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Donald Trump has added Mississippi to his growing list of primary wins, beating Texas Senator Ted Cruz to take the state.
Fox News called the state for the real estate mogul at around 8:30 PM.
Mississippi is a winner take all state only if the final vote count gives the winner 50 percent plus of the total vote. Otherwise the state will award its 40 delegates proportionately.
On the eve of Tuesday's primary contests, Trump was the delegate leader with 384 delegates, with Cruz closely behind at 300. Meanwhile Marco Rubio came in with a distant 151, while John Kasich came in with a low with 37 delegates.
Of interest is that more than three-quarters of Mississippi's electorate are born-again or evangelical Christians. The win for Trump comes as a surprise to many who imagined that Rubio or Cruz would be more likely to take the vote of religious Christians.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at email@example.com


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Emanuel Ax (piano) • conductor: Iván Fischer
Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor
The Philharmonie de Paris is well on its way to becoming one of the main centres of the French capital's already vibrant musical scene. Inaugurated in January 2015 by head of state François Hollande, it is one of the world's newest and most modern concert halls. Interestingly, the Philharmonieis a one-of-a-kind institution in Paris. While the city boasts many concert halls of varying sizes and dedicated to different audiences, it had long lacked a hall that was truly suited to hosting large orchestras.
Built in the Parc de La Villette, the institution finds itself in the company of the already existing Music Museum, Le Zénith (which focuses mostly only popular music), and various multi-purpose theatre halls. Its auditorium seats 2,400, and visitors can even walk on its 52-meter high metal-structured roof. Jean Nouvel, perhaps the best-known celebrity French architect on the international scene, won the rights to design the Philharmonie de Paris in 2007. Nouvel received the Pritzker prize in 2008, for, according to the jury citation, the play of light, layers and transparencies as well as the stunning appearance of the building of the Parisian Arab World Institute. The Philharmonie, however, was received with considerably less fanfare. Accused of considerable delays and overspending, the architect retorted that these were not his responsibility, and that in fact he does not even consider the building to be finished, as the necessary technical and acoustical checks were not performed on it before its handover. Nouvel, who boycotted the inauguration for these reasons, later announced that he was taking legal action in order to correct the changes made to the building which did not follow the original plans. At any rate, finished or not, the hall is in operation and the Festival Orchestra has already performed in it several times. During its European tour, the concert programme begins here with Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3, the manuscript of which was discovered by Mendelssohn. Pianist Emmanuel Ax will be playing a true classic: Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor – a popular work despite its serious and profound mood. In the closing work, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, the composer struggles with impending doom, but ultimately prescribes happiness as a panacea for all. Online tickets

subset: commoncrawl


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Last Updated: May 01, 2019 02:45PM • Subscribe via RSS • ATOM
My Pie pizzeria opens in Holladay, and you better get there early
May 01, 2019 ● By Justin Adams
Sponsored Content There's nothing that says Friday night quite like going out for pizza.Read More »
CrossPoint Church Spotlight
Aug 27, 2018 ● By Travis Barton
Learn more about the CrossPoint Church with locations in both Provo and Taylorsville.Read More »
A true taste of Italy found in Murray
Aug 27, 2018 ● By Travis Barton
Sponsored Content Whether you've recently returned from a vacation to Italy, or are searching for a piece of Italy, or simply want genuine pasta, then it's time to visit Celeste Ristorante.Read More »
Oakwood Homes introduces OakwoodLife coming to Daybreak: Resort-style living for today's active adult buyer
Apr 23, 2018 ● By Jana Klopsch
It's resort style living for those 55 and up. "Homeowners can take advantage of their next 'best' chapter in life."Read More »
Murray City Council Meeting June 6 Review
Jul 06, 2017 ● By Jana Klopsch
The Murray City Council approved several ordinances to amend parts of the Municipal Code, and previous finance director was recognized as a new director steps in at the June 6 meeting.Read More »
Land use changes made in Murray, tentative 2017-18 budget plan adopted
Jul 06, 2017 ● By Jana Klopsch
Amendments were made to the Murray City Zoning Map in regards to two areas, and the tentative 2017-18 budget plan was adopted in the May 16 city council meeting.Read More »
Little Learners Academy
Dec 08, 2016 ● By Bryan Scott
Business Spotlight - December: Little Learners AcademyRead More »
Herriman Headache Center - at Dansie Orthodontics
Dec 06, 2016 ● By Bryan Scott
Business Spotlight- December: Herriman Headache Center - at Dansie OrthodonticsRead More »
Burt Brothers Tire & Service
Dec 06, 2016 ● By Bryan Scott
Business Spotlight- December: Burt Brothers Tire & ServiceRead More »


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You can monogram just about everything else at RalphLauren.com so being that it is back-to-school season,we've been wondering when they were going to add backpacks into the mix. Doesn't every kid need a backpack emblazoned with their initials to go along with their customized polo shirts?
Turns out that day is today. For the first time ever, you can now score your kids–or yourself, no judgment–a brightly colored monogrammed backpack from Ralph Lauren. And just in time for back to school!
Not only can you little on choose his/her backpack color, but he/she can also pick the color of the monogram and the embroidered Big Pony.
Monogram aside, the backpack itself is also pretty tricked out. There's a two-way zip-around closure, it's super spacious and there's a headphone port at the top that allows your kid to keep his/her electronics securely stored out of sight. Pretty sweet, right?
Get Yours: ralphlauren.com
Shop cool peace sign backpacks for girls in our buying guides.
Sign up for our newsletter to get even more finds delivered right to your inbox.
Click here to email Jeanine, the author of this post.


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Hey CloudReady Fans!
We're releasing our v70.2 to the Dev channel of the Home, Education, and Enterprise Editions, as well as the Beta channel of the Home Edition, today.
If you're interested, subscribe to the Dev or Beta channels to get an over-the-air update now.
We're bringing v70 to unstable release channels without having done any stable releases of v69. Over the next few months you'll hear more from us about our evolving release process and how we're adjusting CloudReady's release timing compared to Chrome OS.
Release Notes for v70:
Fix for graphic issues at login with AMD graphics: Devices with AMD GPUs had some graphic issues on the login page.
Fix for 1/8" audio jack on iMac 12,1: The device was showing headphones as connected but did not actually output sound.
Fix for trackpad on Macbook Pro 9,2: Some MBP 9,2 trackpad ceased to work after a few reboots post install.
New in v70.2
Fix for Flash issue: In v69.1 and 70.1, Adobe Flash was not working. This is fixed for 64-bit CloudReady v70.2. We are still looking into resolving the same issue for 32-bit.
Fix for Dell Optiplex GX520 and GX620 audio output: The volume control for the front 1/8" audio output now works and is no longer too loud.
Fix for audio over HDMI: Audio over HDMI is working again on 64-bit images on Inspiron 15 (3531), Thinkpad SL510, Lenovo B590 & some uncertified models.
New in v70.2 Education and Enterprise Editions only
USB installers now start with the install UI, instead of Wi-Fi login credentials and keyboard/language selection.
Known Issues
Dell Optiplex 5060 front combo port does not work: When you plug in headphones it detects they are there, but no sound comes through.The device does have a rear audio port that works. However, when plugged in the back it is not seen as headphones plugged in but it does work.
Dell Optiplex GX520 and GX620: unmute might not work.
Adobe Flash on 32-bit CloudReady cannot be enabled even when installed.
Unstable releases often have unforeseen bugs. We rely upon Dev & Beta Channel users to report those to us so we can stabilize builds more quickly. If you device to try this release, please let us know what you think and report any issues using the links below.


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Father-of-three Darragh Nugent (36) was gunned down external his home on Wheatfield Avenue in Clondalkin on Monday night.
He was suspected of succeed a do overing threats against his local rivals in recent days just above six months after he was arrested by officers on his way to kill a senior member of the compare with gang.
Now, Independent.ie has learned that Nugent was suspected of playing a important role in the murder of Eglington (27) who was gunned down at his home in Kilnacourt Woods in Portarlington, Co Laois in September 2012 as his stepdaughter, 11, and three-year-old son looked on.
Nugent was nabbed over the killing, which was linked to the Crumlin Drimnagh feud, and gardaí were yon to send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the case.
A elder source confirmed: "This man was a key suspect in the case and the file was almost concluded on him. Gardaí were secure that he would be charged with the murder."
Independent.ie has learned that detectives develop evidence linking Nugent to a car that was seized in the aftermath of the murder.
Gardaí financed out painstaking CCTV analysis which linked the car to the shooting.
"This was a prolix and detailed investigation."
The Irish Sun is also reporting that Nugent was a while ago questioned by gardaí over a pipe-bomb attack on the family home of RTE presenter Brian Ormond. The strain was attacked in 2011 because Mr Ormond's brother is a serving garda.
The Herald is recounting that Nugent was the best friend of gangland criminal James 'Nellie' Walsh (31), who is look after the needs of a 10-year jail sentence for firearms offences linked to a botched hit on worst gangland target Michael Frazer in March 2014.
Gardaí have been analysing whether Nugent has been taking orders from Walsh, who engage ined on a bitter feud almost four years ago that has now led to three unsolved bump offs in the Clondalkin area.
The first murder in this deadly feud was that of in the clear Dean Johnson (21) in August 2013. Tragic Mr Johnson was not tangled in crime and it quickly emerged the intended target of his murder was Clondalkin hood Walsh, who offed unharmed in the shocking incident.
Walsh, backed up by Monday night's kill victim Nugent, became a player in the west Dublin crime seascape around five years ago and ended up getting involved in a bitter oppose with a Clondalkin gang with close links to the Kinahan cartel.
As the difference of opinion intensified, the gang attempted to murder Walsh in the early hours of August 24, 2013 at Harelawn Leafy in Clondalkin.
Mr Johnson, who had been socialising earlier with the intended object, was shot dead in a case of mistaken identity.
Sources revealed this annoyed Walsh, who decided to take revenge on the rival mob.
Within five light of days, cartel-linked criminal Jason 'Jay' Carroll (39) was shot dead at his up on at Cherrywood Drive in Clondalkin.
Nugent had served a number of jail punishments and was linked to a number of other serious criminals, including Robbie Ellis (25), who was guessed to death in Clondalkin in November last year in another unsolved liquidate in the Garda district.
Meanwhile a Gofundme page has been created to expropriate pay for Nugent's funeral. According to a post the page was set up on behalf of "Darragh's rapport girlfriend, children and family".
"Most will know how this was a rash shock for us all, his 3 beautiful children girlfriend & family would like to around him the best send off as they can, any little amount to help towards this tariff would be hugely appreciated by them all.
"Let's come together and take a tiny amount of stress from them. Highly thankfull to anyone who is delighted to help this loving family in their time of need… also if anyone has no bank postcard to donate a book of condolonces will be available any if anyone would comparable to to donate this way just contact us thanks for taking the time to impute to."
By Thursday morning €95 of the €1,000 goal had been raised.


