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Bakery on Main Rainforest Granola (GF) - 6 x 12 ozs.
Regular price
Rainforest Granola (GF)
Bakery on Main Gourmet Naturals Gluten Free Rainforest Granola. Good Things Come From Small Batches! Trans Fat Free. Dairy Free. Gluten & Wheat Free. Cholesterol Free. Low in Saturated Fat. Low in Sodium. Casein Free.
Start your day with a nutritious bowl of our delicious Gluten Free Granola or... Sprinkle on Yogurt or Ice Cream. A Great Energy Snack by itself!
Welcome to Bakery on Main. It all started in the bakery of our natural foods market on Main Street in Glastonbury Connecticut. Since 1992 we have taken the highest quality natural ingredients and crafted them with care into culinary marvels for our friends and customers. By remembering the earliest secrets of our success, our reputation for producing hand-crafted quality has been maintained to this day. Hence, our motto: Good Things Come from Small Batches.
Our passion for great taste and commitment to good health has led us to create the Bakery on Main Gourmet Naturals line of Premium Gluten Free Granola. Gourmet Naturals means food that is good for you that tastes like it isn't. That's what we're all about -- better health and happy taste buds living together in harmony.
We hope you love our products as much as we love creating them for you. Thank you! ~ Michael Smulders, Founder
INGREDIENTS: Corn Flour, Water, Evaporated Cane Juice, Rice Flour, Rice Bran, Raisin Juice Concentrate, Honey, Salt, Non-GMO Canola Oil, Sunflower Seeds, Brazil Nuts, Banana, Sesame Seed, Flax Seed, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt.
CONTAINS: Tree Nuts, Sesame Seeds and Sunflower Seeds. Manufactured on equipment that also processes milk proteins, eggs, and peanuts. May contain nut shell fragments.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 2 oz. (57 g)
Servings Per Container: 6
Nutrient Amount %DV
Calories 250
Calories from Fat 100
Total Fat 12 g 18%
Saturated Fat 1.5 g 6%
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 45 mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 34 g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2 g 8%
Sugars 9 g
Protein 4 g
Vitamin A 2%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 4%
Iron 8%
- Resealable bag.


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Adversity is the fourteenth in the Bright Shadows series of interactive videos which explores Jonathan Edwards' notebook "Images of Divine Things." The clickable elements that occasionally appear contain comments and links to entries in Edwards' notebook.
The Bright Shadows series is under active development with more videos on the way. View a showcase of the current videos .

subset: commoncrawl


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This image has format transparent PNG with resolution 300x223.
You can download this image in best resolution from this page and use it for design and web design.
earthworm worm PNG with transparent background you can download for free, just click on download button.
An earthworm is a tube-shaped, segmented worm found in the phylum Annelida. Earthworms are commonly found living in soil, feeding on live and dead organic matter. An earthworm's digestive system runs through the length of its body. It conducts respiration through its skin. It has a double transport system composed of coelomic fluid that moves within the fluid-filled coelom and a simple, closed blood circulatory system. It has a central and a peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of two ganglia above the mouth, one on either side, connected to a nerve cord running back along its length to motor neurons and sensory cells in each segment. Large numbers of chemoreceptors are concentrated near its mouth. Circumferential and longitudinal muscles on the periphery of each segment enable the worm to move. Similar sets of muscles line the gut, and their actions move the digesting food toward the worm's anus.
Earthworms are hermaphrodites: each individual carries both male and female sex organs. As invertebrates, they lack either an internal skeleton or exoskeleton, but maintain their structure with fluid-filled coelom chambers that function as a hydrostatic skeleton.
"Earthworm" is the common name for the largest members of Oligochaeta (which is either a class or a subclass depending on the author). In classical systems, they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening posterior to the female pores, though the internal male segments are anterior to the female. Theoretical cladistic studies have placed them, instead, in the suborder Lumbricina of the order Haplotaxida, but this may again soon change. Folk names for the earthworm include "dew-worm", "rainworm", "night crawler", and "angleworm" (due to its use as fishing bait).
Larger terrestrial earthworms are also called megadriles (which translates to "big worms"), as opposed to the microdriles ("small worms") in the semiaquatic families Tubificidae, Lumbricidae, and Enchytraeidae, among others. The megadriles are characterized by having a distinct clitellum (which is more extensive than that of microdriles) and a vascular system with true capillaries.
Earthworms are far less abundant in disturbed environments and are typically active only if water is present.
In this page you can download free PNG images: Worms PNG images free download, worm PNG


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Around The House can provide you with a full range of professional plumbing services in North London. Our North London based plumbers will quickly and effectively repair any plumbing emergency.
All our engineers take pride in the quality of their work. The satisfaction of our customers is paramount to us. We are have many loyal clients who are happy to provide recommendations confirming that we provide high quality workmanship.
All plumbing repairs and installations conducted by our North London plumbers are fully insured. In addition all our work is covered by our comprehensive quality guarantee giving you peace of mind in every eventuality. Please Contact Us to discuss your requirements.


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Number: 112-4
Date: December 2, 2011
House Passes H.R. 527
The Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011
On December 1, 2011, the House passed H.R. 527, the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011, by a vote of 263-159. The bill would amend the process that Federal agencies use to analyze and develop new regulations. It would also require agencies to periodically determine whether existing regulations are necessary. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
H.R. 527 contains the following provisions of interest to SSA:
- Would amend the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) to define "economic impact" with respect to a proposed or final rule as any direct economic effect on small entities from such rule and any indirecteconomic effect on small entities that is reasonably forseeable resulting from such rule.
- Would require initial and final regulatory flexibility analyses to describe alternatives to proposed rules that: 1) maximize the beneficial significant economic impact on small entities or, 2) as currently required by the RFA, minimize any adverse significant economic impact on such entities.
- Would require each agency, within 3 days of Federal Register publication, to prominently display in plain language on its website a summary of information contained in its regulatory flexibility agenda.
- Would expand regulatory flexibility analyses to include descriptions of why agency action is being considered and the legal basis of such action. Would require website publication of final analyses.
- Would require, not later than 270 days following enactment of the legislation, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Chief Counsel for Advocacy to issue rules governing compliance with RFA requirements.
- Would authorize the Chief Counsel to intervene in agency adjudication of rules on small entities and inform an agency of the impact of its rulemaking.
- Would require agencies to notify the Chief Counsel prior to publication of any proposed rule, providing all information used in making the rule and information on the potential adverse and beneficial economic impacts on small entities.
- Would require, not later than 180 days after enactment of the legislation, publication of a plan in the Federal Register to review all existing and new rules that have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The review process would determine whether the rules should be continued, changed, or rescinded. Would require agencies to report annually on results of the review to Congress, the SBA Chief Counsel, and the Office of Management and Budget.
- Would provide for judicial review, including Federal appeals courts, of a final rule to ensure the rule is RFA compliant.
- Unless otherwise noted, provisions would be effective upon enactment.


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DWCC 2014 – wine is a business
What can the home of cuckoo clocks, chocolate and jazz festivals teach us about wine? Quite a lot actually, as long as you are registered and currently attending the Digital Wine Communications Conference in Montreux.
Currently Greg Lambrecht, founder of Coravin, is reminding everyone that the wine industry is a business. There needs to be an unmet need for new inventions. Greg's story started in the world of medicine which gave him a different take on wine. His entrepreneurial drive got him through tough events and he did it by focussing on the customer. Coravin is now a very successful company and a pretty natty device.


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Tino's Painting & Carpentry in Topsfield
Suppliers Catalogs & Keywords:
- Interior Painting Services in Boston
- Exterior Painting Services in Boston
- Professional House Painting Services in Boston
- Professional Painting Services Boston
- Professional Commercial Painting Boston
- Professional Kitchen Cabinets Painting Boston
- Paint Color Consulting Services Boston
- best professional residential & commercial Painting services in Boston
- Professional Painting Services in Boston
- Finished Carpentry Services in Boston
Address:Topsfield, Massachusetts, United States
Telephone number:(978) 394-7349
description:TINO'S INC. is a trusted painting and carpentry company serving the Topsfield area. With our comprehensive range of services, we cater to both commercial and residential clients, providing professional painting solutions that enhance the appearance of properties throughout the city.
Whether you seek a complete interior makeover or a fresh coat of paint for your home's exterior, our residential painting services exceed expectations and provide transformative results. Trust TINO'S INC. to deliver exceptional craftsmanship and unparalleled customer satisfaction, ensuring that your commercial or residential property in Topsfield receives the finest painting treatment it deserves.


