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Krispy Kreme: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
I haven't had a Krispy Kreme doughnut since around 2005. A few weeks ago, on National Coffee Day, I saw an article that gave a run-down of all the company's promotions going on…and the feeling of neglect slowly crept back.
Illinois currently only has only 4 Krispy Kreme locations; whereas, in its heyday, I knew of a several in Chicago and its suburbs that I could visit. Those sweet, sugary, hot-from-the-fryer doughnuts are now just a memory. With that being said, I apologize for seeming a bit harsh on this company later on in this post. I guess you could say it's a case of scorned lover syndrome. They left without saying goodbye and quite frankly, I'm glad they did (sniffle, sniffle, sniffle).
For all inquiring minds out there that have also wondered where Krispy Kreme went, you are not alone. There are several reasons why they are where they are, and because I feel rejected by their departure I thought I'd share some "coulda, woulda, shoulda" tips with you all. Hopefully, it will help me get over them once and for all.
1. Under Pressure
Problem: According to Steven P. Clark, who is an assistant professor of finance at Belk college of Business at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, "there was enormous pressure, as there is for all companies, to grow very quickly and sustain growth quarter after quarter after quarter."
Krispy Kreme thought that adding locations would increase their sales, but this move can just as easily flip franchisees in one market from profitable to unprofitable.
My commentary: Yeah, great that you're expanding, but when you're making other locations obsolete, what are you really gaining?
2. Getting Greedy
Problem: Krispy Kreme focused their efforts on growing revenues and profits at the parent-company level, while its outlets struggled. They required all franchisees to buy equipment and ingredients from the headquarters at marked-up prices. While this strategy isn't uncommon, it can greatly hurt franchisees in the long run.
My commentary: Don't bite the hand that feeds you, especially in the beginning stages of expanding your business.
3. The Thrill of the Chase Is Gone
Problem: "They became ubiquitous," says Jonathan Waite, an analyst for KeyBanc Capital Markets in Los Angeles. "Not just in sheer numbers of restaurant units, but also roughly half of their sales started going to grocery stores, gas stations, kiosks. Anywhere that consumers could be found, you could find a Krispy Kreme."
You could find stores that offered their doughnuts, but they were made off-site and therefore not as fresh as in one of their traditional outlets. The "doughnut-making theater" that had made them famous was no longer a part of the equation in their success.
My commentary: Stick to the shtick that made you famous.
Problem: In May 2004 they announced that they were in the works of creating a sugar-free doughnut in response to the popularity of the low-carb diets, thus straying farther from their key product which made them famous in the first place.
My commentary: People love brands, products, restaurants, etc. for specific reasons, don't go altering it to stay "hip" or "current" if no one is asking you to.
4. Inconsistency Where it Matters
Problem: During the period of 2000 to 2004, Krispy Kreme employed three different Chief Financial Officers. While there's no law against this, it does seem fishy to stockholders and consumers. It's been theorized that the CFOs tried to raise red flags about the company's struggling financial state. Chief Analyst at governance watchdog The Corporate Library, Ric Marshall says, "to me, this says the real numbers the CFOs were coming up with were numbers that the rest of management didn't want to hear. They were looking for a CFO who was going to tell them good news."
My commentary: Your company's numbers never lie – when done correctly and ethically. If you don't like them, then start brainstorming ways to increase return business (loyalty cards, coupons, free doughnuts – oh wait, they already did that).
Takeaways from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts:
- Their woes surfaced in May 2004 when then-CEO Scott Livengood blamed the low-carbohydrate diet trends for Krispy Kreme's first-ever missed quarter and first loss as a public company. It's important and vital to look ahead at trends and don't just sit and try to react when things change.
- Don't let your stomach be larger than your eyes (or wallet) and don't over expand before you're really ready and the market can support you.
- Don't be everything to everyone, but rather be something special to some. Stick to what you know best and improve on that instead of overstretching to please everyone.
- When you don't like the numbers staring up at you from that spreadsheet, get to thinking of ways to improve them for next quarter.
Remember: Do what you do best. Even if you aren't as successful as you think you should be, remain patient and keep working on it. You'll get there!
Are you surprised by Krispy Kreme's troubles? Are there any other companies that you've noticed have gone missing? Sound off below!
Bubba is the Quality Logo Products mascot. He may have started out as "just a stress ball," but he's come a long way since the company's launch in 2003. Bubba has been immortalized in numerous vector artwork designs for internal and external promotions, and you can see him change outfits on the Quality Logo Products homepage whenever a holiday rolls around. Oh, and he thinks pants are for the birds. You can connect with Bubba on Google+
1.) I too miss the old Krispy Kreme. For awhile they were the darling of Wall Street. Part of the issue for company leadership is to manage investor's expectations of the business, because when results begin diverging from this the shares get pummeled. They did not seem to manage this process very well, and thus began to want the finance information to reflect this anyway – probably had some options that needed to be exercised that year or something (to your greedy point).
2.) "They were looking for a CFO who was going to tell them good news" – where was Andrew Fastow when they needed him?:)
3.) I once did a blog post titled "Why You Need a Finance Person" – the post above reinforces two things from a "finance guy or gal" perspective: a) the numbers provide a truth that needs to be listened to, and b) shooting the messenger is not a viable long-term strategy!
Thanks for reading and commenting, David. I'm glad I'm not the only one missing them 🙂
1) I agree with your point about managing investors' expectations, it's a crucial process that when not done correctly can have lasting results.
2) Hahaha, hadn't heard Andrew Fastow's name in quite a while. I'm sure he could have done some real "creative" accounting for them 😉
3) It has to be hard for some finance people out there trying to get the point across that the numbers don't lie to someone who refuses to listen. I can't imagine running the numbers and then having someone tell me, "That can't be right. Try again!" The figures are all there and there's only so many ways to run them (ethically and honestly that is). All they're doing is reporting how the business is running currently, and constantly hiring and firing accountants is not going to get you anywhere.
I'm so glad you brought up over expansion. So many times when a company fails it's because it collapsed under its own weight. But the media will explain it away as "no one wants this" or "trends change" or "they should do this differently". When in reality it's as simple as they just got too big for their britches.
Excellent-Grade-A-Top-o-the-line post!
I hate when that's what analysts say too! Let's call a spade a spade and recognize that the reason a company failed is because they over-saturated their markets to a point where consumers no longer saw the "novelty" in their store/products/whatever. It's frustrating.
Thanks Jeff for the kind words, it was fun to research 🙂
"Don't be everything to everyone, but rather be something special to some. Stick to what you know best and improve on that instead of overstretching to please everyone."
This is solid advice for many companies. While some products appeal to wide audiences, not all do. And if you form your brand around one niche, don't neglect that niche if you decide to branch out!
Also, is it sad that I'm pretty sure I've never been to a Krispy Kreme store? I think I've only ever gotten them at a grocery store. As such, they didn't seem that special to me, since they were just another doughnut (albeit a tasty one) out of a box. Just goes to show you that, like you said, ubiquity diluted the doughnuts' appeal. Now I really want to try one all warm and gooey right out of the oven … but without having to drive to Elk Grove Village. 🙁
I'm so sad you've never been to a Krispy Kreme location 🙁 I think that's a QLP field trip for sure! Their doughnuts are amazing fresh from the fryer and still hot from the sugar glaze waterfall (drool). Their over expansion into grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores (in my opinion) is what killed them. Their original glaze doughnuts were only good fresh, but once they sat in a cardboard box they were pretty bad – like eating stale cotton candy. Yuck! This isn't the reaction a company wants customers to have regarding their products, at least a company looking to be successful 😉
I miss Krispy Kreme. And while I'd like to say "poor, poor, Krispy Kreme," it's clear that while yes, diet trends change, most of this fault was entirely their own. After all, Dunkin Donuts found a way to survive (and you'd have to check the numbers, but I'm willing to say thrive as well).
Krispy Kreme, once you get a little more of your stuff together, try another brick and mortar store in the Chicagoland suburbs or Chicago itself. Midlothian and Elk Grove Village are way too far to get one of those delicious donuts. 🙁
Dunkin' Donuts is able to survive (I think they're doing okay, some say they're thriving while others say they're facing some problems, but I digress) is because they offer other items besides just doughnuts and coffee. They have breakfast sandwiches, quick snacks, specialty coffee drinks, etc. to offer throughout the day.
Whereas KK only had doughnuts and coffee to serve, so there wasn't much to keep customers coming back when their diet trends changed. If you're going to cut out doughnuts, then chances are you'll cut out the coffee at that location too so you aren't tempted.
I think they should try again, it seems that people's diets are changing and they could play up the "all-natural sugar" and "wholesome" aspect of their doughnuts just being: flour, yeast, and sugar (and whatever else is in doughnuts, I have no idea really). Also, to go along with Jen's post about the Lay's Potato Chip vending machine, people want to see where their food is coming from and how it's made. That's what Krispy Kreme was built on with their "doughnut-making theater".
Obviously I'm not over Krispy Kreme 🙁 Shucks!
"Don't be everything to everyone, but rather be something special to some."
Very well put! If there was ever a case of a company whose reach exceeded its grasp, this would be it! Like so many others, I distinctly remember the days when I'd see those little Krispy Kreme counter-top displays at just about every gas station and grocery store in the world. Fast forward five years — and it's been quite some time since I've seen one of those ultra-sugary doughnuts.
Had the Krispy Kreme execs been more familiar with their Greek mythology, they might have chosen not to mirror the flight of Icarus so closely.
Truth be told, though, I'm not the biggest fan of Krispy Kreme. 😉 So, I'll probably manage without them.
Stellar post, Amy! (You should seriously turn this "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" post into a series. There HAS to be similar cases out there.)
Thanks Joe, it was fun researching so I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled for some other companies 🙂
Their doughnuts were everywhere, weren't they? I think the Jewel by my house still sells them, but I know it won't ever be the same. Oh well, time to move on LOL
Krispy Kreme doughnuts are the absolute best when they're fresh out of the oven. That glaze just melts in your mouth, doesn't it? Oh, how I miss the ones out by Fox Valley Mall and Geneva Commons…
I knew they had closed a bunch of locations, but I wasn't entirely sure why. Thanks for shedding some light on this, Amy! I've noticed that a lot of companies make the over-expansion mistake, even financial institutions. If you go to certain areas in Oswego, there will literally be 15 banks within a 2 or 3 mile stretch…and some are the same name! That hardly seems necessary, especially in this economy. But I suppose every company has its own prerogative.
Great post! 🙂
The only reason Dunkin Donuts is still floating is the fact that they merged with Baskin Robins. I have gotten a couple of donuts from one recently. Yea you can taste the factory made goodness. Dunkin Donuts use to make their donuts right on site. Now they are delivered in trucks to the retail shops. If you don't believe me go to your local one in the dead of night, thats when they deliver, hence why they run out of food. Their choice in donuts is now way way less, and if they run out oh well. Their donuts now taste like they are two days old even at 10am.
There too went Boston Markets, Baker's Square Pies and Byerlys Cafeteria's. I miss Krispy Cream most of all.

