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Donald Masters
Gardner Edgerton High Class of 2011
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- Donald Masters
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- 2011
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Sunday on ABC's 'This Week With George Stephanopoulos," former Clinton Secretary of Labor Robert Reich said Hillary Clinton's lack of "disclosure" is a "key vulnerability."
Reich said, "She's running a general election campaign already. But I do think the issue of sort of disclosure, a full disclosure is a key vulnerability. She has to, and her husband as well, should put everything out, more disclosure than any other candidate."
He added Bill Clinton should, "stop the paid speeches."
Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm working hard at catching up! We've had a busy October. My feet have hardly hit the ground but I do think I see the light at the end of the tunnel...and then there's December! Oh well.
The first weekend of October we headed to Houston for our annual weekend with the Wines family. A good time was had by all!
We had great weather for swimming and the kids spent most of the weekend in the pool.
Miles knocked out with my cousin Kim
On Saturday evening, we had a homemade ice cream contest. All the flavors were yummy but ultimately Don won with Mint Chocolate Chip.
We spent lots of time visiting...the best part of getting together with family!
The boys did a great in the car to and from...Mimi and Papa may have something to do with that!


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After the success of the first foodie event featuring American wines back in June, Palmaria Restaurant will host another interesting evening for wine and food lovers. In occasion of the "USA meets Portovenere" aperitif on 20 October 2017, starting from 5pm, you will have the opportunity to discover unusual combinations between American wines and local gastronomy from the Gulf of Poets , Val di Vara and Cinque Terre.
In particular, the wine tastings will involve three different wines – Fox Run Riesling, Fox Run Traminette and Forge Cellars Riesling – all of which come from the Finger Lakes, one of the most important and prestigious American Viticultural Areas in the United States. This AVA is located near the Canadian border in the State of New York, which ranks third in grape production by volume after California and Oregon. The terroir of the Finger Lakes Wine Country is special thanks to the microclimate created by the 11 long, narrow lakes of glacial origin: this area alone has more than 10 wineries cultivating 11.000 acres of vineyards and produces 90% of the wine in the entire NY State.
The Chefs will delight your taste buds with some delicious finger food prepared mainly with local products from Liguria, including cheese from the organic pastures of Val di Vara. Get ready for skewers with mazzancolla (striped prawn) and herbs; octopus and taggiasche olives; and toasted bread with anchovies and buffalo mozzarella.
For more information and reservations please contact Palmaria Restaurant
Tel +39 0187 777 751
Palmaria Restaurant, Grand Hotel Portovenere, Via G. Garibaldi, 5 – 19025 Portovenere (SP)


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Wild about Travel hits record audience numbers
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The number of readers to this blog has been rapidly climbing which I am thrilled about. June, July and August were my three biggest months. September is shaping up to beat them. To do that I need 33 more readers every day. Love you to do one of four things please:
- Keep reading each of my blog posts
- Comment on them
- Tell me whats missing-what do you like reading about in my posts?
- Recommend to others please
Thank you for joining me in my travel adventures.
Labels: wild about Travel


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Laaaa...I went to this aqiqah. Maria and Marina are my friends. I was admiring the cake and cupcakes. Do you do the boxes as well? Anyway, well done!Elita
Kak Elita,ooooh iye ke? what a small world kan... maria dah order cakes from me since 2 years ago kot...hehhe the box actually from Maria's supplier.
Post a Comment


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5 Tips for Your Best Yoga Playlist!
Music is a powerful part of any yoga practice. From energizing your flow to helping calm and center your mind, choosing tunes that are suitable for yoga help to enhance the experience. Check out my tips to help create a yoga mix that's a perfect fit for your style, your practice, and if you're a teacher - your classes! ...Full post published on My Yoga Online.


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Emi Ikkanda
Emi has edited acclaimed authors, including Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Finalist Carla Power, New York Times Bestselling authors Richard Reeves and Julia Angwin, International Bestselling novelist Michael David Lukas, former Reddit CEO Ellen Pao, GQ editor Kevin Nguyen, Harvard graduation speaker Donovan Livingston, ABC sitcom Speechless's Zach Anner, Columbia MFA graduate Sanaë Lemoine, Iowa International Writing Program resident Lijia Zhang, and New York Times Op-Ed contributor Karla Cornejo Villavicencio.
She pursues narrative nonfiction, journalism, memoir, history, pop science, pop culture, and multicultural fiction. In fiction or non-fiction, she loves exploring untold stories and hidden worlds.
Some titles she wished she'd worked on include The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, Quiet by Susan Cain, Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson, Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Emi advocates for greater diversity in the book industry by working within several organizations, including Penguin Random House's Diversity and Inclusion Council, Random House's diversity committee Diversity @ Random, the Association of American Publishers, People of Color in Publishing, Representation Matters, and the Women's Media Group.
Before joining publishing, Emi graduated from the University of California Berkeley and King's College London.
What I'm Looking For
I pursue narrative nonfiction, journalism, memoir, history, pop science, pop culture, and multicultural fiction. In fiction or non-fiction, I love exploring untold stories and hidden worlds.
Sample Titles or Authors
The Last Watchman of Old Cairo, Michael David Lukas
Reset, Ellen Pao
If the Oceans Were Ink, Carla Power
Specializes In
FICTION: Family Saga, GLBT, Historical Fiction, Humor/Satire, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural, Upmarket Women's Fiction
NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, Food & Lifestyle, GLBT, History, Humor, Investigative Journalism, Memoir, Military/War, Multi-Cultural, Narrative, Pop Culture, Science, Travel, Women's Concerns
NONFICTION: Parenting, Politics, Psychology, Technology


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New Podtrac rankings, and getting your podcast onto Google Assistant
January 25, 2018 · Updated June 19, 2018 · 1.8 minutes to read
Podtrac release their rankings for December 2017. Total figures are down from November, as is usual for a holiday period; but measured listening is up 93% year-on-year.
- The figures omit iHeartMedia, after our investigation earlier this month showed that iHeartMedia's figures appeared to be affected by a preloading audio player.
- The company also seems to have removed their "snackable podcast" chart entirely. This was only launched in November.
Wondered how to get your podcast into Google Assistant, and onto the Google Home smart speaker? You don't do it by filling out a form. We've done it - here's how to get your podcast onto the Google Home. (Also: everywhere else.)
Cleveland OH, USA-based Futuri Media have announced the Futuri Ad Network, selling pre-roll and mid-roll inventory, and also a service to allow broadcasters to do similar.
Midroll announce four new big-name podcasts - Rise and Grind with Daymond John, interviews with people who share their secrets of success; Big Questions with Cal Fussman, Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin, and Breached, the story about the Yahoo hack.
Current covers a new podcast from WOSU which is aimed at listeners coming to terms with aging. It's called Stories for the Ages.
Digital media company Vox Media has a new marketing lead for podcasts: Zach Kahn, who's worked with the company since May 2016.
Recommended: the story of Tonya Harding, on the New York Times Daily podcast.
Podcast Movement have announced that they will be offering conference-day childcare facilities for delegates. The event is July in Philadelphia PA, USA.
Another event: the Utah Podcast Business Summit - February 2nd, at Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City UT, USA. There's a paid live stream available for purchase.
The Australian Podcast Awards have announced, in a news story, that we announced, in a news story, that they've announced the categories for their awards, which are open on 1 February. We are hoping they announce our announcement about their announcement about our announcement about their announcement. #recursion
|NEW: Podcast Operations Manager, Australian Radio Network
|Executive Producers – Music Radio/Entertainment Podcasts, Somethin' Else
Great Britain
See more jobs and add yours, free
<< You can buy your HomePod speaker on Friday


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The Tragedy of Self-Awareness
Two-Way Mirror & Copper-Foil Stained Glass on Hamster Wheel
The metaphorical hamster must face itself in the mirror while while running towards an endless goal, ultimately leading nowhere. While the rodent toils with its own identity and purpose within a futile existence, the mirrored exterior of the wheel reflects and functions as a disco ball in the presence of light.
Images: Stephanie Price


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GDEX is a Weekend Celebration of Games that attracts fans, students and developers from across the country. We have one of the best communities in the Midwest, and we are proud to be the place where you can experience the latest and upcoming games before anyone else!
It is a platform for helping smaller teams and individuals be successful. Stemming from the local Columbus Community Group, GDEX strives to help everyone Connect, Share, and Learn about the current state of the industry and a positive future for all creators.
GDEX is the Industry Event of the Region, offering more to do, see, and learn than any other Gaming and Creative Technology expo in the Midwest.


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Today was a beautiful, Spring-like day. Typically, February in Indiana is bitterly cold, grey and often snowy. If there is a teasingly Spring day, it usually doesn't occur until March. I went out for a long walk wearing a sweatshirt and heavy winter coat, scarf and hat. Luckily, I had big pockets in my coat, because by the time I had walked a 1/2 mile, I was too hot for either the scarf or the hat. It was a perfect day for a leisurely, blissful walk.
A few scenes from my walk:
Just before I walked out the door, a bright red cardinal perched on a tree outside my dining room window. The cardinal was not the only bird I saw, of course. Along the way, I saw flickers, robins, ducks, and geese. There were a few leftover nests from last year, visible on the barren trees.
I walked along the creek for 2.5 miles, stopping often to look and listen to the flowing water. Because we've had so little snow this year, the creek is much lower than normal. The sandy islands that form in the middle, usually only accessible in late summer, were reachable in a few spots. It isn't a view I usually get to enjoy. I crawled out on one dead tree and sat for a while and listened to the rapidly flowing water and the birds.
As always, there are lots of interesting things along the side of the trail. Today's surprise was that on the small island, there were many clam shells. I knew that clams populated inland waterways, but I had no idea that I could find some along this creek. Many were pearly and several were as large as my hands.
Of course, not everything to be found is natural. Looks like someone left in a hurry, leaving an unopened bottle.
A few days ago, Terry at Mobius Faith (Click on that link! His photos are fantastic!) posted some photos of concrete. I know it sounds a bit odd — concrete? — but his post inspired me to look at concrete differently. I'll post more later — there are some that I want to experiment with in post-processing — but look at the interesting shapes and color from lichen and rust from the bridge materials. In places where graffiti artists have been, the parks department has tried to cover it up. The paint, as it ages, creates an interesting pentimento. Even the shapes of the concrete bridges are interesting.
Of course, there was plenty of nature to photography as well: empty milkweed pods, hanging from a limb; fungus on fallen trees; stark trees pressed up against the gorgeous, cloudless sky; snowdrops, those early signs of spring, pushing their way up from the winter ground.
As I returned home, walking up the drive, I noticed the tulip trees in the front ravine. They are over 100 feet tall, so it's difficult to tell, but I think they may be starting to bud. As nice as it was today, early blooming is not good for the trees.


