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From 2015 to early October 2017, I was involved in an online community by the writer and self proclaimed feminist marketing consultant Kelly Diels - first called "How to Sell to Women Without Selling Them Out," and later changed to "We are the Culture Makers." Kelly built a large and vibrant community of social and cultural changemakers who look critically at manipulative practices in the online business world, through the lens of an analysis of the "Female Lifestyle Empowerment Brand," a phenomenon Kelly named.
In October 2017, Kelly shut down her community after several women of color came out publicly in protest of racist and exploitative behavior on her part.
Since then, the community -- uprooted from its home in "We are the Culture Makers" -- has been putting together the pieces of what happened, as more people come forward with their stories. Rumors of intellectual property theft and other predatory practices are spreading in addition to the stories of racism; but until all of the facts are in and stories are told, the rumors only serve to fuel an attack, and not to provide context and understanding.
I have my own story to tell, in this spirit of context and understanding. People need information, and we all need to learn from what has happened and move forward more knowledgeable about how predatory business practices work.
Telling this story marks a break with my long-held commitment never to engage in a public attack against another woman. But as Staci Jordan Shelton has come to help me understand, information and accountability are not the same thing as attack and annihilation. Abusive behavior must be interrupted, and stories told, for healing to occur.
I hope that this letter will, along with the others that have been written and are being written alongside mine, serve as a "calling in" for Kelly. She has a big opportunity before her: to listen, feel and learn, and to acknowledge her behavior and change. It would be a long process, and mostly one that would not happen in the public eye. I truly wish the best for Kelly, and I wish the best for every one of us, as we seek to end the ethos of exploitation that pervades our culture.
Kelly Diels stole my work: at first an appropriation, and then a blatant theft. It damaged my business and compromised my brand. It has happened to others too, and their stories will be told. Here is mine.
"WE ARE THE CULTURE MAKERS:" a history.
My background as an artist includes the institutional art world of galleries, museums and academia, and also of community art and participatory arts communities - brave spaces where artists and cultural workers are engaged in leveraging creative processes and human imagination to make change in their communities.
In that world, there resides a shared understanding that culture -- as the sum total of private, public, individual and collective action by a given group of people -- is created and recreated by the people, every day. It is a given that all people are world makers, culture builders...culture makers.
The languages, rituals, traditions, slang, body movements, foods, emotional expressions, musical expressions, methods of play and debate and communication, object making, image making, religious expressions, fashion, decoration, ornamentation, storytelling, dreaming, visions, forms of labor, and modes of resistance and defiance by any person or groups of people are significant, precious, unique, and VITALLY CRITICAL contributions that are to be protected and defended like any ecosystem.
These inherent cultural forms, with their indwelling histories and heritages and evolutions, can be consciously nurtured and released into the world as the liberating forces that they are. The cultural ground of our beings, as individuals and collectives, are a massive force for change when we recognize them as such.
This perspective stands in polar opposition to the settler mindset, the colonial agenda, and its culture of mass consumption. We are not here to consume the endless stream of toxic misinformation that is designed to crush our self-determination: we are the creators of our world. This perspective makes us dangerous, makes us effective, makes us unstoppable and makes us free.
The idea that we are all culture makers is not an idea that is branded or trademarked by anyone - it is collectively held perspective that gains nuance and meaning with every action taken by those of us tending the disciplines, theories, and legacies of community based and social justice arts in the US - and not just there. This is a perspective held in indigenous ways of knowing and countless other communities and peoples marginalized by or exploited by the "dominant" cultures the world over. Art and culture making have always been deeply central to human thriving.
I came to the world of online entrepreneurship gently holding this perspective in my hands. Not as something I owned, but simply a point of view to share. Arriving here, it was immediately obvious to me that building a brand new business was another act of influencing, affecting, and sometimes even creating new culture; and that many in these spaces hadn't thought about it that way.
As changemakers who are building businesses in a time of advanced capitalism, we are in the tricky place of having to learn to survive within the current economic system while living into our visions for its replacement - and in navigating those contradictions, we can, and do, co-create our business culture every single day. We are creating communities that anticipate and prepare for the world to come. This is important for us to claim and acknowledge.
To see ourselves as creators of our culture is a stance that calls us into responsibility, accountability, creativity, and vision.
When I met Kelly and joined her Facebook group which was then called "How to Sell to Women Without Selling Them Out," I was relieved to find someone who seemed to be challenging the more frustrating and mystifying aspects of small business culture and practices. I hired her for a session, and we started to get friendly, sharing ideas and appreciating each other's work. We began to speak of collaborating and finding ways to merge our work, her as a writer, me as a visual artist. I joined her mastermind group.
She was particularly inspired and fascinated by my perspective on culture making.
After several months of sharing ideas, she disappeared, not responding to my calls or chat messages for a while.
A couple of months later, she changed the name of her group to "We Are The Culture Makers"...and as time passed, that became her key marketing message, her web site rallying cry, the center of her brand.
Unable to see clearly what was happening, I doubted myself. Well, she IS a culture maker, by my definition, isn't she? I don't OWN this idea, so why am I feeling competitive? What's with this "scarcity mentality," I am experiencing -- isn't there enough room for all of us here? I have no right to own a phrase like that!
The rules of the entrepreneurship game are decidedly different than the shared culture making ethos of the community art world I came from; and the economics of collaboration are different - hence one facet of the dissonance I was feeling. Another: everyone around me seems to love and trust her. What's my problem?
It took some time for me to realize that what she had done was impacting my business. She turned the attention away from a body of teachings I was carefully stewarding, and turned it towards the spectacle of her brand declaration. Only after culture makers got appropriated and edified into her brand did I feel how important the proper stewarding of this particular cultural offering was to my very heart and soul.
And now I was being recast by her, with her bigger platform and rapid-fire prolific writing, as someone who was inspired by her perspective, rather than the opposite. And people began relating to me that way.
It's easy to describe all this now and see it for what it was; but at the time, I was just confused, and as I am inclined to do, I wrote much of it off as my own issues I need to work on.
And then she stole more of my work, so blatantly that I could not longer avoid it.
FEMINIST MARKETING SCHOOL MONTH 7: A History.
Over the long period of many months that the above story was unfolding, I hired Kelly for four sessions, to help me write copy for my web site.
Kelly helped me write a clear marketing message which defined the scope of the problems I address in my business and their solutions. We mapped out the narrative together, taking my long-form writings and filtering them through Kelly's pithy and powerful copywriting techniques. By the end of session three, the story was fully developed, and the plan for the final session was to flesh out some of the other pages for my web site.
Our final session never happened. Once again, Kelly disappeared, and once again, I decided it must be because she had "so much going on" in her life. I had heard rumors about a big new project in development called Feminist Marketing School (FMS). I was excited to hear about it, and to discuss the collaborations we had long planned -- because surely sucha school would include teachings on images.
So I let her off the hook for Session 4. Part of that was because she was so hard to track down (she was ghosting me, I see now) -- and part of it was that I needed time to sit with this creeping feeling that somehow, over the course of our sessions, my work - its heart, it's voice, its spirit - was becoming hers. When I read the copy, I was reading Kelly's voice, not mine. My work is about SO VERY MUCH MORE than the Female Lifestyle Empowerment brand, and my methodologies go well beyond the type of critical pattern-spotting and formulaic solutions that Kelly uses in her own work - but my new copy felt limited to her way of thinking, and were losing the depth of my background and thinking.
Then a dear friend called. "Kelly just launched Feminist Marketing School. Have you seen Module 7? You might find it familiar."
And there it was. In logic, structure and content: the key marketing messages we worked out in my sessions with her, which I had not yet published for myself, were copied, almost verbatim. The work we had done for my brand had became it the basis for an entire month of FMS offerings, without any communication with me whatsoever. In essence, I paid Kelly to develop and then steal my work.
The mirage vanished and suddenly I could see the manipulative marketer behind the curtain, pulling the strings. I had been groomed, in a highly transactional relationship that created the appearance of a friendship (but only barely) - for this moment of theft. My relative inexperience with online digital marketing, my fears about doing it right, my commitment to collaboration and idea sharing, and my fear of calling out someone with a much larger platform and on whom I felt dependant - were all manipulated, while she harvested what she wanted from her insider's view of my business, only to publish it as her own.
Turns out she messed with the wrong culture maker.
I wrote to her, telling her I could see what she did, and to remove my work immediately from her sales page. She responded with the assertion that she is "allowed to talk about images," but she valued our relationship so she would be happy to let me go through the sales page with her and make adjustments so it would feel better.
My response, in my second email: This is not yours to adjust. It is not yours to invite collaboration on. Remove all evidence of my work from your work immediately. No negotiation, collaboration or compromise.
So by the deadline I gave her, she rewrote Module 7, scaling it all the way back to what her own work prepares her to do regarding images (which is not much).
She knew what she had done: otherwise she would not have taken it down. She wouldn't have offered to hire a mediator so we could work out our feelings. And she wouldn't have asked me not to talk about it publicly.
She never acknowledged the theft. Never apologized. Only defense, justification, and and attempt to cover up.
For a long time, I didn't tell. Partially, because I felt alone. I wasn't sure who would believe me, and she has - had - much more power in these spaces than I did.
But then I didn't share because I found out about more people with the same issue -- I was considering joining in a lawsuit against her, and needed to remain confidential for that to be valid.
As it became clear that Feminist Marketing School was constructed on a weak skeleton of appropriated work and exploited labor, a handful of us began strategizing about an intervention and a calling out. And just as we were about to do that...
White supremacy was once again aimed at women of color in Kelly's community, and she dropped the ball, justified, defended. And thanks to the brave work of Alexis Morgan and many others, the whole house of cards began to tumble down. It turns out, there were far more stories to tell, and ones that were far more damaging to people than mine.
Thank you for listening to my story.
May we all claim our confidence as culture makers.
May we all figure out what that really means, together.
May we all learn to survive and thrive in this world, while living into the world we wish to create.
May we keep creating communities that anticipate and model the world to come.
May we face the hardest things we need to face in order to stop perpetuating the violence installed in us.
May we have courage.
May we find healing and redemption on ourselves and our communities, including those among us who have been harmed, and those among us who are lost in ways that cause harm.
May we all protect, defend, and cherish the cultural treasures and legacies that we each carry.
May we be confident and encouraged to create new culture together in life-giving collaborations that do not exploit.
May we create.


