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By now you've likely heard of Dutch eccentric Wim Hof. He's probably best known for achieving what seem like risky, almost superhuman feats. In fact, it's fair to say that many of the records he holds, would, if attempted, kill the uninitiated. But the goal is to not be uninitiated when attempting these difficult things. What Wim Hof has taught us is that any of us can indeed train our bodies to do remarkable things.
His method gets right down into the basic physiology of our body and changes who we are. It changes what we're capable of.
Take Wim himself, for example. His record for longest ice bath is nearly 2 hours. Imagine turning a basketball game on TV, submerging yourself in ice when the game starts, then not getting out until the end. The untrained person would die of hypothermia within 15 to 45 minutes. So, how did Wim Hof manage this unthinkable feat? And more importantly, how did he manage to raise his body temperature while doing this?
The answer to his incredible self control is what's become known as the 'Wim Hof Method,' or the WHM.
Today, many thousands (and likely millions) of people around the world follow this method. Now, this might sound like hocus pocus, a type of mental trick for weak minds. But, as author Scott Carney found out, it actually works.
Thriving From Discomfort
Carney originally attended Wim Hof's intensive training in Poland as a way to debunk the hype around Hof. His idea being that he would practice the WHM, and this would provide him the proof needed to show the world that Wim was a fraud.
But, upon arriving in Poland to begin his training, Carney soon found that the method actually worked. His physiology changed, and soon he was doing things he didn't previously think were possible. Most notably he was able to spend long periods of time outside, in the winter snow, and not only survive, but even be warm and comfortable. He also doubled his push up ability in a single day by following Wim's breath-holding technique.
The uncomfortable and difficult tasks culminated by hiking up a mountain in frigid temperatures as low as minus 20 celsius.
At the end of the week in Poland, Carney had already adopted the WHM. But then he did what any great investigative journalist would do. He set out to study the WHM in more detail and write a great book about it. The book is called What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength.
In it, Carney develops a more nuanced thesis. It's not just about cold exposure or breathing. It's about forcing our bodies to be uncomfortable. He lays out the case for spending at least part of every day in a state of discomfort. And he explores the science behind why this works and why the WHM has led to some unbelievable results.
Carney's Basic Argument
We are Homo Sapiens, a (somewhat) hairless ape, and we've been 'anatomically modern' for about 200,000 years. In that time, we've created incredible technology. It started early on with things like fire, which today, we couldn't exist without.
Fire impacted our evolution, and we evolved alongside many different types of technology. But generally speaking, our ancestors had to rely on their innate biology to survive. When it was cold in the winter they had huts, open fires, and animal furs to keep warm.
But, they didn't have climate control that would keep them in the same temperature 365 days per year. And that's central to Carney's thesis. In the past 150 years, technology has developed fast.
But our evolution hasn't caught up with it. And our physiology is still basically the same as that of our ancestors from 200,000 years ago. And we simply haven't adapted to things like constant climate control or being immobile for most of the day.
Our technology is beneficial in many ways. But it's also increasingly harmful.
Carney points out that we evolved to survive everything nature could throw at us. And nature throws discomfort, constantly. He says we're healthiest when withstanding regular adversity, even if only in small doses.
Diseases of Comfort
To name just a few, Carney notes that osteoporosis (sedentary lifestyle), diabetes (sugary diet), obesity (multiple causes), and poor sleep cycles (electric light and devices) are all caused by modern comfort.
Even our inherent ability to navigate is weakening due to technology. With the invention and massive spread of GPS technology, most notably Google Maps, we are no longer put in the uncomfortable position of having to find our way anywhere.
There was once a time when you'd have to use a map to acquaint yourself with a new city. Over time, you'd develop an internal mental picture of your surroundings. Not any more. These days, you simply enter your location in Google Maps and the device tells you exactly where to turn.
So, it's easy to see how the overwhelming disruption of our technology is impacting us, and in many cases, making us sick.
Carney suggests finding ways to intentionally put ourselves in a state of discomfort. There are many ways we can do this, but we're going to focus on cold exposure. It's a pillar of the WHM and one of Carney's main focuses.
Cold Exposure
Wim Hof describes an almost supernatural relationship with the cold. It was as though the cold had called him. And he started swimming in the canals of Amsterdam during the winter. While he started this in teenage years, he ramped up the practice after his wife committed suicide. He was left with 4 children he needed to care for, and the cold became a tool for helping him overcome depression.
Today there are thousands of testimonials of the wonders of the Wim Hof Method. Practitioners have reported curing any number of problems from anxiety to obesity. The more grandiose of these even claim the WHM can cure cancer and other chronic diseases. But for this article, we're going to stick with what's been proven.
Autonomic Nervous System Control?
Scientists always thought the autonomic nervous system worked... well... automatically. But the basic premise of the scientific findings is now shifting. Before Wim Hof it was a simple input --> reaction model. Some outside force would act on the body. Then the nervous system would respond. And there wasn't much we could do to control those responses.
But now that view is being challenged. In one experiment, Wim Hof and his practitioners have been able to 'hack' their nervous system.
In fact:
"In 2011, under medical supervision, Wim was injected with flu inducing endotoxins and demonstrated that he could control his autonomic immune response. He also raised his cortisol levels and lowered his body's inflammatory response using his natural technique of breathing and meditation. The immune system is part of the autonomic nervous system, and according to medical opinion at that time, the autonomic nervous system could not be actively influenced."
To rule out the possibility that Wim is some kind of genetic freak, researchers tried the same experiment on a group of Wim's followers.
Again, the same response.
Now, this study refers to WHM practitioners' ability to control their response to endotoxins through the WHM breathing technique. But the cold exposure works on the same system. In being exposed to extreme cold, WHM practitioners train their bodies to respond differently to cold. This also influences the autonomic nervous system.
Another interesting result of cold exposure is vasoconstriction.
Our bodies are full of blood vessels -- arteries, veins, and capillaries. In fact, if you removed every blood vessel from a human and laid them end to end, they would cross the United States twice. And it appears that cold exposure has played an important evolutionary role for our blood vessels, most notably our veins.
When exposed to cold, our veins undergo a phenomenon known as vasoconstriction. This is when the muscles that surround our veins constrict. The purpose of this cold-induced vasoconstriction is to send blood back to the heart. Which makes sense, because, if the body is cold it pulls resources back to the core. Better to avoid death by cold rather than 'waste' energy saving an extremity.
So, brief periods of cold exposure is like a workout for our vein muscles. And this is important, because it improves our circulatory system. We live in a culture that thinks more about surface level appearance and prizes big muscles. But it's entirely possible to be muscular but have weak circulation. Circulation is vital to our overall health.
Have you ever had cold feet or hands in relatively benign temperature conditions? Perhaps your circulatory system could use an upgrade via cold exposure.
Fat Burning
There have also been interesting findings about cold exposure and burning fat. And Carney has his own anecdote about losing fat while doing the WHM. When visiting Wim Hof's retreat centre in Poland, Carney lost 7 pounds in spite of eating nothing but sausage the entire time.
But there's a good explanation for it. Researchers have found that cold exposure stimulates brown adipose fat growth. Now, we have such a bizarre relationship to the word 'fat.' But to dramatically oversimplify let's just say that brown fat is good fat.
Carney points out that babies use brown adipose fat to keep their bodies warm. As we grow into children and eventually adults, our normal metabolism 'comes online.' At that point we can produce heat without brown adipose fat. Thus our bodies stop production of this tissue. But there is one activity that helps us produce more brown adipose fat -- cold exposure.
So, how does brown adipose fast help us burn (the other kind of) fat?
Well, brown adipose fat sucks up white fat and directly metabolizes it to produce heat. So, via this process, cold exposure improves our internal fat-burning system. We burn fat automatically.
Isn't this what everyone wants? A fat-burning mechanism that can be switched on?
Learn More
These findings are just the beginning. If you'd like to learn more, check out this Vancouver Real interview with the one and only Wim Hof. Or, check out Carney's book.


