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I've never (yet) been to Chez Bruno in Lorgues, arguably the most famous truffle restaurant in the world, though I got very close when I was doing research for The Truffle Book 14 years ago. This video is an ad, and very slickly shot, but it also contains a fair bit of truffle wisdom. Especially about potatoes… Read more at Winerist. Hat tip to @NZTruffles.
Burgundy comes to Waipara
I nearly tripped over it. I'd just dug up a rotten truffle from the middle of our little patch of oaks and hazels infected with Tuber aestivum syn uncinatum, the Burgundy truffle, and was pretty excited. It was our first Burgundy truffle and it was rotten and I couldn't eat it, but that didn't matter. The twelve year old plantation was finally producing truffles. Another long wait was over. And then Rosie pulled me off to another spot a couple of metres away and there was a truffle sitting in a little depression in the soil surface. 53 grammes of fungal goodness — not ripe yet, perhaps not quite fully grown — but I dug it up anyway. Call me impatient.
Ours was one of the first trial plantings of aestivum infected trees in New Zealand — oaks infected with truffle inoculum from Gerard Chevalier in France went into the ground in 2000 ((There's a picture of Gerard with one of our seedling oaks in The Truffle Book, p131)), followed a couple years later by hazels infected with aestivum supplied by Christina Weden from Sweden. Both this week's truffles were found close to hazels. Skol, Christina!
These are not the first Burgundy truffles produced in New Zealand. That honour goes to a trial plantation in South Canterbury, where a rotten truffle was found several years ago. But this is our first Burgundy truffle, and even though it may not be ripe we will eat it, and enjoy it for what it is — proof that a little vision goes a very long way, even if it does take a long time…
Five things to eat before you die
I've been tagged for a food blog meme, which is a first (thanks Bron). Not being a proper food blog, but a blog that does food from time, I'm probably a bit of an interloper — and I'm certainly going to find it hard to "tag" five more food blogs (one of the rules). I'll do my best.
The meme comes from The Traveller's Lunchbox, and the idea is to come up with five "things you've eaten and think that everyone should eat at least once before they die". It's an interesting challenge, and over the last couple of days I've been remembering all sorts of meals in all sorts of places. And therein lies one of the challenges. I have especially fond memories of a plateau de fruits de mer, eaten in a restaurant on the inner harbour at La Rochelle, but do I remember it because of the excellence of the plateau, or the happy combination of circumstances surrounding that meal? Same thing with a bottle of white vin de savoie that was elevenses at a little restaurant on the slopes at Serre Chevalier. A magic moment to be sure, but worth inflicting that wine on everyone? Probably not. So I have settled on five things that I have eaten and enjoyed and remembered and loved, not simply because of time and place, but on culinary merit (though you may choose to differ). And whakapapa plays a part too.
- Andouillete
Offal sausage, or awful sausage? A specialty of Troyes, and found in every Relais Routiers in France, this is a working man's saucisse, a sausage of strong flavour and challenging appearance. Cut it open and admire the strips of pork tripe and large intestine, flavoured with onion and parsley. I've seen grown women turn away in horror… but with good mustard and some fine pommes frites, the andouillette is something I have to eat at least once when visiting la belle France.
- Bara lawr
Welsh seaweed dish, known to the Sais as laver bread, traditionally eaten fried in oatmeal with bacon for breakfast. The seaweed is quite common around the world (I've eaten it in NZ) — there is a Japanese name, but I can't recall it — and in Wales it's washed and then boiled for four hours or more until it's a green glutinous mass, still redolent of the sea. And if the bacon you eat with it is farm-cured and bought in the market at Carmarthen or Cardigan, then you have something simple but wonderful.
- Germknodel
This is pretty close to a time and place thing, because I have only eaten it in restaurants on the slopes at St Anton or Lech, although it is a speciality throughout the Tirol. Consider a dumpling the size of a baby's head stuffed with stewed plums, topped with poppy seeds and icing sugar and dressed with melted butter, and reflect on the challenge this presents to post-prandial skiing. Delicious, but difficult.
- A sun-ripened apricot, warm from the tree
Looking through other bloggers' lists of five, there are plenty of exhortations to take freshly picked, sun-ripened or just landed things and apply them to the palate. So I am not being original, but I include my apricot because I planted apricots (and other fruit trees) at Limestone Hills because this was an experience I'd read about (Jane Grigson's Fruit Book, I think) and wanted to try. Every summer I watch the apricots, willing them to ripen, so that I can revel in the sheer apricotness of the fresh, sun-warmed article. This isn't just worth doing, it's worth moving to a place where it's possible in order to do it.
- Tuber magnatum, on anything
No surprises here. The first meal of this truffle set in train a sequence of events that led me to Limestone Hills, and it is one of the tragedies of modern science that no-one has yet worked out how to successfully cultivate this fungus (though there are tantalising hints that it might soon be possible). Not oil — never oil — just the fresh article, shaved thinly on a buttery tagliatelle, or plain risotto, or stirred into and shaved onto an emperor amongst omelettes. So good I wrote a book about it.
So who to "tag" with this: I can't do five, but I will suggest that Mark Bernstein — another occasional foodie like me — might like to have a go.
Careful with that spray, Eugene
My views on truffle oil are probably becoming clear to readers of this blog, and I'm always glad to get support in high places — in this case from Joel Robuchon and Alain Passard in France. They're upset at the increasing use of flavour additives in classical French cuisine, of which arôme de truffe is just one example. Adam Sage covers the issue at The Times Online:
"It is shameful," said M Passard, who claims to use only natural ingredients at his celebrated Parisian restaurant, l'Arpège. "I don't know what to call the people who use these chemicals, but they are not cooks. Cooking is about seasons and nature."
M Robuchon, widely considered to be one of the most talented chefs of the past 20 years, agreed. He said: "I am 200 per cent against the use of artificial flavours and additives." However, such flavours appear to be an increasingly common ingredient in French cuisine, with chefs looking for quick, cheap recipes.
Many of the arômes come from Chef Simon, a French restaurant supplier. Their site is an eye opener. This, for instance, is how to make oeufs aux truffes sans truffes sans truffes. "Oeufs aux truffes" are truffled eggs (recipe in my book). "Oeufs aux truffes sans truffes" are truffled eggs without truffles — that is, the eggs are truffled by storage with truffles, and absorb a lot of flavour. You can cook them without truffle and still enjoy a good hit of flavour. "Oeufs aux truffes sans truffes sans truffes" are that dish made without any real truffle at all, by using their arôme. And they claim it's astonishing. I claim it's fraud.
They also suggest that it's OK to use cheap Chinese truffles, with a dose of arôme. If there are restaurateurs who think serving that to their customers is acceptable, they should be shot. But there are plenty prepared to overuse truffle oil… Education is the key. They all need to read my book…
Two meals
Two very contrasting meals in two successive nights: one, a truffle dinner in a French home, the other a modern Spanish meal with the chef playing Fat Duck or El Bulli-style tricks.
The truffle dinner was spectacular, both for the quantity of truffle involved and the quality of the food, but the most important factor was – as it should always be at dinner — the warmth of the welcome. As we stood around the kitchen chatting over the Louis Roederer champagne, the canapes of pate de foie gras de canard truffé (hand-made for our hosts with not less than 10% truffle, and generously garnished with same) were being constructed. Meanwhile, thin truffle toasts were heating in the oven: simple, and wonderful. Two thin slices of sourdough pain de campagne sandwiching slices of truffle, buttered and seasoned and slightly crispy from the oven. The most truffly thing I've eaten in a long time, and I've eaten a lot of truffle recently. Then I helped to stir the truffle into the mashed potatoes: great big, almost crunchy lumps of truffle stirred into potatoes cooked in milk and butter, served with a saucisse de Toulouse, specially prepared for the family with large chunks of truffle inside. Put the two together, and you have an obviously simple but also incredibly luxurious dish. Magnificent. A few bottles of good Cahors red, and a good time was guaranteed for all. My thanks to P-J and B. A meal that will live in the memory for a long time.
The second meal (Manairo Restaurant, Barcelona) was also good: inventive, even exciting food, but it couldn't help but suffer in comparison. There were moments of surprise, like the little parcel served in a spoon containing a creamy soup, or the squid bits spooned steaming with dry ice into little shot glasses of intensely pea-green soup, and there were moments of pleasure, but I struggled to really get into it all. Perhaps the fact that much of the dishes were reinventions of Catalan classics that I had no reference for made it difficult, or perhaps the waiter's introductions were losing something because we forced him to do them in English. Either way, fun, expensive and worth eating, but the food will be forgotten long before the previous night's. Thanks, Heidi, for the meal.
And the really sad thing about both meals? On the last days of the Spanish tour, I picked up the cold doing the rounds of the bus. I spent much of the weekend in France exploding with cold, and I still haven't recovered my nose or tastebuds. So much to taste, so little to taste it with. Bugger.
Markets, truffles and food
I haven't got time to post any of the pictures from the last week, or to really do justice to events or meals – not tonight, at least – but I would like to mention vultures. In two truffle expeditions in Spain last week, in the Alto Tajo national park and in the hills not far from Pamplona, vultures were wheeling over head while we watched men and dogs find truffles. I was ready for the truffles, but the birds were something of a shock.
In the latter truffiere, in the unpronounceable but charming village of Ollogoyen, the lead truffle dog was called Lycos – "because she's a search engine". Perhaps Peg's successor will be called Google. Sponsorship possibilities…
Some food highlights: the Spanish take on black pudding – a sort of blood sausage without the skin; the mushroom lunch which finished with a "coffee" made from Trompettes de mort macerated with sweet coffee, with a cappuccino foam made from porcini cream (and the chef looked like Peter Sellers); and a truffle omelette in a modest auberge in Cahors that had more good truffle in it than most five course truffle dinners. It helps when France's leading truffle wholesaler is sitting at the same table and picking up the tab.
In France, we've seen the new truffieres of the Richelieu region just south of the Loire, the famous truffle market of Lalbenque, the Pebeyre truffle operation in Cahors, and been shepherded around local truffieres by top French truffle expert Pierre Sourzat and his dog Bou-Bou. I also have 80gm of truffle in the minibar in my hotel room, by way of a present for my kind hosts in London.
Tonight we dine chez Pebeyre, and I suspect truffle may be involved. Tomorrow we drive to Barcelona, and dinner with an American truffle importer on her yacht in the harbour. Then London and NZ. I have to say that I'm looking forward to getting back to my family and my trees. And losing some weight.


