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I woke up this morning to a polarized Facebook feed over comments that Jerry Seinfeld made about young people being too "PC" and using words like "racism" and "sexism" without really knowing what they mean.
Being that I'm Facebook friends with hundreds of other comics, there were a lot of posts this morning with varying opinions on the matter.
Here's the audio of the comments he made. Take a listen for yourself.
The internet is ablaze with comments like:
"In other news, Jerry Seinfeld wants you to get off of his lawn."
"You always know the hopeless people because they are in their 50s and can't tell the difference between being PC and being a decent person. If you are a decent person you don't need political reasons to not hurt people."
First of all, there never was a more successful comic than Jerry whom was also clean and as politically correct in their comedy. If a comic so uncontroversial makes a comment about people being too PC and it's hurting comedy, maybe they might have a point?
Secondly, people freaking out about his comments are ironically proving his point. They're making the formal fallacy of lumping Seinfeld in a category of bigots complaining that people are offended by their racist and sexist comments. Seinfeld is none of those things. He's talking about how it affects the comedy world.
He's not looking for an excuse to tell offensive jokes. That's not what he does.
I'm really disheartened by our society and culture at this very moment. This incredible age of information that connects us more than ever before, has turned into the "Outrage Police" crawling the internet looking for things to be upset about.
Don't get me wrong, I'm fully supportive of people who are actually racist and sexist being "outed" and used as examples for what is not acceptable. Blatant discrimination based on race or sex shouldn't be tolerated. Human history is wrought with that kind of behavior and we do need to take a stand and make sure that is not how the world is run anymore.
However, this fucking witch hunt is getting ridiculous.
Through technology, we now have all of this power to connect with people across the world like never before. Instead of using this power for good, we only perpetuate misinformation, witch hunts, outrage, hate, anger, separation, and the occasional cat meme or motivational quote (that many times is attributed incorrectly or misquoted).
We've taken the ridiculousness of email forward propaganda from 10-15 years ago and applied that to the rapid information sharing of social media sites. Spreading bullshit, nonsense, misinformation, along with pictures of our food and vague statuses that are cries for attention to stroke our selfish agendas and narcissism.
If I post something and it gets more likes than you, I'm right and you're wrong.
People also want to blame the media for perpetuating these kinds of stories as well, and you would think that I would be one of them, but I'm not. The media only tells us what we want to hear. People loves "Outrage Police" stories. We love to find out whom the next victim is going to be, so that we can post it on our Facebook walls to get "likes" and attention. If you disagree, there's going to be a 100 comment thread argument. Whomever gets the most likes on their comments is the victor. Then we can unfriend and block each other.
Back to the point at hand, people are getting more politically correct. A lot of that is good. It shows that we're more aware and sensitive to oppressing people than we ever were in the past. We are striving towards a world that is free from prejudice and oppression. However, in the process, we're not always focused on the right things.
People being easily offended does hurt comedy. I'm not talking about comedy that expresses beliefs of racism and sexism. Comedy often times takes us to places that are uncomfortable, and a lot of times someone is the butt of a joke. The question isn't whether a joke is offensive, it's really a matter of context and motivation.
Is that person telling a racist joke that perpetuates stereotypes and promotes discrimination or oppression? Or are they making fun of it?
If George W. Bush were to make a racist joke, it's more than likely going to be offensive. Because the context of him making that joke comes from a place that he probably doesn't understand what it's like to be a minority, or to be discriminated against. Now, when comedian Ralphie May makes jokes about race, it's not to oppress anyone, it comes from a place of making fun of a situation or stereotype.
That was just a hypothetical, but my point is that it's easy to tell when someone is making a joke that perpetuates racist and sexist stereotypes and when someone is making fun of it. However, for some reason people have stopped wanting to make that distinction, and I don't understand why.
It's great that we're working towards a world where oppression is being attacked, but let's make sure that we're attacking the right things.
Being offended by jokes doesn't do anything to make the world a better place. So focus your energy on the things that do.
Volunteer for groups that actually work for real change in the world. If the only thing you can do is post on social media how upset you are about something someone said, then you're not a part of the solution. You're a part of the problem.


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An unmarked NYPD police vehicle was struck several times by gunfire after officers confronted three suspects involved in an altercation. None of the involved officers were injured.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night as three officers were patrolling the Fort Greene area in Brooklyn. When they spotted three subjects engaged in an altercation they turned their patrol car around to investigate.
Upon confronting the individuals, one of the suspects opened fire on the officers, striking the unmarked patrol vehicle several times. Officers returned fire, injuring one of the suspects in the leg.
All three suspects fled on foot but two were later apprehended after SWAT teams and patrol units searched the area. The third suspect was arrested after he went to a local hospital to obtain treatment for his injury.

subset: commoncrawl


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Pace Press Coverage
Check out LGBTQA Related Pace Press and Opportunitas coverage! Please let us know if you would like us to add anything you find!
LGBT History month celebrations underway
Posted on 30 October 2013.
The month of October celebrates LGBT history month, which includes National Coming Out Day, a day where LGBT people across the country embrace their coming out experience and support others as they go through the coming out process.
Country Music Becoming More Involved in LGBT Community
Posted on 23 July 2013.
Most country music fans don't expect to hear songs about homosexuality coming from their redneck icons. However, country music is revolutionizing its stereotype with Steve Grand's gay-themed country music hit 'All-American Boy.'
LGBTQA and Social Justice Center continues expansion
This past Thursday the university's LGBTQA and Social Justice Center marked its 3rd anniversary of the initial petition for the university's LGBTQA and Social Justice Center. Since then, the presence of the LGBTQA and Social Justice Center has been ever-strengthening. According to Kelly Herbert, center coordinator, the movement to open the LGBTQA Center began in [...]
University students celebrate National Coming Out Day
Posted on 17 October 2012.
The LGBTQA & Social Justice Center held a fair in honor of National Coming Out Day this past Thursday Oct. 11. The front of One Pace Plaza was packed with pride as the university's LGBT community and their supporters came out for the fair. This year acknowledges the 25th anniversary of the March on Washington...
Don't Get Left Behind! Left Forum 2011, Toward a Politics of Solidarity
This year's Forum features more speakers and panels than last year, including a number of Pace students and alumni—who will be forgoing soaking up the sun over spring break (which is taking place at the same time.) Alumna and counseling center staff member Kelly Herbert, who heads up Pace's LGBTQA Task Force will be presenting, and alumna Ashley Marinaccio '07, will be speaking of the power of theater to bring about social change. Numerous Pace professors will also be addressing an array of issues—both social and political—and the effects these issues have around the world as will Pace students in a panel on From Silence to Solidarity: Unpacking the Silence and How to Break It.
Art exhibition celebrates Center building (TIF)
An Art Exhibit called, "Building a Center," has been erected in 41 Park Row to commemorate the literal building of the University's first ever Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Ally (LGBTQA) and Social Justice Center.
February 25, 2011 by Kelly Herbert
Stonewall and Taskforce host HIV/AIDS past and present discussion
The Stonewall Coalition and the University's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning and Allies (LGBTQA) Taskforce held an event to discuss World AIDS Day, activism, civil rights and obstacles facing the current wave of LGBTQ youth campaigners Dec. 1.
December 8, 2010 by James Ryder
National Coming Out Day fair held outside of One Pace Plaza
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Allied (LGBTQA) Taskforce and the Stonewall Coalition hosted the National Coming Out Day Fair in front of One Pace Plaza on Oct. 11.
October 20, 2010 by James Ryder
LGBTQA Taskforce seeks space on campuses
The University's LGBTQA Task Force is looking for support for a Center on both the NYC and PLV campuses.
September 23, 2010 by Stephanie Bouvia
"When Will the Hate Stop" event unites the University community
The Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR) and the University's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Stonewall Coalition co-sponsored the event "When Will the Hate Stop," a student discussion on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ)-based violence on Oct. 13
October 20, 2010 by Stephanie Bouvia
Paladino's anti-gay remarks may affect voters' decisions
October 20, 2010 by Jenni Ruiz
HRC launches a marriage equality campaign in NYC
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) civil rights organization in the U.S., launched a new approach toward marriage equality on Sept. 14.
October 13, 2010 by James Ryder
Greg Walloch delivers comic relief at University's CCAR-sponsored event
October 13, 2010 by Nazary Neleuk
November 2010 approaches as Paladino and Cuomo face off for governor of New York State
October 7, 2010 by Stephanie Bouvia
Stonewall Coalition holds conference at the University
November 11, 2009 by DJ McErlean-Hopson
News Briefs for December 9, 2009
November 9, 2009 by The Editors of The Pace Press
Public Advocate Forum held at the University
October 28, 2009 by Kate Hamzik


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Something Goin' On Here
Recorded at The Warehouse Studios in Vancouver, B.C., as well as at my friend Garth Richardson's "The Farm" studio in Gibsons, B.C., "Something Goin' On Here" definitely was the next level up for me on the Canadian country music scene. Filled with impacting tracks like "My Way", "John Roland Wood" and "Lucky For Me" that were all successful radio and video hits. But the one song that really made the biggest impression from this album was "New Frontier". Radio people alike who were in country radio back in 2004 when the single was released still say today that it was the one song that set the bar that much higher for Canadian country artists. That's a testament to my producer, Tom McKillip, the musicians, the songwriters and all of our focus to making sure this was the best recording possible. Mission accomplished!


