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Spring 2017
Mark Blickley Michael Chin Pansy MaurerAlvarez Don Kingfisher Campbell Glen Armstrong
The Baroque Absurd (I) Pansy Maurer-Alvarez
Editor letter
Who needs new publications? Who is the audience? Why should anyone start yet another e-zine or magazine when there are plenty, when there are so much we don´t have enough time to read through even a quarter of them? May seem like odd questions to ask when starting with a brand new endeavour, but are they really? These are the questions, I have been trying to find answers for. Am I a huge supporter and reader of literary magazines? Well, I try to, but there are honestly so many, a huge selection to choose from, to all kinds of tastes. It seems nowadays, that everyone wants to only write and write for fame and glory, but how many of us bother to read? In a world, where people don´t have time anymore because they work, it seems readers are a dying breed and we writers are left alone in the field, where no one pays for the time sacrificed on our art. Our work is stolen, pirated. We give our work away for nothing. How many magazines can you name who pay for their writers? Not many, are there? So, is it even work that we do? So I decided, we writers/poets/artists and the mix of them, must stick together. In a world, where art is standing only on the fragile pillars of national endowments, we must support each other. Hungry artists, praising each other, that´s all we can do for now. Well, the most of us. With each other´s support and encouragement we grow. I start to understand better now, why many of my works were rejected by publishers and editors and what is the secret key to a good work. There is no specific magic spell, nothing to point to. Well of course, I like all readers appreciate a decent logical narrative, good grammar and punctuation and many other factors like that. But the main thing, that helps us decide is the feeling we get when we read something. We felt good reading these author´s work and we trust You will too. Annika L.
Editors/ Poetry editor Lila D: Writer and musician living in Montevideo, Uruguay. Has been working as a teacher for two years. Her music has been published in several labels from all over the world. Loves poets such as Sylvia Plath, Frank O'Hara and Oliverio Girondo. Loves musicians such as Ian Cur- tis, Darnauchans and Greta Kline.
Prose editor Annika L: English teacher, translator and writer from Tartu, Estonia. She has been publishing her works and photography for several years (also under various pseudoyms) in Reaktor, Degenerate Literature, Luna Luna Magazine, Five 2 One, Quail Bell Magazine, Peacock Journal. Upcoming in Zodiac Press Non-Binary Review and Welcome to Anxiety ezine. Loves writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. Loves musicians such as Rozz Williams, Pete Burns and Trevor Tanner.
Mark Blickley Michael Chin
Don Kingfisher Campbell Glen Armstrong
Pansy Maurer-Alvarez
Don Kingfisher Campbell, MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles, has been a coach and judge for California Poetry Out Loud, a performing poet/teacher for Red Hen Press Youth Writing Workshops, Los Angeles Area Coordinator and Board Member of California Poets In The Schools, poetry editor of the Angel City Review, publisher of Spectrum and the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly, leader of the Emerging Urban Poets writing and Deep Critique workshops, organizer of the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival, and host of the Saturday Afternoon Poetry reading series in Pasadena, California. For awards, features, and publication credits, please go to: http://dkc1031.blogspot.com
Lunch Murder An off-white mound looking like a snowdrift placed in a styrofoam box The disposable fork like a skier's pole dives into the packed entity Shovels a blank pile up to the waiting wet crusher that chews Down the mashed potato portion like it was part of a body And returns dutifully for another load until buttered corpse is gone Then cleanse the chamber with a bottleful of fresh watermelon blood Don't forget to recycle the styro and the plastic after you visit some porcelain 7
After Xmas Dinner Drop chocolate kisses Swing open the candy bar Step on pepperoni slices Enter the electric toaster Travel along licorice rivers To get to the pumpkin pie house Lighted with shivering gum drops Wonder at mashed potato skies Hold onto a block of cheese That satisfies in the cold oven night Smash together baby tomatoes Until beef jerky gets devoured again Liquor crumbs are meant to be followed To reach the next morning egg
The Processing Plant First they stick you in a freezer Then take your fingers and your head Followed by a flash and another flash Afterwards you are placed in a cooling room Left there for hours until you crack Blandly packaged with plain facility If you are lucky you are purchased Wait to be let out of the box Cast into loving open hands To be devoured by the future
The Way to Orange I dived in the stomach of a gun metal bug Floated down the river sliding past brown snakes Crossing under unfinished castles with turrets Threatening dragons lurched hanging tongues overhead Diverting to a stream we stopped and I was Belched out to walk until I could see A very pretty Ugly Mug so I sat below The twirling fans to drink in the poetry Of other beings still breathing around lava lamps And the giant Oreo in the night window Ready to fall into a steaming cup of neon
Extraterrestrial Report This planet is populated with the usual oceans mountains trees But what are these vessels of concrete The wheeled citizens roll on and stop Their motors step out of their bellies Then rest inside giants that don't move The only creatures like us seem to be scratched onto rocks shown on screens or imitated through toys So let the guide book read Harmless Wait I think I see something on the moon
Michael Chin was born and raised in Utica, New York and is an alum of Oregon State's MFA Program. He won Bayou Magazine's Jim Knudsen Editor's Prize for fiction and has work published or forthcoming in journals including The Normal School, Passages North, Iron Horse, Front Porch, and Bellevue Literary Review. He works as a contributing editor for Mossand blogs about professional wrestling and a cappella music on the side. Find him online at miketchin.com or follow him on Twitter @miketchin.
The Ferris wheel was closed that day. The big attraction that towered over the rest of the park, with its lights that blue and white lights that shone like a beacon after dark. The main selling point for us to visit the boardwalk at all, that we might hold hands at the peak of it as we overlooked the sand and water like we had years ago. It was a cloudy day anyway. The view would have been obscured. It was a Saturday afternoon in the summer. We were constantly turning sideways to dodge other bodies headed in every direction imaginable. I bought a tub of garlic fires and figured we'd split them, but you weren't interested so I ate a few then chucked them while you were playing ski-ball, only for you to ask for some, and I had to admit to getting rid of them—we were all out of synch. We threw orange rubber balls at wooden pop-up clowns. We played air hockey. You won. We got in line for the windowless brick building with a banner stretched across the side, the words haunted house hand painted, crudely drawn witches and mummies peeking around the letters and the borders. You were scared and I held your hands, but you dug your fingernails into the fleshy webbing between my fingers until it hurt, until I had to let go. "They always scare forward." I explained how any actors that popped out would come from behind us, because that was the design, to get people rushing toward the opposite end, not moving backwards. Practical advice, besides the reassurance I'd stay behind her to absorb the worst shocks. It was dark inside at first. Too dark. I couldn't find you. Too many people pushed up behind me, and maybe you got ahead of me. I figured you were near when the first mannequin fell from the ceiling on a noose, when the coffin opened (behind us, like I told you) for the ghoul to spring toward us, past the cackling old crone, though the cobwebs. On the far side of it all, back in the light of day, there were laughs. Laughs segmented with the sharp tremors that suggest someone was really scared, but was trying to make light of it afterward. 13
You weren't there. I tried to go back inside, but the pimply faced boy in the electric blue polo and khaki shorts stopped me. I explained you were still in there, but he said there was no one still inside. When I insisted, a curly haired girl with freckles and braces went inside. Even knowing the haunted house was all a charade, I marveled at her courage to go in all alone. She emerged, a minute or two later, after the rest of the crowd had dispersed, but too soon for a thorough check. She reiterated there was no one inside, and a pudgy Chinese sixteen-year-old stood behind her with his arms crossed like some tough guy. What was I supposed to do? I walked around to the front, in case somehow you'd stayed back, never gone in the house at all. No sign of you, just the door closing as the next group got started. I rushed back around to catch up with you in case she'd been with that next group, so I could meet you on the other side. In those days before cell phones, you lose someone in a busy place and there's only so much you can do. I got the man with a bull horn at the deep-fried Twinkie stand to let me call your name. After I'd tried and tried and tried, he put a beefy hand on my shoulder, took the bull horn from me, and said, sorry pal, before he went on, hollering at passersby about Twinkies and Oreos and Snickers like you've never had them before. I stopped at the flash-frozen ice cream stand where we'd stopped years before, and by the Ferris wheel because we'd talked about it so much. Walked back and forth and back and forth before I found a cop and started talking missing persons. When he realized you were not a child, but a woman, he stopped taking notes in his mini-steno pad and switched to questions. Questions like are you sure she didn't go home without you? and Did she seem angry? Going to the cop was a mistake, because the most he did was to take down your name and a cursory description, though he made it clear there was no missing person report for an adult until twenty-four hours had passed. I made the loop. To the car to each of our previous stops, stalling outside ladies' rooms in case you'd snuck out of line for the haunted house, unnoticed, because of an upset stomach. That happened to you sometimes. Finally, I went through the haunted house again, looking all around for her, eyes on the floor most of all in case you'd fallen and twisted her ankle. Lingered until everyone was out and the lights brightened inside. Until a new teenager told me I had to go. Days passed into weeks into months until it was a full year. I kept going back. Rode the Ferris wheel when it was operational again. 14
Thinking from the greatest height I could see you. Thinking, when the wheel swung backward, it might take me back in time.
Pansy Maurer-Alvarez is a poet, who was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Pennsylvania and now lives in France. Her poems have been widely published and she has six collections of poetry, most recently IN A FORM OF SUSPENSION (corrupt press, 2014) and ORANGES IN JANUARY (KFS Press, 2016). Her photography has appeared in several publications.
The Renaissance Absurd (I) Pansy Maurer-Alvarez 17
The Renaissance Absurd (II) Pansy Maurer-Alvarez 18
The Renaissance Absurd (III) Pansy Maurer-Alvarez 19
Glen Armstrong holds an MFA in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and teaches writing at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. He edits a poetry journal called Cruel Garters and has three recent chapbooks: Set List (Bitchin Kitsch,) In Stone and The Most Awkward Silence of All (both Cruel Garters Press.) His work has appeared in Poetry Northwest, Conduit and Cream City Review.
That song and police. Report move me to tears. That which was here rubbed away. With a fingertip. My lips know the distance. Between blue and purple. The children revolve. Around the better children forbidden. Their own evolution. I can leave but where would I go? I met with the tourists. To tell them stories about Miles Davis. And the Grand Canyon. They feared Santa Clause. And his seasonal B and E. We all had a good laugh. Agreeing that water's corporate logo. Was hard to find amid the soda icons. The sign above the door. Said more than I realized.