text: Fall is my favorite season! The smell of pumpkin, falling leaves, and the sounds of a high school marching band are just some of the things I love about the season. It's also my favorite time for Family Portraits in the Austin area, because we actually get to have a glimpse at changing leaves and cooler weather. Can't wait to put away the tank tops and start pulling out the long sleeves!

subset: commoncrawl


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Archbishop Paul Gallagher admits that the ecumenical movement is not about Christ!
Posted by Vox Cantoris at Saturday, October 28, 2017
Paul Gallagher is the Secretary for Relations with States at the Vatican's Secretariat of State.
He is quoted as saying:
"Some have tended to see ecumenical endeavour as a question of church, or as an internal Christian affair in which our unity will be good for the growth or even survival of Christ's church. Given all we face today, given the urgency and precariousness of our situation I would argue rather that ecumenical engagement is a moral imperative for all of us who are baptised in the name of the Blessed Trinity. We must proceed together as the one Body of Christ, not because it will be nice or cosy to do so but because we have to in response to the pressing needs of humanity."
More false oecumenism for these modernists. If these Church leaders continue to refuse to make it clear to protestants that the goal must be their acceptance of the One, True, Church and the Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and the priesthood, then there can be no oecumenism.
Barona at Witness has solid commentary.
Keep your wits about you, friend. It's going to get rough.
Next, the ecumenical "Mass" and the denial of Transubstantiation.


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The traditional distinction is between two different approaches to economics: Keynesian economics, focusing on demand; and supply-side (or neo-classical) economics, focusing on supply. Neither view is typically endorsed to the complete exclusion of the other, but most schools do tend clearly to emphasize one or the other as a theoretical foundation.
Keynesian economics focuses on aggregate demand to explain levels of unemployment and the business cycle. That is, business cycle fluctuations should be reduced through fiscal policy (the government spends more or less depending on the situation) and monetary policy. Early Keynesian macroeconomics was "activist," calling for regular use of policy to stabilize the capitalist economy, while some Keynesians called for the use of incomes policies.
Supply-side economics delineates quite clearly the roles of monetary policy and fiscal policy. The focus for monetary policy should be purely on the price of money as determined by the supply of money and the demand for money. It advocates a monetary policy that directly targets the value of money and does not target interest rates at all. Typically the value of money is measured by reference to gold or some other reference. The focus of fiscal policy is to raise revenue for worthy government investments with a clear recognition of the impact that taxation has on domestic trade. It places heavy emphasis on Say's law, which states that recessions do not occur because of failure in demand or lack of money. Schools
In order to try to avoid major economic shocks, such as great depression, governments make adjustments through policy changes which they hope will succeed in stabilizing the economy. Governments believe that the success of these adjustments is necessary to maintain stability and continue growth. This economic management is achieved through two types of strategies.
Fiscal Policy
Monetary Policy


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Of the churches the chief are the Protestant Peterskirche dating from the 15th century and restored in 1873, to the door of which Jerome of Prague in 1460 nailed his theses; the Heilige Geist Kirche (Church of the Holy Ghost), an imposing Gothic edifice of the 15th century; the Jesuitenkirche (Roman Catholic), with a sumptuously decorated interior, and the new Evangelical Christuskirche.
In 1147 a count of Montferrat took part in the Second Crusade; but the connexion with the Holy Land begins to be intimate in 1176.
The enforced inactivity of a whole winter was the mother of disputes and bad blood; and when Philip sailed for the Holy Land, at the end of March 1191, the failure of the Crusade was already decided.
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Denominational schools are: Baylor University (Baptist; 1845), at Waco, with a medical department at Dallas; the East Texas Normal and Industrial Academy (Baptist; 1905), at Tyler; Trinity University (Cumberland Presbyterian; 1869), at Waxahachie; Austin College (Presbyterian; 1850), at Sherman; South-western University (Methodist Episcopal; 1873), at Georgetown, with a medical department at Dallas; the Polytechnic College (Methodist Episcopal, South; 1891), at Fort Worth; Texas Holiness College (Holiness; 1899), at Peniel, near Greenville; Texas Christian University (Christian; 1873 until 1895 at Thorp's Spring; until 1902 Add-Ran College), at Waco; St Edward's College (Roman Catholic, under the Congregation of the Holy Cross; 1885), at Austin; St Mary's University (1854; since 1884 under the Society of Jesus), at Galveston; St Basil's College (under the Basilian Fathers; 1899), at Waco; for girls, Baylor Female College (Baptist; 1845), at Belton; San Antonio Female College (Methodist Episcopal, South; 1894), at San Antonio; North Texas Female College (Methodist Episcopal, South; 1877), at Sherman; and the Academy of Our Lady of the Lake, under the Sisters of Divine Providence, at San Antonio; and for negroes Paul Quinn College (African Methodist Episcopal; 1881), at Waco; Tillotson College (Congregational; 1881), at Austin; Samuel Huston College (Methodist Episcopal; 1900), at Austin; Bishop College (Baptist; 1881), at Marshall; Wiley University (Methodist Episcopal; 1873), at Marshall; and Texas College (Coloured Methodist Episcopal; 1895), at Tyler.
His publications include The Reality of Religion (1884); The Poetry of Tennyson (1889); The Other Wise Man (1896); Ships and Havens (1897); The Toiling of Felix, and Other Poems (1900); The Poetry of the Psalms (1900); The Blue Flower (1902); Days Off (1907); The House of Rimmon (1908); Out-of-Doors in the Holy Land (1908); Collected Poems (191 I); The Bad Shepherd (1911); The Unknown Quantity (1912); The Lost Boy (1914); Fighting for Peace (1917); The Valley of Vision (1919); and Golden Stars (1919) .
In the 11 th and 12th centuries the chivalry of Spain and southern France took up the struggle with the Moors as a holy war.
Hucher, Le Grand Saint Graal; Paulin Paris, Romans de la Table Ronde; Alfred Nutt, Studies in the Legend of the Holy Grail.
In Rome and Alexandria, and even in Jerusalem, Holy Week was included in Lent and the whole fast lasted but six weeks, Saturdays, however, not being exempt.
Sir Lintorn Simmons was appointed envoy to the Holy See, to ascertain how far legislation might be pushed in the direction of civil marriage without justifying clerical agitation and obstruction in the council.
Either as a soldier or a merchant, he found his way to Jerusalem, where a hospice had for some time existed for the convenience of those who wished to visit the holy places.


