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London 2012 has "Embraced Web 2.0 and Green IT". Zeitgeist-o-rama.
Alex Balfour, head of new media for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said,
We have set out to do things differently and embrace new media. People under 20 use social networking instead of email. It's important we make the most of that opportunity. Our new media channels will be the number-one way for people to share, access and participate in the Games.
One of the projects being considered is one in which spectators are encouraged to share their digital photos online.
While the internet will undoubtedly play a big part in how people experience the games in 2012, we're not sure we really need LOCOG's help, what with the squillion-and-one Web 2.0 sites out there. We'd rather use the tried and tested websites like Flickr etc. than a hastily put together equivalent with Seb "King of the Olympics" Coe's face on it.
Balfour went on to say,
Social networking is a way that can make the Games more relevant to a younger audience. We are thinking you have to actually embrace that and build a framework for people to do that. You could, for example, take a narrative of an athlete coming 54th in the marathon. There's a huge amount of opportunity.
"A narrative of an athlete coming 54th in a marathon"? What? Why? Might the reason he/she is coming 54th be because LOCOG have made him/her update facebook and twitter on the way round?
10 minutes in - "This is lovely, making my mother proud at the Olympics"
30 minutes in - "I think I've got a blister - lol"
50 minutes in - "It has burst! lmao"
60 minutes in - "Actually that really hurts"
1hr 10 minutes in - "Crap, I think I'm about 54th"
1hr 30 minutes in - "What's Paula Radcliffe doing? Is that a poo?"
2hr 10 minutes in - "I've just watched the winner come in on youtube, this is depressing. I can't believe I'm 54th.
2hr 25 minutes in - "Finished. That was shit."
With 10,000 PCs, two data centres and 1,000 servers being used in the running of the games, the use of 'green I.T.' will be central to the organisers' goal of making London 2012 the greenest Olympics ever which, while a noble goal, will be hard considering the record set by the Greeks back in 776 BC. They ran the whole thing using an IBM laptop and a bubblejet printer.
Work on the main IT infrastructure supporting the games won't begin until after the Beijing Olympics next summer so we'll see what they come up with.


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Buddhas Herbs sent me a variety of products to try. There are no specific health claims for these products so each individuals results may vary. With a one month trial it is hard to notice any benefits but I did not notice any disadvantages or ill effects. The taste of the tea was pleasant and the supplements were small in size and easy to take.
Check out their blog for tons of information HERE!
Green Coffee bean - Each capsule contains 400 mg of Pure Green Coffee Bean Extract which contain 50 % Chlorogenic Acids, 20 % 5-CQA a particular isomar of Chlorogenic Acids. Some research shows this to play a role in fat reduction and glucose metabolism. These contain less than 2 % Caffeine per Capsule.
Vitamin D3 - according to Buddhas Herbs site d3 is suggested to improve bone health, support for cardiovascular system and may be reduced risk of catching asthma related allergies. Buddha's Herbs Vitamin D3 1000 IU tablets are made of Vitamin D3, the body's preferred form of Vitamin D.
Buddha's Herbs Wings Tea - Green Tea with Ginger, Cinnamon and Cardamom - prepared by Master Blenders of Europe engaged in this business since 1883. High Quality Green Tea Leaves are blended with Ginger and Lemon Grass in addition to deliciously warming notes of cardamom and cinnamon.
Buddha's Herbs Natural Slim Herbal Tea - for Weight loss presents a natural, safe and healthy way to burn fat. The Proprietary Blend combines four of the most effective, potent and well documented herbs to help you loose weight. Researchers say the results indicate that substances found in green tea known as catechins trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and decreasing body fat. These substances have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
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I am a military wife, mom of three, and grandma to two! This is my blog of reviews and giveaways. I review anything family, kid, or parent related. I am always looking for products to review that could help your family! Message me if you have a product or idea. Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Buddhas Herbs review and giveaway!
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Colchester Institute is the largest vocational college in Essex and we are committed to providing top quality vocational education and training in a wide range of full-time and part-time courses.
For Colchester Institute to be widely acclaimed as an outstanding provider of highly responsive, top quality vocational education and training; raising aspirations and building brighter futures for its students and the communities it serves.
To continue to develop a learning culture that is inclusive and aspirational and which focuses on assuring the best possible outcomes for every student. This means successful achievement of qualifications, progression to the highest possible level of study and a positive destination for every College leaver.


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Christian Girl Convert to Islam, Message of… by IslamEducation4all Click Here for More Videos WHAT IS ISLAM Islam is a Universal and Monotheistic Religion Islam, divine revelation, is a monotheistic religion of spiritual truth, inner light, love, human brotherhood, social justice, open to all races and peoples without distinction, to the men and women of All countries and ages, whatever ... Read More »
Category Archives: Ramzan
Taraweeh salat | Tarawih Namaz Prayer Dua Tasbeeh Info
Taraweeh namaz prayer dua info 1. The Taraweeh salat is a stressed one for male and females both. 2. The night during which the new moon of Ramadan is sighted start salat-e-taraweeh from this night. And after sighting the moon of Eid, It is to be stopped (That means one should say Taraweeh prayers during the entire month of Ramadan, ... Read More »
Surah Qadr – Dua Of Lailatul Qadr – Night Of Power|27th Ramadan
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Night Of Power|27th Ramadan – Lailatul Qadr Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah As-salaamu `alaykum wrb, I trust and hope that you are doing fine. In this night of power, the Holy Quran was sent down from Loh e Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet) to the earth. Rasool Allah (Sallalahu Alaihi ... Read More »
Seclusion | E'tekaf – Itikaf Rules | Itikaf Dua Roman English
Itikaf ki niyat ki dua in english Arabic and Urdu What is Seclusion or Itikaf 1. To stay in the mosque with an intention to worship Allah is called seclusion for prayers (Itikaf). There is a glad tiding of abundant reward for Itikaf in Hadith. Huzoor Nabi Kareem (S.A.W.S) has said a person in seclusion for worship will be ... Read More »
17th Ramadan – The Battle of Badr | Soldier Names
Bismillahhirahmannirraheem wassalaato wassalaamo ala rasulihil karim wa ala ahlihi wa ashaabihi wa barik wa sallim Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullahi tabarak wa ta'ala wa barakatuhu I pray and hope that you are doing fine. I would like to remind the importance of 17th Ramadan and significance of People of Badr Battle. Attached please fine a list of People of Badr Battle — ... Read More »
Muslim Roza – Fasting In Ramadan And Prayer
Roza (Fasting) In Ramadan (Ramzan) And Prayer Saying Prayers (Namaz) Five times prayers is compulsory (On Friday instead of mid day prayers (Zohr salath) congregational prayers is compulsory (Farz)). Fasting (Roza) in the complete month of Ramadan, fasting is compulsory. And specially 20 Rakat Taraweeh prayer in the month of Ramadan. Zakat Payment A person in possession of wealth more than ... Read More »
Important Dates Of Ramadan Mubarak – About Ramadan
About The Month Of Ramadan: In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah As-salaamu `alaykum wrb, Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Syedina Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallama and upon all his Family and Companions. The ... Read More »
The Month Of Ramzan – Ramadhaan Mubarak 2017-18 | Islamic-web
Ramadan Mubarak 2017-18 | The Virtues Of The Ramzan In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent and Merciful Hadith No.1 Abu Huraira (Ra) reports that Prophet (Pbuh) said, "Whoever eats on one day of Ramzan without a valid reason or excuse or genuine illness (acceptable in Shari'ah), shall never be able to compensate for that day even by fasting ... Read More »
Ramzan – Ramadan Greeting For All Muslims
Ramadan Kareem 2016 Greeting For All Muslims May Allah bring this Month of Ramadan Mercy abundant blessing, peace, tranquili closeness to Allah and his beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallama's love for Deen Islam, Allah, Rasoolullah Sallallahu alaihiwasallam. ramadan beautiful theme Ramadan Kareem 2016, In Ramzan Khushu & khuzu in our Salaah, fasting observance, Taraweeh, Qiamul Lailal, increase passion of ... Read More »


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Glasses, Dishes & Cutlery
Wholesale glasses, dishes and cutlery for use in commercial restaurants and catering establishments need to meet the specific needs and requirements of food industry professionals. Whilst both domestic and commercial dinnerware must be functional and attractive, hospitals, office canteens and professional catering services have additional restraints such as safety, hygiene, durability and cost to consider. New and innovative materials mean that a cutlery manufacturer is not limited to stainless steel, nor a manufacturer of wholesale glasses to ordinary glass. Polycarbonate glass, for example, has the advantage of being almost unbreakable, yet it still possesses all the visual and tactile qualities of real glass. Ideal for wine, cocktail and other wholesale glasses in situations where real glass would be a safety concern, such as a party or crowded outdoor event, this type of glass is just as applicable to home use.
Wholesale dishes should be resistant to breakage and scratches or abrasions that spoil their appearance. Bamboo, commercial china, melamine and woven wood are just some of the popular options for wholesale dishes designed for commercial use. These materials are extremely strong and can be styled to suit any environment, from exclusive restaurant to street food stall. Wholesale cutlery on productpilot.com includes domestic, commercial and designer cutlery. Due to the resilient nature of stainless steel and other metals, a cutlery manufacturer can produce many styles and sets of cutlery that are suitable for both domestic and commercial use. Well balanced knives, forks and spoons that sit comfortably in the hand and are pleasant to use can improve any dining experience. With such a wealth of choice, the right dinnerware solutions can always be found.
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HEALTHY YOU is a collaboration with member colleges of the Boston Consortium for Higher Education to improve the health of faculty and staff and control the rate of rising health care costs. HEALTHY YOU consists of a wide-range of programs designed to help faculty and staff understand, improve and maintain their health and well-being. The program is voluntary and confidential.
Find out more about Northeastern University's leadership role in the Boston Consortium for Higher Education and the exciting HEALTHY YOU initiative by viewing "fast facts" (PDF).
To see videos of Senior Vice President Philly Mantella, Assistant Director of Public Safety Mary Ann Phillips and Associate Professor Ed Wertheim—as well as faculty and staff from Boston Consortium schools—talk about their efforts to optimize their health, click here and scroll to the video you wish to see.
Northeastern University and Virgin HealthMiles are working together to provide faculty and staff with an exciting opportunity to get active, get healthy and get rewards!
Weight Watchers at Work (WW at Work) meets almost every Wednesday at 10:00am in CSC 435. Mary Ann Phillips, a Compliance Officer with the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, joined WW at Work and achieved her weight loss goal. Today, she is a lifetime member of Weight Watchers and the campus contact.Please contact Mary Ann, ext. 5290 or firstname.lastname@example.com, with questions about the program.


