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Tuesday, 31 May 2011
First mobile blog from my Galaxy S2
A New venture for me, I've no idea if this will work. If it does a whole new wold awaits!!
Posted by Al at 21:48 1 comment:
Monday, 30 May 2011
Burnhope Seat
|Burnhope Seat Trig
Posted by Al at 20:56 No comments:
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Birk Fell
|Buckden Pike behind the trig on Birk fell
A dismal morning, high winds and driving rain, so I wasn't going to venture too far. I still had the Marilyn of Birk Fell to climb, so that was why I found myself sat in the car at Arncliffe in Littondale, as it rocked on its springs. At least the rain had stopped, so off I went. I walked up onto the ridge helped by the westerly, once on the ridge the wall provided a bit of shelter. The path hugs the wall for most of the way thank goodness, after a couple of miles the trig appears to the east of the path. This however, according to the book isn't the summit. The actual highpoint of Birk Fell is about another mile further on, it is marked by a small cairn. I retraced my steps to the bridleway, and followed it down to the hamlet of Litton. The valley was sheltered and gentle meadow paths led me back to the car. This completes the ascent of the Marilyns in the dales so its time to move on to pastures new in the search for more summits.
|Summit of Birk Fell
Posted by Al at 22:29 No comments:
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Hard Level Gill
|Ruins of Old Gang Smelt Mill
Posted by Al at 22:16 No comments:
Labels: Day walk
|East from the trig on Hoove
Posted by Al at 22:10 No comments:
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Ilkley Moor
|Gritstone blocks near the summit
Posted by Al at 21:06 2 comments:
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Winter Hill
|Memorial Stone: 100 years since reclaiming the public right of way
Posted by Al at 20:55 No comments:
Friday, 13 May 2011
Back Home
|Cia-Aig Waterfall
Posted by Al at 21:09 No comments:
Thursday, 12 May 2011
East of Drumochter
|Summit of A'Bhuidheaneach Bheag
A poor forecast for the west coast, so I decided to look elsewhere for better weather. As far east as I could reasonably drive was the answer, so I drove to just south of Dalwhinnie. Parking beside the busy A9, I left the car to climb the obvious track to the disused quarry between the Munro's of A' Bhuidheaneach Bheag and Carn na Caim. A' Bhuidheaneach Bheag lies about 2.5k due south of here, but the direct route would be wet underfoot to say the least. I followed the clear track, which tends to seek out drier ground. The cloud and then heavy rain came in and lasted for about an hour, the cloud lifted briefly to give a limited view form the summit of A' Bhuidheaheach Bheag. I turned and retraced my steps back to the quarry, and then with the wind pushing me along followed the fence to the second Munro of Carn na Caim. Once again I was lucky, the low cloud clearing to reveal a 360 degree vista. Then the hard bit, back against the wind to the top of the track. The strength of the wind was amazing, stopping me in my tracks. Once back at the quarry track down I went, easy going all the way back to the car. Just 4 hrs there and back, I wore Inov8's with Amphibian Goretex socks, best combination of the week.
|Summit of Carn na Caim
Posted by Al at 20:05 No comments:
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Ardverikie Forest
|Coire Mor Chlachair
|Summit of Geal Charn
|Summit of Creag Pitridh
A better day promised the weather forecast, so I decided to tackle the 3 Munro's of the Ardverikie Forest. Leaving the car at Luiblea means a long walk in, but the estate roads make for easy going and at least I wasn't submerged in fir trees like yesterday. I had only walked about a mile when the first heavy shower blew through, it was to set a pattern for the rest of the day. My waterproof trousers were "on and off like a brides nightie". the real climbing only starts after Lochan na Earba, the old stalkers path has been well maintained and height was gained quickly from the col a short scrambly few crags were negotiated and good proges was made acoss the stoney ridge. The summit of Beinn a Chlachair was guarded by a mass of boulders, the view extensive as the cloud had cleared just long enough for a few photos. I retraced my steps to the col, descended the stalkers path a little way and took its northern branch for a couple of hundred yards before leaving it to stike upwards to the summit of Geal Charn. The Cairn was huge and acompanied by an unuasul trig coloum. The ground was easy so a beeline westwards brought me down to the Creag Pitridh col. A very short although steep climb and I was on the last summit of the day Creag Pitridh, once again good views. Gentle slopes led back to the outward track and a return to the car along the same estate roads. Today felt so easy in comparison to yesterday, partially the weather but it also felt good to be back in trainers, even if it meant wet feet! A round trip of 20 miles in six and a half hours.
|Sandy shore of Lochan na Hearba
Posted by Al at 20:17 No comments:
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
The Loch Lochy Munro's
|The Upper Cia-Aig Glen
Posted by Al at 21:19 No comments:
Monday, 9 May 2011
Beinn a Chaorainn & Beinn Teallach
|Summit of Beinn a' Chaorainn
These two Munro's are to the west of Creag Meagaidh, and are really a part of that group. My route today was from the farm at Roughburn on the Glen Spean road. The path leads up through the plantation, eventually finding a fire break, which gave access to the open hill. There was only a thread of a path here and there. It wasn't long before full waterproofs were required and these stayed on all day. The southwest ridge gave easy walking and what seemed quite quickly I arrived at the first top. the summit of Beinn a Chaorainn was seen through the thin cloud which was coming and going. It had cleared when I reached the top, and continued clear over the next top, although the wind was terrific. I descended diagonally across the grassy and mossy slopes to the cairn at the head of the glen. Steep slopes gave access to the northeast ridge of Beinn Teallach, I followed this ridge to a cairn which marked a false summit, I didn't realise this at first in the dense low cloud. Upon reaching the true summit (one of the lowest Munro's) the cloud cleared giving a great view north to the head of Glen Roy, the paralell roads clear to see. The navigation was easy from here, due south from here would do the trick. It was a good job the weather closed in and the rain pounded down for the length of the ridge, only abating as I reached the flats at the bottom of the glen, a short walk back through the forestry and I was back at the car, just as the rain came on again! This was an easier walk than I anticipated, although of course there's no easy Munro's
|Summit of Beinn Teallach
Posted by Al at 20:26 No comments:
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Glen Nevis
Posted by Al at 19:30 No comments:
Friday, 6 May 2011
Planning for Scotland
The blogs will in the main go quiet over the next week as folk take on the TGO challange. I shall be in the Fort William/Great Glen area myself next week, staying at Glen Nevis Hostel to start with at least. The objective is to climb a few hills if the weather is acceptable! I've got a few Munro's to mop up round there. I'll be on the look out for backpackers as I tramp the hills and glens. Good Luck to all.
Posted by Al at 22:23 2 comments:
Labels: Misc
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Old Park Wood
|Old Park Wood Foreshore
A half day available today so a short walk beside the Leven estuary, from the shore at Old Park Wood. I've been to the car park before, but never explored the area properly. We walked along the shore, which is a carpet of sea washed turf. Having stopped and watched Eiders and Shelducks whilst eating our butties, we continued below the limestone cliffs and woodland. We explored the cave, which is marked on the 1:25000 map, but we were surprised by its size. Our route continued round Capes Head and made our way back to the car through the woodland, seeing a Roe Deer at close quarters. The day was very humid, and eventually at about 4.30pm it started to rain! Quite a novelty after such a long dry spell.
Posted by Al at 21:32 No comments:
Labels: Day walk
Monday, 2 May 2011
Kirroughtree and Dalbeatie
With a forecast for great weather I made a last minute booking at the Youth Hostel at Minigaff (Newton Stewart). The plan was to ride two of the "7 Stanes" mountain bike trails in Southwest Scotland.Having ridden the trail at Ae, I knew the trails would be well and graded for flowing riding, so I waslooking forward to some great fun. I rode Kirroughtree on Sunday and then Dalbeatie today (monday). Both were good but as widely thought in the mountain bike world, Kirroughtree is fantastic. I must admit that I missed out "The chute", but there's always another time. A great weekend.
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Judging by the increasing rate of digital advancements globally, day by day, people are diverting towards the use of cryptocurrency as a substitute for physical money. Cryptocurrency is a legal but decentralized digital-based system of exchange whereby financial transactions are carried out using unique codes. Activities relating to cryptocurrency are independent of government interference and immune to the grossly unstable and dependent nature of the money market.
The increased popularity of cryptocurrency is born from its inability to be easily forged, hence ruling out the phenomenon of scamming. Although Bitcoin is by far the most popular type of cryptocurrency, many more like Litecoin, Peercoin, EOS, Ethereum, Monero, and TRX amongst others exist. Now, have you ever imagined a trading platform allowing you to trade not just Bitcoin but many other types of cryptocurrencies? Think no further as the Bitcoin Circuit experience caters to that.
What is Bitcoin Circuit?
The Bitcoin Circuit is a software designed to enable end-users to experience many benefits associated with trading in multiple cryptocurrencies. This invariably includes multiple returns on investment and a huge passive income which is large enough to be the active income for some people.
Being one of the additions to the list of trading software in the Bitcoin investment industry, Bitcoin Circuit is a legitimate cryptocurrency platform. And it was created by the International Council for Bitcoin.
Asides from affording users the chance to trade in many types of currencies, the Bitcoin Circuit software is designed to enable all and sundry to have easy trading experience, regardless of how less-technologically inclined a person is.
How does it work?
Bitcoin Circuit is a reputable and registered cryptocurrency trading platform that helps users in identifying good market deals and further assists them in securing and sealing trading deals, using the money within the users' accounts.
Bitcoin Circuit isn't a money doubling software. However, through the use of advanced algorithms that allow efficiency, the software can detect and finalize deals that would yield users favorable profits.
In a restricted sense, you open an account, make a deposit, trade or the software helps you to trade rationally and swiftly. And you sit back and enjoy the returns on your investment. Before you can engage in trading, whether manual or automatic, you must have a minimum deposit of $250 in your Bitcoin Circuit account.
Bitcoin Circuit mobile app
As of now, Bitcoin Circuit doesn't have an official mobile app for users, be it on App Store or Google Play. Don't fall for the prank of fraudsters who claim they have a link to download the Bitcoin Circuit app. Nonetheless, transactions can easily be conducted through the official Bitcoin Circuit website.
Is Bitcoin Circuit fake?
Going by several reviews of verified users, Bitcoin Circuit is a reputable cryptocurrency software not without a few questions on its integrity. Some people have said Bitcoin Circuit is fake. It provides users with a seamless interface which makes it easy for them to navigate their way around it.
The Bitcoin Circuit trading system is also noted to have a success rate of 97% which is a very promising number. It doesn't have popularly known safety badges on its website and it has reportedly failed checks by independent reviewers. While certain feedbacks have presented the software in a positive light, it's still important to be careful when opting out for Bitcoin Circuit.
How to join Bitcoin Circuit?
As there's no official app to gain access to this trading system, users can sign up and log in to their accounts from the comfort of their smartphones through the official Bitcoin Circuit website. It's not mandatory to access your account using a laptop or computer.
How to open Bitcoin Circuit account?
Bitcoin Circuit offers free registration. All you have to do is enter the website using whatever search engine you find comfortable, click enter, and follow the instructions below:
- Enter your first name.
- Enter your last name.
- Throw in your active e-mail address which will be subjected to verification.
- Input your current/active cell phone number which will also be subjected to verification.
- Click the "OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT" box.
How to create a strong password for your Bitcoin Circuit account?
After completing your Bitcoin Circuit registration successfully, you'll be mandated to create a strong password to secure your very own newly-created account, a password that should contain alphabets in both upper and lower cases (a, B, c…,) numerals (1, 2, 3…,) as well as special characters (; ' @ & \…) A good example of a strong password is Cherry@229.
How to start trading with Bitcoin Circuit software?
Following the successful completion of your Bitcoin Circuit account, you're all set to move on to the next stage which is trading in the cryptocurrency of your choice. With the aim of making it incredibly easy for users to navigate the software, before proceeding into the real trading process, the Bitcoin Circuit website provides a very much functional demo trading platform (which will be available to you after completing your Bitcoin Circuit registration.)
Demo Trading mode
It's a Bitcoin Circuit test platform which depicts how the live trading system operates. The aim of this is to help users understand the basics of cryptocurrency trading before venturing into the real zone. With this, even a person with absolutely no knowledge on cryptocurrency dealings will receive first-hand information on the subject matter.
It helps in preventing users, especially those who intend to venture into manual trading, from making uninformed decisions. And prevents them from jeopardizing their deposits whilst trading.
Live Trading mode
After accustoming yourself to the nitty-gritty of cryptocurrency in the demo mode, all you have to do now is make a deposit into your account and turn on the trading style that suits you best (manual or auto,) then sit back and enjoy the returns on your investment.
The minimum and maximum amount of deposit that can be made into your Bitcoin Circuit account is $250 and $15,000 respectively.
The types of cryptocurrencies that can be traded on the Bitcoin Circuit platform are:
- Bitcoin
- Ethereum
- Litecoin
- Ripple
In relation to auto-trading using Bitcoin Circuit, a stop-loss feature that helps in limiting the access of the software to user's deposits in the event of an unfavorable market has been devised. This guarantees a safe and user-friendly platform.
Bitcoin Circuit payout
Many users of the Bitcoin Circuit trading system have verified the smooth and swift nature of withdrawals. Profits from users' deposits can be stationed to be in either Dollars (USD) or Euros (EUR.) Also, different payment options like Mastercard, Visa, Paypal, and Skrill amongst others are available and can be used in making deposits, as well as cashing out.
In the Bitcoin Circuit payout system, the earnings/withdrawals of users are commensurate to returns from their trading activities. You can have access to your earnings in a minimum of 24 hours after cashing out. This depicts the absence of hidden fees and the transparent nature of the platform.
In the process of registration, one of the purposes of verifying your phone number and email address is to prevent problems from occurring during payouts. Also, you're permitted to withdraw your profits at any point in time.
Features of Bitcoin Circuit software
Bitcoin Circuit has a few spectacular features that sets it apart from other platforms. These features are listed below.
Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
With the use of Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Bitcoin Circuit keeps the personal and private data and information of users encrypted. All activities done in the process of trading cryptocurrencies (whether manually or automatically) are kept secure and inaccessible to hackers.
Auto/Manual trading system
Bitcoin Circuit software allows end-users to perform manual trading to test their own abilities at dealing cryptocurrencies. However, the system also affords them the opportunity of automatic trading where trained robots analyze the market and subsequently secure and seal trade deals on their behalf.
Demo mode
This is to provide necessary information to users and make it relatively easy for them to understand how the cryptocurrency market works. Bitcoin Circuit shows a prototype of the live trading system for users before they proceed into the real zone.
User-friendly interface
The whole software is designed to allow for easy interpretation of icons and clear instructions, hence making it incredibly easy for both novice and professional traders to navigate their way around the system.
Low starting deposit
Compared to other trading platforms, Bitcoin Circuit offers a fairly reasonable starting deposit to users — a minimum of $250, from which they can make mind-blowing profits.
Swift and smooth payout system
Users of the Bitcoin Circuit software are provided with a fast system of withdrawal where it's possible to withdraw profits from trading in a minimum of 24 hours after cashing out. The phone numbers and email address provided by users during the process of registration are verified to ensure only real owners of the account have access to their money.
Market trends
The Bitcoin Circuit software gives an avenue for users to learn about current trends in the cryptocurrency market.
Pros and cons of Bitcoin Circuit
- Low startup capital
- Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
- Demo trading mode
- Market analysis
- Device flexibility
- No profit guarantee
- Suspicious and negative online reviews
Tips for a good Bitcoin Circuit experience
- Seriously consider the minimum deposit: Individuals, especially those who're new to the market, are advised to begin trading with a small deposit of $250. Starting capital can be increased as time goes by.
- Regulate your expenses: The money intended to be used for a deposit should be that which you can afford to lose. In other words, don't use money which could disturb your financial state if it was lost. Don't use your entire savings to begin trading.
- Analyze the crypto market: Do your research about cryptocurrency generally and the market trends of your desired type of currency (Bitcoin, Litecoin, etc) specifically.
- Finish what you started: Users are advised to withdraw their profits at the end of every trading session. The capital should then be reinvested.
- Use appropriate strategies: Buy currencies when prices are low and sell when prices become high.
The alternative but legal means of earning money outside your day-to-day job is using the Bitcoin Circuit trading system. Although cryptocurrency trading is volatile, risk signifies high investment returns. This coupled with the high risks and the Bitcoin Circuit aspects deemed to be shady may be too much risk. But as the case is, many have also reported massive profits. The ball is in your court. Join the movements along the electrifying Bitcoin Circuit now to enjoy if you're a big risk-taker!

