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Art meets Commerce on Project Runway All Stars/
And then there were three! We're in the final runway stretch folks... it was a serious
Project Runway All Stars
last week as only three of the designers moved on as finalists and one went home. This was an important and very relevant challenge as the All Stars had to think about the business end of fashion to create their ready-to-wear looks. Guest designer
Nanette Lepore
[not to be confused with transQueen Amanda Lepore - Queens you know who I'm talking about!] delivered and hosted the challenge. The winning design will be sold in her stores nationwide with the profits going to support the Save the Garment District Fund.
[caption id="attachment_13180" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Austin Scarlett"]
I have not been crazy about Austin's designs, ever. Michael Costello posed the question "what do the judges see in him" and I believe the answer is, Project Runway's top priority, ratings. He's a fan favorite and I'll admit, I've enjoyed Austin from time to time. He makes good tv. But is he the best designer? No. [
Is he too skinny, YES!
[caption id="attachment_13182" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Michael Costello"]
I found it amusing [and remember, I like Michael] that he criticized Kenley for making the same dress over and over while he does the exact same thing. How many more fucking caftans do we need on Project Runway?! That aside, Michael knows how to drape one well and his looks have dramatic stage presence. This particular dress, however, was too long, as mentioned by judge/designer Georgina Chapman. Joanna Coles' issue with it (in the workroom) was that you couldn't wear a bra. Austin may have said it best by stating that only models can wear Michael's clothes.
[caption id="attachment_13183" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Kenley Collins"]
Her own stubbornness may have cost Kenley her place as a finalist. It's too bad. I liked her and it didn't bother me that her dresses were often mere variations. She has a marketable and wearable sensibility with just the right amount of flare. Perhaps her ego kept her from listening to the judges? The one time she did listen, enormous praise from Isaac and Georgina flowed over. This dress was pretty and I see why Kenley fell in love with the peacock feather print but unfortunately the strong print and the structural design were incompatible. Still, I would have chosen Kenley over Austin.
[caption id="attachment_13190" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Mondo Guerra"]
Mondo, Mondo was the winner! I especially loved the pockets of this very versatile, slightly insane dress. Without a doubt, Mondo is purely talented yet his talent may possibly be his downfall. He terrifies me. I've known people like Mondo who are completely creative and totally lack business sense or even an interest. You need to use both your right and left sides of your brain to succeed in this industry so Mondo I hope you are willing to do that OR perhaps find yourself a Giancarlo Giammetti, just like Valentino!
The 2-part All Star finale airs March 15 and March 22... and you know there will be twists and surprises!


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Painting Internal and External
Treating everyday painting like art. Invest in your home.
Choosing the right colour in order to bring the best out of your space is only the first step. The second step is to have people who are capable and knowledgeable in providing you with the best results in the most cost effective way, while staying true to your vision and ideas as well as quality. Choose Brent Property Services for a peace of mind and exceptional results.
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Let us help you choose the most perfect colour for your space. Whether it be a family room or a kitchen, we will work together with you to create a masterpiece which you will enjoy over and over again. When it comes to your home, let the experts take care of everything. Just tell us exactly what you want or we can recommend you colour pallets and our qualified designers can help you choose the style that works best.
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Exterior painting can be a challenge to get right without the correct knowledge and the appropriate materials. However, when done professionally and with care, this can increase the value of your home as well as save you money in the future without having to repaint as frequently. At Brent Property Services Ltd we are committed to quality and perfection. With your guidance and our expertise, together we will create a masterpiece which will not only be enjoyed by the eye, but will also be durable and economical.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Cisco UC 7.0 Investment Priorities
Rick McConnell, Vice President of Market Development in Cisco's Voice Technology Group, discusses investment priorities surrounding the Cisco Unified Communications Release 7.0.
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.
1 Comments
Very informative post.Thanks a lot for sharing.Keep up the good job


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The Mundane Object Project
The Mundane Object Project is an ongoing series celebrating the mundane objects and occurrences found in daily life. Each print is a limited run of approximately 80 prints, printed on French Paper Co. Speckletone Madero Beach 100# paper sized at 11x14. Every print is at least 3 colors, but usually more. I am only using type that I have in my shop.... nothing carved from linoleum, nothing from a digital file. Every print is run through my Poco Proof Press, meaning every color is hand inked and run separately through the press.
Currently available for purchase at MLK&toast Press.
Currently available for purchase at MLK&toast Press.


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7 Ways to Invest in China With China ETFs
Conducting business in China can be difficult. Investing in China doesn't have to be, especially if you utilize a China ETF. Whether it's a China foreign ETF or a Chinese currency ETF, you can gain exposure to China's markets or hedge some of your foreign risk with China ETFs.
Investing in China Markets
There are many challenges to overcome when dealing with business and finance in China. Trade barriers, tax laws, and unique traditions to name a few. However if your investment strategy wants to gain exposure to China's markets, look no further than a China market ETF.
An ETF like FXI, the iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index ETF is a great way to gain exposure to Chinese sectors like banking, construction, energy, and communications all in one investment.
Investing in BRIC Markets
Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Four regions that are very popular in the investment world. So much so, they've been given special attention with BRIC investment products. ETFs are no exception.
If you are looking to include China as part of your overall foreign investment strategy, but don't want it to be your only targeted foreign region, a BRIC ETF may be a fit for your portfolio. EEB, the Claymore / BNY Mellon BRIC ETF is an example of a fund that can increase your foreign exposure to all four of these regions with one trade.
Investing in Emerging Markets
If a BRIC asset is a little too limited and you would rather focus on emerging markets, there are plenty of emerging market ETFs that include China assets. For example, PXH, the PowerShares FTSE RAFI Emerging Markets ETF contains stocks for companies in China as well as Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil.
Investing in Asian Markets
If you prefer to limit your foreign investments to the Asian region, there are ETFs that include China assets in this category as well. AAXJ, the iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index ETF is a prime example of a fund targeting investments directly tied to Asia.
Investing With International Bond ETFs
Another way to increase foreign investment exposure to regions such as China is to utilize an international bond ETF. An investor looking to hedge China interest rates or create a steady income stream might turn to a foreign bond ETF. These funds are also sound ways to diversify a portfolio or increase exposure to foreign markets.
Investing With Chinese Currency ETFs
There are a few foreign currency ETFs that directly include the Chinese Yuan. If you have risk in either Chinese markets, interest rates, or the Yuan itself, a Chinese currency ETF like CYB, the WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan ETF may be a good way to protect your China investments.
Investing With Chinese Broad Currency ETFs
While there are currency ETFs that track only the Yuan, there are broad currency ETFs that track the Yuan and other currencies. If you want Yuan exposure and other currencies in one investment, a currency ETF like CEW, the WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency ETF, may be the fit for your strategy. Not only does it track the Chinese Yuan, but also the prices of 16 other regions, too.
So, while business in China can be a difficult process, investing in China doesn't have to be. It's important to conduct thorough research before making any investment, but once you're ready to get started with China ETFs, it's only a matter of making the trade and reaping the benefits.


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If a public agency refuses to disclose records in response to a request under the Kansas Open Records Act, and the requester believes the records should have been disclosed, the requester has a few different options under Kansas law to contest the refusal. The individual can file a complaint with either the county or district attorney where the violation occurred or with the Attorney General's Office (AGO). In 2015, the legislature conferred additional powers on the AGO, allowing it to enter "consent orders" or "findings of violation" related to KORA violations. Local law enforcement agencies and the AGO also have the authority to file civil actions to enforce the law.
The law also allows for private plaintiffs to sue the public agency which has failed to provide the requested records. The law even allows for the award of attorney fees so the plaintiff can be reimbursed for such expenses, but as a practical matter, the language of the statute makes a fee award very unlikely. To incentivize compliance with KORA, the legislature should consider revising the statute to make such awards more probable.
The key language appears in K.S.A. 45-222(d), which provides that "the court shall award costs and a reasonable sum as an attorney's fee for services rendered in such action, including proceedings on appeal, to be recovered and collected as part of the costs to the plaintiff if the court finds that the agency's denial of access to the public record was not in good faith and without a reasonable basis in fact or law (emphasis added)."
Thus, even though the word "shall" appears, denoting a mandatory action by the court, the reality is that the private plaintiff will not recover attorney fees unless the agency's denial was both "not in good faith" AND "without a reasonable basis in fact or law." The "not in good faith" provision is particularly troubling, because simple ignorance of the law seems to preclude an attorney fee award. Moreover, the Kansas Supreme Court's interpretation of K.S.A. 45-222(d) makes the "good faith" standard shockingly easy for agencies to meet, allowing an agency to argue that it acted in good faith so long as the "basis for withholding information has not been previously considered by state courts."[1]
Other states have done away with the "good faith" requirement, which makes an attorney fee award much more likely. In Florida, the plaintiff must prove only that the agency "unlawfully refused" to disclose the records. Oklahoma law is even more favorable, as "successful" plaintiffs "shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees."
While an amendment along the lines of the Oklahoma law might be too extreme given the current state of the law in Kansas, simply striking the good faith provision would greatly improve the statute. A revised version of K.S.A. 45-222(d) could simply look like this:
"The court shall award costs and a reasonable sum as an attorney's fee if the court finds that the agency's denial of access to the public record was not in good faith and without a reasonable basis in fact or law."
Until the legislature makes a change, those who believe they have been wronged by a public agency's denial of a KORA request and lack confidence that public agencies will enforce the law against other public agencies are forced to pursue other options in order to pay for litigation. Although such cases rarely include an award of monetary damages against a public agency, and thus are of little interest to third-party litigation investment platforms like LexShares, crowdfunding legal fees through organizations like Funded Justice is an option gaining traction.
Like kickstarter.com or gofundme.com, an individual seeking funding through a site like Funded Justice publishes a narrative about the case to entice donors that may or may not include pictures, documents, or other images. However, "[a]s with all public websites, users should be careful about what they reveal online. This is especially true of legal situations. Published facts and information become the property of each of these sites – read the company's terms of use for details – and could come back to haunt you in future legal proceedings. Be cautious about what information you include, and read the fine print before you hit publish!" Any plaintiff considering crowdfunding a case would be well-advised to discuss the pros and cons of crowdfunding a legal case with an attorney before proceeding.
Finally, the AGO has had less than 18 months to implement its enforcement provisions enacted July 1, 2015. If that office ramps up enforcement, and the legislature strikes the words "not in good faith" from K.S.A. 45-222(d), crowdfunding may not be the only realistic way to pay for KORA litigation.
[1] Hull, Katrina G. DISAPPEARING FEE AWARDS AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS, 52 U. Kan. L. Rev. 721, 745 (2004).
Max Kautsch is the Kansas legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association, the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and the Kansas Sunshine Coalition. Send him an email here.


