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The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program has achieved its most significant result so far, with young Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta claiming a remarkable WRC2 victory on Rally Sweden. The other members of the Program also displayed stage-winning pace despite being delayed by mechanical issues: Hiroki Arai ultimately came seventh in WRC2 while Japanese co-driver Sayaka Adachi also reached the finish in her first WRC event alongside Finnish driver Jarkko Nikara.
Rally Sweden is the only full winter rally on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar. This year the event was characterised by a larger amount of snowfall before the event than usual: this meant the stages were lined with large snow banks, which drivers can 'lean' against to carry more speed through the corners.
Katsuta and Arai were making their second appearances on Rally Sweden after gaining valuable experience in 2017. They were up against tough competition in WRC2, including many drivers with more experience of the event. For Adachi, this was her first time competing in Sweden, her first WRC appearance as part of the Rally Challenge Program and her first time competing in a Ford Fiesta R5 (the same car used by Katsuta and Arai): a step up from the R4-specification Subaru Impreza that she and Nikara are used to.
Katsuta and co-driver Marko Salminen led the WRC2 category from the second stage, where they scored the first ever WRC2 stage win for the Program. In total he set the fastest time in the category on nine of the 19 stages. He lost the lead only briefly, on the first stage on Saturday morning, but immediately claimed it back and thereafter resisted the pressure from his rivals to win by 4.5 seconds.
Arai, co-driven by Glenn Macneall, scored a stage win on Saturday afternoon and came second to Katsuta on three other stages. He was running fourth in the category on Friday before an electrical issue on SS7 forced him to stop twice in the stage. Then, on SS13 a small off caused the engine to overheat and cut out mid-stage, losing him six minutes.
Adachi and Nikara were forced to retire from the first full day of the rally after only one stage, with an off into a snow bank causing a broken radiator. They restarted on Saturday and suffered a misfire, but on Sunday morning they showed impressive performance, setting the fastest time for an R5 car in both of the runs over the Likenäs stage.
Akio Toyoda (President, Toyota Motor Corporation):
"Takamoto Katsuta, Congratulations on your win in the WRC2 class at Rally Sweden!
When Toyota decided to come back to WRC after 17 years, the first picture in my head was of a Toyota car running on WRC stages, and the next picture I had was of a Japanese driver and co-driver in the car. This was because if this became reality, I believed there would be more rally fans in Japan who understand how wonderful this sport and its culture are. That's why we started the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program to support young drivers to progress to an international level.
It's been two and half years since they started their challenge and it's a really great job that Katsuta has achieved. He showed the possibility of my dream of Japanese driver in a Japanese car in the WRC. I'm so happy about it.
We have to remember there are two more Japanese members of this program; Hiroki Arai and Sayaka Adachi who are also aiming to challenge in the WRC someday. Both of them also showed their improvements by achieving top times in their class. I think there are more people now sharing the same dream as me thanks to these three who really showed the talents and potential. I hope they encourage each other and continue to improve more and more to make their and our dreams come true.
I also want to thank Marko Salminen, Glenn Macneall and Jarko Nikara who competed with them and helped their improvement, and of course the instructors and the team who fully supported them all the time. Thank you very much!"
Tommi Mäkinen (Team Principal, Tommi Mäkinen Racing):
"The result achieved here in Sweden by Takamoto is absolutely fantastic. Everybody is very surprised with how well he handled the pressure of leading the event. He was up against some very quick drivers who were very experienced in these conditions. This result should be very good for his confidence. Now he knows how it feels and he can keep going this way. It is very promising for his future. This is the best thing that could have happened for the whole Rally Challenge Program, and shows how well our collaboration is going."
Takamoto Katsuta:
"To win WRC2 here at Rally Sweden feels amazing. I had to push and stay concentrated for the whole rally because Tidemand is a very fast driver who I respect a lot. On Friday I had a spin, and this was a good experience for me because I understood that I needed to calm down a bit more. But I still had to push hard on Saturday because our starting position was different compared to Friday. We did not have any R5 cars in front of us and the grip was not so good and it was harder to see the lines. I had quite a few moments in the stages but we managed to keep our position until the finish. Thank you to everybody in the team and everyone who has supported me."
Hiroki Arai:
"This has been a tough event for us because of the mechanical issues. After the problem on Friday where we lost a minute, we just tried to do the best we could on Saturday. Then the engine stopped and we had to stop for six or seven minutes so we were totally out of the fight for the podium after that. Then we just tried to take the car to the finish and it was a little bit difficult to get the motivation back, but there are some positives we can take from this rally, such as the good speed that we showed."
Sayaka Adachi:
"On Friday and Saturday it was quite stressful because of the technical problems including the misfire, but our mechanics found a solution and the final day has been good. We set some very good times in the morning and I am also quite pleased with my pace note reading. I was able to get the confidence back. This was my first time in an R5 car but the Finnish roads that we usually compete on are very fast, while the Swedish stages are narrower and more twisty, so the speed did not feel so different to me. There is less distance between the corners here though so there is less chance for a break in the notes: this was a big difference, and good experience for me."
Jarkko Nikara:
"On Friday I did a small mistake and we had a spin and broke the radiator, and then on Saturday we had a misfire with the engine. On Sunday though the car was working well and so were the pace-notes. Sayaka has done very well. There was just a few small things – not big mistakes but more routine things, like being a bit late in some places, but this can happen. Sometimes it was very busy, and in this car we could take a lot more speed through some corners so in those places it can be difficult. Generally the feeling is good and we are learning a lot together."
Jouni Ampuja (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program instructor):
"This has been a great weekend for us. Both drivers have shown their speed, and for Takamoto to win is a great result. We are certainly getting closer to the targets we have set. For them to have come from Japan and be driving these speeds in Sweden in quite specialised conditions it proves that there is potential and shows that the things that we are doing with them are working. Both drivers are very clever now with the pace-notes, which is important on high speed stages, and the experience they gained here last year has helped. Hiroki is close to being on the same pace as Takamoto: now he just needs that consistency. Sayaka has gained lots of experience this weekend: to do a WRC event is another level."


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Optimity announced today that Scandi Standard, the Nordic region's largest chicken producer, has signed a contract to implement the Optimity Supply Chain Optimizer application to simplify planning at their major production sites.
Mats Nordqvist, CIO of Scandi Standard comments, "During the valuable 'proof-of-concept' period, Optimity demonstrated that they have an excellent industry knowledge and a strong application which meets all of our functional requirements. With Optimity's Supply Chain Optimizer we will be able to find the optimal balance between our customers' needs and our available supply and at the same time be able to understand if we can make decisions that will create a better balance. This will support our strategy both from an economical as well as a sustainability perspective."
As Erik Sandberg, Managing Director of Optimity AB states, "We already recognize that Optimity is a great planning tool for the challenging Food and Beverage industry. In particular it caters very well with the additional complexity that exists in the meat industry, such as utilizing the whole bird, fluctuations in supply, and short expiry dates."
The implementation will start in late October and will be rolled out across several sites during the next year.
About Scandi Standard:
Scandi Standard is the market leading chicken-based food producer in the Nordic region, with operations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Headquartered in Stockholm and with roots that go back to the 1950s, Scandi Standard has over SEK 5.2 billion in annual revenue and approximately 1700 employees.
About Optimity:
Optimity develops supply chain optimization solutions for demand & supply chain planning, to give dramatically improved control, visibility and profitablity. Optimity has experienced rapid growth since its establishment in 2010 and won the confidence from companies such as IKEA, Vita Coco, Skanska, E.ON, Legrand, Lantmännen, Trelleborg and others.

subset: commoncrawl


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THIS JUST IN! – Death Orb – Dark Horse
Title : Death Orb
Publisher : Dark Horse
Writer : Ryan Ferrier
Illustrator : Alejandro Aragon
Thoughts on Cover
This five part mini series starts us off with bright colors, post apocalyptic themes, and a clear cut showing of the intention it will be leaning towards. A giant building, built in the shape of a cross, standing tall in the barren wasteland.
Before I even flipped the first page, I could easily decipher that we were about to enter a world of cults, survival instincts, and brutal overtones of the violence mankind is truly capable of. The use of mostly neutral colors, save for the giant building, and the nuclear symbol on the back of Rider's jacket, was also a good choice in my opinion, but I will say the only piece of the puzzle that missed the mark is the title.
I find it is not easily readable, and if I didn't know the comic I was going in for, I most likely would have missed the title on the first, and probably second, walkthroughs.
Rider is one of the many wasteland survivors, but his tale is one filled with more trouble than most. Set out on a journey to find his missing family, the dangers this world brings to his path are done so by a myriad of different people who want him dead for a myriad of different reasons.
The majority of the death cult who leads North America, follows "Father" who gives them orders to root out anyone who is suspect of being a non believer, or especially those deemed outlaws, which of course Rider is.
Tough, a bit of wit, and a whole lot of ability to kick ass, Rider is the type of man who will do whatever it takes to reach his goal, no matter the body count that will fall behind him as he does. Honestly, it is one of my favorite parts of this title.
What I Liked
The dirty and incomplete art style seems to be a theme with most comics lately, but this is one of those situations where it worked and worked well. Adding to the post-apocalyptic feeling of this title, I was enthralled with the design of the characters, violence, and action scenes. Even though you throw us into a world for which there is little to eb seen, you still make it so every individual frame is completely new and most are exciting.
What I Didn't Like
My only piece that I struggled with is how easily most seemed to be accepting of Rider throughout the story. A group of "mercenaries" or just outlaws, trust him with a few tears, a sad story, and his ability to say he is someone else. That was enough to untie him, re-arm him, and bring him to your secret base. This is not in the first issue, but just seems like it falls into the "everyone trusts a main character" foley.
Please call The Comic Hunter (506-855-4950), or even message the facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thecomichuntermoncton/) to have this title added to your file.