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Entries are now open for the Midlands Indoor Rowing Championships 2017.
Please follow this link to enter: http://www.b-row.co.uk/product/midlands-indoor-rowing-championships-2017/
Relay teams will be requested once entry has closed, anyone who wishes to row in a relay team must enter as an individual first.
If you have any questions please get in touch on email@example.com
Entries will close on 18th March 2017
EDIT: once you have processed your order for junior and/or senior entries, you will receive a form where you will fill in your details and select which category you wish to enter.
Please also note that there is a small charge for online payments via PayPal, this is to cover the PayPal charges. There is an option to pay by BACS just click the option and use your order number as the reference.


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Quick Reference
A principle of US policy, originated by James Monroe (1758–1831), American Democratic Republican statesman, 5th President of the US 1817–25. The Monroe doctrine states that any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas is a potentially hostile act against the US.
Subjects: Social Sciences — History.
Related content in Oxford Index
Reference entries
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Frequently asked questions
1. Do we need to book our visit?
Yes. All visits must be pre-booked to avoid arriving at a time when the cathedral is not available (e.g. during services) or when the cathedral is already busy with other booked groups. To have the best chance of ensuring the date of your choice please book AT LEAST one month ahead, and for the period between March and August even earlier booking is strongly advised.
2. How do we book?
Having chosen your date/s and selected a preferred programme please telephone the Learning Department on +44 (0)1634 810066 or email email@example.com with the requested dates. This will then go through our booking process and you will normally have an answer within a week.
3. Why does it take so long to get a booking confirmed?
Rochester Cathedral is a focus for many activities over and above our regular services. Your request will be discussed at our weekly diary meeting to ensure that clashes do not occur. It is not always possible to agree the first choice of date, so please have an alternative date in mind when you contact us.
4. What is the cost of our visit and how do we pay?
The cost per pupil is £2 for up to an hour, £3.40 for up to two hours and £4.50 for a whole day. The charge guarantees a timeslot in the cathedral and is the same for guided / self-guided activities. Payment can be made by cheque (Payable to "Rochester Cathedral"), cash, card or by electronic transfer. We ask non-UK schools and language schools to pay in advance or on the day. Other groups will be invoiced after the visit. We do not accept vouchers without prior arrangement.
5. What do we need to bring with us?
If your students are using a workbook they will need pencils or pens. Other than that you just need what you normally require for a day out - packed lunches, suitable clothing, cameras and a little pocket money. A designated teacher should also carry a first aid kit. Please ensure that all adults in your party are wearing some form of identification to link them to your group (lanyard / sticker etc).
6. Where can we eat lunch?
There are two rooms which can be booked for lunches for groups of up to 30 students. The rooms cost £15 per half-hour. The rooms must be pre-booked. Access to the rooms is via a staircase. Please advise us on booking if you have students with mobility problems and we will endeavour to make alternative arrangements.
7. What other facilities do you provide?
There are limited toilet facilities in the cathedral. Additional public toilets are located within a short walk of the cathedral. The cathedral has a small shop selling affordable souvenirs.
8. Where do we park?
The cathedral does not have a public car park but there is an excellent coach drop-off point on Corporation Street at the rear of the Tourist Information Centre. Coaches may then park in the designated coach park. For those arriving by car there are car parks on Corporation Street, Northgate and Boley Hill. See Map and directions. If a member of your group has mobility issues please let us know in advance and we will try to arrange a suitable parking space for your car / minibus.
9. Where do we go when we arrive?
Please enter the cathedral by the North Door and report to the Welcome Desk. See Map and parking information.
10. What is expected of teachers during the visit?
We ask for a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 10 students (more adults may be required if the group is very young or has special requirements). Teachers have the responsibility at all times for the welfare and safety of their students and for their supervision. So that we can find an adult relating to the correct school in an emergency please ensure that all accompanying adults wear identification that links them with your party.
During workshops the workshop leader will be directing the group but support from the teacher is very much appreciated, particularly in the event of misbehaviour by the students. While the groups are completing their worksheets they are under the direction and supervision of their teachers and accompanying adults.
Teachers and/or accompanying adults are also responsible for first aid requirements for students, although, should the need arise, cathedral staff would summon the necessary emergency services.
11. What arrangements are there for people with special needs?
In a building as old as Rochester Cathedral it is difficult to meet all needs but, if you let us know prior to your visit what special requirements you have, we will do our best to ensure that a good visit is enjoyed by everyone.
All of our learning programmes can be adapted to meet specific needs. Please let us know your requirements when booking.
12. How should students behave in the cathedral?
Before entering the cathedral please remind the students that they are coming into a place of worship. This means they should behave respectfully whilst in the cathedral, and not eat, drink, use mobile phones or drop litter. They may take photos. We ask everyone to keep their belongings with them at all times. Unattended bags are attractive to opportunist thieves and also pose a security threat. The Dean and Chapter cannot take any responsibility for the loss of personal possessions in the cathedral.
13. Are there any risks or hazards in the cathedral?
It is the responsibility of the group leader to complete a risk assessment. It is worth remembering that the building is over 900 years old. Steps and paving are worn in places. There are also candle stands that may have lighted candles in areas set aside for private prayer. Our Risk Assessment Guidelines can be downloaded for reference purposes. PDF of RA Guidelines.
14. What support do you give for teachers preparing a visit?
The Learning Team is happy to discuss and help plan your visit. Send us your learning objectives and we will adapt the activity to match your requirements.
15. Do we have to use one of your workbooks?
No, but it is important to plan for some form of directed learning whilst in the cathedral. It is fine to use your own workbook or download and adapt one of ours.
16. What if I want to do something that isn't on your programme?
Please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
17. Do you ever run any special events?
Yes, from time to time we do run special events. Check the website for details. Please contact us if you would like to know more.
18. Do I have to book if I don't require the services of the Learning Department?
Yes, prior booking is required for ALL visits. This is for two reasons. Firstly, we need to ensure that the cathedral is never overfull and retains an atmosphere of peace and spirituality. Secondly, we often have events such as services, graduations and speech days taking place in the cathedral. Group entry is not permitted at those times.
19. Why do we have to pay to go into a church?
The cathedral costs over £10,000 per week to maintain and function (remember, it is over 900 years old) and there is no subsidy from national or local government. In order that the valuable historic and spiritual heritage of our cathedral is available for all, we make a small charge to groups and ask for a voluntary donation from individuals who are visiting the cathedral for any purpose other than worship.
If you have any questions, which are not answered here, please email email@example.com or call 01634 810066


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As an industry leader, Penhall Company provides concrete cutting services such as flat sawing, coring, wall sawing, breaking & demolition, wire saw, and other related concrete construction services. Our highly trained team of professionals will ensure your work is completed efficiently and at the highest quality. No matter how big or small, with 60 years' experience and a strong commitment to safety, Penhall is the right choice for the job.
Call Us Today - 228-396-3045
Examples of the kind of work we do:
Concrete Cutting
- Cut 3 panels of concrete measuring 15′ x 15′ and 12″ thick with a flat saw, subcontracted by a construction company in Kiln, Mississippi.
- Wire sawed approximately 16′ x 16′ x 48″ elevated opening into 6 pieces with 4 pieces being cut in one trip, and the other 2 pieces being sawed on a 2nd trip to the job site for a construction company in Stennis, Mississippi.
- Sawed 243′ of 8″ thick concrete with a diesel slab saw, subcontracted by a construction company for a hydrogen pad in Stennis, Mississippi.
Concrete Coring
- Drilled 54 holes measuring 4″ in diameter and 4″ deep in the floor for a resort in Gulfport, Mississippi.
- Core drilled 195 holes measuring 6″ in diameter and 15″ deep for a private contractor in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Concrete Breaking, Removal, & Demolition
- Removed 1090 square feet of 8″ thick concrete off site after saw cutting for a private business in Stennis, Mississippi.
When you need someone with the knowledge, resources, and skills to get the job done right the first time, Penhall is the right choice for you. Our operators have the expertise and versatility to help you with large government and industrial jobs to home projects, and everything in between. So no matter what your next job may be, don't hesitate to call us here at the Biloxi branch. Be it concrete coring, cutting, scanning, or demo, Penhall has you covered. Call today for a free quote!


