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Do you have to hunt down your programs before you can open them? Maybe you scour the "all programs" option of the Start Menu. Maybe you minimise the window that you are working on and then work through the confusion of shortcuts on your desktop. You might even hunt through the hard drive using Windows Explorer.
Well, for programs that you use often, it's worth knowing that there is is a quicker way of launching programs than any of these. You can assign a key combination that will immediately launch your program. Whatever you happen to be doing, the program assigned to your special key combination will immediately open if it wasn't already open, or come to the fore if it was already lurking around somewhere.
Creating the keyboard shortcut for this is a two-stage process. First of all we need a desktop shortcut (if one doesn't exist already), and then we need to change a "property" of that shortcut so that typing the assigned key combination will launch the program (or bring it to the fore if it is already open).
Stage 1 – create a shortcut (if one does not already exist)
Find your program in the usual way, but don't launch it:
- If your program is "pinned" to the Start Menu (ie it appears in the list of available programs as soon as you click on the Start button) then left-click on the program name and drag it to the desktop. This will create a shortcut on the desktop, but will leave the original entry in the Start menu. Go to Stage 2.
- If you normally launch your program by opening the Start Menu and then clicking on "all programs", then find your program in the usual way but instead of left-clicking on it (which would open the program) right-click on it instead. Then left-click on the option that says "send to" and left-click on the option that says "Desktop (create shortcut)". This will create a shortcut on the desktop, but will leave the original entry in the "all programs" menu. Go to Stage 2.
- If you normally launch your program by using Windows Explorer, then locate it in the usual way but right-click on it rather then double-clicking on it. Then left-click on the option that says "create shortcut". If it tells you the shortcut will appear on the desktop then that's fine but it may create the shortcut in the same folder as the program. If it does that, you can then either drag it to the desktop or "cut" it (using Ctrl x) and "paste" it (using Ctrl v) onto the desktop. Alternatively, you can leave it where it is and add the keyboard shortcut from there (see below).
Stage 2 – create the shortcut key combination
- Right-click on the shortcut.
- Left-click on the option at the bottom of the list called "Properties".
- Left-click on the tab across the top that says "Shortcut".
About halfway down the list of options you'll see something that looks like this:
If you click on the area next to "shortcut key" (that currently says "None") and then type any printable character (it doesn't have to be a letter or a number), you will see that the area is then filled with "Ctrl + Alt + " and the character you typed. Click on "OK" and that's it. Wherever you are, typing the key combination of the Ctrl key, the Alt key, and the character you added will immediately launch your program. It's best to depress the Ctrl and Alt keys first and then tap on the third key.
Note that when you were assigning the shortcut key there was an option below that said "Run: Normal window". If you click on the triangle at the right of this, you can choose to ensure that your program always starts in a normal window, or maximised, or minimised.
If you have Windows 7 there's another method of launching any program more quickly than hunting for it – and you don't have to assign a key to a shortcut. Instead, just click on the start button and then type the first few characters of the program name into the search box (see fig 2).
Windows will show you a list of files that are relevant. After entering just a few characters you will see the program you want listed in the start box, so just left-click on the program. It took me a long time using Windows 7 to start to appreciate how good this search box now is. Suppose, for instance, you want to change how your mouse is working. Just start typing "mouse" (without the quotes) into the search box and up comes the program to change how the mouse works. Want to change the date in your computer? Just type "date" in the search box and then click on the "Date and Time" option that is offered. There's no need to train clients any more in how to find "administrative tools" in the Control Panel in order to find the defragmenting option – just start typing "defrag" in the search box. When I'm delivering computer training to clients who are either new to computers or just new to Windows 7 I try to remember to emphasise how good this search box is. It repays the effort of remembering to use it until it becomes second nature.(Last updated 07/09/2023)


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Energy Saving Information
Managing your energy consumption is a proactive way to decrease electricity costs for your homes and business. Explore the information below to see ways that you can conserve electricity.
If you need help with your electricity bills please also take a look at the assistance programs that are offered to see if you are eligible.
Residential Energy Savings
Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
Low-income Energy Assistance Program
Commercial Energy Savings

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday, September 21, 2009
Accidental Art ... While I Was Working II
You just never know what's coming next .... I picked this up outside the finish room last week, propped it up on top of the electric meter and gave it a name .... 'My Four Best Friends' ... it's actually a piece of plywood Trevor put down under some frames that he sprayed black before he put speaker cloth on them. We all liked it .... David Smith made a number of paintings by arranging steel scraps on paper and spray painting them ... I've seen some of them in person and they're very cool.
Later that week, while trying to get a 'natural' edge on a seat plank for a stool I'm fooling around with, some really fine shavings came of the process. You need a sharp slick and a consistent 'push' but the pine shavings curl up into amazing shapes ... Click the pictures to enlarge them and have at it yourself .. You might be able to get the same result with your largest chisel and judicious use of a mallet.
'How do it know?'
I've got these long pieces of curved ash I want to make into a sculpture of some sort ... the details are simmering ... waiting for that 'lightning bolt' to strike ...
2 comments:
- Torch02 said...
It can be amazing what you find when you're not paying attention. Champagne was a accident. Silly Putty is a by-product.
As for the curved pieces of ash, I'm seeing an offset X pattern - like a slightly open pair of scissors. You could go with it as a bench, or maybe add a different species of wood as a "panel" between the arms to make a table.
- September 26, 2009 at 9:50 PM
- Dorset Custom Furniture said...
all good ideas steven ... thanks for your suggestions ... opposing benches with a firepit in the center was our original thought, but we're playing with other ideas .... a good sauce takes some slow simmering to mature ...
- October 3, 2009 at 12:39 PM
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We attempt to contribute to the literature by evaluating the effects of higher beer prices on gonorrhea and chlamydia rates through pooling data across Canadian provinces and over time. Ordinary least squares as well as instrumental variables estimates suggest that higher real beer prices are correlated with a reduction in both gonorrhea and chlamydia rates, with corresponding implied elasticities within a tightly defined interval of (roughly) −0.7 to −0.9. However, the increase in real beer prices over the sample period is only responsible for less than a tenth of the decline in gonorrhea rates.