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Life and loss with baby #2
In the beginning of February, Michal and I found out we were expecting again.
We had just arrived from our long travels through the major cities, beaches and rain forest areas of Malaysia (a country recently added to the CDC's Zika list). Our first child Sophia had just turned nine months old, and we had just started sleep training her as well as supplementing my breastfeeding with formula. (I didn't realize the recent decrease in milk production was an early sign of pregnancy.)
In our first sonogram, the technician showed us twins.
Neither Michal nor I have twins or multiples in our families. We were already surprised about the second pregnancy so soon after having Sophia in the midst of our expat lifestyle, so we were really shocked to see those two babies on the screen. What a miracle and another reminder of the theme of our blog here in Seoul – that there is only so much we can control.
After we found out about the pregnancy and recounted our recent vacation to my obstetrician, the entire family underwent Zika testing. After a couple weeks of information gathering and processing, (thankfully) all tests came out negative.
However, my OB at the time expressed initial concerns with the first sonogram as one baby seemed to be larger than the other. And then at a later appointment and sonogram, the second baby had no heartbeat. We held out hope, praying with close friends and family for the life of both babies.
Eventually, I miscarried the second baby at the end of my first trimester. The medical conclusion was Vanishing Twin Syndrome, more common among women over 30.
I felt a strange juxtaposition of sadness, relief and guilt. To have lost one baby that was a part of me, but to see the other one is healthy and growing, unaffected. To be in awe of the gift of two babies. But to also be overwhelmed with the future of caring for three babies under two years old, all while living abroad away from close friends and family. And then to feel guilt at being relieved of now only having to manage two babies under two years old.
If I'm being completely honest, I feel even more guilt and heartache with knowing many who currently struggle with infertility and/or have experienced pregnancy loss at a later stage.
Now, in the thick of second trimester, I still waver between these moments of grief and joy as we tell more people we are expecting and I stop myself from saying "two babies" like I said earlier. We are excited in anticipation of our next addition to our family, but also want to always remember the one we lost, who we have named Enoch.
Enoch "walked with God; then he was no more; because God took him." (Genesis 5:21-24)


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Wave of expansions in VIKING service network
VIKING continues its march forward in Europe and Asia with four new, well-equipped servicing stations opening in November.
Esbjerg, Denmark, November 2011 – Leading marine and fire safety equipment manufacturer VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has announced it is opening four servicing stations at Brest (France), Split (Croatia), Kaohsiung (Taiwan) and Port Klang (Malaysia). The new ports further expand the company's already dense network of stations in Europe and Asia.
The new facility at Split, on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, is the first VIKING-owned station in Croatia. One of the sunniest ports in Europe, the Port of Split is also one of Croatia's most important centers for both local and international ocean-going trade. The station, which is located in premises that have been completely refurbished for servicing purposes, will provide certified servicing for liferafts, marine evacuation systems (MES), lifeboats, davits and release hooks (LBS), and immersion suits.
VIKING's new Brest, France, servicing station, lying at the crossroads of numerous north-south and east-west sea routes and serving one of Europe's foremost food industry areas, will offer the same capabilities as its Croatian counterpart, similarly operating in custom-built premises.
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was in 2009 rated as the world's 12th most important container port by the American Association of Port Authorities. It is the biggest port in Taiwan and an important international hub in the whole Asia Pacific region. It has been a long-standing priority to open the new VIKING facilities in Kaohsiung and it will also offer the full range of certified servicing capabilities.
The latest addition to the company's Malaysian presence was in fact established on the basis of direct customer feedback. Located at Port Klang, the fourth facility introduced in the latest wave of expansion is the result of VIKING's strategic emphasis to keep in close touch with its customers. The Port Klang and Kaohsiung facilities are also part of the global VIKING Exchange network and will provide liferaft servicing where the emphasis is on convenience and rapid turn-around.
"Listening and responding to customers is key to the continued success and growth of any business," says Henrik Uhd Christensen, VIKING's CEO. "At the same time, Port Klang is Malaysia's largest and busiest port and a natural choice for a focused service offering that answers the needs of many of our customers operating in the area".
The new servicing stations in Split, Brest, Kaohsiung and Port Klang stations all form part of VIKING's strategic push to expand its worldwide network, now numbering over 60 branch offices and 270 certified servicing points, and the number will continue to grow at a constant rate.


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Frequently Asked Questions
I am in a wheelchair.. Can I still attend your tours?
Yes, of course, you will be very welcome. Although we cannot guarantee that there will be ramps everywhere we go on all of our tours (we are not in charge of these things, unfortunately), the guides will be happy to help with any steps you may encounter.
What kind of ID do I need to bring to the Camden Pub Crawl?
Everyone who attends the Camden Pub Crawl must bring official photo ID. Accepted forms of ID are passport, National Identity Card and driving license.
What is the age group of the Camden Pub Crawl?
People of all ages are welcome on the Camden Pub Crawl (providing they are above the legal drinking age of 18, of course, and have the correct ID). The majority of the customers are in their twenties, but the night is about people coming together and having fun, not about age. We once had three generations of the same family partying together on the Camden Pub Crawl!
Is it okay to go on the Camden Pub Crawl by myself?
Absolutely. Many people are in London travelling alone, or just fancy making new friends, so we often have solo visitors. The atmosphere on the pub crawl is very social and our guides are always on hand to chat and introduce people. The more the merrier!
I do not drink alcohol. Can I have a discount on the Camden Pub Crawl?
Although there are drinks deals and free shots offered throughout the night, we do not see this as the main reason to attend the Camden Pub Crawl. It's mostly about going to great venues, listening to great music and meeting great people. There is no pressure to drink on the crawl and you will be very welcome to join in the fun. However, we do not offer a discount on the ticket if you do not drink alcohol.
The Camden Pub Crawl is extremely popular, particularly on the weekend, so to accommodate everyone we sometimes run two groups. Both groups go to the same venues (unless there are any unforeseen changes on the night beyond our control) and finish at the same club. If friends request to change groups to be together, we do our best to accommodate this, but can't guarantee we will always be able to (though you'll always finish in the same nightclub). The best way to guarantee you are in the same group is to book online early.
Yes, providing the group is not too rowdy. Venues reserve the right to refuse entrance (as do we). If you are planning a very boisterous, drunken night, the Camden Pub Crawl is not the right event for you. But if you just want to visit cool venues, meet people and have a really great value night out, then please do get in touch on firstname.lastname@example.com.
Do You Take Private Bookings for Your Pub Crawls?
Yes, we regularly arrange private pub crawls for birthday groups, families and corporate clients. Just drop an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with the date and a bit of information about what you are hoping to organise.
Can You Arrange a Bespoke Pub Crawl?
Yes, if you are booking a private tour, we can incorporate bespoke requests. For example, tweaking the route, the tour start time or adding a stop for dinner. Just let us know what you have in mind.
How Do I Find The Tour Meeting Point?
There are detailed directions to the various meeting points on the tour pages of this website. If you are still unsure, feel free to drop us an email. We recommend you arrive at least ten minutes early. The guide will be carrying an orange umbrella and will also have an orange lanyard with the word "GUIDE" printed on it. When it's warm, the guide will be wearing an orange t-shirt, too. In short, look for orange!
What If I Miss The Tour?
It is your responsibility to arrive at the tour meeting point in time to join the tour. We are not able to offer refunds if you miss the tour. Depending on availability, we might be able to offer you the chance to come on a different date, but this is done at our discretion.
What If I Am Running Late?
If you arrive really late and miss the beginning of the walking tour, you can email us on email@example.com with your phone number and we will do our very best to respond quickly and direct you to the tour guide. However, we can't promise we'll be able to do this and will not offer a re-fund if you miss the tour because you were late. The tour is moving, and it's hard to direct people who do not know the area to the guide.
There is a two-hour meet-up window for the Camden Pub Crawl. You are free to join the crawl any time between 19:30 and 21:30 at the first two venues, which gives you plenty of time. However, if you arrive after 21:30, you may miss the group (and all the fun)! So please be on time.
Has Your Question Not Been Answered?
We welcome questions you might have and will add them to this page if appropriate.


