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Mr. Obama must focus on moving Indo-US relations forward; bringing up Kashmir is not the way to go about it.
Barack Obama's first official visit to India approaches. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao was in D.C. recently, working with N.S.A. Jim Jones to give shape to Mr. Obama's India agenda. The president will, in the course of the next few weeks, receive advice from writers, think-tankers, analysts, and just about everyone else on what his priority list of issues to tackle in India should be.
One item relating to India-Pakistan peace is certainly going to resurface — Kashmir. More specifically, the "solve Kashmir, and bring about peace between India and Pakistan" mantra will be chanted by many in D.C. in the weeks to come. In an article in The Daily Beast, Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy at Brookings, supported U.S. encouragement of talks between India and Pakistan on settling Kashmir, in the context of the war in Afghanistan.
The Filter Coffee has previously debunked the notion that solving "Kashmir" will bring about peace between India and Pakistan. I will therefore restrict myself to discussing three points that Mr. Obama should consider in the context of the India visit.
First, Mr. Obama's immediate priority must remain the ongoing war in Afghanistan-Pakistan. Taking focus off Afghanistan-Pakistan and reorienting himself and his administration into resolving a conflict that has been ongoing for 63 years (and will no doubt go on for many more) will not be a wise course of action for an embattled president heading into mid-term elections in 2012. Stay the course on Afghanistan.
Second, bet on India. Indo-U.S. relations have taken a backseat since Mr. Obama took office. This is partly due to uncontrollable circumstances and priorities. But the president has a real opportunity during his India visit to both arrest the slide, and reaffirm that the nature of the Indo-US relationship is indeed strategic, and one between two natural partners. In this context, India and the U.S. should move forward on strengthening their defense relationship, which U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mullen only recently described as "strong and important." The nature of the relationship need not necessarily be restricted to the acquisition of military equipment and transfer of technology.
As two large and diverse democracies, India and the U.S. have a vital interest in securing key sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean and beyond and ensuring a strategic balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. While India and the U.S. already cooperate in patrolling the Malacca straits, changing geopolitical equations will make greater cooperation between India (and indeed, other Asian democracies) and the U.S. in the greater region more critical.
On Afghanistan, as much as the U.S. may have to indulge Pakistan in the interim, its interests lie in denying sanctuary to extremist groups, from where they may attack the U.S. or its interests. Whether the U.S. likes it or not, this means ensuring that Pakistani influence in Afghanistan is counterbalanced with powers that are averse to the spread of Wahhabi extremism in Asia. India has an important role to play in this regard and further Indian involvement in Afghanistan must be encouraged.
Next, India and the U.S. should use this opportunity to expand economic ties and address irritants that have affected Indo-US relations (the nuclear liability bill, and outsourcing are chief among them). Ongoing education reforms in India translate into opportunities for U.S. universities to establish satellite campuses in India. India and the U.S. should also use this opportunity to move forward on progress made on climate change, both during Secretary Clinton's visit, and at Copenhagen.
But perhaps most importantly, Mr. Obama will do well not to rake up Kashmir on his visit to India. Pressuring India at a time when it faces a raging conflict in the Valley is asking it to act at a very sensitive time and from a position of weakness. If the economically weak India of the past refused to yield to international pressure on Kashmir, the possibility of this happening is even more remote in today's resurgent India.
Were Mr. Obama to bring up Kashmir in India, two things are nearly certain to happen. One, India will not budge from its position on the issue, and two, Mr. Obama will risk further hurting Indo-US relations. Some early signs indicate that the Obama administration is still not in full appreciation of the premium that India attaches to Jammu and Kashmir; dangling carrots will not work and indeed, aren't called for. One can only hope that better sense will prevail before the president's visit. Where Kashmir is concerned, there is no need for the U.S. to think outside the box. Stay within the box. In fact, stay clear of it.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Liberty News
Friends attend memorial service for fellow student
A memorial service was held Tuesday night on the third floor club level of Williams Stadium to honor the life of Joshua Hathaway, the 19-year-old Liberty University freshman who died Nov. 19 in a tragic event involving a Liberty emergency services officer.
The crowd held glowing candles as they listened to Scripture readings, prayed for Hathaway's loved ones, and watched a video celebrating Hathaway's life.
Hathaway's two roommates each took a moment to share how he had impacted their lives. They both described him as extremely smart, funny, and generous. Examples of his kindness included helping others with their studies. Each said Hathaway was like a brother to them.
Dean of Students Keith Anderson shared a few words to remind those who were saddened by the tragedy about God's faithfulness and the hope believers have in Christ for comfort and power over death. He said Hathaway knew the Lord and is in a better place, rejoicing in his new home with Jesus.
The Dean of Students Office staff provided music and led attendees in a beautiful singing of the classic hymn "How Great Thou Art" before Campus Pastor Dane Emerick closed the service with words of hope and a prayer.
- Students who would like to speak to a licensed professional counselor are asked to contact the Student Care Office at firstname.lastname@example.com or (434) 582-2320. Counselors are available 24/7.


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Kony2012 edumacating us about Africa
IT TAKES A LOT to make a child soldier.
Given a choice, many an abducted child would seize the first available opportunity to escape and return home, making it difficult to raise an army of hardened soldiers from kidnapped children. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) solved this problem years ago by making kidnapped children kill or mutilate their parents and siblings — often publicly — to ensure that they would never be able to return to their communities and be accepted again.
Cut off from a family that you were forced to kill, and a community that would never really be able to forgive you, it becomes easier as the months go by to make the most of what you have. It's a twisted kind of stockholm syndrome that keeps individuals — men and women — fighting in the LRA, often for years.
It's obvious that Joseph Kony is a grade-A nasty fucker. But realising that there is a problem doesn't automatically make the solution obvious. And outrage, while fantastic at getting people off their couches and out onto the streets with banners and bracelets is, almost by definition, not an intelligent response.
Kony2012, frankly, is the wrong solution, pursued in a deeply manipulative, ethically compromised fashion. Yet even in getting slammed hard by op-eds across the Internet, it may inadvertently be able to do what it really needs to. To not realise the grossly simplified logic of its proposed solution, but to get a greater number of people thinking about at least two very important things:
- how we think about Africa, and
- how we think about the problem of Joseph Kony.
Maybe, when the tweets die down, nothing changes. But maybe, just possibly, Kony2012 could be the cinematic shtick that pokes a very large bear of a debate about central Africa. The stick bearers themselves might not appreciate the consequences, but it will have put something large and useful into motion.
There are really two key issues here — the way the video itself represents the situation, and the solution to the 'Kony Problem' it proposes. Well, actually, there are a whole bunch more questions than that, but there is only so much coffee in the world, and it is best spent on core issues.
So what's wrong with the video?
Is the story a problem? And if it's a problem, do we really care, as long as it results in catching Kony? Unfortunately yes, it is a problem, and, yes, we do.
The catalogue of offenses that the video stands accused of is long. It's a narcissistic reinforcement of the idea that only the white Westerner can save Africa. It fails to acknowledge that Kony is no longer in Uganda, or even in the DRC, as far as anyone knows. We think he is in the Central African Republic (CAR — and yes, that's a country), but nobody has really seen him in a while. That's what happens when you are the #1 most wanted criminal on the International Criminal Court watchlist.
The producers also appear to have incredibly suspicious ethics when it comes to interviewing traumatised minors, and depending on what your views are on the profitability of working at a not for profit, Invisible Children may or may not pay its founders too much money for creative work.
On this last point, there are actually two divergent strains of angry objection. The first is that the IC founders earn too much. This is really for you to decide. The second is that they don't spend enough money "doing real stuff" like building schools and other on-the-ground-projects in Uganda. This latter argument, though, assumes that every NGO should be judged on the basis of whether or not they "do real stuff," and implies that advocacy and media (which is where a good chunk of IC revenue goes) is not real stuff. That's wrong.
Whether you think they executed the Kony2012 campaign well or not, advocacy is a valuable activity when done correctly. Subject to a whole host of other variables, media exposure can have an effect on both policy decisions and humanitarian response. So spending money on making films may seem like first-world decadence, but is actually a useful tool in shaping responses to issues.
How useful depends on how you tell your story, and it's here that the video moves from being an embarrassing outpouring of postcolonial caring to something actively harmful. Because stories, you see, construct the ways in which we understand the world. The more stories you hear, and the more detailed they are, the more likely that you acquire a complex understanding of the world being described. The fewer stories, and the simpler they are, the less you understand.
That offensively obvious observation has profound implications for how you are able to react to problems like Joseph Kony when Invisible Children, to a large degree, frames your understanding of the issue. Unless you are being deliberately critical, or know something of Uganda, the DRC, and the LRA for yourself, it's easy to believe that all we need to do is overcome some sort of political constipation in Washington in order to apprehend some jungle-bound Hitler. Then all will be well.
It won't?
No, because what's left out complicates the picture. And the video leaves out a huge amount. Most obviously, as others have pointed out, Kony is not in Uganda anymore. He hasn't been for years. Gulu, in Northern Uganda, is as safe for visitors as Luang Prabang. And probably has better beer.
He isn't even in the Democratic Republic of Congo anymore, actually. So catching him will be a great deal more complicated than a simple hop across the border by the Ugandan military.
Also left out is what happens when the Ugandan military does hop across the border to the DRC — whether to catch Kony in the jungle he is not in (according to the IC version) or on the way to the CAR (in reality). The UPDF (that's the Ugandan army, for acronym junkies) has a terrible reputation in the DRC. It includes arming local groups in Ituri district in 2003, ensuring a massacre when they left, and having an ongoing habit for sneaking minerals and rare timber across the border. So it is not at all clear that allowing them back across the border would not be the strategic equivalent of placing a large, kleptomaniac bull in a fragile post-conflict china shop.
Finally, the LRA is more than Joseph Kony. As far as anyone can tell, the LRA is a distributed, guerrilla army made up of multiple semi-autonomous bands of troops. Will capturing Kony make them cease activities? The truth is that we don't know, but it seems unlikely.
The video hides these issues, and so much more. Because the more you know, the more troublesome the mantra of "catch Kony" becomes.
To which the anguished reply of the bracelet-wearing will inevitably be "at least we are doing something," smugly clothed in a warm blanket of self-assurance that an impassioned something is better than the status quo. The problem, though, is that a great number of people who have lived or studied the history of the LRA have actually been doing a huge amount to repair this part of the world.
It's this work that created the psychosocial support networks to rehabilitate returned soldiers, and the demobilisation campaigns that brought them out of the bush in the first place. They are also the people hung up on the debates about whether it is more important to bring Kony to justice, or to negotiate with him to shut down his operation — all of it — for good.
These debates are difficult. Difficult because of history, because of politics, because of the memories of the families who lost so much to the LRA. But they must be had if the scourge of the LRA is to ever be properly ended. The simplified understandings of the "do somethings" are the very opposite of an inclusive, considered approach. Ugandans have no voice in their solutions. Affected communities in the DRC and further north are irrelevant, except as silent victims in whose name we are commanded to tweet. Nobody, except millions of outraged middle-class Westerners, has a voice and an opinion based on a 30-minute summary of something so very much more complex.
Passion and outrage is good insofar as it can push politicians to engage with the issues. If it can force the US to endorse proper procedural justice for war crimes offenders such as Kony rather than targeted killings, that will be an important, if small, shift by the country towards participating in a less hypocritical system of international law. If the debate between pro and anti Kony2012 camps forces both to go out and understand the history and politics of Northern Uganda, South Sudan, and the Congo wars, then perhaps an intelligent, educated activism can emerge.
If it turns into a war of memes and counter-memes, then Invisible Children has succeeded in little more than turning what should be a major humanitarian concern into a vehicle for narcissistic Facebook castle building. Part of engaging with the problems of Ah-free-kah is understanding that it's not a single, exotic place, onto which the West can project its worst postcolonial fantasies and photoshopped jokes involving black children and Kony2012 references.
The video was the elegantly produced historical baggage of the West's problematic ideas of Africa. But Joseph Kony does exist, and he is a royal arsehole deserving of a powerful reaction by any right-thinking individual. But taking a stand and making a difference is going to start with understanding what is actually going on, and pushing for an appropriately intelligent response.
It's a lot less cool than a wristband and an activism pack, but your money would be much better spent on a book or two. It's a bit more like hard work, but that's what changing the world sometimes demands of you.