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Happy Halloween!
It has been awhile since I talked about Silent Hill. So in spirit of the season, let's do that! Below are older posts for the previous games:
Silent Hill is once again published by … sigh…. Konami. It was originally released on the Playstation 2 back in 2003, but it got a remastered version along with Silent Hill 2 back in 2012.
Heather Mason is daughter of the original protagonist Harry Mason. After the rebirth at the end of the original game, the child grew up to be this independent young woman. She is the reincarnated form of Alessa Gillespie and Cheryl Mason.
Claudia Wolf is the main antagonist of the game. She inherited the cult that as the center of the original game. She want to create Paradise on Earth by giving birth to God through Heather, thus needing Heather to return to Silent Hill.
One day, when Heather was out at a mall, strange things start to happen, things that would only happen in town of Silent Hill. When she returns home, she find Harry murdered and finds out it was Claudia and the cult's doing. Claudia tell her if she wants to find her, she has to come to the messed up town of Silent Hill.
The gameplay is very similar to Silent Hill 2, there is still the tank control and you go around solving puzzles. The environments in the game are terrifying as usual, and there were several rooms that exist just to scare the shit out of the player.
As usual, the combat is not the preferred way to play the game. As you have limited ammo and the character is a civilian, she will miss some of the shots.
-the Bad-
Not sure if this is a thing to complain, but the gameplay really has not evolved since the original Silent Hill from the PS1 era, not that it's bad, just that its not been worked on. I am not saying it should have combat combos like they did in Silent Hill: Homecoming, but maybe more risk could have been taken.
Silent Hill 2 is seen as the apex of the series in terms of story, and I can see that. The entirety of the second game was how the town of Silent Hill was mind raping poor James with Pyramid Head and Maria. On the other hand, Silent Hill 3 takes a little more conventional route with the cult making a return.
-the Good-
Although it is missing the terror that was Pyramid Head, I thought Silent Hill 3 was the scariest of the first 3 games. If you have played this game, you all must remember the mannequin room …. holy hell that was creepy.
What was terrifying about this room was that I hoped a monster came out and you get to fight it, then I would know the nightmare was over. But the monster never showed, and the feeling of this ever present dread lingered. That is how you do good horror, at least that is my two cents.
And as usual, there are so many goofy things in the game. The previous Silent Hills had silly things like the UFO endings and the Dog ending, well the goofiness returns. Silent Hill 3 has an "animated" UFO ending that follows the not-so-canon of the previous UFO endings. And in New Game Plus, Heather gets alternate costume as well as magic girl wand.
-How does it hold up?-
In my opinion, and shared by many, Silent Hill 1, 2, and 3 are some of the finest horror games to exist. Of the 3 games, I thought Silent Hill 2 had the best characters and story, but in terms of actually being scary, I thought Silent Hill 3 just nailed it.
Have you tried this game? Let me know what you though!

subset: commoncrawl


text: Trailblazing Portland's brunch scene, Tasty & Alder was created by co-owner and exec chef John Gorham. Now with a swagger of hotspots under his belt and a cookbook 'Hello My Name is Tasty' that pays homeage to the hits. We kept going back to this bright and bustling corner eatery.


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"Check out our favorite tattoos inspired by books," Electric Lit suggested.
Headline of the Day (via KHOU-11 Houston): "Former first lady Michelle Obama meets local book club for brunch after Instagram invite."
Ponden Hall, "the home said to have inspired Wuthering Heights," is for sale, according to the Yorkshire Post.
"Some of these phrases have magnetism," Merriam-Webster noted in sharing "7 phrases that are just so metal."
Atlas Obscura delved "inside the Belgian library that tore itself apart."


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Product Description
Made around the year 1880, this English antique linen press would make an attractive addition to any home. It was made from mahogany wood which has, over the past 130+ years, developed a wonderful sheen that can only be duplicated by time. Perfect for clothes storage as an armoire or to put a TV in, you can use this lovely piece anywhere!
Linen Press
Inside the top you will see this press has retained three of its original five slides. The slides are where clothes and linens were stored after having been pressed to keep them wrinkle free. This upper cabinet area has an interior measurement of 48″ wide x 20.5″ deep x 41″ tall so there is plenty of room to store whatever you need to. The slides come right out if you don't want to use them or if you want to rearrange them. This English antique linen press does separate into three pieces (crown, cabinet, and chest sections) for easier moving.
This linen press is in good condition and is quite sturdy and stable. There are locks for the door and drawers, but no key remains. The doors do stay closed on their own. The left door has a three inch long indentation at the very bottom left corner. The right door has some small chips at the top and the side of the door shows an old, major repair. The middle moulding at the top of the chest section has a small chip on the left corner. The entire piece shows minor wear marks in the form of small dings that you come to expect from a piece that is over 130 years old. These marks server to add character to the linen press rather than detract from it. The entire piece has a great overall look and is ready to be used in your home immediately.
Shipping Policies
We ship most items via a free curbside delivery but also offer white glove delivery and custom options (contact us if you have special requirements like this). Smaller items usually ship via UPS.
Terms & Conditions
Learn more about payments, returns, guarantees, and more.


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Polished Creative
Polished Creative
As a Creative with The Works, you'll become part of the Gold Club, receiving access to special opportunities for Gold Club members, as well as Discounts, Rolling Credit and #Firestokers. For the Veteran, the Beginner and Everyone, this excellent package comes with all the things any Local Artist would need in the local scene. Opportunities, Chances and Exposure.
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This recipe comes from the Real Mom Cookbook as well. I really love this book and my family loves most of the recipes I make from it as well.
Cheese Potatoes (links to original recipe)
- 8 to 10 medium potatoes
- 2 cans of cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese or cheddar blend
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1/4 cup butter
Preheat oven to 350.
Peel potatoes and boil in water until tender, approximately 15-20 minutes.
In another pan, cook onion in butter until tender.
Drain potatoes and cut into small pieces. (I usually mash them lightly with a hand masher.)
Mix potatoes, onion, and butter, with remaining ingredients. Pour into greased 9×13 pan.
Cover with foil and bake for about 1 hour.