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I'm probably not the first person you should ask when you need someone's opinion of a soccer video game. That being said, I know what I DON'T like. I don't like when I await next-generation soccer only to find that I could have gotten a lot more game for less money by sticking with the current generation of systems.For not liking soccer at all, I sure do seem to review an awful lot of soccer titles. I think the sport is slow, scoring comes too infrequently, and there is no blood loss. Yes, I have the typical yank opinion that "football" uses an oval-shaped pigskin, shoulder pads, and helmets. I'll try and approach this review from a perspective of how I enjoyed this game, not how I enjoy the sport of soccer.
The most obvious change in this version of the game is the graphics. The game looks nice. The downside to looking nice is that the players are just off enough to look really, really weird. It looks like a carnival of freaks got free and decided that soccer is the best way to spend their freakish days.
The in-game players look great. The fans don't look nearly as good. The animations are decent enough. You have your spinning dekes, your smooth running, and your actual crunchy tackles. Everything looks pretty realistic, sweat drips, and the hair and clothing moves - which is actually pretty slick. I'm getting pretty used to this level of realism in my games. The frame rate stays mostly solid, except during the replays. During the instant replays not only does the frame rate drop very low, but weird artifacts start to pop up. The ball disappears, and everything generally makes you hurry and skip any replays because they look really bad.
In keeping up with a new trend that I do enjoy, load screens are now a place where you can kind of scrimmage or practice. It's cool in that it gives you something to do rather than stare at the stupid loading screen.
The sound effects are decent. The two announcers Martin Tyler and Andy Gray do a decent enough job with the commentary. I have to admit that the heavy accents are a little off-putting and I found myself ignoring most of their trivia, play-by-play and commentary.
The game play is where I have the most issues. The controls are responsive, but a little confusing. I think this is truly more due to my lack of familiarity with the sport itself. You can do all the crazy things that you'd expect in a soccer game. I will say though that the controls seem a little touchy with passing. I had a tendency to over-pass the ball, and I had a little bit of trouble putting the ball where I wanted to pass it.
Don't even get me started on the kicking controls. I couldn't hit the net at all. Every shot went over the net or wide left or right. In most soccer games, scoring is rare, but in this game - prepare to get one goal every three or four games. This game is just plain hard. Maybe I don't get the concepts of soccer, but I use passes heavily, and I try and cross the ball to take a header or kick into the net, but it seems that either I stink, the AI is too good, or a combination of both.
This next-gen launch title has a scarce few modes of play. As what's unfortunately becoming "typical EA" the next-gen titles have far less content than their current generation of games. You have online play, practice, tournament, and (as the title says) road to world cup. No dynasty mode, no GM, no season modes, just the basics. The game has almost 75 teams (much less than the 500 that the current-gen consoles have).
I played this game multiplayer with a few friends, who surprisingly, are soccer fans. They new player names, and made comments that so-and-so looks just like so-and-so. They then proceeded to be very under whelmed with the overall game play experience. I didn't like the game, so I'm glad that I had a few others there who like soccer to verify that I'm not alone in my thinking.
One pretty cool thing that helps the multiplayer modes is that you can have up to 4 guys playing online. This is one of the few shining spots in an otherwise barren wasteland that is FIFA online play. The online mode is just like the rest of the game - pretty minimal.
Final Verdict
All in all FIFA 06 is much more flash than substance. While the graphics are noticeably better than the current generation, the game just isn't fun. I just didn't enjoy playing it. It was a fairly hard game to review. I was glad to have some friends who enjoyed soccer help me out, and the fact that they didn't dig the game too much either made me feel more confident in my decree. I'm tired of paying for rushed, minimal next-generation games. Save some money, and get a more complete game by sticking with the current generation.
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The Houston Astros' current slide began with another loss while Scott Kazmir was on the mound.
Losers in his last four starts, the Astros can end that skid by avoiding a sixth consecutive defeat Saturday night against the visiting Oakland Athletics.
Houston (77-71) began the week with a 1 1/2-game lead over Texas in the AL West before Kazmir (7-10, 2.63 ERA) allowed three runs in seven innings Monday while not factoring in the decision of a 5-3 loss to the Rangers. The Astros have lost every day this week and trail the Rangers by 2 1/2 in the division.
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They appeared in good shape to end their losing streak Friday, but blew a 3-0 advantage before falling 4-3. The last of Danny Valencia's two homers was a two-run, go-ahead shot in the eighth that helped Oakland (64-84) drop the Astros to 4-12 in September by beating them for the sixth time in seven contests.
''We've picked a rough time to have a stretch where it's been rocky,'' said manager A.J. Hinch, whose club holds the second wild-card spot. ''The good news is we do have more baseball to play.''
Kazmir ranks among the major league ERA leaders but is 1-5 with a 4.02 ERA while Houston has dropped seven of his last eight starts. He's received an average of 2.63 runs of support in his 10 starts since coming over from Oakland on July 23.
''You just want to go out there and give your team a chance to win,'' he said.
Kazmir gave up a solo homer to Billy Burns and a three-run shot to Mark Canha in six innings of a 4-0 loss Sept. 8 in his first start since the trade. He was opposed by Sonny Gray (13-7, 2.56), who yielded five hits in seven innings to improve to 2-1 with 1.71 ERA in three starts against the Astros in 2015.
"You've got to earn your keep against these guys and find ways to scratch runs across," Hinch told MLB's official website.
Gray, however, is 1-3 with a 4.89 ERA in six starts since that outing. He'll look to bounce back after allowing a season-high seven runs and eight hits over three-plus innings of Monday's 8-7, 14-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox.
"I'm not going to look too much into it," said Gray, who carried a 1.72 road ERA into that contest. "That was tough, but you just keep going."
Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are a combined 3 for 17 against the right-hander this season. Correa is batting .167 against the A's in 2015, and is hitless in 12 at-bats over the last three meetings.
The Astros won't have cleanup hitter Carlos Gomez, who will miss a seventh consecutive contest with intercostal discomfort.
"I haven't even thought about (swinging) yet," he said. "This is a new injury for me. It is getting better, and we're testing it every day."
Playing with four teams, Valencia is batting .415 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in 16 career games against Houston.
''There are certain teams that you gain some confidence against and swing the bat well against them and you feel good," manager Bob Melvin said.
Valencia is 1 for 5 against Kazmir.


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BeatTips.com Beat Battle, January 2012 Winner Announced
Upright Edges Out Uhohbeats in Tightly Contested Battle
|By AMIR SAID (SA'ID)
The winner: Upright - "Bear Fruit"
Here's the January, 2012 BeatTips.com Beat Battle breakdown. You can also read it in TBC at: Winner of the January 2012 BeatTips.com Beat Battle Is...
And you can hear all of the beats for January 2012's battle here: BeatTips.com Beat Battle, January 2012
Upright - "Bear Fruit"
One of the most sinister, all-around dope beats that I've ever heard… It's dark, eery, rambunctious, and hypnotic. It's mysterious and yet hauntingly familiar. This beat makes a powerful statement…
The first thing that hit me about this masterfully crafted beat was the swing. On my first listen, of course I heard the bass part (I address that below), but it was the swing of this joint that grabbed me. Not only could I feel the swing, I could hear it. It tumbled and shuffled along with an emphatic, menacing, decadent arrogance (and, man, how hip hop is that?); I felt like it was taunting me and daring me to try to rhyme to it… Excellent room for various rap styles.
And dig the arrangement of this joint:
Two slow-dragging harmony lines that feature a progression that dissolves more than anything else; combined with warped, wavy, wobbling bass stabs—absolutely fantastic! Then the drumwork is flawless, no missteps whatsoever. Each sound—from the silhouette-heavy hi-hat to the tuck-punch snare to the straight forward and clear kick—is a spot-on match for the feel created by the aforementioned harmony chords and bass part arrangement. The tom fill, which is totally unexpected, works as a magnetic change that keeps the listener—more importantly, the lyricist—on his or her toes. I dig the use of toms in any capacity, and Upright's choice to let their velocity speak rather than tuck them in the mix demonstrates his deep understanding of a drum element many beatmakers often get wrong. Finally, the placement and limited occurrence of the open hi-hat shows great discipline on your part. As I listened to and studied this beat, I wondered if you at first had the open hi-hat running more regularly throughout. If you did, your removal of it exemplifies another important quality of a master beatmaker—knowing how to revise, i.e. knowing what to remove and where and when to remove it.
One more thing: That "Something terrible has happened" vocal sample at the :41 mark is just a beautiful touch.
2nd Place:
Uhohbeats - "Lost in My Own Mind"
First impressions: All around good feeling soulful beat with extraordinarily tight construction. Uhoh, this level of construction has become a staple feature of your beats. I should add that with this beat, your understanding of how to flip and merge different parts of the primary source material has greatly improved (and note, your skill with this was already on an advanced level before).
This beat conveys a sure-minded composition. In that I mean, you fully committed to the direction that you wanted to go in. There are no wasted parts or changes that don't belong. Instead, everything works; every element flows (effortlessly) with the next. The drums are sick (as usual). The salt-n-pepper shaker hi-hat pattern is perfect—it's velvet hardcore brush taps give the framework a dope shuffle. Then, on the main breakdown, the hi-hat pattern switches up to a sparse staccato pattern—brilliant programming!
This beat battled it out for first place—for four days straight! It's a perfect beat in every way…. Just as I did with Upright's beat, I considered everything from which rappers would sound dope on it, to what feeling it conveyed, to the nature of the composition; I even considered what type of episode of the shows "Entourage" and "Californication" this beat would serve as a perfect ending for! In the end, it came down to feeling. One beat was smooth, sharp, and deadly; the other was raw, sharp, and deadly. In other words, they were both sharp and deadly, but the raw slightly edged out the smooth.
3rd Place:
BrandonF42088 - "RobinJonez"
This is slick-funk, 2am, slow-roast shit. (Damn if it didn't taunt me into rhymin'.) So subtle, so smooth. I really dig this soulful, spine-crawling type of beatwork. It offers great space for dope lyrical word play and inspired flow. Another thing that I really like about this beat is that you immediately get it; you immediately knod your head to it; it sticks with you.
Segundo Award for Consistency and Contribution
DC - "Gorge"
Your beats have their own distinct sound, style, and quality to them. And with this beat, you demonstrate how to be creative while staying squarely in your own zone. I dig the drums, especially the heavy rolls. And the change at the :57 mark gave this joint a dimension of urgency.
I get the feeling that you've moved into a creative space where you deliberately make beats that can be used both as stand-alone instrumentals and for rappers. No doubt this is due to your burgeoning success on the licensing market. Only thing that I would caution is that as you do gain more success in licensing, do not forget about making joints specifically for cats to rap to. Your arsenal is deep and always polished; I'd hate to see your sound lose some of its hunger and rawness.
The DJ Pas Rhyme Award for the Beat that Made Me Write a Rhyme to It (All New Award!)
DJ Pas – "Light Pas"
Immediately drew me in. Halfway through my first listen, I stopped the beat, began it again, and started writing a rhyme to it. I dig the break; I dig the simplicity of it; I dig how the drums trail the sample, how they're not locked completely on top. That style is reminiscent of Marley Marl's early drumwork.
Because I was so inspired to immediately write a rhyme to this joint, I had to create a new award and name it in your honor.
Get Paid With Heart Award for the #1 Crossover Joint that Still Pays Homage to the Beatmaking Craft
There's a tie: between Castro Beats – "Daggers" and Influence1210 – "Getting It Together"
Castro Beats - "Daggers"
Castro, you're quite the methodicalist. I hear a focused experimentation in all of your beats. This is good because even with all of your experimentation, there are always signs that you know where you're trying to go with a particular beat. On this beat, there are a collage of different things happening. In a fundamental way, this beat puts you in the mind of a Hank Shocklee and the Bomb Squad beat. Only your construction here works in some of today's synth themes; and it does so in a way that gives this beat a decadent balance. This beat is certainly not for a weak lyricist or a rapper with a shallow voice. It's imposing and the balance of sounds gives it a weight that only the most self-assured and lyrically agile rapper could handle. (Ay, yo, wait a minute. I should rock on this beat, come to think of it…)
Influence1210 – "Getting It Together"
Influence1210, your musicality is immediately and absolutely apparent. In fact, this is a brilliant piece of work; I was immensely impressed. However, this joint doesn't fall squarely in the hip hop/rap side of things. Could someone rap over it? Certainly. But it has a more "urban dance/pop" feel to it. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not. Like I said, this beat is superb. For its design and scope, it's everything it should be. But for me, it even goes beyond that because it doesn't just mimic an urban dance tune, it delivers a unique punch and feel, something that certainly pays homage to the art of beatmaking.
TBC Most Improved Award
Honorable Mentions:
SC-Beatz – "The Street Tip"
Again SC you return with a beat that showcases your usual shine and polish. However, the transition at the :56 mark takes this beat to new heights of SC-Beatz-craftsmanship. To be certain, this is more of an orchestral style composition. But it doesn't have the clunkiness or coldness that you often find with that style.
One thing I should point out is that this beat is so grand that it would be better served for a film score. As a beat to rhyme to? Not so much.
Krazyfingaz – "Asylum"
Solid. This was some gothic, netherworld shit with a boom-bap underpinning. This beat has a lot of angst to it, which is good because it gives it an edge. The drums keep the sound scope together.
Greenmonstermuzik – "If You See Me"
Nice flip of a well-known classic song. The embellishments are dope; drums dope; and the bounce on this joint is crazy. Ghostface would destroy this beat!
Jtnonefive – "Crazy"
This beat displays a RZA, Wu-Tang Clan influence. The framework locks in from go! Get a rapper on with a devastating flow and you'll have an ill song.
Jerz-E-Ric – "By Any Means"
This beat has a stadium-level weight to it, a sound and feel that would serve well even a less experienced MC. Decent, polished construction from start to finish. But two notes that I want to make: (1) This beat sounds "safe", it's like a run of the mill "beat battle" beat, the kind you regularly hear on the live beat battle and beat showcase circuits. Not necessarily any flaws, but on the other hand, there aren't any chances being taken here, which ultimately leaves the beat less interesting and soulless. (For comparison, check Castro's beat. It's interesting, it's pushing towards its own uniqueness.) And (2) Although this beat does stand on its own merits, particularly with the inclusion of the guitar work, it exemplifies the Just Blaze-bread "big drums" style and sound.
Mike Millz (The Beatsmith) – "Midnight Madness"
Nice mood and sound scope. This joint is laid back, too laid back. It has no "teeth" to it. The kick is dramatically understated; if it had been more forceful or even louder in the mix, the entire beat would have presented differently. Also, the snare sounds like it wants to be opened up and let out.
MelloKid – " K echo"
Straight forward boom bap. The Bass part is one event/note too many. Stay out of your own way with one too many bass-stabs. The drums are on point, but let the drum framework and the main sample work for you.
Chazz Sweet – "Indian Girl"
The sitar pokes out at you too much, if you're considering this beat for a rapper. But for background in a movie, for example an establishing shot for a locale switch, sure, this beat works great. Also, the overall structure of this beat echoes a Dr. Dre/Mike Elizondo number. But their production always has a very tight rhythm to it, and it never carries needless embellishments.
Your synth work (chords) are very much on point! As a beat for a film score, "Indian Girl" is excellent as is. But as a beat for a rhyme, the sitar is not needed; in fact, it doesn't help at all.
(With regard to the sitar "poking out", listen to 2 Legit Productions beat, "Long Haul". Notice how subdued the guitar is.)
The Beat Pharmacy – "Valley of Centuries"
Drums are dope, nice sound to them. Overall, the beat is decent (transitions are excellent), but it doesn't grab you. And like several other beats in this battle, this joint might be better suited for a film/television score. If you already haven't, you should look into licensing.
Donproductionsbeatz – "Nightmare"
First impression: It sounds like a "beat battle" beat—the kind you routinely hear now in on the live beat battle circuit. In particular, I hear the bright, "big drums" trend that's beginning to dominate the live beat showcase circuit.
There's room enough for a rapper to do something with this joint. But it comes off as if the idea of a rapper on it was a second thought to you. Also, even though this beat is fairly decent, it appears that you've either lost or abandoned the soulful quality that used to figure into your beats. Don P, that's not a good thing... In fact, this beat sounds labored, not so much natural and distinctly original, more like an attempt at an well-established template. Although you're able to pull it off to a commendable degree (I'm sure there will be those who dig this joint), it sounds more manufactured than created.
Final thoughts.
This was by far the hardest BeatTips.com Beat Battle to judge… The celebration of the art of beatmaking was so much in effect that it was difficult for me to pick one clear winner. In previous battles, contention for the top spot typically came down to a choice of two. But in this battle, on my initial passes through everyone's beats, there were at least five beats in contention for the top spot. (The range of beats was incredibly encouraging to hear!) This is a major testament to the level and quality of our community. I'm convinced that in the near future, our battle will be the most important and sought after online.
Finally, I want to welcome all of the new members to TBC! Our ranks are growing, we're getting stronger, and our collective voice is going to make a difference…watch!
One more note: The BeatTips.com Beat Battle is for BeatTips.com subscribers and TBC members only. If you have not subscribed to BeatTips.com, please do so before the next battle begins. You can subscribe to BeatTips.com by clicking on the "Get email updates" button near the top right, just beneath the menu bar. TBC members who are not subscribed to BeatTips.com will not be able to participate in future BeatTips.com Beat Battles.
The February BeatTips.com Beat Battle will begin on Friday, February 17, 2012!!!
Congratulations to Upright
Upright email me at: [email]email@example.com[/email], include your full name and complete address for where you'd like your book delivered. Also, include a pic so I can feature you on the home page of BeatTips.com, and a phone number to where you can be reached at for your interview feature.


