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Instant Pot Sous Vide Cooker – you will know what a Sous Vide cooker is, how Instant Pot Accu SV 800 sous-vide circulator as a device can help you cook food slowly at precise low temperatures over a long period of time to achieve succulent, nutritious and delicious meals. You will learn the features and benefits of this device and why you should buy it! You will also read sample reviews expressing positive and negative opinions about the unit.
After you read this article you will be in a better informed informed decision about Sous Vide cooker especially the Instant Pot Accu SV 800 circulator. The reviews shed more light and being numerous you are likely to find or read one that is specific to your situation. You might find a reviewer who reviews the unit answering exactly what you were wondering about. Read along…
What is A Sous Vide Cooker?
Until recently, only chefs were privy to all the limited world of Sous Vide cooking. The phrase means 'under vacuum' in French and it's defined as a process of first vacuum-sealing food items and placing them in a water bath.
By purchasing your own sous vide cooker, you can realize all of the advantages that a top chef has when cooking food in a 5-star restaurant. Sous vide cooking means that you'll be able to seal your food when cooking to retain the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that more traditional cooking methods ruin. Also read Instant Pot IP-DUO 7-In-1.
Though the Instant Pot Accu SV800 Sous Vide Immersion Circulator is not necessarily the best seller at Amazon to be recommended as the best sous vide cooker, it is the best companion of the instant pot electric pressure cookers!
The instant pot pressure cooker models include the IP-DUO-50/60/80, IP-LUX50/60 and the IP-SMART. Let's look the Accu SV800 model briefly below.
Instant Pot Sous Vide Cooker Features and Benefits
Sous vide cooking ensures food is precisely cooked at low temperatures over a long period of time to achieve succulent, delicious meals. Sealed pouches allow food to cook in its own juices along with your favorite marinades such that all the nutrients and flavors are preserved in the cooking process for healthier and tastier meals. Sous vide cooking is a great way of cooking tougher and lower grade cuts of meats. A Sous vide cooker is perfect for families and entertaining guests. Sous Vide Cookers are healthy and help you cook like a chef. Compare with Instant Pot Smart Cooker. Below are some of the features and benefits of adopting Sous Vide cooking.
Instant Pot Sous Vide Cooker Features
- User friendly touch-screen digital controls,
- Lightweight stainless steel,
- Easy-to-grip plastic handle,
- Ability to set precise temperatures with control accuracy of 0.4°F/0.2°C,
- Has a 12V DC motor that works extremely quietly and has enhanced lifetime/durability compared to standard AC motors used in other brands,
- Clamps securely to Instant Pot 6Qt/8Qt inner pots or other containers with the adjustable stainless steel clamp that has maximum clamp height of about 8″
- Has versatile cooking time settings ranging from 10 minutes to 72 hours,
- Has versatile temperature settings ranging from 104°F to 195°F (40°C to 90°C).
Sous Vide Cooking Advantages
The Instant Pot Sous Vide device like any other best Sous Vide cooker has a lot of advantages to using it including but not limited to;
- Gourmet Tastes: simple to cook soft, tender and juicy meat with the help of this cooker, even tougher and lower cut meats,
- Turns home cooks into gourmet chefs by cooking high-end restaurant quality food at home,
- Cooks professionally and precisely with absolute accuracy of +/- 1°F between 104-194° F/40-90° C in near silence for up to 72 hours,
- Easy-to-clean with secure stand up design and removable stainless steel skirt (almost no cleaning necessary, simply wash and air dry the skirt),
- Cooking your food sous vide also prevents bacteria and toxins such as Acrylaminde from forming – ensuring that you consume the healthiest and most nutritious meals possible,
- Don't forget taste when cooking sous vide. Cooking your food at low temps and when vacuum sealed ensures robust flavors from the spices, herbs and natural tastes of the food,
- There won't ever be dry or burned edges – or rare center areas of meat – but you'll realize a fully intact and appealing texture possible. Cooking with a sous vide cooker is so easy and fun.
Learn More About Sous Vide Cookers
You simply seal the food items in a vacuum sealer, place it in the water bath oven, set the target time and remove the bag when time is up. You can then sear it or serve it as it comes out of the bag. Read Instant Pot LUX 6 in 1!
Some sous vide cookers sport a digital timer, easy-to-read LCD and a large window so you can view your food as it cooks. The sous vide cookers heat the water to the exact and consistent temperature – and some cookers even connect to your phone – letting you simply touch a button to begin the cooking process.
You don't have to be a professional chef to take advantage of sous vide cooking. The cooker does all the work of timing and heat rather than leaving it to chance. Rather than a hit and miss success with cooking, you'll be able to cook consistently great food each and every time you use your sous vide cooker.
The advantages of sous vide cookers are many – you'll have perfect consistency because you're cooking at the right temperatures for the exact amount of time. Your food will cook in its own juices, so it will be consistently moist and tender. When you have Instant Pot pressure cooker recipes you will enjoy your sous vide cooker every time.
You'll also realize less waste with a sous vide cooker because the food items won't dry out or lose as much as its volume than with traditional cooking methods. That will result in less waste.
You don't have to monitor your food on a constant basis either. Sous vide is a precise method of cooking which means that it handily holds the correct temperature so it won't over or under cook. You'll love taking the guesswork out of cooking with sous vide. Read Instant Pot accessories.
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Sous Vide Reviews
As mentioned above the sample below of a few reviews you can get down at Amazon will share some light into some areas about the Instant Pot Accu SV800 sous vide immersion circulator that you may have been asking yourself questions about. Read more reviews by clicking here!


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CNN Orders Us To Stop Talking About Anthony Weiner
The primary function of the liberal media is to control the flow of information so that it supports a liberal point of view. They do this by creating false narratives, misrepresenting actual news, and ignoring stories that disprove their false narratives. Unfortunately for traditional print and TV media there's the Internet and people are able to get their news from other more reliable sources. As a last ditch-effort to maintain control, CNN is now ordering people what they are and aren't allowed to talk about.
CNN's Chris Cillizza tried out this new form of news manipulation by informing us all that we are no longer allowed to talk about convicted sex offender Anthony Weiner. Why? Because he is a democrat with disturbing and illegal connections to Hillary Clinton. Why else?
Here's the headline that looks like it was written by a stupid 13-year-old girl from the 1980's:
Can we now stop talking about Anthony Weiner? Like, forever?
After laying out Weiner's crimes, Cillizza makes this command:
Now, can we please agree to just stop talking about Weiner?
Followed by an incoherent rationale for banishing Weiner from the public consciousness:
The legal proceedings are now closed. Weiner is totally irrelevant politically. His wife, who remains a major player in Hillary Clinton's orbit, has filed for divorce, according to CNN's Dan Merica. There's literally no reason to write or talk about Anthony Weiner anymore.
So, let's not. He's an example of a bad apple that makes politicians — and, to be honest, people — look bad. There' are plenty of other intriguing people, places and things happening in politics. Let's cover them instead.
Well no, Weiner doesn't make politicians and people look bad, he makes liberals look bad and that's at the heart of this. If Anthony Weiner were a Republican, CNN and Cillizza wouldn't be telling people to stop talking about him. In fact they's wouldn't have a chance because of the wall-to-wall coverage they would engage in. They are telling us to stop talking about Weiner because he is a democrat, pure and simple.
Keep in mind this is the same network that never met a Trump story too baseless or ridiculous to run. They spent time wondering if the President is afraid of stairs and dropped a "bombshell" on the administration proving Russian dressing isn't from Russia. Hell, last night CNN was speculating about Donald Trump taking a shit on his desk. That's news, but Anthony Weiner isn't?
Weiner derailed his political career twice and destroyed his marriage because he's a pervert. He was convicted of sending pictures of his dick to an underage girl. He is married (for now) to Hillary Clinton's top aide and had some of her classified e-mails on his laptop. Face it, that's an interesting and newsworthy story.
In the age of Trump the news faces a serious credibility issue that is completely self-inflicted. People don't trust the mainstream media because they constantly bombard us with bullshit. CNN's new ploy to dictate what we are and aren't allowed to talk about is not going to restore the public trust in the news, it's just going to accelerate the liberal media's irrelevancy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Brian Orter: Oarsmen, 2004
A new exhibit of Brian Orter's photographs – OARSMEN - will be on display at Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art, New York, located at 515 East 72nd Street, opening 1 April 2004, and continuing through 5 June.
The exhibition depicts athletes from all over the world, competing during the 2000 & 2001 Head of the Charles Regattas in Boston and the 2003 Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in Philadelphia. The Head of the Charles is internationally renowned, while the Head of the Schuylkill is the world's largest single day rowing regatta. Both competitions feature men and women of all ages, from young prep school jocks to senior masters. Orter's photographs capture these elite oarsmen both on and off the water, at ease and at the point of exhaustion.
A select group of Orter's rowing photographs were first exhibited in New York in 2002, and an augmented exhibition was held at Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art, Philadelphia in 2003, to coincide with that year's Head of the Schuylkill races. Now, for the first time, the images from Boston and the new pictures from Philadelphia are going to be united in a single exhibit. A catalogue, published by the gallery, with text by the novelist Christopher Rice, will accompany the show.
Brian Orter is a native New Yorker. Educated at Parsons School of Design, his pictures have been widely published in a broad selection of magazines. Now based in LA and New York, this Brooklyn-born photographer was initially drawn to the athleticism, strength and conditioning required of oarsmen competing at these levels. He came to admire the dedication and discipline inherent in the sport. Following in the tradition of the Philadelphia-based painter and oarsman,Thomas Eakins, Orter's images convey the eroticism of the finely conditioned athlete. At the same time, he was taken with the sense of tradition that pervades the rowing clubs that line these legendary rivers, and the serenity and natural beauty of these quiet waterways running through these gritty urban environments. Orter's pictures were taken from a variety of vantage points. He had access to the races from the shore and on the water, alongside the boats as they surged up the river; at other times he photographed the crews as they approached him while he hung suspended from bridges spanning the rivers.
Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art operates private, by appointment exhibition spaces in New York and Philadelphia. The exhibition programs of the gallery are dedicated to presenting contemporary photo-based art, with a particular emphasis on work from the UK and young, emerging artists in the US. The gallery works closely with museums, corporations and major collectors around the world, and regularly publishes catalogues to accompany exhibitions. Peter Hay Halpert is also a Professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York, a Contributing Editor of AMERICAN PHOTO magazine, and a respected collector in his own right.