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Air conditioning is one of the biggest costs people face during the wintertime. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the average energy bill in 48 states is at least $80 a month. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that people can save money on their A/C bills. Continue reading Ways to Shave Your Air Conditioning Costs
How to enhance your body image
Cosmetic surgery is not for everyone, but if you have low self esteem due to concerns about the shape of your body or dissatisfaction with your features, it could make all the difference. There are many cosmetic and reconstructive treatments available, including surgical and non-surgical techniques that can enhance your appearance. Some procedures can be done with minimal incisions, making recovery time much quicker. Once done why not treat yourself to a nice new pair of woman designer jeans?
Before deciding whether cosmetic surgery is for you, think carefully about what you expect the outcome to be, and whether it will be worth the investment to you. According to research conducted by David J Castle, Roberta J Honigman and Katharine A Phillips most people are happy following cosmetic procedures, although those with unrealistic expectations may be disappointed.
Some of the procedures available
Whether it is your face, your breasts, your abdomen that you are unhappy with, there are procedures to help improve your body image. These include:
This is an eyelid reduction that removes surplus skin and fat in order to create a more alert appearance. The swelling and puffiness that often appears in the morning can be reduced and the facial appearance generally improved.
If you are unhappy with the shape or size of your nose it can be reshaped to complement your other facial features better. This is a very old procedure and according to the Science Museum it was developed in around 500 BCE by a Hindu surgeon in India.
This procedure to remove or reduce wrinkles and lines by removing skin that has lost elasticity is very commonly requested. It can restore a more youthful look and is particularly popular with women. You can also have a neck lift.
Brow lift
This can reduce drooping of eyebrows and the hooding of the upper eyelids. It can soften creases on the forehead and remove wrinkles.
Ear surgery
If you are unhappy with the shape, size or position of your ears, this may be the procedure for you.
Breast surgery
If you feel your breasts are too small you can choose breast augmentation to make them fuller. Breast reduction can also be performed if you feel that your breasts are too large in proportion to the rest of your body. Sagging breasts can be improved by a breast lift.
Unwanted fat can be removed from various areas of the body such as the thighs, arms, hips and buttocks by suction.
This procedure is also known colloquially as a tummy tuck in Essex and surrounding areas. Excess fat and skin is removed from the abdomen and the muscles are tightened which gives the abdomen a flatter contour.
Whatever surgical procedure you choose it is important to discuss the options with your surgeon so that you have a clear idea of what can be achieved and how you are likely to be affected. You could ask to see photographs of previous operations performed by the surgeon if you are unsure of the kind of results to expect. It is also worth asking if you can see reviews or testimonials from previous patients.
How Can I find a Predicate Device for my 510(k) Submission?
When completing your 510(k) clearance submission for FDA approval, you will be required to demonstrate that your device is both safe and effective. According to the rules and regulations of submitting a 510(k), the FDA states that you can prove the effectiveness and safety of your product by proving its substantial equivalence to an existing legally marketed device, otherwise known as a predicate device.
What is a Predicate Device?
The predicate device must have been legally marketed before 28th May 1976 and obviously pre-approved by the FDA. According to Device Watch, when submitting your 510(k), you must accurately compare and associate the similarities between your device and that of your predicated device. The devices do not have to be completely identical to each other, but rather, they must share similar aspects such as intended use, energy used, deign, performance, standards, labelling, effectiveness, safety and other relevant characteristics.
How to Find a Predicate Device
Finding a suitable predicate device is usually the stage of the 510(k) submission that most applicants dread. However, it is actually quite simple to find one since the FDA owns a huge database that contains a list of previously cleared 510(k) devices and this list is constantly being updated. To find which of these devices is suitable, you must take your product code and search for it in the Product Code Classification Database. This will then bring you to your specific classification of your device and you will be given a list of similar device types previously cleared by the FDA 510(K). You can also search for manufactures names, devices and other search terms to find a suitable predicate device to your own.
510(k) Clearance Guidance
People are easily intimidated by 510(k) clearance. It seems like a mountain of a task and one better left to the professionals. A huge drawback is the sheer amount of time it takes to have your submission cleared by the FDA. This process can take months to complete. To avoid the long queue of stacked 510(k) submissions, it's probably a better idea to choose an Accredited Persons to help instead. These are FDA approved companies to help with FDA 510k Clearance submissions. Third Party Review companies such as fdathirdpartyreview are able to review your submission and forward their findings to the FDA. This works out to be a lot less time consuming because the FDA are obligated to respond with their final decision within 30 days.
4 Shocking Medical Devices Approved by the FDA
Following the completion of research studies carried out by Clinical Research Associates from professional clinical solution providers such as http://www.gandlscientific.com, new medical treatments and technologies must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed in the U.S. This process can take months and many of these treatments are rejected if they are not proven to be both safe and effective for human use. Continue reading 4 Shocking Medical Devices Approved by the FDA
Candid Cameras Are the New Thing for Modern Weddings
Traditional formal wedding photography is losing touch with today's brides and their grooms. Today the fashion is for much more informal unstaged pictures – candid photography. Many couples like it because it captures more realistically the emotions of the day and what everyone is really feeling, and that's what they want to remember about their special day. Continue reading Candid Cameras Are the New Thing for Modern Weddings
Why are more restaurants choosing open plan?
There was a time when all commercial kitchens were situated behind closed doors and customers couldn't see what was going on. However, there is now a growing trend for new restaurants to have an open plan layout, where the kitchen is visible from the dining area. What benefits can this bring for both the business and the customers? Continue reading Why are more restaurants choosing open plan?
Mobile vs Desktop Website Design
Today, smartphones are not a luxury item – they are something that is so common that even a lot of schoolchildren own them. They are also rapidly becoming the preferred way of using the web for a lot of adults.
This means that every business owner should make an effort to cater to mobile users. In fact, comScore reports that we have reached the point where there are more mobile web users than there are desktop users, and as Smart Insights explains in their report, this means that having a good strategy for reaching and retaining mobile users is essential. The good news is that you don't need to have different websites for desktop and mobile users if you take advantage of responsive designs.
One Site, Many Platforms
Neilsen offers some useful guidelines for "transmedia" websites. These guidelines cover the points that every website should hit – things like catering to slow download speeds, old software, weak hardware, touch interfaces and unusual screen resolutions. Responsive design covers most of these issues quite well, so if you use a good CMS and choose a theme that covers mobile and desktop devices then you are already ahead of the crowd.
Companies such as https://www.bugfinders.com offer software testing services that have those crucial cross-platform optimisations in mind. They understand that the days of there being a difference between a mobile and a desktop website are long gone. With the exception of perhaps serving up lower quality, smaller images for low resolution screens, websites should be fluid and have layouts that look good on any device.
If you are looking for a software testing company, make sure that they understand how to provide a good end-user experience for both desktop and mobile users, and make sure that they test their websites on as many different platforms as possible. Do not make assumptions about how your website will look – remember that while many smartphones have sophisticated browsers, when you get to the lower-end feature phones, things become far more unpredictable in terms of functionality and power.
Looking to The Future
The trend towards "Phablets" may change the design constraints that web designers face when it comes to accommodating mobile users, but right now there are a huge number of different screen sizes, and browser capabilities, for designers to consider. If you want your site to succeed, then you cannot afford to ignore any of your user-base.
Today, a "normal website" should be a flexible, powerful website that looks good whether it is viewed on an iPad with a retina display, a feature phone, a tablet PC or an old desktop using Internet Explorer (after all, you want to cater to people shopping at work!) if you cannot do this, you will lose customers. Given the power and flexibility of modern content management systems, and the fact that Google is pushing webmasters to be more mobile-friendly, it makes sense to invest in improving your site today.
Emerging Trends in Cold Chain Logistics
With more requirements than ever before for safe and efficient refrigeration, pharmaceutical and food companies are feeling the heat when it comes to managing refrigerated freight. Both sectors are being pressurised to ensure that the cold chain is meeting quality standards in terms of temperature control, energy dependence and regulatory requirements.
As a result, more and more research is being ploughed in to the industry, leading to some key trends which look set to improve logistics and achieve efficiencies.
Current Trends in the Cold Chain
As consumer demands grow more complex, there has been a recent shift towards globalization. For example, with tastes for products such as Alaskan salmon becoming more mainstream, firms have had to swiftly amend their outlook to accommodate ways of sourcing and shipping foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals safely across extended distances. VersaCold report this demand is prompting innovation, with transit control a priority.
This shift in consumer expectations has also impacted cold chain commitment to maintaining refrigerated warehouses across up to five disparate temperature zones. To avoid the inevitable changes to taste and texture through fluctuations in temperature, firms are battling to maintain consistency as well as safety, speed and quality. There is also a move towards temperature-assured reefers and other containers to accommodate increased sensitivity for pharmaceuticals which need to be shipped at consistent levels.
Increasing Demands on Commercial Refrigeration
Directives issued by the European Union on distribution of medicinal products in 2013 called for manufacturer-established recommendations to be observed not just in storage, but across the entire transportation process. The coverage also applies to over-the-counter medicines. This mandate has greatly increased the demands for consistency across the entire shipping of products.
Strategically, firms are now considering positioning of suppliers across the flow of goods to ensure they are able to accommodate the new quality requirements. This means considering speed, consistency, location and capabilities in addition to cost-effectiveness. For example, Nestlé Canada has adopted Lean principles to ensure quality can be managed in addition to maintaining cost effectiveness, while https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/ commercial refrigeration experts are seeing much more demand for high-quality, highly compliant solutions.
While industry regulation and increased quality is positive for consumers, these trends are placing increasing pressure upon the cold chain industry. Only those firms committed to considering innovative solutions will maintain compliance while remaining cost-effective.
Student Loan Petition Thrown out by Government
Students have had it tough financially following the introduction of tuition fees, and an increasing move towards experience-based attributes over academic prowess.
A recent refusal by the government to honour a petition to axe a retrospective hike in student loan interest rates has added to the challenges faced by many young academics.
The petition, which was launched by Durham student Alex True, generated over 120,000 signatures over the course of just a few days. However, despite overwhelming support for the petition, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills turned down the request, suggesting that an alternative approach to repayment thresholds would undermine the equality of the student support system, whereby all students can access a university education, regardless of financial standing or ability to pay back loans. The statement suggests that the government are remaining firm in their decision to freeze the repayment threshold to maintain a unified student support system.
The BIS continued by confirming that applications for university admission by disadvantaged young people is at a record high, and taxpayers need some way of managing this increase.
Increasing the Need for IVA Debt Management
In 2010, the government stated a promise that as of April 2017, the repayment threshold for all student loans would rise each year, in line with average earning rates. Alex True's petition focused on the fact that the government has now backtracked on this statement, by freezing the threshold at £21,000. This means that all graduates will now have to pay more for their student loans.
BIS stated that the petition was considered carefully prior to the decision being made to reject the request. The decision was made, they said, as a result of considering the wider socio-economic impact of a repayment threshold which rises to reflect national rates of inflation and average earnings.
The decision is increasing the difficulties many students face in repaying student loans, leading to a number of graduates turning to https://www.carringtondean.com/individual-voluntary-arrangement-iva/ Individual Voluntary Agreements to manage their debts, to ensure that they can repay loans.
'Disappointed and Disheartened'
In response to the decision, campaigner True has stated that he feels disappointed and disheartened with the response, which did not address the issue that a retrospective change to the existing loan agreement without mutual consent from all parties was unethical.
Compact Commercial Kitchens: Choosing the Right Equipment
It's easy to design a commercial kitchen when there is a big area to work with – it's more of a challenge when the space is limited. However there are tips to bear in mind to make the most of the area available for catering in your hotel, restaurant or pub.
Consult the Experts
With the cost of real estate, compromise on venue may be inevitable, but this should never affect the quality of the meals. Getting professional design help may be the crucial first step as this will be a source of ideas and access to ranges of equipment, such as the most appropriate commercial warewashers, that have simply not crossed your mind. They may inspire you to use the space in ways you had not considered, for example, taking advantage of a high ceiling for stacking equipment.
Think Ahead
Planning is incredibly important when kitting out a small kitchen. Once the business opens, there will be too much going on to have energy to even consider re-configuring the area. It is much more time and cost-effective to get it right the first time, before the place is full of suppliers, customers and waiting staff.
Form and function
In many contemporary restaurants, watching the chefs at work as part of the experience. In this case, how the equipment looks is nearly as important as how it functions. This report from The Guardian features photography of attractive domestic kitchens in tiny areas that demonstrate a range of approaches in creating a kitchen that is efficient and pleasing to the eye. Inspire your diners with both the food and the kitchen design.
No Excuses
Whatever the hardware you end up purchasing, it is vital that the cutlery and crockery in your enterprise be spotless. It may be worth consulting a site such as https://www.247cateringsupplies.co.uk/bar-supplies/commercial-warewashers/commercial-dish-washers to familiarise yourself with the many options that exist regarding machinery for ensuring the critical cleanliness of what your customers will use to eat.
Finally, another aspect to keep in mind is how often produce will be delivered and how it will be stored. Multi-functional items could do the trick here – why not get a table that has a chiller built in underneath? With a small kitchen creativity is crucial, and it will ensure your entrepreneurial vision is not limited in any significant way.