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If you read my other blog post about The Crown, you'll know I've really felt convicted by the Holy Spirit to closely filter what I allow as "entertainment" in my life. It's been a process for me, really....and one where I haven't always been obedient.
I didn't always used to be so "radical" in my views of entertainment...and my motive has NOTHING to do with religious conformity. It's a personal conviction that I have after being corrected by the Holy Spirit over my addiction to "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."
Now before you click off and tune me out because you think I'm one of "THOSE Christians" or because you don't share the same convictions...I urge you to read on.
I was a Bachelor/Bachelorette ADDICT! I loved grabbing a glass of wine and watching from the first episode where the contestants exit the limousine and meander up to the "Chosen One" and go to ridiculous extremes to captivate their attention and stand out from the crowd of the 30 others doing the same thing.
I was captivated about the idea of two people falling madly in love and finding the one who makes their soul sing...it's a romantic notion.
I watched with envy as the girls dressed up like pageant contestants with pristinely primped hair, false eyelashes, and spray on tans on their perfectly toned beach bodies.
I sighed at the romantic dates, helicopter rides, exotic destinations, private concerts and professions of "love."
I watched as they all laughed in unison whilst tipping back their fancy glasses of champagne.
I got enjoyment out of watching the drama unfold as people acted like complete uncivilized animals, caddy girl fights, macho chauvinistic rivalry, lies, deception, manipulation, and bullying.
It was escapism for me lusting after an edited version of romance. An experience most of us will never get to experience in real life. The show is created to capture the viewer into the drama and after awhile we begin to develop harsh opinions, judgments, criticisms, as we pick our favorite contestants and begin to despise the unmistakable "villain." It's like an equivalent of a fantasy football league as we watch who gets roses and who gets sent home ugly crying with mascara and boogers streaming down their faces.
Until Holy Spirit spoke to my heart one night:
"Heather, why do you watch this garbage when it's so far outside of what you know I created marriage to be? I'm not in this. Why do you consider this 'entertainment?'"
Ouch. Once you hear the Lord speak, you can't UNhear it...
I realized that I was lusting for a fairytale fantasy. But the reality is, I hold high value for God's intention of marriage. It's my favorite thing to study in the bible and my favorite types of books to read. He created men and women with different attributes of His character so that together WITH HIM we can experience completion as in the Godhead. This show does not promote a God-orchestrated union, but rather a world view of marriage.
I'm not trying to impose my convictions on you as condemnation but I do have some real questions to present:
Does this show model Christlike behavior?
Do you feel encouraged to hold out for God's best and allow Him to be the author of your love story?
Is God's intention of marriage held to high regard in this show?
Do you experience feelings of comparison or dissatisfaction with your singleness or in your marriage because of what what this show is portraying?
Is lust, envy, drama, deceit, drunkenness, immorality, and impurity things that a representative of the Most High God should be watching to be entertained?
Is this show desensitizing your spirit to ungodly ways?
These are bold questions, I get it. They were hard for me to ponder as well. But as I draw closer to God, my heart begins to break for what breaks His. And reality is, this show is heartbreaking.

subset: commoncrawl


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Warren Buffett gave away this much of his wealth in the past 10 years
Last fall, after Donald Trump accused Warren Buffett of taking a "massive deduction" on his taxes during a presidential debate, Buffett responded by issuing a press release saying he had never used the deduction Trump referred to. Time
When Warren Buffett announced in 2006 that he would gradually give away the majority of his fortune to charity, he wasn't kidding.
The billionaire investor just donated another 18.6 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway worth $3.17 billion to five different foundations. That puts his total charitable contribution to the organizations at $27.54 billion in just over ten years.
The five foundations receiving this donation include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation.
The CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is worth more than $70 billion and is ranked as the world's second richest person, just behind Bill Gates, according to Forbes magazine.
Buffett has made a pledge to make annual gifts of stock to the foundations throughout his lifetime and beyond.
"Mr. Buffett intends to have all of his Berkshire shares given to philanthropy through annual gifts that will be completed ten years after his estate is settled," according to a statement released by Berkshire Hathaway.
14 billionaires join Buffett, Gates in giving away more than half their money
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wants your ideas on philanthropy
In addition to his own contributions, Buffett joined with Bill and Melinda Gates in 2010 to launch the Giving Pledge initiative that seeks to address society's most pressing problems by asking the "world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to giving back."
The initiative started with 40 pledgers in the U.S. and has now grown to 170 pledgers from 21 countries.
Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett are are the two of richest people in the world, but still trail behind Bill Gates. Newslook


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You wanna go do your reading in the hammock? Who doesn't? My kids loooove it when the weather cooperates with their reading time, offering solace in the hammock. It is one of the best places to hang out at our house. I seriously wish I had a mom "making" me do my reading in the hammock!! lol!
I love having these chair hammocks. They are perfect for reading because you are totally relaxed while sitting in them, but still on an incline, sitting up to read and I guess not laying so far back that you just fall asleep. I love them, my kids love them. I have cherished getting into our hammocks with my kids. They hold up to 300 lbs so it is the perfect snuggle spot.
Reading is great but it is also good to just relax and talk with your kiddos. Or put the hammocks next to each other and tangle your feet together! Just sayin'! Think about this quote, "your teenager needs eight forms of physical touch during the course of one day, if they don't get it from you, where are they going to get it from?" All the more reason to play footsie with them, or give them a foot rub or just tickle their legs and watch what comes out of their mouth.
Also think about reading to them at night in the hammock with blankets and a flashlight. Tiny little things that mix up routine and make for great memories!
The first link below is the blue and green hammock that I have. And the second link, is the stand that I have two of. Love the stand option because you can move the hammock around which for us is most useful when we do outdoor movies. The third hammock link looks a little more like the size of my hammock that has yellow. (It is no longer on amazon.) Which I like them a little bigger. Ours was a little too close to the ground but our easy fix was to clip two carabiniere clips holding the strings wrapped around the pole one time each. It shortened the hammock just enough and we still get the space of the larger hammock, especially helpful with two kiddos on your lap! The fourth link is great if you are looking for something a little less colorful. Hope you are carefree swinging in yours!


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Due to its long and history, Croatia is rich with cultural heritage.
Along with Ancient Roman ruins, you spend time visiting picturesque and well-preserved medieval towns, Baroque city centres, even prehistoric archaeological sites.
This exciting self-drive tour is a true delight for all art, history and architecture lovers.
Travel with us to Croatia's distant past, explore the Roman ruins and roads and learn about this country's intriguing history.
You can drive yourself or be escorted by a guide/driver on your way from Zadar to Split, Brač and more.
Your adventure starts in modern Zadar, once the Roman city of Iader.
Explore the remains of Roman forum in the very centre if Zadar and learn about its role in the Roman rule of Ancient province of Dalmatia.
Even after Roman times, Zadar remained a very influential centre.
Its main landmark is the pre-Romanesque church of St Donat.
From Zadar, head towards Split, the Ancient city of Spalatum.
Split is famous for the fantastic UNESCO-protected palace, situated in its very centre.
This palace was built in the beginning of the 4th century by Roman Emperor Diocletian, who wanted to retire here.
Only a 20-minute drive away from Split is a small town of Solin.
Solin was the centre of Ancient Dalmatia in Roman times; today, tourists can visit the remains of a Roman amphitheatre in Solin.
Continue to the UNESCO-protected city of Trogir.
Trogir was an Ancient Greek colony at first, under the name of Tragurium.
In the Middle Ages, this charming city developed into one of the most beautiful Medieval towns in the Adriatic, with some excellent examples of Venetian architecture.
On your way, you'll also visit the Island of Brač, known as Bretia in Ancient Roman times, and Narona (modern-day town of Vid), boasting a remarkable Archaeological Museum.
If you don't fancy driving, we can organise for a driver/tour guide to escort you on your way though Croatia's Roman past.


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The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
- Rating
- Genre
- Crime, Comedy, Biography
- Release Date
- December 25, 2013
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Written by
- Terence Winter
- Cast
- Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie
- Latest News
- Synopsis
Latest 'the wolf of wall street' News
Every Cameo In The Wolf Of Wall Street
A lot of things happen in The Wolf of Wall Street, and it's easy to miss cameos and smaller roles from some familiar faces. Here's the list.
The Best Movie Trailers Of The Decade
From Star Wars to Marvel and DC, the 2010s decade has seen an increased focus and hype around movie trailers, but which ones have been the best?
The Wolf Of Wall Street: 10 Quotes We Can All Relate To
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio teamed up for 2013's black comedy The Wolf of Wall Street - but which quotes ring true?
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20 A-List Actors Who Bared It All For The Camera!
Margot Robbie, Eva Green, Michael Fassbender... who else stripped it all off on screen? Check out this list of 20 celebs who bared all for the camera!
20 Best Acting Performances of The Last 5 Years
Here are twenty performances that define the highs of screen acting in American movies. Jaw-dropping, surprising and innovative all of them.
Zombies, Vampires and Stockbrokers: New TV & Movies Available To Stream
It's finally October, and with that here's a look at the best horror-centric and genre-based offerings on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
12 Movies Not to Watch With Your Parents
There's nothing worse than watching a movie with your parents only to encounter graphic scenes of sex or violence. Here are 12 films not to watch with mom and dad.
5 Movie Criminals We Want to Live Like
Movie criminals tend to lead extravagant lifestyles that may draw the envy of viewers. Here are five notable examples of film criminals we want to live like.
8 Movie Characters We Want as Graduation Speakers
As the Class of 2014 moves on to the next stage of life, we choose movie characters that would make great speakers at commencement ceremonies across the country.
'House of Cards' & 2014 Oscars Recap – SR Underground Ep. 133
We recap the 2014 Oscar winners, review 'House of Cards' season 2, as well as discuss the 'Godzilla' trailer, 'Star Wars' casting rumors, and the status of 'Ghostbusters 3.'
2014 Oscar Winners List - Were There Any Surprises?
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We predict the 2014 Oscar winners, discuss 'Fantastic Four' and 'Terminator' reboot casting, as well as the return of 'Heroes' for a 13-episode miniseries.
Weekend Box Office Wrap Up: February 2nd, 2014
Here's our box office report for the weekend of February 2nd, 2014 – featuring new releases 'That Awkward Moment' and 'Labor Day.'
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Here's our box office report for the weekend of January 26th, 2014 – featuring new release 'I, Frankenstein.'
Weekend Box Office Wrap Up: January 19, 2014
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Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio), the film chronicles the stockbroker's jet-setting lifestyle as he rose to the top of Wall Street, which included crime, corruption, and federal investigations.