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Bord na mona innovation mb2
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Hmm, that's interesting.
Anyway, what this post is about: my fab experience in Asbury Park, New Jersey, at one of my favorite places ever -- Paranormal Books and Curiosities, in attendance for a SEANCE!!!!
Although I've been to seances before, none were the cinematic version that I craved. My first was when I was in high school, during the summer, when I tried to host one. My friend's mom was out of town, so we threw a party, which I then held a seance for anyone who wanted in on. I had bought some trade paperback book on how to hold a seance and only read the summary in the back at that point -- so, as you can tell, it was an obvious invitation for trouble.
By the time the evening got late enough, I assembled a circle outside, under a tree and then had every one close their eyes and concentrate on calling a spirit and said whatever the directions I read said to say. Enough minutes later, nothing was happening, so I then screamed, to freak the shit out of everyone. My one really scared friend sitting across from me, then instantly jumped the entire length of the circle and then a moment later, a branch fell from the tree and we then all got freaked out, immediately ending the seance. Then the next morning, I woke up with a bloody nose. After that, I thought it was best I never hold another seance again -- at least not without really reading the entire book on it...
The next few "seances" (seance actually means "a sitting," so there are no actual traditions in which to hold one) I went to were more "convention center-esque" and not my speed. I went to a monthly one in NYC and it was alright, because at least there were things said I could connect with, but the idea of just sitting in a space that looked and was set up like a doctor's waiting room with incense and dark lights really didn't do it for me.
Then, in Lily Dale, the mediums would just speak messages in the forest, where there supposedly is an energy vortex, with at least 100 people sitting on benches, which didn't exactly do it for me either. It was just a bit too impersonal and way more new agey than my style. For me, I want it spooky. So, I knew the Paranormal Bookstore/Museum was going to bring it, having been to their establishment several times to peruse their goods, get a reading and check out their museum filled with all sorts of creepy archives. Plus, I called in advance and talked to the very personable store owner, Kathy, and she confirmed a real round table, with a limited number of patrons and a medium and a psychic (but no crystal ball). Yes, it was finally the seance I was looking for!!!
In actuality, I found out about the seance in mid-July, while I was at the beach for the day and went into the store on my way to the train. So, this wait for a little over two months did build up the excitement -- and it didn't disappoint.... Starting a little after the dark set in, I had the perfect lead in with a perfect day at the beach that set me into the right chilled-out frame of mind...After serenely sauntering over, the various characters assembled from all different places. It was very much like the start of a murder mystery night -- like something out of Clue. I was the fifth or so person to arrive, out of 13. I met the head medium, Kathy -- the owner of the store, and already knew the psychic on hand to help bring the energy level up, as I had a reading with him prior that did give me two accurate time lines.
Chairs were arranged around the table, with two placed just outside the circle at opposite ends for the medium and psychic. Then, we were told everyone in the inner circle would also be able to serve as channels for messages.... Each time the door opened, it felt as if there should of been a rumble of thunder, emphasizing their arrival. There were the two ghost hunters ladies, the psychic mom and son duo, the apprehensive friends, the recently haunted man of logic that needed to know more, the Reiki master, and of course, the handful of empathics -- a whole bouillabaisse of local characters looking for something different to do on a Friday evening...
After we all assembled, each of us introduced ourselves, said why we were there and shared whatever sort of paranormal information we wanted. From my point of view, every one seem totally into it and ready for anything. If there was one emotion that could of been a hindrance, it would of been more a sense of fear rather then skepticism. As the lights dimmed, we all held hands and Kathy started inviting the spirits. One by one she got messages that were eerily correct for those they pertained too. If any one of us got messages, heard anything or saw anything, we were encouraged to shout it out.
Meanwhile, a EMT meter was also placed in the middle of the table -- which did go off more times prior to the seance than the actual event, but no matter, there was always something that kept us on high alert....For most of the evening, it did seem one girl's ghosts was dominating and sending messages one after another to her. Even her sexy spirit guide made himself known. Others, even me, did mention a dearly departed name, but to no avail....It was more the older spirits and parental figures that were more vocal. No matter, the people who got the messages seem to really need them and a few of them were not expecting anything at all, so it truly wigged them out to hear a thing -- especially info that was so close to home.
Sure, sometimes I wondered if it was just easier to say things when you go the older person route, instead of speaking for someone that died younger, but it was fun nonetheless and who cares, as long as more good came of it than bad and tonight certainly seem like a positive one, despite no sudden flying objects going across the room or the rising up and down of the table or even strange tapping on anyone's shoulder. Nope, just messages and lots of tears from several of the participants -- some crying from actual sensations of connection, to others absorbing the energy from whatever was transpiring. For me, I didn't feel anything in particular, even leaving without the slightest feeling of being spooked out, which even a good horror movie can do to me...
The next day I thought about the seance more. No, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me per se and yes, I did wonder why I never get messages -- besides not really having anyone I really needed to contact. I did try to get my friend Erika to come, but nothing... Part of me thought, "Is it because I am Asian and they'd think I'd have such a different experience in my life that they dare not go there, as it'd be off their radar on what to say, to maintain accuracy....or that maybe there is nothing to say?"
The biggest question I had though was about the names that always popped up at these events. None were ever ethnic or different. It's always a James, Richard, Jennifer, Mary, etc. There were never any Mutafahs, Hyonis or Aishwaryas -- all common names elsewhere. Anyway, it wasn't like I was busting a nut over this thought, but it was something that passed my mind.
Then later that day, at the Asbury Park Oysterfest, I happen to run into the mother and son psychic duo. The son sat next to me at the seance, the only teenager at the event, so we did spend time chitchatting and it was nice to see him again, to discuss the experience with him and his mom more thoroughly...They didn't seem to have a theory in why the names were so generic either...but through our conversing, we decided to meet up later in the evening and give each other readings....Of course, I don't really remember anything I said to them, but they were able to relay relevance to most of the things I said...As for me, the mom was new to cards, as it was mainly the mom that was reading, so it took her a while to use them to tap into the right track -- but as someone that knows how it goes, I didn't think that was strange. Sometimes it does take a few dials to get the right connection, but once it happens, the pieces do slowly start to fit together and slowly she did tap into my past rather accurately...As for her predictions for my future, who knows...but it got all tied in when she made her last statement, when she said she was getting a name and then said, "...Garrett." Yes, not so common, and OMFG, also MY BROTHER'S NAME!
Yes, he's still alive--and what that meant, or how it is relevant, who knows. Perhaps it was just a confirmation that her predictions would come true or maybe she was tapping into something deeper then lost the connection or maybe it was just something fucking with us to prove there is something supernatural co-existing with us. Whatever it was, it freaked me, her and her son out in the best way ever! Even thinking about it now is making the tiny hairs on my arm stand tall... So, weird or a coincidence???? Who cares, it's CRAZY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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Huawei Honor 5X PC Suite and USB Drivers: Free Download
Huawei Honor 5X PC Suite:- The Huawei Honor Series as we all know needs no introduction. It is one of the most popular and reputed series not only in Huawei but all the other companies as well. Although the price tag is comparatively a bit high but so is the performance. So there is a clash between the price tag and the performance. In this article today i'll be talking about one such flagship gadget from Huawei that is the Huawei Honor 5X and i'm also going to provide you the Huawei honor 5X PC suite and USB drivers.
Huawei Honor 5X PC Suite
Now before getting towards the Huawei Honor 5X PC suite and USB drivers, Let's quickly take a look at the feature line up of this amaing gagdet. SO the Huawei Honor 5X runs on an android platform with android 5.1 preinstalled in it. The Huawei Honor 5X frames a giant 5.5 inches full HD display which enhances your viewing pleasure. The Smartphone is powered by a 1.2 GHz octa core processor which is the best presently. Talking about the Camera of this smartphone it has got 13 MP sensor in the rear camera alongside 5 MP front camera for video calling purpose. Getting towards the Storage department, The Smartphone has got 16 GB internal storage which can be further extended to 128 GB's using an external SD card. Along with which it has also got 2 GB RAM for smooth functioning of device. Now to back all the high end features the Huawei Honor 5X has got 3000 mAh battery which is enough for a day with medium to heavy usage. Now let's take a look at the Huawei Honor 5X PC suite and USB drivers.
Given Below is the download link to download the Huawei Honor 5X PC suite and USB drivers.
SO this was all about the Huawei Honor 5X PC suite and USB drivers. In the end just would like to conclude by saying that for further doubts and queries regarding the Huawei Honor 5X PC suite and USB drivers please feel free to share via comments. Thank You..