subset: commoncrawl


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Stay Shady
June 16th • Posted in Style
So let's start another weather talk, right? Here in Italy Summer is just keep us hanging on. The odd storms aren't really missing an evening lately, while mornings are sunny and nice, but not really hot just yet, which makes getting dressed the harder of tasks! But while not really being able to wear flowy skirts and sandals all the time just yet, something that is really coming in handy is a couple of pairs of sunnies always hanging around in my handbag!
And talking of sunnies, I've been wearing the same old pair for years, and although it'll always have a special place in my heart, I was very excited to give it a break and try something different this year.
Owning only a pair for years, the one thing I do know about sunglasses is that big round shapes truly fit me nicely! That's why these Owensboro Round Sunglasses* called my name so loudly as soon as I spotted them. I also have a soft spot for brown lenses especially, and while I was a little sceptical about the lenses opacity at first, I can't really express how much I love the fact you can half-see my eyes through that 60% brown tint!
At the same time, my Beatrice Wayfarer* pair immediately looked a perfectly trendy pick to me! And although I'm still one for round shapes instead of ones on the squared side, I love having options now! Especially since these have the most lovely golden details!
I couldn't suggest GlassesShop enough: I loved being able to pick the perfect glasses frames, pair it with my favourite lenses colour and type and select all the details and options. It felt like ordering a totally custom pair of fancy sunnies, but considering how many cheap glasses (but not in quality!) I was able to find on the site, getting them at a small portion of the price at the same time! Add the fact they also sell prescription sunglasses and you're basically sorted for summertime!
GlassesShop is offering 50% off all Miel Café's readers, on both sunglasses and eyeglasses with free lenses with the coupon code GSHOT50. And considering how affordable they already are, this is such a treat, isn't it?! I hope you enjoy! x
* The products mentioned in this post were sent to me as a gift, but the love for them and the website is all mine!