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First Fastned Stations Break-even
06 Apr, 2017, 06:30 BST
AMSTERDAM, April 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
- Operating costs at the first two Fastned stations were covered in March
Fastned, that is building a European network of fast charging stations, saw its first two stations break-even in March. This means that the operating expenses, such as the purchase of power, grid connection fees, licence costs, land lease, cleaning and maintenance costs were covered by the revenues generated at those stations. Fastned expects that more stations will pass the break-even point in the coming months.
The operating costs per station are limited. All 58 Fastned stations are unmanned and centrally managed from the head office. The next financial goal is to also cover these central operating expenses. Since these costs remain relatively stable when new stations are added to the network, the costs per station will decrease when new stations are added to the network. The final step to profitability of the company is also to cover depreciation and finance costs.
The Fastned stations are prepared for strong growth of the number of electric cars. The capacity can easily be expanded by adding more and faster chargers to each station. The low operating costs and big capacity result in significant earning potential of each station.
Bart Lubbers, co-founder Fastned: "After five years of investing it's great to see the first stations break-even. This is a real milestone. It is a compliment to the whole Fastned team and the 1,600 people that have invested in Fastned at an early stage. Revenues are growing at all stations, supported by the mega-trend of increasing number of electric cars."
Next week Fastned will publish the results over the first quarter of 2017.
You can download here the press release and images.
Note for the editor (not for publication):
For more information go to http://www.fastned.nl/en. Or check out our pressroom, in the presskit you will find logo's, pictures and graphics.
Background information Fastned:
Fastned is building a European network of fast-charging stations where all electric cars can charge. We are building stations at high traffic locations along the highway and in cities, where electric cars can charge in 20 minutes. This will provide freedom for electric cars to drive everywhere throughout Europe. As of today, Fastned operates in The Netherlands and is working on expanding its fast charging network to the rest of Europe. Fastned is listed on the Nxchange stock exchange.
Fastned is rolling out its network of fast charging stations in response to the rapidly increasing numbers of EV's in Europe. Car manufacturers such as Tesla, Audi, Volvo, Aston Martin, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Ford, General Motors en Renault and other car manufacturers are investing billions of Euro's in the development of, and production capacity for EV's. More and more EV's are hitting our roads which drives the need for charging infrastructure. Fastned is responding to this development by building the service stations of the future. Co-founder and CEO Michiel Langezaal: "We are the Shell of the future, only our energy comes from the sun and the wind. For more information, go to http://www.fastned.nl/en.
SOURCE Fastned


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The Healing Place/
Last night I received a text from my friend Deanna, a gal I work with in my part time job at a local performing arts theatre box office. She was asking if I could take an extra shift on Friday. The reason? The third member of our team, Linda, would not be able to work Friday (tomorrow). Why? Her stepson was killed Wednesday at 11 am in the midst of a driving snowstorm.
I took the shift.
I've been working on a film called The Healing Place for almost two years now. I started it because my son left rather suddenly for Vancouver, across the Country from my humble PEI home. I knew he would be okay there - he has great friends and he works as both a musician and in the upscale coffee biz. He's done well - his new band Rebel On A Mountain just released their first EP, and he's now the sales manager / consultant / training / quality control guy for an expanding third wave coffee company. There are few opportunities here in PEI. I'm struggling, and many many many islanders have hit the road for Alberta in the hopes of securing some semblance of a better life for themselves and their families. So I get why Christopher left. But I was devastated.
I had two choices - stay in bed everyday in a puddle of depression, or keep putting one foot in front of the other and continue on. I thought to myself that things could be worse. I thought how bad it would be if I had lost him forever.
So I contacted a man I knew who, a few years ago, had lost a son around the same age as my son. This man is a long time board member of The International Children's Memorial Place, smack dab in the centre of our beautiful island. This is a sanctuary where people who have lost children or siblings can go to plant a tree in memory of their loved one, or where they walk a healing labyrinth or just sit and contemplate life; where they can reconnect with their spiritual side and hear the laughter of their child or sibling on the wind. It's a special place - I've been there alone many times, usually with my camera in hand, and I've walked the land and had my own conversations with the children whose trees rustle as I walk by, as if the kids have one last thing to say.
I didn't want any more reasons to feel compelled to make this film. Last weekend Linda and I shared a shift and during a quiet moment she took out her iPad and was bubbling with joy as she showed me photos of her young daughter, her twin boys, and her stepson. She told me all about the kids, how each was different, about the girls the boys were dating, about the passions of her kids. I recall feeling happy for her, but also a teensy bit jealous that she had this lovely large family all here on PEI. We talked about my film, and she shared stories of people she knew who had lost children, and how they were forever changed by that.
It was my mother who first alerted me to the fact that an eighteen-year-old was killed 'up west' as we call it, in a snowmobile accident. All day my sister and I exchanged texts, wondering who the boy was. My sister teaches up west, so she knew it was one of her former students. The facts started to come in - Kevin, a basketball player, a nice kid. Eventually the last name - Gallant - a very popular name here on PEI, an Acadian name. Then - my manager's text which, after the request for me to take the extra shift, simply read 'Linda lost her son today'. I can see the boy clearly in the family photos on my friend's iPad - tall, gentle eyes, hovering over the others. He and his father were into cars and drag racing. They were good at it. They travelled, they won.
Linda's post on Facebook last night? 'Our family has been forever changed.'
We've lost other youngsters this year, most recently a twenty-something barista my son trained when they were both here. A popular guy everyone in Summerside loved to see steaming milk for their chai lattes. Another friend of mine lost her small baby - I'm dedicating the film to her, in fact.
I'm asking the universe not to give me any more reasons to finish this film. I need to order a more powerful hard drive in order to really speed along with it - as soon as a client pays me I'll be able to do that. Then I'll be on my way at a much faster rate, with the hopes of finishing the film in early spring.
In the meantime, despite the fact that I still have no Christmas tree (and we're less than a week away now), haven't finished my shopping, ate most of the fudge I made for Christmas, and yet another snowstorm is expected Sunday (my only day off now until Christmas Eve), I'll work tomorrow in Linda's place. And I'll regret that I have to make this film at all.


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Well then i had the pleasure of capturing Poonam & Niravs wedding yesterday at the Grims Dyke Hotel in Harrow. The weather held for us, lovely and warm, just a bit of cloud, ok well a lot but mainly no rain! Im used to cheeky guests at weddings but the guests yesterday were on top form. I'm not usually stuck for words or out bantered but yesterday I was out giggled by the 'Official' family photographer!! With all the male models from Next at the wedding it was a dream come true, seemed lots of people used to work for Next! Such a laugh!!!!! Thanks again Poonam & Nirav!
So Georgina and Michael wedding is in a month so we went for a little wander around Wroxton Abbey for their pre wedding photo shoot, now its definitely one of my fave places to do an engagement shoot in Oxfordshire. Today to get some ace phots and eat lots of midges (UGHGH!) It was a lovely sunny, warm well by English Standards, morning. The grounds around the abbey are lovely, ,very much recommend a wander about there if you get an hours to kill. Oh and there is a great duck pond in the village too! Thanks for a lovely walk around the Abbey grounds today, see you in a few weeks! Ad xx
Well, what can I say, OK I can say WOW! What a truly lovely afternoon spent with Dikla and Phil! These two nutter wanted to do something fun and different so they chosen paint powder and food colour fighting to end their engagement shoot! What a laugh! Im surprised I managed to get any shots of them messing about I was laughing so much! Really can't wait till July for their wedding!! im sure it will be just as much fun!! Thanks again Dikla and Phil! See you in July! XX
Ok so the title might be a bit misleading, but my gosh they did suit wandering around Waddesdon Manor last week end!
We met on what was perhaps the most sunny of the Bank Holiday to get to know each other a bit better, get some ace images and have a giggle, which we did in abundance!
It was lovely getting to know these ace pair whilst we took advantage of the Rothschilds fine gardens and used the house as the back ground for some great portraits.
Can you guess in which images they were waiting for their helicopter to land?
Thanks again Poonam and Nirav! Cant wait till yuour wedding in a few weeks!


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I'm going to be offline for the next week for my vacation. So if you post a comment somewhere, and it doesn't show up, rest assured that I'll get to it when I return. I'm sure you won't miss me especially with so many other online disctractions to keep you occupied. You can still come back and be entertained since I finally figure out how to time delay posts. So you should see some new content pop up this week while I'm away.
Don't forget to check out this past week's Retro Video Review featuring the Rhythm Hot Shots and Frankie & Chazz just below this post.
Also, if you're lucky, then the interview I did with Bobby White for DCLX should be up soon over on that event's website sometime soon. While you're there, think about coming up/down/over to DC for an always fun event.
If not then, there's always ILHC in August. We already have dancers from Canada, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, England and Sweden registered. We're anticipating another rockin' event this year which is going to be in a bigger and fancier hotel, but for the same price as year's past.
I hope you have a productive week.
Finally our weekly video moment of zen.