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A BROADCAST journalist in regional commercial radio news reports being asked by one radio station not to work for another in the same broadcast area. The "competitor" radio station he also works for has no such rule. How is he supposed to earn a living if he is not working regularly for any particular station yet cannot maximise his income by working at all the stations available?
Another freelance has been in a similar situation as an interviewee, in which capacity he was asked not to give interviews to other stations (or even not to do pieces with other shows on the same station). They pointed out that it's their living, and if they want to own said freelance, they would need to pay them compensation for lost earnings elsewhere.
This has turned up in book contracts for ages. Many authors would find it reasonable for a publisher commissioning them to write a biography of, for example, young Mr Clegg to ask them not to write any competing biography of Mr C without checking first. However, this type of clause is now turning up in contracts to write books for primary school kids on "all the world's Jurassic dinosaurs," "what happens in a hurricane?" and "everyday life in Victorian England" - which is ludicrous. Usually, the response is "Oh, we'd never actually enforce it", which is silly - because if managements don't want to enforce it, why stick it in the contract? Some book publishers have readily agreed to strike it out.
We've also heard of a staffer who on joining a media forward planning agency was presented with a contract clause forbidding employees to work for the (unnamed) competition for three months after leaving, on a confidentiality basis. The staffer crossed out the clause, quoting a Human Rights Act clause on "the right to work" and they took him on and made no further comment.
Said employee had no idea at the time whether there really was a relevant Human Rights Act clause about the right to work, and was following the time-honoured practice of bluffing and quoting possibly non-existent laws in the fairly confident knowledge that the employer/client is none the wiser. It seemed to work in this case, as in many others.
[A sub-editor writes: There is in fact no such clause in either the Human Rights Act 1998 nor in the European Convention on Human Rights which that Act implements in UK law, but, as noted, this phrase is easier to utter than "I might well find that I have a case to bring against you under competition law."]
Another freelance in radio recalls that in the late 70s and early 80s they had one name for working for the BBC in the south and another for working for the neighbouring commercial radio station. "It was current practice at that time; there was a cohort of about a dozen or so freelances who regularly filed packages for both stations and we all had dual personalities."
There are also contracts listing the competitors you're not allowed to work for, which demonstrate a startling lack of knowledge about the outlets that the publisher believe to be their competition. One quite well-known consumer magazine in a very niche market has built up a reputation over the years and a strong following, to the point where it doesn't really have any competition as such. Nonetheless, its contracts still demand that its contributors refrain from working for a list of assumed competitors that were only competitors in the management's paranoid imagination - titles that have long since disappeared, were never even available in the UK or didn't pay contributors.
© Matt Salusbury, Jenny Vaughan, and others anonymously


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How we did it:
For any feedback, any questions, any notes or just for chat - feel free to follow us on social networks
Haralambos Marmanis, Dmitry Babenko
Provides information on creating applications that collect, analyze, and act on the data that is left by users on the Web.
Immersion Digital
Glo is a new interactive Bible that brings God's Word to life through HD video, photographs, animations, maps, reading plans, 360-degree virtual tours, and a unique zoomable interface for fast, easy, visual navigation on PC computers and smart phones. Glo unpacks the Bible through 5 main lenses: Bible -The most read, most trusted NIV translation of the Bible in its natural order, with resources and media related to each verse. Atlas-See where major stories of the Bible happened geographically alongside map overlays, tours, photos, and HD video. Timeline-View when the events happened chronologically and visually through a zoomable interface. Topical-Address major life questions through relevant verses on thousands of subjects from leading pastors, scholars and other experts. Media-Browse biblical content by media type, including a huge collection of HD video, virtual tours, articles, photos, art, and more. GLO COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS - Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 operating system with latest service pack installed - Dual core processor - 1GB RAM for Microsoft Windows XP, or 2GB RAM for Vista or Windows 7 - At least 18 GB of free hard disk space - ATI or NVIDIA video graphics card with Microsoft DirectX 9 support


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Psalm 13 is such a psalm. Essentially, it is the cry of one who faces unanswered prayers. This psalm is so short, yet so powerful. It begins with an honest question:
"How long, O Lord?"
It's almost like he couldn't even complete the request. All he could get out was this pleading phrase, "How long?" David is begging God for relief from suffering, from isolation, and from his enemies. This is a very real circumstance. It's not hypothetical. David feels forgotten, abandoned, and alone. So he cries out to God for deliverance.
David faces two forms of attack: mental and physical. In the mental attack he is barraged with feelings of abandonment from God. In the physical attack his enemies threaten to rejoice over his perceived defeat. David faces suffering on all fronts and so he cries out to God for relief.
Have you ever done that? Have you ever, in the quiet corners of your house, screamed this very question "How long, O Lord?" You can almost hear David's pain in the words. And yet, his words imply something deep and profound about God. God is the one who has given him this trial. God is the one who has caused his sorrow. God is the one who has hidden his face, even if only for a moment. And by his very plea, David is showing that he believes that this God has the power to change it all.
Sometimes that is where it is hardest to trust. We believe that God is sovereign. We believe that God can change our circumstance. But by his silence he is showing us that relief is not his plan for us. We can learn a lot from David here. After recounting his trials the psalm takes a dramatic turn towards hope.
And then the most important words appear. Such simple words leads to such an important claim.
"But I have trusted in your steadfast love."
What is David's hope in his despair and longing? It is remembering and trusting in the God who loves him and is always for his good. Notice that David's circumstances have not necessarily changed. God may or may not given him the exact answer he was looking for. Regardless, David responds proactively to his pain and despair. This is the same hope for us.
What do you do when the answer does not come like you hope or relief is a distant dream? Here are two implications from verses 5-6.
- Trust in God and his character. Sometimes we cannot see that he is good and does good for us. Life is hard and painful. It does not always feel good. This is where trust comes in. This is where remembering that God is a good, compassionate, loving, and merciful God is a bedrock of hope for us. We must cling to this when we cannot see the good with our eyes.
- Worship him for all he has done. Even when the answer does not come, or is less than what you hoped for, there are a thousand good blessings he has already bestowed on you in this season. Some you can see. Some you cannot. But they are there and he is worthy of our worship for them.


