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In the mystery of Rennes Le Chateau there are three paintings that are mentioned that Sauniere brought back with him and studied. The main one is The Shepherds of Arcadia which everyone has seen on numerous occasions. However the other two are not so readily available. Very surprisingly I could not find them anywhere on the Internet so I have decided to post them myself. The first is the second rendition of The Shepherds of Acadia a very rare painting indeed since nowhere is it shown on the entire internet. It is alledged to be "hidden" in the dark dungeons of The Louvre in Paris. I have no idea why. Have a look below.
The second is St. Anthony and St. Paul by Teniers again nowhere could I find this on the internet. Again, to me, this was very surprising. See this apparently rare and seldom seen picture below.
A third seldom seen picture is another rendition of Et in Arcadia ego this one by Il. Guercino. Note the symbolism in both. I wish I really knew what these paintings were trying to tell us. But Poussin knew and so did Teniers for as the priest Sauniere tried to tell us or at least the person or persons responsible for the cryptic clue ... "Poussin and Teniers hold the key"
This picture below which although not included among the paintings Sauniere brought back is often mentioned in conjunction with the mystery. The thing that immediately caught my eye was the skull at the base of the cross, very similar indeed to the corresponding statue at Rennes Le Chateau. I will include both the painting and the satatue for you to compare. It is entittled the Crucifiction by none other than Teniers.
The common thing that appears in all these pictures is a skull. But who's skull and what exactly does it represent. There have been many guesses from the head of Bahoptmet to the head of God ... but whatever it really represents it is indeed very stark imagery. I will post then side by side so you can examine them at your leisure.
The final one is the picture of the Pope St. Celestine V which I will include here as well. The angles of the staffs and the whole overall look and feel of the painting is is great accord with the previous two which I have shown. These three, which Sauniere brought back with him from his visit to Paris and The Louvre, all hint at some deep secret. Please note the checkerboard pattern on the floor and the Fleur de Lise in the bottom left hand corner of the pattern. Before going on to the picture I would like to quote a very short biography written totally from the church's perspective. First it should be noted that he ruled as Pope for less than a year which seemed to be a habit at this time in history so that in itself is not unique. ....
"On December 13th Celestine met the cardinals in the great hall of the palace. Clad in his pontificals he read them the decree of abdication, then stepped down and stripped himself of all papal imsignia. The "Great Refusal", as Dante called it.
Celestine was kept in confinement by his successor Boniface VIII, lest he should become the tool of designing schemes and endanger the unity of the church, He died on May 19th, 1296. Pope Clement V cannonized him in. (This is, if one studies the record carfully, so much rubbish. How could he have possibly endangered the unity of the church. There appears to be much more to this story than the church would let on. There are reports that he was instrumental in helping the Templars and that is why he was carefully locked up untill his death. Sure would be interesting to get into The Vatican Archives and read some of what was really written during this time. I am sure it would be illuminating !)
The painting is entitled "Allegory of the Coronation of Celestine V" and is supposedly a French painting of the 16th century, however how they can date it to this period not knowing the artist is beyond me. There is no history of it as far as who owned it and how it came into being and furthermore I have yet to be able to see a rendition in colour. Very curious indeed. Personally I get the feeling that it is perhaps earlier than they say but then what do I know of art. It is, of course, housed in the Louvre. Enjoy and study it closely for I am sure it holds a key as well ! I have not so far been able to find out who the artist was or decipher it's meaning, however the angles of the two staffs that are prominent are, as fas as I can see, identical to those that appear in Poussin's "The Shepherds of Arcadia" (common version). Lastly notice that he is holding a key. But what is it the key to ? Perhaps if we find this out we might stumble onto the answer to the rest of the mystery ! Was it Poussin and Tenier who held the key or is it Celestine V ? ... Who knows ?
Another very rare picture is one taken from the book "Le Cuer d'amours espris" entitled "La Fountaine de fortune" commissioned by Rene d'Anjou. Again ripe with symbolism that is begging for a true deciphering. Again see below.
Many of the paintings of this time are ripe with the same angle used for staffs, sceptres and other articles. The nagging question to me is what does this really mean. What is the real meaning of the angle which is usually to the left about 18 degrees. I wish I knew. Perhaps one day someone will truly figure it out.
And now let's take a look at the entire picture of The Shepherds of Arcadia. Why do I say the entire picture ? Apparently there were several inches that were concealed, perhaps deliberately, behind the frame. This would effectively stop anyone from truly seeing or figuring out the true mathematical symbolism within this painting. Below, as far as I know, is the true rendering of Poussin's "The Shepherds of Arcadia" Please take note at the top the amount of painting that was covered by the old frame. Very interesting.


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Presented by Sifu Bill Smith
Check the details on WatchAware
What is it about?
Presented by Sifu Bill Smith
Wuji is $3.99 but there are more add-ons
Bear Gathers Qi Exercise
App Screenshots
App Store Description
Presented by Sifu Bill Smith
Qi Gong, or energy development exercises, were developed in China by monks and mystics to provide robust energy and overall health to support their meditation practice. Now you can learn these ancient health giving practices in the privacy of your own home with Wuji, the first Qi Gong learning app for iPhone.
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- Nine lessons, recorded in HD
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If you have an Apple TV connected to your television, use Apple's AirPlay feature to mirror the app and stream the videos directly to your living room TV.
Try to practice every day if possible. Move on from a given lesson, once you feel comfortable to do so. Once you've learned all 9 lessons, begin following along by watching the 'Complete Set' video.
What is QiGong?
Qi Gong (Chi Kung) consists of a series of physical postures and movements combined with mental imagery and focused intent, and has been used to provide grounding, increased personal awareness and development of deeper meditative states. Within these exercises, body, mind and spirit work together to produce the results. This soft, moving meditation has been practiced in China for millennia. There are many flavors and several types of Qi Gong, practiced for different reasons, e.g. martial arts, health, relaxation, spiritual development and even longevity. In fact, the internal martial art Tai Chi Chuan, is a form of Qi Gong. There is ample evidence for QiGong's health benefits, in published journals and controlled studies around the world.
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Our intent is to make these exercises available to anyone who wishes to explore them. We will continue to regularly release content, in accord with the feedback we receive from users. Hope you enjoy!
The information provided and exercises taught in this iPhone application is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult a physician before performing this or any exercise program. Results vary with each individual and we cannot guarantee that you will experience results similar to the testimonials presented on any of our pages or any results at all. These videos are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. It is your responsibility to evaluate your own medical and physical condition, and to independently determine whether to perform, use or adapt any of the information or content shared in the Wuji application. Any exercise program may result in injury. By voluntarily undertaking any exercise displayed in the Wuji iPhone application, you assume the risk of any resulting injury. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Just received this free trial of Kashi Whole Wheat Biscuits Cinnamon Harvest cereal in the mail along with a $1.50 off coupon for their products! Excellent! Snacked on the cereal without milk and it's delicious! Here's the information about this cereal that you will most likely be interested in knowing:
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(Eurycea longicauda longicauda)
This is the only salamander that is yellowish with conspicuous vertical black marks on the tail. The color may vary from yellow to orange to red. The adult measures 4-6.25 inches. It has a broad dorsal band limited either side by elongate dots or dashes enclosing small, irregular, separate black spots. The sides of head and trunk have separate black spots, and the belly is yellow. This salamander breeds underwater in winter, producing a clutch of 90 eggs. The eggs are attached to stones or boards in or suspended above underground water and the female coils around the eggs.
This species occurs in the western part of Virginia. It is mainly terrestrial and found in and beneath old rotting logs and under stones, in crevices, shale banks and beneath litter near the margins of streams, and in caves. It is associated with cool, slow-moving water. It is often associated with limestone and shale substrates.
This species eats adult and immature insects, arthropods, worms, and other terrestrial invertebrates.