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When the Chronicle launched the Beer, TX blog three years ago this month, Saint Arnold was still brewing and bottling in cramped and un-air-conditioned quarters in a light-industrial park off U.S. 290 and Loop 610 West. Southern Star, the area's only other craft brewery, was barely a year old. There was no Hay Merchant or BRC, no Camp Beer or Texas Beer Fest, and when you asked someone to meet you at the Flying Saucer, you didn't have to specify which one.
The growth we've seen over the last three years has been extraordinary and — as Beer, TX readers well know — extraordinarily fun to experience.
Getting to write about the Houston and Texas beer scene during this period has been equally rewarding from a journalistic perspective, as evidenced by the number of page 1, Star and Business-section cover stories I've gotten published on the topic.
So I didn't require any cajoling last fall when a commissioning editor at The History Press asked if I would be interested in writing a book on the subject. I fired off a quick outline and got to work. The project consumed pretty much all of my non-Chronicle hours through early February and a decent chunk of them since.
What I learned during this experience was even more fascinating than I could've imagined. Our favorite city has a rich and colorful tradition of brews and brewers, filled with wildcatters of ale as well as wildcatters of oil. It has been a privilege to give these remarkable characters some of the recognition they deserve but which has eluded them, in some cases for generations.
The result is "Houston Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Bayou City," which chronicles the city's sudsy path from muddy frontier outpost through all sorts of beer booms and busts, including the biggest bust of all, Prohibition. Homebrewers and brewpub pioneers get their due for sparking the latest beer Renaissance and sustaining it through some dark periods. And readers will gain a better appreciation for the odds that Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol faced in getting Saint Arnold Brewing Co. off the ground, as well as the challenges that await the more recent arrivals on the Houston craft-beer scene.
The book is due in stores next month (cover price, $19.99) and it is available for pre-ordering now at amazon.com (read an excerpt here) and historypress.net. If you can wait, I will be doing signing events around town, including one at the downtown Flying Saucer on April 12 and one at the Saucer in Sugar Land on April 20. To stay abreast of book-related events, please join me at facebook.com/HoustonBeerBook.
I hope you enjoy the book. If you find it half as interesting to read as I found it to research and write, we'll all be toasting each other.
Join Beer, TX on Facebook at facebook.com/rcrocker.beertx or follow me on Twitter: @rcrocker


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Channel Sales Intern (German Speaking)
Have you ever imagined running an App Store? Lightspeed has one and might be searching for you! The Strategic Alliances department is managing the full Ecosystem of Strategic Integration and Application partners. These partners are working on a daily basis on enriching the Lightspeed eCommerce and Lightspeed Point-Of-Sale (POS) solutions.
As an intern (flexible start date in July 2019, 5-6 months), you will be considered like any other colleague and will be included in running our App Store and POS Integration Ecosystem. This means helping out with marketing and business development activities in order to promote our Ecosystem internally and externally. You will have an impact on the information flow towards new Lightspeed users and you will independently set up marketing campaigns with partners while updating some important processes, such as processing partner requests. Ever imagined building a partnership with companies like PostNL or PayPal, negotiating and closing a long-term agreement with them? Join us and learn how you can do it!
Now we get to brag about us: Lightspeed powers small and medium-sized businesses in over 100 countries around the world with its cloud-based commerce platform. It is smart, scalable, and dependable all-in-one Point of Sale software system helps restaurants and retailers sell across channels, manage operations, engage with consumers, accept payments, and grow their business. Founded in 2005 with offices in Canada, USA, Europe and Australia, Lightspeed recently completed its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: LSPD). We're passionate about enabling people to do their best work. Come work with us and find out what you can do.
What are we searching for in our next colleague?
- Passion for technology
- Stellar Business, Technical or Marketing study background
- Fast learner: able to pick up new systems and procedures in a flash
- Deep understanding of Internet Business concepts. We should not need to explain to you what Product Hunt, AngelList or TNW are
- Able to work independently and on tight deadlines
- Attention for detail while keeping the Pareto Principle (80-20%) in mind
- Feeling comfortable taking the lead in projects
- Fluent in German
- Advanced in English
What do you get?
This is a paid internship. You will get a monthly reimbursement dependant on prior experience, a free breakfast and lunch, a MacBook for the length of your internship and will take part in many free social activities.


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I am using an IPad 1 iOS 5.1.1. On July 3 I was showing no. 1 on the world list with 24.5 seconds and a score of 2576. July 4th my score has disappeared from the world list and is only on the local list.
Can you please look into this for me? Thank you
Islandkate from Canada
Lost score in Bakers Dozen
For all queries specific to the iPad version of Solitaire 3D.
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Jul 05, 2012
Re: Lost score in Bakers Dozen
Is this problem still happening?
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This year we are celebrating 40 years of filtration & innovation excellence! Since 1977 our values have helped us develop into the pre-eminent provider of filtration products & services, values that are still at the core of the business today. Our strongest focus has always been on our customers & people, followed by quality, innovation and performance.
Over the years we have been involved with thousands of different organisations both in New Zealand and internationally and helped them solve their filtration, ventilation and engineering needs. We are proud of these achievements, some of which you can see here and within each of our 5 categories in the "Product Categories" menu, Dust Management, Ventilation Systems, Flexible Connectors, Liquid Filtration and Fans .


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We have defined SOIL as "Sowing Opportunities Into Leaders." It is not a mantra but rather a statement of promise to our community that we will nurture, grow, and develop our next generation of leaders, so that they are equipped to excel. Our foundation's success has been established upon the following fundamentals:
- College Funding
- Leadership Seminars
- Mentoring Programs
- Entrepreneurial Workshops
- Local Outreach/Global Missions
The Soil Foundation is more than a non-profit organization. We are advocates for change and serve our people through measures of empowerment.


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Harrow Business Christmas Gift Guide
As the Christmas season approaches us, you are probably busy making lists and looking around for ideas for what to get your friends and family.
As everybody is gearing up to the 'festive season' we thought it would be a good time to bring you our Harrow Business Christmas Gift Guide. The guide features some of the best products and services that local businesses in Harrow have to offer this Christmas.
Look good for Christmas
We all like to look our best for the Christmas season, if you want to update your look, why not treat yourself to a new pair 'specs'.
New Vision Opticians in Rayners Lane are independent opticians offering a great range of services from eye tests, to back of the eye examinations to detect any issues. They have a great range of eye wear too.
Freshen up
The cold winter days play havoc with the skin, making it look dull and dry. Treat it with some botanically inspired skincare from Arbonne.
Each of their products is carefully formulated and crafted with potent botanicals to enhance your beauty, health and wellness. They also sell bath and body products and cosmetics.
Personalised gifts
If you are looking for something special and personalised at the same time, check out Little Willows, Pinner. Little Willows offer fabulous personalised ceramics and keepsake boxes. Check out their website to see the full range or arrange to visit their studio in Pinner.
Something for the home
Fancy 'blinging' up the home for Christmas? Jack Harvey, offer a wonderful selection of luxury designer Reed Diffusers, scented candles and room sprays.
Each fragrance has a beautiful distinctive scent. The divine gifts come beautifully boxed in a hand crafted Diamante magnetic keepsake box (except spray) with a satin logo monogrammed gift bag.
Wrap up
Protect that someone special from the cold winter chill. Get them a premium quality handcrafted scarf from Sveze. Their use of vibrant colours and patterns are bound to brighten up anyone's day.
They also sell bags and purses. They will be a perfect accessory to any outfit.
Say it with flowers
Why not make someone's day extra special by presenting them with a beautiful hand-tied bouquet of flowers from Special Delivery Artisan Florist in North Harrow. The bouquets come aqua-packed with water in the base, in a gift bag with a message too.
Need a break from the kitchen?
Whilst Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones, it can also mean spending a lot of time in the kitchen, cooking. If you need a break from the kitchen, go along to Red Cup Café, in North Harrow.
Treat the 'cook' in your house to a wonderful meal of freshly cooked food, served by friendly staff. They even do gift vouchers as well!
If the kids are getting bored over Christmas
I know, how can kids say they are bored? With the mountains of toys that Santa will bring them. But, if you have little ones and would like to get them out of the house for a couple of hours and run off some energy, then, take them along to Rumble Tumble soft play area in Harrow.
They can run off some steam while you sit down and enjoy a hot drink.
Get ready for Christmas and support local businesses at the same time!
By Emma Saldanha