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To hear one key Republican senator tell it, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie isn't exactly building any bridges to the key presidential primary state of South Carolina.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that a controversy involving a Christie aide's retaliation against a local Democratic mayor reinforces the image of the Republican governor as a bully.
"It seems to me that this whole bridge thing reinforces a narrative that's troublesome about the guy, he's kind of a bully," Graham told NBC News on Thursday on Capitol Hill, referring to the scandal over land closures on the George Washington Bridge that's engulfed Christie over the past two days.
Graham suggested that Christie's staffers wouldn't have sent such emails if it weren't part of the way Christie governed.
"If anybody in my office had done such a thing, they knew what their fate would be cause I'm not that kind a guy," Graham said. "I just don't see how people that close to him could have felt comfortable enough to do this if they thought their boss wasn't of this mindset. Isn't that just common sense?"
Graham, whose home state traditionally holds the third nominating contest in every presidential election cycle, said he believed Christie would have trouble winning primaries in the South, citing matters of both substance and style.
"I think he's going to have a hard time in the South, I really do. The edge is part of it. You know, he's a little too slick by half," Graham said.
He added: "I think the problem he's going to have in the South is against the view of his actual positions because it's hard for me to understand what he's for and what he's against on the social side."
Graham later tweeted a complimentary review of Christie's press conference, writing on his official Twitter account: "Gov. Christie's response was much different than how the current White House occupant deals with responsibility." Graham also later told CNN of Christie's performance, "I'm very impressed."
A number of Republicans on Thursday were more forgiving of Christie, though the bridge controversy could easily re-appear in the 2016 presidential primaries. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a would-be challenger to Christie in those primaries who has previously quarreled with the governor in the media, chided Christie after a meeting at the White House on Thursday.
"I don't know who emailed who and who works for whom," Paul said. "I have been in traffic before though and I know how angry I am when I'm in traffic and I've always wondered, 'Who did this to me.'"
NBC News' Shawna Thomas contributed reporting.


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Duel Pics niveau 259 solution
Language: French
Level: Duel Pics niveau 259
Duel Pics is a mobile game that you can play alone or with friends, and maybe even use a little brain power while you're at it.
The completely free app comes in both English and French languages from developer Dotlol, who regularly updates the game and adds new content.
While Duel Pics offers plenty of content for the single-player experience, it is at its core a social game. To get the most out of your Duel Pics experience, you can engage in contacting your friends (or would-be opponents) by challenging them through Facebook.
Duel Pics niveau 259 solution
Solution: Goéland
Level: Duel Pics niveau 259
Next level: Duel Pics niveau 260.
Language: French
Duel Pics is appropriate for all ages and should be particularly appealing to families. The app is completely free, but does offer some in-app purchases and advertising, but like most free apps the core gameplay is unhindered by this.
Parents looking to build their child's visual awareness skills and vocabulary will love Duel Pics simple to understand and easy-to-use interface.


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Wide web printer that provides large format labels from a compact unit. Low-cost compared to laser capability. Ideal for printing labels in place of a laser printer. Optional cutter and PCL5 language kit.
Technology: Thermal transfer / Direct thermal
Print Head: Flat Head
Print Width: 100 to 216,8 mm
Print Length: 12 to 640 mm
Backing paper wide: 242 mm
Resolution: 300 dpi (11,8 dot)
Print speed: up to 101,6 mm/sec (4 ips)
Memory capacity: 16 MB DRAM, 16 MB Flash ROM
Barcodes: UPC/EAN/JAN, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, NW7, MSI, Industrial
Codes 2D : Data Matrix, PDF 417, Maxicode, Micro PDF 417, QR code
Interface: Parallel, USB 2.0, 10/100 MBit int. LAN Interface
Dimensions: 385 (W) x 243 (H) x 182 (D) mm
Options: Cutter, I/O Interface, RS-232 Interface, WLAN, RTC Real time clock
Weight: 15,6 Kg (without media and ribbon)
Core diameter (Inside): 38 - 76,2 mm
Roll outside diameter: 230 mm (Inside and outside wound media)
Material thickness: 0,08 - 0,18 mm
Ribbon lenght: max. 300 m
|Toshiba TEC B-852 direct thermal / thermal transfer printer
|Toshiba TEC B-852 cutter
|The item or configuration you need not listed here! Call T: 0161 902 0980 for a fast competetive quote. Options include cutter and PCL5 language kit
With many accessories, call and we make sure all are correct for your configuration.


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Professor Miguel Fonseca
Associate Professor of Economics
+44 (0) 1392 722584
Streatham Court, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter, EX4 4PU, UK
Dr Miguel Fonseca joined the Business School in September 2007 from Columbia University, where he had spent the previous two years as a post-doctoral researcher. Miguel's current research interests are on tacit and explicit collusion; social identity and its effect on public good provision and bargaining. Dr Fonseca has obtained research support from the ESRC, the British Academy and the Nuffield Foundation.
Miguel's post-doctoral work related to water management issues in Northeast Brazil. In particular, he conducted field experiments to study the ability of market mechanisms to coordinate investment decisions when there is uncertainty about the availability of water. Prior to that, he studied for his PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London. His research focused on endogenous leadership formation in markets.
Nationality: Portuguese
BSc, MSc, PhD, Royal Holloway, University of London
Research clusters
Research interests
- Experimental economics
- Industrial organisation
- Public economics
Dr Fonseca's research focuses on using experimental methods to study behaviour in microeconomic models. He is interested specifically in issues relating to industrial economics, public economics, game theory and the effect of group membership on individual behaviour.
Research projects
Dr Fonseca's current research includes the study of:
- tacit and explicit collusion in experimental markets
- the role of social context in simple bargaining games
- the role of social identity in public good provision, and
- the study of perceptions of climate change using prediction markets.
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Key publications
Publications by category
Journal articles
Publications by year
In Press
Awards and Honours
- 2013-14: HMRC Research Contract, £84,000 (Co-Investigator)
- 2013-18: ESRC/HMRC Tax Administration Research Center £1.58 million (Co-Investigator)
- 2012-14: ESRC/DfID £92,731 (Principal Investigator)
- 2012: HRMC Research Contract, £79,836 (Co-Investigator)
- 2010-11: British Academy, £5,880 (Principal Investigator)
- 2010-12: ESRC, £25,396 (Principal Investigator)
- 2009-10: Nuffield Foundation, £2,888 (Principal Investigator)
- 2006-07: Tinker Foundation, $140,000 (Co-Investigator)
External positions
- Affiliate Researcher at the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED) - Columbia University.
- Experimental economics
- Microeconomics
- Industrial economics


