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The tea cup is absolutely exquisite; roses are some of my very favorite flowers, and, well, pink IS my favorite color. So this cup is just perfect! The green outer with the gorgeous gold on it is also breathtakingly beautiful, and to top it all off, it's made in England! :) Can't beat that!
Friday, April 8, 2016
• The Enchanting Rose Tea Cup Exchange •
The tea cup is absolutely exquisite; roses are some of my very favorite flowers, and, well, pink IS my favorite color. So this cup is just perfect! The green outer with the gorgeous gold on it is also breathtakingly beautiful, and to top it all off, it's made in England! :) Can't beat that!
23 comments:
- AnonymousApril 8, 2016 at 8:43 PM
Good Evening Esther,ReplyDelete
I just found your blog and I absolutely love it! That teacup is absolutely gorgeous as well as all of the wonderful outfits that you make and post on here. I don't have an Instagram account as I only have a flip phone so when I get the chance to see other peoples Instagram photos of their vintage life, it just is so awesome! I just love the TwoOld Beans instgram and shop. I have made a few purchases from them and everything they find is just so perfect. I just adore those shoes that you got from them. I wanted to ask you ( if I am not being too forward) if you go to church and what denomination. I attend the 1st Apostolic Church of Centralia, Illinois with Pastor Jonathan Urshan as our pastor. He is just soooo anointed. I just think that you and your mother are just so adorable and very classy too! I truly believe that you have the best talent of sewing ever and I sure would love to be able to sew! My mother used to sew and she would make matching outfits for she and I.
That was back in the 70's, when I was just a little girl. I sure do miss those days!
I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your love for vintage and I just wish everyone would realize that is something very special and not just a bunch of old clothes! (As they put it!)
Take care and many blessings to you and your family! :o)
My best, Lisa Senn
- AnonymousApril 9, 2016 at 5:45 PM
What a cute package! I linked up on The Enchanted Rose blog a lot but seem to have missed the teacup exchange. Both packages look like great combinations!ReplyDelete
What a wonderful idea! I'll have to remember this for next year. I adore tea and vintage tea cups. We used tea cups as wedding favors when I got married. Everyone loved the idea!ReplyDelete
What a sweet, beautiful idea for an online gift exchange. I adore both of the packages you shared here. Aren't teacups one of the prettiest items that serve a practical purpose, too, ever invented?ReplyDelete
♥ Jessica
- Sarah A.April 13, 2016 at 11:45 AM
A beautiful package both received and sent! :) :) :) So glad you chose to join the fun. Have a great day, Esther!ReplyDelete
What sweet gifts! Beautiful teacup and towel! LynnReplyDelete
The teacups are lovely! Awesome to see what you sent and received in the exchange...and while I'm here, your sewing projects are pretty neat too! I absolutely dislike sewing because it seems I take out nearly as many stitches as I put in, but I really admire those who have a talent (And the patience) for it!ReplyDelete
Hello Esther~~I came to visit you through my dear Stephanie's tea cup reveal, so nice to meet you!ReplyDelete
You have a lovely place here and I love your style in clothing, Though I do not sew, I appreciate those, such as yourself, who do, and who do it so gracefully.
The tea cup you sent out was the same lovely tea cup that I received from my dear sender. It is absolutely gorgeous I think.
The tea cup you received is stunning. Quite elegant in deed.
So happy to hear that you enjoyed your experience.
Enjoy your treasures~~
I'm so glad that you decided to join all the teacup fun, Esther! The green teacup that you received is gorgeous and the handmade towel is sweet. The package that you sent to Heidi was lovely. I sent Sarah a teacup in the fall of 2014 (I think it was her first exchange?)!ReplyDelete
Be still my heart! The tea cup you received is swoon worthy, dear Esther :) And the tea cup you sent to Heidi is just as lovely.ReplyDelete
Both packages were a delight to see and I can tell you and Dana put a lot of love into what you sent. I am ever so glad you joined the exchange thanks to see Sarah {isn't she precious?!} And I am even happier to see how blessed you were.
Have a blessed day, dear one! Hugs!
P.S.- Thanks for letting me know you sent the tea cup to Heidi. When I was working on my post I had meant to look at my list of names and totally forgot. Thanks to your comment I realized I did that with a few others :)
So nice to meet you this morning! I am here from the tea cup exchange, but I was drawn in by your wonderful talent as a seamstress. Incredible!ReplyDelete
That tea cup is stunning. I adore the green/gold combination.
I look forward to visiting you again soon.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
Your comments always make my day!! I will reply here on the blog, so be sure to check the "Notify Me" box or check back soon! Thank you :)


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We are living in a world of rat race where everyone is busy in earning money. No one has got the time to do household things like fixing a leaking pipe or joining broken crockery. Another important factor is that it is very difficult to find the right professional for these things. The very first thing we do in such cases is making calls to our near ones. We ask all our friends and neighbours whether they know any good carpenter or plumber, and the whole process takes a lot of time and efforts.
Just imagine that you just remembered it's your wife's birthday but, you don't have anything to plan or do. Obviously, you will search for someone who can help you out in this situation. Well, you don't need to call anyone or take any worries as you just need to open your phone and download an app.
Yes, we are talking about an excellent mobile app that is growing popular day by day. Thanks to its uniqueness. UrbanClap is a one destination for finding and hiring all types of professional which is as simple as clapping. You just need to mention your needs, when you need it and what exactly is your budget.
In this blog post, you will read the UrbanClap Review which I have written after using the services this awesome app offers.
What is UrbanClap?
UrbanClap is a one-stop solution for all basic needs. It offers professional services ranging from house cleaning to guitar lessons and from wedding photography to Chartered Accountant. The service is currently active in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Delhi/NCR. The service allows you to use the desired service as per your timings and your budget.
It offers professionals for these services so that your work gets done at ease and with perfection. It provides two type of services which are Professional services including Yoga Instructor, Photographer, Makeup expert, Birthday Planner, Interior Designer, Guitar teacher, etc. and Home Services like Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, Home cleaning, AC repair services, Pest control services, etc.
Key Features of UrbanClap:
- Large Range of Services: The best part about it is that it offers a wide range of services like electric work, plumbing work, air conditioner technician, pest control,
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- Easy and Convenient: You can easily book services via your smartphone, and the whole process of booking is simple and anyone can book it without any efforts.
How to use UrbanClap?
Here is a small step by step guide on how to use UrbanClap.
- You first need to download the app. It is available on both Google Play Store and App Store.
- It will now automatically select your location. However, you can change the location whenever you want.
- Now, select the service that you need. In this case, I have chosen Mobile Repair. You can also type your service at the top bar in the app.
- Now, it will show you some important things that you need to know before booking any service.
- In the case of Mobile Repair, Select your brand and warranty status.
- Now, select the issue that you are facing. You can also choose more than one issue at one time.
- Now, you need to schedule the pickup. You can select the dates and time as per your convenience.
- Now, you just need to need to enter the pickup location, and you are good to go for booking. As simple as it could be.
Why should you use UrbanClap?
There are many reason besides quick and fast, on why you should use UrbanClap. Few of them are here:
- UrbanClap has everything. Be it a plumber or electrician or wedding photographer or even Barber, the app offers all services.
- You can read the readings and reviews from other customers before making the choices. You can also check how many types, the provider has been hired.
Final Verdict
Technology is surely making our life easier, and UrbanClap is just a small example of it. UrbanClap is the best solution for all household problems. It is quick, cheap and easy to use. The best part about UrbanClap is that you just need to use your phone and all these services can be availed even when you are sitting on your couch.
I hope you liked my review of UrbanClap. Do share your views, feedback and suggestions.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dodgers News: Reliever Chris Withrow Recalled With Roster Expansion
With rosters expanding to 40 during the start of September, the Dodgers recalled five players from Triple A Albuquerque. Not among those five players was reliever Chris Withrow, who wasn't called up since he was recently sent down and couldn't be called up until today.
Withrow has appeared in 17 games for the Dodgers and after a rough first call-up, he turned things around. Manager Don Mattingly entrusted the hard thrower by putting him into high pressure situations and Withrow rewarded his faith.
The Dodgers official Twitter account announced the transaction this afternoon:
#Dodgers today recalled Chris Withrow from @AbqTopes.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 3, 2013
The Dodgers once had a weak bullpen, but the emergence of Withrow coupled together with everyone else finding their roles has helped them become a reliable group.
It's unclear what role Withrow will fill, but given his past experience as a reliever, he can be the long man by pitching multiple innings if a game is out of hand.
In his first season with the Dodgers, Withrow's done well with a 3.38 ERA and his ability to not allow inherited runners to score as he should see some innings down the stretch.
In case you missed it, be sure to find out more about Matt Kemp's rehab.