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Little Robin is almost one and to celebrate his mama, Melissa wanted him to celebrate in the traditional sense, by smashing the heck out of a beautiful cake!! His loving parents made that gorgeous backdrop, and his little crown is courtesy of Little Blue Olive (LOVE her stuff!!). Happy Birthday, Robin!!
Seattle Cake Smash Photography, Seattle children's photography, Lake Stevens Lifestyle Photography, Lake Stevens kids photography, cake smash photos, one year photos, Seattle one year photos, seattle children's photos, cake smash ideas, cake smash photos


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Partnered with SPMDesign, I was tasked with the art direction, design and all final production files for the Spring '15 launch of DEPACTUS. By pulling patterns directly from the boardshorts I was able to create an organic dialogue that interacts and responds to the imagery of each layout.
Partnered with SPMDesign, these are a selection of print ads and window displays I designed for Depactus.
Tasked by SBE in creating the conceptual art direction for a new "Dragon Bar" project, I created these layouts and installations as a nod to the classic and new-age styles of the dragon tattoo, as well as the risque vibe of an oriental gentleman's club.
Artistic direction, photo retouch and edit for DC Shoes
Posters for the Long Beach Marathon & Half Marathon
A selection of various restaurant collateral designed for SBE's Los Angeles based restaurants
Four examples out of eight custom USB drives I created for Roxy. The first two 'snow' drive designs were created using artwork that I painted myself (both acrylic on canvas). Collectively, all the USB drives I designed ended up selling millions of units across the US and Canada.
TOP: Media booklet illustrations: designed to hold rolled up posters, flyers and assorted gift cards. Die line and fold illustration included.
BOTTOM: Two 3D renderings of section toppers fixtures I created using Illustrator & Photoshop. These signs are equipped with a channel routed out so the imagery fits perfectly in the frame. Top of frame is open for easy image updates or replacements.
Designs and Installs for two seasons of the Roxy Tour Bus.
Partnered with SPMDesign, I created these section design concepts to show vibrant styles of branding and imagery through the use of varying materials and lighting options. Using approximate dimensions of the current space, I was able to use Google SketchUp to create the main form. Once created, I was able to drop the desired imagery over each section using Photoshop and InDesign.
This type set was a personal exploration to create dynamic lettering using a limited checker grid and simple perspective.
Mood board and concept designs for a collection of mugs aimed at the summer crowd.
"Getting some fresh air on the patio, catching up with friends or stretching out on your favorite blanket in the park; these bold and vibrant pieces are sure to compliment any way you do summer."


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Battlefield 3 PC Beta Initial Impressions
2011 has been an interesting year for games. Not only to we have almost every major franchise throwing their latest, greatest entry into the meat grinder, but we have the mother of all first person shooter grudge matches brewing: Battlefield 3 vs. Modern Warfare 3.
While the Bad Company games were certainly good, they were overshadowed by the growing phenomenon of the Call of Duty franchise. For the last two years, in fact, the winter release schedules have been rather barren in order to avoid the CoD juggernaut, but not so in 2011. EA and Dice are here to play and they go a long way in proving it with their Battlefield 3 beta. While not perfect, it's enough to give a gamer hope. (more…)
Fringe Review: "Neither Here Nor There"
Originally posted here.
In the season premiere of FOX's Fringe, we learn that once in a while an episode's title perfectly describes it.
In a newly augmented timeline devoid of Peter Bishop, an uneasy truce is established by both universes. Meanwhile, Team Fringe investigates a translucent skinned killer with the help of our side's agent Lincoln Lee.
Major Spoilers Follow:
Back in May, I mentioned how season finales are a funny thing. Premieres are also funny in the fact that how they are constructed is reflective of how the show is doing ratings wise. A ratings juggernaut such as Lost can open a season and pick right up where they left off… but a show always on the renewal bubble like Fringe often needs a stand alone story to draw in new viewers. As a result, we have the season opening in a place friendly to new viewers. Agent Lee serves as the audience's perspective as a newcomer to the Fringe universe. While Lee's a welcome addition to the cast, everything else just came off as business as usual. (more…)


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I was in New York City this past week. Decided to do a quick photoshoot of various street scenes. I started at 42nd Street at Broadway and walked down to 12th Street. The goal was to use motion blur, and attemp to catch the gritty nature of life in New York. The black and white was post processing using Photoshop channel mixer.
A bearded gentleman walking through a street market. This was shot using my 18-135mm lens set at 18mm. Nikon D200 set at apeture priority, ISO 100, F/4.
A street scene, motion blur shot outside The Strand near 12th Avenue in NYC. I was outside the store watching people walking by. There was one guy leaning against a phone booth for about 10 minutes reading a book. I focused on the guy reading the book and caught people walking by. My Nikon D200 set at apeture priority, F/11. I used a 18-135mm Nikkor lens set at 18mm. ISO at 100, speed at 1/10 of a second to get the motion blur.
It was getting late at night when I was heading back to Grand Central Station. I wanted to catch the motion blur of people walking across the street framed by headlights. A handheld shot just south of 30th street. This image was set at F/4, auto ISO of 200, 1/80th of a second. I used a Nikkor 50mm, F/1.8mm lens.


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Alright, so first off. Where have I been?!? It's been a while since I've updated [don't fret, I've definitely still been baking] but, I've actually been really busy this past month. So a quick update on me: I just moved to Westwood with my best friend Sheva. We're in the process of unpacking but were really excited because our apartment is very very very cute! And I just got back from a trip to Berkeley. But, now I'm back and ready to update. I've also got a few tricks up my sleeve for Thanksgiving so stay tuned!
Mmmm Mmmm mmmmm. I really love the taste of dark chocolate and raspberry together. I took one of my favorite chocolate cupcake recipes from my Martha Stewart book and then filled it with delicious dark chocolate ganache.
So, as always, I pre-heated to 350, separated my dry ingredients with my wet. With this recipe you beat the wet ingredients into the mixed dry ingredients until the batter is smooth and yummy. Bake for 20 minutes and voila!
These cupcakes, especially, give off a beautiful chocolate aroma as they come out of the oven. While I let them cool, I made my ganache. Ganache is really delicious and really, really easy to make. The ganache recipe I used makes 2 cups ganache. Now, I like to really fill my cupcakes so I added an extra half to my entire recipe to get 3 cups out of it and that seemed perfect for me. You take your very high quality chocolate [it's not about being uppity, the better the chocolate, the better the consistency. Chocolate is tempered and higher grade chocolate will not lose it's consistency. I used 12 oz] and place it in a heat proof bowl. Then bring your heavy cream and corn syrup to a strong simmer. Then pour the cream mixture on top of the chocolate. Let it stand for 1 minute [so the chocolate can begin to melt] and then mix it till it becomes glossy and smooth. I like to use a folding motion when I mix my chocolate and cream. If it's not mixing as perfectly as you'd like, place it over a double broiler and mix as it reheats. Just be patient with it. Once it's beautiful smooth and glossy, let it cool and thicken [if you'd like to quicken the process, place it in the fridge and mix it every 5-10 minutes till it is the desired consistency].
So, once it's time to let your Ganache cool and thicken, your cupcakes should have sufficiently cooled down. Time to core! I like to core cones out of the cupcakes like so:
Then I cut off the tips to leave nice disk-like lids to the holes I have created.
What do you do with the tips you cut off? Eat them of course! So core all your cupcakes:
Then, when you ganache is ready, fill them!
Mmmmm Yummy ganache….mmmmmm. Now Top them!
I like to top them because it's easier for the buttercream to stick to the cake rather than the gooey ganache inside. Speaking of buttercream, let's get to it!
Grab your raspberries:
Raspberries are among my favorite berries and they are very good for you. They are rich in antioxidants and vitamin B-12! Plus, they're pretty cute. Okay so the Raspberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream is made almost in the same way as your normal vanilla swiss meringue buttercream except that you add 1.5 c of pureed raspberries. 🙂 Now, if you'd like, you can strain the puree so you don't get any raspberry seeds, but I thought that's what gave it it's beautiful raspberry feeling. Anyway, here's a not so great pic of the butterceam:
Then I placed it in a piping bag and piped the buttercream onto my yummy cupcakes. I also had some left over ganache so I drizzled that over the buttercream:
Then I plopped on a raspberry to top it off 🙂
I took these to my Mom's friend's birthday party and they were a hit! I hope you enjoy!
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup warm water
24 raspberries as garnish
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line mini muffin tin with paper liners. Whisk together flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, add eggs, buttermilk, oil, extract, and the water; beat until smooth and combined.
Spoon the batter into liners about two-thirds full. Bake approximately 20 minutes, or until tester comes out clean. Transfer tins to wire racks and allow to cool for 10 minutes; turn cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 1 month in air tight containers.
DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE [orignal recipe makes 2 c, I added another half to everything, if you don't like filling generously then go ahead and just use the original recipe]
Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring cream and corn syrup to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour over chocolate; let stand for 1 minute. Stir until shiny and smooth. Let cool slightly.
1-1/2 cups fresh raspberries, pureed
4 large egg whites
1-1/4 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
Puree raspberries in a food processor and set aside.
Combine egg whites and sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly by hand until the mixture is warm to the touch and sugar is dissolved (the mixture should feel smooth when rubbed between your fingers).
Pour egg whites with sugar into a stand mixer fitted with whisk. Mix on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form about 10 minutes and the bowl is cool.
Switch to medium-low speed and add butter a few tablespoons at a time. Mix well after each addition. After all the butter has been added scrape down the bowl and switch to paddle attachment.
Continue beating on low speed until buttercream becomes smooth. Don't worry if the buttercream starts to look curdled. Just keep beating until it comes together. Then add raspberry puree and beat until combined.
- Core cupcakes [keep tops as lids, cut off the points as shown in photos]
- Fill with ganache
- Top the cupcakes
- Pipe on Buttercream
- Drizzle with Ganache [if desired]
- Top with a raspberry [if desired]


