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These days Common is almost as busy with his on-screen roles as he is with his music, but that has not always been the case. As he releases his 11th album, Black America Again, Common is nearing 25 years as an important and influential hip-hop artist. During this time he's developed a reputation as an artist who is restless with settling in a comfort zone.
Common's artistic growth and maturity, from his very first recordings as an eager-to-please, squeaky-voiced Chicago newcomer to the wisdom and maturity he exudes as a multi-hyphenated artistic presence and Oscar-winner, represents an impressive career arc. Given the depth of his extensive back catalogue, you could feasibly make a list focusing on one of Common's various incarnations without engaging with another aspect of his artistry. Over the years on record, the MC has embodied roles including the cameo scene-stealer, the sincere loverman, the linguistic wordsmith and the bohemian griot, among others. With those caveats in mind, here are just a few tracks representing these characteristics from Common's hugely impressive discography to give you a sense of the breadth and evolution of his artistry.
Song: "Soul by the Pound" (Thump remix)
Album: Can I Borrow a Dollar?
After issuing a couple of solid if unspectacular singles from his 1992 debut, Can I Borrow A Dollar?, under the name Common Sense, this reconfigured album track was a head-turning lyrical display full of witticisms and punchlines over undeniable boom-bap beats. Bowing just after the likes of Crucial Conflict and Twista had just begun to put Chicago on the hip-hop map and well before anyone would hear of Kanye West and Chance the Rapper, this song helped to significantly boost the reputation of Chicago hip-hop and served notice that Common was just getting started.
Song: "I Used to Love H.E.R."
Album: Resurrection
An allegorical ode of the hip-hop purist who is wary of capitalist influence on the culture, Common's potential as a complete MC capable of weaving a compelling narrative was definitively confirmed on this song. Hugely influential, it's been alluded to in countless songs since, including Erykah Badu's Grammy-winning "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)" and the Roots' "Act Too (Love of My Life)" from their Grammy-winning album Things Fall Apart, songs on which Common also appears.
Song: "Resurrection"
Album: Resurrection
Here, many of the thematic streams that will figure greatly in Common's best work begin to appear. In addition to his established inventive and witty wordplay, Common fuses his penchant for rapping frankly about his vulnerabilities (e.g. his struggles with alcohol) with a deep-seated concern for community. Fittingly, the title track of his critically acclaimed sophomore album is underpinned by the type of crate-raiding jazzy piano sample that would proliferate over the album's duration.
Song: "Retrospect for Life" feat. Lauryn Hill
Album: One Day It'll All Make Sense
A complex and emotionally wrenching track, this is Common's song from the perspective of a man who is wrestling with myriad emotions in the aftermath of an abortion and the effects on his relationship. Featuring Lauryn Hill (then of the Fugees) anchoring the song's heartfelt chorus lifted from Stevie Wonder's "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer," the track underlined Common's increasing willingness to tackle weighty subject matter on his third album, One Day It'll All Make Sense.
Song: "Respiration" feat. Common
Album: Mos Def and Talib Kweli Black Star
Over the years, Common has established himself as an MC who is capable of making stellar appearances on other people's records ("The Bizness" by De La Soul, for example). There are too many to include in this list, but "Respiration" deserves a special mention because of the uniformly excellent verses delivered by Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) and Talib Kweli of Black Star, along with Common. A stirring poetic paean to the good, bad and ugly of New York City (where Common had just moved at the time of recording) the song's literary quality is so rich, it was the subject of this NPR essay by acclaimed novelist Teju Cole.
Song: "The Light"
Album: Like Water for Chocolate
Helplessly in love with Erykah Badu at the time, this is one of Common's biggest hit singles. Everything about his giddy dedication to the relationship, including the loss for words at the end of the last verse, feels completely sincere. Produced by the late, peerless J. Dilla repurposing '70s blue-eyed soul singer Bobby Caldwell's hit "Open Your Eyes," it was just one example of the potent chemistry the two forged with executive producer Questlove on the diasporic, funk-fuelled, acclaimed fourth album, Like Water for Chocolate.
Song: "Come Close" feat. Mary J. Blige
Album: Electric Circus
On Electric Circus, Common issued the most adventurous and experimental music of his career, sporting collaborations with Prince and Stereolab's Lætitia Sadier, drawing on rock, psychedelia and also swing music on the Jill Scott-featuring "I Am Music." While reactions to the album were decidedly mixed, hindsight indicates this was a logical artistic next step for Common's music, given the experimentation and similar personnel on Like Water for Chocolate. This rap ballad, produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, proves the artistic direction on this album still holds up.
Song: "The Corner" feat. the Last Poets
Album: Be
With fellow Chicagoan Kanye West emerging as a force to be reckoned with, Common reconnected with the upstart MC and producer fresh off the success of his The College Dropout debut (who had challenged him to a rhyme battle when he was a teenager) to produce his Be album. The partnership was so successful, the two would continue the working relationship on Common's next album, 2007's Finding Forever. Featuring highlights like "The Food" and "Go!," among many others, it was deemed a classic almost immediately upon release, reassuring those turned off by Electric Circus, while applying his wizened maturity to the gritty beats of his early career. "The Corner," featuring proto-rap pioneers the Last Poets and a hungry West on the hook, the song is a potent distillation of this artistic approach.
Song: "Kingdom" feat. Vince Staples
Album: Nobody's Smiling
While not as commercially successful as some of his earlier albums, Common's 2014 album Nobody's Smiling reaffirmed Common's commitment to his hometown of Chicago, asserting his relevance with the new generation of up-and-coming hip-hop artists. Of those, Vince Staples has been the one to capitalize the most on the exposure, emerging as a compelling artist in his own right. Like so many of Common's videos (see the mini-movie courtroom treatment of Be's "Testify" featuring a pre-Empire Taraji P. Henson), the lyics on "Kingdom" lend themselves to a cinematic treatment, and the Hype Williams-directed visuals accompanying the song proved to be sobering and particularly timely.
Song: "Glory" feat. John Legend
Album: Selma: Music from the Motion Picture
Featuring frequent collaborator John Legend, and taken from the motion picture Selma, "Glory" won the Oscar for best original song in 2015. While featuring a grand, sweeping production style associated with movie themes that isn't stylistically in line with Common's usual musical approach, his forceful delivery of lyrics, tying social and racial injustices of the past to present-day events in Ferguson, Miss., among others is powerful. Clearly, the song functions as a template for the thematic outlook of Common's newest album, Black America Again.
More to explore:
Beyond 99.9%: Kaytranada essentials
10 essential songs by the Tragically Hip


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I am a 26 year old. My fiancee is a very nice person. We are to get married soon. But the problem is that he is suffering from depression since 2004. He is 28 now. I do care for him and want to help him but at times his behavior appears weird and irritating. He did tell me about his illness during the initial days of our courtship but I didn't quite understand about this illness. He takes medicines everyday. I am still so unsure exactly what kind of ailment it is. He says he takes three medicines, one antidepressant, another mood stabilizer and one to lower anxiety. I am very scared. Our families are involved now. I cannot ever think of leaving him but when I think of a future with a depressed person it scares me. My parents don't know about his condition. I don't want them to know cause it would make them sad. i cannot ever hurt him, i don't want to leave him. But is it fine to marry such a person? Can we lead a normal life? Is there a possibility that our children will suffer from mental ailments as well? I want to help him. I want him to become normal.
What do i do? I am very much stressed right now.
- Dr. Schwartz responds to questions about psychotherapy and mental health problems, from the perspective of his training in clinical psychology.
- Dr. Schwartz intends his responses to provide general educational information to the readership of this website; answers should not be understood to be specific advice intended for any particular individual(s).
- Questions submitted to this column are not guaranteed to receive responses.
- No correspondence takes place.
- No ongoing relationship of any sort (including but not limited to any form of professional relationship) is implied or offered by Dr. Schwartz to people submitting questions.
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- Always consult with your psychotherapist, physician, or psychiatrist first before changing any aspect of your treatment regimen. Do not stop your medication or change the dose of your medication without first consulting with your physician.
Based on the types of medicines you mention my guess is that his illness is Bipolar Disorder. If this is true and based on what we know about the illness at this point in time, he will have this the rest of his life. Of course, no one knows what the future will hold in terms of further research and improvements in treatment.
If he does have a Bipolar Disorder it will mean that his moods will swing from very depressed to elated and even manic at times. I don't know what you find irritating about his behavior but it may have to do with this.
People with Bipolar Disorder do marry. Medications can keep the symptoms under control but you have to think about the fact that this illness will not go away and will be part of your relationship. If he stops taking his medications he will get much worse and you need to know that. Frankly, people I have known who are married to someone with this illness do not have an easy time.
It's concerning that you want to keep this secret from your family. Secrets never work and are not a way to start a marriage. Lot's of people have this illness and there is no shame in it. Some of our most brilliant artists, composers, musicians and popular singers have bipolar disorder.
With regard to what your children will be like if you marry this man, there is evidence that this disorder runs in families. Yes, your children could inherit this. However, we also know that how children are raised plays a vital role in how they will turn out. A loving and caring family can go a long ways to preventing illness. A family where there is lots of fighting and abuse can cause lots of mental health issues. Both genetics and family must be considered.
I always advise people to follow their instincts or their "gut reaction." If you are this upset about the thought of marrying him then, perhaps, you need to listen to your emotions. Also, talk to your family rather than keeping this a secret.
Best of Luck