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Regarding Eastland, my husband Walt lost two aunts on the Eastland and I'm wondering how to get a copy of the magazine with the article about the disaster. Their names were Dora Schroth and Caroline Afford (sisters). Thank you.
The article about the sinking of the Eastland appeared in the Feb Mar 2009 issue of HISTORY MAGAZINE as mentioned in the magazine's blog. Ol' Myrt here found the article by David A. Norris very compelling. I am sorry to hear that your husband lost two close relatives in this terrible disaster.
The Internet-Genealogy Blog contains entries on topics originally printed in any of the four magazines published by Moorshead. For each blog entry, I make it a point to include the author, title of the original article, the name of the magazine, publication information and page number(s) in addition to a clickable link to the magazine website. That way, whenever you run across a blog entry mentioning an article you wish to own, merely click the link to the magazine website. Then you can order the issue in question directly from the publisher.
In this case, History Magazine is located at: http://www.history-magazine.com/. To save you time, Ol' Myrt here is including the information from the "CONTACT US" link on the History Magazine website.
- Publisher & EditorEdward Zapletal (email@example.com) (416) 491-3699 xt. 105
- Assistant Editor Marc Skulnick(email@example.com) 416-491-3699 xt. 106
- Editorial Assistant Nicole Votta (firstname.lastname@example.com) 416-491-3699 xt. 114
- Advertising Services Jeannette Cox (email@example.com) (416) 491-3699 xt. 111
- Circulation ServicesJeannette Cox (email@example.com) (416) 491-3699 xt. 111
- Webmaster Edward Zapletal (firstname.lastname@example.com) 416-491-3699 xt. 105 Fax (416) 491-3996
- Mail Addresses US Address: PO Box 194, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
- Canadian Address: 505 Consumers Road, Suite 312, Toronto, ON, M2J 4V8
Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
Your friend in genealogy.


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Smart Alarm Clock v1.3 APK
Smart Alarm Clock play.google.comsmartalarm
How does the app work?
During the night we go through several sleep cycles: transition to sleep, light sleep, deep sleep and dream sleep. In each of these stages we behave differently: toss and torn in bed, mutter or stay quiet.
The sensors in your Android device detect all the movements, the app figures out which stage of sleep you are in and wakes you up during the light sleep stage, when your body is naturally prepared for awakening.
Apart from monitoring your sleep cycles, Smart Alarm also records the sounds in your bedroom.
Smart Alarm Clock also benefits 100+ high quality relaxation sounds (Nature, Urban, Lullabies, Classical Tunes, Binaural beats, Water, Guided Meditation, Rise & Shine) to fall asleep in harmony.
Smart Alarm Clock:
- Determines the best time to wake you up
- Provides detailed statistics of your sleep cycles and stages
- Weather forecast: detailed weather stats from anywhere in the world
- Records your bedroom sounds if they are longer than 5 seconds
- Includes 100+ specially designed chill-out and wake-up music
- Fall asleep listening to the high quality relaxation sounds:
- Monitor you sleep cycles and record disturbances during the night.
- Wake up at the right time to avoid under- or oversleeping or at the exact time you set before.
Install Smart Alarm Clock and we'll take care of your relaxation, deep sleep and accurate wake up!
What's in this version : (Updated : Mar 5, 2014)
- Smart Alarm Clock for iOS is among the top paid apps in the US and 70+ countries all over the world!
Download : 15Mb APK


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Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a collection of stocks or bonds, much like a mutual fund. Their popularity continues to grow as investors look to invest in a wide array of markets, whether broad like the S&P 500, in niche sectors, or targeted to a specific goal.
As the number of active ETFs continue to grow, so has the number of themed ETFs.
Here's a look at four very different and unique ETF investment ideas:
PureFunds Video Game Tech ETF (NYSEArca: GAMR)
GAMR tracks companies actively involved in the electronic gaming industry including the entertainment, education and simulation segments [Read more: A Look at the First ETF Dedicated to Video Game Industry].
PureFunds Drone Economy Strategy ETF (IFLY)
IFLY provides a benchmark for investors interested in tracking companies actively involved in drone technology and services. The Index uses Modified Equal Weight capitalization-weighted methodology [Read more: PureFunds Launches Drone ETF on NYSE].
Global X Millennials Thematic ETF (Nasdaq: MILN)
MILN is the ninth ETF in Global X's suite of thematic funds, and the first in its 'People' category, which focuses on emerging trends pertaining to changing demographics and consumer behaviors. MILN includes those companies that are among the best positioned to benefit as Millennials, those aged 16-36, gradually enter peak earning years, and become a major force within the U.S. economy [Read more: Global X Launches Millennials ETF on Nasdaq].
SPDR Gender Diversity Index ETF (NYSEArca: SHE)
SHE measures the performance of U.S. large capitalization companies that are gender diverse, and are defined as companies that exhibit gender diversity in their senior leadership positions [Read more: State Street Global Advisors Launches 'SHE' ETF to Address Gender Inequality].[related_stories]