subset: commoncrawl


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Number 676, June 24, 2012
"Our civilization is unique in history and
renowned the world over for the value it's
always placed, historically, on ideas"
Final Straw
Attribute to L. Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise
President Obama has invoked executive privilege to support his buddy Eric Holder's refusal to turn over documents regarding Fast and Furious to the House Oversight Committee. He is now fully in the controversy and is supporting the Department of Justice in its cover up (AG Holder isn't the only one involved) of its behavior in Operation Fast And Furious. If you google "obama fast and furious documents june 20 2012" you will get an eye full. Even the mainstream press will not be able to walk away from this.
Regardless of my opinion of President Obama's policies I have always realized that there was a veil of plausible deniability between him and Operation Fast and Furious, I felt constrained to act as if though he was a boss deliberately and carefully hoodwinked by his subordinates. However, even if this is true, the President has forfeited this consideration, as he has chosen to support his subordinates rather than "bust" them for this betrayal of public confidence. By me, the blood of every honest Mexican cop (both of them), every American law enforcement officer (three of them to date, and no sarcasm this time), every innocent bystander, every victim of extortion, every bent Mexican cop who was actually doing his job at the time, every American killed while visiting family in Mexico, killed n the struggle to control the drug trade through Juarez during the time OFF was running is on Pres. Obama's hands. The President is liable in my eye for every person who will be murdered with the weapons until they are all gathered up, possibly long after anyone involved in the Scandal has died of old age.
By me President Obama has demonstrated a willingness to make covert war on a nation that is at peace with the US and is in fact its ally by illegally arming gangs of known criminals to undermine it's power and moral claim on its citizens loyalty (no sarcastic comments please about no nation state deserving loyalty). Furthermore he is doing so as a pretext to undermine the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution as part of his general assault on the Bill of Rights.
The Republican Party other parties have been handed an issue to nail President Obama's hide to the wall on Election Day. certainly many Democratic Candidates for Congress are going down if Operation Fast and Furious and its cover up are made an issue. There are those who are advising the Republicans not to do so. In other cases, it is possible that the Media will continue to support President Obama by covering up this affair.
This is not a time to keep quiet, not if you are seeking political office, not if you are a person that is trying to promote a free government, not if you believe that the right kind of fascism properly administered is the hope of mankind. You would be a fool to walk away from such a clean shot at your foe. If you love freedom and don't holler about this you are submitting to its destruction. And how arming bloodthirsty criminals who offer human sacrifice to gain supernatural aid in their criminal endeavors is anything properly administered is beyond my ken.
President Obama recently acted to support the rights of latino illegal immigrants to become legal. He did this to gain the support of the Mexican American voters in the 2012 election. He could have done as well punishing the folk who had such a large hand in murdering our (I'm loyal to the US and anglicized, but I will never deny my race) cousins. If the Libertarians, Republicans, and others opposing his reelection throw this in his face they may gain a few votes. at least they'll be telling the truth, something refreshing in Presidential politics.
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Contact: Mary G. Martin, 530-595-4444 x5101
Visitors to Lassen Volcanic National Park Will Find More Facilities Open in this Early Summer Season
Lassen Volcanic National Park Superintendent, Mary G. Martin, announced today that the park has now opened three more campgrounds, the Bumpass Hell Trail and Juniper Lake Road. "The early summer weather has really increased the number of areas open for visitors to explore," stated Martin. Butte Lake, Lost Creek and Crags Campgrounds are now fully open to the public. The Bumpass Hell Trail which typically is snow-covered until late July or early August, opened at 4:00 p.m. today. The popular Lassen Peak Trail has some patchy snow at the beginning of the trail which is melting quickly.
"The early summer season has not only benefited visitors' access to the park this June, but has also allowed the park to begin several key projects that depend on the access to their construction sites," said Superintendent Martin. Visitors coming to Lassen Volcanic can see the construction of the new visitor center and Southwest Entrance Station which began in April. There will be minor delays from a Federal Highways road repair project that began in May. Although the road through Lassen Volcanic National Park will remain open throughout the summer and fall seasons, visitors need to be aware of the upcoming highway closure and detour on State Highway 44 on Monday, June 18 west of the park entrance. Visitors should expect delays while these major construction projects in the park are conducted Monday through Thursday each week.
Even though it is hot in the valley, visitors should still be prepared for the cooler conditions of the mountains. Weather conditions can quickly change. It is best to dress in layers so you may adjust for changing weather conditions, Carry blankets, food, water, sunscreen, and sunglasses with you or in your vehicle. For campground updates, current road and trail conditions, and further information, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo or contact the park at (530) 595-4444, Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo.


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5 Highlights From Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 Comic
Star Wars comics are back at Marvel and love them or hate them, the comic book giant is churning out some of the most entertaining tales the franchise has seen in years. Following the the brilliant Star Wars #1 and #2, Marvel today released Star Wars: Darth Vader #1, and it's well worth your time to read it, even if you aren't a hardcore Star Wars fan. Written by Kieron Gillen with art by Salvador Larocca and color by Edgar Delgado, Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader series centers on the moments after the Death Star was destroyed in the Battle of Yavin, which means that everyone's favorite Dark Lord of the Sith finds himself under a rather large amount of pressure from his boss, Emperor Palpatine. Here are just a few of the highlights from a thoroughly entertaining issue.
Darth's Vaderisms
Kieron Gillen is one of the best writers around, so it's no surprise that the dialogue in Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 is top-notch. Despite these high expectations, I still found myself pleasantly surprised at how well Gillen has captured the essence of Vader. Throughout the issue Vader delivers a number of brilliant lines, but it's this exchange with Jabba that stands out. When Jabba remarks "You arrive a day early, kill two of my guards and expect me to deal with you?" Vader responds with "I have only killed two. Do not make me reconsider my generosity." BOOM!
Larocca's depiction of Vader
Larocca has not always been popular with comic book fans in the past, but Darth Vader #1 should have many nodding in approval. Granted, not everyone will enjoy the photorealistic approach, but I personally found that Larocca's Vader really added to the story and there are a few scenes which really blew me away. Though he hides behind a mask, the emotions Vader is feeling at this low, low point in his life are clear for all to see and that's all thanks to Larocca's art.
Close ties to the original trilogy
When Vader visits Jabba, it's no coincidence that the following scenes will remind you of his son's similar trip in Return of the Jedi. If their first three issues of Star Wars comics are anything to go by, Marvel is going back to basics with this franchise, and that's a good thing. Keeping everything closely tied to the original universe allows Marvel's writers to add context to an already familiar story, expanding on beloved character's back-stories and who knows, maybe set up some easter eggs for future big screen ventures.
The Emperor rages
For many, Vader is the epitome of bad-ass villainy, but in this issue we are given perhaps the strongest reminder yet that in many ways, Vader is seen as nothing more than a henchman by his master, Emperor Palpatine. Having suffered a damaging defeat at the Battle of Yavin, we see Emperor Palpatine scolding Vader and humiliating him by sending him on a errand boy mission to his home planet. Hopefully we'll continue to see exchanges between Master and Apprentice throughout this series we await the release of Paul S. Kemp's new novel, Lords of the Sith.
That closing image
The issue ends with Vader on his home planet, and while I don't want to give too much away, I will say that seeing him there in that final image was incredibly powerful. It's this last page that has me convinced that Star Wars: Darth Vader is going to be one heck of a series.
Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 is out now.
(Credit: Marvel)


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Oh hi there, Evil Within! We didn't see you sneaking up on us with that tastefully rusted meat cleaver you're wielding. It sure is creepy looking! What are you, uhhh, what are you planning on doing with that, buddy? We're just going to go and stand over there in case, you know, you accidentally hit one of our major arteries with all of that arm flailing you're doing.
Bethesda and developer Tango Gameworks just released a new trailer for the game. This latest one is their PAX East trailer, and it features a lot of new gameplay footage and some rather tasteful music. It's all very grimy and rusty and, well, gross really. In other words: two enthusiastic thumbs up – wonderful family fun!
Trailer is after the jump. It might be considered NSFW largely due to all the screaming you are about to do while watching it. Other than that, enjoy!