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Happy Weekend!
I want to wish everyone a lovely weekend and leave you with some gorgeous images from a 2007 Has Hali ad campaign, photography by the great Michelangelo Di Battista shot in the grand Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. I've been learning a lot about the Turkish culture lately as I recently made a new friend named Esra who has been so, so kind to me and doing a lot of really nice things to make me feel at home in Hannover. Esra was born in Germany but her entire family is Turkish and she frequently travels to Istanbul to see them and to shop the bazaars and find inspiration. She takes great pride in her cultural heritage and tells me many stories of life in Istanbul which has left me intrigued... I want to know more.
Notice the lovely doves? And of course, the stunning Polish model Iza Olak...
Esra is really talented, not only does she hold a degree in law but is currently working on another in public relations. In addition to this, she designs jewelry and is employed by Clinique in Germany so her makeup is absolute perfection. If that were not enough, she also maintains a blog called Sultanissima. She is my link to Has Hali and this ad campaign. The other evening we were together and she shared these photos with me and wow, I could not stop thinking about it after she parted. I am learning so much about Turkish culture being in Germany (so many live here) that I am now longing more than ever before to travel there. It's only 2.5 hours by plane to Istanbul from here, so maybe next year I will go... But for now I will travel to Istanbul through the eyes of Italian photographer Michelangelo Di Battista into the corridors of the Topkapi Palace and through the dear Esra.
Can you imagine living like this?
Thank you Esra for opening my eyes to your culture and to this beautiful ad campaign of the great Has Hali. These photos are so enchanting and the lighting is just beautiful... Wow. This totally put me in a more Autumn state of mind with all these dark, rich hues and embroidered textiles.
Have a nice weekend everyone!
(images courtesy of Ads of the World)


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This is a question that we are very interested in here at SLI. Most of our customers are retailers. Through our services we are talking to these people every day. Our relationship with them feels more like it is more than just a business relationship. Their passion infects us and we really want them to succeed.
The anecdotal information we are getting about the impact of the financial crisis is mixed. Some have seen a drop in order size and volume and are feeling additional pressure from suppliers wanting to be paid earlier. Others are seeing increases. I see Amazon's sales were up 31% last quarter. We are hearing that people are shopping on-line more to save gas – even though oil prices have fallen dramatically. Last week I asked Brian Walker from Forrester research what they are expecting these holidays. They're predicting eCommerce to grow 12% over last holidays. This is less than the 18% growth that we saw last year but is still significantly better than retail in general.
One set of numbers we can look at is the search volumes we are serving on behalf of our customers. We have seen that the number of searches we are serving across our customers is increasing steadily. In the last month we served over 150 million queries. Part of the increase we're seeing is because we're getting more customers. I dug a little more deeply into the data. I looked at the search activity for a random selection of our customers for the last 30 days compared to the same 30 days last year. On average there are 28% more searches. Some are down. More are up.
Now just because people are searching more, doesn't mean that they are buying more (Aaron Goldman had a good discussion about this in his Media Post article: Is search recession proof?). However it's a very positive sign.
A wise man wouldn't make predictions in this volatile market. I've never been accused of being wise – I predict ecommerce will be OK – just don't bank on the huge growth we have seen in past years.


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My Alanna, once a below-grade, struggling reader who was nurtured by the best teachers and reading support staff, is now an above-grade reader, possibly one of the strongest writers in her fifth grade class. She's a kid who feels lost without a book in her hand, a story in her mind, taking her to new worlds, revealing life beyond her rural walls and affixing to her imagination. After reading - and completely falling for the fantasy world created by Bruce Coville in The Unicorn Chronicles, I knew she was ready for another magical world.
I kept placing J.K. Rowling's, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone in her view, on her bedside table and offering gentle nudges, but she resisted me again and again. Finally, one night, frustrated that she didn't have anything new or interesting to read, I offered Harry Potter to her yet again. I gently suggested, "Why not just read the first chapter and see if you like it." My dear friends, I am happy to report, my devious literary plan worked like a spellbinding charm because she was hooked!! And by "hooked" I mean she became literally obsessed. I had no idea where this love of Rowling's magical, mystical world would take her, but after reading ALL seven of the Harry Potter books at least three times (maybe four now), plus the newer releases of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, my husband and I knew we had to take her to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando!!! And take we did!
Our previous days spent visiting Disneyworld's Epcot and Magic Kingdom were quite thrilling and wonderful fun for all of us, but NOTHING could prepare us for what lie ahead at Universal Studios! Now, Universal Studios Orlando has two different parks! There's Universal Studios Florida (where we started our quest with Diagon Alley) and Universal's Islands of Adventure (where Hogsmeade is located). The two parks are connected by railway, the Hogwart's Express. It was necessary to purchase park-to-park tickets for us to get the full magical experience of both parks and both wizarding worlds and quite happily we did! The buildup, the anticipation for this day spent reveling in the wizarding and witchcraft world of Harry Potter and all of his friends (and some foes) and familiar magical creatures left us awestruck with reckless abandon...
I entered Diagon Alley ahead of my family so I could get their immediate reactions upon entering... I'm so glad I did!! :)) Alanna, proudly representing the house of Ravenclaw, is doing a happy dance!!! Emilia, proudly representing Gryffindor, couldn't hide her enthusiasm!!! :)
Our first stop, Ollivander's, makers of fine wands since 382 B.C.! The girls couldn't wait to find their very own wand in this floor to ceiling stacked boxes and boxes full of wands!
Ah, I think Alanna was a bit overwhelmed...
The curator or guide to help young wizards and witches discover their very own wand chose a member of the audience at random to come forward and try out each wand until the wand itself chooses the recipient. It was a magical delight of mishaps and of the shining moment when the wand reveals its chosen owner.
The Ivy wand won over Alanna's heart and the Hawthorn chose Emilia.
Inside Gringott's Money Exchange we met this salty-looking character. We asked multiple questions of him and he had plenty of matter-of-fact style responses for us. Such as, "How much money do you have?" The goblin banker's reply, "More than you'll ever know." ;) Another question we had for him was, "Are those your real ears?" His reply, "Well, of course!"
Street performers dazzle the crowd with a magical puppet show!
After taking in as much as we possibly could of Diagon Alley, we were all set to take to the rails for the Hogwart's Express departing from King's Crossing Station, 9 3/4 platform to our destination, Hogsmeade Station. The train ride itself is another magical experience! It's about a 5 minute ride with plenty of fun surprises and a magical view as we traveled through the countryside!!
All aboard!!!
Seriously, what a fun juxtaposition to arrive Hogsmeade with snow littering the quaint village rooftops while folks are dressed in sleeveless shirts, shorts, sun hats, doing everything they can to stay cool. Wild!
Inside the Owl Post we found quill pens, journals, postcards, wax seals and more! The girls found trinkets to their heart's content!! Me? I found trinkets to photograph to my heart's content!
There it is! Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!! It is amazingly grand!!
We had no idea how thrilling and surreal the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride would be! Serious stuff. When they tell you that you must lock everything you are carrying up in a secure locker before entering, that should have been our first clue. Hey, how scary could this possibly be, right?! We're looking around us and notice that there are lots of kids of all ages, so we went for it. Little did we know that our girls were not quite ready for this one. Kurt and I loved it! My overall reaction was a mixture of wide-eyed shrieks of outright laughter and terrified screams!! I mean, when a dragon breathes smoke and vapors in my face, just inches away, okay, I'm screaming!!! It was INCREDIBLE! Our girls, however, were scared out of their wits and cried uncontrollably afterwards. They did eventually calm down, but... it took a lot of reassuring hugs to get there. This ride is like nothing I've ever experienced before. Universal has outdone themselves with this nonstop thrill ride!
Here's the excerpt about the ride and the experience from Universal's website:
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
"Enter through the towering castle gates and make your way down the familiar passageways and corridors of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Visit iconic locations such as Dumbledore's office, the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Gryffindor™ common room, the Room of Requirement, and more.
Then get ready to soar above the castle grounds as you join Harry Potter™ and his friends on an unforgettably thrilling adventure, coming face-to-face with an array of magical creatures. This amazing attraction uses groundbreaking, state-of-the-art technology (and a little magic) to create a one-of-a-kind ride."
After all that excitement and literally coming back down to earth, we decided to get ourselves a sweet treat of frozen Butterbeer (there isn't a drop of alcohol in this beer). The girls stamped their approval on it!
It was a full day of exciting thrills! We had to catch the Hogwart's Express back to King's Cross Station. It did not disappoint, nor repeat the first ride. And we traveled with more smiles on our faces!!
Outside of Diagon Alley's entrance we found the Knight Bus, otherwise known as "Emergency Transport For The Stranded Witch Or Wizard." The girls had an opportunity to chit-chat with the talkative shrunken head which hangs over the steering wheel, and the bus conductor, too.
This, my friends and family, is one happy, tired, overall satisfied family right here. A group of young women noticed me struggling to get an "usie-selfie" family shot with the turning sphere in the background before leaving the park, and took pity on us. They got a few pics for us, attempting to time it just right. I'm grateful they did! They had all of us giggling with their remarks and friendliness. Thanks so much ladies! We gave them our 4 Fast Passes we hadn't used in exchange for their kindnesses. :)
What an - I can safely say this - AWESOME DAY we had together among the mystical, magical creatures and people and rides and shops and witchy, wizarding FUN!!! We all want to go back!
Sincere gratitude to Universal Studios Orlando for the imagination, the joy, the smiles you put on my family's faces. Most especially, my deep gratitude to J.K. Rowling for stirring the heart of a ten-year-old girl to dream in fantastic colors, for transporting her imagination to an all new level. You have my utmost respect and admiration.
Mischief managed...