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...one of the most highly
regarded and expertly designed C++ library projects in the
— Herb Sutter and Andrei
Alexandrescu, C++
Coding Standards
Write all of the supplied data to a stream before returning.
template< typename SyncWriteStream, typename Allocator> std::size_t write( SyncWriteStream & s, basic_streambuf< Allocator > & b, boost::system::error_code & ec);
This function is used to write a certain number of bytes of data to a stream. The call will block until one of the following conditions is true:
has been written.
This operation is implemented in terms of zero or more calls to the stream's write_some function.
The stream to which the data is to be written. The type must support the SyncWriteStream concept.
The basic_streambuf
object from
which data will be written.
Set to indicate what error occurred, if any.
The number of bytes transferred.
This overload is equivalent to calling:
boost::asio::write( s, b, boost::asio::transfer_all(), ec);


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Events at Physics |
Events on Thursday, October 11th, 2012
- R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar
- The Kondo exciton: a quantum quench towards strong spin-reservoir correlations
- Time: 10:00 am
- Place: 5310 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Hakan Tureci, Princeton University
- Abstract: When a quantum system is subjected to a quantum quench, its subsequent dynamics is governed by energy scales that become ever lower with increasing time: whereas the transient behavior right after the quench depends on high-energy excitations, the asymptotic long-time evolution is determined by low-lying excitations close to the final ground state. Thus, time- or frequency-resolved probes of the dynamics after a quantum quench offers insight into the nature of the system's eigenstates across the entire energy spectrum. We recently proposed [1] that such a quantum quench for the single-impurity Anderson Model can be induced by the sudden creation of an exciton in a quantum dot via optical absorption of an incident photon of definite frequency. The subsequent emergence of correlations between the spin degrees of freedom of the dot and a tunnel-coupled low-temperature Fermionic reservoir, ultimately leading to the Kondo effect, can be accurately mapped out through an optical absorption experiment. This experiment was recently carried out [2] with semiconductor quantum dots coupled to a degenerate electron gas, demonstrating experimentally for the first time the optical signature of Kondo correlations. I will discuss the theory behind the resulting lineshape that is found to unveil three very different dynamical regimes, corresponding to short, intermediate and long times after the initial excitation, which are in turn described by the three renormalization group fixed points of the Anderson Model. At low temperatures and just beyond the absorption threshold, the lineshape is dominated by a power-law singularity, with an exponent that is a universal function of magnetic field and gate voltage.
[1] H. E. Tureci et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 107402 (2011).
[2] C. Latta et al., Nature 474, 627 (2011). - Host: Vavilov
- NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
- Searches for Lorentz Violation in the Top Quark Sector
- Time: 2:30 pm
- Place: 4274 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Denver Whittington, Indiana University
- Abstract: Lorentz symmetry posits that the laws of physics are invariant regardless of the orientation and velocity of the reference frame in which they are measured. Violation of this symmetry can be quantified using the Standard-Model Extension (SME) framework, which predicts the effects that Lorentz violation would have on elementary particles and their interactions. This model predicts a dependence of the production cross section for top and antitop quark pairs on sidereal time as the orientation of the experiment changes with the rotation of the Earth. In this talk I will present the results of a search for Lorentz violation in ttI,, events using data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, setting upper limits on parameters within the SME describing the possible strength of Lorentz violation in the top sector. I will also investigate the prospects for extending this analysis using the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider which, because of the higher rate of top-antitop events at that experiment, has the potential to improve the limits determined at D0.
- Host: Karle
- Graduate Introductory Seminar
- Condensed Matter Theory
- Time: 5:45 pm
- Place: 2223 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Chubukov, Coppersmith, Joynt, Perkins, Vavilov, UW Madison


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A Biblical Approach to Understanding and Applying that with which God has Called and Gifted You!
What Direction are you going?
The word, Spiritual Gift, comes from the Greek phrase chrismata or sometimes referred to as Charisma, and is defined as, "a gift of grace." This means we, as Christians, are given a "favor" or a "special gift" to do the work of ministry on behalf of, and empowered by, our Lord Jesus Christ. In ancient Greek, it was a phrase that a conquering general, giving a gift to the people he had just conquered as a symbol of their dependence upon the conqueror, would use. We are not conquered in spirit, but our Will as a Christian becomes less as He becomes more. Thus, Gifts are also a reminder of our dependence upon Christ as Lord.
Spiritual Gifts Discovery Workshop
Introduction: A Biblical Approach to Understanding and Applying that with which God has Called and Gifted You! This workshop can be used as small group lessons or a church wide training event.
Understanding God's call to us with Spiritual Gifts Now that I am a Christian, I get presents?
Understanding the Importance of Spiritual Gifts! Spiritual Gifts are alive and well both in the Church and in the world. They are not from a bygone era or only for certain Denominations or individuals; they are for you and your church!
How to Determine your Spiritual Gift(s! This procedure is much more accurate and honest than just using an "inventory." We have a tendency to read into these "tests" our desires, not those of the Lord's leading.
Biblical definitions of Spiritual Gifts, as defined by the Bible, presented in no particular order. The definitions and supporting Scriptures do correspond to the characteristics of the Gifts as also expressed in most Evangelical and Reformed thinking.
Remember this important fact; the Prime Directive for Spiritual Gifts is for service to God's family! As you grow in the understanding and use of your Spiritual Gifts, you will realize that you are in a relationship of dependence upon Christ.
How to Mobilize the People in your church according to their Spiritual Gifts. This section is primarily for the Church leadership and the Mentor Groups.
Here is a tool to help the People in your church find out what there Spiritual Gifts are. This is an "inventory" format; it is not as accurate as our other assessment, but this makes a good tool to start out with.


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Photo via Ana Luisa Pinto on Flickr; Design by Megan C. Stroup |
- The challenge will run from November 1, 2012, to January 31, 2013. (I know this should technically be the Semi-Charmed Winter 2012-2013 Book Challenge, but that is just too long and doesn't make as nice of a hashtag.) No books that are started before 12 a.m. on November 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on January 31 will count.
- No re-reads (unless specifically stated)! I want you to experience new books with this challenge.
- Each book must be at least 200 pages long. Audiobooks are fine, as long as the print versions meet the page requirements.
- A book can only be used for one category. If you want to switch the category later, that's fine, just be sure to account for that in your point total.
- The highest possible total is 200 points, and the first five people who finish the challenge will win a featured/guest post on Semi-Charmed Kind of Life. Good luck!
The Challenge:
5 points: Read a book written by an author you have never read before.
5: Read a book you already have at home but haven't gotten around to yet (from the library, from a bookstore, borrowed from a friend, on your e-reader, whatever).
10: Read a book written in the decade that you were born. Submitted by Summer Book Challenge finisher Hannah.
10: Read a book that takes place in the state/province where you were born. If you were born outside the U.S. and Canada, read a book that takes place in the country you were born.
15: Read a book titled The _______'s Daughter or The _______'s Wife. (There are a ton, I promise!)
15: Read a book that was originally written in a language other than English.
20: Read a book with a number in the title. This could be an actual digit or a number like "hundred" or "thousand." No arbitrary numbers are allowed (e.g. several, few, many, couple).
20: Read a book set during Christmas or another winter holiday. Submitted by Jessica of Sweet Green Tangerine via Twitter.
20: Read a book written by an author who shares your initials. Submitted by Sarah of The Roaring Twenties via Twitter.
25: Read a Pulitzer Prize winner or finalist for fiction.
25: Re-read a book. (Personally, I'm going to re-read a book from my childhood that I don't remember well, like Narnia or The Phantom Tollbooth, but you can re-read any book you'd like.)
30: Read three books from three different genres (e.g. romance, historical fiction, horror, biography, etc.). Remember, the books used for this category cannot count for any other category. Submitted by Summer Book Challenge winner Momma Sunshine.
How to keep track: I'll post a check-in on the first day of every month, on which you can comment with your progress. I will also include the scoreboard from the previous month on each check-in post. The first check-in post will be Saturday, December 1. Feel free to use the button below to tell your readers about the challenge!
Thanks so much for participating! I can't wait to see what everyone decides to read. Please feel free to link up below with your blog, Goodreads profile, or whatever else you're using to keep track of this challenge! You can also visit the links below to see what other people are reading for the different categories. And remember to use #SCWBC12 when tweeting about the book challenge!


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BATTLE AXES Polo T-Shirt
Get this for
Rs. 1,619.10
Flat 10% Off on minimum purchase of Rs. 1,499
Code: AERO10
(Apply during checkout)
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Code: AERO20
(Apply during checkout)
*Additional discounts on PREPAID orders.
- Free Shipping I COD Available | Easy Returns
- 100% Quality Assurance
- Ready to Deploy
- Inventory on the way
A tribute to the fallen heroes, where a portion of every purchase directly supports the families who secured the victory.
Core Features
- Unisex
- Fabric – 100% Cotton, 180 GSM T-Shirts
- Round Neck
- Classic Fit
- Guaranteed Colour Fastness
- Sustainable and Organic
- COD Available
- Easy Returns and Exchanges
- 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
*Returns are Not Applicable for Sale Products
The products are available for return or replacement within 7 days from the date of delivery.
For detailed information about returns, please refer to our return policy.
All orders are shipped out within 3 - 4 business by express carriers such as DHL, BlueDart, Delhivery or Aramex.


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Al Diar Hotels, a division of the Abu Dhabi National Hotels Group is a collection of luxury and budget hotels in the United Arab Emirates, offering innovative dining, rejuvenating spaces and memorable service. The Group currently operates budget hotels and service apartments across the United Arab Emirates namely Al Diar Dana Hotel and Al Diar Sawa Hotel Apartments in Abu Dhabi.
Al Diar Hotels management and staff are committed to deliver exceptional and unparalleled service to our guests. The company will keep its vision to expand within the region.
Al Diar Hotels pride itself on being a local UAE founded and managed and hotel chain that is a part of a government invested company. Underlining commitment to quality management and emphasis on service excellence to all guests are the ideals followed at Al Diar Hotels.