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We are in full throttle this week with our first big review coming this Friday. It should be beneficial, as it will give us much needed feedback on whether our ideas are coming across as clear. We talked with our professor on Monday about creating a cohesive story that focuses on the main points that we are trying to cover. We established these points as being:
- Developing a site that gives businessmen and artists a place to go in the office district
- Connecting with the art trail
- Responding to the current surrounding site conditions
- Converting the alleyway to make a well used alleyway
- Pushing for net-zero energy on the site
- Rehabilitating the Victory Hotel into a social club
Over the last week I have been focusing my time on understanding the feasibility of a net-zero site, while also working on the programming and some details of what's crucial to our site, the social club. Dubbed the Victory, the club is to act as a catalyst for the site and the surrounding districts as a gathering place, arts community, and a vibrant night scene for an area that has bits and pieces of all, but is lacking a cohesive theme throughout. Because the idea behind our entire project is an arts and social scene for young professionals and business people, the treatment of the Victory as a social club is crucial in the success of the site as a whole. I looked into precedents on social clubs, and found a place in Des Moines that offered some of the amenities that we seek to include not only in the Victory, but also on our site as a whole. In this example, it also operates as an adapted-reuse project, converting an old fire station into a vibrant arts scene in downtown Des Moines. Similar to our project, the Victory will be a historically rehabilitated hotel converted to a destination for people after hours.
Beyond the treatment of the Victory social club, I have been looking into whether net-zero is an achievable goal for our site. Because of its location in southern Nevada, the site is perfect to implement active solar as a means to achieve net-zero. Beyond solar however, there are few technologies (maybe geothermal?) we can utilize that make sense or adhere to form based code. The success of our site achieving net-zero will lean heavily on how we design passively to reduce cooling loads.
Finally, I spent some time addressing the First Street Art Trail and how it could benefit from the programs we will be introducing. The art trail is pre-existing and in its current state, stops abruptly at the northeast corner of our site. In its current condition, the art trail ends at the service corridor of the Golden Nugget casino and meets the backside of the casino and its parking garage. The buildings are less than pleasant to look at and therefore work against drawing people down the final segment of the art trail. Our proposal of creating the Victory, combined with the community arts center, seek to give the arts trail a meaningful end and hopefully draw attention and expansion to the newly conceived art trail.


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- Average
- Main course: £13
- Food spend: £23
Fantastic experience! It was part of my Mom's 70th Birthday weekend so I took her, my 6yr old & my Aunts for Afternoon Tea. The staff were friendly & pleasant at all times. There was a fantastic selection of food which was very fresh & well displayed. Thoroughly enjoyable experience! Thank you.
19 August 2017
from Bromley
Housed within the chic Hilton Croydon Hotel, Larder Restaurant showcases British gastro-style cuisine. Boasting eclectic interior design in a sleek setting, Larder overlooks the quaint hotel garden.
Crafting British delicacies with beautiful presentation, the Larder menu emphasises robust flavours, and use of the finest seasonal produce. As well as presenting a hearty breakfast menu, the a la carte selection offers favourites like tender lamb shank, or succulent braised pork belly.
For a sophisticated selection of drinks, Larder Restaurant boasts an extensive wine list, alongside fun, fruity cocktails. For the younger diners at Larder London, the kids menu is filled with tasty treats.
In a tranquil, spacious dining room filled with clean blue tones and natural light, Larder Restaurant Croydon boasts a refreshing ambience. Waddon Rail Station is just 2 minutes' drive away, and a smart casual dress code applies.
Larder Restaurant - Croydon
101 Waddon Way, Purley Way, Croydon, London, CR9 4HH
See all restaurants in Greater London
See all restaurants in Croydon
Customer reviews for Larder Restaurant - Croydon
- Food
- Value
- Ambience
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- Service
- Drinks
((((( 19 August 2017 by Tamara from Bromley
Fantastic experience! It was part of my Mom's 70th Birthday weekend so I took her, my 6yr old & my Aunts for Afternoon Tea. The staff were friendly & pleasant at all times. There was a fantastic selection of food which was very fresh & well displayed. Thoroughly enjoyable experience! Thank you.
((((( 9 August 2017 by Jane from Farnham
Cream tea was excellent made a nice change to have an alternative to sandwiches. Staff were very attentive and it was a nice way to spend an afternoon
((((( 28 June 2017 by Christiana from Croydon
I had a fantastic experience with my husband who was celebrating his birthday. The receptionist was helpful and the staff at the Lader restaurant who served us was very sweet. The environment was clean and private as expected. I would visit again
((((( 7 June 2017 by Kerri from Croydon
Overall it was lovely I took my mum and sister. Every single staff member was kind. We were happy to be in their presence.
Thank you to you all
(((** 14 February 2017 by Antoinette from Croydon
Lovely setting; the restaurant has been well designed. Unfortunately it was empty; our party of six were the only ones dining.
A nice if rather standard selection of sandwiches and cakes; I'd forgotten to request butter-free sandwiches but the main member of staff serving was excellent and provided two small plates of these for me.
Tea and coffee was lacklustre; even though the afternoon tea cost was £14.50, I would expect a better spruced-up pot of tea and a coffee jug that didn't spill its contents. It would also be nice to have flowers and a brief afternoon tea menu so customers know what to expect.
Overall a decent afternoon tea in nice settings, but would expect more from the Hilton. It wouldn't take too much to get more customers through the door.
((((( 28 January 2017 by Amanda from Croydon
Great service and lovely surroundings. Excellent value for money.
(((** 20 December 2016 by Laura from Croydon
We had an afternoon tea:
Sandwiches and cakes good.
Scones lovely.
Service polite and helpful.
Affordable price.
A couple of the sandwiches were wet and not edible.
The metal parts of the serving-trays appeared dirty.
Tea was too weak.
((((* 22 November 2016 by Beverley from Croydon
We had a very pleasant afternoon tea at the Hilton, Croydon. It is Modern, relaxed and very spacious. The food was nicely presented and everything that you would expect from an afternoon tea. The only slight disappointment was that there was not a choice of teas to sample. We were not in any rushed and that was really good as it allowed for us to have a little break midway as sometimes when at other venues it has been on a strict 1.5 hour time limit which can result in having to leave quite a lot but at the Hilton Croydon we were free to take our time and enjoy the afternoon.
((((* 12 November 2016 by Natasha from Sanderstead (South Croydon)
First time experiencing Afternoon Tea anywhere and chose Hilton Purley Way for my Mum's Birthday. It's easy and convenient for us to get to and the Parking is convenient. Really enjoyed the first experience and the Food was nice too. Especially enjoyed the Desserts and Scones. The Staff were welcoming, polite and accommodating. Would definitely return again for another experience as the price of £12.00 is reasonable too.
(((** 10 November 2016 by Cheryl from Croydon
We had a lovely time at the Larder Restaurant for afternoon tea. However, a couple of points worth mentioning were that the staff didn't check in with us regularly enough to see if we wanted a top up of our teas wnd and coffees. Also I was a bit disappointed that both the tea and coffee were searved to us luke warm at best (definitely not freshly boiled water), and given that the restaurant wasn't busy I felt that there was no excuse for that.
A nice day was had but there were improvements to be made.
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Going to Puerto Morelos in January. Have never stayed in PM before. Renting a condo 2 blocks from the water. What are some good restaurants and bars ?.Don't mind doing a 15 minute walk or so. Not into the spring breaker party scene. Also like casual and local restaurants, not into the fancy white tablecloth , dress up restaurants. Eat almost anything. Will also be staying on Isla Mijueres for 4 nights. Any input for there would also be appreciated. Thanks, Kevin
Bars and Restaurants in Puerto Morelos
Hello @kevbear Puerto Morelos is nice town in Mayan Riviera and I hope you will enjoy it! Regarding restaurants it depends what kind of food you like but you can try El Tio's as they have Mexican prices and some great dishes such as lovely soups, sabutes, tamales etc. If you prefer some BBQ meats than you can try Johnny Cairo's for Texas stile BBQ meats.


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Winery Estate Marketplace
Tucked between the historic Filippi Winery and the Victoria Gardens Regional Mall, Winery Estate Marketplace is an award winning specialty center with each of its building designs inspired by a different California winery.
Developed and opened in 2005, Winery Estate is located at the southeast corner of Base Line Road and Day Creek Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga with just under 82,000 square feet of buildings on ten acres of land. Some of its notable merchants include Sprouts Farmer's Market, Bank of America, Prudential Realty, Conroy's Flowers and It's a Grind coffee.


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Across Traditional Lines/
I've been noticing something lately that leads me to believe that perhaps the country isn't as divided along traditional conservative/liberal/libertarian lines as we might like to think. Well, actually I can't say that, because my circle of friends and acquaintances is not exactly representative of the U.S. population or anything. I guess the lesson might be "You can't judge a book by its cover." Somebody I used to think was ultra-conservative launched into two separate tirades recently about justifications for the war and lack of accountability in the Abu Ghraib and Gitmo scandals.
Somebody I used to think was ultra-liberal told me she sees merit to the "freeing the Iraqi people from a ruthless dictator" justification, even though she knows that wasn't the original justification for the war.
Somebody I used to think was steadfastly libertarian told me that he thinks the government ought to break up media monopolies for the sake of accuracy and balance in news reporting.
And then there are friends I used to avoid discussing the war with. I used to avoid it because I didn't think they cared much, or that they weren't interested enough in the news to formulate opinions based on what they had read about. You'd be surprised. Some of these folks really do want to discuss the issues and even though the budget deficit or education or welfare reform aren't topics they have a strong opinion on, they do have strong opinions about the war.
It's like that Bloom County cartoon from many moons ago, where Opus is at a bar talking to this conservative looking farmer-type guy in a flannel shirt who ends up spouting a bunch of typical liberal rhetoric. Then some hippy guy on the other side of the bar yells, "America! Love it or Leave It!"
I guess I should be encouraged about this. I'm not running into too many people who aren't opinionated in some way about the war. And it looks like my friends are reading and watching the news a whole lot more than I might have expected.