subset: commoncrawl


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Glenn Heard Farms
Laptops and tablets – they're probably not the first tools that come to mind concerning a large-scale farming operation. However, computer generated farm-monitoring systems are fast becoming an integral part of a farmer's daily routine, essential to increasing efficiency and staying ahead in an industry ridden with challenges.
Based in southwest Georgia, Glenn Heard Farms (GHF) is certainly embracing this technology and other means of monitoring a number of vital signs on the farm, from moisture levels in the soil to variable rate irrigation (VRI).
For Glenn Heard, fourth-generation farmer, owner and president of GHF, the central information he needs for running his family-owned farm is now right at his fingertips. "We've been working on improving our technologies for a long time, but now it's more sophisticated with digital read outs that allow you to monitor irrigation closely to moisture levels in the soil; it's all vital information to help us hit operational efficiency," he explains.
Growing diversity
Heard has seen firsthand the evolution of the family-run farm. GHF has grown by leaps and bounds since 1980, when Heard's father first started the farm on 360 acres.
"I grew up on the farm in Brinson, helping my father," he recounts. "I went on to agricultural college and when my father retired in 1995 I took over and increased the size of the operation quite a bit."
Today, GHF encompasses roughly 15,000 acres, of which are; 6,000 acres of cotton, 4,000 acres of peanuts, 2,500 acres of field corn, 1,500 acres of sweet corn, 2,000 acres of grain sorghum and 1,000 acres of wheat. The company also grows and contracts sweet carrots; something the region has become known for and keeps the farm busy through winter months.
"Farmers in Georgia started growing carrots about 14 years ago; there have been rough times, but we're still doing it," tells Heard. "We now grow 700 acres of carrots."
From row crops to vegetables, Heard says GHF has also tried its hand at growing celery. "Although we produce a wide variety of row crops, we're looking at different crops for production all the time," tells Heard. "The vegetable business is particularly difficult to expand in, but we keep looking at it. This year, we have a small plot just to test some celery; something that I'm not sure has been done in our area before."
Furthermore, GHF sells a wide range of agricultural products to local and regional farming communities through Brinson Farm Supply (BFS). BFS stocks used equipment, such as Harrell cotton module builders, Amadus six-row peanut combines and used Valley and Lockwood irrigation equipment.
Embracing change
The diverse operation is now turning out crop No. 35. According to Heard, GHF has celebrated many years of success by embracing change. "To succeed in the farming business, you have to have great employees, but also you have to keep up with modern farming techniques and not be afraid to invest in new technologies," he measures.
Among many investments in modern farming technology, GHF has added GPS guided harvesting, pinpoint irrigation methods, aerial pest control and soil moisture monitoring. In an industry where control is fairly limited, Heard says GHF has leveraged technology to its advantage.
"We grow primarily row crops whose prices are determined by the market and you only have so much control over natural fluctuations in the market," he explains. "Though you can secure prices early and crop insurance helps mitigate risk, your control is limited. That's why investments in technology have helped us become more efficient, offering a competitive advantage."
Approximately five years ago, GHF implemented remotely operated irrigation systems. "We can monitor everything going on in the field with a computer or mobile device," shares Heard. "We bought iPads and laptops for our employees to help them operate the system."
Farming smarter
Just a few years later, GHF launched VRI technology to save water and power. "VRI puts more where you need it and less where you don't," compares Heard. "We added five more VRI systems in 2014 and we're pumping fertilizer through the system, as well."
All of GHF's 85 irrigation systems are pivots, 83 of which are electrically driven and two run on diesel generators. However, all are monitored using Field Net, a software system on the company's laptop and mobile devices.
In 2012, in cooperation with Georgia Power, GHF started using solar power to operate parts of its irrigation system. "One benefit of solar power is that excess power generated can be sold back to the power company, therefore reducing overall costs and driving profits back to the farm," tells Heard. "The solar energy plan was so successful that we intend to incorporate more solar power systems in our future farming practices."
Heard is passing down this tradition, backed by modern efficiencies to his son. "He's following on the same track," he says. "He actually graduated from the same agricultural school; 2014's crop is the first one he's done on his own."
Furthermore, the company has taken to the Internet to ensure sustained success. GHF has integrated technology with a state-of-the-art website created by Anthony Guagliardo and the team at Type2Designs. "As an innovative grower, Glenn's insights are often a valuable resource for peers," details Guagliardo. "Through high-quality photography, videos and a thorough overview of the farm's diverse growing operations, the website was designed by me and Glenn to showcase the implementation of the farm's notable projects to the rest of the industry."
However, Heard has no plans of retiring anytime soon because he's still learning, even after more than 35 years in the business. This eagerness to learn more and to farm smarter by leveraging technology has allowed Glenn Heard Farms to excel as one of Georgia's premier growers..


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It's my birthday today and my hubby surprised me with lovely gifts, including some of my favourite magazines from the UK. So I'm going to make a cup of tea and settle into my comfy chair to enjoy them.
Happy Belated Birthday Tina. It's even more fun reading your blog after meeting you in person at Convention. Love your card today! Susan


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- Meeting abstract
- Open Access
Phage Eco-Locator: a web tool for visualization and analysis of phage genomes in metagenomic data sets
© Aziz et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011
- Published: 5 August 2011
- Coverage Density
- Phage Genome
- Metagenomic Library
- Metagenomic Sequence
- Hypersaline Environment
Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are the most abundant biological entities on our planet, and their nucleic acids constitute a substantial proportion of total DNA in Earth's ecosystems [1, 2]. While the advent of metagenomic methods has allowed the rapid and efficient investigation of microbial and viral communities [3–5], there has not been a comprehensive comparative analysis of phage genes and genomes present in all sequenced ecosystems [6, 7]. To examine the abundance and distribution of phage genes in environmental metagenomic sequences, we developed a web-based tool, Phage Eco-Locator [http://www.phantome.org/eco-locator] that screens all publicly available sequenced metagenomes for a user-defined phage genome, or all phage genomes within a user-selected metagenomic sample.
Materials and methods
All 588 phage genomes available in the PhAnToMe database [http://www.phantome.org] (as of January 1, 2011) were screened against 296 de-replicated metagenomic libraries. The graphical output was translated into metrics representing phage abundance, extent and breadth of distribution, and coverage density and evenness. Applying these metrics to all samples demonstrated a pervasive, yet uneven, distribution of phage genes in metagenomic libraries and allowed the separation of phage genomes into distinct groups. The analyses also showed a tendency for phage genomes to prevail in environments similar to their original isolation source, where their bacterial hosts are expected to thrive (e.g., cyanophages in aquatic samples and halophages in hypersaline environments).
Phage Eco-Locator effectively allows the global analysis of all phage sequences in metagenomes while also permitting gene-level analysis of individual phage genomes. In the future, application of this tool to sequences from a wide range of ecosystems will enhance our understanding of the factors controlling phage biogeography and environmental selection.
This work was supported by the PhAnToMe grant from the NSF Division of Biological Infrastructure to RAE (NSF DBI-0850356) and MB (NSF DBI-0850206).
Authors' Affiliations
- Bergh O, Børsheim KY, Bratbak G, Heldal M: High abundance of viruses found in aquatic environments. Nature 1989, 340: 467–468.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Jiang SC, Paul JH: Gene transfer by transduction in the marine environment. Appl Environ Microbiol 1998, 64: 2780–2787.PubMed CentralPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Handelsman J: Metagenomics: application of genomics to uncultured microorganisms. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2004, 68: 669–685.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Casas V, Rohwer F: Phage metagenomics. Methods Enzymol 2007, 421: 259–268.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Schoenfeld T, Liles M, Wommack KE, Polson SW, Godiska R, Mead D: Functional viral metagenomics and the next generation of molecular tools. Trends Microbiol 2010, 18: 20–29.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Edwards RA, Rohwer F: Viral metagenomics. Nat Rev Microbiol 2005, 3: 504–510.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Breitbart M, Rohwer F: Here a virus, there a virus, everywhere the same virus? Trends Microbiol 2005, 13: 278–284.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Altschul SF, Madden TL, Schaffer AA, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Miller W, Lipman DJ: Gapped BLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein database search programs. Nucleic Acids Res 1997, 25: 3389–3402.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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Describes adverse events reported in three routinely collected data sets in Australia, and offers suggestions for further assessment and improvement of the data collections to allow the occurrence of these conditions to be gauged more accurately. The working paper should prove a useful contribution to deliberations on improving health information systems to measure adverse events and monitor the efforts to reduce them. Current until 20 April 2002.
We'd love to know any feedback that you have about the AIHW website, its contents or reports.
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Why do people invest their time, energy, and money into their lawn? The answer is simple. A well-maintained landscape usually serves the owner in his or her own way, whether it is social functions, kids play area, relaxation, or, most important of all, it is visually stimulating to anyone that looks at it. Think about it: you're walking down the sidewalk noticing a person's lawn that is patchy, has weeds, and is fairly unsightly. As you move on to the next lawn, the turf is thick with a vibrant green color, and when you step on it it's soft. Most likely a simple fertilizer plan is the difference between these two lawns.
Fertilizer is used to boost nutrients in the soil that are lower than what grass needs to thrive. There are 16 nutrients that turf uses. Most of these are found naturally in the soil and at the necessary level for the turf to grow. Most of what we add through fertilizer is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, the state of Minnesota does not allow any application of phosphorus to commercial or residential properties.
In the spring, the first application typically has higher amounts of nitrogen to get that early "green up". During the fall application, a higher amount of potassium is added to the soil for better root development in preparation for the winter. All the fertilizers Barrett Lawn Care uses have small amounts of micronutrients as well. We offer 2-4 applications a year depending on your personalized needs, plus a wide range of other services from our fertilizer department.
There are many factors that play into why your turf may not be healthy including drainage, sunlight, traffic, etc. An established fertilizer program can start to alleviate some of these problems, but is not a cure all. The best bet for your lawn becoming as healthy as it can be is to contact a professional and get an honest opinion on what is happening in your yard.
By Chris Reifsteck, Chemical Applicator & Emerald Ash Borer Specialist at Barrett Lawn Care