Friday, October 10, 2008
How Beer Prices Affect STD's
CEP article by Sen and Luong:
Posted by Justin M Ross at 9:10 AM
Labels: Economic Theory, Papers
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Full Project – MARKETING PLANNING AS A MEANS OF ACHIEVING INCREASE IN MARKET SHARE IN NIGERIA
Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5
Consumer satisfaction is the economic justification for the existence of any business. Hence for any business to exist, survive and grow, the same plan must be strategic. So, this research work was carried out on the strategic marketing planning as a means of achieving increased, market share in competitive market. (A case study of Nigerian Uniliver Plc Aba). In this research, we have treated these headings as follows. The problem statement which result as an increase in the competitive market of Nigerian Uniliver. So, the researcher is interested in finding out the reasons for achieving market share in competitive market. The objectives of the study which shows that the study aimed at:) Finding out reasons for product. Finding out means/how to improve the products to stand the test of time. Finding out the importance of marketing strategies in the organization Finding out if other competitors are doing better than the Nigerian Uniliver Plc. ) Providing the necessary recommendation.
The methodology is definition is the systematic gathering, recording and analysis of data about problems or opportunities relating to any field of an endeavor for decision making. Having identified the research work and an examination on the relevant literature done, this area submits how the study was carried out, how the data analysis. Some of the fools used are: research design, sources/methods of data collection, population and sample size, sample techniques, validity and reliability of measuring instrument and finally method of data analysis. The findings from the table draw 13 of our data analysis; the answer to the question was clearly stated through various responses rates represented, which typically on the areas of Nigerian Uniliver. There is no positive impact of advertising in relation to customer's patronage for their products. The conclusion from the findings, analysis and interpretation of the study. it is pertinent to note that the variables around which strategic marketing planning revolves on should be duly considered and implemented for the achievement of any company's goal. The recommendations the company and the entire industry should always keep abreast of their competitors strategies, strength and weaknesses and where they exercise better sustainable competitive advantage to enhance effective strategic of organization should be considered to enable the organization determine the extent of its performance in comparison to its established standards so as to quickly correct any deviation notified and this should be done on a regular basis.
Although my case study organization, Nigeria Uniliver PLC Aba reveals that the strategic marketing planning as means of achieving increased market share in a competitive market. Nigeria Uniliver is a public limited company producing from barely by ancient people some 400 years ago Ancient attributes of modern beer contains top[ consistent which impact among, taste and foam stability to the beer. Beer is not drank for its sweetness because it is no sweet and this remains a fact.
The history of brewery industry in Nigeria is dates to thirstiest and is an imported technology. The indigenous drink in Nigeria includes Palmuline pito Kavito, Jwanga , Burukutu etc. though still new in some quarter, beer is gradually replacing these traditional drink in such as marriage birth ceremony, funeral which were seldom celebrated in past.
The only way these indigenous drinks were promoted in the past was by the fasting method, consumers, then were allowed and even now to tastes various palm-wine brought to the market by different producers and sellers and its served as a means which determines consumer patronage decision. This is because palm wine and burukutu were generic not until recently the were generic not until recently the were being branded. Bottled beer was first marketed in Nigeria Brewery limited (NBL) on June 2nd 1949. the birth of Nigeria Uniliver were on the June 2nd 1949, this marked the beginning of a buoyant industry that at present markets about six (6) brands of alcohol and now alcoholic beverages today social norms as they relate to the use of alcohol in ceremonies have changed and beer is used instead. In some cases, they are exclusively used while in others for example social clubs, a particular brand may be faboured by established norms.
The beer industry in Nigeria presently has matured into an interesting competitive market with about 28 brands of brewed by more than 28 brands of brewed by more than 27 Uniliver. In some areas in Nigeria beer is highly valued, that is drank and even used as a form of medication.
Nevertheless, most consumers prefer beer to palm wine into other alcoholic beverages, neither do consumers accepts all brands.
In view of this, proliferation of Uniliver producing different brands of beer in the country and also of the fact that consumers cannot accept all brands. The expression survives the bottleneck competition in the industry, the Uniliver adopts different measures and sow promotional strategies to attract and retain customers.
In his article titled " product and system Dr. Walter W Ovo, chairman of savannah Bank limited outlined what he said that directly impinge on customer satisfaction. These are services information, commerce and needs that assess quality services in terms of time accuracy and flexibility in positive response to needs attracting ad retaining customers.
Nigeria Uniliver (NBL) Makers of stare gulilder, maltina, guilder max, Heineken, legend has embarked on strategic marketing that are scarely found in other Uniliver in Nigeria today some of these strategic marketing planning have had a lot of impact on consumers patronage of the product and increase in the profitability of the industry.
As rigorously gathered, those products do not have the problems other competitors products, to have because of well organized strategic marketing planning have had a lot of impact on customers patronage of the industry, as rigorously gathered, those product do not have the problem other competitors product do have because of organized marketing planning How can a business survive and remain in the business world without effective game?
How can an organization actualize customer satisfaction which is the economic justification for the existence of any business when appropriate panacea is lacking? Hence strategic marketing is the answer.
Marketing is the hallmark around which business strategies revolves on.
A.I Okafor (1995:6) defined it as all profitable human activities undertaken by the firm towards the creation of satisfied customers
Kotler (1989), defined strategic as game plan to get there
Glueck, (1976) defined strategic plan as a unifies comprehensive and integrated plan to achieve organization goal objectives
Business strategies from the focal point and basis of strategic marketing decision unfortunately, most business have failed products non existing, goals and objective unattainable simply because they neglected strategic marketing.