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Open The Kimono
Have you noticed how some people use big, fancy words to explain concepts? In my line of work, they use words like MQL, TAT, smarketing, dynamic personas, heuristics and more.
If, by some luck and skill, you manage to follow the conversation, you would notice that whoever is talking isn't saying much. But, in most cases, you'd switch off mentally and nod at the right places just to look polite.
And, guess what? This is a massive problem everywhere – including offices, advertising, blogging and schools.
My Secret
Here's a secret: I used to be that guy. I used complicated words to show off that I knew stuff that others didn't. But a deeper, more honest reason is that I was scared. I didn't know what I was talking about and I didn't want other people to poke holes in my argument.
People can't fight what they don't understand.
You see, at that point, my main objective was not to communicate clearly, but to sound intelligent. I was super insecure – but I changed everything with the ELI5 approach.
The ELI5 Approach
ELI5 stands for "Explain Like I'm 5". Instead of talking about budgets and profits and fiscal deficits, you'd talk about a lemonade stand. Instead of talking about psychological development and the three part story structure, you could use the example of Harry Potter (or Bob The Builder!).
The idea is that if you know your subject well enough, you would be able to explain it to a five year old kid – using the simple language they would understand. If you're not able to, that means that there are holes in your knowledge and you'd need to learn more before you're the expert.
No More Bullshitting
Take up the ELI5 approach whenever you can, wherever you can. With this approach, you will be forced to learn your topic inside out. And once you know something that well, you can don't need to bullshit.
In case you're wondering where the phrase comes from, watch this video.


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Graphic Thought Facility
Threefold Architects have transformed an empty commercial unit in Hackney's Vyner Street, East London, to provide a new workspace for leading internationally acclaimed graphic designers Graphic Thought Facility.
The result is a free-flowing series of spaces centred around a social kitchen hub reflecting the company's staff centred ethos, which also doubles as an agile collaborative workspace for large project based working and informal meetings.
The project also contains a flexible let co-working zone that the client can either use themselves or rent out 'workspace' to other like minded creative companies, be they start-ups or regular collaborators to both foster new talent and promote mutually beneficial collaborative crossovers.


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Creation Date
Building Name
City of Live Oak Police and Fire Department
Old Live Oak City Hall, FL. The Old Live Oak City Hall (also known as the City of Live Oak Police and Fire Department) is a historic site in Live Oak, Florida, United States. On April 24, 1986, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places #86000862. Built in 1908, Live Oak City Hall has seen a lot and was much more than just City Hall. It was the city jail where they housed prisoners, the fire station and home to the fire chief and his family, and the city administration offices were also there. Today, it is the new location for the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce.
Latitude, Longitude
30.297305, -82.983491
Taylor, George Lansing, Jr.; Lance Taylor; Photographers -- Florida --Jacksonville; Photograph collections -- Florida -- Jacksonville; city halls - municipal buildings; City Hall; Historic buildings; Live Oak(Fl)


