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Pizza Makes Me Feel Crazy
Carrie H
I adore pizza. But when I moved to Pennsylvania, I could not find a place to make it the way I like it, with a thin crust and not too greasy. So I started making it regularly to customize it to our liking; I tweaked it again once the boys became confirmed pizza lovers, too and even manage to get some sauteed kale or broccoli, without any complaints. Pizza making became a science, from prebaking the crust, sans toppings, to adding toppings and then putting it in my one oven capable of browning on the top or on the bottom—depending on what the pizza needs. (You may have seen a piece I wrote this week about why I don't use a baking stone for pizza.)
I sigh. I'm getting nostalgic just thinking about it. I love making it, but sometimes it's 6pm and I'm out of my favorite King Arthur Flour pizza blend which comes together in a flash and I don't have the luxury of rising dough. In those instances, I wish I could just stop on the way home and pick up a pizza like millions of Americans do on Friday or other nights, without even thinking, but historically, the excessive cheese and grease would often do me in—even with the requisite paper towel blotting.
But that's not even the real issue here.
Nowadays, I am making two different kinds of pizza: a regular one, with my sourdough starter, and one with a gluten-free crust.
You see, I discovered about two years ago that pizza makes me feel crazy, after overdosing on it while on vacation in Ocean City. You can thank the siren smell (well, you know what I mean) of Mack and Manco (now called Manco and Manco; that's another story and I don't acknowledge the name change) on the boardwalk in New Jersey. I did not digest it well, even with digestive enzymes in my system, and it made me wake up cranky, crying and fuzzy. I do not have celiac disease, at least according to the standard blood test my gastroenterologist administered. Last week, I had a dull, dizzying headache from eating gluten off and on for a few days because of various assignments and engagements. When wading through the subsequent brain fog, it's like a hangover, but without waking up with cotton mouth and the memories of an eventful evening. I have recently read that there are markers that can be measured specifically for neurological responses triggered by gluten and wheat, but most gastroenterologists don't order that test. Mine didn't. It's not even about the pizza exclusively—this particular food, perhaps due to its drug-like combination (the cheese! the dough!), is a huge trigger, though. I suspect, although I'm no scientist or nutritionist, that high protein flours aggravate the response.
I'm writing this as we gear up to go on vacation at this very same location. And I will be tempted to eat a slice, because the smell is positively irresistible, intoxicating. The pizza itself is a reliable product beautifully executed with precision over and over again. My boys love to watch the guys at Mack and Manco toss the dough into the air and their insistent, assembly-line approach. The sauce gets mysteriously pumped in at specified intervals from a tube that pops up from under the marble counter, as if produced by magic pizza Oompa Loompas hiding out of sight. (It's either that or monkeys on bicycles in the basement, making the pump go, go, go).
The line at Mack and Manco, consistent Best of Philly winners, snakes out onto the boardwalk and throttles up with a throng of baby strollers clogging foot traffic. That line gets 20-30 deep, really easily. (Despite a sign admonishing you for parking your stroller outside, next to the entrance, you can't fit a stroller inside the place. It's just impossible. Who are they kidding?) The beauty of that methodical approach means that even on the craziest of weekend dinner crushes, you never wait terribly long to be seated, nor for your pizza once you have been seated. If you are in a hurry, counter service moves more speedily.
Mack and Manco is a tradition. I grew up eating it, and now my kids are, too. They devoured their first slices when they were not quite two years old. Nostalgia breeds its own culinary responsibilities; shirking them feels strange, unfamiliar. On a more physiological level, their pizza is also hard to resist because there's something that happens to your appetite when you are at the beach. It goes crazy. Something in the salt air? (What is up with that? Does anyone know?) I'll want to have a slice, even if I know what will await me the next morning: the crazy-making pizza hangover, among other things. I'll have to balance my gut the next few days with loads of greens and kombucha and enzymes and alfalfa tablets, but maybe it will be worth it. Or maybe I will find a new food, a new tradition, a new equilibrium, and skip it altogether. Maybe.


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- I moved! My new place is just swelltastic, I less than three it.
- I deleted the old tryhards101.com Wordpress. It hadn't been updated in a year and I was tired of seeing the hosting fees go to nothing. I have all of the old site backed up on my side, so if any of you old farts ever do want it, just ask me for it.
|About the Webmaster
Straight Outta Worthington, MN
I love video games! I'm practically a one man video game encyclopedia. Nothing beats the SNES or PlayStation as far as I'm concerned. When I'm not doing that, I love following my Miami sports teams. Loyal (to a fault)!
Contact me at email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Keep that Route Forever!/
aka: Just type 'help'
In the main Spacebrew repository, there is a little Node script called node_persistent_admin.js. This is a useful little CLI Node application for setting up routes that you want to keep around no matter what. It will re-connect a route if one of the clients disconnects and reconnects, and it will also prevent other people from accidentally (or maliciously!) destroying the route.
The persistent admin currently only connects to a spacebrew server running on the same computer using the default port (9000). When you start up the persistent admin, it lists all the valid commands you can use. In order to get more detail on how to use the various commands, just type
"help" and it will list all the commands with a short description on how they are used.
For Advanced Users:
You can also connect to the persistent admin via websocket and send it commands that way. The persistent admin sets up a websocket server on port 9001 by default, but you can pass in a different port to use via the command line like so:
node node_persistent_admin.js 9011
The commands you send over websocket are simply text exactly the same as you would type into the command line. Currently the websocket connections do not receive any data from the server, it is just one-way communication.


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Avi'ously Aviance feat. EJ, Kevin, Perry & Mother Aviance Produced by David Ohana Aviance
This Debut release pays homage to the spirit of The House of Aviance celebrating 25 years in Nightlife and the Dance Music Industry. DJ/Producer David Ohana Aviance is among the fastest rising; best received DJ/Producers in NYC this year. These mixes are precisely the sound of the New York City Underground at the peak moment of the night with electrifying synths, rhythmic brass elements, and rumbling build-ups that will bring Dance Music fanatics onto the dance floor.
Avi'ously Aviance is available in 240 countries, 143 online digital stores around the globe including iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Beatport, Traxsource and Junodownload to name a few. You can also hear it on YouTube, Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio, Beatsmusic and Shazam!
Purchase at our one stop shop media player where there are several digital stores to choose from, simply click and follow purchasing instructions.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MEDIA PLAYER: http://player.believe.fr/v2/3610159976667topqualityessays.com


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Pretty in pink, and yellow, and caramel...
At our first Saturday morning class in May, Chef Wendy Boys took the mystery out of making macarons. We watched closely, listened carefully and diligently took notes so that we too could create these delicious (and oh so popular) confections at home.
First, Wendy set the record straight on macaroon vs macaron. Macaroons are dense cookies, or small sweet cakes made with a coarse almond paste or coconut. A macaron is a meringue-based confectionary whose name is derived from 'ammaccare', meaning crush or beat, to reference the principal ingredient – almond paste. It is made from a mixture of egg whites, almond flour and granulated and confectionary sugar. They are often filled and come in a rainbow of colours.
Making macarons are definitely a 'roll-up your sleeves, clear the counter kind' of an endeavour. Sure they're fussy, and no two batches are ever the same, but that's part of their homespun charm. There are no mistakes, just new creations.
I've pulled from Lawren and my notes to give you some of Wendy's tips for making macarons:
- In addition to the ingredients specified in your master recipe you will need lots of parchment paper, as many staging trays and the flattest baking sheets you can get your hands on. Clear your morning, this is batch baking at its finest.
- Buzz your ground almonds and icing sugar together in your food processor first, then sift them together to incorporate them. They'll be finer that way.
- Either purchase egg whites, or leave them on the counter for a day or 2 so the water can evaporate and they can warm up. Or, give them 10 seconds in the microwave.
- Use only gel food colouring and powdered flavourings (i.e. Espresso powder for coffee) so that you don't add any extra unwanted moisture.
- For the sugar syrup start with everything cold. When you warm up your sugar and water to @116 c it should be clear, don't let it crystallize. If it does wash your pan making sure it is super clean and try again – it happens to the best of us, even Wendy.
- You want your meringue to be voluminous and fluid and the best way to get that consistency is to gently beat the egg whites on low for 10 or more minutes (don't be tempted to rush them or they will be less stable).
- To get your parchment paper nice and flat (on your flat tray), dab a drop of your meringue onto each corner to 'glue' it in place.
- There are no size rules with macarons, but Wendy likes to use an Atico #802 pastry tip to get the optimum 'quarter' size that she likes to pipe.
- After piping your macarons let them dry on trays for at least ½ hour (or even overnight depending on the humidity that day). You want them to form a light crust before baking.
- Play with your oven temperature. If you have a convection oven (lucky you) bake at 140 c for 4-5minutes. For a conventional/still oven try 300-325 for up to 12 minutes. If your oven is too hot your macarons will crack and won't cook evenly. Ideally, you want them smooth and round on the top, with little crackling 'ballerina' feet along the edge. Remember nothing wrong with a little, rough around the edges hand-made look. And remember, macarons will actually soften and improve their texture if left sitting a few days.
Wendy made Italian style macarons - a crunchier, more stable and even macaron that you get by adding warm sugar to cold egg whites. (French style is cold sugar to cold egg whites). Wendy made 3 flavours for us: Red Raspberry with Chocolate Raspberry filling, Coffee with Burnt Caramel filling and Plain with Lemon Curd. For the fillings she used her own sauces from her Cocolico line (available for a limited time at our shop). Or visit Wendy's website at www.wendyboys.com.
Guests to Wendy's class took home a copy of I Love Macarons by Hasiko Ogita, along with a beautifully packaged box of their very own macarons – tres agreable!
I Love Macarons by Hasiko Ogita