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A Passion for Concrete
Without concrete, the world would not be what it is today. Concrete, as a building material, means growth, stability, and quality of life. We at KRAFT CURING supply curing technologies and equipment for the controlled hardening of concrete. Our systems control the concrete curing process with a precisely calculated amount of heat and humidity. Thus, not only do we provide our valued customers with the means to achieve significantly higher quality, more consistent, faster and more cost-effective production, but we also considerably simplify their work processes.
Custom Concrete Curing Solutions
Custom concrete curing system design is particularly important to us because we know: concrete producers are individualists. Our understanding of the chemical process known as hydration and the affect of heat and humidity on this process enables us to develop individual solutions that are tailored to the needs of our customers. And with success: throughout our history we have installed over 1,000 concrete curing systems around the world – each one as unique as our customers!
... how exactly we design and manufacture curing systems at KRAFT CURING?
Fearless reporter Dennis pays a visit to KRAFT CURING in Lindern, Germany. What he finds will surely interest you – bespoke designed and assembled equipment. And another interesting fact: Concrete doesn't dry, it hardens!
Download the Video
The Company
Our vision
We are dedicated to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of accelerated concrete curing while increasing product strength, aesthetics and durability in order to support our customers' success.
We will manufacture the highest quality concrete curing systems available worldwide. We will provide exceptional service before the sale, during installation and commissioning and throughout the life of the system. We strive to make innovations to the concrete production process that will positively affect the final cured product.
We are responsible to our stakeholders: valued customers, employees, suppliers, agents and investors as well as to our community and the environment. We believe that ethics, passion, respect, hard work, quality, value and prudence are characteristics of a successful organization and we strive to be that successful organization.
Beginning in the USA
Vapor curing systems were advanced by KRAFT in the early 1990s in Northern America resulting in a reduction in energy costs associated with curing concrete using a boiler by up to 60%. In the mid 1990s KRAFT introduced the direct-fired vapor technology to Europe where it was further developed and introduced to the global concrete industry.
Germany In the late 1990s the practice of air circulation and exhaust and the related benefits became evident. In many instances, off-the-shelf ventilators and air duct system could not handle the harsh environment found in the concrete industry. KRAFT – having tried off-the-shelf components which failed and disappointed us and our customers began designing and manufacturing bespoke radial ventilators, valves, dampers and ducting – learning much over the years.
A new century By 2005 curing systems capable of operating at far lower humidity than vapor or even offering drying capabilities became very popular for curing concrete pavers, roof tiles, precast and prestress architectural walls. The popularity of the KRAFT QUADRIX®, CONVECT-AIR® and THERMALCURE® systems coupled with a high level of construction led to an enormous surge in activity in the field of concrete curing.
2009 marked the year in which KRAFT completed its largest curing project to date with the completion of the curing facilities for the manufacturing of the cement-coated natural gas supply submarine pipeline in the Baltic Sea, now operating and known as Nord Stream. In 2013 KRAFT again advanced the area of concrete curing in two ways. First, the introduction of the QUADRIX® II concrete curing system at BAUMA provides the most consistent curing environment available in the industry today while concurrently reducing air velocity in the curing environment. Second, the introduction of a DIY air circulation system in order to provide an economically attainable air circulation for higher quality concrete in regions around the World that are currently developing markets for decorative concrete products. 2013 also saw KRAFT CURING SYSTEMS expand its scope of supply by incorporating a line of flexible retractable curing enclosures for precast, prestress concrete elements and concrete pipe as well as its own line of curing racks for the storage of concrete blocks, pavers and curbs during the curing process. The addition of these products allowed KRAFT to better control the design, quality, supply and installation aspects of these product lines. KRAFT CURING's design approach of both the retractable curing enclosures and curing racks incorporated successful features of existing designs with experience gained on the curing process side while eliminating complexity and unnecessary cost.
Recent Developments
KRAFT CURING is focused on three strategic goals:
Focus on the internet, disruptive technology and frugal innovation in order to better serve emerging economies investing heavily in infrastructure;
Currently, KRAFT CURING employs 40 full-time people, located in offices in the USA and Germany, servicing over 1,000 curing systems worldwide.


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The Red Teams Podcast was created for our team to share knowledge and stories with you. The podcast is about mindset, the Adversarial Mindset, and now it applies to everything. Each episode will be dedicated to a topic or tactic. You'll hear from heavy hitters in the field. Not people who only write books about red teaming, or related subjects, but who are out in the field living and doing it every day. We aren't going to hold your hand, but we are going to expand your knowledge and help you obtain the adversarial mindset. Beware, though, we often use strong language. If you are one of those offended by this, stop now and go back to your safe world.
You can find all episodes:
If you are looking for the direct RSS feed here it is. There is also a Youtube channel, where all the episodes will be uploaded soon.
Please send feedback, questions and requests to us via the contact page.
Latest episodes:
Mark Mateski of Red Team Journal (Episodes 6, 22 and 41)
Andy Stumpf of the Cleared Hot Podcast (Episode 10)
Ed Calderon of Ed's Manifesto (Episode 11 and 43)
Ami Toben of Protection Circle (Episode 15)
Bryan Black of ITS Tactical (Episode 16)
Nick Betts of Krupto Strategic (Episode 20)
Rob DuBois of Impact Actual (Episode 29)
300 from Lotar Combat Blades (Episode 30)
Alan Johnson of [REDACTED] (Episode 32)
Brian Green of Brian's Backpacking Blog and Green Bees (Episode 35)
CC Chapman (Episode 35)
Matt Devost of OODA Loop and formerly of FusionX (Episode 36)
Carlos Perez of Dark Operator (Episode 39)
Paul (Episode Paul)


text: 5 Causes Why You are not Having Previous The 1st Date I obtained a brilliant e mail the other working day from the woman, who was writing in order to brag about how spectacular she is. Basically, she reported she was crafting to consult me why are unable to at any time get previous the initial day with a man. Her electronic mail, regardless, was solely about how excellent she's.beautiful russian women pictures In the e-mail, she told me that she's victorious. She's captivating. She can run her possess opportunity….


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"The wheel is compelled to turn. Sometimes artists need part the curtian and look out beyond the audience, the horizon and use their collective faith and talent to forget what they know, the history, the forms, the charts and the maps...and just play past the moment that has just passed. Searching the new without fear or intent...This is how the wheel turns. I think this is how these humans make music. Yup."
-Billy Conway (Morphine)
Thank God For Science is a one of a kind musical medium that explores sonic and musical vocabularies.
Jeremy Moses Curtis (Booker T, Jeffrey Foucault) compiled years of home studio demos and with the help of some trusted musicians, shaped them into an instrumental record titled: "Volume One". The core studio band of drummer Peter MacLean (Maceo Parker), The Blue Ribbons' James Rohr on keyboards / Mike Castellana on guitar, recorded the initial basics over a weekend with the help of producer Marc Pinansky. In the following months, Laurence Scudder (Brothers McCann) added his refined blend of natural and effected Viola while Barry Rothman (Radio Swan) channeled sounds from the ether via vintage turntables and effect pedals to round out a recording whose unique aural atmosphere is wholly its own. Since then, the players have performed dozens of shows, released a "Live" record and coalesced into what is now known as Thank God For Science: a group that continues to search for harmony, chaos, enlightenment, and every note in between.
RED LINE ROOTS by Brian Carroll - May 16, 2016
In short, this is music that moves. It moves in and around itself with multiple layers and levels and also within the listener. Seriously, it has an almost trancelike enhancing power that just forces you into soul mode. I mean shit, I just feel cooler listening to these tunes. You should listen too. Thank God For Science is instrumental music for musicians. It isn't pretentious or overly complex. Its not jam band music, but its not jazz improvisation, in a way its kind of both and encompasses the better parts of those things. I often times have a difficult time relating to primarily instrumental records, but TGFS soaked deep into my skin and left an impression on me that won't soon seep out. There is just something special about music that can do that...(MORE HERE)
MUSIC SAVAGE By Steve Benoit - May 25, 2016
And THAT folks is exactly what this album can do. I'm telling you this from personal experience. No two tracks are the same, yet they seem to blend perfectly together as you go about whatever is occupying your mind. Taking you from an energy filled moment of victory to one that puts you in a field on a weekend enjoying the sun, to hanging out with Hunter Thompson in dirty biker bar in a matter of minutes. Maybe this is where I should have put that line about this album being what you want it to be. Random thought: we should probably start a #CoolShitMadeWhileListeningToThankGodForScience hashtag...(MORE HERE)
NO DEPRESSION By Frank Gutch Jr. - June 5, 2016
You see where I'm going here? The band has taken the music of the past and weaved/wove/woven a new pattern, all instrumental, and would be very pleasant except that these guys are all on the same page and really know how to play! Not only that, it is sequenced beautifully, the songs flowing in and out as if the music was meant to be written exactly that way.
Players are going to appreciate this--- the way it sounds, the way it was put together. One of my favorite adventurous musicians, John Orsi, would love it too, may he rest in peace. He experimented with music much in the same way with his various bands, Knitting In Twilight and the others, hoping to capture those moments in time, and he did. So does Thank God For Science...(MORE HERE)
TELEGRAM AND GAZETTE By Victor Infante - June 16,2016
There is no way to easily encapsulate "Thank God For Science: Volume 1," the mostly instrumental album by bassist Jeremy Moses Curtis and a diverse roster of talented musicians. You end up saying something along the lines of, "this is what would happen if William S. Burroughs and Negativeland teamed up to make a jazz album," but even that's not quite right. To put it bluntly, this album is weird. It's also overwhelmingly beautiful at points, and massively unpredictable...(MORE HERE)
THE DELI MAGAZINE-NYC-By Brian Varneke
Thank God For Science is an intergalactic collage of grooves, soaring synths, orchestral arrangements, and spoken word monologues, coming together to form a debut record in Volume One. The album is a sort of auditory found art piece, taking concepts and styles that you are familiar with and combining them in a way that is unique and eclectic. Fully instrumental, Volume One would work just as well as a film soundtrack as a full-length album.
By Brian Varneke