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The blog of SCF's one and only, spoodini.
I now have an official blog. Well I have for over 2 months. You may have seen it in my signature.
Sports Card Blog
It's awesome. Because I said so. Check it out.
Well to catch up on the past couple weeks, I'll talk about my trip to Canada with the girlfriend and the Oilers and Oil Kings hockey games.
We drove from Oregon up to Edmonton which is a 17 hour drive. The good thing is we're still not sick of each other, lol. Besides winning at 5 pin bowling, miniature golf, and everything else against her...we went to an Edmonton Oilers game and Edmonton Oil Kings game.
I must admit, Rexall is a great arena to watch hockey in. It looks
This blog is full of good news and bad news. I'll start with the bad news because I want to end things on a happier note.
The bad news is that I have kidney stones, again. 6th time in my life, I'm 23 years old, and otherwise healthy. Not fun at all, lots of pain and painkillers. So here I am posting the blog feeling a bit nauseous from painkillers and really tired even though I've slept 18 hours the past two nights.
Good news, is while I was up GameStop was open and I
First, I am excited that in a week, MLB 09: The Show comes out for Playstation 3. The greatest series of baseball video games is back! Mmm...tasty.
Besides that I am sitting at work right now waiting for something interesting to happen. I get a break in about 10 minutes which is nice. I don't know what I will do to spend my time though.
I'm thinking of putting some money aside for some basketball singles. I want to pick up autographs of Trailblazers players. Oden,
Yes, I am going to blog. This is my first one and I have no idea what to write about so I will just write.
I have recently stepped down from my Senior Management position on this site because it was something that wasn't very enjoyable for me. I knew someone who would be great and everyone agreed and so far I hope he's doing well in his new role.
Now I am pretty much some sort of Senior Advisor dude. I advise the rest of the staff on issues that need to be handled as well


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Jack Kevorkian's art on saleWEST HOLLYWOOD, California (CNN) -- The painting is called "Coma."
By: Chuck Conder, CNN, CNN
WEST HOLLYWOOD, California (CNN) -- The painting is called "Coma."
It depicts an unconscious patient being slowly pulled into the mouth of a macabre death mask. Helpless. The death's head resembles the opening of a CAT scan machine, a symbol of modern medical technology.
It is the work of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the man who bore the notorious nickname "Dr. Death." He was a passionate advocate for allowing certain people to choose the time and manner of their own death. He claimed to have assisted in the suicides for more than 130 patients over a period of nearly 20 years.
Kevorkian's career ended in 1999 with his conviction on charges of second degree murder for administering a lethal injection to a patient who had Lou Gehrig's disease. He spent eight years in prison.
Most people though don't realize that Kevorkian was also a longtime painter. Eleven of his works of art are on display this month in a trendy West Hollywood art gallery.
"He was a talented amateur," curator Lee Bowers told CNN. "He painted throughout much of his life."
All 11 paintings are available for purchase. The asking price is as much as $45,000 per canvas, Bowers said. Proceeds go to the estate and the gallery, and the paintings that don't sell are headed to the Smithsonian, Bowers said.
The exhibition also includes the assisted suicide machine that Kevorkian designed and built, the "Thanatron." The contraption helped inject a series of drugs into terminal and incapacitated patients who wished to end their lives.
It too is for sale to the highest bidder, at a starting price of $25,000.
Despite the attention surrounding the macabre suicide machine, the paintings comprise the heart of the show.
"Paralysis" is typical of the series of paintings that depict some aspect of disease and human suffering. The painting presents an image of a naked man crouched in a claustrophobic prison. Half his body has been turned to stone. His limbs are crumbling and useless. His brain has been removed and shackled, his body unable to respond to its commands.
Other paintings comment satirically on what Kevorkian viewed as the hypocrisy of the medical code of ethics. He once called efforts to prosecute him "a political lynching, engineered by the Inquisition."
Portraits of Kevorkian's parents and one of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach reflect an homage to those who influenced his life.
Efforts to sell the paintings following Kevorkian's death in 2011 were hampered by a legal dispute over their ownership. For many years, they were housed in the Armenian Library and Museum of America in Watertown, Massachusetts, near Boston. After his death, the Kevorkian estate claimed the art work was only on loan to the museum.
The dispute was resolved with the museum retaining four of his works. Kevorkian's niece is now offering the paintings in her possession for sale at Gallerie Sparta.
Kevorkian told CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta in 2010 that serving eight years in prison had not changed his view of assisted suicide.
"It's a medical service," Kevorkian stated, "It's not political. It's not religious."
Are his paintings great art? Well, that is in the eye of the beholder. But they continue to speak to Dr. Kevorkian's battle against the medical and legal establishment. A battle that continues, even in death.
Tags: news, national, arts, strange, updates


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Rules and regulations you need to know to enjoy your time at a Miami Heat game at the American Airlines Arena:
- In general, doors open to public (1) hour prior to the printed event time.
- A valid, printed ticket is required to enter the Arena. Arena personnel can use your printed ticket to direct you to your correct seat location within the Arena and assist you in locating your party in the event you become separated. Arena personnel may request to see your ticket at any time during the event.
- The AmericanAirlines Arena requests that guests arrive early and travel light, as all guests and bags entering the AmericanAirlines Arena are subject to search. Only fanny packs, purses, or small clear plastic bags will be permitted into the Arena.
- For the safety of our guests, AmericanAirlines Arena does not permit certain items into the Arena. Prohibited items include:
- Bags, backpacks, briefcases, duffle bags larger than 14" x 14"
- Banners
- Outside food or beverage
- Bottles, cans and coolers
- Cameras with an extended lens larger than 6"
- Recording devices, tripods, and professional camera auxiliary lenses
- Fireworks
- Illegal substances
- Laser pointers
- Whistles, horns or other noise makers
- Weapons of any kind
- Computers
- Laptops
Management reserves the right to restrict any article not specifically listed above. Management or Security personnel may request to inspect any bag or purse, entering into the Arena.
- Alcohol is sold only to guests 21 years of age and older, with proper identification. There is a (2) drink maximum per purchase per person.
- Video cameras are not allowed in the Arena. The use of "non-professional" still cameras, without flash, is permitted during Miami HEAT home games. The use of still cameras during concerts and other events hosted at the Arena, will be determined on an event-by-event basis.
- The AmericanAirlines Arena is a "smoke-free" facility. "Smoking" (which includes emitting vapors via e-cigarettes) is limited to the suite outdoor balconies, main concourse balconies (Sections 104-108, 116-120), upper concourse balconies (Sections 308, 324 and 417), and the East Plaza (outside the Arena by Sections 111-114).
- For most events, including Miami HEAT home games, children under two years of age may enter AA Arena free of charge, providing that he/she sits on the lap of a parent or guardian. AA Arena recommends that guests with children under the age of two (2) years old bring proof of the infants' age with them to expedite entry. Valid forms of identification are a government-issued birth certificate or passport. Guests 2 years of age and older must have a ticket to enter the Arena.
- The National Basketball Association, Miami HEAT, and AmericanAirlines Arena are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable sports & entertainment experience. NBA fans have a right to expect an environment where:
- Players respect and appreciate each and every fan.
- Guests will be treated in a consistent, professional and courteous manner by all arena and team personnel.
- Guests will enjoy the basketball experience free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
- Guests will consume alcoholic beverages in a responsible manner. Intervention with an impaired, intoxicated or underage guest will be handled in a prompt and safe manner.
- Guests will sit only in their ticketed seats and show their tickets when requested.
- Guests who engage in fighting, throwing objects or attempting to enter the court will be immediately ejected from the game.
- Guests will smoke in designated smoking areas only.
- There will not be any obscene or indecent messages on signs or clothing.
- Guests will comply with requests from arena staff regarding arena operations and emergency response procedures.
- Guests will also be responsible for their own good time by reporting inappropriate behavior.
The arena staff has been trained to intervene where necessary to help ensure that the above expectations are met, and guests are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior to the nearest usher, security guard or guest services staff member. Guests who choose not to adhere to these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund, and revocation of season tickets and may also be in violation of city ordinances resulting in possible arrest and prosecution.
The NBA, Miami HEAT, and AmericanAirlines Arena thank you for adhering to the provisions of the NBA Fan Code of Conduct.


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Description: This is a ca. 1774 score of the opera "Alceste" by Anton Schweitzer based on a libretto by Christoph Wieland. The work premiered in Weimar in 1773. The plot was based on the Greek legend of Alcestis, on the subject of female virtue and conjugal love. The library's copy contains an engraved illustration that portrays a domestic scene. The score does not indicate the musical instruments and the music, which is notated in two, three or four staves, contains the German text underlaid with indication of the character who sings.
Date: 1774
Creator: Schweitzer, Anton, 1735-1787.
Partner: UNT Music Library


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Posted by: Michele Cohen
January Waters '13 is a big supporter of the required internship experience at Moore.
The graphic designer's internship with Anthropologie in Philadelphia led to a full-time job withBHLDN, the company's wedding brand, soon after graduation. Moore, as part of its career-focused mission, is the only art and design school to provide $1,000 paid internships for each student in every major.
"It's a great first job after graduating," Waters said. "My internship really helped to get my foot in the door, got me familiar with the brand and how to apply my artistic abilities to graphic design. It provided real world experience."
Today, as Print & Interactive Designer for BHLDN/Anthropologie Weddings, Waters is responsible for the company's print materials – from store signage and tags for wedding gowns to packaging design and invitations. For the "interactive" part of her job, she designs company e-mails and blog entries for "B-Inspired," a part of BHLDN's site which offers helpful tips for brides.
"I get to use my illustration skills," Waters said. "Because I'm also a fine artist, it's really nice to get hands-on with things, and that's something that BHLDN really appreciates as part of their brand, a hand-made quality."
Some of her most rewarding experiences with BHLDN, which just celebrated its third birthday, were designing products for the décor department. She created graphics for a Mr & Mrs wine tote, "Will you be my…" bridesmaid and maid of honor totes, as well as drawings and paintings for a set of four dessert plates currently in production – and soon to be in stores.
Waters hopes to continue to grow with the company, develop her skills and eventually work on more product design.
"It was a cool opportunity because it was really unexpected as a graphic designer to get to design a product that intensely," she said. "I did the entire product from start to finish. It was a great learning experience."
Waters transferred to Moore from another college after realizing she wanted to attend a smaller art school. A high school art teacher recommended she look into Moore.
"I felt really comfortable when I walked in the door," she said. "I liked the small classes and the staff was so friendly and helped you out. The professors seemed to be very connected and pushed you to go outside the school environment and into the city to see exhibits. It opened a lot of doors and made you think about the broader picture."
Waters also credits the graphic design department at Moore with giving her the requisite skills to be successful in her career.
"I really got the feel for the Adobe programs, Photoshop and In Design and that's all I use at work," she said. "If I didn't have that knowledge I wouldn't know what I was doing. And of course there's the internship. Having the opportunity to go out in the field and learn what it's like to be a professional is definitely rewarding. I think every school should require it."
Visit January Waters' website here
View a portfolio of her work here


