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Okay, so I've done some crazy things in the past, but this may have been the most insane. Leading the TrailRunner Magazine Trophy Series has been playing with my mind. So, ten days before this race, I decided to enter it after I had gotten permission from the race director. Mind you, this race is in Edmonton, Alberta, 15 hours from my home in Maple Valley, WA. I didn't fly, and my carpool for half the trip did not work out. So I drove the entire distance there and back by myself. Here is as short a report as I can come up with:
Thursday, 5/25, full day at work. Oil change. Drove to Kamloops, BC, six hours. Stayed with Diane M., who ran the 50K. (My original carpool, but she had friends to visit in Edmonton, so drove separate.)
Friday, 5/26, drove 9 ½ hours to Edmonton, Alberta. Went to packet pick-up. Met up with Ravi D. and his wife and child. Went to dinner. Spent the night at their house. Time change, lost one hour. Slept well.
Saturday, 5/27, woke at 3:15am. Arrived at start 4:30 at Blackfoot Cooking Lake Provincial Recreation Area. Checked competition out. Six other girls, two looked strong. Race ran on 15mile (25K) loop four times. Surface was grass and soft dirt. Rolling (like Lake Youngs). Mud on first loop packed down by next loops. Beautiful course. Not too technical, but hills were physically and mentally challenging. Not much flat areas on course. Weather overcast with sunbreaks. Temp mid-40's to maybe 60's. No rain. Perfect. First loop, thought I went out conservative. Time about 2:32. Too fast. Stomach problems. Took care of "business" before going out second loop. Felt fine rest of race. Next girl only 5 minutes back (saw her at the out and back near the start). Second loop, about 2:40 (included the 4-minute pit stop). So about the same pace. Calves tight, but better with electrolytes. No girls seen at out and back, so at least 10 minutes back now. Third loop, still running (had not yet walked any of the hills) and still feeling good. Time was about 2:35, so maintained pace. (Results may show different splits than mine depending on when time was taken-on arrival or departure from checkpoint). Next girl at least 30 minutes back. Relaxed the last loop. Knew I was going to win and break the course record. Plus asthma was kicking in, so did not push it. Walked half of the hills. Time of last loop around 2:50. Finished strong: 10:37, 1st female, 6th overall with 43 starters and 31 finishers. New women's course record by 31 minutes. Next woman was over 1 hour after me. Post race meal-sausage hot dog and Dairy Queen Dilly Bar! (22 marathon/ultras to date this year, 17 ultras and 5 marathons, 3rd 100K or longer race this month). Didn't sleep very well that night. Too wired from the win. Same thing happened after Redmond Watershed 12hr.
Sunday, 5/28, felt great. Wanted to go run one more loop on that trail, but did not know anyone in Edmonton to join me. (Mary I needed you!) Went to awards ceremony for 50mile and 100K racers. Prize-water color painting of the trail we ran on next to the lake and free entry for next year. Great spread of food. Couldn't stay for whole thing. Had to hit the road. Drove back to Kamloops.
Monday, 5/29, drove home. Border crossing. Got full search. I know, I look a little shady. I guess they couldn't accept that a person would drive that far just to run a race. I must have had some deal going down. All they found were some stinky shoes!
So was it worth it? Yes. Winning that race will give me 248 more points. Breaking the course record was just icing on the cake. It was all supposed to be a secret that I'm going for the Trophy Series win. But after people realize that I traveled 15 hours one way to race, my intentions will become clear to my potential competitors. I say: bring it on!
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The Arctic is not the cheapest place to visit and Swedish Lapland is no exception. I really wanted to visit Kiruna though, because I find it incredibly interesting that the local mining company LKAB is moving parts of the city to extend the mining. I mean, where else in the world has that ever happened?
However taking into consideration how expensive, difficult and exhausting it was to get to and from Kiruna, the last thing we wanted to do is spend even more money on expensive tours. And Kiruna offers a lot of those! If you're willing to spend $150+ on a tour that lasts 2 hours, Kiruna seems to be a good place to do so, but I can understand if that's not what you had in mind!
Neither did we, so we decided to visit Kiruna on a budget and still make the most of our time there. We visited on a weekend, spending most of Friday to get there and the entire Monday to get back, which left us with only two full days to explore the town.
I'd say it was more than enough time - however I would recommend visiting during the week, as restaurants tend to be quite crowded on the weekends and the local busses run very infrequently on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you're short on time better pin this post for later or watch the video below - this is the full guide to visiting Kiruna on a budget!
What to do and see on a budget
If you visit Kiruna in winter, you have a huge winter wonderland at your disposal that waits to be explored! Aside from going for a hike, you can also try skiing or snowboarding at the local slope on an abandoned mine.
Yes, that's right - in a mining town like Kiruna, the mine is everywhere! Mt Luossabacken hasn't been used for mining for decades and is now used by locals as a slope in winter. Renting equipment will set you back by around 300 SEK ($33) and a card for the ski lift is 150 SEK ($16) a day which overall is a very fair price if you'd just like to spend one day on the slopes!
If skiing and snowboarding are a bit too adventurous for you, why not try the locals' way of getting around in winter: kicksledding! A kicksled is essentially what the name suggest - a sled you can stand on that also offers space for one person to sit (or to carry home groceries) and that has to be kicked to go forward.
I've been meaning to try kicksledding for ages as it's very popular in Tromso as well, and I can say that it really is a lot of fun! Luckily for you, some hotels such as SPiS Hotel & Hostel, offer you to borrow their kicksleds for free!
Admiring Swedish Architecture
I know I live in Norway, THE country of colourful wooden houses. Swedish architecture however is no way inferior to Norwegian one (sorry Norway!) and those pastel, wooden houses of Kiruna are just gorgeous!
We had a blast just wandering around town and taking in the view of pretty houses - and yes, there might have been some daydreaming about living in such involved!
Discovering Street Art
Kiruna might not offer as much street art as Malmö, but for a town that is situated in the middle of Lapland, it made quite a creative impression on me.
I've never been to Detroit though so I'm not sure if the quote is true...
Anyhow, I loved the view into Kiruna's past most! The photo wall at Adolf Hedinsvägen features pictures of the 19th century and the olden days of the town. I always think that it's interesting to learn how people lived back in the day and that wall really brought history alive!
Go underground and learn how to move a town
A bit more adventurous but still on a budget, is the option to learn more about the iron ore mine in town. After all, Kiruna only exists because of the mine and in order to keep up the mining activities there, parts of the town have to be moved for safety reasons.
That means that they'll even move the town centre and the church!!
Of course we wanted to learn more about how that is done and what the mine really is like so we visited the exhibition at Folkets Hus and went on a tour with LKAB. At Folkets Hus, the community center where the tourist office is situated too, you can find a miniature version of Kiruna and the mine.
It's a three-dimensional sculpture which tells you which parts of the town are being moved, where the new town centre will be situated, and how deep the mine really goes (1365 metres). The building of the new town centre has already started and the first stores and businesses will be moving in 2018/2019.
Many people have already left their houses and moved into new buildings at the other end of town. Just to give you an understanding of how the whole process works: the mining company LKAB is buying people's old houses for much more than they would get on the market, so that nobody runs into financial issues by having to move.
LKAB stands for Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag, so taking the names of the two local ore mountains Luossavaara and Kiirunavaara, and the Swedish word for public limited company, which means that the Swedish people have a share in the company and which is why LKAB was interested in planning the move of Kiruna together with the people living there.
The company even offers tours to their show mine at 500 metres below ground, and in contrast to most other tours we've seen on offer in Kiruna, this one was fairly cheap at 360 SEK ($41). Transfer to the mine by bus was included and already quite an adventure itself.
There is an entire street system below Kiruna and the road leading from people's workplaces below ground back to the surface, is Kiruna's busiest road in rush hour! There's however no lights except for the lights of your car and some reflectors on the wall, so that your eyes can get used to the darkness (and later on the light again) much quicker.
Once we arrived at the show mine, we got to feel the ore that is being produced there in our own hands, got to experience the total darkness of a mine, watch a movie in what has got to be the world's coolest cinema at 500 metres below ground, and we got a glimpse of the lifts that transport the ore to the surface.
LKAB has understood how best to market the mine to tourists and not only are they offering a fair price, but they also create a great visitor experience. So even though you plan on visiting Kiruna on a budget and would usually stay away from tours, I'd highly recommend this one as I found it genuinely interesting (#notsponsored)!
Visit Kiruna Church
Kiruna Church is one of the largest wooden churches in Sweden and might I say, probably the most gorgeous of them all! It completely amazed me and I wish we'd had the time to take a look around the inside.
You can do so for free but only in the opening hours between 10-4pm or so?! Anyway, I know that we got there right after they had closed for the day which was definitely a shame but it was gorgeous outside as well!
Visit the Icehotel
Speaking of churches, have you ever visited a church made of ice? Or rather, a wedding chapel made of ice?
The famous Icehotel of Sweden is situated about 30 km from Kiruna and should definitely be on your itinerary, whether you plan on staying (or getting married?) there or not.
Unfortunately it's quite complicated to get there on a budget, especially so on the weekend, but it's not impossible. You should just check the bus schedule and be flexible when it comes to planning your itinerary for the day.
The bus only costs around 50 SEK ($5) but it doesn't go very often which means you either have too little or too much time to spend at the Icehotel. If it's even possible to spend too much time there! We spent 1000 SEK ($114) on taxi fares to get there and back, as we were on a tight schedule. If I'd visit again, I'd do so on a week day, take the bus and just take it easy.
The entrance fee to visit all the rooms of the Icehotel, the new year round Icehotel 365, the chapel and the ice bar, is 295 SEK ($33) during the summer (as you can only visit the year round structure then) and 325 SEK ($37) in winter. A guided tour is included.
The Icehotel deserves its own post though, so stay tuned for more ice magic to come!
Where to stay on a budget
SPiS Hotel & Hostel
SPiS is an absolute allrounder - hotel, hostel and a la carte restaurant - this place offers something for everyone! While the top floors are made up of hotel rooms where you can sleep for 895 SEK ($100) to 995 SEK in a standard double/single room, the basement consists of hostel rooms where you only pay 285 SEK ($30) a night for a bed in the dorm.
The highlight about staying at SPiS for us, except for the view on Kiruna church, was the food. Breakfast featured home made cheese and cold cuts and then there was brunch at the weekend with everything from pizza to salads and lots of cake on offer.
And if you'd like to splurge a little, SPiS transforms into an a la carte restaurant in the evening where they serve delicious reindeer meat and heavenly desserts!
If you'd like to read the full review of SPiS, head here!
Malmfältens Folkhögskola
Another hostel in Kiruna is Malmfältens Folkhögskola and unlike the hip and stylish SPiS, this one really is a classic hostel you might remember from trips you took with your school. The rooms are relatively old and basic but some effort has been made to create a cosy atmosphere, and the breakfast buffet in the morning did not disappoint.
Prices range from 500 SEK to 800 SEK ($57-91) a night (depending on season and type of room) and each room has access to a kitchen where you can prepare your own food. There's also the option to buy the lunch dish of the day for 95 SEK ($11).
The hostel is great if you only stay a day and what to hit the slopes, but it is a 15 minute walk to the town centre and the bus station where the free shuttle bus leaves for the train station, so keep that in mind when booking.
Click here for more information on Malmfältens Folkhögskola
Where to eat on a budget
If you're visiting Kiruna on a weekend, you should definitely check out the brunch buffet at SPiS. For 155 SEK ($17), you can basically fill your belly for the rest of the day with pizza, salads, lots of cheese and cold cuts, and of course cakes galore!
And even though SPiS is an a la carte restaurant in the evenings, they still offer the burger of the week for an affordable 185 SEK ($21).
Arctic Thai & Grill
If you're looking for fast, cheap, but still delicious food, then Arctic Thai & Grill is the right place for you. For around 100 SEK ($11) you can get a very hearty dish of rice, chicken, shrimp, noodles, or vegetables, that will make you full for sure.
The place was packed with locals on a Sunday night (which is always a good sign) and you can decide if you want to eat there or bring the food to your accommodation. If you don't want to cook yourself but still want to eat as cheaply as possible, Arctic Thai & Grill is a really good option!
More information
All in all, it might be tricky to visit Kiruna on a budget (especially the getting to and from part) but it's definitely not impossible to have a great time there, even if your pockets aren't deep!
If you're looking for more info on visiting Kiruna and Swedish Lapland on a budget, check out Routes North who have a few more guides to offer you!
Disclaimer: Snow in Tromso have been a guest of SPiS, however all opinions are our own.
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Linking up with Clare from Suitcases and Sandcastles, Erin from Oregon Girl Around the World and Katy from Untold Morsels for #FarawayFiles!