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Survivor Season Rankings (Worst to Best)
Last updated with: Island of the Idols
Disclaimer: The following countdown contains MAJOR SPOILERS. Other items worth noting:
| Survivor: Island of the Idols (season #39)
An icky season forever disgraced by an inappropriate touching scandal. It started in the very first episode and lasted all the way to the reunion show, which had to be pre-taped as a consequence. And in a move that felt really cagey and non-transparent to me, the show blocked out the most important conversations about it with title cards that might as well have just said "SCENE MISSING" on them. I also felt that the scandal exposed a noxious moral decay in the game of Survivor, showing just how low reality TV players are willing to stoop to avoid elimination. Specifically, the two women who shamelessly milked the scandal for votes. First they inflated their own stories about it to get "me too" comradery, then denounced the lady who stood up for them, then completely pandered to the man doing the touching. Seriously?! Finally to top it all off, this guy had the audacity to touch somebody else off-camera after the producers already warned him to stop--leading to a "SCENE MISSING" of his removal. I do give the producers credit for (eventually) ejecting a player for the first time in Survivor history, airing a well-spoken segment about the issue on the reunion show, and constructing new guidlines to prevent future seasons from being ruined in this manner. blog, blog
Highlights that got completely marginalized by the fun-killing scandal:
| Survivor: Thailand (season #5)
A painfully boring season that best exemplified why I almost stopped watching the show. This season also featured the lamest twist ever: rival tribes cohabitating instead of merging. blog
Highlights: Can't remember any.
| Survivor: Nicaragua (season #21)
For me, this season took the cake for annoying castaways and inane gameplay. Although some of the more colorful characters, e.g., "Hurricane" NaOnka, "Fabio", and ex-NFL coach Jimmy Johnson entertained me, I basically had no one to root for during the entire season. In fact, I felt that the series hit a low point when Fabio won the game and Jane won Sprint's Player of the Season. Also found that Medallion of Power twist pretty lame. blog
| Survivor: One World (season #24)
An embarrassing, mind-numbing season of quite possibly the dumbest (and most delusional) crop of players in Survivor history. It still pains me to think that a juvenile twerp like Colton could run the game and convince an entire tribe to forfeit team immunity (the dumbest tribal move I've ever seen until I see one worse)! I actually rooted for the women to vote out all of the men. Plus I'm sick of that tiresome "impulsively ally with four other strangers" strategy. blog, blog
| Survivor: Panama - Exile Island (season #12)
I considered this season one of the flukiest in that the most annoying people seemed to dominate the game instead of getting voted out at the beginning (admittedly, Cirie Fields eventually impressed me in a later Survivor season). The only player that I liked (Terry) made it pretty far only to get betrayed and eliminated after the final challenge. That reinforced my disdain for the unpredictability of the final challenge--and unfortunately, the expansion of a final two into a final three didn't start until next season. :(
Highlight: Rooting for Terry in individual immunity challenges.
| Survivor: Guatemala - The Mayan Empire (season #11)
I just remember this season for the returning Stephenie LaGrossa. I lamented how she tarnished that "America's sweetheart" image from "Survivor: Palau", but still rooted for her to win. To my chagrin, she blew it on the very last immunity challenge.
Highlights: Can't remember any.
| Survivor: China (season #15)
A season highlighted by the bizarre coincidence of one castaway (James) ending up with both hidden immunity idols. I honestly cannot remember very much else about this season.
| Survivor: Marquesas (season #4)
A dull season except for the pivotal power shift and the infamous "purple rock" tiebreaker.
| Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers (season #35)
A slow season until the merged players suddenly woke up and began scrambling. Unfortunately, production twists once again decided the game when the winner saved himself three consecutive times with hidden immunity idols, then only made the final three because of a BS fire challenge twist! Basically, all of this season's "next tribal council only" advantages bugged me, and felt like random board game gimmicks rather than Survivor. Other annoyances: three different players alienating their tribesmates and calling that "strategy"; players misusing (or in Lauren's case, inexplicably dismantling) their immunity idol; players incorrectly splitting votes; and players seemingly spilling secrets to anyone who would listen.
| Survivor: South Pacific (season #23)
The return of Ozzy and Coach! Cue the chirping crickets. I did get excited for the merge due to my high hopes for that Trojan Horse ploy--but alas, nothing much came of that. blog, blog
| Survivor: Ghost Island (season #36)
Convoluted crapshoot of a season that shuffled the tribes and "cursed" relics so thoroughly that I kept losing track of people's allegiances (Naviti? Malolo?) and advantages (castaways literally played random games of chance to win them). At least the two best players rose to the top and punctuated the season with a climactic photofinish. Though personally, part of me feels like Survivor winners should have an asterisk next to their name if they owe their survival to the new fire challenge rule. blog
| Survivor: Edge of Extinction (season #38)
I liked the four returning castaways...until the show made them cling to hope on a demeaning island of eliminated players before finally putting them out of their misery. And in a testament to just how bad this "Edge of Extinction" premise was, the third person voted out returned for the last three days and stole the game from castaways who had played for all 39 days! Side note: I did like how the interview clips started captioning which advantage (or fake idol) each player had, especially when the extra vote kept changing owners.
| Survivor: Pearl Islands (season #7)
I hated the twist in this season where eliminated castaways voted two outcasts in. I also hated how two of my favorite castaways, Rubert and Andrew, got voted out while two of my least favorite castaways, Jonny Fairplay and Lillian, made it all the way to the final episode.
| Survivor: Vanuatu - Islands of Fire (season #9)
A female-dominated season where the last man managed to win against all odds. I remember a lame controversy about whether a player crossed the line by swearing an oath on her son.
| Survivor: Africa (season #3)
I loved the generational clashes in this season. Didn't care much for the self-righteous winner though. :(
| Survivor: The Amazon (season #6)
The first season to divide tribes into all-male and all-female castaways. Made for some interesting social dynamics.
| Survivor: Gabon (season #17)
A veritable encyclopedia of the different Survivor strategems, including: a) a player who voted tactifully and constantly lied, b) a player who voted emotionally and felt that "the good guys should win in the end", and c) a "paragon" player, good at challenges, who tricked voters with fake immunity idols. blog
| Survivor: Tocantins (season #18)
An unpredictably cutthroat season wherein the last two castaways managed to betray all three of their alliances. This cast featured one of the haughtiest personalities I've ever seen, Coach the "Dragonslayer", and showed the importance of building character references. For instance, I couldn't help but respect J.T. and stigmatize Sierra after hearing fairly consistent remarks about them. blog
| Survivor: Fiji (season #14)
This season reminded me of a counter-intelligence thriller because of that one episode where a rival alliance conspired to use a hidden immunity idol. It also featured a castaway that I hated more than anyone in Survivor history, Dreamz, because of a deal with that he infamously reneged on. Granted, back stabs happen a lot on Survivor--but it make me sick how this guy boasted on and on about how he'd honor the deal and show his son a good example. Then he had the nerve to act all proud of the betrayal! Stinking hypocrite. blog, blog
| Survivor: Philippines (season #25)
A refreshingly unpredictable season thanks to the return of the three tribe formula (breaking the five-person alliance tradition), shifts in alliances (including one betrayal foreshadowed by the "four-fingered handshake"), and...players who didn't seem to know what they were doing (particularly during the tribal council where all of the alliances and hidden immunity idols got blown). I enjoyed rooting for Jonathan Penner again as he narrowly escaped elimination multiple times. I also legimitimately worried that Michael Skupin might require evacuation again. blog
| Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X (season #33)
An unpredictable season of follies thanks mostly to those goofy millennials, from that whole #FIGTAILS clique to the "trust cluster" of geeks. Nothing much came from the twists either, from the Legacy and reward-stealing advantages to the misusage of hidden idols. I did find some of the gameplay interesting...but in the end, did the sole survivor win on merit or sympathy?
| Survivor: David Vs. Goliath (season #37)
Shades of "Survivor: Worlds Apart" in how the show oversold its tribal labels (even using injured Davids to reinforce the narrative), and spammed us with both a crier from the Davids and an aspiring narcissist (enough with the rice deal already!) from the Goliaths. The main difference: my favorite player (and his interesting vocabulary words) didn't make it to the final episode. :( A consequence of the new fire challenge rule, perhaps? At least this time we have a legit winner, who got to the end on votes and immunity victories rather than on fire making or rock picking.
| Survivor: San Juan del Sur - Blood vs. Water (season #29)
Same tears, pangs of emotion, and double-edged swords as the first Blood vs. Water season (as far as I'm concerned, the show can bring back this premise every season)--but even more unpredictable this time around, mostly because of this one maddening lovey-dovey couple who seemed to play musical chairs with their loyalties every time a new tune played (from Jaclyn not getting enough attention to Jon trusting someone different). Side note: Never seemed to dawn on any of the players that relinquishing a reward to win someone over doesn't work!