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4 Ramadan Cartoons We Are Nostalgic About
Every year with the approaching of Ramadan, we start to get all these new drama TV series trailers; and with all these ads, we got a little bit nostalgic about our Ramadan rituals and habits growing up. Back then when we waited every year to watch the new season of our favorite cartoon. And since we are feeling extra nostalgic with Ramadan coming, we are remembering our favorite Ramadan cartoons:
Of course, Bakar is on the top of our list. The very first season of Bakar was aired back in 1998. It is about an Egyptian boy living in Upper Egypt, and he goes through different adventures with his goat pet, Rashida. The legendry Mohmed Mounier sang the theme song of Bakar; and it is for sure was a big hit that it is still stuck in our heads till that day.
This Ramadn, a new season of a more animated version of Bakar will be aired on TV
AlMaghmron Al5amsa:
AlMaghmron AlKhamsa is originally a crime book series that was a hug hit back in the 70s. Decades later, AlMaghmron AlKhamsa was turned into a cartoon TV show. The five unique characters and the catchy theme song made that crime cartoon show truly unforgettable.
Zaza W Garger:
That was such a unique puppet show aired on TV during Ramada in the early 2000s, the show featured the two main characters Zaza and Garger who took on so many crazy yet funny adventures.
Super Henedy:
Super eh? Super Henedy! That cool cartoon show made its debut appearance in Ramdan 2007. The characters were inspired by many talented real-life actors; however, it was a crime show yet extremely funny. Of course, the two main characters were voiced over by the super stars Mohamed Henedy Tala't Zakria always granted us a good laugh
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Best Looks From The Opening Ceremony Of El Gouna Film Festival
Yesterday at the opening of "El Gouna Film Festival" the red carpet was an open runway for the stars. The fashion is taking a big part from everyone interest and we become very curious to know from which designer is the dress. So here are some appearances that really matter yesterday on the red carpet:
Saba Mubarak wearing from Micheal Cinco
Dorra wearing from George Hobeika Couture
Bushra wearing from Ziad Nakkad Couture
Nelly Karim wearing from Kojak
Mona Zaki wearing from Antoine Kareh Couture
Reham Abdel Gaffour wearing from Temraza
Injy El Mokadem wearing from Kojak
Yasmine Sabry wearing from Youssef Al Jasmi
Arwa Gouda wearing from Zeina Hosny
Reham Hagag wearing from Zuhair Murad
The Queen, Her Majesty "Yousra"
We were really delighted and pleasured to interview the super star " Yousra" and we'll take you into a scope of what's inside her mind but first, let's tell you a little about her!
Photographer: Mahmoud Abdel Salam
Stylist: Youmna Moustafa
Make Up Artist: Soha Khoury
Hair Dresser: Hassan Bourji
Dress: Esposa
Jewelery: Egypt Gold
Yousra is the symbol of beauty, elegance, and love in our country. We enjoyed shooting, listening, and dancing with her. She is that kind of person who brings happiness and positive energy anywhere she goes. now, we'll tell you all about the sit down we had with her! Yousra was very happy with the shooting, with all the different and unique styles snd make up look which made us happier even more! She loved how we turned on some music for her while we took some amazing shots of her and she was instantly in a good, uplifting mood. We were thrilled with excitement with her choice of fashion wear so we asked her does she follow the fashion trends? She replied that she loves wearing what suits her best. She says that seeing a clothing from afar won't tell you if it actually suits your body type, you have to try it on and see what actually suits your body and wear it proudly! If a clothing is trendy at the moment but doesn't suit her, then she simply won't wear it. We were thrilled with excitement with her choice of fashion wear so we asked her does she follow the fashion trends? She gave us a smile and said that she loves wearing what suits her best. She says that seeing a clothing from afar won't tell you if it actually suits your body type, you have to try it on and see what actually suits your body and wear it proudly! If a clothing is trendy at the moment but doesn't suit her, then she simply won't wear it. We decided to ask about her beauty secret, what's the secret behind beauty in her perspective? She happily replied by, "My beauty secret is my heart." And honestly, that was enough for us to draw the widest smile among our faces but we wanted to hear more. "I love the world and I love everyone, I really cannot hate anybody. Hating actually take from you, they don't give so maybe I could get pissed off from someone but I really cannot just hate anyone." Our curiosity couldn't stop us from asking her about what would she advise to Egyptian or Middle Eastern girls? She claims that simplicity is the mother of beauty. The simpler you are, the more your beauty stands out.
Even if you actually know you're beautiful, you don't have to always prove it to everyone by standing out, you're beautiful and you don't need to prove it to anybody. The real and true beauty is what's on the inside, your soul. The beauty on the inside is what will let your outer beauty shine so bright, so the number one priority is the beauty on the inside because that's all that counts anyways!
She replied that if she has work, she simply gets up in the morning and gets to work and goes back home in the evening but if she doesn't have work, she likes organizing the house, meeting her friends, family, her mother and doing many activities. She loves being around the people she loves the most and that's all that matters after all! However, if she's invited to an event or something special, she exerts an effort in her known outstanding and unique style and make up. Buzzing with excitement, we decided to ask about this year's past Ramadan series "Ladina Aqual Okhra" starring Yousra,
and how the fans reacted after knowing the series was only aired online, on Saudi screens only. She replied with confidence and happiness claiming that the fans were extremely happy and the traffic on the series was magnificent, she was pleased to hear people's opinion on the series and their constant support on how much they liked it even though it was only aired on Saudi Arabian screens and online. She's in love with the fans' consistency on even though the series was only aired online, they didn't have a doubt to watch it.
We asked Yousra if airing the Ramadan series online or on Saudi Arabian screens would effect the traffic or make less people watch the series. Giving us a very heartwarming smile, she replied saying "Despite this happening a few times before, it wasn't really a problem because if you're a huge fan of someone, you like knowing everything about them and watching everything they do even in the toughest moments. Although,
I'd always love my work getting aired in my own country, Egypt. However, despite this, I'm so blessed and cheerful that the fans made their researches and looked around to watch this series online or on Saudi Arabian screens. I also loved how the fans think out loud about what will happen to the main character and saying their thoughts to everyone else, it made me very delighted." And that's all for today and we'd like to thank the marvelous actress, Yousra for this amazing interview and for inspiring us of course!
"El 7ekaya" With Amr Adib Is The Latest Of MBC Masr
In the midst of a prominent presence of socialite, businessmen, stars of art and sports, press and media; MBC Egypt announced the launch of its new program: " El7ekaya (The story) with Amr Adib".
The ceremony was held in Cairo and was attended by the following stars: Yousra, Nadia El-Gendy, Hisham Abbas, Samah El Saraiti, Edward, Ahmed Zaher, Rania Youssef, Reem Mostafa, Fatma Nasser, Dina Fouad, , Fares Ibrahim, Dareen Haddad, and other distinguished guests. In addition to the general manager of the MBC Egypt channel Mohammed Abdel Muttal, the participants in the presenting the show with Amr Adeeb are: Rajaa El-Jeddawi, The Chef Gigi Zayed, and Saad al-Din Hilali.
The ceremony started in a special way, which Amr Adeeb presented the audience with a simulation of "The Zero Episode" of the new program. He said: " the story remains the most important, and the new program seeks the stories that interest people and occupy them wherever they are. They are the storytellers who have been successful. " continued Amr "It was the dream of my career, 22 years ago, to join an established institution such as MBC, and thank God, the dream is finally realized, and I look forward to more shared stories with the wider public in Egypt and the Arab world."
Amr Adib has received a number of stars and prominent figures in the special "Episode Zero", most notably: star Yousra and singer Abo, and writer Tamer Habib, where they brought together the famous song "3 daqat," and talked about its success this year. Then Adib Najm received the ball of the believer Zakaria to talk about what was raised about the issue of professionalism outside Egypt during the coming period. After that, Adib hosted fashion expert Farida Temraz, who spoke about her story of success in the fashion world in an unconventional fashion, and then received the Egyptian diving instructor Bent Adil, the daughter of the province of North Sinai, who came specially to tell her story with success.
Businessman Hussam Al Qabbani also spoke about providing a wide range of social initiatives and charity donations to the most needy groups in society.
Amr Adib concludes the episode "Episode Zero" for receiving Mohamed Abdel Metaal, General Manager of MBC Egypt, and Mazen Hayek, MBC Group's spokesperson. Abdel Metaal pointed out that the new program is "a qualitative addition, and the channel has provided him with all the necessary resources for his success and his release to the public in the best possible manner."
"The new program combines stories and heart with a variety of fast-paced and rhythmic sections," he concluded. In his turn, Mazen Hayek thanked MBC's big friends who participated in the ceremony and expressed his pride in the return of Amr Adib to the MBC family, who was involved in the jury of the first season of "Arabs Got Talent" On MBC4. "We look forward to following up the many and varied stories from Egypt and abroad, which will be delineated in detail by Amr Adib with the team," Hayek concluded.
We wish Amr Adib and Mbc Masr the best of luck in their new program "El 7ekaya", and we are very excited to see the first episode next saturday
Best Looks From The Opening Ceremony Of El Gouna Film Festival
Mariam Said Is The Bride
The Queen, Her Majesty "Yousra"
"El 7ekaya" With Amr Adib Is The Latest Of MBC Masr
Welcome to the world of ELITE!
Loosing Virginity Before Marriage
How Can Ego Destroy A Relationship/Friendship?
Recommending El Kowayeseen This Eid
The Queen, Her Majesty "Yousra"
"El 7ekaya" With Amr Adib Is The Latest Of MBC Masr
La Veranda At Concorde El Salam Cairo Hotel Is Our New Favourite Place
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11 Post-Credits Movie Scenes That You've Probably Missed
The Queen, Her Majesty "Yousra"
We were really delighted and pleasured to interview the super star " Yousra" and we'll take you into a scope...
11 Affordable Little Black Dresses to Up your Fashion Game
What is a woman's wardrobe without its little black dress. If there's one thing a woman should never live without,...
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Every year, the Met Gala celebrates a specific theme that celebrities have to get costume tailored gowns and suits for,...
MARKS & SPENCER Promises a New Shopping Experience
Marks & Spencer just opened their brand new branch in Mall of Egypt. That's not just another branch of Marks...