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Hello and happy Wednesday. I have a winner from my little stamp giveaway from last week.
***Heather Thompson email me your address so we can mail that stamp to you!***
I made a little card because I was playing with some new Faber Castell Design Memory Craft goodies that arrived.
I finally used one of Heidi Swapp stencils that I got from Emma's Paperie. I mixed Whipped Spackle from Faber Castell and blue Gelato to get the color. The chevron from Chevrons Two Step is stamped with Hero Arts ink. The butterfly, from Butterfly Collage, is stamped on watercolor paper and colored with watercolor crayons.
Hello is from Fly Away stamp set.
That is all from me. School started this Monday so I have a first grader to get ready for bed. Have a great night.
I was excited to play in these challenges:
Color Throwdown #307
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes


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18ct Yellow Gold Natural Diamonds Ladies Dress Ring TDW 0.24ct DR5
18ct Yellow Gold Natural Diamond Ladies Dress Ring now on sale
Available in White Gold & Rose Gold
Get in touch with our team for quote 😊
•18ct Yellow Gold | not plated not gold filled
•Stamp 750
•Total Diamonds Weight-0.24ct
•Ring Size-M *FREE RESIZING TO ALL SIZES
Item comes with valuation certificate, signature black gift box and lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Like this design but want a twist of your personal touch? Speak to us, let us make it happen for you!
SOBBI Collection
SOBBI Collections are exquisitely made to order.
Turnaround is 4-6 weeks approx.
If you need it urgently please get in touch with our team for urgent dispatch.
Alternatively, check out our EXCLUSIVE READY MADE collection.
Exclusive Lifetime Manufacturing Warranty
Complimentary Nationwide Shipping
Do you offer Express Shipping?
We offer complimentary Express Shipping Nationwide. For International Shipping, please get in touch with our team via email
Return Policy
Kindly refer to Return Policy links for more info
Material Sources
Every pieces of diamonds & gemstones jewellery produced by Atlas Jewellers is Certified & Conflict Free. This means we only source our material from legitimate and reputated source.
All jewellery provided by us are under the highest ethical standards.
Jewellery Care
To maintain the shine and condition of your jewellery, we recommend taking of your jewellery while you are performing activities such as sporting, gym, heavy housework, swimming or when in contact with any sort of chemical.
We recommend having your jewellery cleaned and checked or serviced by us once a year to ensure its best condition.
Fast shipping
We offer complimentary Express Shipping Nationwide.
For International Express Shipping, please get in touch with our team
Order tracking
A tracking number will be sent to your email as soon as your parcel has been dispatched.
Get in touch
If you require any further assistance, please feel free to call our store 02 9687 9474
email us email@example.com
Our team will assist you as soon as possible.
Catering All of Your Jewellery Needs
Repair (Same Day Service While You Wait)
Booking Required
- Ring Resizing
- Broken Chain Soldering
- Diamond Setting
- Watch Battery Replacement
- For further services enquiries, please call our store.
Remodel & Restoring
Instead of disposing of jewelry that is in need of repair or updating, you can opt to have them professionally restored or remodeled, reducing waste and environmental impact.
Book in your appointment with us today to discuss further.
Insurance Claim Replacement
We are appointed panel by IVAA (Independent Validation Advisory Australia (IVAA)), Australia's Leading Niche Claim Specialist to look after any type of insurance jewellery claim.
The Artistry of Custom Made by SOBBI
Choosing a handcrafted piece from the SOBBI Range isn't just about owning jewellery—it's about possessing a narrative, a soul, and a legacy. Our master jewellers don't simply craft pieces; they breathe life into them. With every curve they mould and every stone they set, they infuse a touch of their own spirit and a dedication to the art.
The precision, attention to detail, and passion our master jewellers imbue in every creation ensure that each piece resonates with a personal touch, a touch that makes it unmistakably yours.
At Atlas Jewellers, we believe that true luxury lies in bespoke creations. It's not just jewellery; it's a story, a journey, an emotion captured in the radiant glow of precious metals and gemstones.
Entrust us with your vision, and allow our master jewellers to transform it into a tangible symbol of love, memories, and aspirations.


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Rugby has been a huge part of Land Rover for over 20 years, from the grassroots to the elite. We were extremely proud to be a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2019 and we continue to celebrate the diversity and inclusivity of the game.
We gave 96 young fans (two per match) the chance to walk onto the pitch with their heroes as official mascots of Rugby World Cup 2019, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will have strengthened their bond with the sport.
Rugby can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere. As a Worldwide Partner and the Official Vehicle of Rugby World Cup 2019 we celebrated then, and continue to celebrate the diversity and inclusivity of the game, especially at youth level.
We believe rugby's core values are instilled at the start of the rugby journey – it's the young players that make the sport so special. Land Rover grassroots programmes are ensuring kids around the world have a chance to experience the game.
We're more than just players and fans, we're family. Inspired by the teamwork of rugby players, this sense of community is at the heart of Land Rover. We're excited to help bring an unforgettable experience to fans around the world.
The values that rugby embodies, determination, integrity and dedication, are what drive us to go Above and Beyond. We are passionate about sharing these ideals with the next generation of players. From the Land Rover Premiership Cup in England to the First XV schools programme in New Zealand, Land Rover has been supporting rugby at all levels for 20 years. No matter who you are or where you're playing, the consistent passion, commitment, respect, team bond and inner strength at the heart are what make rugby, rugby.
Life is to be experienced with others, both with your team on the field or in the stands. So whether you're headed to a match or a long weekend away, there's plenty of space for passengers and their gear in Discovery or Discovery Sport. Your next adventure is out there.
™© Rugby World Cup Limited 1986.


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Friday, April 16, 2010
Cochineal...Hans Sloane...British Museum
How does all of this fit together?
Bill Ashworth in the Linda Hall Library Newsletter wrote...
Hans Sloane, an English naturalist, physician, and collector, was born Apr. 16, 1660. While still a young man, as personal physician to the Duke of Albemarle, Sloane travelled to Jamaica, where he spent some fifteen months collecting plants and animals. He returned to England when his patron died, in 1689, and set up medical practice in London, at which he was quite successful, being physician to a succession of British monarchs. As time permitted, Sloane slowly put together two large volumes on the Natural History of Jamaica, which were published in 1707 and 1725. They provide a rich guide to the flora and fauna of this island, (as well as an unsettling description of the lives of the local African slaves). One of Sloane's most famous discoveries concerned chocolate, which was used as a native drink. Sloane found he could make it more palatable by mixing it with milk, and when he brought back his recipe to London, hot chocolate became all the rage. There is a picture of the cocoa plant in his Natural History. But my favorite image shows a cochineal plantation. Cochineal is a tiny scale insect that lives on prickly pear cactus, and from whose body is extracted a brilliant carmine-red dye. Most of the worlds cochineal came from plantations in Mexico, and the method of production of the dye was a closely kept secret. Hans Sloane's collections and library were later sold, after his death in 1753, to the British government, which used them to create the British Museum.
A zillion years ago I bought my first chemistry set [the A. C. Gilbert Deluxe for $15.00 (a summer of lawn mowing)] and included in the set was a small bottle of cochineal. I never did experiment with it...I was more enthused that I made hydrogen captured in a test tube and ignited in a flame.
Hans Sloane
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It is hardly news that pre-pubescent boys have no idea how to properly administer Axe body spray.
It is news when said inappropriate Axe use causes a school-wide shutdown.
Eight students were hospitalized, and two others were taken to their own doctors, after someone released the especially pungent body spray in a sixth grade classroom at 1 p.m. Emergency crews rushed to Medgar Evers College Preparatory School in Brooklyn to investigate the "hazardous" smell.
This isn't the first time Axe body spray has terrorized educational facilities.
A Pennsylvania high school had to ban the spray in March after a student was hospitalized after exposure to its fumes. A year earlier, Connecticut high school officials said that a fire alarm went off after a student's "overabundance" of Axe spraying in a locker room.
If you insist on smelling like a middle school cafeteria, maybe stick to Axe shower gel from now on.


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Do I Need To Replace My Missing Teeth?
When teeth are missing, they can cause a variety of oral health problems if left untreated. Because the remaining teeth can shift out of their proper positions, discomfort, difficulty chewing, wear and tear on the surrounding teeth, and misalignment of the bite are all possible.
A condition known as facial collapse occurs when the jaw bone in the area where the teeth are missing begins to deteriorate, eventually leading to the loss of facial function.
Replacement Options for Missing Teeth
When you come into our London dental office, your dentist will go over the following tooth replacement options with you and assist you in selecting the one that best meets your needs and fits within your financial budget.
Dentures are removable tooth replacements. The procedure can take some getting used to, and the results will never be the same as having your natural teeth. Modern dentures, on the other hand, are extremely natural-looking, comfortable, and highly functional, and they are the least expensive option for replacing missing teeth in most cases.
Depending on your requirements, you can choose between two different types of dentures. Full dentures are designed to replace all of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw. Partial dentures can be used to replace a single missing tooth or a group of teeth in a row. Based on the impressions taken of your mouth, your dentures will be made specifically for you.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a fixed tooth replacement that is attached to the teeth or dental implants on either side of the gap where the tooth is missing. Dental bridges are non-removable, resulting in a secure and comfortable fit for the patient. Following its installation, your dental bridge will last for many years before it needs to be replaced.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are small titanium posts that act as artificial tooth roots and are surgically implanted into the jawbone to restore tooth function. A dental crown is placed on top of the tooth to complete the restoration.
The dental implant and crown combination has the appearance, feel, and function of a natural tooth in almost every way except for colour. While implants tend to be more expensive and invasive than crowns or bridges, many people find that the natural look and feel they provide are worth the investment.