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2001 Publications
- Systems of the Body: The Musculoskeletal System. Eds: Sambrook PN, Schrieber L, Taylor T and Ellis A. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2001. (ISBN 0-443-07015-6).
Chapters in books
- Ghosh P and Cheras P: Vascular mechanism in osteoarthritis. In: Concepts of Pathology and Emerging Treatments in Rheumatic Diseases. Eds. Brooks P and Breedveld F. [Bailliere's Clin. Rheumat.] Best Pract. Res. Clin. Rheumatol. 15(5) 693-709, 2001. [abstract].
- Ghosh P, Roubin R and Smith MM: Rationale for the use of antler cartilage products and genes obtained from their cells to treat arthritis and repair cartilage defects following joint injury. In: Antler Science and Product Technology. Eds. Sim JS, Sunwoo HH, Hudson RJ and Jeon BT. Antler Science and Product Technology Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, pp 296-313, 2001.
- March L and Lapsley H: What are the costs to society and the potential benefits from the early effective management of early rheumatoid arthritis? Bailliere's Best Pract. Res. Clin. Rheumatol. 15(1): 171-185, 2001. [abstract]
- Melrose J: Cartilage and smooth muscle cell proteoglycans detected by affinity blotting using biotinylated hyaluronan. In: Methods in Molecular Biology: "Proteoglycan Protocols" vol. 171. Ed. Iozzo RV, Humana Press Inc., Totowa, New Jersey, pp. 53-66, 2001.
- Roubin R and Ghosh P: Deer antler cartilage cells express specific growth factors which up-regulate chondrocyte DNA and proteoglycan biosynthesis in vitro. In: Antler Science and Product Technology. Eds. Sim JS, Sunwoo HH, Hudson RJ and Jeon BT. Antler Science and Product Technology Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, pp 151-170, 2001.
- Sambrook PN and Lane N: Glucocorticoid osteoporosis. Best Pract. Res. Clin. Rheumatol. 15(3): 401-413, 2001. [abstract]
- Smith MM and Ghosh P: Experimental models of osteoarthritis. In: Osteoarthritis. Diagnosis and Medical/Surgical Management. Eds. Moskowitz RW, Howell DS, Altman RD, Buckwalter JA and Goldberg VM. Chapter 8, WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia, London, New York, St. Louis, Sydney, Toronto, pp 171-199, 2001.
Short review articles, letters, invited symposia, and solicited articles
- Dunbar MJ, Valdivia GG, Parker DA, Ryd L, Bourne RB and Rorabeck CH: Post-operative patient disposition after knee arthroplasty based on pre-operative WOMAC scores. In: Subjective Outcomes after Knee Arthroplasty. MJ Dunbar (Thesis, Lund, Sweden, 2001) ACTA Orthop. Scand. Suppl. 301(72), 2001.
- Hendrickse AD, Ellis AM and Morris RW: Use of simulation technology in Australian Defence Force resuscitation training. J. R. Army Med. Corps 147: 173-178, 2001. [abstract]
- Parker DA, Rorabeck CH and Bourne RB: Long-term followup of cementless versus hybrid fixation for total knee arthroplasty. Clin. Orthop. 388: 68-76, 2001. [abstract]
- Smith NC, Parker DA and McNicol D: Supracondylar fractures of the femur in children. J. Pediatr. Orthop. 21(5): 600-603, 2001. [abstract]
- Valdivia GG, Dunbar MJ, Parker DA, Woolfrey MR, McCalden RW, Rorabeck CH and Bourne RB: The John Charnley Award: Three dimensional analysis of the cement mantle in total hip arthroplasty. Clin. Orthop. 393: 38-51, 2001. [abstract]
- Zochling JM, Schwarz JM, March L and Sambrook PN: Is osteoporosis undertreated after minimal trauma fracture? Med. J. Aust. 174(12): 663-664, 2001.
Full-length articles in refereed journals
- Adam N and Ghosh P: Hyaluronan molecular weight and polydispersity in some commercial intra-articular injectable preparations and in synovial fluid. Inflamm. Res. 50(6): 294-299, 2001. [abstract]
- Bachmeier CJ, March LM, Cross MJ, Lapsley HM, Tribe KL, Courtenay BG and Brooks PM: A comparison of outcomes in osteoarthritis patients undergoing total hip and knee replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 9(2): 137-146, 2001. [abstract]
- Blyth FM, March LM, Brnabic AJ, Jorm LR, Williamson M and Cousins MJ: Chronic Pain in Australia: A prevalence study. Pain 89(2-3): 127-134, 2001. [abstract]
- Burkhardt D, Hwa S-Y and Ghosh P: A novel microassay for the quantitation of the sulfated glycosaminoglycan content of histological sections: Its application to determine the effects of Diacerhein on cartilage in an ovine model of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 9(3): 238-247, 2001. [abstract]
- Degenhardt M, Ghosh P and Watzig H: Studies on the structural variations of pentosan polysulphate sodium (NaPPS) from different sources by capillary electrophoresis. Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 334(1): 27-29, 2001. [abstract]
- Diamond T, Sambrook PN, Williamson M, Flicker L, Nowson C, Fiatarone-Singh M, Lord S, Ferris L, O'Neill S and MacLennan A: Guidelines for the treatment of osteoporosis in men. Aust. Family Physician 30: 787-791, 2001. [abstract]
- Gallery EDM, Campbell S, Ilkovski B, Sinosich MJ and Jackson C: A novel in vitro co-culture system for the study of maternal decidual endothelial cell-trophoblast interactions in human pregnancy. BJOG 108(6) 651-653, 2001. [abstract]
- Henderson NK, Eisman JA, Keogh A, MacDonald P, Glanville A, Spratt P and Sambrook PN: Protective effect of short term calcitriol or cyclical etidronate on bone loss after cardiac or lung transplantation. J. Bone Miner Res 16(3): 565-571, 2001. [abstract]
- Hunter D, de Lange M, Andrew T, Snieder H, MacGregor A and Spector TD: Genetic variation in bone mineral density (BMD) and calcaneal ultrasound: A study of the influence of menopause using female twins. Osteoporosis Int. 12(5): 406-411, 2001. [abstract]
- Hunter D, de Lange M, Snieder H, MacGregor AJ, Swaminathan R, Thakker RV and Spector TD: Genetic contribution to bone metabolism, calcium excretion and vitamin D and parathyroid hormone regulation. J. Bone Miner. Res. 16(2): 371-378, 2001. [abstract]
- Hwa S-Y, Burkhardt D, Little C and Ghosh P: The effects of orally administered Diacerhein on cartilage and subchondral bone in an ovine model of osteoarthritis. J. Rheumatol. 28: 825-834, 2001. [abstract]
- Jackson C, Nguyen M, Arkell J and Sambrook P: Selective matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition in rheumatoid arthritis - Targetting gelatinase A activation. Inflamm. Res. 50(4): 183-186, 2001. [abstract] [full text]
- Knox S, Melrose J and Whitelock J: Electrophorectic, biosensor, and bioactivity analyses of perlecans of different cellular origins. Proteomics 1(12): 1534-1541, 2001. [abstract] [full text]
- Lapsley HM, March LM, Tribe KL, Cross MJ and Brooks PM: Living with osteoarthritis: Patient expenditures, health status, and social impact. Arthritis Rheum. 45(3): 301-306, 2001. [abstract]
- Lau EMC, Lee JK, Suriwongpaisal P, Saw SM, Das de S, Khir A and Sambrook PN: The incidence of hip fracture in four Asian countries: The Asian Osteoporosis Study (AOS). Osteoporos Int. 12(3): 239-243, 2001. [abstract]
- Lau EMC, Suriwongpaisal P, Lee JK, Das de S, Festin MR, Saw SM, Khir A, Torralba T, Sham A and Sambrook PN: Risk factors for hip fracture in Asian men and women: The Asian Osteoporosis Study. J. Bone Miner. Res.16(3): 572-580, 2001. [abstract]
- Laurent R: Soft tissue rheumatism. Medicine Today 2(2): 44-55, 2001.
- Laurent R: Soft tissue rheumatism II. Medicine Today 2(3): 42-52, 2001.
- Melrose J, Ghosh P and Taylor TKF: A comparative analysis of the differential spatial and temporal distributions of the large (aggrecan, versican) and small (decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin) proteoglycans of the intervertebral disc. J. Anat. 198 (pt 1): 3-15, 2001. [abstract]
- Melrose J, Shen B and Ghosh P: Affinity and Western blotting reveal homologies between ovine intervertebral disc serine proteinase inhibitory proteins and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. Proteomics 1(12): 1529-1533, 2001. [abstract] [full text]
- Melrose J, Smith S, Ghosh P and Taylor TKF: Differential expression of proteoglycan epitopes and growth characteristics of intervertebral disc cells grown in alginate bead culture. An immunohistochemical study. Cells Tissues Organs 168(3): 137-146, 2001. [abstract] [full text]
- Nguyen M, Arkell J and Jackson C: Endothelial cells and gelatinases. Int. J. Cell Biol. Biochem. 32: 621-631, 2001.
- Nguyen TV, Center JR, Sambrook PN and Eisman JA: Risk factors for proximal humerus, forearm, and wrist fractures in elderly men and women: The Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study. Am J. Epidemiol. 153(6): 587-595, 2001. [abstract] [full text]
- Pattison ST, Melrose J, Ghosh P and Taylor TKF: Regulation of galatinase-A (MMP-2) production by ovine intervertebral nucleus pulposus cells grown in alginate bead culture by transforming growth factor-b 1 and insulin like growth factor-I. Cell Biol. Int. 25(7): 679-689, 2001. [abstract]
- Sambrook PN: Therapy and prophylaxis of corticosteroid induced osteoporosis. Z. Rheumatol. 2001 60(2):120-122, 2001. [full text]
- Sambrook PN, Diamond T, Ferris L, Fiatarone-Singh M, Flicker L, MacLennan A, Nowson C, O'Neill S and Greville H: Corticosteroid induced osteoporosis - guidelines for treatment. Aust. Fam. Physician 30(8): 793-796, 2001. [abstract]
- Sambrook PN, Raj A, Hunter D, Naganathan V, Mason R and Robinson B: Osteoporosis with low dose corticosteroids: Contribution of underlying disease effects and discriminatory ability of ultrasound versus bone densitometry. J. Rheumatol. 28(5): 1063-1067, 2001. [abstract]
Refereed full-length conference papers
- Hwa S, Smith M, Burkhardt D and Ghosh P: Oestrogen depletion provokes significant vascular and matrix changes in the calcified cartilage and subchondral bone of the femoral-tibial joints of aged ewes. Trans. Orthop. Res. Soc. 47th Annual Meeting, p0373, 2001.
- Melrose J, Smith S, Little C, Kitson J, Hwa S-Y and Ghosh P: Repair of annular disc lesions: Spatial and temporal localisation of TGF-beta, sPARC (osteonectin, BM-40), and FGF-2 are early responses in experimentally injured ovine discs. Trans. Orthop. Res. Soc. 47th Annual Meeting p0896, 2001.


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Pierce Brosnan will star in Terry Loan's film adaptation of Stuart Neville's revenge thriller novel "The Twelve" at Ealing Metro.
The story follows a former IRA hitman who, released from prison after serving twenty years for murder, is haunted by the memory of his victims.
He can find no peace until he takes revenge on their behalf. CBS late-night talk show host Craig Ferguson co-wrote the script with Ted Mulkerin.
Ferguson, Steve Clark-Hall, Beau St. Clair, Rebecca Tucker and Jonathan Loughran will produce with filming to begin later this year.
Source: THR