Diner Coated in Such a Fine Layer of Death That Nobody Notices The governor vetoed all funding. And the newscaster slurred her words. Robbie and Tim made coleslaw at the Peppermill CafĂŠ, then a Nike ad announced very little with the conviction of the swords of a thousand men. It was nearly Groundhog's Day. One of the old timers predicted that we'd never see another woman pop out of a cake. With no more passion than it would take to let air out of a tire, we ate our lunch. Odysseus killed monsters. A K-9 unit pulled into the lot. We hardly noticed
the slow, deliberate strokes waiting off to the side like a bone yard or a tabloid magazine. We never saw the television's hands. A cabbage has no throat.
The Woman with a Thousand Heads #11
Long live the beauty of the heart overseas, collapsing on strange street corners. Long live the heart in the punch bowl. The heart gaining speed bumps, goose bumps, bumping in the night and into strangers. The heart broadcasts illegally. Long live the pirate as metaphor. Long live the heart's dangerous mission, its slim chance and bathing suit, its dogtooth and foreign accent.
Poetry by Lila DomĂnguez
1. Someone said that perhaps to avoid some great sadness the answer was sleep, sleep until the waves cease to exist. Sleep until so longs are no longer relevantI just can't stand this I can't begin to open my eyes. Its vivid, its almost erratic, -I'll keep sleeping my life away2. In my hands The Colossus The stench of the bus wasn't helping powerful words and intense incomprehension The name Hughes chiseled on the grave Oh what we became? Sylvia, should I fall? Carbon Monoxide all over my thoughts.
3. New born kittens, given away, where are they? I ask myself, every now and again they were mine, they were pure soft as angels, tiny as teardrops, I saw them while they were arriving to this world, Brought them into this world of painď'ź my desire all in vain, I heard somewhere they are stray now, I heard somewhere they are wondering around at night, New born kittens, given away, I owe an explanation, I own your pain. Orphan child of my own, Where are you now? soft and brunette, where are you now? ginger and blind newborn. Oh, I need to know, Damn it, poor slob without a nameď'ź I miss you so. 4. I am still that obsessive child, barefoot dancing in the sand, I am still that quiet child, Locked inside a library all the time, I am still that lonely child, That her father had left behind, I am still, I am still, That kid is alive inside me, burning ad nauseam, Raising, breathing, expectant to see a ray of light.
5. And all the letters I'll never send, And all the dust I'll never clean, And all the undeveloped rolls of film, And all the friends that will die, And all the records I'll never have, And all the you & and all the me, that will never be written on a tree. 6. Boxes they cry when I leave; When I vodka , when I pills My myself and my plenty I. Let myself go and create when I can of thoes I belived didnt I? of them I thought as cried I recived this and I all the time. All now and I, Alone when one character miss his creator; That I createdď'ź and myself too. Written all over photos; Old black and white them, On and on; go inside.. I and the universe I and the pills. Just my epitaph I beg you remember; and I beg you to feed my cats. Anymore change of missing I cant. I dreamt that on time, letters I madly wrote, I written inside them I am, Love made me scared.. And In my back people laugh; Boxes they cry when I leave; They are the only ones Run across sunshine myself tells I, My wrapped scared love. Already still mix myself and I.
Mark Blickley is a widely published author of fiction, non-fiction, drama and poetry. His most recent book is the story collection Sacred Misfits (Red Hen Press) and his most recent play, The Milkman's Sister, was produced last Fall at NYC's 13th Street Rep Theater.His text based art collaboration with photographer Amy Bassin, Dream Streams, was featured an art installation for the 5th Annual NYC Poetry Festival held at Governors Island and published in Columbia Journal of Literature and Art, among other venues. A new play, Valadon: Reclining Nude,premieres this November in NYC. Blickley is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and PEN American Center.
Just before noon on Monday, Paul Dankin kicked off his comforter and stretched his six foot three body over his six foot cot, yawning. He instinctively clicked on the tiny clock radio. Thick fingers clumsily spun the selector dial. It angered Paul that no matter how hard he tried he could not gracefully blend one program into another. His spin of the dial ripped into many stations, creating a garbled static that he hated. After many seconds of fighting with the dial a clear voice spoke to Paul. He withdrew his hand and placed it under his pillow, smiling. The smile turned to a frown when the staccato bursts of a typewriter indicated that it was one of those twenty-four hour news programs and not a talk show. Paul pulled his hand from under the pillow and was about to attempt another station change, but thought better of it and instead placed his hand on his stomach, kneading a loose roll of flesh. The newsman finished the last sentence of a story concerning laboratory animals and was recapping the headlines while Paul's fingers crept down his stomach, playfully slapping at his penis. "Meanwhile, here in New York, the body of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tennessee Williams is attracting hundreds of friends and admirers. Williams, noted for his plays "The Glass Menagerie" and "A Streetcar Named Desire," died here late Thursday night of asphyxiation. An autopsy revealed that the playwright had swallowed a bottle cap. Williams' body will be at Campbell Funeral Home at 81st and Madison Avenue until Tuesday. Hours are ten a.m. till eight p.m. Internment is scheduled for Saturday in St. Louis." "Yeah, that was a great movie," said Paul Dankin as he cracked his knuckles. "Brando was great." He clicked off the radio. "Tennessee Williams. I just seen that name somewhere." Paul lay in bed trying to remember where he had seen the name. His hand automatically returned to his penis. The playful slaps soon gave way to a more determined motion. Aroused, his erection pointed him towards a plastic milk crate full of magazines. Dropping the Newsweek and People magazines back into the crate, he returned to the cot with an issue of Puritan. It was not 29
a current issue but it was his favorite porn magazine. Thumbing through colorful close-ups of male and female genitalia spitting at and swallowing each other, Paul emptied himself. "That's how you spell relief," he grinned, "P-U-R-I-T-A-N. No wonder those pilgrims gave thanks." His laughter ricocheted off the walls of his efficiency apartment; the echo made him nervous. He flipped through the magazine a second time. Its images bored him. Halfway through the issue a full page photo of a bearded, round-faced man in a large hat smiled up at him. Paul stuck his finger on the page to save his place. The article accompanying the picture was an interview with Tennessee Williams. "Tennessee Williams! Christ, I knew I seen you somewhere. You're alright, Tennessee. No . . . no you're not. You're dead. Choked. Brando'll probably cry. I wonder if he remembers me?" Paul threw down the magazine, walked over to the door and slowly opened it. He darted his head into the hallway and lunged for the day old Sunday News lying on his neighbors welcome mat. He quickly bolted the door. Paul opened to the obituaries. His forefinger turned black as it slid down a column of names under Death Notices. "Watson, Wilhelm, William, B., Williams, M., Williams, T. That's it! 1076 Madison. Till eight. Great!" Paul stepped into the shower. As he lathered up the shampoo his thoughts turned to his finances. He knew that Tuesday was the first and that his check would be in the mail, but the only cash he had was in coins. He needed a dollar-fifty for a round trip bus ride. Wrapped in a towel, Paul grabbed at the coat flung over a kitchen chair and shook it over the cot. The clinking of coins on the sheet made Paul smile. There was a good deal more than a dollar fifty splattered across the cot. The smile still felt strange. In the six years since Pooh Bear Lennox down the hall knocked out three of Paul's teeth, Paul seldom smiled. Pooh Bear Lennox, who was half Paul's size, claimed that Paul rubbed up against his girlfriend in the elevator. Onlookers were surprised at the beating he gave Paul in the hallway, but Paul's size was a disadvantage. Nobody ever challenged him so he did not know how to defend himself, whereas little Pooh Bear Lennox learned early how to destroy an opponent and nothing pleased him more than to tear into a big man like Paul Dankin. The neighborhood was amazed at how frightened Paul behaved on the streets, even though he towered over just about everyone around him. Paul reasoned that if little men could beat him up anyone could, including women. In fact, women did. His mother slapped at him from infancy to puberty as did the woman he called Aunt Amy, his mother's lover. Paul rolled his tongue across the space in his mouth, licking his gums. 30
His face twitched nervously as he stood in front of the closet, rummaging through his clothes, trying to pick his most impressive jacket and tie. Pants were no problem. All he owned were blue jeans. Paul's eyes lit up as he pulled out a slightly wrinkled, slightly stained gray sports jacket. Beneath its left breast pocket was a frayed yellow patch that stated WTC SECURITY. Embroidered under the letters WTC and above the word SECURITY were the Twin Towers. Paul took a thick red striped tie out of his underwear drawer and dressed. After parting his hair in the middle and plastering each side of his receding hairline with tonic, Paul brushed his teeth. This was a painful process. Stained a bright yellow by years of neglect, each morning Paul spent ten minutes rubbing his teeth as hard as he could with a brush overflowing with toothpaste. His tooth enamel disappeared years ago but the yellow remained. Without enamel protection the slightest pressure on his teeth - by his tongue, liquids, or the air - filled his face with pain. These painful facial contortions gave him the look of an idiot, and coupled with his great size, a threatening idiot. He was unaware that he frightened people as much as they frightened him. Paul grabbed his raincoat, triple locked his door and dropped the newspaper back onto his neighbor's welcome mat. Outside the housing project sat Martha Poseagle from 12 K, clutching an umbrella. She was leaning against a metal sculpture that looked like a frozen game of pick-up sticks. "Where you goin' Paul?" she asked as he walked past. Paul stopped and fingered the WTC emblem. "Hey, Martha. A good friend of mine died and I have to see him laid out. Name's Williams." "Williams who?" asked Martha Poseagle. "I didn't know you had a friend." Paul continued walking. "How'd he die? Somebody kill him?" Martha yelled. "Choked," Paul called. "Choked to death." "Goddamn neighborhood," muttered Martha Poseagle. She leaned back on the work of art and patiently waited for another visitor. Before entering Campbell Funeral Home, Paul Dankin groomed himself by looking at his reflection in the glass door. He squinted at a young woman sitting at a desk next to the elevator. She's beautiful, thought Paul as he turned the large doorknob and walked inside. The woman's head was bowed over a stack of papers; she heard his footsteps. "Good afternoon. Who do you wish to visit?" "A, um, Williams. Tennessee Williams. From the movies, you know, with Brando." The woman looked up. She studied Paul's face. "Just a second, sir." "Yeah, sure." She disappeared into an office behind her desk. When she returned a man 31