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Published January 19, 2017 at 10:02
Blackburn with Darwen Branch response "We have heard of the disturbing events at Bolton Council. We find some of the actions of the Council spiteful and unhelpful for employee/management relations. All branches understand Councils up and down the country are facing tough times because of government cuts. But attacking the union and putting severe restrictions on such as proscribing what activities reps can and can't do is unnecessary and will hamper reps' ability to represent their members"
"We might not always agree but we have a good working relationship with management in Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and we are sure this will continue"


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In conjunction with the sponsors Trust Ford, Claire Johnston hosted the Dunmurry Lady Captain's Charity Golf DaY to raise awareness and support for her charity Tiny Life.
This open event was well supported by members and visitors as over 100 ladies and gents played and raised £855.
Claire sent her thanks to Trust Ford for their generous financial support and for the array of spanking new cars parked around the club house.
The worthy winners were:
First: Ann McCullough, 32 points
Second: Donna Gillespie, 31 points
Third: Ros Boyce, 31 points
Best Gross: Fionnuala McGrady, 30 points
Men's Results
First: Conor Joynson, 39 points
Second: Ryan Trimble, 38 points
Third: P Arthurs, 38 points
Dunmurry Ladies Past Captain's Golf and Dinner
Dunmurry Ladies recently held their annual Past Captain's golf and dinner.
This is traditionally organised by the immediate past captain, and so Helen Shepherd organised a super day for all.
The Eileen Marks Salver is the prize all the ladies wanted to add our name to, but Joyce Hughes made it her turn with a great score of 20 points over nine holes.
Congratulations to Joyce. All the ladies were delighted that Eileen Marks was able to attend and present her salvor.
This is a very popular social occasion with all the ladies, regardless whether they play golf or not, and they do appreciate the hospitality given by Dunmurry Golf Club.


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Luxury retailer Watches of Switzerland saw its Oxford Street store fall victim to a smash-and-grab raid on Saturday morning (April 7) as thieves armed with machetes and an axe smashed their way into the store.


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For all those not in the know, in Changchun city, Jilin province, there's a huge muscular naked man statue in the city's cultural square. He's actually pretty famous, and rather hard to miss, being four meters tall, weighing a ton, stretching his arms to the sky and being, well, naked.
But our naked friend enjoyed a new kind of attention last Saturday, as the iconic nudity was covered up by some fetching flowery pants. The image was shared like crazy online, and as it turns out the statue was dressed up by some young dudes who claim that they weren't trying to make anyone laugh but instead expressed that it was art.
And this isn't the first time statue has been dressed up, as more than six years ago that statue was dressed up in flowery underpants. This time, the guys took the effort to couture some pants that fit him perfectly, hoping to entertain local residents before the new year, reports NetEase.
According to one resident exercising near the statue, on Saturday he saw some a group of young men pointing out the statue, pulling out a huge pair of flowery pants and proceeding to lend him a bit of modesty.
"They put on the pants, took some pictures and then took them off. The whole thing took about half an hour," he said.
The history of Changchun's symbolic statue began on June 2006, when it was erected. Ever since its unveiling, the statue has attracted much comment and parody online. In fact, this year's pants are pretty PG in comparison to previous antics, like in September 2009, when the statue was seen wearing a condom or in June 2007, when its private parts were tied up with red cloth, and the most grievous instance in March 2013, when the statue was subjected to having wine bottles hanging from his, er, bits.
By Kitty Lai
[Images via NetEase / Weibo]


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Underwriting is the process assessing risk of issuing insurance. Undewriters evaluate applications,
What Is Medicare and What Does It Cover?
Medicare Supplement
What is Medicare Supplement Insurance?
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the national health care system for people over the age of 65 (certain younger people with disabilities and End-Stage Renal Disease also qualify for Medicare). Medicare insurance covers most medical services (both inpatient and outpatient), durable medical equipment, and medications.
What Does Medicare Cover?
Original Medicare is made up of 2 parts, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Part A refers to hospital or inpatient coverage and Part B refers to medical or outpatient coverage.
What is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A is often called "hospitalization" or "hospital care" because it covers inpatient care at a hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF), and hospice care.
What is Medicare Part B?
Medicare Part B covers most medically necessary doctors' services, preventive care, durable medical equipment, hospital outpatient services, laboratory tests, x-rays, mental health care, and some home health and ambulance services.
What is Medicare Part D?
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage that helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. Part D is available to any individual with Medicare Parts A and/or B.
Costs of Medicare in 2019
Medicare Part A Deductible
The annual deductible for Medicare Part A is $1,364 (2019).
Medicare Part B Deductible
The annual Medicare Part B Deductible is $185 (2019).
The monthly Medicare Part B Premium is $135.50 (2019).
Medicare Supplement
What is Medicare Supplement Insurance?
Medicare Supplement insurance (also known as Medigap insurance) is private health insurance that helps pay for health expenses (copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles) that are not covered by Original Medicare. It fills the gaps in Medicare coverage and saves patients from potentially high bills and excess charges.
What is Medigap?
Medigap insurance is another name for Medicare Supplement Insurance.
Medicare Supplement Plans
GoMedigap helps you shop and compare all 10 Medicare Supplement Plans (Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N) for free. Our team of licensed agents can educate you on the type of coverage that each plan provides and help you choose a Medicare Supplement plan that best suits your needs.
Medicare Supplement Companies
GoMedigap represents more than 30 of the top Medicare Supplement insurance companies nationwide. What makes our service unique is that we pay our agents the same commission across all insurance carriers to ensure that we provide unbiased recommendations based on each client's unique desires and needs.
Medicare Supplement Shopper's Guide
If you are confused about how to shop for a Medicare Supplement policy, visit our Medicare Supplement Shopper's Guide.


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Is God Happy With Me?
We started this conversation by asking Lisa her favorite part of being a mom. And of course, she responded with, "There's nothing I don't love, except my schedule, and that I'm tired every. single. day." (Amen, mamas? No one warned me about the funk you live in of happy exhaustion as a mama. I wouldn't change it for the world, but I would love a little bit of sleep every now and then.)
Lisa also said: "My little girl loves life and sees it as a gift, and everyday she is grateful. When we get older, it's easier to see life as the glass as half empty. Missy reminds me to look at life through the eyes of gratitude – to be grateful about every good thing that God gives us."
Love that.
Big question:
Is God Happy? Is He Happy with Me?
The word "happy" is in the Bible 85 times in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Over and over again He says that He is happy and that He is happy with us.
Zephaniah 3:17 says Our God is might to save. He sings song of delight over us.
The word there "delight" in Hebrew, really depicts God smiling and laughing.
Absolutely He is happy with us. We are His beloved, clothed in the robes of righteousness through Jesus. We are justified through faith in Christ, who took on God's wrath so that we might be able to have a right relationship with Him.
And now, He sings over us!
Lisa Harper grew up thinking God was part librarian, part roaring lion.
She said, "The idea that God smiles when He sees me coming and that He sings songs over me undoes me. Sometimes, I'm so aware of my depravity, the idea of my own belovedness is a lot harder for me to hold on to (like wet soap.) In meaning for good things, we focus so much on our downfalls. We are so aware of our failures, but forget about God's goodness and grace when we focus only on our sin.
Having a high opinion of God does not mean that we have a low view of ourselves. He says we are beautiful and wonderfully made.
When we focus on how low we are, it's actually narcissistic.
To have a higher view of God equates with having a higher view of ourselves because we see ourselves the way that God sees us.
Overall, we want our kids to see God as smiling toward them, and for them to see themselves the way that God sees them: as His dearly beloved.
Lisa, how do you continue to learn?
I'm to the point in my life where I can't live without Jesus. (I'm there, too. Are you?)
I'm always listening to podcasts and reading books. I read veraciously. Sometimes I revisit seminary notes to get fresh reminders of how He has revealed Himself. I think the best teachers are better students. And my child is constantly pointing me back to study Scripture as she asks questions I don't know the answer to.
We hope that you are constantly being pointed back to Scripture by your kids as they ask questions, and we hope that you know that you are dearly loved and can communicate God's happiness and love for His children to the sweet kiddos in your home today!
Featured Resource
If you want a deeper answer to today's big question, make sure to grab Lisa's newest book, The Sacrament of Happy. So often, we forget that God is indeed a smiling God who sings over us, and this book discovers the theology behind this concept with storytelling, Bible truths, and a lot of laughs. It's available anywhere books are sold.
We'd love for you to leave us a review so other parents might find this podcast and join us on Facebook and tell us what questions your kids are asking and how we can better help you answer the questions that they have. We're cheering you on!