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This week Rocky from rockyourbest.com joins Sydney in the kitchen. They mix up two delicious salads based on their top five favorite ingredients! It's a great way to add some fun into making a tasty meal!
Did someone say tacos?
I have an affinity for Mexican food. It can get heavy or as Chrissy Teigen (John Legend's beautiful and hysterical wife) says, " bloaty mcbloatstown." But man oh man is it good. I like to keep it simple and quick in the kitchen. I am not the girl that likes to patiently stir the risotto but I do appreciate a good home cooked meal so I get creative. I was craving homemade tacos because this hilarious photo kept frequenting my Facebook newsfeed last week.
Guess what? YOU can have both!
Kale Tacos!
Here's what you need
1) Touch of olive oil, salt, pepper, and turmeric
2) Two handfuls of kale and mushrooms
3) 1/2 can of organic black beans
4) Corn tortillas
5) Beet hummus from Trader Joe's or slice some beets up
Cooking time (I so desperately just wanted to write HAMMER TIME)
1) In a pan combine olive oil, salt, pepper, turmeric, kale, mushrooms, and black beans. Sautéed on medium until done. I found it was between 5-7 minutes
2) Heat corn tortillas and spread beet hummus all over one side of them.
3) Place kale combination on top of the beet hummus or corn tortilla and voila it's time to EAT!
They left me feeling like this...
Vegan Gluten Free Hearts (ankle update too)!
I made some no bake vegan gluten free hearts but before we get to the treats...
Over the past two weeks my day to day has changed immensely. What I was able to do two weeks ago is not as seamless or feasible today. So what happened? In gearing up for LA FIT EXPO it was an intense month. I was non-stop teaching, prepping, on calls, filming, and running all over town getting all the last minute to-do's completed. I love the challenge and secretly I kind of love the chaos. I'll admit I love being busy and working towards something for the greater good. I was so excited and nervous and really looking forward to teaching. My energy level was at an all time high and if you know me you know I am literally the energizer bunny. Right before the doors were going to open for my first FLIGHT event of the evening, I tripped off a step and landed directly on my ankle. Oh me oh my! Everyone ran over and I had ten beautiful faces looking at me saying, "What do you want to do? Do you want to go to the hospital?" Now keep in mind I knew I needed to go to the emergency room, but with the help of my team, I knew the ONLY option was to try and teach. I could not walk, not a chance, so I knew my assistants Nicole and Jonathan (love you guys) would have to step up and help me. And boy did they! We did it! We got through one event and then in Savasana tears started rolling down my face and I knew it was time to head to the hospital.
Here is a photo of myself, Nicole, and Jonathan rehearsing in the 5 minutes we had while everyone was setting up and arriving.
Yes that is my little foot wrapped in ice.
I'll admit I am in pain. I am a tough cookie so I don't usually like to share all of that but the truth is that it hurts, real bad. To quote my dear mother, "Honey you don't walk you waddle." I have the most amazing mom, family, friends, and just all around support system that has been helping me tremendously and I could not do it without them. Love on the ones you love real hard because the truth is that we all need eachother and you don't know what the next minute will bring, so hold them tight, and cherish them. Oh and I also have a knee wheeler thanks to my sister so it makes for a great conversation piece and brings me a lot of laughs.
Now how does all of this relate to treats? I have been writing a lot of articles lately that will be published soon so I will keep my BF's in the loop but in doing so I have been looking up recipes. Now I love simple foods. I like throwing things in a bowl stirring it up and bam it's done and nutritious and delicious too. I also am more of a savory gal than one with a sweet tooth. But I have been interested in making my own version of the little energy bites. So since I have some added time at the moment I am trying some new things out in my kitchen. And I gotta tell you these are a winner! Throw these ingredients in your blender all together and enjoy! By the way, it won't take you more than 5 minutes.
1 cup of gluten free flour or almond flour (grind up your own if you are feeling adventurous).
1/4 cup of almond butter
1 tbsp. of agave (vegan) or honey
3 tbsp. of dairy free chocolate chips
3 1/2 tbsp. cacao powder (vegan) or cocoa
1 tsp. pure vanilla
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup of pitted dates
Pinch of baking soda
I hope you love them as much as I do! Take a photo and Instagram yours with hashtag #bennerfit and #bennerfiteats
Cacao Superfood Smoothie with Amy Castle
Foodie and fellow YouTuber Amy Castle had been taking classes from Sydney on and off for some time. One day the two got to talking about their love of food, fitness and sharing their respective passions online. So after meeting up over the deliciousness of Sun Cafe (a Benner Fit favorite) the two joined forces to recreate their favorite smoothie of all!
Spicy Pumpkin Smoothie
We are half way through the November Thankfully Fit Benner Fit Challenge! This week, we are going a bit off calendar and bringing you a pumpkin smoothie treat - and this one is full of spice!
Let us know how your Thankfully Fit Challenge is going! We love hearing from you!
Inspired by Wellness Nutrition Concepts' smoothie
¾ cup puréed pumpkin
1 cup unsweetened milk (whatever kind of milk you please - we used almond)
1/2 banana
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
⅛- ¼ teaspoon grated fresh ginger (to your liking)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Splash of maple syrup (or any preferred sweetener)
3 ice cubes (as many as desired)
Grate that ginger, blend all your ingredients up, pour and sip!!
Recipe for the New Year!
It's Rosh Hashanah!
Are some of you confused already? It's the Jewish New Year!
Glad we are all on the same page now.
The symbolic foods for this holiday are apples dipped in honey to represent the start of a sweet new year.
Today we are making Charoset! Mmm mmm good...
Charoset is traditionally a Passover recipe but it's a favorite of mine and I couldn't help making it early.
I want you all to give it a try and enjoy!
It takes 20 minutes max!
3 large apples peeled, chopped, and cored into tiny pieces. I personally love organic Fuji apples or red delicious.
1/2 cup of finely chopped walnuts
1 & 3/4 teaspoons of honey or agave
1/2 teaspoon of white sugar
1/4 cup or less of a sweet red wine. I enjoy a nice Pinot Noir. If alcohol isn't your thing you can also use grape or apple juice.
Add a touch of cinnamon on top to give it a little flair.
You can plate some fresh spinach and add the Charoset on top for a sweet and scrumptious lunch.
Side note: I'm eating it as I'm typing this to all of you. :)
Our uLive Show Launch!
Well! It has been a bit crazy bananas over here in Benner Fit land in the very best of ways. Sydney and I have been working hard over the last few weeks on her latest fitness venture FLIGHT and it premiered this weekend! We couldn't have been happier with the way it went down and are so very grateful for all of you who were able to make it out for the big day. And for all of you who have been supportive of what we are doing - THANK YOU! We heart you big time. More of that to be blogged about soon enough.
Amidst the madness of prepping for Flight a few other AMAZING things happened. Like the fact that our first ever web show with the Scripps Network site uLive launched! Um... holy moly. About a year ago Sydney and I starting going through ideas for a show that would be featured on uLive, and ultimately it turned into a summertime fun-time extravaganza. We are so happy with how it turned out. The amazing folks over at Watch It Now did fantastic job with the day of shoot and editing. The whole crew was wonderful and the shoot was a blast!
We made a little video about our excitement of the show launch:
We took a little breather after the Flight class Saturday, so we don't have a new circuit for you this week - but check out all of the BennerFit fun over on uLive to hold you over until next Monday - ulive.com/bennerfit.
The "Benner Fits" of an Elimination Diet (with guest blogger April Norris!)
Guest blogger April Norris has joined us once again today on Benner Fit to discuss her experiences with elimination dieting! So excited to have her share! Remember, as with all diets please proceed at your own risk and pace yourself accordingly should you follow her plan.
Tofu, egg whites, granola, whey protein, edamame, Greek yogurt… You might not realize it, but the so-called "health foods" you've been eating daily are potentially sabotaging your health. If you're already a clean eater, as I'm sure many Benner-fitters are, this concept might be hard to wrap your head around. But trust me, the following information can significantly improve your life.
The current buzzword in holistic nutrition and integrative medicine is "inflammation", and for very good reason. Research is finding that inflammation is the underlying cause of virtually all the chronic diseases we have in current society²: diabetes, high blood pressure, allergies, obesity, arthritis, high cholesterol, cancer, heart disease, asthma… to name a few. In 2012, the Center for Disease Control reported virtually half of all Americans (117 million) had at least one chronic disease¹, and that number is expected to grow. Under normal circumstances, inflammation is a healthy immune response, in which your body protects your tissues in times of trauma or infection. But when an inflammation persists for a long period of time, the chronic conditions listed above can develop, thus crippling our society and medical system.
Do you or someone you know struggle with allergies, constipation, bloating or gas? How about that slow, confused, hazy feeling known as "brain fog"? Are you suffering from acne, uncontrollable mood swings, PMS or migraines? These are just a few symptoms that numerous people struggle with, which can be caused by inflammation and the foods we consume. And I'm not just talking specifically junk foods, or processed food. Your body can develop sensitivities to even the healthiest of foods, often those you eat daily.
Before I get any further into an elimination diet, and how it could help you, let me take a moment to tell you my journey and how I came to be a Certified Holistic Health Consultant. I was first introduced to the world of food sensitivities about 2-1/2 years ago, when my son, who was 6 months old at the time, began developing severe bronchitis, pneumonia and sinus infections. We saw a slew of pediatric specialists, all diagnosing him with different conditions: asthma, "chronic cough", allergies, even probable eosinophilic esophagitis (Google it). After my son had a few invasive procedures done, and all results came back normal, I intrinsically knew something else could be done. There HAD to be another way instead of pumping him full of medications every day. I found a Naturopathic Doctor, and she told us to eliminate every ounce of gluten, dairy, and soy from his diet. Within two months, he was off all steroids, antibiotics, and blossomed into an exceptionally vibrant, rambunctious 2-year old! As the rest of the family went gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free by default, we all started noticing dramatic improvements in our health: my daughter's chronic eczema and ADHD behaviors dramatically improved, my IBS symptoms disappeared and that stubborn baby weight finally came off, and my husband's itchy legs and chronic knee pain vanished! I personally saw and experienced that food CAN and SHOULD be used as medicine. Our bodies have an innate ability to heal itself when given the proper nutrients. That is why I am so passionate about sharing my knowledge with the world and all you fabulous Benner-fitters.
So what happens when you eat a food that causes inflammation? A little bit of anatomy is involved here, so bear with me. Imagine for a moment, the most ideal intestinal lining is like a crocheted blanket, with the yarn tightly woven together. But, when we eat a food we are sensitive to, the "yarns" of that gut lining develop microscopic holes as they become inflamed. These food molecules squeeze through those holes in your intestine and wiggle out into the blood stream. Perhaps some of you have heard the term "leaky gut", and this is where the idea originates. These food particles "leak" out into the bloodstream and your immune system starts attacking these food particles like they would a virus or bacteria. Your white blood cells are on overdrive and the inflammatory response of your body ramps up in order to protect your tissues. Your body doesn't react the same with a food sensitivity as an anaphylactic reaction. To my clients, I describe a food sensitivity reaction like water torture… a very slow and steady trickle of low-grade inflammation. BUT it's enough to lower your immune system, increase your cortisol levels (because the body becomes stressed by fighting these "food invaders"), and starts to cause symptoms like migraines, joint pain, bloating, IBS, acne, eczema, you name it. When we remove these inflammatory foods, we can let the body heal and find out easier what is causing our symptoms. So instead of treating the symptoms, we find out the root cause, which is more often than not, food related.
When we do an elimination diet we cut out wheat/gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and eggs. These foods are over consumed in the American diet and are present in a majority of processed foods. Our bodies have lost the ability to properly digest and assimilate them, so they end up causing irritation in the gut lining, which leads to these health issues we've discussed earlier. So by eliminating these foods that are difficult for the body to process and cause reactions, we allow the intestines to rest, regenerate, and renew the protective gut-lining, that is so critical to our overall health.
Usually, elimination diets should last anywhere from 7 to 21 days. The longer, the better, obviously, as it allows the number of antibodies to diminish and for your body to eliminate them through your organs. (We've also heard the old adage that it takes 21 days to form a new habit – time to start some new habits, peeps.) Now, I'm sure this elimination diet lingo sounds a bit overwhelming. "So what CAN I eat?!?", many of my clients ask. I want you to focus on the foods that will nourish, replenish and rebuild your body. Don't stew about what you're depriving yourself of, or all the things you're missing out on. Keep in mind that every single bite of food is sending informational messages to your cells. Give it good information so it can perform at optimal levels. This is a time to honor your body and discover how your body can heal itself.
- DO eat clean proteins (organic, hormone-free, grass-fed, lean beef, chicken, wild caught shellfish and wild-caught fish that's low in mercury, legumes, raw nuts and seeds.)
- DO eat as many vegetables as you desire! The fiber and water content will assist in ushering out the toxins from the processed junk and/or inflammatory foods.
- DO embrace healthy fats like nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocados, ghee (clarified butter, non-dairy), coconut oil, flax and walnut oil.
- DO get creative and find or make easy, nourishing snacks like seaweed, kale chips, apple chips, and protein balls.
- DO eat gluten-free grains like quinoa, rice and millet. Oats have to have a gluten-free label because they usually become cross-contaminated on the equipment.
After 7-21 days of eating whole, unprocessed, wheat/gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and egg-free meals, you want to slowly reintroduce these foods, individually. For example, let's pick dairy. You would eat some yogurt for breakfast, some shredded cheese on your salad, and some real butter on your vegetables at dinner. Monitor your symptoms throughout the day, and perhaps the next day if you are questioning the results. (Food sensitivities sometimes have delayed reactions, up to 24-48 hours after ingestion4.) Obviously, if you feel an immediate reaction to a food, then don't continue eating more of it that day. Your body is your best teacher. It might be telling you "I don't like yogurt! And to show you, I'll give you a migraine!" - listen. If you go through 2 days and don't feel any symptoms to a food, then add another single food, possibly eggs next. Continue doing this until you've tested all the usual suspects, and have drawn conclusions about what nourishes and builds your body, or what depletes and tears your body down.
As you reintroduce foods, a food diary is an essential component. This will help you become aware of the subtle physical and emotional changes that may occur after eating a specific food. Be on the lookout for fatigue, rashes, congestion, insomnia, bloating, itchy eyes, moodiness, increased stress, and trouble concentrating/brain fog. These are some of the more understated symptoms that you don't often notice until they accumulate over time. Jot down a few sentences in your journal each time before you eat, and again after you eat. Although a food journal seems bothersome and mundane, this will be the greatest gift you can give yourself. You are experimenting with your body, and as any great scientist will tell you, you need good research notes.
Ultimately, the key to making any elimination diet successful, is to prepare. Go shopping, chop up veggies, have your recipes ready to go, make meals in advance and freeze them so you're not reaching for something you shouldn't…
Changing the way I ate and cooked for my family 3 years ago was undeniably intimidating. I hated to cook and dreaded being in the kitchen, but I had a sick baby and was prepared to do ANYTHING to get him healthy. Now, almost 3 years later, I actually enjoy experimenting with recipes, discovering various ways to make veggies taste good, and sharing my knowledge with my clients. I hope you'll give an elimination diet a try… eat better, feel better, think better, live better.
Resources: 1. "Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 09 May 2014. Web. 16 July 2014. 2. Daniluk, Julie. Slimming Meals That Heal: Lose Weight without Dieting, Using Anti-inflammatory Superfoods. United States: Hay House, 2014. Print. 3. Drake, Victoria, Ph.D. "Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health." Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Oregon State University, 2007. Web. 16 July 2014. 4. "Food Allergies and Sensitivities: General Information from UNL Food Allergy Team." Food Allergies and Sensitivities: General Information from UNL Food Allergy. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, n.d. Web. 16 July 2014.
April Norris is a board Certified Holistic Health Consultant (AADP), Certified Pilates Instructor (BASI), hot yoga enthusiast, artist, and devoted student of natural health. April is passionate about helping clients eliminate food sensitivities and optimizing digestion in order to lead a life full of vitality. She provides workshops, teleclasses, seasonal detoxes, small group and individual nutrition counseling. Look her up on www.optimalvitalitywellness.com, follow April on Facebook at Optimal Vitality, Twitter at @optvitality, or Instagram @optimalvitalitywellness.
If you need additional help with an elimination diet, April offers a 15-day seasonal detox, or elimination diet plan. This is an easy, online program, done in the comfort of your own home. She will guide you step-by-step through this process, to help you find foods which your body will rejoice and provide you with boundless energy. April offers over 75 recipes, made from fresh, seasonal foods, a shopping list, and self-care tools designed to help you reconnect with your body and become more in-tune with what it needs.
Vegan Cheese Recipe by April Norris
Pear Berry Mimosa
Merry Christmas Eve Day to all!! We wanted to make our own healthy-ish holiday cocktail this year and we came up with the Pear Berry Mimosa! It's as easy as 1-2-3! But seriously... there are only three ingredients...
Pear Nectar Juice Prosecco Cranberries... which we found out should only be for decor. Or maybe frozen... so that they are tasty.
Throw cranberries into a festive glass for garnish and decor.
For a sweeter option add:
1/2 Prosecco 1/2 Pear Nectar Juice
For a drier palette go with:
3/4 Prosecco 1/4 Pear Nectar Juice