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Is Balding the Worst Possible Thing That Can Happen to a Man?
Prince William may be the glamorous figurehead of an island nation, but he's still bald. We're not going to sugar coat it (because we're not bald): Baldness is terrible in many ways!
The New York Times writer who wrote this piece about how terrible it is to be bald must have just broken up with a bald guy or something. Because if any bald readers weren't yet considering suicide, they certainly were after finishing it. She even goes so far as to wonder if Prince William's engagement was rushed by his thinning hair: "Is it possible that the 28-year-old prince felt an urge to lock up a commitment from Ms. Middleton because his heart-throb status might be beginning to disappear with the hair?" Grim.
Things are not looking good for bald men, says the article. Apparently, our post-industrial economy means that 1) you are forced to interact with more people who notice your baldness 2) women are empowered, i.e. empowered to walk the opposite direction from your shiny pate and into the arms of a long-locked Fabio type and 3) Now you care about how you look because of television, and you look bald!
The soothing balm offered up by the Times is that people like Bruce Willis and Michael Jordan have made it cool to be bald. Right: Bruce Willis and Michael Jordan vs. vast socioeconomic forces which have remade modern life forever? You're forgetting that those people are Bruce Willis and Michael Jordan. Being bald is totally cool if you are also a famous and rich actor or athlete. If you're Joe Baldhead, sorry.
Conveniently, this article fits well with our longstanding resolution that, if we were to find ourself going bald, we would move to a remote Australian outpost, rediscover our Jewish roots and take to religiously wearing a yarmulke, and only befriend men balder than us.
[Image via Getty]


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Destination: Niger
World Travel Watch: New Warnings for Mexico, Golf in Cuba and More
by Larry Habegger | 05.12.10 | 10:50 AM ET
Larry Habegger rounds up global travel news
Mapped—The Roads Between Us: A Journey Across Africa
by Frank Bures | 04.21.10 | 12:01 PM ET
Frank Bures's notes and impressions from his journey from Lagos, Nigeria to Dakar, Senegal
The Roads Between Us: A Journey Across Africa
by Frank Bures | 04.19.10 | 11:58 AM ET
In a five-part series, Frank Bures explores the meaning of travel when arrival is not guaranteed
Suffering and Smiling: Vanity Fair Does Africa
by Frank Bures | 06.27.07 | 11:31 AM ET
Africa is hot. Why? So we can save it? Frank Bures deconstructs the magazine's latest issue and what it says about Western views of the continent.
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2016 Fantasy Football Forecast – NFC South
Click here to enter the 2016 LestersLegends.com Fantasy Football Team Name Contest!
As we move closer to the football season let's take a look at the fantasy options in the NFC South.
Five Stars
Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Julio Jones, WR, Carolina Panthers
Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers Defense
Four Stars
Coby Fleener, TE, New Orleans Saints
Graham Gano, K, Carolina Panthers
Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers
Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Three Stars
Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers
Matt Bryant, K, Atlanta Falcons
Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers
Ted Ginn, WR, Carolina Panthers
Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Jacob Tamme, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Two Stars
Roberto Aguayo, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Carolina Panthers
Tevin Campbell, RB, Atlant Falcons
Tim Hightowner, RB, New Orleans Saints
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Willie Snead, WR, New Orleans Saints
C.J. Spiller, RB, New Orleans Saints
Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
Atlanta Falcons Defense
New Orleans Saints Defense
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense
One Star
Cameron Brate, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Justin Hardy, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Louis Murphy, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Also check out:
- 2016 Early Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings
- 2016 Early Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
- 2016 Early Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings
- 2016 Early Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings
- 2016 Early Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings
- 2016 Early Fantasy Football Team Defense Rankings


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Rosemary Caramel Pine Nut Tart
Posted by osakaben41 on March 7, 2010
It's March, what the hell am I doing baking with Rosemary?
It's over 50 degrees outside, the kids played on the monkey bars without their coats, and I'm looking at the sad state of our yard and all the work it'll need before we can cook outside again. Spring is coming to Boston and I'm cooking a Christmas dinner? Anybody with a lick of sense is going citrus crazy right now, if they aren't scrounging early spring berries that is.
It's a poor excuse but, the heart wants what it wants. There are weeks when buttering toast seems like too much trouble, but just as often as I find myself obsessing over garnishes for a cookie. Yesterday we decided to host some friends for a late afternoon play-date/early dinner, so on short notice I flipped through my notes for something quick and easy.
Since discovering the 'Notepad' app on my I-touch, I've been obsessively cribbing ideas from wherever I can find them. I guess this one came from a December issue of Bon Appetite, but the recipe was all Sassy Radish. 3 months too late but it's not as if Pine Nuts are ever really out of season.
The crust calls for Almond flour, which seems to always be on hand these days, and the filling just a butter heavy caramel, with fresh rosemary branches steeped for 15 minutes, and some toasted pine nuts. Everything we needed we had on hand already.
Being genetically unable to leave well enough alone, I had to dress it up with a Lemon Sabayon. Briefly this was to be a Limoncello Sabayon, but our friend is pregnant, so thought it best to stay non-alcoholic. Flirted with adding some rosemary whipped cream, but backed off at the last minute. Maybe it was being lazy, maybe it was a weak stab at simplicity, but it didn't really need anything else.
The caramel dominated the tart though, to the point where the nuts were just a crunchy afterthought, and the rosemary only apparent if you're told to look for it. That said, there were some nice layers to this, particularly with the sauce. The kids of course wouldn't eat it, asking for tiny handfuls of chocolate chips instead. But they're young, what do they know?


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Now it's your turn. You have another week for the Be Independent challenge over at Ike's World Challenges Blog. What are you waiting for?! LOL
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Celebrate Independence at Ike's World Challenges Blog
Today I created a hybrid layout for my DT make at Ike's World Challenges Blog. Hybrid projects mix hand-crafting with digital design. I hand-colored images from Ike's Art, fussy-cut them, and added in a mix of photos to make a 21st birthday page of my daughter.I thought it was perfect for the theme of "Be Independent" as Wendy was born on the 4th of July, 1995. That's right, my baby girl is 21!!
I tried to encompass her journey from little tyke to young woman, and I am proud that I am her mom. Happy Birthday, my love!
Here's what went into my layout:
Digital Images (colored with Copics): Ike's Art New Baby, My Teddy, Teenager
Papers: Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Glitterati Glitter Pink Paper; Pixel Scrapper Melo Vrijhof's Painted Papers FlowersElements: (PixelScrappers) Sharon Grant's It's a Girl Thing Frame Cluster02; Pauline Thompson's Masculine 2 Clock & Star Brad 7; Ania Archer Art of Every Day Heart Scatter; Janet Scott's Toolbox Calendar Metal Fireworks Doodle; Elif Sahin's Christmas Day Elements Washi Tape 1
Now it's your turn. You have another week for the Be Independent challenge over at Ike's World Challenges Blog. What are you waiting for?! LOL
Labels: Be Independent, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, hybrid layout, IWC, My Teddy, New baby, pink & blue, Pixel Scrappers, starts, Teenager
2 comments:
- ike said...
How amazing - this is a really gorgeous piece :-D Congrats to your Daughter when it gets to be her 21st.... what a great birthday date :-D Thank you making this for me at IWC.
Mega hugs
IKE xxxx
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- June 28, 2016 at 1:08 AM
- DonnaMundinger said...
Saw this on Ike's World Challenge and just had to come comment. What a fabulous layout! Perfect choice of Ike's fab images and such a lovely way to celebrate your daughter's 21st birthday. Love, love, LOVE it and I'm sure she will too! xxD
- July 1, 2016 at 4:51 PM
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The study, which was based on an online survey of 170 senior-level marketers, found that more than half of the respondents reported a negative user experience when trying to research online marketing companies using the Internet.
Many participants reported that the information found on Web sites, directories and search engines was vague, and that it was difficult to get a clear view of the vendor they were researching.
"Theses results should serve as a wake-up call to the industry that there is a huge chasm between the theory and application of online marketing," said Aaron Kahlow, chairman and founder of the Online Marketing Coalition.
—Kate Maddox