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Honolulu Community College Phi Theta Kappa chapter is named one of 25 distinguished chapters out of 1,200
Award is one of several presented to Pacific Region colleges at honor society's international conventionHonolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College
Kristen Bonilla, (808) 956-5039
External Affairs & University Relations
HONOLULU — The Honolulu Community College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, was recently recognized as one of 25 to receive the "Distinguished Chapter" Award. The HCC chapter, Alpha Kappa Iota, was selected from among 1,200 chapters of the honor society located at community and junior colleges across the United States, Canada, Germany, Micronesia and Palau.
Members of HCC's Alpha Kappa Iota chapter—Demusthenis Bordaje, Tami Ikegami, and Amanda Wong—were on hand at the society's international convention in Seattle recently to accept the award. The chapter advisor is HCC professor Lena Low. To be considered for a Distinguished Chapter Award, a chapter must submit applications for Scholarship, Leadership and Service Hallmark Awards, and the scores in each of these three categories are averaged to determine a chapter's overall ranking.
In addition to HCC's award, several other awards were presented to colleges within the Pacific Region, which includes 12 chapters at colleges in Hawaiʻi, Guam, Micronesia and Palau. The Pacific Region was honored with the Regional Milestone Award for renewed enthusiasm and participation in Phi Theta Kappa programs, and individual awards were presented to Guam Community College Chapter Advisor Eric Chong and Kapiʻolani Community College Chapter Officer Christine Tooher. Guam Community College President Dr. H. de los Santos was also honored with the Shirley B. Gordon Award for College Presidents.
Today, Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1.5 million members and 1,200 chapters. Its mission is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming.
For more information, visit: http://www.ptk.org/regions/Pacific_Region.htm


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You want to know what time of year is the busiest for neurologist's who specialize in Alzheimer's, dementia, Lewy Body, and other memory disorder conditions?
Because families tend to gather during the holidays.
Maybe it's been a few months (or even since last Christmas) since you've seen mom or dad.
Or, maybe your spouse says something odd at the family get together.
Maybe he asks if Aunt Tilly is coming even though she's been dead since 1992.
That's how it happens: We notice the difference in our loved ones if we haven't seen them in a while–when their normal routine is disrupted and it triggers a different response.
You fly back home, but now, you're concerned.
Last Christmas you just attributed it to aging. Everyone forgets now and then, right?
But Alzheimer's and other neurological/memory loss issues go beyond losing your car keys.
Visit the Alzheimer's Association site (click here) for the ten most common warning signs of Alzheimer's.
What's the next step?
If you live far away from your parents, you may want to start visiting more often–or you may want to check into geriatric care managing companies who can help keep an eye on your loved one's situation.
Does Mom (or Dad) have Alzheimer's? What do I do?
- First, check out the ten warning signs
- Start calling and visiting more often–no one wants someone to butt into their life if there's not a real relationship to back the sudden concern
- Talk to your other parent (if they're still alive) ask them what they think
- Talk more than once–they may be resistant at first–ask their opinion and reassure them you're going to be involved and will help find solutions
- Get your parent (or other loved one) into see a neurologist that specializes in Alzheimer's/geriatric patients
- Get an official diagnosis
- Create a folder/organizational system to keep all the paperwork associated with the care of your loved one–you'll need it
- Consider medications
- Begin short term and long term plans
- Much of life can continue on as it is now–make any necessary changes gradually. It's important that your mom or dad doesn't feel like this is a death sentence. You can still have a rich and meaningful life–encourage your parents/spouse to continue on with church, activities, vacations, and every day activities for as long as they can.
- What insurance do they have? Do they have long term care coverage?
- Contact your local/regional/state department of elder affiairs or council on aging–these are government organizations that have a bounty of information
- Go online and begin to help research community care resources such as adult day care centers, respite care, caregiver's support groups. There are great websites such as Caring.com and Health Central to help educate and support both the person facing the disease and the caregivers and other family members.
- Encourage your loved one or spouse to attend an Alzheimer's (or other memory disorder they may have) workshop/talk at their local hospital, or other care facility
- Look online for your local chapter of Alzheimer's Association, Parkinson's Foundation, etc. They'll have a list of resources in your area.
- Consider home health care–many private company's such as Comfort Keeper's offer at home care and assistance on a daily or weekly rate
- Talk to other family members, especially siblings and brainstorm about ways to help–calling, home care, repairs, time off for the other spouse
- Talk to everyone about a long term plan. If your mom/dad/spouse ever needs to go into a memory disorder care home in the future, what are your options?
This is just a basic list, but it'll get you started.
I had ignored the warning signs that my mom had Alzheimer's/dementia for a couple of years.
She wanted to continue living independently, and I wanted her to as well–for her sake, and so I could go on my life.
I was in my late thirties, I had three teens to raise, a husband, a career–I really didn't want to face the fact that my mother had Alzheimer's.
I didn't do any of this deliberately. I didn't even know I was doing it. That's why they call it denial.
By the time I figured it out, (my mother hid it, made excuses) she was almost past the point of medication helping. Don't wait that long.
Emotionally, you and your family have some issues to deal with as well.
I'll address that in another post, but know that it's normal to feel kicked in the gut, angry, shocked, scared about the future–and concerned that if your parent has it, you could get Alzheimer's as well.
You're not alone. Sadly, millions face the diagnosis of Alzheimer's every day.
The good news is, there is help.
There are more resources, medications, and support out there now than there ever was.
You'll figure out how to do this–how to handle the changes. Life can still be good–for everyone.
Author of Mothering Mother, available in hardback or on Kindle


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~~~repost because Blogger crashed and lost the original one~~~
Back in March I left Amanda Jean's place with a great friendship and a pile of challenges. My challenge really, is figuring out which one to do first?
This roll of fat quarters is so, so, so out of the realm of my usual. Hers to. We split it into fat eighths so we could each have some of everything. Of course we can add more too! I think it will be a great challenge to turn this rather subdued and traditional stack of fabrics in a very funky and bold way. I've already got a design in mind. My only hint is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...
The fat quarter bundle was actually a treat from Bernadette at Traditional Pastimes. She got so exited while I was pulling fabric that she cut an identical bundle for herself. I'm quite intrigued to see what she does with her fabric.
Here is another bundle from Traditional Pastimes in a gorgeous colourway. Some fabrics are quite bright, some more subdued. It should make for a perfect blend in a simple pattern. I'm thinking a variation on half square triangles, but nothing is set in stone yet. There could also be pinwheels.
Then there are these two neutral fabrics. Just two fabrics. Nothing else. It's a quilting challenge. This one is very exciting to me. I actually got it sewn together and basted last weekend. It was my turn for a demo at guild so I used this as a sample for basting a quilt.
Finally, before I left she gave me this stack of fabric from Connecting Threads. It's the Canning Day line. I think it will blend perfectly with some vintage feedsack prints I've got. I already know that I'm going to make Amanda's quilt from Fresh Fabric Treats. I know, not me, right? But I love her pattern and I think the fabrics will be perfect for it.
Who knows when Amanda Jean and I will get a chance to see each other again? Thankfully we have the internet and our readers to keep us honest and open. Make sure you keep asking me about these projects. And don't worry, there are more...