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By Steve Pavey, you can see more of Steve's work at www.stevepavey.com, and you can donate to Steve's prophetic ministry here.
"There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried."
- Óscar Romero
Traveling for the last two weeks through local communities in North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas on my way to the Border Convergence, I have been listening and learning from the voices of those directly affected by this US state violence based on racism, greed and fear of the "other." The main goal of my storytelling journey of acompañamiento was to bear witness to US state violence beyond an abstraction, to its lived experience in real bodies and communities. State violence, like all other forms of violence, is a visceral experience embodied most potently as death, but also as racial profiling, incarceration, deportation, labor exploitation, sickness, depression, fear and much more.
Read More About the journey to the Border Convergence here:
It has been said too often by well meaning people that "we who have a voice must speak for the voiceless." My trip to the Border Convergence has given me a different perspective and urgency. The "voiceless" have a voice and they are screaming with it in their struggle for justice and liberation. The urgency is not to speak for the voiceless, but for those who have ears to learn to hear. The School of the Americas watch movement began in part from the inspiration of the murdered Archbishop Óscar Romero of El Salvador, who broke from following the hierarchy of the institutional church as he began to listen to the cries of the oppressed Salvadoran campesinos and moved to accompany their struggle for liberation.
The tragic reality facing the US church today is this:
"For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them." - Matthew 13:15
Small metal markers throughout a cemetery near a Border Patrol checkpoint have recently been discovered and hide the unknown remains of thousands of migrants who have died attempting to circumvent the checkpoint. The Texas Human Rights Center in partnership with university forensic teams are working to identify the remains and advocate for policy to prevent these deaths in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.


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TORONTO, Ont. - Canada faces the threat of another massive spike in fuel prices next winter because of diesel inventories that are as much as 80 per cent lower than those that led to record price hike...
TORONTO, Ont. – Canada faces the threat of another massive spike in fuel prices next winter because of diesel inventories that are as much as 80 per cent lower than those that led to record price hikes last February.
The price of diesel fuel has been quietly creeping back up in recent weeks, and at press time was sitting near 65 cents per litre in Eastern Canada and about eight or nine cents cheaper than that in the West.
Although those prices are certainly high, they are still lower than the breathtaking levels achieved this past February, when a cold snap in the Northeastern U.S. helped push average prices at the pump to more than 75 cents a litre in Quebec and the Maritimes and 71 cents a litre in Ontario. During the worst week of the month, the price spiked as high as 89 cents litre in Quebec and 88 cents in Ontario, pushing many owner/operators off the road and sparking protests across the country.
Relative to the February costs, 65 cents per litre may seem like a pretty good deal. But according to Tom Kloza, a petroleum industry analyst with New Jersey-based Oil Price Information Service, anyone involved in the trucking business should start planning for a "winter of discontent" right now.
"It is not a good situation," Kloza says. "You can probably expect to get a break on diesel price hikes for a few months, but once the leaves start changing, it could be `here we go again.'"
Kloza says people involved in the trucking industry still have some time to plan for potential fuel price hikes next winter. He suggests it would be "prudent" to talk to lenders, suppliers and customers about a plan with such things as fuel surcharges.
The problem is with diesel fuel inventories, and dates all the way back to February 1999, says Kloza. That was the month the price of a barrel of crude oil reached a 10-year low of about $11. At that time, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to scale back its production of crude to push the price to what it deemed a more reasonable level. As a result, the price of crude rose steadily throughout the remainder of 1999.
That rise was mirrored, in turn, by a steady increase in the rack price (or the price before taxes) of diesel fuel. According to figures compiled by En-Pro International Inc. – an Oshawa, Ont.-based consulting company that tracks petroluem prices – the rack price of diesel rose from a low of between 15 and 18 cents per litre across the country in February 1999 to between 29 and 32 cents per litre by December.
The oil companies started courting disaster, though, when they cut down on their crude purchases, anticipating a drop in the price.
"One oil company was trying to out-guess the other on when to buy," says Ron Rosnak, an oil industry analyst with En-Pro. "They thought that OPEC would open the taps and crude would fall, so they allowed inventory levels to fall."
But OPEC didn't open the taps, and the sad state of inventory levels was exposed when a cold snap hit the Northeast U.S. in January and February of this year. The cold weather jacked up the demand for heating oil, which is refined from the same middle distillate as diesel fuel. More demand for heating oil meant less production of diesel, and, well, any truck driver east of Winnipeg could tell you the rest.
Although both the oil and trucking industries got through the fuel crisis last winter with few disruptions, the seeds of a future crisis were planted in the spring. That's when the refineries made their seasonal switch from heating oil (and therefore diesel fuel) production to gasoline production for the summer driving season. Plus, OPEC appeared determined to keep the price of crude in the $25-to-$30-a-barrel range, so recovering from the crisis would not be cheap.
"The inventory levels of middle distillates were not built up to historic levels as of May," Roznak says. "In my view, if these levels don't get back up, we will have the same problems we had last year. In fact, last year's increases could appear mild."
Currently, says Roznak, the inventory level of middle distillates in the U.S. is almost 25 per cent lower than it was at this time last year. In the Northeast U.S., the level is about 80 per cent below normal. That is significant to the Canadian market in that the price of diesel fuel here will be driven by the price in neighboring U.S. markets where the demand is greater.
Bob Clapp, vice-president of the Ontario division of the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, a petroleum industry think tank and lobby group, acknowledges that North American inventory levels of middle distillates are currently well below normal. But he does not feel a potential crisis is brewing for next fall or winter.
"Obviously, the objective of the petroleum industry is to go into next winter with inventory to meet customer demand," Clapp says. "I don't think it (the reduced inventory levels of middle distillate) is causing a problem right now and speculating about shortages at this point is not in the cards."
Clapp points out that the total volume of fuel oil (for both heating and diesel fuel) produced annually by refineries amounts to only about one third of the volume of gasoline produced, so making up the shortfall doesn't take nearly as long.
The problem is finding the time to make the switch.
"The industry came out of last January and February with low inventories of everything," Clapp says. "We are still about 10 per cent below last year on gas, despite running hard to make it up. But the prime demand now is gas… once they get ahead they can start working on diesel."
But "getting ahead" could prove difficult for the oil companies, if not undesirable. North American highways are now clogged with gas-guzzling SUVs and minivans, and summer vacations lie ahead. Besides, argues Kloza, "tight supplies make for good profits." Given the fact the average price of gasoline in Canada stood at a record high of about 75 cents a litre in mid-June, there could be more incentive for the oil companies to take a Just-In-Time approach to inventory levels.
But if the demand for gasoline remains strong well past Labor Day, and the first cold snap of the year comes in November instead of January, the refineries may simply not have enough time to build up the inventories they need to avoid a diesel fuel problem next winter.
Says Roznak: "If the inventory situation is not rectified, prices could be higher this fall and winter than they were last year. OPEC is shipping crude; the shortage is not crude. But the product has to be refined. The question is, can the refineries make up the shortfall?
Adds Kloza: "The scary thing is, last winter was one of the mildest on record. We are really talking about just a few days that caused the spike in demand.
"Imagine if we had a month like December 1989, when it stayed at 10 or 15 below zero for a month." n


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If the Constitution created the federal government, then a reasonable question to ask would be, "What is the purpose of that government in the first place?" What do you think the purpose of government is? Look at what the people ask the government to do and what do you see? They want government to protect them. Protect them from criminals, terrorists, poverty and, sometimes, the consequences of their own decisions. But is that the purpose of government? Is it even possible for government to protect us from anything?
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men
Declaration of Independence
When our forefathers declared their independence from Britain, they also said that governments are instituted to protect the rights of their citizens. When you read the Declaration of Independence you see 27 specific grievances related to the king's violation of the colonists' rights as British citizens. These grievances are evidence of the British crown's violation of their rights, and by extension, the primary purpose of government.
So what about those who want government to protect them? I suppose it's natural for some to want to be taken care of and to hand over their freedom in exchange for a little security. I also suppose there are many who would be quite happy to dictate others' lives with the promise of a good and peaceful life for themselves. But what did our Founding Fathers think?
We have taken every Step in our Power, consistent with the just Rights of the Freemen of Pennsylvania, for their Relief, and we have Reason to believe, that in the Midst of their Distresses they themselves do not wish us to go farther. Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, Deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Benjamin Franklin – 1755 Letter from the Pennsylvania Legislature to the Pennsylvania Governor
I'm sure most of us have heard the last sentence quoted often. I put it in context because I've read several articles lately stating that what Benjamin Franklin said doesn't mean what it says. During the French and Indian war, the Pennsylvania frontier was being attacked and the people there needed protection. As Franklin states in his letter, the legislature had taken every step that was within their power, and they did not believe the frontiersmen wished them to go farther. Why would a people in the midst of a war request their government do no more to protect them? "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, Deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Nothing is free. Government isn't free, safety isn't free, and certainly liberty is not free. We all want safety and liberty, but are we willing to pay the price? The cost of safety is not only the money it takes, but the freedom we must sacrifice for it. When you give someone the power to protect you, you give them the power to order your life. Look at the President of the United States; everywhere he goes he is followed by a security detail. His movement are coordinated and even determined by his detail. Even his most private and intimate moments are accompanied by security. Do you not think the President pays a price for his safety? It's the same for ordinary Americans as well. We live under surveillance, our communication is monitored, and even innocent banking transactions are tracked, all in the name of keeping us safe. Air travel now involves intrusive and unreasonable searches of our persons and property, all in the name of keeping us safe. Our rights that are protected by the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments are routinely violated, all in the name of keeping us safe. And guess what, they don't keep us that safe!
So, if the purpose of government is to protect our rights, why does it seem to spend most of its time violating them in the name of keeping us safe? Because Americans, as a whole, have become lazy and dependent. For 80 years government has promised they will take care of things for us if we just give them a little of our liberty. And we believed them. They said they will protect you from criminals, provide for your old age, take care of you when you're sick, make sure you get an education, that your house is built right, that your medicine will work, that your air is clean, that your car is safe, and that nothing bad will happen to you. All you have to do is limit your right to protect yourself, give up your right to provide the best education, medical care, and retirement you can find, turn over your right to privacy and property, and to not be harassed by government officials. And did it work? We turned over most of our liberties for a promise of safety and what did we get? We get law enforcement that will investigate the crime after you've been hurt or killed, substandard education, healthcare, and retirement that only the well-off can afford to bypass, laws and regulations that make it harder to build that home or start that business, make your car more expensive, and protect government actors that fail to keep our air and water clean, not to mention dictating what you can or cannot do with your property. In short, government provides substandard services at an exorbitant price while taking away your freedoms every day. And what do a majority of Americans seem to want? They want more of the same. Just keep them safe, wipe their runny noses, and tell them what to do.
I think Benjamin Franklin was right. We have given up our essential liberties for the promise of safety and those promises have failed. We do not deserve either liberty or safety unless we are willing to provide them for ourselves. Stop looking for government to provide something it was never designed to do. Governments are formed to protect our rights, not our safety. Perhaps, if we defended our own rights a bit more vigorously, then our safety would not be in so much jeopardy.