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Just Reduced! 3 Story Penthouse located sixteen stories up on the Corner of the Premier Syndicate Loft Building in the heart of downtown! This Posh space is ideal w/ Luxury Finishes! Majestic city views greet you as you enter! Beautiful engineered hardwoods flow throughout. The kitchen was designed to create great meals & entertain w/ custom cabinets, large island, & stainless appliances. As the beautiful views stretch across the entire living area you will entertain w/ ease in the living & dining space! The generous master bedroom has a large walk-in closet; master bath with oversized soaking tub & separate shower. Three amazing floors of stylish living space! Huge private rooftop deck w/outstanding views! Building amenities include: Workout Facility, Community room w/ pool table, large screen television, Outdoor Patio & Roof top deck, Workshop for projects & Art Gallery! 1 Storage Unit # 23, 8th Floor, 2 Heated Parking Spaces(59 & 60,level2)!
Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Realty St. Louis. Selling Office: .
Listings displaying the MARIS logo are courtesy of the participants of Mid America Regional Information Systems Internet Data Exchange. Information From Third Parties, Deemed Reliable But Not Verified


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Agatha Ruiz de la Prada 162997 Girls Clear Waterfriendly Sandal
Click Image for Gallery
Brand: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada
Style: 162997
Ref: AGR162997
Colour: Blanco
Girl's translucent water-friendly open-toe, open heel sandal with a red strawberry motif to the front. The circle grip pattern to the outsole should be just great for making fun imprints in the seaside sand.
• Girl's translucent water-friendly sandal with strawberry motif
• Single adjustable buckle fastening to the side
• Silvered footbed wth red hearts patterns
• Circle patterned grip pattern to the outsole
Upper: Synthetic
Inner: Synthetic
Sole: Synthetic
Agatha Ruiz de la Prada
Spanish fashion designer, and incidentally the 12th marchioness of Castelldosríus, entered the fashion world in 1981 with women's fashions, later diversifying into other fashion areas including children's fashions and girls shoes. In conjunction with the kids shoe brand Garvalin, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada brings her unique, imaginative and colourful designs to girls shoes and boots. The collaboration with Garvalin, and their expertise as a quality kids footwear manufacturer, and her inspirational artistic designs make the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada brand a truly original and winning combination. Take a look at our carefully chosen selection of her designer shoes for girls for something really special.


text: At a time when next month's business rates revaluation is causing much dissatisfaction in the property industry, landlords and developers did at least receive some welcome news from the Supreme Court last week. In the case of Newbigin v SJ & J Monk, the Supreme Court has confirmed everyone's previous understanding that a commercial building which is in the course of redevelopment does not have to be valued for business rates purposes as if it is still a useable office. SJ & J Monk, a firm of solicitors, was carrying out substantial refurbishment works to its offices. At the valuation date for calculating business rates liability, the property was stripped to a shell. The firm argued that, as the property could not be occupied due to the building works, the rateable value should be reduced from £102,000 to £1. The valuation officer, and then the Court of Appeal, disagreed. They said that the replacement of the stripped-out elements at the property should be classed as repairs which could be economically carried out by the ratepayer. This meant that the property should be valued as if it were in a state of reasonable repair and that full business rates were payable. This caused an outcry in the property industry, as it would make many developments financially unviable. It was seen as a matter of such importance that the British Property Federation and the Rating Surveyors Association became involved in the appeal to the Supreme Court. Thankfully, the property industry can now breathe a sigh of relief. The Supreme Court has unanimously upheld the appeal and has ruled that where a property is undergoing refurbishment works and cannot be occupied, only nominal rates are payable. The actual state of the property trumps the statutory valuation assumption that any necessary repairs have been carried out. In his March budget speech, the chancellor announced some measures aimed at cushioning the rates increases for smaller businesses. For details, please see our budget briefing as circulated yesterday (8 March).


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# UAB has a commitment from linebacker Wesley Easter of Atlanta-Westminster, Ga.
Wes is amazing.
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Chance Encounter is Latricia Borner's book debut and an excellent choice. The relationship that materialized between the hero and heroine kept me wanting more. Not only was it a page turner, I found myself associating it to several love songs but the main one was "Wait for Love" by Luther Vandross.
Brooke is a young educated woman who lives a well-balanced life that's defined around God, family and friends, and her career. With her career on the right track, Brooke is ready to marry Patrick. When Patrick accepted a promotion in another state, Brooke assumed their love was strong enough to stand the temporary living arrangements. The admission of his unfaithfulness and soon to be parental responsibility left a scarring so deep, that the notion of another long distance relationship vanished when Patrick closed her front door.
Chanze Sage is an upcoming music producer and song writer out of Atlanta who has put away his treacherous ways. Despite the fact that he cares for her, Chanze refuses to propose regardless of how much pressure his girlfriend Kelly and mother bestow. Being a man of faith Chanze knows Kelly is not the future missis because of her superficial ways. Tired of the futile arguments and prolonging the inevitable, Chanze knew the time had come for them to go separate ways.
People often wonder about their first encounter, with Chanze and Brooke, asking for directions to his stepmother's residence was the beginning of a genuine friendship. A physical attraction surfaced from the start but both knew they were not in the position to engage in anything beyond the "friend" zone. Thankful that Chanze was able to be there for her in a time of despair; Brooke's feelings for him grow stronger than she's willing to admit. Disliking the fact the he hasn't been completely honest with Brooke, he searches for a way to correct his mistake; but will it be too late. Can Brooke find it in her heart to forgive him and accept the gift she cannot give?
The author did an amazing job developing the storyline and characters, which is why I couldn't help falling in love with them. Ms. Borner will pull you into the scenes, feeling as though you are right there watching a movie or listening to a conversation. My favorite line is "Did you ever stop to think that maybe God planned it this way for a reason?" Brooke's life dealt with many topics but the main one may cause you to get teary eyed.
The epilogue will have you smiling from ear to ear. Chance Encounter is a must read, and I look forward to reading future releases from Author Latricia Borner. Although I enjoyed Ms. Borner's writing style, I will say that I felt the title was used excessively.
-Reviewed by LaMona
Laurel Cremant is an opinionated author and reader of romance with a wicked sense of humor. RNIC was smart (or crazy) to bring her on as a blogger. In 2016 she took over the management of this site and relishes her new title of "Overlord of Awesome"