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Apple Music vs. Spotify: Which Streaming Service Should You Pick?
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Which Streaming Service Should You Pick?
By Don Reisinger
Apple Music Provides Access to the Entire iTunes Library
Arguably the most attractive feature in Apple Music is that it provides access to the entire iTunes library. So, as users are playing songs and happen to like what they hear, they can automatically add it to their "My Music" section and listen to it even when they're offline. Apple Music just about kills the need to pay for individual songs.
Spotify, Apple Music Let Subscribers Store Tunes for Offline Listening
Spotify is quick to point out that its paid service comes with full offline support. But so does Apples Music. This is an important feature of both services. While they are both at heart online streaming services, they allow subscribers to store the music they stream on their devices so they can listen to tunes offline.
Humans Curate Apple Music Playlists
Apple has criticized competing services, like Pandora, for using algorithms to feed users music. The company says that to provide the most relevant music to users, having humans behind the scenes is paramount. Apple Music, therefore, comes with full, human-curated music playlists around genre. As users share in more detail what songs they like, playlists geared for them will be surfaced. It's an interesting take on a rather old convention in streaming music.
Spotify Runs on Multiple Operating Systems
One of the benefits of Spotify is that it's running on nearly every major product a person may find. The service is on the Web, of course, but it can also run on Windows and Macs, as well as iOS devices, Android, Windows Phone and other products. Spotify is even available on set-top boxes and smart TVs. Those who use Spotify have no trouble finding it.
But Apple Music Is Cross-Platform Too
As noted, Spotify has done a fine job of bringing its service to nearly all devices. To its credit, however, Apple is trying to follow in Spotify's path, though the breadth of support won't be as broad. For now, Apple Music is available on iOS, Macs and PCs, and Apple says that an Android version will be coming. Beyond that, it's unclear when (or if) Apple Music will come to other products, like Microsoft's Xbox One, Sony's PlayStation 4 or even Roku boxes.
Beats One Radio Is a Part of Apple Music
Beats One Radio is designed to bring back the old days when DJs really mattered on the radio. The service provides a 24/7 radiolike listening experience that surfaces the latest tracks the DJs around the world are interested in and want to share with the community. Beats One Radio has proved to be a great way to learn about new songs a person may otherwise never hear.
Spotify Offers a Free, Ad-Supported Model
Here's something to keep in mind about Spotify: It's not just a paid service. In fact, Spotify offers a free offering that's supported by ads. That said, Spotify's free plan does not allow for unlimited skips of boring songs and does not include high-definition audio. Playing any track at any time is also limited. Still, it's nice to have the option of a freebie.
Spotify Music Library Holds Millions of Songs
While Apple likes to tout that it has millions of songs, it's not alone. Spotify has a massive library of songs that users can access from some of the most popular artists on down to those who most have never heard of. Spotify is a major company with the support from record companies it needs to compete with Apple Music over the long term.
Apple Music's Perks and Pricing
To kick things off with Apple Music, the iPhone maker is offering the service for free for three months. Customers who end up liking what they hear can sign up for an individual account at $10 per month or go with a family account for $15 per month. While Apple's service comes with recurring billing, it can be canceled at any time.
Spotify's Perks and Pricing
In response to Apple Music going free for the first three months, Spotify has made the surprising move to reduce the cost on its own Premium service to 99 cents for the first three months. After that, Spotify customers will need to pay $10 per month. One other interesting move: Spotify Premium is available to students for 50 percent off its regular price, or $5 per month.


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No problem - Cleveland parishes may close but Catholic church will be resurrected within all of us
As she says, "The closing of a church is a grand opening". A new Orwellian euphemism if there ever was one.
News and comment on church closings and on modern Catholic life throughout the world. The practice of Catholic devotions as a remedy and in reparation will also be encouraged. If anyone has any news on any Catholic Church closures anywhere in the world, pictures and suggested links please feel free to e-mail. Also pay a visit to the extensive archives- also click on labels.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Lets close all the Churches
at 19:27
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This installation focuses on the human as a parasite by raising questions about how much we consume.
At first glance the viewer is presented by a rigid portrait made of smaller pieces - the self depicted as robotic. Each individual piece carries a fact about the consumption and waste production of a single human being over their average lifetime of 77 years and 9 months. The statistics have been gathered from reliable resources (BBC's Channel 4 and National Geographic) and are based on the lifestyle and consumption patterns of the average British and American citizen, which run parallel with that of the middle class South African. The facts presented are not to be regarded as absolute science, but are utilized rather to trigger an emotion in the viewer.
In the ultimate irony the piece has been executed by engraving the facts and statistics into a natural substrate, wood. Another precious resource which we so unthinkingly consume.


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|VA - Meg Kell a Buzanak Erni
(Hungary, 1992, K7)
I wanted for a longtime to post this K7, but couldn't and still can't find the original, which I bought around 1996 in Budapest. Probably it's lost during my many movings around, but fortunately made a K7 copy for regularly playing. That copy is, after many many times having enjoyed it's music, still sounding good, so finally decided to use that for this post.
The K7 is a compilation of studio and live tracks recorded between 1975 and 1991, put together by Halmos Béla, "one of the leading figures the early days of the Tanchaz movement" (from the Rough Guide to World Music)
source: Rough Guide to World Music, page 163
The Tanchaz, meaning dance house, movement started in the 1970s as a reaction to the regimented folklore of the state ensembles. Following in the footsteps of Bartok and Kodaly, mucisians like Ferenc Sebo and Bela Halmos (compiler of K7) collected music from the villages, learned it and brought it back to the capital Budapest. This new generation was interested in the instrumental music and traditional dances. The idea was to bring the music back to the grassroots rather than present it on stage and, despite the urban setting, keep it closer to its original form.
Eventhough it had virtually no official support from the state, it grew from strength to strength, and had for many years also a political dimension, as being opposed to the communist state.
Tanchaz music falls into two types. One is music from Hungary proper, with less of a living tradition and usually learned from archive recordings or written collections. The other and most popular music comes directly from the village tradition. Mostly from Transylvania, where the Hungarian community in Romania is keeping a living folk tradition alive.
The basic instrumental line-up is a lead fiddle, an accompanying violin (kontra) playing chords and a bowed bass - there's often a cimbalon included as well. At first the tunes all sound similar, but the better you know this music the more rich and varied it becomes. In the right hands it has a beauty unrivalled in Europe.
Listen to a track from the K7
VA-HUNGARY-1992-K7 - Meg Kell A Buzanak Erni
Full trackslist:
1.Sebő - Szerelem, Szerelem - Love, Love (1:05) [1975]
2.Sebő - Hol Jártál Az Éjjel Cönöge Madár (2:25) [1975]
3.Egyszólam - Kanásznóta (3:02) [1989]
4.Téka - Hadd Fekszem Melléd (2:25) [1989]
5.Kalamajka - Bonchidai Forgatós (5:00) [1988]
6.Dűvő - Im Memoriam Kovács Tivadar (3:07) [1989]
7.Vujicsics - Madarac (2:00) [1988]
8.Méta - Szép a Fekete Bárány (2:33) [1989]
9.Kallós Zoltán - Fordulj Kedves Lovam (4:19) [1984]
10.Téka - Az a Szeretőm, Aki Volt (4:46) [1989]
11.Ghymes - Gúta Maga Egy Város (1:52) [1991]
12.Kanalas & Fábri - Várj Madárka (2:27) [1991]
13.Ökrös - Ej, Nem Szeretem az Idő Járását (3:25) [1989]
14.Various - Mezőségi Finálé (6:39) [1989]
15.Sebő - Meg Kell A Búzának Érni (2:15) [1975]
Info about the Artists:1/2/15.Sebő Ensemble, named after bandleader Ferenc Sebő, is one of the best-known groups of the 1970s Hungarian roots revival.
3.Egyszólam' bandmembers studied for about two decades the traditional Hungarian folkmusic in the performance style, the band includes a singer and a variety of flutes, to their repertoire belong bagpipes sounding melodies.
4/10.Téka Ensemble formed 1976 in Budapest, playing authentic peasant music, their repertoire emphasizes the traditional playing style and original feeling of Hungarian village music.
5.Kalamajka, formed in the early 1970s, played authentic Hungarian folkmusic till their break-up in 2009.
6.Dűvő Együttes, formed in 1979, plays Hungarian folkmusic in especially the traditional styles; in their repertoire is music from all ethnic groups in the Carpathian Basin.
7.Vujicsics* is one of the best groups anywhere playing Serbian and Croatian music, a 6-piece ensemble with guitars, tamburas and bass from the South Slav communities north of Budapest.
8.Méta Ensemble formed 1983 in Pécs in the south of Hungary, some of their specialities are the singing voice of and virtuosity on the violin by founding member Beáta Salamon.
9.Kallós Zoltán is a ethnographer, folk music collector born 1926 in Răscruci (Válaszút), Transylvania, Romania.
11.Ghymes was an excellent 5-piece band led by Szarka Tamas on fiddle and coming from the Hungarian community in southern Slovakia.
12.Duo with vocals by Éva Kanalas and Géza Fábri on cobza (a multi-stringed lute, considered the oldest accompaniment instrument in the Moldovia/Romania region).
13.Ökrös Együttes formed in 1986 by violinist Csaba Ökrös, they gained knowledge of Hungarian folk music by visiting and studying with folk musicians in the remote villages of Hungary and Transylvania.
14.Various Artists at the Folkmusic Festival in Szeged in 1988, performing together the finale at the Festival.
*note one of the members of Vujicsics is the father of some musicians of Söndörgő posted earlier on Mangue Music
More about Hungarian Folkmusic
- HUNGARY: a musical mother tongue - by Simon Broughton
Chapter in World Music Vol.1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East (page 159-167)
- The Aesthetic of the Hungarian Revival Movement - by Judit Frigyesi
Lakodalmas Rock and the Rejection of Popular - by Barbara Rose Lange
Chapters in Retuning Culture: Musical Changes in Central and Eastern Europe (page 54-91)