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Hi everyone! It was a beautiful sunny day in Orlando today and I was in the mood to shop. I had the day off so I headed to Downtown Disney to do some damage. And boy did I do just that. Behold, the beauty that is my new pair of Ray-Ban Bicolor Wayfarers *insert heart eye emojii here*
I've wanted a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses for basically as long as I can remember. I've always loved the Wayfarer style because they fit my face the best and they look so classic! It's kind of hard to tell in the picture because of the way the lenses are, but the lenses are in fact purple! (if you want a better idea of what they look like here you go) I walked into the store on a whim and I saw these on the shelf and knew that I was going to walk out with them. I rationalized my purchase based on the discount I got (20 percent, thanks Disney!) and the fact that I wear sunglasses every day of my life so I will surely get my use out of them ;)
The lady in the store told me that my sunglasses are limited edition so they came with this nice vintage Ray-Ban case and box! I'm so in love with these sunglasses it's kinda crazy!
Do you have Ray-Bans? What style and color? Or if not, what kind of sunglasses do you have? Let me know in the comments below :)
until next time,


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Lawn Chair Basketball
This weekend I went to visit my "career alcoholic" best friend. The thing I love most about hanging out with drunken people is their ability to say, "Yes" to anything you ask them with no hesitation or thought process at all.
Here's an example, "Hey, can we take your lawn chairs and play basketball with them?" "Uheeesss…" "Is that a yes?" "Uhesssss".
Game on!
Sadly the game ended in a one to one tie. All the chairs were broken before a winner could be decided.
Egg On!
Ramblin' Rooster
—Riddle Me Rooster—
The answer to last weeks riddle was "Parked Cars"
The winner is Clott Lion Ogltameins. Please enjoy your prize, which this week is a sack of jelly beans that I found in the garage at my "career alcoholic's" house.
Tonight's riddle:
What is the largest ant in the world?
Submit you're answer as a comment for the chance to win fabulous make-believe prizes and come back next Sunday for the answer. Good luck!
Written by Ramblin' Rooster
October 26, 2009 at 5:04 am
18 Responses
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I love it RR. My kind of photography. As to your riddle, is it the ever popular Gi-ant???
October 26, 2009 at 8:38 am
fundamentaljelly, thanks! As you know by now, your answer is close enough.
November 3, 2009 at 5:15 am
That's the beautiful thing about being a career alcoholic; you can't find a reason to say no to anything. If it seems like a good idea at the time, then it's just a good idea. I love invented games!
I'd say Barty, based solely on his ego. After that fucker climbed the rubber tree plant, that ant tried to have his legs in every piece of the entertainment pie. Remember, he tried to pursue a rap career, but ended up be dangled from a 2ft porch step by Suger, The Praying Mantis?
October 31, 2009 at 6:46 am
Scott Oglesby, "That's the beautiful thing about being a career alcoholic" that's just something you'd think you'd never hear in a life time, (even if it's out of context).
November 3, 2009 at 5:17 am
Nice shot, RR. Too bad about the tie, which will keep drunken sports from ever being accepted by the IOC. That and the random rule changes. ("Rule change! Next one who misses the shot glass has to take a shot of Tabasco in their nose! Topless!")
I used to be a career alcoholic, but I decided that wasn't the fast track towards full-blown "Leaving Las Vegas"-style alcoholism. I was kind of unsure which path to stumble down, but the good people at AA talked me right out of a career.
Their severance package sucks. "All the cheap coffee you can stomach?" The fuck is that?
Riddle answer: I see FJ and raise him a "Gig-ant." (I'll send the missing syllable C.O.D.)
November 2, 2009 at 3:08 am
Capitalist Lion Tamer, I'm glad you found help, hope and higher grade coffee. Guess I won't be seeing you in AA then?
November 3, 2009 at 5:19 am
Now get the dining room table on the roof and we can have a real party!
November 18, 2009 at 5:35 am
Claire Collins, I like a person who knows how to party and roof parties are like beer commercials, totally awesome!
November 23, 2009 at 3:41 am
And if you have a pool you get extra points for jumping off the roof, through the hoop and into the pool with no splash
November 23, 2009 at 5:05 am
Claire Collins, pool? We ain't gotz no money for no pool. Why ya think we're standing naked in the sprinkler?
November 23, 2009 at 5:10 am
I thought we were doing that for fun?
November 23, 2009 at 5:17 am
Claire Collins, for fun and lack of a pool.
November 23, 2009 at 5:19 am
I have one, but it's chilly right now.
November 23, 2009 at 5:24 am
Claire Collins, in Arizona?!?! Did you leave the door open to your central-aired mansion?
November 23, 2009 at 5:43 am
uh huh, All 1300 sq ft of it!
November 23, 2009 at 6:07 am
Claire Collins, 1300 square feet?!?!? That's gigantic! My house is sixteen square feet and covered in straw.
November 30, 2009 at 3:49 am
Im thinking you freeze your beak off in the winter
December 6, 2009 at 12:41 am
Claire Collins, I have a special sock I put over it.
December 7, 2009 at 1:23 am


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Is a Deep Drop Coming for Analog Video?By: John Honovich, Published on May 16, 2010
Many technological transitions demonstrate flat sales growth for an incumbent category for a number of years followed by a dramatic collapse. One of the most famous researchers on innovation claim that this is a clear pattern in technology. It appears that this is pattern is now happening for physical mail / the postal service.
As we examined in the March 2010 report on "IP sales rebound, analog down", we noticed a sharp drop in analog incumbent sales. A key question is whether this is simply the impact of the recession or whether this is the beginning of the end for analog.
The best counterpoint to a steep drop in analog video is the lock-in of large analog systems that make migration expensive. The next 12 months will be crucial in determining whether a steep analog fall is simply a macroeconomic issue or the first leg in the final fall.
Related Reports on Sales
Most Recent Industry Reports
The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.


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West Coast Wine • Cheese
Branding, Packaging
The challenge for Wanner Wines was simple: create a wine bar in the historic Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco that offers premium regional wines in a relaxed, honest, unpretentious environment. Our job was to translate this idea of premium offerings, without the attitude, into the printed materials and dining experience. A versatile multi-face typographic system, fun hand-drawn illustrations and unique retail packaging have made this neighborhood favorite stand out.
Photography: Brett Warren + Krescent Carasso
We created a comprehensive suite of collateral materials to support everyday operations at West Coast. With a constantly rotating wine and cheese selection, we set up templates and trained staff to maintain their own menus. We established rules and styles that can easily be implemented to help ensure they are self-reliant.


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The Aspire Mentorship Program ("AMPlify") was set up to transform the business ideas of eight women in just six months. It did. A full house at the Impact Hub in Zurich was there to witness the culmination of the program through a pitching event labelled "AMPlify: The Final Pitch". The overall winner chosen by a panel of judges was Vibwife, a med-tech startup, presented by Anna Peters who won a six month co-working space at the Impact Hub.
The Aspire Mentorship Program provided the mentees each with a Mentor that matched their skills and relevance to the business idea. This was combined with tailored Workshops designed to address Entrepreneurial topics at a more theoretical level. Those topics included: Business Plan Development, Marketing and Branding, Business Finance and Strategy. Throughout the program, the mentees were encouraged to pitch and build confidence in themselves and in prospective audiences with two special sessions dedicated only to this.
The mentees pitched in front of an audience and guest judge panel followed by questions from the judges. Having presented, it was then time for the audience to vote for their favourite - the judges would do the same but under a pre-determined criteria. During the break an apero was laid out - time to break down and digest the presentations and content.
The 'audience choice' award went to Vibwife and Fernanda Barrence's The Trip Boutique. Both women won Evernote goodies kindly provided by Final Pitch speaker and AMPlify mentor Cristina Riesen. The award for overall achievement during AMPlify was given to Melanie Twerenbold for Likee.
The mentees' progress was monitored by the Aspire team who acted as 'buddies' to each of them. Each mentee achieved success in some shape or form. Financial success was achieved through external Investment and seed capital as well as Crowdfunding. Others used the opportunity to improve their confidence and body language, business plans and used the program and peers as a catalyst to progress their ideas.
AMPlify has been an extraordinary journey for everyone involved. From learning about new ideas, techniques, acquaintances to experiences and simply having fun. Through thick and thin, question after question and numerous validations the mentees have stuck by their ideas, defended them with passion and pride and become Entrepreneurs. We look forward to following the progress of the mentees as they embrace their roles as alumni of Aspire's AMPlify.
The Aspire Mentorship Program ("AMPlify") is a mentorship program available exclusively to women with business ideas related to technology and innovation. The program is completely free and provided by the generosity of Aspire and its partners.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The Goldman Sachs Group GS, -1.10% said Wednesday that Stephen Friedman has been re-nominated to the company's board of directors. The New York-based investment bank said that Friedman resigned from the board in 2002 to become the director of the White House National Economic Council and assistant to the President for economic policy. Friedman served as chairman of Goldman Sachs from 1990 to 1994.
Stephen Friedman to return to Goldman Sachs board
Quote References
-2.22 -1.10%


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Monthly Archives: October 2015
There's Eyes in Them Thar Hills – Bone Tomahawk
Western meets horror in this bonecrunching new S. Craig Zahler film starring Kurt Russell. A group of frontier dwellers come into contact with cannibalistic troglodytes after three people are kidnapped by an ancient Indian tribe. Bone Tomahawk is not your average … Continue reading
Fear Itself
Fear Itself is available to watch on the BBCiPlayer and it's excellent. Watch it, watch it now! Beyond Clueless director Charlie Lyne has created something of a masterpiece. His new film, Fear Itself, which is constructed entirely from horror films is … Continue reading
Bears Don't Howl – Howl Review
British werewolf horror Howl takes place on a late night train that makes an emergency stop after hitting a deer. The engine is damaged, leaving the passengers and two train employees stranded. It's a full moon and the train has … Continue reading
The Nightmare
Dreams are fascinating aren't they? When I'm not going through bouts of insomnia I have vivid, crazy dreams that feel totally real, I'm never aware I'm dreaming. I've experienced what I would call mild sleep paralysis for years but this … Continue reading
Garden City Cinema Review – Suffragette
STARRING – Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Meryl Streep Director – Sarah Gavron Certificate – 12A Suffragette is now showing at the Garden City Cinema in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Suffragette is the story is of … Continue reading
Garden City Cinema Review – The Martian
ACTORS Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean DIRECTOR Ridley Scott GENRE Action, Sci-fi RATING 12A The Martian is now showing at the http://gardencitycinema.co.uk/film-the-martian-808 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. I was really looking forward to The … Continue reading
Garden City Cinema Review – The Intern
The Intern is now showing at the Garden City Cinema in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. It just goes to show, you can't always judge a film by its trailer. My initial thoughts were, haven't we already seen this film? The … Continue reading
Cooties Review
I love this poster for Cooties, it's just a shame I didn't really like the film as much as I hoped I would. I went to a special screening of this indie flick and while the trailer had me sold, … Continue reading
Garden City Cinema Review – Macbeth
Macbeth is now showing at the Garden City Cinema in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. This pared down version of Macbeth is bloody, brutal and beautiful. Directed by Australian Justin Kurzel and starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard as Macbeth and … Continue reading