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I really didn't realize how hard it would be for me to get going again after taking some time off for the Holidays. Granted, things have been swinging over on the Facebook page, but this side of The Heights Life has been radio silence. Time to breathe some life back in to the old girl with some Happenings around the Heights.
Saturday, January 28, 9 am: Volunteers needed for work on Heights Blvd
- I think most people agree that Heights Boulevard is really a jewel in the neighborhood. Like all green spaces, it took it's hits during the drought and the Heights Association is working hard to get it back in to tip top shape. This Saturday, they will need many hands on deck to work on patching the Paul Carr Jogging trail which runs down the Heights Boulevard esplanade.
- Work begins at 9 AM just north of 11th Street -- just look for the granite piles and you'll be sure to find the right folks. Local business Ravenscourt Landscaping has generously volunteered to help get started this week at 20th Street -- Saturday's volunteers will pick up where they leave off.
- The projects is basically putting a layer of decomposed granite over areas which have worn down to the crushed limestone base. Bring gloves, garden rakes, and shovels. If you know any runners or others who use this trail, make sure you let them know the HHA could use their help.
Saturday, January 28, 8 pm: Houston Press Artopia
- Artopia is "dedicated to highlighting Houston's rich and diverse artists, musicians, fashion designers, culinary masters and cocktail creators."
- This year's event will feature live musical performances by Folk Family Revival, Finnegan, Young Mammals, DJ Kyle Berg and Dave Wrangler.
- The performing art stage will include performances by Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Cuadro La Tempestad Flamenco and Talento Bilingue de Houston.
- Fashion shows will be held featuring the Heights own La Camella
- Street artist Coolidge will create an image of a Boston terrier and hide the image in Winter Street Studios. Attendees can help find our missing dog, hash tag the image using #HPArtopia and #SpotTheDog to be entered to win a reward.
- Guests will also be able to enjoy light bites from local restaurants, including Heights favorites Zelko Bistro, BB's Cafe and many others.
- $45 donation for advance General Admission, $55 at the door and $90 donation for advance VIP . Ticket includes entertainment, food sampling along with cocktail, wine and beer tastings. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Houston PBS. Tickets are available now at HoustonPressArtopia.com or by calling 713-280-2400.
- Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street
- According to their newsletter, this party will be "just like your dances in high school where you did not have a date either. The big difference will be the addition of alcohol that you don't have to sneak in or drink in the parking lot."
- Join The Corkscrew as they "show our contempt for this Hallmark Card made up holiday that used to have my butt heading down to Fannin to get victimized by all night florists, and have me promising to do awful things to get a last minute reservation at some nice place to eat. "
- The bar had this event several times at the old Washington location and it was "ridiculously popular." Bring a camera...
- 1308 W 20th (technically in Shady Acres)
Heights fave Hello Lucky is having a sale!
Heights fave Hello Lucky is having a sale!
- 24% off their awesome tshirts. High quality shirts, made in America, with wonderful locally screen printed designs. Lots of fun Texas themes, too.
What is PIP? And how does it help you?
I've posted about the Houston Police Department's PIP Program before but with a recent rash of home break-ins, I thought this information would be valuable again:
- The Positive Interaction Program (PIP) holds monthly PIP meetings featuring speakers from different divisions (Burglary and Theft, Homicide, K-9, Helicopters, etc.) explaining how their division operates.
- The meeting is a chance to meet the officers that patrol your neighborhood and get to know them on a first name basis. You even hear from the Captain of your sub-station.
- Since the pilot program of PIP in 1983 at one sub-station, it has grown considerably. There are now thirty PIP groups that meet every month throughout the city. The goal of PIP is the education of the citizens of Houston on how their police department functions. Once a citizen understands how the police department does its job, that citizen can better relay to the police department their neighborhood needs.
- Where is your neighborhoods divisional PIP meeting? http://www.houstontx.gov/
- Central District #1- Civic, 1602 State St.
- First Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.


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|"Bono is an active member of Greenpeace and drives a car which runs on ethanol"
Most world leaders have decided to scrap the Durban COP-17, but the organisers can count on a host of celebrities, who never want to miss out on a genuine beach party.
The usual host of Hollywood "activists", led by Angelina Jolie, U2´s Bono and Leonardo DiCaprio, among others, are are expected to jet in to provide the glitz and glamour for the gathering. They will be joined by the likes of Al Gore and Richard Branson, who never miss an opportunity to advance their business interests at this kind of celebrity gatherings. And, of course, "the terminator", Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monaco´s operatta prince Albert will be there, too.
The Times Live added this on Sunday:
Umhlanga's Oyster Box Hotel - the new playground of the international jet set - will again play host to Monaco's Prince Albert and his South African wife, Charlene Wittstock, and, it is whispered, Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio .
The two stars are expected to arrive in the city next Sunday. It is understood "discreet" reservations were made for them.
The Monaco royals threw a lavish cocktail bash at the hotel in July to celebrate their wedding.
Wittstock has apparently reserved the Buthelezi suite, which is usually priced at between R8630 and R11890 a night. Billionaire businessman Richard Branson has apparently booked into the presidential suite, at R50000 a night.
The city's other top hotels - the Beverly Hills and Hilton - are the likely venues for former US vice-president Al Gore, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a number of heads of state attending the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17), which will run from tomorrow to December 9.
But there is bad news for ordinary South Africans:
"For those hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite celebrity, don't count on it. Word has it that they're here strictly for business purposes".
Many of the more than 20.000 COP 17
climate tourists delegates are certainly planning to enjoy the beach parties and nightlife on offer. Hopefully somebody has informed them about this, less pleasant side of life in Durban :
Durban, and our province of KwaZulu-Natal, has the world's highest levels of HIV. With less than one percent of the global population, South Africa has 10 percent of its HIV infections, and our province has 10 times more HIV than anywhere else in the country
Many of the more than 20.000 COP 17
Durban, and our province of KwaZulu-Natal, has the world's highest levels of HIV. With less than one percent of the global population, South Africa has 10 percent of its HIV infections, and our province has 10 times more HIV than anywhere else in the country
And this:
Harassment by police and humiliation at clinics mean just 5 percent of sex workers are getting health care.
This is according to research by the Sex Worker Education Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat), which says up to 60 percent of sex workers nationwide were HIV-positive and nearly 20 percent of all new infections were related to the industry through clients, partners, abuse and rape, according to its research.


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100 Pics Quiz Logos Level 41 Answers
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Lately my computer has been displaying explorer.exe application errors like "'0x02ea6041' referenced memory at '0x02ea6041'. The memory could not be 'read'." randomly when I start programs such as firefox. Every time I have to manually start explorer.exe and there are always a few icons missing from the tray though their processes are still running. I was wondering why this is happening. I scanned with Zonelabs Antivirus, Ewido, A-Squared, Spybot, and Microsoft Defender. This might not be a virus. Does anyone know why this is happening?
Also, I searched on Yahoo, so please, no "search Google" BS.


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Browns notes from Aug. 28.
The schedule says it's a game at Chicago. Browns lineman Ryan Tucker says, "We're practicing for the Steelers." Tucker will play against the Bears but miss the first four games on a steroid-related suspension. That doesn't change the fact that he's one of the Browns who gets the rivalry. His first season with Cleveland ended with a 36-33 playoff loss at Pittsburgh. It sticks in his craw that the Browns are 1-7 against the Pennsylvanians since then. The Steelers play Thursday night at Carolina. Is Pittsburgh as zoned in on the Browns? "They should be," Tucker said. "We're watching them." Charlie Frye will start at quarterback at Chicago. "We want to put back-to-back good performances together and use it as a carry-over into the Pittsburgh week," he said, alluding to last weekend's win at Denver. Frye would hate a repeat of last year's preseason finale against the Bears, who were way sharper in a 20-7 win at Cleveland. "We want to keep this train moving forward," Frye said. The starting job against Pittsburgh is Frye's to lose after a strong outing at Denver, but he assumes nothing. He mentioned his surprise 2005 start at Chicago, where he used a sharp outing to grease the skids for playing most of the second half of his rookie season. Now he's being pushed by rookie Brady Quinn, who has a much better passer rating, 119.8, than Frye's 76.6. "There are no surprises around here," Frye said. Speculation is hot whether the Browns will keep four quarterbacks or cut loose Derek Anderson or Ken Dorsey. Head coach Romeo Crennel lets out no firm clues on where the QB situation is going, other than to affirm guesses Frye will start against Pittsburgh. "He's sneaky like that," Quinn said. Quinn disagrees with general manager Phil Savage's assessment that it would be "unrealistic" for him to take on the Steelers. "I would love to be under center and play, or start, in the opener" the rookie said. "But again, that is not my decision." Steinbach Hopeful Left guard Eric Steinbach said he is "definitely" optimistic about playing in the opener, although he won't play at Chicago. "If I can knock some rust off and just get loose, I should have no problems at all," said Steinbach, back on the field after letting a sprained knee heal. He has been rehabbing with defensive end Orpheus Roye, another knee patient. "Timing wise, we have kind of been going through the same stuff at the same time," Steinbach said. "But that's good, because we can kind of work off of each other and do some drills." Bentley on PUP Center LeCharles Bentley was placed on the physically unable to perform list, which means the Browns have six games to decide whether to activate him, place him on injured reserve or release him. "LeCharles needs more time," Crennel said. "In October, we can get him on the field and see where he's at." Bentley is trying to come back from an ordeal that began when he blew out a patellar tendon just as camp was starting in 2006. "He wants to play as a Brown," Crennel said of the former Saints Pro Bowler and St. Ignatius High School graduate. "That's his lifelong dream." Crennel said Bentley was "disappointed" about being placed on the PUP list. Extra Points - Right tackle Kevin Shaffer hasn't recovered sufficiently from a concussion suffered at Denver. He will miss Thursday." Hopefully, next week he'll be ready," Crennel said. - Crennel said it's getting tough to make final cuts. The Browns must cut the 75-player roster to 53 Sunday. "The last couple years," he said, "you knew those were the players who needed to move on." - Crennel said left tackle Joe Thomas is making some rookie mistakes, but "we're still excited about Joe." Reach Canton Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Hey-yooo!!! Look who's making a return to BET's "The Game" to stir things up!
None other than Brittany Daniel aka Kelly Pitts the ex-wife of San Diego Sabers QB Jason Pitts (Coby Bell) who was phased out of the show shortly after it made the jump from The CW network to BET.
Brandy, who plays "Chardonnay," Jason's new wife, posted a picture of the trio on Instagram with the caption, "Look who's BACK! @thegameBET #season7."
If you recall, last season ended with Jason writing a heart-filled love letter to Kelly which almost broke him and Chardonnay up when she found it. Jason balled up the letter and said he was over his ex, but what will happen now that she's making a cameo back on the show!?
We'll have to wait awhile to see ("The Game" returns to TV March 2014) but in the meantime, whose team are you on?
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It's all been a bit of a whirlwind but I've gone from counting the days to counting the hours – it's all happening so fast! At 9:30 tomorrow morning my plane will leave from Sydney and I'll be on my way with a bag of ultrarunning goodies to Alice Springs. Then it's just a couple more short days until we set out with our convoy of support crew and vehicles and begin what will be possibly the most challenging thing I've ever done – running 660km across the red sands of the Simpson Desert in 15 days. That, or giving birth. But that's another story – for when I know you all a bit better : )
Tag Archives: desert