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Joel Gilbert Warns, Socialism And Marxism On The Horizon In The United States (via http://somicom.com)
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"Utopian Fantasy Is A Socialist Hell On Earth" – Joel Gilbert discusses his new movie "There's No Place Like Utopia" and the impacts of the social plans being put into place in America and the inherent warning of Socialism and Marxism on…


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Kostas trained as an actor at the Actors Centre in London, UK. A dedicated artist, he has been working tirelessly and creating continuously for the last years. As a result, he has built an interesting and varied resume on film, theater and TV, including working with some of the greatest directors, producers, actors and casting professionals in the world. His work includes Hollywood greats such as 'Nine' directed by Rob Marshall, 'The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus' by Terry Gilliam, Mike Newell's 'Prince of Persia' & 'Brides' (produced by Martin Scorsese), 'W.E.' directed by Madonna, Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo Cabret'; Theater work: Shakespeare's 'Othello' (London West End), Euripides's 'Trojan Women' (Epiduarus Theater), 'Aphrodite & the Apple' (Theater of Bournemouth); Television: 'City Exposed' (BBC), 'True Stories' (Channel 5), 'The Hour' (BBC). His very strong charisma and powerful physique lend themselves particularly to the movie industry. In theater, his powerful voice and acting technique have an impressive range and depth, together with an enormous energy and presence which is also evident on camera. He has excellent sight reading and improvisation skills. He always studies his roles with great thought and depth and works really hard to create them. Kostas' ability to play a range of strong, volatile and even vulnerable, leading and character roles is a major advantage in his career. Like many of his fellow thespians have said, it's always a pleasure to work with him. Kostas spends his creative time mostly between Europe and America. He is a bilingual in English and Greek, speaks good French and basic Spanish. His other acts include singing and creative writing.
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I finished working on the roving that I bought in Toronto {at The Purple Purl on Queen Street} at New Years.
It's the Tanis Fibre Arts Superwash Merino in Chestnut.It spun up very nicely – it's soft and the colours are gorgeous.
I am hoping for a feather and fan shawl out of it – I am going to work on it after I finish Stilwell.


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Serious question: What's your preferred way of talking about Netflix TV shows? I generally don't cater to spoiler babies—you have a weekend to see a new movie and one day to watch a new TV episode—but what about Netflix shows, where you have all ten episodes at once? That might take more than a couple days to get through. For Aziz Ansari's new Netflix show, Master of None, we went with a week + a weekend, to make sure anyone who cares has had time to see the series. But I'd love to hear from you, about how you'd like to see Netflix/binge shows handled.
And man, I hope you've seen Master of None—it's fantastic. If you've read his book, Modern Romance, or seen his recent stand up specials, Buried Alive and Aziz Ansari: Live in Madison Square Garden, you've seen the foundation interests on which Master rests: App-enabled dating, being a Millennial child of immigrants, and how diversity politics play in real life. Ansari stars as Dev, a thirty-something actor in New York. Like Ansari, Dev is the son of immigrants—Ansari's real parents appear as Dev's parents in three episodes. Each episode of Master is themed, and features a title card, announcing, "Master of None Presents…" followed by that episode's theme, such as "Parents", or "Indians on TV". There are narrative threads connecting the ten episodes, but story elements fit within the framework of that episode's thesis.
Which means that Master is not the most organic of TV shows. Episodes can feel more like one-act plays rather than part of a larger whole, and sometimes, because everything revolves around a particular theme, the dialogue can be didactic. In the episode "Ladies and Gentlemen", Dev and his girlfriend Rachel (Noël Wells) have an argument about Rachel's perception of a sexist act that is moralizing and borders on preachy. This happens several times through the ten episodes, but it's most notable in "Ladies and Gentlemen", though the dialogue never quite goes full-lecture.
But "Ladies and Gentlemen" also shows what is so strong about Master, and that is Ansari's dedication to exploring other voices. "Ladies and Gentlemen" has a terrific cold open that shows Dev having a fun night out while at the same time, a woman at the same bar is having a nightmare time, stalked by a self-proclaimed "nice guy" who won't leave her alone, and as Dev and his friend stumble drunkenly through the street, the same woman walks home, alert to possible danger. If the dialogue in that episode is didactic, it's only because the writers, Zoe Jarman and Sarah Peters, are driving home the point that men just don't listen to women. Even Dev, who tries to be conscientious, doesn't initially accept it when his girlfriend tells him she's experienced sexism.
The best episodes manage to combine theme and story perfectly, like "Indians on TV", in which Dev, auditioning for a Friends-type sitcom, is up for a role against a fellow Indian actor, Ravi (Ravi Patel). Through the process, Dev inadvertently receives a racist email from a network executive, revealing the brass thinks there can't be two Indians on the show or else it becomes an "Indian show". This is a real-world problem plaguing the entertainment industry—Ansari made fun of the whiteness of late night TV with Stephen Colbert—and "Indians on TV" tackles the problem on multiple fronts. The episode deals with "it's just a joke" casual racism, cultural stereotyping, and whitewashing, and it ends with a pointed observation that even attempts at diversity are often rooted in stereotypes.
But underpinning every episode is a Millennial kind of angst, of what happens when, especially if you don't have kids, adolescence extends into your thirties. Dev is reasonably successful, working in commercials and even landing a small role in a Hollywood movie, but he's undefined as an individual. He's a realistic mix of thoughtful and self-involved—he whisks Rachel off to a romantic weekend in Nashville, only to ruin it with a bout of selfishness—and a lot of his (mis)adventures are fueled by ennui. He feels he ought to be doing more by this point in his life, but he is also aware that he isn't ready for more. When the movie doesn't turn out like he expected—and Rachel leaves him pursuing her own dream—he's propelled to make a huge life change that will likely be the basis for season two.
Master of None is terrific, with great comedy ranging from the absurd (Paro!) to the situational, a KILLER soundtrack, and some sharp observations about life and culture. And when the dialogue does get a little tinny, the actors are uniformly capable of elevating it and not letting the occasional heavy-handed touch drag down the episode. This is a smart show that treats its audience as if they are smart, too, and it rewards people for listening to points of view other than their own.