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You are a foreign entrepreneur, (expatpreneur) and there are several basic things your need to know in China. Over the past two decades, entrepreneurship in China has grown at an exponential rate. The open market policy leading to economic explosive growth, in combination with the Internet bubble sweeping through China like a storm has produced generations of successful Chinese entrepreneurs.
In 2000, total revenues earned by Chinese state-owned industrial enterprises and those in the non-state-owned sector Chinese private enterprises were roughly the same at about 4 trillion yuan each. By 2013, while total revenues at state-owned companies had risen just over sixfold, revenues in the non-state sector had risen by more than 18 times. Profits in the same period showed an even more remarkable difference, with state-owned companies showing a sevenfold increase but profits at non-state-owned ones increasing nearly 23 times.
Things have changed drastically since when the market was just opened. China is now a very competitive landscape with global brands, foreign companies as well as domestic players competing aggressively for the pockets of millions of Chinese customers.
Read: 20 Best Strategies to enter the Chinese Market
With more than 10 years of establishment, our agency has worked with numerous clients and helped them build their empire in China. Learning from our own experiences as well as from the clients, we'd like to share with you the most important tips every businessman needs to know in China.
Start small (dream big)
We know when you research China, you are amazed and excited about the enormous opportunities this country can offer. Western media usually talks about China as the land of gold where the future lies. Market research and reports release huge numbers indicating how potential China is.
Businessmen in China all have big aspirations and want to get there fast. Sometimes, they try to jump to "big" too soon. They try to have an immediately huge vision.
While there is nothing wrong with thinking big, when it comes to taking action and making progress, starting small is the key. Starting small requires less time and energy; thus, your chances of giving up on it will not be high. Starting small also prevents overwhelming and paralysis. Thinking too much and planning too much may lead to the delay of actions or missing the opportunities.
Starting small builds your momentum and confidence, as well as gives you immediate feedback so that you can adjust in time. Learning and adapting from the market is key to success in China.
Adapt and keep your DNA
Apart from language barriers and legal hurdles, one of the most significant and yet consistently underestimated reasons, why global brands struggle in China, is simply the cultural difference. Many fail to acknowledge that consumers in the Chinese market have entirely different mindsets and motivations to those in the West. They also have different ways of shopping and interacting with brands.
No book or research can cover all the particulars of Chinese culture and thinking. You can only experience, discover and learn for yourself.
In fashion, for example, simple criteria include meeting Asian sizing requirements (a Western small is typically a medium in China) and manufacturing clothes with shorter sleeve lengths to accommodate body shape, as well as introducing China-specific lines that speak to local fashion trends. Where many brands have ignored these golden rules and failed, Zara has embraced them and is steadily building its market presence. On one hand, the brand maintains the essence of a global brand, but on the other, adapts to satisfy the high expectations of Chinese consumers.
Adapt to China. China will not adapt to you.
Move fast (or die fast)
In China, everything is moving so fast. Society is changing dramatically; trends appear and disappear at a breakneck speed; new platforms emerge and submerge in a matter of a few years.
Chinese companies are investing heavily and expanding quickly both in the domestic market and overseas.
- In less than 6 months, Alibaba, the largest digital player in China, set up Alipay (a mobile payment service) in every major shop across the country.
- Within one night China can put 100 000 bikes in Shanghai.
- In one night, they can copy the latest iPhone model.
In China, you need to think fast, make fast decisions and move fast. If you wait too long, the market will change, the competitors will become stronger, the consumers will change their minds, and you will miss the opportunity. Business in China is about speed and flexibility. It is not the largest fish that survives but the fastest and most adaptable one.
read also why China is a startup nation
Be pragmatic
If you want to be successful, you have to adapt to the reality of the ground.
You may have read a lot about China before entering this market; however, when it comes to actual execution, you have to start from the ground up. No matter how much you have been prepared for this market, it will never fail to surprise you.
Stay pragmatic and don't be lured by artificial figures. Instead, patiently learn from the consumers, your suppliers, your partners, your Chinese colleagues, and your friends. Then, adapt. Be as pragmatic as Chinese people. Do not think too much. Do not come in with too many Cliché, pre-perceived ideas of how things should be. Instead, focus on what works and avoid what does not work.
5. Think E-commerce first – Retail second
In China, a total of 816.98 million users used mobile devices to access the internet as of December 2018. 610 million users shopped online in 2018, 14.4% more than a year ago.
Social media and online shopping in China are developing very fast and becoming much more advanced than in the West. Therefore, when brands first enter China, they would put e-commerce and social media marketing as the cornerstones of their business plan. Entrepreneurs have to understand popular digital platforms in China, and know how to do e-commerce before doing retail.
Care of your reputation, because trust matters in China
The Chinese consumer market used to be and is still dramatically riddled with copycat brands and fake products. Therefore, consumers are cautious and highly beware of new unbranded stuff. In China, branding is everything.
Furthermore, Chinese consumers trust the review and feedback from their fellow buyers more than the brands themselves. Therefore, word-of-mouth marketing is critical, and "guanxi" is so advantageous in this country. When a person introduces you, his/her friends would be guaranteed that you are a trustworthy person. This is more powerful than any marketing tactic.
As an individual, building and maintaining relationships with people in the industry is important. As a brand, establishing and nourishing a strong and positive reputation on social media is key to making sales.
Start – work – optimize and then scale
Previously we explained why you should start NOW and start SMALL; then continuously adjust, and constantly adapt your business idea to the tastes of Chinese consumers and the Chinese business environment. This is where you must devote the bulk of your time and efforts to ensure success.
Once you have figured out how to attract and retain the first group of happy customers (most likely belonging to the urban Chinese middle class) you will want to scale. Done correctly and at the right time, this will allow you to tap into the upcoming second-and third-tier city markets.
But beware: While it is fairly easy to get going in China, building a strong and loyal customer base and scaling your business successfully will take quite a bit of time, energy, and business acumen.
Hire local partners and learn from them
If you're planning to expand to any foreign market, you're far more likely to be successful if you rely on local partners who can guide you through the cultural and logistical hurdles that await you. This is especially true in the case of China, a country whose values and systems are still largely misunderstood by most casual Western observers.
Also, learn from your team members
Most leaders settle for learning by themselves. They read a book or attend a conference by themselves. Good leaders learn with the help of a mentor. A coach can come alongside a leader and help the leader see things from a different perspective. The best leaders learn with a team. An old proverb teaches that where there are many advisors, there is much success.
Don't forget to incentivize your partners and team members. Award them for excellent performance and spend time building relationships with them. Sometimes, just a dinner makes difference!
Think Social & Viral – forget Advertising
It's harder and harder to catch the attention of Chinese consumers. Every day, they are bombarded with too much information and advertisement on their mobile phones, laptops, on the streets, on trains, in restaurants, on billboards… Every space in China is filled with advertising.
Therefore, advertising alone is not enough to attract customers and keep them interested. You need smarter strategies, more creative campaigns, better analytics, and more innovative marketing initiatives. The digital/ technological landscape in China is diverse with numerous platforms, functions, and tools for you to run the hardest-to-execute campaigns you ever imagine.
Be result-oriented
Because only results in the matter…
How can I achieve this? What do I have to do now to get there? Being result-oriented means you get what needs to be done, done. You become much more focused on actions toward the result.
Chinese are Results-oriented, and this country produces a large number of successful people, because in the end, no matter how only results matter;
To win in China, you have to move fast and be result-oriented. When a problem arises, many people will spend a good amount of time trying to understand what happened; what step in the process was missed, why didn't the process work, and where was the error. But result-oriented people, cut to the chase, do not waste time looking at the past but instead look forward; how do we fix this now?
Partner with result-oriented agencies who will assist you navigate through this market and save you so much time in "trial and error"!
Read also Successful habits in China.
Do you need help?
We have developed startup packages, to help entrepreneurs to start something and get their first sales, leads, or feedback.
Let me know if you want to know about these cost-effective solutions.


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Muhammad Zafzaf's 'The Elusive Fox': Turning the Euro-American Story about Morocco Inside Out
From a review of Muhammad Zafzaf's The Elusive Fox, trans. Mbarek Sryfi and Roger Allen, that can be read in full at Qantara, "One rule for them."
It opens:
The ′60s generation of US writers was shaped by a Morocco that emerged in the writings of William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Paul Bowles and many others. This Morocco was frightening, welcoming, exotic, hallucinatory and completely ″new″. It was a space not just to be read, but written.
These works inspired young travellers and coastal Morocco swelled as a popular destination for American and European counter-cultural drifters, hedonists, artists and others.
This, of course, did not go unmarked by Morocco′s artists and writers. Muhammad Zafzaf (1945-2001), the twentieth century′s ″godfather of Moroccan literature″, was, in the 1960s, a young writer, a student and later a Casablanca high-school teacher.
His 1989 novel ″The Elusive Fox″ may have been based on some of his own experiences and observations, as translator Mbarek Sryfi notes in his afterword. The book is set during one 1960s summer in coastal Essaouira. It′s populated by the European hippies who floated around Morocco, but written from the point of view of Ali, a long-haired gym teacher from Casablanca who travels out to the country′s west coast because he too wants to smoke hash, drink wine, enjoy free love and swim nude in the ocean.
Rife with contradiction
The book highlights many of the divisions and contradictions of the ″global″ counter-cultural movement, as staged in small-town coastal Morocco. In the opening pages, Ali meets a tough, ″tomboyish″ Moroccan woman. He′s looking for a sleep and she tells a hotel clerk that Ali can share her room. ″I′ve an extra bed.″
Contradictions are immediate. The clerk forbids her to share her room with an unrelated man, threatening her with expulsion if she does. When she argues that the European hippies do it, he tells her ″All the boss cares about is money.″ As to why she can′t: ″You′re a Muslim woman.″
This female lead, Fatima Hajjouj, first appears strong and brave and willing to transgress almost any rule of sexual and body politics. This is how she remains around European hippies and village peasants.
Yet when she′s around a wealthy Moroccan man with status, Azeddine, she turns suddenly weak and submissive, allowing him to mock her. Ali is at first shocked. But then he surmises that Fatima is just ″hiding the viper inside her, just as I was hiding my own fox, surveying everything going on with a quiet prudence.″
Poverty is also appears to be a different experience, depending on whether you′re European or Moroccan. Ali′s poverty as a high-school teacher makes it almost impossible for him to move around the country. Meanwhile, the ″penniless″ European hippies might be broke, but still have enough money to buy alcohol and hash and always enough to keep moving.
″They′re all that way,″ one character says. ″They don′t have a penny, but they still travel. I don′t know how they do it. A month or two later, they′re sending you postcards from somewhere else in the world.″
You can read the full review at Qantara.