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Don't miss WNY's favorite Easter tradition! This year's exhibit will be dripping with color! With over 22,000 bulbs on display, come and celebrate the sensations of spring inside our Dome.
Fragrant shrubs and flowers of every kind will be set against the ombre hues of tulips and daffodils highlighting our majestic conservatory at one of the most beautiful times of the year.
Included with the exhibit is the 4-H Farm that will host baby bunnies, chicks, pigs, ducks and so much more! The 4-H Farm will be open from 10am-4pm daily. The Easter Bunny will visit the Botanical Gardens April 14 and 15 from 10am-5pm.
10am-5pm - Included with Botanical Garden admission - $11 adults, $10 seniors (62+), $9 students (13+ with ID), $6 Kids 3-12, members and kids 2 and under are free!
Go to www.buffalogardens.com for more information.


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Ba Ria-Vung Tau University
Campus 1
80 Truong Cong Dinh St., Ward 3
Vung Tau City, Vietnam
Dai hoc Ba Ria-Vung Tau
Co so 1,
80 Truong Cong Dinh, Phuong 3,
TP. Vung Tau, Viet Nam
Tel: +84 (0) 64 3532 222
+84 (0) 64 3818 066
+84 (0) 64 3533 513
Fax: +84 (0)64 3532 233
• Late August to 15th January
• Late January to 25th June
Please note that we work with hosts to establish start and finish dates for placements in each programme. However,
exact end dates may vary somewhat from placement to placement and year to year. On arrival at your placement,
you should receive guidance and training on your role and responsibilities, and you should take this opportunity to
establish when your host expects you to finish. This date should be respected, and you should only leave your
placement earlier than this date with the express agreement of your placement and Programme Manager.
Placement Head: Ms Nguyen Thi Chim Lang, Rector
Tel: +84 (0) 64 353 2222
Fax: +84 (0) 64 353 2233
Mobile: +84 (0) 913 947 285
Email: email@example.com
Volunteer mentors:
Mrs Nguyen Thi Nga, Specialist of International Relation Department
Tel: +84 (0) 64 353 2222 - 112
Mobile: (+84) 0983 277 355
Email: email@example.com
Mrs Nguyen Thi Xuan Lien, Vice Dean of International Relation Department
Mobile: +84 (0)909 514 325
A new university. The CEO is Mrs.NguyenThi Chim Lang. It also includes a further education college and a
technical college. 7,000 students. 6,000 full time and 1,000 in service students. Largely technical and
technological. All need English. 100 English specialists. 20 English teachers. 60% of the students are
girls. They are starting to build a new campus 3K from Campus 2.They will offer internships and exchanges
with other Universities.
English language teaching assistant, but always completely independent of the Vietnamese teachers in classes
majoring in English. The evening classes are mostly mixed ages and abilities.
Volunteers will teach in Campus 2.
Campus 2:
1 Truong Van Bang St., Ward 7,
Vung Tau City
They will teach additional conversation classes for students majoring in English.
Shared room on 4th floor of the campus 1 Kettle and microwave, and there is a fridge. Airy and
The curfew is at 10 pm.
There are canteen and cooking facilities.
Cash in lieu of food: 3,000,000 VND
There is an additional allowance of 1,500,000 VND per month for incidental
Vietnam is a reasonably conservative country and both male and female
Lattitude volunteers should dress appropriately at their placements. As teaching assistants, Volunteers
need to dress in professional attire and not as backpackers. Blouses, tops (no strappy singlets),
knee-length skirt and trousers are good choices for females and collared tops and neat trousers are required
for males.
• Vung Tau is a seaside resort, 2 hours to the east of HCMC. It is a
fair sized town, pleasant and
picturesque, popular with the citizens of Saigon. Ba Ria is an industrial city situated some 30 km
the west of Vung Tau.
• Bus and hydrofoil to HCMC.
• Shops, supermarkets, beach, bars etc in Vung Tau.
Not a lot of westerners to be seen round about,
though there is a bit of an ex-pat community. Notably Russians. There are lots of coffee
shops, but
girls won't feel comfortable in bars here. Lots of internet cafés. Internet in rooms.
• Vung Tau is an attractive place, basically a seaside
resort, very colourful and cheerful. A real plus is
the wind which blows in off the sea.There have been incidents with pickpockets.
Carmel Eden Margaret Johnson: firstname.lastname@example.com
Celeste Helene Crawford: firstname.lastname@example.com
Marianne, English teacher
©2011 Lattitude Global Volunteering is a UK registered charity No. 272761


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Judge Jeanine issued a stern warning on Saturday night. The judge warned that any attempt to follow "choker" Mitt Romney's lead to have a brokered convention in order to steal the nomination from Donald Trump and subsequently subvert the will of the people will result in dire consequences for the GOP.
Article reposted with permission from The Common Sense ShowDon't forget to Like Freedom Outpost on Facebook, Google Plus, & Twitter. You can also get Freedom Outpost delivered to your Amazon Kindle device here.


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QbD for Better Method Validation and Transfer
Just as process validation can benefit from a QbD and a product lifecycle approach, so can analytical method validation and transfer
More companies in the pharmaceutical industry today are adopting the principles of Quality by Design (QbD) for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Described in ICH Q8, Q9 and Q10 guidance documents, QbD enables enhanced process understanding, and a more systematic and scientific approach to development, so that better controls may be implemented. The end goal is more robust manufacturing processes than those that typically result from traditional approaches to drug development.
The QbD framework has many implications for manufacturers and regulators alike. This article describes how analytical methods can be viewed as "processes" and QbD concepts applied, to improve both method validation and transfer. Its goal is to stimulate thinking and discussion on how analytical method validation and transfer could evolve as industry increasingly adopts Quality by Design concepts.
But QbD cannot be considered without examining validation within a product lifecycle framework. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) attempted to do just that in a recent draft guidance [1] designed to help achieve the goals of its "Pharmaceutical GMP's for the 21st Century – A Risk Based Approach" [2].
This guidance addresses some of the problems with traditional approaches to process validation, which were articulated by Moheb Nasr nearly five years ago [3]. Too narrow a focus on a "three-batch" approach to validation has encouraged a "don't rock the boat" mindset within the industry that can fail to foster continuous improvements in quality or efficiency.
The Need for Real World Verification
The same problems can be seen in analytical method validation and transfer, where the focus often shifts from ensuring the robustness of the method itself to ensuring the robustness of the documentation, and how well it will withstand regulatory scrutiny.
Methods for pharmaceutical products are normally validated by experts who have developed the method in accordance with ICHQ2 guidance (Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and Methodology) or USP <1225> (Validation of Compendial Procedures). However, validation can be treated as a one-off event, with little consideration given to verifying how well the method will perform at everyday, "real world" operating conditions. All too often, regulators and industry use ICH Q2 or USP <1225> in a "check box" manner without considering the intent of these guidances, or the philosophy of method validation.
These issues continue after the method has been validated, when it is transferred to another laboratory. This transfer step requires that the knowledge of how to operate the method be transferred to those who will use it routinely, and that an exercise be performed, documenting that similar results have been obtained by both parties.
The transfer exercise is usually performed by the most competent analytical staff in the receiving laboratory, yet it may have little relationship with how the method will be used in routine, day to day operations.
It may come as little surprise, then, that most methods fail to perform as intended in the receiving laboratory, triggering efforts to identify variables that are causing the discrepancies, and repeated, costly testing and documentation.
The roots of method transfer failures can usually be traced to insufficient consideration of the routine operating environment during the method validation exercise, and lack of an effective process for capturing and transferring the tacit knowledge of the development analysts.
A QbD Framework for Analytical Method Life Cycle Management
If an analytical method is viewed, simply, as a process, whose output is data of acceptable quality, QbD concepts designed for manufacturing processes can be applied to analytical methods [4]. Thus, the concepts of lifecycle validation that are being developed for manufacturing processes might also be applied to analytical methods.
QbD is defined as "a systematic approach to development that begins with predefined objectives and emphasizes product and process understanding based on sound science and quality risk management" [5] and FDA [2] has proposed a definition for process validation that is "the collection and evaluation of data, from the process design stage throughout production, which establishes scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently delivering quality products."
When considering a lifecycle approach to method validation, a similar definition could be adopted "The collection and evaluation of data and knowledge from the method design stage throughout its lifecycle of use which establishes scientific evidence that a method is capable of consistently delivering quality data."
From these definitions, it can be seen that there a number of key factors that are important in a QbD\Lifecycle approach. These include:
- The importance of having predefined objectives
- The need to understand the method, or being able to explain the method performance as a function of the method input variables
- The need to ensure that controls on method inputs are designed such that the method will deliver quality data consistently in all the intended environments in which it is used
- The need to evaluate method performance from the method design stage throughout its lifecycle of use.
In alignment with the approach proposed in the draft FDA guidance for process validation, a three-stage approach could be taken with method validation. (See chart.)
Stage 1 – Method Design: Define method requirements and conditions and identify critical controls
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CHICAGO -- Students from Francis Xavier Warde School knew they couldn't travel to Houston to help those affected by the devastating flooding following Hurricane Harvey. But they did want to do something.
The 8th graders gathered at the Red Cross of Chicago headquarters today, writing thank you cards to everyone from volunteers who are going to Texas to help to those who have donated money to the cause. The kids say they hope the cards make the volunteers and the donors realize just how much they're making a difference.
Representatives from the Red Cross say they appreciate the donations because having too many people traveling to a disaster area, like Houston, could be a hindrance to the rescue operations. But the donations will help emergency crews that are appropriately prepared. They anticipate they'll be assisting in Houston for more than a year.