subset: commoncrawl


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"We are star stuff harvesting star light. Our lives, our past and our future are tied to the sun, the moon and the stars." This quote is from
by astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, & author, Carl Sagan. It is a message that hits home, always.
Visit me at A Beautiful Mess, where I contributed a simple but versatile
. I hope you have fun with it. Please tweet or instagram me ( @lunevintage ) a photo of your creations - it's my favorite kind of message to receive.


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Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
Still one of the most widely known and studied novels of the 20th century, Lord Jim has been adversely criticized for an overly elaborate narrative method and as being too long in relation to the material it contains. It remains notable, however, as a portrait of a romantic youth, as a psychological and ethical study of impressive range and subtlety, and as a somber, brooding search for those few values without which existence is meaningless. For Conrad and for Jim these values were honor, loyalty, and courage.
Lord Jim is a novel by the Polish-born English author Joseph Conrad. It was first serialized in an English magazine and was published as a book in 1900.
Story and Characters
Lord Jim is a tale of both the sea and the land. It tells the life story of a young merchant sailor who redeems a single moment of cowardice at sea by a compensating moment of fatal, extravagant courage ashore among the dark-skinned inhabitants in a "native-ruled State" in the Dutch East Indies. In his own words, Conrad created "a free and wandering tale," in which the hero's desertion of his disabled ship was an event "which could conceivably colour the whole 'sentiment of existence' in a simple and sensitive character." Conrad, cites his inspiration: "One sunny morning in the commonplace surroundings of an Eastern roadstead, I saw his (Jim's) form pass by - appealing - significant - under a cloud - perfectly silent. Which was as it should be. It was for me, with all the sympathy of which I was capable, to seek fit words for his meaning. He was 'one of us.' "
As is often the case in good fiction, the minor characters in Lord Jim are likely to hold a greater illusion of reality for the reader than its major figures. Lord Jim aside, certain lesser characters are unforgettable. They include the ill-fated Brierly, who inexplicably drowns himself at sea in the midst of a brilliant career, and the slow, meticulous French naval officer, who intimately knows the meaning of fear but remains sublimely ignorant of what it is to give way to that fear.


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This book is written by a blogger I just recently found.
(The book in the author's words.)
knows that her value to her country consists mainly in her ability to marry
well, but when she is kidnapped by the rebels and taken to meet the man
claiming to be both Chambria's true king and her real father, her entire
world falls apart. Will Princess Alexandra be able to untangle the web of
lies and discern who is the true king and her father?
And Miss Greyson's amazing cover.
That's all I have, because none of the other wonderful books I'm waiting for are close to being out yet 8-P And now I have to go, so I can get everything ready for NaNo.
Quote is from Ice Age.


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Donate To This Program
School-Age Child Care Center at PS 130
The Baxter Street School-Age Child Care Center operates a year round program, servicing children ages five through twelve years in Public School 130 in Lower Manhattan. School year operation after school offer a nutritious snack, homework help, enrichment programs in STEM and literacy, and programs that focus on creativity and self-expression for the children to grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a caring and stimulating environment . The center works towards developing age appropriate programs and activities which reflect the specific interests of the children to develop that which is special within each child. In addition, full day programs are offered for 13 of the Department of Education holidays and a 7 week Summer Camp program during July and August.


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Archive for February 2017
Constructive News
It's important to mention that I consider myself an info-mole. I'm addicted to thinking, discovering new data, researches, speculations and connotations. I continuously consume information from social media, news outlets and periodicals (much less from books, as they are often outdated). This lasts since I remember myself, and will hopefully last until I stop doing.
At some point I realised that information is an independent value, not necessarily related to data, knowledge, opinion, etc. I started viewing information as fundamentally indivisible from its production and consumption. Information for me became a captured or projected process of transferring data or knowledge from agent to current or prospective observer[2]. Information is generated at source to be absorbed at target. So each quantum of information for me has a purpose.
That may sound a bit too abstract, but I apply this approach both as motivational explanation of social communication, and as a way of interpretation of environmental phenomena in general. And the purposes are just two: distributing physical energy and maintaining entanglements (while the second can be also reduced to the first one deferred).
So, in the context of personal information consumption I empirically stabilised the analytic approach to each piece of information that becomes available for me:
- Who is sharing the information?
- The chaining source agents of each piece can be multiple;
- Why is it shared by the agents?
- Explicit, implicit or unintended purposes;
- How does it affect the observers?
- Myself or other actual or potential consumers.
Let's take a random article from Google News for analysis… WTF Google News? What is this pathetic junk? Your information is completely useless. News are generated by a graph incompetent bloggers. They post their essays for traffic conversion and social coverage. As cheapest emotions to touch are fear and disgust, the major result of these articles is bad mood of the reader. They don't offer an objective view on the topic or present a balanced spectrum of opinions. They amplify problems and don't suggest solutions.
I don't appreciate this kind of information. I'm used to and wish to continue to consume information for curiosity. Or information that helps me make decisions. Or information that confidently exposes risks. News outlets fail with it miserably (luckily there are other resources online, that are better, but sometimes I tend to think the set is shrinking).
So I'm stating my wish, hope, request and demand to you, o Internet of People: Do good. You can compile the same information in a way that can suggest a constructive action. And by that I mean, that if hypothetically all followed your advice, the world would at a step become a nicer place for all.
- I demand writers to learn that spreading evil and useless information hits them back and focus on kind and constructive.
- I request readers to learn that accepting information without evaluating the author, the purpose and the effect makes them vulnerable to evil and useless information that weakens them.
- I hope both sides will realise they are of comparable scope – for reader the author is a neighbour and not an abstract trumpet, and for author the reader is a neighbour and not an abstract "crowd".
- I wish attention and advertence of all to spring and blossom.
So I could quietly continue to do my info-digging without wasting time and effort on filtering tons of annoying depressing bullshit.
Thank you in advance.