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ZOLTAN "Sixty Minute Zoom" LP/CD (Cine 11)
ZOLTAN return with their second full-length album, following hot on the heels of the "Tombs Of The Blind Dead" soundtrack EP on Rise Above Records. Sounding more focused and confident than ever, the 5 tracks that make up "Sixty Minute Zoom" are a continuation and improvement on previous Zoltan releases. Identifying as "cyborg prog" and comparable to forebears Goblin, Heldon and Zombi, Zoltan have succeeded in making a fictional soundtrack for an uncertain age. Inspired by the dystopian sci-fi writers Yevgeny Zamyatin and J.G. Ballard, the album creates a foreboding atmosphere, intimating a near-future urban hell where paranoia and violence are never far away. Pulsating sequencers, eerie analog synths and a pounding rhythm section drive the music into realms of retro-futurist dread, interspersed with brooding interludes that take a pause for reflection without letting up on the intensity for a minute. The album climaxes with the 20 minute song-suite "The Integral", based on Zamyatin's prescient 1920s novel We, journeying through a realm of ominous arpeggios, jazz-inflected drumming and creeping synth lines before blasting into inner space. Since 2012's Cineploit debut "First Stage Zoltan" the band have been honing their reputation as a devastating live act, with appearances including Supersonic 2012 and Dresden's Cinestrange Film Festival. At the same time they have also been developing a parallel life as interpreters of film-scores on their non full-length releases, to wild acclaim from the international horror cognoscenti. Adaptations of the themes to Brit biker-horror classic "Psychomania" (a 12" release on Cineploit Records in 2012) and the aforementioned 12" on Rise Above show a versatility to Zoltan that will surely see them reap the acclaim they so richly deserve.


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Based in Port Harcourt in Nigeria, fashion photographer Lubabetu Abubakar is quickly making her mark in Nigeria's fashion and photography scenes. The 24-year-old photographer, who was part of our story on 17 West African womxn photographers, is a lawyer and art director, and has been featured in publications such as Vogue and Fader.
Lubababetu, who recently collaborated with Nataal Media and creative agency A White Space Lagos to produce portraits at ArtxLagos (images below), is on the line up for this year's Lagos Photo Festival, kicking off on 24 November. The emerging photographer says she started photography professionally in early 2016 and is interested in the notions of self, colours and documenting emotions. She also recently shot a collaborative editorial feature with stylist Ronami Ogulu, which she also shares with us.
What is a normal day like for you as a photographer?
It depends. If it's a shoot day, I'm out in sun. If not, I'm usually somewhere slaving away on my laptop.
Can you tell us a bit about your photography methods?
Well I'm mostly a digital photographer, so I rely a lot on software applications like Photoshop to get my images where I want them. I'm also a natural-light junkie. I feel like the sun and I have a thing, like a romance thing, so I'm usually working with the sun.
What do you think your role as an artist is?
Being an artist puts you in a position to document and sometimes influence society. So the arts can and will play a huge role is shaping not just how Africans are perceived abroad but also how we perceive ourselves.
Which photographer do you look up to?
My taste in photography tends to change as I grow, as with my interest in photographers. So many photographers have influenced my style and growth but if I had to pick one right now I'll say Harley Weir, I'm still very intrigued by her eye for color.
Describe your experience as a woman in photography?
It is still definitely a male-dominated industry and I hope to see more female photographers using cameras to do amazing things. But my experience has been okay so far, sometimes I get odd stares as people usually don't expect that I'm the photographer in the room but its been an interesting journey.
What has been your favorite image that you've taken?
This is such a hard question and tends to change with time, but I recently had the opportunity of taking portraits of random strangers at ArtxLagos and in the process I got to meet and photograph so many amazing people.
How has being chosen for the Lagos Photo Festival changed your career?
I'm very excited to share my work on a reputable platform and to be selected amongst such incredible photographers. I think its important that we get to tell our stories ourselves; that we are in control of how we share our own version of the world.


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These easy egg recipes are perfect for using all of those farm fresh eggs from your flock! From sweet to savory, the egg dishes here will give you some great ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The incredible, edible egg
Eggs have had a tough run. They're bad for our cholesterol, we were told. So we separated the yolk from the white, eating things like low-fat egg dishes like egg-white omelets. We bought cartons of "egg whites" to avoid the horrors of a fresh egg.
So silly.
Turns out that even though eggs are high in cholesterol, that's not what's causing our high cholesterol problems. (That honor goes to saturated fat.)
Are eggs healthy?
One large egg has 6 grams of protein, less than 5 grams of fat, and less than a gram of carbohydrates. This makes them a solid option for those who are low-carbing on a Whole30 or paleo diet, two plans that have made eating eggs healthy again. Eggs are satisfying and filling, and provide nutrients like lutein and xeazanthan.
Farm fresh eggs = healthy and delicious egg dishes
Springtime generally means an uptick in fresh egg production for those of us who have laying hens. My girls are no exception, and we count on eggs as one of our local food standbys. And that is wonderful, except for one teeny, tiny issue: It's really easy to get tired of eggs. (Scrambled, hard boiled, fried, repeat.) We needed some new egg recipes!
Related: Your Guide to Using and Safely Storing Fresh Eggs
Related: Understanding Eggs — Are Eggs Dairy? Are Eggs Meat?
Healthy, easy egg recipes
I asked a bunch of blogging friends to share their favorite egg recipes with me to
break up the monotony find new ways to use up our abundance. If you're lucky enough to have a steady source of fresh eggs, I'm sure you'll find at least one recipe here you'd like to try.
Scrambled and fried eggs
These recipes offer a little twist on the usual fried or scrambled eggs. Spice 'em up, add some veggies, and these eggs are a whole new meal.
- Basil for Breakfast [Little Owl, Crunchy Momma]
- Green Eggs and Ham [Real Food and Real Fitness]
- Spring Roots and Garlic Scapes with Fried Eggs [Reformation Acres]
- Spicy Eggs, Bacon, and Kale [Fewell Homestead]
Frittata and Quiche
Whisking eggs and baking them with a variety of vegetables and herbs — with or without a crust — is an easy way to feed a family in a hurry. Many of these frittata and quiche egg dishes are a good dinner-in-a-hurry option that you can get away with serving company in a pinch.
- Breakfast Egg Muffins [Attainable Sustainable]
- Savory Tartlet Recipe with Roasted Red Peppers and Feta [Attainable Sustainable]
- Quiche Lorraine [Reformation Acres]
- Bacon and Cauliflower Frittata [Little Owl, Crunchy Momma]
- Crustless Quiche [Ever Growing Farm]
- Fabulous Frittata [Lil' Suburban Homestead]
- Gluten Free Artichoke and Cheese Quiche [Don't Mess With Mama]
- Crustless Beet Quiche [Fresh Bites Daily]
Muffins, pancakes, & French toast
For a sweet breakfast that uses a number of eggs, pancakes and French toast can't be beat. Muffins are great for breakfast but can double as a snack to tuck into a lunchbox, too.
- Better than Starbucks Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins [Attainable Sustainable]
- Quick & Easy Healthy Waffles [Attainable Sustainable]
- Blueberry French Toast Casserole [Attainable Sustainable]
- Grain-Free Coconut Muffins [Kitchen Stewardship]
- Autumn Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes [Kitchen Stewardship]
- Amazing Applesauce Muffins [Intoxicated on Life]
- Grain-Free Cinnamon Raisin Muffins [The Real Food Guide]
- Peaches 'n Cream Overnight French Toast [Real Food Outlaws]
- Baked French Toast [Schneiderpeeps]
- Custard-Style French Toast [Urban Overalls]
Serving up savory egg dishes
It's really amazing how many different ways there are to cook with eggs. It's just a matter of seeking out unusual recipes. Most of these savory egg recipes can stand up to dinner time scrutiny.
- Avocado Deviled Eggs [Attainable Sustainable]
- Healthy Vegetarian Egg Muffins [Attainable Sustainable]
- Eggs Florentine [Nourishing Minimalism]
- Easy Weeknight Mexican Eggs [Life Currents]
- Pizza Poppers [Real Food Carolyn]
- Shakshuka [Economies of Kale]
- Mini Yorkshire Puddings [The Provision Room]
- Gluten Free Cheesy Biscuits [Intoxicated on Life]
- Creamy Swiss Chard and Eggs [Live Simply]
- Cubano Benedict [Cavegirl Cuisine]
Sweet treats
When it comes to using eggs, custards and baked goods are stellar. The easy egg recipes here use real food ingredients and many fit special dietary needs, too.
- Liliko'i Bread [Attainable Sustainable]
- Paleo Banana Bread [Gutsy by Nature]
- Easy Pumpkin Pie [Attainable Sustainable]
- Cinnamon Spice Pumpkin Bars [Attainable Sustainable]
- Coconut Macaroons [Common Sense Homesteading]
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Custard Cups [Attainable Sustainable]
- Chocolate Waffles [A Girl Worth Saving]
- Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cheesecake [Intoxicated on Life]
- Paleo Sweet Potato Pie [Hollywood Homestead]
- Paleo Macaroons [Hollywood Homestead]
(And of course you will want to save your eggshells for the garden, right?)