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I used to have such "food envy" about Mexican Chorizo. See, I couldn't buy it where I lived. So sad, huh? And when it started becoming available, it was super pricey and usually frozen. So I learned to whip up my own Homemade Chorizo. Homemade Chorizo is quick and easy to make at home and problem solved!
Mexican Chorizo is so delicious and has so many uses. Traditional Mexican? Yes of course. But you'll find Homemade Chorizo can be used in so many recipes when you need a little earthy, spicy punch. Links to a few of my recipes using Chorizo are at the bottom of the page. Chorizo, not just for breakfast, anymore!
About Homemade Chorizo:
Did you know Mexican Chorizo is a personal thing? It has a long history going way back to Spain; when the Spaniards got to Mexico, they found the climate wasn't conducive to the drying of Chorizo sausage, so Mexican Chorizo was/is made fresh. Chorizo can vary from region to region, town to town and many families have their own recipe, handed down for generations.
What that means is that in making your own Homemade Chorizo, you have a lot of options for customizing. My particular blend of Chorizo is on the milder side (to me), but maybe you'd like to vary the types of chile or heat level to suit your own taste? If so, feel free to add in spicier chiles with a little more heat.
What Chiles are best in Homemade Chorizo?:
A typical blend for homemade chorizo is a mixture of the milder Ancho and Guajillo chiles. Ancho is probably a pretty familiar, mild chile and is found in a lot of food and recipes in the US. The Guajillo gives a deeper, almost raisiny flavor. But you can add and experiment to your heart's content. Personally, I love a hint of Chipotle chile in my chorizo.
My recipe is pretty traditional, but it's fun to experiment with all kinds of different chile or chili powders. The pure chili powders used in Chorizo are each based on one type of chile. They're not the American "Chili powder" we buy at the store, which is already a blend of chiles, spices herbs, and salt.
I like to toast my dried chiles (just lay them in a hot pan until they begin to expand, turning often) and then let them cool. Once cool, open them up, remove the stems and seeds (that's messy, do it on a large sheet pan with sides to contain all the seeds) then grind the chiles (not the seeds or stems) in a coffee or spice grinder, or good blender to a powder.
If you think you're coming to my house with your own bag of coffee beans, you're going to be in for a big surprise if you want to use my coffee grinder! You'll have Mexican coffee! Most dried chiles will give you around a tablespoon of dried chili powder, but this varies with the size of the chiles.
Optional Flavorings in Homemade Chorizo:
While some ingredients are essential and pretty much common to all Chorizo, the amounts can be played with and additions can be made. In my Chorizo, I use paprika to bring the red color forward, others use Annatto. Some don't use anything. I've noticed the red color seems to intensify as the Chorizo rests overnight. Other common ingredients are ground coriander seed and/or cinnamon.
I'm sure many people have their list of very top secret ingredients in their Homemade Chorizo. Don't in any way feel that I've covered everything! That's the beauty, isn't it, in making your own?
The Pork for Homemade Chorizo:
Chorizo is normally pretty oily, and you do need some fat to carry all the flavors. Chorizo is typically made with the fattier shoulder, but if you do want to go lean, you could use pork loin. I compensate for today's leaner pork by adding just a touch of oil to the recipe. Some people use bacon and others save their pork fat and blend it into their chorizo. Again, it all comes down to your own personal taste and what you have available.
You'll find that making your own Chorizo is not only a great way to have that customized taste, it will be a fraction of the cost of the Chorizo you buy at the store and so much fresher and more vibrant. Both Pork Shoulder and Pork Loin can hit a great sales price from 69 to 99 cents a pound, with the best pricing usually in the fall. I generally see both cuts of meat drop to a low at least once a quarter at my store, generally around 99 cents to $1.49 a pound. Pick them up at the low and freeze. Even with the additional cost of the chiles (they're generally inexpensive) Homemade Chorizo is downright cheap to make. Bonus!
If you'd like to read more about buying and using the pork shoulder, see my post on a Large Pork Roast, Boston Butt/Shoulder. The pork shoulder is sometimes called a "Boston Butt" but it seems NOT in Boston. I thoroughly confused a Bostonian who had never heard of a Boston Butt!
Testing Your Homemade Chorizo:
Take a minute to fry up a small bit of your chorizo so you can get an idea of the taste, but remember that chorizo is best a day after mixing. You'll know when you test right away at least if you're on the right track with the heat level, even if the flavor's a bit jagged. All the flavors in your homemade chorizo will smooth out and blend after a little time resting.Print
Homemade Chorizo
Homemade Chorizo is super simple and so customizable. Make a little taste test and cook it up to make sure you're happy with the spices.
- Yield: about 2 cups 1x
- 1 pound pork shoulder
- 2 1/2 tablespoons of cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
- 1 tablespoon guajillo chile powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
- a pinch of ground clove
- 1 clove crushed garlic
Cut well chilled pork into 1″ chunks. Combine all ingredients in food processor and pulse until pork is broken down and mixture is well blended.
Remove from processor bowl and knead several times to incorporate all the spices. Wrap well and chill overnight or around 8 hours before using.
Keeps well for five or six days, freezes well for three to four months.
- This is a mild tasting chorizo, made as is.
- 1 whole, dried chile makes approximately a tablespoon of chili powder.
- Recipe may be increased if you'd like a larger batch.


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Yesterday one of my friends posted this video on facebook, which led to about an hour of instant replay.
And it's not just because it has a catchy beat. The words, "How I've proved Him o'er and o'er" touched me deeply. As I sang, memories of all the times Jesus has shown up—again, and again, and again—came washing over me. When I've had nowhere else to turn, He was there. When everyone else turned away, He was there. When I was too tired to lift my face, He lifted it for me. When I felt like my heart would break, He comforted me with words of love. Like a gentle father enveloping a weak and timid child. God has proven His love and faithfulness to me o'er and o'er.
One day I was speaking with an atheist. This was one of those intellectual conversations–you know, "According to the first law of thermodynamics…therefore there must be a God."
He wasn't buying it.
Although, I suspect he was. Each one of us knows deep in our hearts there is a God. And I believe each one of us catch glimpses of His all-consuming love throughout the day, but we rationalize those moments and faint whispers away.
That's easy to do, even for believers. We'll hear a word from God. Maybe a verse will speak to us, asking us to do something we'd rather not do. And in that moment, we surrender completely. But then the next day rolls around, and the words, and our passion, fades. How do you know that verse was from God? (Besides the fact that it's in the Bible?) Maybe you're making too much of it. You do have a tendency to make every verse your own. (News flash–the Bible is God's Word to you. Own it.)
Or, we'll ask for another confirmation, then another, then another. And over time, that tiny flame begins to fade. Life seeps in, and we tell ourselves it was never really a call.
Given enough time and enough human rationalization, even the miraculous can be explained away. Maybe it wasn't a worldwide flood. Maybe Jonah's life was an allegory. Maybe that check that came in the mail at just the right time was a coincidence.
Until we're leveled–totally broken, without a glimmer of hope, and God shows up. Then there's no doubt. No explanations suffice, and that memory of God reaching down His hand and plunging us out of whatever mess we were in resonates so deeply, it cements itself into our hearts.
After a long, and fruitless conversation with my atheist friend, he asked me what I would do if someone proved the Bible wrong. Perhaps he wasn't aware of how many years I had spent studying cannonization, biblical archeology and books upon books discussing the credibility and authority of the Bible. But despite all the evidence I'd seen in favor of the Bible's authority, I contemplated his question honestly.
After all the times God surrounded me, held me, spoke to me, saved me, healed me–showed Himself to me in both the big and the mundane–could anything convince me of His non-existence?
No. Once you've tasted the water, there is no way someone can convince you it is not real.
What about you? Pause for a moment and think…contemplate all the times and ways God has shown up in your life. Then listen to the song again. Do you find yourself singing, "Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him. How I've proved Him o'er and o'er."?
Not there yet? Curious? Maybe even a tad thirsty? Wanna see if God really is who He says He is and really does what He says He does? Ask Him to show you, for all who ask receive, all who seek find and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart."
If you want to know God–truly know Him, and experience His freeing, cleansing love first hand, tell Him. If you seek, you will find. He's already there, loving you, drawing you. Waiting for you to life up your face.
And now I' going to play that song again. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him. How I've proved Him o'er and o'er.
Jesus–life, peace, joy…rest.


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Fraser River Middle School
The design for the new school building and site represents a positive and cohesive presence, integrating the elements of built form and function, school, Neighborhood Learning Centre, Board office, and shared site programs.
The design response is a unique synthesis of these overarching guidelines in combination with the specific characteristics of the school and park site, the immediate Brow of the Hill neighborhood context, and the broader community of New Westminster.
The basic design parti is that of discreet program elements organized around a splayed circulation and program spine on three levels, opening to the southwest to sun and views.
On the lowest levels, this spine organizes the plan and provides crush space for large gatherings, informal social space, and student or public gallery space.
A wavy wood roof and glazing to the gymnasium provide drama and animate this space. The second and third levels provide the academic and social heart of the school.
This spine is signaled on the east and west elevations by glazed elements, and reads also on the north and south elevations due to the clerestory glazing along the line of the splayed plan element.


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Blog about Toyota new cars, prices, release dates
Some would consider Japan as being the place of all things cool. There are other ones who think that this land originates all the things that are weird. Maybe both of these things area correct, but we cannot take away the fact that the Japanese automakers have managed to produce a bunch of pretty good…
Continue Reading
Robert • September 2, 2015


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Dr. Eoin O'Cearbhaill has been awarded a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship for 2 years on a project entitled "MICROPOD – MICROPOrous Devices for next-generation therapeutic delivery". This project aims to develop novel microneedle patches for pain-free drug delivery applications, using a combination of computational and experimental techniques.
The goal of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of experienced researchers wishing to diversify their individual competence in terms of skill acquisition at multi- or interdisciplinary level through advanced training, international and intersectoral mobility.