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I've been volunteering in Josh's fourth grade math class for a couple of weeks.
I've noticed that the kids are no longer affectionate, the way they were in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. (I didn't volunteer last year, so I don't know if this change occurred during third grade or over last summer.)
Even the neediest one, who has known me since kindergarten, passes by without a word or so much as a glance.
If I happen to catch a kid's eye, (because I recognize them and I generally acknowledge people I know), they look away as quickly as possible, as though recognizing me had been a potentially compromising mistake. (I am still redolent in fourth grade unpopularity.)
There is one kid who passes me in the halls and says hello. He's handsome and popular, and he can do whatever he wants.
When our kids are very young, they don't understand what we're talking about, so we say whatever we want. Later, we continue to say whatever we want, and our kids do understand us, but we pretend that they don't, or that they're hearing isn't as acute as our own--an example of gross self-deception, when you're over 40 and your kid's tiny inner-ear hairs are as thick as grass and he's never accidentally punctured his eardrum with a Q-Tip, as adults of my generation do, on a regular basis.
Joshua regards Q-Tip usage as similar to smoking cigarettes. You're not supposed to do it, it's not good for you; it's a bad example for your children, Josh is quick to point out; and, most of all, it is morally suspect.
So, it has come to this: I enjoy cleaning my ears with a Q-Tip when I am sure that I am absolutely alone--and much less frequently than I used to. (But it just gets better!)
Given how we adults pretend that our kids are deaf and dumb, or simply not there, (so we can have an interesting conversation from time to time,) it shouldn't come as a surprise when they ape the same behavior among their own friends, with regard to us.
I don't remember from fourth grade that adults suddenly became so ridiculous that you simply couldn't afford to be seen associating with them.
What I remember from fourth grade is my teacher, Miss Teaman, telling us about growing up during the Great Depression, when she would eat an apple with a reverence unknown to fourth graders in my classroom, consuming every last bit except the seeds and stem. She'd take on a childish voice, refer to herself as "little Molly," wrap her arms around her shapeless middle, and rock herself as she described eating the apple.
It must have been some apple.
I have always been completely oblivious to politics, except when I have run afoul of them. I don't think anyone played with me at recess until sixth grade, when Wendy Matthews moved back to town and became exceptionally popular. She strapped me to her star and away we zoomed, into an exciting world of birthday parties and sleep-overs. It was great! I've been trying to tether myself to popular people ever since.
Josh's math teacher, a paragon of virtue in stylish clothes, usually gives me the kids' math worksheet with the correct answers written in, which is not quite as condescending as it sounds.
You have two graphs: You have to interpret them and draw a conclusion.
The teacher had written, "The answer varies."
What kid in third grade uses the word "varies"? What kind of trick question is that? What does that even mean? "The answer varies." I had no idea.
Just as I was getting really annoyed about this meaningless answer, a kid asked me about that precise question.
Oh, God!, I thought. I don't even understand the answer!
The answer varies, I said.
Oh!, the kid said. So there can be different answers?
YES!, that's right! There can be different answers! That made perfect sense!
Tell me, young Skywalker, what conclusion would you draw?
The kids fare better when I don't have my cheat sheet. Then I have to read through the problem and think through the math, and that makes them see that that is what they are supposed to do. They are emboldened by my oafish progress, and usually arrive at the correct answer before me.
If I already have the answer, then I am merely performing one of those adult magic tricks in that mystifying way in which adults perform impossibly complicated tasks, like driving five hundreds miles without getting lost, and having conversations with other grownups that are almost impossibly difficult to follow.
Josh enjoys having me in his classroom, but he doesn't show it. (Savvy!)


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30 January 2013
A report released by the Auditor General into the Defence Force's 'Civilianisation Project' repeats the messages the Defence leaders have already taken on board from its own people, says the Chief of Defence Force.
The 2010 Defence White Paper identified "civilianisation" – filling the non-deploying military roles with civilians - as a way of saving money. The NZ Defence Force embarked on the civilianisation of 1400 positions, but changed its approach at the end of the first phase because of the impacts on morale and attrition. In total, some 303 military staff were discharged – 87 of whom were successful in being appointed to civilian jobs, while the 218 remaining were discharged with redundancy payments.
Today the Office of the Auditor General released a report critical of the civilianisation programme, especially the impact proceeding quickly with the project had on Defence Force personnel.
Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Rhys Jones says the New Zealand Defence Force worked closely with the Office of the Auditor General, and the findings of their report come as no surprise.
"The observations and conclusions made by the Auditor General mirror in large part what our own people had been telling us. When combined with some of the conditions of service changes being considered at the same time, many within the Defence Force felt that we had broken a social contract with them.
"This was the reason we altered the civilianisation programme, signalling that future change would be more gradual and largely through attrition rather than making people redundant. To date the Defence Force's reforms have delivered nearly $160 million, which has been a massive undertaking. Civilianisation through attrition has continued, and we believe the financial targets we set ourselves when we started, will be met."
LTGEN Jones says it is not a question of whether the Defence Force should have begun the civilianisation because this was a part of the new defence policy to emerge from the Defence White Paper, but how the project was delivered by the Defence Force.
"We believe that the civilianisation process had a detrimental affect on our peoples' perception of our organisational culture. This came through in higher rates of attrition, and lower morale. However, the reality of militaries throughout the world, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, is that down-sizing is a fact of life. Our Defence Force hadn't had to deal with that for a while, so it came as a shock.
"We have set about trying to rebuild our people's trust and confidence. The remuneration boost in 2012 was a significant part of that."
Rebuilding in key ranks and trades is ongoing, and is being achieved through recruiting strategies, as well as organisational changes seeking to lower attrition including: reducing uncertainty, providing a sense of stability, and a clear vision of the future, says LTGEN Jones.
"I am pleased to note that our latest internal staff survey results (OAtS) reveal that morale has improved for the third continuous quarter. It is yet to rebuild to levels of pre-civilianisation, we are nonetheless heading in the right direction.
"Similarly, our people's signalled intention to leave has reduced for the third continuous quarter – and is near pre-civilianisation levels; and reported levels of 'staff engagement' are also up," he says.
For further information please contact the Defence Communications Group on 021 487 980


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How gorgeous are these mugs?! They are handmade by a local Northern New York business and we LOVE them! They are microwave safe, but are hand wash recommended. They are 6 inches tall, but may vary slightly because they are hand made. Please select the color of mug you would like on the right.
- Item #: 10095
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This is a fairly common theme for me – to share progress photos of paintings. I like people to see that a painting does not just come about in a few sittings, but often can undergo a complete transformation from its beginnings. I am guilty of getting attached to areas of paintings and not wanting to paint over them. But sometimes you just have to let that all go in the pursuit of something more. For it is only through the layering of the paint that I believe you can tell a full story. So here is the story of this one. I brought this piece in to art class at a stage where I thought it was close to finishing. And by becoming less attached and less precious with it I was able to explore completely new territory. I referenced the great Idris Murphy for this piece, both in my colour choice and in the banding of the landscape, as is typical of his compositions.
New Art Prints in store and online
I am continually updating my print range to try and provide a cross section of work that can bring the right colour combination and feeling into your living space. Original art is a big investment to make which is why choosing a high quality print created on archival paper with archival inks is often a great and affordable option.
Here a some of the latest additions to the print range which you can buy online here. Free shipping Australia wide.
Rebirthing a painting
Sometimes you'll paint something and you think you are okay with it. You kinda like it. It's good. You've spent a lot of time on it. So much paint, so many layers.
You sit with it a while. A few weeks even. And then you start to fall out of like with it until you find it actually starts to irritate and aggravate you the more you look at it. Or you nit pick it to death and find all its faults and realise.... its time for a rebirth!
And oftentimes this process of the rebirth will bring about something totally unique and opposite to what went before. Well, this is the case with this painting anyway... And the painting that went before adds depth, dimension and information to the piece. It only ever adds I believe.
On the left is a fully completed painting that even went to a gallery (and didn't sell) and on the right is it rebirthed (it sold within a day)
So here is the process...
How "Life is an Adventure" metamorphosised
This painting was completed for my solo show in 2014
Quite often I will complete a work and then after sitting it with a while decide it is totally not up to scratch and I will cover it over completely until something else emerges. This particular piece "Life is an Adventure" was voted the "most popular" piece at my second solo show in 2014. The jungle and green depict the landscape and different avenues, opportunities, hardships and twists and turns that life can bring us. The gold leaves represent the hidden treasures that are planted along the way, which we uncover just at the right moment, to send us a message and give us hope.
This has been a much loved piece and is available as a print in a number of sizes from my website here.


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Sunday, November 9, 2014
Cam Scott 'Somethin bout a Girl'
My old friend Josh Wallace asked me to DP this music video for him. Josh and I used to work together over ten years ago, when we had a small production company and released a couple of Snowboarding films. Josh had a great concept, and the song was good. I was happy to come on board.
We filmed for three days, in and around Queenstown.
I used my Red Epic Dragon cameras, and I was assisted by my local crew. Cam Stoltz Camera Assist, Josh Dunn Grip, and John Hogan Gaffer.
I filmed the first part of the clip as a bit of a road movie, prodominently with a handheld camera, and an organic feel.
There was a flashback component. I didn't want to go the usual cheesy post treatment for this, so I achieved the effect in camera. I used a custom made lens, and shot right on sundown.
The performance was one of my favourite setups. I always like creating an environment with light. We chose a small Church Hall as the location, and I had a great time lighting it to look like a small town pub concert.
We didn't have the budget for a Dolly or a Jib... but, luckily I own a MoVI, and my Grip Josh Dunn was happy to haul it around the concert. I operated remotely from a 17" monitor.
We continued using the MoVI on some of the Jetboat shots, and we also used a Quadcopter with a GoPro4 on it for the aerials of the boat.
It was a very ambitious shoot, with lots of locations and components. But, it was a great opportunity to make something we could be proud of, and I really enjoyed working with Josh again.
Stills Photography by: Paul Green, Holly Wallace, Cam Stoltz
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I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to listen to the audio clip off of my mystery test pressing album (scroll down a bit to see the full story and listen to the first track if you haven't heard it yet). I have had a lot of great suggestions and ideas, but no clear cut answer as of yet. A number of folks have suggested early Steely Dan, Chicago Transit Authority, an off-shoot of War, and several other similar well established bands. I agree there are musical similarities, but after looking into each of these band's discographies, I came to realize that there is no way that a band like Steely Dan could have a complete unreleased album just floating around out there somewhere. The more I look into this mystery test pressing record, the more I am convinced that it has to be a regional band that was really pretty good but not good enough to have had a major label release. This makes my job all the more difficult, but my resolve to figure it out has only strengthened.
Over this last week nearly 600 people have listened to the audio clip from my mystery album. I think this is how I will eventually solve the mystery - eventually someone out there will recognize a lyric or a hook. The more ears that hear this, the better my odds become.
I have a couple of new tracks for you to listen to from my Keysor - Century mystery test pressing album. The first is another vocal track, and the last track is entirely instrumental. It is a very good example of what the band sounded like, and I have to admit that I was wrong in assigning a horn section to this band. There is none - just a whole lot of congas!!
The two songs run together in this track. Please give it a listen and see if either son rings a bell or jogs your memory. If it does, please leave a comment, or email us at email@example.com and don't forget to pass this link along to the music geek in your life!!
Scroll on down the blog past last weeks playlist post for the first track I posted, and a full explanation of the mystery record.