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Google Photos
But if you have 100,000 photos — or even 10,000 photos, as I do — there's only so much value in a bird's-eye view. Google recognized that problem, and set out to develop a sorting system that reflects how people identify and organize photo collections in their own minds. "We went around and did surveys with people and said, describe to me your last 10 photos just in words," Lieb says. "We'd close our eyes and listen." It turns out most people describe photos in four categories: who's in it, where it was taken, what's in it, and what type of image it is: a video, a panorama, and so on.
Tap Google's familiar magnifying glass icon inside Photos, then, and that's what you'll see: there are the faces that appear most often in your photos, ranked by frequency. There are places where you've shot the bulk of your pictures and videos. There's a personalized list of things you like to photograph — concerts, food, and dogs, in my case. And, finally, there's access to your videos and to what Google calls "creations" — algorithmically generated animations, collages, photo albums, and video montages.
I've been using Google Photos since it came out and I love it for one feature: unlimited storage. All of the photos I take with my camera (a Canon DSLR) go onto a networked hard drive, since the images it puts out average 20-30 megabytes each. But everything I take with my phone? Straight into Google Photos.
A nice touch in the UI is the 'press-and-hold to select' mechanic – it's a very effective design, and I'm quite excited to see what the Photos team does with access to 3D Touch.1
- Now I just have to find a friend who's getting the new iPhone and who won't mind me looking through their photos so I can play with a photo app… ↩


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|No comment
> Jackson Guitars
> Jackson Usa Sl2h Soloist Absinthe Frost Brand New 2010
Brand New!!! Made In U.S.A. 2010 JACKSON SL2H SOLOIST NECK-THRU "ABSINTHE FROST" IN ABSOLUTE MINT/FACTORY FRESH CONDITION!!! FLAWLESS!!! NO DINGS, DENTS, OR SCRATCHES!!! NO ISSUES!!! Comes with Jackson factory hard shell case and all case candy(tags/manuals/tools/key). U.S. buyer pays $49.95 shipping, safe packing, insurance and handling. Paypal preferred. Thanks for looking! Check out the specs:
Jackson Guitars SL2H Soloist USA Select Model Specifications
- Series: USA Select Series
- Body: Alder with Flame Maple Top on Transparent Colors
- Neck: Neck-Thru-Body Quartersawn Maple
- Neck Dimensions: 3rd Fret: .790 inch, 12th Fret: .850 inch
- Tuning Machines: Die-Cast Tuners
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Number of Frets: 24 Jumbo Frets
- Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB TB4 Humbucking Pickup
- Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH1N Humbucking Pickup
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
- Bridge: Floyd Rose Original Double Locking 2-Point Tremolo
- Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle:
- Position 1. Bridge Pickup
- Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups
- Position 3. Neck Pickup
- Hardware: Black (Chrome on Transparent Colors)
- Strings: NPS, Extra Light (.009 to .042)
- Case: Includes Deluxe Molded Case
- Scale Length: 25.5 inches
- Width at Nut: 1-11/16 inch
No comment


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I knew I had to have this cute tie front top from the Nordstrom sale as soon as I saw it. It's lightweight and super soft. It comes in five colors. I originally had it in the burgundy, but exchanged it for the olive green and now I wish I had them both. Actually, I wish I had them all! I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can wear it all the time. It's currently on sale for $35! So get them before they are gone, you won't be disappointed!
Olive green front tie top: Nordstrom – on sale for $35! // Jean Jacket: Gap // Jeans: Gap // Nude Heels: similar here // Sunglasses: Nectar // Necklace: BaubleBar
Ok now that the fall TV lineup has officially started what is everyone watching? I have been sucked into The Good Doctor and of course Will and Grace. I'm also watching Young Sheldon because I love the Big Bang Theory and Sheldon is the best part. It's cute and easy to watch. I really love dramas, but I need a couple fun shows to keep me sane.
So what are you watching this fall? I need to know what to set my DVR for!
Shop The Post:
Linking up with: // Stylin in St. Louis // Thoughts for Thursday // The Pleated Poppy // Pumps and Pushups
//photos: JNelly Photography//


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Sample Set
Our Sample Set is the perfect way to try our products for free – once you've fallen in love with them, you can use the accompanying promotional code to claim a 10€ discount against any future Alex Carro purchase.
The handy set includes enough applications of four of our key products for a weekend getaway, or to experiment with at home in your own time.
It also gives you the opportunity to try mixing your own bespoke products on the go, when your skin needs an extra boost or you have time for a ritual that's even more special.
So get sampling!
This set contains:
2x Balancing Face Oil, 1.5ml
2x Facial Cleanser, 2ml
2x Face Cream, 1.5ml
2x Exfoliating Powder, 0.5g
What a fantastic range of products, in understated and classy packaging. For a very fussy man, who travels a lot, this was the perfect set of products for me – I'll definitely be buying the full sized products & keeping a sample set in my travel bag!


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Malaysian children part of world's largest art lesson using Cisco technology
KUALA LUMPUR, 8 NOVEMBER 2010 -- Malaysian children formed part of the world's largest art class as part of networking solutions firm Cisco's 25-year anniversary of corporate social responsibility [CSR] by attempting a Guinness World Record for the world's largest art lesson across the most number of cities.
Cisco Asia Pacific & Japan president Edzard Overbeek said the art class, which was held in conjunction with recent Hari Raya celebrations in Malaysia, also included cities from Asia Pacific, Greater China, Japan and the US and was conducted by Singaporean artist, Peter Draw.
Overbeek said Cisco collaborated with Peter Draw's class, called The Sweetest Gift, to children and beneficiaries across 12 countries and 34 locations. "In Malaysia, Cisco invited children from Yayasan Salam Malaysia to take part in the art class conducted by Peter Draw via Cisco TelePresence at the Cisco Malaysia office in Kuala Lumpur Sentral."
He said that as well as Cisco TelePresence, other technologies used included Cisco TV and Cisco WebEx to connect offices and communities with a total of more than 1,893 people.
"Cisco also raised more than US$13,569 in donations towards supporting charity organisations and beneficiaries in the following locations: Sydney, Adelaide, Hong Kong, Bangalore, Jakarta, Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Manila, San Jose, Taipei and Bangkok," said Overbeek.
Making the world smaller
°Connecting and collaborating with others is a key element of Cisco culture, and our technologies make the world a smaller place and enhance life experiences," he said. "I'm heartened by the commitment shown by my teams in all the offices and am even more excited by the opportunities we had to show these children how technology is changing the way we live, work, play and learn."
°This is not just the world's largest art lesson," said Peter Draw. "This is also a dream come true for me: A dream to teach art to children all over the world, no matter who they are, or where they come from. A dream made possible by everyone who shared the same vision with me for children, especially the wonderful people from Cisco."
Cisco's Overbeek said some of the children's drawings from the art class would be made into greeting cards for the festive season ahead, with proceeds from the sales going to the charities. "Volunteering is a huge part of Cisco's culture, and the numbers speak for themselves. Since 2001, Cisco employees have logged more than one million (1,128,970) volunteer hours - a number that continues to increase year over year."
Cisco Malaysia managing director Anne Abraham said as an extension of the initiative, the company, together with its business partners, came together to raise a collective fund of RM19,000 [US$6,165] for Rumah Nur Salam and KL Krash Pad, which are two safe homes set up by the charity Yayasan Salam Malaysia.
"The money collected will be used to help with the maintenance of the homes and provision for the children's basic necessities," said Abraham. "The Cisco team helped set up wireless Internet connection at the Yayasan Salam's KL Krash Pad in the Chow Kit area, in addition to contributing computers and wireless equipment amounting to RM10,000 [US$3,245]."
°Cisco's social responsibility mission has always been dedicated to helping communities improve lives, and getting our valued business partners and employees involved," she said. "We believe not only in investing in, but also engaging with the community in more meaningful ways. By enabling an environment where people can live, work, play and learn using the borderless world of the Internet, the community will have a chance to gain information and knowledge that will enhance their lives."
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FOX News Reporter Gets Kiss-Bombed on Live TV (Video)
FOX News reporter Mike Tobin was reporting today in Boston when two women tried to plant a kiss on him.
They were trying to #occupy his cheeks.
He shoved them off of frame.
Tobin told them, "Please don't do that!" before he shoved them out of the picture.
Hat Tip Andrew Marcus
Here's the video:
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An iconic painting of two candles could set a record for German artist Gerhard Richter at a New York City auction.
"Zwei Kerzen" (Tzveye KEHRT'-sehn) has a pre-sale estimate of $12 million to $16 million.
Christie's is selling it at its post-war and contemporary art sale Thursday evening.
The oil on canvas depicts close-ups of two lit candles in Richter's photorealist style. It is one of the largest of his series of candle and skull paintings.
Another work from the series, "Kerze" (Kehrts), currently holds the record for the artist. It sold at auction in 2008 for $15.8 million.


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Fourth grade students at Schley County Elementary have been working hard to learn all about the Native American tribes that inhabited the United States before European colonization changed the land. The students learned about the Inuit, Kwakiutl, Hopi, Pawnee, Nez Perce, and Seminole tribes. They learned about the regions where these tribes lived, the natural resources available to them and how the natives used those resources in order to survive. Students made totem poles to represent the Kwakiutl tribe and tepees in order to remember how the Pawnee led a nomadic lifestyle, searching the plains for buffalo. Each student also chose a favorite tribe and wrote an informational essay about them, as well as designed a poster.
Copyright © 2018 Schley County Elementary