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While a mobile home can easily feel like a small place to live, including a porch addition can greatly enhance the feel of the space and provide additional room 【Get Price】
Mar 3, 2018 See 45 great manufactured home porch designs (and decks) plus learn about 8 Ways To Have More Appealing Screened Porch Deck. 【Get Price】
I'll start by saying, I have always avoided mobile homes period, but this is a front porch/deck and a guy from California Dept of Housing Community Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there 【Get Price】
Freestanding Wood Porch or Deck in Mobilehome Parks. This handout Ignition Resistant Construction of Exterior Covering and Decking. Part III A plan with 【Get Price】
1855 Placer Street, Suite 102 Redding, CA 96001-1759. (530) 225-5761 Decks, unless covered, require framing and support posts to be of preservative- treated or manufactured/mobile home must comply have approved decking material. 【Get Price】
The two basic coverages typically included in mobile home insurance such as a patio or garage, and your personal belongings would also likely be covered. 【Get Price】
Sep 19, 2014 I did my first home inspection on a manufactured today. Are you allowed to permanently attach items such as decks, awnings rf coverings to a manufactured home? Member. Join Date: Oct 2011; Location: california; Posts: 65 . Porch deck and covering are permitted provided the installation meets code 【Get Price】
Aug 29, 2018 manufactured home porch designs-7a manufactured home covered porch and deck ideas. Source. manufactured home porch designs-7b 【Get Price】
While most people assume that manufactured homes are similar to the mobile and trailer homes of yesterday, they actually are closer to the standard framed 【Get Price】
A rooftop deck over the garage gives the second floor of this Denver home added plants, and a veggie garden planted in the strip of their "old California driveway." . This 9- by 25-foot deck covered with multicolored slate tiles provides the 【Get Price】
May 9, 2015 1)There are two types of additions to a manufactured home. Decks, covered decks, screen porches and carports are examples of the first 【Get Price】
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Dec 21, 2017 See 9 different manufactured home porch ideas. If you are looking for porch ideas fr your mobile home this article is a must-read and see! 【Get Price】
This Watersound, Florida, screened porch is the picture of relaxation, with its .. room replica atop a lighthouse-inspired home in Newport Beach, California. 【Get Price】
Download one of these free deck plans so you can begin planning and building your deck. No registration Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. 【Get Price】


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The versatile heavy-duty FP pump is the cornerstone of the Fristam line. For vacuum withdrawal from evaporators, viscous, hot or abrasive products, and many other applications, the Fristam FP Series is the benchmark for the sanitary processing industry.
View Fristam FP Series Pump Product Brochure
View Fristam FP Series Pump Curves
Fristam Pumps USA, the leading manufacturer of high-performance sanitary stainless steel pumps, mixers and blenders used by the beverage, dairy, food and pharmaceutical/biotech industries, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1909, Fristam began its US operations in 1977 with the goal to provide quality pumping solutions and exceptional customer service to customers in North and South America. Its US manufacturing facility, located in Middleton, WI has expanded several times over the years as the business continues to grow, thanks in part to loyal customers and committed channel partners. Fristam has built an unmatched reputation in the marketplace for innovative and top quality equipment and strives to be the pumping solution of choice for many years to come.


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TCU Leaps Ahead of FSU For Third Spot In College Football Rankings
TCU jumped from fifth to third in the newest College Football. The Horned Frogs leaped over Mississippi State and Florida State after beating Texas 48-10 in Austin.
Alabama remains at number one with Oregon at number two. TCU and Florida State round up the top four. Ohio State and Baylor sit on the outside looking in for the college football playoffs, sitting at number five and six, respectively.
Florida State won their game against Florida 24-19 Saturday, but winning their 12th straight game this season and remaining the only undefeated team in the nation wasn't enough to stay ahead of TCU.
"I don't worry about it," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "We go play Georgia Tech. We take care of business, we'll be fine."
The Ducks and Arizona (7) square up in the Pac-12 championship game Friday. The Seminoles face Georgia Tech (11) in the Dr. Pepper ACC Championship game and Alabama plays Missouri (16) in the SEC Championship game. Both games are on Saturday.
The Big 12 Conference does not have a championship game, so TCU hosts Iowa State—with a record of 2-9—and Baylor hosts Kansas State (9) on Saturday.
The dilemma is that Baylor beat TCU earlier in the season and they both have the same record, yet the Bears are two spots behind the Horned Frogs and outside the playoffs right now. The playoff committee gave a few reasons for TCU being ahead. One of the bigger reasons being that TCU's only loss came to a tough Baylor opponent, while Baylor's only loss came to a 7-5 West Virginia.
These rankings are the last rankings before the playoffs committee's final decision on the four top teams that will participate in the first ever College Football Playoffs. The final decision will be released Sunday night.
Source: ESPN / Photo Credit: Flickr


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I recently read (on an audio problem forum, I think) not to use contact cleaner on faders. Generally speaking, I'd go along with that, or at least say 'If it works, don't fix it'.
One of the reasons that the advice was given on the forum, was that contact cleaner attracts dust. It doesn't, but it can help it to collect. And also there are different contact cleaners. Some have more or less oil in than others. Servisol 10 has a light oil in it, which is not sticky and provides a slight lubrication against carbon track wear. Something like pure acetone or a petroleum-based fluid, cleans very well, but isn't much help for the track wiper on a pot or fader to get it to slide easily without wearing the track. At the other end of the scale WD40-type stuff is a bad idea on any electronic equipment (it's great stuff on high current gear of the sort you find in auto stuff) that does go very sticky after the suspension fluid has evaporated.
If you've ever squirted contact cleaner into a fader you'll know it feels like sliding over grit afterwards. This is because the slot in the metal chassis of the fader has a light grease applied to it during manufacture, and a sprung plastic sledge device runs on the inside of this. This grease has no physical contact with the electrical part of the carbon track. But spraying the fader will usually clean the grease off, and your fader becomes the gritty component we've described.
The technique for servicing a fader: first, just try whacking it up and down the full length of its travel a few times. They tend to be used in same positions, often; so they wear in a particular spot, and also collect dirt there. If that doesn't do it:- get your servisol 10 spray with the plastic nozzle, and poke the nozzle right down to the track as far as it will go. Then just twitch the button on the can to let the tiniest drop of fluid out. Do it in three places, top middle bottom of the track. Then whack it up and down. If it feels bad, you used too much, or got a drop on the greased slide on the chassis.
If that happens, you get a very small, flat blade screwdriver with a drop of light grease on the end, just dip it into the fader slightlyand pull it out again, sliding the blade against the slot in the middle and leaving a tiny blob of grease under the slider. Then slide the fader slowly up and down (gently; you don't want to splat grease onto the track). That should feel like new again, but if not, repeat the process.
If your fader is suffering wear, then this is not a cure. The cure is put a new one in. But plenty of faders sound really bad and its only dirt. So the cleaning thing is worth a go, as you don't even have to take anything to bits.