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Closed for Off-Site Marketing Event
Tuesday, November 19
No sign up necessary
Learn more
Class Details
Off-Site Marketing Event -- We're out painting the town!
The Perfect Night Out
Enjoy drinks, upbeat music and hanging out with your favorite people while you paint! It's as fun for first-time painters as it is for experienced artists.
Fun Atmosphere
From the moment you walk in, the mood is light, the music is fun and the conversation comes easy!
Easy to Do
You don't need to be a seasoned painter — we make it easy for everyone to find their inner artist!
Sit Together
You'll get seats with all your friends, even if you book separately. Just tell us your friends' names when you register.
Paint Your Way
There's no rule that says you have to follow the artist's steps. It's your art, so paint it however you like!
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our FAQs to learn more about what to expect from your Pinot's Palette experience or feel free to call the studio to speak to a member of our staff.
Where are you located?
Copy this URL for the map: https://goo.gl/ZsKhT5 Our address is 921 Haddonfield Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ, Ste 2D. We are in the Towne Place at Garden State Park, on the 2nd floor of building 921 with Core Power Yoga. Landmarks: Across from Zinburger, Above Road Runner
What is the cancellation policy?
ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. If you cancel with at least 48 hours' notice, your payment will be turned into a store credit that can ONLY be used for a future class (private parties refer to agreement). Please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com to cancel. If you no-show or don't give at least 48 hours' notice, you forfeit your reservation payment. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.
What if I cancel or the studio cancels due to unfavorable weather conditions?
For the safety of all, if you or the studio decides to cancel due to inclement weather, you will be issued a studio credit (valid for 60 days). NO REFUNDS! Please email firstname.lastname@example.com
What about snacks and beverages? May I bring my own?
Bring your own Wine, Beer, Champagne but NO LIQUOR. You may bring your own food, but we also have a selection of snacks, pre-packaged small meals, and sweet treats for purchase. Buy or bring your own.
Is there an age restriction? Can my child paint.
Ages 10 to 16 may paint with a paying adult Monday-Thursday (NO infants/toddlers). 18+ ONLY on Friday and Saturday nights. Family Days, Little Brushes Program and Private parties have a minimum age of 6 years old (toddlers must be secured in a stroller or held at all times-no exceptions). If you are wondering, the age minimum is 10 because we are mainly an adult night out entertainment studio. Many of our painters are parents who are coming for "me time" or "adult time" and would like to be surrounded by other adults. Also, there may be adult conversations, alcohol consumption, and other activities that aren't appropriate for children. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.