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Friday, July 26, 2013
Shouting from the rooftops !!
After keeping everyone in suspense for 2 long days.. I can now let out my secret and share the news that I have been chosen to be part of the Life Paper Scrapbook - Project Life Design Team. I will be working along with the awesome Lisa Wilkinson, Bernii Miller and Aimee Dow. I'm sure these girls are just as excited to get going as I am. Very keen to get started to make sure you pop over and see what we are all up to.
I have just come home from my week away with my girl. Feeling very sad as I miss her.. but is nice to be rewarded with this wonderful news. I took so many photos while I was with her.. She kept saying.. Why are you taking a photo of that MUM?? I just kept answering Project Life... Project Life.. ... she stopped asking me after a day.. I think she gets it.. I still think she thinks I'm mad. LOL
Night night to you all
Have a great weekend. I am back at work for the whole weekend.... All things must come to an end.
Moonie x
Posted by Moonie at 9:13:00 PM 1 comment:
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Me and my girl
Currently I am on a 6 day break up north to spend with my girl. I miss her so much and life just gets in the way of us spending time together when we are about 1500km apart from each other. Life is tough and this is one of my challenges every day..Being away from her. But as the story goes.. you have to let them go and let them spread their wings just like I did when I was 19. I decided to move to Australia. I told my Mum and no one believed me. 6 weeks later I left them all bawling their eyes out at the airport (including myself) LOL
My son Corey was very disappointed that he couldn't join me but this had to purely be a break for both of us just to do girly things together with no limits.
A week before I flew up she told me she has written up an itinerary for our holiday. She has planned every day what we are doing but I was not to know what was on it until I stepped off the plane. She then put on Facebook 2 days before I flew up here 6 clues on our itinerary.. 6 random pictures that were meant to relate to what we had on that day..It was fun.. I guessed one out of 6 clues.
Day 1 we went to her Dads place who was having a big get together Pig on the spit for dinner.. It was divine with all the roasted veges too.
we went shopping and then went to Body Balance together. This was my first time and I loved it. Was very soothing for my back.
Day 2 she took me to her boot camp on the beach.. An hour of intense exercise and commando crawls through the sand. After that we went to Squeeze Me health kiosk here in Townsville and had a mighty healthy breakfast with all the ingredients I have never heard of. It was divine.
We caught up with a few movies too at home which I just loved.. I never ever get to watch movies.. She is the movie buff.
Day 3 she pulled me out of bed at 5.30 and we climbed Castle Hill in Townsville. Was beautiful when we got to the top. She loves her exercise now which is great.. as I have loved it most of my adult life. So nice to now do it together. That night Danielle had bought tickets for us to go to a live theatre comedy show. I have never been to one so once again it was great to do something that my girl enjoys.
Day 4 we went over to Magnetic Island. This was awesome.. we caught the ferry from Townsville and it was only 20 min on the ferry. When we got off we hired two scooters for the day. Zoey and Maurice were their names. lol
We rode around the island all day and checked out all the bays. Just gorgeous. We had fun along the way taking lots of snap shot, did a 6km hill climb up to check out the forts, went to another bay for lunch, went up many hills nearly pushing our scooters.. lol was full of fun all day.
We come home and slept like babies.
Day 5 is today and she had us booked in for a Hot Stones full body massage. This was unreal and so nice to have after our hiking and boot camps. I must say I felt a bit guilty for spending that sort of money on myself but it was worth it. We only live once don't we.
Did a bit of shopping today and then home for the rest of the day. I am teaching Danielle how to sew. We are making a dress. Talk about funny. OMG. I need my Mum I think. My Mum Sue is the sewer!! She is brilliant. I have just reminded myself that I hate sewing clothes but love sewing projects like quilts and all things you don't have to wear and make to fit.
But she has proven to herself and I that she has got the knack. I bought a beautiful sewing machine for her 21st last year. I think every girl needs a sewing machine. The only thing she has sewn in 15 months is her partners hole in his socks. He cant seem to get his toes in his socks anymore LOL
So.. off back home to reality tomorrow. Working the whole weekend but that's ok. I miss my boys and they miss me so it will be nice to get home. But I will be very sad when I am sitting in my seat on the plane wondering when I will see her again.
Thanks for stopping in and checking up on what I am up to. Back into Project Life when I get home. I cant wait.
Til then ..
Moonie x
Posted by Moonie at 8:47:00 PM 2 comments:
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Moonies Retreat... to be continued
We all had a great night... Lucky we got in 7 hours of fun..
These girls are so much fun to be around.. make me laugh til I cry and are full of inspiration..
To be continued at Tex's place soon. But sadly I won't be able to make it.
Monika flying through the weeks of her Project Life album. This girl is so full of talent it is amazing!!
We are all proud of Mel as she was only up to Week 3 and she flew through about 4 weeks just this friday night.. Now she is on a roll .. tonight I expect her to be up to week 23 LOL
Sadly no photo of Tex as she was the one taking the mug shots
I am sad we all had to end the weekend with my illness. I was so on a roll and having a great time.. but at least I will get my problem sorted ... off to the Doctors from Ultrasound in the morning.
Luv Moonie x
Posted by Moonie at 8:35:00 PM 1 comment:
Week 23 ...... and a little bit more
Slowly getting there but I must admit I am not stressing so much over being up to date as I just cannot get there.. so one page at a time.
I have found lots of yummy papers lately I am adding to my pages and I love my flair buttons and wooden veneers. So cute.
Here is my Week 23 LHS page.. I am half way through my Week 23 RHS page until something happened..
To be continued:
but for now.. here are my inserts and page for the LHS
Love my Amy Tans "&" stamp.. so cute
Love this stamp that my friend Tex (Melissa Walden) shared with me
So glad I have finally got these inserts I ordered from Craft House in NZ. But sadly they took 3 months to arrive.. At least I know I can now get there in Australia.
They are great for full on weeks or special occasions where you have more photos you want to add.
so this is as far as I got when.... I wen to bed at midnight with a sore belly. This has been going on for about 6 weeks.. Pains in the belly and the rest you don't need to know about.. but it got that bad about 2am that it woke me up. By 6am I was vomiting and could not stop. The pains were excruciating and my husband called the ambulance. They hooked me up to morphine and a fluid drip. I spent 11 hours in hospital.. Had a CT scan where they picked up that I have fluid on the abdomen. Not sure what this is but this is what has been causing such pain my my belly. I slept all that night and most of the day today. I have a Doc appointment first up in the morning and then I have chosen to see a Naturopath at 12pm. I am pretty sure there has been a change in my body with food or fluid of some sort. I will go and see what test results come up from the Naturopath anyway.
So not so happy in my little world atm but will get better very very soon. I don't like being kept down. I have too much to do x
Til next time....
Keep smiling..
Posted by Moonie at 7:32:00 PM 6 comments:
Monday, July 1, 2013
Project Life Update
After a great weekend away in Brisbane at the Paper Craft show life has been full on back at work. Lots of exciting new stock coming in and wool wool wool.. I baa like a sheep in my sleep I am putting so much wool on our shelves at work. It is selling like there is no tomorrow. I cannot believe how many girls are crocheing now. It's so great to see. My girlfriend Mel has started up our own crochet group together. She is amazing and can create anything you throw at her.
I am currently tongiht up to week 23 in my Project Life. Still 4 weeks behind.. but I just cannot seem to catch up. It doesnt worry me. I just keep plodding along and enjoy the journey.
I bought Becky Higgins Honey Core Kit. Love love love it.. So easy and funky to use.
Here are my pages I have just completed.
Thanks for popping in.. I love looking at everyone elses PL pages too. There are so many inspiring girls out there creating this year.
Til next week..... see you then and be happy!!!!
Moonie x
Posted by Moonie at 11:09:00 PM 3 comments:
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Saturday, September 19, 2009
Some more none-of-your-business
Why didn't we say anything? Why didn't we do anything? First, It was not on obvious enough case of abuse to call the police. More importantly, if a mother is in the habit of hitting her child, then she's not going to stop just because some stranger on the train suggested it to her. Furthermore, anything we say to her is more likely to cause more harm to the child. I'd bet (and give you 2-to-1 odds) that if we had said something, she would have only become more angry at the child and been even harsher to her when they got home.
Which brings me to my story from today...
We went to the farmer's market. Erinne fed Ada at home before we left, and then again at the market before we left for home. On the streetcar, Ada got a little fussy. We interacted and played with her to keep her in a good mood. Apparently she just needed a change of scenery, because once we got off the streetcar she stopped crying.
However, while we were on the streetcar, a woman with a very concerned look on her face asked us if our child was hungry. I told her that we just fed her. She then said that our baby is cute, but by that time I had turned away and stopped responding to her.
Then, another woman made faces with Ada, and I turned Ada to her and let them interact. Then, she slipped in "Oh, do you want mommy to feed you, huh?".
I've already explained in a previous post that comments like this are inappropriate. But they are also pointless! If we were indeed neglecting the needs of our child, a comment from a stranger isn't going to correct our behavior. It is analogous to the woman who hit her child.
So, here's the conclusion that I am getting at. It does not matter if the parent is in fact doing something wrong (assuming it is even possible to make that claim objectively), because their behavior cannot be fixed with advice from a stranger on the train. Best case scenario is that you have no effect. Worst case is you piss off the parent and they take it out on their child.
3 comments:
Worse still: you flip out and stab everyone in the train car to death with some sort of baby equipment.ReplyDelete
It seems to me that we can generalize your recent observations motivating the rule "don't give advice about child-rearing" to instead motivate the rule "don't give advice to strangers during random encounters". Do you agree?
Yes, somewhat.ReplyDelete
The "don't give advice about child-rearing" is two-fold. First, there's strangers during random encounters. Then, there's the case where friends and family forget that you are a rational being making an informed decision, and try to give you advice that is either blatantly obvious or contradicts (knowingly) your beliefs.
This reminds me of religious proselytizers who will approach people they don't know from Adam and start lecturing them. I think a good rule is that advice should only be offered in the context of an ongoing relationship with the person. This is what Mennonite missionaries do, which is to build a relationship with the people rather than preaching to them.ReplyDelete


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Uranus in Taurus until 2026 — A New Vision for the Earth
On May 15th, 2018, Uranus will move into Taurus; it will journey through that sign for almost 8 years, until April 26th, 2026 — with the exception of a retrograde period that will temporarily return it to Aries from Nov. 6th, 2018, to March 6th, 2019.
Whenever a planet moves into a new sign, it's a good idea to look back at the last time it made that transit — to quote Mark Twain, "history doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes" — things obviously won't go exactly the same, but we can expect a certain resonance or similarity. Uranus is an outer planet that takes a long time to go around the Sun; the last time it moved through Taurus was between June 1934 and May 1942; before that, it was from July 1850 – March 1859.
Before we look at those periods of history, let's talk briefly about the themes of Uranus in Taurus, so we can spot those "rhymes" if they occur. What can we expect when disruptive Uranus moves through earthy Taurus? Well, for one thing, it would be wise to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and relaxed with being surprised.
If we were only allowed one word to describe what Uranus does, it would be "disruption". It's all about progress, change — but not necessarily gradual, continuous amendment of the old — this is more like breaking down and uprooting the "old" structures.
This is the planet of "vision", and like all visionaries, it favors a revolution as the quickest way to realize the "ideal future state". It moves toward more freedom — you could say the higher vibration of Uranus seeks freedom for all, while a lower vibration says "I need to be free to do what I want, and the hell with you".
Uranus listens to a higher calling — a Divine Mind — and can thus be detached from emotion and "human feeling". Depending on the vision being pursued, this can be highly beneficial, or very dangerous.
Uranus urges everyone to wake up and smell the coffee, then join together to make coffee like the world has never seen and make sure that nobody ever has to drink mediocre coffee ever again.
Some Uranian keywords: Technology, Innovation, Discovery, Novelty, Ingenuity, Originality, and Astrology.
Uranus has two major modes: Reactive and Intuitive. Look over that list of keywords again and notice how those modes would play out for each one — "reactive" would lead pretty much every time to harm, "intuitive" to life-giving breakthroughs.
As you can probably tell, Uranus celebrates originality and individuality; it loves the rebels and revolutionaries who rally against the "establishment" and their established thought — or who at least put a new spin on old things. It can also go overboard and end up steering an erratic course onto the rocks.
So much for Uranus — what of Taurus? Taurus is connected to…
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Of course, you are a unique individual, having a unique experience in this ever-unfolding universe — so this major shift will affect you uniquely. To learn more, take a look (if you can) at the placement of the following in your birth chart:
* Uranus
* Aquarius
* Taurus
In addition to that birth chart research, look for the position and journey of your transiting Venus — it will give you great insight into what you can expect from your personal (r)evolution, as Uranus proceeds on its almost 8-year transit through Taurus.
If you want to know how Uranus's journey through Taurus until 2026 impacts you personally, feel free to get the 120 min. long webinar on the subject; for more info or to purchase, click here The fee for this is only $37, even though this webinar is 30 minutes longer than my usual Forecasting Forums — partly because we also cover Chiron's journey through Aries until 2027. Special Offer: if you sign up for Star or SuperStar Membership by May 31st, you will get this 2-hour webinar for FREE 😉
You can also check out a brief excerpt of this webinar, here Enjoy 😉
Those of us who have their Ascendent (or personal planets) in 0-2.5 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius will feel the impact of this first pass into Taurus more than others. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Aquarius (Uranus is the ruler of Aquarius). Also: Uranus was also in Taurus 84 years ago. If you were born 1934-1942, you will have a Uranus Return within the next 8 years. A new cycle begins on your individual journey towards creative Soul-Expression.
Have an amazing new exploration of your own values and connections to the Earth, your body, your resources, etc.
Love and blessings,
Sonja's passion is for connecting with people and helping them transform their lives. This led her to train as a life coach, in addition to her lifelong study of Astrology. With her Readings, her coaching and her Soul-Based Astrology Courses she aims to empower and support people in fulfilling their life's potential and aligning with Soul Purpose.