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Update: Q-tips came to the rescue of the Brooklyn salon owners after sending Nail and Spa 4U a check to make up for their loss in products
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For all of you NAILS Magazine subscribers, the April 2013 issue is likely arriving at your mailbox this week. I got my copy a few days ago. Usually, even though I've seen all of the pages
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A few smaller nail polish brands inaccurately declared that their polishes are free of toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and formaldehyde, according to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) report entitled, "Summary of Data and
I understand the hesitancy among nail techs (and myself, to be honest, at least until I saw the salon in person) about the in-store experience at the nail salon that just opened inside a Chicago Walgreens.
Evolving from a line of kitchen tools (yes, you guessed it, literally from a microplane citrus zester), Microplane Personal Care offers a huge assortment callus removers. The company has large professional size callus microplanes, small at-home
High-end just got even nicer at Lexor where Ultra Leather is now standard on its high-end pedicure spas (including the Infinity, shown). According to the company, this leather is acetone- and stain-resistant, so if you spill
Yay! Indiana Bill to Eliminate Licensing Withdrawn Thanks so much for to all NAILS' Magazine From the Editor readers who told Indiana that we need licensing and to everyone else who helped spread the word and who
I am alarmed by a bill in Indiana's state legislature that would eliminate government licensing and regulation of nail techs. House Bill 1006, authored by David Wolkins, proposes that licensing be completely eliminated for everyone in
The fish pedicure hasn't been in the news much lately, but it's far from forgotten. The idea of tiny fish nibbling off the dead skin of off human feet seems to spur a visceral reaction in
We have an update on this week's horrible salon shooting in Orange County, Calif. We've now learned the identities of the eight victims, and one of them was in our family of nail technicians. Christy Lynn Wilson
This awful story is still unfolding. Yesterday afternoon a gunman entered Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, Calif., and opened fire on employees and customers. Eight are dead. One is still in critical care at a nearby
In light of today's shooting at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, Calif., we want to take a moment to refer you to an article that NAILS published about how to increase the safety of your salon.
We found this interesting 14-minute video, an excerpt from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) show The National that discusses the evolution of nail salons in Canada. It's interesting in its similarities and differences to the rise of
Healthy practices for nail salons from King County DNRP on Vimeo.In King County, Washington, the Hazardous Waste Program has started the Healthy Nail Salon Project to help inform nail salon owners and techs on how to
After more than a decade since its inception, the North American School of Podology (NASP) now has a brand new identity, supported by a new tagline and associated marketing materials, announced founder Katharin von Gavel this
I hope you're having a great Mother's Day weekend at your salon (and at home). Here are some of our favorite nail-related blog posts of the week!Remember the $51,000 manicure? Well, Painted Lady Fingers offers her
Update 4/15/11: Due to contradicting information available online, we went right to the source, Rep. Dorothy Hukill, regarding if salons and manicurists are included in HB 5005 or not. We heard back today and are thrilled
Many states won't let nail salons use credo blades on clients (they can be dangerous, as you can accidentally cut clients' skin with them), but here's a callus removal alternative that uses a disposable RotoFile Caps
America's Beauty Show 2011 ended Monday afternoon, but we're going to continue sharing some of the new product launches from the show throughout the week. There were a lot of exciting new nail products!Pedi spa manufacturer
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On Saturday Ferris Jones, a female off-duty police officer, was getting her hair done at Sabine's Hallway, a hair and nail salon in Brooklyn, when a 19-year-old came in brandishing a gun and attempting to rob
Cut It Out has been hailed from coast-to-coast as an innovative solution to a chronic and difficult problem: raising awareness on the epidemic of domestic abuse and helping victims receive the resources they need. Now entering its
Some states, like North Carolina, require salons to post their inspection scores where consumers can see them. While I'm not necessarily a proponent of more rules and regulations for the nail industry, I do believe that
Have you heard rumors that UV lamps are unsafe — that they may even cause cancer? Recently three industry chemists got together to test the claims made in a report by two Texas-based dermatologists that the
Earlier this year, Iowa mandated the autoclaving of certain implements in the salon. As of March, cuticle nippers (along with tweezers and comedone extractors) must be sterilized by steam, dry heat, or other sterilization equipment. The
Renowned nail educator Vicki Peters is hosting a one-day class on e-filing that techs can take to receive a certificate stating they are educated on e-file safety and technique. The instructors are Simmy Bredal-Bell, TeamVicki Director
I definitely appreciate the honesty, but it's disturbing that 36% of respondents to NailsMag.com's current web poll don't dispose of salon hazardous waste items (which can include leftover nail polish) correctly, at least some of the
Salon professionals who have been affected by the recent flooding in Tennessee or tornados in Mississippi can apply for assistance from the PBA | NCA Disaster Relief Fund by filling out the Application for Aid available
OK, now this is just plain scary. A man is impersonating a state board inspector to try to get money from Houston-area salons. Read the notice from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and
As if the California licensing scam wasn't bad enough, there are now reports of a similar scam taking place in Texas. Here's the notice I received from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR): TDLR is warning all
In journalism school, one of the oft-repeated maxims we learned about "what is news?" went as follows: "If the story is 'dog bites man,' it's not news. If the story is 'man bites dog,' it is."
The International Pedicure Association (IPA) hosts online webinars for its members about once a month, and, for the September 30 event, "From the Editors" blog readers can attend the online seminar for free, without purchasing an
Let the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology alleviate some of your apprehension about the salon inspection process by watching the board's interactive webinar "What to Expect During an Inspection: What You Need to Know".
I've met representatives of the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology several times, and I'm pleased that the board members seem genuinely interested in keeping California nail salons from getting fined during inspections. To that end,
I just received an e-mail with the following message and wanted to share it with you all immediately. The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Cal-BBC) has posted a warning on their website, of a scam
I just found a professionally-done video by the Washington Department of Licensing of a nail salon inspection. You can watch the six-minute video here. The video is geared toward consumers (advising them of what to look for
Recently, an Owings Mills, Md., woman was seriously injured when a bowl of acetone ignited, sending her to the hospital with second-degree burns covering about 40% of her body. The woman — a regular client at Baltimore's
If you autoclave your instruments and practice the highest levels of salon sanitation, there's a website that should interest you. WeSterilize.com was created by podiatrist Robert Spalding to help consumers find salons and techs they can
As a relatively new resident of the fabulous Belmont Shore neighborhood in bustling Long Beach, Calif., I've been asked quite a few times in the past few months for a nail salon I'd recommend in the city.
I have to say I was happily surprised this morning when I logged on to the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and saw how easy it was to navigate.
I just wrote an article about salon safety for our upcoming August issue. While researching it, I found some interesting things that didn't make it into the print edition. The article focuses on the simple, first-step
I object, your honor. Oh, the glory of having a moment of limelight in the courtroom — and all the better if it's not from the defendant's chair. The California state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
There's a bill pending in the California State Assembly right now called the Vietnamese Nail Worker Information Act that would require manufacturers of professional-use nail care products to provide MSDS in Vietnamese. If the bill —
I thought I had a basic grasp on the pedicure cleaning guidelines in California and across the nation. But I was really surprised by a notice we received from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
A few weeks ago, Rachael Ray did a segment on nail salon safety. I always cringe when I see a preview for a television piece on salon safety. Since these programs are usually negative, it almost
Love 'em or hate 'em, your state board has a huge influence on how you conduct business day-to-day in your salon. At least in California, I've been happy to see board members make themselves accessible to
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Hi Mark. I was rereading the spec and noticed that this had been changed. * Mark Nottingham <firstname.lastname@example.com> [2001-08-17 14:14-0700] > Finally, considering our versioning model, does it make sense to > upgrade > > "A SOAP application SHOULD include the proper SOAP namespace on all > elements and attributes defined by SOAP in messages that it > generates." > > to MUST, and strike > > "... MAY process SOAP messages without SOAP namespaces as though they had > the correct SOAP namespaces." > > This is in the context of all SOAP namespaces, not just the envelope, > but it seems prudent to clarify in some fashion. Section 3 now reads[1]: A SOAP node MUST ensure that all element information items and attribute information items in messages that it generates are correctly namespace qualified. Is that something we agreed on? I don't remember discussing this. I like this change, but I would like to check that everybody is aware of and happy with it. That would resolve issue 135[2]. 1. http://www.w3.org/2000/xp/Group/1/08/29/soap12-part1.html#reltoxml 2. http://www.w3.org/2000/xp/Group/xmlp-issues.html#x135 -- Hugo Haas - W3C mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com - http://www.w3.org/People/Hugo/ - tel:+1-617-452-2092Received on Monday, 10 September 2001 17:25:07 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 6 January 2015 22:01:15 UTC


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Dr. Sears Comments:
In animal breeding it is known that the closer the temperature is to 72 F, the more the animal eats and more quickly it fattens up. The same is true of humans. One factor in our obesity epidemic is the desire to maintain 72 F year around. If you are cold in the winter, you burn more fat. If you are hot in the summer, you eat less food.


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Why CKF?
Why CKF?
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Meet The Trainers
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Get to know the story behind the brand
Cross Kicks Fitness™ was founded by two longtime friends who shared a strong passion for fitness and health. As they grew older, life got in the way and they were faced with the challenges that most of face every day; staying healthy.
Fast forward to 2009 where T. Patrick (Founder) was nearly 450 pounds, with high blood pressure, and a 63-inch waist. One day at a doctor visit his physician told him if he didn't change his lifestyle his life span would be at great risk. He was told health problems would begin to ensue, and the only thing helping him was his young age of 31.
Not being a stranger to fitness, he went back to his local gym. He ate lean and green foods and was eliminating refined sugars, processed carbohydrates, wheat, and some grains. Within no time at all, he was losing weight and inches, until he hit a plateau.
By this time he had lost about 125 pounds. Frustrated and willing to do whatever it took to lose the rest of the weight, he hired a personal trainer. The weight started coming off again, but at a price. He was going broke trying to become healthy, so he quit the trainer and started paying for classes, which was more affordable.
Soon it became difficult for him to constantly shift around his schedule to line up with the class times. T.Patrick thought, why isn't there a facility with no class times, a trainer always included, and for a reasonable price? He recognized a void in the market for this service. He realized that he was the target customer, and he began putting a plan together.
In summer of 2013 he enlisted his longtime friend and personal trainer Tony Wuebker as his business partners and together they started Cross Kicks Fitness™. After many lengthy discussions, they realized the void in the market place, and how they could make an impact on people's lives by delivering a new concept in the fitness space. They started their first location in Roselle, Illinois with plans to continue growing. They have expanded their team of trainers that share their desire to help people achieve fitness success. The success and excitement of the members and training staff is what has driven the business to expand so rapidly. Today there are four Cross Kicks Fitness™ locations in Roselle, Algonquin, Lake Zurich, and Hoffman Estates, Illinois. With plans to grow the business into Florida and California, they continue to expand their business and extend their passion for health and fitness to new communities.
Copyright © 2018 Cross Kicks Fitness. Developed by
RLT Consulting Group, LLC
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|Born in British Guyana, Phil Solomon, steelpan builder, composer, and steel band arranger, began making musical toys from tin cans at the age of seven. He would gather cans of all sizes and hammer them until they made different sounds. Phil became more interested in music as a teenager after hearing his first steel band. At the age of sixteen he built his first Steelpan, he quickly knew that building and playing steelpans would be his lifelong commitment. By age seventeen, he was making steelpans, performing and arranging music for his first steelband, The Bell Boys. In 1966 he formed his second band The Atlantic Symphony Steel Orchestra and later, The Pegasus Soundwaves, who became Guyana's premier steelband. In 1979, Solomon received national recognition when he won" Musician of the Year" awarded by the National Arts Council of Guyana, for his composition 'O Martyr to Cuffy We Sing' a song dedicated to the national hero of Guyana. All in all, during his time in Guyana, Solomon built, managed and led several bands; The Bell Boys, Atlantic Symphony, Police Band, GDF, Amsternites, Winkliers and Soundwaves.
In 1984 Solomon migrated to the United States and settled in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Soon after he founded Solomon Steelpan Company, the first steelpan manufacturing company in the Unites States. SSC, built steelpans for individuals, schools and community programs throughout the country. Phil Solomon and Solomon Steelpan Company have made significant contributions to the development of steelpan education programs throughout the U.S. With outstanding programs in Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota and West Virginia.
Solomon's most significant contribution to the steelpan is in the area of design and construction. His years of research and development have brought breakthroughs such as the GroovelessTM Method, The New Generation Series and a synchronized note placement system.
| An accomplished and exceptional player Solomon also founded Steel Impressions, a professional performance group that has several recordings and has performed for thousands at various venues throughout The United States. The band has also made appearances on local and national televion programs.
Solomon has also appeared on several television outlets performing or teaching about steelpan building and the tuning process. One of his most popular appearances was on the well known children's show, Mister Rogers Neighborhood.
Phil Solomon has received many awards for his contribution to steelpan as well as music education. He was awarded a lifetime membership award in the Tri-M Music society, a music honor society of the National Association for Music Educators. On June 26th 2012, he received a proclamation by the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh for his work and dedication in steelpan technology. June 26th is now declared as Phil Solomon Day.
The Exhibition
The Barrels to Beethoven Exhibit, is an interactive, multimedia exhibit, celebrating the past 30 years of steelpan development in Pittsburgh. The exhibit centers around Phil Solomon, a world renown steelpan builder, tuner and player who brought the steelpan to Pittsburgh in 1984 after migrating from Guyana, South America. The exhibit provides audiences with the opportunity to see first-hand, how the instrument is made, tuned and played as well as its development over the past 3 decades in Pittsburgh. The exhibit opened on November 22, 2014.
Barrels to Beethoven Opening Reception, November 22, 2014
The Full Review…
The grace of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, was definitely upon the room at Cox Contemporary on the evening of November 22nd. On this day, St. Cecilia Day, debuted "Barrels to Beethoven" an exhibit celebrating the 30th anniversary of Phil Solomon and Steelpan in Pittsburgh. The evening included a special performance from Soundwaves Youth Steelband, Caribbean music by dj illeso, food from Ten Penny and Taglio and surprise desserts from Brusters. Guests, which included past students, band directors, fans and family, spoke the same sentiment…"this room, this evening, feels so amazing"…was heard many times throughout the night.
This was a story that needed to be told and celebrated. Phil Solomon and the steelpan found the perfect home in Pittsburgh, the perfect combination of manufacturing meets the arts.
Solomon arrived in Pittsburgh in 1984. He was a famous steelpan builder, tuner and player in Guyana but did not think he could continue his craft here. After a few months Solomon was building pans and performing throughout the city. Over the past few decades Solomon has vastly improved the pan making process and the quality of the instruments, performed throughout the U.S. and started hundreds of steelpan programs across the country. And, done it all from Pittsburgh, with pride!
The Barrels to Beethoven exhibit and reception, curated and produced by Leigh Solomon Pugliano CEO of Straightfwd Co. and Founder of The Barrels to Beethoven Project, will return in the summer of 2017 and feature a special concert by Phil Solomon and guests.