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I have been obsessed with spray tanning and teeth whitening for over 10 years! I am a native Arizonian and love having a deep natural looking tan with a bright white smile. I am constantly researching and trying new products to keep my customers looking their very best. I take great pride in providing my clients with knowledge in regards to spray tanning and teeth whitening. I believe that keeping my clients well informed allows them to achieve better results. I love what I do and I strive everyday to keep improving my skills and am constantly learning new techniques to improve my craft. I will always be your #1 advocate for making you look amazing!
Mary Daniels
Instant Beauty Spa


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We invite proposals from faculty planning to submit applications for external funding – either for programmatic initiatives or for specific research projects – whose applications would be strengthened by demonstrating an institutional commitment from Harvard. Examples of activities that the Program could support include workshops, invited speakers, etc. Applicants to other funding categories may use support of the Brazil Studies program to help win major external grants. The "Matching Funds" category is intended specifically for this purpose. These funds are made possible by funding from the Lemann Endowment.
Who is eligible?
Applicants must be an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor employed full-time by Harvard University in any Harvard Department or School.
The maximum award available is $10,000.
How to Apply?
Applications should include:
- A proposal of up to 1500 words;
- Short research profiles or vitae of anticipated participants; and
- A detailed budget.
Application materials should be sent in a single email to Tiago Genoveze (firstname.lastname@example.com) with the subject "Application to BSP Funding".
Deadline: February 7, 2019. All applications will be peer reviewed. Applicants will be notified by March 23, 2019.
All grant recipients will be asked, as a condition of their acceptance of the award, to submit a follow-up report describing their outcomes and the expenses associated with their project. All recipients must notify the Brazil Studies program of other funding they receive for the same project. Awards will be adjusted in cases of duplicate funding for the same items.


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So for those of you who are bitter that I'm on vacation...you might want to skip this blog. It's a funny thing being a mom. I spend all my time with my kids but, yesterday I got to spend one-on-one time with Adriah and I got to see a whole new side of her.
We already knew that she's talks non-stop! (My sister says I need to watch the movie "Definitely, Maybe" because the little girl never stops talking either and I would laugh at the similarities!) Getting to share new things with Adriah means I get to learn about her as she reacts to each new thing. Let me give you an example: Matt stayed back with Leyton last night so Adriah and I went exploring...we went on new walking paths, played at the park, played hopscotch on the stones and ended up at a campfire. (SIDENOTE:I grew up going to camp then became a counselor as soon as I was old enough and still remember tons of songs we sang around the fire. No surprises there!) So, last night, I got to teach Adriah a classic echo song and then we made a smore to share (of course, she wanted 5 more but I cut off because the night before she was up til 10pm.)
Then to top off the day...we bought sponge curlers in Lutsen, I put them in Adriah's hair before she went to bed and she slept in them. This morning she woke up to curly hair...just like her friend Delaney! I used to put curlers in my own hair every Saturday night so, my hair would be curly for church the next day! This may sound dumb to you but, it was really fun to do girly things with my daughter. On vacation I don't have the same responsibilities...and I'm more intentional about pouring into my daughter...I love her!


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Phone number: 029635....
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2018 Women's Lacrosse News
Traverse, Versprille named to IWLCA/Zag Sports Academic Honor RollJuly 23, 2018MANCHESTER, N.H. – Marta Versprille '18 and Jamie Traverse '18, recent graduates of Saint Anselm College and four-year members of the women's lacrosse program, were named to the 2018 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Zag Sports Division II Academic Honor Roll for the second-straight season on Monday.
From the A.D.'s Desk - Spring Hawk HeadlinesJune 15, 2018
Saint Anselm posts highest NE10 Presidents' Cup finish in 12 yearsJune 05, 2018The Saint Anselm College Department of Athletics posted its highest finish in the Northeast-10 Conference Presidents' Cup in 12 years by placing ninth in the 2017-18 academic year, as the conference released the final standings on Wednesday.
Three from women's lacrosse named All-NE10May 03, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team had three student-athletes earn All-Northeast-10 Conference accolades as the league office announced its year-end awards on Friday.
Women's lacrosse falls to fourth-ranked Le Moyne in NE10 quarterfinalsMay 02, 2018Fourth-ranked Le Moyne College used a 13-goal first half to defeat the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team, 18-1, in the quarterfinals of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship on Wednesday afternoon at Ted Grant Field.
PREVIEW: Women's lacrosse returns to postseason Wednesday at Le MoyneMay 01, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team has earned its first Northeast-10 Conference Championship berth since 2015 and will hit the road to face Le Moyne College in a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, May 2.
Women's lacrosse drops regular-season finale at No. 20 New HavenApril 28, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team dropped its regular-season finale, 20-16, to No. 20 New Haven despite six goals and one assist from senior Erica Mattila on Saturday afternoon at Kathy Zolad Stadium.
Women's lacrosse secures postseason berth despite loss to No. 14 PaceApril 25, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team led No. 14-ranked Pace University, 9-6, early in the second half, but the Setters scored the game's final nine goals down the stretch to run away with a 15-9 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.
Top-ranked Adelphi defeats women's lacrosseApril 21, 2018Ten goalscorers helped lead top-ranked Adelphi University to an 18-4 victory over the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.
Women's lacrosse falls in seesaw affair at StonehillApril 17, 2018Host Stonehill College scored seven of the game's final eight goals in the last 16:00 to defeat the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team, 14-12, in a back-and-forth Northeast-10 Conference game on Tuesday evening at W.B. Mason Stadium.
Women's lacrosse tops No. 24 Assumption, 12-11, on Senior DayApril 14, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team posted its first victory over a nationally-ranked team in nearly three years by holding off No. 24 Assumption College, 12-11, on Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.
Sheehy sets new assist record, women's lacrosse falls at No. 14 MerrimackApril 11, 2018Senior Meaghan Sheehy set a new single-season program record for assists as part of a four-goal, four-assist performance for the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team in a 25-16 loss at No. 14 Merrimack College on Wednesday evening at Merrimack Stadium.
Fourth-ranked Le Moyne too much for women's lacrosseApril 07, 2018Senior Meaghan Sheehy recorded four goals and two assists for the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team in a 16-8 loss at fourth-ranked Le Moyne College on Saturday at Ted Grant Field.
Mattila, Beck lead women's lacrosse past Franklin Pierce, 14-12April 04, 2018Senior Erica Mattila and junior Molly Beck scored five goals apiece and the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team held off Franklin Pierce University in the second half for a 14-12 victory on Wednesday evening at Grappone Stadium.
From the A.D.'s Desk - Spring Sports UpdateApril 03, 2018
Nationally-ranked Bentley halts women's lacrosse's winning streakMarch 31, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team saw its six-game winning streak come to an end, as No. 24 Bentley scored three-straight goals to break an 8-8 tie late in the second half to secure a 12-9 victory on Saturday at Grappone Stadium.
Women's lacrosse cruises past Penmen for sixth-straight victoryMarch 28, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team surged out to a 14-2 halftime lead on its way to a 19-7 victory over crosstown-rival Southern New Hampshire University in a Queen City Cup clash on Wednesday evening at Penmen Field.
Women's lacrosse wins fifth in a row, topping AIC on the roadMarch 23, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team won its fifth-straight game and moved to 3-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference with a 20-10 road victory at American International College on Friday at Abdow Field.
SCHEDULE CHANGES: Spring sport updates (Updated 4/26, 2:00 PM)March 21, 2018The inclement weather conditions have resulted in numerous schedule updates for Saint Anselm College's spring sports teams. Below is a list of schedule changes to-date by sport beginning with the week of Apr. 2, which will be updated moving forward as changes are made.
Sheehy named NE10 Player of the Week after record-tying performanceMarch 21, 2018Senior attack Meaghan Sheehy of the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team was named the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week on Wednesday after her record-tying performance in Saturday's win over Southern Connecticut State University.
Mattila, Sheehy lead women's lacrosse to fourth-straight winMarch 20, 2018Seniors Erica Mattila and Meaghan Sheehy combined for 12 goals and Mattila tallied her 100th-career point for the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team in a 20-10 victory over Saint Michael's College on Tuesday at Grappone Stadium.
Sheehy ties record, hits milestone in win over OwlsMarch 17, 2018Senior attack Meaghan Sheehy tied the program record with 11 points, including the 100th of her career, as the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team eased past Southern Connecticut State University, 19-8, in its home and Northeast-10 Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.
TIME CHANGE: Women's lacrosse at Le Moyne on April 7March 13, 2018The start time for the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team's game at Le Moyne on Saturday, April 7 has been adjusted to an 11 a.m. start.
Women's lacrosse posts second-straight final-minute winMarch 09, 2018Senior Emma Palumbo scored a career-high five goals and classmate Meaghan Sheehy scored on a free-position shot with nine seconds remaining to lift the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team to a 15-14 victory over Bloomsburg University on Friday at Steph Pettit Stadium.
Beck, Sheehy power women's lacrosse past Georgian Court, 18-17March 05, 2018SAINT LEO, Fla. – Junior Molly Beck scored a free-position goal for the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team with 23 seconds left in regulation time, lifting the Hawks to a thrilling 18-17 victory over Georgian Court University on Monday.
Women's lacrosse battles No. 6 Florida Tech before falling, 15-12March 03, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team hung with its second-straight ranked opponent on the road to start the season before succumbing to No. 6 Florida Tech, 15-12, on Saturday evening at FTP Stadium.
Women's lacrosse upended by No. 12 Mercy in overtime, 13-12February 24, 2018DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team opened its season on Saturday, losing in overtime to No. 11 Mercy (N.Y.) College by a 13-12 score.
133 student-athletes named to Fall NE10 Commissioner's Honor RollFebruary 09, 2018One-hundred-thirty-three Saint Anselm College student-athletes were recognized for their work in the classroom as the Fall 2017 Northeast-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll was announced by the conference office on Friday.
Women's lacrosse announces 2018 scheduleFebruary 06, 2018The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team and head coach Meghan Smith have announced the Hawks' schedule for the upcoming 2018 season, which features a two-game trip to Florida in early March and seven matchups against teams ranked in the preseason top-20 by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA).
From the A.D.'s Desk - Hall of Fame Induction CeremonyJanuary 30, 2018