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First measures of sensitivity and the need for a model to interpret them are addressed. Then modeling in the Fourier domain is promoted by a demonstration of how such an approach explains spatial sensitization and its dependence on luminance. Then the retinal illuminance and receptor absorptions produced by various stimuli are derived to foster interpretation of the neural mechanisms underlying various psychophysical phenomena. Finally, the sequence and the anatomical loci of the processes controlling visual sensitivity are addressed. It is concluded that multiplicative adaptation often has effects identical to response compression followed by subtractive adaptation and that, perhaps as a consequence, there is no evidence of retinal gain changes in human cone vision until light levels are well above those available in natural scenes and in most contemporary psychophysical experiments; that contrast gain control fine tunes sensitivity to patterns at all luminances; and that response compression, modulated by subtractive adaptation, predominates in the control of sensitivity in human cone vision.
© 1997 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
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After getting arrested by the Georgia State Patrol, former Milledgeville City Councilman Phillip Joiner denies DUI charges that were filed against him.
According to the county sheriff, the councilman was pulled over by an officer last Monday evening for not maintaining his lane. He refused to submit himself to a breathalyzer test but was still arrested for driving under the influence.
In addition to DUI, Joiner was also charged with failure to maintain a lane and violating the open container law.
For more of this news, click here.


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No To Medicalisation Of Female Genital Mutilation
By Emma Batha
A growing trend for midwives and nurses to carry out female genital mutilation (FGM) is undermining global efforts to eradicate the internationally condemned practice, experts have warned.
Morissanda Kouyate head of the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices called for courts to get tough on health workers convicted of carrying out FGM.
He also urged professional medical and health associations to expel members who repeatedly perform FGM.
"Medicalisation is one of the biggest threats against the programme to eliminate FGM," Kouyate told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Rome ahead of international FGM awareness day on Monday.
He called for countries to revise their laws on FGM to make clear that health professionals convicted of offences should face the maximum sentences allowed under the legislation.
An estimated 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, which usually involves the partial or total removal of the female genitalia and can cause a host of serious health problems.
Speaking at a global conference on FGM in Rome last week, Kouyate said medicalisation was an unfortunate result of early efforts to tackle FGM, which had focussed on the health risks.
The ancient ritual – practised in at least 27 African countries and parts of Asia and the Middle East – is usually carried out by traditional cutters, often using unsterilised blades or knives.
In some cases, girls can bleed to death or die from infections. Later on, FGM can cause fatal childbirth complications.
Kouyate said growing awareness of the risks had lead parents to take their daughters to clinics.
The trend had been encouraged by "the open arms approach" of many health workers who saw FGM as a source of income.
Medicalisation is widespread in Egypt, Sudan, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria and Yemen, according to U.N. data. In Egypt and Sudan, FGM is also carried out by doctors, Kouyate said.
Campaigners and officials at the conference repeatedly voiced concerns over medicalisation which they said served to legitimise the practice.
Kouyate, a doctor from Guinea where FGM is almost universal, described FGM as "the greatest violation of a woman's rights".
"The time has come to call a spade a spade – it is mutilation," he told the conference.
Unlike traditional cutters, he said health workers fully understood the implications of cutting the genitals.
"Whatever the size of the cut it's wrong. It has to be stopped and it has to be prosecuted," he added.
Most African countries affected by FGM have banned the ritual but laws are usually poorly enforced.
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Under Social Justice
Tags: Africa, FGM, Medicalisation, Midwifery


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Neon Challenge: The Unity competition asks for creating the best futuristic real-time environment to win grand prize of $20,000 in cash.
Unity Technologies had launched the Unity competition titled 'Neon Challenge'. It was inspired by 2016 award winning short film ADAM, created by Neill Blomkamp (Director of District 9, Elysium and Chappie) and Unity team. Neill showcased very strongly how Unity game engine can be used for real-time rendering, for both movies and games. It was followed by Adam: The Mirror and Adam: The Prophet. The movies were built with assets from the Unity Asset Store.
Unity team is giving chance to all Unity game engine users to showcase their best talent through Neon Challenge contest. Some of essential details of the Unity competition are as follows.
Theme: Futuristic real-time game environment
Total prize money: $31,650
Unity technologies to use: Unity Asset Store, Cinemachine, Timeline, Post Processing Stack
Rendering package to use: Unity game engine
Output format: Video file (minimum resolution is 1080)
Competition end date: 16th January, Tuesday, 1.30 pm
To stand out in a crowd, do detailed modeling of your assets of the game environment. Overall composition and creative concepts must attract jury panel. If required, you can also use free or paid assets of the Unity Asset Store. Feel free to use / refer concept art from ADAM Episode I.
You can think for any kind of futuristic city, it may belong to Earth or anywhere else, for the said Unity competition. The final output video must have different camera angles to completely portray your artwork. It can be hosted on any video sharing platform. The artist also needs to submit detailed article, explaining entire production pipeline with a callout sheet. It must also cover how Unity technologies (Unity Asset Store, Cinemachine, Timeline, Post Processing Stack) are used. Various making of, screen shots and WIPs are also needs to be included.
The first winner of the Neon Challenge will have grand prize of $20,000 in cash along-with a ticket to Unite conference 2018, worth $400. Apart from it, there are two second prize winners, three community award winners and five honorable awards.
Check out complete details and works submitted by contestants of this Unity competition 'Neon Challenge' on the official contest page.


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Roberta's Castle RTG Slots ReviewClick to collect: 100% up to $2000 signup bonus
Overall impression
The game play is great, graphics are pretty much down to it's age.. but a decent RTG slot all in all
|Game Information
|Roberta's Castle
|Game Type:
|Video slot
|Whats hot:
|Whats not so hot:
|Based on the fairy tale of Rapunzel
|Can't be played on mobile phones
|Wilds, scatters and up to 30 free spins can be won
|Patience required to trigger the free spins
|Free spins bonus mode can be re-triggered
Where to play?
If you're a fan fables this one is for you. Roberta's Castle slot by Realtime Gaming comes with 20 paylines and 5 reels. It offers an escapism from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Enter a place where princes do exist and a beautiful princess is ready to ply you with her charms. The theme of the slots machine is pretty similar to that of Rapunzel's. I'm sure you're familiar with the story? The return to player (RTP) on this game is 95%.
If you're not let me fill you in quick. Rapunzel was a beautiful princess that was locked in a tower by a wicked witch. Along comes prince charming and tried to rescue her. The witch caught wind of his antics and cut of all Rapunzel's hair. You got the gist of the story? In this rendition you can claim a splashy jackpot by downloading the prime software onto your PC. The game can be played in the free mode on desktops. It's not available on mobile phones yet.
I'm fairly certain that the game's crisp graphics, clear images and brilliant audio will be to your liking. To top it all Roberta's Castle is no slouch in the payout department either-it offers a top jackpot prize of 15,000 coins. Princess Roberta is the scatter icon. On the other hand we have prince charming who also happens to be the wild. My, isn't this a fitting icon for him. Additional paying symbols on the reels are the ginger cat, mirror, brush and scissors.
Game Play
Let your hair down (so to speak). Take a seat, deposit and start the spinning reels. The coin range is from 0.01 up to 1.00. You can adjust the coin range when you click the arrows 'Bet per Line'. Up to 20 paylines per game can be played by clicking 'Lines Selected. We recommend the maximum line number to escalate your chances of winning. To see how much you have wagered before spinning, look at the 'Bet' tab.
The 'Auto Play' feature allows you to select from a number of various playing options. It includes turbo play (increases the game speed), to amount of spins (5 to 1,000), stop when jackpot is won, stop if a win exceeds or equals and so forth. If you click or touch 'Stop Auto Play' the game ends.
Bonus Rounds
Free Spins: Since Roberta's Castle is the scatter, 3 of them triggers the free spins bonus mode awarding up to 15 free spins. The multiplier wins attached to the free spins is 3x. Alas some good news! The free spins mode can be re-triggered. If you 3 scatters appear before your free spins are done you'll win an additional 15 free games.
Wild: The prince is the wild symbol. To complete a winning combination it replaces all the other icons except the scatter. However, it also pops up during the free spins. He's really chasing Princess Roberta. Any way if the wild pitches it boosts all free spins wins by a multiplier win of 6x!
Five wild symbols at the maximum bet per spin is also responsible for the biggest payout during the base game. When the prince lands with the brush and the pair of scissors, you'll get a lovely cash jackpot of 4,000 coins! Five princes with the mirror and ginger cat pays 1,000 coins.
Although Roberta's Castle is not a novel theme for a slots machine it's a pretty darn good game. Take a bow RTG. I'm sure it's going to appeal to all the girls who love fairy tales. The game would have been even better had the vendor thrown in an extra bonus round-not that we're complaining. Also, the slot is not available on mobile devices. Otherwise, we kindly invite you to give the game a bash.