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An ethiopian receives the prize "for women in science"
Dr. Segenet Kelemu is being honored by L'ORÉAL-UNESCO for her research on how microorganisms living in symbiosis with forage grasses can improve their capacity to resist disease and adapt to environmental and climate change. Her work is providing new solutions for ecologically responsible food crop production, especially by local, small-scale farmers.
Dr. Kelemu grew up in a remote village in Ethiopia. Although she bore the unequal burden carried by rural African women, she had an uncommon determination to overcome any obstacle to achievement and to help her continent's farmers. Defying strong cultural norms, she became the first woman from her region to attend what was then Ethiopia's only university. She excelled in her chosen field, plant sciences, and after obtaining her PhD in the United States, she went to Cornell University as a post-doctoral fellow. In 1992 she joined the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Cali, Colombia as Senior Scientist and was eventually appointed Leader of Crop and Agroecosystem Management of the Center.
Dr. Kelemu returned to Africa in 2007 to help establish the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA) Hub laboratories, hosted and managed by the International Livestock Research Institute in Kenya, and is currently Director General of the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology.
She came back to her home continent with far more than expertise. She returned with a passion that she is transmitting to a new generation of scientists working for a better Africa : "Set your goals and pursue them relentlessly. Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. Science is not reserved for the privileged few or the super smart or the especially crazy! If I can do it, so can you!".
The French embassy congratulates Dr. Segenet Kelemu for this prestigious award.


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Joel 1
"...surely the joy of mankind is withered away." v. 12
Whenever I see or catch my sister smiling alone in her room, I know without even asking her the reason why she's happy. She's crazy-not the lunatic or psychotic kind of way-but crazily in-love with a guy.
Love. Just one of the many things that could make a person happy. A mother, when asked what makes her happy, would usually give an answer such as "seeing my children grow and in good health." A father, on the other hand, would say being able to provide the needs of his family is what makes him happy. A student would answer getting high grades and a teenage girl would say shopping. So on and so forth.
How about you? What makes you happy?
But what if, all the things that has made you happy will be taken away? You lost your dream job. You break up with your boy/girlfriend. Have you ever been in a situation where it seems your joy has withered away? Are all your whys been answered?
If you want some answer, let us first examine the first chapter of the book of prophet Joel.
These are the joy of the people:
- New wine - the joy of the drunkards and drinkers of wine (v.5)
- Good harvest (fields, fertile soil, fig trees, wheat and barley, wine - abundance of food and wealth) - the joy of farmers and vine growers.
- Grain offerings and drink offerings - the joy of priests and ministers.
All of these were taken away. The wheat and barley and all the plants (fig tree, palm, pomegranate, apple tress) were destroyed by a nation's invasion, by locust and by drought. They dried up and withered. Grain offerings and drink offerings were cut off from the house of the Lord and the new wine has been snatched from the lips of the drinkers.
But why? Why has God allowed these things to happen to His beloved people - Jerusalem, Judah and Israel? Doesn't God wants them to be happy?
Of course God wants them and us to have abundance or wealth. God always wants to give us a good future and bless us. But the problem starts when people (you, me, we) are satisfied and contented with having full stomach that the gift has become the source of joy instead of the Giver. Even the priest were enjoying their duty and maybe were enjoying their duty more than being in the presence of the Lord.
So the Lord allowed man's joy to be taken away so that man will return to Him. God longs for His people to spend time with Him even for a night in sackcloth (v.13). Just one night. That's all He ask from us. A little of our time. He wants His people to be gathered and united in the assembly maybe because the people had forgotten to join together in thanking or worshiping God for they were busy with their jobs, farms etc.
Because of the drought, famine and sword, the people remembered the Lord and returned to Him. "Even the wild animals pant for you..." (v.20) God wants man to come to Him, seek Him and thirst for Him for He will surely satisfy those who earnestly seek Him.
So when problems come or when our joy withered away, it's just God's way of calling our attention because we have forgotten Him and made other things our source of joy.
What should we do when all our joy are withered away? God commands us to:
- PUT ON SACKCLOTH (v.13)
It means we must humble ourselves, take off our robes (pride) and humble ourselves before the Lord. It also means that we've realize our mistake and repented.
- WAIL BEFORE THE ALTAR (v.13)
Cry out to God. Ask God's forgiveness for loving other things than God and for making other things your joy instead of Him.
- COME, SPEND THE NIGHT IN SACKCLOTH (v.13)
Go back to the Lord with humility and spend time with Him. You've been busy with other things. Don't be like the priests and ministers during the time of Joel who were busy with their duty for God. God wants you more that what you do for Him. God does not need our grain offering or drink offering. He longs for us. For our time. For our hearts. Not just what we do for Him. Make yourself available to God. God wants us to seek His face always.
Because of what happened, the people have nothing to bring or to offer to the Lord but THEIRSELVES.
- DECLARE A HOLY FAST (v.14)
Not just abstinence of food but of what's been stealing your time for God. Leave whatever is keeping you busy. Cut down your time spent in watching TV or whatever that has own your time. Spend time with God.
- CALL A SACRED ASSEMBLY (v.14)
Gather around with other Christians and worship the Lord.
- SUMMON THE ELDERS AND ALL WHO LIVE IN THE LAND TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD (v.14)
Do not just go back to the Lord alone. Let others come back to God if they too have forgotten the Lord too.
- CALL TO THE LORD (v.19)
Pray. The Lord will surely hear you.
God wants you to be happy. But don't let your happiness keep you from God. Don't let the things that has made you happy make you forget WHO the source is. DO NOT FOCUS OR BE FIXATED AT THE GIFT but FOCUS ON THE GIVER. Do not forget God. Earthly wealth, abundance, and many others are only temporal and the happiness we get from them will never last forever. These could give you happiness but not true joy which only comes from God. Go to God. MAKE HIM YOUR JOY and your joy will be complete.
To the Giver of life and my Joy be the glory.
Your sister through the blood of Christ,


text: Happy New Year! Enjoy every sip of this 'feel good' detox smoothie. Easy to make, this blended beverage is perfect to boost the immune system during the cold and flu season. Nelly, a Huckleberry Hill subscriber, is a Registered Nurse that specializes in dietary issues and clean living. In November, she shared a day… Continue reading 'GINGER BOOST' CLEANSING DETOX SMOOTHIE RECIPE


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Back Pain Channel
Related Channels
Soma Medication Information
A healthcare provider may prescribe Soma® (carisoprodol) to temporarily treat muscle spasms in adults and adolescents as young as 16 years old. However, because Soma is not suitable for everyone, make sure to review the prescribing information on Soma before starting the medication.
For example, you may not be able to take Soma if you have certain medical conditions, such as liver disease, epilepsy, or a history of drug or alcohol abuse. Also, you may not be able to safely use Soma if you are currently taking certain medications (including some vitamins, herbal supplements, and non-prescription medications).
Although most people do not experience problems with this medication, Soma can cause side effects. Some of the common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches. Soma comes in tablet form, and is typically taken three times a day and at bedtime.
(Click Soma for other important information on this drug. This article discusses how Soma works, lists possible side effects, and offers some general tips on when and how to take this medication.)
List of references (click here)
Soma [package insert]. Somerset, NJ: MedPointe Pharmaceuticals;2008 January.
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Electronic orange book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. FDA Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/. Accessed June 19, 2007.
Red Book: Pharmacy's Fundamental Reference. 2007 ed. Montvale (NJ): Thomson Healthcare; 2007.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 7th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;2005.
National Library of Medicine (US). Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMED). NLM Web site. Available at: http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT. Accessed June 19, 2008.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


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After leaving a trail of destructions and keeping the state administration on its toes for over a week, the cyclone Phailin has finally left Odisha and shifted to neighbouring Jharkhand as a depression, IMD sources said.
"The Deep Depression over north Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas of Odisha & Jharkhand moved north- northeastwards and weakened into a depression. It lay centred at 0830 hours IST of today, the 14th October 2013 close to southwest of Daltonganj (Jharkhand)," it said.
The IMD said that the system would move north-northeastwards and weaken gradually into a well marked low pressure area by today evening.
However, one or two places of Odisha may experience rain and thundershower in next 24 hours. IMD also suggested for lowering the signals at all ports in Odisha. The state of Sea would be rough to very rough along and off Odisha coast, it said.