Strategic marketing decision is of vital importance that its absence in any organization will not go down well with such an organization it helps to manage business environment and the changed, which are inevitable it takes any an organization from where it is today to were it wants to be tomorrow. Proper strategic marketing decision turns a company from being reactive to being proactive in the face of events and situations.
Strategic marketing planning differs from company to company. It all depends on the market and business environment. Firms therefore, should adopt to the changing market conditions and at the same time face the need for creating an "anticipative "rather than a reactive managerial system. They should search for ways to handle an increasingly complex technology, unstable environment, competitors in their goods and services and offering so given and environment rapid change, a static environment can no longer be feasible.
Firms should think of moving from stagnant bureaucy o adoptive firm under extreme dynamism.
They should consider the marketing strategies of their competitors, their strengths and weakness and then develop a sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) that will enable them outweigh their competitors where there is no sustainable competitive advantage; the organization will not go far. Every business organization operates among other competitors in the market in order to increase or maintain its market share and organization would have to establish a good marketing strategy to survive intense competition and maintain sales projections and targets.
This study is aimed at
Finding out reasons for increase customers patronage for Uniliver produce.
Finding out means and how to improve the products to stand the test of time.
Finding out the importance of marketing strategies in the organization.
Finding out if other competitors are doing better than the Nigeria Uniliver limited.
Providing the necessary recommendation
The following research questions were posited for his study to enable offer solutions to the problem enumerated. The research questions are.
Does strategic marketing help in achieving company's goals?
What effect has marketing concept the rate of customer's patronage?
Does product quality create customers value?
Does advertising affect the rate of customer's patronage for company product?
This problem results as an increase in the competitive market of Nigerian Uniliver so, the researchers is interested in finding our the reasons for achieving market share in competitive market.
The project is a pre – requisite for the award of Higher National diploma in marketing to the researcher.
The study will expose and build the research through his findings and analyzes in relation to the impact of strategic marketing planning
It will give proper solutions to the company understudy through the recommendation regarding its problems'.
it will also be a source of help to other organization having problems due to improper implantation strategic marketing planning.
This study can be of great benefit to future researcher who may use its result.
The study covers the strategic marketing planning as a means of achieving increased market share in a competitive market ( a case study of Nigeria Uniliver plc Aba ) its concerns itself with what strategy is all about, its formulation etc. more so. Through the questionnaire, questions the management and marketing development / sales reps of Nigerian Uniliver were reached.
A wide range would have been taken care of but was limited by some factors.
Time constraint: Some courses offered alongside this project writing affected the researchers time in a very great way.
Information restriction: The inability of the company to readily release the needed information affected the researchers work.
Huge expenditure: The location of the company brought the researcher into a tight corner of financial stringency in an attempt to source information from both the company and other quarters.
Panacea: Something that will solve all the problem of a particular situation.
Strategy: Means of achieving an aim (objective)
Strategy Market: How company intend to go about achieving its objective.
Market: People with needs to satisfy, money to spend and willingness to spend it.
Proactive: Controlling situating by making things happened rather than waiting for things to happen and then reacting to them.
Business environment: Those actors and forces that affect business decisions.
Adaptive form under extreme dynamism: Firm that engages in environment and diagnosis and reacts to environmental no matter how turbulent it is
Stagnant Bureaucracy; Firm that does not react environment changes.
Sustainable competitive advantages a competitor uses to win a battle over another competitor and thereby making it difficult for the competitor to copy.
Marketing mix: The controllable variables product, price, promotion that company put together to satisfy the target market
Skimming pricing strategy: Means of achieving more market share or attracting more customers by entering the market with a low price.
Marketing Segmentation: dividing a heterogeneous mark such that each sub mark or unit can be reached with specific marketing programme.
Get the Complete Project
This is a premium project material and the complete research project plus questionnaires and references can be gotten at an affordable rate of N3,000 for Nigerian clients and $8 for international clients.
Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5
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Sunday, September 30, 2012
At school she passed around Jolly Ranchers and life-savers to everyone - her treat of choice. I came in to teach art and we created a massive Mona Lisa mural. Then she came home to spent the afternoon prepping with me for her party. She had a great birthday and seemed to just be on cloud 9 all day.
To give Allison some big girl time, Jeremy took Robyn out for dinner during the party. We promised we would wait on cake and presents for her. And Spencer was off camping in the mountains for the night so it was a girlie evening with Taylor gladly helping out by eating cake and ice cream twice.
Allison decided to postpone her lunch date with Jeremy till Saturday so she could go to Chinese Gourmet for their all you can eat shrimp. She decided to start her fast Saturday as she came home stuffed and happy.
Taylor got measured this week for his new wheelchair. He will hopefully get it at the end of December. It will be a lot bigger and recline. We made some compromises so that we wouldn't have to get a wheelchair van. But to fit it in our van will require us taking it apart and putting it together each time. A pain but so would either getting a huge van with a lift or loosing our back row of seats with a ramp.
Spencer met with his psychiatrist this week as well. First, 150 pounds! That just still surprises me. He asked Spencer what he did after school and Spencer replied, jobs, homework, sometimes a piano lesson or tennis lesson and then I go to bed. There isn't time to do anything else. I sadly realized that lately that has been true. Hopefully, life and homework will slow down a bit for him soon.
Fall hit this week with rain and cooler temperatures. I put out our Halloween decorations and have been sleeping with our bedroom windows open. I love the smell of fall. And since our computer is back up here are the pictures from last week when I took the kids and Allison's friend Andra up the canyon for a hike to Big Springs.
2 comments:
- The Skeehan Family said...
oh my gosh, that very well might be the cutest party I have ever seen. Literally. From the bows to the cake to the favors - wow. wow. wow. SO darling. Looks like Allison had a great time too!!! Way to go Mom :)
Can't wait to see you guys!!!!!!!
- October 1, 2012 at 1:02 PM
- kmmclain said...
You did an awesome job on the party. The cake was adorable, especially the owl. Fondant is hard, but a lot of fun to work with. I enjoy reading your blog!