was with her. The man looked at Paul, nodded to the woman, and went back into his office. "Second floor, sir," she said. The female elevator operator asked Paul for a name. "Williams. Tennessee Williams, please. I told the other girl that." His face started to twitch. When the elevator doors snapped shut behind him he heard the operator laughing. "They sure got some great looking girls working here," Paul said to an elderly man standing in the second floor lobby. "Seen him yet?" The old man nodded. "Look okay? Geez, what a way to go. Think it was suicide?" The old man shook his head and shuffled over to the elevator. Paul started to walk into the room but pivoted and signed his name with capitals in the guest book. He leafed through the book trying to find celebrity signatures. He was glad Marlon Brando's was not scribbled in it. He had not missed him. Paul wondered if Brando would remember him. Stepping inside the room felt good. The thick red carpet soothed Paul's feet, relaxing him. The room was huge. There were many couches and chairs of soft crushed velvet and Paul was determined to sit in them all. The coffin was mounted at the far left of the room. Paul decided to explore that part of the room last. In the middle of the room was a percolating coffee urn and Styrofoam cups. Paul walked over to the coffee, intentionally scraping his toe into the carpet. It cut a line that pleased him. He thought of it as a trail that others would follow. A trail that would eventually lead people to Tennessee. The annoyed usher standing guard at the wake asked him to lift his feet. "Yeah, sure," answered Paul. The coffee was good and hot. Warmth spread throughout his body. He sipped the coffee while surveying the room. Two dozen people were loitering, many of them were crying. Paul watched a fat middle-aged woman swiping at tears with an index finger wrapped in a handkerchief. She moved the finger across his cheeks with the same rhythmic motion as a windshield wiper, causing Paul to wish he had a driver's license and a girlfriend to take for a drive. Imagining the wind sweeping through his girlfriend's hair as he gunned his convertible around narrow curves, Paul was unaware of hot coffee dribbling down his chin. His delayed reaction to the burning pain was a shriek as 32
the cup dropped out of his hand, splattering coffee across his shoes, socks and the panty hose of a smartly dressed woman fixing her own cup. The usher walked over to the coffee urn and apologized to the woman. Paul, afraid to look at the woman, mumbled. She squinted at him and walked away with a snarl. "Please be more careful, sir, "said the usher. "We expect to have quite a few quests and we'd like to maintain the room just as it is." "Yeah, sure," said Paul. "And I'd appreciate it if you would continue to lift your feet when walking on our carpet. Please behave yourself, sir." "Yeah, sure," said Paul. The usher returned to his position at the far right of the room. He stood at attention with his hands solemnly cupped in front of him, watching Paul. As soon as the usher turned his back Paul marched over to a couch. Paul lifted his feet up so high that it looked as if he were marching in place. An attractive blonde sat on the far corner of the couch. She giggled and Paul felt warm again. He plopped down beside her; their knees brushed. The blonde's lips became a tight line as she looked straight ahead. "Did you know Tennessee Williams?" Paul asked. The woman ignored him. "Excuse me, Miss. Did you know Tennessee?" She turned towards Paul. "No. I admire his work." "You're beautiful. Are you an actress?" The blonde coughed. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?" "No . . . thanks." "It's too bad he's dead but we all have to go sometime." "Yes. Me, too." And she was gone. The couch became a frightening experience for Paul. It was so soft and formless that his body sank into the plush contours, swallowing him. He struggled to free himself but his stomach muscles were weak. He could not lean forward. Pushing against the back cushions for support only made him slip further down the spine of the couch until he could not move at all. With his body trapped within the couch and no one nearby to help him escape, panic seized him and a high pitched whimper, like the whine of a punished dog, cleared his throat. The usher hurried over to the couch. With his hands on his hips he glared down at Paul. Paul looked up and sighed; he was rescued. At nine-thirty a.m. sharp, Paul Dankin was dressed and in the lobby awaiting the mail. Leaning against the mailboxes, Paul traced the WTC jacket emblem with his finger. Martha Poseagle, who was rumored to have a crush on the mailman, joined him. "Good morning, Martha," said Paul. 33
"Did I miss him?" asked Martha. "Miss who?" "Furfante. You know, our mailman." Paul shook his head. "You're all spiffed up," said Martha. "Where you going?" "You'll never believe this, Martha, but I'm meeting with Marlon Brando today." "The movie star?" "Yep." "Good. I'm glad to see you getting out more." "You look pretty spiffy yourself, Martha." "How do I smell?" Paul shrugged. "Okay." "You sure?" Paul nodded. "Yeah, sure." "I thought so. New perfume." They waited together in a nervous silence. When Furfante arrived Martha smiled, as did Paul when Furfante handed him a check. After cashing his check and eating a leisurely breakfast in a Tenth Avenue diner, Paul returned to the Campbell Funeral Home. He walked past the woman sitting next to the elevator and pulling on a thread of his WTC emblem instructed the elevator operator to drop him off on the second floor. Before re-entering the room Paul thumbed through the guest book. "Still no Brando," he said. Paul felt comfortable. Everything was familiar, including the usher staring at him. Paul waved. Everything was familiar. Everything except Tennessee. He walked a diagonal line, pausing at the head of the coffin. "He's as little as a doll," Paul said to a woman kneeling at the prayer stand. Paul studied Tennessee's fleshy face. It had a rich tan that Paul admired. His admiration turned to amusement when he spotted the uneven line between Tennessee's forehead and widow's peak where the makeup ended and his hair began. Paul felt that the makeup could have been stretched, pulled up a bit further to cover the gap. It reminded him of the many cold nights in his apartment when he tried to pull his comforter up over his head, but it was too short and would expose his feet to the cold. "His feet must be cold but they're not exposed," he remarked to the kneeling woman. Tennessee's mouth fascinated Paul. The dry lips had begun to part. A thin crack separated the bottom and upper lip. Although Paul leaned over the corpse to get a closer look, he could see no teeth behind the crack. The mouth was opening but Paul could only see a dark empty space. Staring down at the blackness inside Tennessee's mouth, Paul remembered that Tennessee had swallowed his death. He brought his hand up and traced a line 34
across the dead man's lips. "I got black spaces inside my mouth, too," he whispered. Paul quickly withdrew his hand and spun around. No one had seen him touch Tennessee. He walked over to a couch, and taking the ashtray from an end table, placed it next to him on the couch while lighting a cigarette. A scolding from the usher prompted Paul to remove the ashtray and place it back on the table. Paul took long, deep pulls on his cigarette, exhaling so much smoke it made him squint. He was squinting when he saw her enter the room. She held her raincoat in one hand, a soggy white carnation in the other. She was crying. A blue plaid shirt several sizes too large ballooned up from a waistband of baggy corduroy pants. Her sneakers were muddied. Brown shoulder length hair lay wet and flat against her head. She removed her glasses and wiped them on her sleeve. After a long pause she walked over to the coffin. Without looking at the corpse she gently placed the carnation on a small table at the foot of the body. She sniffed twice and with her head lowered scuffed over to a chair by Paul's couch. Paul watched her as he licked at the space inside his mouth. "Hi, Miss. It's sort of sad, isn't it?" She looked over at Paul and nodded. "Lots of people were here yesterday. A lot more than today. Funny though, there's a lot more crying today than yesterday. Did you know him?" She tucked her chin into her chest. "That's a swell flower you brought. I'm sure he'd of liked it. What's your name? Excuse me, Miss, what's your name?" Raising her eyes without moving her head she looked angrily at Paul. "What? What are you talking about?" Paul leaned forward on the couch. He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and held them out to her. "I'm just trying to make conversation." "I didn't come here to talk!" Paul shrugged, pocketed the cigarettes, and settled back against the cushions. "Just trying to be friendly," he said. "I don't need friends, Mister. Just leave me alone." "Yeah, sure." Paul got up and walked over to the coffin. He eyed Tennessee from top to bottom and then looked over his shoulder at the woman. She was watching. Paul picked up the white carnation from the table and carefully laid it on Tennessee's chest. Again he glanced over at the woman. She was looking down at her hands. A man hurriedly brushed past Paul and snatched the flower off the dead man's chest. "We don't allow objects to be placed inside the casket," snapped the irate usher. "Will you please behave?" "Yeah, sure. Okay. I didn't know." Paul returned to the couch shaking his 35
head. He lit a cigarette. "Do you want me to get you something, Miss? Tissues? Coffee?" She ignored him. "Did you hear me, Miss? Need something? You look like you could use something." The woman pushed her glasses up against the bridge of her nose. "What? Will you be quiet and leave me alone. Just shut up!" "I know you're upset. Try to relax, okay? Are you an actress? There's plenty of actresses around here. I'm waiting for an actor friend of mine. He should be here real soon. Beautiful in here, huh? I'd love to live in a place like this, wouldn't you? Without the bodies, I mean," Paul giggled. "You need some coffee?" The woman hunched lower in the chair, grinding her teeth. "You'll get yours!" she shouted. "You'll get what you deserve!" The usher moved quickly beside her. "Is he bothering you, Ma'am?" The woman looked down at her feet and did not answer. Paul looked up at the usher and shrugged as he puffed on a cigarette. His face started to twitch. The usher left the room and returned shortly with three other men in dark suits. They caucused in the far right corner of the room. As the men whispered they would glance over in Paul's direction. Paul leaned forward on the couch, his elbows resting on his knees. "Thank you, Miss. That was real nice of you." "Will you leave me alone!" she shouted. The caucus broke. A distinguished looking man with gray hair walked to the center of the room. "Ladies and Gentlemen," he said, "I must ask you to please end your visit. The staff needs time to prepare for the memorial service scheduled for tonight at eight. On behalf of the family and friends of Mr. Williams, thank you for coming." Mourners were herded out of the room by men with impatient smiles. A staff member personally escorted Paul to the elevator. "Will Brando be here tonight?" asked Paul. "I don't know, sir," replied the man. Paul managed to squeeze his way to the front of the elevator next to the woman. Her damp stringy hair brushed against his shoulder. He watched her head jerk forward in spasms. Paul thought she was suppressing hiccups until he heard little sobs accompany each spasm. "It's okay, Miss," he said softly. She looked up at him, grimaced, and buried her face in his chest. Tears collected in the tiny crevices of the Twin Towers, forming warm beads of water that spilled over and dripped onto his leg. His arms instinctively encircled her back and he was careful not to squeeze too hard. Her heaves against his chest felt good, tickled. Paul wished that the one flight ride could somehow be prolonged. When the elevator doors pulled apart she reached up and clung to Paul's 36