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Board: National Health Mission Banaskantha
Total No. of posts: 141
Post Name: Pharmacist, Assistant & Female Health Worker
How to Apply
Interested and Eligible Candidates can apply offline by send application form to below mentioned address.
Address: Missio Director Shree, Jilla Health Society ane, Mukhya Jilla Arogya Adhikari, Jilla Panchayat, Palanpur - 385001
Last date: 16/01/2019
View an official notification for educational qualification, pay scale, terms as well as other detailed information.
Recruitment advertisement: Click Here
View other details: Click Here


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On Saturday I headed down to Club Nokia to check out the Goodie Mob show. Though a tad disappointed at first because B.o.B wasn't the opener, I truly appreciated that everything ran on time! The energy was bananas and watching them all together again doing songs like "Cell Therapy", "Dirty South" and "Get rich to this" made it one of my favorite show's to hit that venue so far.
*sidenote* Even with a killer west coast homage set, I was still pretty bumed that the surprise performance from Kurupt never happened :(
Shouts to Muthafckn Erica, Fred Mac, Mizzle, Lil Bear Lawson, Crooked i and Tsmif for hangen out :)
Devi Dev


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Just some of the music we're preparing for A Luminous New Year's Eve. We will again serve gourmet chocolates and sparkling wine at the intermission, and perform the world premiere of a new work by Canadian composer Kristopher Fulton!
Tickets: http://luminousnye3.bpt.me
Two-concert subscriptions also available (A Luminous New Year's Eve & Leap of Faith)


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When news broke on Tuesday that longtime Rays right-hander Alex Cobb had agreed to terms on a deal with the Orioles, I had a few reactions. First off, I believe this was a terrific deal for Alex Cobb. With a four-year pact worth $57 million, he received approximately what many people expected he would going into the offseason, if not a little bit more. Put this in the win column for Cobb, especially considering fellow free agent Lance Lynn just took a $12 million commitment with the Twins for the 2018 season only. From the Orioles' standpoint, I find myself continuously clawing at my own head, wracking my brain for a justification.
If the Orioles' window to sneak into the playoffs hadn't already shut, the vast improvements made by the Twins and Angels (not to mention adding the reigning NL MVP to their own division) ought to take care of that. Even if it remains cracked for one more campaign, they are Ali and time is Frazier. This offseason, they will lose the following players to free agency: Manny Machado, Chris Tillman, Adam Jones, Zach Britton, and Brad Brach. After the 2019 season: Mark Trumbo (even though they are paying him through 2022), Andrew Cashner (also paid through '22), Jonathan Schoop, and Darren O'Day. Let me rephrase all of that. When 2019 is over, and Cobb still has two years at $29 million left on his deal and a partial no-trade clause, it is probable that six of the nine best Orioles over the last two years will be gone.
This would not look so dire if Baltimore had replacements at the ready for these big names. Unfortunately, and concerningly, this is the complete opposite of reality. Austin Hays could be a reasonable replacement for Jones when the time comes. Beyond that, their farm leaves much to be desired, especially for a team that is losing so much of their core in a short span and hasn't won a game in the ALCS since Bill Clinton was president.
That Peter Angelos didn't capitalize on a golden opportunity is astonishing to me. After 2016, he could've traded Manny Machado, a perennial 6+ WAR player with two years of team control remaining. He's still there, because not facing him a few times a year during an inevitable rebuild was more important than trading him to your division rival who just happened to have one of the best farms in baseball and could have significantly shortened the next painstorm over Camden Yards.
He had the opportunity to move Adam Jones, the poster child for consistency and a model citizen who is foaming at the mouth for the chance to win a ring and would bring a valuable veteran presence to any team looking for a piece to get them over the hump.
He could've shipped out Zach Britton and/or Brad Brach, in a Yankees-style relief sale. Britton was one of just four relievers to post at least 120 saves from 2014-16. He was second among relievers with 200+ IP in that span in WHIP, first in HR/9, and third in K-BB%. All of this, added to the fact that he was going into just his age-29 season, suggested there was some great baseball left in him. If he could have gotten anything in the realm of the Chapman haul New York received from Chicago, I am baffled and almost angered for the fanbase that the management forwent that opportunity.
Even if they insisted on keeping Britton and instead shopped Brach after the 2016 season, he was a strikeout pitcher coming off his best season, of reasonable age at 31 years old with two years of control and a mix of pitches that seemed built to hold up over a few more solid seasons.
Alas, that opportunity came and went. Machado is now coming off a down season and only one year from free agency. Jones is a year older. Britton is coming off a catastrophic injury, and Brach had a worrisome second half in which he posted a 1.49 WHIP and is about to be 32 years old. This is not to say at least Jones and Brach won't bounce back or that Britton won't be even close to his former self if/when he returns – obviously, both possibilities remain. But the risk that already existed has been greatly exacerbated by a 2017 in which it seemed if it could go wrong in Baltimore, it probably did.
All of this, and to add insult to injury, the Orioles have only seven average-or-better rated prospects in one of the weakest farms you'll find right now. Hays could provide a seamless transition from Jones in a year's time. Beyond that, does anyone right now believe that Mountcastle, who barely managed a .600 OPS in 39 Double-A games this season, will be capable of anything close to what Machado has produced? Would you trust that Hunter Harvey, who pitched a whopping 18.2 innings this season between Rookie-level and A-ball as a 23-year-old, will become the first bona-fide frontline guy the Orioles have had since probably Mike Mussina? Can you count on Tanner Scott, who has serious concerns with both command and control that makes some scouts believe he screams late-inning reliever? To use the cliché: no prospect, particularly a pitcher, is ever a sure thing. That being said, looking around the league, there are different groups of franchises. One holds teams like the Braves, White Sox, Rays, Athletics, Reds, Phillies and Padres, who haven't seen much success at the majors level of late but whose farms have fans as well as people around the league intrigued for their futures. You have organizations like the Indians, Red Sox, Cubs, Nationals, who don't have a ton at the minors levels because they are fully in the midst of win-now mode. Occasionally you get a Dodgers or a Yankees – the franchises who manage to put together a strong young MLB core while maintaining a bright future down on the farm. The Orioles don't really fit neatly into any of these categories. They're kind of just…there, because their ownership and management has lacked the same one key element that plagued the Marlins until the merciful transfer of power this past autumn: commitment to a plan.
All of this is why I don't like the fit for Cobb in Baltimore at all. I don't blame a pitcher for getting his money. I criticize greatly the decision by Orioles management to commit the upper-end of market value to a career mid-rotation starter from his age-30 through his age-33 season. This is the kind of move I would understand from a team just entering or at least relatively early in their window of potential, perhaps the Cardinals or Angels. I don't believe it will hurt them too significantly, as the contract is quite reasonable for a player like Cobb who is a solid option as a #4 or even a #3 in a rotation. The trouble is, he's probably going to be tasked with the role more akin to a #2 or higher in Baltimore. For this and the other reasons I mentioned, I merely didn't see the point of this contract from Baltimore's perspective and believe the entire mentality of the process within the organization right now is deeply flawed.


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PayPal payments have to be accepted on eBay. Not that you don't have any other option but what are the options? You must accept an online payment method. The approved online payments on eBay are PayPal, MoneyBookers, PayMate, and ProPay (two of them abbreviate to PP, ugh…disgusting! 😉 ).
PayPal is the most popular one. Once, I tried to open an account with one of the 3 others (I don't remember which) and they required $3000 deposit to start with. Not to mention they could increase it over time.
Anyway, if you can find a seller not accepting PayPal on eBay, you found a rare thing. If you're an eBay seller, you're very likely to accept PayPal. Because of this huge popularity, PayPal is accepted by many sellers on other eCommerce websites. If you sell on eBay alternatives like ebid.net or ecrater.com, etc. and you accept PayPal, make sure you do this: Never EVER accept a payment with unconfirmed address!
What's wrong with payments with unconfirmed addresses is that you will be only partially covered by PayPal's Seller Protection Policy if the transaction is not an eBay transaction. Typically, when the transaction is non-eBay and the address is unconfirmed, the seller would be partially eligible for Seller Protection Policy and that's only for Item Not Received complaints. Unauthorized Payment complaints won't be covered unless you have a confirmed address. That means if the buyer files chargeback against you for unauthorized payment, you will lose automatically and you can do NOTHING about it!
Accepting payments with unconfirmed addresses should be fine for eBay purchases but you need to make sure PayPal says you're fully covered by Seller Protection Policy in both the payment email AND in the transaction details in PayPal's website. If there's any discrepancy, call them to confirm.
Of course you would need to explain clearly in your terms and/or in the listing that only confirmed addresses are acceptable and give the potential customer clear understanding on what would happen if they submit payment with unconfirmed address. You would generally have to refund the money and bite the 30 Cents refund fee that PayPal charges you.
I give advice based on my own experience and I learned some of my lessons the hard way. This is one of them. Once, I sold a tablet on ebid.net and didn't notice the address was unconfirmed. Yup, you guessed it! Buyer filed chargeback saying the transaction wasn't authorized. It didn't matter I proved the item was delivered and signed for; I lost the case with no compensation.
It would be a terrible mistake to think: "oh, I've always accepted PayPal payments with unconfirmed addresses and nothing bad has happened to me so I'll keep doing it." You never know when a loathsome buyer hits you. However, if you still think it's fine to do that, why don't you let me know your reason in the comments below? If you think otherwise, let me know too.