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By Jalal Alavi
In his September 4 commentary titled Who Wants Cold War II? [1], Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister, proposes a new world order in which the United States and Russia can be strategic partners. This, according to Ben-Ami, would be a necessary step towards a more stable Pax Americana, for the political message conveyed by Russia's recent occupation of Georgia reflects its new status as a resurgent power the United States can no longer afford to ignore. Of course, Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, must have been thinking along these same lines, when his Wall Street Journal article of August 20 [2] suggested that a partnership between the United States and Russia would be possible on the basis of "reciprocity" and thus mutual recognition of the two countries' national interests. Value judgments surrounding the nature of the above proposals notwithstanding [3], the idea that the United States and Russia can somehow steer clear of a second Cold War by forging a post-Cold War strategic partnership is worthy of critical consideration, not least because it takes for granted what actually needs be explained and thus carefully appraised, that is, the prospects for a lasting strategic partnership between the US and Russia as a basis for a new world order.
To begin, a close reading of Ben-Ami's commentary would reveal his general concept of world order, which, unlike Sergey Lavrov's, sees the post-Cold War global hegemony of the United States as not only benign for the world but also in need of urgent attention due to years of mishandling by an incompetent Bush administration. Ben-Ami's concern, therefore, for the maintenance and thus preservation of the Pax Americana that emerged in the wake of the Cold War (or rather World War II) is not only grounded on a peculiar notion of integration which sees Russia as merely a junior partner, but also rooted in the mentality that the Middle East must forever remain a US sphere of influence; hence his fear of a resurgent Russia (and an emerging China perhaps) attempting to sideline the hitherto "sole global actor", the United States, in that strategic region. Clearly, then, a strategic partnership between the US and Russia would not be forgeable on the basis of the above concern, just as it was impossible to forge prior to the advent of the first Cold War.
Viewed from an economic perspective, the prospects for a strategic partnership between the US and Russia would seem even more remote, not least due to such historical differences as arise from the two countries' hitherto development trajectories. What is more, the combination of Russia's statist economy, which relies heavily on the country's oil and gas sectors, and the US domination of world economic institutions (e.g., the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization) can hardly be a formula for success when it comes to such strategic partnerships as those proposed by Ben-Ami and Lavrov. Russia's financial crisis of 1998, which was a direct outcome of years of post-Soviet neoliberal restructuring, is a good case in point here. It followed the Asian financial crisis of 1997, itself a product of rampant liberalization policies and practices encouraged by the IMF and implemented by the governments involved.
It is in the context of the above, therefore, that any NATO expansion to the east and US encirclement of Russia must be viewed, as these are merely the effects of a more grand imperial design on the part of the neoliberal foreign policy establishment in the United States. In other words, any serious appraisal of the potential for a strategic partnership between the US and Russia must first and foremost deal with the underlying aspects of such a potentiality rather than with what merely appears on the surface. Though idealism, defined here as the need for the realization of a more humane world order, must enjoy a privileged position in our thoughts and actions worldwide, the struggle for a more equitable world order cannot solely rely on such idealism, as Mikhail Gorbachev had to learn the hard way, when his 1988 vision of a new world order eventually led him to take part in George H. W. Bush's war on Iraq, which laid the foundation for what later became the "war on terror".
Alas, the specter of a second Cold War is haunting the entire planet as the United States and Russia strive hard to regain their lost privileges and pride in the world (their latest spat over Iran's controversial nuclear program is a good case in point here). While Ben-Ami is right in blaming the United States for Russia's renewed interest in power politics, he is deficient in his analysis of the underlying causes, which incidentally relate to the current economic situation in the US and beyond. As for the countries of the South, it seems, short of a democratic overhaul of their entire political as well as economic systems, which can potentially enable them to address issues of long-term growth, stability, and security, they will have to continue to suffer as a result of the renewed rivalry between the United States and Russia, as was the case during the first Cold War. Let us hope, then, that the specter of a second Cold War (or a third World War, for that matter) can be eliminated through the sort of wisdom and human agency that can foster a more humane world economy.
[1] Daily Star
[3] For example, in his Counterpunch commentary of September 11, Noam Chomsky has rushed to the conclusion that Ben-Ami's abovementioned proposal is not only "sane advice" but also somewhat comparable to that put forward by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1988, which is hardly the case.
About the author: Jalal Alavi is a sociologist and political commentator residing in Britain.
... Payvand News - 10/02/08 ... --