neck. He put his arm around her waist and led her to the door. Her body went limp; she had to be pulled. When they stepped outside Paul took a crumbled napkin out of his pocket and handed it to her. She grabbed it, took three deep sniffs, and blew her nose as Paul gently kissed her on top of her head. It was gray and drizzling and neither one had an umbrella. Paul, looking as if he were measuring her height, flattened his large hand over her head, protecting her from the rain. "I think we better get some coffee. What do you say? Think so, Miss?" The woman nodded. Paul smiled as she snuggled against him. With one hand forming an umbrella over head and his other hand pressed against her shoulder supporting her weight, he walked two blocks, pausing at each light to lean down and kiss the top of her head. Paul helped her off with her raincoat and hung it up on the rack attached to the booth. She remained silent and did not look at him until after the coffee arrived. Sipping at the cup that she delicately held with both hands, she peeked over at Paul. His stare intimidated her so she quickly looked away. Paul drank his coffee in three gulps and signaled for the waitress. "Want something to eat, Miss?" The woman shook her head. Paul ordered an English muffin and another coffee. "Nice and warm in here, huh Miss?" She nodded; their eyes met. You have an umbrella?" asked Paul. The woman shook her head. "I got one but it's busted. I'm going to buy a new one, though." "That's good," she said. "One of those push button jobs that fold up real small, like you see on T.V." "I like T.V.," she said. "Especially movies. The old ones. I work in television." "No kidding? Wow! What do you do?" The woman took another sip. "Lots of things." "Who do you work for?" "Nobody. I'm not working right now." "That's tough," said Paul. He fingered his WTC emblem. "Well, maybe I can help you. You see this?" He pointed to the emblem. "I'm kind of chauffeur-bodyguard to the Attorney General of New York. He's got an office at the World Trade Center. Maybe I could talk to him about getting you a job in Public Television or something. He's a pretty nice guy. What's your name?" "What's yours?" "Paul. Paul Dankin." "Iris." "Feel better, Iris?" Iris shrugged. "Guess so." "It's good to cry. Cleans you out." He laid his hand on top of hers. Her 37
warmth felt good against his cold fingers. Iris slowly withdrew her hand. Paul lit a cigarette. "Does the smoke bother you?" Iris shrugged. "You live around here, Iris?" "No." "I live a couple of miles from here. Where do you live?" "Forest Hills," she said. "Wow! That's a pretty ritzy neighborhood. You been there long, Iris?" "I'm staying at the shelter. I've got to be back by nine." "Yeah? What kind of shelter?" "I've got to be back at the shelter by nine," repeated Iris. "How'd you get here, Iris? By train?" "Yes." "What made you visit Tennessee?" Iris shredded a napkin. "What made you?" Paul bit into the filter of his cigarette. "I'm waiting for Marlon Brando," he said proudly. "What for?" "We're old friends." "You are not," challenged Iris. "Yes we are. A few years ago I took a bus tour of Washington, D.C. It stopped at all the famous places. I was standing outside the Washington Monument looking up at it. It was scaring me. You see, Iris, I'm not afraid of heights. Looking down from high places doesn't bother me a bit. But whenever I have to look up at something I get nervous. Especially when I look up at buildings. You ever feel like that, Iris?" "No." "I always feel like some kind of force, like a magnet or something, is going to pull me up, lifting me off the ground. That's a lot worse than falling 'cause if you're falling down you know you're falling down and that's that. If you get pulled off the ground and lifted into the air you're not falling, but you could fall at any moment. And there's no end. If you fall you have to land but if you're lifted up it could go on forever and I hate that." Iris squirmed restlessly inside the booth. "So what's that got to do with Marlon Brando?" "Oh, yeah, right. So I'm trying to take a picture of the Washington Monument, but every time I aim my camera up at it I start to feel dizzy and sweat. I need a picture to prove I'd been there. I go lots of places." Iris put her elbow on the table and rubbed an eyebrow with her thumb. Paul's throat felt dry so he flagged down the waitress and ordered a cherry coke. "Anyway," Paul continued, "I try and try but I can't snap off a shot my hand's shaking so bad. So I look around and I see this guy walking by and I ask him take one for me. He looks like a real nice guy and he does. Took a 38
great picture, too. I wanted to give him a buck for the favor but he wouldn't take it. I asked him why not? He tells me he doesn't need it 'cause he's Marlon Brando. And that's when I recognized him. Real nice guy. I told him I'd go to every movie he'd make. And I do, too. Even wrote him a couple of letters." "He ever answer you?" asked Iris. "A, a, yeah, sure. I got them home." "Maybe he could find a job for me," she said. "Can I meet him?" "Yeah, sure." "Will he be at the memorial service tonight?"Paul pulled at his thumb until it popped. He bent his pinky by pressing down on the joint until it snapped. "Yeah, sure, he'll be there." Paul cracked the rest of his knuckles. Iris, her elbow resting on the table, lowered her head into the crook of her arm. Paul watched; he feared their conversation had come to an end. "So why are you visiting Tennessee? Are you waiting for somebody?" Iris lifted her head and shook it. "I came to get out. It wasn't easy. I have to be back by nine. But I liked him. Like him a lot. I've seen all his movies. I think to make someone cry from deep down is real, don't you?" "Yeah, sure." Paul licked the ice cubes in his cherry coke as he marveled at the smoothness of Iris' forehead. "I think he must have been lonely. I can't imagine how he would've been able to make characters like that if he wasn't sad. I read once that he didn't have normal relationships with women, but I don't believe it. I think he was hurt by one and was sort of waiting for the right one to come along." Iris lowered her voice; it took on a conspiratorial tone. "I'll tell you a secret because I don't think you'd laugh at me." I won't," swore Paul as his face flushed red. The blood pounding in his ears annoyed him. He was afraid it would drown out Iris' speech. "I often thought," Iris continued, "that I would meet Mr. Williams and he would see in me what it was he was looking for in a woman. I knew he could see beyond silly and pretty and, well, maybe he would love me. But when I walked into his room today it shocked me. It hit me that he really was dead. All morning I felt as if I had a kind of . . . date with him. But when I walked into that room and saw all those strange people looking at me . . ." "I saw you right when you came in," interrupted Paul. " . . . I just knew I missed meeting him. He had blue eyes. Such lovely blue eyes. But when I walked over to where he was lying his eyes were closed and I became angry. I knew I'd never see them. I felt like going over to him and lifting his eyelids just so I could see their blueness and have my reflection mirrored in them. At least then I could feel some kind of closeness with him, something special and apart from those other people there. I figured that if he could see me he'd know that I care deeply about him. Not like those other people there. If he could see me he'd know that I can love." Paul nearly jumped out of his seat. He grabbed Iris' fingers and squeezed. 39
"You can!" "Ouch! You're hurting me!" Paul released her fingers. He fidgeted and then stood up looking around, hoping to find a witness who, like a photograph, would verify an important moment in his life. Someone must have heard Iris declare that she could love, he thought. But he was disappointed. No one in the coffee shop had paid any attention to their conversation. Even his waitress was at the far end of the room and it angered Paul that she seemed to be eavesdropping on another couple. Thinking of the word couple and its application to him and Iris excited Paul and his anger disappeared. "Couple," said Paul. "Of what?" asked Iris. "One cup's enough." Paul twitched as the pounding in his ears returned. He smiled at Iris. She tore open a packet of sugar, dipped her finger inside, and watched the tiny crystals reflect light before putting them in her mouth. Paul watched Iris repeat this three times before signaling for the check. Although he was still upset at the waitress for not having heard Iris' declaration of love, he left her a decent tip. Standing in the coffee shop doorway Iris mumbled that the rain had stopped. When she made no attempt to stay close to Paul as they walked down the street, Paul reached over and grabbed her hand. Iris looked over at him as his hand swallowed hers. Paul nodded, Iris shrugged, and the two walked hand in hand in silence. Paul Dankin strolled down Madison Avenue with a dignity he did not know he possessed. For the first time since he was a child Paul made eye contact with every passing person. He smiled his close lipped smile at the strangers who returned his look, and with a nod of his head acknowledged their admiration for him and Iris as a couple. Each time Paul nodded his head the harder he squeezed Iris' hand until she could no longer stand the pain. "You're hurting me!" Iris cried as she pulled away. Paul tried to apologize but words would not form and he stood there moving his mouth stupidly. "You've hurt me twice," she shouted. "Now leave me alone!" Pedestrians paused to stare. Paul felt a thousand eyes pressing down on him. He tried to speak but could not, so he reached out to comfort Iris, but she stepped back. "You hurt me twice!" she repeated, "now leave me alone. I've got to be back at the shelter by nine so keep away from me!" "Yeah, sure," Paul mumbled. Iris turned and walked away. Small gray puddles exploded as his footsteps scraped against the pavement. He walked quickly up the street until he stood in front of Central Park. Paul straddled a metal mesh fence as his feet sank into the mud. An ankle scraped against the fence so he spit on his finger and massaged it into 40
the wound. Trudging up a slippery incline, Paul grabbed at large rocks for support. When he finally reached the top he bent down to check on his ankle. His shirt sleeve was pulled up exposing his wristwatch. Paul frowned. "Five hours till the memorial service," he whispered. Satisfied that the scratch was just a minor one, he walked deeper inside the slushy, deserted park. "I sure hope Brando's gonna be there," said Paul as he kicked at a mound of mud and watched it splatter against a tree trunk.
The Cathedral Absurd (I) Pansy Maurer-Alvarez 42


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Digestive enzymes are essential for optimally breaking down food and absorbing nutrients—but your body doesn't always make enough. Learn about symptoms associated with poor digestive enzyme production and how to boost your levels with diet and lifestyle changes.
You probably already know that fiber and probiotics are important for maintaining regularity and good gastrointestinal health, but digestive enzymes also play a crucial role. These substances are naturally produced by the body to help you break down food, but sometimes we don't produce enough—and that can lead to unpleasant symptoms like bloating, cramping, and gas. (This is why we've included a blend of 5 different digestive enzymes in Ka'Chava.)