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Norton Identity Safe 5.1.0 for Android
We are glad to announce that we have completed testing our latest inline releases of Norton Identity Safe 5.1.0 and we have released the patches for our Android customers
The FAQ below addresses some common questions:
1. What is the version number for this patch?
The version number 126.96.36.1990 is for Android.
2. How can I receive this update?
To receive the update, simply visit Norton Identity Safe password on Google Play. Go to Settings -> Help -> About to verify if you have received the update.
3. What are the languages this update is available for?
English & Japanese
4. What are the changes in this release?
- Auto-login to your favorite apps [ Oreo Support ]
5. Where can I post my queries?
Visit our Other Mobile Products forum to post your queries.
Please note that Norton Identity Safe 22.214.171.1240 only supports Android 2.3.3 and above.


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Developing open practice
Developing open practice is a half-day workshop to support groups and organisations that are interested in thinking about the use of OER in their own context. The workshop uses design thinking to support a close and structured look at the learner journey. The workshop has five sections:
- Introduction to Design Thinking
- Introducing some approaches to Learning Design
- Understanding Your Learner
- Designing a Learning Journey
- Building a Learning Journey
Possible outcomes from the workshop include:
- A decision that 'open education' is not an appropriate option for your organisation at this point in time.
- Ideas that could lead after further work to the design of context specific practice that supports the use of curated OER (OER that are already available).
- Ideas that could lead after further work to the design of context specific practice and the creation and/or reversioning of OER.
The workshop pack is available for reuse and licensed for revising, remixing and redistributing. Please share back how you've used it.


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Low Town: the worst ghetto in the worst city in the Thirteen Lands.
Good only for depravity and death. And Warden, long ago a respected agent in the formidable Black House, is now the most depraved Low Town denizen of them all.
As a younger man, Warden carried out more than his fair share of terrible deeds, and never as many as when he worked for the Black House. But Warden's growing older, and the vultures are circling. Low Town is changing, faster than even he can control, and Warden knows that if he doesn't get out soon, he may never get out at all.
But Warden must finally reckon with his terrible past if he can ever hope to escape it. A hospital full of lunatics, a conspiracy against the corrupt new king and a ghetto full of thieves and murderers stand between him and his slim hope for the future. And behind them all waits the one person whose betrayal Warden never expected. The one person who left him, broken and bitter, to become the man he is today.
The one woman he ever loved.
She who waits behind all things.
She who waits behind all things.
Reading is a journey and nowhere more so than in speculative fiction where if you're not following the progress of an actual journey (thanks for that Mr. Tolkien…) then you're watching the main character make a mental journey towards a complete change in character. Once upon a time, this second kind of journey was the sole preserve of kitchen boys 'with a destiny' who would find destiny/nobility thrust upon them and have to adapt accordingly. These days aren't those days though and thank goodness for that. We now have characters seeking redemption from the pits of immorality, we have others who are happy to sink yet further; the most interesting characters though are the ones where you can see that change but have to question their motives and direction. Did X commit the vilest crimes for ultimate good or were they just scraping the bottom of the moral barrel for their own ends? These are the kind of characters that really get you thinking and invested in a story, genre fiction can't have enough of them as far as I'm concerned.
For my money, Daniel Polansky's Warden is the greatest of these; a character who will happily spread chaos in the pursuit of aims and leave you wondering whether he's a good man forced to do bad things or… the other way round. 'The Straight Razor Cure' (a much better title than 'Lowtown') and 'Tomorrow The Killing' have posed these questions already and to excellent affect. 'She Who Waits'… Well, the best way to sign off a series is to leave the reader with a few tantalising questions and Polansky somehow manages to do this while at the same time giving said reader an appropriate sense of closure at the same time. The story ends here and I for one wish it hadn't.
For those of you familiar with the series, 'She Who Waits' follows a path well travelled by the Warden. Lowtown is starting to fall to pieces under the pressure of a mystery that apparently only Warden can solve. While he is doing this, Warden must watch not only his back but those of his closest friends. And while he is doing this... Warden is also putting the pieces into place that will give him the revenge that he been searching for all these years.
And that's what sets 'She Who Waits' apart from any number of 'trilogy concluders' (I've said it so now it's a word) that follow the safe path through to the end. Not only has Polansky been playing an incredibly long game (seriously, there are things in 'The Straight Razor Cure' that make a lot of sense now) but he's not afraid to torch the whole thing once he has finished playing. Imagine that slow, patient build up; imagine the pieces finally falling into place... And then gasp as Polansky elects not to play it safe after all, sending everything and everyone straight to a hell of Wardens own making. You've got to admire the way that Polansky holds his nerve here when the safe option would have been so much easier. Lowtown is a brutal place at the best of times, by the time 'She Who Waits' comes to an end you will have seen a Lowtown only hinted at previously. Not only does it open your eyes to what Warden has to live with, it makes the story fly by and will have you almost forgetting the inevitability of the ending.
Does 'She Who Waits' tread an awfully familiar path then? I'm afraid it does. Does it matter though? Not to me it didn't, not when the plot flowed the way it did. Should I read it then? Damn right you should, just as soon as you've read 'The Straight Razor Cure' and 'Tomorrow The Killing'. 'She Who Waits' is a worthy finale to what has turned out to be quite the superb trilogy (almost without anyone noticing, shame on you all). Read it.