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Ms Emilie Karafillakis
Research Fellow
& PhD candidate
Keppel Street
United Kingdom
Emilie Karafillakis is a research fellow for the Vaccine Confidence Project, a research group led by Heidi Larson focused on studying global vaccine hesitancy, confidence and trust. She has a background in public health, infectious disease control, and health systems and policies and holds a Masters degree in the Control of Infectious Diseases from LSHTM and a BSc in European Public Health from Maastricht University.
Her work focuses on understanding determinants of vaccine hesitancy in European populations, and strategies addressing concerns about vaccination. She is also in charge of monitoring online sentiments around vaccination and has done some work on vaccine providers hesitancy and pregnant women's confidence about vaccination.
Emilie is also a PhD Candidate at the school. Her project focuses on issues of trust and confidence around HPV vaccination in Europe.
Emilie is contributing to teaching activities for the following courses:
- Foundations for health promotion
- Qualitative methodologies
More details about the Vaccine Confidence Project can be found here.


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Kia ora, fans of Lifewise. After the immense success of our Auckland Big Sleepout, it's time to get started in Rotorua!
On 5th September 2019, community members and leaders will come together and sleep rough for one night to support our Rotorua community.
Join us at Rotorua's
Village Green Pukuatua Street Carpark Building on the night of Thursday 5th September for a chance to experience "sleeping rough" in the middle of winter – it is truly humbling and eye-opening experience.
Due to the latest weather updates we have had to shift our event to the Pukuatua Street Carpark Building. (Yes we do care about you getting drenched in bad weather!)
This unique event could give you team building opportunities and a chance to bring about genuine social change. Past participants say a highlight was the informal networking overnight with some of the most courageous Kiwis you will ever meet – be they politicians, leaders of industry, up and coming entrepreneurs and social enterprise visionaries or people who have themselves experienced and conquered homelessness.
By "sleeping rough" for one night, and enjoying a hangi together, you can help support our most vulnerable community members and stamp out homelessness for good.
We are already trailblazing and leading the way with Housing First Rotorua and our award-winning Mental Health and Addictions Services.
But we can do so much more with your help! You can be part of the solution in a bold way, by stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the realisation that as Kiwis, we can all be just a couple of steps away from homelessness ourselves.
It doesn't take much, but with a small step, this action by you could speak volumes. Spaces fill up fast, and it's a life-changing event you won't want to miss. Register today at www.bigsleepout.org.nz/rotorua
Rotorua Mayor joins business + community leaders to sleep rough in Rotorua
Rotorua Mayor Hon Steve Chadwick and Labour MP Tamati Coffey will join over 40 local business and community leaders to take part in 2019 Rotorua Lifewise Big Sleepout on Thursday 05th September 2019.
This will be the third time Lifewise Rotorua has hosted the event. The awareness-building and fundraising efforts of previous events have enabled Lifewise Rotorua to support people from the community out of homelessness.
Housing First Rotorua launched earlier this year, the program focuses on permanently housing individuals and families who experience homelessness and supporting them to remain housed in the long term. Since its inception six people have been successfully housed with ongoing wrap around support to ensure tenants can maintain their tenancies.
According to Haehaetu Barrett, Regional Manager of Lifewise Rotorua (Bay of Plenty), being able to support tenants with personalized wrap around services helps them sustain their tenancies, address health needs, and to achieve their goals.
It is estimated that there more than 50 people in Rotorua who have no place to call home.
"We need help to ensure we can keep the Housing First Rotorua program going, we need help.
"One of the biggest issues is finding suitable housing stock in Rotorua. We hope that Thursday's event will not only raise much needed funds to ensure wrap around support for the homeless community but also encourage landlords to come forward with housing stock so we can ensure homelessness is brief rare and non-reoccurring," says Barrett.
Donate today or register to start fundraising at bigsleepout.org.nz/rotorua
If you need help please contact Lifewise
This can be done confidentially by phone or email.


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Sotos, one of a handful of Ontario lawyers who specializes in franchise disputes, says he sees the legacy of "broken relationships, ruined lives and alienated children," in his office everyday.
The St. Catharines Standard
December 21, 1993
Lack of franchise laws 'a crying shame'
Investors' lives often left in ruin
Carol Alaimo
Susanne Cox can't help but be a little puzzled by the provincial government's priorities.
In Ontario, she'd get more government protection buying a used car than she did before sinking her entire life savings into a franchise deal that turned sour.
Under a new law, used-car purchasers must be told up front about a vehicle's history – yet there's no law requiring a franchising firm to reveal its past to buyers of business deals that cost far more than a second-hand sedan.
"I had no idea all the difficulty they were in," says Cox, of St. Thomas, Ont., who bought a bookkeeping franchise last year from Leadley, Gunning and Culp International, a St. Catharines-based accounting chain. In the year Cox bought her franchise, about 40 franchisees left the chain. LGC is also facing millions of dollars in lawsuits launched by unhappy franchisees.
"My whole family has suffered because of this," says Cox, who says she left LGC a few weeks ago, $50,000 poorer and on the verge of bankruptcy.
The lack of franchise laws in Ontario has wreaked havoc on many families who invest in franchise deals but don't see the prosperity they expected, says Toronto lawyer John Sotos, an expert in franchising issues.
And the problem appears to be on the rise as more people left unemployed by the recession turn to franchises to try to support their families, he says.
"Unfortunately we're going to be seeing more of this sort of thing as companies continue to downsize," he says.
"The number of families in Ontario affected by (the lack of legislation) is in the thousands and it's a crying shame," says Sotos, whose clients include franchisees lobbying the government to put such laws in place.
Sotos, one of a handful of Ontario lawyers who specializes in franchise disputes, says he sees the legacy of "broken relationships, ruined lives and alienated children," in his office everyday.
The lack of advance disclosure of a franchisor's track record "is one of the main problems" complained of by franchisees, said Sotos, who represents dozens of Pizza Pizza franchisees currently suing the giant pizza chain for $7.8 million in damages.
In Canada, only the province of Alberta has laws in place which make it mandatory for a franchisor to reveal its past to purchasers.
Alberta law, similar to that in many U.S. states, requires franchising firms to register with the government and provide updated information each year, including data about their financial position, bankruptcy history or relevant criminal records of officers and directors, and a list of any past and current lawsuits involving allegations of fraudulent, misleading or deceptive business practices.
Alberta also requires a franchisor to annually provide two lists: one of all current franchisees, and another with the names of all the people who left the previous year.
Those lists are key to consumer protection because they allow potential recruits to investigate the satisfaction rate of people who came before them, says Jim Turner, head of franchise registration for the Alberta Securities Commission.
In Ontario, franchise legislation has been "on the back burner" for the past two decades, says Nye Thomas, a policy spokesman for Consumer and Commercial Relations Minister Marilyn Churley.
Discussions tend to heat up whenever major franchising disputes hit the headlines, he said, but even then, there's little that franchisors and franchisees can agree on.
The government also fears legislation might be costly to implement, Thomas said.
Sotos says that's a "fiction" being promoted by franchising organizations that don't want to see government rules put in place in Ontario.
Turner says in Alberta, the franchise law is administered by two full-and two part-time staff who manage to get the job done for a net cost of about $75,000 a year.
Thomas said the most likely first step in Ontario will see the industry policing itself through regulations and standards applied to members by a group like the Canadian Franchise Association.
"If it (self-regulation) doesn't work then the government might step in."
LGC is currently defending almost $7 million in lawsuits and countersuits launched by ex-franchisees who say the company made fraudulent, negligent or misleading representations to entice them to join, then didn't provide the services they were promised.
LGC says no one was misled and that people got what they paid for. The firm has launched millions of dollars in countersuits claiming that former franchisees are trying to get out of their financial obligations to LGC.
Brought to you by WikidFranchise.org
Risks: Franchisee decision, bankruptcy, Broken relationships, ruined lives and alienated children, Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Services, Ministry of Consumer and Business Services, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, Ministry of Government Services, Ontario, Canadian Franchise Association, CFA, Fox to guard henhouse, self-regulation, No numbers to back up dire predictions, Fraudster franchisor, Canada, 19931221 Lack of


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The appartment has a covered entrance and comes with one parking space, terrace and ample storage space where you can store skis, ski boots or strollers.
The bedroom has a double bed, and wardrobes. Upon request, we can also provide a baby crib. Bedding is included with the rental.
Living room, dining area and kitchen are one room space in the size of approximately 20m2. The quality pull-out bed/ suspension two-seater, has size dimensions of 2m x 1.60m. Dining area comes with dining table and four chairs,; on request we will add a baby/highchair. The kitchen has a gas stove with oven, coffeemaker, kettle, toaster and tea towels, as well as kitchen utensils, plates, glasses and dishes for 4 to 6 people. Few breakfast essentials such as tea bags, coffee, sugar, salt, flour, cooking oil, jam and honey are also provided.The exit to the terrace is from the living room. The living room has TV (cable), DVD player and internet access (wireless).
The bathroom has a larger shower, sink, toilet,and hair dryer. Shampoo and soap are provided.
Smoking is not permitted in the apartment.
Pets are allowed by prior arrangement.
In the winter Ski Cross-country tracks are arranged in front. Bicycle and roller-blading path runs adjacent to the house.