Here, learn more about digestive enzymes, how to boost your body's own production of digestive enzymes, and how to get more through your diet.
What are digestive enzymes?
While the chewing action of your teeth and the churning of your stomach help mechanically break down food into smaller particles, digestive enzymes chemically break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates (a.k.a. macronutrients) into smaller molecules that can be absorbed through the intestines and into the bloodstream for use in the body. So, without digestive enzymes, you would not be able to fully break down the foods you eat and utilize the nutrients they contain.
Some key digestive enzymes produced by the body are:
Amylase: Breaks down complex carbohydrates (made in the mouth and pancreas)
Protease: Breaks down proteins (made in the pancreas)
Lipase: Breaks down fats (made in the pancreas)
Lactase: Breaks down lactose (made in the small intestine)
Digestive enzymes are released at various stages of digestion to ensure the optimal breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients. The first of these enzymes are released through the salivary and lingual glands in the mouth (which initiate the digestion of carbs and fats), then additional enzymes are secreted through the stomach (which digest proteins) and the small intestine (which further digest carbs, proteins, and fats).
Why you might not produce enough digestive enzymes.
Without sufficient digestive enzymes, your body can't optimally break down foods and absorb nutrients—which, in turn, can slow digestion and contribute to symptoms such as gas, bloating, cramping, and diarrhea, along with poor nutrient absorption. But why wouldn't you produce enough of these enzymes in the first place?
Some people have a health condition called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), which is when the pancreas does not produce enough digestive enzymes. This is most often caused by chronic pancreatitis but can also be caused by other conditions that affect digestion, including celiac disease, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and microscopic colitis. If your doctor determines that you have EPI, you may be treated with a prescription digestive enzyme supplement that is taken with each meal.
Other times, people may be dealing with a less severe decline in digestive enzyme production. Research has found that digestive enzyme secretion naturally declines with age. The way you're eating could also prime you for insufficient digestive enzyme production. Typically, the act of slowly and thoroughly chewing food triggers the release of digestive enzymes in the mouth as well as digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid in the stomach—but if you're cramming down your food too quickly (think: when you mindlessly eat a sandwich in the car or inhale a salad while answering work emails), you're not giving your body adequate time to produce the digestive juices necessary to break down food, which may lead to unpleasant GI symptoms.
How to boost your production of digestive enzymes + get more from your diet
If you suspect you have a condition like EPI, getting an appropriate diagnosis and treatment is key. That said, there are some simple ways to help address a subtle decline in digestive enzymes and support overall digestive health. Here are a few to consider:
1. Stay calm and chew thoroughly.
Ever notice how you eat super quickly when you're stressed? Well that's a recipe for digestive upset. Before each meal, make a point to get into a relaxed state (or at least semi-relaxed)—taking a few deep breaths and putting down your phone always helps. Then, make sure you're chewing each bite thoroughly, as chewing triggers the release of enzymes and primes your whole GI tract for digestion.
2. Eat foods that contain natural digestive enzymes.
For overall digestive health, consuming a minimally processed diet rich in nutrient-dense whole foods, including plenty of veggies, can go a long way. But adding in foods with naturally occurring digestive enzymes may offer an additional benefit. Consider incorporating some of these into your diet.
- Ginger: Ginger contains a protease called zingibain, which helps digest protein. Preliminary research suggests ginger also increases the body's own production of amylase and lipase.
- Mango: Mangos contain amylases, which assist in the digestion of carbohydrates and starches.
- Pineapple: Pineapple contains a protease called bromelain, which helps digest protein. Ever feel like your tongue was burning a bit after eating lots of fresh pineapple? You have bromelain to thank for that.
- Banana: Bananas contain amylases and glucosidases, both of which help break down carbohydrates and starches.
- Kiwi: Kiwi contains a protease called actinidain, which helps digest protein. Some studies suggest that eating kiwis promotes good digestion and regularity.
- Fermented foods: Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, kefir, and miso contain probiotics and digestive enzymes—a one-two punch for good digestive health.
3. Consider Ka'Chava for one of your meals.
In addition to other digestion-friendly ingredients like fiber and probiotics, Ka'Chava contains a blend of five digestive enzymes to support optimal digestion and nutrient absorption. These enzymes include all those mentioned above (amylase, protease, lipase, lactase) in addition to cellulase. Unlike the others, cellulase isn't naturally produced by the human body, but it does assist in the breakdown of cellulose, which is a component of plant and vegetable fibers.

subset: commoncrawl


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Horses & Their Owners
Horses and their owners have a special bond. You can see it in their eyes when they are together.
As horse owners ourselves, we understand that relationship. We strive to capture glimpses of that special connection in the portrait sessions we do with horses.
Let's work together to capture memories that will last a lifetime
Call 613-283-2237 to start imagining today!
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Put simply, murder is the most serious criminal charge a defendant can face. In many American states, the sentence for a murder conviction can include the death penalty.
It should go without saying that when you're facing even the possibility of a murder charge, finding a top-notch defense lawyer should be your highest priority. The Cochran Firm can represent you and provide you with the high-quality legal representation you are entitled to.
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If you need a defense lawyer experienced in violent crime cases, please call The Cochran Firm today at 1-800-843-3476 for a free consultation.
Moving Quickly
A vigorous defense for a murder charge does not begin at trial or even after an arrest. Instead, it begins during the initial stages of the police investigation.
Many people are reluctant to hire a defense lawyer before they are charged, even when they're being investigated for a violent crime. They worry that retaining an attorney will make them "look guilty," or they're just concerned about the cost.
However, the benefits of quickly hiring The Cochran Firm's defense lawyers in the early stages of an investigation are immense. Most people are unfamiliar with the legal system, and being introduced to it through a murder investigation is a recipe for mistakes that could haunt you for years.
Our attorneys will protect you throughout the investigation by looking out for your rights. We'll make sure you are only questioned in appropriate settings and in appropriate ways, and we will keep a ready eye for any abuse or police brutality.
Many people inadvertently incriminate themselves in spite of their innocence. We'll make sure this doesn't happen to you.
Of course, a police investigation might still result in your arrest and a murder charge. The Cochran Firm's defense lawyers will be with you throughout the legal process. We can help by:
Now, the reality is that many murder cases, like most criminal cases, are settled before they go to trial. These plea bargain negotiations come with tremendously high stakes, and prosecutors often seem to have all the leverage.
Our defense lawyers are familiar with these negotiations. We know what to expect from the prosecutor's office, and we know how to negotiate firmly on your behalf.
If you've been accused of a serious crime and need an experienced defense lawyer, please contact The Cochran Firm today.
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The Second Exodus – Egypt – CI. My Years at 12A Rue Khantaret Ghamra – Entertainment (27 of 30)
Date Posted: March 22nd, 2012
Trianon (Also known as Le Grand Trianon)
It was founded in 1905, and is still a favorite place for lunch. The ambiance of the past is maintained by its high ceilings and gleaming old paneling. On the opposite side of the restaurant is the bakery, and the pastries there are a fitting conclusion to your meal.
Le Grand Trianon is one of the lucky ones. Its Egyptian owners have retained its name and kept it as a tearoom/restaurant. The menu, needless to say, has changed; thus, you will no longer find a Greek menu of desserts; that would be an impossibility since the Greek chefs have long departed.
Le Petit Trianon
Le Petit Trianon was another star in Alexandria's firmament. However, unlike some of the other fabled names, it never found a savior. Baudrot is now situated in the space that was once occupied by Le Petit Trianon.
Baudrot is another legendary name. It started as the Alexandria branch of Gianola, a popular Cairo Swiss pastry and tearoom. It was purchased by Giacomo Groppi who later sold it to Auguste Baudrot. At a later date, the business was sold to an Italian woman who eventually sold it to a Greek. The merry-go-round stops with the present owner: Loukia Georges Dimitri Pyrilis.
From the outside, Baudrot looks continental with an elegance that bespeaks of the Alexandria that once was. Loukia is hard at work restoring Baudrot. She has many ideas, however, she is not trying to recreate the old Baudrot. She explains that that would not be possible. "Those were different times. Today we can only have a glimpse of the past, but it is a glimpse that is certainly worth having," Loukia tells us.
Indeed the "new" Baudrot is no longer at the location it once had; the site is now occupied by a bank.
The loss goes beyond ambiance. The menu of rich Greek desserts and mezzes that Loukia's father – a third generation Egyptian-Greek who passed away in the '60s – offered can no longer be reintroduced. The chefs and their recipes are long gone; as well, the ingredients they used would today make the food prohibitively expensive, and keep it out of reach of the average Ahmad.
Baudrot, like Groppi, was way beyond my means. I do not remember ever going there.
Athineos is another member of the old guard. Like the previously mentioned places, it has fallen on hard times. However, there is here a mix of both good and bad news.
The view that Athineos offers today is grand: you have the Mediterranean sea spread in front of you; and it overlooks such landmarks as the Quait Bey Fort, and the Al-Masri Abul-Abbas Mosque.
The walls and ceilings are adorned with stylized mock- classical Greek motifs, gilded friezes, and stenciled frescoes. The restaurant is dark-paneled with columns and chandeliers.
That said, Athineos has not aged particularly well. It's begging to be renovated. Still, its huge banquet hall is often used for weddings and special occasions
The menu comes in Arabic, English, and Greek. Athineos markets itself as a Greek and seafood restaurant, but it is neither.
Gamal Nkrumah (who wrote the article from which I am drawing my information) informs us that the food was disappointing. To add insult to injury, the menu is misleading; it features a wide range of mouth-watering Greek and seafood dishes, but they are unavailable; instead, what you get is common Egyptian fare. Gamal consoled himself with the Ouzo, the potent aniseed-flavored Greek liquor.
He calls his article "Easy with the Ouzo" and concludes that the old Alexandria has gone with the wind.


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& tips to getting organized
Do you have a piece of furniture that no longer serves its original purpose? Consider giving it new life! This changing table is now in an entryway and is a welcoming 'drop spot.' We added a few bins and labeled them with kids' names to hold their shoes. Perfect! TIP: Don't be afraid to try pieces of furniture in untraditional places - it might just be crazy enough to work!