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Isle of Wight Self Catering cottage, Dunnose Magna, Shanklin, sleeps 8
Booking through:
01244 352 197
Sleeps a maximum of: 8
Pricing From: £1595.00
This lovely house is based in Luccombe, Isle of Wight and can sleep eight people in four bedrooms.
Dunnose Magna is a large house based in Luccombe, Isle of Wight. It has four bedrooms: One ground floor twin with en-suite shower room with shower, basin and WC, another ground floor super king-size bedroom, one first floor king-size with en-suite bathroom and one first floor double. With a first floor bathroom and a ground floor shower room.
Downstairs has a fitted kitchen, with an open-plan living room and dining area. Outside has an enclosed and spacious patio area with furniture. Off-road parking is available for several cars.
Dunnose Magna is the perfect choice for a relaxing holiday.
Parking Space
Linen provided
Towels provided
Washing Machine
Single Beds
Double Beds
Twin Beds
Gas central heating, gas effect open fire
Electric double oven and induction hob, microwave, toaster, kettle, dishwasher, washing machine, TV and WiFi
Fuel and power inc in rent
Bed linen and towels inc in rent
Private Off-road parking behind electric gate for several cars
Enclosed patio area with furniture
Sorry, no pets and no smoking
Shop less than 2 miles and pub less than 2 miles
Note: There is a stream that runs down the edge of the garden (the stream is fenced off but there is a gate) so children must be supervised near the gate; the stream continues along the driveway which is behind a small wall
Due to insurance restrictions regarding the thatched roof, BBQ's are not permitted
Note: The road leading to the property has recently been resurfaced and is now fully tarmacked
Get an Ordnance Survey map covering the Shanklin area.
Nearest AttractionsHeritage Rated from 1- 5 (low-exceptional) on historic interest
Appuldurcombe House - 2.4 miles (Historic House)
Ventnor Botanic Garden - 2.5 miles (Garden)
Godshill, All Saints Church - 3.6 miles (Historic Church)
Brading Roman Villa - 4.6 miles (Roman Site)
Morton Manor - 4.7 miles (Garden)
Bembridge Fort - 5.1 miles (Historic Building)
Nunwell House and Gardens - 5.2 miles (Historic House)
St Catherine's Oratory - 5.4 miles (Historic Building)
The Shipwreck Centre & Maritime Museum - 5.4 miles (Museum)
Arreton, St George's Church - 5.4 miles (Historic Church)
Nearest Alternative Cottages
Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Sleeps: 8
Stay from: £1180.00 - 5871.00
Ventnor, Isle of Wight
Sleeps: 5
Stay from: £376.00 - 2753.00
Ventnor, Isle of Wight
Sleeps: 5
Stay from: £576.00 - 2803.00
Details of facilities are believed correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change by the cottage proprietor. Up-to-the-minute facility listings will be always presented during the booking process for your approval.
UK Self Catering
England - Scotland - Wales
Popular Locations
Devon - Cornwall - Lake District - Highlands - North Wales - South West Wales


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WEF Issues Ominous Warning Over Coming Food Crisis, Recommends 'More Sustainable Diets'
(by Tyler Durden | Zero Hedge) – Did you see the ratio Bloomberg just earned for a tweet which recommends getting used to lentils instead of meat, switching to public transportation, and avoiding buying things in bulk?
The piece, written by economist Teresa Ghilarducci, recommends that families earning under $300,000 per year consider switching to public transportation, embracing a veggie diet, and "rethink those costly pet medical needs."
The intellectual heavyweight oddly retweeted someone slamming her advice.
Which is being parodied throughout social media…
— Sid Prabhu (@sidprabhu) March 20, 2022
Unsurprisingly, Ghilarducci and the far-left "New School for Social Research" she works for is affiliated with the World Economic Forum (WEF) – which, in addition to bragging about having 'infiltrated' various world governments – infamously suggested that people get used to eating bugs due to inevitable food shortages, and
Yes, this WEF:
Which brings us to the WEF's latest – warning of an impending food crisis kicked off by the war in Ukraine.
Key points:
- More people around the world will go hungry as a result of the pandemic, high fuel prices and the conflict in Ukraine.
- Russia and Ukraine are also major producers and suppliers of fertilizers and their raw materials.
- Existing logistical issues with moving grain and food are likely to worsen.
- Disruptions will put further pressure on this year's harvest and lead to higher food prices.
- Even before the pandemic, the FAO estimated that 690 million people or 9% of the world's population, were facing food insecurity.
In short, the Ukraine war is accelerating the existing problem of inflation and food shortages, so hold on to your hats and consider a 'more sustainable diet' because things are about to get much, much worse.
We are currently witnessing the beginning of a global food crisis, driven by the knock-on effects of a pandemic and more recently the rise in fuel prices and the conflict in Ukraine. There were already clear logistical issues with moving grain and food around the globe, which will now be considerably worse as a result of the war. But a more subtle relationship sits with the link to the nutrients needed to drive high crop yields and quality worldwide.
In this context, calling for an immediate government intervention to the market is therefore the natural thing to do. Yet government budgets are severely stretched after COVID, leaving little room for direct monetary support and contribution. In view of the recent promises to remove all Russian oil and gas from our imports, there will be some tough decisions ahead for governments, farmers and consumers alike.
In the medium term, it highlights the need to transform our food system, using more green energy. We should also be encouraging more sustainable diets, which contain fewer grain fed animal products; and regenerative agricultural practices, which improve soil health and the efficiency of nutrient use by the crop. -WEF
So… eat the bugs and be happy?


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After I posted that tofu made me stupid — made me slower on a reaction-time test — a reader named Ann, who lives in Florida, said she had discovered that her migraine headaches were caused by soy. How she discovered this:
I was 49 years old and in that hot flashes stage of life, had read that soy could help alleviate them and tried a soy capsule not at a meal, immediately noticed sinus pressure and itchiness.
So I started reading all labels and eliminated soy from my diet and my migraines and sinus headaches went away! The hot flashes eventually went away on their own. I was losing whole days every month to the migraines. Every now and then the soy sneaks in at a restaurant but not as bad as before. Whenever anyone says they have migraines I always suggest looking at soy. Regretfully my daughter has the same issue, but she has way fewer headaches after eliminating soy.
I used to blame a lot of my headaches on allergies, never thinking it could be something I was eating. At age 60 now, my cholesterol numbers are excellent and I weigh 122 pounds when so many of my friends are overweight.
I asked how long it had taken to discover this.
I had been having migraines for years, 10-20, but in the mid 90s they got worse (could have coincided with more soy in food). Saw a doctor but he just prescribed imitrex which helped but did not prevent them. He never suggested looking for a food cause. It was dumb luck or divine intervention that I tried that soy capsule in 2001 or 2002. I am often amazed at how much better I feel health wise since then. Since soy is in so much processed food my diet is very basic "real" food. Raw fruits and veggies, plain nuts, fresh meat, real cheese, eggs, yogurt, any desserts I make from scratch with real butter. I'm always excited when I find a cracker that doesn't have soy since that's usually my bread substitute.
Let me repeat part of that: A doctor she saw because of migrains did not suggest trying to find an environmental cause. The same thing happened to a woman I wrote about for Boing Boing. Her doctor just prescribed one drug after another. Her migraines turned out to be caused by cleaning products. Not knowing that migraines often have environmental causes is like not knowing the germ theory of disease.
Few soy eaters realize the dangers of soy, as far as I can tell. I wrote to one of them, Virginia Messina, a nutritionist who has said "there is no reason to believe that eating soyfoods is harmful to brain aging." She has not replied.
A long list of possible migraine triggers (from the UC Berkeley health service) does not list soy, although it does mention soy sauce. It says soy milk should be safe. In a 2006 interview, one headache doctor recommended avoiding all soy. In the comments to this, a woman says:
SOY is the biggest trigger for my migraines. For years I suffered daily from migraines but after watching EVERYTHING I eat and reading all labels and avoiding SOY as best I can I am doing better. The biggest problem is that SOY is in everything!!!! I think one day they will find out how bad it is for us.
Imagine that. Putting something that damages the brain in everything.