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THE BATTLEGROUND OF HOPE! There are people and things and circumstances that will strive to kill our hope in Christ. Satan does not want us to be people of hope. Satan wants us to be in depression and despair so that he can offer us a counterfeit option to the hope we should have in Christ. Some people in our society today are trying to make us people of despair so they can sell us their pathway to hope. Commercials abound on TV to show us ways out of our hopeless circumstances and give us hope. They offer everything from drugs to financial systems. Others try to sell us on changing relationships or obtaining things. Credit card companies tell us the way out of our depression is to spend, spend, spend and be hopeful again which in the long run leads to more hopelessness.
When you are a person of hope, properly obtained through your relationship with Jesus Christ, you wear a target not only on your back but on your front as well. Satan is out to change your hope to despair and your cheerfulness to pessimism. And he will attack you on at least three fronts: through people, through your relationship with God, and through circumstances. When things do not seem to be going right in your life there are always people like the people King David experienced in his life when things were not going particularly well who not so subtly said, "Where is thy God?" (Psalm 42:3,10 ASV). These people seemed to be taunting or mocking David. Their descendants seem to be among us today.
There are encouragers in life who we love but there are also discouragers in life who seem to strive to rob you of hope in the Lord and His ability to care for you and help you in any situation. Satan will see that those people show up at just the right time to try and rob you of hope. But remember our hope is in Jesus, our living hope, our blessed hope, our hope of glory and though we don't always "feel" His presence or "see" His presence the Holy Spirit is there with us, in us, and ministering to us. Jesus said, "He would never leave us or forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). It is at a time like this, when people seem to be of no help but rather a hindrance that we need to react and cry out as David did, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (Psalm 42:5 ASV). People, through Satan's help, can ignite a real battle for us in standing firm in the hope we have in Jesus Christ. But, "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4 NIV). Keep being full of hope!


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Show 1.29, "Stormy Horizons"
Dagan Herceg is a recent alumni of Participate Film Academy in Sydney and as a part of the course he was required to make a feature film. That's right, no short films for these guys. Horizon's Crossing is premiering in Adelaide this Wednesday (you can keep up to date with the film on their facebook). Dagan was in town for the premiere and was kind enough to come into the studio to have a chat about his film.
Download:Dagan Herceg Part 1
Download:Dagan Herceg Part 2
Australian director veteran Fred Schepisi has had an incredibly diverse career. He's perhaps most famous for the classic The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith but has also worked with comedy with Roxanne and Fierce Creatures and drama with Six Degrees of Seperation. His latest film The Eye of the Storm (based on a Patrick White novel) stars Geoffery Rush and Radio Adelaide's Arts Breakfast host Cath Kenneally caught up with Fred and asked him if Geoffery's character, Basil, was a bit of a caricature.
Download:Fred Schepisi
Behind The Screens Show 1.29
Find us on facebook! – www.facebook.com/behindthescreens
"Half Full Glass of Wine" – Tame Impala
"The Cemetary" – Architecture in Helsinki
"Upular" – Pogo, made from sounds taken from Up (2009)
"Mechanism (Thick Mortar)" – The Paper Scissors
"This Close" – Caleb Kane, also known as Brad Kane who was the singing voice of Aladdin (1992)
"Sex Wax" – The Honey Pies
"Chloe in the Afternoon" – St Vincent


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'Ergenekon and the Other Side of the Story'
CENTRE FOR TURKEY STUDIES WESTMINSTER DEBATE 'Ergenekon and the Other Side of the Story' 16th December 2013 Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House Speaker: Prof Dr Mehmet Altan, academic, economist, journalist and author. Chair: Mr Jonathan Friedman, the chief Turkey analyst at Control Risks, a leading global political and security risk consultancy. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Altan […]


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A newly released report from British Columbia's government-appointed Alternative Energy and Power Technology Task Force says the province needs to provide "more specific policy and direction" in order to take advantage of its huge potential for large scale green power production. BC should follow the lead of other hydro-based electricity systems in Canada and use its storage capacity to integrate intermittent generation sources like wind into its energy portfolio. The 15,000 MW potential of the so-called Haida Energy Field, located in Hecate Strait between the Queen Charlotte Islands and Prince Rupert in north-western BC, could make offshore wind a "significant lasting new legacy" for the province. The report also says BC Hydro's calls for power should be better designed for procuring non-firm resources.
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Oxygen8 Money are delighted to announce that they have been granted an Authorised e-Money Licence by the FSA. The licence makes Oxygen8 Money an approved issuer of electronic money, placing them amongst a select few businesses on the FSA E-money Register.
Oxygen8 Money provide cross-border international mobile remittances, facilitating person-to-person money transfer. Receiving the licence means that the business can provide payment services without the need to partner with a traditional bank.
Nouman Hashmi, CEO of Oxygen8 Money commented: "To have received FSA approval is a real milestone for Oxygen8 Money and becoming a fully authorised remittance business makes our offering even stronger, it's a huge vote of confidence in our business model".


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by Sarah Steimer
For the yellow cake:
Makes enough for one, 8-inch round cake, single-layer.
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter softened, plus more for parchment
- 1 1/3 cups cake flour sifted, plus more for parchment OR 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup milk (I used skim)
Butter an 8-inch cake pan. Cut a circle out of parchment paper, using the pan as a guide, and place the circle at the bottom of the pan. Butter the top of the paper and lightly flour the pan, tapping off the excess.
In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and then beat in the eggs one at a time. Set aside.
In another medium bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add this dry mixture to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk. Martha Stewart's recipe said to start and end with the flour additions, but I didn't do this and everyone survived.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake at 325 for 45-55 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown. Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove from pan (don't forget to take the parchment paper off) and cool on a rack completely. Do not ice the cake while it is still warm.
For the chocolate icing:
Cut this recipe in half if you only make one layer of cake.
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk (again, used skim)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt the butter. Add the cocoa powder and whisk to combine.
Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating with an electric mixer as you go. Can add additional milk if needed. Stir in vanilla. Use immediately.
Cake recipe adapted from: Martha Stewart
Icing recipe from: Hershey's (right on the side of the cocoa box)


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10 portion(s)
- 2 green apples, peeled, cored and cut into 4
- 125 g butter cubes
- 110 g sugar
- 240 g SR flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp Ginger, ground
- 120 g sultanas (optional)
- 1 egg
56minPreparation 11minBaking/Cooking
Recipe is created for
Recipe's preparation
Preheat oven to 180 deg C
2.Cook apples 10 min/100 deg/sp 2
3.Add sugar and butter to warm apples. Mix 20 sec/speed 5 to melt.
4.Add SR flour, spices, and egg. Mix 15 sec/sp 4.
5.Stir in sultanas with spatula.
6. Pour mixture into prepared tin and bake for about 45 minutes
Accessories you need
Use different spices or omit sultanas.
Great as an afternoon treat by itself or serve with freshly whipped cream.
This recipe was provided to you by a Thermomix ® customer and has not been tested by Vorwerk Thermomix ® or Thermomix ® in Australia and New Zealand.
Vorwerk Thermomix ® and Thermomix ® in Australia and New Zealand assume no liability, particularly in terms of ingredient quantities used and success of the recipes.
Please observe the safety instructions in the Thermomix ® instruction manual at all times.
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CommentsAdd a comment
What size tin is best??
What size tin is best??
So easy and very yummy especially warm out of the...
So easy and very yummy, especially warm out of the oven!
This was a lovely moist
This was a lovely moist recipe, but I made it a bit differently to be a healthier for my toddler.
I didnt peel or cook the apple, but instead grated it skin-on with some carrot as step 1. I simply added melted butter (20 secs in the microwave!) and sugar to the grated apple & carrot and mixed that through, then proceeded with the rest of the method above. It was quicker and I like having apple & carrot pieces throughout the cake. The only other changes I made was 50/50 white/whole meal SR flour, and 50g sugar & 60g apple sauce, instead of the full sugar amount. Sultanas are a must!
It went down a treat and will be my base recipe for other variations (pumpkin & pear / zucchini & apple / sweet potato, banana & coconut - yes, really this is a great combo with some dates added for sweetness!)
I just made this cake. It was
I just made this cake. It was so easy and tastes great. Mine is much darker inside than on the photo though.
My kids love this recipe!
My kids love this recipe! Great for school lunchbox.
Just made this, was
Just made this, was delicious, and very simple! Thanks so much for converting it!
G,ad you enjoyed it Chelle -
G,ad you enjoyed it Chelle - I converted this recipe from a favourite of my Grandma - it took her much longer to prepare than this TMX method!
Made this for the 2nd time
Made this for the 2nd time and really enjoy it ... thank you
Was going to ask about the
Was going to ask about the egg but have just seen the other comments. Making it now Thanks
Hi Jodie - yes 1 egg required
Hi Jodie - yes 1 egg required - thanks for pointing out my error in the ingredients list. I am having trouble editing it to add egg to list!
delicious! i added 2 eggs and
delicious! i added 2 eggs and left out the ginger and mixed spice-just upped the cinnamon , mine was also a gluten free version and was so moist!
have just made and put in the
have just made and put in the oven, is it only one egg? there is no reference to egg in the ingredients but is listed in the step with adding flours and spices.


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"How about another shot of whiskey?"
"Sure. I don't have to be in until one tomorrow."
"I got tomorrow off."
"Don't even start with me. You know I hate working Saturdays."
"Yeah, don't I."
There was a lull in the conversation as he dealt the next hand.
"Did I mention that I have tomorrow off?"
"You're a jerk. You know that?"
First, one laughs. Then both.
"This one for all the marbles, then?"
"Sure." They picked up their cards. Studied their opponent.
Damn, they thought simultaneously.
Sister measured brother. Brother tried to read sister's mind. More cards were taken. Bets placed.
"Raise you five."
"Uh-huh. I'll see that."
"Read 'em and weep, sucka!"
Palm meets forehead.
"Your turn to take out the trash." More laughter.
"I still don't need to go to work tomorrow." More shots were poured.
"Oh, yes, it's garbage night."
Picture linked via The Heart of Writing. Copyright Carrie Mae Weems.