TIP: Don't be afraid to use decorative pieces as a unique storage/organizational piece. This leaf tray is the perfect place to drop your keys after walking through the door, and looks great, too!
{FRONT ENTRY cont.}
An inside look at the first picture: shoe box sized plastic bins fit perfectly inside these drawers. Each bin contains the the hat, mittens/gloves, and scarf of one of the kiddos. In the summer, this might be changed out with a swimsuit and towel. TIP: Being able to containerize within a drawer, shelf, or cabinet simplifies the organizing process and increases your success of staying organized.
Not everyone is blessed with a mudroom or coat closet upon walking through their front door. This client was using a basket to store shoes but as the family grew, the basket began overflowing! By repurposing furniture and bins, the front entry will no longer be crowded by shoes, coats, and backpacks. TIP: Teach your kids from an early age to get into the routine of placing their shoes/coat/backpack in their designated area. Don't forget - lead by example!
Tucked behind the door of the laundry room, these children will have no problem finding their backpacks and coats in the morning, and will know just where to hang their things after school. TIP: Teaching your children early on to follow simple routines goes a long way in the long run!
Finding space for a home office away from the hustle and bustle of young kids at home can be tricky. Fortunately for this client, there was a spare closet that we were able to convert into a home office. Everything he needs is at his fingertips - and when he's finished with his work day, he can close the doors and leave work at work! TIP: Consider how and when you use the items in your office. If it's daily, keep it close. Not as frequent? Keep it further away from your chair.
This client needed a space that was free from clutter to maximize productivity and creativity, but didn't want it to look bland. By using the space behind her desk, we were able to provide some unique organization using a wire basket to hold urgent files, as well as a pretty bowl to store office essentials like pens, a pair of scissors, etc. while keeping her desktop clean. TIP: By adding a sparkly runner, the space is given the perfect punch of character, as well as a touch of class.
Having a home office that is dialed not only looks great, but increases productivity. TIP: Organize references into categories, then add simple bookends or stacking organizers to create dividers that are both functional and pleasing to the eye.
This client's former system was to essentially dump papers into bins on top of his desk. By creating a filing system, papers are sorted from the get-go, eliminating the two-step process of creating piles, then having to sort them later. TIP: Create labels for files to house your accounts, bills, expenses, etc. You'll never have to be late on another bill or miss a receipt on your expense report again!
{Home Office}
This client hoped to add some flare to her folders with custom labels. By viewing the folder as a scrapbooking platform, I was able to create a simple yet beautiful look. If you have to work at home, you might as well look good doing it, right? TIP: Keep your most frequently used files as accessible as possible. Here, they are in a hanging organizer rather than tucked away in a cabinet.
This gorgeous pantry got a facelift. Sliding drawers make for easy hideaway storage of canned and boxed goods, while open shelving show off those matching containers with custom labels. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and this one screams love! TIP: When labeling containers for a pantry, make them versatile and removable. This way, you are free to repurpose containers should your pantry items change.
This client had just a couple of cabinets that seemed to overflow with items. She was so frustrated by things falling out, and having to dig through dishes to get what she needed. There was unused space (and containers!) on the shelving of her island so I was able to put that to good use to create a better flow in the kitchen, as well as make frequently used items easily accessible. TIP: Store items that are used often toward the front and bottom of cabinets so they are easy to grab.
This sizable pantry was certainly not short on storage space, but this client was hoping to introduce a little beauty and order into this space. After some rearranging, containerizing, and labeling this pantry can now meet its full potential! TIP: As soon as you bring your groceries in, try to unbox as much as you can (pastas, granola bars, etc) and store them in clear containers. This helps keep an accurate inventory and saves you time and money in the long run.
Pantry staples rarely change from week to week. It makes sense to purchase containers for the products you frequently have on hand. This creates a functional space that makes finding ingredients a breeze. TIP: Purchase clear containers. This way, you can quickly tell what you are running low on and can adjust your grocery list accordingly.
This home had an abundance of charm, but was short on space - as many older homes are. This family of four needed this space to house the majority of their dry foods. I maximized the space using baskets, risers, and some unique storage solutions (notice the bathroom accessory!) TIP: Shelve your food like a grocery store (pastas, breakfast foods, canned goods). This will make it easy to take a quick inventory and help cut down on buying multiples of things you didn't know you had.
Any space can be organized - even your refrigerator! There is more than meets the eye here, though. I helped my client create a grocery budget and meal plan that works for her and her family. TIP: Creating a meal plan ultimately saves you money - less food is wasted, and a quick inventory can be taken before shopping to avoid buying items you already have.
This client wanted her son's morning routine simplified. By picking his clothes out ahead of time, there was no fuss about getting dressed for the day. TIP: For pickier children, place two outfits in each drawer. Let them know they can choose one of the two outfits you selected, giving them a say in the matter.
These toys were spread all around the this basement - tucked in bins, on shelves, in cabinets, etc. By designating one space to play, kids can easily access their toys, and know where to put them away. TIP: Create a cozy place for kids to relax and read by placing comfortable seating with soft light (think low wattage bulbs).
These toys were stacked on top of one another, making it difficult for a child to grab what they need without other toys falling on top of them. By adding a few simple shelves, the toys not only look great, but are safe to get to as well. TIP: Shelving can be a quick, inexpensive fix for many spaces in your home. This piece was $11 form Target.
These are a sample of some custom labels I created for a playroom. When bins are labeled, it helps kids find what they want quickly, and also makes cleaning up a snap! TIP: Make organizing fun by using pictures and words that help your child learn to read as they play!
Need of a safe space to not only store children's toys and books, but a place to use them as well? After sorting and categorizing all the toys, we decided to divide this play space into two areas: play & reading. Using open cube storage, the room has a great flow, while offering a separation between the two spaces. TIP: Try rotating toys. Your kids will treat the 'old' toys like new and have an appreciation for each of them.
Who said toy storage needed to be in bins and storage cubes? This client had an old dresser that wasn't being used. This gave her playroom a more mature look, and provided categorized storage for all her children's toys. TIP: Sort through your kids' toys every six months. Discard any toys that are broken or missing pieces, and donate the ones they no longer have a use for.
A snapshot of my client's playroom, these book bins coupled with colorful labels helped give these children's books a home. Aside from adorable, these book bins create a display that is easy to navigate and organize the many books parents tend to accumulate over time. TIP: By sorting books, it's easy for young readers (and parents) to find a book in a jiffy. Also, classifying helps children notice how things are alike and different - an awareness that is vital to learning.
This client was expecting her first baby boy. We were able to store clothes, toys, book, and more in this space to prepare the way for her sweet bundle. As her boy's wardrobe grows, I suggested adding a second shelf beneath the existing one for extra hanging space. But for now, this set up will do the trick. TIP: The shelves on the left are removable and simply hook onto an existing wire shelf. Pick a few of these up from your local hardware store - their versatility is super handy!
This client was getting ready for a new baby, so she moved her son into what was currently a guest room. The theme was "Nautical" so I made sure to bring that color scheme into the closet for a cohesive look and feel. Aside from adorable, this closet now has plenty of space to add whatever big brother wants and needs in his new room! TIP: Don't feel like you have to use ALL the space in a closet. Having some room to grow can be a good thing!
Shelving in a master closet is often underutilized. After purchasing coordinating baskets and creating custom labels, this closet has a functional design that also looks great! TIP: Using the same type of hanger creates a streamlined look in your closet, and depending on which kind you choose, it can be an inexpensive way to spruce up the space.
{MASTER CLOSET cont.}
TIP: This tip comes twofold: by hanging your clothes according to color and type, it is easy to find what you are looking for and can get dressed in a jiffy. Also, using a clothes sorter helps cut down on laundry time.
These clients had a surplus of clothing and it was overwhelming their good-sized master closet! After paring down and donating SIX garbage bags full of clothing, this couple got their closet back without spending a dime in the store. TIP: Organizing isn't always about buying fancy bins and baskets - sometimes all it takes is going through and keeping only what you truly need/use and donating the rest.
Are you annoyed by the piles of papers and bills that accumulate on the kitchen counter? Using this hang-up organizer, this family never loses or misplaces a bill, form, or piece of mail! Custom labels and a cute ribbon make this piece easy to look at as well as incredibly functional. TIP: Sort your mail as soon as you bring it into the door! It never takes as long as you think it will, and you will thank yourself later.
It is amazing to see a space transform simply by containerizing items. By sorting, paring, and a little rearranging this closet got a major facelift. TIP: When placing your folded towels and sheets on the shelf, be sure to have the "dress edge" showing for a cleaner look.
This front closet had piles of coats, shoes, winter wear, and miscellaneous items that covered the entire floor and stacked all the way to the ceiling! After much sorting, donating, and rearranging - along with a few inexpensive purchases - this closet now looks like a million bucks! TIP: We used different colored hangers for each member of the household, as well as an 'assigned' shelf for their shoes.
After discarding all expired items, I sorted, containerized, and labeled the contents of this medicine drawer. What a difference it made! I also was able to find all the containers at the dollar store! TIP: Be sure to sort through your medicine cabinet at least once every six months. Not only will this provide more space, it will eliminate a potential health hazard. Also, make sure they are out of reach of children.
Keeping a laundry room simple is key. Often, there is limited space to work with. By choosing the right sized containers, we were able to store all the laundry essentials, as well as extra paper products (toilet tissue and paper towels). TIP: Laundry storage is usually limited. Try and keep only what is essential to doing laundry, and find a different home for anything that isn't.
Getting creative with storage is key when doing laundry in a small space. By adding some simple shelving and baskets, this laundry room got a quick facelift and is as functional as ever! TIP: Keep the essentials {detergent, fabric softener, iron, etc} within close reach, while storing other items {light bulbs, sewing materials, etc} closer to the top.
It is easy to place things under the sink and forget about them, especially if they are not frequently used. This client had multiples of the same cleaner without realizing it. TIP: By containerizing the cleaners, they are easily visible and accessible.
This client was storing her kids' craft and school supplies in their front closet, and the items were being buried under their long coats! After rearranging, condensing, and containerizing, we were able to turn this under utilized nook into a great storage space. Now, they can easily get - and put away - what they are looking for. And best of all, their coat closet is now, well, a coat closet! TIP: Shoe box containers are an inexpensive and easy way to clean up a space.