text:
2018 Gear of the Year
2018 was the best year for gear since I started the site. There were great high end releases, great lower priced releases, huge surprises and delightful comebacks. If you were a gear fan in 2018 your wallet (and significant other) hated you. I started working on this article in late September because I knew it would be a challenge and during the writing, new entries came out.
In particular the knife category was very strong. Production blades, thanks to high end Chinese makers, were driven to a new level this year with amazing fit and finish. But it wasn't just Chinese makers—makers all over the world responded to this push and as a result the knife market was exceptionally strong, proof of the logic of capitalism on a small scale.
As always there are few rules. First, the product has to be released in 2018. The Gent, for example, had a drop in 2017 but thanks to Massdrop's pokey pace, it didn't actually get into most people's mitts until 2018. That counts. I also count upgrades of prior versions of kit, so the S35VN Pilar counts. This is not a terribly strict rule, but one designed to highlight new stuff even when old stuff is pretty strong. Second, once a product wins a big award (Overall GOTY, Best Value, Most Innovative, Biggest Surprise), it is out of contention for the product-specific awards (Best Knife). This allows me to showcase as much cool stuff as possible. Finally, in categories where there is cross over, such as in the pens category, I am considering things in terms of how they perform as EDC gear, not in terms of how it functions as a pen qua pen. This is important because, for example, metal barrelled fountain pens fair much better than acrylic barreled pens in EDC, but as far as pen folks are concerned, the added weight of metal is a drawback. So with the ground rules laid out, here we go.
Here is the Everyday Commentary Amazon Store.
Overall Gear of the Year: Massdrop x Ferrum Forge Gent
Nominees: CRKT Pilar in S35VN, Nik's Minimalist Wallet, Frelux Synergy I
The Gent is the Practically Perfect Knife. Its got whippy, kinetic action, looks great, runs a very good steel, exhibits an excellent build quaity and possesses smart design features, like a finger choil that still allows the edge to be sharpened all the way to the end. This is an excellent knife. When I first got one in trade I didn't know the price and so I assumed it was in the $150-$200 range. I thought it was one of the best knifes on the market for that price. Then I found out it cost $80. This is pretty clearly the best piece of gear released in 2018 and an achievement by Massdrop. All of a sudden, there is a new player in the knife game and they are dropping bombs on the market. Oh, and then they released an upscale version, with CF or rosewood handles and it too was pretty damn awesome. WE Knives, Ferrum Forge and Massdrop scored big here. I am excited to see what they do in 2019 (how about a WE Knives made, Massdrop sold, Mick Strider designed PT? Please....Or a LC200N Dragonfly. Either would be fine).
The other nominees and a slew of amazing folders would have won any other year, but this year is positively stacked. I loved the Pilar a ton, but I found myself carrying the Gent more and so, in the end, I am relying on habit to demonstrate quality. I could be persuaded that the Bihn Wallet is the best product of the year—it is certainly my most consistent carry of the year, but the Gent was something I looked forward to pocketing whereas Nik's Wallet was just an auto carry. The big challenge for me, came in distinguishing the Frelux Synergy I from the Gent. The Synergy I is an amazingly cool light and it too was something that added a bit of joy to my day when I carried it. In the end, I used the Gent more and so I opted for that. Like I said, 2018 was stacked. And I didn't even get to the slew of awesome folders this year.
Best Value of the Year: CRKT Pilar in S35VN
Nominees: Frelux Synergy I, Massdrop x Ferrum Forge Gent, Spyderco Chaparral in FRN, Giant Mouse Ace Iona, Kershaw Atmos
This is an upscale knife—carbon fiber and S35VN matching a great design—but at the same time it is still a good buy. At $67 this knife is $25-$30 cheaper than the Delica with better steel and better handle material. And the Delica, even post MAP jump, is still a decent value. This knife is cheaper than the TRM Neutron, the SOG Terminus XR, the Spyderco Chaparral, the Mass Drop Gent. And if you want to find something with S35VN that is cheaper you have to drop down to the LA Police Gear TBFK, which is a good buy but not an outstanding knife. This Pilar is the best value on the market and as I wrote in the review, if this marriage of high end design, high end materials, and elite value is a portent of the future of CRKT everyone else making knives should be worried.
Most Innovative Product of the Year: Tom Bihn Nik's Minimalist Wallet
Nominees: Frelux Synergy I, Micro USB chargeable cells, Buck 110 Slim Pro, Hinderer Tri-Way Pivot, Isham Blackstar
I had my share of wallets pass through my hands before the Tom Bihn. Lots and lots of them. Some bulky, some not. A stupid one with a zipper. Wallet after wallet after wallet. Never buy a machined metal wallet, they are pain in the ass, literally. Wallets are so hard to design, so challenging to make, that I just gave up. Then I got the Nik's Minimalist Wallet. The materials are great, not unusual, but great. It is the design here that scores the points. The wallet is designed using ideas from origami, and the result is a wallet with a single seam and an impressive lack of bulk. Over and over again, I carried the Minimalist and I was never disappointed, not once. This wallet just works, so much so that my search for a wallet is over. Tom Bihn solved the most difficult to design item in all of EDC and for that, they get the Most Innovative award.
Biggest Surprise: Frelux Synergy I
Nominees: Buck 110 Slim Pro, SOG Terminus XR, CRKT Pilar in S35VN, Knives and Tools Grailer 1
Like a sudden peel of thunder on a dark summer evening, the Frelux came out of nowhere. Ben isn't a flashlight guy (well, he makes his own, so he is by default a flashlight guy, but he doesn't traffic in them like most flashoholics). He didn't just supe up an existing torch. And he didn't charge an arm and a leg for his light. So when it turns out that the Synergy I is one of the best lights on the market, color me surprised. Knock me over with a feather surprised. Its just that good, that different, and that unprecedented. This is Ben's first foray into flashlights. Imagine what that means for future designs.
Best Company: Massdrop
Nominees: Spyderco, Hinderer Knives, 47s, Three Rivers Manufacturing
The Gent killed it. But so did the Keen, the Crux, and the Prism. All had their fans. Then there were the Gavko, Ochs, and Terzuola collabs. That line up alone would make them one of the best knife companies this year. But they made other exclusive items too—a cool EDC case, a few exclusive pens. Massdrop has become a must visit site and if they can expand to collab torches and iron out the kinks in the glacial speed delivery system, they are poised to be the best place to buy EDC gear. They have a eye for knife collabs and even if that is all they ever do, they will still be an important player in the knife game. This year's line up blew everyone else away. I'd like to see a bit of variation going forward, enough with the framelock flippers, but that is a picked nit given how good their releases were this year.
Best Knife: TRM Neutron
Nominees: Massdrop Gent, CRKT Pilar in S35VN, TRM Neutron, Spyderco Chaparral in FRN, SOG Terminus XR, Sharp by Design Micro Typhoon
I have rewritten this entry three times. In the first draft Ihad the Chaparral winning. In the second, I had the Mini Typhoon winning. And, I have two of the nominees winning in other categories. As you can see, this is a very competitive race. Honestly, I could have written a version where the SOG Terminus XR won too. If you picked any of these knives over the TRM I wouldn't think you were crazy.
But, in the end, the Neutron's ultra thin carry, ultra slicey blade, and funadmentally sound design means that it is just too good to ignore. The fact that you are getting an all American Made knife, even down to the steel for $159.95 is a testament to just how good the knife market is right now. Everything about the Neutron was perfectly executed—from the grind to the custom thumbstuds. The Neutron is a study in what works as opposed to a study of exotic materials. And when you are making a tool as opposed to a piece of jewelry going with what works seems to be a better choice. In many ways the Neutron is the anti-2018 knife. As high end Chinese companies start to take over the market with blingy, beefy titanium framelock flippers the Neutron is there, doing its thing, cutting and carrying like a champ all at a very reasonable price. There is always some value in going against the trends—it allows your product to automatically stand out. When you couple that with excellent materials and design you get a winner.
Finally, there is this point—the TRM Neutron not just a competitive knife for the price, it is a superior knife for the price and we have long been told by pundits talking macroeconomics that American companies simply can't compete with overseas companies on price. WRONG.
Best Flashlight: Fenix E16
Nominees: RovyVon A2, Frelux Synergy I, oLight S1RII, FourSevens Preon Mk. III, Surefire Stiletto, Thrunight Neutron 2C