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Essay: Cosplay Tips and Tricks
Diana DeRiggs
Photographs courtesy of MaceVindaloo, Ed, taken at Dragon*Con 2005
Cosplay is the Japanese-esque contraction for "Costume Play" and can include performance, behavior, etc. It's become a full-time hobby for some Hutties, and for others we have met, it's become a full-time career, whether they are actors or creators of costumes. When talking to these folks and checking out various websites, we saw cosplay was much more than just putting on the Darth Vader facemask with the elastic band in the back and a black sheet for a cape!
In our journey to become cosplayers (and because some of us are type-A personalities and simply want to be the best at whatever we do, or at least garner enough respect to be acceptable to any "club"), we discovered some things about constructing a costume and wearing it that we thought would be good to share amongst ourselves. Then being the show-offs that we are, we figured we'd put them up on the Hut so the universe can see how dumb we were about some stuff. It's all fun, eh?
Choosing a costume seems to be an easy thing. You pick what looks or seems cool and make the thing and wear it, right? Keep in mind that most movie/TV costumes are not designed for constant and continued wear. Even Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz had something like a dozen gingham dresses because they simply got damaged. Also, many costumes are not designed for comfort; the actors in them are being paid to endure it, so your mobility, body temp, etc. might be seriously compromised by your choice.
And if you choose an anime character, you have the additional potential problem of a completely unrealistic set of clothing or garb. Okay, let's say you want to cosplay Major Kusanagi from the first season of Stand Alone Complex. She wears a corset-teddy thing that includes a thong (thus no underpants to be worn under this ...), thigh high woolen hose that fold on top, combat boots, a leather jacket that pushes up on the sleeves, shin guards. But have you ever considered how that costume might stay ON her body? Double-sided tape and hot-glue only go so far, and stapleguns are very limiting. And then there is the almost hacked-up looking but sexy blue hairdo and the purple eyes, the gun ...
And if you choose a character from a comic book or graphic novel or video game or RPG, be aware that different artists may depict that character's clothing and weapons differently. Heck, we've even noticed the SAME artist changing things in the same story! And some things look very cool when the character is standing still, but if you think carefully, there is no way that they could raise their arms or kick out the way they are illustrated if the armor or cape really looked like that ... It's called "artistic license" and you will need to make some decisions on what YOUR look will be and how you want to move or not move.
And even if you choose a character depicted by a real and human actor, you still have to decide which version of a costume you are going to cosplay. For instance, Frodo Baggins changes look and clothing through the three Lord of the Rings movies (more worn, loses the protective shirt, etc.), but Samwise Gamgee only changes at the end when all the hobbits become really, really grimy (makeup consideration!) and he dumps his pots and stuff. Even in Firefly, though Mal Reynolds wears the same Browncoats uniform throughout, in one episode he was completely naked except for a tattoo on his right hip. ;) Willie Wonka the Gene Wilder, or the Johnny Depp version? Perhaps you could do both? Some cosplayers bring multiple costumes for one event!
If there are a variety of versions, choose which version you are depicting. Do sketches, acquire action figures, watch movies over and over, do screenshots, etc. Figure out whether a flap is over or under another. Figure out if the lightsabre is made of metal or some sort of organic material. Can you afford the time and the costume? Doing the work in advance will save you many mistakes and headaches. And yes, that means depicting both front AND back of the costume!
The largest freedom is afforded by choosing a character with no real visual or graphic depiction, or scant and non-canon drawings. Feel free to cobble together something great! Corran Horn of the Star Wars universe was like that for a while. However, if you want to join a group like the Rebel Alliance, they may not accept a costume which does not depict a specific, previously graphically depicted character. We know, it sounds draconian, but it's their club and they have their rules. Whatever if it's important to you, then figure out the rules.
Also, you don't want to spend tons of effort and dough on the costume just to have people ask you, "Who are you supposed to be and what is that?" If recognition is a big deal for you, choose a character which is easily recognizable.
There is also body type and shape to consider. It's honestly not a big deal if you are tubby and short but you want to cosplay tall, slim Vash the Stampede, though be prepared for insensitive or drunk folk to poke fun at you. As long as the spirit of the character comes through, and the costume is done well, you'll get respect. Everyone remembers the tall tubby guy who came as a Sailor Moon, right? It was fun and the costume was great! But if you have a choice, you might want to go with something that is more the physical "you." And it's okay to work out and diet to get that body, but be realistic when you size the costume.
If you do choose something different from your real body shape (and let's face it, since when have anime bodies even approached anything near real life?), the details and iconic props and poses will matter more. Colors should be stronger, lines of the costume should be cleaner. So be sure you can carry them off be confident!
The same goes if your skin color or condition (freckles), or mobility range, or disability category (glasses, sprains, missing limbs, etc.) are different from the original model's. Pull it off, have a good time! Nothing should limit you in cosplay other than your ability and willingness to get that costume together.
Also when choosing a costume, look into the props and "extras" that the character carries. It really finishes off a costume if you're carrying the right weapons, toys, stuffed versions of sidekicks, etc. Sure, there might be "weapons checks" at some places, so don't carry actual weapons. That's not expected you carry "cosplay" versions that have been made for the purpose, and buying things ready-made actually does not garner you the respect you might crave.
A "warrior" character is as much about his or her weaponry as the costume. For instance, Merrill the "insurance girl" from Trigun was nicknamed "Derringer Merrill" for the 50 2-shot pistols she hid in her cape. Though you may not want to create 50 little guns and a way to hold them under the cape (without looking like you are), you have to invest in at least one to draw or carry (maybe the rest are just painted inside the cape?). If you don't know how to sew or make guns, then enlist help in the form of Internet research and communities (or start dating for some "interesting" reasons).
Likewise, the Pokémon trainers are nothing without their pocket monsters, so think toward making the stuffed animal versions of these, or ask for them for Christmas. Also consider hats, jewelry, belts, boots, gloves, shoes (and shoe soles!) ... it's a costume. It's not meant to be for regular wear. And if you're not an accessorizing type, choose a costume that doesn't require the extra work.
There are competitions like the Dragon*Con "Dawn" look-alike contest with a $1000 first prize which grants prizes for authenticity. Props will make or break you! And if you are cosplaying Darth Maul, you'd best be figuring out how to not only get a double-handled lightsabre, but how to hold and handle it.
And in the case of Jayne Cobb, you didn't need anything else but that knitted orange and yellow hat with earflaps for people to know who you are cosplaying (at least at the 2005 Dragon*Con)!
Once your costume is chosen and designed, you want to consider how to show it off. When people ask you to take your photograph, imagine that they want you to BE that character. So Darth Maul doesn't scratch his back with his lightsabre, or stand awkwardly looking at his toes. And he sure as heck doesn't have his badge in front of his robes or wear a backpack! Be prepared to put your bag down (but not where you can't see it at all times) or have a friend carry your stuff for you.
Also, if there is an iconic pose, remember that your costume design may not allow you to hold it. For instance, if the pose requires you to raise your arms up over your head, you will not be able to do it easily with immobile shoulder armor or delicate but huge wings or headgear in the way. Change your pose or change your armor (re-design it so you CAN hold that pose).
And if the iconic pose requires a prop, be sure you have the prop as part of your costume. Zoe from Firefly sticks a shotgun over her shoulder so the butt is by her ear and she holds it by the trigger hilt, up by her neck. Without the gun (or at least the butt of the gun), this confident pose is not possible. And if the gun is too heavy, it's not possible either.
MAKEUP and PROSTHETICS and WIGS
Take a tip from stage makeup and consider lining your eyes and putting on foundation. The latter will even out your skin tone, whether you are male or female, and the former will make your eyes appear bigger and less likely to be "washed out" by your costume. That's the minimum makeup is a cheap and easy way to enhance a look. If you need to, get the nice woman or man at the cosmetic counter of big department stores to help you. They do it for free so that you'll buy their cosmetics. But at least one or two things (like the foundation hard to determine your foundation color / texture on your own), then get the rest at the drugstore for cheaper, if you must. (Foundation will keep you from looking too "red" or "yellow" when you walk around in your bright costume!)
If you opt to wear any sort of prosthetics (fake nose, eyebrows, wigs, etc.) then be sure you know how to put it on, and that you have enough of the adhesive for the costume. Some adhesives, like spirit gum, which is commonly used for sticking wigs and bald pates in place, can stain clothing, so plan to put that on before you put on your costume, or cover your costume with a smock or sheet / towel to avoid staining accidents. Also be sure to have "remover" products so you can get the makeup off your body (soap and warm water is often fine, but be SURE!), or cleaned off of stuff that it rubbed onto by accident.
Greasepaint, sold in many theatre and hobby shops, is good for large-area coverage (tattoos, woad-ish facepaint, etc.) and is sold in "pots" or as sticks. If you want to do some "detailing" work, try to get it in stick / pencil form, and get enough cheap makeup brushes, one for each color you need for the pots or if you need to get close to delicate areas like your eyes. Or be sure to pack extra Q-Tips or other brand of cotton swab, though you won't get as fine a line. These are also good if you want a variety of colors that are not normally represented in the makeup aisle.
A word of advice makeup does expire, and things like mascara tend to harbor bacteria after a while. Store your makeup properly (most tends to melt if above a certain temperature) and toss it out and buy new every so often. Ask the nice people where you buy your stuff, or read any warnings on the labels. Some people do have skin allergies, and this can range from annoying (itchy) to ugly (bumps and rashes) to dangerous (argh!). Again, try stuff out to be sure in advance of debuting your costume!
You can also look into sports stores for lampblack, that stuff male athletes seem to love putting under their eyes. Maybe it's to emphasize their cheekbones?
If you choose to wear paint in lieu or a costume or skinsuit, be sure you understand that it might flake off if you use the wrong kind of paint. You might want to cover some body parts, then paint over that. It will avoid some embarrassment ... for instance, nipple pasties or a codpiece. Or just get the bodysuit or skinsuit. If you can afford it, fabrics like Lycra are good, as they 'breath' and won't make you stew in your own sweat. It also means you can decorate the suit and not have to repaint yourself every time you want to put on the costume.
As for transporting this stuff, get some Ziploc baggies or disposable plastic containers. You do NOT wanting this stuff accidentally opening and spilling all over your costume or luggage or whatever else you packed them with! For wigs and helmets, consider getting a wigstand, which is a styrofoam bald head. You can pin the wig to it, keeping the fake (or real) hair from squishing and providing some form-fitting support. Remember, if it stays in a shape for an extended period of time, it will freeze like that!
Remember that these are costumes, even when they are on the actors playing the parts. Therefore, they will tend to be made from materials cheaper and lighter than you expect. Film is about illusion, after all. And if you have 2000 special effects scenes coming up, you don't want to blow the budget wad on "authentic" armor.
The chain maille in the Lord of the Rings is woven like traditional European style maille, but it's not made of metal. They needed to make hundreds of these for extras who would be standing outside in whatever weather for hours on end. Acting, by the way, is about standing around and waiting for your shot to be prepared. Then doing it over and over and looking as enthused and fresh the 20th time as the first. So the practicality and the miniscule budget dictated how the authentic-looking costume pieces were made and constructed.
The "close camera" actors got maille made from sliced and painted PVC tube rings. The "far camera" extras were simply knitted coarse yarn which was painted black and silver. Main characters got changes of armor, etc., but Gimli's armor was designed with a more "oriental" style of maille, called (Japanese) gusari 4-in-1, and resulted in a more "flat sheet" of armor rather than the "knit row look" of European armor. Amazing what you learn, this stuff is educational, eh?