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Razortooth Slot Machine
Theme of the Game
Razortooth Slot Machine is a game that takes you to a trip through earth's prehistoric past. The game is themed on ancient prehistory, this is shown through various symbols. Such symbols include a mammoth, the sabre tiger tooth and the woolly Rhino. These symbols take you to a deep trip to earth's prehistoric past, you are sure to take a few spins on the impressive-looking slot. Developed by Quickspin, Razortooth picks it title character from the amazing Razortooth tiger, this is a fanged creature that looks every inch similar to the perfect hunter. The game comes complete with two separate bonus features and great graphics. Read on below for the full review on for more information of this slot machine.
There are five prehistoric animals that represent a higher value symbol within this game: a wooly mammoth, an alarm looking bird, a bear, a horned buffalo and most of all the Razortooth. Four different colored gems are also available, these include pink, green, blue and yellow.
How to Play It
Razortooth has been developed and brought to you by Quickspin. It features as the first 5 reel and 243 win ways released by this company. It is available for play on mobile, tablet devices and desktop. You are likely to encounter animals from the past ice age in this pre-historic game. This slot machine offers an easy gameplay. At the base game, you can benefit from the Razortooth tiger by randomly appearing on its reels and leaving behind several wild symbols.
There is no standard winning combos and payline structure that can be formed. The only way to win is to ensure matching symbols are in adjacent from the left to right. The reel spins on the scarred blue services within the background with its ancient landscape of mountains and trees.
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Special features
Free spin feature: the main attraction is the free spin feature. Here you get 5 free spins but up to 2 stacked wilds can appear per free spin for big wins. The free spins mode is triggered through landing 3 or more Bonus scatter symbols within the reels. As mentioned, this grants 5 creates wild free spins. Within each spin within the free spins, up to 2 wild Savage symbols appear and expand to cover the entire reel. While these spins may not sound like many, the presence of one or two symbols on each entire reels is good. This could lead to at least on big win in a free spins round.
Random wilds: At the base of the game, you can find a special Razortooth symbol known as The Hunt Random Wild Feature. Once activated, it will place up to 3 additional wild symbols on the reels that sets of the hunting.
Razortooth Wilds: The Razortooth Logo within a yellow background is the game's Wild symbol. It can act as a substitute for all other symbols except the Bonus scatter symbol. This can complete various winning combinations whenever possible.
Maximum Payouts
Razortooth a high number of possible maximum wins. Its 5 reels has 243 ways to win. You will be able to play from a minimum of 25p a spin. The exclusive offer of 243 ways to win is an exclusive win.
Razortooth sounds great and looks good, it has an easily triggered bonus feature. There is something interesting to find about this slot machine. Quickspin knows how to make a decent slot. Razortooth is certainly one of those slot machines worth stopping by. The high number of wins within this slot machine even when it does not offer a high payout provides a better gaming. The graphics of this game are stunning and it works as good on mobile as it does online.
Where Can You Play This Game?
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Preliminary Accident Reports
April 2002 Issue
January 21, Mammoth Lakes, Calif. / Beech Bonanza
At 11:00 Pacific time, a Beech B36TC went out of control on takeoff from Mammoth Lakes Airport. The pilot and four passengers were not injured. The pilot reported the airplane encountered a wind gust while taking off on runway 27 that caused one wing to lift and the other to strike the runway. Winds were reported from 200 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 31....
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Having a small land became the main obstacle that makes people unwilling to start gardening activity. For them, gardening is a suitable activity for a vast and large land. In fact, container gardening is a perfect concept for a small land.
This concept allows a beginner to grow berries and fresh vegetables. Well, how to run container gardening for small spaces?
1. Look for the best location to put containers. If you want to grow berries and vegetables, find a location with full sunlight access. Make sure the area get at least six hours of sun each day. In this spot, you can grow carrots, radishes and lettuce.
2. Choose a container that allows the roots to grow. Container consists of several types, start from plastic pots, wooden barrels, wooden boxes or large metal tubs. Make sure the container has a space at least 8-inches deep.
3. Fill the container with good quality soil. It has good water penetration which gives good impact for the plants. You can buy rich soil at nurseries and garden centers around the city.
4. The plants in containers need more water, especially when the summer comes. Soil can be dried out quickly.
5. After applying the four steps above, then you can grow a variety of plants like lettuce, peas, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs.
Apparently, there is nothing impossible to run container gardening for small spaces.


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Bottle Grinders - Ash and Carbon
Bottle Grinders - Ash and Carbon
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a set of bottle grinders
This is the gift for everyone, stylish, practical and bringing tables to life around the world the Menu bottle grinders are one of our favourite products. Yes use for salt and pepper, but you can also use these bad boys for spices, grains, nuts and seeds. A rounded base that fits perfectly in your hands and a rubber surface that make them easy to grip and clean. Bon Appetit!
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Hello, I'm Daisy.
All four of my grandparents lived in Sudan and three of them were born there. Like most of the descendants of this unique community, I grew up with stories of the Sudan - immersed in the culture, food and memories of a lifestyle so far removed from my own and yet felt so close it was almost tangible. They, like all the other members of the community, are amazing, fun people with great stories and fantastic story-telling abilities.
I decided it would be a great shame if these memories weren't preserved for future generations and so I set about documenting them, founding Tales of Jewish Sudan.
Armed with my (Ancient) History MA, the audio recorder on my phone, a portable scanner and a desire to hang out with some Sudanese OAP's, I began my journey.
A few years later, I'm as excited and passionate as ever about documenting these stories, publishing these recipes and sharing these photographs. I intend to publish the full collection as a book, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the selection on this website as much as I do.
If any of the recipes you see here inspire you, you can now book cookery workshops with me to learn how to make them yourself, by heading to the classes page on this website.
Finally, please don't hesitate to get in touch - whether you're from the community, are connected to it in any way (however tangentially), or even if you just want to say hello!


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Putti and her friend had loads of fun making these Not-So-Scary Play Dough Monsters.
This was done on an impromptu play date for Putti and her friend. I had nothing planned for the two girls. I just gave them some play dough and they were free to pick things to add to it as they wanted. All the play dough accessories like googly eyes, sticks, chenille stems, buttons, beads, feathers, craft sticks etc are always readily available for Putti.
I was in and out of the kitchen getting the lunch ready, while the girls were busy with their play dough creations. At first the girls had picked googly eyes and were poking the eyes into their flattened play dough. The more eyes you add, more monster-er it looked they thought.
After a while, they had picked up some chenille stems and started cutting them as per their own liking.
Love this cute little guy, with a red mouth.
Two little green monsters which the girls said are gonna be their pets.
Love how the mouth was made for this guy by poking their finger tip to create round impressions.The girls spent over an hour playing and creating these play dough monsters. Love such simple and fun activity. This Play Dough Monsters activity is best for a quiet after-school activity, independent classroom center, halloween party, weekend morning or a play date.
Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley and Anne Miranda is a cute book that is about the wide range of moods all the little monsters experience. There Was An Old Monster! by Rebecca Emberley is a story of a big-eyed monster who swallowed a tick. The illustrations are vibrant and delightful. The story that goes in rhyme will have your preschooler giggling and asking for more.
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I was talking on the telephone the other day to a friend from Paris who is living in NYC. We were discussing what we both missed about "home". I grew up in Southern California, so I miss Mexican food. Like an ex-smoker who is never around cigarette smoke, my cravings have diminished greatly since the early years when I smuggled tortillas and other ingredients back to Paris. However, once I'm back in California I can't get enough. Much to the disappointment of my friends I stay with there who would rather I cooked for them. Instead I drag them around looking for my favorite dive Mexican restaurants. Because, at least in Los Angeles, it seems that the best Mexican restaurants tend to be in an abandoned gas station or a similarly insalubrious location. The staff don't speak much English and certainly don't take credit cards. Keep that in mind if you are looking for Mexican food in LA.
Not surprisingly, my transplanted Parisian friend -- a young woman working in Fashion-- was missing an entirely different food experience. She told me she missed the dairy case at her local Monoprix (An upscale chain of grocery stores found in Paris). Huh? I'm certainly a fan of the myriad choices of butter, cheese and yougurt one can find in Paris, but I have never really thought too much about it when I am home. After all, I've been too busy chasing down a burrito truck.
So after we spoke, I decided to go to Monoprix and really look at the dairy case. I stood in the front of them (there were several) looking the same way I look at a work of art. Looking very closely at every detail, noting the colors, brands, selection and scale of the entire department. And sure enough I noticed how really enormous the dairy cases were. They took up more space than the produce section. In a small (by US standards) grocery store, it was one of the biggest sections with two aisles of refrigerated cases each about 50 feet long. There were at least 100 kinds of yogurt in all different sizes, Crème Fraiche, 30 different Butters, Milk (Cow and sheep) fromage blanc, etc. Then there was another section of milk based desserts and fruit compotes. Every type of creamy French dessert in the classic flavors, coffee, chocolate, caramel and vanilla. Along with ready to eat îles Flottants, Crème Brulée, Chocolate Mousse, Pots de Crèmes and Crème aux oeufs (my current obsession.)
Of course the products were familiar. For example, I have several favorite brands of yogurt including one brand that varies the flavors following the fruit of the season. So it's fun to take the peach in summer, the sour cherry in fall and lemon in the winter. Another favorite is a yogurt made of sheeps milk along with all the varieties of Fromage Blanc. A creamy cross between Yogurt and Sour Cream that is always sold unsweetend and is good with a bit of sugar, some fresh fruit or salt and pepper depending on your mood. It is also sold as a Faiselle when it comes with a sort of strainer inside the container. This allows the water to separate from the milk solids and it gets thicker over the few days it sits in the fridge. Asumming you have the restriaint to wait. My advice, buy the largest container possible to have any hope of seeing the result.
One of my favorite snacks is steamed new potatoes with some salty butter and a big dollop of Faiselle de Fromage Blanc du Chevre. A goat's milk fromage blanc that has a slighty stronger flavor. Some sea salt and coarse ground white pepper with its warm nutty flavor make the dish perfect.
So once I had really thought about the dairy case, I realized that she was right. It was indeed something worth missing. And unlike Mexican food, in NYC you can't simply whip up a goats milk Faiselle when the mood strikes you the way I prepare some makeshift enchiladas or a burrito in Paris.
My thanks to AmateurGourmet.com for the burrito pic - impossible to find in Paris. We also seem to share the same taste in Mexican food.