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One of the biggest perqs of being a travel writer is receiving invitations to visit destinations. Called FAM trips, short for Familiarization, these experiences usually last two to three days and are jam-packed with activities.
When I say jam-packed, I mean we're running from morning 'til night. It's not unusual to visit four to six places in one day, shuttled by coach from one stop to the next.
It's like a field trip for adults, and we're all taking notes and endless, endless photos. On these trips, if you're not taking a picture of your food and everything else around you, you're doing it wrong.
FAM trips are social, they're educational, they're fun, and they're EXHAUSTING.
I love 'em.
Since I've only spread my writing wings beyond covering Chicago in the last few years, I'm fairly new to the FAM-ily. Still, I've been on a few, and I can tell you that the trip hosted by Roseville Visitors Association was impressive. While the schedule was tightly packed, it was extremely well organized and we had all the tools we needed to not only share what we were experiencing, but to get to know our fellow writers.
This particular FAM trip introduced us to Roseville, Minnesota, a town "Perfectly Positioned" between Minneapolis and St. Paul. From our Thursday arrival through Sunday morning departure, a large group of intrepid travelers explored some of the highlights of the area and its prime location between the Twin Cities.
Inside the Roseville, Minnesota, Press Trip
9am Our first activity of the weekend wasn't until 4:30pm, so I left a little early. When possible, I will always choose the two-lane and I wanted to drive the Great River Road for a bit. I crossed the Mississippi River at La Crosse and took the scenic route in a beautiful Mazda CX-5. I'll tell you all about Grace, as I named her (yes, I name cars), in another post.
4:25pm So…I might have taken the really scenic route. I made it to the Roseville Courtyard by Marriott with just enough time to check in, clean up a bit, and check out the welcome bags. The Courtyard and Roseville Visitors Association had provided a Minnesota State Fair survival kit, complete with portable fan, cell phone charger, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and other goodies, and a bag with essentials for the weekend.
What really impressed me was the binder. We had a binder! It was organized with our itinerary; the social media handles of all of our destinations; names, websites, and social media for the attendees, and more information we'd need during our stay. Impressive. Most impressive.
5pm I headed to the lobby and met my fellow FAM-ers before we left for our evening destination. I saw a few familiar faces, some from real life and some from online interactions.
That's one of my favorite aspects of press trips – meeting the people I've only met virtually, and spending time with others who have chosen this crazy profession. There's an instant connection because you feel like you already know each other.
We also met our hosts from Roseville as well as the hotel manager. I think we all knew it was going to be a fun couple of days.
5:30pm A bus – I mean, coach (that being the proper term) – picked us up for our dinner and culinary experience. Our host, Carrie Ford, narrated points of interest as we drove. "Carrie on the mic!" became a theme. I missed her "on the driver's side" tidbits when I left on Sunday.
6 to 8:30pm (give or take) THAT Cooking School – We sang for our supper at THAT, short for Teaching, Heart, And Team building, Cooking School. The evening began with a sampling of Minnesota standbys, including SPAM and pineapple, Lefse, and Lutefisk. Lefse and Lutefisk are traditional Nordic dishes, and while the potato-based Lefse, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, was worth seconds, I didn't try the Lutefisk. It's a whitefish treated with lye that turns into a viscous, sticky mass, and I'm going to blame my cowardice to the lack of a fork (yet I somehow found one later…).
After we were done exclaiming "Lutefisk! Who eats Lutefisk!" we were given our cooking challenge. Each team of six had a different theme, and it was a madcap race to see who could make the best dish with the best presentation, including the table.
Our group was, shall we say, enthusiastic. Our theme was the Minnesota Vikings, and our dish was "SKOL! Bites" – a.k.a. pork tacos with bacon wild rice and a corn salsa. Donna Hup's husband Myles turned our table into a pickup truck, because we were tailgating. Get it?
It was a fun and ingenious way to get us all comfortable with each other very quickly. And I'm not just saying that because our team won. (But it doesn't hurt…)
The coach took us back to Courtyard and we all called it an early night. We had a busy, BUSY day ahead of us.
5am Ugh. My alarm went off way too early, but I had to get a few things done before we left for the day. Fortunately there was an in-room coffee maker, and they somehow knew to leave me extra packets of regular.
8am After a quick bite in the breakfast room we all met in the lobby and awaited our coach. We had to be at the Como Park Zoo at 8:30am sharp for a couple of behind-the-scenes experiences. After our interactive experience the night before it was like greeting old friends.
8:30 to 10:45am I LOVE COMO PARK ZOO!!!! We started off with an introduction to the zoo and its history. It's the only free zoo in Minnesota and began in 1897 with the gift of three deer to the City of Saint Paul.
After learning about the crazy things zoos used to do, like walking wild cats on a leash and allowing people to ride the giant tortoise, we helped create "enrichments" for the polar bears.
These were treats designed to challenge the animals, like tubes stuffed with fruits and vegetables and wrapped with fruit roll-ups, and Frisbees painted with marshmallow fluff. All the kids, both the young ones and those old enough to have grandchildren, loved this, and we hadn't even seen any animals yet.
That was coming, though; oh yes, that was coming.
We split up into two groups and ours headed out to feed the giraffes. WOW these babies are tall. We were able to meet Clover and her daughter Violet before heading to the back to meet more of these beautiful beasts. It's hard to explain how big they are until you're craning your neck to look up at them.
Our next stop was a quick introduction to the gorillas and orangutans. I could have watched these primates all day, and while it seemed like some of them were posing, 40-year-old Amanda was not impressed.
Next up were the polar bears. The enrichments we'd created were strewn around the habitat, and as we eagerly waited, Buzz and Neil sauntered out. They both headed for the marshmallow fluff first, to the delight of the kids who'd created their sweet masterpieces.
If this sounds like an incredible experience, it was, and it's not just for press. Get a group of ten together and you, too, can take a behind-the-scenes tour before the zoo opens for $35/person. If you just want to feed the giraffe while you're there during regular visiting hours it's only $5.
11:05am to 1pm We left the zoo and went straight to Can Can Wonderland. What had once been a can manufacturing plant has been turned into an indoor playground.
There's a big focus on the arts, with an indoor miniature golf course that was created by 56 artists. Many of them were designed by a classroom of 7th graders, and others were by artists who had answered the call for submission.
It's a bizarro world of fun. It's also completely ADA-compliant, even though it's only required to be 50% accessible. In addition to the games they've got a menu of pizzas, nachos, and custom cocktails that will knock your tees off.
As we entered the warehouse, a couple of my fellow writers, Janet Frost of GoLearnThings.com and Kelly Ratcliff, of DiningDuster.com, and I were immediately drawn to the Blackstack Brewery next door.
We three "Beer Renegades," as Janet called us, snuck out and grabbed a seat at the bar, but not before getting a photo of the beers (see – photos of everything, everyone, all the time). If we hadn't been on a bus the rest of the day all three of us would have grabbed a growler, but we had more places to go and things to do.
1:30 to 2:15pm Tired yet? Feeling a bit of sensory overload? Yeah, so were we, which is why this next stop was perfect. We strolled around the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden next to the Walker Art Center.
It was a relaxing respite. Even the giant bell had no clapper, so it could swing and sway without destroying the relative peace.
The garden is the location of the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry, as well as a giant blue rooster, but I think my favorite piece was the tree filled with wind chimes. The music was soft and melodic, and the only thing that disturbed it was the woman talking about how soft and melodic it was.
2:45 to 4:15pm Somewhat rejuvenated, we got back on the bus for our next stop, the Science Museum of Minnesota. Oh, this was such a tease! I've never seen so many interactive displays. What really caught my attention, though, was the number of dinosaur skeletons on display and the GIANT astronaut.
Because apparently Kelly and I are rebels, we took a few minutes before the bus left to join Nikki of Our Little Family Adventure to find Snoopy and the gang. Down the street from the museum are sculptures honoring Saint Paul native Charles Schulz's characters.
BREAK! We boarded the coach and headed back to the Courtyard for a short break to freshen up and, most importantly, recharge our phones.
5:45 to 8pm Dinner that night was at Bonfire Grill (closed), co-hosted by Visit Saint Paul. Since we'd spent a good portion of the day exploring what that city had to offer, it was nice to say "thank you" in person. I had a massive Cobb salad and tried a local nitro beer. The room was filled with excited chatter as we all recounted our day.
8:50 to 10pm After dropping off several of the group, the coach took a few of us beer fans to Bent Brewstillery. It's the first combination microbrewery/microdistillery in Minnesota.
The highlight was getting another behind-the-scenes experience, a quick tour and tasting with owner Bartley Blume. His passion was contagious, and I'm going to have to write a whole post about this guy, because his story is fascinating. (Plus, he was holding a Boston Terrier, my grandma's favorite dog, so he was instantly OK in my book.)
10 to ??? (I think it was 1am) Oh, wait, did you think I was done? The FAM portion of my day was, but a friend of mine from high school lives in Minneapolis. I hadn't seen him in years, so when he invited me to a party that evening I had to say yes.
He picked me up with a friend of his (who eerily looked like my sister, if I had one) and off we went to the oddest house party I've ever been to. I don't mean the party was odd, I mean the house was odd. I'm not sure how much I can tell you, so I'll just leave you with this recreated scene from The Twilight Zone:
7am Ugh.
8:40am to 10pm Minnesota State Fair Day!
Short version: I have got to get to more State Fairs. Someone suggested to me that my next book (first one's coming out this fall!) should be about State Fairs, and I can totally get behind that idea. Lemme tell you why.
Our first stop was a visit to Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar. In a fair that's known for its food, this is one of the icons. We met Sweet Martha's kids, who are two of the sweetest and happiest people I've ever met. I don't think I've seen bigger grins, except maybe for the people eating their cookies.
Served fresh out of the oven, they're piled high in a bucket, so high that you have to eat about a dozen before you can even put the lid on. And oh, my, are these yummy. Don't just believe me; they made $4 million dollars last year from the Minnesota State Fair alone.
I won't give you the play-by-play from my day because, frankly, you're probably done with me and my FAM trip by now, so I'll just give you the highlights.
- Saw a giant lumberjack made out of discarded clothes (who was kinda creepy)
- Split a giant onion blossom with Kelly and her sister
- Tried local favorite Schell's beer (yum)
- Listened to an incredible Ecuadorian band
- Tasted Minnesota wines*
- Found four fellow beer lovers and we tried every. single. beer in the Craft Beer tasting
- Ate brie on a stick
- Ate hot dish on a stick
- Petted a horse. I refrained from screeching "horsies!" as this guy was bigger than a car.
- Walked through a forest of Christmas trees
- Applauded three marching bands
- Saw a pony in a suit
- Rode through a "tunnel of love" **
- Tried – and did not like – a pickle beer
- Tried – and liked – a 'smores beer
- Did not buy a motorized rubber ducky
- Watched the fireworks and closed down the fair
*Minnesota Wine Country Tasting
Nikki, the aforementioned Charles Schulz sculpture fan, coordinated a tasting in the Minnesota Wine Country building, so we were able to try samples of the various wines available, as well as wine slushies. These were paired with wine fried brie (on a stick), Sriracha deep-fried cheese balls (CRAVING), salmon and shrimp sliders, and wine fried kalettes.
The wines were served in a holder made of cardboard cut out to look like the state of Minnesota. In Chicago it's all about the city flag; in Minnesota, their state pride is strong.
**Ye Olde Mill
I'd walked by Ye Olde Mill a couple of times during the day and had no idea it was a bona fide "tunnel of love." You get in the boat and ride in the dark. Pitch dark. I have no photos because it was…dark.
Need more Minnesota State Fair? Check out the coverage from my fellow FAM-ers:
- Eat Live Drink: Minnesota State Fair Foodies Guide
- Go! Learn Things: Minnesota State Fair Wins
- Learning As I Go: The Minnesota State Fair: A Must
- Little Family Adventure: 10 Minnesota State Fair foods for under $10
- Simply Live Love: 30 Free Things to do at the Minnesota State Fair
- The Walking Tourists: Soaking Up the Minnesota State Fair
10pm I caught the free fair bus back to the Roseville transportation center and the Courtyard's shuttle pulled up right as I got off the bus. My high school friend had told me the fair's bus system reaches all over the Twin Cities, making it very easy for people to get to and from the fair from anywhere.
10:15pm I entered my room, dog tired and ready to collapse, but the Courtyard had beat me to it. Sitting on the bed was a reclining pup made out of towels! I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
8 to 10:30am I'd made it! I had survived this epic FAM trip, made even more epic by my extracurricular activities, but when I visit a place and I'm not sure when I'll return I try to see as much as I possibly can.
I slept in (for me), moved a little slowly, had a quick breakfast with Angela from Dang Travelers and her friend Lori, and got back on the road.
What a weekend.
So there you have it. The inside scoop on what a press trip is really like.
Thanks to Roseville Visitors Association for the incredible exploration of the Twin Cities. You're truly "Perfectly Positioned!"
All of our accommodations and activites, except for the food and drink at the State Fair, were covered by Visit Roseville. All opinions, enthusiasm, and exhaustion are my own.


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During a plane ride, Sara Bleich watched a flight attendant take an overweight passenger's drink order. The passenger asked for cranberry juice.
"Cranberry juice is our highest-sugar beverage on the menu," the flight attendant said. "Would you like a diet beverage?"
"Just give me the cranberry juice," the passenger said.
As a public policy expert on obesity, Bleich, a Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at the Radcliffe Institute and a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, knew that the flight attendant was right about the juice. At the same time, she admired the passenger's pushback against fat-shaming.
Here's what Bleich wrestles with: We are almost powerless to fight an industry that profits from loading foods with sugar, salt, and unhealthful fats that we are hardwired to crave. Telling people what to eat — and what not to eat — often backfires.
"We know that about a third of adults and a fifth of kids are overweight or obese," she said. "We know that if you have excess body weight, it increases your risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, along with a host of other adverse health conditions. As a result, obesity is very expensive: $150 billion a year in direct medical costs.
"To actually make a difference, we have to look at the broader environment, specifically all these cues that are trying to get us to eat more and exercise less. How can we make the environment healthier? What can we do to keep people from gaining more weight?"