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McCarthy a Surprise Winner of Jayco Herald Sun Tour's Stage 3
Migrating to Australia with his family seven years ago from Ireland, McCarthy, who has spent the last couple of domestic seasons in the shadow of Australian sprint wunderkind Caleb Ewan, said this was the most significant win of his fledgling career.
Meanwhile in the general classification, Team GreenEdge's Clarke preserved his advantage when he was the eleventh rider to cross the finish line, thereby holding on to his eight second lead over former Olympic rower Cameron Wurf (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team).
For Clarke's teammate Matthew Goss it was a case of what could have been, as a slipped chain at 200 meters to go ended his chances of stage win.
McCarthy too was lucky to be in a position to challenge at the finish, forced to veer off the road to narrowly avoid a crash caused by a clash of wheels that toppled Garmin-Sharp-POC sprint ace Steele Von Hoff and forced Team Australia's Pat Shaw to abandon 13 kilometers from the stage finish.
In a Herald Sun Tour that was intended as a learning experience for McCarthy, it was the Jayco Australia U23 Team rider that handed his opponents a lesson on getting to the line.
"I knew I have the speed, for me the hard part was just getting to the line with those established lead out trains," said McCarthy, who's most significant victory prior to today was a junior national road race title in 2012 ahead of Ewan.
"It's really hard when you're not in one of those established teams to earn the respect of those guys, but I hope I have done that now.
"I had to fight really, really hard for position and I decided I was going to be the last guy of someone's train."
"I saw Jonathan Cantwell with about one kilometer and a half to go and I just jumped on his wheel and waited and waited, and then moved around maybe 250m to go and just went for it, and held on for the line."
Admitting himself to being a relative unknown in the race, McCarthy's reaction to upstaging some of world cycling's elite in Nagambie was that of shock.
"I know I'm a good sprinter, but when you look at the field here it's some of the best in the world," McCarthy said.
"I just came here to try and learn from those guys and I just found myself in a good position."
"I crossed the line and I couldn't believe it. I'm a bit speechless to be honest."
While McCarthy's post race reaction was that of elation, it was a focussed Clarke that spoke after the stage about his GreenEdge team's defense of his yellow jersey.
"The objective is to keep yellow by the end of tomorrow, so we rode with that tactic," Clarke said.
"I hardly touched the pedals all day today, the boys did a great job.
"Mitch [Docker] and Damien [Howson] were really strong today and they had everything under control, so no stress for me whatsoever."
Sticking to the script of execution, Clarke said he would be wary of general classification challengers Wurf and Jack Haig (Avanti Cycling Team), but would be more intent on riding his own race in Sunday's final 124 kilometer stage.
"We'll ride to our plan, I've got Gerro by my side who is a great climber, so I just need to stick close to him and we'll work together and work on our team plan," said Clarke.
"If people attack us, we can adjust that plan, but we'll be on our own path.
"They're both dangerous, there's no reason to decipher who's going to be more dangerous, they both are."
Earlier in the stage, seven riders were quick to ride off the peloton at the fall of the flag, joined shortly after by an eighth rider in Kristian Juel of Team Budget Forklifts.
Seemingly lacking the grit and tenacity of yesterday's break led by Clarke, a catch seemed inevitable, however surprisingly four riders from the initial group held together until the catch occurred inside five kilometers to the finish in Nagambie.
The break held close to four minutes over the main field approaching the foot of the first King of the Mountain classification climb through the Strathbogie Ranges at 55 kilometers travelled, with the break still holding two minutes 40 second advantage at the top of the second King of the Mountain a further 12 kilometers later.
It was the WorldTour teams GreenEdge, Garmin-Sharp-POC and Cannondale Pro Cycling Team that did the bulk of the work on the open roads to reduce the gap to a comfortable margin off the climbs, before really tightening the screws 25 kilometers from home.


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Audi turns the car into a virtual reality experience platform at CES
Audi turns the car into a virtual reality experience platform at CES
· Audi e-tron takes backseat passengers on adventure through outer space
· Technology combines VR content with vehicle movements in real time
· Debuts "Marvel's Avengers: Rocket's Rescue Run" futuristic prototype created with Disney Games and Interactive Experiences for CES showcase
· Start-up company, holoride, to establish new entertainment category via open platform
Audi e-tron takes backseat passengers on adventure through outer space
Audi is redefining in-car entertainment at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. In the future, backseat passengers will be able to experience movies, video games, and interactive content even more realistically using virtual reality glasses. The premium brand is presenting a technology that adopts virtual content to the movements of a vehicle in real time: If the car drives through a right turn, the spaceship in the experience does the same, for example. Through a subsidiary, Audi Electronics Venture GmbH, Audi has co-founded a start-up company, holoride GmbH, which will commercialize this new form of entertainment via an open platform that will be made available to all carmakers and content developers in the future.
Audi is demonstrating the immersive futuristic technology with "Marvel's Avengers: Rocket's Rescue Run," an in-car VR experience for backseat passengers being brought to life by Disney Games and Interactive Experiences. Wearing VR glasses, the passenger in an Audi e-tron is transported into a fantastical depiction of outer space: The Audi e-tron now functions as the ship manned by the Guardians of the Galaxy, as the passenger makes their way through an asteroid field together with Rocket, a character that will appear in Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame in spring 2019. Every movement of the car is reflected in the experience in real time. If the car turns a tight corner, the player curves around an opposing spaceship in virtual reality. If the Audi e-tron accelerates, the ship in the experience does the same.
In order to establish this new category of entertainment on the market as quickly and comprehensively as possible, Audi is taking a new approach: The premium brand has co-founded a start-up named holoride, in which it holds a minority interest through the subsidiary Audi Electronics Venture GmbH, which developed the technology. Furthermore, Audi will license the technology to holoride. The start-up will use an open platform to allow carmakers and content developers to create and offer additional extended reality formats. "Creative minds will use our platform to come up with fascinating worlds that turn the journey from A to B into a real adventure," said Nils Wollny, Head of Digital Business at Audi, and future CEO of holoride. "We can only develop this new entertainment segment by adopting a cooperative, open approach for vehicle, device and content producers."
Debuts "Marvel's Avengers: Rocket's Rescue Run" futuristic prototype created with Disney Games and Interactive Experiences for CES showcase
From arcade games, underwater adventures and space exploration to educational trips through historical cities or the human bloodstream, there are almost no limits to what is possible. Holoride will provide a software development kit that serves as the interface to the vehicle data and transfers those into virtual realities, allowing developers to create worlds that can be experienced in-car with all of the senses. Since the visual experience and the user's actual perception are synchronized, conventional movies, series or presentations can also be viewed with a significantly reduced chance of motion sickness.
Holoride intends to launch the new form of entertainment on the market within the next three years using standard VR glasses for backseat passengers. In the long term, the continued expansion of car-to-X infrastructure could also see traffic events becoming a part of the experience: Stopping at traffic lights could introduce unexpected obstacles to a game or interrupt a learning program with a quick quiz.
Audi and Marvel Studios have been teaming up since the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with the appearance of the Audi R8 in Iron Man (2008). Drawing upon this longstanding relationship, Audi and Disney Games and Interactive Experiences together created "Marvel's Avengers: Rocket's Rescue Run," to demonstrate how a backseat passenger can enjoy their journey even more using the most innovative VR technology. "Audi, Marvel and Disney Games and Interactive Experiences are celebrating Marvel Studios' 10th anniversary with an Avengers experience that combines world class content and innovative technology," said Mike Goslin, Vice President, Disney Games and Interactive Experiences. "While this CES demo was developed purely in the spirit of exploration and experimentation, we are constantly evaluating emerging technologies to enhance our stories and experiences."


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Take A Spin – Monday, Aug 28, 4pm-6pm
Come TAKE A SPIN! Monday, Aug 28 from 4pm-6pm. Try our new mini pottery wheel workshop for beginners…great for couples, friends, or small groups.
Enjoy a small group lesson on the pottery wheel with step-by-step instruction. Each person makes 2 pieces in two hours, guaranteed. Course includes the 2-hour guided lesson, use of studio tools and clay, choice of 15 glaze colors, and firing for 2 pieces.
Each student gets their own wheel. Instructor pre-centers your clay. Items are fired, finished, and ready for pickup within 3-4 weeks. Minimum age for the pottery wheel is 12.


text:
Siemens BQD360 3 Pole Circuit Breaker
Manufacturer: Siemens
Poles: 3
Fits: BQD Series Panels
Brand: Siemens
Voltage: 480v
Mounting Type: Bolt-On
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When it comes to replacement contacts for Cutler-Hammer 6-45-2, the choice between Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts and aftermarket alternatives is crucial.
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We take pride in manufacturing our contacts in-house, in the USA. This allows us to closely monitor quality and ensure each product meets stringent standards.
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OEM Contacts are generally made from quality materials, but their exact composition and silver content can vary.
Our Aftermarket Contact manufacturing process focuses on using high-quality copper and silver alloys, similar to the OEMs. Our extensive testing has proven that our contacts meet or exceed the OEM standards in terms of silver content, a key factor in conductivity and durability.
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Our Aftermarket Contacts offer a more cost-effective solution without compromising on quality. By controlling the manufacturing process, we provide a high-value product at a competitive price.
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Our in-house manufacturing and stringent testing ensure that our contacts perform on par with, or even surpass, OEM contacts in terms of reliability and longevity.
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Unlike our competitors, we manufacture our contacts in the USA, ensuring superior quality control. We avoid the pitfalls of inferior products often associated with overseas manufacturing.
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One of the key aspects that set our aftermarket contacts apart is our commitment to transparency and quality assurance. We have conducted comprehensive test reports to validate that our silver content not only meets but frequently exceeds OEM standards. This is a testament to our dedication to providing products that are not just equivalent, but often superior to OEM parts.