text: It's festival time Terry Stiastny is appearing with Tim Weaver at Guildford Book Festival on 10th October Author Terry Stiastny tells us about The Prime Writers festival plans for Autumn. With the turning of the leaves, the autumn literary festival season has arrived. There's a bumper crop of festivals for the lucky reader to pick from — whether the biggest and oldest-established, like Cheltenham, or the smaller, local events like North Cornwall or Berwick.Most authors are delighted to be invited — if occasionally a little nervous. Although a vanishingly tiny few of us can ever hope for events on the scale of John le Carre's recent appearance in London — filling the 2,500 seat Royal Festival Hall and having the talk screened live in cinemas across the country — the chance to meet other readers and writers is welcome. If nothing else, it gets us, blinking in the daylight, out of the house.And of course, we in our turn queue up, new copies in hand, to see and hear from the other authors we most admire. Claire Fuller, author of Swimming Lessons, has seen events from both sides of the stage, as writer and audience member.Claire says 'I still love to hear about the writing process: how the writer goes about writing day to day. And I love it when writers read from their work — it makes a huge difference to hear their words in their voice, but they need to keep it very short!' Conflicts of Interest By Terry Stiastny For Andrea Bennett, whose latest novel is Two Cousins of Azov, festivals are a chance to learn from her readers. 'I love it when people in the audience ask questions and raise things or see things in the book that I may never have considered.' She also learns from appearing alongside other writers. 'When you're paired up with other writers on a panel, it's really interesting drawing similarities and differences between different books and themes.'And of course, whatever gossip is exchanged in a festival Green Room as the authors mingle stays in the Green Room. Doesn't it?For the festival directors who book the authors and sell the tickets, what makes a successful event?Jane Beaton, the co-director of Guildford Book Festival, says that often the most memorable involve a simple story well told. For the audiences, she says a festival is 'a chance to meet favourite authors and personalities and hear their stories first-hand. It's also a great place to discover new authors.'Her advice for the authors who appear? 'I think it works best when authors don't try to cover too much ground. Better to concentrate on a few key stories and tell them well, and leave the audience wanting more, and hopefully wanting to buy the book too!'And let's be frank, part of the attraction for all of us is the hope that the publicity that goes with an event will result in both bums on seats and books in more readers' hands.Matthew Parker, the author of Goldeneye, enjoyed a recent appearance at Guildford — but his sign language interpreter might have found it harder work. He says 'she had to cope with 'nymphomaniac' (the wife of the Governor-General of Jamaica) and a quote from a well known Jamaican arriving at Noel Coward's swimming pool, where no clothes were allowed: 'There was Vivien Leigh draped over Larry's [Olivier] cock'. That took some doing but she did brilliantly!' Acts of Omission By Terry Stiastny There's something valuable in being in a place where you are surrounded by other people who love books. Jane Lythell says that she had a great experience at the 'informal and friendly' Charroux Literary Festival in south-west France. Jane, who recently brought out Behind Her Back, points out 'many of the people there were writing blogs, short stories or had started novels. They came because they wanted to talk about writing.'Writing can be solitary; a chance to venture perhaps to a new place, to meet an audience, helps us to feel part of a community. When Beth Miller, who has written two novels as well as the non-fiction 'For the Love of Shakespeare', spoke on Shakespeare at a festival in Felixstowe, she says she got more feedback in one afternoon than she normally would in six months as a writer.In particular, the reaction of one audience member who discovered something new will stay with her. 'It's that sort of thing that keeps you going through the dark months. I just have to think about that young woman's excited face as she told me I had upended her expectations, and I smile for about an hour.'There's a thought to keep us all encouraged through the dark months to come.Terry Stiastny is appearing with Tim Weaver at Guildford Book Festival on 10th October.Where you can meet Prime Writers this autumn:Birmingham: Kerry Hadley https://www.birminghamliteraturefestival.orgClaire Fuller and Kate Hamer are both at Crickhowell fest on Friday. Beverley Literature Festival: Kerry Drewery and Louise Beech Terry Stiastny is an author and former BBC journalist. Find out more about Terry here. Her second novel, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST came out in June from John Murray. Her first, ACTS OF OMISSION, won the Political Fiction book of the year in 2015. Author Blog, Prime WritersSam MissinghamOctober 4, 2017New Facebook0 Twitter Pinterest0 0 Likes


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NSW residents can expect an unprecedented infrastructure cash splash, thanks to a white-hot Sydney property market and a state government still riding high on its poles and wires win.
Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian's Tuesday budget will include a record $68 billion over four years for state-building projects, including what has been billed as its largest public transport upgrade.
And that's without counting the $20 billion the government says long-term leases of Transgrid, and 50.4 per cent of Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy will raise.
Ms Berejiklian is also expected to deliver a better-than-expected $2.1 billion surplus.
The budget will be a crucial first test for Ms Berejiklian in her new portfolio, and her performance will guide expectations as she prepares to oversee the Baird government's flagship electricity privatisation transactions.
Yet the member for Willoughby has had little time to get her feet under the table.
When Premier Mike Baird was elevated from the treasury to the top job in April last year - thanks to the ICAC probe that felled former leader Barry O'Farrell along with a string of other Liberal MPs - he said it would be unworkable to parachute a new MP into the treasurer's position so close to budget day.
In the end, those concerns didn't stop him from installing Andrew Constance in the portfolio and following this year's state election in late March, it is Ms Berejiklian who is delivering her debut budget after less than three months in the job.
Ms Berejiklian - like her boss, a former banker - appeared relaxed over the weekend as she joined Liberal colleagues for a party function at a posh Sydney hotel, where Mr Baird declared she would soon hand down "the strongest budget in the nation".
The state coffers were boosted to the tune of $518 million in stamp duty last month alone from a surging Sydney real estate market, according to figures from the Office of State Revenue.
In total, the state is on track to rake in more than $5.2 billion in stamp duty revenues for 2014-15.
However, the premier has been quick to stress that commitments over the forward estimates will not unravel should the property market cool, or worse, should a much-touted Sydney housing bubble burst.
He said stamp duty revenues remained a small part of the overall budget and windfall revenues had been earmarked for the Restart NSW infrastructure fund.
"Previous governments, when they received that money, frittered it away," Mr Baird said on Sunday.
Yet, however much they insist they aren't relying on the stamp duty surge, Mr Baird and Ms Berejiklian have resisted calls to improve housing affordability by cutting the levy for non-investors or reforming property taxes more broadly.
Instead they have promised a boost on the supply side, with a record $400 million injection planned for the Housing Acceleration Fund, which supports new dwellings on greenfield sites with money for essentials such as wastewater and electricity.
- $1.4 billion towards the state's hospital renewal program
- $25 million for children's medical research, including the establishment of Australia's largest clinical trial centre exclusively for paediatric research
- Record corrections spending, including a new Grafton prison and an expanded Parklea Correctional Centre
- An extra $50 million to fund new classrooms in independent and Catholic schools, alongside major public school building projects, including a high-rise school in Parramatta
- A $200 million boost over four years for children in out-of-home care
- Funding commitments for the government's soon-to-be-announced stadia strategy
- A revamp of stamp duty arrangements to ease the burden on home-buyers


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Updated Ultimate Guide to Visiting Prague's Famous Charles Bridge
The first day I came to Prague I went straight to the world-famous Charles Bridge! The Charles Bridge is set against the stunning backdrops of Prague's breathtaking architecture and the mirror like Vltava River. But, with such popularity comes the tourist's nightmare; crowds! When I visited that afternoon the crowds were so thick you could barely see the bridge, ruining what I had hoped would be a magical experience. I was so overwhelmed I didn't even venture onto the bridge and instead found a quaint side street to meander along instead. The next day, after some research, I decided to revisit it in the early morning when the crush of visitors had lessened. Although it was still busy on, it was nothing compared to the afternoon hoards we'd seen on the bridge the day before.
The bridge was constructed in 1357 under the watchful eye of King Charles IV. The old bridge which connected the two parts of the city, built in 1158, was more than due for some repairs. It was severely damaged in a flood in 1342 which lead to its demolition and the construction of the new Charles Bridge, named after the King. The reason this bridge was always so important was that it connected the castle past of town to the city's old town.
When to Arrive
The best time to see the bridge is either in the early morning or late at night. As previously mentioned, the afternoon is when you'll see the most tourists arrive, especially those on tour buses or river cruises who will depart by dinner time and won't have arrived before breakfast.
The Gateway
Before you step onto the bridge, you must pass through the Old Bridge Tower Gate. The gate welcomes passersby, with a small inscription, into the Little Quarter. The entrance to the bridge is a dark black tower; its old stone stained with age. It was constructed in 1380 as a functional aspect of the bridge, a fortification against invaders. Its Gothic features loom down upon you. Above the archway are several royal crests and resting on top of them are statues of various religious figures, each one holding a shield with heraldry emblazoned upon it.
The bridge is 621 meters long and almost a whopping 10 meters wide! On either side of the bridge are two guard towers, once used for protection, now they only serve as a fascinating decoration for the tourists. Two stand guard on the Little Quarter side and the other one is located on the Old Town Side.
As you walk along the bridge, you come across dozens of statues and statuaries in Baroque and Gothic styles. They were all once original pieces created in the 16th and 17th century but now are replaced with replicas to keep better in the weather. The statues depict various saints and patrons who were of great importance during the time of its construction.
The most famous figures to keep an eye out for as you're walking along the bridge are depictions of St. Luthgard, the Holy Crucifix and Calvary, and John of Nepomuk.
Some of the statues are very disturbing and portray the harsh reality of early medieval life in Prague. It would serve as a warning to any villagers passing through to keep on the path of virtue and to frequent the church to repent all their sins.
Souvenirs Stalls vs Craftspeople
All along the bridge, people are selling their arts and crafts. There are paintings, magnets, sculptures and more. Many of these people are very strict about tourists taking photos of their works, instead of simply being it. Which, to be fair, I do understand. We stopped at this woman's glass jewelry stand and found a beautiful and simple pair of earrings I loved. She was so sweet, and I felt great about buying something so kind and dedicated to her craft. We look a little picture, with her permission, of her beautifully manicured booth along the bridge.
All in all, despite the mad crowds that scared me off, I was thrilled to have spent the time walking across the bridge. The views of both old town and the Prague Castle as incredible. Pedestrian bridges like this are few and far between and its understandable that it would be frequented by so many pedestrians. Find the right time of day and you'll find the bridge less busy and more enjoyable.