There are people and places who do make more authentic things; they'll have the rings smithed, take pointy pliers and link them together in a tedious fashion. It all depends on your level of satisfaction. If you prefer heavy, real metal stuff and you have the time, strength, budget, and skills, then go for it!
But for some of us, part of the thrill is the "cheat" and the "modification" that makes something appear to be what it's not. For that, there are many, many craft products available. Among them is Sculpyclay, which is a bake-able material, or Paperclay, which is an air-dry material made of ground papier maché and white clay and it sticks to anything that's wet-able. There is also Celluclay, which is basically ground up papier maché. You should use reinforcing for larger pieces, and we recommend stuff like burlap or wire mesh, in a variety of fineness. This will not only allow your piece to hold its shape, but if it gets knocked around or cracks, it won't fall apart or shatter to pieces.
There are also other materials with names like Fun Foam which comes in sheets and are dandy for creating tooled leather. You need to find out how to do this stuff, how to buff and polish it, etc. It helps to be involved in a costuming community and to do research. Doing an internship at a theatre might be a good start.
Every guy who chose something with a helmet and armor in our group automatically jumped on "we can cut and hammer sheet metal!" Yeah, where, do you have the equipment or skills, do you want to actually not die when you wear 100 lbs of metal, etc.? Try to keep your ego and machismo out of it; easiest way to do that is to talk these things over with people you admire. Or take a class in the required skills so you can more realistically assess if you can do what you think you want to do!
There are always alternative materials, no need to "be" authentic for most things. For instance, if you want to wear a schoolgirl skirt and top, you don't have to hound schools to find out what that stuff is made of. Anyway, if you're a grownup, you are likely the wrong size, and that stuff is made to be worn every day and be washed weekly or more often. You can get more comfy materials. And if you can't sew and want to use those magical iron-on hemming tapes, etc., then do so. The Catholic nuns are not checking your seams.
If you want the costumes to last, you should, however, look into using materials and techniques that are meant to be durable. A paper and duct tape project might do for one event, but what if you get wet (someone spills a drink on you) or a stiff breeze rips things? Oh, and if you are using papier maché of any sort, be sure to seal it both front and back (or top and bottom) to prevent it from dissolving or decomposing if you get wet or sweat a lot. And if you do sweat, make sure the costume is washable, and anything attached to it can be detached for cleaning.
Many cosplayers like to go through Goodwill and second-hand stores from time to time. Apparently, people will discard amazingly unfashionable clothing and stuff, but that will be fabric and prop gold for the cosplayer! At the very least, you can cut things apart and rebuild, and the material cost will then be close to zero.
Also, stuff you never expected to use can often be the best solution for your costume, like the aforementioned PVC tubing for chain maille. Vinyl tableclothes look rather leatheresque and sew up better; round up papier maché applied with not enough water can look like stone, cast iron, or concrete; spraypaint that looks like stone makes a great texture (to be painted over); dyed cheesecloth is wispy and cheaper than "gossamer"; are you getting the idea?
If you honestly cannot or won't make some parts for a variety of reasons (one of use refuses to work with any form of plastic or plastic solvents, for example; or you are running short on time), then look to buy strategically. Good sources include ebay.com and other auction sites, and toy stores; the auction sites are also good for more primary materials too, like fabric or cheap clothing lots to cut down or re-purpose. Goodwill and thrift shops can sometimes turn up toy swords (or things which can be used as swords or staffs, etc.) which you can "re-vamp" to suit your needs better. If you can't find exactly what you want, be creative and keep your eyes open and brain working.
Here's a useful tip on "boots" don't go and spend lots of money on real boots, or have them specially made for you. Most movie boots are cheap whatevers with things glued or sewn onto them. Or like in the case of Legolas or Gimli, they were basically leg coverings or "spats" over a shoe or short boot. Most Sci-Fi and Fantasy films suffer from an abbreviated costuming and props budget, so don't be spending more than they did!
ADHESIVES and GOOPS
Hot-glue is the best friend of every cosplayer, even if you get burned every so often. It's also paintable and formable to some extent, and fills in cracks nicely. Try to get the cordless type ones so you aren't tethered to the wall when you are fussing with the gluegun, or at least get an appropriate length extension cord. Also get the long gluesticks, so you aren't constantly and frequently reloading mid-seam. And try to have another pair of hands around for big gluing projects, or a bracing system so you aren't mis-gluing.
There is a fabric version of the hot glue that is designed for cloth -- a way to get around sewing some things. It also tends to not seep through the fabric onto your skin if you are gluing things while you are wearing them. That actually is practical if you are trying to figure out where things should "sit" on your body ... so, no, it's not as stupid as it sounds!
Duct tape is not as universal as you might think for costumes. Masking tape, also, has a tendency to fall off once it gets dusty, fluffy, or "particle filled." Consider them only for temporary holds or repairs.
There is a substance which will glue fabrics so they don't fray, and it goes by names like Fraycheck or Frayblock. The type that comes out of a tube tends to discolor dark fabrics, so make sure you test it out before you glop it onto somewhere it might show. These are good in that they will go through the washer and dryer without damaging anything (the fabric or the machines). But they have quick-drying solvents in them, so make sure you apply this stuff in a well-ventilated area.
Superglues come in a variety of brands and types, and make for excellent repairs, as well as for making permanent seals on many materials. Buy the variety pack if you have a "mixed media" costume and to travel with, and use the glues for what they are designed to be used with (ceramics for ceramics, wood for wood, etc.).
Whether you use a machine or do it by hand, sewing is important. If you are a novice, take a class or workshop in sewing, or how to run a sewing machine. Or, if you can convince a boyfriend or a girlfriend to help, be sure you trade in kind!
And for those of you who feel they need the look of leather, there are many, many much more easily handled fabrics which simulate leather. Not only are they easier to handle, they are usually much cheaper, too: like sueded cotton, vinyl or oilskin tanned leatherette, toweling that looks like rawhide. These often can be sewn with a machine or by hand if you have the right needles and thread.
Be sure you buy thread of an appropriate quality and color it looks awful to have lime green elf shirt paired with red or black thread, unless you intend for it to look like that.
If you cheap out on needles, expect them to break, etc. Also, buy a decent thimble to push and pull the needle through multiple layers, and to prevent stabbing yourself! I've personally been pierced by the BACK end (the eye-side) of a needle while struggling with thick fabrics and dull points. The wound is MUCH worse than with the sharp end of a new needle, lemme tell ya.
To some extent, you can use staples and safety pins to hold things together. If you do, be sure to consider that the silvery things do show up really well in flash photos paint or hide them!
Once you've made the costume, you will want to make sure it gets to your destination intact so you can cosplay with aplomb. How you pack it depends on what it's actually made of, and how you're traveling. But in general, you will want a container that is specifically for your costume(s), whether it is a suit bag or a coffin-like hard-sided box that can have stuff piled onto it and not damage the contents.
If your costume is clothing-based (no wings, helmets, armor, etc.) then have a suit or dress bag, one for each costume or piece of a costume, as appropriate. Use the see-thru ones so you can see what you've packed. Several cosplayers have said that it's helpful to write a list of items that are supposed to be in the bag, so you don't forget or lose anything as you leave home or the hotel / cosplay venue. As for shoes, if they are sculpted, consider bubblewrap and oversized shoe boxes, taped or strapped down. At the very least, cover them so the shoes don't mess up everything they come in contact with.
If you have pieces that have been sculpted and might become damaged, you will need to consider how to pack and pad the things so they don't get damaged. If you are going with a large box or suitcase, remember that though YOU may put the heavier stuff on the bottom, luggage handlers and machines will just dump things in whatever configuration they come across them. We've had success with a box that had a definite "top" that was somewhat rounded and had handles molded into the sides of the box, so there was really one one way to pick it up or put it down. Still, you're taking your chances!
Packing materials can be as fancy as form-fitting extruded foam, or styrofoam peanuts, blankets, towels, other clothing, shredded paper, pillows, etc. Do remember that painted things can rub off onto other materials, and things like styrofoam packing peanuts can electrostatically cling to everything. We suggest wrapping each piece in a big garbage bag (the see-through recycling bags are best!) before laying it down for wrapping. This will prevent snags and clings.
Your hotel might have an iron they can loan you, but it's been helpful to do that repairs, washing, and ironing before you travel. Many steps less to have to deal with on-site and if you are traveling in a group, someone else has inevitably decided they need your help with one thing or another!
As for makeup and things that have the potential to "leak" or "rub" onto your hard work, put them in Ziploc baggies (yes, this was mentioned before, but this is important!) or some other waterproof and leakproof container. You don't want "carmine red" all over the butt-end of your skin suit!
And when you are ready to go home, we know you're tired and all. But resist the urge to dump everything back into the box when you pack it ... you spent a zillion hours on your stuff, make sure you can use it again and pack it with as much care as when you arrived!
Be sure you bring along the "emergency bag" and put into it:
Throughout, we've mentioned that you should get help or take classes. But not only will a cosplaying-sympathetic friend help you get where you're going with your costume project, they can help you dress and undress. This is important if you need to be laced in, sewn in, or your eyesight will be inhibited in any way. This person can carry your wallet, keep you hydrated, keep you from passing out. He or she will be your page; you can repay them in kind at the next cosplay event. If possible, you can costume the helper to be compatible, so its not so obvious you have to have a sitter with you.
Doing these things as a group really is helpful, whether you find a group online, or you have something like a costume bee at your place every so often.
You might want to wear your costume more than once, and you'll have to figure out how to store it. Whatever you do, be sure you clean and repair your costume BEFORE you put it away. Aside from being less nasty, a clean costume is less likely to attract vermin or rot or "freeze up" in a manner that's undesirable or unrepairable.
If you can afford it, a mannequin is a nice idea to display your costume in your home or place of work, but remember if left alone it will get dusty. Put clothing in plastic or drycleaning bags or Ziplocs for temporary storage. We also like the 'under the bed box' storage options one sees for storing blankets and such.
Keeping the costume in good repair will add to your cosplay experience. You don't want to break it out and find you have a couple of hours of sewing, recoloring, and hot glueing to look forward to before you can put it on.
Also, some people simply don't have the time or resources or talent to make their own costume. If you don't want your costume anymore, you might consider letting such folks know your creation is for sale. The better its stores, the more likely your customer will be pleased!
Can't say it enough be sure you try the full costume on your body at least once before you debut it and look at it in front of a full-length mirror. Or have a friend videotape or photograph you as you do a slow turn, you pose, get a flash photo taken of you, etc. This way you can:
There is a certain pride when creating a costume, a bit like being a kid again, but with more resources! And meeting others who appreciate what you did and want to record or efforts on film or file, that's a great rush! Honestly, this stuff is good fun.
Good luck with your costume, and please remember to send us a pic and description of your costume and/or experience and/or tips and tricks!
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are the author's own, and no profit or lucre is expected, solicited, advocated or paid. This is all just for fun. Any comments, please e-mail the author or WOOKIEEhut directly. Flames will be ignored. Characters and situations are the property of LucasFilms Ltd., Bantam Publishing, Random House, and their respective original owners and developers. This essay / editorial may not be posted anywhere without the author's knowledge, consent, and permission.