| Survivor: Palau (season #10)
A season highlighted by two standout players: Tom Westman and Stephenie LaGrossa. I once called Tom the best Survivor player of all time. He inspired such respect in fellow players that the jurors actually took his BS seriously. He even inspired one player to forfeit the last immunity challenge for him! Now that's what I call charisma. blog
| Survivor: All-Stars (season #8)
This season pitted a lot of renowned Survivor players against each other, stirred some intense emotions, and sparked the romance between my favorite Survivor couple, Rob and "Ambuh" (both of whom I later enjoyed watching in "The Amazing Race").
| Survivor: The Australian Outback (season #2)
This season had a good villain (Jerri) and a memorable tragedy where Michael Skupin passed out into the fire. It also featured a young Elisabeth Filarski before she went on to co-host "The View" as a staunch Republican.
| Survivor: Kaoh Rong - Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty (season #32)
Big egos and knife-edged betrayals. Amusingly, the sensitive Buddhist gardener (Tai Trang) struck me as the most ruthless player of the season! Twist-wise, it might be time to retire that extra vote advantage as nothing interesting ever seems to come of it. Though I did like that the players had to choose to compete for it rather than draw rocks at an auction. Generally I don't like luck-based twists subverting the game, so I hated how this season's random isolation twist predetermined the outcome of the next vote.
| Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites (season #26)
Just as "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" helped me proclaim the best player of all time, this season helped me crown the worst player of all time. I mean seriously, at first glance that "Favorites" tribe looked like a Survivor Hall of Shame. But admittedly to my admiration, some of them really stepped up their gameplay. I felt particularly proud of Cochran, who in my judgment delivered the best jury presentation in Survivor history. blog
| Survivor: Cagayan - Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty (season #28)
A bizarro, borderline subversive season where the players (particularly "Chaos" Kass and Tony Vlachos) seemed to indulge whatever harebrained "strategy" suited their fancy. Examples: the inaptly-named "Brains" tribe keeping a nutjob who dumped out their rice, castaways swapping immunity idols at tribal council, safe players illogically flipping on their solid alliances, and Woo opting to "compete against the best" in the final two! But possibly the biggest farce of them all: the show bringing back the super-powered "immunization" idol, which combined with the normal immunity idol gave Tony the most ridiculous handicap in Survivor history. blog
| Survivor: Worlds Apart - White Collar vs. Blue Collar vs. No Collar (season #30)
All season long, it felt like I was watching a bunch of children. From the vicious mean streaks to castaways wallowing in their own hurt feelings (in one case because a guy didn't get a reward for his birthday!), the overall lack of maturity made it hard to root for anybody. I kept dreading a nightmare final three of the season's three biggest jerks: Dan, Will, and Rodney. Thankfully, Mike Holloway managed to scrape and claw his way back from the brink of oblivion (due to that auction mistake fairly early in the game, he went from odds-on favorite to dangling by a thread). The most touching irony for me: that Mike spent the whole game premeditating stratagems, but probably never even stopped to consider that a single act of kindness (his impromptu defense of Shirin while everyone else stood by) would end up helping him when he needed it most. blog
| Survivor: Game Changers (season #34)
Thank you to awesome player Sarah for redeeming this all-star season from an embarrassment of production twists that kept deciding the game! Total BS what happened to Cirie at that one tribal council where all of the votes got thrown out because all five of her tribesmates had immunity. I also hated how the constant tribal swaps did in two-time winner Sandra. The show even meddled with the time-honored jury format. Admittedly, the "no re-vote" rule change and the "choose your own advantage" struck me as promising ideas. blog
| Survivor: Borneo (season #1)
Although I remember complaining about the lack of strategy among these castaways, this first season of Survivor kept me on the edge of my seat and led to some interesting talk around the water cooler.
| Survivor: Redemption Island (season #22)
The return of Boston Rob and Russell Hantz! Even though Russell went out too early, I'd still rather watch four episodes of him rather than entire seasons of lame players. :) As for Boston Rob...I developed a whole new respect for the guy. He took the game to new heights, and masterminded some impressive (albeit troubling) new strategies. Of all the castaways to ever play Survivor, I proclaim that Rob deserved to win the most. P.S. I didn't like the Redemption Island twist. blog
| Survivor: Cambodia - Second Chance (season #31)
Chaotic to a fault and overseasoned with production twists, but made interesting by plenty of returning fan favorites to root for. I don't know if it was fan appreciation or the players' trauma from their first loss, but I've never seen such overzealous gameplay. This new trend of "voting blocs" had players flash mobbing their votes cross-allegiance over reasons that seemed totally random to me, e.g., one day it was target a threat who played too "new school", another day it was target a threat who wasn't part of the reward.
| Survivor: Blood vs. Water (season #27)
A fiendishly personal season where returning castaways had their own loved ones used against them. The premise paid off so well that I wondered why they hadn't come up with it sooner! That is, until one player voted out her own mother. Then it just got awkward and weird for me (in my opinion, you'd have to be one heckuva Survivor purist not to blink at that). I also felt that the rock tiebreaker tainted the season's results.
| Survivor: Samoa (season #19)
An entertaining season thanks to a groundbreaking player whom I credit with saving Survivor: Russell Hantz. At first, he seemed like a complete jerk...but then after he found a hidden immunity idol without any clues, I really began to admire his guile. To my amazement, his machinations went on to save his tribe from a near-hopeless 8-to-4 decifit! If only this guy had won... blog
| Survivor: Cook Islands (season #13)
One of the rarer seasons where the player that I heavily rooted for, Yul Kwon, actually won the game. He overcame formidable obstacles too: a mutiny and a popular player (Ozzy) in the final vote. Although this season took a lot of criticism for dividing the tribes by ethnicity, I welcomed the variety. I also loved how this season finally cast some charismatic "intellectuals", i.e., Yul and another favorite player of mine, Jonathan Penner. blog
| Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites (season #16)
A refreshing season that cast some of the most conniving players in Survivor history--most notably, an alliance of women that kept ensnaring men in their traps. This "black widow" alliance led to one of my favorite Survivor moments of all time: the final four women managing to persuade the last surviving man to give up his immunity! blog
| Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (season #20)
A big-time "WrestleMania" meets "Game of Thrones" for Survivor fans that excited me before it even began...and wow, it did not disappoint. Unlike other seasons where the best TV only occurred after the merge, this season managed to thrill me from start to finish. It featured suspenseful gameplay, shockingly bold moves, and lots of WTF moments for the water cooler. Some of my favorite seasons' all-stars like Boston Rob, Russell, and alumni from the "black widow" alliance managed to shine all over again. blog, blog


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- For other uses of the word "blue," see Blue.
External summary
|<<< Blue Carp Street >>>
|Setting: Far Madding
Point of view: Min Farshaw
Rand realizes the note he received about where to find Torval and Gedwyn must be a trap but he isn't worried. Min tries to discourage him from going but Nynaeve and Lan will be helping Rand. After Rand has been gone for a while, Min leaves the room to find Cadsuane so she can help Rand.
Point of view: Rand al'Thor
Rand, Lan and Nynaeve scout out the area around Zeram's bootmaking shop and decide it must be possible to enter the apartment from the roof, if they can get up there. Rand spots two men heading for the stairs to the apartment and a gust of wind help him identify them as Gedwyn and Torval. Rand asks Nynaeve to lift Lan and him with the Well of saidar in her belt, which she agrees to do with reservations. Nynaeve lifts Rand up, then lifts Lan. They enter through a trapdoor in the roof which lets them into an attic. Another trapdoor lets them into the apartment living quarters where he finds two bodies with black swollen faces, one of which is probably Gedwyn.
Rand recognizes the effect of the Ruby-hilted dagger and whispers to Lan that Fain is here and he must have sent the letter. As they dart into the bedroom Fain almost catches Rand with the dagger. Fain orders another man, Toram Riatin, to take care of Lan. Fain uses an special ability he has to repeat an even from the recent past. Rand sees Torval and Gedwyn coming up the stairs but understands it as a cover for an attack by Fain and responds with his own sword attack. Fain is wounded and runs away. In the meantime Lan has finished off Toram and they head to the roof to escape.