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Sherwood Center for the Arts May Events
"Those Who Teach" gallery opening and reception
Come enjoy the next exhibit at the Sherwood Center for the Arts, featuring various instructors throughout the Sherwood area. A reception for "Those Who Teach" will occur from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, and is free and open to the public. Meet the artists, curators and other art lovers, and enjoy light refreshments and live acoustic music in the lobby. This exhibit features a handful of incredibly talented arts instructors. These great instructors teach all forms of art at the Sherwood Center for the Arts and surrounding studios and schools within the Sherwood School District.
This show will include various forms, styles and media of art, creating a diverse experience for all who enter our gallery. The instructor show will run from May 2 to July 1.
For more information about the 2018 Gallery Season, visit the Center for the Arts in person at 22689 S.W. Pine St., Sherwood, call 503-625-4ART, or go to the website at www.SherwoodCenterfortheArts.org.
'Circus Luminescence' family matinee
The Family Matinee Series will present "Circus Luminescence" at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12, on the main stage. Get caught up in the moment with Circus Luminescence's gravity-defying, high-spirits-flying, vaudevillian theater show. A homespun blend of circus skills, poetry and optical-illusion collide together to take you on a magical juggling journey with an unknown destination. Come early to participate in a fun craft before the show at 1 p.m. Tickets are $5 for all ages and can be purchased online or at the door. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
Spring classes continue
Spring classes are still in bloom at the Center for the Arts. It isn't too late to register for the last session of spring classes, starting the first week of May. Explore drawing, painting, ceramics, photography, performing arts and more.
For more information about classes and registration, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.SherwoodCenterfortheArts.org" www.SherwoodCenterfortheArts.org, call 503-625-4ART or stop by the Center.
Summer Camp registration opens
Registration for summer art camps opens on Tuesday, May 1. The Center will be offering over 30 camps and workshops, Youth Tech Inc., Missoula Children's Theatre, Camp Rock Academy, Paint Nights on the Patio, Drawing, Painting, Photography and more.
Family Flix presents "Hook"
The Family Flix Series will conclude with a screening of "Hook" at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6. This 1991 adventure stars Robin Williams as an adult Peter Pan, and also stars Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook, Julia Roberts as Tinker Bell and Maggie Smith as Granny Wendy. Tickets are $3 for all ages and can be purchased online or at the door. Sweet treats, popcorn and beverages will be available for purchase.
Classic Film Series concludes with "Back to the Future"
The final film of the Classic Film Series, "Back to the Future," will screen at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3. The 1985 favorite is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Michael J. Fox. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and sweet treats and popcorn will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
Quality local journalism takes time and money, which comes, in part, from paying readers. If you enjoy articles like this one, please consider supporting us.
(It costs just a few cents a day.)


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EMWOT -East Meets West of Troost Presents:
The CDs opening cut is from our leader of the struggle for all employees who have worked at, Kansas City's Nuclear Power Plant and were exposed and poisoned by the toxic environment. "The Colonel's Brief" by Maurice Copeland this is an excerpt on patriotism. He makes a profound statement about the most overlooked and under-served people of the world.
"Honeywell" by Cherith Brook is a protest march manifesto! With the backing of a full brass & drum corps, he sings with clever sarcasm in support of the ongoing advocates, activist, and protesters like the KC Peace Planter member, Sasteh Mosley (a Nuclear Conversion Activist/Speakers Bureau Lecturer) and other poisoned Workers from Kansas City's nuclear weapons plant.
Dirty D is a spoken word artist who espouses the many sentiments of the disenfranchised people who dwell in Urban Kansas City with the weavings of the excerpts of "The Community Update," "Recess," and "Power and Lights Out."
Artists, SAHJ Kaya and Divine Intervention, add their energy with a Reggae flavor in "Nuclear Weapons." She rages- "RAY-GUN! what you testin for?!!!" while "Political Strings" moves with spirit and a jazzy backup.
Other contributing artists; Priest Hughes and 337 as The Recipe – create a poignant brew with their clever spoken word juxtapositions against nuclear weapons with: "Self destruction," and the downsizing of education with: "Parent Teacher Conference"… Their climax selection is my favorite, "What Happened to Hip Hop?!" This is the most Jammin Jewel of the CD for me! The Recipe told the truth about the greed, materialism that consumed and diluted the quality of the Hip Hop movement! I love the refrain "What happened to hip hop- did it die- did it fall down on the wayside?…
"Palm of Your Hand" is a powerful conclusive ending with a primal piercing purging high-pitched release and energy, leading to chants which permeate the collective consciousness of our time!
Featured Artists:
Maurice Copeland- Peace Planters Coalition
Dirty D- EMWOT
Cherith Brook- Catholic Workers
SAHJ Kaya & Divine Intervention
Priest Hughes & 337- The Recipe Poetry Guild
El Manna - Kingpen Coalition
A griot or jeli (djeli or djéli in French spelling) the griot is a repository of oral tradition, a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. As such, they are sometimes also called bards. [the griot] has to know many traditional songs without error, he must also have the ability to extemporize on current events, chance incidents and the passing scene. His wit can be devastating and his knowledge of local history formidable." Although they are popularly known as 'praise singers', griots may also use their vocal expertise for gossip, satire, or political comment. Most villages also had their own griot, who told tales of births, deaths, marriages, battles, hunts, affairs, and hundreds of other things.
Griots — masters of words and music, Griots and Griottes — have been around for a millennium. the male griots and female griottes were historians, genealogists, advisers to nobility, entertainers, messengers, praise singers — the list goes on. Today, they perform on television and radio and record CDs. Many are popular singers who reinterpret traditional songs, giving new meaning to old words — As performers, griots and griottes are in great demand, not only for ceremonies and parties in West Africa, where they have traditionally appeared, but all around the world. Here in the United States, they tour universities to give insight into West African culture.
EMWOT -East Meets West of Troost Presents: THE GRIOT GATHERING
With your purchase of this CD, you will help support At-Risk Youth in education, cultural arts and positive Economic development, Sasteh Meter Mosley (a Nuclear Conversion Activist/Speakers Bureau Lecturer) and other poisoned Workers from Kansas City's nuclear weapons plant. Thank You for your generous donations to this cause!
The Griot Gathering has been devoted to nudging everyone from all persuasions in the direction of freedom and spiritual evolution. This music is "cultural-hip hop-folk-ethnic-funk." They express a yearning for spiritual revolution -"There can't be a revolution without Strong Men, Women and Children."
To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one neighborhood at a time.
To promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence.
EMWOT is dedicated to the sharing of experiences, stories, best practices and methods for achieving sustainability in both our personal lives and our communities.


text: Working with Jada is like a breath of fresh air. From the head of school, the company president, the teacher, the NGO leader, and the faculty chair; She is versatile in her delivery with people and she is passionate about pulling people in, instead of calling people out. She listens intently to individuals while finding the balance between uplifting people and also challenging them to reach deeper.


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Experts Guide
About this guide
UWinnipeg is home to a vast number of researchers and subject experts who specialize in topics ranging from environmental issues and quantum physics to healthcare, inner-city development, criminology, and more.
To connect with a UWinnipeg expert — whether you're seeking insight for a timely media story or to discuss a research-based solution to a particular organizational challenge — type a topic into the search box above or click on the "Suggested Searches" list at right. Or if you know the name of the person you are seeking, you can type that to obtain more information.
Note: Select the "media availability only" checkbox to filter the search so results will display only those available to provide commentary to media.
If you are looking for a specific phrase use quotation marks.
For example: "social media".