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Sunday, October 18, 2009
TSS: a kindle, a college visit, and a sick kid
26 comments:
I've got a Sony Reader on my wishlist for Christmas. I want it mainly for when I go out to appt's and things as it's so lightweight. Otherwise I'll still stick to paper books. Hope Twin B is much better!ReplyDelete
Today I'm going to try to finish Cleopatra's Daughter and write up a few reviews.
I have heard good things about the Kindle but, alas, it is not for me. I do like the option of being able to change the font size, so it may be something I will have to consider if my vision deteriorates to that point. (What a very kind professor:) Sounds like a whirlwind week. Enjoy your Sunday and I hope Twin B is on the mend.ReplyDelete
Thanks for giving the mini-review on the Kindle. I have been going back-n-forth between wanting and not wanting a Kindle. I think, based on your review, that I can wait longer before I plunge into the world of an e-reader.ReplyDelete
I got a Kindle in the mail yesterday. It was a 2-mth early birthday present that I knew was coming. I've never had a chance to preview the actual Kindle befor, and i was amazed at how simple it seems to use.ReplyDelete
I downloaded some free classics first and then the Outlander which was only $2.?? It will never replace my real books, but it will be great for travel etc.
Glad u had a nice visit with your adult child...lol
I absolutely LOVE my Kindle. I will never replace my regular books, but it is so easy to buy books NOW (dangerous!) and you can get the classics cheap or free. I've never had eyestrain with it, once I get the font to the right size.ReplyDelete
Good luck with the twins applying for colleges! It will be awhile before I get there, but I'm sure it will come quickly.
Dar - It would definitely be more convenient to carry around a kindle to appointments or commuting on a train. At home, I'd prefer physical books, too.ReplyDelete
Book Psmith - I think being able to adjust the font size is a huge plus for the kindle. It has been a crazy week...I'm hoping the one ahead is quieter!
Deanna - I go back and forth on the kindle, too. If I had a daily train commute or traveled extensively, I'd get one immediately. Since I don't, I'll wait a while longer...
Diane - What a fantastic birthday present!! Free classics and Outlander for $2 is fabulous. I think a big trip will give me the incentive to buy a kindle.
Sandy - I wonder if the eyestrain came from reading too long before the font was adjusted. Anyway, I can see where there is a place for the kindle, but it won't replace physical books.
I was wondering where you've been this week! Sounds like you've had a busy couple of days! Hope Twin B is feeling better soon.ReplyDelete
(Love the new pic on the blog, BTW!)
It would be great to "test drive" a Kindle or other book reader. I am so resistant to the idea. I hope twin #2 feels better soon! have a great week.ReplyDelete
So sorry about the sick twin. Hope she is better by now. How nice to have a visit from your College Student (and so thoughtful of her to let you usurp her professor's Kindle ;) ) I do not envy you having to endure the college application process again as a double dose, but from bitter experience, watch out for early decision. Be sure to read the fine print as there are different kinds (you know this), and some schools do NOT put ED apps back into the regular pool...ReplyDelete
A part of me is curious about what it would be like to have a kindle...but then I think about the technological issues that would make me nervous...ReplyDelete
My Sunday Salon post is here:
the kindle doesn't seem like my kind of thing either.i hope twin b gets better soon.ReplyDelete
I've coveted the Kindle for some time now...and I think I would be in deep do-do with buying books!!! I'm sure it could be quite addicting knowing that you could have a new book in a matter of minutes!! Hope your girl is getting better!! I can't wait for your review on Brook's book. I finished The Promised World and now I'm about half way through Table Manners. Have a great week!!ReplyDelete
I'm not a book buyer, so I am not tempted by the Kindle. I think it is cool that the technology exists, but I don't have any use for it. If there were more modern books available as digital books for free with an expiration system, then I would consider one.ReplyDelete
I love my Kindle and never have problems with eye strain. I like being able to carry lots of books with me in one small package and to buy books with out leaving my house. Perfect when snowed in in winter! I still love my paperbooks but I love the addition of Kindle to my libraryReplyDelete
Oooh, how interesting to see a kindle. I don't think I'd want one (unless as Book Psmith says my eyesight failed), but I'd really love to have a play and maybe it would convert me.ReplyDelete
Melissa - Yes, it was a wild week. Twin B Is down a few pounds, but going back to school today. Glad you like the new header photo!ReplyDelete
Gavin - I was so glad to finally see a kindle! I won't be rushing to buy one, but I probably will get one eventually...it would be great for travel!
DS - I'm a little apprehensive about a double dose of the college application process - thank God we've been through it once already! There are plenty of early decision horror stories out there, so our eyes are wide open. It's going to be an interesting year...
Creations by Laurel-Rain Snow: I've been curious about the kindle since the first one was released and am glad I got the chance to play with one. New gadgets usually intimidate me until I learn them, but the kindle was a breeze!
Marie - If a book is available, I would always reach for it before the kindle...but a kindle would be great for travel. Twin B is better today (although a few pounds lighter) and going back to school.ReplyDelete
Staci - It's incredibly easy to buy the books on kindle, so that's a dangerous thing! But at least they are a little less expensive...
Dani - Now that would be a great idea - new books free with an expiration! It's probably just a matter of time before something like that is offered.
Bookmagic - I think the eyestrain may have been from reading too long *before* I decided to adjust the font size. The kindle is not going to replace books, but it certainly does have a place. I'll invest in one eventually.
Verity - It was great to finally have my curiosity satisfied. I think the kindle would be good for reading really heavy books, too. I may hold off on W&P until I can read it on a kindle!
- AnonymousOctober 19, 2009 at 7:54 AM
I have a Kindle but I rarely use it. The novelty has kind of worn off and I've realized that I prefer actual books.ReplyDelete
I was able to experience a Kindle for a few days through work and decided that I like books better. Having said that, I do think that they would have a great application for students. To load textbook material on them would greatly reduce the weight of their backpacks.ReplyDelete
How exciting for the girls to be looking ahead, so much pressure though when everyone is asking about their plans.
Dictionary and highlight fuction seem to be very handy. I would prefer a portable electronic reader with a backlight, since I like to read outdoor. Anti-glare would be better. I'm keeping my fingers cross for the Apple Tablet, which is rumored to release in Jan 2010. I need a portable reader when i travel to Asia because i have to lugging around a stack of 15 books for years!ReplyDelete
Reviewsbylola - I'm afraid that would happen to me, too, but it would still be great to have a kindle for travel.ReplyDelete
Darlene - It would be a lot better than lugging around all those heavy textbooks! Can't believe my 'babies' are thinking about colleges...
Matt - After reading your post on the Apple Tablet, I asked one of the salespeople in the Apple store if he knew anything about it. He didn't, but said they are never told until the last minute. I love my MacBook and would be interested to see whatever product Apple comes up with.
I'm a stubborn one -- I seriously doubt I will buy a Kindle, unless book are no longer in print. Heaven forbid! I love to hold the actual book in my hand.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 20, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Kindle. I haven't see one up close, but I'm thinking I would feel the same way you do about gettting one.ReplyDelete
Kim - Given the choice, I would opt for reading a book, too.ReplyDelete
Stacybuckeye - It was a great experience to finally be able to 'play' with a kindle...I'd been waiting a long time!
I have read only two or three e-books ever, it's just not my thing, and the eye-strain is a factor, too. I guess having a little kindle is a better option, but still...you know...a book is a book. With pages made of paper. That's what I fell in love with and what I'm staying loyal to.ReplyDelete
Hope your daughter gets well soon and the college touring pays off!
Ivana - You said it... a book is a book!! My daughter is fine now. Thanks!ReplyDelete
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! Be sure to check back, I always respond. Due to a recent increase in spam, all comments are moderated.


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As seasons turn and we enjoy the mix of weather that is spring and the turns left in the ski and snowboard season there are a series of key events this week that we wish to take note and celebrate.
Those of us who work in the mountain, snow and outdoor industries feel daily the effects of a changing environment and world. These changes are having a profound impact on our lives and livelihood for many.
This week we celebrate National Park Week through the 24th and all the great recreation available in our National Parks.
Earth Day on Friday the 22nd. Our dear planet Mother Earth continues to show the stress of a planet that is not being taken care of. There are numerous efforts and celebrations. Find a local activity and participate. Make to sure to recycle, compost, garden and leave no trace behind.
Next week is Arbor Day April 29th. Plant a tree, look at a fruit tree for your yard/property.
Jim Morris Wildlife and Environmental T Shirts is a local company we have met here in Boulder, CO that has worked diligently and tirelessly to promote many environmental and wildlife preservation causes since 1977 and contributes regularly to these efforts. We are pleased to introduce them to our membership and readership. They have innovative designs and a great selection of tees, sweatshirts, hoodies and more. Many organic options are available with striking designs featuring wildlife and the environmental causes from artists around the world.
To celebrate these events and a special offer to members/subscribers they are extending a 10% discount through May 1 on any purchases when using promotion code "iloveskiing".


text: Store +3 Workshop 3 - Mold Making wshop3 $3 497.00 In stock Quantity: 1 Add to Bag Product Details 2 Day Workshop | Saturday & Sunday Plug Design and Construction Build a wood plug and prepare plug for the molding process. Mold Construction Build mold from plug and prepare for production. Save this product for later Favorite My Account Track Orders Shopping Bag Display prices in: USD Subscribe Sign up to receive tips and updates on best practices. Success! Email Subscribe Ask the professor Name Email Address Message Submit Email email@example.com Phone 352-748-5200 Address 900 Industrial Dr. Wildwood, FL 34785


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Gear Review: Smith Pavilion
Lightweight, rugged shades that work for city or trail
Here's an urban/wilderness interface we can get behind. The Smith Pavilion—with low weight, and shatter-resistant lenses—has everything you need without the gear-wonk look. Tapered Lens Technology eliminates distortion, which is common in curved optics.
From paddling Florida's panhandle to hiking France's Aubrac region, testers loved the top-notch clarity and unencumbered peripheral vision of the brown lenses. $123; 1 oz.; smithoptics.com


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BRUSSELS – The Kellogg Co.'s European division is reducing the amount of salt in Kellogg's Rice Krispies and Kellogg's Corn Flakes by 30%.
"For the past 12 years we have been listening to consumers and nutrition policy leaders and gradually reduced the salt in our products without compromising on taste," said Tim Mobsby, president of Kellogg's Europe. "We have already reduced salt in our major cereal brands by at least 50% since we started this effort in 1998 in Europe. These new reductions are an additional commitment."
Since both the Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies brands are the basis of many other Kellogg's brands in Europe, such as Crunchy Nut, Coco Pops and Rice Krispies Squares, the effort will have an impact on many of the company's products.
The Kellogg Co. said no salt replacers are being used in the sodium reduction effort. For Kellogg's Rice Krispies-based products the salt has been replaced by rice, and for the Corn Flakes-based products more corn has been added.
The reformulated Rice Krispies cereals are already on store shelves in Europe and the reformulated Corn Flakes products will be on the market in March, according to the company.