They reach the roof but as they move across the slates Lan's boot slips. Rand catches his wrist, but Lan is too heavy and they both slide off the roof to the alley below.
- Thom
- Cadsuane
- Mistress Keene Innkeeper
- Aunt Rana
- Zeram Bootmaker
- Milsa Zeram's wife
- Rochaid
- Kisman
- Dashiva
- Moiraine
- Seleisin Remote or possibly mythical location
- Two Rivers
- Cairhien
- Nynaeve's Paralis-net
- Well
- Ruby-hilted dagger


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Philip Langridge, British tenor, dies at 70
LONDON - British tenor Philip Langridge, who won praise for his vocal versatility and subtle characterization, has died at the age of 70, the Royal Opera House said yesterday.
The company said Langridge died Friday after a short battle with cancer.
Composer Harrison Birtwis-tle said "his death leaves a large hole in the world's music."
Langridge was born in Hawkhurst, southern England, in 1939 and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He began his career as an orchestral violinist, but turned to singing, making his professional operatic debut in Richard Strauss's "Capriccio" at the Glyndebourne festival in 1964.
He went on to perform all over the world and had a long association with the Royal Opera. His roles there included Basilio in "The Marriage of Figaro" and Loge in Wagner's "Das Rheingold." One of his last roles was as the witch in Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel" at the Metropolitan Opera in December.
He was praised for performances in operas by Benjamin Britten, including the title role in "Peter Grimes" and Aschenbach in "Death in Venice," and originated roles in works by Birtwistle and other contemporary composers.
Among his many prizes were two Grammy awards, for recordings of "Peter Grimes" and Arnold Schoenberg's "Moses und Aron."
Elaine Padmore, director of opera at the Royal Opera House, said Langridge would be missed for "his intelligence, his humor, his wonderful voice and superb musicianship, his compelling presence on stage, the many roles he made his own."
Langridge was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Murray, their son and three children from a previous marriage, including the opera director Stephen Langridge.
Funeral plans were not immediately available. - AP


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Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren't just the biggest days of the year for online retail, they're also the biggest days of the year for people to log in to Google Analytics (we're totally guessing). From large company CEOs to digital media interns, everyone is logging into Analytics to see how many visitors are coming and and how many sales are closing.
For most retailers, digital analytics is like Christmas music. During the holidays you get excited about it for a day, then run it in the background for a few weeks, and don't think about it again until next year.
You would think that, with all this focus on Cyber Monday analytics, more people would be converted into year-round digital data advocates. In truth, though, most people in an organization view web analytics data as interesting rather than valuable. It's not perceived to be particularly accurate, it doesn't contain a lot of the data that decision-makers need to do their jobs, and budget and forecast numbers live somewhere else.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to not just get wins with measurement, but set up your entire organization to make it a year-round focus. Here are 3 things every retailer should be doing right now:
1. Track actual revenue numbers, not 'directional' ones
A big knock on web analytics tools is that they don't report on real revenue. For almost all retailers, this is true. Your digital analytics tool is probably only capturing online bookings, not real transactions. Google Analytics' Enhanced Ecommerce allows you to significantly increase the detail at the transaction level for things like coupons and promos. You can use their Management API to upload key finance data like returns/fraud/cancellations/order changes, meaning that you have actual revenue. Do these things and then make sure your numbers match the CFOs, and we can guarantee a lot more people are going to take Cyber Monday data seriously.
2. Graduate from web metrics to marketing intelligence
PPC manager, would you like Bing cost data uploaded to Google Analytics alongside your Google AdWords data? To get people past looking at 'visits' and staring at real-time/low-value reporting, you need to make the data hyper-relevant. This means getting their KPIs into the system:
- CEO, would you like us to connect user IDs with CRM so we can see a complete picture of our Cyber Monday customers across all channels?
- VP Merchandising, would you like to see conversion rates by product availability and price?
- CMO, would you be interesting in seeing an accurate view of ROAS by marketing campaign on Cyber Monday? Would you like to analyze sales by gross margin?
No one is turning down that kind of high-value data. Once they realize how easy it is to use and analyze in Google Analytics, you will have year-round analytics advocates.
3. Keep score properly
For the online team, Cyber Monday is the biggest game of the year. Visits, bounce rates, conversion rates–all the numbers people normally ask about on Cyber Monday (or any day for that matter)–aren't answering the real question being asked: "Will we hit our numbers?" Even if you aren't sure what it is, there is definitely a corporate goal, forecast or plan tied to the web. Reporting, before and after Cyber Monday, on the performance of digital against corporate plan numbers is a great way to get real excitement and buy-in about analytics. The best part is that you don't need to do anything technical. A quick chat with the finance department and an hour in Microsoft Excel, and you've got yourself a winning report.
The holidays are the most important time of the year in retail. In online retail, every aspect can be measured in detail. Use this to your advantage and do a little work to get a lot of impact from Google Analytics. Your company will thank you for it.


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Our next stop along our German trails was Füssen, in the southern most point of the country, near to the border of Austria.
|Being as German as possible
From Rothenburg, we spent most of the day making train connections down to Füssen. As we left the Rothenburg station, heavy snow began to fall, and all the way through the charming country side -one tiny village after the other, each with a unique steeple- heavy rain clouds passed in fits of sleet and rain.
Fun fact: Originally I wanted yo use the word "hamlet" because it is a bit more charming, but come to find out, a hamlet is a village without a church. Therefor, hamlets with steeples do not make sense.
As we got nearer to Füssen, we started to wonder where the Alps were. We knew they are a little bit smaller from the German side, but really, where are they? I see no mountains. And these castles are supposed to be in the mountains. We were concerned that we wouldn't be able to even see the castles the next day.
|Outside of Suzanne's the following morning
Cold and spitting rain, we walked to Suzanne's B&B, our residence for the night. We were greeted with a "Bitte" from a woman poking her head out of an upstairs window. She let us in, showed us our room, and had us meet her downstairs for the paperwork and a run down of the town.
This inn looked like it could have slept dozens of people, but we were the only ones there at the time- or that we saw the entire time -but supposedly there was another family. Suzanne is an Ohio native married to a Fussen native. As we were leaving, we heard her switch seamlessly into Italian to chat with incoming guests. So you could say she has a thing for languages. The inn was charming and traditional; it includes a large garden, where they grow their produce. She made a big deal about their sustainability efforts, from harvesting rain runoff to the solar panels on the roof. The inn was well known for a large breakfast, which was a main factor of why we stayed there.
By the way, we endless solar panels on our trip. From massive fields to the tops of old, shingled houses. According to our Santa inn keeper, Germany produces 30% of its power via solar energy.
In the end, the breakfast was underwhelming, the room was adequate with a nice porch, but nothing to write home about. Suzanne is nice and accommodating but a little fussy. Her view of the mountains and accessibility from the station has been disrupted by new building projects of retirement homes. We wouldn't stay in Füssen again, but if we did, we would stay in the old town in a hotel.
Once we were all settled, we walked the short path into the old town, wandered around, in and out of some shops, up to the fortress, and then down around again. It started to snow little flurries- and then it started to dump snow. The restaurant that Suzanne had suggested opened in an hour or so, so we sat in the bar next door for a beer while we waited.
|Beer + Pretzel = Love
Eventually we sat for dinner in a long room with a table full of old German gentlemen, laughing rancorously and ordering rounds of beers. Our waitress was very friendly and very frank. I suppose I could just say that she was German. She told me to order a light beer because it was "lady's beer." When it came time for dessert, she told us what to order, and it ended up being delicious fried apple slices with ice cream. It was a really fun stop with great food, and certainly one of the more authentic place we had seen. However, I did learn not to order meat loaf in Germany, because you will get a frankfurter loaf. Which was not what I had in mind. Jimmy, however, struck literal gold with his meat dish in creamy, cheesy Spätzle.
By the time we left, the snow had stopped and left behind a fresh coat of snow all around the town. It was such a charming walk home -which, of course, we punctuated with a stop into one last place for a drink. Their menu looked delicious as well; I nearly ate a second dinner.
In the morning, we woke up ready to attack the castles. The whole reason that Füssen is a popular tourist destination is because it lies at the foot of the mountains that hold Neuschwanstein Castle, the original Cinderella castle, and Germany's most visited destination.