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The land use code revision project is continuing as a County led effort that draws on internal resources, reviews of land use codes from similar counties in Colorado, and existing work products to craft a code that works for La Plata County.
Planning staff and the Board of County Commissioners values public input, and has crafted a process that will seek public input to help inform the Board of County Commissioners as they give staff direction on how to address specific policy issues in the land use code.
There are a number of outstanding policy issues that the Board of County Commissioners will give staff direction on how to address in the code revision process. The Board of County commissioners will be considering these policy questions and providing staff direction after seeking public input on each of the issues, as well as considering best practices from a staff review of land use regulations in seven other Colorado counties.
Policy topics
The Board of County Commissioners will consider and provide policy direction after seeking public and staff input on the following topics (tentatively in the following order):
Portable storage
Special events
Background Documents
Areas & activities of state interest
Overview presentation
Background & Recommendations
Sensitive lands
Site-specific compatibility considerations
Modifications to existing Transitional Area Development Standards (TADS)
Additional policies to encourage growth in desired areas
Affordable housing
Short-term rentals
Public Input
Once drafted, the memos and a public input tool will be posted to the County Planning website, distributed to newsletter subscribers, and to other community contact lists. The public input period will be open for approximately two weeks. Staff will then compile this input as well as the feedback we received during the comment period from the first draft code release to include in a final memo to the Board of County Commissioners.
Work sessions
The Board of County Commissioners will have a series of work sessions with staff to review and discuss the memos with the commissioners providing staff direction on how to address the relevant policy topic when drafting the land use code.
Work in progress
Simultaneously, La Plata County planning staff is right now addressing technical elements in the code, focusing on:
Concurrently, the La Plata County Planning Commission is working with citizens to update the District (Area) Plans - advisory documents based on the Comprehensive Plan that serve to inform growth and development in the county's 12 distinct planning areas. Find out more about and get involved in these updates.
Land Use Code Goals
The goal of this project is to create a Land Use & Development Code that is responsive, functional and flexible to the varied needs and character of the community. This foundational regulation will build upon the updated La Plata County Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan establishes goals and a policy framework for land use planning in La Plata County; the Land Use Code is the regulatory tool for implementing that plan.
At the outset of the land use code revision effort in 2016, the Board of County Commissioners established these goals for the project:
Reconcile and clarify the county's plans, policies, and practices;
Combine & integrate the many overlapping land uses and standards into a unified land use system;
Reward compliant applications which are consistent with County plans;
Provide for predictability and improved certainty of the process and outcomes;
Create multiple paths to "yes" – what can (rather than what can't) be done;
Use the carrot vs. the stick via incentives such as bonuses and procedural short-cuts;
Infuse best practice provisions (e.g. clustering, resource protection, and preservation);
Eliminate unnecessary process (e.g. more administrative approvals subject to clear standards);
Articulate clear development standards and expectations;
Streamline the development process; and
Protect and preserve the county's most valued assets.
As La Plata County revises the Land Use Code, hearing from you on the current code, and the development-related opportunities and challenges in La Plata County is instrumental. Stakeholders with wide-ranging experience using the existing Land Use Code provide us with critical input from the outset and we invite you to provide us with your thoughts.
The process
Since the project began in October 2016, there have been two rounds of meetings with stakeholders and several sessions with the Board of County Commissioners to identify the issues, concerns, priorities and policy directions to shape the revised code going forward.
November 2016 sessions
In November, Planning staff and consultants held sessions with five stakeholder groups to hear the priorities, concerns and experiences of community members from a wide range of sectors including agricultural interest, business & economic development, code users (architects, developers, planning agents, etc.), community interests and area planning groups.
The broader community was invited to participate in this information-gathering effort. The results of this first round of outreach can be found below.
Summary of November 2016 stakeholder session feedback
Survey responses
January 2017 sessions
The Board of County Commissioners met in January 2017 to discuss the process, outline points of consensus, discuss regulatory strategies and alternatives, and to initiate the process of determining policy directions to guide the Land Use Code revision.
BOCC policies, principles & direction discussion outline
The discussion began by introducing the focus points and discussing demographic and socioeconomic trends and forecasts; changing economies and demands; the importance of stakeholders and their interests, views, and desires; the history of planning and evolving perspectives as the county evolves and grows; and the values of natural and scenic resources.
These factors and others will help frame the approach taken for the Land Use Code regarding open space and resource management, together with rural development, agricultural preservation, infrastructure provision, and business creation. Below is a summary of the points for which there was broad consensus, along with guiding principles for progressing with the rewrite process:
Land use
Growth management and coordination
Infrastructure (particularly water and roads)
Affordable housing
Economic development
Agricultural preservation
Resource protection
From these broad categories, the BOCC, staff and the consultants expanded the discussion to more detailed levels, and conducted an exercise to identify consensus points on which areas to pursue in the revised Land Use Code.
The stakeholder groups went through the same exercise, and we invited you to participate as well to help refine the policy framework for the revised code.
Stay informed & involved
Thank you for your interest in the La Plata County Land Use & Development Code revision process. Your input and participation is crucial to the effort. We will keep you informed of upcoming steps in the project and opportunities for you to be involved. Stay informed by signing up for the Newsletter!
970-382-6200 - 1101 East 2nd Avenue, Durango, CO 81301


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Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan faced flak today after he attended an event for deaf and dumb children with a revolver tucked in his waist, an act dubbed as "inappropriate".
The matter was also raised in both the Houses of state Legislature with the opposition demanding the sacking of Mahajan, who is the minister for water resources.
But Mahajan later clarified that he carries the weapon for "self-defence" and that he has not been involved in any kind of violence.
"I admit that the revolver was visible. But never have I pointed a revolver, or gotten involved in violence of any kind in my life. The revolver is merely for self-defence," he told reporters here.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended his Cabinet colleague, saying he has not broken any law.
Mahajan attended a deaf and dumb children's event in Jalgaon yesterday with his revolver tucked in his waist which was very much visible for everyone. He hails from Jalgaon district.
In the Assembly, the Opposition Congress and NCP demanded sacking of the minister as it sent a wrong message in the society. The Opposition members also boycotted the Question Hour in protest.
Fadnavis said the Opposition was trying to create an unnecessary controversy. "Mahajan has a licence to carry weapon for last two decades. Licence holder is expected to carry the weapon and not keep it at home," he said.
However, he agreed that the weapon was visible while the minister attended a function and necessary directives would be given to him in this regard.
When the matter was raised in the Council, Fadnavis said, "Girish Mahajan has a licence for keeping a weapon. He is carrying it with him from the last 25 years. A licence is given only when a person needs to keep a revolver for his safety. He has not broken any law by carrying a revolver."
The Chief Minister was replying to Sunil Tatkare (NCP), who took a jibe at Mahajan and questioned the need to carry a revolver at the children's event.
"His revolver was tucked in his waist and a controversy was created out of it by news channels when a portion of the pistol became visible inadvertently," Fadnavis said.
Earlier, the issue was raised by NCP group leader Jayant Patil in the Legislative Assembly soon after the House assembled for the day.
He wondered if the state's law and order situation was so bad that a minister needed to carry a revolver to a school.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar demanded sacking of Mahajan.
"Why was the minister trying to scare the citizens by displaying his weapon?" Pawar asked.
Leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and NCP member Chhagan Bhujbal also criticised Mahajan.
They demanded a statement from the government and discussion on the matter.
Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde said the minister's conduct was inappropriate and that he would issue necessary directives to the government in this regard.
Shiv Sena leader and state environment minister Ramdas Kadam said that if the minister was carrying a licenced weapon, there should be no problem.