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Today (June 17) is the UN's "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought."
How does Mexico stand right now in relation to drought? Drought currently affects about 40% of the country (see map). Some parts of northern Mexico have been experiencing a severe drought for almost three years. The worst affected states are Chihuahua, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, together with parts of Querétaro, Aguascalientes, Sinaloa and Sonora.
Last year's rains did reduce the area suffering from drought from 55.9% of Mexico to 38.6%, but that figure has risen to well over 40% this year.
In 2012, and earlier this year, many major cities, including Mexico City and Guadalajara, had to enforce water rationing for several months, supplying water to individual households only on certain days each week.
As this year's rainy season begins in central Mexico, dozens of reservoirs are at critically low levels. Reservoirs in Coahuila average only 10% of their capacity, only slightly better than those in San Luis Potosí (12%). Even the populous state of Jalisco faces problems; its reservoirs are at 27% of capacity.
Things are unlikely to improve any time soon since the current long range forecast for this rainy season is for 30% less precipitation than the long term average.
The drought has already caused significant losses to farmers. Livestock owners in northern Mexico have culled herds and are having to buy in supplies of water to top up their private wells. Rainfall so far in 2013 has been well below long-term averages in central and northern Mexico, which may limit the region's productivity of rain-fed agriculture (mostly wheat, corn, sorghum and other fodder crops).
Authorities at the three levels of government (federal, state and municipal) in many regions are calling for urgent concerted action to help farmers as well as to ensure supplies of drinking water to towns, cities and rural communities.
In Tamaulipas, at least 60 rural communities are confronting a critical water shortage. Farming representatives argue that while the National Water Commission (Conagua) has guaranteed water supply for urban areas, many rural areas remain vulnerable, and lack both potable water and food support on account of harvest failures due to lack of rain. In Tamaulipas alone, drought has affected 22,000 hectares and killed 800 head of livestock in the past year.
In Nuevo León, citrus farmers fear that their harvest, which begins in October will be 40-50% lower than usual. The state government is supporting a 35-million-dollar support program for farmers which includes supplying water by truck, rehabilitating deep wells and offering subsidies for water that farmers buy direct from private suppliers. The spring harvest in Nuevo León was lost completely, and a "severe drought emergency" has been declared in at least 14 municiapliites (Allende, Cadereyta, Dr. Arroyo, General Terán, Higueras, Juárez, Lampazos, Rayones, Sabinas Hidalgo, Santa Catarina, Villaldama, Hidalgo, García and Mina) allowing them access to federal aid.
Besides loss of livestock and crops, the prolonged drought in Mexico is having many other effects, which include:
Migration – In Durango state, more than 1500 Mennonites have left their homes due to the drought, according to Mennonite leader Enrique Peter Klassen, with some of the migrants headed for neighboring state of Chihuahua and others emigrating to Canada.
Wildfires – The first four months of 2013 was the third worst season for forest fires (more than 7000 were reported) in recent history, after 1996 and 2011. According to the National Forestry Commission (Conafor), wildfires ravaged 170,000 hectares, mostly grassland and wooded pastureland, in the first four months of this year. The states which suffered most were Oaxaca (21,000 ha), Baja California Sur (16,000), Guerrero (13,857) and Jalisco (13,697).
Lake Chapala – In the past two years, the level of Mexico's largest natural lake, Lake Chapala, has once again fallen to crisis levels. (The lake has a long history of fluctuations in level, discussed in detail in our Geo-Mexico, the geography and dynamics of modern Mexico). The lake currently holds 2.84 million cubic meters of water, about 36% of its capacity. Its level has fallen 1.43 meters since last year's rainy season, the lake's most dramatic decline for 20 years. The rainy seasons in 2011 and 2012 raised the lake level by only 24 cm and 50 cm respectively, so unless this year's rains are exceptionally heavy, the lake will continue to drop.
Previous posts related to drought:
- Update on the severe drought in northern Mexico (Aug 2012)
- May is a critical month in the 2012 wildfire season in Mexico [May 2012]
- The geography of wildfires in Mexico: the disastrous wildfire season of 2011 [Jan 2012]
- Mexico's 2011 drought is raising the price of basic foodstuffs [Dec 2011]
- Many states in Mexico badly affected by drought [Nov 2011]
- Expected impact on Mexico of global climate change (Sep 2010)
- How do El Niño events affect Mexico?
- Why is biomass density in Mexico relevant to climate change?
- Mexico, USA and Canada cooperate to produce monthly drought maps
5 Responses to "The geography of droughts in Mexico"
"The drought has already caused significant losses to farmers."
It's interesting, that articles on drought, rarely mention its effect on wildlife, plants, trees, insects, and so on.
They are almost always confined to effects, and losses to humans and our activities.
I did manage to find one article about the drought in Texas which described the wildlife being "shredded" by the drought.
similarly, there is concern for bee populations, because they are related to economic activity and food production.
but amphibia, which are in serious decline, receive little to no interest, since they don't directly affect us.
And this is all occurring after the supposed blessing of the electric rain-making technology back in 2000, which ionizes moisture in the area to create cloud systems, thereby altering the natural water cycle. When you watch the satellite images, you can clearly see moisture being diverted using electromagnetic techniques (from weather patents) from Mexico into the States … unfortunately, I hate to tell you that your atmospheric water is all being used to feed Monsantos crops in the States … May God destroy them and their evil crops that are ruining life. Only prayer and perseverance will help.
Excellent article! As a science writer and retired geologist living in Saltillo, I depend upon your accurate reports for my articles about climate change in Northern Mexico. I am looking forward to reading more articles on climate change impacts in Mexico. Gracias!
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


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Everyone loves noodles, especially Japanese ramen which has not only become a staple in Japanese culture but has also made its way into mainstream, modern day American cuisine. However, it wasn't always this way. On February 7, two representatives from three extraordinary ramen chains will be joining us to discuss their experiences as trailblazers breaking into the American market.
Mark Kuribara started Hinodeya as a small ramen shop in Japan. Hinodeya now has many locations throughout Japan and the Bay Area, each showcasing different sides of their delicious Dashi ramen with a promise to be more tasty and more exciting every time. Maru Maruyama, the creator of both Ippudo and Orenchi, started the ramen kick in the Bay Area and it hasn't stopped. With multiple Ippudo locations ranging globally and locally, the company focuses on their signature Tonkotsu ramen and has a mission to spread a new ramen culture around the globe.
Well known in both Japan and America, these two ramen innovators will come together to share their unique approaches to ramen. Listen to their journeys of expansion and success in making their dreams come true in the Bay Area and beyond, despite hardships. Their achievements are proof that a good bowl of ramen can accomplish just about anything, so don't miss out on hearing their incredible stories!
Date & Time:
Friday, February 7, 2020
5:30 pm-7:30 pm
fabbit San Francisco
88 Kearny St Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94108
5:30 – 6:00 pm: Registration & Networking
6:00 – 6:45 pm: Hinodeya, Mark Kuribara + Ippudo/Orenchi, Maru Maruyama with Interpretation
6:45 – 7:00 pm: Fireside chat & Q&A
7:00 – 7:30 pm: Networking & Dinner
NO WALK-INS. Registration closes at 11:00 am on February 7.
After working for Kicchou, a prestigious Japanese restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, Masao became the head chef at the Japanese embassy in Holland where he served visiting dignitaries, including Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Bill Clinton. After returning to Japan, he worked for the Imperial Hotel and was responsible for opening its Japanese restaurant in Guam. Later, he opened his first Japanese restaurant SASALA in his hometown in Saitama. SASALA and Sora, his second restaurant, took first prize in a competition held by the California Wine Institute and received an award from the American Embassy. His third establishment, HINODEYA, was chosen as the best ramen shop in Saitama by Tabelog, a restaurant review site. He founded SASALA DINING USA Inc. in 2016 and opened his first restaurant in the US: HINODEYA San Francisco. Masao is a minister-certified Japanese chef, a member of the Japan Sommelier Association, and an FBO certified Japanese SAKE specialist.
Yoshiyuki is a restaurant business partner, chef, and consultant. He is currently preparing to open a new restaurant, as well as helping owners of other new ramen restaurants. Prior to his current role, he launched IPPUDO on the West Coast and opened ramen restaurants in San Francisco, Santa Monica, and Kuro-Obi Hills Dale in 2017. Yoshiyuki produced Ramen Summit at the J-Pop Summit in 2016 and 2017, attracting 5,000 people each year. It was a big success! As an apprentice chef at yakitori and sushi restaurants, he began his career at the age of sixteen. He raised funds to move to the US in 2006 and opened his first Yakitori restaurant, SUMIKA, there. His second restaurant ORENCHI (2010), third restaurant IRORIYA, a luxurious Robatayaki-style izakaya (2013), and fourth izakaya-style ramen restaurant ORENCHI BEYOND in San Francisco (2014) attract many customers from around the Bay Area. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring restaurants and bars and being a DJ.