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We met dynamic duo, mum and daughter Bea and Noa Bolz, in the heart of Dubai Marina, where they live. Bea is German-born and has lived the life of a traveller, flitting through countries such as Iran, Holland, Oman and Indonesia. Noa, an energetic and affectionate little four-year-old, was born in the US and she is very knowledgeable about the community she lives in now. Together, they share their three-bedroom apartment with a menagerie of cats, a shoal of fish and a lot of love. We chat with them about their life in Dubai and how the Marina has changed since Bea first moved there in the '90s.
You have lived all over the world. How did that come about?
Bea: I came to the UAE in 1992. My parents had just moved here and I was in university in Cambridge [in the UK], so it seemed like as good a place as any to come to after I graduated. Up until then, I had lived the life of a true expatriate child, travelling with my parents as they moved through the globe with work. I have lived in so many diverse and interesting places, I have been very lucky. Noa and I are citizens of the world.
How long have you lived in the Marina?
Bea: Since then. My parents bought their home off-plan and so did I. We were one of the first families to move here. It was a very different place in those days. It was just beginning to be developed. In fact, one of my favourite memories of those days is of riding my dirt bike through the mud. A far cry from the boats and yachts and shiny pedalo bikes you see today!
Your home in Marina Towers seems to be right in the epicentre of Marina living. What is it like living here?
Bea: This was the first building to be sold freehold to Dubai and, to me, it feels like a real local community. It's almost like a launch-pad for all the new communities in Dubai. Before I had Noa, it was great to be able to come in from work and pop down for a coffee or a bite to eat. Since having my little girl, it feels even more like home. It's a wonderful mix of families, single people, retired people and children – almost like a proper village. We love it here and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. One of the best bits is that my parents live right across from us in the other tower. [Points out their apartment from the window.]
Your home is certainly very spacious and you have a very interesting collection of beautiful things from all over the world.
Bea: I have collected some nice bits and pieces from many of the places I have lived or visited. It makes for some great conversation openers!
Noa: I like this clock. Do you want me to show you how it works?
Bea: Noa loves her clock – it's from Ikea! I have elephant bells from Indonesia, ornamental doors from India and shells from Oman, and her favourite thing is a black shiny clock! [Laughs.]
The apartments are very roomy. There are six towers here and each tower has 37 towers with about 150 units. It's a mixed development, so there are one-, two- and three-bedroom homes in our tower. It's nice because we meet all sorts of people, from families with young kids to retired folk, and I think this is really important for Noa.
The idea of living on the Marina for some would conjure up a hectic lifestyle with the medley of restaurants and entertainment options on offer here. So, how does it measure up for a young family?
Bea: You know what – it might seem to be a very busy place, but it's actually quite peaceful. Noa and I love to walk downstairs at the weekend and get an ice cream at Baskin Robbins and just sit on a little bench by the fountains. She scoots around and plays with the neighbourhood children,
while I watch on. Or we sit and chat about all the little things that mums and their daughters talk about. It's calm and it's quiet and it's lovely.
Noa: I love chocolate and mavilla ice cream.
Bea: Chocolate and vanilla [correcting Noa]. It's her favourite, isn't it Noa? And you love the fountains, too, don't you?
Noa: I do. I can dance in them and get all wet.
Bea: Noa actually learned to walk right there by the fountains. A pretty special memory. We used to totter around there, me holding her hand while she found her balance and one day she just took off.
Are there facilities here that make life a bit easier?
Bea: So many! For example, we can walk to the grocery store, load our trolley and wheel it right back up to our kitchen. We have no need of a car or a taxi for our day-to-day life around the Marina, as we can walk everywhere. Right on our doorstep we have grocery stores, a dentist, a doctor, a pharmacy – everything we need really.
So no worries about fighting traffic or finding parking?
Bea: None at all. When I am not at work, I tend to park up the car and then let the wonderful public transport system, or indeed my feet, take over. We love to go to Black Palace Beach with my whole family on a Friday, so we often catch the tram down there. My sister and her husband and kids live out at Arabian Ranches which suits her because her children are older, but they will often come to us to spend family time. The metro station is right by us, too, and it's only three stops to the Mall of the Emirates.
What kind of things do you like to do, Noa? Do you like to cycle around the Marina and look at the boats?
Noa: Yes, but I love sitting on the back of Mum's bike and we go round and round and I sing Baa Baa Black Sheep. That's so much fun. And on Thursday after school we always go to the carousel and I love sitting on the horse that goes up and down.
Bea: Under lots of the bridges around the Marina there are cute little playgrounds, where she can let off some steam. This area has really been developed nicely with families in mind and these playgrounds are shaded and really well equipped. We love them.
What are the best bits about Marina Towers?
Noa: Scooting! I can scoot everywhere.
Bea: It's very safe here and the team that works in the building has been here a long time, so they all know Noa and I well and really care about us. I feel like it's a really safe environment for my daughter to grow up in. They watch out for her. When my new nanny started with us, she was an unfamiliar face around the place and the security team took great care to make sure that Noa was comfortable with her.
Noa: And we go to the playground, so that I can play with my friends and sometimes to the pool. I love splashing.
Bea: Each tower has its own pool and gym and then there is also a communal 25-metre lap pool for when we're feeling very energetic.
Noa is at school now, so how is the school-run in terms of traffic out of the Marina?
Bea: Noa goes to school on Hessa Street and it takes us an average of 20 minutes, so not bad at all. We chose her school there because we wanted her to be a confident German-speaker.
That's important to us as a family and I hire a German-speaking nanny to look after Noa while I'm at work.
So is the Marina a home for life?
Bea: Yes, as far as I can see right now, anyway. Sometimes I miss the greenery you might get in the more suburban areas – maybe a garden would be nice – but this works better for our family.
Noa is an only child, so perhaps she wouldn't really play out in a garden by herself anyway.


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Oakland-based artist Patrick Dunaway creates intricate, painstaking illustrations resonating with mystery and magic. Patrick's drawings and paintings pull from geometry, allegorical imagery, and the natural world. An enduring fascination with skeletal structures can be noted throughout Patrick's work- a nod to a childhood spent in Death Valley.
Join us for the opening reception of Cottonwood Root on Friday, August 21st, 2015 at our 4th Anniversary Party between 11AM - 7PM at Esqueleto Oakland. 482 A 49th Street, Oakland, CA.


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Dress with Grace – June 12, 2018
Hosted at Grace Institute
You or your organization can donate new or gently used work wear (especially sizes 12-44), accessorizes and shoes to help our participants find the perfect interview outfit! Will be accepted for three weeks before the event. Volunteers are need to help us sort clothing and organize the event. A limited amount of volunteers can also join us on the day of Dress with Grace to help Grace women find clothes and reorganize.
Converse with Confidence – July 31, 2018
Hosted at Grace Institute
Grace's mock interview series allows our current job-seekers to prepare for the next step of their career journey. A great opportunity for a corporate group or women's networks – we are looking for approximately 15 professionals per session to serve as the interviewers in simulations of real job interviews.
Linkedin Training Workshops – August 1 & 2
Hosted at Grace Institute
This two day workshop will help our participants create a linkedin.com profile with their new resume and begin inviting their connections to their network. We are looking for 30 professionals per session to give one on one guidance and support to participants.
Five Days, Five Women
Hosted at your office as requested
A week-long job shadowing program customized to your office culture and relevant positions. This program helps our graduations gain relevant, recent experience to speak about on job interviews, learn the day-to-day skills needed to succeed in administrative positions, and increase their confidence in corporate settings. Companies can provide their employees with informal leadership opportunities, team building opportunities and connect them to a meaningful way to impact women in New York City.
Skills Training and Workshops
Based on volunteer availability
We are in need of office technology experts to teach workshops about a variety of software programs to our graduates. If you are an expert in any of the software applications listed below and would like to share your knowledge with Grace Alumnae, please consider leading a workshop.
Workshops will be held at Grace Institute in our computer labs, Monday –Thursday after 6PM. Each workshop can be scheduled based on your availability.
Hair Salon Services
We are always excited to partner with Hair Salons who will provide styling for our women. Salons with expertise in all hair types preferred.
Host an Intern
We provide job shadowing opportunities our participants and are always looking for new partner companies to host our participants.
Please contact Christina Ramelli at firstname.lastname@example.com or 212.832.7605, Ext. 1621 to learn more about these volunteer opportunities or how to financially support our work.


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|The amount I have left after 2-3 weeks consistent usage
"A luxurious facial serum containing Retinol and Vitamin C to target fine lines and wrinkles and boost the skin's natural repairing process. Concentrated extracts of Cocoa and Shea Butters nourish skin whilst Aloe and Milk Proteins soothe redness and irritation. Helps to reduce the look of discoloration, dullness and fine lines. Natural extracts provide a luxurious feel and leave skin looking radiant."First Impressions
At first I was surprised by the texture of the serum. I expected all serums to be have a thick and viscous texture, but this one is extremely watery and when I spread it on my face, it dried really quickly- it reminded me of a quick dry nail polish or some sort of waterproof gel. At first I thought it was the wrong product for me because it didn't feel obviously moisturising, however I applied my normal L'occitane moisturiser over the top as instructed. Once everything had absorbed, my skin did not feel tight and there was a noticeable reduction in flakiness.
The Good
- Simple, clean packaging
- Definitely boosted my skin's repair process
- Visible reduction in acne scars
- Does not cause breakouts (for me)
- Seals in moisture and provides a sort of barrier
- Improvement in skin texture
|1 week in between the taking of these photos.
The Bad
- The pump is what I like to call an Action potential pump (Biomedical students will know my dorky reference). It's all-or-nothing! Every time I try to pump it, I put pressure on the pump as gently as I can and slowly increase the pressure in a bid to control the amount coming out. But as soon as it hits a certain threshold, the whole pump decompresses and the serum goes shooting out over the span of my palm!
|Shoots across my palm at full force every single time!
Here are some prerequisite camho pics ;) To see what I use on my skin see here.
|Might need a better background in the future :P
|Hmm... What to have for lunch... (probably a legit thought)
|1 point for Palmer's Facial Serum!
|My favorite nail polish of all time!
What are your thoughts on serums?