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What Makes Montessori Unique?
Montessori education is based on stages of development that allow the focus to remain exclusively on the child. The Montessori classroom is deliberately designed to facilitate the independent development of the child. We provide an environment that meets the innate desires and needs of young children to adapt, explore, learn, grow and reach their full potential. Our greater mission is to foster the foundation and growth of the child's personality while nurturing him as a lifelong learner.
In contrast to the traditional classroom where students have little choice or control over their own learning, Montessori students are encouraged to pursue their own interests and to collaborate with peers. Self-directed, self-paced and uninterrupted work fosters deeper concentration, which leads to deeper understanding.
Portrait of a graduate
Our graduates walk away with skills that will help them excel in their next level of education. Those skills will then guide them as they become professional businessmen and women in the working world. Let us give you a glimpse into what it looks like to journey through the Montessori program at HRIMS.
- Strong conceptual base on which to build future knowledge
- Strong organizational skills and study habits
- Self reliant in pursuing knowledge
- Have developed an acute sense of their place in the world
- Problem solving abilities
- Strong creative imaginations
- Confidence in the interconnected nature of all knowledge
- Life-long love of learning
- Strong level of self-discipline
- Strong social skills
- High level of self-esteem
- Confident and self-assured
- Self-sufficient and responsible
- Respectful of their peers and teachers
- Ability to empathize with others
The Montessori Programs and Curriculum are very carefully and specifically designed based on cycles, each year building solidly on the previous year. In the final stage of each cycle, the culmination and integration of all that has taken place in prior years is usually when the Montessori child truly "blossoms". Children move to the next phase of their Montessori development when they are deemed ready by their guides.
Click on each of the programs below to learn more.
Ages 18 months - 3 years
Ages 3 - 6 years
Ages 6 - 12 years


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12 communities
68 current projects
13,249 direct beneficiaries
Malawi's GDP per capita is one of the lowest in the world and more than 50 percent of Malawians live below the national poverty line. Malawi struggles with unemployment, disease, including one of the highest prevalence's of HIV/AIDS in the world, as well as malnutrition and problems involving infrastructure, such as lack of electricity.
Outreach, together with its Malawian partner program, Outreach Development Program, works in 12 communities serving 13,240 beneficiaries.
To Stir, with Love
The phrase "e pluribus unum," Latin for "out of many, one," does not, as many believe, originate from the seal of the United States created in 1776. Though the concept of a diverse collection working in harmony for a shared goal applies to...
Issues And Impact
An astonishing number of people in Malawi are without access to clean drinking water. And in rural areas, an even higher percentage of people are affected. Prior to Outreach's work in Malawi, only eight percent of our communities had access to clean water.
Working with families in Malawi, Outreach has now helped more than one-third of individuals gain access to wells and water pumps, and we are continuing to increase water projects in the area.
Before Outreach began working in communities in Malawi, hundreds of children were malnourished and underweight. And during the lean months (dry season), only two out of every five families have enough food to feed their children.
Outreach is helping more than 100 children participate in a feeding program to gain weight. So far, the program has been 84 percent effective, and we are continuing to expand the program.
Before Outreach began working in Malawi, a mere four percent of the children in our communities had access to education.
Now, nearly 40 percent of the children in our communities have schooling nearby, and we are continuing to help Malawian families find more options for education.
In Outreach communities in Malawi, only 15 percent of families had enough income to feed their families before we began working with them.
Now, after continued dedication, roughly one-third of the families in Outreach communities have access to adequate income to provide for their families.
In the last several years, families in Malawi have raised concern about the lack of trees in their communities and the negative effects it has had on the environment.
We have helped community members in Malawi plant 33,500 trees, and we are continuing to move forward with environmental projects in the area.


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Awesome video, Amy!
#videovember 10
I feel like I should mention at this point that I mostly draw by hand. So many artists are digital these days. I'm the opposite—I learned how to draw digital first in 2004—easier to edit and fix, so I had more patience and learned FAST—then I went analog around 2006. Nowadays my imagination is freer when I draw by hand…I've tried going back to digital several times but "the vision" is gone. Back then I didn't even own a pencil and was terrified of drawing by hand.
Many people are making the move to digital. It's a good idea for some, but not all. The two bad habits I see with people who can't handle the power of digital is that…
1. They don't see the big picture. Beautiful details, but they zoom in too early. SO BAD!!! Wonky City. Unnecessary zooming is like selling your soul to the devil, people. Your art needs that soul.
2. Their linework is so wispy…it feels unfinished or like it's not "anchored" to anything. There's no other way to explain it….just spend time at the end connecting the corners and thickening them. Probably looks GREAT when you can see your "pencils" underneath, but when you get rid of the pencil layer…it's naked. And not in a sexy way.


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Love is... Modern
See Gallery
Lately, we've been loving clean lines and sleek shapes, and the Prabal Gurung for Target collection is full of just that.
The designer collaboration went on sale online and in stores on February 10th, and we can't get enough of it. Click through the list to see our favorite items from the line, including a pair of neon ankle-strap heels and an electric blue leather jacket. This is one look for less you won't want to miss out on. Get it before it's gone!
More From StyleList:
Love is Timeless: Fashionable Couples Throughout History
Eight Outfits That Both You and He Will Love For Valentine's Day
The Perfect Lip Gloss for Kissing


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Eventually an opportunity presented itself to me that I couldn't refuse. I had a project to do for school that involved visiting some sort of food institution and reporting back to the class on my findings. I chose the rather broad topic of
Has anyone out there had a really horrible or really terrific experience with durian? I want to know!
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With the colder months of fall just around the corner, everyone will soon be on the hunt for the ultimate lip conditioner.
I had the pleasure of testing the 3 in 1 plumping lip balm from BioExperience that hydrates, increases lip volume and reduces lip lines for naturally youthful looking lips. The forumula includes natural Beeswax, Vitamin E and Shea Butter for intense hydration and reparative benefits.
Three ways to use the BioExperience Plumping Lip Balm: Have you ever applied a rich, highly pigmented lipstick early in the day only to find that your lips look cracked and dried out by lunch time? Apply the BioExperience Plumping Lip Balm prior to applying your favorite lipstick to prevent that caked on, dry effect.
Apply over a bare lip or lip liner, if you want some definition, and wear as a lip gloss for day. The product delivers a bit of shine while also plumping your lip for a slightly enhanced, natural look.
Wear as a night treatment to deeply moisturize and repair chapped lips while you sleep. Awaken in the morning to supple lips and a slightly plumper pout....


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We hope you will enjoy Yardian as much as we do!
Review all the information about your Yardian
In this tab, you'll be able to access your Yardian device settings, and receive the latest information regarding your watering schedule, Yardian notifications, and more. Yardian receives and updates your 7-day watering schedules every day to guarantee uninterrupted service when it is temporarily offline.
Smart watering schedules and manual schedules
In this tab, you can set the type of watering schedule you want. You can choose between a "Smart Program" or set one yourself manually.
With "Smart Program", you do not need to program Yardian manually. Once you have specified your zone profiles, Yardian can be up and running immediately. Smart Program covers all zones by default and calculates automatic watering schedules based on your zone profiles, weather data, watering restrictions, and your preferences for each zone.
Of course, you have the power to create your own manual water schedules by adding a new program. You can also enable "Seasonal Adjustment" in the manual program to help manage water schedules. There is no need to adjust the duration manually every month.


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When working on a project that requires a vision system within the controls system, HCM Systems almost always utilizes an Accu-sort vision system. The only time we do not use an Accu-sort vision system is when customer preference is for something different. Accu-Sort Systems, Inc., is a world leader in industrial high-speed camera-based identification solutions (vision systems). HCM Systems has been providing innovative solutions to automatic identification for almost two decades.
Bar code scanner based controls systems have ruled since automated materials handling systems became normality. In the past decade vision systems have become more popular, particularly in parcel, postal, and retail distribution.


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Health & Technology
Over the past couple months I've started hanging around with some Chicagoland techies, and attending tech events around the city. One particular trend that I started noticing is the poor health choices that techies are given during events like hackathons, workshops, meetups or company launches. I initially thought the poor food choices were just constrained to my old job, but not as widespread across the industry.
Pockets of hope
The only other workplace that I had the opportunity to fraternize prior to June, was Google Chicago. They're an awesome office, and Google invests heavily in the health and well-being of their employees. Ask any Google software engineer to name their top 10 ten things about the company and the cafeteria will definitely come near the top of the list. Complete with SteelCase furniture, rest areas, massage therapists, two chefs and loads of healthy eating options they seem to be a place where health and wellness of employees is put to the front. Of course, even with their healthy eating options, employees still have wine, beer, sodas and a range of unhealthy options to contend with.
Hold the Pizza
Of the umpteen events that I attended, all but one was replete with pizza and beer, and the other event was catered with burritos and Coca-Cola. I didn't attend college in the US, so my only reference I have for this pizza and beer regime is from watching college movies. In Trinidad we had many other options for food; doubles, bake doubles, bake & shark on the beach and BBQ. Some research on this pizza epidemic shows that this stems back to WWII when wearied allied troops occupied Italy and were on the lookout for good food to satisfy their hunger. Pizza soon found international fame through the troops, and today it's the food of choice at hackathons and tech events alike. Even for events open to the public, with a high range of people who are allergic to either dairy or wheat, pizza still remains the go-to dish at events - much to the chagrin of either the health conscious or the allergic.
Doing some average and not-so-precise math, we can approximate 2 the average number of calories in a slice of 12 inch pizza to 200 calories. Then with 3 slices of pizza and 2 beers, we're looking at at least 900 calories... 900 empty calories. Seeing as pizza is mostly carbs and cheese we can see how this gets converted to sugar and cholesterol. Yum! It seems while the tech industry is out solving problems for the world we're creating quite a few health problems for ourselves. Although a warm slice of pizza initially makes your belly feel good, the end product usually sits like a log in your intestines while your body converts most of it to glucose. So there's that initial rush of energy followed by the crash when the energy runs out. The same goes for too much beer and wine, and over-consumption those have the adverse effect of making you look like an utter fool in front of potential business partners.
The next time you host a tech event, skip the empty calories. When your tempted to have sodas and beers also add bottles of water and fresh juices or vitamin water. Instead of RedBull or 5 Hour Energy, encourage participants to take a social walk, a short nap or even natural energy drinks. Instead of providing loads of carbs, provide a mix of carbs and protein like trail mixes and nuts. Think of a hackathon as more of a marathon, where its about the long haul not the short sprints.
If you've never been to a hackathon before, you can tell the experienced software engineers from the young 'uns. The wiser folk pack their own midnight snacks and have a water bottle with them, the inexperienced ones are running around at midnight hyped up on RedBull. It would be good the healthy generation of engineers shared the secrets of healthy development lifestyles with the next generation.
The last thing we need is for the intuitive development minds of this generation to be debilitated by poor health when we could so easily prevent it. Make healthy choices my friends. And if it's within your power... skip the pizza.