Wondering how to get started when organizing your home? Start with something simple. This client was tired of digging through bins to find what she needed. By using plastic drawers she already had in her home, I helped her reorganize these overflowing bins. Now, finding what she needs takes less than half the time it did before! TIP: Don't be shy about reusing gift bags and tissue paper... it's a great money saver!
TIP: Get creative with how you store your crafts! This is simply a collection of paper trays turned on their side and hot glued together. This puts all the craft paper within sight for a quick selection and by color coding the pages, finding what you need is a snap.
This client is a former preschool teacher and held on to many of her materials in hopes of using them with her own children one day. We were able to sort, categorize, and containerize her colossal collection of crafts. She also donated a good amount to a local preschool. This is just a snapshot of what she has! TIP: You don't have to buy fancy bins and baskets to get organized. Notice the food containers in this picture have been repurposed and used for storage.
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text:
(since there's no slides for these online anywhere, and the slides
were going past
pretty quickly, I have to apologize for the gaps in the notes ahead of
time. --MNP)
2006.06.05 Network Neutrality Panel
[slides are not yet online]
next up is the controversial subject of
network neutrality;
Bill Woodcock will be chairing the panel,
so Randy Bush can go be a member of the
audience again.
Bill Woodcock: network neutrality has
been in front of press and legislatures
for the past several months, and has
been in the works behind the scenes for
almost a year.
Brokaw Price, peering at Yahoo!
Sean Doran, free agent, "rooting" for
Sprint back in the day
Sean Donelan, now at cisco,
Gene Lew, at neustar now, has done cable
operations before.
Sean can pretend to be Vint Cerf for this
Network Neutrality--what does it mean to
operations people?
Michael Powell, Feb, 2004, defined four internet
consumer rights (chairman FCC)
freedom to access content
freedom to use applications
freedom to connect personal devices
freedom to obtain service plan information
History of net neutrality concept:
feb 2005, madison river telephone company
consent decree
"Madison River shall not block ports used for
August 2005, FCC policy statement
access lawful internet content
run applications and services subject to the needs
of law enforcement
connect legal devices that do no harm to the networks
competition amongst...
All of these principles are subject to reasonable
network management.
That last bullet is what gives telcos ability to
quote QoS as a mandatory network management requirement.
March 2006, internet non-discrimination act
senate bill 2360
only 2% of americans have a choice in last mile.
shall not interfere with block, degrade, alter,
modify, impair, or change bits or content
May take measures to protect customers from
may protect their own network infrastructu
May 2006 Internet freedom and non-discrimination
modifies clayton anti-trust act.
Passed based on party lines.
Turns over to Sean to talk about his thoughts.
Sean Donelan
Doesn't represent anyone right now.
The Huck Finn approach.
And no, you can't configure this on your router.
What are we talking about?
Rep John Conyers (D-MI)
"internet as we know it is at risk"
Same guy noted in 2003 about cable operators being
smart enough to not poison their customer pool
Not really a new issue:
ANS CO+RE in 1991
unapproved networks filtered from R&E gateways
ANS and CIX, June 1992
ANS agreed to "provisionally" interconnect
CIX proposed filtering resellers (194)
NSF NAP/NREN solicitation (1993)
required NSPs connect to all priority Network Access
Points (NAPs)
uncertainty created opportunities for new service
pizzahut.com debate--couldn't reach it from university
networks, but you could reach it from UUnet. Two-tiered
internet even back then.
Regulations chasing change
TitleI -- General FCC Authority (pre 1984)
TitleII common carrier voice/phone calls/later data
TitleIII spectrum licensing broadcast TV and radio
TitleVI Cable Television (post 1984)
FCC moved DSL (but not UNE-L and cable modems) back
into TitleI again.
VoIP is still unknown.
Telecom act of 1996 was another biggie.
before 1996, enhanced services transmitted over a common
After 1996, info services were defined by the telecom
act; they run over telecommunications provisioned by
anyone, not just common carriers.
That's why cable companies can offer telecommunications
even though they're not common carriers. Also why
Radio and TV can put IP in subcarrier without being
common carriers.
So, we have a really odd blend, they're not mutually
exclusive. Now you have the potential for new entrants
from any direction.
Most home services now come over cable companies;
multiple resellers of same product wasn't enough
to satisfy customers.
Customers are very fickle
Interfering with a customer's use of the Internet would
hurt the provider's business.
No-one can predict what the next "Killer App" will be.
and *everyone* can complain
Both sides need each other to succeed.
Predicting in advance what customers want and will
consider improvement vs interference is hard to the
point of being nearly impossible.
And what customers consider an improvement one year
may become interference, or what was once interference
will now be considered improvement.
If you start writing regulations, you imply investigative
and reporting requirements along with it.
Who would enforce these regulations?
And regulations seldom prevent people from being evil,
the government simply sets the price for being evil.
Broadcast fairness doctrine--equal time; nobody can
buy public advocacy on national networks, except
for politicians, who get the best rates.
Kingsbury committment--ATT had to interconnect with
everyone--but that meant you didn't need a second
long distance company, so ended up supporting monopoly
Universal service backfired by giving a monopoly
to those giving out the free phones to...
Back to Bill Woodcock:
Arguments in favour
preference will go to dominant players instead of
technological innovators
If market isn't free, consumers must be protected from
predatory practices.
Nondescrimination is part of common carrier status
Many access networks were built under monopoly protection
are they thus the moral property of the consumers
who were forced to pay to create them?
Arguments against
descrimination required to protect customers from "bad"
service bundling needed to encourage future investment
in infrastructure
Nondescrimination is compelled speech in the first
amendment sense.
QandA for the panel.
Q: Free speech: can carriers claim "common carrier"
protection from responsibility for customer content, and
simultaneously claim a seemingly-contradictory 1st
amendment protection from compelled speech?
Sean Doran--Canadian, working in EU on similar issues;
can carriers degrade non-customer or competitor's
traffic as part of deregulatory process?
Unbundling local loops, etc; if people were given
access to these components on an equal cost basis,
would incumbent be able to sustain a biased offering
around degraded service? Risk was taken that rather
than regulate a monopoly, the regulators would create
an artificial basis where the competitive playing
field was forced to be level; seems to have worked,
they've seen 100fold to 100,000fold price decreases
since 1997;
double-digit mbit connectivity four double-digit
prices in US dollars are available in major cities;
can get triple digit BW for triple digits in stockholm
for example.
Mutually competitive providers, incumbent PTT is forced
to sell access to all comers at same price level.
Regulating on other levels tends to enhance the power
of the incumbent, rather than limit it, since they
generally have the stronger lobbying power.
Bill Norton at mike--In US, given the large amount
of video traffic on the net, do cable companies have
enough infrastructure to handle forseeable traffic
Since he can't be compelled to pay for speech that
isn't paid for, he'll just replace your ads with his
own as they pass along the wire.
What about mandatory revenue sharing?
Bill Woodcock passes the question to Brokaw Price
from Yahoo!
Well, Brokaw notes that's a push model, vs the reality
of the internet, which is a pull environment. If
incumbents did that, the model for the internet would
start to collapse, as customer wouldn't be able to be
sure where their traffic was coming from; more likely
the incumbent would be likely to compete directly, rather
than trying to circumvent. But that's likely to create
more of a walled garden environment, and we've seen
those walled gardens collapse in the past.
Sean notes AOL could do it since they have proxies
(ad replacement, that is). More likely that telcos
would be able to show that a free-for-a-month link
is better than your other providers, so you should
pay them to get that better connectivity--and since
you can't see into their routers, you have no way
of knowing *why* their direct paid-for link is better
than the alternative transit provider's link.
The congestion issue
is all this just an excuse for backbones to not upgrade,
and just pass the pain and costs around to different
Gene notes that Neustar is not taking any official
position on network neutrality. But then back to
earlier question; the ads on baseball games are often not
what exist in the stadium, they're what the broadcaster
decides their audience should see.
Being a former carrier, it's debatable about skipping
upgrades and forcing QoS payments instead to deal with
congestion issues.
Where he lives, he has 5 broadband providers he can
chose from; in major metro markets, that's often
true, and with municipal wifi coming into the play,
could be a dark horse that will force the issue.
The competition issue:
do network neutrality and local loop unbundling matter
only in the absence of competition?
Brokaw: well, competition is generally good, gives
customer a chance to decide which provider is better,
assuming the customer has the wherewithall to move.
In areas where the customer can't change, yes, it's
likely to be more of a problem.
In the content space, if he only has one option to
reach a huge consumer base, price elasticity raises
his ugly head, and it's likely the user experience
will be adjusted to reflect that increased cost;
and that's an ugly outlook for the internet if we
follow it out to its conclusion.
And if the big players are forced to do that, it's
likely the smaller players will be under even more
3 choices: do we have sufficient competition now?
Do we need more regulation? Or do we need more
Brokaw: consolidation is reducing the number of
competitors in the market; it's still a free market,
so we're not yet down to monopolies yet. It's a
tough call. We're struggling with what the end
vision will be.
Sean Doran: US needs more competition; there's
already too much regulation in all the wrong
areas. Congress is introducing bills all over
the place, likely to do for network neutrality
the same thing they did with spam. not likely
to turn out well.
Sean Donelan: regulation tends to freeze things as
a status quo; just adds more regulation, rather than
adding more real competition. Regulation just gives
more brand names without real competition. He feels
regulation is useful as long as it goes in the right
direction; tries to make everything look alike, rather
than rewarding innovation.
Greg Lew: Is there enough competition, or more needed?
Well, yes for his area, but large areas (20%) don't
have access to broadband, so those areas need more
competition, definitely.
Q: Michael Sinatri?, UC Berkeley. Service Provider
(TV station) pays the content provider for the content,
and negotiates the ad space placed on that. If the
content is being provided for free, what right does
the SP have to modify the content mid-stream?
Content Accelerators--shrink images before being
sent; if customer pays for that, does that infringe
on content provider's original data?
Q: Ted Seeley, Sprint. Incumbent ILECs spend millions
to build out infrastructure to support that video
distribution. Why pay SBC when you can buy it
from Sony? That is, the ILEC spends the dollars to
expand their network, hoping to recoup the cost from
the customers over a 10 year period; But there's no
guarantee that customer will be there for the full
10 year amortized time for paying back the buildout;
if they jump ship to someone else, how do those upgrades
get paid for?