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From Joe James: Lee -
Can you help me make sense of John Yoder's interpretation of the Temptation Narrative of Jesus in the desert?
I thought I had this clear in my mind, and was explaining it in our book club. However, a wise old Baptist preacher stopped me and said, "What's wrong with being a welfare king? Sounds like something you and me both would advocate!" I wasn't sure how to respond myself, nor was I sure what Yoder would say! As a Yoder student, how do you respond?
Peace -
Joe James
Hi Joe,
Jesus responded, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." The problem with both capitalism and socialism is the reduction of political realities to mere economic exchange, without a true or full account of the whole of human life. To be merely a welfare king--to be simply a conduit of the doling out of bread--is to shortchange the fullness that is the Kingdom of God. There is obviously a place for "welfare," in the sense of giving to those who have need; but the way of the church is the way in which such giving is not separated from a desire for the whole goodness of an individual human being; i.e., we give bread when needed, and without strings, but we are also present to give more (in the sense of a call to change and repentance and renewal, etc.) as it is needed and desired.
Or so it seems to me...
Peace, LC


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- Home
- About Freemasonry
- Our History
- Grand Lodge
- Community
- Freemasons Hall
- Become a Freemason
- Contact Us
VWBro. R Giles, PGDC delivered a presentation on Lodge conduct and procedures to the Witton Brethren during their February 2018 Regular Meeting.
The presentation was not only well received by the Brethren and promoted much discussion, but
also proved the point that one is never too old to learn something new!
(L-R) WBro. P. Watson A/SW, WBro. M. Easton WM, VWBro. R. Giles and Bro. A. Ryan JW


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Checking the pressure in a car's tires or the smoke detector batteries in a home are chores people often overlook, despite the critical role these devices play in ensuring their safety.
The same can be said for the well-being of a membrane treatment system used in bottled water production, which relies on regular upkeep to ensure high-quality water.
Unfortunately, only a small percentage of membrane users regularly maintain their systems, according to Steve Felling, a reverse osmosis (RO) expert at CUNO Inc.
"The most important thing people can do to ensure the optimal performance and longevity of their equipment is to devote a few minutes a day to look at a few key operating parameters," Felling said.
Starting your checks
By checking pre-treatment devices (such as softeners) and examining the system's operating pressure, product flow rate and reject flow rate, the user can quickly be alerted to a problem.
Felling noted that a bottled water production system's larger components, including softeners, backwashing filters, ultraviolet (UV) indicators, and storage and repressurization devices, generally require weekly inspections. Annual inspections of UV bulbs and pre-filters are also a good idea, he said.
Some ultrafiltration membrane systems used in bottling water perform automatic maintenance procedures, such as back-flushing, that are conducted several times each day as part of the system's operational cycle, Jim Vecchio, marketing manager for Koch Membrane Systems, pointed out.
Regular procedures
"There are also cleaning procedures that can be done monthly or bi-monthly, depending on the nature of the feed water," Vecchio said.
These procedures include flushing the system with a caustic or acid solution and ensuring there are no contaminants on the surface of the membrane, Vecchio said.
Keeping a log of all maintenance performed on a system has two advantages, Felling noted. It is not only an excellent tool for ensuring regular upkeep is conducted, it also provides reference data in the event that a system crashes.
System lifespan
The longevity of a membrane treatment system can be influenced by a number of factors, most notably the nature of the feed water challenging the system. A system that is required to work harder to treat water will simply wear more quickly than one which works less, Felling said.
The continuous use of feed water containing a lower concentration of contaminants can extend the lifespan of a system by several years, Vecchio added.
"Most manufacturers are looking for five to 10 years for use of the membrane before it needs to be replaced," he said.
Mandated water quality thresholds can also dictate how often an individual bottler has to replace a system to maintain high-quality water. States with low prescribed levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) in bottled water will require bottlers to use their systems with more rigor than states with higher allowable TDS levels, according to Felling.
Finally, the system's engineering and maintenance play a crucial role in prolonging its life. Even with first-class maintenance, a poorly designed system can only go so long, Felling said.
"All membranes will die; it's just a matter of when and by what means," he said.
Picking 'the right membrane'
The majority of membranes used for bottled water applications have a thin-film composite (TFC) construction, which Felling said tends to be more resistant to higher pH levels than cellulose triacetate (CTA) construction, the alternative choice.
"The TFC membrane is fairly bulletproof in all regards except its ability to deal with pre-chlorine on a long-term basis," Felling said. "You have to be fairly meticulous at making sure that the carbon filter in front of the RO system is properly sized and is changed whenever you see any breakthrough of pre-chlorine."
Because the condition of source water varies, bottlers should select a membrane material that fits the water in their geographic region, Vecchio noted.
"If you're bottling water in Arizona, you're going to need a different set of membrane treatment technologies than if you are bottling water in the Northeast," he explained. "In the Southwest, for example, you have a high salt content in the water, so you typically would want to do some deionization of the water using reverse osmosis or nanofiltration."
Maintenance training
Performing a routine check of the treatment system's operating features is a task any bottler can handle, but more in-depth maintenance should be left to trained pros, Vecchio said.
Despite the intricacies involved in maintaining membrane treatment systems, Felling pointed out that some people who work on them do not have the required knowledge.
"It's amazing that in the bottled water industry, and in the water treatment industry in general, the level of expertise in RO is a lot lower than it was 10 or 20 years ago," he said.
Although there is no definitive reason for the proficiency decline, Felling speculated that an influx of professionals from other industries has diluted a membrane treatment trade once comprised largely of water conditioning dealers whose businesses rested on an understanding of the equipment they were selling.
Vecchio said, "Each system has its own set of problems and criteria, so training is required to learn how these different systems are operated and maintained."


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For dedicated bicycle insurance there are only a few true options available. Here's what we know.
Disclaimer: We're sure that the details of coverage change from time to time so it's wise to confirm these points prior to purchasing insurance.
First, why get bike insurance if renters-homeowners-condo insurance covers bikes? Read the fine print on your policy. Many policies offer very limited coverage for high-end bikes. Also, your premium may go up if you have to replace a bike. And, most policies don't cover parts damage. Learn the details of your specific policy before getting separate bike specific coverage.
Second, what are you looking to insure against? There are lots of considerations: Loss, damage, theft, fire, racing, product failure, bodily injury, liability, bike clothing and other gear that gets damaged in an accident? There are too many situations to insure against.
Third, there are only three primary bike-specific insurance companies so it's not too complicated.
Fourth: Overland Base Camp's focus on bike insurance is on mitigating travel loss or damage.
Why think about bike specific insurance?
Some of the primary reasons include:
- You can get full coverage for your expensive bike; most policies cover bikes up to $20,000.
- The deductibles are very low, typically between $200-$400 on a high-end bike.
- Making a claim on a bike specific policy does not affect your homeowners-renters-condo insurance premiums.
- No-fault medical coverage is usually so small it doesn't really help much. Check the fine print.
- Increasing the coverage for your high-end bikes can be costly.
Bike Insurance Comparison
Most of the bike-specific company's policy details are fairly similar. Here are the elements that seem consistent across all three insurers:
- Maximum bike value: They all cover bikes up to @20,000.
- Deductible: Low; typically between $200-$400 on a high-end bike.
- Premium cost: Typically between $200-$500 on a high-end bike.
- Replacement valuation: All three companies seem to reimburse based on "actual cash value" rather than "replacement cost coverage."
- Actual Cash Value: Reimburses you for what the bicycle is worth, given its age. For example, a 5-year-old bicycle would be valued at the cost of a comparable bicycle minus 5 years depreciation.
- Replacement Cost Coverage: Reimburses you for what it would cost to replace your, for example, 5-year-old bicycle with one of like kind and quality at current pricing. "Replacement cost coverage" generally costs about 10 percent more than "actual cash value," but can be a wise investment for a high-end bike.
- Damage covered? Yes. If you destroy a wheel, this can be covered.
- Lots of coverage: These carriers offer a lot for bike racing, liability insurance, and other situations that have nothing to do with loosing your bike or having an airline damage the bike. So, you're paying for a lot of coverage you probably won't use - unless you race, too.
In the specific case of theft, loss, or damage, here's what we know:
- They cover every kind of bike including custom bikes.
- They cover the bike for "Full Value." It's unclear what this really is.
- Velosurance cannot do business in every state. In these state Velosurance is not an option: AK, ME, ND, SD, MT, DE, NV, WY, DC, KS, VT, NH, HI, & WV.
- Offers coverage in every state.
- They do not cover custom bikes. It's a bit unclear how they define "custom."
- Markel provides insurance through Velosurance. Supposedly the price from both companies will be identical.
- Offers a roadside assistance package, too.
- Coverage while abroad.
- May cost more because of road side assistance. [Confirm]
That's a very high level overview of the current bike insurance policies. If you have any experience with these or know of other options, please let us know. Ride safe!