- October 2, 2012 at 8:51 AM
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The Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) is formerly known as Federation of Sabah Manufacturers [FSM], registered under the Companies Act, 1965 as a Company Limited By Guarantee Without Share Capital. Registration under the Companies Act shall give the Federation wider scope and authority for operation and at the same time liability of the members is Limited.
Any company, partnership or sole proprietor carrying on business in any industry sector in Sabah is eligible to become an Ordinary Member or Life Member of the Federation of Sabah Industries. Association of firms or companies in any industry sector or association of professional firms in Malaysia may also be admitted to the Federation as an Association Member.
An Ordinary Member has to pay an entrance fee of RM500.00. Annual subscriptions & Life Membership Fees, payable in advance, will be invited in accordance with the following scale:-
Issued Capital (RM)
Annual Subscription
Life Membership Fee*
Sole Proprietor or a Partnership
1 to 500,000
500,001 & above
(*) Life Membership Fee shall be subject to the Council's approval and payable in one-lump sum.
An Association Member has to pay an entrance fee of RM500.00 and annual subscription of RM500.00 payable in advance.
A Professional Member has to pay an entrance fee of RM150.00 and annual subscription of RM150.00 payable in advance.
A Student Member has to pay an entrance fee of RM50.00 and annual subscription of RM50.00 payable in advance.
Application for membership should be made by completing the Membership Application Form attached and submitting it to the Executive Secretary, FSI, P O Box 10686, 88807 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, with a crossed cheque for the total amount for the annual subscription and entrance fee for the relevant membership category (i.e. Ordinary / Association / Professional / Student) or a lump sum for Life Membership.
Applicants experiencing difficulty in finding a proposer and seconder from existing FSI members are to contact FSI Secretariat Office for assistance. Should you have any further enquiries in connection with your application, please do not hesitate to contact the Executive Secretary by telephone no. 088 – 498000 or 498111.
A copy each of the following applicable documents is required to be submitted together with the application:


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Dead Soldier
Cooperstown, NY USA
Est. 1997
Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV
Est. 1997
Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0Complex fruit, yeast, spices and other flavors.
Fruity apricot/apple aromas.
Two fingered off white head that lasts and leaves tremendous lacing.
Postmortem Brew ReviewOrange amber color with particle suspension.
Fruity apricot/apple aromas.
Two fingered off white head that lasts and leaves tremendous lacing.
Medium bodied with full flavor.
Grim Reaper's Eulogy
More good stuff from the 'gang' at Ommegang. How do they do it? Lush fruity flavor and great yeast aromas permeate your skull upon first whiff of this god-like nectar. Pepper, pair, clove and other fruit swirl around the palate. Not to be gulped, but rather sipped. I paired it with a Punch cigar after a few lesser bodied pilseners this day and was in for a full-on sipping extravaganza. Duh-rool, duh-rool!
Rare Vos is Flemish for 'sly fox'. This aromatic Belgian proves that it is, one sly fox. It captures your nose with an apple/apricot scent. Then it catches your eye with the particle suspension, only an unfiltered ale would have. The last few scant drops, produce a yeasty swirl of undercurrent, further tantalizing you for a closer look. One sip, and you are hooked. Trapped in the gaze of the fox.
An easy drinker that won't weigh you down, unusual for Belgian styles. Typically they are good for one or two without overpowering. This amber will not disappoint you one iota.
Do the Rare Vos and be rewarded with a rare treat. Another 'home-run' from Cooperstown.


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The term 'super' has been prefixed to a lot of words – Superman, Superhero, Superpower – but have you ever heard of Superfoods? Superfoods are a type of food which are naturally rich in vitamins, anti-oxidants, and other tonic components. These foods give your health a super boost – much like what spinach does to Popeye.
Many superfoods hail from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, where they were discovered during the ancient civilizations. Here are eight superfoods and their places of origin.
1) Chia seeds (Mexico and Guatemala)
Source: muscleandfitness.com
Chia seeds, native to Central-Southern Mexico and Guatemala, are related to the mint family. Despite having a long history as a dietary staple since the Aztec civilization, only recently did Chia seeds become renowned as a modern superfood. The seeds are famed for being loaded with antioxidants and fiber, which facilitates weight loss and the prevention of heart disease. These tiny health boosters can be found in multiple Mexican favourites, like Chia Fresca (Chia juice) and Tarahumara Pinole (a type of flour).
2) Moringa (India and Africa)
Source: amazingwellnessmag.com
The leaf of the Moringa tree, also known as the drumstick tree, lowers blood sugar levels, inflammation, and cholesterol. Its most amazing feature, however, is its ability to work against malnutrition. The drought resistant plant, native to the sub-Himalayan areas of India, is an indelible part of Asian and African cuisine. In Bangladesh, Moringa is an ingredient of a variety of curry dishes, whereas it is used to make dals, korma and sambal in Indian cuisine.
3) Spinach (Iran)
Source: goodwinsorganics.com
This leafy green is amongst the world's healthiest vegetables for its high anti-cancer, vitamin, and antioxidant content. While Spinach was made popular by the American cartoon character, Popeye, its history in Europe and North America is much shorter than many other vegetables. In fact, spinach is thought to have originated in Persia, which is located in present day Iran. It was India that introduced Spinach to China, and it eventually reached Spain in the 12th century. While China is its top producer at present day, Spinach is still a key ingredient for international dishes. Turkey, the fourth highest producer of Spinach, is a prime example. Pirinçli Ispanak Yemeği (spinach with rice) and kıymalı ıspanak (spinach with ground meat) are just some of Turkey's spinach infused dishes. In Chinese cuisine, Spinach is often made into soup or served as a stir-fried side dish.