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Have you ever met someone and vibed with them so much that you felt like you had known them longer than the past 5 minutes? Well in this case, I'm talking about Stephanie Wong and Graham Jeong – co founders of Wake the Wolves.
If you haven't heard about them before (First, where have you been?!) and second, I'm so excited to introduce you to them!
Before we dive in, I just have to say how much I love Instagram. Not only as a platform to share social content but because it allows us to connect with like-minded people, and it's how we met. Flashback two months ago, I received a "like" from Wake the Wolves; one comment lead to another and the next thing you know, we're face timing – Steph & Graham in SF and me in NYC.
Turns out, they're just like you and I. They each have their own stories of struggle. You know, the pressure of juggling a career, keeping up with the demanding/mundane 9-5, the challenge of wanting to eat healthier and be active without losing a social life, the struggle of that inner wolf wanting to do more, do good, be a better version of themselves and give back to the community all at the same time.
The result of embarking on their own wellness journey led them to create Wake the Wolves. They're partners in business but also in life, are both fitness enthusiasts, foodies, recipe developers, designers and authors who are above all, crazy passionate about health and wellness. Their mission?
Everything about them is in line with the DOWHATIULOVE lifestyle (aka there is no magic Rx, no quick fixes here), just 2 down to earth people who are on a kick ass journey to inspiring others to lead a healthy lifestyle. I love what this company represents and I'm sharing because I know you will too.
Wake the Wolves is about:
EMBRACING DIVERSITY – All colors, all shapes, all sizes. Let's be real, not many wellness companies do this and this is one I truly admire about WTW.
HERITAGE/TRADITIONS – Love who you are and where you came from. As a Chinese-American growing up, it wasn't easy to embrace eating rice and no one's blogging about bok-choy being the rage (did I just say rage?!). During our facetime sesh, Steph mentioned the example of Goji berries.. it's become a trendy super food, but did you know that it's actually an ancient food that originated from China? Oh yes it is. It's about taking pride in who you are, which includes knowing where your food comes from, as well as preserving your traditions and carrying it on to the next.
EATING WHOLE FOODS – Check out their food philosophy below:
"Eat real, whole, unprocessed foods.
Beef-up on leafy greens.
Reduce refined sugars.
Cook your food.
Then share it."
GETTING BEHIND THE KITCHEN – There's a bunch of killer recipes on their site. Warning: it's visually tantalizing and you might just be motivated to start cooking! If you stop reading here, I'll know where you'll be.
COMMUNITY – This one's a biggie. From fashion and blogging to books, S+G have a ton of tools to get you started (or keep you) on this fun wellness journey, including the cutest tops! Check out the shop here.
I just want to stress that this lifestyle isn't just about fitness or eating healthy foods, it's also about mental wellbeing. Life should be fun + food should be fun. In line with the WTW mentality, there is no fad diet, no magic pill, no short cuts. It's just you and this one life. Time is too precious to be spent worrying about the numbers on the scale, to wake up feeling crappy, to feel anything less than your best. And this team here?
They're rooting for you "to wake your inner wolf" by as they say, "eating and living like you matter."
Do it for your partner, do it for your family, do it to live longer, but most of all do it for YOU.
Just know that true change lies within & in waking your inner wolf.


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Julia Planine-Troiani
Astanga studies with Maia Heiss in Venice & with Sharath Jois in Mysore, India
500-hr Annie Carpenter
200-hr Yoga to the People
Certified at Mysore Ayurveda Academy & Wellness Centre in Gokulam, India
Integral Anatomy Somanautics Cadaver Dissection with Gil Hedley
BA in Dance & Philosophy from Sarah Lawrence College
Yoga is not a practice. But there is a practice we can do to move us towards the yoga. We practice so that we know, without a doubt, that we are moving in the right direction. Integrity, strength, compassion, resilience, lightness, clarity and peace are all wonderful by-products. See for yourself.


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Breastfeeding is an integral part of childcare and for most women, it is a beautiful experience. However, transgenders due to biological limitations have not been able to experience it. However, a 30-year-old transgender woman was able to breastfeed her child with the help of induced lactation and became the first ever transgender woman to do so and be documented in academic literature. Earlier last year, a 21-year-old man became the first in Britain to give birth.
The account was published in the journal Transgender Health and doctors stated that this case shows that, "modest but functional lactation can be induced in transgender women."
"Transgender medicine is becoming part of mainstream medicine. We're getting more evidence-based data, we're getting more standardized care, we're getting more reproductive options," Tamar Reisman of Mount Sinai hospital in New York, one of the doctors who reported the case, told the Guardian.
The transgender woman approached the doctors when her partner was five months pregnant. She wanted to take up the responsibility of breastfeeding the couple's child as her partner did not want to. She had earlier taken hormone therapy for six years, but not had gender reassignment or breast augmentation.
Doctor Reisman and nurse practitioner Zil Goldstein used a procedure known as induce lactation in cisgender women who have not experienced pregnancy, in order to promote the patient's lactation.
"We believe that this is the first formal report in the medical literature of induced lactation in a transgender woman," wrote Reisman and Goldstein in the journal.
Over time, the patient was given female hormones progesterone and estradiol and stimulated her chest with a breast milk pump. She was also given domperidone, a medication which is known to increase milk production.
"There have been self-reported cases online of transgender woman trying DIY regiments to induce breastfeeding, but this is the first case of induced functional lactation in the academic literature," Reisman told the news agency. There are also cases of transgender men carrying pregnancies and breastfeeding, she added.


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First Comes Marriage - or Maybe a House
In the last two months, two friends have bought houses - you know, four-walled structures with backyards and driveways - and a third bought a condo. None of them are married - in fact, they're all single. None of them have had their job for longer than two years. And they are all my age.
Can we dwell?
They are my age.
I've always seen myself as the grounded, responsible, straight-and-narrow type. I made Honor Roll in middle school, can cook a quiche, know who Kristin Scott Thomas is, and vote in midterm elections. If I didn't know myself better, I'd peg myself as a ready-made homeowner.
Except I am standing here aghast thinking:
Why are you excited to own a home? Have you hit menopause?
Frequent readers know I view marriage/relationships/everlasting love as an anchor - but guess what? Here's an even bigger anchor. It's not even metaphorical. It's a bloody mortgage tying you to a place for, like, as long as the real estate market wants to keep you. Can you think of anything scarier?
(Therapist: "Do you think you have control issues?")
I'm not against buying homes just as I'm not against marriage. They're a good investment. If you're going to live somewhere where you want to stay long term, your rent might as well go toward a homeowner's loan - but they're also permanent. You can't cast them aside next year when you get a new job/find a long-distance lover/decide you need to experience Southeast Asia. You can't break up with them in a single conversation or a text. Professionals have to get involved.
So why are you smiling in your selfie with that prison behind you?!
Also, where did you get this money? Did your birth parents contact you and reveal themselves to be the monarchs of Morocco? You haven't had your a *real* *adult* job for more than 14 months! Are you laundering?
I understand people have different goals than me. No one needs to adhere to my dreams to find personal happiness and success. Nevertheless, it freaks me out when friends embrace things that scare me more than vats of hair and arachnids. How does anyone at 24 know they want a potentially decades-long attachment to a certain city or neighborhood?
Maybe more disconcerting to me is, why does the notion appall, alarm, and befuddle me? Am I so flighty that I embody an irresponsible, candle-in-the-wind millennial? Should I be less agitated by the prospect of homeownership? One day I'll settle down, too . . . won't I? What scares me about permanence?
(*Therapist stares back at me.*)
Well, the answer isn't in this paragraph. Or the next one. But what I do realize is (after sending a mass Snapchat to friends declaring, Everyone buying homes . . . STOP), no one is asking me to buy a house. No one is asking me to marry them (nor am I asking anyone). These aren't threats to my current being. Let my friends decide what color to paint their new kitchen while I daydream about where I'll move next year.
In the meantime, I'll try to stay in town long enough for your housewarming.