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Oct 02, 2015
Bargain buys to nail beauty on a budget
Beauty products don't have to give your overdraft palpitations, and we have the recommendations of makeup artist Heather B to prove it.
May 26, 2015
Man Up (and makeup)
When makeup artist Heather B went to see new British rom-com Man Up, she found herself inspired to share some handbag essential tips to eliminate the longing for a visit from Gok Wan before every first date.
Mar 11, 2015
Glamming up, Strictly style
Fresh from the Strictly Come Dancing tour bus, makeup artist Heather B shares some tips to inject a bit of dancefloor sparkle into your look.
Nov 20, 2014
Slap dash: Look good, feel good…Who's got time for that?
When time is not on your side, makeup artist Heather B has a collection of cosmetic corner-cuts she swears by.
Nov 05, 2014
A handful of things to make makeup bags, happy bags
Make up artist Heather B shares the five bits of kit she wouldn't die without, but would be pretty scuppered without, job-wise.


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Dante's great poem (Commedia) gives a more complete picture of individual men than had been ever before achieved by any single known writer, poet, or historian. On our way through the three realms, several hundred individuals appear before our eyes, men of all times, past and present, young and old, of all classes and professions, of every imaginable social and moral standing. Some of them famous in history; others were so in Dante's life, but now are known only to very few. Others have never been famous. All these men and women are so strikingly real, so concrete, there is such a correspondence between mind and body and behavior, such an intimate relation between their character and their fate, that the unmistakable peculiarity of each individual emerges with incomparable and often terrifying and poignant vigor. Some are given a whole canto, others only a few lines. But almost all of these individual profiles are unforgettable. They live in our imagination. We do not know and are not able to verify, except in a few cases, if Dante's portraits correspond to reality. But the realism of a poet is not that of a photographer; it is the identity of his own vision with its expression. We here are concerned with the energy of his vision and the power of his voice. No one before him had probed so deeply into the identity of individual character and individual fate.
—Erich Auerbach, "The Three Traits of Dante's Poetry," Selected Essays of Erich Auerbach (Princeton U. Press, 2014), edited by James I. Porter, translated by Jane O. Newman.


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Landscape St. Louis offers quality care and maintenance services to our landscape clients. The vitality of your landscape is very important to us and we know when carefully planted and properly maintained, your landscape will look beautiful today and will improve throughout the years.
Our St. Louis landscape maintenance services include:
Plant and bed care: Trimming, deadheading, pruning, weeding, fertilizing, edging, and mulching.
Seasonal color changes: Annuals, perennials and bulb planting.
Lawn renovations: Grading, seeding and sodding.


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Women's basketball: Dragons ground Seahawks in CAA action
Seahawks drop to 1-12 in conference play
February 11, 2018
UNC Wilmington was unable to keep up with Drexel offensively in Sunday afternoon's game, as the Dragons ran past the Seahawks in a 58-40 loss.
The Seahawks (8-16, 1-12 CAA) were defensively stout against the No. 2 team in the CAA but were unable to come away with a win against the Dragons.
Take it to the Bank(s)
Senior center Rebekah Banks was the leading scorer for the Seahawks with eight points. This is coming off of a season average of 4.6 points.
When asked about any adjustments or differences she noticed in her game, Banks responded, "I've had a little trouble in the last couple of games finishing at the rim. So today, I just really focused on making sure I kept my eyes up and made those little shots that I've been missing recently."
The senior also helped her team on the glass as Banks boasted five rebounds.
Defense, Defense, Defense
Though the offense wasn't up to par with Drexel (19-6, 11-2), UNCW coach Karen Barefoot bragged about her team's hustle and grit on the defensive end.
"I feel like they really were communicating, against a team that's top in our conference," said Barefoot. "It's not the result we wanted, but I think that we definitely improved a lot today, especially on the defensive end."
Scoring Droughts
Several times throughout the game, the Seahawks went on three+ minute scoring droughts.
"They are top of the conference in field goal percentage defense," said Barefoot. "We've got to stop playing mind games and just knock down easy shots."
It was the inability to score at times, along with Drexel's lock-down defense that ultimately spelled defeat for the Seahawks.
Up Next
The Seahawks take to the road this week for their final road game stretch of the season. On Friday Feb. 16, UNCW takes on William and Mary followed by a Sunday game against James Madison, and the Seahawks' final road game of the season will be at College of Charleston on Friday, Feb. 23.
Staff writer Noah Powers can be found on Twitter at @TealNoah23. Any tips or suggestions should be forwarded via email to [email protected] For video updates from The Seahawk, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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I am learning to depend on Jesus for daily guidance. I have a good understanding of what it means to follow Jesus
If this is you, you are likely looking for a next step that will continue to deepen your relationship with Jesus, and increase your understanding of Him.
You may wonder:
- How do I connect with God, and what does it look like?
- How do I study the Bible deeply and really increase my Biblical knowledge?
- How do I make the decisions that reflect my commitment to sacrificing my life for Christ?
- How do I share my faith, and make Disciples?
- How do I lead my family toward Jesus?
Your relationship with Jesus, just like any other relationship, is one that requires commitment, time and effort. As you work to make your relationship stronger, there are some great Next Steps you can take:
- Engage your mind. Continue to read God's Word (the Bible) daily. Increase your knowledge of God's plan and the story of God's work by reading through the Old Testament and New Testament chronologically. There are Bible reading plans on our website that help you do this!
- Use a Study Bible. A study Bible is a great companion for someone who wants more information. Buy an NLT Study Bible or for a more literal translation, an ESV Study Bible. Use a Bible reading companion Book. A great example is the Zondervan "Handbook to the Bible". This is a great book full of background information and notes that will help you understand what your reading.
- Read Christian books "Christian Atheist" – Craig Groeschel "Crazy Love" – Francis Chan "Bible Study Methods" – Rick Warren "Forgotten God" – Francis Chan "The Prodigal God" – Timothy Keller. Use online resources You Version Bible, Glo Bible App, Logos Bible Study Tool, Faith Life Study Tool or Bible X Tool to engage your heart Pray continually. A life of following Jesus, is a life of prayer. Make reminders or notes for yourself, reminding you to be in continual prayer. This will eventually become a habit, and a way of life.
- Reflect on scripture. Use a journal.
- Practice solitude. Psalm 46:10 says: "Be still and know that I am God." Take time away from noisy, everyday distractions in order to think about Scripture and to ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Try to do this for 15 minutes a day over the next month.


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There are several types of VoIP connections available on the market. Some will allow you to place local and international calls for free with few restrictions. Others will require a small fee, but are still considerably cheaper than traditional land line calls. Whatever connection is best for your business, Colocation America is ready to provide a dedicated VoIP server and help you set up your VoIP connection which will ensure that all calls will be stable and secure.
VoIP Connections
The flexibility of VoIP enables a VoIP provider to choose the connection types that make the most sense for their business. A VoIP dialer can be configured to a variety of different calling methods so users can pick the medium they want to use to make internet based phone calls. Prices however can vary for VoIP phone calls depending on the configuration and VoIP hardware being used by parties on the call. For example, a VoIP call may be free if it is between two callers in the same state over the internet, yet might require a charge if it is two callers in different countries.
Computer to Computer Connection
Computer to computer VoIP calls are usually free as long as both callers are using the same services. For example, Skype provides its users with free telephone calls over the internet but users can only call other Skype members. This type of connection is cheap to set up because all it requires is a computer with a sound card, a microphone, and an account through a service such as Skype, MSN, or Google phone.
Call quality depends on the computers being used and the type of internet connections. If you are experiencing lag time with your calls or experience frequent dropped calls then you might want to consider upgrading your internet connection and computer.
Computer to Phone Connection
VoIP service providers often generate most of their profits from computer to phone calls. Computer to computer connections are free because it cost the providers nothing to set it up. In contrast, a computer to phone connection will allow a caller to use his or her computer with a 3rd party software (Skype, MSN) to connect to a traditional land line telephone. The 3rd party software takes the data from the caller's computer and converts it from digital to analog so that it can be sent through telephone lines. The receiver of the call will answer the call through their traditional telephone and wouldn't notice a difference.
International businesses often prefer computer to phone VoIP plans because it allows them to make cheap international calls to places that might not have an internet connection. Since the cost of placing international VoIP calls is less than international landline calls, businesses can save money with high call volumes internationally by switching to a VoIP calling plan.
SIP to SIP Connection
SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol, which is the technical term for the protocol used during a VoIP connection. SIP to SIP connection means that you can make VoIP calls using a SIP phone. This type of connection can be free, but requires the purchase of a SIP softswitch or hardware to convert your phone to a VoIP enabled device. A caller can also connect without buying SIP software or owning an SIP phone. It is through a VoIP service provider and they charge you a small fee, like the computer to phone connection, for placing calls from one telephone to another. You will also still need to buy a special adapter for your phone connection to be converted into a signal that can be transmitted through the Internet.


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Town officials are on the hunt for a new Children's and Young Adult Librarian in the wake of Lisa Stratton's departure to take on a new venture — A Little Common Sense.
Town officials are on the hunt for a new children's and young adult librarian in the wake of Lisa Stratton's departure to take on a new venture — A Little Common Sense.
That is the name of Stratton's new business, an artisan shop and learning center at 62 Main St., which opened this month after she left the library on Dec. 31.
"This is something that has been building for a while, I just never realized it," Stratton said.
The six years she worked as children's librarian played into her new business, she said.
"In the library, I noticed an increase in people getting books on starting their own gardens, and other sustainable living ideas. I realized people are looking to get back to basics," she said.
The shop sells hyper-local crafts and products, like jewelry, artwork and food.
It also offers adult and children's classes and workshops on painting, drawing, knitting, tracing geneology and candle-making.
Library Director Matthew Bachtold said the Library Board of Trustees is looking to find a replacement who has a masters degree in library science, like Stratton, but also someone who can stay connected to the community as she did.
"Just staying in contact with local teachers and school librarians would be great," he said. "One of our big hopes is that when teachers assign a project for the class, they will let the library know so we can have certain materials ready (for students)," Bachtold said.
While children's librarian, Stratton started a reading hour for toddlers, called "Tiny Tots," a program Bachtold said he hopes the new librarian would sustain.
Other duties will include collecting and cataloging library material and managing the operating budget and capital improvement plan of the children's library.
The children's librarian also serves as department head in the absence of the library director.
The deadline for applications is Feb. 3., and if trustees find the right candidate, Bachtold said a new librarian may start as soon as March 1.
"We are hoping to get the position filled as soon as possible," he said.
By that time, Stratton hopes to have a farmers market up and running on the property at her business.
"That is the next phase. I hope to have it running by the spring. There seems to be a need for (a farmers market) here in town. I think it will be very popular," she said.
Morgan Rousseau can be reached at 508-634-7546 or at email@example.com.