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The Man in Black
November 20, 2017
You are in the basement of a church, with twenty or so other people seated around an extended horizontal folding table. The usual cross-section, many have nothing in common except for a desire to stop drinking. A lot of them brought coffees from the neighborhood Starbucks. The meeting is nearly over.
Dallas is a thirty-something woman with black hair laced with purple. Wrapped around her left bicep is a tattoo of barbed wire. The tough exterior belies her fragility. Dallas is a newcomer, five long-ass days and longer nights under her belt. She is finishing her share.
"Now that I'm not drinking, my friends don't want anything to do with me." She looks around the room. "But what kind of friends are those, right?"
People nod. They've all had to say goodbye to their drinking buddies. It comes with the territory, this new life. Dallas continues.
"Anyway, they can go fuck themselves. My daughter's the only other person that matters to me. I'm doing the deal. I'm doing it!" She taps the Big Book resolutely. "That's all I got."
'Thank you, Dallas!' the room chimes. It's a good way to end the meeting. A newcomer with grit.
The first time you saw Dallas, at the loft, you didn't think she'd get 24 hours. Yet, here she was. The secretary rings her bell then reads from the script:
"As there are only a few minutes left in the meeting it is now time to ask if anyone has a burning desire."
No hands go up.
"Come on, people. This is the time and this is the place!"
A man raises his hand. His black shirt and pants contrast with his pale skin. He has on sunglasses, which if this weren't AA might seem peculiar. But not here. The second part of the program's name is Anonymous. He clears his throat.
"I have a burning desire."
"Excellent!" The secretary responds. "The man in black has the floor!"
The joke garners a few chuckles from the group. Why not? It's Friday. We are not a glum lot is a popular phrase from the Big Book.
The man in black reaches into the gym bag sitting in front of him and pulls out two liters of Dewar's White Label. One at a time he places each bottle on the table.
"What I desire is for each you to have a drink."
A gasp fills the room but the man in black pays it no mind. He begins arranging large sized Dixie cups into a neat row on the table. He opens a bottle and carefully begins pouring the scotch into a cup, then another. The smell permeates the room.
The secretary rises. Though stunned like everyone else, somebody has to do something. This is her meeting.
"Excuse me, sir," she says. Her voice quavers. "Just what in the hell do you think you're doing? This is a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous."
Raising an eyebrow, the man in black merely smiles. He could be tending bar.
"Well, I've already told you, Mam. I want you all to have a drink with me." With that said, he slides a full cup to the woman sitting directly across from him. "Starting with you, sweetheart! You look like you could use a pop. I hope you like it neat."
April, a frail creature no more than 18 years old, looks at the drink and the man with terror. She can't speak. She is literally shaking.
The man frowns. "What's wrong, darling? Scotch not your drink of choice? Don't worry, you'll get used to it. I was the same way at your age."
April whispers. "Please. If I have another drink I… I'll… I'll die."
In the room, shock has turned to anger. A few men push their chairs back. Enough is enough. They rise.
Undaunted, the man in black continues looking directly at April. He casually pulls a large handgun from his bag and points it at her face. Inches separate the barrel from her nose.
Everyone freezes.
"No, no, no darling, you've got it all wrong." He says, clucking at her, twitching the gun. "If you don't have another drink then you'll die."
He looks at the standing men. With his free hand he indicates for them to sit. When they do he returns his attention to the young woman.
"Now drink up, darling. It's damn near closing time."
With a shaking hand, April lifts the cup to her mouth and sips. It is her first taste of alcohol in almost a year. She grimaces. The man cocks the gun.
"All of it."
When she is finished she places the empty vessel down in front of her. Two tears collapse from her eyes, the mascara making them look like black rivulets. She sobs quietly.
"Like riding a bicycle, right?"
A couple chairs down from the gunman, an addict named Roberto can no longer hold his tongue. "Please, sir, I beg of you-
The man in black wheels around and points the gun at Roberto. His voice remains calm, sickeningly so.
"Don't worry, Senor. There's plenty to go around. Matter of fact, you can drink straight from the bottle. We don't mind."
He slides the jug of scotch to Roberto. It stops alongside of his Big Book.
"I…I… can't drink this!"
Undeterred, the man in black counters. "Sure you can, amigo. Isn't that what got you hear – drinking this?"
Roberto pleads. "But it's been over eleven years!"
"Then you must be awful thirsty!"
Roberto stares at the bottle. He shuts his eyes. Prays? He reaches for the scotch but instead of picking it up he pushes it away, slowly, until it is just past his fingertips.
"I see," says the man in black. "Well, how about we start you off with a shot?"
He pulls the trigger blowing a whole through Roberto's chest. He's dead before the blood exits his body, which it does suddenly and profusely.
"Any other requests?"
The man in black places the smoking gun on the table. He picks up one of the Dixie cups. "Cheers," he says and downs it. "Who's next?"
You have been sitting quietly, just a couple chairs down. You reach over and take one of the full cups of scotch. From the corner of your eye you see the man in black grinning, nodding.
"That's right, son. If rape is inevitable you might as well enjoy it!"
He may have said that. Or you think he did. It doesn't matter. A centimeter from your lips is alcohol! For years you've wondered if there was a backdoor, a way that would allow you to drink without regret. And here it is. Gunpoint! You lift the cup.
Your eyes they open. You are on your back. Breathing hard. You can smell blood and taste whiskey. But it's so dark. And why are you in bed? Rainstorm and crickets from your iPhone. Oh. Okay. You've had a drinking dream. In the rooms they talk about these nightmares. They say upon awakening you are relieved none of it was real, that you are still sober. Yet "nightmare" isn't the right word. Being able to drink with impunity. That part you liked.
The above is an excerpt from a book I'm writing, The Chaos Merchant.
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Another troubled star, Nicolas Cage gets arrested. Yet, there's more to the story than bad behavior. There always is.
May 6, 2011
The Letter from the Editor which heads up the May issue of GQ has little to do with advertising but certainly qualifies as a nasty morsel of popular culture. It's also quite sad. The magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Jim Nelson was dining at the famed New Orleans' restaurant, Stella this past Mardi Gras and happened to be in "wine spitting" distance of Nicolas Cage while he was in the midst of a notorious alcohol-induced blackout. Most of us are familiar with Cage's meltdown, having heard the story here there and everywhere. Likely, we all attributed it to another "moment" in the controversial and bizarre star's repertoire. Known for playing myriad odd, terrible and often wonderful characters (Raising Arizona, Vampire's Kiss, Ghost Rider, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, among many others), here he seemed to be channeling Charlie Sheen and then some.
"Leaving Las Vegas" no longer an act.
In any event, the GQ editor witnessed the entire debacle and elected to make it the subject of his forward to the magazine. Wise choice. As I said, it's a scintillating piece.
But as I also said, it's a sad one. But sadness is not the tone Nelson reported. Like most observers of popular culture, he took aim at the falling star and gave us a blow by blow. I don't begrudge the writer for doing so. That's his job. Sort of.
But there's a crucial piece missing from the tawdry tale that might have actually provided real learning to the reader. In describing Cage's condition, I intended the word "blackout" as noun more than adjective. Nicolas Cage was having an alcoholic blackout. In this condition the man no longer is cognizant, let alone in control. The symptoms were textbook. Yet, I'll bet many of you are only aware of the obvious ones: lewdness, lechery and violence. Those lovely defects are what got Mr. Cage arrested, no small feat during Mardi Gras.
But what I found eerily fascinating were some of the other defects Cage manifested during his downward spiral. Nelson reports that the actor had befriended a couple at the bar and had insisted on buying them drinks. And not just any drinks but some of the most expensive wines on Stella's impressive list. In recovery programs, they call this "grandiosity." You say Cage is a millionaire movie star (actually, he's bankrupt) but I'm telling you even garden variety drunks can and do display this defect. All of the time. It's a marker for alcoholism.
Poignantly, prior to his arrest (just after breaking an interior window), Cage bellows to the embarrassed crowd: "You love me!" I say poignantly because now his grandiosity has degraded into self-pity and self-destruction. As Nelson pointed out in his article, chances are many of the patrons did, in fact, once love him, or at least got a kick out of him. But not anymore. Now they merely wanted him gone. Nicolas cage had hit a "bottom," another recovery term that requires no defining. For Cage, that meant oblivion and a jail cell, not necessarily in that order.
Call it what it is: Alcoholism
Look, I don't pretend to really care about Nicolas Cage or his personal demons. However, I do feel that every once in a while, when we're given these all-too-similar stories about falling stars (Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Courtney Love, etc…), that we are given the full story. It justifies none of their behavior but it might help someone else understand what's going on or maybe even get better (themselves), if they're sick, like Nicolas Cage clearly was and is. By not doing so, I feel the media (and society as a whole) is in as much denial about alcoholism and addiction at the pour souls they are covering.
Charlie Sheen: Holy crap, did we drink your milkshake!
March 7, 2011
Last week popular culture jumped the shark. Yes, I know popular culture is always jumping the shark. But not like last week. This was something else. Last week popular culture catapulted the shark.
Thank you, Charlie Sheen. I can't recall such fanfare for one man –especially such a ridiculous man- in my entire goddamn life. Can you? In 2008, the buzz over Barack Obama came close. But Obama was about to become the first black president of the United States of America. Merely by speaking, Sheen single-handedly knocked rogue-psycho dictator, Kadafi off our front pages and, if we're being honest, all of our radars. "Rivers of blood?" Yawn. Charlie gave us "Tiger's blood & Adonis DNA!" By offering the Full-Monty of his Super Ego, Charlie Sheen turned on, turned off and transfixed the world.
Even Mel Gibson's vile tirades of last year seem small by comparison. Whereas Mel came off sad and pathetic Charlie is…well… glad and pathetic. That's it, then, isn't it? His unmitigated glee. The TV shrinks claim we're seeing mania, the chronic upside to a bi-polar disorder. So, where's the crash? When does Adonis come whimpering onto Oprah begging for forgiveness? I don't see it, either. Why should he? In between rants, Sheen jumped on Twitter and in 24 hours amassed over 1,000,000 followers. Now he's doubled that, and counting. Usually hitting bottom requires the opposite to happen: people abandon you. Not hang on your every word.
Up until a few days ago, Sheen was known primarily for starring in a stupid but popular sitcom and for his relentless obsession with contraband, hookers and porn stars. Like his dad, he'd been in a few movies. Even a good one. But unlike most actors, Sheen stayed popular (and got paid tons of money) despite being a major-league douche bag. His bad boy rep actually seemed to help him.
And now it has catapulted him into the stratosphere. Already, he could make millions just on twitter sponsorships alone. Writing a book, he wants and will get $10,000,000 in advance for it. Of course he'll do SN&L. Then maybe tour like Conan. And when he returns to Hollywood he'll be treated like the "winner" he says he is.
Or maybe not. Sheen did a live webcast that by all accounts sunk his battleship.