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Your Question: What's new in version 11.3.1 regarding visualizations?
Our Answer: As addition to Mind Maps, Hierarchy Charts and Explore Diagrams, the latests NVivo for Mac update allows you to work with Comparison Diagrams.
To create a Comparison Diagram, use the Ribbon menu and select Explore | Visualizations | Compare Diagram <select>
The <select> options are: Compare Sources…, Compare Nodes…, Compare Cases… or Compare Selected Items.
Whichever option you would like to visualize, Comparison Diagrams must be two items of same type.
In this example, we compare the two case nodes that represent research participants, Anna and Ken. First we navigate to Compare Nodes and select the case nodes for Anna and Ken. The resulting Comparison Diagram looks like this:
In the Comparison Diagram's right-side control panel, you can select or deselect diagram features.
When you want to explore an item from the diagram in more detail, right-click any item and select one of the following options: Open Item…, Get Info, Copy, and Export Diagram…
NVivo for Mac also allows you to visually modify a diagram's layout by simply dragging items with the mouse. Item connectors behave like they are elastically glued to diagram items—we love this feature and encourage you to try it out for yourself!
Importantly, the diagram is a preview and cannot be stored as a project item. However, using the Export option you can choose among the following file formats: .PDF, .PNG, .JPG, .BMP, .GIF, or TIFF.
As with other NVivo diagrams, the copy command ([cmd] +[C]) can be used to paste Diagram into many third party applications, such as Keynote or PowerPoint.


text: Aerial yoga combines aerial arts with yoga. Imagine doing all of your "normal" yoga poses with full support and deepening all at once. What does that mean? Imagine an aerial silk holding one of your legs up while you are standing on the other leg for a split stretch. It's supporting you, yet you can take it deeper than you could without the silk- thus getting the most out of the post in the safest way. Yes, there are many fun flips and tricks you could learn as you advance, but at it's core it's yoga- but better. Aerial yoga will empower you to feel free, and powerful, and most of all you will be having a blast while doing it!


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Welcome To The mix
the place your sweet tooth calls home
We rotate flavors through and add new ones constantly in order to give you variety, but we all know the Froyo is just excuse for toppings!
Hand-Dipped Ice Cream
Ice cream is ice cream; you can't replace it. For the die-hard fans, we have Blue Bell hand-dipped ice cream, year-round.
Hot Chocolate
For those cold nights, or just times when you'd rather drink your dessert than eat it.
We have everything from chocolate to fruit, to suit your every appetite. Your sweet tooth knows when toppings are skimped on, so we don't.


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Game Categories
- Action Games
- Animal Games
- Ball Games
- Baseball Games
- Ben 10 Games
- Billiards Games
- Bratz Games
- Car Games
- Coloring Games
- Cooking Games
- Decoration Games
- Dress Up Games
- Driving Games
- Fighting Games
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- Girls Makeover
- Golf Games
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- Kissing Games
- Love Games
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- Sue Games
- Zombie Games
Agame Games
Flappy Bird For Dinner
This young chef has been hearing about a very popular bird a lot lately, and she can't help but wonder what this mysterious bird would taste like. One day, while she was preparing her favorite poultry recipe, a cute flappy bird accidentally veered off course and flew right through her window. The chef immediately recognized this famous flappy bird and decided to end her curiosity by capturing the bird so that she can cook it for dinner. Your progress is timed, so hurry up and follow the instructions to prepare the tasty flappy bird dinner in this fun online cooking game for girls!
How to Play Flappy Bird For Dinner
Similar Games on Agame and Games More Agame Games


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Work Featured in Friend of the Artist
You can see some of my most recent paintings in the upcoming Fall 2017 issue of Friend of the Artist. The print and digital publication features the work of twenty artists from around the globe. The issue was juried by Taylor O. Thomas.
Order your copy here.


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I have always been close to my family. My parents instilled in us the importance of family and having a relationship with my grandparents. I was able to spend the week of Thanksgiving in my Colorado with my grandparents.
While I loved spending the week with them, it was an eye-opening experience. I spent the week taking care of two old people. Cooking for them, running errands and helping my grandma when she shook so bad her pills would dump on the floor. Family is important. I got to give back to two people who always had my back growing up.
I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for them. Their first home cooked holiday meal in about 4 years. It broke me heart to leave them.
On a positive note; Colorado is gorgeous. Here's a few pics of my trip.


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If you have been following me for a while, then you know I am obsessed with work spaces. I recently created a dream entrepreneuress work space that just fueled my work inspiration. I also had a magical time in Italy, which pretty much changed my life. It had been SO long since I had been completely unplugged from my work and laptop. I felt so naked, but it was a pretty intoxicating feeling. Although, when I did have free time I spent it with my journal a pen and a few glasses of rose. . .
All around me was inspiration. Finding myself in nature with the most incredible views filled me with a whole new perspective on how to work. Beautiful things are a must, but so is captivating scenery. I either need to work right by the water or I need a LOT of art with views that fill me with the feelings of nature, travel and beauty. . . and perhaps a little bubbly too.
While writing in my journal in Italy, having a glass of Prosecco in hand just made my writing flow. So, I just may need a beautiful bar cart in my office, its very Mad men. I'd also love to include a large portrait or tapestry of a gorgeous Italian villa off of the Amalfi coast with all coastal white furniture and candles everywhere. . .
Here are a few ideas for what I am thinking. . .
I, of course, would love to start with this gorgeous oversized photo of Amalfi, taken by Slim Aarons. It captures the Italian coast perfectly. Spiral topiaries are always IN, so I would use a few to complement my decor. I would have several of these ivory and gold mirrored + tufted chairs. I think these might be the chairs of my dreams. For a pop of color, how about a blue glass French style mirror on the wall? Everywhere in Italy has the most beautiful patterned tiles on the floor, this blue rug gives me that same feeling. I love this cute tower of Pisa, for a fun accent. I love this tri-legged gold accent table. A Napoleon Lemon candle is the scent of the Amalfi, you'd have to light it for the whole experience. To top it off, I'd always have some gorgeous goblets for my bubbly. . .