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Thursday, September 1, 2011
picture perfect
Your reactions on my post where I showed you these photo's of me while I'm drawing one of my big pippi-drawings, made me realize how important it is to see the drawings together with a human being. In the very beginning I told you how big the drawings are, but I guess you all realized it when you saw me drawing. As you all know I love working on the floor and at the moment it's actually the only way for me to draw. So I "faked" a photo of me while I'm working at a drawing, so you can see the whole drawing while someone is standing in front of it. You can see all of the drawings I made untill now on my website, including the titles I gave them. You can also see this one without me blocking the view... (I like this one because of the energy the girl has in her movement). What I'm trying to say is: thank you for your nice and helpfull comments, it means a lot to me!
9 comments:
- AnonymousSeptember 1, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Wow!! Actually I didn't realize that they were so big!! And nice to see you working. I'll visit the website now.ReplyDelete
P.S. I sent you an e-mail. :)
You make me want her so bad!ReplyDelete
Stunning work! You are truly amazing. I'm in awe!ReplyDelete
Wauuuuuuw!amazing.... so big :)!!!ReplyDelete
How nice to see the Pippis together on your website!! And yes, it's nice to see how huge they are, it make them even more special :-)ReplyDelete
that's one big pippi indeed :)ReplyDelete
and yes, it's always nice to see artist too,
I must do that sometimes
Deine Werke finde ich auch sehr beeindruckend. ^^ReplyDelete
Allein diese Formate.... Großartig!
this pippi has more action
and with you, seem to interact!
This series keeps getting better!
love it!
I love your Pippi drawings!ReplyDelete
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Lantern is one of New York City's largest providers of supportive housing for young adults who have aged out of foster care.
Championing the independence and well-being of New Yorkers who are impacted by or threatened with homelessness
Lantern is one of New York City's largest providers of supportive housing for young adults who have aged out of foster care.
Lantern's work strengthens and stabilizes families, helps parents strengthen their parenting skills, and provides opportunities for families to grow and learn together.
Lantern pioneered supportive housing in New York City for people living with HIV/AIDS more than 20 years ago.
Lantern participates in the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, to provide every US veteran with access to permanent supportive housing.
We serve hundreds of single men and women in our congregate housing facilities and scattered site apartments, many of whom are living with mental illness.
Lantern currently operates two emergency housing sites for single adults experiencing homelessness. These sites house nearly 200 men and women, providing them with on-site physical and mental health care as well as case management, employment services, daily meals, and housing transition support.


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- Student Accommodation
- London
- Chelsea Lightfoot Hall
Chelsea Lightfoot Hall
Manresa Road, London, SW3 6NA
Rated 4.52 at StudentCrowd
Rated 4.1 at Google
~ Joe
Coming soon – Brand New Superfast Glide 1Gbps Internet
Want to live in a vibrant area with panoramic views of Chelsea from the top floor? Then our wonderful Lightfoot Hall student accommodation in London is the place for you! The light and airy student living in the capital is perfectly located within walking distance of some of London's largest universities, including Imperial College, Boston University and Mander Portman Woodward College, so you can wave goodbye to that long, grim morning commute.
Get this, living at Lightfoot Hall means you're only a short distance away from Harrods and Chelsea Football Club, ideal for shopaholics and football fans. If you're feeling fancy you've got The Ivy right opposite your accommodation too, so you can splash out on a scrumptious meal for yourself and your friends.
If you like the sound of your own private bathroom and kitchen, look no further! Our fabulous student studios at Lightfoot Hall come with your very own en suite facilities. When you're feeling hungry, rustle up a scrumptious meal in your kitchenette and relax after a long day of studying.
Need to chill? No problem! Our large common rooms give you the perfect excuse to catch up with your new friends, as well as a nice quiet environment to crack on with your studying if you need to.
Our Bronze Twin En Suite rooms are perfect to share with a mate, with your very own study desk to get that uni work done and dusted. When it's time to wind down microwave some popcorn and watch your fave films in your comfy bed!
For those who need a little more space, our Platinum Studio has plenty of room for all your belongings! With a big wardrobe for all your clothes and a handy study area, make the most of this airy, spacious student accommodation.
Our "superb" dedicated on-site hospitality and maintenance team are always available should you ever need help, don't worry, they won't bite! We also have our trusty on-site security team who monitor the building to ensure you always feel safe and secure. If you're after one of the best student accommodation in London, you've found it!
If your query is not sales-related and you would like to contact the property directly, please call 0207 823 3600
Property Amenities
Communal Lounge
Up To 100Mbps* Internet
TV in Every Bedroom
Contents Insurance Included*
Communal TV
Laundry Room
Central Location
All Utility Bills Included
High Speed Internet, up to 1Gbps*
*Internet speed can be impacted by the time of day or number of users using the service at any one time.
More Info
Energy Performance Certificate: Click Here
Contents Insurance Included*
*Please see T&Cs for details of the Contents Insurance Policy provided by Endsleigh Insurance.
Book With Confidence
No Visa, No Pay
If you don't get your Visa, you can cancel without penalty.
No Place, No Pay
If your university cancels your course, or you don't get a place, you can cancel without penalty.
Mander Portman Woodward College
13 mins
5 mins
4 mins
11 mins
Boston University
18 mins
8 mins
5 mins
16 mins
Imperial College
19 mins
7 mins
7 mins
16 mins
Ashbourne College
33 mins
12 mins
10 mins
19 mins
University of Roehampton
29 mins
24 mins
29 mins
What's everyone saying?
- Lightfoot Hall is a great and safe place to live.Alli Elizabeth, Resident
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Chelsea Lightfoot Hall, London
- Amazing location and good place to live as a student.Maria Cigrina, Resident
Chelsea Lightfoot Hall, London


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Order sport glasses online at the best price
What are sports glasses anyway?
As the name suggests, sports glasses are designed specially to help you see when you are doing any of a really wide range of sports. They are known for their high level of comfort, which also ensures they stay on firmly even during fast, or extreme, movement during sport. The comfort level is mainly due to the light material used for the glasses, and its elasticity. Sports glasses are generally fitted with plastic lenses, while the frame itself can be made from plastic, rubber or a rubberised material, which also makes them robust yet extremely flexible. They also protect against a really wide range of external influences such as the challenge of eyes drying out due to the wind, by also protecting the eyes from the side. So compared to normal glasses, they also have a particularly wide range of vision, even when you?re wearing a helmet.
Optimal protection of the eyes with sports glasses
Sports glasses can take on a range of different functions to suit the kind of sport you want to use them for.
Sports glasses can take on a range of different functions to suit the kind of sport you want to use them for. Most of them can also be used as sunglasses, where integrated UV protection can protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. In winter sports, snow and water reflect the sunlight and create glare during your activity. But even on roads, for example during cycling, the sun can create dangerous conditions - particularly in the wet. Sports glasses with polarised glasses filter out surface reflection, so this no longer bothers you and so does not pose a risk. Even rapidly changing vision conditions can lead to difficulties, as the contours of the ground are no longer clearly identifiable. There are also glasses to help correct this.
In general, you can differentiate between sports glasses based on the colour of the lenses. Rule of thumb: the brighter the sun, the darker the glasses and vice versa. So grey and brown-shaded lenses deliver the highest level of UV protection and the strongest filter for different kinds of glare, while shades such as red, orange and yellow are best for guaranteeing clear sight in poor, or changeable, weather conditions.


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Royal Caribbean buys Silversea Cruises
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. buys a private luxury cruise company of the class Silversea Cruises. This was reported by its main owner Manfredi Lefevre d'Ovidio. Under the agreement, the holding will acquire 66.7% of Silversea shares. The transaction amount is approximately $ 1 billion. Royal Caribbean plans to finance the purchase through borrowed funds, the company said.
In addition, Manfredi Lefebvre D'Ovidio will be able to claim dividends from 472,000 shares of the holding, which will be paid upon reaching certain indicators in 2019-2020
"Silversea is a pearl and a recognized leader in the segment of luxury and expedition cruises – two key markets that are currently on the growth stage." The combination of the two companies represents a unique opportunity for better rest for our regular guests and opens up good prospects for our strategic success, and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Richard D. Fain.
"We will always be happy to welcome Manfredi Lefevre, the far-sighted leader of Silversea, whose high standards and history of innovation we deeply respect." Manfredi will remain the executive chairman of the company, continuing to pursue his strategy in the long term. "
"This partnership will contribute to the growth of the Silversea brand, founded by my father.We have always been soul mates with Richard and share a vision of excellence for our guests.This new partnership enables Silversea to grow as the most successful among luxury and cruise the world, "said Mr. Lefebvre in response.
Lefèvre and Fein also confirmed that the CEO of Silversea Cruises, Roberto Martini, will continue to work in its role with the existing management team.
According to experts, the acquisition of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. a luxury cruise company is quite logical, because in contrast to the competition – Carnival Corporation & plc and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd – the holding company until recently was not in the portfolio of a similar brand. That limited the possibilities for luxury rest for regular guests of Royal Caribbean, having such a financial opportunity.
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Inspiring style. Bespoke design.
Handmade in the USA.
The better you understand a client's needs, the more effectively you can interpret them and create something truly special. That's why EDGE invites clients to work directly with our design and studio team, which fosters strong relationships and ensures each project is a unique expression of its homeowner.