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So unless you've been living under a rock (or used your spring break to take a much-needed vacation from all media, and if so, good on ya!), you've probably heard about Rush Limbaugh's attack on Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke, calling her a 'prostitute' and a 'slut' for her testimony at a hearing related to the controversial federal Health and Human Services contraception mandate. In the uproar that has followed Limbaugh's comments (numerous online petitions and the withdrawal of dozens of sponsors from his radio program), though few, if any, have defended his abusive rant, conservatives have been quick to remind us of similar attacks liberal commentators have made on women like Sarah Palin and Laura Ingraham.
That 'liberals do it, too' does not in any way excuse Limbaugh's behavior (especially since Limbaugh is somewhat unusual in having done what he has done repeatedly, and has even made sexist remarks against another young woman since the Fluke debacle, which is impressive, even for him). But this tit-for-tat deflection is actually a relevant point when considering the larger question. When Limbaugh insists he 'did not intend a personal attack' on Sandra Fluke, I can almost believe him, considering the casualness with which we throw around names like 'slut' and 'whore' (and worse) in our media. It only takes about 10 seconds of searching this topic on the web to find plenty of examples of male commentators (liberal and conservative) who have been chastised in recent years for choosing to attack female public figures with sexualized epithets. Which leads me to the questions: why do they do it, and why do we put up with it?
The line between 'news' and 'entertainment' has become so blurred in our society that one wonders whether there is a line at all anymore, or if it isn't all, with few exceptions, 'infotainment.' Limbaugh, and conservative commentators like him, simply deliver what their most dedicated listeners expect: a snarky, no-holds-barred skewering of all things Left. As Neal Boortz's tagline ("Somebody's Gotta Say It!") suggests, the success of these shows rests on the commentator's willingness to say the outrageous, to offer the brashest, crudest version of a 'truth' that the 'mainstream' media lack the cojones to utter.
It's not any different on the Left. Bill Maher famously called Sarah Palin a c*nt (among many other very rude, sex-related remarks). This crude talk excites listeners; it boosts ratings, and isn't that what it's all about? Sadly, too often the people we look to to comment on current events are entertainers and calling female public figures demeaning and sexualized names is, for many consumers of 'news' media, entertaining.
I've partly answered the second question in answering the first. Many of us put up with this because, frankly, it doesn't offend us; few might admit it, but many of us don't see the harm. To me, it's similar to an article I read in the Greensboro News & Record last Sunday about mudslinging in political campaigns. Everyone complains about it, yet politicians continue to run attack ads and negative campaigns because it is proven to work. Studies show that we may say we are not influenced by a candidate's negative campaigning, but truth is, we are- those doubts Candidate A wants to plant in your mind about Candidate B find their mark. Candidates are rewarded for bad behavior, as many of these sexist commentators are in the long run, provided they don't push that envelope too far.
Similarly, people who continue to listen to Maher and Limbaugh probably would not say they condone their most over-the-top remarks, or that their dismissal of these comments as 'no big deal/just entertainment' does not in any way contribute to the persistence of misogynistic attitudes toward women in public life. There will be a bit of finger wagging about 'making better word choices,' but mostly the issue will be treated as an individual's unfortunate gaffe and not an issue with our larger society.
But this is not just about 'making better word choices.' While it would be a vast improvement, I don't think it's going far enough for people to still think their misogynistic comments but not say them. We need to work toward a media culture where people, public figures particularly, approach one another and the issues with enough respect that they don't even let their emotions get to a place where they would think to call people those names (you know, the most basic standards of professionalism the rest of us work with). Maybe that's not realistic, but I don't think it's a bad standard to work for.
This just in: the UNCG Women and Gender Studies program is showing a documentary this week, Miss Representation, which "challenges the media's limiting and often disparaging portrayals of women," portrayals which "contribute to the under-representation of women in influential positions in America," (WGS flyer) on Wednesday, March 14 at 7pm. This post may not come out in time to get you there, but you can check out the website to find out other ways to view this documentary.


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a very cute red and white polka dot luggage tag from Melanie of Southern Charm Quilts!I thought this tag was so charming, I ordered a few more in the fabrics of my choice. My tags arrived along with a lovely thank you card. Recently, I went on vacation, and with Melanie's tags securely attached to my luggage, my suitcases were so easy to spot!
Check out her website here and her etsy store here. You will see all her wonderful products and lovely selection of fabrics.
See the original post about the giveaway.
...how Melanie started...
In Melanie's own words, "I started making totes and quilts for my family on birthdays and Christmas. I started getting alot of requests for them, so I thought "maybe I could sell these". I have doing that for several years now." She sells quilts, totes, accessories, luggage tags, clothing, and more. On the left is Melly's tote. Her blog post about it is here.
Melanie is a member of the famous etsy bloggers' street team!
I will write about the things I love--photography, art, making things, nature, gardening, and food.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
look what I won!
Posted by Splendid Little Stars at 8:00 AM
7 comments:
Such cute luggage tags and I love that tote!ReplyDelete
Some people are just sooooo talented! I love Melanie's shop--Thanks for sharing it!ReplyDelete
The tags and bag are both cute!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for blogging about me and for everyone's nice comments. Ya'll made my day!ReplyDelete
Congrats on your win!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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The history of modern European art can not be described fully without reference to Kandinsky. The exhibition held in Japan (2002) focused on his works from the period between 1896 and 1921. It displayed a total of 74 works from the collections of 13 art museums in Russia and Armenia.
Next product
$29.95 $19.95


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Manchester United made it nine wins in a row in all competitions courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Hull City in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho's men struggled to find a way past a stubborn Hull defence in the first half, but Juan Mata gave the hosts the lead 11 minutes into the second when he finished from Henrikh Mkhitaryan's header.
The Tigers, in Marco Silva's second game in charge, defended valiantly with a depleted team, but conceded a second three minutes from time when substitute Marouane Fellaini headed home from an excellent Matteo Darmian cross.
It sealed a comfortable evening for United, and they'll be confident of getting the job done at the KCOM Stadium in two weeks' time in a bid to reach a ninth League Cup final.
For Hull, it was a resilient display from Silva's men, and there are certainly causes to be optimistic ahead of both the second leg and indeed their fight against relegation from the Premier League.
Unsurprisingly, many supporters took to Twitter to express their views on the game, with many United fans more satisfied with the win than their side's display last night…
Not the best performance tonight @ManUtd but still a good result! Now let's see a big performance on Sunday against Liverpool!! #MUFC
— Sean Mclean (@seanmclean9) January 10, 2017
The win was the most crucial part. Not the best performance but a win before the big game is important #mufc
— Azeem ali (@azeemalii) January 10, 2017
Not a good performance, but a good result nonetheless. Massive 2nd goal by Fellaini, not all the way, but halfway back to Wembley! #MUFC
— J.A.O (@JuanAnderOnly) January 10, 2017
Not the greatest performance tonight but a 2-0 win will do, onto the big one Sunday #mufc
— Nick Briggs (@N1ckBr1ggs) January 10, 2017
While some were marvelling at the influence £89 million man Paul Pogba had on proceedings…
Pogba is so good…wow…I love it #MUFC #GGMU
— Chad (@thestoryofchad_) January 10, 2017
2nd half performance was a bit better, Pogba motm for me, made some excellent passes, Mata & Mkhi were good too. #MUFC
— Wesley Lovell (@_WesleyLovell) January 10, 2017
And many are already turning their attentions to the huge clash against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday…
9 wins in a row #mufc Playing beautiful football, bring on Liverpool on Sunday..
— Quality MUFC Videos (@aditya_reds) January 11, 2017
Got the job done tonight. Well played boys! Now onto Liverpool! 9 on the bounce! #MUFC
— Craig David (@craigbryandavid) January 10, 2017
Could of easily been 5 or 6 tonight but we'll take 2-0 going into the second leg. Roll on Liverpool on Sunday! #MUFC @ManUtd #GGMU #mufclive
— Andrew Millar (@AndyMillar94) January 10, 2017
Many Hull fans were extremely proud of their side's efforts last night…
Can't argue with that performance, everyone of the players can hold their heads high. #HCAFC
— Rob Earle (@RobEarle92) January 10, 2017
What a superb performance from City. Proud of the boys. Early goal needed in the return leg and you never know. #hcafc
— Pete Josse (@PeterRadiator) January 10, 2017
A performance of much character and plenty of potential. And given an asst's flag well, who knows what might have happened… #hcafc
— Richard Lusmore (@MisterSlush) January 10, 2017
And some are feeling optimistic for the rest of the season under new man Silva…
Performance looked decent tonight. Like this brand of football Silva is playing a lot. Suits the team more attacking #hcafc
— Russ (@RBlythe180) January 10, 2017
#hcafc We may only have half a team, but Silva seems pretty good so far.
— MIKE! (@brunobrookes) January 10, 2017
A performance like that with 1 fit CB, away & against a strong United. looking forward to seeing Silva save our season #HCAFC
— Rollins Guy (@KDC_LegitHD) January 10, 2017