After our underwhelming breakfast, we made for the buses in hopes of catching the first one out. Stressed about getting a touring time, we opted for a cab to take us the short trip up to the base of the mountain where we could find the ticket office. Worth the 10 euros to the bus's 5, for a friendly cabbie with lots to say about the area, and making it before the first bus off-loaded.
We walked straight to the teller and reserved tickets for a 9:20 tour at the Hohenschwangau Castle and an 11:40 at Neuschwanstein. We then made our way through the tiny town, consisting of a few large beer gardens and a few more hotels, and up the short walk to the first castle. After that tour, we wandered around the small lake, and then up the long hike up to the main attraction.
Of course, when we arrived, we needed to replenish ourselves, so we grabbed a pretzel and beer from the vendor outside. Looking around, we were baffled that we were the only two people out of hundreds that were enjoying a cold pilsner on a warm sunny day in the mountains. We briefly questioned our drinking habits, checked the clock, and determined that it was definitely beer o'clock.
The weather from the night before had left a perfectly charming coat of fresh snow over the castles and surrounding mountains. The day turned out to be perfectly warm, bright and sunny. We could not have asked for more perfect conditions: the romantic winter look without the freezing cold.
There is little that can be said to describe how gorgeous it all was, except in pictures:
History lesson: Hohenschwangau was transformed from ruins by King Maximillian II of Bavaria into a Neo-Gothic summer retreat. His eldest son, Luwig II of Bavaria, later commissioned Neuschwanstein in 1869 as a retreat, as well as a tribute to German culture and history. This Romanesque revival castle was paid for entirely by his own fortune (and extensive borrowing) but not through public funds. He had a great love for the operas of Richard Wagner, his friend, and considered the castle to be an embodiment of his work.
If you saw the recent film, Monuments Men, first of all, read the book. The movie is not historically accurate and misses some great details. Also, I am tired of the George Clooney Gang. Secondly, you may recall that the retreating German forces used this castle as a store for the art that they had been plundering from northern Europe. This is true. When the castle came under Allied control, they found thousands of pieces of the most valued works of art in history. In fact, the castle was originally part of the Nero Decree, and order by Hitler to destroy all German infrastructure and many key cultural sites to prevent them from landing in the enemy's hands. Fortunately, the minister who was supposed to carry out these orders deliberately did not see them through.
Travelers Tip: Buy your tour tickets ahead. I had tried but felt wary of the order process, where you email them your credit card info and they send you times that are available. If we went again, I would order ahead. We were there in low season and some of the first people of the day, and she gave us the earliest available times. We got lucky. When we left the area around 2, the line out of the ticket office was over 2 hours long, and the area was teeming with tour buses. Do yourself a favor. Order ahead and go early. You really cannot see much if you do not take a tour inside. You can only go into the courtyard, which becomes packed with people and shows you very little.
On our tours inside the castles, we were not permitted to take photos. Dang. But honestly -the most amazing rooms I have ever seen. And I have seen Versailles, the Winter Palace, and many Italian villas. These castles were amazing; granted, they are quite a bit more modern. The palaces are filled with beautiful woodwork, ivory and silver sculptures, stained glass, and more woodwork. The best part, however, were the cascading views from inside. We managed to sneak one photo on the way out.
As were were leaving, I could not figure out where most of the famous photos of the castle were taken. There must be another look out somewhere. Peering through some of the windows, we noticed a small bridge on the other side of the castle with people on it. That's it! We cannot leave until we go there! We came all the way down here for this!
As we exited, we found the trail head, and also noted that it was closed off with a gate and an angry looking sign. We also noted that there were dozens of people climbing form one side to the other of this gate. Then we noted the security guard nearby, watching and smoking a cigarette.
Well, here we are. He doesn't care. There are people coming back alive. We have hours until our train leaves. Lets do it.
We think the trail was closed off for the sheet of ice that was covering the first 500 feet. Jimmy's boots were adequate, but I did some very awkward sliding/skiing/hand rail gripping. But once we passed that part, it was a lovely, slightly muddy walk to the bridge. And it was completely worth the risk of having someone yell at us in German -which they never did. But just think how scary that would be!
|You can see the bridge in the bottom right
The views were absolutely breath taking.
I felt fairly uncomfortable on this waterfall-spanning bridge. So I let Jimmy do the photo taking while I held the hand rail from a safe distance. I hate feeling the wooden floor boards give under my feet. There were a lot of people out there, so thank goodness it was closed off because it could have been packed.
The day ended with a stop for a refreshment and these amazing deep fried balls we had been smelling (we kept the mugs because we had to but 3 euros down on them–that about covers it right?), after which we hiked down the hill and took another cab into town. We had a late lunch outside in the sun before grabbing our bags and catching our train north.
As I mentioned, I do not know that we would stay in Füssen again. It can be done as a day trip from Munich, but it would be a long one. I would imagine that it is much better when the weather is nice and there are tons of people out, but otherwise, we found it a little uninspiring. We had just come from one of the best German towns possible, however, so I think we were spoiled.
Either way, the sights and country were very much worth the long detour from our route. The attractions are "touristy" but a must see if you are in southern Germany.
2 Comments on Germany: Bavarian Castles
Hello! Thank you for all the information. I have a few questions: when was the time frame you traveled to Fussen and what was the name of the restaurant you went to? Thanks Louise


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IRS Issues Proposed Regulations Regarding Valuation Discounts on Transfers of Family Held Entities
by Attorney Ryan Zinkel
If your estate exceeds the federal estate tax threshold, now might be the time to consider transferring an interest in a family-owned business. Proposed changes to valuation discount regulations will increase business values for gifting and result in more gift or estate tax due.
On August, 2, 2016 the U.S. Treasury Department released proposed regulations governing the valuation of family controlled entities for gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax purposes. The regulations would limit the valuation discounts (such as lack of marketability and lack of control) applied by appraisers when valuing family business interests in connection with wealth transfer planning.
The proposed regulations impacting IRC Section 2704 have been anticipated for some time. A public hearing on the proposed regulations is scheduled for December 1, 2016. The regulations will not be effective until the IRS publishes them as final regulations which will be no sooner than December 1. The proposed regulations do not apply to transfers occurring before the effective date so there is a window of opportunity for those who want to make transfers under current law.
If you are considering forming a family entity or plan on transferring interests in an existing entity, contact the attorneys at Rohde Dales today.
Ryan J. Zinkel
Ryan J. Zinkel | Phone: (920) 458-5501 Ext 154
Attorney Zinkel practices in the areas of estate and trust administration, estate planning, and real estate transactions. He has been with Rohde Dales since 2005. He received his law degree and undergraduate degree from UW-Madison and is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Sheboygan County Bar Association, and the Sheboygan County Estate Planning Council.


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Peggy Tencel Sleep Shortie
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Relaxed, easy-fit short for sleep and beyond with comfortable ruched waistband. The ultimate for a cool night's sleep!
xs - xl
95% tencel // 5% spandex
cold water wash // hang to dry
inseam: 1.5" // rise: 11"
model is wearing size small


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Avalanche-hit Shershal, in Chitral, still looks like a ghost village
CHITRAL: A month after the avalanche buried nine people alive, leaving scores of others injured and homeless, Shershal in the Karimabad valley of Chitral, still presents the look of a ghost village.
On the south of the village, a huge avalanche had piled up on the road cutting it off from the rest of the world. After the calamity, government and NGO officials had visited the area and relief items were distributed among the affected people. However, the government did not send any machinery to open the only road to the village, blocked by the avalanche.
Member of the tehsil council from Beshgram valley, Muhammad Ali Shah, said the elected members of the area arranged local laborers to remove the snow and got the road open. He said the tehsil administration had promised that wages would be paid to all those who had worked to open the road.
Mr Shah said the removal of the snow from the road was the responsibility of the local administration as it possessed machinery such as tractors etc., but the laborers opened the road manually after 20 days and should be paid for the work.
Janu Khan, a resident of the village, said that the road to the area was very dangerous and the possibility of any fatal accident cannot be ruled out. He said the Chitral Scouts had delivered some basic medicines at the village but no other government or private sector organization took any step for providing healthcare facilities to the people.