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"Your playing it small does not serve the world." - Marianne Williamson
Ending the year with a renewed sense of belief is powerful. Not just any kind of belief, but the kind of free, faithful belief a child has.
In an effort to maintain the childlike belief of Christmas & progress into 2017 with that amazing energy, I look back at a post I wrote at the beginning of 2016. It was one of the best pieces of writing I did and something that refueled me over and over throughout this year. A line from it also inspired the name and focus of this blog: ALL GOOD THINGS. With that, I share with you again my New Year's Dare and nudge you to tap into your dreams with childlike abandon and ask. . .
What will you dare to do in 2017?
I dare you to make a change, or not. I dare you to take a step, or not. I dare you to do exactly what is right for you. Whether you move or stand still does not matter. I dare you to not be burdened by what you "should" do, but instead live in the space of what you are meant to do. I dare you to get quiet enough each day to listen to what your heart is whispering and bravely obey that. I dare you to trust so much in yourself and have so much belief that you say thank you before you can even sense blessings are coming. I dare you to completely accept yourself for who and what you truly are & honor your deepest desires - one small step or maybe one huge leap at a time. I dare you to do this without concern for the results or attachment to the outcome. I dare you to be fully immersed in the joy of just dreaming your dreams and trusting all will work out just as it should because it always does. I dare you to find fulfillment in new & surprising ways. I dare you to allow yourself to explore & enjoy each moment of life. I dare you to stay open, be soft & flexible & trust so that when outcomes do not look the way you expect them to you can still see the beauty in them & learn, grow & be thankful. I dare you to believe that everything will be okay, maybe even be better than okay. I dare you to believe that life might even get so fabulous it completely blows you away. I dare you to believe all good things are coming your way. Yes, all good things. I dare you to believe each and every moment of your life is beautiful. As U2 sings: "It's a beautiful day! What you don't have, you don't need it now. What you don't know you can feel it somehow." I dare you to trust that feeling. Cheers to each beautiful day of 2017!
Here's to enjoying your life & All Good Things my friends!
P.S. - Creating change begins with taking action. Take the first small step towards the life you want to have in 2017. Begin writing down what you dare or maybe just what you dream to do this year. Get really brave and even share it in the comments below. I'd love to know what your dreams are and cheer you on! No ideas yet, no worries! I'll be back next week with tips to help you get started in small, manageable, invigorating ways. Believe me, the world wants to see what's in your heart come out into reality!
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Sunday, November 28, 2010
The referees are winning the game
Dick loved to talk, but he also had a knack for directing conversations where he wanted them to go. Not because he wanted you or anyone else to reach the same conclusions he had, or agree with his perspective; in fact, Dick would slyly take positions contrary to his own personal view just to watch how you would react. Dick wanted people to communicate. He sought to understand rather than to be understood.
He was also a bit of an imp, whose sly comments at times cut so deeply to the reality of a situation or person, you could easily miss his point. Another former colleague of mine, Lisa Yanick Jonaitis expressed it best when she described a particular trait Dick had when he was out at a high school football game shooting photos for the paper. The sports writers would call him and ask who was winning the game. "The referees are," he would reply and say no more.
Dick knew I practiced Buddhism, but rarely would directly ask me anything about it. And when he did, after hearing my response, he would lament out loud that he wished some of the Christians he knew had followed such guidance. He also had a somewhat annoying habit of talking to me about women. He would go on about something about women in a vein that was clearly the type of conversation that two straight men would have, and after he would finish, I would look at him with this annoyed expression, wondering why isn't he talking about this with the guys at the sports desk?
My most memorable experience with Dick was on a road trip assignment he and I took to the wine country of Northern Michigan. We visited three wineries: I did the interviewing while he shot the photos. They were beautiful photos. We had a room at a tiny hotel in Leelanau that was along the river right by a weir. The roar of the water going over the fall provided a constant and soothing white noise. Across the river we had dinner at a restaurant that started off with three or four martinis and led to a bottle of wine to go with a couple of massive steaks. We barely were able to stumble back to the hotel room, which required that we walk across a walkway over the top of the weir.
The next morning, before driving back to Mt. Pleasant, we drove out to Frankfort to the Lake Michigan shoreline. The beach at a small park was empty – it was mid-September – but just to the south we saw a group of college kids – two girls and a guy – walking along the edge of the waves as they broke upon the shore. We both gasped when we saw all three disrobe to begin frolicking naked in the surf. I remember Dick saying to me, "Well now, there is something for both of us." We both cursed the fact that we didn't have binoculars, but we got a decent look using the telephoto lens on his camera. We sighed, then went to his van to begin the drive back to Mt. Pleasant.
It was only within the last year that I had re-connected with Dick via Facebook. That was also when I began to realize he was battling cancer. As one of the phrases in the Five Remembrances states, we are of the nature to be sick, we have not got beyond disease. And of course, this is followed with death.
Death really isn't so bad and doesn't worry me much. It's the dying part that really sucks. But from my perspective, Dick Bolton managed dying very well. And that counts for a lot.
Posted by Richard Harrold at 7:59 AM 0 comments
Labels: compassion, death, dying
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The more things change
The more things stay the same.
Thought this video had some very striking images, all of which have parallels to today.
Merry was the singer that accompanied Mick Jagger on the original release of this song.
Thought this video had some very striking images, all of which have parallels to today.
Merry was the singer that accompanied Mick Jagger on the original release of this song.
Posted by Richard Harrold at 9:26 AM 0 comments
Labels: anger, compassion, hatred, racism, video
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Riding the bicycle of meditation
Then I learned to quit fighting my thoughts, just let them pass by like a float in a parade. This helped immensely with the ever-present song or jingle that would pop into my head during meditation. In fact, I am seldom bothered any more by a song stuck in my mind while I sit. Staying focused on my breath is much easier.
But it just doesn't seem like I'm getting anywhere. Some of my most satisfying sits involved some very specific thinking going on in my mind. It wasn't when I was floating in the absorption of my breathing. In fact, this buoyant state of my mind remaining aloof from other mental activities was bringing on the sleepiness problem I had in the past. Rather, my most insightful moments in meditation actually involved me fixing my mind on a thought or concept and following that thought through in what seemed like logical increments. On the rare occasions when this occurred, I reached a level of understanding about whatever it was I had been thinking about that was very satisfying. I might even say it was euphoric.
Having said that, my mind does tend to grasp onto thinking paths that are self-indulgent and irrelevant. Yet, increasingly I have become intrigued by how the Buddha describes the first Jhana, as a state of "deliberate and sustained thought."
And then I read this extraordinary post at the Theravadin. He uses two very vivid – for me – metaphors to describe the functioning of meditation.
In the first metaphor, the Theravadin uses a common behavior to describe how we develop the mindfulness necessary for effective meditation: learning how to ride a bike. When first learning to ride a bike, we are very focused on maintaining balance so we can move forward, so focused on this single element that often – at least I remember doing this – we aren't looking ahead at what's coming and we run into other objects, like curbs or trees. But with persistence, we develop the balance necessary to keep our bicycle upright. When that happens, we ride with ease, able to look around us at the scenery as we peddle along. We're still riding the bike, we're still doing everything we need to do to maintain balance, but we are no longer "aware" of that – it's automatic now.
It's such a brilliant metaphor because developing the balance necessary to ride a bicycle with ease is very much like developing a fixed mind in meditation. Finding the balance needed to ride a bicycle with east is just like remaining fixed on a meditation object, such as the breath.
"Developing the jhanas is like learning how to ride a (mental) bike. When learning how to ride a bike there are two important things involved: First of all, you see others on the bike and see how much fun they have. You want that too. Secondly, almost everyone you see did learn it, so you are thinking: I can do it too. Third, when you are up on the bike, you learn to intuitively avoid falling – but that takes lot of practice. You know now, that the falling was actually part of the game, and it taught you how NOT to fall. In order to develop the skill to keep your balance your mind had to learn to avoid extreme movements away from the center. You also realized that eventually, once you started to keep going, the balance was easy to hold and the fun bike ride started."
And what do we do when we have learned how to balance ourselves on a bicycle? We ride along and enjoy the scenery, never "forgetting" what we need to sustain doing to keep our bicycle upright.
Then the Theravadin introduces another powerful metaphor that really got my mind alert. Imagine being carried along by the powerful currents of a wild river. Out of sheer luck, you are able to grasp onto a rock. What are you going to do? You are going to cling to that rock with every ounce of energy you can, and if you are able to, you will pull yourself out of the raging river onto the rock.
"The attainment of the jhana, according to this simile, is achieved by a "not-floating away" or "not-drifting-away". This is similar to a person in a wild river pushed along by the current who would try to hold on to a stone – long enough to pull himself out of the water and step on that stone. Such a temporary break (because he has not yet crossed the river but is still caught in the middle) on the steady rock in the middle of a wild river means also that no effort is necessary to maintain that calm position and one feels calmness and aloofness while the river/stream of the senses retreats."
Once up on that rock, what would you do? You have a moment of relative ease to collect your breath, re-focus your thoughts and contemplate your next move. You can't stay on that rock forever. At any moment, the raging river could send you a wave that will knock you off your perch. But it is, temporarily at least, a safe haven that allows you to determine how to extract yourself from this predicament.
So developing concentration is vital to meditation, but it isn't the end. Once you learn how to ride the bike, you need to learn how to enjoy the ride. And once you've pulled yourself out of the river onto the relative safety of a rock, you must contemplate your escape to complete safety. Standing on that rock forever is not the solution. It is merely the vantage point.
Posted by Richard Harrold at 9:06 AM 5 comments
Labels: Jhana, meditation, mindfulness
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Cut the glare from the sun while scouting for good structure with our Bugged Out Trucker hat. Mesh back helps keep you cool during your mission; one size fits most.
Sass or Salt provides unique, handmade items with an ocean theme to accessorize your home, office, or personal items. We can customize almost anything you can think of, adding a name, monogram, or sassy saying - just to name a few options.
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Sketch It Out/
I can draw with pastels, chalk, carbon, pens, pencils, and more. I would even say I'm good at it. But I've always disliked painting. Somewhere in the painting process, something would be off, or I would miss a step and be faced with having to restart a large section or even the whole thing. Restarting was something I never let myself do, therefore the paintings kept these errors and ended up rather murky versions of what I intended.
I still don't like painting, but I've painted often over the last few months. You know when they say "learn from your mistakes"? Well, I've definitely done that and painting has become so much easier. In fact, my paintings have become pretty good. I hope to share some of the techniques and skills I've learned with all of you. With them, I'm hoping to pull off one of the hardest paint projects I've ever attempted.
The first thing anyone needs to know before beginning their project is: Where are you going with it? What is it for? Or in my case: what do you want it to look like?
My painting is going to be for someone that I know well, and I know for a fact that she loves angels. So I looked up images that I thought she'd like. Using these images, I created a sketch, and then turned this sketch into a stencil.
The first thing I usually do after creating my concept sketch is to paint base colours onto my canvas. Other artists would suggest using gesso as a base for your canvas, but I prefer using my acrylic paints to keep my canvas' unique texture. I suggest a base paint because if you make a mistake early on, it's easier to match to a paint colour compared to a blank canvas.
Once you have your dried base colour and your completed sketch, use the sketch (or make a copy and use that instead) to make a stencil. Then pencil in the outline of your stencil onto your canvas. I always have at least one sketch and stencil before I begin or else it becomes a bit malformed.
I'm painting this as a birthday gift so there's definitely no backing out now. I find another great way to encourage myself to do things like art projects is to tell someone I intend to do it. That way I'm not alone and I have someone to support me and help push me forward.
Meaghan Côté
Meaghan Côté is a second-year student at Algonquin College in the Professional Writing program. Other than spending time with her cat, Buffy, she enjoys reading (all the time, anytime, everywhere and anywhere), creating art, reading, drinking tea, more reading, and writing! She also enjoys cooking, although the results aren't always edible.
Facebook | Blog I follow: Craftsy | Channel I follow: Bananajamana


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University Club adopts managed FM service
24 Jul 14
Estates Services took over facilities management at the University Club at the start of the financial year and extended a warm welcome to a number of members of staff joining us from the existing team.
The Club is sport and social club with accommodation and a members club for Oxford University staff, graduates and alumni. Its catering and hospitality facilities offer breakfasts, lunches, evening meals and private catering for functions.


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Monday, January 11, 2010
An awesome tip for making risotto
An awesome tip for making risotto - One important thing when making Risotto is to keep the stock that you are adding hot so it doesn't lower the temperature of the risotto. Most of us use a pot with a ladle which can be a little messy. Try putting your stock in a Tea Pot and pouring in as needed. This also makes it easy to do with one hand while stirring with the other hand. - Grub Up - Shannon
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We welcome you to browse our website for more information, and please contact us to find out more about how we can serve you in the way we know best.
Dates for the cemetery Housecleaning/Clean-up are listed in the "Burial Options" tab on the Things You Need To Know page in Important Dates to Remember and also in the "Rules/Regulations" tab in the Floral Policy.
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