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The dark, creaking hardwood floors that lead up to the heavy door of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom are reminiscent of a haunted house. Illustrations of Dark creatures scattered along the walls enhance the generally creepy atmosphere of this wing of RMI. Here, students learn how to protect themselves against the things that go bump in the night. A very select few, members of the pre-Auror program, will learn how to identify and hunt those bumps at the pre-professional level. Cursebreaking and cryptology await those who attend this class diligently, but only unforeseen horrors await the inattentive student....
Please do not post here unless your character has applied to and been accepted at RMI.
||Administrative Quarters||
||Finer Diner||
||Aquila|| ||Cetus|| ||Draco|| ||Lyra||
||Pearl Street Mall|| ||Theater|| ||Rec Center|| ||Reference Center|| ||Quidditch Pitch|| ||Classes|| ||OOC||
||Cultural Studies|| ||Defense Against the Dark Arts|| ||Herbology||
||Magical Sciences|| ||Potions|| ||Spellwork||
||The Foretelling Arts|| ||History of Magic|| ||Introduction to Healing||


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The search to replace Hesperia Unified School District Superintendent Hank Richardson will not begin until the school board first clarifies the superintendent's role.
The HUSD school board tabled a motion to hire a firm to search for a new superintendent at Monday night's meeting.
"I think that [hiring a new superintendent] would add stability and direction" to the district, school board president Bruce Minton said. He had asked the motion be put on the evening's agenda at the board's previous meeting.
Board member Hardy Black said the board had other work to do before it could look for a new superintendent.
"I would like to hold off on it, myself," he said, noting the board had been working on clarifying the superintendent's goals and objectives for three months without reaching a satisfactory conclusion. "I think it would be a rush to judgment [to hire someone before the process was completed]. I would rather establish the goals ... prior to hiring someone to fit that mold."
The board approved Richardson's retirement August 7. Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Mark McKinney is currently serving as interim superintendent.
"I think we have an absolute duty as a board to seek direction for the district," Minton said.
Hiring a new superintendent quickly was "absolutely disastrous the last time it was done," Black replied.
Richardson had been named superintendent at the same time as Superintendent Dick Bray had announced he was leaving the district in August 2006, on the eve of the 2006-2007 school year.
In addition to letting the board have some time to continue working on setting the superintendent's goals and objectives -- the board is set to take up the matter again at its next meeting -- Black said he wanted McKinney to have some more time in his interim role.
"I'd like to see him there for a while and see what happens," he said. "I think we should wait sufficient time to allow Mr. McKinney to decide if he wants to participate in the [search for a new superintendent]."
Black's political allies supported him on clarifying the superintendent's role prior to beginning a search for a new chief executive to lead the Victor Valley's single largest employer.
"I think it's important to get some of these things nailed down before we ask someone to come in and consider us," board vice-president Robert Kirk said. "Then we can pull the trigger on this and move rapidly."
"I think we're jumping the gun if we do this right now," board member Lee Rogers said.
"It'll be months before we're prepared to do that," Minton disagreed, comparing the HUSD to a ship without a rudder. "It's been months and we have not been able to do that. ... We will continue to flounder."
The other three board members took strong exception to Minton's characterization of the district.
"In the last two to three weeks, many of the things we were given a mandate to do as a board have been going ahead at a rapid pace," Black said, referring to himself, Kirk and Rogers, who were elected together in November 2006.
But Minton stuck to his analogy.
"Principals need to know they have consistency, not for a few months, but as a long-term plan," he said. "This district has no rudder to guide it."
The next meeting of the Hesperia Unified School District school board will take place September 24, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at Sultana High School.
Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Superintendent search on hold
The search to replace Hesperia Unified School District Superintendent Hank Richardson will not begin until the school board first clarifies the superintendent's role.


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Early Bird Holiday Discount on Group Classes!
Use the PayPal link below to receive a $25 discount on January Alexander Technique Group Classes! The discount is valid through the end of the day, December 20. (If you would like to pay by cash or check, email firstname.lastname@example.com to arrange for payment by Dec. 20)
Class Dates/times;
Mondays Jan 5, 12, 19, 26 6-7pm
Mondays Jan 5, 12, 19, 26 7-8pm


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Tone Your Abs With These 6 Yoga Twists
While yoga is a great way to stretch your hamstrings and open up your back, it's also a great way to get stronger.
Yoga twists in particular are a great way to flex and tone your abs. Even better, twists remove toxins from your body. Like a sponge squeezing out soap, twisting a yoga pose helps your internal organs do their job of cleansing and healthfully maintaining your body.
To maximize toning your abs while you detoxify, get into each core pose first. From there, inhale deeply and exhale into the twist by pulling your belly button in toward your spine. Hold each twist for five to ten slow, deep breaths. Back out of each twist by reversing the steps, then begin again on the other side. Spend an equal amount of time on each side to create balance in your body.
Ready? It's time to get twisted!
Forward Fold Twist (Parivtrra Uttanasana)
Begin with the core pose standing forward fold. Stand with your hands on your hips, then breathe out and fold forward. Reach your arms toward the floor and lengthen your spine. Bend one knee and place the same side's hand on the ground in front of your foot. If you can't touch the ground, hold on to your shin. Place your other hand behind you on your lower back. Turn your chest skyward and exhale fully.
If you feel balanced, reach your arm up toward the sky and look up. You'll feel a lot of release in your lower back with this twist.
Twisted Chair (Parivtrra Utkatasana)
From a standing position, inhale and raise your arms. Exhale and bend your knees as if you are sitting down on a chair. Press your hands together in front of your chest. Turn to one side, lean forward, and hook your front elbow over the outside of your knee. Press your elbow against your knee to twist. As you twist, sit down in order to keep your weight in your heels.
Downward Dog Twist (Parivtrra Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Downward-facing dog is the quintessential core pose that makes for the perfect twist. Begin on all fours. Place your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips (table pose). Inhale, then exhale and press your tail toward the sky. Make yourself look like an upside down letter "V." Press through your hands and heels.
To twist your dog, firmly plant one hand, look back at your feet, and reach the other hand across your body to grab the opposite ankle. Pull your ankle, exhale, and look up at the sky. Turn your body toward the sky while keeping both feet and one hand planted. This pose twists your middle back.
Twisted Lizard (Parivtrra Utthan Pristhasana)
Twisted lizard is really a low lunge twist, but I couldn't resist using this funny name. Begin in a low lunge with one leg stretched out behind you. Place one hand on the ground inside your front foot, just below your shoulder. Place the other hand on your bent knee for a moment to be sure you feel balanced, then turn your head that direction to look at the sky. Lift your hand and look up to increase the twist.
Twisted High Lunge (Parivtrra Alanasana)
Twisted high lunge challenges your balance while toning your thighs and arms as well as your belly. Begin in a high lunge by taking a big step forward. Bend your front knee so you can see your toes, and stretch your back leg behind you on your tiptoes. Inhale and reach your hands up high to begin. Tuck your tummy slightly. Exhale and bring the arm opposite your bent knee to shoulder level while you stretch the other arm behind you. If you feel balanced, turn your head to face in the direction of your twist. Breathe deeply.
Twisted Triangle (Parivtrra Trikonasana)
Once you get into triangle pose, it can be addictive. This amazing pose opens up your hips, stretches your chest and arms, and tightens your abs with a gentle twist. From a standing position, take a big step forward. Turn your back foot out so you're facing to one side. Reach your arms out like the letter "T." Keep your legs straight. Breathe in and reach forward over your front leg while keep your back hip cocked. Breathe out while you slowly teeter-totter your arms until your hand touches your leg or the floor. Reach your opposite fingertips toward the sky and look upward. Keep leaning back and breathe.
To twist your triangle, keep your feet firmly planted while you switch your arms. The hand that's reaching toward the sky will touch the ground or your leg, while the other hand reaches upward. Your hips will square up too. Balance, breathe, and twist.
These are just a half dozen of the many yoga poses that are out there waiting to be twisted. Try them today to reap all the wonderful benefits that twists have to offer.
Ready to learn more about how to unlock the power of food to heal your body, prevent disease & achieve optimal health? Register now for our FREE web class with nutrition expert Kelly LeVeque.