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A Maine ocean front wedding. Ah, what a beauty you were. Allison and Ben's wedding day at Black Point Inn was one for the books. I met Allison and Ben through the fabulous planner Heidi of She Luxe Events. This was my first Maine wedding since being back here and it was a great one to start off with. Allison explained her wedding to me as floral explosion and oh was she right. From the tall centerpieces to the garland to the ceremony's arch it was definitely a floral explosion. Allison and Ben's ceremony took place over looking the ocean. We could see the blue color of the ocean beside the cotton candy sky and hear the crash of the ocean. I could have stayed there for forever just watching the waves go back and forth. As the ceremony started, the sun dipped down below earth and we watched Allison and Ben share their vows under the most beautiful sky that somehow mirrored all of the colors in their wedding floral that Pretty Flowers of Maine created. You'll for sure what to scroll down to see their arbor- one of the most beautiful arbors I have ever seen. If you have the chance to have a Maine ocean front wedding you should definitely go for it! It'll be something you'll never forget!
Allison and Ben had a massive bridal party with lots of personality which made for an incredibly fun dance floor! It was one of those weddings where I would have loved to have been a guest and enjoy the dance floor as a guest. But it was hilarious watching everyones great moves…that were actually great! That doesn't happen too often!
Such a fabulous wedding- thanks so much for trusting me Allison and Ben! Cheers to you two!
Planner- She Luxe Weddings and Events
Floral- Pretty Flowers of Maine
Photographer- Jaimee Morse
Hair- Uptown Curl
Films- ARA
Entertainment- KB3
Reception Venue- Black Point Inn
Rentals- One Stop Shop Rentals
Transportation- First Student
Second Shooter- Katherine Angell
You captured their day so beautifully!


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Product description
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Youth Group Mission
Inspiring spiritual growth through service, worship, faith formation, fun and fellowship.
8th through 10th grade students eligible to participate.
For information contact:
Lisa Lister, email@example.com, 4848-459-2060
Katie Sullivan at 484-680-5289
Join us for fun social nights, meaningful service activities, and faith formation geared towards teens. All meetings - unless noted - will take place in the Maximillian Room of the Rectory basement on Sunday evenings from 6:30 pm to 8 pm.
Questions? Please email Katie Sullivan and Lisa Lister at email@example.com
We look forward to seeing you!


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Lakeland Limousine
West Milford's Family Owned and Operated Premier Car Service since 1999!
After retiring from a lifetime of working in NJ and overseas, lifetime residents of West Milford Douglas and wife Ruth along with their son John decided to start a "hobby" of transporting clients from West Milford to and from the airports. Quickly realizing the demand for transportation services in West Milford, they realized that they would need more cars and drivers! Soon afterwards, their daughter Mary, brother Lance, sister Jayne, and even daughter-in-law Michele came aboard to help.
Completely 100% family-owned and operated Lakeland Limousine, located in scenic West Milford, NJ, has earned a reputation as the finest limousine service in West Milford. Our clientèle expect only the best...and that is what we deliver. Lakeland Limousine has been providing excellent service since 1999, and forecasts that we will do so for years to come. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded. Our drivers are family, and we treat you like family as well. Because without you, there is no us!
Lakeland Limousine guarantees a high level of customer service and integrity. Our prompt, and friendly service and comfortable cars have earned us consistently satisfied clients since the start. Due to repeat business from our satisfied clients, our services have grown, and continue to grow.
We offer comfortable service for any occasion, including weddings, graduations, concerts, and proms. We will provide you information and "all-inclusive" quotes right up front. What you hear, is what you pay. NO HIDDEN CHARGES! Then depending on number of passengers or bags, we can recommend the perfect vehicle to meet your needs.
For many years our customers have dubbed us "The Red Car Company" because of our sleek 2009 Candy-Apple red Chrysler 300! Sadly, that car has been retired with well over 200,000 happy, successful miles! We now have a AWD 2013 Chrysler 300C. Very spacious and comfy. All leather. Heated seats. Large trunk! Perfect car for perfect travel!
Lakeland Limousine has been able to stay in business since 1999 of our commitment to value, integrity, safety, and prompt friendly first-class service.
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Fax (973) 728 8838
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Gear Box
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia.
Gear Box
a gear-ratio mechanism for step-changing the frequency (speed) of rotation of a driven shaft in relation to a driving shaft operating at a constant rotation frequency. The gearbox consists of sliding gear drives located in a separate housing or in a common housing with the other mechanisms. Another term for the mechanism that feeds into the driving wheels of an automobile and other transport vehicles is "transmission."


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Friend's Email:
Subject: I have found a DVD that I think you would enjoy
|Resident Evil - Apocalypse
UMD for PSP
Actors: Razaaq Adoti, Shaun Austin-Olsen, Mike Epps, Megan Fahlenbock, Oded Fehr
Genres: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mystery & Suspense
R 2005 1hr 34min
AFTER ESCAPING FROM THE RACCOON CITY MEDICAL FACILITY, ALICESEARCHES FOR HOW TO CONTAIN THE T-VIRUS WHILE TRYING TO FIND AWAY TO ESCAPE THE RUINED CITY. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, A WOMAN NAMED JILL TRIES TO ESCAPE WILLE B... more »
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Movie Reviews
Boxset Contains SPECIAL Edition...NOT DELUXE (New One)
KiWiSouP | Minneapolis, MN USA | 08/29/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"this contains the old version of the movie with the red cover, not the newer and better deluxe version with the green cover."
Great zombie movies, no more and no less.
J. Williams | New York, NY | 06/06/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I feel that both of these films are somewhat underrated. They were hurt by critics who sort of missed the point and by video gamers who expected them to be carbon-copies of the games. They are, simply, very good zombie movies - lots of campy fun, great action, and even some genuine scares. They're just fun to watch, and one of the big reasons for that is Milla - who looks great and is just perfect for this role, simultaneously strong and vulnerable. (An earlier review said these were among her first films - in fact, she has been acting since 1991, when she famously appeared nude at age 14 in "Return to the Blue Lagoon". She is a veteran actress with nearly 20 films to her credit.)
It is true that these films don't do much that's new with the genre - if that's what you're looking for, see "28 Days Later" instead. But the Resident Evil films do the traditional zombie genre as well as any film has recently, with great special effects (these were big-budget films), good acting and a lot of action."
IF Apocalypse is like this count me In
paul mason | Barrie On | 10/05/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After eagerly awaiting for the sequel due to the open ending of RESIDENT EVIL, and being teased by realistic "ad" trailers I was ready to see Apocalypse.
This movie did not disappoint, in fact I may boldly state it is the best action/horror movie I have yet watched. Mila Jovanavich is again compelling to watch in the lead role as the sole survivor from the first movie. (Well technically she isn't the SOLE survivor, but don't want to provide more spoiler than neccessary to whet Amazonians appetite.
She had already been through hell surviving the HIVE, the awakens to discover the whole of Raccoon City fallen prey to the virus. Quickly she joins a small, determined group of humans who make a deal with an Umbrella scientist to be able to leave the quarantined city in return for rescuing his daughter.
The action in this movie is intense, yet being a Resident Evil movie there are some genuinely creepy scenes as well. Although APOCALYPSE is heavy on action and special effects there are characters here as well including Jill Valentine from the video game.
In fact I barely played Resident Evil so my memory was foggy, but friends confirmed that as the little I remembered led me to suspect this movie stayed really true to the game. One criticism I have heard is that it lacks the story that the first had, to which I reply hey it's a video game adaptation movie not Shakespeare. In other words this movie delivered exactly what I expected and much more, the fact that it was filmed obviously in Toronto, where I grew up was just that much more of a bonus."
The best zombie movie since Dawn of the Dead
Pieter Dams | 01/07/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you felt the first "Resident Evil" movie didn't quite capture the atmosphere of the original game, you can sleep a little easier now. "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" has EVERYTHING: from dark, creepy graveyards, a gothic cathedral and classic lorries in an "Escape from New York"- style deserted city to a cigarette smoking Jill Valentine and half naked hooker zombies.
Although this sequel clearly had a much bigger budget than the original film, director Alexander Witt has kept it credible and didn't use digital technology to bombard your senses and keep your mind of the lack of a decent storyline. Rather than making you feel like you're watching a computer- made movie where nothing seems real, the special effects help create a desolate and panicky atmosphere with credible characters who struggle to survive in a city that's infested with their undead compatriots, partially decayed K-9s and other creepy lifeforms. The scene where one survivor has to go up against a class of elementary school zombies is just terrifying.
Unlike the director of the "Dawn of the Dead" remake, Witt and producer/ script writer Paul W.S. Anderson have opted not to follow in the footsteps of the fast- moving "28 Days Later" zombies, but has clearly been inspired not only by George Romero's view of walking corpses, but also by his opinion of our western society. The real evil in this movie is not the zombies or even the killer mutant Nemesis (who looks and sounds like he has just stepped out of the original game and into this movie), but a Big Brother- style multinational that puts itself above the law and has no respect whatsoever for morale, decency or anything human.
Even if you've never played the video game, didn't like the first "Resident Evil" movie or don't care for a lot of high tech military action in a horror film, I'd still highly recommend you take the time to watch this one. If you liked both the 1978 version of "Dawn of the Dead" and "Aliens", you're going to love "Resident Evil: Apocalypse". Besides, if internationally acclaimed Milla Jovovich agreed to add it to her résumé of, among others, "the Fifth Element", "the Messenger: the Story of Jean of Arc" and "the Million Dollar Hotel", it has to be good!"