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Weddings & Banquets
Our new clubhouse was finished in October 2007 and has all new furnishings and a state of the art kitchen. The well appointed dining room and bar can handle parties of up to 40-50 people comfortably and 100 people inside and outside. The waterside deck overlooks Deep Creek and the first tee. In all, it is a perfect gathering place for just about any small function.


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AJ Ashe isn't your typical seventeen-year-old vampire—as if there is such a thing. Her ex-boyfriend—whom she's still totally in love with—is now her stepbrother. A former classmate—who, um, she may or may not have turned into a vampire—is stalking her. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. Whatever happened to the good old days when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her taste for blood?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Cover Art - "Bite Me!" by Melissa Francis
7 comments:
I really appreciate the shout out! Thanks so much.ReplyDelete
BTW, we're aware of the prob viewing the site in FF on a PC. Not sure why it's messed up but WebDude is working on it
I think this looks suuuuuper. I need some good YA books. Can't wait!ReplyDelete
This book looks so cute, I'll be looking for it. Love YA!ReplyDelete
Dottie :)
I've been seeing the buzz on this one for a while now and need to add it to my wish list so I don't forget it. Hope it's on Amazon already. *crosses fingers*ReplyDelete
Hi Mel thanks for dropping by. Hope they can figure it out. We run into the "browser" problem all the time with my day job company.ReplyDelete
It'll be on my list Jen.
Love ya too Dottie!
Yep its on Amazon KMont!
Oh my! Well that's certainly interesting...ReplyDelete
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شركة نقل عفش
For bloggers comments are like water to a man (or woman) wandering in the desert. A precious commodity. I love to hear from everyone and do my best to respond to every post.


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Venture Logistics Is Truly Your Total Transportation Company
Whether you need your shipment hauled across the country or just across town, we have the right trucking solution for you. Our wide range of trucking and logistics services and our ability to meet your specific needs have truly made us Your Total Transportation Company.
A Little About Us
While some trucking companies talk about their service, at Venture Logistics we deliver our service every day with every truckload. Every transportation, warehouse and logistics challenge is tackled by a team of professionals, each one dedicated to going the extra mile for you. Our solution-based philosophy goes on 24 hours a day/7 days a week with your team always available, anytime you need.
Areas We Service
Venture Logistics offers Dedicated and Asset Based Truckload Services to the following areas, utilizing our 7 terminals. We also offer countless other services throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico!


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What does cc mean?
cc means Crystal Caverns
Particularly in game Abbreviations
What is the abbreviation for Crystal Caverns?
Comments having cc
What if I just made a record full of scatting covers cc @getglucky cc @JackGarratt
Entre la alucinante masa de pasion #ShowRickyMartin Cc @marielacroci
Inspiring news & a great example of what a few people can accomplish w/ dedication. cc: @RobertKennedyJr #Futaleufu
Video: Obama Urges Illegal Immigrants to Vote in US Election cc @stranahan @Cernovich @StefanMolyneux @bakedalaska
Turut berduka cita untuk musibah bencana di Garut dan Sumedang. Semoga bisa pulih secepatnya. cc @PemumBdg mhn disiapkan bantuan.
Please. We need u. #ImWithHer cc: @HillaryClinton
8 days until #Election2016 - this new memo breaks it down cc @GOP @JasonMillerinDC @realDonaldTrump @TeamTrump #MAGA
Hi @twitter. People are using your platform to call for politically motivated mass murder. cc: @FBI
Where the devil is Captain Hook? Find out on #OnceUponATime at 8/7c. #OUAT cc: @colinodonoghue1
Panglima TNI Jend.Gatot Nurmantyo TIDAK MEMILIKI akun media sosial twitter,facebook,instagram.Akun resmi yang DIPAKAI @Puspen_TNI cc @tni_adMore Comments with cc...
CORPORATE anchors DUMBFOUNDED how @realDonaldTrump won-LOOK IN THE MIRROR. You toed establishment line/ignored @BernieSanders #s cc @maddow
.@GOP poised to hit 17 million door contacts? check out this @cnn @DanaBashCNN @DanaBashCNN to watch cc @TeamTrump
NP: Cold Water - Major Lazer ft Justin Bieber & MO Cc @Raezy937 @Deejayklm #AfternoonDrive
Treat yo' self! (cc @CoachMcElwain) #HappyHalloween
Ahora esperan que la CC les despeje el camino reviviendo el fast track y las leyes habilitantes.
Rounds Released SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marines train, enable, and increase our partner nations' security forces.
"I could kill for some tacos..." - Winston | Fanart by @uberchain, @sedisocks, and @kichiarts (CC: @tacobell)
Mateo y Camila Camila y Mateo #permitidos Cc @sanwino
When you'd dye for the whole squad: cc: @yelyahwilliams @gooddyeyoungLess...
Most popular questions people look for before coming to this page
What does cc stand for?
cc stands for "Crystal Caverns".
How to abbreviate "Crystal Caverns"?
"Crystal Caverns" can be abbreviated as cc.
What is the meaning of cc abbreviation?
The meaning of cc abbreviation is "Crystal Caverns".
What is cc abbreviation?
One of the definitions of cc is "Crystal Caverns".
What does cc mean?
cc as abbreviation means "Crystal Caverns".
What is shorthand of Crystal Caverns?
The most common shorthand of "Crystal Caverns" is cc.
Abbreviations or Slang with similar meaning
- CCWWI - Crystal Clear Window Works, Inc.
- CDUGNA - Crystal Decisions User Group of North America
- CG-1 - Crystal Gateway 1
- CG-2 - Crystal Gateway 2
- CG-3 - Crystal Gateway 3
- CoT - Caverns of Time
- CCML - Crystal City Memorial Library (Crystal City, TX)
- CCPL - Crystal City Public Library (Crystal City, MO)
- CFCCM - Crystal Fluorspar Company Crystal Mine
- CFCL - Crystal Falls Cmty Library (Crystal Falls, MI)
- CSB - Crystal Spring Branch (Crystal Springs, MS)
- CGC - Crystal River Airport, Crystal River, Florida, United States
- KCGC - Crystal River Airport, Crystal River, Florida, United States
- CM - Crystal Mall (Crystal City, Arlington, VA)
- CP - Crystal Plaza (Crystal City, Arlington, VA)
- CS - Crystal Square (Crystal City, Arlington, VA)
- ct - Caverns of Time
- cgct - Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
- CYE - Crystal-Lake, Crystal Lake, PA, United States
- 20R - Crystal City Municipal Airport, Crystal City, Texas USA