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I watch this YouTube channel at times and learned things, such has what happen in England with a power failure, How AI will reacted to in professional jobs and society, and today's session, "What happened in Y2K" from a tech support POV. Interesting lecture.
Damn, I feel old. I remember dealing with that mess. As history goes, this is a good video. What do you guys think?
Edited by FlakValleyExpress, 11 April 2017 - 04:53 PM.


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Who We Are
We are a collaborative of San Bernardino County Public Health Healthy Communities Program, High Desert cities and towns, local schools, health care organizations, and residents to promote health and advocate for systems change to improve the overall health and well being of those who live, work, and play in our High Desert Communities.
Interested in joining with Healthy High Desert?
Click Here to contact the Healthy Communities Coordinator in your community.


text: Branden Robinson wrote: > On Fri, May 09, 2003 at 10:19:45AM -0500, Debian Press Team wrote: > > Thank you for your interest in the Debian Project! > > Debian Press Team, > > Please don't spam the Debian Legal Team. > > Thanks! Please bug the spammer so it doesn't send mail with headers like: From: debian-legal <email@example.com> To: email@example.com Thanks! -- Everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything about it! -- Mark Twain Please always Cc to me when replying to me on the lists.


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- Fast Secure Delivery
- Need the perfect gift? Use our Gift Finder
- Any Questions? firstname.lastname@example.com
Ah that old classic Christmas song. The one that makes your mum and your nan argue over who sings it best - Buble or Sinatra. But it does have a great message in it, and that's what this bauble is all about. Give someone a cheery Christmas message by giving them a fabulous bauble that says straight to them: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".
Add their name to the front of the bauble to send the festive message to them directly, plus add a special message of your own to the back! This is an amazing Christmas decoration just full of good thoughts and personality. Hang it with pride.
Technical Details
This delightful Christmas bauble can be personalised with up to 4 lines of text on the back and a name on the front. The text "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is fixed. The bauble comes with a ribbon to have it straight on the tree.
Please Note: Please double check your personalisation as how it appears here will be how it appears on the product, including spacing and punctuation. Please do not include accents and special symbols as some of our processes will not allow this.


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Yeah. That's really annoying when you have one baby screaming in a infant car seat and two young boys pegging it about the garden cackling and shouting "We want to stay at home, we want Granny!"
I had to drive Mr C's toy to get them to school. Cue frantic decamping from one car to the other. Car seats are a pain in the proverbial. By the time we rocked up very late for registration, my arse was aching from nervous clenching and I felt a bit sweaty too. I'm not a good driver and powerful cars give me the willies.


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Since 1999, the Polar Plunge annually challenges thousands of brave
and warm-hearted participants at numerous locations around the state.
It's a great way for everyone – individuals, organizations and businesses
– to get involved in supporting Special Olympics Illinois! The concept is
simple: participants raise a minimum of $100 and take a dip into the
frigid winter waters of an Illinois lake (23 locations statewide). But the
Polar Plunge is so much more than that; it's the kind of fun and thrilling
event that one must experience to understand!
All funds raised allow our organization to provide quality programming
and events for athletes throughout Illinois. These training and competition
opportunities are provided free of charge to the athletes and their families,
enabling everyone to experience the benefits of Special Olympics – which
extend well beyond the playing field.
Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL) provides year-round sports training and athletic
competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children
and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through programming in sports, health,
education and community building, SOILL is transforming lives! SOILL provides
opportunities for more than 23,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities, more
than 20,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities,
45,000 volunteers and thousands more people statewide through local programs
in all 102 counties of the state.
Register for or Donate to a Polar Plunge near you!
Palatine – February 18
Fox Lake – February 25
Oak Brook – March 3
Yorkville – March 4
Joliet – March 10
Click here to register and for more information.


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Sunday, November 18, 2012
Confessions of a Gardener - Part 2
Gardening for me at the moment involves hiding bulbs from squirrels and collecting endless amounts of leaves from the big oak trees that hang over the end of our small plot from next door. So here's a few more photogenic things from the garden over this last year.
Posted by Ian Parnell at 5:04 PM
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Celtic have been handed a Champions League reprieve after Legia Warsaw were punished for fielding an ineligible player in their 6-1 aggregate win over the Scottish champions in the third qualifying round.
Bartosz Bereszynski, who came on as an 86th-minute substitute as Legia won the second leg 2-0 at Murrayfield on Wednesday night, was suspended following a red card for violent conduct in last season's Europa League.
Hours before the draw for the next round was to be made, UEFA announced that Celtic had been awarded a 3-0 win in the second leg, and therefore qualified on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate result.
Celtic will now go into the draw for the play-offs, the final hurdle to reach the lucrative group stage.
"Legia have been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player (article 18 of the UEFA Champions League regulations and article 21 of the Disciplinary Regulations). The match has been declared as forfeit meaning Legia Warszawa have lost the match 3-0," a UEFA statement said.
"As a consequence, Celtic have qualified for the UEFA Champions League play-offs on away goals (agg: 4-4) and Legia will compete in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.
"In addition the player Bartosz Bereszynski has been suspended for one additional UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible. This suspension shall be added to the remaining two match suspension which the player still has to serve in accordance with the Control and Disciplinary Body decision of 13 February 2014."
Bereszynski was sent off against Apollon in the final match of Legia's Europa League campaign last season, earning a three-match suspension. He missed both legs of Legia's tie against St Patrick's in the second qualifying round and also sat out the 4-1 first-leg victory over Celtic.
However, it has emerged that Bereszynski had not been registered in Legia's squad for the second qualifying round, and so the matches did not count towards his suspension.
Source: PA


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Amaro and Walden's Joyride
Amaro & Walden are two rowdy boy racer, hipster hybrids with that lads on tour attitude. They're the best of friends but couldn't care less about each other's safety. Follow them burning around town acting like they're top dons in a music video.Film directed by The Line


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Two people were evacuated from a Laguna Beach home early March 11 after a deputy fire chief saw smoke billowing from the lower level of a multi-story home in the 500 block of Thalia Street, according to a news release.
Deputy Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse was on his way to work when he saw smoke billowing from the structure at 7:42 a.m. He alerted the occupants, helped them get out of the home and called firefighters. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and quickly extinguished the fire, which was confined to the lower level storage areas, Division Chief Dan Stefano stated in the release.
"Chief LaTendresse was instrumental in saving the occupants from harm's way and the robust firefighting work that immediately followed stopped the blaze from engulfing the upper floors," Stefano said in the release. "Our firefighters did an outstanding job today."