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The Arizona Fall Championship rolls into WestWorld in Scottsdale, AZ a little earlier on the show calendar for 2017 with dates of September 20 through 24. The show takes full advantage of the fantastic expansion of WestWorld facilities by holding most classes indoors or under cover. The All Around and rail classes will be held in the North Hall's two climate controlled arenas. Spacious, bright, and outfitted with excellent footing, these arenas were a big hit with exhibitors at Sun Circuit in March. Cow horse, Roping, Reining and Ranch Riding will show next door in the Equidome, with its indoor warm-up paddock and ample spectator seating. The AzFC also offers its full slate of VRH classes under the shade of covered arena 5A. On Friday, that arena becomes a practice pen for cattle fence work. The 2016 AzFall Championship saw an explosion of entries over the prior year. Organizers took that into account designing this year's schedule so that great show days do not turn into long nights. The schedule also benefits Youth exhibitors with those busy school schedules. All Youth classes will be held Friday through Sunday.
The AzFC is known as "The Show For Everyone". The show has been committed to welcoming all levels of exhibitor, and creating an environment that is simultaneously first-class, fun, and exhibitor friendly. No matter your level of expertise, there is a level in which to show, and great rewards for winning. Scottsdale Performance Saddles sponsored by Scottsdale Western World will be given to the Non Pro High Point champs in Level 1, Level 2 and in Level 3. Classes that will be counted for these awards include the appropriate level or age division of showmanship, horsemanship, western pleasure, and halter or performance halter. The coveted Championship bronze horse trophies will be awarded once again in all AQHA classes that show to 6 judges. Logo outerwear will be awarded to 2nd through 5th places in each Circuit.
The enthusiasm for Versatility Ranch Horse classes at the Fall Championship has steadily grown, as have the offerings. AzQHA CEO and show producer Doug Huls is adamant about promoting VRH on an equal footing with the traditional roster of AQHA show classes as a way to expand the overall interest in the AQHA show experience. Accordingly, Ranch classes will be presenting first-rate awards as well. VRH Trail and VRH Conformation exhibitors will show to six judges with Circuit Champions receiving bronze trophies and 2nd through 5th place circuit awards. Ranch exhibitors also have a shot at one of two awesome saddle awards. The All Around Open Ranch Champion will be awarded a Leson Classic Saddle sponsored by Leson Saddles. Classes that can be counted for this award include VRH Trail, Ranch Riding, Ranch on the Rail, VRH Conformation and Open Halter or Open Performance Halter classes. The Amateur All Around Ranch Champion will receive a Jeff Smith saddle. Points from Amateur VRH Trail, Ranch Riding, Ranch on the Rail, VRH Conformation and Amateur Halter or Performance Halter classes will be tallied for that award.
A big draw year after year at the AzFC has been the Cattle classes.This year there will be AQHA Cutting as well as VRH cutting, and two slates of NRCHA and AzRCHA approved will run concurrent with AQHA Cow Horse classes. Open, Amateur and Youth Ropers will have their turn in the Equidome as well. Several NSBA Futurities await exhibitors this year. There will be a 2 year old Open Western Pleasure, 3 year old Open Western Pleasure, 3 year old Non Pro Western Pleasure, 2 year old Open Hunter under Saddle, 3 year old Open Hunter under Saddle and 3 year old Non Pro Hunter under Saddle. There will also be a 3 &4 Year old Trail Futurity.
One of the highlight special events will be the #13 USTPC Trail Challenge on Friday September 22 sponsored by Holly Hover and Chas Roberts Air Conditioning. This team event builds camaraderie pairing amateur and pro riders, often from across barns, in a highly spirited, supportive environment. There is a 100% payback along with added money, and a guarantee of $1,000 to the winning team. Payouts will be made in two tiers, and there is a judges' choice ride off. Interested riders should contact Holly Hover. She will even help novice trail exhibitors find a perfect partner.
The Arizona Quarter Horse Association will offer an Interscholastic Championship Invitational for AzQHYA and IEA members at the 2017 Arizona Fall Championship show. There will be three classes of Horsemanship and one Reining class for 6th- 8th grade students. Additionally, there will be four classes of horsemanship and two reining classes for 9th-12th grade students. Each of the 10 classes will award $1000 worth of scholarships. AzQHA will also be awarding another $5,000 worth of scholarships in honor of Joe and Suzy Jeane at the show. These scholarships will be awarded to AzQHYA members who will be interviewed at the show. Be sure to check AzQHA.org for details on the Joe and Suzy Jeane scholarships and more information on the ASCENT Scholarship program. Many thanks to Dr. Joni Hegel for sponsoring the AzQHYA scholarships!
The show's legendary Give-Aways enhance its reputation for fun. The Prize Patrol is already hard at work devising interesting challenges for a treasure trove of goodies. From riding challenges to trivia challenges, from hard luck exhibitor awards to random back number draws, the prizes just keep flowing. There is so much offered and so much to win at the Arizona Fall Championship; it delivers a very good value for your showing time and dollars. Exhibitors can chose the All Show Fee option of $450 for as many AQHA classes (except cutting) as they want. Or for those with a more limited focus, they can opt for a per class entry fee. Any way you look at it, this show has you covered and WestWorld is definitely the place to be in September 2017.
Visit azfallchampionship.com for all the details, awards criteria and entries.


text: I should preface this post with an unavoidable statement : I LOVE LOVE LOVE animals. They are my chosen cause, my absolute heart, & yep – I'm one of those crazy people who adores my three pets as my children. That being said, the last thing I want to be here is preachy about anything,…Read More


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Research challenging the safety of ingredients in fabric care
and air freshener products is deceptive and raises false
fears about products that have a long record of safety and
effectiveness, according to two reports from The Soap and
Instructions for proper use, storage and disposal is key for labeling in
products such as fabric care or air fresheners, according to the CSPA.
Detergent Association (SDA) and Consumer Specialty
Products Association (CSPA) criticizing a paper published
in the Environmental Impact Assessment Review and its
surrounding publicity. The paper pertained to fragrances
and ingredients known as volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), which are found in a variety of consumer products.
"The research in question is, in essence, a rehash of past
studies that offers nothing useful to manufacturers, regulators or consumers," said Richard Sedlak, SDA senior vice
president, technical and international affairs. "The lack of
any exposure assessment greatly diminishes the significance of the alarmist warnings made by the author.
"Fragrances, volatile organic compounds and the prod-
ucts that contain them are not exempt from any federal
health and safety laws," he added.
"The paper is misleading and has a number of factual
inaccuracies," said Chris Cathcart, CSPA president. "Air
fresheners, laundry products and other consumer specialty
products are regulated under the Federal Hazardous
Substances Act and subsequently have strict labeling
requirements. Companies producing products that are regulated under FHSA must name on the product label each
component that contributes to the hazard. Simply stated,
these products are safe when used according to product
Given the limited space on product labels, the CSPA
advocates that the most important information on the label
is instruction on proper use, storage and disposal. This
information should be identifiable on a label.
More info: www.cleaning101.com, www.cspa.org
CSPA Sets Up Website for Annual Meeting Mark your calendars now and save the dates for the CSPA's 95th
Annual Meeting Dec. 7-11 at the Marriott Harbor Beach
Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
According to the CSPA, the meeting's theme "Learning
from the Past and Preparing for the Future," will build on
the Mid-Year Meeting's theme of "Perceiving and Acting
Beyond the Headlines" by reflecting on what the assocation
has learned from the past to shape its future vision.
A general session breakfast will kick off the event, with
elections of the 2009 board of directors, presentations of the
Allderdice and Chairman's awards and featuring keynote
speaker Jon Meacham, author/historian and editor of
Newsweek. CSPA divisions will present programs ranging
from their own particular interests to those crossing division lines, and at least one special session on green products is planned.
Marketing events at the resort's cabanas will take place
during free lunch hours and at the Suppliers Night
Reception, mixing business with networking.
Annual meeting registration will be $875 for CSPA
members by Nov. 14 and $925 thereafter, along with $250
for spouses and guests. Registrations will cover all posted
activities and events, with registered spouses receiving a
gift certificate to the Harbor Beach Spa.
A block of rooms is being held at the Marriott Harbor
Beach Resort for CSPA meeting attendees, with special
group rates. More info: www.cspa.org/public/annual


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There are a lot of books out there.
How do you make your book stand out?
A good video trailer uploaded to your site and social media pages gives the reader further information about the book and helps promote your text across platforms including YouTube and Vimeo.
In this workshop Dr Tim Kitchen will demonstrate how to film, edit, mix audio and create credits for your own trailer.
If you've never touched a camera or editing equipment then this workshop will be a comprehensive introduction on using Premiere Elements to create a short trailer.


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Needles used in laboratories are a significant liability and threat to safety. These needles may have hazardous substances on/in them such as toxic chemicals or bio-hazardous substances such as viruses or bacteria. Use of needles should be limited due to the safety concerns associated with the ease at which a needle could poke the skin and distribute hazardous substances directly into the bloodstream.
Needles, once uncapped, should NEVER be recapped as this in the most common cause of needle sticks.
Needles and used syringes should be disposed of, as a unit, in an appropriate, labeled waste container. These waste containers should be puncture resistant and located near needle usage areas and are available commercially. If bio-hazardous materials were used with any needles in a waste container, that waste container must be autoclaved prior to landfill disposal.
At no time should any needle, razor blade or similarly sharp item be placed in any Glass Disposal boxes. The plastic bag/cardboard combination in those containers is easily penetrated by needles and can pose a serious hazard to workers.
If a needle stick should occur, appropriate first aid should be administered based on the suspected substance that needle was in contact with. If this information is unknown, it should be treated as serious and appropriate action taken to ensure the victims health.
All needle sticks must be reported to the Chemical Hygiene Officer, no matter how minor or severe.