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Nanaimo man is B.C.'s first victim of E.coli outbreak
Oct 09 2012
The outbreak originated at the XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alta.Photograph by: Larry MacDougal , The Canadian Press
A Nanaimo resident is the first person in B.C. and the 11th in Canada confirmed to have been infected with a strain of E. coli linked to the massive beef recall at XL Foods in Alberta.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control made the announcement Monday afternoon, saying the patient - only identified as a male - has fully recovered since falling ill in mid-September.
Patient-confidentiality regulations prevent the release of more information, including his age or the severity of his condition, say health officials.
Lab tests confirmed the patient's illness was caused by the E. coli 0157: H7 strain connected to the largest beef recall in the country's history.
"This shows there is a potential risk in B.C., but it's not a surprise to us," said Dr. Eleni Galanis, epidemiologist with the Centre for Disease Control. XL Foods provides about a third of the beef consumed by British Columbians, she said.
Health officials have not been able to determine the source of the infection found in the Nanaimo patient. Galanis said the person ate beef several times before getting sick.
The Centre for Disease Control is not seeing an increase in reported cases of E. coli.
Confirmations of infections now stretch across the country, hitting nearly a dozen people in four provinces, including Alberta, Newfoundland and Quebec.
To protect against further infections in humans, health officials urge people to cook raw beef thoroughly to at least 71C.
When the source of the meat is in doubt, throw it away, Galanis said.
The beef recall from the Brooks, Alta., plant also continues to expand, with retailers in more than 20 countries returning products to XL Foods, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday. That includes about 1.1 million kilograms sold to the U.S.
A small amount of affected products has also been distributed in Hong Kong, said a statement from that country's Centre for Food Safety.
The international response to the recall is a measured one, according to a world beef-trade expert, who helped the industry navigate the mad-cow crisis.
Ted Haney, former president of the Canada Beef Export Federation, said the E. coli situation is fundamentally different from the mad-cow crisis, which saw borders shut to beef exports for years and stripped billions of dollars from the agriculture sector, but had no effect on humans.
Haney urged the CFIA to promote a state of calm and confidence for when the XL Foods plant reopens, "paving the way for a successful return to markets."
Federal food inspectors will again visit the plant today, responding to the company's request to have its licence reinstated after it was pulled last month.
A CFIA audit found a long list of deficiencies, including the unsanitary handling of meat.
The agency said last week that XL Foods had no appropriate plan to handle a late August spike in positive tests for a potentially fatal bacteria.
But the agency struggled to explain why its inspectors didn't stop contaminated products from reaching grocery shelves. firstname.lastname@example.com


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Photo Restoration Service UK: Restoring your old photographs.
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This is the second montage in the set I call "blue window". This was an entry into a photoshop competition. Day one was all about the effectiveness of silhouettes and today carried that theme on. A graduated blue background with streams of blue snake-like sea strands behind a square paneled viewing window. The silhouettes were added at the end. Stock photos of people turned into... Read More


text: Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Matt Kivel has released his stunning new single "Janus" of his upcoming third record, 'Janus', via Stereogum. Before coming into his own Matt got his start working as a player in various bands during the first decade of the 2000s. It wasn't until 2013 when Matt made the choice to venture into his much needed solo project. As a a solo artist Matt Kivel pursued a more solemn route, with dazzling ambient synths meeting his soft and tender vocals. According to Stereogum" It's soft and delicate and pure and real, the silky insteumentation starting out quietly before blossoming wonderfully." Head HERE to premiere Matt Kivel's elegant new single "Janus", and read up on his thought on the recording process.


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Welcome to my stop on the Some Odd Girl Valentine's Day Blog Hop! You should have arrived from Nicoletta's blog but if you
As a person who has always had an engrained loathing of exercise and love of pizza, it seemed I was destined to always be overweight. Working a sedentary job and approaching my thirties only compounded the issues. I tried to change, going to the gym, doing workout videos at home, making tweaks to my diet, but nothing worked until I was introduced to The Bar Method by the Tampa studio owner Jenny. I was an instant addict. The instructors made every excruciating move fun and effective, the community was always welcoming and never judgmental, every muscle in my body was sore after each class and I felt incredible. I started at an average of 2-3 classes a week 2 1/2 years ago and I now go 5 classes a week and miss it on the days I don't go. My 30 year old self never would have thought it possible that I would ever miss exercising.
The Bar Method is all about setting goals and my initial goal in class was simply not to die, because it was hard. Like crazy hard. I'm happy to report that I achieved that goal and started making new ones. At the time of my first class I was almost a size 16, so my ultimate goal became to be a size 8. I surpassed that goal about a month ago and now I'm setting new ones, like whittling away my thighs so that they don't rub together when I walk and becoming a bad ass push-up machine. I have a confidence, strength and power that I never thought possible and everything in my life has improved from being a part of The Bar Method community. My relationships, focus, posture, diet, ambition and health have all been impacted by the Bar Method and I'm a better person because of it.
This is one year of change, doing no other workout than The Bar Method and eating a cleaner diet.
Welcome to my stop on the Some Odd Girl Valentine's Day Blog Hop! You should have arrived from Nicoletta's blog but if you
I feel as though I've lived a long, brutal lifetime in the year since I lost my soul mate. At the same time,


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Monday was an action packed day for the third largest U.S. bank, Citigroup (NYSE:C). The bank announced that it has agreed to pay $7 billion to settle a government investigation into sales of shoddy mortgage-backed securities that helped fuel the financial crisis .
However, this is not it: The company also announced a better than expected quarterly results on the same day.
Focus on future - not the past
First, the settlement is good news for Citi as it removes the litigation overhang and the bank can now concentrate on its core business. It allows the bank to move forward and focus on the future, not the past. The settlement number was also a relief for investors, as Department of Justice (DOJ) was reportedly seeking a fine of $12 billion.
Citigroup is not the first bank to settle with DOJ for its role in the sale of poor quality mortgage-backed securities. JPMorgan earlier paid $13 billion and Bank of America is being pursued for at least $12 billion.
Substantial earnings power
The other good news was the better than expected results. Citi reported adjusted 2Q14 operating EPS of $1.24, beating consensus estimates of $1.05 by 18%. Headline EPS of $0.03 included $3.7 billion mortgage settlement expense as well as a negative CVA/DVA of $33 million.
Citi's results not only reaffirm confidence in the bank's substantial earnings power but are also good news for the other big banks, as trading revenues came in better than expected. The bank is clearly significantly overcapitalized with excess liquidity and this means its earnings capacity is growing significantly.
The bank also continues to make progress on its key strategic priorities of rationalizing its business mix, achieving profitability in Citi Holdings, and fortifying its capital and liquidity position.
Stronger revenues lower expenses
Citi's results were characterized by stronger revenues, lower core expenses, and a lower provision than what the market was expecting. The upside to revenues reflected better net interest income from a combination of asset growth and a lesser degree of margin compression, and stronger trading results than recently reduced expectations, particularly in FICC.
If you take out the $3.8 billion legal charge, Citi's operating expenses reflect the benefits of efficiency gains in the Global Consumer Bank, and lower compensation costs in the Institutional Clients Group from sequentially lower revenues. The lower provision reflected a decline in NCOs, reserve releases in the mortgage and credit card businesses, and the benefits of the transfer of certain loans to held-for-sale.
Resilient trading revenues
Trading revenues have helped boost the fortunes of investment banks but have plunged over the last year or so. Bank's own CFO, John Gerspach, said back in May that trading revenue would fall between 20% and 25%. However, despite fears of a significant drop Citi reported better than expected trading revenues, which only fell by 15%.
This should come as a relief to investors, as a better trading number was needed for the stock to have a near-term catalyst.
Progress on key initiatives
More significantly, the 2Q results demonstrated substantial progress on several of Citi's key strategic initiatives, including the resumption of revenue growth in the Global Consumer Bank and further rationalization in this business' geographies and infrastructure; additional utilization of the DTA; incremental declines in core expenses; continued increases in the company's liquidity position; the achievement of positive net income in Citi Holdings (excluding the settlement charge); and growth in regulatory capital at a magnitude greater than the increases in GAAP capital.
As I mentioned earlier these results should reaffirm confidence in Citi's longer term earnings power and potential to return significant capital. While the Fed's stress test results have pushed out the capital return at Citi, the capital return story remains intact and investors should have confidence in Citi's ability to increase payout overtime.


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Rugby World Cup 2015
Rugby World Cup 2015
Power and Data Infrastructure at Media Zone - Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
The 2015 Rugby World Cup was the eighth Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial rugby union world championship. The tournament was hosted by England from 18 September to 31 October. New Zealand won the cup over runners-up Australia, with South Africa defeating Argentina to take third place.
Figure of Eight were delighted to be awarded the supply of temporary electrical outlets and data points for the double deck temporary media structure at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester. We provided over 200 of 13A sockets, 100 of CAT6 data points with several kilometres of cabling and rigging facilities for the host broadcaster.
"We were able to deploy our plug and socket media desk system which uses the highly reliable Neutrik Powercon system to ensure quick, neat and reliable power and data to the 200 media desks. Points could easily be added or changed unlike a conventional hard wired system" commented project manager, Rich Rayner. "We were really pleased to be involved in the project which saw us also provide generators, cabling, distribution and rigging for many other projects in other locations simultaneously".
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Have you ever wanted to experience the vibrant and laidback environment of a beautiful Caribbean island? Dreamt about relaxing in the sun whilst enjoying the views of the beach and calm waters? By heading out on a Caribbean cruise, you can do just that and more. A journey to the Caribbean is perfect for those wanting to visit a new and exciting destination and be able to simply sit back and take in the sights.
Here are the top five destinations for the Caribbean.
1. Jamaica
The first thing you think of when deciding where to go on any Caribbean cruise is the island of Jamaica. The warm temperatures coupled alongside the unique activities you can do allows you to have a truly authentic Caribbean experience. With activities like jungle river tubing, rum and sugar-making tours and horse-riding, this is a cruise destination not to be missed.
If you prefer to do a lot more exploring during your holidays, there is nothing better than taking the chairlift tour of Jamaica's truly stunning rainforest.
2. Grand Cayman
The Grand Cayman has one of the best attractions of the Caribbean with the spectacular Seven-Mile Beach, a long coral-sand beach known for its beauty and Stingray City, a place where visitors can interact with the creatures of the deep. Grand Cayman is more of an exciting destination to visit as you can seek thrills and explore the wild.
Enjoy some shopping and dining at five-star restaurants whilst you're there, or experience some of the world's best swimming with stingrays. There really is plenty to explore on the biggest of the three Cayman Islands.
3. St Lucia
The island is recognized for its peaceful bliss and calming atmosphere, much like the whole of the Caribbean. What sets St Lucia apart, however, is its fascinating history between the French and British forces. Taking a tour, you can see why it was so desired by visiting the dramatic Soufriere volcano, showing you the island's full beauty.
The botanical gardens in St Lucia are home to exotic wildlife including parrots and hummingbirds, all set near a waterfall. Above all, the skyline is dominated by the twin peaks of Les Pitons, two volcanic plugs scaling over 700m high.
4. Barbados
The hub of all things party, if you're looking for worthy cruise deals then make sure you head to Barbados for an experience to remember. Known to be the tourist hot-spot for the Caribbean, you'll enjoy the luxury of the long white sandy beaches as you get a true taste for tropical paradise.
If you came here to let your hair loose and join in on the fun, the South Coast has all the action, with St Lawrence Gap the place to be for the liveliest bars and clubs. You can even try your hand at snorkeling, diving and submarine tours.
5. Grenada
Alongside an elegant colonial architecture with tropical plants and mountains surrounding the island, Grenada boasts the label of being one of the world's largest exports of nutmeg and mace crops, hence the name 'The Island of Spice'. If you head to Grenada, be sure to try some of their unique Creole cuisine containing these ingredients.
The island truly has it all, from valleys, volcanic craters and lakes to waterfalls, mountains and rainforests. There's never a moment to be lost when you can snorkel, take boat rides and even explore the deep ocean via scuba diving.