4) Baobab (Madagascar)
Source: thelifestylecafe.com
Baobab fruits facilitate alertness, energy, and act as a boost for the nervous and immunity systems. The Baobab, native to Madagascar and Africa, is usually harvested for its seeds, or pounded into powder to be sold internationally. In Zimbabwe, Baobab is a good source of income that Malawi women make use of. The flesh of the fruit is said to have a taste and texture similar to astronaut ice cream. It can be kept indefinitely because of its dry texture. Interestingly enough, a limited edition Baobab-flavored Pepsi drink was made available in Japan during 2010, and was praised for having a refreshing taste! Baobab trees can be found in Singapore's tourist attraction, Gardens by the Bay.
5) Millets (India)
Source: allorganics.in
Millets are a major food source from Africa and Southeast Asia, with India being its lead supplier. Millets are also commonly found in Nigeria, Niger and other countries with dry and warm weather. In addition to its high protein and antioxidant content, the Favorite grain is also easily digestible with lots of fiber and low simple sugars. Millets constitute as the staple food for West Indians and the Hunzas, who live in the Himalayan foothills. Indian staples consisting of millets include Ragi, Roti and Thinai. Consumption of the grain is widespread in not only India, but Russia and even China, whose people consume Millets in the form of porridge.
6) Flax seeds (Russia, Ukraine and Belarus)
Source: health.howstuffworks.com
Renowned as one of the world's oldest and healthiest foods, the seed of the Flax plant is commonly found in Ukraine and Russia. Flax seeds contain fatty acids and fibre which reduce the risk of cancer, stroke, and heart disease. There are a variety of ways to cook the seeds, including turning them into Linseed oil and making dry crackers. Ful Medames, a traditional Middle Eastern dish, also contains Linseed oil, along with lemon juice, garlic, and salt. The Flax also happens to be Belarus' national flower, which can be attributed to the fact that the plant flourishes there because of the country's cool climate.
7) Avocados (Mexico)
Source: awesomejelly.com
Avocados fall under the superfood list because of their amazing health benefits, including weight loss and the reduction of cholesterol levels. The fruit is an indelible part of Mexican cuisine and history. The first Avocado trees are believed to have originated from Puebla, Mexico. Currently, Mexico is the world's lead cultivator of Avocados. These multi-purpose fruits are used as the main ingredient in a variety of Mexican sauces. Guacamole, an Avocado dip commonly eaten with nachos, is a famous example. Other Mexican dishes with Avocados include tacos and kebabs. Avocados can be found in supermarkets nationwide.
8) Figs (Jordan)
Source: makezine.com
Figs, native to Middle East and West Asia, are a sweet way to lower high blood pressure and prevent diabetes. The first Fig plants were discovered in an early Neolithic village, which is found in present day Jordan. The fruit's red meat is lusciously sweet, with a crunch to their seeds. Figs are also part of the 'Seven Species', a list of fruits listed in the Hebrew Bible for playing an important role for the Israelite Jews. These delicious fruits are now sold internationally, gaining popularity in the world's international cuisine.
Evidently, many of these superfoods originated from places you least expect. A good variety of these nutrient powerhouses were introduced to Europe sometime between the 10th and 19th century, and if not for the Asian, African and Middle Eastern regions, one can imagine that international cuisine would be very different today.


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We asked our staff to share their favorite books of 2018 so far, and mermen, refugees, Circe, the Donner Party, and a trippy film festival in Havana are just a handful of the fascinating subjects that poured in. It's clear that the best new releases of 2018 have been eclectic, bold, and imaginative, with a sharp eye on social realities and a desire to expose the humor, beauty, and possibility that underlie our lives. We're thrilled to share our top picks here.
I've spent much of my adult life searching for a Native voice that echoes my own experience as an urban Indian. It was not until I read There There that I finally found a captivating voice who writes about Native life with both precision and power. The novel's characters capture beautifully the history and truth of being Native in all its nuances, from Dene Oxendene, a documentary filmmaker who honors his uncle's life by capturing the stories of Oakland Natives, to Jacquie Red Feather, a recently sober substance abuse counselor reckoning with her past and returning to her family. Tommy Orange's stunning debut weaves a polyphonic narrative of Native experience, with each character grappling with the hope and heartbreak that comes from hundreds of years of trauma. These voices reach a crescendo at the Big Oakland Powwow in a finale that is both apt and horrifying — much like the untold history of Native Americans. Orange writes surely and resolutely of the Native experience, and he commands the reader's acknowledgment of our history.
– Kate L.
Prepare to be ensorcelled. Miller's first novel, The Song of Achilles, is one of my favorite books of all time, so it was with a mix of excitement and dread that I picked up her long-anticipated follow-up, Circe. I'm thrilled to say she's not a one-hit wonder: Circe is a masterpiece. Miller's voice is clear, strong, and beautiful. The simple but poetic prose that made The Song of Achilles so magical is again at the forefront, and Circe herself comes to (flawed and perfect) life on the page.
– Madeline S.
Circe is wondrously lush and lyrical, and the depth and carefulness with which her story is drawn is breathtaking. It comes so freshly alive that I found myself completely caught up in what would happen next, even already knowing the Greek myths. After finishing, I immediately went out and bought a copy of Madeline Miller's first book, Song of Achilles, in order to be able to reenter the tapestry of world that she so elegantly weaves.
– Aubrey W.
A singular blend of tenacity, resourcefulness, and compassion distinguished Michelle McNamara as a journalist and made her uniquely equipped to put the decades-long hunt for the elusive Golden State Killer to rest — a goal she pursued tirelessly until her untimely death. I'll Be Gone in the Dark, which chronicles that pursuit, is at once a gripping, keep-you-up-all-night, real-life whodunit; a testament to McNamara's inimitable resolve; and an extraordinary parting gift from a talented writer.
– Tove H.
I can't stop thinking about this book. I can't stop talking about this book. It's really just that good. The Map of Salt and Stars is the story of a Syrian refugee family, told in the most beautiful and moving way. It's such an important topic to be cognizant of, and Joukhadar is the best storyteller you'll ever read. It's a story about stories. A story about loss, displacement, tragedy — but ultimately hope. Please read this book.
– Carrie K.
Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar's debut novel weaves together the story of Nour, a 12-year-old girl swept up in the exodus of refugees from the Syrian Civil War with her family, and Rawiya, a 16-year-old girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to join Muhammad al-Idrisi's famous expedition across the Mediterranean to map the known world in the 12th century. The parallels between the inner strength Nour finds in her heart and the strength and determination that define Rawiya's journey are many. A gorgeous, lyrical, must-read book that explores adventure, migration, grief, and, most importantly of all, hope.
– Mary S.
Hellboy is always fun and entertaining, and just enough off from the usual superhero comic. This first omnibus edition takes us back to the beginning. Fantastic read!
– Doug C.
Everything about The Mars Room is hauntingly beautiful: the complex female characters, the gritty prose, the impossible hopelessness it inflicts upon the reader. The Mars Room succeeds as a devastatingly gripping work of fiction as well as a very real reflection of the American justice system. This was my first experience with Kushner's work, and I am left reaching hungrily for more.
– Ann P.
Set in a near future where abortion is illegal in the Unites States and adoption is only available to married, straight couples, Red Clocks follows four women as they navigate the complications of these new standards of living. I have been recommending this book to everyone since it was published earlier this year. Zumas uses chapter breaks to tell the stories of all four women. Her writing is poetic and descriptive while remaining stunningly sparse at times. Some of her sentences actually made my jaw drop while reading. I think what is important about this book is that Zumas explores the vulnerabilities and fears associated with being a woman in a world that refuses to enter the intimate space those fears inhabit. But don't just take my word for it, pick up a copy. It will be worth it.
– Kathleen B.
This beautiful book is so much more than a simple reimagining of a well-known fairy tale. The plot is driven forward by a cast of strong, intelligent women who, while trying to simply survive themselves, also end up saving their loved ones and at least two nations. As with any good fairy tale, the treacherous and beautiful faerie elements live just at the periphery of the mundane, and slip into the lives of the characters in frightening and enticing ways, just like this book will slip into yours.
– Janelle M.
It's a brave thing to tell the story of an abusive marriage. It's an even braver thing to tell the story of loving the man who harms you, of protecting the man who beats you, of the moments of a marriage that were loving and sweet along with the times anger and rage crossed the line into violence. Kelly Sundberg's memoir is an essential read, not only for survivors of abuse seeking a book to help them heal, but also for those who try to understand why people stay with abusive partners.
– Mo D.
I've had the biggest Internet crush on Chelsea for so long, and wholeheartedly believe this debut essay collection will help her take over both the literary and nonliterary worlds. On intimacy, her writing lovingly slapped me in the face with the intersections of tenderness and submission, related in ways I'd never read or experienced before. Subjects range from relationships, Arizona, space exploration, the body, the digital age, and modeling, among others. Wholly consuming and magnetic, Tonight I'm Someone Else is a perfect summer, vacation, whenever and however read.
– Emily L.
The Bottom of the Sky is the third of Rodrigo Fresán's novels to appear in English (and the first since his Best Translated Book Award-winning The Invented Part). Not a novel of science fiction, but instead a novel with science fiction, The Bottom of the Sky is an exuberant story transcending both space and time. Paying homage to the sci-fi greats, Fresán's ambitious tale is, at once, a love story, an enigmatic eschatological puzzle, a work rooted firmly in the present while simultaneously orbiting in a far-off realm, and a genre-transcending book unbound by formulaic construct or conceit. In other words, it's amazing — and Fresán is simply so much fun to read: entertaining and edifying in equal measure.
– Jeremy G.
Sometimes I read a book that wrings me out so thoroughly I barely know who I am anymore. It's disturbing and disorienting, and although I'm glad it doesn't happen often, it is one of my very favorite things about reading. I had no idea that The Pisces was going to be one of those books. I was expecting a fluffy summer beach read about a hot merdude, and instead I got this book which absolutely destroyed me. I can't stop thinking about The Pisces; I already want to read it again.
– Ashleigh B.
At only four stories, this slim chapbook is easy to overlook. However, Dennis Norris II is not an author who is easy to ignore or forget. The writing in this collection is beautiful and confident in a way few authors can accomplish, much less debut authors. The stories are simple yet haunting, grounded in a reality that too few people know of, but that too many people experience. Dennis Norris II is someone whose work I'll be paying attention to for years to come.
– Gary L.
Diane Seuss's fourth collection could easily find a place on an exhibit wall right alongside the paintings that inspired many of her poems, as it deserves just as much time for contemplation and appreciation. As in her previous collection, Seuss brings to bear her whole wealth of experience, from childhood to the present, as well as a mind eminently suited to finding the weird and the wonderful in art and art history. Her influences are here, too: Dickinson's truth told slant; Ginsberg's howling, at once communal and lonely; Whitman's joyous invitation; and Williams's reality completed, not hidden, by imagination. I'd say she deserves to sit at the table with this pantheon of American poets, but I get the sense that she's already claimed her seat, and says hi for them. These poems are dense the way a child's summer day is dense, bittersweet and infinite, full of loss and discovery — truly an amazing collection.
– Jordan M.
Very rarely do we get a YA fantasy with just the right amount of drama, action, surprises, nastiness, and the tiniest possibility of romance. The characters' treachery and betrayal felt personal, the politics left me spinning, and the tension between Jude and Cardan kept me up at night. Black has created a beautiful and dangerous world where nothing is quite as it seems — are you along for the ride?
– Tiffany R.
I knew I loved this book by the end of the first chapter. Dark magical realism, narrated from the otherworldly perspective of a chorus of minor gods trapped in the mind of a young woman. It's not going to be for everyone, but I thought it was phenomenal.
– Haley H.
Ghost Boys is an amazing book! For a story based on a violent act, the author's message of peace and understanding for others is very powerful. It is beautifully written and very much needed in our world today. Rhodes delivers an emotionally moving book that everyone should read.
– Jennifer H.