Q: Patrick Gilmore: if telco wants to charge content
providers for bits they're sending, what are they
going to charge each other for the high volume of
illegal content they're sending back and forth to
each other, which according to their own stats is
the bulk of their traffic?
Survey forms available on the web! If you're
sticking around, fill it out. If you're leaving,
fill it out!
Maps with food places; will start up again at
2:15 for afternoon bofs.
Lunchtime now!


text:
Heritage Digital Composites
Each action shot photo montage is printed on Kodak Endura photo paper and cold mounted onto a pH neutral and acid free substrate - suitable for custom framing by the client or for display as is. Standard size is 16"x20" @ $75 each. An optional anodized black metal frame ready for hanging can be added for $60. Larger sizes are available upon request. Shown below are examples of what can be done and certainly not limited to the sports shown. KH Studios will create photo montages of other pictures at the request of parents with the intent to purchase.


text:
You have already completed your online registration and are looking forward to attending the International Exhibition of Vine Growing and Wine Producing "Vinaria".
You are travelling by plane and arriving at Sofia Airport as a group and need a taxi transfer. You are at the right place. TaxiBG can provide you with the right service.
Regardless of your arrival time, you can book a private transfer with a professional driver. We will provide you with excellent service with our fully equipped and new cars. The drive would take approximately 2 hours, in which you can enjoy the free Wi-Fi and complimentary drinks. Instead of having to worry about where to park, our experienced drivers would drop you off at the exact location and you will feel refreshed and ready to attend one of the most prestigious and outstanding events in the vine growing and wine producing industry in Eastern Europe.
You might want to spend just a day, or you are planning to attend the entire event from 19-23 February, meeting business representatives with whom you can collaborate. And you will then need to book a transfer back to the Sofia Airport - you can count on us. We will take care of your safe and smooth transport.
Even if you are travelling as a big group with excessive luggage, we can help with your prompt transfer from and to the airport. Contact us if you have any additional questions.


text:
New Show Home Open in Crown Isle at 2487 Crown Isle Drive
We are pleased to announce that our new show home, located at 2487 Crown Isle Drive is now open Friday to Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. COVID protocols are in place permitting one group in at a time. Sanitizer is provided, social distancing is required, masks are encouraged and sanitizing will take place before each tour.
In September's news update, the B.C. Real Estate Association (BCREA) reported that sales climbed 42.8 percent across the province in August, compared to the same month in 2019. And the average Multiple Listing Service price jumped 12.7 percent in the month on an annualized basis, reaching $771,309.
We have seen the real estate sales activity rise on Vancouver Island during the past few months. More and more new home buyers are making the decision to move to the Crown Isle community in the beautiful Comox Valley.
Perhaps now is the time to investigate building the home of your dreams in the Crown Isle Golf Community. Currently, we have Lots #17, #19, #20, #21 available in Cambridge Park Estates and we are able to build a custom-designed rancher, or 1½-storey or a two-storey home. Our reserved lots back on to a natural forest and face west, giving you a front seat to beautiful sunsets, complete with a violet and pink sky.
We also have two homes for sale in Cambridge Park Estates.
2543 Crown Isle Drive, Crown Isle Community in Courtenay, B.C.
This West-Coast style rancher is 1,952 sq. ft. in size and features a gourmet kitchen with walk-in pantry and large island, dining room, great room, three bedrooms, two baths and a spacious welcoming foyer. This home will be completed in the fall of 2020. Price: $915,000
2487 Crown Isle Drive, Crown Isle Community in Courtenay, B.C.
We have a beautiful 2,432 sq. ft., 1½-storey home located at 2487 Crown Isle Drive in Courtenay, B.C. This West Coast custom-designed home offers vaulted ceilings, a large great room, an elegant kitchen and a spacious walk-in pantry. Upstairs, you will find a private area which includes an additional bedroom, bath and family room, perfect for guests!
For more information or to request a private viewing of the showhome, please contact: Debra Barnie, Office Manager at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Seed & Sprout Organic Cotton Bread Bag.
This baby is a multi-use lifesaver. Can be used to store loaves of bread but it can be used to store a bunch of other essentials, like rice, fruit or veggies! Keeping it all fresh in this amazing cotton drawstring bag!
The Facts:
- Organic cotton
- Drawstring closer
- Keeps bread fresher longer
- Use in the fridge for storing other bigger produce items to extend their shelf life
- Use for bulk shopping
Washing instructions:
- Turn inside out and give me a shake to remove any crumbs
- Wash inside out on a cold machine wash
- Products shipped in recyclable packaging with compostable tape and satchels.
- Order before 12pm Monday - Thursday for same day dispatch.
- Any orders that contain pre-order items will be shipped all together with the pre-order.
- Standard Australian shipping is $10, while Australian express is $18.
- Free shipping on orders over $80 and free express on orders over $140.
- Orders within Hobart have a free delivery option at checkout.
Shipping times:
- Metro area orders are sent via Australia Post which takes between 2-7 business days
- Rural orders are sent via Australia Post which can take up 7-10 days
- International orders are sent using Australia Post which at the moment can take up to 4 months due to the pandemic
International Customers are responsible to pay for any Customs Duties into their country.


text:
Lyon Mountain is a challenging 7-mile hike (round trip) on a newly constructed trail to a spruce-covered mountaintop plateau with a firetower that provides a stunning 360-degree view that includes the High Peaks and Montreal.
Lyon Mountain
3.5 mile (7 miles round-trip)
Saranac, Clinton County
Northern Adirondacks
Hiking, Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Hike Lyon Mountain
Lyon Mountain is 3.5-mile hike up the tallest peak in New York north of the Saranac River. The trail is located in the Town of Saranac in Clinton County in the northern Adirondacks. The tracks runs through Forest Preserve lands in the Chazy Highlands Wild Forest Area. On the summit of Lyon Mountain stands a firetower that provides stunning views of the High Peaks to the south and Montreal to the north.
The Lyon Mountain Trail
The trailhead is accessed from a parking area on Lowenberg Road, a dirt road off of County Route 29 on the west side of Chazy Lake. A large Chazy Highlands Wild Forest and Lyon Mountain Trailhead sign marks the entrance. The hiking trail was rebuilt recently, and the new trail, which is slightly longer and includes a number of environmentally beneficial switchbacks, crosses the old trail that ran straight up the mountainside in several places.
The trail up Lyon mountain is surrounded by a young northern hardwood forest. There are beech, ash, and maple in abundance. The trail crosses a few streams on the lower hillside before repeated switchbacks up through steep sections for the final climb.
The Spruce-Covered Lyon Mountain Summit
Near the end of the trail, the forest transitions to beautiful mossy spruce and balsam forest, familiar to hikers of the Adirondacks. The summit is a large spruce plateau, with exposed rock around the high-trafficked areas surrounding the firetower.
The firetower offers stunning views of Chazy Lake to the northeast and the Green Mountains in Vermont to the east, the High Peaks to the south, wind farms to the north, and Montreal in the distance to the northeast. All else is obscured by the width of the summit plateau, but the view is still spectacular. Much of this view is visible from the ground from a north-facing overlook point. This is a moderate hike with an excellent view that's never overly steep, though there is a substantial elevation gain.
The hike down follows the same route as the hike up.
Click here to download a map and trail directions for Lyon Mountain.
When You Hike Make Sure to Practice "Leave No Trace" to be Prepared and to Protect the Forest Preserve
Please follow "carry in, carry out" rules for all trash and follow other Leave No Trace principles when hiking in the public Forest Preserve and other wild areas. The seven Leave No Trace principles are: 1) Plan ahead and prepare; 2) Stay on hiking trails and camp at designated areas; 3) Dispose of human waste and trash properly; 4) Leave what you find; 5) Minimize campfires; 6) Respect wildlife; 7) Respect other hikers.
Educated hikers do not damage the environment. Prepared hikers do not need search and rescue unless injured.
Winter Use: Lyon Mountain is a popular mountain for snowshoeing in the winter as well as cross-country and backcountry skiing.
Click here to become a member of Protect the Adirondacks.


text:
After posting a sub-220k reading last week, economists were projecting that initial jobless claims would come in at 225k this week. When the actual number was released at 8:30 AM ET today (as it is every Thursday at this time), it was a bit surprising to see a spike up to 242k — 17k higher than expected.
Below is a chart of seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims going back to 2005. As shown, the long-term downtrend for claims remains intact, but this week's spike took the reading up to the top of the downtrend channel. Given the unprecedented strength in claims over the last couple of years, any consecutive readings above 250k would be a cause for concern in our view.
The uptick to 242k this week took the 4-week moving average for claims up to 228,250, an increase of 5k from last week.
On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, initial jobless claims came in at 200.9k. As shown below, 200.9k is the lowest print for this specific week since at least 2005, and it's more than 100k below the average of 314k for this specific week since 2000.


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It's actually very simple to make bulletproof coffee with coconut oil. You don't need any special recipe for that, like insisting on having distilled water, grass-fed unsalted butter etc.... find out more ›
Virgin coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is cold pressed from fresh coconut meat at temperature below 120 °F (49 °C). Because it gets to retain its genuine flavor, aroma and a stronger set of health-boosting properties, virgin coconut oil offers the best benefits for health by far. Besides improving your immunity, virgin coconut oil makes a great flavor enhancer for food. Thanks to its natural fresh coconut scent that remains intact during cold-pressed.
What can you eat coconut oil with?
As coconut oil is versatile, you can literally eat coconut oil with any kind of food or drinks. Like using it to make your salad dressing. Or you can melt your hardened coconut oil a bit (in cold weather) to make it softer so that you can... find out more ›
Can you eat refined or unrefined coconut oil?
All coconut oils, refined or unrefined are generally edible, unless the label says that it's solely for skin care, hair care, body care and not suitable for consumption. This is especially true for the... find out more ›
Can you eat coconut oil raw?
Of course you can eat coconut oil raw. It's a food. And so it's safe to eat coconut oil straight from the jar. But the problem is, can you handle the oily mouthfeel by eating coconut oil raw directly? Secondly, are you okay with the... find out more ›
Can you eat virgin coconut oil?
If you can eat those unhealthy vegetable oils that are so high in unsaturated fats, you definitely can eat virgin coconut oil (VCO) which is a... find out more ›