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How does a peel off Mask Work?
This week we dive into the wonderful work of face masks with this week's beauty brand Montagne Jeunesse! I was given the Passion Fruit Peel Off Mask and thought it would be a perfect opportunity to explain how this works.
How Peel off masks work is pretty neat. Through ingredients like PVP, polyvinyl alcohol and other binders and polymers chemists are made to make peel off masks that range from a gel to a creamy paste consistency. PVP when is drys basically forms a thin layer on top of the skin., so when it is combined with the other ingredients, it is able to skin on the skin dry in such a way that it literally can be peeled off the face. Most brands will add a multitude of other ingredients to the formula to give it brightening, detoxifying or hydrating.
To use a Peel Off Mask you should
***If this is your first time using this mask ....patch test your mask on the inside part of your arm
1. Cleanse the skin
2. Gently Pat your face dry
3. Pat apply a moderate layer of your mask, if the layer is too thin it will be difficult to remove.
4. Start at the jaw line and bring the mask up your face.
5. Make sure to go around your Mouth, Nostrils and eyes, as to not block airways. Also try not to get it in your eyebrows (not fun to pick out...)
6. Allow the mask to dry. Most masks take 10 to 20 minutes. Some turn a different color when it is dry. Pat it with your finger for wet spots
7. when it is completely dry, starting with the jaw line start to lift the mask away from your skin. Very slowly and gently. This should not hurt at all.
8. Continue to peel it away from your face up toward your forehead until it is completely off.
9. Once the mask is removed I usually like to rinse my face with warm water and then Pat Dry
10. Finish with applying your favorite moisturizer.
TIP: Masks can really brighten the skin and can give you a bright illuminating look to your skin. After to you try a mask on a night in (to make sure you are not going to have a negative reaction) Try using it before you have a hot date, or before going to a reunion or wedding.
Have a great week.
*Mask graciously provided by Montagne JeunesseLast modified on
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Free Halloween Games: Six Spooky Dress Up Games
With Halloween a few weeks away, we've started to see an influx of spooky dress up games. Try these six to get you in the mood for one of the most mischievous nights of the year. Or, at the very least, use it to find some killer Halloween costume ideas.
Halloween Girl Dress Up
In this Halloween dress-up game, get this girl ready for Halloween by dressing her in a wide variety of shoes, dresses and other accessories. We went for a devilishly chic look in our outfit above.
Play Halloween Girl Dress Up Now >
Click to see all six Halloween dress up games >>
Young Witch
Dress up this Bratz-inspired witch with a large selection of clothes and finish it off with your black cat of choice.
Play Young Witch Now >
Halloween Costumes Party
It's a party and everyone's invited to dress up this reveler with a selection of masks. If you fancy yourself a designer,
hit the 'Design' button and create your own mask using a selection of patterns.
Play Halloween Costumes Party >
Cute Halloween Dress Up
This Halloween game just screams kew-oot! Dress up this anime-style doll with a selection of cute accoutrement, including furry bodysuits!
Play Cute Halloween Dress Up >
Halloween Party Dress Up
This dress up game offers a slightly hipper selection of Halloween wear, including some very Madonna Like-A-Virgin era dresses that take us right back to the '80s.
Play Halloween Party Dress Up >
Jack Skellington Dress Up Game
Nothing says 'This is Halloween' like Jack Skellington, the star from the animated film 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.'
This simple dress-up game lets you dress Jack in his spooky suit, pumpkin king head and as Sandy Claws as the theme music from the movie plays in the background.
Play Jack Skellington Dress Up Game Now >


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It's that time of year again where the sales of games consoles are sky rocketing and it must be said that there has rarely been a time where the choice of which to buy has been harder to make.
After two years into their lifespans (three for the Wii U), the current generation machines are just hitting their stride. The games that are now available for each are better and more accomplished than even last year's batch - and getting better all the time. And both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have had user experience upgrades to add new features.
The question that remains, therefore, is which to choose? They all have their merits, but which of the three would suit your gaming and entertainment needs the most?
We attempt to answer these questions in this feature. And you might be surprised by our decisions.
First-party games
The most important element when deciding which console to buy this year is support. Will it have the most amount of games that you want to play? And in terms of first-party games, the Xbox One just about shades it as it has had more exclusive titles released on the build up to Christmas than either of its rivals.
Halo 5: Guardians, Forza Motorsport 6 and Rise of the Tomb Raider are all exclusive to Xbox One (the latter is also available for Xbox 360, but that's not relevant in this case). That's quite a list in itself, but when you add Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, the remake of the first Gears rebuilt from the ground up, it is an impressive line-up of games that Sony couldn't match in the last couple of months.
That's not to say that Sony won't have some excellent first-party titles coming up early next year; Uncharted 4: A Thief's End will undoubtedly be one of the best games on the PS4 so far, but it is slated for a spring release after being held back for extra polish. And titles like The Last Guardian and No Man's Sky (developed for Sony Worldwide Studios by Hello Games), as good as they look, will also be stars of next year's line-up, not this.
Nintendo itself seems to be winding down its own Wii U releases a little, possibly with an eye on its next machine, the NX. Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, Xenoblade Chronicles X and Super Mario Maker are top titles, but Star Fox Zero seems to be one of the last big games still coming. And that won't be around until March 2016.
Third-party games
Things are a bit closer between the two big boys when it comes to third-party titles. As always, there are specific content deals with Sony and Microsoft that might mean a certain game has better DLC or new missions on one console or the other, but most publishers are catering for both machines.
Sadly, this is where the Wii U misses out even more so as it has much less support outside of Nintendo itself. There are some third-party titles available, but they are few and far between. Kids are well served though, with an exclusive starter pack for Skylanders Superchargers featuring a Donkey Kong Skylander that doubles as an Amiibo. That might be a decider for some parents. And it has recently been announced that Minecraft is coming to the platform.
When it comes to games like FIFA 16, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Star Wars Battlefront, Fallout 4, Need for Speed and Assassin's Creed Syndicate though, there's very little difference between the two main machines.
Backwards compatibility
It is here that the Xbox One excels over its nearest rival because the recent dashboard update also brought backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games. And although only 104 360 games work at present, any original title that doesn't require a USB accessory or the original Kinect could eventually work with the console's software-driven emulation. Microsoft is adding them in regular batches. It's also a free service.
Supported Xbox 360 discs will be read by the Xbox One, which will then download the related digital version for free to the hard drive. And any compatible games already bought from Xbox Live will be available to download immediately.
Sony, on the other hand, relies on its cloud gaming platform PlayStation Now to deliver playable PS3 games, but that is a rental or subscription service that requires additional payment. The company has already started to release PS2 games that work on the PS4 through emulation, like the recent Star Wars classic titles given away with the Star Wars Battlefront edition console, but it's unlikely to ever match the scale of the Xbox offering.
Wii U owners actually have the biggest reason to smile about backwards compatibility, with the console being compatible with Wii games from its launch. There are also tonnes of classic Nintendo games available to download through the digital store, from all eras of gaming.
Virtual reality
Sony fares better when it comes to virtual reality in that it has its PlayStation VR headset that could change the way you game forever.
Coming in the "first half of 2016" the VR headset is of equivalent quality to Oculus Rift - as we found in our tests of each device - and will give the PS4 another string to its bow.
Microsoft has HoloLens - its augmented reality headset which will also be suitable for gaming - but as that headset doesn't even have a realistic consumer release date, it's not a major concern for now.
Sadly, Nintendo has no interesting add-ons for Wii U to look forward to and we feel that it is waiting until next year's Nintendo NX reveal instead.
It's a tough one, but Microsoft has perhaps improved its console more in the last two years than Sony. Some will argue that it's because it had to, with the PlayStation 4 a superior machine at launch. By focusing more on gaming than it did originally though, the lines between the two main current generation consoles are more blurred than ever.
As for Nintendo, it's almost chugging along on its own merry way without getting to embroiled in the scrap between the other two.
What it really boils down to though is what games you ultimately want to play on your new console and how long you are willing to wait for them. We suggest you make a list of all the games you'd most like to play and see which console ticks the most boxes.
Nintendo's Wii U is the ideal second console for those that can afford it and truly offers something different to the other two, but if you only have enough money for one machine, want top titles to play on it this year rather than next, and already have an extensive library of Xbox 360 games on your shelves, it really is a no brainer.
That said, if you are an Uncharted fan, it's well worth getting a PS4 in preparation for a decent slice of Nathan Drake action next spring.


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Office of Facilities Planning
In order to support the institution's vision for academic excellence, the Office of Facilities Planning is responsible for developing and implementing the long-range facilities plan, including property acquisitions, new construction, and major renovations. The Office works with multiple departments within the Division of Business Affairs in the execution of these projects, which includes Facilities Management, Grounds, Information Technology, Budgeting, Procurement, and Business & Auxiliary Services. In addition, the Office ensures appropriate approvals are obtained from the Commission on Higher Education, Joint Bond Review Committee, and the South Carolina Budget & Control Board.
In January 2012, the Office completed the 2012 Campus Master Plan, an update of the 2004 plan. For more information, go here.


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There's Still Time.
Today's the last day to send in your 'R.S.V.P's' for this month's Blog Party. We're celebrating three years, and it's Blogger's Choice. You get to pick your favorite appetizers and drinks this time, and you have until tonight to send in your URL's.
Hope to see you there!