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May 2018 Horoscopes
Important Dates: May 1, May Day; May 5, Cinco de Mayo; May 10, Ascension Day; May 13, Mother's Day; May 16, Ramadan begins; May 20, Shavuot, Pentecost and Whit Sunday; and May 28, Memorial Day.
Feng Shui Garden Tips
Spring time is here and most of us want to clean out our yards and gardens for the upcoming summer season. Here are tips to help you Feng Shui your garden and bring positive energy into your environment.
(You may use the bagua from your front door and lay it over your space to see where the areas fall within your home or you can use it at the entrance of your garden or property!)
Flowers raise an abundance of universal and cosmic energy known as chi, but one must keep the energy well balanced for positive results. Dead plants cause shar chi (negative energy) to stagnate over your yard, garden or home. Using organic compounds instead of chemicals goes without saying; we want to assist nature and not poison Mother Earth. Instead of agonizing over the dandelions that nature provides us each year, why don't we revel in their sunny yellow faces that bring good health for you and your family. (It also will help the declining bee population who don't have enough to eat!)
There are several ways of approaching placement of the bagua to enhance your land. The bagua is an octagon shaped floor plan that can be used over your property to find the appropriate colors and shapes for each of the nine areas. The most powerful way is to mentally super-impose the bagua over your entire yard. Then, you would plant the appropriate colors and shapes in each area. You can use several bagua areas throughout the property, such as for a small garden or wildflower area, or for your entire property.
You could add chi enhancing flowers in the areas that correspond with issues that are of concern to you. Use your driveway to align the bagua entering your property.
There are a variety of special flowers associated with each gua.
- Purple butterfly bushes attract butterflies which can enhance the Wealth area of your property. Spring time hyacinths, purple petunias, or asters could also be used. A holly bush in this area brings prosperity.
- Snapdragons call the etheric dragons to the Health and Family area of the bagua. Sage gives the area lots of energy. You can then dry the sage and use it for smudging, meditation or prayer sessions.
- Blue hydrangea and blue delphinium are great additions to the Knowledge area, as are tulips, peppermint, and spearmint.
- Black knight iris is a great conversation starter for a lovely spring day. Although it isn't black, basil planted in the career area can bring fortitude.
- Dusty miller, fescue silver lining or silver artemisia in shades of gray can fortify the Helpful People gua.
- White peonies or chrysanthemums, two Chinese favorites, are great additions to plant in the Children and Creativity area. Don't forget the daisy as these cheery little flowers can brighten anyone's day.
- The pink rose will bless the Love and Marriage gua, but don't overdo it! More than three bushes on an average size property can cause relationships to become too thorny. Balance this area, as well as the others, with different sized and shaped plants by adding pink dianthus or geranium.
- There are many varieties of red flowers available for the Fame and Reputation area. Pick a flower that you feel is beautiful and that resonates with your energy. The Firecracker is a pretty and hearty plant.
- The center of the bagua is the earth and health area which is represented by yellows and earth tones. Marigolds are not looked upon favorably from a Feng Shui perspective, so choose another flower. Lemon verbena can be recycled into potpourri when dried. Who can resist the simple beauty of a golden pansy?
When planting, it is important to declare your intentions as to what you would like these flowers to bring into your life. Thank the Earth Gods, the fairies, the angels, Spirit or whomever you believe in, for their part in the upcoming beauty, and add the whimsy of a windsock, whirl-i-gig or chime to get the chi moving to attract more positive opportunities. In a few short weeks, you will enjoy the majesty of butterflies, fireflies, bees and other wildlife which also enhances the flow of positive chi.
|Last Quarter
|17 Aquarius 27
|New Moon
|24 Taurus 36
|First Quarter
|01 Virgo 02
|Full Moon
|08 Sag 10
|Planets in the morning sky
|Mercury thru the 29th; Mars, Jupiter until the 9th and Saturn.
|Planets in the night sky
|Venus, and Jupiter from the 9th.
|Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto all month.
|The sun will go into Gemini on May 20.
ARIES – March 20 – April 18
Decide in which direction you want your life to go and start working towards it a little each day. Things that aren't working in your life are getting you frustrated, so just let them go and deal with them as best you can. Yes, you have a million excuses why you can't, but if you look at the big picture, it will show you that happiness and contentment lie ahead of you if you make the proper adjustments and changes in your life now! Travel could be fun, so plan a getaway.
TAURUS – April 18 – May 19
There seems to be many aggravations, miscommunications and concerns around you, especially at work. If you feel things in your career are not going well for you, perhaps a meeting with an employer would be appropriate. Find out what you are doing right and wrong and fix what you can. Changes may be coming in the work environment, so as long as you do what you can to make life easier for all involved at the workplace, you will be fine. Be adamant about your desires and goals.
GEMINI – May 20 – June 20
There are so many wonderful opportunities coming for you. Embracing these changes will make your life more blissful and satisfied. Join groups of like-minded people so you can either learn new things or mentor others. Your expertise is needed. Gems are too scattered to focus on what is important now, so prioritize and organize your life. Think of what you want to accomplish and don't stop until you have reached your goal(s). A bit more fun in your life would be a wonderful thing.
CANCER – June 21 – July 21
You have much to think over. Additional education may be helpful to get you going in the right direction. Traveling is also a possibility since you are getting antsy and want to explore new places and meet new people after the winter months. You may want to try to do many things you never tried in the past, so get out and do something fun and relaxing. Take up new hobbies or crafts that will bring you pleasure. Don't let negative thinking keep you from accomplishing your dreams.
LEO – July 22 – August 22
You have much more energy and are dynamic now. Go out and conquer the world. You may have started taking various classes of interest or are thinking about it. You need excitement, new things, to learn and to find your own space now rather than helping everyone else. This is an excellent time for you to take care of yourself. If you don't do it, who else will? You will be nurtured by being more grounded, secure, stable and focused.
VIRGO – August 23 – September 21
You are trying to get things in order, fix your finances and try to budget more than ever before to get that perfect purchase – a car, vacation, home, etc., and you will succeed as your perseverance is strong and you are determined to get what you want. You will be tested again and pushed on many interesting paths. Don't give up. Saturn always teaches you a lesson that benefits you in later life, so be strong, learn the lesson and use the gained knowledge to help with future decisions and goals.
LIBRA – September 22 – October 22
Communicating your wishes and desires with those you love is an important step to getting what you want now. Home life will calm down and things will run more smoothly, but there seems to be so many projects and chores that need to be completed that you may tend to be a bit frazzled. Love life improves if you stand up for yourself as much as you stand up for others. Partnerships seem positive although there will always be some romantic fantasy or illusion around you. See reality of each situation.
SCORPIO – October 23 – November 21
Home life takes center stage as you get things done. Make a list and stick with it a little each day and your responsibilities will fade so that you will have much more time for fun with family and friends. Don't let obligations keep you from relaxing – it's time to get back into those hobbies that may have gone by the wayside over the winter. Taking care of your yard and home projects is very important, so ask your family to help out with other smaller chores so that you are all working together and getting things done quickly.
SAGITTARIUS – November 22 – December 20
You are very playful and mischievous. You have decided that you want to get back to doing the things that make you happy whether it's your hobbies, interests, or reuniting with old friends and family that have not been in your life for some time. You are also very interested in games, fun, challenges and getting out and doing something more than handling your responsibilities. Your emotions are very strong, so be sure that you stay calm when dealing with a partner.
CAPRICORN – December 21 – January 18
What a great time to finally start getting back into the swing of things with your diet and exercise regime. Take a walk around the neighborhood, walk your dog (if you have one), eat more healthily and everything else will fall into place. Any negativity will be a thing of the past. You will have more energy and an interest in accomplishing many things now. You are getting rid of the old and inviting the new into your life. What an exciting time.
AQUARIUS – January 19 – February 17
Love life will give you a run for your money, so see through all the fantasy and deal with reality. Many issues at work may be unsettling, so if you can ask someone in authority about your concerns, do it to help relieve your mind. You may feel like doing many new things, but you are in a procrastination mode as well, so balance in all things is advised. Take on smaller tasks so that you feel as if you are accomplishing more and will be motivated to stay on track.
PISCES – February 18 – March 19
Dealing with financial issues, especially spending money (and your partner's) is a big issue. Prioritizing house and personal projects is important. This is a positive time to figure out where you want to go for vacation or if you wish to take a day or weekend getaways instead. You may also want to go to school, for additional training or certification courses. Things may be blown out of proportion, so don't get into arguments with those you love – try to see the whole picture and see things from their perspective as well.
Vikki Anderson has been a metaphysical teacher, writer and lecturer for over 45 years. Call 570-215-4223 to make an appointment for a confidential tarot or astrology phone reading or to get more information about in-home Feng Shui consultations. Payments can be made by personal check or PayPal on her sites. Please visit: www.vikkianderson.net and www.fengshuimoon.com.


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Make a home for root cause analysis in your fundraising
There's an exercise many of us are familiar with called root cause analysis. However, where we're most likely to see this method used is on the programming side of nonprofit organizations. Performance management expert and nonprofit author, Ellen Bristol, argues that root-cause analyses are supremely useful in the fundraising arena—specifically with an approach called "Plan, Do, Check, Act."
Bristol asks an important question: How do you know where your fundraising system is breaking down when you're not reaching your targets? She states that according to Robin Tyndhall, a contributor to eHow.com, continuous improvement involves 1) meeting or exceeding the needs of external and internal customers, 2) looking at process problems that usually drive most business problems, 3) involving employees, and 4) using good data to drive good decision making.
To address these factors and use the data to find places needing improvement, the author suggests the combination of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and root-cause analysis.
Root-cause analysis
Root-cause analysis provides systematic methods to complete PDCA: Plan for your goals; Do the plan; Check the results by comparing them to the original plan; and modify the plan (take Action or take no Action). In continuous improvement, you are trying to identify undesirable results, justify improvement initiatives, implement improvement plans and reevaluate to see if the improvement produced the desired results.
Start with a problem statement to move away from blame
Root-cause analysis tries to discover the earliest point where productivity is lost. First, you need to write a specific problem statement that arises from the data, such as "Improve conversion ratio from Move Four to Move Five from 5:1 to 3:1." In other words, if you're using a Moves Management fundraising system, this problem statement means one out of every five prospects that come into Move Four has proceeded to Move 5. Your organization wants to change that to one in three. As you can see, this problem statement removes blame and focuses on improvement. The wrong problem statement sounds like "How come Stacy isn't getting more prospects past Move 4?"
Three considerations for gathering input on root cause
To find the root cause, Bristol provides three categories of input in fundraising. Each category contains three or four subcategories. (See below.) Going through each subcategory and category methodically to identify the root cause can be done in review meetings to glean more input from everyone. Then, the group can decide on changes and who is accountable for the changes.
Below are the input categories and subcategories. Bristol provides helpful questions/observations in each to assess if this area is your problem. Sample questions are given for each.
1. Fundraising skills and behaviors:
Scorecard accuracy and application: Have we scorecarded each prospect we added to the pipeline? Is our Scorecard accurate or does it need some revisions?
Questioning skills: Did we rely on the suggested probing questions (what the donors want to achieve and avoid with their money and their choice of charity) to find the desired answers to our Scorecard statements? Do we need to revise the questions?
Adherence to the Donor Moves process: Did we move the targeted number of gift opportunities to the next Donor Move? Why or why not? Did we update the data regularly?
Level of execution: Did we track all major opportunities through the Donor Moves process? Did we set our targets or conversion rates at the right level?
2. Operational considerations:
Technology: Has everyone been trained on the constituent relationship management (CRM) platform? Do you have IT support and up-to-date, useful technology?
Unclear lines of authority: Do you know to whom you report? Are your performance targets clear? Do you have silos in your organization that make coordination difficult?
Misaligned goals: Does the budget allow for new initiatives you have planned? Does your fundraising department focus on donor acquisition and retention for growth?
3. External market conditions:
Local market conditions: To what extent do local-market conditions affect our fundraising results?
State-, provincial-, or regional-market conditions: If we discovered some negative pressures in the regional market, what should we do to respond?
National-, international-, or global-market conditions: To what extent do global conditions affect our fundraising results?
Try the Plan-Do-Check-Act and root cause analysis for your next fundraising review meeting. With Bristol's guidelines, you can identify where the hiccups are in your cultivation process as well as keep meetings positive rather than blaming.
Bristol acknowledges that we as leaders can seek "better, more cost-effective and more innovative ways to achieve the mission and fulfill the vision. And that includes moving fundraising onto the same disciplined platform." She adds, "I have always contended that acquiring income is the single most strategic function in any business, regardless of sector. Now that there are reliable ways to assess the effectiveness and efficiency—the productivity—of the fundraising function, let's use them."
Bristol offers a webinar to explore some of these specific performance strategies and methods for measuring what's always felt like the "unmeasurable." Learn more about her July 10 engagement for CausePlanet readers.
See also:
Image credit: 123rf.com, eventbrite.com, thereliabilityroadmap.com