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- 1 What Is Inpatient Rehab Like in Capay?
What Is Inpatient Rehab Like in Capay?
Some individuals have the ability to utilize entertainment or prescription drugs without experiencing adverse effects or addiction For lots of others, though, substance usage can be an attempt to escape from troubles in their lives as well as has a lot more serious consequences. The misuse of drugs to cope with life's troubles only makes the existing troubles worse and likely reasons brand-new issues to develop, leaving feelings of seclusion, vulnerability, or shame.
How To Complete Drug Rehab in Capay California
If you're bothered with your personal or a good friend or member of the family's substance abuse, it's important to recognize that aid is readily available. Learning more about the nature of substance abuse as well as addiction– why as well as exactly how it develops, just what it appears like, and why it can have such a powerful hold– will certainly offer you a better understanding of the issue and also how to finest manage it.
Recognizing substance abuse, drug abuse, and also dependency.
Where Is The Best Drug Rehab
Drug misuse and also dependency is much less concerning the quantity of compound consumed or the regularity, and also a lot more regarding the factors people transform to drugs in the initial location as well as the effects of their drug usage. If your drug usage is triggering problems in your life– at job, school, home, or in your partnerships– you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem.
How substance abuse as well as addiction could establish
There is a fine line between regular usage and also drug misuse and dependency Few addicts are able to identify when they have actually gone across that line. While regularity or the quantity of medications taken in do not always constitute substance abuse or addiction, they could often be indicators of drug-related troubles.
Drug abuse might start as a means to socially link. Typically, individuals try medicines for the very first time in social situations with buddies and acquaintances. A solid desire to fit in to the team can make it feel like doing the medications with them is the only choice.
How Expensive Is Drug Rehab in Capay CA?
Issues can often creep up on you, as your drug use slowly boosts in time. Smoking a joint with friends over the weekend break, or taking ecstasy at a go crazy, or cocaine at a periodic celebration, for instance, can alter from making use of medications a few days a week to utilizing them each day. Progressively, obtaining and using the drug ends up being an increasing number of essential to you.
Up until you find alternate, healthier methods for conquering these troubles, your drug use will likely proceed. If you are utilizing medications to fill up a gap in your life, you're a lot more at danger of crossing the line from informal use to drug misuse and also dependency. To maintain a healthy and balanced equilibrium in your life, you need to have favorable experiences as well as really feel good concerning your life without any kind of drug usage.
Are Alcohol & Drug Treatment Programs Successful
As drug abuse takes hold, you might miss out on or regularly be late for job or institution, your task efficiency might progressively weaken, and also you might start to neglect social or household responsibilities. Your capability to stop utilizing is ultimately endangered. What began as a volunteer option has developed into a physical and emotional requirement.
At some point drug abuse can eat your life, quiting social and also intellectual advancement. This only strengthens the sensations of seclusion that resulted in the substance abuse in the first place.
When Should You Go To Alcohol Rehab
The good news is that with the appropriate therapy and support, you could counteract the disruptive results of drug use and also reclaim control of your life. The initial barrier is to identify and also admit you have an issue, or pay attention to liked ones that are frequently much better able to see the negative results substance abuse is having on your life.
Signs and symptoms of drug abuse as well as drug addiction.
Different drugs have different physical impacts, the signs of dependency are similar. If you identify yourself in the adhering to symptoms and signs important abuse and also addiction, take into consideration talking to someone about your drug use.
You're neglecting your responsibilities at college, work, or residence (e.g. flunking courses, skipping job, neglecting your youngsters) because of your drug use.
You're using drugs under harmful conditions or taking dangers while high, such as driving while on medicines, using filthy needles, or having unprotected sex.
Your substance abuse is obtaining you right into legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving intoxicated, or taking to support a drug habit.
Your drug use is creating issues in your connections, such as fights with your partner or relative, a miserable manager, or the loss of pals.
You've developed a drug tolerance. You should use even more of the drug to experience the exact same effects you utilized to achieve with smaller sized amounts.
You take drugs to stay clear of or alleviate withdrawal symptoms. If you go as well long without medicines, you experience symptoms such as queasiness, uneasyness, sleeping disorders, depression, sweating, drinking, and also anxiousness.
You've lost control over your substance abuse. You usually do drugs or make use of greater than you planned, despite the fact that you informed on your own you would not. You may want to quit utilizing, yet you really feel helpless.
Your life revolves around substance abuse. You invest a lot of time utilizing and also thinking about medicines, determining how to obtain them, and recovering from the drug's results.
You've deserted tasks you used to take pleasure in, such as hobbies, sporting activities, and also mingling, because of your substance abuse.
You continuously utilize medicines, despite understanding it's injuring you. It's causing significant issues in your life– blackouts, infections, mood swings, anxiety, paranoia– but you utilize anyhow.


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Man gets 4 years for 'Love Ulster' assault on reporter
A MAN who attacked RTÉ reporter Charlie Bird at the 2006 Love Ulster Parade riot has been given a four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Graham Hanapy (25) shouted "you're an Orange bastard" at Mr Bird before punching him and knocking him to the ground.
He also shouted: "Fenian 'Free State' bastards, I'll kill you all" at gardaí who arrested him.
Mr Bird was treated in hospital for a fractured cheekbone, bruising and soft-tissue damage.
Hanapy, of Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and to assaulting Mr Bird causing him harm on O'Connell Street on February 25th, 2006. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed sentences totalling four years and suspended the final year on strict conditions.
Garda Finian Dempsey told prosecuting counsel Seán Gillane that he saw protesters throwing missiles at gardaí on O'Connell Street, and panicked members of the public running for cover. As he passed Clerys store he saw Mr Bird being chased by Hanapy and a number of other men.
He saw Hanapy catch Mr Bird and strike him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Hanapy then punched Mr Bird in the head as he lay on the ground before a number of people intervened and helped him to his feet.
Garda Dempsey said Hanapy came at the journalist again but Mr Bird was able to fend him off. Mr Bird was also struck in the head by another person as he was getting up.
Garda Dempsey said he pursued and arrested Hanapy, who was intoxicated and extremely aggressive.
Mr Bird, who was not in court, told gardaí he was working in the city centre on the day.
He was near the GPO when he heard someone shout "Charlie Bird, you're an Orange bastard" before he was assaulted and knocked down. Mr Bird's victim impact statement said he had been left "feeling shaken and battered" by the assault and was in shock for 36 hours afterwards.
He said he continues to attend physiotherapy for back pain.
Hanapy told gardaí he had a limited recollection of events but accepted he could have committed the assault.
Garda Dempsey said he was satisfied Hanapy did not have any political agenda for his actions.
Garda Dempsey agreed with defence counsel Isobel Kennedy SC that Hanapy had identified himself on CCTV images which showed him holding and firing various missiles at gardaí.
Ms Kennedy said Hanapy was disgusted by his actions and came from a decent, hard-working family. She said his seven previous convictions had been for minor offences and he had taken a large amount of alcohol and some antidepressants on the day.
Ms Kennedy handed into court letters of apology written by Hanapy to Mr Bird and the Garda public order unit, expressing his deep shame and regret.
She said he had lost his job and his relationship with his girlfriend. He was now attending counselling and having treatment for addiction problems.


text: Aspire laptops -- all of which were manufactured before September 15th of this year. It seems that some of them are experiencing an overheat of the microphone cable after "repeated" and "extreme" pressure is applied to the left palm rest. The affected models include the AS3410, AS3810T, AS3810TG, AS3810TZ and AS3810TZG. Acer's set up a website where you can enter the serial number of your device to see if yours might be one of the affected.