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Capcom Teams with Pix'n Love for Mega Man 11 Collector's Edition/
We're just twenty days away from the release of Mega Man 11, and by now, a good number of you have probably already pre-ordered your copy. However, you may want to consider cancelling after hearing the latest announcement from Capcom UK and Pix'n Love — at least, if you're a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One owner.
A special Collector's Edition of Mega Man 11 has been announced, featuring a physical copy of the game, four 2-sided lithographs on card stock featuring art from the game (seemingly of each Robot Master), a cardboard box with pantone colors, and perhaps most significant of all, a "never-before released 80-pages hardcover book with rich illustrations, that retraces the history of the 11 games (yes, I know. I see it, too. —LBD) in the Mega Man franchise canon."
From 1987 to 2018, Pix'n Love gives you a behind-the-scenes look at all of the episodes of the Mega Man canon through a well-documented and fully illustrated book. From the very first game, Mega Man, the emblematic hero of the late 1980s, established himself as one of the most popular figures of his time, even becoming the figurehead for action games/platforms at Capcom. With over 120 different versions and 35 million copies distributed worldwide over the last three decades, the franchise is one of the most famous in the video game industry. Between anecdotes, excerpts from interviews, artwork, and design documents, immerse yourself in the singular universe of the famous little blue robot!
You can find the Xbox One version here and the PlayStation 4 version here, each available now for pre-order at a price of $69.45 USD/59,90 € (down from the normal price of $75.25/64,90 €, which may take effect once the game is released).
It might be worth noting that this seems to exclusively feature the PAL versions of the game, though a quick check on Google notes that you should have minimal difficulty playing this on any version of the consoles, as they're region-free (Sony does recommend sticking to the same region for "best performance," however). If I'm mistaken on this, feel free to make a note in the comments below!
Source: Capcom UK, via Push Square


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This post was sponsored by UncommonGoods. All opinions and content are my own.
In case you missed the memo, my family and I are getting ready to move. Which has got me thinking about all they fun ways I want to decorate our new home. I fell down a rabbit hole on the UncommonGoods website and their super cute decor items and decided to share a list of my top 10 favorite unique housewarming gifts. Because, who can pick just one? Aren't they adorable?
Also, 50% of them are made by hand. UncommonGoods has made it their mission to support and provide a platform for artists and designers. Pretty cool.
State magnetic key holder
Obviously, this would need to be the best state ever (ahem. California)
Footprint in the sand welcome mat
Love this. It reminds me of Hawaii and would make a front porch feel casual and inviting.
Garden Cairn
I love relaxing and zen this sculpture is, it makes me want to sit cross-legged and meditate. Plus, it would totally keep my kids occupied for a good 10 minutes as they tried to take it apart.
Bird and Bloome US Map Pillow
I fell in love with this pillow the moment I saw it. It's the first thing that caught my eye on the UncommonGoods website.
Loop de loop bowl
Such a pretty and functional way to display the never ending pile of fruit in our house. I'm still trying to figure out how my kids pack away so much fruit in a day.
Just for the record Pillow
I love how cute and fun this pillow is. You can almost miss the "I love you" at the bottom. It just quietly waits for you to notice. 🙂
Reclaimed Wine Barrel Serving Tray
We don't currently own a serving tray and we totally need this so the kids can bring my breakfast in bed. 😉
Zen Frog Garden Sculpture
If you have ever been to our house, you know that my husband and I collect frogs for our garden. Enough said.
Venn Diagram Serving Platter
My plan in our new house is to entertain more. So, of course I need this adorable serving platter. I like that it holds a lot of dip, because dip is very important to me.
Fur and Flowers Cat Doormat
We don't even have a cat anymore, but I just love how bright and vibrant the colors are on this doormat. It's very warm and inviting. You can find more fun and welcoming doormats here.


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The Girls Track team opened the outdoor season with a nice win last night as easily came out on top of both Lebanon and Speedway. With first place finishes in nearly every event the girls have put up some impressive performances already. A few highlights include sprinters Joy Sopitan finishing 1st in the 100m dash, Lizzie Daniels 1st in the 200m dash, and Michaela Barrett 1st in the 400m dash. Courtney Stull and Shanti Gregg both took wins in the 100m and 300m hurdle races. Senior Allison Hering started her season by cruising to a win in the 800m run. Distance runner Anna Boone had a terrific finish down the last straight edging out the competition by less than 1 second. Sophomore Emily Truax ran a great last lap to pick up 1st in the 2 mile. In field events Claire Hathaway continued to roll in the long jump as she placed 1st overall and Mackenzie Harless not only won, but grabbed a new personal best in the high jump by clearing 5' 2"!
The Boys' track and field team honored 11 seniors Tuesday night and took home the victory against Lebanon and Speedway with a final score of 97-31-23. Winners taking first and second place for the Bulldogs included: Eli Johnson and Corey Griffen in the high jump, Devin Humes and Reis Thomas in the shot put, Devin Dumes and Kaiden Warren in the discus, Justin Garnett and Hunter Weaver in the pole vault, Corey Griffen and Reis Thomas in long jump, Levi Wilbur and Christian Hammerly in the mile, Corey Griffen and Shane Bonness in the 300 hurdles, Hari and Devon Boone in the 800, Marcus Fierek and Elijah Wagner in the 3200 run, and winning the 110 hurdles was Jaylon Keith and Tyler Kirtz took first in the 200 meters. Thank you to seniors Toks Akinribade, Tyler Kirtz, Hari Sathymurthy, Devon Boone, Ryan Miller, Levi Wilbur, Marcus Fierek, Isaiah Craddick, Elijah Wagner and Shane Bonness for your dedication to our program!


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Coming to America/
"Bam!" Oh %#@!! Here we go again. Déjà vu. The headstay on the roller furl broke and it all came crashing down—again, the third time in three years. A year earlier we were off the coast of Brazil, under a light wind, when a part gave way on the bottom furling drum that was anchored by the turnbuckle on the deck. This time it turned out to be a stainless steel plate at the top of the mast. Again, the whole genoa and heavy tubes crashed into the water. The extra wrinkle this time, though, was that Michel was doubly handicapped: first with his hernia, and then in the panic of trying to lower the sail as it was wildly flailing about, his arm got severely whacked by the winch handle on the mast. At first we weren't sure if his arm was broken or not since he was in a lot of pain and couldn't do much. Initially I had to go it alone. This all happened at 8:00 a.m. and by 4:00 p.m. we had finally inched the last bit of sail and tube onto the deck by hand. The heap, now on our deck, weighed tons, especially because the sail was thoroughly soaked. Final damage assessment: ripped sail, a few bent tubes, broken headpiece attachment for the mast. We knew the scenario: jury-rig the forestay, get into port, see about repairs. So hailed our arrival in Fort de France, Martinique.
Martinique was another kind of France, very different from the French Guiana version we had left a week earlier. Whereas French Guiana was dominated by its penal history, the Amazon jungle, and jousting current-day forces that tried to maintain or upset a balance of the indigenous tribal heritages, Martinique was France "en vacances"! Along with its sister islands Guadeloupe, St. Barth, St. Martin, and other smaller Caribbean French tropical enclaves, Martinique was a winter playground for motherland France, for those who came from the "metropole" to escape the winter doldrums.
Indeed there was a different vibe here. Yachties weren't here to work. They were touring the Caribbean, enjoying anchorages, beaches, the sun. And the yachty population was very international. We began to run into some American cruisers and most notably also a few families. It was one of the first times that Sean and Brendan interacted in English with fellow kids on a boat. Although Martinique was definitely "touristy," the local population was pleasant and helpful. We got our repairs underway and consulted a doctor for Michel's hernia. Due to a prescribed downtime of at least two months following such an operation, it wasn't going to be feasible for us to take care of the problem here. The summer hurricane season was imminent and we weren't keen on being at anchor should such weather come up while Michel was in a compromised physical condition, convalescing. So on to plan B: a more direct route to Florida and a longer stay there than originally planned.
This is when we were thankful that we had the foresight to begin the process for Michel's residency "green card" application for the States before we left France. The file was on hold at the U.S. Consulate in Bordeaux, ready to be sent to another U.S. consulate wherever we happened to be, upon a simple request. It was a simpler process in those days of the 1980s, and within a week, the diplomatic services had transferred Michel's file to the U.S. consulate in Fort de France. A few interviews, more paperwork, and voilà, he was granted a green card in short order. A preliminary visa was stamped into his passport with instructions that his final residency card would be issued to him upon our clearing immigration in Port Canaveral, Florida.
Thanks to some "friends-of-friends" and former office colleagues of Michel's in Cayenne, we were wined and dined and invited along to see some of the sights of Martinique before we lifted anchor to continue our journey north. We made one last stop in Martinique in the picturesque town of St. Pierre that been devastated by a catastrophic volcanic eruption of Mt. Pelée in 1902. Entire fleets anchored in the harbor at the time also sank, many of which were still underwater.
Michel was becoming more and more uncomfortable due to his hernia, so we decided that we needed to amble up to Florida sooner than later, targeting lesser towns and anchorages so we could slip under the radar of customs and immigrations officials to avoid the tedious officialdom for each island for just one-night stays. Then what began as a pleasant evening anchorage at the island of Dominica, quickly turned into a nightmare (see vignette Off Goes the Wedding Ring, posted July 19, 2011) as our anchor dragged, and a series of mishaps rendered Michel wounded with a bloodied swollen hand and broken finger, and a sudden unscripted all-night sail to the small islands of Les Saintes. A doctor in Les Saintes the next morning patched him up, but now Michel was really hobbling along. Nonetheless, we were able to continue making single night stops up through Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Kitts, St. Barthelemy (aka "St. Barth"), and finally the dual French/Dutch island of St. Martin (where we discovered from the young couple anchored nearby that the vessel they captained belonged to Bob Dylan; he wasn't on board).
After a quick month and-a-half of scooting up the islands, we bid goodbye to these tropics, and sailed out of St. Martin for Port Canaveral, across the Bermuda Triangle. I was apprehensive. Not for the Bermuda Triangle, but for our sailing under less-than-ideal conditions since the roller furl and forestay held thanks to a makeshift repair (not being able to find or make thoroughly satisfactory parts in Martinique), and Michel was physically compromised with his hernia and now broken finger. I wasn't reassured should we encounter some bad weather. As it was, we only had a few annoying days of beating into some light headwinds—not too nasty.
Not far off the coast of South Florida, we passed a sailboat, and contacted them by VHF radio, much like we usually did with cargoes. They were headed to the Virgin Islands, having left Melbourne, Florida, near Port Canaveral, they said. We exchanged weather forecast info, and obtained some local information about this upcoming landfall port, since they knew it well. Then, quite reminiscent of our blind date meeting with the cargo captain in Buenos Aires, we were having dinner two years later on Cowabunga with John, a young man we had hired to do some carpentry work onboard, when we all discovered that we had already met on the high seas off the coast of South Florida two years prior. John was on that sailboat headed to the Virgin Islands! Now he lived just a mile or so down the road from our anchorage in the Banana River in the Intracoastal Waterway near Melbourne.
Deep in the night of June 22, 1985, we spotted the blinking beams of the Port Canaveral lighthouse. Sunrise the next morning revealed a seemingly virgin coastline graced with white sand and low-lying foliage. Then the sudden incongruent images of launch pads jarred the skyline accompanied by the hulking Vehicle Assembly Building of the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. After three years, the west coasts of Spain and Portugal, Africa, the length of South America, and the West Indies, we had come to America.