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Campground Reviews is now Available through the RV LIFE App on iPhones, iPads, and Android Devices.
Click Here to learn more.
9 RV Parks near Margaret, Alabama
Odenville, Alabama 4.55 miles E
Springville, Alabama 6.13 miles N
We did however find 9 campgrounds within 25 miles of Margaret. You can also find a list of cities with campgrounds or RV Parks near Margaret in the left hand column.
400 Carson Rd N Birmingham, Alabama 35215 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 35 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 9 Reviews
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May 2019 - $27.00
Sites tend to be uneven due to the hilly terrain, but ours was paved so that was good. Great Water Pressure. Have stayed there before and will do so again. - AL RVer
Apr 2017 - $30.00
This park is primarily for permanent residents in mobile homes or rvs. Access to our site was difficult because it slopped off the road and required backing over a drainage trough. The site had a level concrete pad designed to be used as a patio, but we had to use it to park on as the adjacent area for the motorhome was severely rutted gravel. It would have been difficult to impossible to level there. Nonetheless it was a pleasant rural area to be in. Staff is friendly and helpful. No wifi yet through out the park. Owners have purchased the equipment and are waiting for the installers to set it up. An adequate place for a brief stay to visit the historic sights Birmingham has to offer. - Roger H.
Mar 2017 - $27.00
Very Nice Staff. We stayed on short notice with our HDT and 45 foot 5th wheel. The staff worked hard to find a place for us. The other reviews are correct that the office / clubhouse is in the convenience store /strip mall and the storm gutters are deep. The campground was a mobile home park and seems to be transitioning into a mixed-use park. The campground roads are two lanes in width and paved, as you'd expect for a mobile home park and there are very few low branches. All the sites we saw are back-in and large. The water pressure, electric, and over the air TV are good; our Verizon internet was fair to poor. Understand that the park has Wifi, pool table and kitchen facilities at the clubhouse, but we did not visit it. There are swings for kids. The site we stayed in was loose gravel and rutted under our weight. However, there is a concrete patio and pavement partially into the site area to park on. The park is about 20 minutes from the downtown medical centers. - Behemoth
4600 Martin St S Cropwell, Alabama 35054 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 220 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 44 Reviews
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Jul 2019 - $30.00
We have stayed at Lakeside before, so upon our return, we were pleasantly surprised at all the changes. The park is under new ownership. The long term broken down RVs are gone, additional spots have been added and everything is updated and clean. The sites are gravel with a concrete patio along with a picnic table. There are new washers and dryers and the owner is in the process of expanding the laundry area. There is a totally new staff who were so friendly and helpful. While we were there, they were installing a new online reservation system. We will definitely be back. Had a great time at this beautiful and quiet park. They have lots of information on what to do and where to shop on their Facebook page. - CMeadows
Jun 2019 - $40.00
My wife and I stayed here for an entire week. Hookup was easy, gravel site with a concrete patio and a picnic table. The staff was helpful and friendly. Well stocked convenience store. Beautiful view of Logan Martin Lake. We will definitely be back. - A Meadows
Oct 2018 - $44.00
We've stayed here several times on NASCAR weekends. They always put us in site #1 which has no trees and across from the boat launch area. We like this park because it's clean & easy to get to Talladega via the backroads. The park is right on the lake with great views. The staff are really nice and helpful. WiFi was good. Satellite had no issues. 1/2 of the park has monthly sites, the other half are nightly sites. It's kind of funny how they decorate their rigs with Bama & Auburn swag! - Patdrin
1200 Knoxs Landing Rd Pell City, Alabama 35128 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 30 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 1 Reviews
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Jun 2012 - $40.00
Park is over priced with lots of campers living here. Run as fast as you can to another park. Would not stay here again. - younglove
PO Box 324 Riverside, Alabama 35135 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 37 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 24 Reviews
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Nov 2018 - $35.00
This campground is located conveniently off of the highway. Once inside the the campground the roads are well maintained and but tight to navigate.
In general, the campground's facilities are okay. This campground appears to be full of full time tenants and very few short term campers.
The campground served its purpose for a quick stop over while traveling though. I would not stay here for an extended period of time. - Pigcrib
Jun 2018 - $30.00
We were late arriving at the park and had to find our site, which wasn't a big issue because there were just a couple open. We found a spot and hooked up. I didn't have the correct change so I thought we would stop on our way out to pay and get our change. But they were not open when we were leaving so we just paid a little more and left. To my surprise, we received the change in the mail shortly after we got home. I was very grateful to have stayed with such an honest park. I would stay there again for sure. - Brenda Cantrell
May 2018 - $35.00
The park is across from the river and four lane highway. The noise is overbearing. You hear the traffic all day and night. When you are on job assignment it makes it hard to rest for work hearing cars and loud music all day and night. - Sartor
1367 River Rd Cropwell, Alabama 35054 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 111 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 1 Reviews
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Jun 2016 - $25.00
Waterfront sites, plenty of piers and shade. Friendly people, can be crowded at times. - General Lee Campground
765 Willingham Rd Talladega, Alabama 35160 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 150 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 3 Reviews
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Jul 2018 - $35.00
We are staying long term in this resort and it is a gem. The sites are comfortably large enough to see your neighbors without rubbing the awning on their slide out. The gravel roads are well maintained, the play area is cute and the beach is white sand for at least a 100'! Boat piers, covered fishing pavilion, excellent pricing. WIFI and cable available at every site and 50 NEW sites are cut in and getting utilities. The mountain views are tremendous and the lake view sites are serene and comfortable. - Sasuva
Jan 2018 - $35.00
They have stopped doing nightly spots, but if you want a spot for a month or more you can't ask for a better spot. - WeRV2008
Jul 2017 - $35.00
The people here are wonderful to work with. We had a great time! The beach is well maintained and the fact that we could leave our boat in the water was nice. The Wi-Fi is only available if you sign up for it through a local company but that was okay, we came to camp, not be on the devices. The sites are all wired for this company to provide internet, phone and cable which is great for long term guests. At this park you can stay as long as you like and the rates start at $200 a month. We are going to stay! - WeRV2008
190 Logan Martin Blvd Alpine, Alabama 35014 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 140 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 23 Reviews
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Sep 2019 - $60.00
Sites are occupied mostly by permanent campers. Nice location near lake, but that is about it. Our site was level, but we noticed there were a lot of sites that were not. Office staff was pleasant and helpful. Only Verizon works in this remote location, and very slow. Had to pay for campground WiFi, and it was slow as well. Could not get Satellite (DISH) to work either, so had to settle for 14 antenna channels. - Sherrie Hutchinson
Aug 2017 - $40.00
Small dirt sites. Not anything close to level. Both 30 and 50 amp power, but a little out dated and was off for half the day Sunday. No caps on sewer, so kinda stinks in different areas of park. Bath house very dated. There is a pool, but it also is 40 plus years old. No wifi, and cell phone kinda works. - Sweettea1968
May 2017 - $35.00
Wow! Value was ok, and the campground is pretty clean, but don't disagree with the manager. Not friendly. Rude. Will not return. - WeRV2008
3616 Sumatanga Rd Gallant, Alabama 35972 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 10 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 2 Reviews
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May 2016 - $25.00
We stayed here for four weeks as part of a UMC NOMADS volunteer mission project and would love to stay longer. Last year part of our project included updating the pavilion and bathrooms closest to the RV sites so they are now like new. There are 10 full hookup sites, three of which have 50 amp. All sites are level and the utilities worked well, except on the hottest days when everyone was running air conditioners the voltage on the end sites dropped below 105 volts. Some of the sites are shaded and some are in the sun. The camp has several hiking trails including a paved trail beside the lake that is about a mile long. The camp staff are very friendly and helpful. Be aware that on weekends the pavilion next to the RV sites is rented out for gatherings. On two weekends of our stay there were weddings and on the other weekends there were church picnics. Not a problem for us. This is a beautiful camp in the spring and fall. Winter is usually mild, but summers are hot and buggy. Also, since this is primarily a church camp, during the summer the camp is filled with, well, campers. Also, be aware that cell phone service is very weak here, but the WIFI was great at the sites. The camp has installed a booster for Verizon Wireless at the camp office. We used a cell booster in our rig and it worked well. We will stay here again. - Nomads_2
Jun 2009 - $15.00
In a beautiful valley, owned by the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. Pros - Quiet. Nice paved and non-paved walking trails. Internet available in registration lobby about 1/4 mile away. Convenient if attending an activity at the camp. Nice playground. Cons - Distant to town, bring supplies. Bathrooms and showers connected with a large picnic pavilion used by summer youth campers, could create conflicts during day. Bathrooms in need of a major modernization effort. Tiny biting insects were very bad during the evening and morning hours. Apparently the entire camp is undergoing major financial strain and is in need of donations (according to website). We would not camp here again in June due to the insect problem, but might return in cooler months. - The Happy Traveler
71073 AL Highway 77 Talladega, Alabama 35160 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 50 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 4 Reviews
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Aug 2018 - $30.00
I have enjoyed my stay there. The people for the most part are very nice. The owner is delightful. The groundskeeper is always riding around to assist you. It can be noisy during rush hour.I liked my stay. I would say it's a nice place to stay. The owner is a beautiful woman who loves to make sure your stay is all that you need it to be. I hope you stay and enjoy yourself. - Sartor
Apr 2016 - $30.00
This is a quiet little park. All grass but clean. Friendly owner. We were in 43 foot motor home. Nothing fancy but good to stay while traveling. Highway noise during busy travel but not bad. Feels safe. We would stay again. Going to races and she said she doesn't raise her rent for races. I would give it a higher rate if they had pads for Rv. We don't use bath houses so that doesn't matter to us. - Pam_Ricky
Nov 2011 - $15.00
Basically a field with hook-ups. Power and water pressure are good. The sites are not level and our water valve box housed a mound of fire ants. The road noise level is very high. We were the only transient guests this particular day and shared the campground with a handful of very run-down full time trailers. Price reflects PA discount. - Full-Time Roamers


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From Science Daily:
Parents Still Major Influence on Child's Decision to Pursue Science Careers
Parental influence and access to mathematics courses are likely to guide students to careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine (STEMM), according to research from Michigan State University….
According to Miller, "The pathway to a STEMM career begins at home." He said this is especially true in families in which children were strongly encouraged to go to college.
"Only four percent of students who experienced low parent encouragement to attend college planned to enter a post-secondary program and major in a STEMM field," he said. "This compares to 41 percent of students whose parents strongly encouraged college attendance."
My thoughts: In today's society, people consistently underestimate the influence parents have on their children. Parents–not schools, not peers, not programs–are the primary key to making any change in the rising generation.
From Scientific American:
Does the U.S. Produce Too Many Scientists?
This article is so long that it's hard to create a summary with relevant quotes; go read it yourself and comment here.
My response: The article misses the real cause of "too many scientists" (and, I should add, too many Ph.D.'s in any field): Too many people going to college, period.
Universities are stretched to their financial limit, which means they can't hire enough tenured faculty to teach student classes. Instead, they hire TAs…who have to be grad students. Thus, they must actively recruit grad students. And since most of the older faculty still remembers the "good old days" when faculty jobs were plentiful, they tell students that academia is the only way to go. (I think the resulting oversupply of Ph.D.s has also contributed to the adjunct faculty mess.)
My solution: Create more national labs with permanent research positions to be staffed by Ph.D.s. Create an accreditation system that rewards universities where large freshman/sophomore classes are taught by tenured faculty members.
Above all, stop teaching the "everyone should go to college" idiocy: there's nothing wrong with being a plumber, an auto mechanic, or a massage therapist. Instead, make a push for the philosophy that education should never stop; even when you're out of school, you should read, discuss, apply, learn. People need to learn that education should come, first and foremost, from themselves: that they don't need to be reliant on an external institution to get knowledge inside their brains.