Muslima Bibi of the village told that in the winters the area remains cut-off and the road stays blocked due to snowfall. In such a situation, when someone gets ill, they are put on cots and are carried to any health center out of the village. A female patient recently died on the road when she was being taken to the hospital by local people, she added.
Shaheena Bibi said as the village had no middle or high school, the residents send their children to schools located out of the village. Until their return from schools every day, the parents remain worried about their well-being as the road is very dangerous, she added.
The area people said that besides clearing the road of boulders and avalanches, it should also be widened to avoid any fatal accidents in future. They said that the government should start middle and high schools as wells as healthcare centers in the village.


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Beyond The Game: Aaron BohlMoorhead, MN (WDAY TV) - It's been 4 and a half months since Craig Bohl announced he was leaving NDSU to take the job as Wyoming football coach.
By: Jody Norstedt, WDAY
Moorhead, MN (WDAY TV) - It's been 4 and a half months since Craig Bohl announced he was leaving NDSU to take the job as Wyoming football coach.
It ended a run of one of the most popular sports names to ever come through Fargo.
But, that name is still here, now playing football on the other side of the river. Dragon's linebacker Aaron Bohl is this week's focus on Beyond the Game
When you grow up with a dad that's coaching football, the love for the game just rubs off on you
and so do the X's and O's.
Aaron Bohl/MSUM Sophomore LB (Craig Bohl's Son): You know, each person has their strength and that's something that I try to focus on, making sure I know the playbook, making sure I've watched enough film to know, so I have that ability to know where I need to be on the field."
Steve Laqua/MSUM Head Coach: "He not only knows his own position and the rest of the linebackers next to him, but really knows everybody's spot."
But, Aaron no longer has the luxury of his dad coaching across the river.
In December, Craig Bohl was hired as the new head coach at Wyoming, a moment Aaron will always remember.
Bohl: "The news broke while we were at dinner and I shut off my phone at dinner. Then I turned it back on after an hour and I had fifty text messages from people, but news got around fast. It kind of caught fire once people heard about it."
Immediately after his Dad took the job, speculation began on Aaron's future with the Dragons.
Laqua: "Aaron came in the next day and said people are asking me if I'm going to Wyoming. Don't they know that I'm not fast enough to play there. Aaron understands that he has a great future here. He loves being part of the program and he's really setting himself up to have a great career in coaching."
Bohl: "I told everyone that this is my team up here and this is where I want to be because I've been around these guys for two years now."
With his dad now coaching 800 miles away, Aaron has a chance to leave his own legacy here in the FM area. But, he hopes it ends up just like his dad's. Craig took over the Bison after a 2-win season and turned them into an FCS power. Meanwhile, Aaron signed with the Dragons after a 2-win season of their own. And in his first year starting he led them to four wins and now he has 3 years left to write the rest of the story.
Bohl: "The class that I came in with was Coach Laqua's first recruiting class. We made it as a point in our first team meeting that we want to change this program and make it into a playoff team, which is definitely are mindset for the next three years."
A son, just trying to follow in his Father's footsteps.
Aaron says Craig is expecting to make it to 2 or 3 of the Dragons games this season.
Tags: beyond the game, jody norstedt, aaron bohl, sports, football, msum, updates


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The Radical Friends of Barack Obama
I don't have enough time to expand on this, as I should have been in bed an hour ago, but I wanted to pass this along…
In my surfing around the conservative/anti-idiotarian blogs and milblogs that I regularly read, I have come across bloggers who are actually praising, in one way or another, Barack Obama's speech and claiming that they felt Barack Obama was trancending race in his presidential campaign. Considering I have been researching this guy for over a year now and have known about his "radical roots" (as Rolling Stone called them) for that time, I have a very difficult time figuring out how people have been falling for this guy's lies. The only thing I can figure out is that they are willfully blind or just plain ignorant of his background.
And, maybe it will come as a surprise to many of you at this point, Jeremiah Wright is only the tip of the iceberg with regards to the radical leftists, radical Islamists and, yes, terrorists in Barack Obama's circle of friends, acquaintances and political allies.
Again, I don't have time to highlight specific passages here, but please do read this post by Rick Moran at RightWingNuthouse from 23 FEB 2008: OBAMA AND THE RADICALS: SOULMATES?
I would think people would be interested in someone whose background includes association with people of this ideology:
"Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents, that's where it's really at." This earns Ayers at least some spiritual kinship to Osama Bin Laden. (In last Sunday's New York Times Magazine, which of course went to press before Sept. 11, Ayers maintains that this was "a joke." In a more serious vein, Ayers was quoted by another Times interviewer as saying, "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."
[ … ]
Any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and change the future. This acceptance is the reformation essential to any revolution. To bring on this reformation requires that the organizer work inside the system, among not only the middle class but the 40 per cent of American families – more than seventy million people – whose income range from $5,000 to $10,000 a year [in 1971]."
Be sure to check this out as well. Apparently Rev Wright has a degree in Islamic History and sympathizes with the terrorists of Hamas: TUCC's Church Bulletins from July 2007 Probably Make Whether Obama was Present on July 22 Irrelevant


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It was one of those days. You know the kind: No naps, too much candy (I know, bad mommy!), and not enough time in the day to get everything done. As my son is running amok, I'm going crazy and, frankly, counting down to bedtime. The only thing that could have corrected this situation – save for a sedative or a power outage – was a nice, warm bubble bath. (Not for me, although, yes, one would have been nice; I was referring to the kids.) The time couldn't have been more perfect to try Baby Mantra's 3-in-1 Baby Bubble Bath, Shampoo & Body Wash.
Baby Mantra products are all-natural and made of only organic ingredients. Their 3-in-1 Baby Bubble Bath, Shampoo & Body Wash is not only chemical free, it is also cruelty, dye, and toxin free. It was designed with babies and children in mind, but is suitable for the entire family.
Some background on me and soap products: I am extremely picky about what I buy for our family. All of us have varying degrees of dry skin – and I have eczema. Several years ago, I stopped buying any soap that contains sulfates, a pledge that I became even more diligent about keeping when we had our children. The initial drawback one discovers upon using sulfate-free products, however, is that they don't lather well in comparison to soaps that contain sulfates because sulfates are indeed what make the bubbles. (Sulfate, in essence, is a detergent.) But the first thing I noticed about Baby Mantra's product is that, hands-down, it is the best lathering bubble bath of all the sulfate-free brands I've tried.
Aside from lathering, I have four additional qualities I look for in my children's bath products: performance, scent, consistency, and whether the formula is tear-free. Here's how Baby Mantra measures up:
Performance: Bathing two kids under three simultaneously is a feat in and of itself, which is why I tend to only buy 3-in-1 bathing products; using a separate shampoo, bubble bath, and body wash isn't worth the hassle. In this category, I give five stars.
Scent: The light lavender aroma of this product is pleasant and soothing. Again, five stars.
Consistency: Another big issue I have with sulfate-free products is that they tend to feel thin and watered-down, which leads you to use more product, thereby blowing through the bottle at lightning speed, which really adds up dollar-wise, particularly when sulfate-free products cost more to begin with. I give Baby Mantra another set of five stars here, particularly because our bottle of Baby Mantra lasted us a good three months.
Tear-free: This is the only area where Baby Mantra falls short in that the directions on the back of the bottle plainly state to "avoid eye area." But I deem this a small shortcoming, considering how well this product performs overall.
This product is a keeper. Yes, it costs a bit more(12oz/$15.95), but this is a prime example of you get what you pay for. I think my children's skin is worth it. Visit Baby Mantra online at babymantra.com
Courtney Conover is an NFL football wife and mother of two. She writes about everything on her lifestyle blog, The Brown Girl with Long Hair.———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
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Is Your Pet's Food Fresh?
- 15 December 2017
- 0 Comments
- Pet Wants
Every member of the Pet Wants team cares about making truly healthy and fresh food for pets. In addition to creating quality food that you can feel great about feeding to your pets, we love teaching and engaging with other pet parents. It's true that the more you know about what your pet needs, the better you can provide for it.
So in that spirit, we want to discuss freshness. If you've ever gone to a store and looked at a bag of pet food, you likely saw an expiration date on it. Although that date is designed to provide peace of mind, it doesn't tell the whole story.