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Cengage Learning, one of the largest textbook publisher in the U.S. announced two weeks ago that it would begin renting textbooks to students at discounted rates, Here's an informative article from the New York Times. And, here are a number of responses from NY Times' readers. I anticipate this is the first of many adjustments that publishers and distributors of educational materials will need to make in order to deliver a valuable service to students. Indeed, this modification addresses student's temporal, calendar-driven, demand for text books and their increasingly strained budgets. But it fails to individualize the content for students and teachers alike. Different classes, different disciplines, different schools, different students ultimately warrant different content and materials---and while I think that this is less prohibitive at the university level as it is easy for professors to supplement class readings with articles and journals and online essays---I believe every student, kindergartners to graduate level, would benefit from a more thoughtful curriculum.
Here are some examples of localized American initiatives:
1) In Arizona, teachers are encouraged to create lesson plans from mixes of online resources, via the New York Times.
2) At last year's Ted Talks, Richard Baraniuk of Rice University talked about his vision for open sourced learning content----I think this is where we are going, hopefully. Take a moment to watch a clip from that talk.


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Cassey Sweater
This item is currently out of stock online
Product info
- Length
- 62cm
- Fabric composition
- 65% Viscose / Rayon, 27% Wool, 7% Polyamide / Nylon, 1% Elastane
- Washing instructions
- Hand wash
- Style code
- 9198
Editor's Notes
A true style staple. In a choice of hues, the Cassey sweater is a wardrobe addition that you'll turn to again and again. It's truly versatile, and perfect for both the office, with tailored trousers or a pencil skirt, and your off-duty denim days. The boat neck and side splits are elegant touches. Crafted from material that is rich in wool for a sumptuously soft feel. Model is 175cm/5'9'' and is wearing a size UK S.


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Getting Started
Before you get your red worms:
Monitor how much food or other organic waste that you would normally throw away, then divide the weight (lbs) of one week of waste by 3.5 (this is the amount 1 lb of redworms will eat in a week). This is the amount of redworms you can start with. You can always start with less redworms and they will catch up to the amount of food you give them. Note: your compost should be 1/2 waste and 1/2 bedding (shredded newspaper, leaves or sawdust). Bedding is not food to your redworms at least not at first, it is to keep your compost fluffy and able to hold air. It is also good to cover your waste to reduce fruit flies and to insulate in cold weather. Overfeeding is not the problem in most composts, it's not putting enough bedding with the food. As a result most beginners will either lose some or all their redworms due to the excess moisture (not enough bedding) becoming anaerobic or due to the lack of food in fear of over feeding.
Decide on the redworm compost bin that you would like to use. Wood, plastic or any combination of the two, there are advantages to both and the main purpose for a bin is to keep your compost neat and tidy and to protect your redworms from predators (ie: moles).
Start saving your food waste so it can break down a little before your feed it to them. Redworms will not chew up your apples until the skin gets soft and it's the same for most foods. Redworms are secondary eaters, they will eat after bacteria, mold or some other bug has softened the waste.
Ordering your red worms:
Beware of inexpensive redworms labeled as soil with redworms. These vendors often advertise 1,000 redworms and eggs in 1 lb of soil, this does not always mean you are getting "1 lb of redworms". A pound of pure redworms is equivalent to 2 cups in volume.
Setting up your bin:
- Put one sheet of newspaper on the bottom of the bin to keep your redworms from wandering out when they are first put in. If you have some compost starter you can put that in now, if not put in a layer of bedding (about 2"). Now put in the food and another layer of bedding.
You have your bin, you've added your bedding and food waste. Now you are ready to add your redworms and as I mentioned earlier you may need to house break them. It is likely that your waste does not taste the same as what they were eating before, so they may want to wander. Most beginners think right away there is something wrong with the bin, food, or moisture. Most likely it's just the new home, so you need to house break them by putting a light above your compost. Redworms do not like the light so they are more likely to stay in the bin. It may take a few days for your redworms to forget their old home, give or take a day or two.
- Now it's time to be patient, let your redworms eat, lay egg cocoons and eat some more. Now it's time to think about what you are going to do with your redworm castings (this is the black gold fertilizer that your redworms will reward you with for feeding them well).


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Get Your Wristband To Watch The Arrival Of The Olympic Torch
Published by The Wessex FM News Team at 12:50pm 7th June 2012. (Updated at 9:27am 12th June 2012)
You can apply today to get your free ticket to watch the Olympic Torch arrive on Weymouth Beach. The event, taking place on Thursday 12 July, is free but people wanting to watch the entertainment and events taking place will be required to apply in advance for a wristband, which will allow them access onto the beach site.
You can now apply for your free ticket to watch the Olympic Torch arrive on Weymouth Beach.
The event, taking place on Thursday 12 July, is free but people wanting to watch the entertainment and events taking place will be required to apply in advance for a wristband, which will allow them access onto the beach site.
People will be able to apply for up to five wristbands per household online HERE now.
Those successful in booking wristbands will then be able to collect them from a choice of six Tourist Information Centres (TICs) around Weymouth and Portland and West Dorset before 4pm on Friday 29 June. They will be asked to select which TIC they would like as their collection point at the time of booking.
The celebration at Weymouth Beach will enable thousands of people in Weymouth and Portland and the surrounding areas to enjoy a variety of entertainment staged by LOCOG, the three Presenting Partners of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay - Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung - and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council.
Gates to the beach site will open at 4pm on Thursday 12 July, with the show scheduled to begin from 5.30pm and the Olympic Flame due to arrive at 7.16pm. The Flame will arrive at the beach by rowing gig before the last Torchbearer of the day will take it up onto the stage and light a celebration cauldron so that it will be visible to the audience.
During the two-and-a-half-hour show, the three Presenting Partners will each provide 20 minutes of exciting entertainment, including performances from chart-topping rapper Wretch 32 from Coca-Cola and dance act and Britain's Got Talent finalists 'Twist & Pulse' from Samsung. Lloyds TSB will be bringing acrobatic performances to the show.
There will also be two ten-minute slots of locally-programmed entertainment. This will include a drumming spectacular involving local children from the 'Moving Tides' carnival, the bands Weapons of Sound, Magic Drum Orchestra and B-Sharp plus the audience.
The event will be followed by a firework display at 9.30pm over Weymouth Bay.
Councillor Mike Goodman, Chairman of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council's Management Committee said: "This is going to be a very special and unique occasion for Weymouth and Portland and we want to ensure we give the Olympic Flame a fantastic welcome. The line-up for the evening celebration is looking very exciting and I am sure it is going to be a night to remember."
The quickest and easiest way to apply for tickets will be online HERE but those without web access may call Weymouth & Portland Borough Council's Customer Services Team on 01305 838000 for assistance.


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Housing Advocates in New Orleans Take on Short-Term Rentals
Eleven years after the federal levee failures following Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, the city's tourism industry has rebounded to pre-storm levels. In 2014, 9.52 million people visited New Orleans and spent a total of $6.81 billion, the highest recorded tourism spending in the city's history. But while the revenue from increasing tourism has been … Read more