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The Kim Guan Siang Cold Storage was absolutely fabulous for goodies.
When ever one's relatives visited one another,they would first buy some tins of biscuits or cakes from Kim Guan Siang which was situated on Cross Road,next to Chip Thai Leong. The shop was owned by the Cheng Family who lived along Brooke Drive until their land was developed into shop houses.
It was always the "done" thing for a relative to bring along a tin of biscuit or a tin of the nice Dundee Cake whenever they went to see a relative. We call this kind of gift as Ming Neng or Chien Mien Lei (See Face Gift). Many Foochows continue to bring gifts to their friends but not necessarily biscuits. I recently received two books as SFG from ML and we had a good laugh over this practice.
My paternal grandmother used to line up her bedroom wall with as many as twenty to thirty tins of good biscuits all given to her and Grandfather as marks of respect and love. She was very frugal and would never open the tins for any good reason.
There was one story which we cousins used to tell. One particular tin of Jacob's biscuit had been passed from one family to another and one of them marked it with a tiny dot. This tin apparently was passed from one house to another. Until by a stroke of bad luck it ended up again and again in this cousin's house. She finally forced her mother to open the tin and indeed all the biscuits were powdery by then.
It is good that today we have "used by date" on the tins. And any way most children today would be allowed to eat the biscuits as soon as the guests have left. We no longer keep the biscuits behind doors and give them to another relative. Laugh if you like. It is meant to be humourous. But things did happen fortunately or unfortunately.
I hope you will be reminded by all these pictures below. Enjoy a nostalgic visit to the past when biscuits and cakes were bought in tins and they were far in between. My favourite will always be the Dundee Cake.
And Jacob's biscuits did really come a long long way - from Ireland. The Irish Catholic Brothers would be remembered for them. These cream crackers will always be fondly remembered as SUDA pian or soda biscuits by the Foochows of Sibu and its hinterland.
The last picture depicts the very ordinary large tin of biscuits made in Malaysia. The Chinese and other native families would probably buy a tin a month. And these were packed for their children's school recess time. This tin is a favourite for many Foochow women because it can be recyled and used as a container for mee sua and rice especially.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Eating Tinned Biscuits and Cakes in Sibu
The Kim Guan Siang Cold Storage was absolutely fabulous for goodies.
Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 6:15 AM 0 memories
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Last British Governor of Sarawak
It must have been quite challenging to be the man who saw to the birth of a new Sarawak at the end of the 1950's.
In the hot tropical sun,the Governor Sir Alexander Waddell wore his ceremonial uniform and his plumed hat for functions. Here shaking hands with local dignitaries.
Walking towards the venue of the function,the Governor is accompanied by his ADC, also wearing an interesting hat.
A very interesting and nostalgic moment - the Governor and his wife alighting from the tambang. 45 years later you would not see the Sarawak Governor using the tambang for official functions any more. An old era is gone completely.
Final farewell to the last British Governor of Sarawak on 15th Sept 1963. Here Haji Openg (later Tun Openg) the first Governor of Sarawak within Malaysia,is shaking hands with Sir Alexander. It was a moment many felt was like a family gathering to bid farewell to a brother. Sir Alexander's style of government was friendly and familiar,open and not complicated.
Sources :
1. Sarawak Gazette
2. Kuching 1960-1963 Sir Alexander Waddell's Era (Compiled by Ho Ah Chon)
Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 7:43 AM 11 memories
Monday, August 25, 2008
Aloe Vera Comes to Sibu
Aloe vera, also known as the Medicinal Aloe, is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in northern Africa. The species does not have any naturally occurring populations, although closely related Aloes do occur in northern Africa.
The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine since the beginning of the first century BC, because it is mentioned in the New Testament (John 19:39–40 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes... ). However, it is unclear whether the aloes described in the Bible are derived from A. vera. Extracts from A. vera are widely used in the cosmetics and alternative medicine industries, being marketed as variously having rejuvenating, healing or soothing properties.
We do not now know the real worth of the species as scientific findings are still just beginning on this plant. And as usual there are a lot of contradictory studies.
However it was as late as the 1970's the whole Sibu population went crazy about aloe vera.
This craze made me realise that popular food trends were catching up in Sibu, a small town with a very homogeneous urban population and a small indigenous population in its peripheral areas. Almost every house hold started to have several pots of aloe vera and Kai Nguong Sdn Bhd started to sell its seedlings like hot cakes. Some women even cried because they could not any when the supply went out. I was amazed by the great desire of owning such a plant. Indeed the buying of the plant was like "snatch and buy".
But then in the frenzy of the changes in Sibu my family members and I did realise that it was so trendy and also "kiasu" to be knowledgeable in the products of aloe vera and in the various ways one can use the aloe vera. Talks were given about its goodness and many new products were sold. Forever Living was one such product and almost every woman carried a bottle of the famous orange looking product. In no time.sales were so good that people had to order in advance. I suppose this was the marketing trend of the time. There was this story of some one's daughter in law buying aloe vera juice for her own mother. When her mother in law found this out, there was a lot of anger in the house until the son went to order six months' product for his mother. She then said,it was not necessary because she did not wish to waste her son's money. Fancy two women quarrelling over aloe vera.
Very little consumer awareness of the product in fact. There was a lot of sales but very little testing of the product. Perhaps Asians were used as guinea pigs for the new products. The trend went on for a few years and then it dissipated. The prices of direct sale items have been too high.
My mother loves to use the phrase "Suoh si giu chai suoh si chern" (One moment of chives followed by a moment of onions ) meaning fashion comes and goes. So with aloe vera, it was trendy for a while and then the bubble burst.
Today most housewives would use the aloe vera for the effective treatment of wounds. So having a plant or two is good for the home for emergency purposes.
My relatives and I have boiled the soft gel from alor vera to make a simple drink with rock sugar. This helps in cleansing the kidneys. It is good for pimples too. After an operation a slice or two of aloe vera for a few days on the wound could help quicken the healing process.
Source : Wikipedia®
Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 7:22 PM 2 memories
Labels: aloe vera, consumerism, marketing trends
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Old Master - Creative Chinese Comic
Old Master or Lau Foo Tzi both entertained and educated us when we were secondary school students. We read all his comics voraciously. Perhaps we developed this unique kind of Asian humour. Although Old Master at times is very crafty and naughty,he nevertheless has his serious moments. The cartoonist is always very creative and he can see unusual aspects of Asian life and laugh at them. This is what I like about Old Master.
We learned a lot of Chinese proverbs from these comics. Later in teacher training we actually used a lot of English comics to teach grammar, listening and speaking. Laughter in class is an absolute element of good teaching.
So enjoy one episode of Old Master here for old time's sake.
Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 5:21 PM 0 memories
Labels: old master, teaching with comics
How to reduce incidences of heart attacks
At any age one must be fully aware of the importance of exercise.
One of the musicians I most admire. Sir Paul McCartney. He had a secret(?) heart operation?
Exercise for cardiac rehabilitation.
Keep slim!! One has to really work hard for it. But it should not stress you if you have more rounds and curves. Just try your best and be comforted.
Your heart when the surgeons operate!!
Many years ago, the people of Sibu were terrified of heart diseases which would come "too suddenly" and without warning. When a person died of a heart attack his relatives would say that probably he had eaten too much "pork leg" or he liked the belly pork too much. What else could be blamed for a person's death?
We all now know today that death comes as a result of so many causes ,natural and unnatural. Expected and unexpected. And some folks live long lives and others very short.
In the 1950's and 1960's little was known about cholesterol,healthy diet,and good health practices. Very sadly my grandfather,my own father and several uncles succumbed to heart attacks besides many others in Sibu.
Over the years doctors practise preventive medicine by helping the public through health talks and even workshops. Dietitians,nutritionists,and other health practitioners became popular occupations . And then the onslaught of direct selling catapulted the society into a frenzy of food fads and crazy expenditure on food supplements.
Aerobic studios sprouted up every where.
Beauty and slimming salons for ladies and even men were established.
The various sports fields became teeming with young and old of different shapes . They virtually walk for health.
All these are the washback of a more affluent lifestyle.
The usual care , which is really very simple ,we must take in order to prevent heart diseases:
1. Eat simple food with less meat,salt ,sugar and oil.
2. Live a stress free life
3. Avoid too much alcohol and smoking. Better still if you can abstain.
4. Avoid late nights and having too many worries.
5. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
6. Have annual health check ups.
We have to be very thankful that general hospitals in Sarawak have up to date facilities and there are so many good resources for cardiac patients. The Kuching General Hospital has one of the best , if not the best,cardiac units in South East Asia. 4 years ago,today,I was on the operation table for a by-pass. It was quite a normal,run of the mill operation,but it was scary indeed.
My rehabilitation was a wonderful experience because family,relatives and friends and even strangers rallied around. I had the best rest (6 weeks) I ever had in my life. All the days which followed the successful operation made me feel how wonderful it is indeed to be alive! I have renewed respect for everything around me. Perhaps God has also granted me a new demeanour - I have become slow to anger and would like to keep it that way. It does not matter if people think that I am a pushover. I smile even more. And I am still very thankful for all the flowers,fruits,visits,prayers and advice given. I have a thankful heart and I hope for keeps.
We all know that not every one can survive a serious heart operation.A famous surgeon once said," It is my hands that operate a patient. But it is God's grace which cures him."
When God gives us life, we must learn what is our purpose on earth. this reminds us of the Methodist School Motto - Seek,Find and Serve. Our society continues to need people who can serve well. And in order to serve mankind well we must remain healthy.
Heart diseases continue to be one of the top killers in our society. But the good news is medical practices and good public health care with support from the media and education department and other government organs have helped to prevent an increase in heart diseases.
Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 8:55 AM 0 memories
Labels: good diet, health, heart diseases, heart operation
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Chiang Kai Shek or Chiang Chung Cheng
Note the Chinese Nationalist or Kuo Ming Tang Flag on the right of the photo. This was the first graduation of Kwong Chien School July 1928. Note also the photo of Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Source: Sibu Chinese History Collection 1992 via Sarikei Time Capsule.
This was the flag that many Chinese continued to fly in Sarawak unofficially for several occasions that they saw fit,1911 to 1949. Sarawak then was fairly liberal according to an aged "uncle".
He said that he even learned the National Anthem of China under Chiang Kai Shek. He just "followed" what was dictated by the primary school headmaster who was engaged from China.
He only knew that as a Chinese this was his flag even though he was born in Sibu. Furthermore all the elders at that time talked about "going back to China". He said that politics was never mentioned. When his parents and relatives got together they usually refered to "government" meaning the government of the then Rajah and later theColonial government.
Later it meant "sin min di" or Colonial Government.
What government meant to him was the permission to own or buy land (grant} and getting an identitiy card or birth certificate. He said that it was important that they gave the government due respect and honour. Police was not necessary he said as the people were very orderly. I thought this idea was truly remarkable. What was there to control? He asked me.
Going to the "government" was going to the "bo leh" (Foochow word for glass).
Most of the problems or issues like fights,family disputes,and land disputes were solved by the Foochow headman or "tou nern". Things seemed to be well taken care of.
It was only in the 50's and 60's that things changed and politics became a real word to him.
When I asked him about nationalism he said that he had little to offer - no money to remit to China, and not interested in becoming a soldier in China. He said that after all he was just a very young boy then. He only knew he had to make a fortune to the best of his ability. When the Second World war came his hopes were quite dashed.
Today he has nothing much to say except that life was quite hard and he is one of those "time left behind" because he lost his opportunity to go to school when he should. What can one year of education in 1941 do for you today?
Very briefly he said something about Sun Yat Sen the Founder of Modern China according to him.
He mentioned that his own father was patriotic to China and was very happy when China became a republic. He vaguely remembered some of the old stories about the Ching Dynasty. But he had forgotten most of the things his father said.
At his age he only felt that living a simple, worthwhile life was good enough. Struggling for power was really a waste of time and even life. This was related to the communist struggle in Sibu. He said that he saw too many people going away and never coming home again. Perhaps it was good that he was unable to read and write.
I like what he said,"We are all humans after all. Why fight so much?"
Chiang Kai Shek was a well respected by the Overseas Chinese and the Chinese of Sarawak. During the war years many Chinese supported the war cause by sending back a lot of funds to help Chiang.
And when China won the war against the Japanese there was a great deal of joy.
Later during the subsequent years of nationalism the Overseas Chinese had to decide where their affiliation should be. In Thailand overseas Chinese adopted
Thai names. In Indonesia after a long struggle the Chinese became assimilated into the indigenous population.
However the ethnicity of the Chinese remain strong and well respected in many other countries. The various governments permit them to have their own parochial schools,places of worship and even their own festivals. 20th century and 21st century have actually seen a great deal of respect for diversity.
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek (traditional Chinese: 蔣介石 / 蔣中正; simplified Chinese: 蒋介石 / 蒋中正; pinyin: Jiǎng Jièshí; Wade-Giles: Chiang Chieh-Shih; POJ: Chiúⁿ Kài-se̍k; Jyutping: zoeng2gaai3sek6), GCB (October 31, 1887 – April 5, 1975), served as Generalissimo (Chairman of the National Military Council) of the Nationalist Government of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 to 1948. He was sometimes referred to simply as "the Generalissimo". When Sun Yat-sen died in 1925, Kai-shek took control of the Kuomintang (KMT). To end the Warlord era and unify China, Chiang led nationalist troops in the Northern Expedition. He became the overall leader of the ROC in 1928.[2] Chiang led China in the Second Sino-Japanese War, during which the Nationalist Government's power severely weakened, but his prominence grew. During the civil war after the Japanese surrender in 1945, he attempted to eradicate the Chinese Communists but ultimately failed, forcing his KMT government to retreat to Taiwan, where he continued the struggle against the communist regime. Serving as the President of the Republic of China and Director-General of the KMT, Chiang died in 1975.
Throughout his rise to power, Chiang Kai-Shek also benefited from membership of the nationalist Tiandihui fraternity, to which Sun Yat-Sen also belonged, and which remained a source of support during his leadership of China and later Taiwan.
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Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 11:22 AM 0 memories
Labels: Chiang Kai Shek, land disputes flag, nationalism
A feather in your cap - A study of plumed hats 1800-2008
(Picture : Chief Seattle USA). The city of Seattle is named after him, an American Indian Chief whose wisdom and speaking abilities have impacted the world.
Men and women have always been fashion conscious throughout the world and all through the history of mankind. And one of the most important part of a man or a woman's attire is the hat worn for ceremonial purposes or just a normal day out in the sun.
Photo by Rubber Seeds - An Iban Chieftain with feathers on his headgear.
Besides other ornaments feathers or plumes have been decorating hats or helmets for centuries.
Today I have a selection of beautiful pictures to just tell you that. No wonder when the English say " I got another feather in my cap!", they do not mean literally a feather in their cap. Instead they have something to be proud of.
Let me wish you lots of days with feathers in your cap.
A New Zealand Governor in full ceremonial attire.
A Cavalier UK in uniform which has been worn for centuries.
An Adjutant General's Cocked Hat.
Another ceremonial hat.
Stylish black felt hat with plume.
Sir Hugh Clifford of Pahang one of the Residents of Pahang. He had his plumed hat in his right hand in this portrait.
And at the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony lots of feathers were seen . China has lot of feathers in her cap for making the 2008 Beijing Olympics more than fantastic!!
Chang Yi Mou , the director of directors,has another feather in his cap.
Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 11:22 AM 2 memories
Labels: Beijing Opening Ceremony, Ceremonial Clothes, Governor, Plumed Hats
Sarawak Flags (1841-2008)
It might be of interest to you while you are waiting for the Mederka Day on 31st August to have a little revision of the flags which have flown in Sarawak from Rajah James Brooke's time. It is my pleasure to give you this summary.
(1) James Brooke's Personal Standard Flag
From 24 September 1841 - 20 September 1848,the Flag of swallowtailed St. George - a red cross on a white background was flown by the first White Rajah of Sarawak, which then comprised the territory from Tanjung Datu to the Sadong River.
First flown over his fort at Belidah, Upper Sarawak (Bau)it was also carried in the war boats of his Malay and Dayak Chiefs who supported him during the early, turbulent years of his rule.
(2) The First Sarawak State Flag
From 21 September 1848 to 6 May 1870 ,this half blue and half red cross on a yellow background flag , designed by Rajah Sir James Brooke himself was flown seven years after he first became Rajah. By then Sarawak had been enlarged from Tanjung Datu up to Oya River in Sarikei Division.
(3) The Second Sarawak Flag
From 7 May 1870 to 23 December 1941 , this half back and half red cross on a yellow background was the flag of Sir Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak . There was no record to show the reason for the change of the first Sarawak Flag to the second Sarawak Flag and the State Archives failed to reveal anything.
This was the flag that the Foochows recognised when they first arrived in Sibu. During the various government occasions the Foochow shop keepers flew these flags from the first floor of their shops.
There was a story about the change of colour from blue to black on the Sarawak Flag designed by Sir James Brooke among the local population. When Sir Charles Brooke was proclaimed the second White Rajah of Sarawak on 3 August 1868, the representatives of the three major communities in Sarawak i.e. Dayak, Malay and Chinese presented gifts to the Rajah.
The Dayak community gave the gift wrapped in black cloth whereas the Malay community presented the gift enclosed in yellow cloth. The Chinese community being fond of red colour brought the gift in the red cloth. These three colours attracted the attention of Sir Charles Brooke who always had the welfare and interested of the people at heart. Hence, he decided to change the colours of the Sarawak Flag from blue, red and yellow to black, red and yellow in order to suit the favourite colours of the local communities of Sarawak.
(4) Japanese Flag
From 24 December 1941 to 14 August 1945 the Japanese occupied Sarawak and they flew this flag which symbolised the Japanese Emperor and the land of the rising sun.
The Japanese army first landed in Miri on 16 December 1941 and later conquered Kuching on 21 December 1941.
According to our elders even the sight of the Japanese flag caused them to shiver in their "trousers". They all had to bow to the Japanese soldiers and to the flags whenever they passed by them. If they did not they would get their heads pushed and punched.
(5) The Japanese Military Flag
(6) Australian Flag
Sarawak was librated from the Japanese invaders by the Australians on 11 September 1945 and, therefore, the Australian flag was hoisted in Sarawak for a short period until 15 April 1946.
It was replaced by the Sarawak Flag when civil government was restored on 15 April 1946.
(7) Union Jack
Sarawak became a British Colony on 1 July 1946 and from then onwards until 15 Sept 1963 , the British Union Jack was used.
The Union Jack consists of superimposed crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick, the patron saints of England, Scotland and Ireland respectively was flown.The Malaysian flag replace the Union Jack on 16 September 1963 when Sarawak achieved her independence within Malaysia at that time.
Note : The Union Jack was not actually the Sarawak Flag; it was hoisted together with the Sarawak State Flag in order to show that Sarawak was a British Colony.
Most of the Foochows and other Chinese felt that the Union Jack was symbolic of a world power and so they accepted the flag as symbolic of the British government.
(8) Sarawak British Governor's Flag
(9) Sarawak Flag Flown During Colonial Time
From July 1946 to 31 August 1963 to distinguish Sarawak from other British Crown Colonies, the old Sarawak state flag was restored but a yellow crown in the centre of the cross was added to signify it as a British Crown Colony The five pointed triangles on the crown signified the five divisions of Sarawak. The Colonial Flag was flown for a period of 17 years when Sarawak became a British Colony from 1 July 1946 till 16 September 1963. It continued to be flown in Sarawak for almost 10 years after Sarawak achieved her independence within Malaysia. It was finally replaced by the Trisakti Flag on 31 August 1973.
(10)The Malaysian National Flag
(11) The Trisakti - the first Sarawak State Flag within Malaysia
Sarawak achieved independence through Malaysia on 16 September 1963 and it was almost ten years after the independence that the State Government under the then Chief Ministership of YAB Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub introduced a new flag (The Trisakti) on 31 August 1973. It was used until 30 August 1988 when the present State Flag was being introduced to replace it.
The flag consisted of a blue triangle with red colour formed the top half of the field and with white colour formed the bottom half of the field . It was adopted by the State Government under YAB Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub when he was the Chief Minister of Sarawak from 7 July 1970 to 26 March 1981
The blue triangle in the flag signifies a united people of Sarawak pursuing the national aspirations. The top half of the field in red represents courage and determination whereas the bottom half of the field in white represents honesty and purity. It was hoisted at midnight on 31 August 1973 by the Chief Minister himself on the occasion of the State 10th Anniversary of Independence within Malaysia.
(11) The Present Sarawak State Flag
From 31 August 1988 until today . The flag consists of a nine pointed yellow star on black and red diagonal strips with yellow field . It was adopted by the State Government of Sarawak under the Chief Ministership of YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Yellow denotes the supremacy of Law and Order, unity and stability in diversity. The yellow nine pointed star denotes the nine divisions where the Rakyat live in harmony. The star symbol also embodies the aspiration of the people of Sarawak in their quest to improve their quality of life.
Red symbolises the courage, determination and sacrifices of the Rakyat in their tireless pursuit to attain and maintain progress and esteem in the course of creating a model State.
Black symbolises the rich natural resources and wealth of Sarawak such as petroleum, timber etc. which provide the foundation for the advancement of her people.
It was hoisted at State Stadium Kuching on 31 August 1998 by Sarawak's Chief Minister, YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud on the occasion of State 25th Anniversary of Independence within Malaysia.
By the end of the 20th century more than half of all Sarawakians have become well educated and nationalistic. It was mandatory for all businesses to fly flags on significant dates. Most citizens bought their own flags to fly whenever it was necessary. Children especially love the National Flag as well as the Sarawak flag. The school system has ensured that students are well educated in nationalistic values. Small flags were also made for sale in the market.
Source : Sarawak Gazettes.
Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 11:01 AM 10 memories
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Foochow Herbs
This is called "Ngu Kerk Pi" or Bull's Horns as the leaves look are bull's horns. These are good for over heatiness and related ailments. Normally a few plants would be pulled up from the grown and washed thoroughly for making soup with some chicken pieces. Back aches can also be cured if the pain arises from weakness of the kidneys. We heard whispers that it is good for those with infertility problems too. But we never had the opportunity to try it on any one who had fertility problem.
Called "Ngia" in Foochow this herb is commonly found in the backyard of Foochows. It is usually brewed with chicken soup. Good for general health especially for keeping the lungs healthy. When we were kids we had a lot of the soup to prevent coughs. And all our relatives' backyard gardens had them.
(This photo shows Kie Rek Chou - good for kidney ailments - just boil a lot of this herbs with chicken. It is used as an antidote for skin eruptions. We Foochows believe that this "weed" is good for removing toxins or "poisons" from our bodies. so young children suffering from boils and other skin problems were forced to drink the soup.)
Have you realised that Foochow grandmothers and aunties are often very well versed in the boiling of herbs for almost every ailment that you can think of?
When I was young I was exposed to very special herbs which helped to lower our body heatiness. I was really keen then to learn all about them. My aunts especially were very helpful in helping me become knowledgeable.
When we were living at Kung Ping Road ,now called Brooke Drive,my family was often intrigued by the black grass jelly which we now can buy easily in any hawker's stall throughout Malaysia. The black grass jelly actually came from a grass that my neighbour grew and we had plenty of free black grass jelly from her. We had to boil a lot of the herb or "grass" to get a small amount of the grass jelly. Today it is considered a delicacy. It is also available in tins so our life style is made more simple.
I used to have some soup to get rid of wind in the stomach very frequently from my elderly aunt sometime ago. And she continues to boil it for other family members as she has this special peppermint plant. She also grows a lot of basil or " 9 storeyed pagoda" which helps to cure stomach upsets and generally cleanses our system.
This plant in the photo is growing outside her little verandah. It is good for body temperature and it can balance the yin and yang elements of our entire body.
Another plant which I remember with fondness is the Chinese liquorice which is good for making soup. If we have a lot of nightmares and if we sweat a lot because our liver is over heated this plant is good for us. It is called Kan Chou or liver plant. It has yellow flowers and its leaves are like the leaves of changkok manis. The leaves can be stir fried too.
In retrospect we actually grew up with a lot of herbal knowledge which is very precious to the modern world. We should be grateful that our elders have passed to us this knowledge. Even if we don't practise the usage of herbs in our daily lives at least we should remember with gratitude that many of our ailments were cured by these simple herbs which can be found every where.
We must never forget that there are many cures for simple ailments in our backyard.
(All the information provided above is classified as old wives' tales. If you do not believe in the properties of these so called weeds, it is ok.)
Memoir by I Am Sarawakiana at 10:41 PM 1 memories
Labels: Foochow herbs, liquorice, peppermint