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CSR and SMEs
SMEs in Ireland make up over 99% of businesses in the economy and account for almost 70% of people employed. These figures show that SMEs are a vital part of communities nationally. CSR has been a part of corporate strategy in larger companies for some years. However smaller companies have not engaged with CSR in the same way, although this is slowly starting to change. Since SMEs are such a large part of the business community, they provide the ideal platform to implement socially responsible business practise across society.
The Benefits of CSR for SMEs
There are various perceived barriers preventing SMEs from engaging with CSR. They include, among other things, an unclear understanding as to the nature and necessity of CSR, as well as the belief that it would cost a lot of money to implement. However, a robust CSR strategy for small and medium businesses has been shown to bring a range of benefits, such as;
• a boost to the company's reputation
• an increase in marketing opportunities
• an improvement in staff morale
• an overall decrease in overhead costs
This projected increase in competitiveness would counter-act any costs associated with implementing CSR initiatives. There is also a growing body of evidence that suggests that CSR initiatives can;
• help generate revenue
• improve relations with regulatory bodies
• attract and retain customers
• increase efficiency and productivity
In addition, CSR promotes a culture of risk/impact management within a business. This can help businesses with long-term strategic planning. It can also help companies manage and strengthen their reputation within the community. Increasingly, CSR is becoming not just about the value a business can create for society but also about how business can become more sustainable and better able to compete in the changing environments they are operating in.
Introducing CSR to your business
Most SMEs already behave in a socially responsible way (although many don't communicate it or acknowledge that such conduct is CSR). For businesses who don't yet engage with CSR, any strategies should be kept simple. SMEs should focus on low cost initiatives, on integrating activities into existing practices and on fully engaging with relevant stakeholders.
The following are some examples of the main ways companies can become more socially responsible and develop good relationships in the communities where they do business;
• Dedicating company owner, manager or employee time to social causes free of charge
• Promoting economic regeneration and social integration
• Recycle/Reduce Energy Consumption
• Establish a Grant Programme aimed at local NGOs
• Help Global Causes, through volunteering, partnering, donation of resources/expertise
• Responsible Entrepreneurship/Supply Chain Management
Through the annual CSR Awards, Chambers Ireland has compiled a range of case studies of SMEs who engage in CSR at varying levels. These case studies should give SMEs a clearer idea of the kind of CSr projects that businesses are currently involved with.
Chambers Ireland can offer SMEs with an interest in Corporate Social Responsibility the opportunity to engage with some of Ireland's leading CSR practitioners. For more information on our CSR consultation opportunities for SMEs, click here.
In order to assist SMEs in implementing CSR initiatives, Chambers Ireland has put together a checklist that will help businesses self-evaluate and decide how best to integrate a CSR strategy into their business plan. It can also act as a self-assessment of CSR performance for pre-existing programmes. The checklist covers five key areas;
• Company values
• Workplace policies
• Marketplace policies
• Environmental policies
• Community policies
CSR Checklist for SMEs
Evaluating CSR
Should your organisation be currently implementing a CSR strategy, it is important to evaluate CSR activities at regular intervals. This will assist the company in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of its different strategies and programmes. It also helps the company to measure the impact of CSR practices on the business. (Does it improve profits, investment, staff morale, corporate reputation etc?
For example;
1. Identify key CSR issues and challenges the organisation is facing?
2. Set goals for improvement
3. Set achievable strategic targets
4. Measure impact on profits, investment
5. Measure impact on staff morale
6. Measure impact on corporate reputation
7. Measure increase/decrease in press coverage
Other Useful Resources
Chambers Ireland's CSR for SMEs Guide provides SMEs the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a CSR specialist for advice and guidance on getting engaged in CSR or promotion and development of existing CSR strategies.
Responsible Business for SMEs is a new service from Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), Ireland's only network dedicated to responsible business. BITCI has been supporting large companies to be more responsible and sustainable for the last fifteen years in Ireland and are now poised to support all businesses, both large and small. As part of the new initiative, a website portal dedicated to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) contains useful tips, guidance and case studies on how smaller businesses can apply the concept of social responsibility to their operations, to the mutual advantage of the company, the wider community and the environment.
Through Responsible Business for SMEs, BITCI wants to help Irish SMEs to do better business and increase competitive advantage by sharing their responsible and sustainable practices with customers, suppliers, employees, and the wider community. Hence part of the support provided by Responsible Business for SMEs is the creation of Sustainability Reports for SMEs. While many small businesses are already engaging in a number of responsible and sustainable business practices, in many cases they aren't communicating their efforts and hence not reaping the full benefits.


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Listen to my interview with Marquis, a Stanford MBA about life from GMAT to Post-MBA. Today I let him take the stage and really give all with regards to career advice. The information here is invaluable.
General outline:
0:00 Introduction
1:06 Marquis majored in CS started off in software engineering.
He got into Stanford GSB and transitioned to management consulting
at McKinsey. He now resides in Chicago doing strategic advisory.
5:00 Emotional states throughout the GMAT and MBA application process. Fluctations between fear, excitement, and triumph.
11:50 Summer internship in the context of Bschool
13:45 Obstacles along the way, second guessing the MBA career route. Keeping the big picture in mind gets you through.
17:00 GMAT in the application process. It's not impossible, just high school concepts.
20:35 Telling your boss you are applying for Bschool
23:00 Lifestyle and career prospect changes. Did Marquis end up
where he envisioned himself Pre-MBA?
26:00 General bschool advice, application preparation, budgeting time
32:15 GMAT Advice: Come in with a GMAT study Plan early On
Do not study for GMAT while working on application essays!
38:00 Conclusion
Interview with Harvard MBA and GMAT Pill
Interview with Kellogg MBA and GMAT Pill
Table of Contents | See Pricing
Verbal Questions: Sentence Correction | Critical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension
Quant Videos: Problem Solving | Data Sufficiency


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Father as Defender
[From time to time I am struck by memories of my youth. I try to write them down for posterity.]
I had no idea I was growing up in an idyllic slice of America that would shortly disappear. We lived on a "court," a neighborhood in which a single street forms a large rectangle, with three cul-de-sacs at the corners and only one entrance and exit. We called it "The Block." At the south end was a large, well-appointed city park, and a sidewalk cut through the middle of the interior section which made it easy for kids on the north side to cut through to the park without walking all the way around.
"Idyllic," I say, because even though these were the days of putting "missing children" on milk cartons, very few people were concerned about child abduction. Yes, Mrs. Harper always kept close watch on her kids—they were notoriously not allowed to "leave the block." Not even a toe could touch outside the confines of our haven. But mostly, parents just let their kids run free, especially in the summertime. We'd have late-night games of "war" with all the neighborhood kids, and the entire neighborhood was the field of play. Sporting full combat gear (purchased from the Army/Navy store), you could jump any fence or cut through any backyard without incident. Even the dogs knew every kid on the block.
In the cul-de-sac to the west of our house lived a family that was different from the rest of the block's upwardly mobile lower-middle class. I always avoided going near their house. Not because Boo Radley lived there, but something much more terrifying. Mr. Simon was a hulk of a man. He sported a thick black beard, had long hair covered by bandanas, and was never seen without his signature biker gang leathers. I have no idea what he did for a living, but whenever he was home he seemed to have only one occupation: tinkering in his garage with some kind of classic car that no matter how long he worked on it never seemed any more "restored." He chain smoked, which, while I do not recall my parents ever saying anything about it, gave a whiff of scandal for a budding Pharisee like me. If my friend Todd and I were hanging out in my front yard, we'd scurry to hide every time we heard that Harley Davidson fire up down the street. We were petrified of the man.
The Simon children (I recall two boys, and later, a younger sister) were of the annoying sort. They did not fit in with the rest of the neighborhood gang. I do not recall for certain their names, but the the younger son—let's call him Jake—is the relevant subject. One fine summer day the gang (Which we called the "A-Team," after the television show dominating the airwaves at the time) was hanging out on the Harper's driveway. My two older brothers, Jeff and Dan, the Harper boys Troy and Todd, Jay Whittington, and me. I could not have been more than seven or eight years old. Also among our group was a cranky, cocky, arrogant kid of very lower-class, mysterious parentage named—I kid you not—Rogue. We were doing the typical "What should we do today?" mulling about when we heard the squeaky wheel of Jake Simon riding down the street on his tricycle. Squeaksqueaksqueaksqueaksqueak! When he got to the front of the driveway, he made a left turn and rode right up to the group.
"Whatchya doin?"
Rogue stepped forward, puffed out his chest and replied, "Nothing. And if you run over my foot I'll punch you."
Jake immediately put the pedal to the metal and ran over Rogue's foot. (Did I mention annoying?)
I remember the sound like it was yesterday because it was the first time I'd ever heard that sound outside of the volume-enhanced versions of the movies. It was even louder than the movies. Rogue right-hooked Jake squarely in the eye. Jake fled, bawling and squeaking his way back down the street. We were all appalled, and in pathetically meek, weak, and mumbling fashion said things like, "Rogue, you really shouldn't have done that!"
Now, I don't know what got into Jake, but an hour or so later we heard that same familiar Squeaksqueaksqueaksqueaksqueak! He was getting back on the horse after getting bucked, I guess. Or bravely facing down his bully. Or he had just gone insane. Because, after riding back up the driveway, this time with one very puffy black eye, the conversation went exactly like this.
"Whatchya doin?"
"If you run over my foot I'll punch you."
Directly in the other eye.
Bellowing wails and lamentations once again echoed and resounded over the entire block as he squeaked his way back home. The A-Team was on edge the rest of the day. Our Commander, my oldest brother Jeff, instructed everyone to lay low. We all knew trouble was brewing. It was all particularly humiliating because the A-Team, despite how it sounds just now, was a pretty welcoming gang. We were not mean. We were not bullies. We fostered esprit de corps and brotherhood and discipline. (Seriously, we did military drills in our backyard, in preparation for the inevitable Russian invasion.) We just happened to have a really bad seed at that moment in time, a character with a very appropriate name: there is no doubt in our minds he was "rogue."
The afternoon drifted late. We decided to cut through the block and head for the park. As we made our way up the grassy hill to the playground, I heard another thing I had never heard outside of movies: squealing tires. I jerked my head around and saw a car rounding the corner sideways. The engine roared and the blacktop was indelibly marred with hot rubber.
Mr. Simon was gunning for us.
We all watched in awe as his car careened into the parking area to an abrupt halt. He leaped out of the car, screaming at the top of his lungs. He loped to the top of the hill, towered over us, and gave us a piece of his mind. It was all such a blur I cannot remember the soliloquy. I'm pretty sure it was profanity-laced. There were dark threats. Not the "I'm going to tell your parents" kind, either. The "I'll bury you alive if you ever touch my children again" kind. He openly shamed my older brothers. That I recall. For Mr. Simon, they bore responsibility: the more powerful must protect the weak.
It was literally the first (and last) time I ever heard Mr. Simon speak. And the impression—if not the actual words—was unforgettable.
Nobody ever dared harass the Simon children again. Ever.
I faintly recall now something odd. Mr. Simon was a very scary guy we reasonably thought was in a biker gang. He was by definition something of a misfit, especially for our neighborhood. But I now remember one of the things that made his children so annoying: they rarely uttered a sentence without the words, "My Dad." Nobody could ever top them in the childish game of "My Dad is better than your Dad." I was terrified of him, but they worshiped the ground he walked on. They admired him. And they loved him.
And, as everyone (the A-Team and his own children alike) discovered that day, he loved them, too. Whatever his social deficiencies, he was their lodestar, their hero, and their defender. Tire marks were laid down as testament for years.
My brother Jeff flourished into an exceptional leader. He had a highly unusual interest in the weak. He was popular in high school, part of the cool crowd, but it was his befriending and mentoring of shy, nervous freshmen that made him Captain of the Cross Country team. This, when he couldn't even run fast enough to obtain a Varsity letter. He always had an eye for misfits and wallflowers, always bending over backward to make people welcome. It was this kind of leadership—servant leadership—that awarded him an eventual appointment to West Point and his subsequent service in Bosnia and Kosovo.
Dan, too, became a man of service to others, earning a full-ride ROTC scholarship to pursue a nursing degree. As a nurse anesthetist, he served two tours in Baghdad during the most gruesome and violent period of the war. He, too, had an eye for serving the weak and wounded in unusual ways. Once, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stood muttering under his breath near the bed of a terribly wounded soldier. Dan intervened, saying, "Sir, he can hear you. Please talk to him." The Secretary and that soldier shared a quiet moment of powerful intimacy they will likely never forget.
Fatherhood is not an abstraction. That day the A-Team saw it in its raw, untamed, flesh-and-blood reality. As unlikely as it seemed to us, that "unlovable" man's children had something utterly irreplaceable: the love of a Father, protector, and defender.
It made us all better men.