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WGN America has released a trailer for season 2 of Underground.
Underground centers on a group of slaves planning a daring 600-mile escape from a Georgia plantation. Along the way, they are aided by a secret abolitionist couple running a station on the Underground Railroad as they attempt to evade the people charged with bringing them back, dead or alive.
Here's the trailer for Season 2.
The 10-episode Season 2 of Underground follows the struggle for freedom within a divided America on the brink of civil war, each side vying to enact their own justice. Set in the aftermath of the Macon 7's daring attempt to stage the greatest escape in history, this group of American heroes continues on their harrowing journey to freedom, with legendary abolitionist Tubman blazing the trail.
Underground stars Christopher Meloni, Marc Blucas, Jasika Nicole, DeWanda Wise, Michael Trotter, Jesse Luken, Sadie Stratton and John Legend.
The show returns on Wednesday March 8, 2017 on WGN America.
SOURCE: Deadline.com


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Beta has revolutionized the enduro market with a bike that is compact, light, and easy to ride.
Xtrainer (aka, Cross Trainer) is the only true "All-Around, Entry Level" enduro bike in the market. It is the perfect bike for riders who wish to play ride without the intimidation of a full size enduro machine or for the expert rider looking to enhance their technical skills.
Our engineers saw the need to build a bike that defines fun, a motorcycle that is perfect for newcomers becoming involved with the wonderful world of enduro riding. The Xtrainer offers excellent performance while at the same time is easy to ride.
Features include a smaller deltabox frame which provides a lower seat height and a low center of gravity. Add to this a 43mm front fork along with a dedicated rear shock and you have a bike that is agile and easy to control which builds rider's confidence.
"We have been working on the Xtrainer for a few years, the idea was not to copy the competition but rather develop a bike for a market that we felt was being missed, the entry-level enduro or off road bike. After riding the Xtrainer I realized how cool it is to ride a motorcycle off road that has such usable and easy to manage power can be. The bike is just plain fun!" Tim Pilg, Beta USA Marketing Manager.
The chassis is mated to an engine that is from the popular 300 RR only designed to offer a power that is more linear and progressive making the bike more docile. Our engineers then added electronically controlled oil injection to provide the perfect oil/gas mixture thus eliminating the need to premix.
So if you want to learn enduro, or if you want to improve your enduro technical skills, the Xtrainer is what you need. The first true enduro bike for everyone.
Key Features:
-All-New Deltabox frame designed to be more compact
-Super Smooth, 300 cc 2 stroke engine with adjustable powervalve
-Special "torque" exhaust system
-Electric start
-Cooling fan
-Electronic oil injection (no need to pre-mix)
-35.8″ seat height
-10% smaller frame and overall size (compared to a standard Enduro model)
-Light, 218 lb. dry weight
Type: Beta-Built single cylinder, 2-stroke, liquid cooled, with BPV power valve system and
electric start.
Bore: 72mm
Stroke: 72mm
Displacement: 293.1cc
Compression Ratio: 11.3:1
Exhaust Valve Beta Progressive Valve (BPV)
Ignition: AC-CDI Kokusan.
Spark Plug: NGK GR7CI8
Lubrication: Electronic Oil Injection
Carburetor: Keihin PWK 36mm
Clutch: Wet multi-disc
Transmission: 6-speed
Final Drive: O-ring chain
Frame: Molybdenum steel/Parameter-Style w/quick air filter access.
Wheelbase: 57.8
Seat Height: 35.8"
Ground Clearance: 12.6"
Footrest Height: 15.4
Dry Weight: 218 lbs.
Fuel Tank Capacity: 2.25 US gallons
Front Suspension: 43 mm Inverted with rebound, & spring preload adjustment
Rear Suspension: Steel body shock with adjustable rebound and compression
Front Wheel Travel: 10.6"
Rear Wheel Travel: 10.6"
Front Brake: 260mm floating rotor
Rear Brake: 240mm rotor
Front/Rear Rim: 21" (Front) 18" (Rear)
Front/Rear Tire: Soft Enduro Competition
Warranty: 6 month Limited Warranty
May 23, 2020
May 5, 2020


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The design of complex software and hardware systems is a nontrivial task and is usually accomplished with some kind of formal modeling to gain confidence on the behavior of system under design. Such formal models are essentially developed with the focus on either proving the functional correctness, like something bad or unintended will never happen, or establishing certain bounds focused on the performance of the system under design. My research focuses on model checking and model-based testing of safety-critical software and hardware systems.
Model checking is an automated verification method guaranteeing that a mathematical model of a system satisfies a formally described property. Model-based testing (MBT) is a most promising approach to systematic testing of software systems. The system under test is described as a formal model, and MBT theories describe notions of correctness of an implementation w.r.t. a model.


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- Clinical science
Collection of zoonotic diseases
Zoonotic diseases are infections that are transmitted from animals to humans. While animals may transmit infection directly, they usually serve as hosts for a pathogen that is then transmitted to humans by a vector (e.g., ticks, fleas). Zoonoses are usually endemic to certain geographical regions, and peaks in incidence often correlate with the life cycle of the transmitting vector. Common diseases include Q fever, Rocky mountain spotted fever, endemic typhus, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. Although these conditions differ in their exact presentation, symptomatic cases typically present with fever, flulike symptoms, and possibly skin rashes. In some cases of fulminant disease, there may be complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation, shock, and organ failure. Most zoonoses are treated with antibiotics and respond well to treatment.
Q fever
- Definition: notifiable zoonotic disease with cattle, sheep, and goats as the primary reservoir
- Pathogen: Coxiella burnetii (gram-negative, intracellular)
- Epidemiology
Route of transmission
- Inhalation of aerosols from the secretions of infected livestock or animals about to give birth
- Ingestion of raw milk produced by infected animals
- Risk groups: slaughterhouse workers, farmers, shepherds, veterinarians
Pathophysiology: development of antigens
- Phase I antigens: seen when C. burnetii is highly infectious
Phase II antigens: seen when C. burnetii is less infectious
- Antigenic shift essential to differentiating acute Q fever from the chronic variant (see below)
|Type of Q fever
|Acute Q fever
|Chronic Q fever
|Incubation period
|Clinical features
|Serology via IFA (best initial test)
|Additional findings
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)
- Pathogen: Rickettsia rickettsii; (aerobic, gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria )
- Epidemiology: Rocky mountains, southeastern, and south central US
- Reservoir: dogs, rodents, ticks
- Route of transmission: bite of Dermacentor variabilis (dog tick)
Clinical features (incubation period ∼ 7 days, or 2–12 days)
- Fever, headache, myalgia, malaise, conjunctivitis, nausea, and abdominal pain
- Blanching macular rash; (90% of cases): begins on wrists and ankles → spreads to trunk, palms, and soles → becomes petechial and/or hemorrhagic in 50% of cases
- Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly
- Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema with ARDS
- Diagnosis: empiric diagnosis based on clinical and epidemiological features
- Treatment: doxycycline
Endemic typhus (also known as murine typhus)
- Definition: An exanthematous typhus fever caused by Rickettsia typhi
- Etiology: Rickettsia typhi
- Transmission: : via vector: rat and cat fleas
- Epidemiology: occurs worldwide, mainly warm coastal regions, southern US
Clinical features
- Incubation period: 8–16 days
- Fever, severe headache, malaise
- Maculopapular or petechial rash; erupts on the trunk → spreads to extremities
- No eschar (scab at site of flea bite)
- Serology (four-fold rise in antibodies)
- Positive Weil-Felix reaction
- A diagnostic test for rickettsial infections, whereby suspensions of proteus antigens (OX 19, OX 2, or OX K) are mixed with a patient's serum.
- Agglutination occurs in the serum of patients infected with Rickettsia.
- Treatment: doxycycline, chloramphenicol
- Pathogen: Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii (intracellular, gram-negative bacteria)
- Epidemiology: southeastern and south central US, mid-Atlantic States
- Reservoir: white tail deer
- Route of transmission: bite of the lone star tick; (Amblyomma americanum) → infection of monocytes and macrophages
Clinical infection (incubation period of 1–2 weeks)
- Fever, headaches, malaise, myalgias
- Similar to RMSF, but usually without a rash ("spotless" RMSF)
- Possibly neurologic symptoms (altered mental status, stiff neck, clonus)
- May cause renal failure and GI bleeding
- Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated serum transaminases
- Wright-Giemsa stain of blood smear: detection of morulae inside the infected monocytes
- Serology via IFA: IgG Ehrlichia titer
- Treatment: PO doxycycline or tetracycline
- Pathogen: Babesia species, especially Babesia microti (protozoan parasites)
- Worldwide occurrence; endemic in the Northeast, Northwest, and upper Midwest of the US
- Seasonal distribution: most cases in July and August when tick populations reach their peak
Route of transmission
- Natural reservoir: wild animals (especially rodents), cattle
- Transmission to humans via tick bites: Ixodes scapularis (black-legged deer tick)
Clinical features (incubation period of 1–6 weeks)
- Most cases asymptomatic or mild, but may be severe or even fatal
- Flulike symptoms (fever, malaise, myalgia, headache)
- Hemolytic anemia with dark urine and icterus
- Mild splenomegaly and hepatomegaly
- Severe infection may lead to DIC, ARDS, congestive heart failure, splenic rupture, and death.
- Clinical features similar to malaria infections
- Laboratory findings: signs of hemolytic anemia; , thrombocytopenia; , normal WBC or mild leukopenia; , ↑ transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase
- Confirmatory test: Giemsa stain reveals thin blood smear intraerythrocyte rings with a maltese cross.
- PCR, serology
- Coinfection with other tick-borne pathogens (e.g., Borrelia, A. phagocytophilum) should be considered
- Atovaquone and azithromycin for mild disease
- Quinine and clindamycin for severe infections
- Pathogen: Yersinia pestis
- Epidemiology: western US (as scattered cases in rural areas)
- Reservoir: prairie dogs, squirrels, rodents
- Route of transmission: flea bites
Clinical features
- Bubonic plague (most common): sudden onset of fever, headache, myalgias, chills, and painful swollen lymph nodes (buboes) → may progress to sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis
- Septicemic plague: signs and symptoms of sepsis, abdominal pain, possible shock, DIC
- Pneumonic plague : rapidly progressing pneumonia with possible respiratory failure and shock
- Diagnostics: : cultures with Wayson stain taken from buboes, blood, or sputum → shows bipolar staining of bacteria (appearance of "closed safety pin")
- Do not delay treatment for diagnosis!
- Isolation with droplet precautions until pneumonic plague is ruled out
- First-line: IV gentamicin or fluoroquinolones for 10–14 days
- Second-line: doxycycline, tetracycline