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The government published its draft tax legislation on the 10th December, including policies announced in last week's Autumn Statement, which aim for a "more transparent, efficient and simpler" tax system.
One of the unexpected changes is the new rule regarding deemed salaried members of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs).
See more at: http://economia.icaew.com/news/december-2013/draft-finance-bill-outlines-tax-proposals#!


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Thursday, December 9, 2010
Spec-TAC-ular Thursday- It's your day
For those of you who are friends with my on Facebook--you've already seen this, hehe--but for those who haven't, on Wednesday I decided I should change my name to Veruca Salts as I just want, want, want so many of the stamps being released! They are all so awesome!
A little reminder who Veruca Salts is~ See video HERE! (she's from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).
While I was in the mood, I thought of the perfect stamp to create a card with today! This is from the set It's Your Day. Such fun, fun images!!
(and for the record, although I have days when I feel like Veruca, I really know I'm not quite that bad as I realize how blessed I am, how fortunate in more ways than I can count and I always try to pass along smiles to others.)
The little details~ It's Your Day, Memento Tuxedo Black, copics, cardstock, stardust pens, Kaleidoscope Girlz, Martha Stewart punch, button, scrappers floss,
16 comments:
- Sparkle said...
What a darling card!
- December 9, 2010 at 1:46 AM
- Christine said...
That little girl is sooo adorable! Perfect for your current mood!!!
- December 9, 2010 at 1:48 AM
- Kristel said...
Woww this is gorgeous Danni! Love the bright colours!
Hugs Kristel
- December 9, 2010 at 3:14 AM
- Susan (peebsmama) said...
Cute image. Fun colors, patterns and papers.
- December 9, 2010 at 5:21 AM
- Nancy said...
Ha, ha, Veruca!! Love it!! This image is fantastic...on my wish list!! The green makes the whole card so vibrant!! Awesome!!
- December 9, 2010 at 5:39 AM
- Teresa said...
Love the card! There are SO MANY cute stamps--I can see why you feel like her sometimes. And I know you know how blessed you are and you do bring smiles to a lot of us!!! Keep doing what you do!!
- December 9, 2010 at 5:51 AM
- Crystal said...
Oh my Danni this is sooo fun, waht a cute sentiment and GREAT colors sweetie!
- December 9, 2010 at 7:17 AM
- Michelle VP said...
Too funny! Love how you found an image to suit your Veruca Salts moment. :)
- December 9, 2010 at 8:42 AM
- Lynette said...
Darling card, Veruca! LOL!
- December 9, 2010 at 9:09 AM
- Diane said...
Ha Ha!! Such a cutie!
- December 9, 2010 at 9:15 AM
Your card is adorable! I know how you are feeling, I want it all somedays too! :)
- December 9, 2010 at 9:41 AM
- Sue from Oregon said...
This is just too funny!
- December 9, 2010 at 10:54 AM
BWWHAA! HAA!! I totally love this!! What a darling image!! Your coloring is awesome!! HUGS
- December 9, 2010 at 12:18 PM
- Anna said...
Oh, fun! Love the tie in to Willy. Perfect for that!
- December 9, 2010 at 5:01 PM
- Tina said...
Awwww, so precious!
- December 10, 2010 at 10:02 AM
- Michelle said...
you know I don't have that set! Great card...love the colors!
- December 10, 2010 at 12:04 PM


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This delicious potato salad is reminiscent of Nicoise Salad, though served warm with a tangy crunch, you wont even remember it doesn't contain salt!
vinyasa flow yoga classes in madison wisconsin
There was some recent discussion as to whether coffee added to a banana smoothie would be delicious or not…
Try for yourself and make the call:
1 Ripe Organic Banana
1/4 cup Cold Brew Coffee
1/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 Teaspoon Coconut Oil
1 Teaspoon Honey (sub Maple syrup if vegan)
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Handful of Ice
Blend. Enjoy. Be happy.
This detox-friendly recipe is so packed with flavor, you won't miss the soy sauce!!


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Author Notes: Funny, but when I saw the post for this weeks theme I was making these so we could head out the door to my nephews football game. Took a quick pic and we were on our way. My nephew is the quarterback and his team are undefeated. I am not a huge sports fan but I am a huge fan of all my nieces and nephews. My first culinary job was at a French restaurant where they served crepe desserts. Somehow the dessert station opted out of making the crepes and it fell to the line to do so. At the time I hated it but now I am so glad I learned how to make crepes, they are so versatile. We did not make them on a special crepe maker but in an eight-inch saute pan and usually the crepe cook had four pans going at a time. What I learned is how you make the batter is as important as the heat under the pan. A non-stick skillet will work but it won't brown them as nicely. Never fret, just like all good cooking it takes practice. Plan on throwing out the first crepe because that is just how it is. Plan on eating the second because that is how you know if you are making them right and it is the God given right of the crepe maker to get to munch at least one crepe, that is just how it is. Vivian and Lynnie call crepes omelets and Viv loves to take them to preschool for lunch, but my wife and I are really fond of them as well. - thirschfeld —thirschfeld
Food52 Review: Versatile. Stylish. Durable. Balanced. Fast. Sounds like everything you want in a running shoe. But, in fact, the same words can be used to endorse thirshfeld's "go to" brown bag beauty. Just do it. - cheese1227 —The Editors
Serves: makes 14 crepes minus 2 (read above)
For the crepes:
cup unbleached all purpose flour
cup buckwheat flour, I have tried three kinds and I like Bob's Red Mill
large eggs
1 1/2
cups whole milk
cup water
1 1/2
tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
a heavy pinch of kosher salt
For the filling:
good quality ham, shaved
your favorite kind of apple, I have found tart apples to be better, thinly sliced
comte cheese, grated
unsalted organic pasture butter, room temperature
foil sheets for wrapping
- The crepes will hold for two days wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature.
- Combine the flours in a large mixing bowl with the salt. Add the eggs, milk and water. Whisk until any lumps are gone. Add the melted butter and whisk to combine. Let the batter sit for 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. For me crepe batter should be the consistency of good heavy cream or cold maple syrup. Add a little more water if it seems to thick.
- Heat a number 22 crepe pan, 8 inch saute pan or non-stick skillet over high heat. When it is just beginning to smoke add a knob of butter and swirl it around the pan. Using a 1 oz. ladle add two ladles of batter to the pan and tilt it around, in a 3d figure eight so to speak, so the batter creates a thin layer across the bottom of the pan. When the batter dries on the top use a spatula to flip it. After about ten seconds throw this crepe out or eat it. Your pan is seasoned now. Reduce the heat to medium high.
- Repeat the previous step minus the butter and with the exception of the next to last sentence. This recipe always makes 14 crepes for me. One to throw out, one to eat and the remaining twelve to serve.
- To assemble the crepwiches, lay a crepe out flat. Place some ham and apple in a pie piece fashion so it fills one quarter of the crepe. Fold the crepe in half, lightly spread a thin layer the softened butter across the top, add some cheese and then fold it in half. Wrap in foil wrap and go.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
More Great Recipes:


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Prerequisite: English 9 (EN9)
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