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NEW ORLEANS—The increasing influence of artificial intelligence in everyday life raises ongoing questions about public trust, industry experts said Wednesday at the Collision Conference.
While intelligence demonstrated by machines—better known as AI—represents the future of modern society, it remains flawed.
"Companies know so much about us, more than we would want to know really," Paul Asel, managing partner of NGP Capital, told AVN Wednesday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
A global technology investor for more than 25 years, Asel is one of dozens of venture capitalists participating in the fifth annual gathering expected to draw more than 25,000 attendees from 120 different countries as the show continues through Thursday.
"What it really comes down to is these companies establishing a trusted relationship with us," said Asel, who has been engaged in acquisitions and IPOs valued at more than $25 billion and is currently focused on investments in the mobile, internet of things (IOT), automobile and AI sectors. "An example of this is I'm investing in a company called Zubie that puts tracking devices in cars so they can tell where you're driving and how you're driving.
"And the wife said, 'I don't want that in my car. The car knows everything that I'm doing.' I said, 'Well don't you realize that the Apple phone in your pocket knows that already?' She said, 'Oh, but that's different.'"
Asel continued, "How is it different? The Apple phone knows a lot more and is a lot more intelligent device than that device in the car. The difference is the Apple phone provides some utility to you. So we allow it to do many more things that we wouldn't permit others to do. Think of it this way: if you knew everything that Apple and Google knew about you, is that information that you would share with your best friend? Would you share it with your co-worker? Would you share it with your classmate? Chances are you wouldn't. And they know that much about us."
In one of the featured sessions of Collision's Growth Summit, Asel moderated a special panel with the heads of three of the world's fastest growing AI companies.
The entrepreneur, who first invested in AI five years ago with WorkFusion, said today "literally thousands" of companies engineer AI technology, which has been around for decades but is accelerating at breakneck speed.
The major difference between now and the old days of AI, according to panelist Jean-François Gagné, the co-founder and CEO of Element AI, is that "today it works."
"I remember not that long ago trying to get some of the main approaches to work on some of the significant data sets and we couldn't figure out how to get it to the right level of accuracy or the amount of effort required, which is insane," said Gagné, whose 18-month-old company is based in Montreal and Toronto and employs 300—80 of which have Ph.D.'s in AI.
"You could get two or three steps of a process to work but then there's one step in the middle that needed to be done by people. But at this point now you can basically have the whole thing piloted by AI and supported by people."
Eamon Jubbawy co-founded Onfido, which uses machine learning to help businesses verify the identify of their customers without meeting them face to face. Backed by $60 million in funding, his client portfolio includes more than 1500 businesses and counting.
"We founded the business six years ago and at the time there were definitely people with the required skill sets but it was difficult to get a hold of them," Jubbawy said. "Now there is a bit of a hype with lots of people talking about [AI] that don't necessarily understand the nuances, but that hype has definitely increased these meet-ups and places where you can meet Ph.D's and AI researchers. The glut of universities churning out good top-quality AI talent has now made it easier for businesses to start recruiting and building teams to deliver on these converging trends."
Vishal Chatrath, co-founder and CEO of PROWLER.io, said the rapid rise of AI, which is programmed to make human decisions, will not wipe out the workforce as we know it.
"Will there be a shifting of jobs? For sure. That's just the history," said Chatrath, whose 85-person company is based in Cambridge, England. "But at the same time I don't know of a single moment in human history that any disruptive technology has resulted in mass unemployment. It's never happened. And I'm not sure it's going to happen here."
Element AI CEO Gagné added, "The way I'd like to present this is AI is actually aiding software. It's a new way to program. We used to program every single condition. If we see this, then you do that, et cetera, et cetera, and you use a lot of manpower to do that—to encode all the conditions.
"Now through experience that happens to be done through data sets that we build. We can teach an algorithm to discover these conditions and by rewarding or penalizing this algorithm we can steer it towards the objectives we have. But it's software at the end. So yes it adapts and it learns and it is a fundamental shift in how we're engaging with machines around us, but at the end it's doing more of the same things we've been doing. At some point a lot more begins to feel different. But it's the same path we've been on for many, many years that is just picking up speed and accelerating."
There are many things that machines still can't do, noted Onfido's Jubbawy.
"For us it's less about who does what," Jubbawy reasoned. "It's more about what does the customer want at the end of the day? So when we're selling into businesses we don't talk about AI vs. humans; we just talk about the problems they have. And on our end we go away and try to solve them the best way possible.
"So when you're looking at image recognition and document verification for example, there's certain elements which we skew more machine side and there's certain elements which we still retain humans to provide a level of expertise that machines can't get to now.
"The idea of machines replacing humans is not necessarily accurate; it's just changing the nature of the jobs that humans are doing."
On the topic of privacy, Jubbawy said it must be achieved "by design."
"Privacy lives in your code. It's not something you talk about in the office; it's something that has to be built from the ground up," according to Jubbawy.
The effects of drama on social media platforms are also informing the future of AI, according to one seasoned researcher who has been tracking it for a living.
The New Orleans native Caroline Sinders, a machine learning designer and digital anthropologist, studies "conversational spaces" on digital platforms such as Twitter.
"Everything you do online is a form of data," said Sinders, who delivered a solo presentation titled "Building and communicating with responsible AI" on the Binate.io stage.
"That data is human output. Any kind of altercation you have on the internet is actually a form of trauma. That trauma is caught as data."
Sinders told the audience she works at the intersection of social media, language and sub-cultures. She has spent the past two years studying online harassment and political activism on social media and is currently an Eyebeam Open Labs fellow, prototyping a machine learning system to combat online harassment.
"What I find really fascinating, especially in light of the Cambridge Analytica leaks as well as Mark Zuckerberg being in front of the House and Senate, is how much of that data actually is now being used [in AI applications]," she added.
"What I find most fascinating about machine learning though is how it can be somewhat fallible especially with algorithms. … Machine learning can be subjective depending on the kinds of questions that you're asking."
Sinders offered the example of so-called "resting bitch face," which is when a person unintentionally looks angry or annoyed when their face is expressionless.
"How many of you know what 'resting bitch face' is? How many of you have it?" Sinders asked. "You can be extremely happy and look extremely pissed off. Part of the problem with this is it's important to highlight how many of us are actually in an everyday scenario expressing our truth.
"Who gets to determine what happiness looks like? Who knows what happiness looks like if you have resting bitch face? How can someone see if you're scared if you're smiling?"
She said reading emotions is an area where AI technology inherently falls short.
NGP Capital's Asel, who sits on the Boards of Gigwalk, WorkFusion and Zubie and formerly was responsible for tech investments in Asia at the International Finance Corporation, said as long as AI is beneficial it's a net positive.
"Yes the systems are becoming very intelligent and they're also becoming more seductive," Asel said. "So we need to exercise care."
He said companies such as Amazon that use AI extensively to customize repeat browsing experiences are not doing anything wrong.
"Amazon has been doing that for years and it's a feature that I really enjoy. When I go on there I know it's going to give me selections that are relevant to me," Asel said.
"What they're doing is taking information about us and they're personalizing recommendations but they're doing it on a very statistical and aggregated basis. So in that sense they can see deviations in behavior that would suggest certain things you would prefer and they're trying to get you information that is beneficial to you."
Collision continues Thursday with featured speakers such as Brad Smith, president of Microsoft; activist and actress, Sophia Bush; and actor/comedian Damon Wayans Jr.
For additional coverage of Collision 2018, click here.
Pictured above from left: Jean-François Gagné, Vishal Chatrath, Eamon Jubbawy and Paul Asel.
From left: Tristan Harris (Center for Humane Technology), Jim Steyer (Common Sense Media) and Alyssa Newcomb (NBC News) at the "How tech has us hooked" panel.
Caroline Sinders discusses "Building and communicating with responsible AI."
Written by: Dan Miller
Originally published on: https://avn.com/business/articles/technology/collision-conference-spotlights-artificial-intelligence-2-775043.htmlTags: Dan Miller