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Sew It, Love It, Sewing Kits - Sewing Lessons by Post!
Welcome to our spooky and scary fabrics department!
Whether you are looking for dressmaking, bag making, quilting, home decor or general craft fabrics, we have something for you. Click on the fabrics that take you eye and scroll down to find out more about each fabric's makeup, its fibre content, width and uses.
Buy off the bolt, in fat quarters, or pre-cut in a wide range of shapes including strips (jelly rolls), squares (layer cakes), rectangles, hexagons, apple cores, tumblers, half square triangles and even bunting triangles!
Click on the image to the right to buy our fabulous pumpkin pattern.
Click here to visit our Pinterest board for access to free patterns and tutorials along the same theme.


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- Artelier - Oris Watch Artelier Lady Date Bicolor Leather (OR-827)
Official Authorised Dealer
Seen it at a lower price? View our Price Promise
Oris Watch Artelier Lady Date Bicolor 01 561 7687 4351-07 5 14 70FC. The Queen of Diamonds The Oris Artelier collection has a new queen, and this one is a real gem. Elegant, beautiful and regal but still designed for daily wear. Shopping or entertaining, on the court or having cocktails, with this beauty you'll always be perfectly dressed, whatever the situation. Definitely the queen of diamonds.
Buy your new watch from C W Sellors - Jura Watches.
Try it on at home
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Accessories for this watch
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Apr 22 12 In Byron Bay Today
Exit Strategies, In Byron Bay Today. There was still plenty of punch to the easterly swell as it made its way past the cape, in Byron Bay today. Not really a good day for the feint hearted or the inexperienced one could say. For those in the know however, there was lock-ins a plenty and even a few with manageable exit strategies on offer. But like I said not for the inexperienced, even if you go somewhere smaller in a swell like this there are just huge volumes of water moving around. It would be wise for those with only a few years surfing under their belts to sit it out for few days and just wait till things settle down. Leave it to those who know how to plan their exit strategies before even paddling out when it's like this, In Byron Bay Today.


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Forums > Pregnancy Message Boards > Pregnancy, Labor & Childbirth >
~*~Member of the Week~*~
~*~Member of the Week~*~
- **Michele**
- Would you like to be the "Town Square Member of the Week" ?
Come on over to town Square and join in the fun!!
You will be featured at the top of the page for a full week all you have to do is write a little bio introducing yourself to your fellow baby corner members!!! You can include a picture if your brave enough
If you want to take part sign up on town square and then email your bio to
Christy or Michele will then randomly choose a member of the week starting Monday Feb 6th, this will give everyone plenty of time to get signed up to take part.
Come on ladies what a great way to make new friends and get to know more of the members here at TBC!!
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Get the latest information about the zika virus during pregnancy including how to protect your unborn baby or infant, signs and symptoms, complications, and prevention.
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Video showing how a fetus developed during the 40 weeks of pregnancy. Fetal Development Video
Adventure Vacations with Your New Family Are Possible
If you spent time as a couple exploring vast areas of the world, that doesn't have to end just because you have a new baby. Here are 6 tips to make your vacations fun for the whole family. Plus, vacation ideas to help you get started.
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July 2018 Baby Photo Contest Winner
Congratulations Willow!!


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The Overall Winning Artists Category consists of the 10 Best Entries received from the 2 media categories of the Painting & Other Category and the Photography & Digital Category.
All winning artists will now be featured on the Light Space & Time website for the month of January 2014 and thereafter, the artworks and links to the artist's websites will remain online in the Light Space & Time Archives. Congratulations to our artists who made our 3rd Annual "Seasons" Art Exhibition so successful. At any time, we invite our winners and other interested visitors to link their websites to the Gallery's archive page for further ongoing promotion.
The Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery will have "Seasons" Award Certificates, Event Postcard, Event Catalogue and Press Releases sent to you within the next week or so. Thank you for being part of the gallery. To return to the Seasons Art Exhibition Home Page here.
1st Place – Marie Dancy-Brennan – "Christmas Season"
Marie Dancy-Brennan is an artist living and creating in San Diego, California. Marie expresses the following about her art, "Art is the outward expression of inner vision. It opens the mind to endless possibilities as an expression of our untapped, unexpressed and even unexpected emotions. My artwork is an exploration of line, color, and shapes. Sometimes I create paintings, sometimes I prefer taking photographs and finally, sometimes I create a digital manipulation of both mediums."
Marie has a graphic arts degree from San Diego State University and she has been involved in the art community, painting, teaching, and selling her art for almost 40 years. Marie states this about her art career, "The opportunity to show my artwork online offers exposure to a vast new audience, and it is a wonderful new outlet where I have found new success. To me, art is about exploring my inner world, using line, shape, color, and shadow and is a continuing adventure for me." http://www.zhibit.org/mdbrennan
2nd Place – Pamela Goodyer – "South Brunswick Mill"
Pam Goodyer studied at School of Visual Arts and Philadelphia Colleges of the Arts and she is the owner of Extra Eyes Photography and Extra Eyes Photo Tours. Pam teaches many different types of photography classes as she travels to some of the most incredible places on earth. She believes in balancing a whole lot of fun and jokes with a tremendous amount of factual information that gets straight to the nuts and bolts of learning and improving photography skills. In between tours, she does school and sports league photography for her growing business.
Most people say they are passionate about photography but Pam will straight out tell you, "I am an obsessive photographer." When she is not working and making money doing photography she is out doing her own personal landscape, wildlife and nature photography. www.extraeyesphototours.com
3rd Place – Marti White – "Birch in Snow"
Marti White is a mixed media artist from Tucson, Arizona. Her work is exhibited nationally and locally. Marti works in watercolor, acrylic, collage, assemblage and other mixed media.
In addition, Marti is president and Signature member of the Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona, Juried Member of SAWG, Signature Member of ISAP, Associate of The Drawing Studio and member of the Contemporary Art Society, an arm of Tucson Museum of Art.
Marti's work is an expression of her inner self. She seldom plans her work but lets it evolve. www.combymartiwhite.com
4th Place – Ken Bennison – "Winter Design"
Ken Bennison was born in 1948, in Kearney, Ontario, Canada. As a young boy, Ken moved to the Sudbury District with his family. He graduated from Cambrian College as a Civil Engineering Technician. In 1980, he was hired on with then, E B Eddy at their sawmill in Nairn Centre. Ken became a Sawyer and retired after 28 years of service.
Ken states the following about his art and photography, "With the idea that photography is a creative art, not just a medium for communication of reality, I am able to have creative control over all my images. My first love is to canoe and hike into wilderness locations to enjoy the pristine beauty and peacefulness that can be found in our vast wilderness. While I am there I am able to capture many of the scenic views that I have in my expanding portfolio. http://kenben.org
5th Place – Melinda Moore – "Day at Laguna Beach"
Melinda Moore resides in Florida but has spent much of her life traveling and living abroad, her camera is her constant companion. Observation of people and nature has been her lifelong fascination and she started capturing moments in split second clicks when just eighteen years old. With the new digital age, her vision has expanded, she enjoys adding personal, slightly surreal alternative techniques, using texture montage and composite.
Melinda states the following about her photography,"Light is the essence of spirit in its purest form, so it is a key ingredient in my art. A fleeting expression, a bird taking wing, clouds, and sea; everything is transient and everything is permanent when captured by the camera. My desire is to bring a certain soulfulness to my work that engages the viewer"
Since 2008 when she began exhibiting her work, she has received many awards, exhibited in universities, museums and is in many private collections. She was recently invited to join the National Association of Women Artist. Her website is www.photoartbymelinda.com
6th Place – Elizabeth Burin – "Maple Drift"
Elizabeth Burin is a freelance artist working in Baltimore, Maryland. After a career as a medieval art historian and museum curator, she turned to studio art in mid-life, earning a Certificate of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Her artistic inspiration derives from her travels and from nature's infinite variety of forms and textures. She is fascinated by the expressive power of color, and she particularly enjoys watercolor painting for its fluidity and luminosity. She exhibits frequently throughout the state of Maryland. Her art website is http://elizabethburin.com
7th Place – Yaryna Yuryk – "Birth of Spring"
Yaryna Yuryk is a professional Ukrainian artist. She practice drawings with watercolors, pastels, and oils. Yaryna is also a member of the Union of Artists of Ukraine.
Yaryna studied in the following institutions: National Polytechnic University of Lviv in specialty "Buildings and constructions architecture", qualification – Master of Architecture, with a concentration in Interior; I. Trush Lviv State College of Decorative and Fine Arts in specialty "Fine arts", qualification – Artist-designer.
In 2008, Yaryna held a personal exhibition of her drawings "Kazka moho dytynstva" (The fairytale of my childhood) took place at the A. Sheptytskiy National Museum of Lviv. In addition, she has also had solo exhibitions held in the following cities: Lviv, Kosice, Gdansk as well as in the United States. She has participated in several international group exhibitions in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Portugal. Her artworks are in held private collections in Ukraine, Canada, and Poland. Her website is http://archive.wz.lviv.ua/articles/64158
8th Place – Gill Truslow – "Beneath Surface"
Gill Truslow works in her studio located in Keene, NH, where she creates luminous landscapes, still life and figurative pastel paintings from the Monadnock region and New England, as well as from her travels to New Mexico, Canada, and Europe.
Gill is particularly drawn to images found in nature – reflections on lakes, rivers, and streams; the peacefulness of walking in the woods or open fields; the ever-changing sky; and the beauty of flowers found in her gardens – as well as intimate glimpses of figures in their environment. Her desire is to capture the light that shines through or falls on the subject and imbue it with a richness of color, texture, and sense of personal connection. Gill has exhibited her pastel paintings throughout the Northeast and has received numerous awards and praise for her art in national and regional juried shows. Her paintings can be found in numerous private collections, at the Monadnock Fine Art Gallery, and on her website. www.gilltruslow.com
9th Place – Susan Werby – "Endless"
Susan Werby is a Photographic Artist raised in Boston, Massachusetts and is currently residing in Virginia. Originally, Susan was trained in the medical field and later she returned to her true passion for Photography and Art.
Today, Susan examines the world around her, merging Photography and Art, using the photograph as her "canvas", while applying textures and colors to create a story. She strives to take the viewer with her to a magical world, allowing one to step in and look around.
Some of Susan's work can be seen here: "Faded Memories"- cover art of CD on Record Label Bomba Records. "Golden Fairytale "The book cover art of soon-to-be-released Slavery's Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons by Sylviane Diouf. Her website is www.redbubble.com/people/g7susan9werby3
10th Place – Dennis Sabo – "Nature's Turning Point"
Dennis Sabo is an internationally award-winning photographer specializing in contemporary fine art abstract, landscape, and seascape photography. His fine art prints interweave his creative compositional expressions and vivid colors into nature's greater scheme of things. Dennis has refined the photograph into an interpretive collage of colors, and texture.
Dennis states about his photography, "When I capture an image it is my hope that it evokes an emotional experience for the viewer. Perhaps it is how the subject is bathed in light, perhaps it is the lines of the subject that draws you in, or simply it is an image that you enjoy viewing. With a global community very much focused on environmental impact and fragile ecosystems, my artwork captures natural images and color with a perspective people easily miss." His artwork and photography have appeared in a variety of books and magazines that include Canon, NOVA, PBS, Living Southern Style, Hilton Hotels, Ocean Conservancy, Shedd Aquarium-Chicago, and Blue Planet. www.dsabophoto.com