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Artificial intelligence (AI) and whole genome analysis are poised to turn the world of healthcare on its head. Advances in recent years have taken the cutting-edge technologies from science to reality, and one company is now using them to dramatically improve patient outcomes and make personalized medicine the norm. Already working with doctors and hospitals to mine DNA and use AI to provide better treatments much faster, Frélii, is working on its next goal: building an integration tool for medical devices so that the information generated from a device can be analyzed and delivered to the doctor in a more streamlined fashion.
"Frélii's technology has been designed to allow assessment and sequencing that could quickly change personalized medicine," says Ian Jenkins, CEO of the company. Frélii is essentially data mining DNA. The company leverages the big data of DNA to improve health and wellness and enhance the human experience."
According to Jenkins, Frélii uses its unique technology to take a fundamentally different approach than what others in the market are doing. It leverages its AI to interpret DNA testing results, delivering much greater insight and decision-making perspective than what is currently available. The company enables visualization into epigenetic expression as clusters of millions of 3D models. Through this, its AI derives meaning from the clusters with true interconnected data. As such, Frélii opens the door to far more specific and accurate DNA analysis and far broader applications to a number of market segments.
"We aren't the first to select based on genetics, but we are the first to be able to isolate and determine why a test is not succeeding," says Jenkins. "We can bridge the gap of AI genetics to see how genetics are expressing or changing the interaction of a drug. That is a very valuable component to these people because right now, it's kind of a crap shoot. If you think about clinical trials, they might want someone with rheumatoid arthritis in a certain age range. The problem is that everyone is unique and will respond differently. If you look at traditional pharmacogenetic tests, they are really basic. You may have one mutation and you need to look at what that mutation means."
To bring this into perspective, current competitive solutions analyze from 400,000 to 750,000 data points, generating approximately 384 outcomes, such as diet suggestions or identification of potential health risks. The Frélii AI technology has dramatically increased the data points analyzed to about 3.2 billlion; yielding exponential numbers of potential outcomes than what has been available to doctors, researchers, and patients. According to the company, this increase represents a paradigm-changing jump in the availability of accurate, whole-genome sequencing and analysis.
Frélii's Quantum Leap
Jenkins says AI looks at each mutation in relation to every other genotype and mutation in the genome because they are connected in some way or another. "You have to value those mutations based on each other. For instance, take BRCA, a common expression in a cancer patient. Right now, a lot of people are looking at maybe seven base pairs. There are 2000 known mutations, and they all interact to make one more important or less important, and you don't know how important 'that one' is until you have the other one," he says. "The key is looking at every genotype and the connections between them. And that is the quantum leap that Frélii is bringing to the table," says Jenkins.
Jenkins says that before Frélii, no one could never quantify how the genomes interacted with each other. Moreover, he says, there was a lot of data out there, but it was too complicated, cost prohibitive, and took too long to analyze.
"When we first started doing this, it took about 6–8 weeks to analyze a genome, then about 166 hours to run the AI. With AI, it was much cheaper than doing it manually, but it was still difficult."
Frélii's new type of compression algorithm that now runs in two hours — what Jenkins call "a very significant compression." Over the last few years, AI has significantly improved, and it is much more powerful. It can sequence a different type of methodology in 5–7 days and run the analysis in 2 hours. Frélii's predictive capacity with its AI has increased from 84 to 98.5 percent. And its high-efficiency genetic sequencing and analysis using Frélii's proprietary technology has increased to greater than 99 percent and 99.999 percent accuracy on whole genome and exome sequencing, respectively.
According to the company, Frélii conducts whole genome sequencing of 3.2 billion individual data points. After sequencing, Frélii runs the data through its patented artificial intelligence "Navii." Navii's complete analysis includes analyzing every data point against all existing published genomic studies, as well as analyzing every data point against all other data points. This process takes more than 7,680,000,000 gigs of computational processing per individual and delivers the most comprehensive genetic results on the planet. It helps Frélii provide doctors real answers to potential patient needs or risks.
The data is accessible to all of the doctors and hospitals in a group, providing a more seamless integration of the data. The main tool analyzes about 27,000 diseases, and it allows doctors to search, looking at interaction and even genome. That's where precision medicine benefits: the doctors can pinpoint the dose that is just right for the patient.
"What AI is doing is really helping doctors be more specific." He says that AI has been especially beneficial in the assisting doctors who are prescribing cannabis for late stage cancers. He says it is also particularly helpful in guiding doctors who are prescribing psychotropics.
"With psychotropics, the doctor will typically try something and have the patient come back in a month. It is common to take 6-9 months to get the right combination. But, if you're able to analyze the data much faster, you'll be 99 percent the way there in the first two weeks. It's a drastic time reduction for the patient. And once they are in the database, if something else happens, there is no lag time. During a visit, the doctor, can go data mine through his own portal and make recommendations the patient.
Integrating Medical Device Data
The next thing for Frélii is a tool that integrates medical device data into the AI. "The AI doesn't just have to take in DNA. We tested it on taking in blood and medical device data. Just like DNA, it can take that information and read that in and analyze the outcome the doctor is seeing and make suggestions," says Jenkins.
The goal, he says, is that AI will ultimately integrate with every medical device. "We want all medical devices integrated into one unified structure and doctors can use the AI, essentially what it will do is improve the delivery of the medical device data to the doctor by linking it to our AI," says Jenkins. "AI can read it in and use that big data over time to give the doctor a better view of the patient. When they see everything in a concise manner, it makes that device much more valuable and makes the doctor's diagnosis that much faster."
Jenkins says Frélii has begun testing with medical devices but won't be releasing the full integration product for at least 12 months. The system would link the medical device data back to the DNA and to the doctors' data so that all of them could be analyzed simultaneously.
"Give us a couple of years, and the medical industry is going to change dramatically," says Jenkins.
This article was written by Sherrie Trigg, Editor and Director of Medical Content for MDB.


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Is Hospice Movement Going Beyond End-of-Life Care?
by Judy Roberts
Steubenville, Ohio Families who have contacted the nonprofit Hospice Patients Alliance are raising important questions about hospice as a movement.
Although hospice's stated mission remains that of providing compassionate and dignified care to people at the end of life, some are asking whether hospices are starting to go beyond that role by hastening death instead.
Since the first hospice program was started in the United States in 1974, hospice organizations have served more than 1 million patients at the end of life by providing a range of services dealing with management of pain and physical symptoms and psycho-social needs.
Many families who have had a hospice experience speak positively, even glowingly, of it, saying a hospice was able to help them at a difficult time in a way traditional health care could not.
But, especially since the March 2005, imposed-starving death of Terri Schiavo, reports of a dark side to the hospice movement are emerging.
In the state of Oregon, for instance, legalized assisted suicide takes place in some hospices, according to Rita Marker, executive director of the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in Steubenville, Ohio.
Even in cases where the hospice staff does nothing more than provide support to the family during an assisted suicide, allowing the suicide to occur can be seen as a form of participation in evil, Marker said.
Although such developments don't necessarily mean that hospice as a movement has changed, Marker said consumers need to be cautious before turning themselves or a loved one over to hospice care.
"You need to know who is in charge, what the protocols are, what the philosophy of that hospice is, and where they stand on the issue of food and fluid," she said.
A spokesman for the hospice movement said that hospices neither hasten nor prolong dying. Stephen Connor, vice president of research and international affairs for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, added that the Alexandria, Va.-based group has a longstanding board resolution against assisted suicide.
Where assisted suicide is legal, Connor said, a hospice patient cannot legally be discharged because he or she wants to take a lethal prescription. In those cases, he said, the staff may be present to support the patient's family.
Food and Water
Connor said his group's standard on medically administered food and hydration is that "people have a right to decide whether they want those interventions or not. And a decision about whether they should have them or not resides with the patient, usually made in the context of a family system. They ought to decide whether they want it or don't want it, and those wishes should be respected."
Connor said hospice does allow the withdrawal of food and hydration, even when the patient is not in immediate danger of death, although individual hospice programs vary in their policies on medical nutrition and hydration. Some do not allow patients to have intravenous fluids or feeding tubes, for example, while others may permit them.
Former hospice nurse Ron Panzer called hospice "a wonderful service if done with integrity and morality." But, since founding the Hospice Patients Alliance in Rockford, Mich., in 1998, he has heard from patients, families and caregivers who have concerns about hospice care, ranging from overmedication to refusal of food and fluid.
Panzer, who now works in home health care, claims that some hospices eagerly hasten death and fight every attempt to prolong life.
"They interfere at every step in ordinary care," he said. "They'll pull the rug out from a patient by removing food, hydration and medications, and refusing to provide treatment for easily treated infections."
Church teaching is clear on the subject. Even when death is thought to be imminent, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2279) states that "the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted."
Richard Doerflinger, deputy director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, said even though a person is terminally ill, assisted feeding can still be a form of basic care that should be provided unless and until it is actually doing more harm than good to the patient.
Pope John Paul II, in an address to the international congress on "Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas" on March 20, 2004, said: "The administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act. Its use, furthermore, should be considered, in principle, ordinary and proportionate, and as such morally obligatory, insofar as and until it is seen to have attained its proper finality, which in the present case consists in providing nourishment to the patient and alleviation of his suffering."
The church teaches that assisted feeding can be validly discontinued only if it no longer provides life-sustaining nourishment, as in the case of someone in the end stages of cancer or if the means themselves are doing more harm than good to the patient, Doerflinger pointed out.
"The problem that can arise in hospice," he said, "is that hospice care has increasingly been accepting more patients who have degenerative conditions that are not end stages of terminal illness and yet [hospices] may still have broad policies of not starting tube feeding, policies which would be more appropriate for the truly terminal conditions."
'Terminal Sedation'
Indeed, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, in 2004, just 46 percent of hospice patients had a diagnosis of cancer. The top five diagnoses among non-cancer patients were end-stage heart disease (12.2 percent); dementia (8.9 percent); debility (8.2 percent); lung disease (7.1 percent), and end-stage kidney disease (3.1 percent).
Robin, a Baltimore woman who asked that her last name not be used, said her father, a 69-year-old Parkinson's disease patient, was admitted to a hospice in 2000 at the request of her mother. Thirteen days later, he was dead.
Robin said she believes her father was starved to death.
"My father wasn't terminal," she said. At the time he was admitted, she added, he was having difficulty swallowing and had lost the ability to speak. However, she said he made it clear to her that he didn't want to go to the hospice because he grabbed her and started to cry as he was being taken away. Once in the hospice, she said, no effort was made to feed him."
Robin said her father's chart indicated he was being given morphine and Haldol, a drug used to treat patients with psychosis and chronic brain syndrome, or dementia. Within two days of his admission, she said, he appeared "like a vegetable."
"They kept him so drugged and his mouth was very bloody because he wasn't getting anything in his mouth," she said.
Panzer said in such cases patients may die of what he calls "terminal sedation" in which sedation is given with minimal or no hydration. "They don't die of starvation," he said, "but because the circulatory system collapses for lack of fluid."
Daughter of Charity Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association, said making sure a hospice patient is not overmedicated is a valid caution.
"But the people who have the most experience with managing pain and pain control without overwhelming you are the hospice people," she said. "They're very good at using adjunct techniques, whether it is mild relaxants and lower doses of narcotics, or things like massage and nerve blocks, things that allow you to control pain" without being so medicated that one is "out of it."
Robin said she is convinced her father would have lived another 15 years had he not been taken to the hospice. "They talk about quality of life. My father, even though he was not able to walk around and talk to people, certainly got a huge grin on his face whenever he saw my children," she said. "And that was a couple times a week. He still had joy in his life, and who has the right to take that away?"
Panzer said families should learn what services are appropriate in hospice and make sure that, if medication is being given, it is because there is a symptom calling for it.
"If someone is in severe pain, the family should not be afraid of pain medication," he said, "but when there is no complaint of pain, then increasing doses [of pain medication] is an act of murder."
Dr. William Chavey, a Catholic and assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan, said the church supports giving narcotics such as morphine for pain or the discomfort that comes with shortness of breath, but would not condone using them to actively hasten death.
It is understood in such cases, he said, that in the attempt to give the appropriate amount, someone's death might be hastened. "But if the intent is to take away their suffering and not to hasten their death," he said, "then this is acceptable. But if the intent is to hasten death, it is not acceptable."
This article is the first of a two-part series. Next: What constitutes good end-of-life care, and what questions should patients and families ask?
Judy Roberts, based in Graytown, Ohio, is a National Catholic Register correspondent.
© Circle Media, Inc.
This item 6982 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org


