece of brioche. This was so different and yet so similar to the Uitsmitjer from Philly. I liked the richer, more gamey taste of the duck egg. Crispy prosciutto is how it should be served half the time and I prefer the fluff of a brioche over a piece of rye. In other words, I may or may not have inhaled this sandwich. All in all, I probably would have preferred this over the Dutch's version except for the guanciale. Nothing beats guanciale in my mind.
Not only does the Uitsmitjer have a name that you just want to say over and over again but the English translation is even better than the name. And to have a name like that, the sandwich better be frigging good. The Uitsmitjer certainly lives up to that. It's combination, flavor, taste, texture have all been seared in my memory. I'll be on the look out for this sammy anywhere and everywhere so if anyone knows where I can get a good one, please contact me or leave a comment.
The Dutch, 1527 S. 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19047, 215.755.5600
Corner Charcuterie Bar, 850 W. 36th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211, 443.869.5075