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Jack Daniels unveils branded motorcycle
Whiskey giant Jack Daniels has announced a partnership with Indian Motorcycle to produce Jack Daniel's Indian Chieftain motorcycle.
The new custom-inspired Cheftain marks the second year these two firms have collaborated, with 100 of the unique vehicles available worldwide at an MSRP of $34,999.
The individually numbered motorcycles offer an array of custom details, highlighted by a one-of-a-kind white and black crystal paint job with charcoal colored accents inspired by Jack Daniel's charcoal-mellowing process. A host of Jack Daniel's "Old No. 7" logos and custom badging are interspersed throughout the bike, including logoed billet driver and passenger floorboards, leather tank pouch, aluminium tank console with motorcycle number, and unique cam, primary and air intake covers.
The bike also boasts a pure silver Jack Daniel's horn cover badge, hand-crafted by the team at Montana Silversmith, exclusively developed and produced only for this motorcycle. The bike also carries an inscription of Jack Daniel's "Bottles and Throttles Don't Mix" mantra to remind riders not to drink and drive.
"The response to last year's collaboration was nothing short of spectacular, and we're extremely proud to carry this partnership forward in 2017 to further reinforce our 'Bottles and Throttles Don't Mix' campaign," said Dave Stang, director of events and sponsorships for Jack Daniel's.
"Both Jack Daniel's and Indian Motorcycle were born from a singular vision, powered by a relentless sense of ambition to bring a dream to life, and that's ultimately what this Limited Edition Jack Daniel's Indian Chieftain represents."


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Today Lawn Fawn and Marker Pop are teaming up to feature Lawn Fawn stamps and Copic Markers, thats a great combo, right?!
Copics are usually the coloring medium on my cards so I wanted to make something new for me and I colored the sky on the scene with copics too. Also I created a fake patterned paper coloring Neenah Solar White cardstock with YG03 and drawing some lines with YG17. I think it's an easy way to macth an image when you don't have an aproppiate paper.
If you have any question, just leave a comment or send me an email! :)
Supply list:
Lawn Fawn stamps: Let it snow, Hats off to you, Gone sweet gnome, Bannerific, Harold's ABCs and Sweet Christmas.
Neenah cardstock: Solar White and Desert Sand
Versamark ink and white embossing powder
Don't forget to visit Lawn Fawn blog for more inspiration, the DT girls have amazing projects for sure!
Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you're having a great week :)


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Noticed something wrong with your computer? Let us know, we can run a diagnostic check and work out the correct course of action. If any hardware is required, extra charges may apply.
Have you recently installed illegal software and you believe, you might be infected with a virus or malware? Don't panic! contact us
Looking to completely clean your computer system of all personal and private files before selling it on or giving it to a loved one? We can help!
Have you recently acquired an email address and you would like easy access to it? We can download/setup trusted free to use software onto your PC/Laptop, allowing you to do have easy access to your emails.
Networking - No matter how big or small your home network is, it can be confusing getting everything connected and working correctly. From your wireless printer to your broadband router, our aim is to make this process as simple as possible.
Passwords – are used for just about everything now a days. However when you forget the password to your PC, panic sets in as you don't know what to do. Why not give us a call, we can reset your O/S password in no time, so you can get back to what you were doing.


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An Open Rule: Blink Space, Drifting Presence
Joey Luk Pui Man, Linda Lai Chiu Han, Felipe Cucker, Millie Chan Man Yee, Hector Rodriguez, Norman J. Ford, Caroline Hu Yee Man, Siu Keung, Law Man Lok, Leung Chi Wo, Kith Tsang Tak Ping, Ron Lam Kee Heung, Phoebe Hui Fong Wah
Jan 11 – Feb 29, 2004
Curated by Linda Lai, this project is incited initially in commemoration of the late young artist Joey Luk (Luk Pui-man) who exhibited at Para/Site last year, but finally unfolds as a series of collaborative creative activities. Luk has previously made a few sets of rules as her creative project concerning the idea of "open-endedness", "play" and "inter-mediality" in contemporary practice. A group of artists will create work in response to these given rules. It results in an exhibition of all these new works together with Luk's, alongside with a series of forums, lectures and workshops on rule-driven creativity. A catalogue will be published afterwards as the documentation of the whole project.
Para/Site Art Space is proud to present An Open Rule exhibition: Blink■Space, Drifting Presence, an open work about rule-making and rule-driven creativity from January 11 to February 29, 2004, at its Sheung Wan premise.
The exhibition space is not a cube▓, but _frames_borders_ are to be torn off to allow the impact of rules to scatter everywhere. The rules will not restrict you from doing this and that, but give you a hand in whatever you do to the space. Break it, bend it, cut it, merge it, destroy it…as you like.
The play with order and format will begin with the encoding process and the encounter with presence/absence of sense/"Nonsense" (Lewis Carroll & Edward Lear). Open-endedness is the ultimate rule of the game. The process of moving and chaining will undermine the totality and wholesomeness of form to allow the full effect of morphing. Rules are dug out from daily exercises and unfolded beyond everyday rationality. Illusive and elusive but the resulting work will be more than you can touch, press and sense.
The gallery space will begin with the spatialized display of the video works of late young artist Joey Luk (Luk Pui-man). The initial set-up will engage with the idea of presence/absence, with a lot of empty space or space of ellipses. As the event moves on, this basic set up will be modified and transformed. The multiplicity of nodes from segments of Joey's, images floating in the air, 'the' thread dangling, swirling and coiling, waiting to be deconstructed and extended.
Joey Luk received her BA in Creative Media at City University of Hong Kong. Her creative works had explored issues such as: What is an art object? What is an art work? What does it mean to be an artist? Etc. Joey had won the IFVA Gold-award (Youth Category, 2000). Her works were presented in both local and overseas art organizations/festivals such as Microwave International Media Art Festival 2000 and "Someone's Done It Before" at Para/Site in June 2002. She also represented Hong Kong in the Berlin-Hong Kong Festival in 2000. The young artist was brutally murdered (June, 2003) in Moscow during her transit back to Hong Kong after a three-month artist-in-residence program in Estonia and a one-month drifting experience in North and Eastern Europe.
An Open Rule: Blink■Space, Drifting Presence was initially conceived in her commemoration. We have now turned it into an open creative event to extend the exploration of the open-endedness of art and rule-driven creativity. Rather than a solo exhibition with the display of prepared art works honouring a single "artist," the month-long event will be a continuous series of organized acts of spatial manipulation. Via art-making, workshops, seminars and tea-parties, we engage critically in the many questions that Joey had raised in her works. We also invite interested individuals to re-consider questions of curatorial practice. The event wants to bring together artists, critics, writers and educators.
You are cordially invited to participate in An Open Rule, a space embodied with rules, open for everyone. To enrol yourselves in the creative process, contact us or just join our workshops and seminars.