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Amrood Pudina Ki Chutney -A tangy dip made with guava and mint
Guava or amrood is a very popular fruit in Most of the Asian countries .It is available in most of the seasons. Guava is very easily available and a reasonably priced fruit in India. It is not only eaten as a fruit but to many dishes ,curries, Jam ,jellies ,candies etc. can also be made with Guava.
Though it is low cost fruit but is packed with many nutrients.It is very good to help lowering High blood pressure as it contains same quantity of potassium as compared to bananas.It is Very good for heart health. Rich is Vitamin C and loaded with antioxidants. Also contains Folate which helps to promote fertility. It boost the immunity and is a diabetic friendly fruit. It is a very good source of fiber so treats constipation.
Last week I brought some guavas and some are still lying in my kitchen so tried this mint guava chutney which turns out really delicious. As summers have started and it is very good to consume mint during summers so do try to use mint in your diet – I often make chutnies with mint- kiwi mint chutney, Green mint chutney, Aam ka panna , A very healthy and delicious Fruit and Nut Chutney
Amrood ki Chutney
- 1 Guava /amrood
- 1 cup Fresh Mint / Hara Pudina tightly packed
- 1 cup Fresh Coriander / Cilantro / Hara Dhaniya tightly packed
- 1 tbsp Green Chillies / Hari Mirch chopped
- 1/4 tsp Black Salt / Kala Namak
- 1/3 tsp Roasted Cumin Powder / Jeera Powder
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice / Nimbu Ka Ras
- Pinch of Asafoetida / Hing powder
- To taste Salt / Namak
- Wash mint and coriander with enough water and chop roughly.
- Remove the hard seeds from guava and chop into small pieces.
- Add all the ingredients in the mixer jar and then add about 3-4 tbsp of water.
- Grind to make a smooth paste.
- Check the seasoning and then remove from the mixer jar.
- Stays well in the refrigerator for about a week.
- Serve with any snack or as a side dish with your meal.


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Top Home Inspectors Miami Homestead
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Top home inspector Miami Homestead
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Wine Into Vinegar: New Zealand Surplus Inspires InnovationFood Lovers, New Zealand — By David Chalk on May 24, 2010 at 7:45 am
For the past two years, oversupply has forced New Zealand's wine industry to dump unprecedented amounts of cheap bulk wine on to the international market. AvoHealth, a new Tauranga food company, believes it's found a better use for the excess vino. Not the first to produce a white balsamic vinegar, AvoHealth prides itself on creating the world's first white balsamic made from sauvignon blanc and extra virgin avocado oil.
Extra virgin avocado oil is the company's bread and butter (avocado is the "Avo" in AvoHealth). The company's website proclaims the oil is "a great tasting, natural, health food, used in exactly the same way, as the highest quality olive oils." Balsamic Split, AvoHealth's new hybrid salad dressing, is just one of a line of healthy avocado products the company plans to launch in Europe.
Here's the company's white balsamic sales pitch:
… made with famous New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Marlborough … blended with Extra Virgin Avocado Oil. Promoting classic balsamic tones, this dressing sets a new standard for great tasting salads. This product is an absolute winner because it starts with just two natural ingredients; avocado and white grapes. Most importantly there is NO water. In most (competitor) balsamic dressings, water is the main ingredient.
New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said that while AvoHealth's salad dressing was unlikely to have much of an impact on the country's wine surplus woes, it was certainly an example of the "considerable product innovation" inspired by the surplus. Another example was sparkling sauvignon blanc, which was recently popular.
[Image: AvoHealth]