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MHS (MHS) Class of 1989 Alumni List
Help us Update the MHS 1989 Class List by adding any names missing from the list below:
Registered Alumni
1989 Class List
- Paula Adams
- Mike Bailey
- Brandy Baker
- Mike Buchmann
- Brandi Bybee
- Cristy Camerer
- John Cantrell
- Rhonda Clifton
- Mike Faulkner
- Tammy Flora
- Genetha Gray
- Melissa Hahaj
- Shelley Keiper
- John Knox
- Michelle Landaw
- Urbanski Lisa
- Trisha Lisi
- Kerry Martin
- Carter S Mitchell
- Micha Purcell
- David Rose
- Carolyn Rowe
- Shannan Schultz
- Brooke McNab Stairhime
- Dennis Starrett
- Jennifer Strausser
- Brent Watson
- Amy Whitehouse
- Mike Winters
- Shane Wiseman
- April Young
Know MHS Class of 1989 graduates that are NOT on this List? Help us Update the 1989 Class List by adding missing names.
The top movie in theaters during 1989 was Batman, grossing over $251,188,924 in its lifetime. The most popular television series for 1989 was The Cosby Show
Hit Songs From 1989
The Living YearsMike and The Mechanics
When The Children CryWhite Lion
Express YourselfMadonna
Heavan Help MeDeon Estus
If You Don't Know Be By NowSimply Red
Girl You Know Its TrueMilli Vanilli
How Can I Fall?Breathe
Don't Wanna Lose YouGloria Estefan
When I'm With YouSheriff
Wild ThingTone Loc
Hit Movies From 1989
Hit TV Shows From 1989
Reunions and Mishawaka High School News
More 1989 alumni from Mishawaka HS have posted profiles on Classmates.com®. Click here to register for free at Classmates.com® and view other 1989 alumni.
If you are trying to find people that graduated in '89 at Mishawaka in Mishawaka, IN, check the alumni list below that shows the class of 1989.
Don't forget to upload your Mishawaka High School pictures and check on the latest info about any Mishawaka High School reunion.


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ASK Italian Pasta & Pizza isn't currently accepting orders
As dish descriptions do not mention every ingredient, please check our allergen information on www.askitalian.co.uk/menu. Unfortunately, as our kitchens handle numerous allergens, it is not possible for us to guarantee that delivery dishes will be allergen free.
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Interra News
Our most recent website launches, projects, tips and tutorials
InterraMedia and Gateway to Retail Create Graphic Design Partnership for Gateway Customers and Clients
PRESS RELEASE | May 24, 2018 FAYETTEVILLE, AR –- May 24, 2018 –- Northwest Arkansas graphic design firm InterraMedia today announced that it has formed an exclusive graphic design partnership with Gateway to Retail, a Bentonville-based sales and...read more
Thoughts on Contemporary Website Design Standards
Intuitive design is how we give the user new superpowers. - Jared Spool There are more than a few aspects of making websites which determines if a project is successful. Designers and their clients must be knowledgeable of these elements of...read more
Prime Software Website Launch
Congrats to the team members at Prime Software on the launch of their new website by InterraMedia. Based in Northwest Arkansas, Prime Software provides logistics, transportation, manufacturing and warehouse management and analytics software...read more
Gateway to Retail Website Launch
Congratulations to our friends at Gateway to Retail on the launch of their new website and branding. InterraMedia worked with the Gateway to Retail team to create a new logo and branding style guide. Interra also developed a new website and wrote completely new,...read more
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Take the journey and explore places of wonder and blight. You'll enjoy seeing and learning about some of the nations national parks, beautiful beaches, and several hiking trails across the country.
Camelback Mountain * Echo Canyon Hike
If you are looking for a weekend getaway and a moderate yet challenging hike, you may be interested in experiencing Camelback Mountain. This trail includes a little bit of everything such as gradual inclining gravel paths, switchback steps, boulder and large rock areas, and a spectacular 360 view at the summit! Oh, don't forget on those extra hot days, don't forget your gloves as the boulders and hand railings are as hot as fire to the touch!
Knowing ahead of time the weather forecast for Arizona that weekend, we knew were in for a steamy and hot few days. Temperatures were forecast to be around 110 degrees approximately. But that did not discourage us, we still took advantage of our long weekend and drove to Scottsdale, Arizona from San Diego to enjoy a weekend of fun. That fun would include hiking a mountain or nature trail somewhere in the area. So we decided we wanted to check out Camelback Mountain-Echo Canyon located nearby Paradise Valley, Arizona near Scottsdale. And wow, was it hot, I had found myself taking several breaks and breathing very heavy. We had plenty of water and had our lunch with us. Otherwise, it was quite a challenging hike in the heat, but it may be a more enjoyable hike if you do it in the fall when temps are a little more comfortable. Although, you may encounter more crowds then versus hiking it in the summertime. Anyway, here is a look at our hike just to give you an idea of what to expect. Click on the video below.
Wiliwilinui Ridge Hike:
We were hungry for a scenic yet challenging and adventurous hike on one of our travel days in Hawaii recently. We started off the day with a little sun and clouds hoping that the rain might stay away for this particular hike. I don't know about you, but the word Ridge places just a tiny bit of fear in me being this is the first time we've hiked this trail.
Ignoring the on-slot of a bit of fear I seemed to develop, we proceeded to gather our water, hats, sunscreen and sunglasses and piled in the car and drove towards East Honolulu area. Actually, the journey to get to the trail head was quite spectacular by itself as we cruised to higher altitudes through what seemed to be an upscale neighborhood of homes and hills. I noticed as we reached the trail head there was not a guard or official person around at this time, so we proceeded to park in the appropriate designated spots.
The clouds started to build up around us making for a possibly muddy, wet, and slippery hiking experience. Early in the hike, we approached a beautiful canopy of trees of all sizes but mostly tall and large. The wind began to swirl and howl making for an eerie stroll through this part of the trail.
As we made our way through the tree tunnels, we encounter some of the challenges and views that this hike presents. The steeper sections of the ridge continue closer and we use the ropes when needed to assist in the climb to the top.
Wiliwilinui Ridge Hike
This part of the hiking trail offered a few challenges and obstacles. The rope was very helpful in climbing to the next phase. This trail can be muddy and slippery when it rains, so take it slow and careful and you will gradually make your way to the summit.
But don't be in too much of a rush to make it to the summit yet. You've got to experience the ledges and ridges that comprise this spectacular hiking trail.
The further we ventured up the trail, more and more pristine views started to appear.
Another view point on the Wiliwilinui Ridge Hiking Trail.
The views and beauty of the trail aren't the only things to be excited about. If you blink you may miss some of the most beautiful plants and flowers that are displayed on this adventure nature trail!
Be sure to take a rest on the 'Swing' and tree area, and if you are hiking the trail on a weekday, you may be lucky enough to get a seat on the one lonely bench that sits at the summit of the trail. The views are incredible! Hang on to your hat as the winds can be quite wicked up at the top.
Hawaii: Koko Head Stairs Hiking Trail
Around the island:
Koko Crater Head Trail: 'Koko Head Stairs': The spectacular views will not be the only thing that gets your heart racing during this extraordinary hike up the Koko Head stairs. This climb of approximately 1,050 stairs (or railroad tithes) is a challenge for any exercise enthusiast and will definitely offer a cardio workout like no other.
Koko Head is the eastern side of Maunalua Bay and the southeastern side of the Island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. On its western slope is the community of Portlock, a part of Hawaiʻi Kai. You will enjoy wonderful views of Haunama Bay and beyond. The climb can be grueling and scenic, so its a good idea to take a rest and take in the views.
There is a section where a larger drop to a ridge is located below, so you take your time and go slow if needed. You may be huffing and puffing half way up the climb, only to learn you have quite a ways to go and are getting higher and higher.
This is a view from below it may be approximately half way up, but it still looks like there are quite a few steps to go to reach the top.
When you reach the summit you will be blown away! It seems to always be windy up there, so be prepared to hang on to your hat or water bottle and be safe.
Things to remember:
1.Wear sunglasses and sunscreen
2. Drink plenty of water
3. Bring camera
4. Hike may take between 1-3 hours
Palm Springs, CA: Art Smith Trail and PS Art Museum
There is no place like the desert for a peaceful serene enjoyable hike in the hills and mountains of Palm Springs. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday in February, with 80 degrees of perfect weather, as we made out way to the Art Smith Trail for a morning hike.
As much as I enjoyed the spectacular high views looking down onto Palm Springs, I was able to take in a little art and sculptures at an outdoor museum trail. I came upon the Fay Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden at the Palm Spring Art Museum. The tranquil sounds of the rock waterfall, and approximately 10 significant sculpture works positioned throughout these beautiful gardens. It does not take long to view and browse through the gardens, but it is a nice way to spend an hour or two enjoying the quiet and peaceful waterfalls and birds.
Beautiful art and creations throughout the Palm Springs area. Below, this is near the Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert.
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Poway, CA
A 700 acre oak-lined canyon with views, natural beauty, and coastal sage shrubs set the scene for this beautiful hiking trail. There are four habitats of the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve; The Chaparral Coastal or Inland, Sage Shrub, Oak Woodland, Riparian.
The animals of this natural hiking trail reserve include the following:
Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Coyote, Mule Deer, Rabbits, and Ground Squirrel. Take a look and tour this hiking trail with us. Lake Ramona Hiking Trail


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Here in southern Finland, we have enjoyed an almost 20-degree heat this weekend and it goes on! I´am in hurry to go outside, so here's a sneak peak of the first Mother's Day card I made.
I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Totally Gorjus challenge - die cuts/punches!
Kort o Mania - photo inspiration!
The Squirrel and The Fox challenge - Use a diecut or punch!