Going first gets you the glory. Going last lets you capitalize on the mistakes of others. And so it is with the E16, Fenix's first micro-sized side switch EDC light. Built like a handful of other lights, the E16 succeeds by being just a smidge smaller, just a smidge brighter, just a smidge cheaper, and a whole lot better in terms of beam quality. The reflector here, a complex affair to be sure, is the real key—that and the very warm emitter. Both are standard and both make this one of the best EDC lights on the market right now. Its half the size of your thumb, weighs 1.2 ounces with a battery, has excellent color rendering and surprisingly good throw for a tiny torch. Its about as un-innovative as it gets, but what it lacks in new ideas it makes up for in polish. Great torch.
Best Pen: Prometheus Designs Bamboo Fountain Pen
Nominees: TWSBI ECO T, Schon Dsgn Clip, TWSBI Go, Rotring 600 Ballpoint
Jason Hui has been making some of my favorite gear for years now. His torches are killer. His pens are amazing. His doodads, like the quick release, are great at making your EDC just better. But the Bamboo Pen feels like it is a step up. The quality has always been there, but this is an item that has a new and organic design yet still feels unmistakably like a Jason Hui-made object. This is the first item that doesn't just have a great design, it has a bit of true artistry in it. Of course, it works sublimely well and it is about the toughest fountain pen you will ever find. This was an easy pick. This is clearly the best EDC pen of 2018.
Best Pack: Not enough info
Nominees: TAD Spectre 22L, TAD Axiom 24L, Boundary Errant Pack
Packs have really become hard to review (noting that they were already among the hardest items to review). The market has splintered in a bunch of different ways. Its not just that there are more packs or that they packs are designed for more niche uses than they used to be. The real problem for pack reviewers is that the sheer number of new pack makers is very high and that they originate from widely differing niches. I feel pretty comfortable with the more tactical packs, as well as business and travel packs. But the pack companies that made their mark by designing packs around camera gear are out of my realm of knowledge and comfort zone, but as the Boundary Errant proves, some of these designers and companies really know what they are doing. The Boundary Errant looks especially interesting because it has all of the gee whiz fabric tech and a nice design all while coming in at a very decent $110. The two TAD packs can't even imagine what it is like to come in that cheap. One of my goals for the site in 2019 is to venture into new territory, I am working my first watch review, a review of the Sinn 556. In this push I also want to get more familar with all of these new packs. Thanks to Charlie in the comments section of the Nominees list for sending me down this rabbit hole.
Best Multitool: Ugh.
Nominees: Gerber Center-Drive MT, Leatherman Charge+ and Wave +, Gerber Dime Bladeless
Yep, the multitool market can't get much snoozier than it was in 2018. After Leatherman released a ton of interesting stuff a few years ago, the market fell asleep. The center drive Gerber was last year and, I am not sure you noticed, its a Gerber. The SOG line up was, again, innovative a few years ago. And like everyone else, SOG decided to not release anything all that different this year. Sure there were a million and one one piece multitools, but these have become more gimmick than gimme. Let's hope there are some interesting items at SHOT because this is market segment is about as boring as it gets. Forced to pick I'd probably go with the Gerber Dime Bladeless. Yawn.
Best Accessory: Massdrop EDC Chest
Nominees: Takeya 18 oz. Bottle, Hydroflask Coffee Cup, USB Chargeable AAA
While both bottles are really excellent, one showing up old designs readily, and the other expanding those old designs into new territory, its the Massdrop EDC Chest that just captured my brain. I have a Gerstner chest for my gear, which is probably as nice a set up as I will ever need, but the Massdrop EDC Chest still had me hovering over the "Buy Now" button for a long, long time. The ability to store and display watches, lights, pens, and knives all in one place is pretty cool. The fact that you can charge gear in there too is awesome. But the real catch is the fact that all of this is available for $110. Even as I write this I am having a hard time resisting the urge to buy it.
Derrick Bohn/Marshall Hoots Outstanding Contribution to the Community: Advanced Knife Bro
This award is named in honor of two really great gear geeks—Derrick Bohn, owner of Knives Ship Free, and Marshall Hoots, owner of Going Gear. Both passed away far too early and both had an outsized influence on the gear community. They were genial, fun to watch, and had an unabiding passion for gear and the people that carry it. They both made the gear community a nicer, more welcoming, and enjoyable place. The award aim as highlighting someone that pairs Derrick and Marshall's passion for gear with a sense of invitation and fun.
People on the Internet take everything WAY TOO SERIOUSLY. Its not just gear. Go read some Star Wars fan posts about how good the Prequels were. They are an exhibit of insanity (and no, they were not good, despite the great production design and the fact that they gave birth to one of the best Star Wars properties ever—the Clone Wars TV show). Politics, cars, Star Wars, video games—anything where fans congregate online gives rise to insanely stupid arguing. Because, again, people on the Internet take everything WAY TOO SERIOUSLY. With passion comes nerd fights, apparently.
What's the tonic for this in the gear community? Advanced Knife Bro videos. His amazing video skills are hidden by his steady stream of great one liners. When was the last time something online literally made you LOL? Well, if you haven't watched AKB, then it has probably been awhile. He provides excellent information, has very good taste, and a willingness to make fun of himself and the online gear community. That, in my mind is a recipe for success, and just the kind of contribution that Bohn and Hoots would appreciate. They raised the discussion of gear by reveling in their love of kit and AKB does that as well, and adds in a bit of humor on the side. These videos are a must watch. Even the beer review ones.
Best Newcomer: Mark of the Maker Podcast
There are lots of gear podcasts by fans of gear. I run one. But there are very few podcasts hosted by gear makers. Mark of the Maker is one of them (there are, now, to my count four: Ernest Emerson's podcast, Tim Reeve's podcast, Andrew Demko's podcast, and this one...though there are few others on indefinite hiatus). The casual banter and true knife geekery makes this podcast a gem. I get a bit of a thrill just seeing a new one pop up on my podcast feed. Tom Krein, Sean Kendrick, Michael Burch, and Mark Stheiner all have a great way about them and they tell stories that makes me feel like we were friends as kids. I too grew up in the woods intoxicated by the promise and potential of my Swiss Army Knife and an assortment of Rambo-inspired fixed blades. They have had a great selection of guests too, but like with all great podcasts, the best episodes are when it is just the hosts themselves. Go listen.
Most Important News Story: AG Russell Passes
There are very few people in life that can say that they were at the forefront of their chosen field for six decades. No athlete lasts that long. CEOs turn over three or four times in 60 years, even if the own the company and are the best in the world at their job. Heck even those occupations known for their longevity—golf and classical musician—rarely have folks hit the 60 year mark. But AG Russell was a singular person within the knife industry and probably American small business. AG Russell created a brand that was basically who he was in life—thoughtful, focused on quality, and always in service to the customer.
I am and have been a fan of AG Russell knives for many years. They are criminally underrated in the knife community. Their focus on performance and maximizing ratios and value make them hard not to like. That like and the website led me to a few conversations with AG. After one of the podcasts where we debated whether the "Featherlite" steel he marketed in the Skorpion was a gimmick or not, he reached out via email and we had a long conversation. It was clear to me that it was not a gimmick and a lot of thought and energy went into how the implemented the lightening holes. At the time AG was in his 80s, innovating, following the community, and emailing with a podcaster. I don't know many folks in their 80s that know what a podcast is, let alone engaging with one.
The stories in the industry when he died confirmed that my interactions with him were not an anamoly. He was a curious and engaged person. He loved knives. He loved the knife community. He genuinely cared for his customers. Even months before he died he was introducing new knives and new designs, some with features that the community had been clamoring for (like bearing pivot flippers an a different version of the Light'n Bug's ultralight design).
His warranty is now pretty singular, given that LL Bean wussed out and retreated from their version of the "return it for any reason at any time." Given the quality and design of his knives I imagine it is rare they get returned. I had one such instance where I made the mistake and ordered the wrong thing. I called them and asked if that counted and they said sure. The woman that answered the phone talked to me like I was her favorite nephew asking what I could bring to Christmas dinner. They sent me the replacement before my screw up arrived in Arkansas.
AG Russell was a great man. I hope to God that I am as engaged and curious as he was when he died. His wife Goldie runs the business now. If you haven't bought a Russell design, consider this a heads up. Go grab a Power Ball flipper or one of his traditional designs. You won't be disappointed. Rest in Peace AG. We will all miss you.