text:
I agree. How about this one (colour and b&w versions):[attachment=22888:avoca.jpg] [attachment=22889:avocabw.jpg]Like you, Lois, I haven't removed the cables. They're visible and slightly irritating but I think it would be a lot of work.Jeremy
Clouds over Carrowmore
Jeremy,The colour one is great... love the subtle colours, very English and restrained. I wouldn't worry about the power lines. They are an authentic feature of the English landscape, unfortunately.Ed
I agree. How about this one (colour and b&w versions):Like you, Lois, I haven't removed the cables. They're visible and slightly irritating but I think it would be a lot of work.Jeremy
From last October, at sunrise.[attachment=22915:mornin.l...4421_lzn.jpg]
This is a very problematic shot because it was taken through a bus window as the bus was turning around. I bracketed 3 shots in aperture priority mode because the scene was obviously very bright, and I used ISO 200 and F5.6 so all three shots would have a high shutter speed. However, the bus was moving when I took the shots, and Merge to HDR does not produce a satisfactory result.This is a preliminary result which I'm not entirely satisfied with. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciatred.The location is St Issac's Cathedral in St Petersburg.[attachment=22918:Composite_3_v_4.jpg]
Nice one, Russ!Mike.
A shot from my bedroom window[attachment=22991:Clouds.jpg]
You lucky sod! All I can see past my garden is the next house. Jeremy
A shot from my bedroom window