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MONTGOMERY, Ala. - LaGrange downed Huntingdon in five sets to gain a split on the first day of USA South play. The Panthers (7-9) lost to Piedmont in their first match of the day before bouncing back with the win over the host Hawks.
The Panthers beat Huntingdon 25-18, 24-26, 25-19, 21-25, 15-8. Freshmen Emily Arnold, Danyelle Carr and sophomore Katie Chancellor combined for 36 kills in the match.
Carr tied for match honors with 13, while Chancellor added 12 and Arnold 11. Chancellor had a .333 attack percentage in the match.
Mary Katherine Schmitz had a season and career high 47 assists. Aspen Coggins tied for match honors with 18 digs.
Piedmont beat the Panthers 25-22, 25-14, 25-13. Arnold led the team with seven kills, with Carr adding six and Sydney Marshall five. Coggins also had 18 digs, while Schmitz had 25.
The Panthers host Wesleyan on Wednesday at 7 p.m.


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A festival celebrating the open mindedness and creativity of the Phoenix music scene with new bands that have never played The Trunk Space before! Plus two out-of-town guests! Come on down and welcome some new artists and make some new friends!
Suntundra Moon - From LA.
Bella Bacchae - From Tucson.
Joseph James


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Couples Counseling
Couples Therapy to help you and your partner resolve difficulties, improve communication, and develop new skills so that your relationship can be even more satisfying in the future. In addition to talk therapy and, in some cases, "Power Therapies", I help couples to learn and practice new, effective strategies to improve communication using models such as:
- Gottman Method. John Gottman's research shows that, to make a relationship last, couples must become better friends, learn to manage conflict, and create ways to support each other's hopes for the future.
- PREP (The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program), based on over twenty years of research at the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University Denver, PREP teaches marital/pre-marital couples essential skills: how to communicate effectively, work as a team, solve problems, manage conflict, and preserve and enhance love, commitment and friendship.
- Non-Violent Communication. NVC emphasizes empathic listening and compassionate communication as a way of communicating more effectively and meeting both our own needs and the needs of others more effectively.
Premarital Counseling
Get your relationship off to a great start by investing in a few sessions of premarital counseling. The average couple waits six years
I use Gottman relationship assessments and the clinical interview to help you to identify areas of strength and to make a plan for enhancing your relationship skills, and share researched and proven methods so that you can communicate to get though conflict and to deepen intimacy and connection with your partner.
Interpersonal Relationship Counseling
Improve your relationships with friends, family and coworkers. I offer treatment for individuals and for two or more people in my office or at the workplace to help you to resolve conflict and improve communication.


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agriculture. The Forest Grove area is located
25 miles west of downtown Portland in the
Tualatin Valley area. Originally a small farm
town in the late 19th century, it is now mainly
a suburb of the city of Portland, with Tuality
Forest Grove Hospital as one of the larger
local employers.
Gaston School District
300 Park Street, Gaston, OR 97119
503-985-0210; www.gaston.k12.or.us
Gaston School District is a public school
located in the town of Gaston on the southwest edge of Washington County. The first
Gaston School was started in 1866. There
are over 550 students in grades kindergarten
through 12th located on one campus with
multiple buildings. To fulfill the district's
vision of making a "positive difference
in the lives of children," Gaston School
District offers a full range of athletic,
academic, and social opportunities. As a
community, the Gaston community works
together to help students succeed. Gaston
is located 30 miles west of downtown Portland and 50 miles east of Tillamook State
Forest. Gaston School District participates
in open enrollment, which allows students
to attend the school district of their choice,
providing the school chooses to participate
in open enrollment.
Hillsboro School District
3083 Northeast 49th Place
Hillsboro, OR 97124
503-844-1500; www. hsd.k12.or.us
The Hillsboro School District encompasses 26 elementary schools, four middle
schools, and four high schools: Century,
Glencoe, Hillsboro (Hilhi), and Liberty.
Founded in 1851, the school district
covers Hillsboro, North Plains and parts
of Cornelius, Aloha, Sherwood and
surrounding communities. Total enrollment is nearly 21,000 students, which
makes it the fourth largest in the State.
Hillsboro School District has a newapproach to preparing its students forcollege and careers, called "Pathways",which ensures that students are aware,eligible, and prepared for their choicesafter high school and beyond. The districttouts a strong robotics program at allgrade levels, and a STEM/STEAM focusat four of its elementary schools andSTEM-related programming at severaladditional schools. Hillsboro is located 16miles southwest of downtown Portland,and is the 5th largest city in the state ofOregon with a population of over 91,000people. A top employer in the Hillsboroarea is technology giant Intel.
Sherwood School District
23295 SW Main Street, Sherwood, OR 97140
503-825-5000; www.sherwood.k12.or.us
The Sherwood School District is located in the
southeast corner of Washington County. The
district currently has four elementary schools,
two middle schools, and one high school.
Sherwood School District has a student
population of over 5,000 with steady growth
estimated for future years. Recently, Sherwood Schools received an Overall State Rating
of either Level 4 or a Level 5, based on a 1 to 5
scale. The school district is experiencing a large
influx of student enrollment recently, and has
made managing that growth a priority. First
incorporated in 1893, the town of Sherwood
now has over 18,000 residents. Nestled in the
Tualatin Valley area and only 17 miles from
downtown Portland; Sherwood holds a small
town friendly charm with an easy commute to
the big city when needed.
Tigard-Tualatin School District
6960 SW Sandburg Street, Tigard, OR 97223503-431-4000; www.ttsdschools.orgThe Tigard-Tualatin School District servespart of the suburban Portland metropolitanarea including the cities of Tigard, Tualatin,Durham, and King City, as well as the unin-corporated communities of Metzger andBull Mountain. Tigard Elementary SchoolDistrict was established in 1875, while theTualatin district was started as the Bridgeportdistrict. Tigard-Tualatin students regularlyoutperform their peers across Oregon innearly every grade level in reading, math andscience. Tigard-Tualatin School District hasdeveloped a strong foundation of studentaccess to technology and supported theintegration of technology as a teaching toolacross the curriculum. The Tigard-Tualatinarea borders the southwest Portland area andcontains many large employers includingLam Research which houses a 58 acrecampus with a total of 700 employees.
McMinnville School District
1500 NE Baker Street
McMinnville, OR 97128
503-565-4000; www.msd.k12.or.us
McMinnville School District covers Yamhill
County. It provides primary and secondary
education for the cities of McMinnville
and Lafayette. McMinnville School District
includes nine schools, with approximately
700 employees and over 6,600 students in six
elementary schools, two middle schools, and
one high school. McMinnville High School
has two satellite campuses: Cook Alternative
School and Aerospace Sciences Academy
(ASA). Teachers in the McMinnville School
District average over 13 years of teaching
experience. McMinnville is the county seat
and largest city of Yamhill County. McMinnville is located at the junction of the North
and South Forks of the Yamhill River in the
Willamette Valley. McMinnville is included
in the Portland metropolitan area, and is
located 35 miles southwest of Portland. It is
also known as the home to Linfield College
and the Evergreen Aviation Museum.
Newberg School District
714 East 6th Street, Newberg, OR 97132
503-554-5000; www.newberg.k12.or.us
Newberg is located 24 miles south of downtown Portland and is home to George Fox
University. Newberg School District includes
six elementary schools, two middle schools
and four high schools along with an alternative school. Approximately 5, 100 students
are enrolled each year throughout the district
including over 500 teachers and support
staff. Elementary students take music classes
weekly, and the Community School provides
enrichment activities for the community, and
students of all ages. Newberg is known as
the "gateway to Oregon wine country" and
includes more than 90 wineries throughout
the valley. As of the 2010 census, the city
population was 22, 110. l


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Ranking and its Strength
85% of websites are found through search than directly.
In the simplest terms SEO (search engine optimization) is the act of optimizing (making changes for the better) of web pages so that the page or containing website ranks higher in the major search engine platforms, such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. Optimizing a website includes on-page and off page alterations to affect rankings in a positive fashion.
Understanding our process helps set expectations with our clients. During our initial phone consultation, we present to our clients what they can expect from working with our top SEO experts. Below are the key topics of discussion.
Monthly Search Volume, Competition Difficulty, and Relevance are key factors when building your list of perfect Keywords.
On-page optimization refers to all activities related within your website to better help the search engines crawl your website for a better understanding and context of your content.
Link building from external, relevant sources, add to your legitimacy and authority. Done incorrectly and your rankings could end up in the toilet.
Site audit reviews contain several metrics such as internet trust, linking structure, social media signals, and content.
Stone Amp SEO can increase the search engine rank and site traffic of any company for any keyword. The expertise offered by its technical and copywriting staff enables Stone Amp SEO to successfully meet the needs of companies with complex websites in competitive industries, regardless of the technology stack.
We first analyze the content of a website, then formulate a plan to bring specific keywords into the focus of the search engines. Stone Amp SEO's ability to accurately 'speak' to the search engines, through optimization, drives more traffic which leads to more conversions for our clients.
Our aim of on-page and off page optimization for your site is to produce a statement consistent with your targeted keywords. The search engine is nothing more than code executing across the wire, not a breathing human being. So, by following a proven approach, our process educates the search engine's automaton, or bot, so that it understands your website, allowing it to be confident when displaying your site on search results, based on your specific keywords.
85% of websites are found through search than directly.
96% of web traffic begin their topical searches using a major search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo, AOL)
SEO allows you to determine what keyword phrases drive traffic to your site.
In October 2016, more than 46.8 billion web pages were indexed in Google's backend.
Good web design supported by a strong SEO foundation will help bring traffic to your site
Users searching the internet select the top, non-advertised, result 40% of the time.
Although our specialty is SEO, we also offer various related services such as SEO mobile-friendly web design, optimized PPC campaigns, affiliate marketing, deep website auditing, social media optimization, online branding, and several more cost effective, revenue generating online activities.
Stone Amp SEO has been on top of things and followed their game plan since day 1. They have stayed in touch through the process and I have no doubt that the results of their efforts will be exactly what I want over time. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
Feel very happy to work with such an amazing company of expertise and great results!
Experienced in several web, application, and database technologies our team can dive as deep into the technical stack as needed to find success for our clients. We have a combined total of 30+ years in the industry of information technology. Our roots grow deep, allowing us a solid foundation you can rely upon for true growth.