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Christine, Westfield
January 9, 2018 01:39:46 PM
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In reply to Christine, Westfield
We understand your concern, Christine, and we'd be happy to help.
Once a check issued via Bill Pay has been received by the biller, we are unable to cancel the payment however you are able to place a stop payment.
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2. Click on Stop Payment found under Self Service.
3. Fill out the Stop Payment form as appropriate.
Keep in mind that there may be a fee associated with a stop payment. To learn more about any fees that may be assessed, please visit here: https://go.td.com/2kFZ5mK.
If you have any trouble or questions about Bill Pay, feel free to call a Tech Support Specialist 24/7 at 800-493-7562.
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We hope this sets you at ease, Christine. Have a good afternoon.
Megan K, Mount Laurel
January 9, 2018 01:40:11 PM


text: Sarah Roffey has qualifications in Gender and Cultural Studies and Social work. She is one of the founders of OFF THE WALL INC and also one of the founders and facilitators of Sydney's Critical Perspectives on Madness Reading Group. She has experience facilitating therapeutic and educational groups and workshops, including on sex and madness. Sarah has been involved with the School of Really Good Sex since 2011. She is informed in her work by her own experiences of distress and other states of mind and is interested in challenging dominant approaches to what is often termed 'mental illness'. Sarah is interested in the intersections between the body, writing, literature, erotica, sexuality, madness and the exploration of diverse experiences.


text:
The ChillNOut Team
A retired Navy SEAL and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor for San Diego's largest MMA franchise, Bryan Dyer founded ChillNOut Cryotherapy in 2015 after visiting a local studio for chronic neck pain.
Dr. Marty Abelar, D.D.S, has successfully run his own dentistry practice in one of San Diego's most affluent markets for over 20 years.
Former NFL star, Pat McInally is a Harvard graduate, two-time All-American and National Football Foundation College Hall of Famer. After graduating with honors, cum laude, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and enjoyed an 11-year career with them.


text:
Quinoa salad will include beans and vegetables and greens. Roasted chicken thighs will also be served. This meal is gluten free.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: April 12Hot lunch: Harborside The Oreiro Family, Hot Dogs, baked beans, and fruit. TotH The Kuzu Family Chicken Nuggets, rice, tomato salad and pineapple.
Later Event: April 18Pizza (GF)


text:
Toca Nature is a mobile app for kids. In this game, you can create your very own natural world and see how its elements interact with each other.
Upon entrance to U.S. National Parks, kids receive a Toca Nature Passport that uses RFID technology to store digital versions of the plants, animals, and land features they encounter to use later in the app.
At home, tap the Toca Nature screen to begin using your collections to build your very own interactive park.
Create a postcard of your park from within the app and share it on Facebook. By clicking the link, friends can view and explore your creation.
One Show 2015: Merit At The Book Shop With Alex Maleski, Cory Stubbs, and Chris Wilson


text:
In a current project, I had the need to have one specific view controller
present its view in landscape orientation only. Pre-iOS 6, I would have
overridden the
shouldAutoRotateToInterfaceOrientation method and returned
UIInterfaceOrientationLandscape. In iOS 6, this method is deprecated. I began
researching how orientation issues should be handled going forward, and here is
the way I made my specific scenario work.
In iOS 6, the system queries the topmost visible view controller to see if it should rotate.
The viewcontroller can override 2 methods to answer this query correctly:
It would seem simple enough to override these methods on each view controller that had special requirements for presentation to have them determine their orientation. The problem arose for me when I had a navigation controller thrown into the mix. Since technically the topmost view controller in a navigation stack is the navigation controller itself, iOS was ignoring the method overrides I had in place for the individual view controllers. It was sending the message directly to my UINavigationController, which did not provide the settings I needed.
I solved this issue by subclassing UINavigationController and overriding the
previously mentioned methods, then passing the results from the navigation
controller down into the top view controller via the
property. Here are the steps to accomplish this:
- Create a subclass of
- Override the following methods:
- Return the result of each of these operations by passing in the value from the result of calling that method on the topViewControllerof the UINavigationController
- Implement any or all of those methods specific to your needs on your UIViewController subclasses
- Make sure you are using your
UINavigationControllersubclass in place of the standard
- My project uses storyboards, so I simply specified my UINavigationController subclass in the Identity Inspector
Here is my implementation of the navigation controller subclass in its entirety:
@implementation FMNavigationController
return [self.topViewController shouldAutorotate];
return [self.topViewController supportedInterfaceOrientations];
return [self.topViewController preferredInterfaceOrientationForPresentation];
Then, in my specific view controller that needs to be launched in landscape, I overrode this method and returned the appropriate value:
#pragma mark - Rotation
return UIInterfaceOrientationMaskLandscape;
That's really all there was to it. The research to get this right took much longer than the implementation.
Please contact me with any questions, and good luck.


text:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that the standard spelling these days is Halloween. I like the old-timey feel of spelling it with the apostrophe. This is also very much related to why I prefer to use endings like -our, -ise, and -tre.
Anyway, today is Hallowe'en. Our school has a parade and then classroom parties in the afternoon each year. Nearly all of the students in my class had costumes and those who didn't acquired some from the store of costumes that are hidden away in the building. I broke out my high school graduation regalia, complete with mortar board, tassel, and gold honours cords, and walked around with the class. I don't think the other intermediate teachers dressed up, but most of the primary teachers did. One teacher was a box of crayons, another was a frog on a lily pad, and another one was dressed as The Cat in the Hat. Not the Cat in the Hat, mind you, but the book itself.
My students had a wide variety of costumes: werewolf, witch, dark faerie, Greek goddess, Duct Tape (TM) monster, vampire, knight, hobo, Rapunzel-as-a-corpse, Venom (from Spiderman), and other such characters appeared. One of my favourite costumes, though, was from a student in another class: a homemade Dalek costume, complete with flashing lights. All of the students in the building lined up and paraded around the sidewalk surrounding the building before heading into their separate classrooms for parties.
Our class party was just lots of treats (cupcakes, cookies, brownies, apple slices, and string cheese) and letting the kids sit around and talk. I had It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! but the students seemed content to just eat their snacks and chat with each and their parents. In the course of the party, I overheard one of the funniest conversations I've heard in the room this year:
Student 1: Mr. Valencic is chomping down on a cookie.
Student 2: Really? I thought adults were too old for cookies.
Mr. Valencic: Wait… you mean you've never seen an adult eating a cookie before?
Student 2: I've seen adults eat cupcakes before, but never cookies.
Mr. Valencic: Um… okay…
After this conversation, I told the second student's father and he just looked really puzzled. The entire discussion reminded me of the time a couple of weeks ago when a student expressed shock upon learning that I drink soda. It would seem that children really are incredibly aware of the world around them. Events like these result in what is known as "anchoring and adjusting" in cognitive psychology. Individuals have to find something that they understand, like an adult eating cupcakes, and adjust their understanding to include cookies. Upon further reflection, though, I'm not sure why this was so surprising, seeing as we had cookies in the class for someone's birthday just last week!
The day was fun, the students enjoyed dressing up, and they enjoyed seeing me dressed up, as well! The parents who came to help out did a great job providing treats and helping out! I know we didn't do much, but what we did was fun!
Happy Hallowe'en, everyone!
Parent-Teacher Conferences Part II
Today was the second day of Parent-Teacher Conferences. Officially only scheduled to go from eight to noon, I was at school from about 7:45 am until 6:00 pm, due to the fact that my wife takes the car to work and she had to stay a little late today.
Fortunately, I had plenty to do to keep myself occupied while waiting. Also, I was able to schedule a late conference with a parent who worked into the early afternoon. So it worked out really well! While waiting for my wife to finish work, I did a lot of reading (finally finished Debt of Honor, leaving me with just three more books in the Jack Ryan universe before I'll finally be done), and I did some organising of the classroom. I meant to sort out all of my nonfiction books, but I was busy doing other tasks. They can wait, I'm sure.
Now that I am all done with conferences (well, essentially… still have a half-dozen parents to try to meet with), I can relax this weekend. I have a brother getting married tomorrow, and then I have a band concert on Sunday. The concert is at Wesley United Methodist Church on Green Street in Urbana from 4 to 6 pm, for those interested in coming. I told my students I would give them five extra credit points on their social studies research project if they came with their parents and had me sign a copy of the program. It'll be interesting to see how many, if any, come!
Anyway, I'm off to catch Game 7 of the World Series! Go Cards!
Parent-Teacher Conferences Part I
Today was a bit of a scary day for me. Well, okay, not really scary; more of a "holy cow I have no idea what I am really supposed to do" kind of day. Actually, not even the whole day, just the end of it.
You see, Parent-Teacher Conferences began this evening. And even though I am in my fifth year of professional teaching–one year as a student teacher (which totally counts, even if I wasn't being paid), three years as a substitute teacher, and now my first year as a full-time teacher–I have somehow managed to never be present at Parent-Teacher Conferences. Until today.
I had most of my students' parents sign up for conferences, so I knew that I would at least have parents coming in. I had the first quarter report cards, projects we've worked on and projects currently underway, but, really, what to actually do at a conference was a mystery to me.
But I did know what to do to prepare. First, my students had a fairly typical last day of the week routine. We had P.E. in the morning, did some silent reading, had a math test, cleaned desks and tidied the room, went to lunch, read more of Over Sea, Under Stone, and had our weekly Read, Write, Think! activities. As part of the tidying the room, I had half a dozen students work under the direction of a parent volunteer to organise all of the fiction chapter books we have in the room. During the previous quarter, the books that had been so meticulously organised had been moved, removed, and replaced so many times that they were just a huge mess. I couldn't find the books I wanted when I wanted them, and students were just grabbing books at random.
Now they are all organised again and ready for new selections to be put into the mix. I straightened the rest of the books (large picture books, nonfiction, poetry, etc) and will try to actually sort them all out tomorrow when I have down-time between conferences. So I had that taken care of. I also displayed the class science reports/posters so that parents could see what was done. My grade level partner had some students bring in several of the Dr. Seuss books so that we could have those on display again, and I made sure that the room was neat and cleared of clutter.
But I still didn't really know what to expect from conferences. Fortunately, I've developed the talent for thinking quickly on my feet, and I not only survived, I had several very positive, productive conferences with my students' parents. We discussed academic and social performance, class policies, curriculum, projects, concerns and strengths, and how much my students seem to really like having me as their teacher. (Always nice to know!)
Nothing was a huge surprise to me, except perhaps how many parents do read my blog (thanks again, by the way!) and how very little some of my most active, talkative students tell their parents when they get home. Yet another reason that this blog is useful: parents can use what I am writing as talking points. I think I may take advantage of this and start posting daily questions related to what we've done each day. I also learned that the fact that I wear a tie to work each day is a Pretty Big Deal. I suppose I should clarify that I don't actually wear a different tie each day, at least, I haven't. Maybe I'll do what Kevin Lambert did at Mix 94.5 WLRW in Champaign and wear a different tie each day until I've made it through all of them. I'll tell the class on Monday and have them keep track. Should be fun.
Anyway, round one of Parent-Teacher Conferences was awesome, the PTA provided an excellent dinner (and I don't even like soup), and now I am very ready for bed and then doing round two tomorrow! Cheerio!
Field Trip
Today we had our very first field trip (or excursion, for those who prefer the term) of the year. We, along with the rest of the school (with the exception of Kindergarten) went to the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts to watch a show called Tales of the Pacific Rim. In preparation for this, my grade level partner and I have been teaching our classes about the nations of the Pacific Rim, discussing their cultures and stories, mostly by reading from a wide selection of books on the topic.
The students were pretty excited, and we worked hard at establishing a high level of expectation. I don't think a day went by during the previous two weeks that she or I didn't remind our young charges that they had to show that they could handle going on a field trip by showing that they could be respectful, responsible, and safe in the classroom. I am pleased that they stepped up and showed that they could do it.
After returning to school, we talked about what the students most enjoyed about the performance and also the parts that surprised them or left them with questions. The favourite part was almost unanimously Brenda Wong's telling of the story of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), focusing on the mischief he caused in the Heavenly Kingdom (scroll down through the Wikipedia page to find a good synopsis). Several students were surprised to see just one actor on stage, so we talked a bit about the difference between watching a storyteller and watching a full stage production.
The rest of the day passed quickly, with the students getting back, going to lunch (about half an hour later than usual), and then doing our read aloud and some silent reading while I worked with a couple of students on the math assessment we did yesterday. And then they went to fine arts, we had our daily class meeting, and that was that!
It was a good day with great student behaviour at the Krannert Center. I am hoping we will have opportunities to return again, as well as to go on other field trips throughout the year. The students definitely showed that they can handle themselves outside the school!
Industrial Ear Muffs
For all but roughly six months of my entire life, my mother has worked at the plant in Morton, Illinois, that processes and cans Libby's Pumpkin. (As an aside, I find it very distressing that the official web page for this product does not show up on the first page of Google when searching for "Libby's Pumpkin" but it does when searching for "Nestle Pumpkin.) When Mum first started working there, it was actually Libby's Pumpkin. Then Carnation bought out Libby's and then Nestle USA bought out Carnation. This is also why many Carnation products (like their sweetened condensed milk) now carries the Nestle logo, in case you were wondering. However, Mum has always just worked at the pumpkin plant, generally referred to as a factory in our family.
As a result of this career, there were items in my home that we always found commonplace that, apparently, weren't common in most kids' homes. Things like bump caps (different from hard hats), hair nets (more of a gauzy material than an actual net, though), ear plugs and, of course, industrial ear muffs. These items would accumulate around the house as any one of my parents eight children would spirit them off for various reasons and Mum would just get new ones. We always thought they were cool, especially the ear muffs.
Flash-forward to a couple of weeks ago. A parent, in an effort to help alleviate the oftentimes excessive noise levels in the room, offered to bring in some ear muffs for the students to use. It seems that many other teachers have used these in the past (or are still using them) and it has been successful. I am never one to turn down a suggestion to do something that will most likely help in a huge way, so I gladly accepted. Just a few days ago, these ear muffs made their way into the classroom. I unpacked them and put them in a box, not quite sure how I would introduce them to the class.
I shouldn't have worried.
My students, as interested as they are in everything new and shiny (hey, I like shiny new things, too!) immediately caught sight of the box and started asking if they could use the ear muffs during silent reading. I'll admit that I found this slightly odd, since silent reading is, by its very nature, already silent, but hey, if they thought they'd help, I wasn't about to stop them! I doled out the eight pairs as randomly as I could and the class got started.
While we have been very successful in building up our silent reading stamina (I've mentioned before that the students once read for 35 minutes with just a few breaks), this seemed to be one of our best days. Not only was everyone silent for the duration of the reading (just 15 minutes), but I was also able to pull a small group to the back table to do a quick math check on place value without a single interruption.
However, there has been one downside to the use of these industrial ear muffs in the classroom: everyone wants to wear them. We only have eight pairs at present. However, at $3 a piece, I am seriously contemplating going out and getting a bunch more, or maybe seeking out either a donation or a micro-grant or something of the sort to get them. If external noise cancellation is all it takes to help my young charges focus and work independently, it is worth the investment. Besides, these are industrial ear muffs. I expect them to last a very, very long time!
Math Review
For the past several days, the students in my class have been undergoing a massive review of the math concepts we covered during the first quarter of the year. (I can still hardly believe we are already in the second quarter!) One of the things I have noticed as we have done this is that it is really easy to tell which students are self-motivated to improve and which students will simply float along doing the minimum.
My goal, of course, is for each student to be self-motivated. But the reality of the situation is that I am working with children who are nine- and ten-years-old. They are still learning how to learn and learning how they learn. So it is my job to help them along the way. And that is I find myself stepping back, reviewing what we've done, and seeing who it is who needs a little extra push to really give their best.
Of course, to really know who needs the extra push, I have to take the time to work with students either one-on-one or in small groups. While doing that, I also have to make sure that the students who are not meeting with me in conferences have something worthwhile to work on. The "worthwhile" part of that is the hard one. Years ago, it was not at all uncommon for teachers to hand out photocopies ("ditto sheets" were what they were called when I was a kid) to give students something to do to keep them busy. But I don't want my students to just be kept busy; I want them to do something meaningful.
So while I am working with students in small groups, or working with them in one-on-one conferences, the rest of the class is expected to be silently working at their seats on review. Some days are better than others when it comes to following these expectations but, over all, I think that most of my students are learning how to work independently. Once we've firmly established working independently in an acceptable way, we can move on to working in small groups. While there were most definitely be days full of frustration, there will also be days full of excitement at our successes. And each day will be a new day to learn and improve.
And to think, all of this because of a simple desire to finish some math review. Have I mentioned how much I love my job?
Friday Friday
A few days ago, I was discussing with my class the various ways we would be engaging in authentic writing experiences. We talked about the pen pals they will have with my mother-in-law's fifth grade students in Champaign, which many are excited about. I also mentioned how I was thinking of having one or two students write a blog update once a week during our Read Write Think activities on Friday afternoon.
First I had to set the ground rules: No names (except mine), and I wanted it to be positive. Also, I reminded them that I have absolute editorial authority, but I would try to keep the writing as authentically theirs as I could. What follows is the update written for today by two of the girls in my class:
Today in Mr. Valencic's class, at lunch recess, we had an extremely bad problem. A loose dog, chased kids on the playground. There was one student in particular that got hurt badly! He got bitten on the face. It was scary and quite sad. But that wasn't the only thing that happened today!
We also had so much fun in The Thinks You Think project. We were split into small groups of four or five. What we did was find explicit and implicit details in books that we got assigned to. It was really fun and awesome. We also had a fun period of Read, Write, Think. There are some enjoying chess, some playing bingo, Battleship, Guess Who?, Connect 4, and origami. I hope the rest of Friday will be wonderful!
There was a letter sent home to parents to explain what happened during lunch recess, and the teachers will be doing some major follow-up teaching with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades to help better model how to respond to an emergency, particularly when there is a loose animal on the playground during lunch recess. We are very fortunate that none of the injuries were serious!
The students really did do an amazing job finding explicit and implicit details and discussing the differences between summaries and main ideas. The principal even came in and observed, then told me and my grade-level partner how impressed she was with how well the lesson went.
I can hardly believe the first quarter ended a week ago! I just finished report cards and am now preparing for parent-teacher conferences next Thursday and Friday. However, I am really looking forward to taking a break this weekend! My baby sister is coming down to attend the Illinois Marching Band Championships. It is looking to be a great follow-up to a great day!


text:
The United States is mistaken in choosing China as its trade sanction target, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday at a press conference after meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia.
China on Wednesday unveiled a list of products worth $50 billion imported from the U.S. that will have an additional tariff of 25 percent, including soybeans, automobiles, and chemical products.
This was a countermeasure in response to U.S. move of publishing measures against Chinese imports also worth nearly $50 billion on Tuesday.
Wang said the countermeasure is a legitimate self-defense move for China as a sovereign state.
The Chinese and the U.S. economies are deeply interrelated and both sides' interests are highly intertwined. The U.S. is wrong in attempting to benefit from protectionism. Both China and the U.S are the world's major countries who should respect each other and treat each other as equals. The U.S. is also wrong in picking China as its target of trade sanctions, Wang Yi said.


text:
My guest today is Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega. He's a local biologist who was born in Panama, but is now a US citizen. He's worked at the Lee County Hyacinth Control District for more than 25 years, where he works to minimize aquatic weeds in public waters, and educate the public to that effect as well.
Ernesto got a Bachelor in Science in biology from the University of Panama, a Master in Science in aquaculture from Auburn University, and an Educational Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Central Florida.
He serves as a member of the Citizen Advisory Committee of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, and Advisory Board of the Florida Sea Grant. And he's been teaching environmental science, biology and microbiology at area universities since the early 90s.
On his own time (although it sounds like there's not a ton of it) he's been translating books, newsletters, and news articles to Spanish, and doing more biology stuff via international courses.
Above: Interview with full music
Below: Short version