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You Have To Start Somewhere
My first real music job in Hollywood was as an engineer at Hollywood Sound Recorders. Record producer, Jesse Hodges, had purchased the studio. He was working with me as a singer but I was quickly realizing that I might not become the next rock superstar. He asked me if I wanted to help him open the studio. I figured it would be a great place to advance my career. Had I stayed with it, my career might have been drastically different. Hollywood Sound became one of the legendary Hollywood studios and with engineers (brother) Tom Perry and John Guess churned out gold and platinum records like candy.
I was hooked from day one on the production side of the business. I put in a year at the studio and decided to go out on my own when a client, Vivian Roberts, hired me to produce a record for her. Jesse told me I was making a big mistake. He had tried to secure a record deal for Vivian and had failed. He told me as a new producer without contacts in the industry and an artist who had been turned down by major companies, that I was setting myself up for failure. He was absolutely right...I went ahead anyway.
I had mixed some song "demos" for legendary writer/producer/record executive, John Marascalco. John had written early Little Richard hits: "Good Golly Miss Molly", "Rip it Up", "Ready Teddy" as well as classics such as: "Goodnight My Love" and "Send Me Some Lovin' ". The singer John used for the demos was a singer who blew me away with his talent. His name was Harry. Harry was working at a bank at night so he could keep his days free to pursue his career.
I called John and asked him if he had a song that I could record with Vivian and he sent me over a song he had written with Harry called "So Proud Of You". It was perfect for her. We recorded it and John helped us get a deal with independent label/distributor, Vault Records. Harry called and thanked me for recording the song and told me I did a great job. That meant a lot to me...even more so later.
We didn't quite make history with the record. It received some local air play and Vivian did a few local TV shows but in the end it just didn't take off. We did another session with Vivian but her heart wasn't in it. After trying for so long to land a deal and working so hard to promote "Proud", she just decided to move on and spend time with her family.
As for me, I had a start. I had made a deal with my first independent production. John Marascalco was still a legend and Harry was Harry Nillson. A few years later he won a Grammy for vocal of the year for his single "Everybody's Talkin" from the movie "Midnight Cowboy", one of the many milestones from a brilliant career. In a press conference in 1968 when John Lennon and Paul McCartney introduced their Apple Records, John was asked who his favorite American artist was. He answered, "Nillson". Paul was then asked who his favorite American group was. "Nillson" was his answer...and Harry had called to thank me for recording that early song!
You have to start somewhere and it sure wasn't a bad place to start.


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In all of my Sharpe novel reviews I have made mention of the heroin and love interest of the tale, the Sharpegirl. In the same vain of a Bondgirl, their early 19th century equivalent are typically beautiful and love struck by Sharpe, sleeping with him in the end. Most of the time they're rescued by Sharpe or play a villains role, but usually the Sharpegirl plays a pivotal role in the story all the same. So here is a list of all the leading ladies in the Sharpe novels.
(contains spoilers)
Mary Bickerstaff (Sharpe's Tiger)
The widow of Sgt. Jem Bickerstaff of Sharpe's regiment, the 33rd, Mary Bickerstaff is also half-English and half-Indian. She had few prospects in life but to marry an English army man but with her husband deceased Mary becomes attached to Sharpe. She later re-marries to a commander in Mysore.
Simone Joubert (Sharpe's Triumph)
The wife of a French captain working for the Maratha Confederacy as an advisor, she is rescued by Sharpe from sepoys in Ahmednuggur and later sleeps with him. When her husband is killed at Assaye Simone steals some of Sharpe's jewels and flees to America.
Claire Wall (Sharpe's Fortress)
A widower indebted to Cap. Torrance, Claire befriends Sharpe after he rescues her from Torrance. They briefly become lovers but she instead marries Sgt. Eli Lockhart of the 19th Prince of Wales' Own Dragoons.
Lady Grace Hale (Sharpe's Trafalgar)
An aristocrat married to political aspirant and former Governor of Bombay, Lord William Hale, Lady Grace falls for Sharpe aboard the Pucelle when he saves her from a Frenchman. Sharpe genuinely falls in love with her but Lady Grace dies in childbirth.
Astrid Skovgaard (Sharpe's Prey)
The daughter of a Danish spy working for Britain, she briefly becomes a lover of Sharpe's while Copenhagen is under siege. She later has her throat cut by Lord Pumpfrey for "knowing too much."
Louisa Parker (Sharpe's Rifles, Sharpe's Devil)
The niece of two Methodists travelling through Spain trying to convert the locals, Louisa runs away and winds up mixing herself with Sharpe and the 95th. Despite Sharpe's attentions Louisa opts to marry Blas Vivar and becomes the Countess of Mouromorto. Louisa returns in Sharpe's Devil to enlist Sharpe's help in rescuing her husband, missing in Chile.
Kate Savage (Sharpe's Prey)
A daughter of English wine merchants in Porto stuck behind enemy lines. Sharpe is tasked to find her but runs afoul of her traitorous husband. They do not become lovers, interestingly. She later marries Cap. Jorge Vicente.
Josefina Lacosta (Sharpe's Eagle, Sharpe's Gold, Sharpe's Enemy)
The wife of a Portuguese noblewoman left behind after her husband abandoned her and escaped to Brazil. While travelling with the army she is raped by Lt. Christian Gibbons and Lt. John Berry, Sharpe saves her and they becomes brief lovers. Josefina instead chooses to go with the richer Cap. Claude Hardy of the 19th Dragoons. Josefina later "marries" Lord Farthingdale, in reality he is paying her to be his faux-wife, and is then taken prisoner by Hakeswill. Sharpe saves her but they never see each other again.
Portrayed by Katia Caballero and Elizabeth Hurley
Teresa Moreno (Sharpe's Gold, Sharpe's Company, Sharpe's Sword, Sharpe's Enemy)
Sharpe's first wife. Teresa first appears as the daughter of a partisan leader about to married off to El Católico, but when Sharpe takes her hostage they soon fall for each other. They have an on-off relationship from 1810 to 1812. Teresa also gives birth to Sharpe's daughter, Antonia, who is put in direct danger by being looked after in the town the British are about to siege (Badajoz). Their distanced relationship leads to Sharpe at least twice being unfaithful, but Teresa is still there to tend to his wounds when he is nearly killed at Salamanca. Teresa is murdered by Hakeswill.
Portrayed by Assumpta Serna
Sarah Fry (Sharpe's Escape)
An English governess tutoring the children of villain Maj. Pedro Ferreira. Sarah is stranded in Coimbra and later locked up with Sharpe, Harper and Vicente by Ferreira's brother, the criminal Ferragus. They share a romantic moment or two in an underground Roman-era sewer. Sarah then assists in Sharpe leading an escape from death and a successful retreat to British lines.
Doña Juanita de Elía (Sharpe's Battle)
A troublemaking partisan working for Spain, Britain and France. She is the lover of both the villain Guy Loup and Lord Kiely. Doña Juanita attempts to incite a mutiny by distributing fake newspapers detailing false brutality by English soldiers against the Irish amongst the mostly Irish company Sharpe is sent to train. After sleeping with her Sharpe lets her escape, much to Hogan's annoyance.
Portrayed by Siri Neal
Hélène Leroux, la Marquesa de Casares el Grande y Melida Sadaba (Sharpe's Sword and Sharpe's Honour)
The beautiful French noblewoman married to aristocratic Spanish general, also the sister of the villain Col. Philippe Leroux. La Marquesa is also a French spy but is stranded in Spain following Wellington's victory at Salamanca, where she elicits a rather steamy affair with Sharpe. She is then unwittingly used by Sharpe's other nemesis, spymaster Maj. Pierre Ducos, in a plot to bring Sharpe down. However Sharpe eventually learns the truth and escapes with la Marquesa's fortune, but without the girl.
Portrayed by Alice Krige
Jane Gibbons (Sharpe's Regiment, Sharpe's Siege, Sharpe's Revenge, Sharpe's Waterloo)
The young niece of Sharpe's third enemy, Sir Henry Simmerson, and sister of Christian Gibbons. She falls for Sharpe after he recues her from her uncle, and they marry late in 1813 (around a year after Teresa's death). Their relationship soon turns sour as Jane returns to England after an argument about Sharpe's further soldiering following Napoleon's defeat in 1814. There, she begins an affair with Lord John Rossendale and spends the bulk of Sharpe's fortune that he had amassed over the years. Jane is pregnant by Rossendale during the Battle of Waterloo, but her life after Waterloo is unknown.
Portrayed by Abigal Cruttenden
Lady Anne Camoynes (Sharpe's Regiment)
Forced into prostitution to pay off the debts of her dead husband, Lady Anne is beautiful and ruthless. She uses Sharpe to rid herself of Lord Fenner and the rest of her debt repayments, but also sleeps with Sharpe twice as payment for her finding information out for him.
Portrayed by Caroline Langrishe
Lucille Castineau (Sharpe's Revenge, Sharpe's Waterloo, Sharpe's Devil)
Sharpe's third and final wife. Lucille first meets Sharpe by shooting him, thinking he was the one responsible for her brothers death. As Lucille tends to his wounds they soon fall for each other but are unable to marry as Sharpe could not afford a divorce from Jane. They become companions for the rest of their lives. Sharpe and Lucille have two children together – Dominique and Patrick-Henri, whom remarks in one of the Starbuck novels that his mother is very lonely, so Sharpe had probably died by then (1861).
Portrayed by Cecile Paoli