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Cross platform case study-Guidestones
This post was originally published on The Film Collaborative blog.
In the continuation of a look at recent cross platform/transmedia projects, this case study will be particularly relevant to those working with low budgets and ambitious plans. Writer/director Jay Ferguson's initial inspiration for Guidestones came from his late father's fascination with serialized shorts. Growing up in the thirties and forties, Ferguson's father went to the cinema and was 'hooked' on serialized shorts where bad guys tie distressed maidens to the train tracks and such. Ferguson thought that the internet would be an ideal place to try to recreate that experience for this century.
Again, thanks to Storycode.org for providing the video presentation (found at the bottom of this post) from which these notes were culled.
Jay Ferguson, writer/director, 3 o'clock TV
Two journalism students, investigating an unsolved murder, uncover a global conspiracy centered around the mystery of The Georgia GUIDESTONES, an enigmatic monument nestled in a farmer's field in rural Georgia and inscribed with directions for rebuilding civilization after the apocalypse. The story is based on a real monument and on the real account of a Toronto woman's experiences.
GUIDESTONES uses elements of transmedia and ARG storytelling to take viewers on a thrilling chase that crosses two continents and three countries in search of the truth. The project uses a hybrid mix of traditional narrative and formal and non-formal documentary styles. Shot vérité style in Canada, the USA and India, the series moves seamlessly between the real world and the ?ctional account of how a young woman named Sandy stumbled upon a murder mystery.
Three minute episodes, 50 in total so far, with audience participation elements.
Ferguson wanted to tell stories by professional storytellers that would guide the audience an online and offline experience. He observed that, though audiences wanted to participate in the story somehow, no one wants to pay for online content. Also, how to keep audiences coming back? Too many webseries start out with the first few episodes being ok then die with audience numbers. Ferguson and his team have endeavored to keep up a fast paced, engaging story that pushes the audience to continue the journey.
A mix of self funded, Canadian Independent Production Fund, some matching grants from the Ontario Media Development Council , sponsorship from Samsung, Carbon Clothing, Major League Baseball/Toronto Bluejays, Pizza Pizza (Canadian Domino's). The online platforms (Hulu, Youtube) did not put in any money. The total budget is around $300,000 CAD. Estimate to reproduce at market value would be $1 million.
Revenue streams:
Product integration, merchandise/music/ringtones, rev share from Hulu. Recently launched on iTunes and considering a DVD to sell.
Audience demographic:
While there were certain demographics in mind, the production recognized that different audiences will want to interact with the series, so different ways to view the project were developed. In the Push version, one can sign up for the show and have the episodes delivered via e-mail to experience in 'real time' as the characters are exploring the mystery. The Linear version is for those who want to be more passive and treat it like a traditional serialized show.
Background of the team:
Jay Ferguson is an award-winning filmmaker who has contributed as a writer, director, producer and cinematographer to over 15 feature films. His work with institutions such as The National Film Board of Canada has garnered him several awards, including the top cinematography award at the Atlantic Film Festival (Animals, 2005) and from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (Inside Time, 2008). He was nominated for a Gemini Award in 2005.
Jonas Diamond is the CEO of iThentic, joining the team in the fall of 2008. Jonas is producer of the award-winning animated series Odd Job Jack (52×30). The series received a Gemini, CFTPA Indie, Banff Rockie and Canada New Media Award for Best Cross Platform Project. Additional Accolades for Odd Job Jack include a nomination for Best Interactive Program (2006) and Best Animated Show (2005) at the Banff Rockie Awards, second prize for Best Interactive Design (2006) at Vidfest, Best Convergent Project by the Banff Institute as well as multiple Gemini and Canadian Comedy Award nominations. Jonas? producer credits includes Odd Job Jack, Hotbox and Bigfoot for The Comedy Network / CTV, Pillars of Freedom for TVO, Turbo Dogs for CBC / NBC, The Dating Guy, skatoony, Sons of Butcher and the upcoming Geofreakz MORPG for Teletoon, The World of Bruce McCall, and the interactive storyteller Legends of Me as well as many other projects for various platforms.
Development phase:
It took 3 years from conception to launch.
Thinking through each platform:
50 webisodes were shot and edited for use as video links, the main storyline.
50 different websites were needed to house the clues for each webisode.
Content was hidden online for viewers to research the clues given during the webisodes.
One of the really hard things was creating 50 story arcs. Each episode is on average 3 minutes long and it is difficult to find an interesting opening, build the story and then a climax to lead into the next episode in such a short space of time. For feature films, you may only have to do one or two of those, but 50 is a lot. The interactivity was very difficult to make happen…very time consuming.
Production workflow:
The production used a very small crew and shot with a Canon 7d digital SLR in order to have flexibility and adaptability when on location. It allowed them to get into places that you regularly would not be allowed to shoot. In India, there were some places that do not regularly allow filming, but they were able to shoot some scenes in a few minutes and not bother anybody.
8 months in production, with 8-10 hour days
Location shooting: 3-4 weeks Toronto, 1 week in Georgia, 1 week in India
Post production meant bringing together all the elements of web and film. Before locking an episode, online properties needed to be created and sites linked to other sites so that the minute it was live, everything was in place for the viewer to experience.
Digital team included:
A graphic designer
Website builder
1 person to buy and manage urls
people to develop online presences on Linkedin and MySpace
2 editors full time
2-3 editors part time
a media manager
effects supervisor
effects editor
Brad Sears who designed the Push system and email system.
Deployment strategy
They launched the "push" system in February 2012. The viewers sign up via email address on their website to follow the episodes. Links are emailed to them with the episodes. Emails are timed to coincide with the happenings of the characters (if something happens at 9am, the email is sent at 9am). It takes the viewer a month to experience the whole thing and it is evergreen which means anyone can start it whenever they like. There is no "starting" and "ending" period.
After launch, the team received a lot of feedback from viewers. High schoolers in particular were impressed that they could Google things they had seen in the show, and something was actually there online. Also found that high schoolers do NOT use email like adults do. They communicate more via Facebook. Production team then modified the "push" system to run on Facebook.
For older people, they complained of too much email (50 episodes plus supplemental info). Some complained not enough episodes being released fast enough. They modified their release pattern/experience. Now viewers can choose to experience via Facebook, email or in a linear version where they just watch the episodes on their own time instead of following along with the characters. The linear version is on Hulu and on iTunes.
Building the Audience
Ferguson concedes that not enough money has been spent on publicity. Largely marketing has been a mix of public speaking, interviews in publications on the process, word of mouth by the viewers with a tshirt promotion for those who bring in 5 viewers. Brand sponsors are doing some of the promotion, particularly Pizza Pizza who play a 30 second ad for Guidestones in each of their stores across Canada. They are hoping that being on Hulu will help garner a larger audience for the project due to its large amount of traffic. Both Pizza Pizza and Samsung have done prize promotions on their Facebook pages for the show.
-The clue finding is actually going very well. People really love it and get excited looking for the content. The first season really taught lessons in how to create on-line interactivity…now the team wants to take it further and have many ideas on how to get even more interactive.
-Through connections gain on other projects, the team was able to broker an agreement with Hulu to host the series and have an advertising revenue share.
-The series is now selling on iTunes in the TV show section. The whole season download is priced at $9.99 or one can buy them per episode for $1.99.
-The acting is critical to the storytelling and the believability of any story. Supinder Wraich (Sandy) and Dan Fox (Trevor) have a real honesty that is hard to find in actors. Both can act really well directly to camera because they are able to empathize with the characters and that brings this very genuine quality that audiences respond to, it is very hard to fake that emotion without the audience feeling it. Ferguson's tip in casting is that when watching the actor closely, don't worry too much about the words or the actor's look necessarily, look into the eyes, see if there is a true belief in there. If they believe it, so will the audience.
-To the conventional viewer, the non-totally immersed viewer, the Push system adds up if they are not able to get to the emails often enough and that became frustrating for some people who didn't realize there was a more linear way to watch.
-The team was surprised that the South Asian community has not taken to the series yet as the "Sandy" character is a great character for the South Asian community. The series still struggles to get any real traction there.
-Promoting the show for a bigger audience. Most of the limited funds had to go into production. This is the classic conundrum for lower budget productions…all your money goes into making the thing and none into promoting it.[editor's note: A word to the wise, budget in significant money for a publicist (traditional and one geared toward reaching fans directly), online advertising, video seeding, promotions, Facebook promoted posts, etc].
- Post-production has been about a year long with four working on it full-time and six or seven people working on it part-time, unlike editing a 120 minutes of content which can be done in a few months. Every single step of the way requires so many elements – a ringtone, a song, a site to house that audio, a site to house a different type of clue that has to be searchable only in a certain manner… all these things are endless and each has to be built because there is no preexisting system.
-The only way they've been able to do this on a low budget is that the studio where they work [for day job projects] has audio people, graphic designers, visual effects artists, people who can build apps, all in-house. While they set out with a specific road map and 60 to 65% of that might have remained the same, about 40% has definitely had to change in post-production because they found certain approaches don't work and when one things is changed, all the elements have to be adjusted since everything is built together. Everyone on the team understands that they're trying to prove a point with this, build a new model, but it is really hard to do unless you have infrastructure behind you. At one point, Ferguson thought if grant money and sponsorship money didn't come in, he would still try to do this on his own, but he now concedes this was a ridiculous notion! "It would have taken me 15 years to do and I wouldn't even have the skills to do most of it."
A huge thanks to Jay Ferguson for sharing his details for the benefit of all who are interested in these new forms of storytelling. Below, please find his presentation
Other sources used in this post:
Tags: 3 o'clock TV, ARG, Brad Sears, Canada, Canadian Independent Production Fund, Canon 7d, Carbon Clothing, case study, cross platform, cross platform storytelling, Dan Fox, Georgia Guidestones, guidestones, Hulu, India, iThentic, iTunes, Jay Ferguson, Jonas Diamond, Major League Baseball, Ontario Media Development Council, Pizza Pizza, Samsung, Storycode, Supinder Wraich, Toronto Bluejays, transmedia, USA, YouTube
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Thursday, April 03, 2008
Spring Wardrobe Inspiration
this year i really want to use up as much of my stash fabric as possible, so that i can be guilt free about adding new fabrics. with that in mind, i found a few styles that i want to attempt.
i've been wanting to incorporate more details in the things i sew, like piping. i'll likely use red and black linen from the stash. i am also going to try to work without a pattern. the pockets are a must, but i'll leave off the tabs at the top.
i'll be using Simplicity 3850. i need a practical pair of black capris, but i'm not sure i have any black twill in the stash. i'm half tempted to use some gawdawful green/blue/yellow plaid, b/c i have this strange obsession with making tacky golf pants. plus i don't have a better use for the fabric. maybe the golf pants can be my muslin, we'll see.
thank heavens wide leg pants are coming back. i'll modify the pants pattern from sew u. i'm not sure what fabric i'll use yet, but i'm sure that i still have gads of twill in almost every neutral color. i'm not that keen on the denim version.
for this tank, i'm planning to use the Tara pattern from burdastyle and modify it in a similar fashion to this one. i'm not sure yet if i will use a lightweight cotton print or a knit, but i could probably do both. the style seems pretty basic.
i'm not sure that i'll make this one. i rarely wear button-down shirts b/c i am too lazy to iron, but i do really like this style. i found the JJ pattern from burdastyle to be fairly similar, though it uses ruffles instead of pleats. i actually own a shirt from delias exactly like the JJ pattern. i never wear it. maybe i should make an attempt before i sew another one exactly like it.
i really love my Simplicity 4111 top, and i look forward to wearing it more as the weather warms up. i want to sew another with cap sleeves, like this one. i have some purple eyelet fabric that would be perfect.
i love scoop neck tees. Simplicity 4076 should work nicely...i'll just lengthen and widen the hem. this is another one that i could stand to have more than one--a print and a solid, at least.
i've seen several spring tanks with this neckline. i'll either pick up McCalls 5586 or i'll try to modify the Minna dress at burdastyle to be tunic length. i can't decide right now if i like the scoop or the v-neck version better.
yay inspiration! i wonder how much of this i'll actually be able to accomplish. knowing me, probably only one or two of them. i probably won't start right away, since i have another project in the works that i will likely begin tonight. but that's a post for another day.
5 comments:
I wish I could say all the pretties made me want to bust out the serger I got for Christmas, but now, I really just want to go shopping. :PReplyDelete
Can't wait to see what you whip up!
Nice spread! Now that I'm more confident on the machine, I feel like I'm in the "potholder stage" of sewing (when you compair it to knitting). Give me a couple of years--I'll be where you're at now! Ha ha!ReplyDelete
Those models' thighs creep me out though. That first one's thigh bone is a long as my WHOLE leg ha ha!
Gnomey, have you been reading or ever read Threads magazine? I really suggest you check it out. (They could have it at your library, but the book store and Jo-Ann sells them too.) The April/May 2008 issue is particularly good with a tutorial on making your own jeans, the start of a three part tailoring series. The tutorials are excellent. If you could find a library with back issues, there is a wealth of information to be had about the very embellishments you seek to learn, like pockets and piping and piping pockets!ReplyDelete
The selections for spring projects all look great. Happy Sewing! I am going to have a sewing room in the new house. I hope that will actually make me sew something. ;-)
I like the navy shirt, and the scoop neck t. I also like the skirt, but I would look awful in something like that! :)ReplyDelete
I am completely in love with that skirt and the polkadot pants. I love interesting trousers. But it's all fabulous... I wish I knew how to sew.ReplyDelete