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Perihelion Approaches
Image Credit: +European Space Agency, ESA / Rosetta / MPS for OSIRIS Team; MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
This dramatic outburst from the nucleus of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko occured on August 12, just hours before perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun. Completing an orbit of the Sun once every 6.45 years, perihelion distance for this periodic comet is about 1.3 astronomical units (AU), still outside the orbit of planet Earth (at 1 AU). The stark image of the 4 kilometer wide, double-lobed nucleus in bright sunlight and dark shadows was taken by the Rosetta spacecraft's science camera about 325 kilometers away. Too close to see the comet's growing tail, Rosetta maintains its ringside seat to watch the nucleus warm and become more active in coming weeks, as primordial ices sublimating from the surface produce jets of gas and dust. Of course, dust from the nucleus of periodic comet Swift-Tuttle, whose last perihelion passage was in 1992 at a distance of 0.96 AU, fell to Earth just this week.
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Joy Doherty, Assoc. Broker
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If you are thinking about selling your home, there is a lot to consider. Selling your home can be a complex process, which requires working with an agent committed to making the sale as painless and lucrative as possible. As your listing agent, it is my goal to sell your home at the highest price in the fastest possible time. Here are just a few reasons to select me as the real estate agent to help you sell your property:
Provide you with a free home valuation to help determine your home's worth.
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Coding and Analysis
Stakeholder Research
Credit Hours
An overview of classic grounded theory coding techniques as well as current practices used in design.
The field of design began integrating social science methods for understanding users in the early 1990s. At first, the methods for data collection and data analysis were utilized in conjunction with one another, ensuring a tight relationship between the nature of the data collected and the means for processing it. Decades later, design has diverged and evolved its own approaches. Students will learn how to develop code lists, how to code data and how to conscientiously substitute other approaches when coding is not the best fit for the project.
Learning Objectives
Students will become conversant in both classic grounded theory coding and more design-driven analytic practices.
Learning Outcomes
Students will emerge with a framework that organizes possible analytic strategies, enabling them to better choose analytic methods based on desired outcomes and design problems.
Course Restrictions
No prerequisites. Open to all students at the Institute of Design.


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Tax (VAT) Information
19% Value Added Tax (VAT) on commissions and expenses (not on the hammer price) will be invoiced to all domestic buyers and all buyers from EU countries without EU VAT-ID number.
Supplies to non-EU-Member States are exempted from VAT on commission and expenses upon presentation of proof of export.
Supplies to EU customers outside Germany holding an EU VAT-ID underly the "Reverse Charge-System", i.e. for commissions and expenses the German VAT does not apply; the buyer is obliged to include the respective VAT in his/her VAT declaration in his/her home country.
For lots marked with a circle (°) next to the lot number an additional 19% VAT on the hammer price will be charged. This charge does not apply to dealers outside Germany and within the European Union with a turnover tax identification number.
Nor does this tax apply to buyers outside the European Union. In these cases we must prove the export of the material.
For lots marked with a dot (•) next to the lot number 7% import charges (not tax, non deductible) will be charged to all buyers within the European Union. Buyers outside the European Union will not be billed these import charges, provided export of the lots is proven.
All lots without a circle (°) can be integrated into the VAT margin scheme. This also relates to the lots with a dot (•).
The VAT on the commission and expenses can possibly be subject to refund by the German tax authorities. For further information please consult your tax advisor.


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Who is the FBI afraid of offending?
There was tragic news out of Moore, Oklahoma, on Friday afternoon when 54-year-old wife, mother and grandmother Colleen Hufford was attacked and beheaded by a former co-worker who had spent the past weeks trying to convert fellow employees to Islam.
Local news outlets reported he was shouting Muslim phrases during the attack so the feds were called in to investigate.
Their response, according to the Washington Post: There was also no indication that Alton Nolen was copying the beheadings of journalists in Syria by the Islamic State, the officials said, adding that they are treating this as an incident of "workplace violence."
Really? Despite the fact that the attacker's Facebook page had pictures of Osama bin Laden, the Taliban, a gruesome beheading by ISIL, pictures celebrating the destruction of the Twin Towers, and the promise that America would go up in flames, and also his declaration that "Islamic terrorists behead their victims' because of a 'precedent bestowed by their Prophet."
No indication that Nolen was copying ISIL? No religious motivation? How stupid does the FBI think we are? Who exactly are they afraid of offending? ISIL?
And is political correctness now so pervasive throughout our government that the FBI can't tell Americans the truth about the beheading of a grandmother in middle America out of fear of offending Muslims?
If the FBI weakly resorts to political correctness after a beheading on U.S. soil, can they really confront the evil America now faces and the threat of copycat killers?
The answer is no.
Opinion: How stupid does the FBI think we are?


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Martin Dugard Quotes
That's what running does to lives. It's not just exercise. It's not just achievement. It's a daily discipline that has nothing to do with speed, weight, social status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, where you live, what car you drive, or whether anyone anywhere loves you. It's about the slow and painful process of being the best you can be.
Running has taken me on adventures great and small, at home and around the world. It has provided me with hope and perseverance on days when I had none-and even, once every great while, warmed me with that fleeting ray of sunshine known as glory. Running has taught me that I can do anything, just so long as I keep putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes that notion is metaphorical and sometimes not. In this way, I have been inspired to attempt things I would have never dreamed possible. And it all started with a single step.
To be a runner is to learn continual life lessons. To be a coach is not just to teach these lessons but also to feel them in the core of your marrow. The very act of surpassing personal limits in training and racing will bend the mind and body toward a higher purpose for the rest of my runners' lives. Settling for mediocrity-settling instead of pushing-those who learn to be the best version of themselves know the secret to a full life.
I don't know if there's a proper way to define toughness in a runner, but I do know that there comes a sudden moment when the mindset shifts. The impossible becomes doable, or at least attemptable. The long run goes from two miles to four to ten to fifteen, until it becomes routine at some point deep in an intense training cycle to knock off a couple hours without giving it a thought.
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|Buy F&SF • Read F&SF • Contact F&SF • Advertise In F&SF • Blog • Forum
August 1999
Books To Look For
Ace Books, January 1999; 307pp; $5.99
Mass Market; ISBN 0-441-00594-2
In fairy tales, folklore, and mythology, borders are traditionally places of enchantment--potent bridges between what is and what might be. The border between Mexico and the U.S. is a place of heartbreak, hope, and despair. When you combine the two, you have the potential for a heady mix.
In her new novel Marina Fitch doesn't really stray from the World As It Is into the magical fields beyond. Most of the novel takes place in the borderlands, that area where the world is as we know it, but into which magic has strayed. It begins with an Irishman living in Mexico, on the run from an act of sectarian violence in his homeland. He has met and married a Mexican woman and now has two daughters: Rosa who resembles her mother, and Maria/Mary who looks white.
The first half of the book switches back and forth between the past and present. One plotline tells how the family, on the run from Irish assassins, attempts an illegal border crossing which results in only Mary and her father getting safely across. The other takes place in the present where we find a now adult and pregnant Rosa attempting to make the same crossing once more. It's a heartbreaking and evocative section, rich with character and tension.
The second half introduces a number of new characters, one of whom is the now adult Mary who, when she meets her uncle, begins once more the search to find her sister Rosa.
The Border is simply too rich with detail and wonderful characterizations to attempt to condense it here. The problems of the otherworld and ours mingle with equal fascination. We have Mary's search for her sister which brings a tangle of estrangement into her marriage, already suffering tensions because of her despair at being unable to have a child; her artist friend Teddy, crippled by a disease and unable to work at her art; a mysterious Mexican woman, suspected of killing goats and drinking their blood; an another equally mysterious Mexican woman working for Mary's husband, who is mute but has the ability to draw the most private realizations from those with whom she "converses." And then there are the angels, and Rosa's mysterious invisible companion . . .
And, of course, there remain the questions, what happened to Rosa at the border and where is she now?
From start to finish, this is an enchanting, noteworthy novel, one that I know I will be rereading soon. That's just as soon as I track down a copy of her earlier book, The Seventh Heart, and devour it.
Knopf, 1999; 293pp; $23.00
Hardcover; ISBN 0-375-40647-6
For some time now, Andrew Vachss has been using proceeds from his secondary career as an author to ensure that he can continue his primary career as a defense lawyer. This is a necessity since his clients don't have incomes of their own--they are children, some of them only infants. Vachss also uses his novels to promote the need for stronger laws to protect the rights of children and other groups of individuals who are often poorly served by society as a whole, groups such as abused women and gays.
All of which is very commendable, but the real proof, so far as we're concerned in this column, is how does the new novel stand up as fiction? Happily there continues to be more to Vachss's novels and stories than an author creating work simply to promote a just cause.
This time out Vachss's continuing character Burke, a street-wise character living on the margins of regular society, is drawn into the search for a man who is murdering known pedophiles and gay-bashers. Burke is pulled in for questioning by the police, which doesn't surprise him--"I was born a suspect," is how he puts it. But as the novel progresses, everything points to a childhood companion of Burke's--a cold-hearted assassin named Wesley. The only problem is, Wesley is dead.
With Choice of Evil, Vachss strays the closest he's come yet into the supernatural. There's the witch Strega, a dangerous woman who always seems to know more than should be possible. There's the concept of the Gatekeeper who will allow the return of an evil man or woman, but only if you bring him a new soul for every soul the killer took. And then there's Wesley. Either back from the dead himself, or someone's bringing him back by cutting a deal with the Gatekeeper.
What's particularly fascinating about this Burke novel is how Vachss explores the creation of a myth, how something can become real if enough people believe in it. In that sense, it's not important whether or not Wesley has come back from the dead, but that people believe that he has.
There's more to the book than simply that, of course. Vachss writes with a lean, hard-boiled prose. His characters are tough and capable, but blessed with great hearts. He takes us down among the bottom feeders of society, a place unfamiliar to most of us (I hope), but one of which we should be aware. Because that world impacts on our own, no matter how far uptown or out in the 'burbs we might live from it. And in that world, innocents are imperiled. What Vachss does is remind us that they are our responsibility. Their safety lies with us. Their lives depend on whether we are willing to reach a hand out to help them, or if we turn our backs upon them.
THE SILICON DAGGER, by Jack Williamson
Tor, April 1999; 304pp; $23.95
Hardcover; ISBN 0-312-86540-6
Though his writing career now spans seven decades, Jack Williamson proves with his latest novel that he still has what it takes to tell an engaging story and make his readers think.
The Silicon Dagger begins when Clay Barstow's brother Alden Kirk is murdered. Kirk had just written a book warning of increased domestic terrorist activity to come in the wake of the advances that have been made in information technology. Since the last place Kirk visited was McAdam County in Kentucky—a microcosm, in Kirk's opinion, of the trouble brewing throughout America--Barstow goes there to see if he can track down his brother's murderers.
As one would expect, things quickly go from bad to worse. Barstow has hardly arrived in McAdam County before he becomes involved in a conspiracy to secede from the union that's powered by an amazing new technology developed by a local software engineer. Barstow runs afoul of the local militia and very suddenly, he's on he run and wanted for murder.
Much of The Silicon Dagger is taken up with discussions involving the impact of the rapid dissemination of information today and the speculation of how new defensive/offensive technologies will change our concepts of national boundaries, as well as sidebars into the impulses that fuel racism, local militias, Libertarianism and fundamental Christianity. And it's to Williamson's credit that rather than bog the story down, these discussions are the story, and a riveting one at that.
Now some readers might feel that Williamson's pulp origins are a little too evident in terms of characterization and how the plot unfolds. And others might find it too distancing in how much of the "action" takes place at one step removed: Barstow following the stories on Internet news/video shows from his various hiding places. But the former only proves the vitality still to be found in such a writing style, while the latter proves to be a fascinating method of presenting all the various sides to an argument.
In short, this is a novel of ideas, and an important one in terms of how it makes us consider where the next few years will take us as we ride into the millennium on the back of the rapid changes in technology and the ever- escalating erosion of an individual's personal freedoms. The arguments are presented fairly from a number of viewpoints and make for a riveting read.
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BluebottleBiz has implemented a new function in its platform in which it offers courses (in Spanish or English) from different providers and the possibility of purchasing access to those courses individually or through a predefined plan to companies (Plan 200).
It is an independent platform of business courses that helps companies to provide better learning at a lower cost.
The way to access them is simple, you get into the course you want, pay for it, and you will automatically be given credentials to access it.
The form of payment is through two plans that turn out to be very competitive:
- Single course: If you are clear about the course you want to do, what are you waiting for? I's time to start with that course.
- Plan 200: In which you pay € 199, and only with a one transaction, automatically you enroll in all courses. It's time to start the courses you want / need at any time!
You don't have excuses to achieve your goals!