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Uganda Gorilla Safari
Explore the Pearl of Africa
On this 10-night Uganda gorilla safari, you will experience more than just game drives in East Africa. You also have the opportunity to see firsthand the incredible beauty of the Kibale National Park and the Queen Elizabeth National Park. From the volcanic crater lakes to the exotic Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, this is a safari that will dazzle your senses.
Suggested Itinerary-at-a-glance:
- Day 1:
Arrive Entebbe/Kampala / Lake Victoria Serena Hotel
- Day 2:
Kibale National Park / Crater Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
- Day 3:
Kibale National Park / Crater Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
- Day 4:
Queen Elizabeth National Park / Kyambura Game Lodge (B,L,D)
- Day 5:
Queen Elizabeth National Park / Kyambura Game Lodge (B,L,D)
- Day 6:
Queen Elizabeth National Park / Ishasha Wilderness Camp (B,L,D)
- Day 7:
Queen Elizabeth National Park / Ishasha Wilderness Camp (B,L,D)
- Day 8:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park / Gorilla Forest Camp (B,L,D)
- Day 9:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park / Gorilla Forest Camp (B,L,D)
- Day 10:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park / Gorilla Forest Camp (B,L,D)
- Day 11:
Entebbe / Departure (B)
Itinerary Description:
The wonder of Uganda, the "Pearl of Africa," awaits the discerning traveler on this fantastic Uganda gorilla safari itinerary, featuring amazing national parks and wonderful accommodations. After a night of rest in Kampala, head toward Kibale National Park and your low-profile cottage at Crater Safari Lodge. Situated on the edge of a crater lake and a short drive away from Kibale, the lodge is your gateway to chimpanzee trekking in the national park. The region offers a wealth of flora and fauna, including over 300 species of birds and 13 species of primates; it is most famous for the large population of chimpanzees. Trek through the habituated community nearby and explore the diversity of the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
Move on to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kyambura Game Lodge, perched on the edge of the savannah grasslands of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Find fantastic views as far as the eye can see over the park, the Rift Valley escarpment, and the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. This is an excellent game viewing location, and the area offers some of the best bird watching in all of East Africa. While you are here, enjoy game drives and a boat ride along the hippo- and crocodile-crowded banks of the Kazinga Channel.
Continue your exploration of Queen Elizabeth National Park at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, situated inside the Southern Ishasha sector of the park on the Ntungwe River, providing exciting animal encounters close to the tents. Venture on game drives to explore the area's different species, especially the region's famous tree climbing lions which can usually be spotted resting in the branches of large fig trees nearby.
Conclude your adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you will spend several nights at the incredible Gorilla Forest Camp. This is Uganda gorilla safari country: discover the mountain gorillas that call this forest home, as well as almost 350 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, and over 300 species of trees. Trek the forest with your expert guide to visit the habituated gorilla groups, one of the most memorable experiences you can have on safari, thus ending the journey with a sense of fulfillment and discovery.
Customize This Journey
Choose additional countries and destinations, change property selections, add activities, tours, and more. With Ker & Downey, the choice is yours – just ask your travel expert!


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After having my daughter, my body did a 180. I expected this but I didn't expect to really just not feel like myself for so damn long afterwards. Once she turned a year old, I thought to myself "ok…..you should be over this by now." It was a very confusing time for me. Mentally, I felt stronger than ever. I grew, nourished, and birthed this beautiful child. I have always thought of mothers as sexy and powerful beings and once I became one, I thought the same of myself. I deserve to feel that. We all do. It was more how I fit into clothes that bothered me. I literally didn't know what to do with this new body of mine. I didn't know how to dress my mom bod in a way that flattered me and caressed me the way that every woman is entitled to.
Once I got desperate enough, I called up my friend Sonu. She recently just started up a passion driven side job that I knew would lift my spirits. Her job title within her company "House of Nayna" includes but is not limited to: a fashion advisor, personal shopper, stylist, and master of high fashion at a low cost. Just one outing with her made a world of a difference. She showed me my mistakes in size choices, improved my accessory game, and gave me crucial advice on building an outfit specific to my body type. But honestly, beyond all of that, she unknowingly taught me that I am still a bombshell and I deserve to both look and feel it.
This experience influenced a few other moments that made me cleanse any negative feelings that I had in relation to my appearance. So for those who may feel a little extra uncomfortable in their bodies, I have some therapeutic tips for you in hopes to find your way back to confidence.
Every last god damn piece that you do not wear. It needs to go. All of those "but maybe it'll fit again one day" items that are collecting dust are being donated. Here's the thing. By the time these clothes do fit again, they either won't fit you like you like they used to or you'll most likely have outgrown the style anyway. Not to mention they are harboring negative feelings. Any pile that is labeled "but maybe they'll fit again one day" isn't the most encouraging of thoughts to have in our lives. Any items that do fit but you have not worn in the past 6 months also need to go. You are not wearing them for a reason. You may not know what that reason is but at this point it doesn't matter, they are clearly not serving you. This process is extremely healing because you are literally letting go of the past here. From this point on, we focus on the beauty of the present.
Bonus: Donating that enormous load of clothing to a shelter full of those in need will make you feel deliriously happy.
Now that you've made plenty of room in your closet for killer outfits that will fit you now…it's time to replenish. I realize that post-holidays make for some tighter than usual budgets but you must at least treat yourself to one outfit. If you are anything like I was before my personal shopping experience which is lost as all hell, don't worry I'm passing along some professional advice I gained from my fashion advisor, Sonu.
When it comes to shopping & dressing for our body types, here are some things we can try:
- Shop for the size we are now. Wearing a size down hoping weight loss is somewhere in the near future only makes us looks us larger. It also so happens that wearing items that are too big also make us appear larger than we really are as well (I learned this the hard way-I was the queen of buying a size up for comfort's sake). Another note as we talk about shopping for the size we currently are is to not focus on the numbers. Sizing numbers fluctuate immensely between each and every store so there is no validity in obsessing over the sizing numbers.
- Utilize the dressing rooms. I know, nobody likes those too small and dusty stalls with horrific lighting but the only way to tell whether or not something fits right is to try it on.
- Find our celebrity body type. It's about damn time that Hollywood is accepting and respecting figures of all sizes. Find a celebrity that rocks your body shape and use them as guidance and inspiration. By focusing on the fit of the clothing worn by our star we can gain information on what will also look A-list on our own bodies.
- Lastly, hire a professional. It may seem like a petty expense but it will likely just take one session to learn the basics. Friends, family, and employees of clothing stores can all be great when seeking advice but they are not always honest or educated in what suits our unique body types. I personally have no regrets and knowing that I can walk into a clothing store alone, carrying confidence is the biggest relief. My friend Sonu is excellent and also has an incredible Instagram account (@houseofnaynawpg) featuring fashion tips and tricks for all. Be sure to check her out.
We all know exercise is important. We have most likely all tried killing ourselves doing some form/s of physical activity that we despise. We are somehow convinced that the only way to be truly healthy and fit is to put ourselves through hell. This is false. For example, I personally detest running. Running on a treadmill or even jogging outside will never bring me any kind of joy. The few times that I tried to keep up with it, I ended up so miserable that I quit and stop working out altogether. Talk about inconsistent. When we do things we actually enjoy, it's not a chore. Strength training and cardio interval training is my happy place. I want to do it. I prioritize most of my days to include this type of movement because I enjoy it. It makes me feel both mentally and physically healthier, stronger, and powerful when I do. So find your thing. Yoga, Zumba, CrossFit, running, straight up twerking in your living room to rap music-whatever it is that challenges you in a positive way is enough. I promise.
Y'all knew this was coming. I know it sounds cheesy and corny and it most likely makes your eyes roll back into your head but give it a shot. We are so accustomed to focusing on the negative. It's not our fault but we are at fault for letting those outside voices influence what we think of ourselves. A woman's figure comes with so much beauty. We honestly have no idea how precious we are. We are our own worst enemies and it needs to change. We must learn to be kinder to ourselves and treat ourselves with respect. Turn the negatives into positives one day at a time, one affirmation at a time. Rehearse these affirmations aloud and with confidence several times a day. The positive repetitions will eventually start to influence how we think, feel, and live.


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Anytime I hear of The Traveling Team coming through our area I do all I can to get them in front of our Campus Outreach students. They are relevant, missional, careful, nuanced, and inspiring in all tbe right ways. They are there to serve and put together a talk or weekend retreat right-fitted to the audience and preferences of the ministry they are serving. They offer excellent follow up materials and meetings with your students and seek to influence they in ways that correspond to a students desires and maturity and the specific opportunities that particular ministry is challening its disciples towards. Sign them up. You won't be sorry.
Reid Jilek
"Every time The Traveling Team is around Minneapolis we book them. They are relevant, biblical, and winsome as they share God's heart for the world. They also provide practical next steps for students to grow in understanding their place in God's mission. The beautiful thing is that the Traveling Team comes into what you are already doing and tailor what they do to your setting. They have done a missions night for us, spoke at a weekly meeting, and even had dinner with our team before the presentation. The Traveling Team staff has either been overseas or are about to go overseas, and spend a year mobilizing students outside of that. I am so thankful for The Traveling Team and how they keep missions and the world in front of our students."
Reid Jilek, Campus Outreach Area Director, MN
Jake Mlsna
"There is something powerful about our students hearing about God's heart for the world from someone other than our staff. The Traveling Team does such a good job using Scripture to paint the picture of God's heart for the world and the part we as believers are able to play in the story. Anytime they are in the area we say yes to having them come because it is such an important message and they communicate it with passion and clarity."
Jake Mlsna, Southern Minnesota Cru
Luke Olson
The Traveling Team provides a high quality presentation that jolts students into an awareness of God's global mission. I love watching students wrestle with where they fit into that mission, and I appreciate The Traveling Team's partnership in the gospel as we serve University students together! I strongly commend their work to anyone who works with students and wants to see them grow into globally aware, missionally engaged adults!
Luke Olson, Intervaristy, U Minnesota - Duluth
Aaron Miatke
Solid apologetics and practical challenge for mobilizing students to get involved in reaching the nations!
Aaron Miatke, Cru Director, Greater Twin Ports Cru
Daniel Olsen
"Don't underestimate how strategic an outside voice can be. The Traveling Team is professional, polished, and they're great to work with. They bring a powerful and practical message of God's heart for the world that, if you leverage it, will change the trajectory of your student's lives."