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Beren Robinson
Where does biodiversity come from? What role does ecology play in the origins of different life forms? I ask these questions about 'the life aquatic' (no doubt fed by early Cousteau specials…), in order to understand how new types and species of fish have evolved in lakes that formed after the last glaciation about 12,000 years ago (in other words, most lakes in Canada…). While this seems a long time period, it is actually a mere 'tick' of the evolutionary or geological clock. The diversity of fishes in postglacial lakes is influenced by processes that occurred long ago in glacial refugia, more recently during dispersal across the postglacial 'lakescape', and most recently within the young lakes that I can swim in.
We have explored the role of species interactions (competitors, predators, and parasites), the affect of prey resources, niches and habitats (on the bottom, in the water column, or in vegetation…), and even abiotic conditions (basin topography?) on biodiversity in sunfishes, sticklebacks and walleye. I am very interested in the origins and consequences of diversity within single populations. Trophic polymorphism occurs when different types of individuals appear adapted to use different prey, habitats, or environments within a single population. Such systems are like time travel, giving us insights into the earliest stages of divergence that can lead to divergent populations and perhaps new species. Recently, we have been studying the role of phenotypic plasticity in the divergence of different forms in novel environments. Plasticity is the capacity of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes depending on environmental cues. We have found that the plastic responses to local conditions are one of the very first things to change during divergence. This raises interesting questions about the role of plasticity in evolution that will no doubt occupy us for years to come.
- B.Sc. - Dalhousie
- M.Sc. - Dalhousie
- Ph.D. - Binghamton
Aquatic Evolutionary Ecology
How do traits evolve? How do traits influence a population's ecology? How does competition and predation influence trait evolution? What traits are plastic in individuals and respond to local environment? How do plastic traits influence a population's ecology and evolution? How do populations diverge and perhaps become new species? We address these questions using the fishes of northern postglacial lakes that have recently and rapidly diverged and also with larval dragonfly and damselfly in small ponds around Guelph. Fish populations sometimes exhibit resource polymorphism, where a single population in a lake is composed of different coexisting forms that use different lake habitats, eat different foods, and have differences in morphological, behavioral and life history traits. We study polymorphic sunfish populations and stickleback in Ontario and New York, and with collaborators have studied polymorphic walleye in Lake Winnipeg, and stickleback and charr in Iceland. We also work on larval dragonflies and damselflies that coexist with or without each other and with or without different predatory fishes in local ponds around Guelph in order to understand the interaction between the evolution of traits, phenotypic plasticity and ecological relationships. We use a variety of methods (manipulative experiments in the field and lab, and comparative surveys of natural populations) to test if morphology and other traits have plastic responses to a variety of ecological factors, and if selection favours trait evolution and the divergence of populations which creates biological diversity. In our work, we often collaborate with population geneticists to better understand how past evolution shapes current evolution, functional morphologists and physiologists to better understand how traits function, and ecologists to understand species interactions.
Phenotypic Plasticity and Evolution
Phenotypic plasticity is the capacity of a single genotype to develop or display alternate phenotypes in response to different environmental cues. In the past, biologists viewed plasticity as nuisance environmental variation of little interest. This idea is now rapidly changing as we discover that many plastic responses are adaptive (evolve under selection in heterogeneous environments where different traits influence fitness) and because plasticity fascinatingly demonstrates that information from the environment gets inside organisms and influences the phenotypes they express. This means that the environment fills two important functions during Darwinian evolution: sorting phenotypes by natural selection, but also influencing the phenotypic variation expressed and present in a population. We study how the environment influences individual phenotype and the variation of types in populations; whether plasticity is heritable, is under selection and so evolves in populations and species. We also study whether plasticity allows individuals to exploit, and populations to persist in, new habitats which may drive another round of adaptive evolution, and how this occurs. We make artificial crosses and collect wild progeny of different forms and rear them under different diets or with different predator cues in the lab in order to measure plastic responses and also heritable variation and how these contribute to variation in phenotype. We also study how greater or lesser plasticity evolves and how plasticity contributes to or constrains the evolution of traits and of populations in heterogeneous environments.
Aquatic Evolutionary Ecology
- Gleason J, D Fudge and BW Robinson. Eco-mechanics of lamellar autotomy in larval damselflies. Journal of Experimental Biology 217: 185-191.
- Peiman KS, and BW Robinson. 2012. Diversifying and correlational selection on behaviour towards conspecific and heterospecific competitors in brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans). Ecology and Evolution 2: 2141-2154.
- Bose APH, and BW Robinson. 2012. Invertebrate predation predicts variation in an autotomy-related trait in larval damselfly. Evolutionary Ecology (Published on line May 2012). DOI 10.1007/s10682-012-9581-3.
- Weese D, MM Ferguson and BW Robinson. 2012. Contemporary and historic evolutionary processes interact to shape patterns of within-lake phenotypic divergences in polyphenic pumpkinseed sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus. Ecology and Evolution 2:574-592.
Phenotypic Plasticity and Evolution
- Robinson BW. 2013. Evolution of growth by genetic accommodation in Icelandic freshwater stickleback. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B Biological Sciences. Published online Oct. 16, doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.2197; December 2013 vol. 280.
- Robinson, BW and Pfennig, DW. 2013 Inducible competitors and adaptive diversification. Current Zoology 59: 537-552 (Special column: Evolution of phenotypic plasticity).
- Küettner E, Parsons K, Robinson B, Skúlason S, Danzmann R, Ferguson M. 2013. Effects of population, family and feeding orientation on craniofacial morphology in Icelandic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 108: 702-714.
Other Research Interests
- Colborne S and BW Robinson. 2012. Effect of nutritional condition on variation in δ13C and δ15N stable isotope values in Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) fed different diets. Environmental Biology of Fishes (published online, June 2012. DOI 10.1007/s10641-012-0040-3.
- Riopel C, BW Robinson, KJ Parsons. 2008. Analyzing nested variation in the body form of Lepomid sunfishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 82: 409-420.
- O'Hara Hines RJ, WGS. Hines, and BW Robinson. 2004. A new statistical test of the shape of fitness sets estimated from reciprocal transplant experiments involving intermediate or hybrid classes. The American Naturalist 163: 97-104.
- BIOL*2250 Biostatistics and the Life Sciences
- BIOL*3010 Laboratory and Field Work in Ecology
- BIOL*3450 Introduction to Aquatic Environments
- BIOL*4110 Ecological Methods
- BIOL*4120 Evolutionary Ecology
- ZOO*4300 Marine Biology and Oceanography
- ZOO*4540 Marine and Freshwater Research
- IBIO*6020 Advances in Evolution
- Caleb Axelrod (MSc)
- David Gislason (PhD)


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Waterloo was renamed after Stephen F.
Austin, "the father of Texas" and the
founders' vision included a state capitol
building to look down from a hill over the
city. The State Capitol was built on that hill
in 1888, with stunning views of the city.
The Texas State Capitol was built as a result
of one of the largest barter transactions in
history – the Capitol's builders received
3 million acres in the Texas Panhandle,
which later became the largest cattle ranch
in the world, the XIT Ranch. The Capitol
is one of the state's most popular attractions with more than 1 million visitors
each year. Constructed from limestone and
pink granite from nearby Marble Falls in
the same architectural style as the nation's
Capitol, it's actually taller than its distant
D.C. sibling by seven feet – making it the
largest state capitol in the U.S.
Today, Austin is "No. 1 on the List of BestCities in the World for Tech" by Savills,April 2017, and "No. 2 'Sweet Spot' forAffordability and Job Opportunity" byLinkedIn, March 2017. The area continuesto grow, and the Austin city demographer'soffice anticipates the population inside citylimits to reach 1 million by 2025. For the five-county Austin-Round Rock MSA – whichcovers 4, 279 square miles and includes Travis,Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, and Bastropcounties – they expect to reach 3 million by
2030 and 4 million by 2045.
No matter how long they've been here,most people who live in Austin say theywouldn't live anywhere else – and for goodreason. The state capital of Texas inspiresfierce hometown dedication to its rollingterrain, natural living, liberal attitudes,interesting people, quality of life, stellareducational opportunities, and thrivingbusiness community.
The combination has attracted the attention of those relocating from all over the
country and internationally – and plenty
of accolades from diverse sources in
recent years. For instance, in 2016, Austin
ranked third on the Milken Institute's list
of best-performing metro areas. Forbes
consistently highlights Austin's remarkable
growth, naming it the "#1 City to Watch
in 2017," and the "Fastest Growing City"
year after year.
The city also regularly leads "best of"
lists for places where your dollar goes
farthest – which include such critical
factors as affordable housing, gas prices,
inflation, and job market. The bottom
line is that Austin has a lot to offer – and
that has inspired a passionate dedication
in those who live here, especially when it
comes to community service and volunteer efforts to make Austin an even better
place to live and work.
Austin residents – and visitors who want to
be residents – have discovered a surprising
combination that's like no other city in
the state. The city is a heady mix of technology, education, government, music, film
and the arts – and it's the kind of mix that's
hard to ignore.
Think authentic Tex-Mex and barbeque
to elegant, four-star restaurants and
nationally-known chefs; two-stepping and
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