If someone told you to braid together three disparate story lines (let's say, the reincarnated soul of Joan of Arc's executioner, a washed-up alcoholic artist, and a sudden rash of ghostly appearances), could you do it? Could you do it without sounding like an idiot? Keith Rosson can — magnificently. His talent is staggering, his craft is meticulous, and his story is one of the quirkiest but most heartfelt I have ever read. He will clench your heart and drag you through his landscape of horror and bliss. You'll be so utterly grateful for it.
– Dianah H.
I absolutely LOVED The Cabin at the End of the World! I was holding my breath, as this fast-moving horror novel was very graphic and scary. But wait! Bad things happen!! Maybe you should NOT read this!!! Enter at your own risk &mdash: I cannot be held responsible...
– Adrienne C.
Little Fish is a story centered around Wendy — a trans woman who, after a family death, begins to suspect her late Mennonite grandparent may have been trans too. While tackling the complexities of sex work, suicide, relationships, and harassment, author Casey Plett doesn't shy away from the fact that people and identity are messy, or that to be trans is to exist in conflicting modalities with the worlds we inhabit and the time that builds up to a life. Her writing is devastatingly good — the kind that can make a girl feel seen instead of distorted through a fun-house mirror. With more books like this one, we can start to believe that, despite any evidence to the contrary, we might be okay.
– Cosima C.
Tom Rachman's bestselling author status will continue with The Italian Teacher. I was completely immersed in this family drama, and admired Pinch's determination to maintain a relationship with his distant father, a famous artist. One of my 2018 favorites, so far!
– Kim S.
I don't think I have ever laughed so hard while reading a book, EVER! I was expecting your typical shifter romance and was wonderfully surprised by the craziness that is the MacKilligan honey badger sisters. Their deadbeat conniving father gets them into such insane situations, and then the lengths they have to go to get out of them is pure chaos. This book has a higher body count than sex scenes. The heart of the story does come down to family, though — how much you love them even when you want to strangle them. The love these sisters share for each other really shines, as well as the much calmer love and affection the Dunn bear triplets bring to the story. I cannot wait to see what the MacKilligan sisters get up to next.
– Mecca A.
I am in love with Tim Kreider. Which — given the romantic anecdotes scattered abundantly throughout these beautifully composed and hilarious essays — suggests I have questionable taste in men... but excellent taste in literature.
– Rhianna W.
Every part of this book, from the writing down to the end papers, is so detailed and imaginative that I know I'll have to read it a couple more times to fully appreciate its beauty. Fast-paced scenes, a unique magic system, and the complicated family dynamics that spur a lot of emotion kept me turning page after page. This is such a well-rounded debut, anything that comes after is sure to stun.
– Brianna B.
Laura van den Berg's new novel, The Third Hotel, is an exquisite exploration of grief, travel, and intimacy. It's also got an extremely compelling story: Clare, an elevator sales rep, goes alone to a horror movie festival in Havana after her husband, a film scholar, dies in a car accident. A few days later, to her shock, she sees him standing in front of a museum. Thus begins a surreal, intuitive, unsettling journey through Clare's past and psyche that is my favorite book of 2018 so far.
– Jill O.
Jesse Ball's latest book is like nothing you've ever read before. Set in an unnamed country composed of towns arranged from A to Z, the novel traces the path of its terminally ill narrator who, for his final act, is traveling as a census taker with his mentally disabled son. As he visits home after home, measuring lives while reexamining his own, it becomes impossible to ignore where this fateful journey is taking him. Both immersive and wondrous, Census is a meditative book about the modest roles we play in a sprawling world and the strength of human connections in the face of such enormity.
– Renee P.
Touching and darkly hilarious, this story follows Eleanor, an offbeat office worker seemingly content with her life but whose eccentricities and complete lack of social skills have kept her from the friendships and relationships every person needs. After a string of unexpected encounters, she finds herself on a journey of self-discovery in which she finally comes to terms with herself and her past. I laughed, cried, and felt everything in between. A 2018 fave!
– Michelle L.
The art and the colors will dazzle your eyes, and the story of discovery and unconditional love will warm your soul. Gorgeous and awe-inspiring, this book is an absolute stunner.
– Jordan S.
I really loved Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett — it's one I wish was around when I was a teenager. It features a strong female protagonist, Kate, who's highly competent and smart, but also caring and sensitive, and angry and sad — basically, an actual person — but without any of those characteristics becoming her entire personality. There's action, politics, social commentary, and a surprisingly scorching romance that's on Kate's terms. The writing is also very good, descriptive and insightful. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes fantasy.
– Maya M.
Toward the end of Fusselman's luminous new lyric essay creation, Idiophone, she writes, "To see it all at once like in a mirror, to be in one world and to multiply..." — and that comes pretty close to the overall mood of this weird, playful, and sometimes gloomy book. It feels sharply focused and almost suffocating at times, while there are other moments that feel scattershot and a little off the rails — like the narrator is trying to show you the whole world. Going from the interior worlds of The Nutcracker to her relationship with her mom, Fusselman investigates the various stagings and preconceptions of art (including quilting!) and being human. A refreshingly wild and ambitious essay that looks like an epic poem but reads like a speeding train set driven by mice, Idiophone is some strange magic.
– Kevin S.
The story of the Donner Party is one we all think we know. This book twists and tilts the story away from the strictly real, but the characters and setting feel authentic. The thrills are not cheap, the characters are multidimensional, and all in all, the scariest parts of The Hunger are the parts that are true.
– Emily F.
A young man looks back at a mysterious period, shortly after the end of the Second World War, when he and his sister were left in London in the care of some questionable characters, while their parents traveled abroad for "work." What he can discern, years later, is still veiled in "warlight" — for records of post-war diplomacy and espionage do not invite sunlight and scrutiny, but remain curtained in wartime shadow. Exquisite writing, fascinating characters, and morally ambiguous historical intrigue make this a wholly engrossing read.
– Lori M.