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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Smith College Campus School book fair
Grace and I will each be doing a brief presentation and book signing at the Smith College Campus School annual book fair in Northampton on Monday November 2nd. It is free and open to the public so come on by!
Other participating authors and illustrators: Patricia MacLachlan, Heidi Stemple, Rich Michelson, Corinne Demas, Jeannine Atkins,Mo Willems, Marguerite Davol, Barbara Diamond Goldin, Kevin Markey, Michael Nelson, Shelley Rotner, Diane de Groat, Jane Dyer, Brooke Dyer, and Jeff Mack.
Not a bad line-up, eh?
We will each present for ten minutes from 3:00-3:40 pm
Book signing to follow from 3:45-5:00 pm
I made this music video last night, for Halloween
it showcases Mercy Brown's grave--the "vampire" from RI
Friday, October 30, 2009
Not broken?
But when two weeks had gone by and the pain was getting worse, not better, I called the clinic:
"Once a week!" I said, surprised, and thinking he must have some serious medical condition. "What are you having done?"
"Oh, every week I take half a day for my own mental health--today I'm writing letters...." (blah blah -- by the way this half day is in addition to being off all weekend)
He looked up from his laptop briefly to feel the arm and say it might or might not be broken, and that I'd need to go to the hospital to get x-rays. I drove over there, waited another hour, and filled out more forms while the admins complained about their computer system being down and joked with each other about personal matters. Not one speck of interest shown in me or my arm here either. I finally saw the x-ray technician who greeted me by name, and seemed both competent and interested -- but said that (by law) she wasn't allowed to tell me if the arm was broken or not.
It was an admin from the clinic who said the arm was broken. I asked what to do (cast? splint? sling?) -- she didn't know, but, when pressed by me to ask the doctor, eventually suggested that I drive to a pharmacy where, she said, the doctor would call in a splint or something. She also asked me which orthopedic surgeon I wanted to see, I said I didn't know, could she recommend one? She said she'd get back to me. (She never did.) How much the x-rays cost no one could tell me, since the computers were down, except that there would be two charges, one for the x-rays themselves and one for the radiologist (never seen or talked to by me) who looked at them electronically and ruled on whether or not there was a fracture.
So, I drove to the pharmacy -- nothing had been called in from the doctor and the pharmacist said that clinic was impossible to reach, so we picked out something together ($29) and I drove home. By this time 5 hours had passed. I tried again to call the clinic for a recommendation -- the x-ray technician had said I should see someone: "you're lucky the fracture didn't reach the joint, if it had you'd never bend that arm again."
I called a friend and got HIS recommendation -- if I was going to pay to see an orthopedic surgeon, I wanted to see a good one. The admin said "Can you get here in 15 minutes?" She said she couldn't give directions, she didn't know the area, and was acrimonious when I said in that case, I'd have to call her back once I'd google-mapped it. I did, and we made an appointment -- after she had cautioned me that "it could cost $250, do you have the money?"
By the time I had found the surgeon's office, waited another hour, and seen the orthopedic surgeon, the whole day had gone by.....Though I admit that the surgeon WAS very nice, and also reassuring: when you're in pain, and wondering what's wrong, talking to someone who seems to know what he's doing is helpful and calming in and of itself; but he wasn't just knowledgeable, he was NICE. He went over the x-rays with me in detail, explained exactly what was going on, and said I'd done just the right things and that the sling I'd picked out was just fine. He added that the new theory about treating broken bones is not to restrict movement -- in England now they don't even use slings!
On the way home, thinking of all the snide comments I've heard against the "public option" and "socialized medicine," I couldn't help thinking of when I broke my arm in Ireland a few years ago. I was riding and when the horse refused a fence, fell forward and landed on my arm. The friend I was with drove me to a small country hospital; within an hour, I had been examined by a very nice doctor, given an x-ray, put in a cast, and sent home. The cost? An optional 15 pounds, which I of course paid. The whole experience was PLEASANT, even cozy (afterwards, my friend and I went to a local pub and had some excellent Irish whisky in front of a peat-burning fire).
Here, if I had health insurance, which I don't, I would be paying at least $600 a month for it -- and would have had to pay everything I paid for the arm anyway, since for $600/month your deductible is pretty high. Our health care system is more broken than my arm (for details., listen to This American Life's Someone else's money and More is less)....
But, I'm happy to say that -- aside from the wasted day yesterday -- this hasn't slowed me down on my novel at all. I sent 80 pages of it to my agent and while waiting to hear what she thinks, am writing more. I've learned my lesson about waiting to hear: DON'T. Keep going, start something else, but keep writing. I read once about an author who said she knew she was a writer when her baby threw up on the page; she just wiped it off and kept going. This broken arm has been that experience for me. I was writing when the clinic called to say they could squeeze me in after all -- and I went on writing when I got home.
POETRY FRIDAY: Song of the Witches
Here's a little Shakespeare that's perfect for reciting at Halloween:
Song of the Witches
by William Shakespeare
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.
Last April, I wrote a political parody of Shakespeare's Song of the Witches that I posted at Political Verses. Here it is:
Stewing Brew: A Macbethian Melange
Pelosi's Pot-au-Pooh-Poohers
by Elaine Magliaro
Round about the cauldron go:
In the pompous lard butt throw.
Rush the bilious radio host—
That's what needs to cook the most.
In the brimstone broth immersed—
Limbaugh, Limbaugh! Be he first.
You can read the rest of my poem here: Potent Political Pottage a la Shakespeare
At Wild Rose Reader, I have reviews of three poetry books that would be great to share with kids at Halloween.
My poetry post this week at Political Verses is a Paean to a Bovine Beauty.
Jennie has the Poetry Friday Roundup at Biblio File.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
feeling guilt
The guilt is back.
Me in the School Library Journal
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Boston Book Festival
For me, it was lots of fun meeting up with Scott Magoon and Alice Flaherty:They are the creators of Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating. I learned from Alice Flaherty, also a highly respected doctor of neurology, that picky eating is actually a genetic trait. People whose ancestors are from areas where there were many poisonous plants tend to have the gene for picky eating-- a survival of the fittest characteristic!
Afterwards, I caught about 5 minutes of Alicia Silverstone talking about her book on vegetarians. This is as close I got:
Think she'll remember me?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Moses Brown Book fair tomorrow
I will be presenting about my work and signing books at the Moses Brown Book Fair tomorrow, October 28th, in Providence, RI. If you are in the area come say hello! I will be signing Abigail Spells and What Can You Do with and Old Red Shoe? at the fair from 12:30-2:00 pm.
More Disappearing Desmond in progress
Monday, October 26, 2009
Good news!
It was Thursday morning around 10:30 am, and I had just gotten out of our weekly editorial meeting. I was in my office chatting with our Library Marketing Director when I heard the sound of running footsteps down the hall. Running footsteps is a sure sign of news--although sometimes bad (for example, something printed incorrectly, what are we going to do?!). Our Publicity Director and Grace's in-house Publicist burst into my office holding a copy of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon with huge smiles on their faces. (Whew, it's good news. But what?) "Today Show book club selection! Today Show Book Club selection!"
Excitement, shock, disbelief, happiness.
"Wait...what? What? Really?!"
Laughter, cheering, yay yay yay! I could hear the news spread down the hall.
What happened?
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is going to be on the Today Show!
No way! Awesome!
"You should tell Grace!" I was told.
"This is Al Roker's Book Club, right?" I asked--I wanted to make sure I told Grace the right thing.
I IMed Grace on Gchat.
me: hey, are you there?
I got Grace on the line. Our Publicity Director and I told her the news together. I think the first words out of Grace's mouth were, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Really?! Oh my gosh!" as the news sunk in. "I have to tell my mom!" and then later..."What am I going to wear!?" and "How did this happen?!"
This is generally how it works when we hear good news. For example, when we receive the bestseller lists and see that we have a new title make it on, the news spreads down the hall, and people cheer and clap and yell and come out of their offices and cubes to celebrate for a little while. When The Curious Garden hit the list for the first time back in April, our Publisher's Assistant started calling my name while running down the hall. "Alvina! Alvina!" It's especially exciting when it's the first time an author has made it on the list. In the case of Peter Brown, a group of us crowded into my office to hear Peter react to the news. He had been on tour in CA at the time.
I love good news in the office, obviously. Keep it coming!!
And congratulations again, Grace!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
great way to promote an event
Anyway, check this out. It cracked me out:
I am scheduled to be on the Today Show on December 4th! That should give me some time to figure out what I want to wear...
Friday, October 23, 2009
My Book = TODAY SHOW!
POETRY FRIDAY: Double Dactyls
This week I wrote some double dactyls for Tricia's Monday Poetry Stretch over at The Miss Rhumphius Effect. I decided to use characters from children's literature instead of famous people in the first two double dactyls.
Click here to find information about the double dactyl at the website of the Poetry Foundation.
Three Double Dactyls
by Elaine Magliaro
Higgeldy piggeldy
Max was a "wild thing,"
Got into mischief
Was sent to his room,
Kicked up a rumpus
With like-minded wild things.
Some kiddies go crazy
Once they leave the womb.
Hickory dickory
Charlotte Arachnid—
A writer, a weaver—
Spun tales for her friend,
Wilbur, the runt pig
She nurtured and cherished.
That spider was loyal
And true to the end.
Gravity savity
Isaac, Sir, Newton,
Math'matical genius
And physicist too,
Got into alchemy…
Tried making gold
From a base metal brew.
Click here to read double dactyls written by J. Patrick Lewis, Julie Larios, and me at Political Verses.
Click here to read more double dactyls by Dean Blehert at Words & Pictures.
At Wild Rose Reader, I have an original mask poem entitled Dragonfly.
At Political Verses, I have two new posts this week: A Poem about the Conservative Bible Project and Better Duck...It's Dick: A Poem about Dick Cheney's Hunting Prowess.
Kelly has the Poetry Friday Roundup at Big A, little a.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
all in a day's work
I spend a lot of time at book signings(like this one I just had at the Blue Bunny):
making media appearances:
becoming an HONORARY GUY:
Or letting celebrity chef Ming Tsai cook for me:
Yes, yes, it's hard to pull away from the art. But I manage.
(please note that I FINALLY got to wear my blue dress. It's only been waiting for 2 years for the right occasion!)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Desmond painting part 2
Here is the rest of the process for last week's Desmond painting:
Still building layers on the character's faces (maybe the bunny should have spots?):
The word balloons get outlines and the bunny is better grey:
Building up the layers of paint in the word balloons, Desmond's face, and his outfit:
And some final touches... the character's clothes get patterns and "hi" finishes things off:
Of course the painting is never done until the day of the deadline, I still may tweak the colors or add some little details. I was thinking Desmond might need a little something extra to spiff up his outfit. What do you think? A hat or a flower on his sweater vest perhaps?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Five of us from Little, Brown were attending, and so we piled into a Zipcar and caravaned over. The morning was kicked off with breakfast (agent Barry Goldblatt made fun of my choice of a blueberry bagel. I like blueberry bagels, bright purple color and all!), and the mentors and mentees are in different rooms. This is to give the mentor time to review the mentee's work in advance, and to also network and chat with our fellow mentors. We then came together for opening remarks, and then mentors and mentees broke off to meet for 45 minutes one-on-one. This time can be used to critique the work, but can also just be to chat, talk about the business, answer questions, etc. This year, I was matched with a talented author/illustrator. I was especially enthralled by the maps she creates--she called illustrating maps her "day job." The 45 minutes flew by.
A panel discussion followed. This year, the topic was "Staying Power in Children's Literature" moderated by agent Rachel Orr. The panelists were author/illustrator Peter Catalanotto, Publisher of Marshall Cavendish Margery Cuyler, Digital Books Coordinator at Disney Publishing Worldwide Colin Hosten, and Emily Sylvan Kim, Agent at Prospect Agency. They discussed what is necessary to have both a lasting career, and to create a lasting book. They discussed how to last through this economic downtrend, and the effect of new technology on the industry. Margery stated that she's been through two economic downturns already in her career, and that this one too would end. She said that publishers are being more selective about buying books, and there may be more revising before contract than usual. (I've certainly found this to be the case at L,B.) Many felt that eBooks were the future, although to varying degrees. And everyone said that good stories are lasting.
Lunch was followed by the five-on-five meetings--five pairs of mentor-mentees join together in a group that is led by a facilitator. Again, it's mainly Q&A. In my case, all of the mentees were illustrators, so at the end of our time they put out their portfolios, and we went around and reviewed them all. I always love looking at art, and everyone was quite skilled.
And finally comes the keynote. This year, the keynote was Judy Freeman, children's literature consultant. Judy is a former children's school librarian, and served on the Newbery Committee in 1990. I've met Judy many times throughout the years--she does fabulous book talks, and is known to be a "big mouth" in the industry--if you're lucky enough to have written or edited a book that she gets excited about, your book will no doubt find an audience. She travels all over the country talking to kids, educators, writers, etc. Her presentations are lively, interactive, funny, and informative.
In this case, I was shocked when one of her slides featured my personal blog with the post Decline Letters 101! I must say, it was odd, but fun, to see my blog on the big screen. Later she book talked Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (yay!), saying that she adored it and hoped it would have a medal on the cover come next year. She also mentioned Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Ed Young--she showed some gorgeous collages and haikus that students of a class had created in honor of Wabi Sabi. Amazing. After the talk, people came up to me to ask how much I had paid Judy to include my books and blog--ha.
It was also lovely to have many people (including many mentors) come up to me to say that they follow me on Twitter or read my blogs. Hello, everyone, nice to meet you and chat!
And then the day was over. I have to say, I felt quite drained after the conference--last week had probably been the busiest week of the year for me, and this week is looking to be the second-most busy. But still, it was a great day, and I'm glad I went. Next up for me will be SCBWI conferences in Tokyo (Yokohama) and Hong Kong in November! Stay tuned...
Saturday, October 17, 2009
2009 Keene State College Children's Literature Festival
In two weeks, I'll be heading up to New Hampshire for the Keene State College Children's Literature Festival.
Look at the fabulous lineup of children's authors and illustrators who will be the featured speakers this year:
Lita Judge
Beth Krommes
Lois Lowry
Katherine Paterson
Jane Yolen
Festival Information
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009
Place: Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire
Conference Registration: $72
Lunch: $8.00
Daily Schedule: Click here.
Registration Form: Click here.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Blogging My Poetry
When I began blogging at Wild Rose Reader in April 2007, there was something I had to seriously consider: Would it be wise to post my original unpublished poems there? At the time, I remember other writers who blog discussing the subject of putting our work "out there" without getting paid for it. Some thought it would be unwise. Even though I realized it might not be the smartest thing to do—I decided to post dozens of my original poems at Wild Rose Reader anyway.
Of the original poems I've posted there:
- Some were written for Tricia's weekly Poetry Stretches at The Miss Rumphius Effect.
- Some were written specifically for posting at Wild Rose Reader.
- Some were written for poetry collections that still remain unpublished.
I asked myself: Would any editors be interested in publishing a poetry collection when some of its poems had already been published on my blog? Would any anthologist/publisher ever pay me for permission to use any of these poems in anthologies?
I can answer the second question in the affirmative. Earlier this year, Graham Denton, a poet/anthologist in the UK, asked permission to use a poem I had posted at Wild Rose Reader in 2007 in an anthology he is compiling. The poem will be included in My Cat Is in Love with the Goldfish and Other Loopy Love Poems. That book is due for release next February. I also received a request from a well-known poet/anthologist who lives in the United States in August. The anthologist asked if he could use two of my poems in a special project that is being published in conjunction with The Academy of American Poets. Hooray!!! That book will be published next April.
Once I started posting my original work at Wild Rose Reader I never looked back. I love writing poetry. I enjoy sharing my poetry with kidlit bloggers, poets, writers, teachers, and other visitors who stop by to read it. After all, I write because I want to share my creative thoughts with others—and once in a while, it actually pays off!
I have three original witch poems over at Wild Rose Reader.
At Political Verses, I have a double dactyl written by Julie Larios.
Laura Purdie Salas has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
growing up
Because it is, actually, true. Children that I signed picturebooks who now find them too young are now reading my novels, as if I made them specifically FOR them. And who is to say that I did not? Maybe the creative muse sometimes does take orders.
Most recently, I visited Charlotte, NC for the Novello Festival of Reading. It was great fun, but one of the highlights was catching up with a family that I had met during my first visit at Novello--some 4 years ago. The toddler whom I had signed picturebooks for was now a smart and pretty girl who reads my novels!
And at my booksigning at the Toadstool Bookshop I met up with some other "old" fans.
They were so old, that one mother sent me a photo of the first time we met.
Isn't that neat? I guess I should start thinking about writing teenage YA. I think I could write about vampires............just joking!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Another Desmond painting in progress
Thanks to all who came out for the RISD sale on Saturday, it was a great day. Be sure to join Grace and I at the holiday sale in December!
Now back to painting (deadline is ticking)...
Here is the sketch I started with, its a new Desmond after he has given up hiding for the joys of friendship:
After transferring the general shapes of the sketch (so I know where to put the highlights and shadows), I started on the background, a nice green:
No, green is not good. No green. How about orange:
Better I think. Warmer and more celebratory. Now the characters get their first wash of color (after I transfer the sketch once again):
Word balloons too:
Starting to layer the color in Desmond's outfit, and some of the faces:
Stay tuned for more next week!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Decline letters 101
I thought I'd demystify decline letters a bit--I would say that there are 6 basic types of decline letters I send:
1) Form letter: This is a generic letter that it not personalized to the sender at all. This letter used to be reserved for slush (unsolicited) manuscripts that I knew immediately I was going to decline. However, because we no longer accept slush, I don't use this letter much. We do have a form letter we send to unsolicited manuscripts that simply states our policy of not reviewing those manuscripts. In case you're curious, this is the basic wording of our form letter:
Thank you for submitting your manuscript to me for my consideration. I've now read it with interest but am sorry to say my enthusiasm for this project is not strong enough to suggest we could take it on and publish it successfully on our list.
Your materials are returned herewith. I do appreciate the opportunity to consider your work and wish you the best of luck in finding a good publishing home for it.
2) Personalized form letter: This is the form letter, but with your name and title of the manuscript put into the letter. I actually send very few of these--like form letters, they're reserved for the projects that I know from the first few lines that my answer is going to be no, but the difference is that this letter is for solicited projects. I only use this letter for those authors or agents that I have no personal connection to, and don't care to necessarily have future contact with--for example, authors from a writer's conference who had queried me, but for whom I have no recollection of meeting (didn't have a critique with, didn't ask me a question at my talk, etc.), or agents who I suspect are "fake" agents due to the quality of work they submit. I think my basic form letters are very nice, but if you receive one, you can be fairly certain that I did not personally like your project.
3) Nice decline: This is the personalized form letter, but with one or two lines that are specific to the work. For example, I may have a line that says something like, "Although I found your novel to be fun and compelling, I'm sorry to say that your characters felt too one-dimensional, and overall I just didn't love this enough to want to take on my list..." etc. etc. This is the decline I use most often--I use this for almost all agents, and also those authors who I have some personal connection to. The more I write, the more promise I saw in the work.
4) Nice decline with invitation to submit future work: This is the letter I use if I saw true talent in the writing, and feel that it was more of a matter of not liking the subject matter or plot of a book, but had confidence that the author's grasp of the craft of writing was strong.
5) Nice decline with editorial notes: I write this type of decline if I see real potential in both the concept and the writing, but yet do not have the time or willingness to give more feedback than I already have in the letter. But this decline is generally accompanied with an expression of my being open to review the project again if it is revised along the lines of my notes.
6) Nice decline with detailed comments, plus an offer to provide a full editorial letter and/or have a phone call regarding a revision with the author: If I write this type of letter, I not only see promise in the project, but am also excited to work with the author on a revision if given the opportunity.
If you receive letters 1-3, I'm not expecting or hoping to see more work by you/the author in the future. If you receive 4-6, then I do hope to read more from you in the future. If you receive letter 6, I'm willing to commit to revising with you just as I would a project that is already under contract, and am welcome to making the process an ongoing conversation.
Any questions? Ask away! But I also have a few questions for you:
If you're an author or agent, which would you prefer:
A) getting a decline letter within a week of submitting the project, with little or no personalization to the letter
B) waiting 4-6 months (or longer) for a decline letter with more detailed, constructive comments
Also, I'm curious--do you hold on to your decline letters? Burn them? Post them to your blog?
Wouldn't it be a nicer world if nobody had to write OR receive these letters? Alas. But if you think of decline letters as a stepping stone to publication, that may make receiving them that much easier.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Let me count the ways
--from the autobiography of Anthony Powell, author of A Dance to the Music of Time, one of the greatest novels ever written in my opinion -- and that of quite a few literary critics, too! He goes on to say that few people realize that authors -- authors like him who are reviewed in the London Times, fairly well known, getting good reviews -- make from their writing, and to say what HE was making then (about a hundred pounds a year!) and to list the ways he supported himself and his family.
My list is quite a bit longer (and of course I'm not saying I'm as good a writer as Anthony Powell!) -- but here all the jobs I've ever had, in chronological order, my version of the looking-back 10 years the other BRGs did awhile ago.
swimming teacher at country club
counselor at camp for state-run camp kids from Harlem and Bedford Stuyvesant
gas station attendant
factory worker (in Providence, at a factory that made display cases for costume jewelery)
soap opera script writer
author of short story in REDBOOK
creative drama teacher at local Y
editorial assistant, then editor, at small academic press
freelance proofreader and editor through the Word Guild
--while doing these two was also a live-in nanny: niether job paid enough to live on! So much for the "good old days" in publishing
TA at Brown
instructor at RISD (2nd longest job, lasted 5 years!)
instructor at Harvard Summer School
writing teacher at DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation)
freelance writer:
--in Boston:
-Harvard School of Public Health, Bachman Information Systems, Arthur D.Little (favorite job ever: a mathematic genius there told me his ideas and I wrote them up in a way that could be understood by others -- this was a final report on a project which they needed to get refunding. Yay! The Air Force refunded it!), MUMPS Collaborative
--in California:
mid-Peninsula Open Spaces, NeXT computer, Facility Planning News
hostess at California vineyard
stablehand for woman who exercised her horses wearing diamonds! This was weird!
secretary at law office -- also weird! The whole town (well, 109 people) was engaged in a massive lawsuit, over the right to ride on what had formerly been horse trails open to everyone. New Money had put up locks; everyone in town took sides in this matter when a rider and a property owner came to blows....this was in Woodside, California.
secretary in Physics Department of Stanford University (2nd favorite job ever: had my own little sunny bright yellow office with a view of the Palo Alto Hills, everyone I worked with was really really smart, especially my boss)
writer for Fidelity Investments Web site (longest job: eight years. Also most lucrative --$100,000/year. Is it crass to say this?)
children's book author (soon will have been doing this longer than I worked at Fidelity, yay! And while doing this I have been/am also a:)
freelance editor/ghostwriter for adults writing self-help books
spy (pretend, for the Go Game. Still, I did wear a trenchcoat, sunglasses and say a secret password--unfortunately not at a dark bar as I had imagined but in the closest thing Mystic has to a hippy hangout)
ghostwriter/work-for-hire author for children's books
babysitter--becoming favorite-job-ever, but perhaps it's too soon, and bad luck to boot, to say that. I do love my kids, though.
Friday, October 09, 2009
After Apple Picking by Robert Frost
I'm in an autumny mood today. Over at Wild Rose Reader, I've posted a bunch of poems about October. For Blue Rose Girls, I've selected a poem by Robert Frost for you.
After Apple Picking
by Robert Frost
My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still,
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples: I am drowsing off.
I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight
I got from looking through a pane of glass
I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough
And held against the world of hoary grass.
It melted, and I let it fall and break.
You can read the rest of the poem here.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
So, I"m going to the gym. Getting in better shape is something I can do without worrying about the above.
What do you guys do when you're in this situation?
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
The WINNER(s)
Well, it's time to pick the final winners! Time to pick the last winner of the $25. monthly gift certificate and a GRAND PRIZE WINNER. This GRAND PRIZE WINNER will get their likeness painted in my next book!
It seemed apropos that the baby that so beautifully advertised my contest should be the one to choose the winners. So, after making the additional fortune cookies, I offered them to baby Maia.
She was rather suspicious:
Even with much urging, she regarded the fortune cookies with doubt:
and caution:
Finally, to give her the idea, I decided to pick one.
So the winner of the last $25. gift certificate is.... LISA SISCO! Congrats Lisa!
Picking Lisa's name made Maia more adventuresome. I think Maia is now ready to pick THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER...
YES! Who did she pick?
Congrats! Your girls will now have their likeness painted in my upcoming book! Yay!
Hmm, Maia doesn't seem too happy for you. Don't take it personally, I think she's just realized that the fortune cookies aren't edible.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
RISD Sale this Saturday
I'll be signing books and selling prints of my illustrations at the RISD Alumni Sale this Saturday October 10th on Benefit Street in Providence, RI. Come by and say hi if you are in the neighborhood! Lots of great handmade stuff for sale.
The sale runs 10-4 rain or shine.
Call 401 454-6618 for more info.
Interview with Maurice Sendak about Spike Jonze and the Wild Things
To continue in the vein of Alvina's post yesterday, a video for your enjoyment! I watched this on Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast yesterday and boy did it give me chills. Every time I see a preview or a clip online about Wild Things I get excited.
Its just so inspiring to see that a) after all his great success and fame, Sendak not at all possessive about his book, that he is excited about collaboration and sharing his vision, b) Spike Jonze seems to have used the same layered, collage-like aesthetic in Adaptation and Being John Malkovich to speak to kids- it just feels so perfectly suited to the confusing, frightening, fantastical time that is childhood and c) the book got BAD reviews at first, panned, it took two years before people caught on.
It is truly humbling to think the impact one book can have. And it just makes me antsy to make something that might move someone just a fraction of the amount I feel moved by Maurice Sendak's work. Though that achievement often feels far out of reach. I saw Maurice Sendak speak at MIT a couple years ago, when he said something to the gist of "I can't believe any good books can come out of the publishing industry the way it is now." Heh. Well one can still hope.
(Sorry about the ad)
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Video Monday
The second is the first of three pitch videos for Sesame Street, made back in 1968. I love how Kermit is such a hippie. Groovy!
(Thanks to Gothamist for the link, you can see links to the other parts here.)
The last two videos are from me.
Two weekends ago I went on a long bike ride around Manhattan, and randomly came upon what appeared to be a unicycle meet-up of some sort. What was great is that the riders all seemed to be teens:
And finally, some of you know that I rode the MS Ride yesterday. I did this ride in 2005 and loved going through the Lincoln Tunnel. Yesterday I went through the tunnel again and took this video. Warning: I wasn't very good about keeping the camera steady, so for those of you who get motion sickness (Grace), you may not want to watch:
Have a great week, all!
Friday, October 02, 2009
POETRY FRIDAY: Autumn Acrostics
I have two new poems this week over at Political Verses— GOING ROGUE: A Poem about Sarah Palin & Her Book and Onward to a Teacher's Life: A Poem Written in the Style of Peggy Noonan.