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3D Escape Room: Frequency
The beauty of the podcast medium's continuing growth is how it catalyzes show creators to innovate, winning the interest of listeners by transporting them somewhere they've never been before. Utilizing a unique, boundary-pushing approach, this new show from production house The Owl Field turns this traditionally passive form of entertainment on its head, making the listener an active participant in a time-sensitive mystery. The show functions as an audio choose-your-own adventure, with each chapter based around listeners deciphering puzzles of increasing difficulty over the course of 60 minutes. The mechanism behind the show's central conceit is deceptively simple, yet functions impressively well: the titles of the show's 40 or so episodes are composed of the potential solutions to every puzzle, with correct ones advancing the narrative and incorrect ones bringing it to an end. While the narrative is a bit on the thin side—a trio of friends end up locked in a trailer filled with old tapes related to alien abductions, and must suss out and provide codes to avert some sort of invasion—the immersive sound design and strong vocal performances help to elevate the experience to something novel, memorable, and engaging. [Ben Cannon]
Against The Rules With Michael Lewis
Ref, You Suck!
Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short and Moneyball, uses his new show Against The Rules to take on a huge question: what's happening to fairness in America? This first episode begins to tackle that question by examining a smaller one: if it's easier than ever to hold NBA referees accountable, why do people insist more and more that the refs aren't fair? Lewis travels to Secaucus, New Jersey to visit the NBA Replay Center, where modern-day referees' calls are double-checked. He also examines why, instead of alleviating the anger basketball fans and players feel toward the referees, the Replay Center and other advancements seem to have further incensed them. Interviewing experts like ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and the behavioral economist Justin Wolfers, Lewis executes a fascinating case study while building a thesis for Against The Rules as a whole. Americans are awakening to "rigged games" not only in basketball, but in society at large—and most of those games don't have replay centers. Lewis' points can sound repetitive, but he is examining a complicated situation that sits at the intersection of fairness, perception, and power. In a world where the ref is no longer a god, who is? [Jade Matias Bell]
Bobo & Flex
Red Flags & Pink Flags, Settling vs Compromising
With their intersectional feminist takes on hook-up culture, self-care, and relationships, Bobo and Flex are dismantling the patriarchy of dating, one episode at a time. And once or twice every episode, the two Instagram fashionistas give the advice you wish you heard at least a few relationships ago. For example, you probably know all about the red flags to look out for when you meet someone new: drug and alcohol abuse, lack of ambition, racial fetishism. But then there are the pink flags—those seemingly little behavioral flaws that might indicate deeper issues, and that you will eventually find beyond frustrating at some point. The bad texters, the loud talkers, the people who leave plates way too close to the edge of the table ("Why are you inviting danger into your life that way?" Flex laments). Woven into all this hilarity are grains of wisdom, like when Flex explains the difference between settling versus compromising in a relationship: "When you settle, it's in spite of you; and when you compromise, it benefits both of you." Dating is dark and full of terrors, but Bobo and Flex can help. [Amber Cortes]
Britney's Gram
"Me Time" :)
Did you ever think that Britney Spears' use of emoji would be the key to unlocking a conspiracy? Such is the case in the latest episode of Britney's Gram, which is usually a funny and lighthearted podcast where hosts Babs Gray and Tess Barker dissect Spears' Instagram page. The news that Spears recently checked herself into a mental health facility always meant that this was going to be a heavier episode than usual, and it is, but it's also so much more. The hosts weave together several strands of Spears' recent and distant history to present a case that the official story presented to the media about her hospitalization is a complete sham and that she has in fact been committed against her will by members of her management team. The same team, they claim, is exploiting Spears' past "meltdown" in 2008 as cover for their actions because the general public will just think she's gone "crazy" again. What makes this so compelling is how genuinely worried Barker and Gray are for Britney. They love her. Their love and fear is infectious. By the end of the episode, they'll have any listener chanting that age-old internet saying: LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE! [Anthony D Herrera]
Honey Roast
Julia & Jordan
Debuting this week, Honey Roast is an interview show hosted by Tess Cocchio, creator of RPG Casts and I Am Hear. Cocchio invites a guest to roast someone else, with a sweet twist: Honey Roast is all about podcasters uplifting their favorite creators, whether they're fellow podcasters, musicians, or writers. In this debut episode, podcast producer and voice actor Julia Schifini "roasts" Jordan Cobb, the creator and producer of horror audio drama Janus Descending. Cocchio creates a sweet and safe environment where no compliment is too cheesy or too much; she makes her guests feel at home and radiates positivity that feels like a healing balm for the listener. Honey Roast is essentially what would happen if Leslie Knope made a podcast—and the result is delightful. In a world that can sometimes feel gloomy and hopeless, Honey Roast is a ray of sunshine. [Alma Roda-Gil]
Latinos Who Lunch
Dr. Babelito Y Sor Juana Inés De La Cruz
This week, Babelito, one of the hosts of Latinos Who Lunch, is operating without co-host FavyFav. To continue their mission to apply an intersectional queer/Latinx/Spanglish lens to discourse on identity, history and more, Babelito takes the opportunity in FavyFav's absence to present an episode of the Cabronas y Chingonas podcast on which he was the featured guest. Cabronas y Chingonas is the perfect crossover, seeing as that podcast's hosts, Syntia and Myte, started Cabronas y Chingonas in order to dissect topics of representation, media, and culture from their perspective as queer Latinas. Babelito, who holds his Ph.D. in Ibero-America colonial art history from the University of New Mexico, is the ideal guest to join Syntia and Myte in their discussion of Juana Inés de La Cruz, the real-life Mexican poet/philosopher/composer/nun who just so happens to be the subject of a new Netflix series. This episode of Latinos Who Lunch offers listeners the opportunity to discover an equally compelling podcast; both provide a lot of entertaining insight for Spanglish-adept podcast listeners. [Jose Nateras]
Love And Luck
Bond.Magic Bond
Pretty Little Liars Maya truthers know that queer love stories come with a body count. Love And Luck, written by performer/writer Erin Kyan, a queer disabled trans man, creates a vital narrative where queer love is magical, steady, and doesn't end in trauma. We meet nascent lovers Jason and Kane playing voicemail tag after a blind date that has gone unexpectedly well and they begin leaving each other tender, intimate voice messages. Through the voicemails, the relationship builds and unfolds slowly and sweetly, illuminating the banal minutiae and disorienting nature of learning a new human and their idiosyncrasies, This episode is especially disarming as the world begins to stray from the mundane and the lovers begin to consider a world where maybe magical powers are real. Maybe Jason and Kane are telepathic and have the power to cure hangovers, migraines, and god knows what else. Have they turned what they call empathy into magic, or is their love just that good? This low-saccharine love story will make you feel like the best of all possible worlds is indeed possible. [Morgan McNaught]
QAnon Anonymous
YouTube feat. Charlie Warzel
Of the two prominent schools of thought concerning ludicrous conspiracy theories like QAnon—ignore vs. engage/debunk—QAnon Anonymous bases its existence on the latter. While it's fun to suss out the far-out assertions floating around the mysterious Q Drops, New York Times reporter Charlie Warzel essentially tells the hosts it's not worth it. What everyone can agree on is this: debating the degree to which social media contributes to radicalization is worthwhile, and seemingly innocuous business decisions can have far-reaching consequences. The 2015 decision by YouTube to autoplay successive videos, for instance, appears to be a heavy contributor to nudging viewers toward weirder corners of the platform, and YouTube has maintained autoplay with no concern about the social cost that comes from blasting viewers with addictive, alarmist, or, in the case of children, predatory content. While Warzel disagrees with the hosts on whether YouTube's algorithm intentionally guides users toward extremist videos, it's all based on supposition, because although Warzel has interviewed both current and former Google insiders, it seems no one is exactly sure how YouTube's algorithm functions beyond a broad framework. [Zach Brooke]
Song Salad
We's Enthralled By You
Hosted by Shannon Deep (writer and dramaturg) and Scott Wasserman (musician and Ableton producer on Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and more), Song Salad is a goofy music podcast with a twist: each episode takes one random Wikipedia article or request from a Patreon supporter, and one randomized music genre on a list of over 500. First, the two have to do their research and find out what these things even are. Then, they team up to write a song on that topic in that genre. Along the way, there's plenty of hijinks and goofs between the BFF co-hosts, but never at the expense of the music genre or really even the subject—and by the end of the episode, you're always left with a ridiculous banger. This week, Shannon and Scott have to write a song about the J.R.R. Tolkien character Gollum in the style of '50s doo-wop. It's a genre/subject mashup that seems wildly impossible at first, but as soon as the hosts realize how they're going to spin it, everything clicks into place. [Wil Williams]
The Brujaja Podcast
Introverts in Latino Families
For the past year, The Brujaja Podcast has provided a platform for Latinx culture, discussing everything from stereotypes to Charmed to snacks to Selena. Comedians Anna Valenzuela, Cindy Aravena, and Vanessa Gritton handle these sometimes delicate matters by way of humor and high-energy conversation. However, this episode's word of the day (or is it week?) is tímida (or tímido), or "shy," because this week, Brujaja tackles the topic of introverts in Latino families. Cindy and Vanessa (sans Anna, who was in Alaska during this episode) explain how Latinx culture revolves around social, celebratory events and boisterous people, and how being an introvert can cause an imbalance within that spectrum, as an introverted Latinx person can easily become singled out as an outcast of the family. Damaging comments on body image, silence, or general non-participation are casually thrown out at events and ultimately change family dynamics, and Vanessa and Cindy offer their own anecdotes to discuss just how they combat those negative energies and cope with self-esteem. Whether you're a member of the Latinx community or an introvert yourself, this inclusive episode is a blanket of comfort for all uncomfortable social endeavors. [Kevin Cortez]
The Rewatchables
'Fast Five' With Bill Simmons and Shea Serrano
The Ringer's Bill Simmons loves movies. He's watched and rewatched too many films to count, so he made a podcast about it. This week, Simmons sits down with writer Shea Serrano to dive back into the 2011 film Fast Five. The pair are quick to build a strong case for why this is the movie that not only launched The Rock into mega movie stardom, but also turned the entire Fast franchise on its axis. Simmons argues Fast Five made him realize the Fast And The Furious films might be "the James Bond of [his] generation." In fact, this installment pivoted the entire series from streetcar movies to bonafide heist films. Serrano and Simmons also have a few questions about some of the more unrealistic moments, such as: why was everyone so quick to drop everything in their lives and go to Brazil with little to no prior explanation? Why do The Rock and Vin Diesel appear to be the same height the entire film when The Rock is actually 5 inches taller in real life? Both Simmons and Serrano agree that The Rock revitalized this series and breathed new life into what could have been an overdone story. [Vannessa Jackson]
The Rules Of Acquisition
The Siege Of AR-558 (DS9 S7E08)
Deep Space Nine stands apart from the rest of the Star Trek canon for a number of reasons, among which is the fact that long before Discovery decided to make Trek gritty, DS9 was delving into the harsh realities of war with well-paced, serialized arcs. Each week, the hosts of The Rules Of Acquisition revisit the anomalous series and try to determine if it's anywhere near as good as they remember. More often than not, however, the quality of a particular episode takes a back seat to a debate about the questionable politics on display. Like all science fiction, DS9 was packed with social and political commentary, but it had the odd distinction of making such commentary in a post–Cold War, pre–9/11 America. When discussing "The Siege Of AR-558"—one of the series' many "war is hell" episodes, albeit a pretty good one—the hosts go deep on the very 1990s idea that the human race exists in a post-history, post-ideology world. This hubristic philosophy leads to a series of pretty facile anti-war arguments that don't really jibe with the very necessary war for survival that's consuming the series. But hey, at least Nog didn't have to lose two legs. [Dan Neilan]
Tiny Spark
The Ethics of Nonprofit Storytelling: Survivor Porn and Parading Trauma
For a benign, super-niche podcast about the nonprofit sector, this episode contains some explosive allegations of hypocrisy within anti-human-trafficking organizations and claims that these groups peddle "survivor porn." Sophie Otiende does not make such accusations frivolously, nor bitterly, but rather with the aim of turning a critical eye to some blind spots in the nonprofit world. A consultant to a Kenya-based anti-human-trafficking organization, and a trafficking survivor herself, Otiende resents that her personal victim experience seemingly trumps her qualifications as a researcher and educator, and that some audiences require grotesque details before they can empathize with victims. She also feels that charities engage in their own brand of exploitation by not compensating survivors for sharing their stories in campaigns or at conferences, instead leaning on the sense of obligation some feel after being guided away from horrible situations. Her final point of contention is with the widespread attitude that simply raising awareness on this issue is enough. In Otiende's view, potential victims are making an informed decision to place themselves in a high-risk situation, such as emigrating in search of domestic work, and lectures on the academic definition of abuse won't resonate with desperate people who might already be forced to accommodate risk. [Zach Brooke]
Kony 2019
Jason Russell was a promising young filmmaker looking to make a difference. During a trip to Northern Uganda, he came into contact with a children who fled their homes each night to avoid abduction by Joseph Kony, a Ugandan warlord responsible for killing 66,000 children since the 1980s. Russell decided to make a documentary shedding light on a humanitarian crisis he believed was unknown to the world—the now "infamous" Kony 2012. "We are going to make Joseph Kony a household name," Russell says in the video. "Not to celebrate him, but to bring his crimes to the light." The film garnered global attention, unprecedented viral fame, and later, disastrous backlash that culminated in Russell's very public nervous breakdown. This new podcast uncovers forgotten, underreported stories, and in this first episode, host Jake Warren revisits the rise and fall of what he calls "one of the most successful brand awareness campaigns ever." Seven years later, Kony continues to evade capture, though it's unclear who exactly is supposed to be looking for him. Russell wishes he could help, but as he tells Warren in a taped interview, it's unclear if there's anything he really can—or should—do. [Sofia Barrett-Ibarria]