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I've always wanted to visit Morocco. I think it was watching all those delicious
Film Noir movies from the 40's set in mysterious and exotic lands that made me swoon. As a kid, I probably romanticized those movies, being swept away by the fabrics, grand curving and filigree'd architecture, and of course the strong but silent type heroes who overcame the odds to win the brave heroines' hearts in the end. But that doesn't lessen my fascination with these lands…Morocco, Algiers, Egypt, Turkey.
Just saying Fez, Casablanca, Marrakesh, Tangiers, Cairo, Istanbul (not Constantinople heehee) makes me giddy. The intricate turreted arches, the tiled everything, the fountains; the spice markets with their riotous colours and competing aromas; the camels with riders draped in flowing white (are they still there? They are in my mind)… And the food.
What a joyous blend of spices, warm and hot, sweet and sour; with names like Ras-el-hanout, Harissa, Berbere, Baharat, Za'atar. How much more exotic could it get? And the most delicious contrasting textures and ingredients. There was a time (so glad it is long past) when here in North America, the idea of pairing prunes, apricots, olives and cinnamon, with chicken and lamb, sounded just so…foreign. But aren't we glad they go so magically together? And that we have been introduced to them? Look around, you will find more and more North African restaurants and cafes popping up. For those evenings when a warm tagine of chicken and couscous deserves to be accompanied by the music and belly dancing.
Until we can personally trek through that mysterious (to me) part of the world, along with all the tagines, stews, couscous pilafs etc, I can have this soup. It's got all the traditional Moroccan flavours, brought together in an easy and breezy way.
We have tried and succeeded in embracing Meatless Mondays. This isn't a heavy, stick to your ribs kind of soup. It can be made year round, either with a can of San Marzano tomatoes in the winter, or with summer's bounty of luscious tomatoes in the summer. There is just the right amount of heat, but this is something you can totally control. And it totally hits the spot, specially when you add some flatbread drizzled in olive oil and a smattering of those alien spices. It is a soup that can be rustic and casual, or gussied up for company as a first course. And best of all, it comes together quite easily and quickly. I use red lentils with this soup, but I could also see adding cooked chickpeas, or even shredded chicken for the times you want to add some meat. Or couscous added at the end would also be perfect. Tonight I traveled in my heart, a spoon in my hand.
Love Jen
ps: This photo is almost three years old. The one below was taken in 2018. I'd like to think I've improved! hehe.
Moroccan Tomato and Red Lentil Soup
A warm and yet fresh soup that hints of the exotic, and is ready in less than an hour.
- 1 @ 28 oz (796 g) can of San Marzano tomatoes , can also use freshly roasted summer tomatoes.
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium onions finely diced
- 2 tbsp ras el hanout see Notes below
- 1/4 tsp harissa paste or powder this adds heat, add according to your liking
- 2 cups vegetable stock or chicken stock
- 1 cup red lentils
- kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, parsley or mint chopped
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or almonds chopped
Open the can of tomatoes and empty them into a bowl, crushing the tomatoes between your fingers until only small chunks are left. Make sure to get every last drop of liquid from the can as well. Set aside.
Heat oil in a saucepan at medium heat. Add onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened but not yet translucent.
Add the spice blend and harissa and blend with onions. Stir for 1 minute to release the spice flavours.
Add the tomatoes and juices from the can to the pot.
Add stock and the red lentils. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Check the texture of your soup. If you would like to thin it out, use a bit more stock or water.
Season with salt and pepper.
Ladle into bowls, and garnish with chopped cilantro and a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts.
To have something lovely to dunk, add a flatbread, pita, naan etc, brushed with a little olive oil, sesame seeds and some of the ras el hanout or perhaps za'atar. Place under broiler until the bread just starts to brown.
Recipe Notes
Ras el hanout and harissa can now be found at most grocery stores. The ethnic shop in your neighbourhood will have them for sure, if they carry North African and Middle Eastern ingredients.
1 tsp each of fennel seed, cumin and coriander, toasted and ground
1 tsp each of ground turmeric and cinnamon
2 tsp each of sweet paprika and ginger
1/2 tsp each of cayenne, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, allspice and cardamom
1/2 tsp each of sea salt and freshly cracked pepper
Combine and store in airtight container. Makes 1/4 cup
Za'atar is an Egyptian spice blend of dried thyme, white sesame seeds, sumac and a touch of salt. Variations can include oregano, basil or marjoram. Again, you can find it if you look!


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ART SEEN: Geoffrey Farmer blows the top off the Canadian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
Geoffrey Farmer has created a work that includes a fountain shooting water above the roof of the Canadian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Called A way out of the mirror, the work was unveiled to the media today. Farmer, based in Vancouver, has transformed the Canadian pavilion by opening up the architecture in a way that's not been done since it opened 60 years ago.
Farmer's exhibition was commissioned by the National Gallery of Canada and produced in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts.
Kitty Scott, a curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario, was selected by Farmer to curate the 2017 Canada Pavilion in Venice.
"Farmer opens up and transforms the Canada Pavilion into an outwardly facing fountain courtyard: the water of A way out of the mirror translates a surfeit of emotion and discharges it in spurts and drips as tears, ejaculate and sweat," she said in National Gallery news release.
"It is at once a monument and an anti-monument that memorializes individuals and stories in a gesture of generosity and inclusion."
The work's title refers to the writings of beat poet Allen Ginsberg.
Marc Mayer, director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada, said Farmer is a wonderful choice to represent Canada at the Biennale Arte 2017, which coincides with the 150th anniversary of our country's confederation.
"His new work is unlike anything he has created before or anything ever presented in this pavilion," Mayer said in the news release.
"Farmer has entered new creative territory with this extraordinary installation."
The work began when Farmer discovered two unpublished press photographs dating from 1955 that depict a collision between a train and a lumber truck driven by his paternal grandfather.
A way out of the mirror has 71 brass planks which recall the lumber scattered at the scene of the accident. Other elements such as 3D-printed sculptures cast in aluminum and bronze tell stories that touch on relations between Italy and Canada after the Second World War, the artist's own family trauma, luminaries Kathy Acker and Allen Ginsberg, and Inuit teenagers in Cape Dorset, Nunavut.
The National Gallery news release said that water is a powerful connector in Farmer's presentation and links imagery to the flow of liquid, from the "fountain of knowledge" to the constant "livestream of images" we are familiar with today.
The 57th International Art Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia — opens to the public Saturday. It ends Sunday, Nov. 26.
Farmer's exhibition is made possible through the financial support of Royal Bank of Canada and Aimia, the news release said. Other support was provided by the Canadian Artists in Venice Endowment, the Government of British Columbia, the Joy Thomson Fund, and the philanthropic support of more than 50 families and individuals through the National Gallery of Canada Foundation. Catriona Jeffries Gallery in Vancouver and Casey Kaplan Gallery in New York also helped with the project.
The Canada Pavilion is being restored at a cost of $3 million to its original 1957 design. It will be officially unveiled at Biennale Architettura 2018.
An illustrated catalogue, distributed by Mousse Publishing, accompanies the exhibition. The publication features a glossary of terms compiled by Farmer and Scott.
*A way out of the mirror by Geoffrey Farmer. Installation view at the Canadian Pavilion for the 57th International Art Exhibition — la Biennale di Venezia, 2017. © Geoffrey Farmer, courtesy the artist. Photo: Francesco Barasciutti. [PNG Merlin Archive]


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Use this service to apply for free school meals.
If you live in Merthyr Tydfil and receive any of the following, you can claim free school meals for your school-aged child
Young people who receive Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.
You can learn more about free school meals on the Welsh Assembly website.
You will be notified in writing of the outcome of your claim.
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You must complete a new application form if you have another child starting school for the first time.
You do not need to re-apply every where even if your child moves to another school in the borough. The new school will be advised of your entitlement to Free School Meals.


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Eli Manning is the king of struggle faces. When he makes a big play and does well, he doesn't get all that emotional. But when he struggles, the struggle is written all over his face. There are some other athletes out there who have mastered the art of the struggle face, too. Just check out Bleacher Report's list of 25 struggle faces as bad as Eli Manning's struggle face over here. The struggle is real.
[via Bleacher Report]


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Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU), is a public university which offers various undergraduate, postgraduate courses under the faculty of technology, pharmacy, hotel management and computer applications. In addition to UG and PG courses, UTU also offers doctoral degree in multiple disciplines. The university has seven constituent institutes and more than 100 affiliated colleges spread across the state of Uttarakhand.
Admission to most of the UG and PG courses offered at the university is done through Uttarakhand State Entrance Examination (UKSEE) or UKSEE-Advanced merit. Results for the same are declared within several days from the date of examination on the official UTU website. Examination schedule and admit cards can also be obtained from the university website.
Check all the Courss Offered by Uttarakhand Technical University
The university follows semester system for all its courses viz. Odd and Even semester. End semester examinations for different UG, PG and Research programmes are conducted in different months for odd semester and even semesters. Results for the same are usually uploaded on the official university website within several weeks from the examinations.
Uttarakhand Technical University Entrance Exam Results, UKSEE/ UKSEE Advanced Results 2019
Candidates can view the entrance examination results conducted by the university for admission to UG, PG and Ph.D programmes by following the below given steps:
- To start with, candidate should log on to the official university website and navigate to the "Entrance Examination" section under the "Examinations" tab
- Once the page is loaded, candidates can click the desired exam link
- Upon clicking the link, a list of the exam related information such as notices, schedule, admit card links will be displayed on the page and candidates can click on the "UKSEE Results" link to view their result
- In the next step, candidates should click on the required course link for the result viz. "Click here for BHMCT First Year Results" and a pdf will be downloaded instantly. Candidates can check their names from the merit list.
Latest Updates/ Result Links
Note: Candidates can also check the latest exam circulars, timetable and notification from the official university website by navigating to the "UKSEE/ UKSEE Advanced Examination" section present under the Exmaination tab.
Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU), UKTech Semester Results 2019
Candidates can check their final semester examination results by following the below-given steps:
- To start with, candidate should log on to the official university website and navigate to the "Results" tab
- Then, candidate should select the desired course level for which he/she wishes to view the result. The result for PhD programmes are visible instantly upon clicking the corresponding link
- In case of UG/PG courses, the candidate should choose from the following:
- Click here for Subject Results
- Click here for Roll No Wise Results
- In the next step, candidate will be asked to enter their roll number or choose the desired subject and then, the corresponding result will be displayed.
Latest Updates/ Result Links
Uttarakhand Technical University UG/PG Results
Uttarakhand Technical University Ph.D ResultsLast Updated - 21 Nov 2018