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MSGPORT(9) DragonFly Kernel Developer's Manual MSGPORT(9)
NAMElwkt_initport_thread, lwkt_initport_spin, lwkt_initport_serialize, lwkt_initport_panic, lwkt_initport_replyonly_null, lwkt_initport_replyonly, lwkt_initport_putonly, lwkt_sendmsg, lwkt_domsg, lwkt_forwardmsg, lwkt_abortmsg, lwkt_initmsg, lwkt_initmsg_abortable, lwkt_beginmsg, lwkt_replymsg, lwkt_getport, lwkt_waitport, lwkt_waitmsg, lwkt_checkmsg, lwkt_dropmsg -- LWKT message passing interface
SYNOPSIS#include <sys/msgport.h> void lwkt_initport_thread(lwkt_port_t port, struct thread *td); void lwkt_initport_spin(lwkt_port_t port, struct thread *td, boolean_t fixed_cpuid); void lwkt_initport_serialize(lwkt_port_t port, struct lwkt_serialize *slz); void lwkt_initport_panic(lwkt_port_t port); void lwkt_initport_replyonly_null(lwkt_port_t port); void lwkt_initport_replyonly(lwkt_port_t port, void (*rportfn)(lwkt_port_t, lwkt_msg_t)); void lwkt_initport_putonly(lwkt_port_t port, int (*pportfn)(lwkt_port_t, lwkt_msg_t)); void lwkt_sendmsg(lwkt_port_t port, lwkt_msg_t msg); int lwkt_domsg(lwkt_port_t port, lwkt_msg_t msg, int flags); int lwkt_forwardmsg(lwkt_port_t port, lwkt_msg_t msg); void lwkt_abortmsg(lwkt_msg_t msg); #include <sys/msgport2.h> void lwkt_initmsg(lwkt_msg_t msg, lwkt_port_t rport, int flags); void lwkt_initmsg_abortable(lwkt_msg_t msg, lwkt_port_t rport, int flags, void (*abortfn)(lwkt_msg_t)); int lwkt_beginmsg(lwkt_port_t port, lwkt_msg_t msg); void lwkt_replymsg(lwkt_msg_t msg, int error); void * lwkt_getport(lwkt_port_t port); void * lwkt_waitport(lwkt_port_t port, int flags); int lwkt_waitmsg(lwkt_msg_t msg, int flags); int lwkt_checkmsg(lwkt_msg_t msg); int lwkt_dropmsg(lwkt_msg_t msg);
DESCRIPTIONLight weight kernel threads in DragonFly may use a message passing inter- face to communicate with each other. Messages are sent to message ports. All light weight kernel threads have a built-in message port, but you may create additional ports if necessary. The following types of message ports are available: * thread ports * spin ports * serializer ports Ports of type `thread' are owned by a single light weight kernel thread. When a message is sent to a port of type `thread', only the owner of that port is allowed to retrieve the message from it. When a message is sent to a port of type `spin' or to a port of type `serializer', multiple threads are allowed to check that port for new messages and compete to retrieve them. You define the port type when you initialize the port. By default, the built-in port of every light weight kernel thread is automatically initialized to type `thread'. When a message is sent, the receiver should normally send back a reply. The reply is sent to the reply port that is registered on the original message. Messages can be replied to synchronously or asynchronously. The sender may request a synchronous or asynchronous reply to the mes- sage, however the target port will ultimately decide how the message will be treated.
MESSAGE FUNCTIONSMessages must be initialized before being used. The lwkt_initmsg() func- tion initializes a message. The rport argument identifies the reply port which will be used for asynchronous replies. The flags argument sets any required flags for this message. Flags passed this way will simply be or'ed to any already existing flags on the message. The lwkt_initmsg_abortable() function is similar to lwkt_initmsg() but it takes an additional parameter abortfn which defines the abort function for this message. The lwkt_sendmsg() function requests an asynchronous reply, sends the message and returns immediately. Under normal circumstances, users of this function may always expect the reply to be queued to the reply port registered on the message. The port argument defines the target port to which the msg message will be sent. The lwkt_domsg() function requests a synchronous reply, sends the message and does not return until the message has been replied to. If the target port supports synchronous reply, this function will return that reply immediately. If not, and this is the most common case, this function will block and wait for the reply to arrive and then return it. The port argument defines the target port to which the msg message will be sent. The lwkt_replymsg() function replies to a message that was processed asynchronously by the target port. This function is used by the thread on the receiving side. The msg argument is the message being replied to and the error argument is the actual response to send back. The lwkt_forwardmsg() simply forwards a message to another port. The port argument defines the target port to which the msg message will be sent. If a message has been initialized as abortable, you can use the lwkt_abortmsg() function to try to abort it. The abortfn passed upon the initialisation with lwkt_initmsg_abortable() will be called by this func- tion. The lwkt_dropmsg() will dequeue the specified message from the target port it was sent to and makes it look like it was never sent. This func- tion can only be used by the thread that owns the target port.
PORT FUNCTIONSThe lwkt_initport_thread() initializes the specified port with the default `thread' port type handlers. The td argument defines the owner thread of the port and only that thread is allowed to receive messages on it. The lwkt_initport_spin() initializes the specified port with the default `spin' port type handlers. The td argument defines the owner thread of the port, for cases where thread built-in ports are initialized as `spin' ports. If NULL is passed, then the port will not have a defined owner, so functions like lwkt_dropmsg() will not be available for this port. If we know that this `spin' port is accessed exclusively by threads on a single CPU, we can set the fixed_cpuid argument to true, which will pre- vent the occurrence of unnecessary IPIs trying to wake up threads on other CPUs. This function will also initialize the embedded spinlock within the lwkt_port structure which will protect subsequent port access. The lwkt_initport_serialize() function initializes the specified port with the default `serializer' port type handlers. The subsequent port access will be protected by the passed slz serializer lock. The lwkt_getport() function checks the specified port for available mes- sages, dequeues the first one and returns it. If no messages are avail- able then NULL is returned instead. This function is used by threads on the receiving side. The lwkt_waitport() function checks the specified port for available mes- sages, dequeues the first one and returns it. If no messages are avail- able then the caller thread will sleep until a message arrives on the specified port. The flags argument defines the flags used for the sleep. This function is used by threads on the receiving side.
SPECIAL PORT INITIALIZERSThe lwkt_initport_replyonly() function initializes a port which is used only as reply port and may have a custom reply port handler. The reply port handler is specified with the rportfn argument. All the other han- dlers will panic the system if they are called. This initializer is nor- mally used on ports for freeing resources after the messages have ful- filled their purpose. The lwkt_initport_replyonly_null() function initializes a port which is used only as reply port. The reply port handler will simply mark the message as being done and will not attempt to queue it. All the other handlers will panic the system if they are called. The lwkt_initport_putonly() function initializes a port which is used only as target port. The putport handler is specified with the pportfn argument. All the other handlers will panic the system if they are called. The lwkt_initport_panic() function initializes a port which will panic the system if any of its handlers are called. This function is sometimes used to initialize a reply-only port which does not expect the messages to be replied to, e.g. when the messages should be consumed by the receiving thread and never replied back.
INTERNAL MESSAGE FUNCTIONSThe following functions are used only by the infrastructure, you should not need to use them directly unless in very rare cases. The lwkt_beginmsg() function simply calls the target port's putport han- dler. This function is only called by the lwkt_sendmsg() and lwkt_replymsg() functions. The putport handler returns EASYNC for mes- sages processed asynchronously or any other value for messages processed synchronously. That return value of the putport handler is propagated by this function. The port argument defines the target port to which the msg message will be sent. The lwkt_waitmsg() function puts the caller to sleep until the specified msg message has been replied to. The flags argument defines the flags used for the sleep.
IMPLEMENTATION NOTESAll the default putport handlers (used when a message is sent) currently implement asynchronous putports only, i.e. all *_putport() handlers return EASYNC. You can still have synchronous putport handlers (which are run in the sender's context) but you have to implement the function yourself and then override the default. Port handler functions can be overridden with custom functions if required. You can override the default putport handler by either using the lwkt_initport_putonly() initializer, or by manipulating the mp_put- port handler pointer directly on the lwkt_port structure. There is one such case where the putport handler is overridden in sys/net/netisr.c. In that case, the putport handler is overridden to detect a loopback message (when the target port belongs to the sending thread). This special putport handler turns the sent message into a direct function call instead of queueing it to the port. The lwkt_replymsg() function works differently depending on the original message request. If the message was originally an asynchronous request, the reply will be queued to the sender's reply port. If the message was originally a synchronous request, then this function will just write the error response on the message and wake up the waiter without queueing the message to the reply port. There is no need to queue in the synchronous request case because the original sender had blocked waiting on this spe- cific message with lwkt_domsg(). As is the case with putport handler, the replyport handler can also be overridden. You override the default replyport handler by using the lwkt_initport_replyonly() or the lwkt_initport_replyonly_null() port ini- tializers, or by manipulating the mp_replyport handler pointer directly on the lwkt_port structure. The sent message structure is reused for replies. When a message is replied to, the error response is written on the message which is subse- quently sent to the reply port.
FILESThe LWKT msgport implementation resides in sys/kern/lwkt_msgport.c.
EXAMPLES/* * Example 1: per CPU threads. * */ #include <sys/thread.h> #include <sys/msgport.h> #include <sys/msgport2.h> static void my_service_loop(void *dummy); lwkt_port_t my_service_portfn(int cpu); void my_service_sendmsg(lwkt_msg_t lmsg, int cpu); int my_service_domsg(lwkt_msg_t lmsg, int cpu); /* Array of per-CPU target ports */ struct lwkt_port *my_service_ports[MAXCPU]; /* * Create per-cpu threads for handling msg processing. Remember that * built-in lwkt ports are automatically initialized to type 'thread' * so we don't need to initialize them explicitly. */ static void my_per_cpu_service_init(void) { int i; thread_t td; for (i = 0; i < ncpus; ++i) { lwkt_create(my_service_loop, NULL, &td, NULL, 0, i, "myservice_cpu %d", i); my_service_ports[i] = &td->td_msgport; } } /* * This is the routine executed by the service threads on each CPU. */ static void my_service_loop(void *dummy __unused) { lwkt_msg_t msg; thread_t td = curthread; int cpu = curthread->td_gd->gd_cpuid; while ((msg = lwkt_waitport(&td->td_msgport, 0)) != NULL) { /* Do some work in the receiver thread context. */ kprintf("Received message on CPU %d.\n", cpu); /* And finally reply to the message. */ lwkt_replymsg(msg, 0); } } /* * Given a CPU id, return our respective service port. */ __inline lwkt_port_t my_service_portfn(int cpu) { return my_service_ports[cpu]; } /* * Send an asynchronous message to the service thread on a specific CPU. */ void my_service_sendmsg(lwkt_msg_t lmsg, int cpu) { KKASSERT(cpu < ncpus); lwkt_sendmsg(my_service_portfn(cpu), lmsg); } /* * Send a synchronous message to the service thread on a specific CPU. */ int my_service_domsg(lwkt_msg_t lmsg, int cpu) { KKASSERT(cpu < ncpus); return lwkt_domsg(my_service_portfn(cpu), lmsg, 0); } /* * Example use case. Initialize the service threads and send each one a * message. */ static void mod_load(void) { lwkt_msg lmsg; lwkt_port_t builtin_port = &curthread->td_msgport; int i; my_per_cpu_service_init(); for (i=0; i<ncpus; ++i) { kprintf("Sending msg to CPU %d.\n", i); lwkt_initmsg(&lmsg, builtin_port, 0); my_service_domsg(&lmsg, i); } } /* * Example 2: Dynamic allocated message passing with automatic free. * * This scenario is used when resources need to be freed after the * message has been replied to. Features: * - An argument is passed within the message. * - Messages are allocated with kmalloc(). Replying to the message * kfree()s it. */ #include <sys/thread.h> #include <sys/msgport.h> #include <sys/msgport2.h> void my_service_queue(void *arg); lwkt_port my_autofree_rport; lwkt_port_t my_service_port; /* * Use this function to send messages with a void * argument to our * service thread. */ void my_service_queue(void *arg) { lwkt_msg_t msg; msg = kmalloc(sizeof(*msg), M_TEMP, M_WAITOK); /* Set reply port to autofree. */ lwkt_initmsg(msg, &my_autofree_rport, 0); /* Attach the argument to the message. */ msg->u.ms_resultp = arg; /* Send it. */ lwkt_sendmsg(my_service_port, msg); } /* * This is the routine executed by our service thread. */ static void my_service_loop(void *dummy __unused) { lwkt_msg_t msg; thread_t td = curthread; while ((msg = lwkt_waitport(&td->td_msgport, 0)) != NULL) { /* * Do some work in the receiver thread context. In this * example, the sender wrote his name in the argument he * sent us. We print it here. */ char *arg = msg->u.ms_resultp; kprintf("%s: Hi %s! Got your msg.\n", curthread->td_comm, arg); /* And finally reply to the message. */ lwkt_replymsg(msg, 0); } } static void my_autofree_reply(lwkt_port_t port, lwkt_msg_t msg) { kfree(msg->u.ms_resultp, M_TEMP); kfree(msg, M_TEMP); } static void my_service_init(void) { thread_t tdp; /* Initialize our auto free reply port. */ lwkt_initport_replyonly(&my_autofree_rport, my_autofree_reply); /* Create our service thread on CPU 0. */ lwkt_create(my_service_loop, NULL, &tdp, NULL, 0, 0, "myservice"); my_service_port = &tdp->td_msgport; } /* * Example use case. Initialize the service and send the current thread * name to the service thread. */ static void mod_load(void) { void *arg; int len; my_service_init(); len = strlen(curthread->td_comm); arg = kmalloc(len + 1, M_TEMP, M_WAITOK); bcopy(curthread->td_comm, arg, len + 1); kprintf("%s: Sending message.\n", curthread->td_comm); my_service_queue(arg); }
SEE ALSOserializer(9), sleep(9), spinlock(9)
HISTORYThe LWKT msgport interface first appeared in DragonFly 1.0.
AUTHORSThe msgport message passing interface implementation was written by Matthew Dillon. This manual page was written by Nuno Antunes. DragonFly 5.5 July 16, 2014 DragonFly 5.5