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Thursday, June 23, 2011
Poll: What advertising has worked best for your handmade shop?
4 comments:
One of my teams does quarterly print advertising with dues and Etsy grants.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 23, 2011 at 10:00 PM
So far, word of mouth has been the best advertising for me!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 29, 2011 at 2:17 AM
I tried to vote but it says I already have...strange because I've never visited your blog! Oh well. I would say being a vendor at craft shows has been the best advertising overall. I often hear from people after shows who saw something they liked and didn't buy at the time and also I get the most repeat business from people who have bought from me at a show.ReplyDelete
Yeah. This poll has been buggy. Going to choosing a different polling service next time. Thanks for posting your vote on the comments though!ReplyDelete
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Kate Middleton makes special appearance on Serena Williams' Snapchat
It looks like Serena Williams is taking her talents off the court to Snapchat.
SEE ALSO: Everyone's freaking out about this new DiCaprio look-alike
The 34-year-old tennis star posted a video during the ladies' semi finals day at Wimbledon for her followers -- and it featured none other than Kate Middleton.
"I'm in the crowd now," Williams said as she moved the camera toward the 34-year-old royal's direction. Duchess Kate, who might of thought she was taking a picture, flashed a big grin.
"I'm with royalty!" Williams added.
Only Kate could make such an awkward on-camera moment look so flawless!
RELATED: Kate Middleton's royal style
The mother to Prince George and Princess Charlotte wore a bright yellow dress by Roksanda Ilincic, which she originally wore during her tour through Australia and New Zealand in 2014.
SEE ALSO: Justin Bieber parodies Kanye West's 'Famous' video
Not only did she hang out with the American tennis great, she also made time to meet members of the armed and emergency services and the ball boys and girls.
Prince William's other half has always been a long time fan of tennis. In fact, the royal couple just built a brand new tennis court at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Starting in 2017, Duchess Kate will take over Queen Elizabeth's role as the patron of Wimbledon.
See Duchess Kate's style transformation:
See Gallery


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The September 1st New Moon eclipse (at 9 degrees Virgo) is all about the Saturn/Neptune square. New beginnings will be based on the square's shifting versions of reality. Your eyes may have to adjust to these freshly printed truths.
The Sun and Moon will square Saturn in Sagittarius and oppose Neptune Rx in Pisces. Everything I wrote about here , has been building through August. And maybe as far back as November 2015, when the square first took shape. This eclipse will be the cherry on top of the sundae that's been melting and freezing, melting and freezing.
The new facts (Virgo) will be the results of old ideas/structures dissolving, and new potentials gelling. This process is anxiety-making. As I wrote in an earlier post:
"Squares create discomfort, and this square will make you uncomfortable because you'll be confronting an illusion, or fear. Or both....trying to fight under a Neptune square is tricky. The target can shift and dissolve."
It won't be a triumphant eclipse. There will be some humbling. This is Virgo, after all. You may have to give something up. But, if you've held fast in the face of dissolving evidence, insisting that your faith was aligned with the right thing, this eclipse might prove you correct. Not with a blast of trumpets, but with a quiet *click* as the confirmation arrives. But this will only happen if you've been tuned into the real deal. If you've been trying to prop up a fantasy...get ready to say goodbye.
The Mars/Saturn conjunction from August 24th, and Mars/Neptune square from August 26th, will also be featured, as Mars will still be close to Saturn/Neptune. Which takes us back to August 13th, when Saturn stationed direct at the degree it conjoined Mars. Or, back to April 17th, when Mars stationed Rx. Any or all of these dates could hold an important clue about what will go down, during the eclipse. The Mars trigger could involve work that needs to be completed, or action/anger that's been denied and undermined. Mars battling Saturn/Neptune is like running on shifting sand dunes. And yet, you find a way to move forward.
Before we get too discouraged, let's take note that Mercury Rx (ruler of this eclipse) will be very close to Jupiter in Virgo, at 28 degrees. That's some good news (due to a review or repeat), no matter what the eclipse brings. This harkens back to August 22nd, when Mercury direct first conjoined Jupiter (another key date with an eclipse hint).
The facts will be hopeful, or at least helpful. Jupiter rules Sagittarius, so there's an indication that you can grow within Saturn's new realities. Jupiter always means expansion, and Neptune is also an expansive influence. Any losses or restrictions were just side-effects of you being shifted into a new position. Now that you're correctly aligned, you can move onwards and upwards.
Finally, this eclipse is aligned with the Virgo North Node/Pisces South Node. The bigger picture is about new facts/information pointing you forward so you can develop something whose time has come. The future is real, and this eclipse will give you a guidebook, hot off the Saturn/Neptune press.
You'll notice the multiple dates connected to this eclipse. In true Mutable fashion, its impact has been unfolding in layers. To clarify, I'll give you a list. The dates before September 1st have provided clues about what the eclipse will bring. The dates after September 1st will indicate possible delayed eclipse events, or information yet to be uncovered. An additional layer may unfold, but for now (September 1st) it's not quite ready. A prime example is the Full Moon eclipse in Pisces, later in September.
- Nov 26th, 2015: first exact Saturn/Neptune square
- March 25th, 2016: Saturn stations Rx in Sag
- April 17th, 2016: Mars in Sag stations Rx
- Jun 17th, 2016: second exact Saturn/Neptune square
- Aug 13th, 2016: Saturn stations direct in Sag
- Aug 22nd, 2016: first Mercury/Jupiter conjunction in Virgo
- Aug 24th, 2016: Mars/Saturn conjunction in Sag
- Aug 26th, 2016: Mars/Neptune square
- Sept 1st, 2016: New Moon eclipse
- Sep 2nd, 2016: second Mercury Rx/Jupiter conjunction
- Sept 10th, 2016: final exact Saturn/Neptune square
- Sept 16th, 2016: Full Moon eclipse in Pisces (24 deg)
- Oct 11th, 2016: final Mercury/Jupiter conjunction
Interested in a heads up about what might hit you, a few years down the road? You can purchase my PDF download on the Saturn/Pluto conjunction of 2020.


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Bring Companion to your next office party,event, or meeting! If you are interested in placing an order of more than ½ a dozen items, then placing a "special order" may be a good option for you! We do not offer "holds" in the bakeshop. Retail items are first come first serve, unless a special order is placed by following the guidelines below:
Placing Your Order
All orders should be placed by emailing email@example.com with the items and quantities that you would like to order, or by calling (831)-252-2253 and placing your order with a Companion! Please note, our shop is busy and we can't always answer the phone. Email is the best way to start an order!
Orders must be placed and confirmed at least four days/96 hours in advance of the pick-up or delivery date. Prepayment is required, orders are only complete when they have been confirmed and paid for. Orders are only available for pick-up Tuesday-Sunday, as the Bakeshop is closed Mondays. We are no longer accepting orders for pick up at Farmer's Markets. If you are a caterer or wholesale partner please click here.
Please understand that if you do not put in an advance order, we cannot always guarantee that the quantities/items you seek will be available for retail sale at the Bakeshop. As a small business, we must try to minimize waste while satisfying customer demand in the shop, so we appreciate advance orders rather than same-day purchases at the counter.
Please be aware retail is first come first served and we have purchase quantity limits for walk in orders. Walk in quantities are limited to:
1/2 dozen pastry items
6 loaves of sourdough
4 baguettes
Thank you for considering Companion Bakeshop, we look forward to serving you!
For more detailed information on our available products, please refer to the Our Products page.