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There are so many weblogs and websites which cover news about Android OS and Android devices, and if you search the term "Android News", you will definitely get surprised by the search results. But how can you make sure the publishing source is trusted, and how can you find the news about your favorite devices among so many other news?
Here in AW Center, we added "News Digest" articles to inform you about the latest important Android news all over the world, from trusted sources. These news include: Official announcements, Gossips, General news, Reviews, Statistics, and more..
1. Is Samsung the manufaturer of Apple A8 Chip?
Rumors indicate that Apple is going to hand over the manfacturing of its next chipset (A8) to Samsung. While 30 to 40% of requried chips are produced by Samsung, the Taiwanian company TSMC will handle the rest.
ChatOn just needed 2 years to reach 100 milion users in 237 countries. Samsung ChatOn is pre installed on Samsung feature phones, and Galaxy devices like Galaxy S3, S4, Note 2 and Note 3, and can be also installed on every smartphone ruuning Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Black Berry.
3. LG G Pro Lite Dual, is it LG's next device?
The name of the device can reveal the general specification of next LG's device which is expected to be released in mid-October. We are facing the light version LG G Pro with 5.5 inches screen size which can support 2 SIM cards at the same time. It is also possible to see some of LG G2 new features on G Pro Lite Dual as well. Features like: Knock-On, Guest Mode, and Q Slide.


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Nokia N95 + RC plane = unlimited DIY aerial photography
If you've found yourself tempted by other interesting DIY aerial photography rigs, but spent all your dough on the Nokia N95 instead, you may still be able to make a lifelong (or momentary) dream come true. A pioneering lad over at the N95 Blog has suggested that nearly unlimited high-resolution aerial photography can be yours if you're willing to strap your precious handset to an RC plane and get savvy with Pict'Earth software. The application allows users to create a theoretical Google Earth of their own if the existing imagery isn't up to snuff with their personal standards. Still, we'd have to mull this one over mighty hard before attaching such a valuable communicator to a potential death bed, but feel free to let us know how things go if you can muster the courage.
[Via AllAboutSymbian]


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(c)iStock.com/Maciej Noskowski
Operator and vendor revenues across the main cloud services and infrastructure market segments hit $148 billion (£120.5bn) in 2016 growing at 25% annually, according to the latest note from analyst firm Synergy Research.
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) experienced the highest growth rates at 53%, followed by hosted private cloud infrastructure services, at 35%, and enterprise SaaS, at 34%. Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft lead the way in IaaS and PaaS, with IBM and Rackspace on top for hosted private cloud.
In the four quarters ending September (Q3) 2016, total spend on hardware and software to build cloud infrastructure exceeded $65bn, according to the researchers. Spend on private cloud accounts for more than half of the overall total, but public cloud spend is growing much more rapidly. The note also argues unified comms as a service (UCaaS) is growing 'steadily'.
"We tagged 2015 as the year when cloud became mainstream and I'd say that 2016 is the year that cloud started to dominate many IT market segments," said Jeremy Duke, Synergy Research Group founder and chief analyst in a statement. "Major barriers to cloud adoption are now almost a thing of the past, especially on the public cloud side.
"Cloud technologies are now generating massive revenues for technology vendors and cloud service providers and yet there are still many years of strong growth ahead," Duke added.
The most recent examination of the cloud infrastructure market by Synergy back in August argued AWS, Microsoft, IBM and Google continue to grow more quickly than their smaller competitors and, between them, own more than half of the global cloud infrastructure service market.


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NEW YORK (AFP) - Two north-eastern United States states banned cars from roads and thousands of flights were cancelled Friday as the leading edge of a blizzard hit with winds forecasted to gust at hurricane-strength.
The storm was forecast to bring the heaviest snow to the densely-populated north-east corridor so far this winter, threatening power and transport links for tens of millions of people and the major cities of Boston and New York.
Governor Deval Patrick temporarily ordered all normal traffic off Massachusetts roads, with the threat of up to a year in jail for violators.
"There are a number of exemptions for... emergency workers and the like. Please exercise caution and use common sense," Mr Patrick said at his emergency centre in Framingham.
In Connecticut, Governor Dannel Malloy issued a "ban on motor vehicle travel on limited access highways" to free up emergency services traffic.
New York and other regional airports saw more than 4,500 cancellations ahead of what the National Weather Service called "a major winter storm with blizzard conditions" along most of the region's coastline.
It came a little over three months after Hurricane Sandy devastated swathes of New York and New Jersey, killing 132 people and causing damage worth some US$71.4 billion (S$88.4 billion).
Snow began in light flurries across the region early Friday, but thickened and by Saturday was expected to leave depths of between half and one foot in New York and as much as two feet in Boston.
The National Weather Service warned that "in addition to the heavy snowfall, wind gusts of up to hurricane force are possible, especially near the coast. This will result in blizzard conditions with drifting and blowing snow."
On Friday night, travel "will be extremely hazardous, if not impossible," the National Weather Service said.
The good news was that the storm's peak was due as the weekend began, meaning far fewer people would be on the roads. Forecasters said the system should blow through on Saturday, with milder temperatures to follow.
Boston was in the bull's eye for the next 24 hours.
Mr Patrick declared a state of emergency, with some 5,000 National Guards soldiers called up, and schools in Boston ordered closed.
Authorities in New York and neighboring New Jersey summoned extra personnel and deployed more than 200 pieces of snow and ice removal equipment in key area airports such as JFK International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International.
But JetBlue executive Rob Maruster told NY1 television that the airline was canceling all New York area flights from Friday afternoon through to noon on Saturday.
In addition to mass flight cancellations, the rail service Amtrak said trains from New York northbound and also to the capital Washington, DC, would be suspended later Friday.
Among the more glamorous victims of the travel upsets was designer Marc Jacobs, who had to reschedule his two shows at New York Fashion Week due to "the snow storm in the US and production problems."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who came under withering criticism for the city's flat-footed response to a blizzard in 2010, said residents should stock up with vital supplies and prepare for the worst.
"Stay off the city streets, stay out of your cars," he said at a news conference.
"Staying off the streets will make it easier for city workers to clear the streets of snow." New York's four zoos also announced they were closing for the duration of the storm.
"You can't take nature too lightly. Hopefully it won't be anything too drastic," Mr Bloomberg said.
Locals were comparing the coming storm to the ferocious Blizzard of 1978, which killed 100 people and buried Boston in more than 68cm of snow and Providence, Rhode Island in nearly 71cm.
During that storm, people were forced to abandon cars stuck on highways and made their way around Boston on cross country skis and snowshoes.