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ROCKFORD — Now there's an option for watching movies and TV shows from a smartphone, tablet or computer. For free.
INSIDE: Some of what you'll find, how to sign up
ROCKFORD — Now there's an option for watching movies and TV shows from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
For free.
Network television got wise to its customers' increasingly nontraditional viewing habits and started posting full episodes of select shows to websites several years ago.
Access is free with commercial interruptions. In most cases, On Demand, Netflix or HuluPlus come with a price or require a subscription.
Until now.
Hoopla digital, a library-based video streaming and temporary-download service, launched this month in Rockford. The company has a database of 10,000 movies and television shows available to
Rockford Public Library cardholders at no cost.
The service, similar to the library's online e-book service, OverDrive, lets cardholders access materials from their computers or mobile devices 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There are no late fees with hoopla or OverDrive because borrowed items are returned automatically when the loan period expires. Hoopla is another way for the library to serve patrons, said Rose Peterson, the library's IT and collection management manager.
"The library has historically offered our customers multiple formats so our community can benefit from both the DVD format and the streaming-video format," she said. "There are a variety of movies available, such as classics, Laurel & Hardy for example, to some current movies."
Hoopla — the digital arm of Midwest Tapes, which has been providing libraries with physical copies of movies, TV shows, audiobooks and music for more than 25 years — test-launched to 10 library systems this year.
The company let others sign up in July and has 28 partners across the country. Hoopla expects to have 200 systems on board by the end of the year and more than 1,000 next year.
Hoopla's online collection could be in for a growth explosion, too.
"We're adding more content constantly, and the more libraries we have, the better the content will be," said Jeff Jankowski, owner and founder of the Ohio-based company.
Hoopla's not looking to replace Netflix or Hulu. "It's a supplement," he said. "Most people will find that they use multiple services for everything, whether it's movies or music."
Hoopla specializes in educational movies and videos, documentaries, foreign and independent films, and children's and family content.
Unlike OverDrive, hoopla lets multiple patrons view the same content at the same time. That means no need to place holds. Most items have 72-hour checkouts.
The Rockford library paid $5,000 for the service. The money will be applied to checkout costs. The average cost per checkout during hoopla's test launch: $1.70.
"Instead of buying the material, putting it on the shelf and hoping someone checks it out, in this model we offer tens of thousands of titles and the cardholders decide what's relevant," Jankowski said.
The Rockford library will monitor how the system is used in the first few months to determine further use and expenses.
"We are testing the waters to see how popular it will be," Peterson said.
The physical DVD collection is one of the library's most popular services. Annual DVD and CD checkouts surpassed that of printed materials in 2008. The gap has grown each year.
The library has had 345,169 DVD checkouts this year.
It added free online magazines this year and has offered free music, e-book and audiobook downloads for several years.
Corina Curry: 815-987-1371; firstname.lastname@example.com; @corinacurry
How to sign upGo to rockfordpubliclibrary.org. Click on the hoopla ad. Have your library card and PIN number ready to enter. For help signing up, call the library, 815-965-7606.
Some of what you'll find
"The Hunter" (1980): Steve McQueen's final film shows the dynamic talent of the actor in one of his most memorable roles: the true story of Ralph "Papa" Thorson, a modern-day bounty hunter. Thorson's exploits are detailed as he pursues a number of fugitives who have skipped bail.
"Ivan the Incredible" (2013): Ivan Olsen is plagued by bullies at school, constantly pursued by a gang whose greatest pleasure is filling his pants with water, and taunted by his unsympathetic dad. A friendly witch mixes a magic potion that makes him "the best at everything" for one day.
"Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train" (2004): The amazing life of the renowned historian, activist and author. Following his early days as a shipyard labor organizer and bombardier in World War II, Zinn became an academic rebel and leader of civil disobedience in a time of institutionalized racism and war.
"Night of the Living Dead" (1968): Tense, taut and terrifying from its opening scenes all the way to its shocking and disturbing conclusion; hungry undead rise from their graves to feed on the flesh of the living.