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History of McElmo Canyon Research Institute
MCRI is hosted by Kelly Place Bed & Breakfast , a 38-acre historical site on an archaeological preserve. Kelly Place was named for George and Sue Kelly who built their home on the property in the mid-1960s and were the first to excavate and explore the archaeological sites on their property in a professional, organized way. George was in his 70s when they moved to to their McElmo home and was a horticulturist from the Denver area. He was a pioneer in xeriscape who helped found the Denver Botanical Society and the Denver Botanical Gardens. He was insistent that the young town of Cortez set aside large tracts of green area in the city center for parks. He planted many trees, including specimen fruit trees on their own property, giving it the feel of "an oasis on the edge of the desert."
In 1980, George and Sue moved to a smaller property in the Canyon, selling the Kelly Place to a young couple whose dream was to make it an outdoor education center. Rodney and Kristie Carriker worked hard for 24 years to bring this dream to fruition. Rodney heard about an organization called Elderhostel, which, at the time, organized educational vacations for senior citizens on college campuses. Rodney realized that Kelly Place would be an ideal location for such programs, offering lodging, meals, and on-site archaeological experiences led by knowledgeable archaeologists and other teachers. Thus, Kelly Place became the first place off of a college campus to host Elderhostel programs. Today, few programs are held on college campuses, and younger and more active adults are participating in thousands of Road Scholar programs sponsored by Elderhostel.
In 2004 Kelly Place Bed & Breakfast was sold to Jerene Waite and Marc Yaxley who have continued the dream the Carrikers had, preserving the archaeological and historic remnants of their unique site while sharing it with guests. Jerene Waite was elected by the MCRI Board of Directors to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Under her direction, MCRI has continued to provide Road Scholar volunteers for various service learning programs on the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, and Kelly Place has continued to offer educational programs to school groups, scout troops, and even families who wish to learn more about the fascinating early cultures of McElmo Canyon. If you are visiting the area find our Cortez Colorado Lodging ready for your visit!


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A look at Mary Pickford and Lilian Gish in silent films from the first decade of the 20th century shows the bouncy girlish styles in vogue. Floppy curls and cupid makeup made them look childish and innocent. World War I halted the fairy tale. Hair dressing was by necessity quick and simpler than the romantic coifs of happier times. The objective was to get it out of the way by piling it up or cropping it off. Busy women ranged further from home in a mobile age and the speed of a bicycle or auto was rough on an elaborate do.
Long and Piled Up
The war years found women parting the hair in the middle of the head and piling it up low on the back of the head. They let it cover their ears and pinned it with heavy pins or let combs do the work. Off-center parting with a low loose bun was ubiquitous. Small curls were sometimes added at the forehead or around the temples. Another style was to part it on the top and at the middle of the back of the head, pull two ponytails to the sides over the ears and wrap them in two buns covering the ears.
Early Bobs
The bob, one of the first short haircuts worn by women, is thought of as a 1920s style but first appeared during the war years. It fell just below the ears and was parted on the side. The style was not layered and looked like long hair was simply chopped away below the ears. There was sometimes a shorter bang pushed to one side and sometimes ringlets were set tightly around the face and finger-waves everywhere else.
The style of the 1915-1918 period had a Mediterranean look. With the low, loose buns women resembled depictions of ancient Greeks. A bandeau was a natural accessory to add to both dress up and contain the hair-do. The bandeau, practical or decorative, was also used by women who had chosen to have their hair bobbed. The accessory was sometimes worn just at the hairline. Bandeaus were also sometimes elaborate, with bead work and matching combs, or fashioned of fine embellished fabrics and ribbons. More casual examples were simple bands of linen or cotton.
Men's Styles
Men wore short hair, parted high on the side with short sideburns and short around the ears. They plastered it down with pomade. Some wore the short style combed straight back from the forehead. Facial hair was not sported by World War I era men. Hairstyles and grooming kept an almost military neatness.


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Having completed the first of our Nemrut Dag summit challenges, we headed West towards the second Nemrut Dag, the 2150m high summit near Karadut village.
This summit is much more famous and more often visited by tourists, as it is an absolutely spectacular sight. Perched on the top of the mountain is a 2000 year old pyramid and on two sides there are flattened terraces covered in giant statues looking out over the rising and setting suns. The whole summit complex wasn't 'discovered' until 1881 when a German engineer employed by the Ottomans to study transport routes found the summit. It wasn't even excavated until 1953.
The pyramid, terraces and statues were 'created' by Antiochus I Epiphanes in about 60-40BC as a tribute to his god and as a way of ensuring that he would join with 'Ahura Masda' in the afterlife. Ahura Masda was the name given to the 'One God' of the Zoroastians, the first Monotheistic religion, from which all the other Monotheisms have their roots. There are inscriptions on some of the rocks that suggest that Antiochus is buried under the pyramidal mound on the summit but no one has ever found the burial chamber.
For our route Westwards, we wanted to head up to the summit on the Southern road and then head down from the North to Malatya 100km away, and had read in the Lonely Planet that it was possible to cross from one side to the other. This proved no to be the case so we ended up carrying our bicycles and bags up to the summit from the road 700m away and then dropped down to the Northern road.
By the time we got our bikes there at 7am the whole summit was deserted as all the tourists had got cold and gone down. We had the whole place to ourselves and our bicycles. It was absolutely spectacular!
Here's a brief slideshow:


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As I sit down to write, it's nearly 9 pm. Outside, it feels like bright daylight. These days, these almost-summer days of light until late and light early in the morning they feel like a happy fugue state suffused with sunlight. We're moving through the days slowly, lightly, not clinging to anything. Lucy's doing a lot of dancing on the back deck. This June, for the first time in years, we are living what feels like the loveliest words: "70 degrees and sunny." Usually here, we have to wait until after the 4th of July to truly say it's summer.
Danny has been cooking up a storm, humming in the kitchen. He made beet chips today, along with an eggplant chutney with fennel and turmeric, a simmered tomato sauce for Lu's pasta at lunch tomorrow, pickled carrots and radishes, and a green cilantro-listen-to-the back-of-my-mouth-sing marinade for prawns, which he threw on the grill. We'll probably post them all here, over the next few weeks. Lately, we feel like playing even more than usual.
I have to tell you about our trip to Italy with Jovial, about our time in the Cinque Terre eating farinata with friends on the top of a long set of steps in the sunlight. And the trip to the produce market where the borlotti beans were speckled red and so bright they hurt the eyes. I still think of the view from the top of the hill in Barga. And of course, there was prosciutto, stuffed quail, gluten-free pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven, fresh pecorino made in Garfagna, and prosecco. And laughter. And so much cooking. I'll start telling you stories in a day or so.
But for now, the kitchen is clean, the kiddo is asleep, and I want to share some of what we have been reading on these long summer days.
Lucy has always been a fan of the Knuffle Bunny books, some of the funniest and sweetest children's books I've ever read. Lately, she has asked me to read her Knuffle Bunny Free many times a day. The ending of that book always makes me cry, especially now, with Lu turning 5 next month. (5?!)
I might be the last person to finally buy Brené Brown's beautiful book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. I've adored Brené and her work for years, so I'm not sure how this slipped into my Kindle list only now. Oh goodness. It's such a great book to be reading as I'm preparing to turn 47 in 6 weeks. (47?!)
The Theodore Roosevelt quote that Brené Brown cited in her book has been rattling around in my mind for weeks: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs…. [And] if he fails, at least fails while Daring Greatly." (You can read Brené's interview with Oprah here.)
I loved this piece in the Modern Love column in The New York Times about a man having to tell his mother to stop cooking for him so often, now that he's married.
One of my favorite writers of all time, Colum McCann, talks about his writing life he sits in a tiny office that used to be a closet, to seal off all distractions and the powerful phrase, radical empathy. Yes.
Brace yourself for this one. But you must read this haunting, restrained piece about Newtown parents trying to hold on and live after losing their 7-year-old. Please read it. Please.
Finally, this is less reading and more listening. Go to this site to hear acoustic versions of The Beatles' White Album. I've been listening all week, enthralled.
In a bit of news we'd like to share with you, Danny and I have begun writing a gluten-free column for one of our favorite food websites, Food52. Would you like to make these gluten-free rhubarb scones you see up there? Here's the recipe.
The light is gathering into dimness outside. I'm closing up the laptop now.


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