Why Pet Food That's Not Fresh is a Problem
Even if food from a big brand pet company looks fine, there are two big issues with it sitting around for a long time. The first is decreased nutritional quality. The longer food is sitting in a bag, the less nutritional value it's going to provide when a pet eats it. The other problem is food produced by large companies needs to remain shelf stable for months on end so it is generally pumped full of artificial preservatives.
How to Ensure Your Pet Gets Fresh Food
Fresh pet food has a long list of benefits including increased energy and improved digestion. Fresh food makes it easier for pets of all ages to maintain a healthy weight by providing food that is nutrient dense. Two other benefits of fresh pet food are providing higher levels of crucial vitamins and supporting optimal coat and skin health.
If you want to know that your pet is getting fresh food and all the benefits that go along with it, Pet Wants is the brand for you. We make all of our blends in small batches each month. This allows us to deliver fresh food to you and your pet. To learn more, be sure to look at all of our pet food options at Pet Wants Nashville South.
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Science transfer with the local community in Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark
On 20 November 2015, more than 30 students from St. Paul's Secondary School joined a field trip to the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region of Hong Kong Geopark. They first visited the ancient Hakka village of Lai Chi Wo, guided by local villager David Tsang, where they learnt about Hakka culture and heritage. This was followed by a visit to the primeval Heritiera woods, and eco-agriculture and organic farming sites worked by local villagers and volunteers. The students were excited to see the famous Devil's Fist and learn how it was formed. After lunch on Kat O, they landed on Ap Chau, where they learnt the story of the rocks there through touching and observing them.
One of the students, Mary Luk, reflected, "The most impressive part to most of us was the tour to Ap Chau. We could feel the shells on the beach crunching and crackling beneath our feet and touch the sedimentary rock (mainly breccia) on this distinctive, little duck-shaped island. Along with the "eye" sea arc, I found it amazing that everything I saw could tell a story, a story of changes in the Earth through the ages.. The geopark definitely means more than the valuable unique rock features and landforms there. We were most grateful to join the field trip to the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark of China."
20 November, 2015
Shimabara Food Fest in Hong Kong
To promote local food products from Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, a food fair was organized in Hong Kong from 16 to 28 October 2015.
Representatives of Hong Kong Global Geopark of China had the honour to attend the promotion ceremony with the Mayor of Shimabara City, Mr. Ryuzaburo Furukawa, and the Deputy Consul-General of Japan, Mr. Masaru Igawahara, on 22 October 2015. "Through collaborative effort and special packaging, the promotion of sustainably sourced local food as a global geopark product for visitors can not only boost socio-economic development, but also increase the visibility of global geoparks," said a representative of Hong Kong Geopark.
"The 2015 Student-Exchange Programme conducted with the Hong Kong Geopark team has deepened our understanding of the Chinese Geoparks Network. It is our great pleasure to have established this continuous collaboration with Hong Kong Geopark," Mr. Ryuzaburo Furukawa said.
Hong Kong Global Geopark of China signed a cooperation agreement with Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark, Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, on 15 June 2013. The agreement strengthened the existing relationship between the two geoparks and has facilitated mutual promotion of the sustainable development of geo-tourism, geo-education and geo-heritage in the two geoparks.
26 October, 2015
Kick-off Ceremony for North District Signature Project
A representative of Hong Kong Global Geopark of China was invited to attend the kick-off ceremony for the North District Signature Project on 26 September 2015.
To enhance local engagement and promote geo-tourism, Hong Kong Geopark is joining hands with the North District Council to take forward a Signature Project in the geopark. The project includes the conversion of an old rural school to an education centre, which will serve as a new focal point for geopark visitors, the reconstruction of an observation area at Lai Chi Wo, the construction of a new hiking trail overlooking Yan Chau Tong Marine Park, and other minor improvement works in the North District.
The project will not only improve infrastructural support and accessibility to Hong Kong Geopark, but also provide opportunities for interested local communities to participate in geopark initiatives and community involvement activities.
"Through collaborative effort and a participatory approach, the Signature Project will serve as a valuable platform to better engage local communities and support sustainable socio-economic development in Hong Kong Geopark," said a representative of Hong Kong Geopark.
15 October, 2015
Hong Kong Geopark partners with its sister Geoparks in the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network
On 21-24 August 2015, arepresentative of Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (HKGP) was invited to visit Wudalianchi Global Geopark, one of HKGP's sister geoparks in the Mainland to share his insights on geopark management with the geopark managers there. Sharing sessions entitled "Geopark Concept, Visibility and Guidelines" and "Construction of a good management system" were delivered during the visit. Field officers from the protected areas of Hong Kong took the opportunity to visit a number of geosites in Wudalianchi and to acquire basic knowledge on volcanology.
Concurrent with the Wudalinchi visit was the fifth student-exchange programme in Hong Kong. Jointly organised by HKGP and Itoigawa Global Geopark of Japan, another sister geopark in the Asia Pacific region, this year's summer programme brought together students from Itoigawa Geopark and four Hong Kong Geopark Schools.
"These sistering activities not only provide a lively intellectual platform to review and share information between our sister geoparks, but also reflect the growth of the China Geoparks Network and the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network," said a representative of HKGP. "HKGP will continue to dedicate its efforts to bridging East and West and to providing our geopark partners with a unique blend of international exposure."
2015 Student Exchange Programme Report
24 August, 2015
Networking with Japanese Geoparks
A representative of Hong Kong Global Geopark of China was invited to visit three Japanese geoparks, Choshi Geopark, Izu Geopark and Oki Island Global Geopark, where he shared his insights on the management of Hong Kong Global Geopark with local community and geopark managers from 27 July to 5 August 2015.
The Hong Kong Geopark representative said he was honoured to be invited to work with the Japanese geoparks. "The Asia Pacific Geoparks Network is a valuable platform for different geoparks in the region to exchange knowledge and popularize earth science. The interaction with and site visits to the Japanese geoparks, along with the e-classroom conducted with the Hong Kong Geopark team, has deepened our understanding of the Japanese Geoparks Network."
"The mutual exchange between Hong Kong Geopark and the Japanese geoparks has strengthened the relationship between the two geoparks," said Mr. Kazuhiro Nobe, Office Head of the Oki Island Global Geopark Promotion Committee. "We look forward to continuing to work with Hong Kong Geopark as partners in the Global Geoparks Network."
10 August, 2015
Seminar on Local Hakka Culture and Dialect
Hong Kong Global Geopark recently invited Dr. Stephen Cheung to give a talk on local Hakka culture and Hakka dialect for 20 Recommended Geopark Guides (R2Gs). Dr Cheung's academic specialty is Musicology and Cultural Studies, and he is the acting head of the Graduate Education Centre at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He discussed with R2Gs the topics of local Hakka cuisine, houses and festivals. He also shared his experiences as a Hakkanese and his research on traditional Hakka songs. This talk widened the R2Gs' understanding of the origins of the Hong Kong's Hakka people, their migration history and the development of their unique culture.
29 July, 2015
Engaging Hong Kong students in the science transfer process
The Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Student Exchange Programme, a signature science-popularization programme co-organized by Hong Kong Global Geopark of China and the Japan Geoparks Network (JGN), concluded successfully on 3 July 2015.
Thanks to the support of the APGN and the efforts of the JGN, around 30 student ambassadors from Hong Kong Geopark Schools enjoyed a unique opportunity to explore the social, geological and the cultural history of Japan from 28 June to 3 July 2015.
After the tour, the student ambassadors returned to their geopark schools and offered virtual tours to their schoolmates who did not have the chance to join the Programme this summer, sharing their excitement and knowledge acquired during the visit.
Blending earth science and cultural exchange with our counterparts in Japan, the post-visit sharing sessions in Hong Kong Geopark Schools fostered an active dialogue between the student ambassadors and their teachers and schoolmates on issues such as natural hazards and their effect on communities, the arts, and cultural differences between Hong Kong and Japan.
"The APGN is a valuable science-popularization platform for our young people. By working alongside our partners in Japan and sharing their stories after joining the student-exchange programme, the students learn more about themselves and the natural world around them," a spokesman of Hong Kong Geopark said.