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We Like it Spicy: City Tours
Sunday, December 23, 2012, 11 am–3 pm
Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
Spices play an important role in the formation of our cities and cultures, and in the experience of our urban spaces. Mumbai, in particular, is home to many known and unknown stories about spices. Join local experts in small groups around the city to explore Mumbai's local spice trails in four distinct neighborhoods.
A PDF with full descriptions of each of the trails is available for download here. Trails include:
- GUJARATHI FOOD TOUR and LUNCH
by Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal (APB Studio)
Meeting point: Grant Road Station, West entrance.
Time: 11 am—2 pm
- MATUNGA MARKET WALK and SOUTH INDIAN LUNCH
by Deepa Krishnan (Mumbai Magic)
Meeting Point: Astika Samaj, Kings Circle
Time: 11 am—2 pm
- LALBAUGH (MILL COLONY) TOUR and LUNCH at DADAR
by Freni Avari
Meeting Point: Bhau Daji Lad Museum Entrance
Time: 11 am—2 pm
- CHAI WALK (no lunch served)
by Gargi Kothari (Tea Trunk)
Meeting Point: Oxford Book Store (Dinshaw Vacha Road, Churchgate)
Time: 1:30 pm—3 pm
The walks continue with a chai tasting at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum Lab site, followed by conversations about various spices, food and community, food and identity, and the city.
This event will be conducted in English and Hindi.
Tour leaves from the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum Lab site.
This is a limited-capacity event. To reserve your place, please email email@example.com. Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participants: Vikram Doctor and Rushina Munshaw
Photo: UnCommonSense