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We recently had the pleasure of catching up with another RVC alumna who is making a name for herself in the Rockford community. Haley Galarza is a 2012 graduate of Rock Valley College who was just very recently hired as Executive Coordinator for newly elected Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara.
Please tell us a little about your background and your connection to Rockford.
I am proud to say that I was born and raised in Rockford. I graduated from Rockford Lutheran High School. I have been an advocate for the Rockford area my entire life. Growing up, and especially in high school, many of my peers excitedly spoke about how they were going to move far away from Rockford after graduation. I always knew that I would come back to the 815 after receiving my Bachelor's degree. I feel it's an obligation of mine to aid in helping this city shine.
What made you want to attend Rock Valley College?
After high school, I was unsure of what exactly I wanted to do for a career so I knew that at RVC I would have the proper tools to explore all of my options. In addition, my mom and aunt are RVC graduates and they spoke highly of many of the professors, specifically Professor Dave Ross. Since day one, I was enthusiastic about attending his speech course, and I still reflect on the time I spent in his classroom.
Please talk about your overall RVC experience and also specifically about your experiences in RVC's Mass Communication department.
I always tell people that I wish RVC was a four-year school because I had such a great experience. The culture at RVC is truly welcoming –not once did I feel out of place. Not to mention, I had some of the greatest professors who deeply cared about the well-being of their students.
As for "Mass Comm," it has to be one of my fondest memories at RVC because I met my husband. I remember the professor at the time, Brian Shelton, stating at the beginning of my first course that strong relationships would be made during our time together. Little did I know that I would have met my husband! While taking "Mass Comm" you truly do become a family with the other students. I would highly recommend anyone to take a "Mass Comm" class. Not only do you make long-time friends, but the courses also challenge you academically. It's very rewarding.
Did you continue your education anywhere after RVC? If so, where and what did you study?
Yes. I received my Bachelor's degree in Communication from Governors State University. GSU is about a 45 minute drive from Chicago.
How did the opportunity to work on the mayoral campaign for Tom McNamara come about and what interested you about that opportunity?
I was searching for a new career opportunity, and when I found out that Mr. McNamara was looking for an office manager for his campaign, I reached out to him instantly. Shortly after, an interview was scheduled for the position.
What were your primary responsibilities during the campaign?
As the office manager, I was the front of house for the campaign office. I took all incoming phone calls and greeted Rockford citizens, and volunteers. I did everything for the office that needed to get done – ordering supplies, cleaning, etc. During my time there, I also transitioned more into being Mayor McNamara's assistant by handling his calendar.
What were some of the most important lessons you learned during the campaign?
I'm not a very confident person. Working on the campaign with a group of great individuals truly made me gain confidence.
In addition, I'm one of those people who usually likes to try and do everything themselves. I learned very early on the in the campaign that that was not an option. I had to use all of my resources and ask for assistance on various things daily. I made many great relationships because of this.
Talk about how the opportunity to work full time for the Mayor came about and how did you react?
When I interviewed for the Office Manager position for the campaign, I let Mayor McNamara and his campaign manager know that my goal was to be his assistant if he won the race. I worked extremely hard and devoted many hours to the campaign.
When I found out that I was officially offered the position as Executive Coordinator to the Mayor, I could not help but cry happy tears. It's so fulfilling to see something come out of hard work. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to work with Mayor McNamara.
Describe your new role and responsibilities in the Mayor's office.
My official title is Executive Coordinator to the Mayor. I act as Mayor McNamara's gatekeeper. In a broad sense, it is my responsibility to keep his life in order. I assist him with whatever his needs may be. Saying I love my position is an understatement. Mayor McNamara is the most gracious person I have ever worked for.
Where would you like to see your career go from here?
To be honest, being the Executive Coordinator to the Mayor is one of my dream positions. I'm truly living in the moment. As long as Mayor McNamara is in office, I will be his assistant. I will see where this journey takes me and go from there.
In what ways do you feel RVC prepared you for this career path?
I've always been a hard worker. However, certain courses at RVC, especially "Mass Comm," pushed me to work beyond what I ever thought I had in me. I constantly remind myself to keep pushing, and to keep working extremely hard because it has brought me to some great places in life thus far.
Is there any personal information about yourself you would like people to know about you?
This is going to sound silly, but our dog, Marble, is my sunshine. We think he is a pitbull/lab mix. Ever since rescuing him, I am a strong advocate for pitbulls. If you're a crazy dog person like me, look up #marblethepitbull on Instagram. I'm a little obsessed.


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Jon Stewart dipped into the debate over same-sex marriage again Thursday night, poking fun at the state Senate's decision to solemnize sweet corn as the state vegetable when it could have been doing, well, anything else.
Sen. David Carlucci comes in for rough treatment, although the clip Stewart uses is brutally decontextualized. Talk about adding insult to injury: The freshman senator saw his beloved black-dirt onion lose out to the vegetable/grain, and now he's been lampooned nationwide.
Update: And as a sharp-eyed reader noted, Carlucci is identified as a Republican in the clip — that's adding party misidentification to insult to injury.
Here's Carlucci's response, issued via Twitter:
Big Jon Stewart fan. 100% agree that we need #SSM vote now! However, I'm proud of my work to promote NY Ag products. #MyDailyShowCameo
|The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
|Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
For context, here's Carlucci's full statement on the Senate floor from Tuesday:


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International Integrative Educational Institute
Join us for an excellent interview with K.P. Khalsa on HerbMentor Radio.
Listen to this informative interview as K.P. Khalsa shares great insights into Ayurvedic skin care with interviewer Talya Lutzker.
Learn how to evaluate each client according to the ancient Ayurvedic principle of the doshas.
A short clip from the Ayurvedic Spa Massage Techniques DVD with K.P. Khalsa. This comprehensive DVD shows you how to evaluate each client according to the ancient Ayurvedic principles of the doshas.
The holidays are a lot of fun. Between parties, family gatherings, and cookie exchanges, they can leave you feeling well-fed and loved, but also 20 pounds heavier and exhausted by shopping and socializing. How can you enjoy all of the good things about the holidays and maintain your health and energy?
Don't just settle for the same old humdrum Ayurvedic herbs. There's a lot more where that Ashwaganda came from.
Listen to an interview with K.P. Khalsa by Ann Holaday of Voice America on the topic of Food as Medicine.
The food we eat has a profound effect on energy, sleep, immunity, all bodily functions and on the development of disease. Eating is something we do every day and what we do every day is much more important than what we do once in a while. If we want to achieve optimum health we have to eat food which the body can readily digest and convert into nutrition to nourish the tissues.
Raise your hand if you are feeling a little stressed right now. That's OK, it's not unusual. Today's world is awfully frantic and ill at ease. Many folks, maybe the majority, end up with anxiety that can be on the verge of disabling. If you are feeling a little tense today, it's no surprise.
We live in an uneasy world. The pace of life continues to increase, and our whole civilization becomes more and more agitated. The result? For an awful lot of us, some pretty serious anxiety. Anxiety plays havoc on our bodies and leads to a host of uncomfortable symptoms. But these gut clenching feelings are not the end of the story. Not when we can call upon some truly effective anti-anxiety herbs.
In this free webinar, Ayurvedic Practitioners K.P. Khalsa and Cynthia Copple will teach you about the basics of this ancient and time-honored healing tradition.
K.P. Khalsa gives a demonstration on how to prepare Yogi Tea :-)
An informational presentation by KP Khalsa on the Nutritional Therapy Course offered through Portland Community College. In this video, KP focuses on topics included in the fall term.
This presentation with K.P. Khalsa and fellow therapists describes the symptoms and experiences of Fibromyalgia sufferers, and shows how to use bodywork and various supplements to address the most common symptoms.
KP Khalsa, the lead instructor, presents an overview of the Nutritional Therapy Program.
In this detailed and practical webinar, we will dive deeply into the world of healing oils. You will discover the best oils and a host of powerful herbal oil formulas.
Watch this pre-recorded information session curtesey of Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Bastyr University Continuing Education Department.Listen as Kp Khalsa, one of today's foremost natural healing experts goes into detail about Bastyr University Continuing Education "Online Ayurveda Advisor Program"
Lead instructor KP Khalsa give an overview of the Professional Herbalist Course. This talk was given at Portland Community College (PCC), which is one of the locations where this course is held.
Are you interested in learning the healing properties of plants and herbs? Do you want to learn how to apply natural medicine to help others find health and wellness? Become a registered herbalist and work towards becoming a member of the American Herbalists Guild through training offered by Portland Community College.
Free Intro to Top Ten Essential Chinese Herbs
Herbalist KP Khalsa discuses herbs that can be used for topical pain relief. Herbs discussed include cayenne, St John's wort, and arnica.
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Te akakite nei te Minita o te tangata Pacifica, a Alfred Ngaro, ka akatuera ia nei te epetoma o te reo Maori Kuki Airani a teia Sapati e tu mai nei e na te reira e turama i te Kuki Airani e ngai akatoroia e te au tangata orote.
One of New Zealand's favourite holiday destinations is in the spotlight with Cook Islands Language week celebrations kicking off this Saturday says Minister for Pacific Peoples, Alfred Ngaro.
"The Cook Islands is more than just a beautiful place to visit, it's the home of amazing cultures and languages," says Mr Ngaro.
"Te 'Epetoma o te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani give all kiwis the chance to celebrate those special elements.
"In New Zealand around 62,000 people identify themselves as Cook Islanders; however statistics show less than 13% of New Zealand-born Cook Islanders speak Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani.
"It's a language that needs all of us to do our part in keeping it alive, even if it's just learning a few phrases or one of our beautiful songs.
"As a proud Cook Islander I know just how special Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani is and I'm looking forward to doing my part to to encourage people to give it a go."
Te 'Epetoma o te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani runs from Sunday 30 July through to Saturday 5 August 2017.
The theme for the week this year is "Ei rāvenga nāku i te tuatua i tōku reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani ka anoano au i te turuturu ā tōku ngutu`are tangata `ē te matakeinanga". In English, "An encouraging home and community environment is what I need to build my love and my confidence to speak my reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani".
The official opening ceremony of Te 'Epetoma o te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani will be held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Saturday 29 July 2017 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
"We are honoured to be hosting the second of seven national Pacific language week launches at Auckland Museum, with the Cook Islands this weekend. To celebrate Cook Islands Language Week, Auckland Museum is displaying a case of taonga (treasures) showcasing traditional tautai (fishing) objects, and offering behind the scenes tours of our community-led Pacific Collection Access Project. We will also be celebrating the sounds, language, stories, colour and beauty of Cook Islands culture offsite at Te Oro in Glen Innes, and hope the public get along to that," says Auckland Museum Director Dr. David Gaimster.
Further information about Te 'Epetoma o te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani including a calendar of events and language resources can be found at www.mpp.govt.nz and at the Cook Islands Language Week and the Ministry for Pacific People's facebook pages.