"It was encouraging to see so many students benefit from the APGN Student-Exchange Programme," said Mr. Eric SO, a teacher from a Hong Kong Geopark School. "The post-tour presentations and contributions by the student ambassadors reinforced the personal contact and earth science curriculum of the Geopark Schools".
17 July, 2015
Hong Kong's geopark schools to visit global geoparks in Japan
Following months of preparation and two days of briefing sessions, over 30 participants from two geopark schools, Lions College and Law Ting Pong Secondary School, are ready to visit three global geoparks in Japan from 28 June to 3 July 2015.
The programme is actively supported by the Japanese Geoparks Network and Hong Kong Global Geopark of China, with assistance and collaboration from Hong Kong Geopark's sister geoparks and partners in Japan – Itoigawa Global Geopark, Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark and Aso Global Geopark . Students from the two Hong Kong Geopark schools will take the opportunity to visit geo-sites and geopark facilities, and take part in cultural exchange activities with their counterparts in Japan.
"In addition to serving as Hong Kong Geopark ambassadors, the students will have the opportunity to broaden their vision and promote an active learning culture in the Global Geoparks Network," said a spokesman for Hong Kong Geopark.
1 June, 2015
Workshop for Geopark Managers in the Japanese Geoparks Network
With the support of the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN), a training workshop entitled "6th Japanese Geoparks Network Training Workshop" was held in Japan on 22 May 2015. A representative of Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (HKGP) was invited to help with the workshop and to deliver a lecture on "Image Building and Publicity for Geoparks" to managers of Japanese geoparks.
During the visit, HKGP took the opportunity to conduct a series of networking activities with our sister geoparks and cooperation partners, including Itoigawa Global Geopark, Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark and Aso Global Geopark. The upcoming student visit programme involving our mutual visits in July and August 2015 was discussed.
By bringing together geopark managers from the Japanese Geoparks Network, the workshop enabled the participants to share their ideas and knowledge on the management of global geoparks and to support the growth and advancement of the APGN.
26 May, 2015
With guidance and support from the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR), the MLR General Office of Science Popularization Department and Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (HKGP) co-organised the first Geoscience Capacity Building Programme in March 2015. The Programme attracted representatives from over 25 global geoparks, academic institutes and other science popularization bases, including Stone Forest Global Geopark in Yunnan.
Following the Geoscience Capacity Building Programme, a representative of Hong Kong Global Geopark has been invited to inspect Stone Forest Global Geopark on 25-26 April 2015 before his keynote speech at the "2015 Annual Conference of China Global Geopark".
"This visit is an extension of the Geoscience Capacity Building Programme," said a spokesman for HKGP. "It allows us to extend our knowledge exchange and sharing platform to other Chinese geoparks.
During the tour of Stone Forest Geopark, the HKGP representative inspected a number of geosites and their visitor facilities, participated in a sharing session on science-popularization activities, and delivered a lecture titled "Getting to Know Global Geoparks" to promote capacity building and best practices in geopark management.
"HKGP maintains a leadership role in the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network in science-popularization initiatives, such as signage and interpretation systems, science popularization promotion materials, and public education," said a spokesman for the Management Bureau of Shilin Geopark. "We are grateful to have invited the HKGP representative to inspect Stone Forest Global Geopark."
27 April, 2015
In 2009, UNESCO marked April 22nd of each year as the Earth Day to promote earth science and to deliver the messages of environmental concerns and protection.
In Earth Day 2015, Hong Kong Global Geopark and China Zigong Geopark jointly organized a student network exchange activity. Students from The Chinese Foundation Secondary School and Zigong Shuguang Lusheng Experimental School shared their school science popularization activities to each other. Connecting through the internet, they introduced their own culture and local geological resources. Students were enthusiastic to ask and exchange ideas and learnt from others in lively and interactive way.
Both students and teachers have expressed the activity not only broadened their horizons and also strengthened the ties between students from two different places. They are looking forward to organizing similar activity again in the coming future.
24 April, 2015
On 17 April 2015, around 30 delegates from the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan visited Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (HKGP) under the "Conservation Zone Staff Training Programme".
During the visit, a representative of Hong Kong Geopark provided the Sichuan delegates with an overview of the integrated protected area system and shared our experience on the protection and management of Hong Kong's country parks and geopark. The delegates also had guided visits to the Hong Kong Global Geopark Volcano Discovery Centre and the High Island Geo-trail in the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region with the Recommended Geopark Guide.
"HKGP is recognized as a role model for the development and management of nature reserves," said a spokesman from Wolong Nature Reserve. "This familiarization visit to HKGP has enhanced our capacity in the development and management of nature reserves."
The "Conservation Zone Staff Training Programme" is a joint-event between the Development Bureau of the HKSAR government and the Wolong Natural Reserve, under the post-quake reconstruction projects in the Wolong Nature Reserve. The Training Programme aims at developing the staff's leadership skills for nature reserve management through training in Hong Kong.
20 April, 2015
Around 40 students from the winning team at Sweden's InnoCarnival Skåne, together with 12 science students from Hong Kong Baptist University and three young Hong Kong ambassadors for geo-conservation, gathered in Hong Kong Global Geopark of China on 25 March 2015.
To promote geo-education and sustainable development, Hong Kong Global Geopark of China has been actively pursuing student exchanges between Hong Kong and students around the globe. "This is the first chance for the three young ambassadors to meet the students from Malmo, so they are giving them a guided tour of the High Island Geo-trail in Sai Kung," said a spokesperson from Hong Kong Geopark. "The visit provides a valuable opportunity for them to develop global vision and to enjoy the benefits of cross-cultural communication."
"Through programmes like this, Hong Kong Global Geopark not only creates a platform for students from different countries and of different ages to meet and share their experience and ideas, but also promotes a culture of innovation among university students," said a spokesperson for the Malmo authorities. "We are glad to have this opportunity for students from different backgrounds to gather in Hong Kong Geopark and share their knowledge and experience."
InnoCarnival Skåne was a new event organised in Malmo, Sweden in November 2014, inspired by the same event organised annually in Hong Kong since 2005. The goal is to provide opportunities for young people to present and discuss ideas and innovations that are economically, ecologically and socially sustainable.
27 March, 2015
Chinese New Year is the city's biggest and most colourful festival. Local villages in the Hong Kong geopark have organized grand traditional receptions to celebrate such an important event with their friends and partners.
Hong Kong Geopark is delighted to join the villagers for the Chinese New Year Celebration. The establishment of a geopark should be based on strong community support and local involvement. Hong Kong geopark is committed to co-manage the Hong Kong Geopark with the joint effect from the local communities.
[ Read more .... ]
6 March, 2015
The Hong Kong Global Geopark of China Annual Report 2014, which summarized our major activities in 2014, has been released. During the reporting period, Hong Kong Geopark continued to look for new ways to actively participate in the regional and global geopark movements and to achieve continuous improvement for the betterment of the geopark networks. Our continuous partnership and networking with local communities and our counterparts in the geopark networks continued to flourish in 2014.
As an active member of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN), China Geoparks Network and Asia Pacific Geoparks Network, we are committed to serving as an intellectual hub for all three networks, while at the same time preparing fully for our global geopark revalidation, which will take place in 2015.
[ Read Report ]
30 January, 2015
To enhance the standard of geopark guide services, Hong Kong Global Geopark invited Ms. Brenda Chan, an experienced practitioner in both the tourism industry and stage performance, to give a training workshop on communication and presentation skills for 30 Recommended Geopark Guides (R2G). The workshop covered presentation skills and problem-solving techniques, and included a group discussion and presentation session to allow the R2Gs to learn through sharing and peer review.
In his opening remarks at the workshop, Dr K.M. Yeung, head of Hong Kong Global Geopark, shared with the R2Gs the latest geopark developments and the global geopark revalidation preparation work. He encouraged the R2Gs to continue their good work in advancing their knowledge and skills, including obtaining a tour guide certificate, to get better prepared for increasing demand from the international market.
29 January, 2015


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The Story so Far #2
Post 40 25th October Tomorrow sees the release of Guillem Balague's book "Brave New World", an 'authorised' account of Spurs' 2016-2017 Season interwoven with a biography of Pochettino's life so far. Intriguingly, it is written by Balague in the first person as if it is autobiographical. Apparently, a lot of revision work went into striking the right […]Read more "The Story so Far #2"


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