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Manacles, Lizard, Devon 2002
2nd-3rd June 2002
This trip replaced the planned expedition to the Farne Islands, over the Queen's Jubilee Weekend from 1st to 4th June. The feeling was generally that the Farnes were just too far to go for a long weekend.
Five of us took Bath Tub down, camping and launching from Porthkerris.
2nd June
There were lots of boats on the Mohegan when we arrived. We found and dived Vases Reef, which had slack water and viz of 10 to 15m, and had to share it with only 2 other boats. An excellent dive - lots of colour. We managed a second dive, this time in a slight current over the Mohegan, though this was short as we needed to get back to Porthkerris in time to be recovered over the beach by the tractor.
It rained overnight, confirming the DO's opinion that only idiots dive and camp.
3rd June
This time we dived Raglan Reef, again in slack water with only one other boat for company, whilst there were hoards of dive boats jostling over the Mohegan. Again wonderful colour, this time with a large shoal of horse mackerel in one gulley.
Fi and Ian managed a second dive on Raglan, though the current was increasing by the end of their dive. However, just before they surfaced, the boat cover noticed 2 apparently unattended divers on the surface nearby. They declined help at first, but after floating for 20 minutes or so, agreed to be recovered. They said they were also diving Raglan, but with no sign of their RIB, we called Falmouth Coastguard. They asked us to return them to Porthkerris, but as we were ploughing through the water with 7 on board, we transferred them to one of the big local commercial RIBS, and managed a short dive on the Mohegan. When we returned to shore, we discovered that their boat was on Vases, ½ mile away, and did not seem to have missed them!
As a postscript to the story, one member of the club went to the Bristol Scuba Centre a couple of weeks later, and recounted this story. The bloke serving said that one of the 2 divers involved had just come in and bought an air whistle.……
Overall, a good 2 days. Weather was overcast in the mornings and sunny in the afternoons. Porthkerris was generally hospitable, but…….. We felt that there were some unwelcome sides to it. The toilets in the campsite were full, and there was no drinking water there. The showers didn't work. Launch and recovery ceases notionally at 5, which is a bit early - particularly if you have had to travel down in the morning. The café was fine….until they couldn't find us, and forgot part of the order anyway. Lastly, there seemed to be charges for everything - the £10 cards for air fills at £3 a time seemed particularly irritating. I think we'll try Porthoustock next time.


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Danika Brysha
One of my friends, Dustin Farivar, was in town for a day this week and as usual I learned more from him in a few hours then I usually do in weeks. He has taught me so much regarding social media, branding, and building relationships, and is no doubt somebody to pay close attention to. I wake up daily to an inspirational "morning quote" in my email box and usually a few articles that are relevant to my goals and interests. One of the many things we discussed during this most recent visit was the idea of setting goals for ourselves and knowing where we want to end up, even if we have no idea how we will get there. I truly believe that if we want something badly enough, and we put it out into the universe, that we will both subconsciously and consciously do whatever it takes to move closer to that goal. Dustin compared it to a GPS system. We have to know where we specifically want to end up but we don't have to know exactly how to get there. There are many different routes we can take, some longer than others, but they all will eventually get us there if we know where it is we would like to be.
I've been very fortunate in life but there have certainly been many times where the odds were far from being in my favor and I somehow beat them anyways. Just because something hasn't been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done. In my opinion, it actually makes it more appealing to achieve.
I have wonderful parents who taught me that I could be anything I wanted in life and I credit them for the amount of drive and passion I have today in whatever it is I am doing. No matter how many people are telling you that you can't do something, always remember that if you want something badly enough, your opportunities are endless. The only person that needs to believe in your success is you!
I hope everybody had a great weekend and that you spend this week beating the odds!


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In this article I will address some simple common sense cooking tips that you should know. Below I have included tips of simple common sense cooking tips that you should know and will help you become a more creative chef or cook. So now lets get started.
Do you get lumps in your white sauce?
When making white sauce (béchamel) or any sauce that requires slow cooking to thicken use an egg whisk and you can increase the temperature (not too much though) to speed the process up.and you wont get any limps in it.
Turn your open barbeque into a gourment oven.
Want to try a new barbeque recipe that requires a hood on the barbeque which you may not have. Try using a wok lid or any domed lid. This works very well indeed. Great for roasted meats when camping out.
Never buy frozen pastry again.
Do you hate making short pastry. Use a kitchen whiz instead of the usual hand method. Use slightly less liquid than may be asked for in the recipe.Just run the whiz until all the pastry forms into a ball. If it wont form into a ball you may need just a touch more liquid. The liquid depends on what recipe you use for your pastry.
Do your scones look more like rock cakes ?
Make your scones in a kitchen whiz. Many people just can't make scones no matter what. Usually the problem is too much handling. Using the whiz eliminates this problem.
Also try and make your scones as though people or the family are sitting at the table waiting. In other words the less time you take means less handling. The mixture should be quite moist not dry after you add the milk.
Turn onto a well floured board and top a few times with the tips of your fingers to draw the extra four in. This should only take you about 5-8 seconds. Gently pat into shape and cut into whatever shaped scones you want – round or square -whatever.
Scones seem to come out best when cooked in what is variously described as a rising oven. In other words turn your oven on not too long before you start to mix your scones and when they are put in the oven it still has not quite reached the required temperature.
I learned this way of making scones when I was used to crew on a yacht when I was younger and the guys would want morning tea and see if they could cajole me into making some. Hence my reference to having a waiting audience.
The oven was only a small bench top gas oven and I would turn it on to its maximum temperature and then throw the flour butter and milk together. They were most impressed and I was most surprised at the result.
I was not at all sure of my expertise in scone making as my mother could never make scones – hers were the ones that came out like bullets.
I did later convert my mother into making scones in the kitchen whiz when she was around 65 and she was amazed that she finally learnt to make a scone that was edible.
I might add that scones became a regular morning tea item
Are your curries chewy?
Do you have trouble working out if a casserole or curry is cooked. When the oil (fat) rises the dish is cooked. All meat dish casseroles have some fat content and when this is released the meat is cooked.
Are you missing the magic ingredient?
Have you ever cooked a curry or casserole and the flavour just needs a little something and you cant quite work out exactly what is needed. Maybe it seems as though the flavours don't quite go together. It is a small intangible ingredient that is lacking.
Try a very small amount of sugar and you will be surprised how it seems to blend and mellow the flavors into a more harmonious combination. The flavours will cease to fight against each other.
Whoops have you ever slipped with the salt pot when cooking?
Have you ever added just a touch too much salt to a recipe. Never add sugar to correct this try a squeeze of lemon juice.
I hate washing roasting pans.
Do you like to have roasted potatoes occasionally but hate washing up the pan afterwards. Here is a simple easy method and it uses less fat. Cut each potato with the skin on, in half so that you have the largest cut area.
Add a little margarine and spread it on the cut side of the potato. Then sprinkle with salt and pepper if you want.
Place the buttered potatoes buttered side down on a sheet of aluminum foil wrap. Fold the foil and seal. Add to a preheated hot oven 200 degrees centigrade and cook for approx half an hour.
When cooked unwrap and gently peel the foil off the potatoes and serve. Throw the foil in the garbage and voila – lovely crisp roasted potatoes and no mess.
Now you have simple common sense cooking tips that you should know to start cooking better meals. Now go out and impress your family and friends.
Thank you for reading and have a great day
Take Care and God Bless,
Greg "Da Spokesman" Stargell
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