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A new academic paper has looked at the role of minimum wages, tax and benefit policies in protecting workers against financial poverty in 21 European countries with a national minimum wage, together with three states in the USA.
A charity chief has warned of hardening public attitudes to people in poverty, resulting in an increasing divide between the 'haves' and 'have nots'. He said plans to cut billions from public services risk creating a 'forgotten Britain' where the plight of 'whole swathes of society is getting worse but is invisible to the rest of us'.
Sir Stephen Bubb, head of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, made his comments in a speech in London.
A new study has examined how poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland have changed since 2009.
Researchers for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found:
The government has published an annual progress report on implementation of the European Union's strategy for inclusive economic growth – including the target of lifting at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion by 2020. The government says it 'remains committed to eradicating child poverty, increasing social mobility and ensuring social justice'. It aims to do this by:
New research has found that since the start of the economic recession teachers are witnessing increasing numbers of pupils coming into school 'hungry', 'dirty' and 'struggling to concentrate'.
The research was based on interviews with 515 secondary school teachers in England, and was released by The Prince's Trust charity and the Times Educational Supplement.
The survey found that:
Researchers in the Czech Republic have found high levels of material deprivation in UK households compared with a representative sample of four European countries.
The paper compares material deprivation in households in the UK, Czech Republic, Finland, France and Spain, drawing on official (EU-SILC) data. Material deprivation criteria are divided into four groups: financial stress, housing conditions, availability of consumer durables and basic needs.
Anti-poverty campaigners in Europe have raised concerns over whether national governments are planning to ignore poverty reduction targets when they take decisions on the next round of EU Structural Funds (2014–2020).
The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) has written to all 26 Prime Ministers in advance of the General Affairs Council meeting on 24 April 2012. The letter makes the following demands:
Poor neighbourhoods are increasing in number in outer London boroughs but getting fewer in the centre, a new analysis by the University of Sheffield has shown.
Although the poorest places in the capital are still in the eastern centre of the city, it appears that poverty is being pushed out into the suburbs.
The analysis shows that:430 neighbourhoods in London have become significantly more deprived than their neighbours since 2004, 400 of them in the outer boroughs. In contrast, 374 neighbourhoods across London (mainly in the west and central parts of the city) have become significantly less deprived.
The poverty data is based on an analysis by Alasdair Rae at the University of Sheffield of the official Indices of Multiple Deprivation, which measure relative poverty across England between 2004 and 2010.
The importance of understanding child poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon is highlighted in a new report from UNICEF, Child Poverty and Inequality: New Perspectives. The report argues that as long as policy debates focus solely on income poverty, children and their priorities will be overlooked, and the battle to end the cycle of poverty will be undermined.
The report brings together a series of expert contributions on how and where children globally are experiencing poverty, and on the kind of policy responses that would structurally address their different deprivations.
Although an adult may fall into poverty temporarily, the report suggests that a child rarely gets a second chance – falling into poverty in childhood can last a lifetime. Child poverty not only threatens the individual child, it is also likely to be passed on to future generations.
Separate chapters in the report:
Two researchers in Italy have published a paper that provides an updated analysis of income poverty in European Union (EU) countries up to 2007 and covers the newest member states. The analysis focuses on the main determinants of households falling into or rising out of income poverty, and finds that events related to the labour market are the most influential because of both their frequency and their impact.
The paper provides a broad-brush picture of poverty dynamics for individuals living in the enlarged EU, using data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions. Previous studies had examined only the 'old' EU 15 member states, and were more than 10 years old.
The analysis identifies which types of event are associated with the probability of entering – and exiting from – poverty.