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How We're Different
Unlike most agencies or facilitators who represent a single clinic (thus are financially compensated to send patients only to their clinic) we do not accept any compensation of any kind from any clinic. You are paying us a fee to represent you, advocate for you, and provide objective advice to help you select the clinic that is the best match to your requirements.
Most fertility tourism agencies or faciliators offering package services for IVF treatments abroad or IVF vacations are contractually tied to a single clinic or a small handful of clinics (generally only one per area or country) so they are advocating for their clinic. Normally, you pay the agency a package price and the agencies may receive a slightly discounted treatment rate from the clinic for their patients in exchange for providing assistance in preparing the patients for treatment. In many cases, the agencies have pre-reserved treatment dates or are able to get priority dates (if there is a wait list at the clinic) and you pay a slightly higher fee to use an agency than if you contracted with a clinic directly (this can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars). The agency may also include some advance planning, coordination and travel assistance as well, or offer it as an option.
The other option patients may have is to book treatment directly with a clinic for treatment. This may be slightly less expensive than booking through an agency, but sometimes can bring challenges in communicating with the clinic or doctors due to language barriers, patient load, timeliness, frequent staff changes, cultural differences - or sometimes just being 6 or more time zones away can bring its own challenges. Of course, just like in the US, each doctor or clinic coordinator is unique and your experience may or may not be enhanced by having an agency or consultant like IVF Traveler to assist in the process.
The great news is that we can help you work with any clinic or agency. We are different because we have no financial or contractual obligations to any clinic or agency, and in fact, we do not accept any referral fees or advertising fees of any kind from the clinics. This way we are not influenced financially, so we can truly help you find the best clinic choice for your criteria and budget, and then assist you in the planning and preparation if you would like our services in that area too.
Because we are not tied to a specific clinic, and we do not receive any money or compensation from the clinics or agencies, you can be assured that our interest is offering advice and information that is impartial and in your best interest. You are paying us for our expertise and services on a flat fee basis. That comes with easy access to Sue — someone who speaks English and has lived through infertility challenges, personally experienced fertility treatments, and has helped hundreds of other patients with their IVF treatments. We have seen many difficult cases and lots of successful pregnancies, and can help you know what questions to ask and things to consider prior to treatment. That also means we are sympathetic to the rollercoaster of emotions and questions that often come along the process.