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My passion for wildlife was stimulated in my teenage years, mainly thanks to my Mum (a biology teacher) who made me look at the world differently and being inspired by writers such as Paul Colinvaux. This early interest developed into biological research in my 20s, when I did practical conservation work in places such as the Comores and Mongolia.
Today, any free time I have I spend pottering around the flatlands of East Anglia or escaping to our hut on the Northumberland coast looking for wildlife and castles with my wife and children.
I studied Biological Sciences at Oxford and Conservation at UCL, and worked at Wildlife and Countryside Link before spending five years as Conservation Director at Plantlife.
I joined the RSPB as Head of Government Affairs in 2004, became Head of Sustainable Development in 2006, before becoming Conservation Director in 2011.
Politics can be a short term game. Headlines come and go, polls rocket and plummet, and our leaders are very often judged by what they can offer you this minute, not by what they protect for our future.
Every now and then, however, politicians are able to look up from the daily news and think about the long-term. In these moments, a single political action can do as much for nature as years of hard slog on the ground. I'm thinking of the politicians who, even in the ruins of bomb-blasted London, planned the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949 (still the basis of our SSSI laws), or the cross-party effort that gave us the Marine and Coastal Access Act, 2009 or the Climate Change Act, 2008, the world's first legally binding decarbonisation plan. You'll have your own examples.
This week, there is a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, we will get one of those defining moments after next year's General Election.
Excuse to show image of the wonderful RSPB Nene Washes nature reserve by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Yesterday, Dan Rogerson, the Environment Minister, announced a set of manifesto proposals for the Liberal Democrats that included many policies we've been advocating at the RSPB for some time. The package is good start - a real recognition that nature isn't something you can squeeze into the gaps in society, it's vital to every part of our lives.
The headline that the Lib Dems would introduce a Nature Bill in the next Parliament is something that we, alongside The Wildlife Trusts, have been urging all the parties to support. We've been talking about a Nature and Well-being Bill to emphasise that investing in nature is good for people, economy and community, as well as for the environment. I've made a few references to this over the past few months, see here and here.
In short, we've wanted something to drive nature's recovery akin to what the Climate Change Act has done in driving down greenhouse gas emissions.
A core part of our argument has been about the Natural Capital Committee, or an "Office for Environmental Responsibility". We want the true value of nature to be built into decision-making across Government. Departments like the Treasury and BIS need to be held to account for what they take from nature, as much as DEFRA does. Only then can we be sure that we leave a strong natural environment for our children. It's great to see this in the Lib Dem plan. This body could have equivalent clout to the Committee on Climate Change or even the Office of Budget Responsibility.
Of course, the Lib Dems' announcement is still subject to the party's democratic approval process and it's still just a manifesto commitment - you need to win an election to do something rather than simply say something.
We'd still like all the parties to go further. For any party to be serious about saving nature, they need to come up with a convincing package of measures that helps to stop the rot, protect the best and restore the rest.
Let me explain.
In this month's Nature's Home magazine (which is always beautiful and always well worth a read), I wrote, "we want to stop common species becoming rare, and prevent rare species becoming extinct, so we need to learn to live in harmony with nature – reconciling the needs of humans and wildlife. A no-regrets approach includes ensuring 20% of [at least] our land and 10% of our seas are protected and well-managed for wildlife. We also need to make the intervening land is made more accessible or permeable for wildlife... [and] we need to tackle the proximate and ultimate drivers of decline and get to grips with the four horsemen of the ecological apocalypse".
This means we hope and expect the parties to go further...
...proposed Lib Dem targets for clean air and clean water are great, but we also need a long-term legal commitment to getting our finest sites into good condition and helps recover threatened species
... ensuring a long term future of the public forest estate by carrying out the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Forestry is great, but we also need action to make our farmed landscape more accessible and permeable for wildlife and this means credible proposals for CAP reform and ways to build nature into local planning, and
...action at home is welcome but we also want parties to take their international responsibilities seriously especially on our Overseas Territories where the nature returns for a small investment can be massive. That is why we're calling on the UK Government to create marine protected area to protect the wonderful sealife around Ascension Island.
...new commitments to tackle wildlife crime are welcome, but we hope that our politicians will go further and introduce new protection for the uplands in the form of licensing of grouse shoots, which would help to deliver better environmental outcomes for our hills.
The Liberal Democrats have come out of the traps first - setting a benchmark for the other parties to match and hopefully better. I now look forward to hearing what the other parties have to say. It be great if, by May 2015, we had a strong cross-party consensus on what nature needs and a shared commitment to a Nature and Well-being Act in the next Parliament.
What do you think of the Lib Dem plans?
It would be great to hear your views.
I started the year (here) focusing on the need to protect our finest wildlife sites - whether locally, nationally or internationally significant. For the Government to have a chance of realising its ambition to be the first generation to pass on the natural environment in an enhanced state to the next, it must improve protection and management of our jewels in the crown - just 35% of SSSIs, for example, are currently in favourable condition.
So when I woke this morning to hear that fracking might be excluded from protected areas, I thought that this was good news.
Earlier this year, the RSPB, the National Trust and other countryside conservation groups published a major review of the risks fracking could pose to the natural environment in the UK. Alongside this report, we put forward ten recommendations that would strengthen how this industry is regulated and would go some way to addressing these risks. Our headline recommendation was to create shale gas exclusion zones that include National Parks, Areas of Natural Beauty (AONBs) and sites protected at the national and European level for wildlife.
As the details of today's announcement have been released (here), it has become clear that National Parks and AONBs were still to be made available for shale gas licensing, but a fracking development would only take place within them if it can be shown to be 'exceptional circumstances'. It seems that the Secretary of State will call in any challenge to such a decision to ensure this is implemented.
This is not the absolute protection that we hoped for. It is, however, an important and welcome step forward for two reasons. First, it sends a clear signal to planners that they should reject applications for any fracking related developments within these sites. Second, it endorses the concept that some places are not appropriate for fracking.
Yet, surely wildlife sites should also be added to the list. Why add to the pressures that these sites already face?
Through the course of the day, it was good to see others pick up this issue, such as Natalie Bennett, who asks here whether this principle should be applied to places important for people too.
The partner organisations behind the 'Are we fit to frack?' reports today issued a response the announcement noting that whilst it is a positive development it must be built upon if we are to keep special places special. This response is shown below.
Let me know what you think about today's announcement on fracking.
New onshore licensing round opens – Joint response
The Angling Trust, National Trust, RSPB, the Salmon and Trout Association, The Wildlife Trusts and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust earlier this year published a major review of the risks that shale gas extraction ('fracking') could pose in the UK and put forward ten recommendations to address these risks.
Our review concluded that fracking poses a range of significant risks to the natural environment. Given these risks, and the high level of uncertainty about them, we called for special areas that are particularly sensitive to be protected outright from development. This would best be achieved by not licensing or permitting shale gas extraction, or exploration activity in these areas in the first place. Removing these sensitive areas from the area that was being considered for the 14th licensing round would reduce the total area being offered for licence by just 12%.
We welcome Government's announcement that National Parks and Areas of Natural Beauty will be afforded special protection and fracking developments will only be allowed within them under 'exceptional circumstances'.
Whilst this reflects existing planning policy, confirmation that fracking will be seen as a major development and will therefore have to pass this test is a useful step in the right direction. Critically, this is also the first time that Government have recognised the need for special places to be protected from fracking. There are, however, two fundamental problems with this approach that need addressing.
Firstly, various tests already exist in the planning system that will apply to developments in areas designated as special for one reason or the other. It's unclear at this stage requiring fracking to pass an 'exceptional circumstances' test will add to these existing safeguards or indeed what is meant by 'exceptional'.
We are therefore concerned that this ambiguity will only be resolved when a developer attempts to challenge these rules through the planning system. This uncertainty is exactly the scenario that the industry, the public and conservationists want to avoid, and that could be dispelled through simply not licensing these areas and thereby establishing exclusion zones.
Secondly, wildlife sites, including Special Protection Areas, Special Areas for Conservation and Sites of Scientific Interest as well as nature reserves and Local Wildlife Sites, have been excluded from the new safeguards. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that these sites, which are highly sensitive and are of great natural value, are properly protected from the outset. We strongly urge Government to review this decision.
In our report, Are we fit to frack?, we put forward a number of other recommendations that dealt with how the fracking industry is regulated. These include, for example, requiring all applications for fracking developments to do a statutory environmental impact assessment, and independent monitoring of key environmental risks such as methane leakage. Many of these recommendations have not yet been addressed and with the 14th licensing round taking place this year they are becoming ever more urgent.
We now urge the look forward to working with Government to make further progress in these areas.
The last few weeks has seen an intense focus on the uplands, especially in England. Central to this has been a growing and extremely welcome chorus to see the return of hen harriers to the rightful place as a breeding bird of our hills – the shockwaves of the last year's failure to see any hen harrier nest successfully in England have, at long last, built a momentum for change.
In parallel the future of the English uplands, as a whole, is starting to get the attention it deserves. The common thread through this is the growing impact the driven (red) grouse shooting industry is having as some intensify the management of the uplands.
Raising the issues is one thing – the key question is what happens next? Let's be under no illusion, the growing recognition that the absence of hen harriers and the wider environmental implications of the grouse industry is prompting strong reactions as calls for bans and boycotts grow.
I'll be clear – the RSPB is not in that position, we want change and we want a positive reaction from the moorland landowners and managers.
That's why we welcome today's announcement by M&S that they are not going to stock red grouse until there is a code of practice in place and we welcome the opportunity to work with M&S and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust to move this forward.
This also exactly the same thinking behind our call for licensing of upland driven grouse shooting in England. Developed co-operatively, such a proposal builds confidence and provides a real route out of adversarial dialogue that has, for too long, characterised these issues.


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Opening Night at the Kootenay Gallery
Please join us in celebrating the talent of our community at the Opening of the River Art show at the Kootenay Gallery.
The show featuring many amazing pieces by Stanley Humphries students runs from April 19th until May 28th.
Thank you to Ms. Barnes, Ms. Reddick and all of the artists who worked to create this beautiful showcase!


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Last updated: 7/19/16
Our Theory of Change
If the City, education stakeholders and partners and the broader community collaborate to improve local education and learning in ways that:
- Increase educational equity, addressing disproportionately in educational opportunities and bias in schools and education systems;
- Engage whole communities in providing access to high-quality learning experiences that build knowledge, skill and experience, in and beyond school walls and throughout all times of the day;
And, if the City and partners across sectors make investments that increase community and household stability, thereby better positioning low-income students and families to benefit from school and learning,
Then Boston can help all learners achieve excellence, close achievement AND opportunity gaps and fulfill its vision for education and learning.
Still have questions? Contact:
Education Cabinet
1 City Hall Square
Room 608
Boston, MA 02201United States