This is a fantastic resource, with as much to offer those just starting to interrogate race as those who are further along in their journey. Each chapter poses a question — "What if I talk about race wrong?" "What is the model minority myth?" — which Oluo deftly addresses. She explains for those who don't know, succinctly elucidates for those who want to clarify their understanding, and challenges those who are doing the work to find meaningful ways of engaging and making change.
– Britney T.
A shadow text for the hypermasculine exploration epic, Brother in Ice constructs a narrative from collected data and journal entries, traipsing across the elasticity of metaphor and the deadening implications of negative space in the process. Kopf shifts the paradigms around reputed men of noble ambitions and refocuses on undertakings of a different sort — digging inward, staying put, and creating in isolation. Both an antidote and a quiet rebellion, this is a novel that challenges our notions of heroic conquest and what it means to achieve the impossible.
– Justin W.
Educated tells both the story of how Tara Westover grew up, with no birth certificate, no formal schooling, living in rural Idaho, and how she left, not just physically, but how she reclaimed her mind, her view of the world, and her sense of self. It is unbelievable to me that someone could raise their children this way, and even more miraculous that several of them broke free. It is one thing to leave home, but entirely another to leave your family.
– Mary Jo S.
Annie Lowrey's Give People Money is a perfect general interest policy book. It grapples with a big, important idea from a variety of angles with a charming and accessible style. Lowrey makes a compelling case for a major policy imitative, but doesn't shy away from asking the big (or small) questions that bedevil all progressive moonshots.
– Keith M.
DeForge has done it again. The trippy landscapes and oddball characters in this wild collection glow with charm and radiate a sense of urgency for us to examine our own reality from a new perspective.
– Haley B.
Beautiful magical realism. Accept the society-changing story premise of a forgetting sickness and then let all the emotions flow. This dystopian story starts out quiet and small, then snowballs to a Big Bang ending with a heartbreaker denouement. I'll think about The Book of M and its people for a long time.
– Tracey T.
A town built on mud and garbage; a nefarious partnership between corrupt politicians, thugs, and business men; and a reporter investigating the disappearance of hundreds of women. Poso Wells is part satire and part detective story. It's unlike any book I've read in a long time, and I'll be recommending it to everyone I know.
– Amy W.


text:
What is your initial reaction to tonight's result?
The Thunder broke out of their one game slump Saturday night to crush the Bobcats by 27 in a game that was essentially over by the second quarter. One game after playing a dreadful series in a loss to the Cavaliers, the Thunder bounced back by exerting themselves on both sides of the court. It was a necessary win to end an uneven week of play.
What was, overall, the main reason the Thunder won?
Apologies to the Bobcats fans, but the answer here is simple - talent. The Thunder simply have more of it, and when they play even at a merely competent level, over the course of 48 minutes that talent manifests in a great number of ways.
For example, consider that super-sixth man James Harden just set another career high in points, shooting 11-16 from the floor to finish with a game-high 33. Then consider that the entire Bobcats bench also scored...33. To be sure, Harden is one of the best two-guards in the game and he is experiencing a bit of a breakout right when the Thunder need it, but the Bobcats don't even have a starter who can do what Harden does. The Thunder talent is too great.
What is a key statistic to understanding tonight's game?
The Thunder did a much better job generating high percentage shots, and a big reason why was their willingness to make the extra pass within the offensive sets to find open shooters. The Thunder gathered a total of 27 assists on the night, and the game high assist man was Reggie Jackson.
As a result of this increase in team passing, the Thunder shot a ridiculous 63% from the floor. On top of that, the combination of Harden, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook shot a combined 29-40 for 82 points. What this game should hopefully tell the Thunder is that it is a lot easier to score when players are putting themselves in better spots to shoot the ball.
Lastly, the Russell Westbrook assist-per-game saga this season has been one of contention against his personal growth. I'll go on the record here and state that I'd much rather have a team average 25 assists per game and the PG only having 1/5 of those, than a PG who has has half of the team's total. Playing the point isn't just about setting up a guy to score; it is about making the entire offense work.
What does this game mean for the Thunder today and moving forward?
The Thunder should use this game to remember that they are capable of far greater things than what we saw Friday night, but those accomplishments come at a cost. The cost is focus, energy, and perspective on what makes them play great.
Thunder Wonder: James Harden, 33 points, 3 assists
Thunder Down Under: Kevin Durant, 26 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Thunder Blunder: None
Thunder Plunderer: Corey Maggette, 21 points, 3 assists
Next Game: vs the Houston Rockets, Tuesday March 13 at 7:00 PM Central Standard Time


text:
When someone is injured on the job, his employer provides workers' compensation benefits. But what if a third party was negligent? Can the worker also file suit against the third party?
In a recent case, a trucking company entered into an independent contractor agreement with a truck driver to deliver slot machines to a customer. The customer's employee was injured while helping to unload one of the slot machines from the trailer. The employee was walking down a ramp, backwards, when his foot caught one of the hand truck's wheels, and he fell off of the ramp onto his back, with the slot machine on top of him.
The employee sued the trucking company for his injuries. He claimed the trucking company's driver had helped attach the ramp to the trailer, instructed the employee to walk backwards down the ramp while unloading the slot machine, and commented after the accident that the ramp was too steep.
A negligence lawsuit often hinges on whether one person owes a duty of reasonable care to another person — that is to avoid causing him harm. Here, the trucking company's driver had no obligation or duty to assist the customer's employee in the assembly of the ramp, or to instruct him about unloading the slot machine from the trailer. However, by his words and actions, the trucking company's driver may have assumed a duty of reasonable care toward the customer's employee. A jury could find the trucking company's driver improperly instructed the customer's employee to unload the slot machine while walking backward down a too-steep ramp, and failed to warn him about the danger of doing so.
If you or anyone you know has been injured in a workplace accident, it is important to seek experienced legal counsel as soon as possible to determine who the responsible parties are and pursue your claims against them.