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By ERIC SCHELKOPF
Legendary Chicago musician Cliff Johnson - of Off Broadway fame - is just one of the many musicians who drop by on "Hang On," the latest album of King Mixer's Eric Howell.
To celebrate the release of the new album, King Mixer will perform June 18 at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Phil Angotti and The Bigger Empty also are on the bill.
The show starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are $10, available by going to Martyrs' website at martyrslive.com.
I had the chance to talk to King Mixer about the album.
Q - Great talking to you. Of course, you will be performing at Martyrs' to celebrate the release of "Hang On." In sitting down to make the album, what were your goals and do you think you accomplished them?
KM: I suppose, being an independent artist, it's a goal to make art your own way, on your own terms. But this can also mean you're living in a world of nebulous deadlines. Elastic deadlines. Making an album can take a long time, and it's helpful to have a hard deadline in place before you get into recording, even if that deadline does end up getting pushed back a bit.
Limitation is good for creativity. Especially if you think you've truly got the goods, it can test that theory. Less can be more, etc. At the outset of this album, what would eventually become "Hang On," it was basically time to get moving, time to put something new out.
I released my first album, which was "Eric Howell's Greatest Hitch! Vol One" - back in 2009. I woke up one day realizing I'm only a few years off from the 10-year anniversary of the first record, and I hadn't even put out a second record yet! Pathetic.
Time to get moving. I wanted to basically make a record that would be fun to play live, fun to listen to, that would keep people's interest from start to finish, and for several months before starting the album I had a handful of, for me, really different melodies and song ideas running through my head.
Nothing like "Greatest Hitch!" at all. And I had been playing with some great musicians in sort of corporate bread n butter type gigs, jobbing gigs (which is SO not my thing), and from those gigs I met some terrific guys, some great players, and I thought, "Now is the time to make a new record, while I have these guys in my circle of musician contacts," etc.
And it turned out that my producer, Christian Cullen, he knew most of these great players I was bringing into the fold and so it was just a sort of perfect time, a perfect storm for making a new record while this collective was running hot. I am certain that everyone involved in the project feels we made a much better album than the little indie record we initially thought we
were making.
In terms of scope, it started out as "American Graffiti" and ended up "Star Wars," no question.
Q - I understand that you crowdfunded the making of "Hang On" and surpassed your goal. Are you honored that so many people would want to fund the project? Do you feel like the CD is now even more connected to your fans?
KM: For sure, absolutely. I was initially hesitant to use the crowdfunding method, I resisted it for years.
I'm from the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" generation, man. I've been homeless rather than accept a hand out.
But I was again at that point where it was time to make a record and my resources for doing so were almost nil. I make just enough as a full time musician to just, you know, LIVE.
There's never enough money to make your grand masterpiece. So through the advice of a dear friend, I decided to use GoFundMe to attempt a crowdfunded record.
Crowdfunding is NOT a handout, the concept operates on the premise of "mutually beneficial reward." Still, I was hesitant because other platforms like Kickstarter and Pledge Music, though hugely successful, insist that your campaign is globally public, as opposed to perhaps selecting a specific demographic of friends, family and fans through social media and keeping it sort of between you and them, which is what I was interested in doing my first time into the crowdfunding thing.
And GoFundMe let's you do that, if you're sort of wading into the crowdfunding waters like I was it's great. Plus, with those other platforms you have a certain amount of days to reach your desired financial goal and if you don't reach the projected
goal by the imposed deadline, that's it.
All the money you managed to raise through that platform is returned to the people who tried to help you and you get nothing and your project doesn't get made.
And then you have to soldier on, perhaps with the very public stigma attached to you that "Oh, he couldn't reach his goal, not enough people cared, so why should I care?" from your audience, etc. Kinda like being dropped from your record label back in the day.
I didn't wanna deal with that possibility. It had been five years since I had released anything. I didn't know if anyone still cared. So I chose GoFundMe because you can leave your campaign open-ended, there's no hard deadline to meet your financial goal.
And as it turned out, I raised 10k in about 48 hours. I was flabbergasted. Just knocked to the floor. I was on cloud nine for days, knowing that people still care about my music and wanted to hear more of what I would create.
It makes a huge difference in one's attitude going into a project like this to already know you have advance orders on the record, before you've even begun tracking. That's a huge shot in the arm, creatively. Of course, I burned through that money extremely fast, paying for studio time and musicians and pizzas and baby sitters and engineer's rates.
The musicians on the record are top shelf but it's not like we'd been touring together playing these new songs for months orbanything. A lot of the songs were created in the studio, building on just the basic tracks and experimenting with a myriad of ideas to see what would stick. We didn't have the songs totally down pat.
I generally don't work like that in the studio, I've always tried to beat the clock but with Christian producing, experimenting with sounds seemed like the best way to ensure I didn't just make a repeat of my first album.
That's an expensive experiment, though. More than a few blind alleys were doubled back on. I ended up putting another 10k of my own money into the record as well, before it was even finished.
But the GoFundMe campaign remained open throughout the recording process and I would post video updates every few weeks, and more money started flowing in. Eventually I met and surpassed my second fundraising goal.
So yes, without a doubt, I am forever grateful and extremely motivated by the direct connection I've maintained with my fans throughout all this. Of course, there's various tiers and rewards given to whomever pledges towards the project. But I must say, it's vastly different playing a house party or giving a guitar lesson to people who directly supported the creation of your art, rather than just playing to get paid so you can eat.
The campaign is still up, just so everyone can see the magnificent results, but I'm done asking people for help in that regard. I feel extremely lucky to have the backing of friends and fans who not only believe in my music, but they've also been very patient with the whole process.
You can't ask for more than that. The record is about to launch, and I plan to show my gratitude with a great live show. The payback is the live show now, sink or swim.
Q - Is there a meaning behind the album's name?
KM: Yeah, everyone was saying it during recording...LOL. A missed cue, an aborted take, trying to find the right guitar tone, or waiting for Logic or Pro Tools to reboot it was always, "hang on." Those two words came back a LOT.
Then over time, it became like a mantra for that inner voice inside..we all have that nagging voice inside telling you it's not good enough, it's a pipe dream, it isn't going to work. And you shut that voice out, but it can be very taxing just trying to hold it together.
Trying not to cave under the pressures of day to day living. That seems to be a running theme on the record. Things fall apart. Keep it together.
All of this eventually ends, you and me and everything. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Every day we're aging.
How does one handle that rather unforgiving information? When you're young, this is an impossible concept to grasp.
I believe we're designed NOT to grasp it, fully, in youth, lest we give up and not live up to our fullest potential into old age. It's only later that we begin to understand it, within ourselves. It's deeply personal.
Why should a young person fully understand it? That would be tragic. The understanding comes with age and experience, I think that's part of the pact. You lose a few friends to drugs and alcohol or one day it's a text, bluntly stating that someone you've had a sacred relationship with has succumbed to cancer. Relentlessly unforgiving information.
And it's not a TV show, it's YOU. It's your life. And yet life goes on. We have to hang on, to fulfill our destiny. And yet is it so much to ask to just...get a break every so often? Can't any of my genius ideas make me rich so I can invite all my friends onto a yacht for a weekend? Or have I missed the boat?
There's a tendency to give up, to give in, once you know you can no longer hide behind your adolescent allusions. Where do you go when your certainty about things proves false? The old stand byes cease to work anymore.
Now what? And yet, life is ongoing. Just as it was when you were 10. There's still as much beauty and wonder as there ever was, and we just need to keep at it more as you get older, to find it. To rediscover it, while everything is seemingly conspiring against you doing just that.
You have to hang on, to find it again. These are themes within the new record. The song "Zookeepers" with the line, "Does anybody else out there see the world as a beautiful parasite...where life eats life?" or in "Gravity" : "It's coming at you all of the time, the wants and the needs of a mind...in particles and waves of light..invisible to the naked eye."
In the final song on the record, "Days That Used To Be" it says, "All those things that you believed you're wishing now you could retrieve, there's no guarantees, delete your head, reboot your heart."
That's where nearly all of the songs on this record ending up going in some fashion: "Keep it together, it's the changing of the guard, you'll be alright..roll with it...just...hang on."
Q - Cliff Johnson, of the Chicago-area band Off Broadway, is one of the guest artists on the CD. How did you connect with him and what do you think he brought to the table? Did the band have an impact musically on you?
KM: Cliff is a wise sage, man. He has seen it ALL. I didn't know him when we made the record. I dug out an old song I wrote when I was 16 years old called 'Don't Chu Think' and with Christian producing, we brought the song back from the dead.
Off Broadway was a huge influence on my singing. Huge. When I was in junior high, you couldn't get away from their record "On." It was Cheap Trick with "I Want You To Want Me," The Knack with "My Sharona" and Off Broadway, "Stay In Time."
On the radio, all the time. It sounded so Beatley, so John Lennon like on my AM clock radio.
But unlike those other songs, "Stay In Time" wasn't about a girl, didn't allude to anything sexual. "Stay In Time" seemed to be addressing, "Hey man, live in the now, not in the past, don't get stuck, don't spend your time ruminating in your 'sad dream' that is denying your own ability to love. "What a sad thing."
That is some heavy shit for a power pop record in 1978! And it somehow got on the radio! I think that first record, "On," sold something like 100,000 copies in Chicago alone. And somehow Atlantic Records blundered horribly and didn't put any overseas tours together for the band and so they remained local heroes.
Meanwhile, Cheap Trick is at Budukon and breaking world wide. I saw Off Broadway play College of DuPage in like, 1980 or '79. I couldn't even drive yet, but they blew my mind they were so good. The guitarist was like Elliot Easton from The Cars.
He was playing these crazy fast leads that threatened to derail but never did, beautifully crafted over these simple Buddy Holly staccato chords. So I loved Off Broadway and wrote my own version of an Off Broadway song with "Don't Chu Think," in my little bedroom, freshman year in high school.
Flash forward a lifetime later I'm explaining all this to my producer, and he goes, "Do you know Cliff?" - I'm like "No, I'm just way into Off Broadway" and Christian says, "Well I do. I know him. I wonder if we could get him to sing on this."
Phone calls were made, demos were emailed, and two weeks later, I'm meeting Cliff for the first time and we're in the studio tracking vocals on a song I wrote when I was a kid, pretending to BE HIM. Life is beautiful. And Cliff is a sweet dude.
He's a pal. And more than a little crazy LOL
Q - A number of other guest musicians also appear on the album. How did you about picking the musicians on the album and did the recording process go smoothly?
KM: Like I said, there were a number of just fantastic musicians I was playing money gigs with for a year or two, prior to King Mixer forming. Guys like Matt Nelson on keys, who is just a savant, Nick Kitsos, who drummed for The BoDeans for years, Grant Tye who plays guitar for Robbie Fulks' band and a number of other great bands in Chicago.. I met all these guys through playing with Nick Kitsos in his band for a couple years.
I was a side man for Nick and then I stole all his guys! LOL kidding. Kinda. But with guys like this, their talents put them very much in demand and they are always juggling projects so being a proper band, a four legged table where all the costs and the artistic glory is divided equally, is just out of the question.
King Mixer is more of a collective in that sense, not a band. It's healthier this way, we've all been in true bands and it's like being in love for the first time, it's great, it's scary and you live for it and barely get out alive. And it only happens once.
And we've done all that when we were younger so being called into a collective where there's a great deal of mutual respect for what we've done and who we are now is...more on balance with where we are in life now, I'd say.
And it allows me, as the show runner, to tap various musicians for both the live shows and recordings. I have been a fan of The Smoking Popes for many years, and I reached out blindly to Mike Felumlee, the Popes drummer, and asked if he'd play drums on a few songs for my record. In situations like this, Facebook and the Internet is a very handy thing.
It cuts through all the B.S. and gives you direct access to a lot of people you'd otherwise have to spend years hanging out in clubs and bars to meet. So, same as with Cliff Johnson, I emailed Mike my demos and we met for the first time a few weeks later, rehearsed once, and boom, we're tracking.
And it turns out, he's been fronting his own band, The Bigger Empty, for years, and playing guitar in that band, not drumming at all. He told me, "I haven't touched my drums in six years," just before we began rehearsal.
I was like, 'Ohhh..." this could be terribly awkward...LOL. But within seconds of playing, Mike's hitting the skins so hard I had to turn my amp up so loud to keep up, I was almost hallucinating. It felt like we were in a stadium with legions of kids pogoing to my songs, and I understood where the secret weapon lies in the power of The Smoking Popes.
Mike is opening our Martyrs show with The Bigger Empty and the bass player in The Bigger Empty, Reuben Baird, mixed the King Mixer record with me. So having them start the show is a great way to kick off the record release party.
Q - Will the night be even more special because Phil Angotti will be opening for you? What makes him a good musical fit? Will he be joining you on stage?
KM: Phil is one of our city's true treasures. We've been pals for many years now and have a mutual fascination with all things Beatles. We've even played Liverpool together and played The Cavern Club.
We sang together on a tour of John Lennon's boyhood home, in the front hallway, just like John and Paul did when they were first starting to write songs together. And so we had to sing together in that very same spot. Cuz we're nerds, LOL.
But Phil has like 100 albums out, he's a terrific songwriter in his own right and he's a wicked, visceral guitar player and I'm sure all of this will be on full display when he takes the stage at Martyrs with us. Plus, June 18 is Paul McCartney's 74th birthday, so I'm inviting Phil back on stage during King Mixer's set for sure.
We've got some special surprises for the 'Beatle People' in the works!
Q - What do you think of the Chicago music scene and how do you think you fit into it?
KM: I don't think of the Chicago music scene. And I can't think of any scene I've ever fit into, honestly, musically or otherwise.
It's kind of like what people say about being the life of any party: you make your own fun. Don't expect anyone else to bring the "it" factor into your life. YOU bring "it". Or don't.
But no, I just finished making my best record on the good faith of about a hundred people who gladly pledged their hard earned money for me to do this. That is the scene I fit into and I intend to shower that scene with great songs and just...let it do whatever it does, with love in my heart for all who enter the grounds.


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Happy New Year!
Hey guys, a new year with a fresh start is always healthy so I've kept busy and creative lately in order to deliver a makeup look that I haven't tried before.
Therefore, I was inspired by my friend's marsala sweater and tried on some colors that I would normally not choose for winter makeup especially in january. But, because snow hasn't showed up yet, I guess shades of chololate brown with shades of marsala red highlighted with icy shimmery white shadow made the perfect combo. Here are pictures of how this cocktail turned up. Enjoy!
Photograpghy: Cristian Axenoi-Panescu
Model: Livia Ioana
Thank you for stopping by and until my next post, stay happy and beautiful!
Vero Makeup Artist