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Several hours after Mother Jones' David Corn alerted the world to the existence of a video secretly recorded at a Mitt Romney fund-raiser, he revealed that the footage comes from an event hosted by Marc Leder in Boca Raton on May 17, 2012. As if Romney sounding off on the "47 percent" of Americans who ostensibly don't pay taxes wasn't enough, this tidbit gives the story a sexy edge that ensures it won't be dropped anytime soon. In addition to being a private equity manager said to personify the negative side of the industry, Leder is known for throwing wild Hamptons parties, including one "where guests cavorted nude in the pool and performed sex acts, scantily dressed Russians danced on platforms and men twirled lit torches to a booming techno beat," according to the Post.
Taking inspiration from Bain Capital, Leder co-founded Sun Capital Partners, which is now an $8 billion firm. Romney was an early investor in some of the company's deals, and the Washington Post reports that Leder has given $300,000 to Romney and other Republicans in this election cycle.
In August 2011 the New York Post reported that the atmosphere at Leder's bash was "as if the Playboy Mansion met the East End," and included a couple stripping down, jumping in the pool, then performing "sex acts on a chair in front of astonished guests."
Leder later downplayed the story, telling the New York Times:
I think the portrayal of me as having wild and crazy parties is absolutely incorrect … I spend a small percentage throwing some parties, attending some parties. I like music. I like to dance. But rather than reporting on how I spend 340 days and nights of my year, the media likes to report on the other 25.
It seems that Leder's Romney fund-raiser was one of those tamer evenings. Mother Jones notes that "not a single sex act was recorded," though at $50,000 a plate, guests deserved a little more debauchery.


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Cintron Band was formed in 2000 by front man Edgardo Cintron and the band has entertained audiences in their home state of New Jersey and across the country. With a unique blend of R&B and soul style from the 60s and 70s and a strong Latin influence.[i] This fourteen piece group captured the attention of fans who love the unique and dynamic blend of musical genres that infuse their sound with energy, rhythm, and heat.
ECMHOF Nominee for Latin Band 2020
This year, the Cintron Band has caught the attention of the East Coast Music Hall of Fame (ECMHOF).[ii] This organization nominates and awards membership to bands and artists of all kinds who were created and performed anywhere from Maine to Florida. While their earlier years were more focused on traditional Latin rhythms, they soon infused big band jazz flavors, R&B, and contemporary pop.
With multiple single and album releases from 2001 to 2007, the Cintron Band shared hits including Sauvecito, Hey There! Lonely Girl, and Hit Men. They offered both exceptional covers of well-loved tunes and their own original songs to the east coast Latin music community.
Cintron Jazzing Up the East Coast
It's more than just their history with amazing musical creation that puts them in the list as an ECMHOF nominee for Latin band in 2020. In January of 2001, the group entertained the crowds at the New Millennium Diversity Inaugural Ball. This Washington, D.C. event honored President George W. Bush.
The next year, they performed live at the Gubernatorial Inaugural Ball in New Jersey. They were the first Latin band to ever do so. The importance of their contribution to the east coast music scene echoes through the decades.
In the years since then, they continue to perform together at local New Jersey venues like Adelphia Restaurant and the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May. Now in 2020, they are celebrating the Cintron Band anniversary by live recording a new album on April 5th.[iii]
Bringing Music to Kids With the Cintron Nonprofit Organization
The large ensemble Cintron band headed by drummer Edgardo Cintron also includes multiple vocalists, keyboard players, other percussionists, horn players, and guitarists who are all masters at their craft. Unfortunately, one of the percussionists and relative of the founder, Noel Cintron, passed away in 2015.
His enthusiasm for music now spurs the Cintron band's contributions to the Cintron Memorial Scholarship Fund at Willingboro High School in New Jersey and association with the nonprofit "Hungry for Music."[iv] This East Coast organization shares their love of music across the United States by providing schools, teachers, and students with music instruments.
It is this type of love for music that has fueled the success of the Cintron Band for two decades and made them an excellent choice as ECMHOF nominee for Latin band in 2020. Rooted in the well-loved traditions of both cultural song styling and classic jazz and R&B, the 14 members still offer everything they have to audiences. These musicians and vocalists demonstrate a pure love of music and the ability to uniquely blend genres and interests into moods that resonate with audiences now and will continue to do so into the future.
[i] https://www.soultracks.com/cintron.htm
[ii] https://eastcoastmusichalloffame.org/nominees/auto-draft-136/
[iii] https://www.facebook.com/cintronband/