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For those of you who don't remember reading it, please click here to refresh your memory before carrying on with the rest of this post.
While surfing the internet in my tiny London Hotel Room I managed to find a reply to her e-mail by a senior colleague at Citigroup which I think is worth reading.
Dear Lucy,
Apologies for emailing on a private email address but I am currently onholiday in Barbados and refusing to access my Citigroup emails.
However,I have had your email forwarded to me by one of my senior colleaguesabout your party this Friday.
Unfortunately I will not be able to make it as:
1. I always wear jeans and a t-shirt on the weekend (no exceptions)
2.The ritz is SO last season.
3. I would rather not have to waste timebuying you a card and present, which you probably wouldn't need anyway
4. Your PA has advised me that most people won't be turning up so Iwon't miss much
5. Like most people, I'm not very good at sticking toarrival times and would probably miss my slot.
On a serious note, based on your email, I am quite dumbfounded with how you managed to get a job here with us this summer and i will be having some SERIOUS words with the person who interviewed you.
The fact thatyou have obviously spent a lot of our 'Work Time', planning your birthday party and not doing the work we have given you is a clearindication that you are not taking this internship seriously and are not dedicated to the firm.
I do not think we will be in a position to offeryou a full time graduate placement following the internship.
Kind regards,
David Townsend
Executive Director
Global FI Trading Floor
I can't think of a better reply.
The man's a genius!
Anyway, I guess it wouldn't hurt to be Lucy Gao since on top of all the material things she probably already has in this world, she now has FAME and even a T-Shirt named after her and all she had to do was write an e-mail invitation.
Well done Lucy.
Meanwhile, I happened to find someone else's Birthday Invitation.
Do check it out...
'You are all cordially invited to my birthday party in McDonalds, Brixton.
Please get there early to avoid missing out on the buy-one-get-one-free cheeseburger offer (only available before 2pm)...
Please purchase your own food.... I will pay for your ketchup.... you will only get one tub..... between two.
Dress code: The more upper class you dress the more likely you are to get mugged.If you have any issues getting to McDonalds, please contact my pimp. He has several mobile phone numbers.
You should try to use the word 'wicked' as many times as you can when speaking to him. That way, at least he'll understand you.
You will be welcomed outside McDonalds by a tramp sitting by the entrance, and pretending to play the harmonica...
When asked "do you have any change?".... just make as if you can't speak English.... like this... "Me No Inglish", and enter.
Please conserve your money for the happy meals.
Entertainment will be provided courtesy of the Metropolitan Police, who will be escorting a group of ASBO kids out on a day-trip.
McDonalds have arranged for a lovely angel cake for us to look at.
PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE CAKE..... You touch, you buy!
No boxed gifts.... I will, however, accept milk vouchers.Its gonna be pukka!'
You've gotta pity the poor guy.
Somebody spare him some change.


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Links We Love
Game of Thrones crashes HBO Go, Jon Hamm loses dating game show and more links we love
Editor's note: There's so much that's beautiful, funny, smart and informative on the Internet. Problem is, there's also a bunch of garbage. Here's the best of the web right now:
1. Game of Thrones premiere crashed HBO Go, and fans were none too pleased. Internet TV watchers have high expectations. They have little patience for crashes or prolonged buffering, even while admittedly getting premium content for free. The outrage was compounded by HBO's cheeky updates on Twitter, including telling viewers to "send a raven."
2. Jon Hamm was on a dating show in the '90s, and he lost. Jon Hamm may be a hot Hollywood star these days, but back in 1996, he was just another sucker trying to woo a woman on daytime TV. Despite promising "an evening of fabulousity," Hamm was rejected by two contestants on The Big Date.
3. "Brozen," a.k.a. Bros who like Frozen, is not really a thing. No matter what age, race, gender or nationality you are, there's a good chance you're a fan of the movie Frozen. Still, we were surprised to learn the term "Brozen" is gaining traction. Or is it? According to The Daily Dot, it's all an elaborate prank. Let it go, boys.
4. Honey Maid found the perfect way to respond to homophobes who hated its new ad. In March, Honey Maid put out a cute commercial showing a wide variety of families. This apparently angered some people who sent hate mail to Honey Maid. They responded in the best way possible: with a whole lotta love.
5. This font made from CGI skin will make you feel gross. If you are okay with using this font, you might be a serial killer. Nevertheless, we've got to hand it to the German design studio FOREAL. It's not every day that a font makes your skin crawl.


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President Biden visited Fort Myers, Fla., today to get a firsthand look at the devastation brought by Hurricane Ian. His message to Florida residents? That the White House has their backs.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: We're not leaving. We're not leaving until this gets done. I promise you that.
KELLY: With him standing a few steps away was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has clashed with Biden on pretty much everything from COVID to the economy to immigration.
Well, we're going to dive into this recovery response on a couple of fronts, first with NPR's Lexie Schapitl, who joins us from the White House. Hey, Lexie.
LEXIE SCHAPITL, BYLINE: Hi there.
KELLY: So President Biden, he was in Florida for just a few hours. What'd he manage to see?
SCHAPITL: So Ian really pummeled Florida when it made landfall last week. It was one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the United States. And Fort Myers in particular saw a lot of destruction. Buildings got swept away by the storm. Debris and sand just blanketed streets.
So today, President Biden saw much of that damage as he toured the area in a helicopter. He talked to local business owners and residents who were affected by the storm. And he spoke in front of a strip of restaurants and shops that have been badly damaged.
KELLY: And to help repair some of that damage, the White House had an announcement today that there will be more federal aid for Florida than was first announced. Do we know how much more? Any details?
SCHAPITL: Yeah. So this is going to be a really long and costly recovery process. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said today the cost will definitely be in the billions. And it could be one of the most expensive disasters the U.S. has seen in years.
So today, President Biden extended federal funding to last 60 days instead of 30 days. That means the federal government will cover 100% of the costs for things like search and rescue, debris removal and shelter and food. And in his remarks, the president stressed that this process is really just beginning.
BIDEN: Not weeks or months - it's going to take years for everything to get squared away in the state of Florida, to fully recover and rebuild.
SCHAPITL: He also acknowledged that many people in Florida are waiting hours to get an answer from FEMA call centers and said the administration is working on fixing that.
KELLY: Before I let you go, Lexie, can we talk about this meeting between Biden and Governor DeSantis, who, as I said, does not see eye-to-eye with Biden on just about anything? What was that meeting like, the tone? How did it go?
SCHAPITL: It wasn't exactly the warmest scene. The two did shake hands when the Bidens arrived, but they sort of stayed at arm's length as they walked and talked with some of the affected residents. But Biden thanked - DeSantis thanked Biden for his support and said the federal and local coordination was going really well in response to the storm. Biden said he and DeSantis have, quote, "worked hand in glove," that they were in complete lockstep, even though they have very different political philosophies.
Like you mentioned, DeSantis has criticized Biden's COVID response, his handling of inflation and most recently, his border policy. But disasters like this are typically a time when people can put political differences aside. And it wouldn't look good for DeSantis or Biden to be bringing political fights into this trip while residents are still getting back into their homes and more than a hundred people have been killed in the state.
KELLY: That's NPR's Lexie Schapitl, reporting today from the White House. Thank you, Lexie.
SCHAPITL: Thank you for having me. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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When you don't feel like running outdoors ( or it's a little too cold or snowy), you automatically think of the dreaded treadmill. We both have been physically unable to run for a while so the treadmill has not been an option for us lately. We have found that we can still get in a good work out with these other simple pieces of equipment.
1. Fitness Ball: This is probably one of our favorite pieces of equipment to use but it can be dangerous if you don't use it properly. Balance is key. You can use it in a multitude of ways. Sit on it to do sit ups, strengthen you legs by using it for bridges, and lots of core and ab exercises. Since these moves are difficult to explain, we've linked to a page on Helpful ways to use the fitness ball for beginners.
2. The Xfinity Bands: The Xfinity bands take the plain old fitness band to a whole new level. I would suggest using them with a video first to learn some moves, and then you can do a few stretches and strengthening moves on your own whenever the mood strikes.
My sister actually did a post on the Xfinity band HERE, if you would like to learn more about it.
3. Another inexpensive item that is very is a therapy resistance band. We got some from Physical therapy and my sister has been faithful in using hers. We actually looked up the actually name of these bands and it is Physical Therapy band, go figure. You can purchase them at Walmart, Target, or any sports retailer. These are not the "tube bands". They are like really thick rubber bands and they are great for strengthening up leg muscles. Our favorite move is putting them around your knees before doing clamshells or putting them around your ankles and doing lunges.
4. Don't forget about the plain old jump rope. Nothing fancy about this one. A jump rope is great cardio.
5. Ankle weights are a joy. You can strap those on and do almost any activity. Here is an example of how you can build strength in your upper legs and help a tight IT band or Hamstring.
Seated IT band/Hamstring stretch: You can't tell in this picture but she has 3 pound weights strapped to her ankles ( You can use which ever weight feels right to you). You'll want to sit on a hard surfaced chair. Put a pillow under the leg you will be stretching. Arch your back as you grip the underneath part of the chair ( this is very important in feeling the resistance as you stretch). Lift the leg up until your knee is straight and then for a bit more stretch, flex your toes up. Do this 10X with each leg. Don't forget to move the pillow under the leg you are stretching.


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Deerfield II Tassel Moc-Toe
Color: Dark Burgundy
This item is currently not available
- Premium polished European calfskin maintains a lasting shine.
- Exclusive Trampoline® Comfort System with toe-to-heel EVA and resilient Poron®-foam and full leather lining offer superior cushioning.
- Breathable full leather lining.
- Leather sole and combination leather/fine-line rubber heel provide a clean, dressy look.
- Goodyear welt construction allows leather to mold to your foot over time for a truly customized fit.
- Each pair comes with a protective shoe bag.


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