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This website is maintained by Ed Baker and George Beccaloni on behalf of the Blattodea Culture Group.
An Introduction to Rearing Cockroaches by Phil Bragg. Published in 1997, this 16 page book was the first to be dedicated to rearing cockroaches. Available to BCG members at the discount price of £2.00, plus postage (30p UK, 70p elsewhere) from the author.


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Collections: Natural Stone Bracelets, Sale
$98.00 $105.00
10mm faceted amethyst, 8mm pale purple faceted jade and 10mm pale purple matte jade comprise this purple monochromatic stack!
Jade is a stone of spiritual wealth. It is known for attracting healing, prosperity, and serenity into life. Jade is said to aid is discarding any negative patterns holding you back from your full potential. It is said to have a powerful connection to the heart chakra and to bring both prosperity and abundance into ones life.Jade is the ultimate good luck charm.
Amethyst crystals have been used for centuries to aid in spiritual protection, promotion of inner strength and clarity of mind. This stone's healing properties also include stress relief and the attraction of positive energy! It is long known to act as a protective energy shield of spiritual light around the wearers body.
As these pieces are made from natural elements from the earth, each and every piece is unique and may contain slight irregularities in size, shape and color.
Stretchy, easy to wear and perfect for stacking!


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Alappuzha Beach is a beach in Alappuzha town and a tourist attraction in Kerala, India. Beach... more
Often referred to as the 'Venice of the East', the lake city of Udaipur is known as the centre for performing arts and crafts. The famous Lake Palace, located bang in the middle of Lake Pichola is easily one of the most beautiful sights of Udaipur. Udaipur is also home to Jaisamand Lake, the largest artificial lake in Asia. The beautiful City Palace... more
With the firm belief that nothing new should ever be embarked upon without invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesh, the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple at Prabhadevi is understandably the most popular of places of worship in Mumbai. It was but a humble consecration by Mrs. Deubai Patil in early 19th century that is supposed to have started attracting... more
Sikkim, the small but beautiful kingdom is situated in the eastern Himalayas.... more
House Boat in Kerala Kerala : National Geographic Traveler selects Kerala... more
The history of Goa is dominated by Portuguese colonization. Long before... more


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Season 10 of Fortnite is almost upon us. The next season of Epic's popular battle royale game officially kicks off on all platforms this Thursday, August 1, and as the developer traditionally does before each seasonal changeover, it has begun dropping a few teaser images, which seem to hint at some kind of time warp theme for the new season.
The first teaser, which you can see below, was shared ahead of the finals of the Fortnite World Cup. The tweet simply reads, "Think Back," and features an image of Dusty Depot, which was famously destroyed by a giant meteor and became Dusty Divot all the way back in Season 4. This seems to suggest the beloved area could be making a return in Season 10.
Think Back. 8.1.2019 pic.twitter.com/StlbA42Cwj— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) July 28, 2019
The second teaser image, which dropped earlier today, features what appears to be some kind of new mech that's coming to the game. "Look Forward," the tweet reads, which again hints at some kind of space-time disruption taking place in the new season. You can take a look at the second teaser below. What might be more notable than the mech are the symbols on the sides. The one on the left matches a symbol adorned on The Visitor, a skin from back in Season 4. This subtle reference might suggest the skin or character is making a comeback in some capacity.
Look Forward. 8.1.2019 pic.twitter.com/NSKq5diQrN— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) July 29, 2019
Each seasonal changeover in Fortnite is typically preceded by some world-changing event, and earlier this month, a giant robot did battle with the monster that was formerly frozen beneath Polar Peak. The mech was ultimately able to defeat the monster by impaling it with a giant sword hidden beneath Neo Tilted, but the Vault in Loot Lake was damaged during the confrontation and is becoming increasingly unstable, which may be the catalyst for whatever time-related event leads to Season 10.
With Season 10 only a couple of days away, time is quickly running out to complete Fortnite's Season 9 challenges. If you need help mopping up any remaining tasks, you can find tips and guides for all the trickier ones in our complete Season 9 challenges roundup. Fortnite's second birthday event is also underway until July 31, and it has its own set of challenges to complete and rewards to unlock. Most are fairly straightforward, but the only one that may pose a problem asks you to dance in front of 10 different birthday cakes. Be sure to check out our birthday cake locations guide.


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Lee Fox; Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas
I'm sure many parents of young girls will be able to relate to this book without even half trying. No matter how tightly she grips her Goody brush, sometimes a mom is no match for her wild-headed, determined daughter. There just aren't enough pink sparkly barrettes and flowered headbands in the world to persuade a girl to sit down and have her hair tamed. Ella Kazoo's mom is finding this out the hard way.
Just like the book title hints, the premise of the story is Ella Kazoo's refusal to brush her hair. She first hides herself, and when that doesn't work, she resorts to hiding the hairbrush. She throws herself into a heap onto the floor and pitches a major fit. She dashes off as quick as can be, sliding outside to evade her mom. Ella tries every trick in the book to avoid a hair brushing until her mom just throws up her hands and admits defeat.
Just because her mom gives up, doesn't mean Ella's hair will follow suit. Untended, it quickly grows to her waist, then continues on past her knees. Soon it puddles in a wiry pool about her feet, trailing on the ground behind her as she walks, like a brown tangled bridal veil. Ella's hair is out of control, the snarl growing larger by the day, until even Ella has to admit ... she's had enough!
Luckily there are people specially trained to handle situations like these. These people sport fabulous hairstyles and know how to wield sharp scissors and are versed in rosemary scented shampoos. Ella's mom takes her to one such salon where a group of stylists consult, then make light work of her troublesome tresses. Ella emerges with a light heart and even lighter head. Her unruly hair has been transformed into a smart, short style that both she and her mom can be happy with.
I like the rhyming verses and the light humor. The adorable illustrations are a great match for the written word. I particularly like Ella's stance, where she "roars at her mom like a big growly bear." She looks exactly like a four year old who is desperately trying to get her way. A great little detail is the way Ella's sweet little poodle turns up on each page - he gets harder to find as her hair grows, so it becomes almost a little game to point him out. This is a fun book about an exaggerated problem that little girls will find downright hysterical.
Review copy provided by Walker & Company.


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Episode 27: Devil's Fish
March 8, 2018 | Inside the Closet | No Comments|
Emma's phoning it in from LA this week, and Matteo is finally home in New York. #InsideTheCloset finds one of our hosts covered in hives, and the other one getting in bed with a sexual superstar. Emma gives Matteo an emotional pep talk, and Matteo helps her figure out what she's looking for in a partner. All that, some mom love and a message about learning, growing and forgiveness. Check it out!
Link: https://apple.co/2oZ2tgM