"The Neverending Story" (1984): A boy discovers a book that transports him to a fantasy world whose edges reach back into his mundane existence in this family adventure epic based on the acclaimed best-seller.
"Serpico" (1973): The real-life struggle of an honest New York City cop against a corrupt system. Neophyte officer Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) is determined to not let his job get in the way of his individuality.
"Trekkies" (1999): Get ready to beam up to a galaxy where autograph hounds abound, dentists drill in Federation garb and the debate over "Trekkies" vs. "Trekkers" rages on.
"Dark Shadows" (1967): With its alluring tales of Gothic mystery and supernatural intrigue, the live daytime series became TV's most popular during its 1966-71 run on ABC.
"Bill Nye the Science Guy" (2002): With more than 28 Emmys and a slew of other prestigious awards, Disney's resident way-cool scientist knows how to get kids fired up about science.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Ohhhh, office birthday parties. You know something sweet's about to go down when you see a big ol' sheet cake in the fridge or on the break room table, complete with a card and – dare we say it? – confetti.
We all have a love-hate relationship with office birthday celebrations, really. While everyone enjoys congratulating someone for getting older, it can all become a little, well, monotonous. The same sheet cake with the same message ("Happy birthday, [insert name here]!"), well-meaning coworkers awkwardly singing "Happy Birthday" off-key, and, of course, the stares from said coworkers as you try to daintily yet gracefully bite into that sugar-laden concoction called a cake. Yes, we see you nodding your head along with that smirk on your face.
Whoever said that we have to have cake when we celebrate birthdays at work? No one, that's who! So don't be afraid to spice it up a bit with these 10 different dessert ideas:


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The final pick of the NFL Draft shouldn�t be announced by microphone. A starter�s pistol makes much more sense.
After seven rounds and 253 players are picked, open season is declared on the remaining eligible rookies. All 32 NFL teams scour their draft boards looking for bargains that escaped the notice of other teams.
When the Colts made the final pick of the draft, three former Burlington County high school players turned their attention to their cell phones.
When their phones did ring, Willingboro�s Dezman Moses was a Green Bay Packer and Burlington Township�s Kashif Moore was headed for the Cincinnati Bengals, while former Falcons teammate Rod Streater signed a free-agent deal with the Oakland Raiders.
�I�m a sports fan so I would have been watching anyway,� Moses said. �We had some contact with teams throughout the whole process. It wasn�t too tough. I was just waiting and watching.�
It didn�t take long.
�I got a call from my agent about 10 minutes after the draft,� Moses said. �I was pretty excited that Green Bay pulled the trigger pretty quick. I can�t wait. I�m ready to go to work.�
Moses is a 6-foot-2, 252-pound defensive end who finished his college career at Tulane University. He played two years at Iowa before transferring. Moore, from Connecticut, and Streater, of Temple, are both wide receivers.
After the relative quiet of the draft�s early rounds, things began to heat up for Moore late Saturday.
�It was crazy,� Moore said. �It was an amazing experience. I think it all played out for the best. I watched just a little of the draft.
�During the 7th (final) round of the draft calls started flowing in from teams that had used all their picks. That�s really when things got pretty hectic. I talked to about 12 teams. That�s when I had to go to work.�
Once the draft ends, the dynamic changes. The teams have their choice of players during the draft. Afterward, the remaining players have their pick of interested teams.
�I wanted to make sure I found the best situation,� Moore said. �(Bengals coach) Marvin Lewis called to say how interested they were in me. I talked to him and their wide receivers coach. It seemed like a great opportunity for me.�
In high school, Streater was more of a track prospect than a football player. An All-County high jumper, Streater started his post-high school career at Alfred State. He came to Temple after junior college reaching his full potential as a football player. His track background and lanky 6-4 frame are an intriguing combination for NFL teams.
�It�s been a humbling experience,� Streater said. �Having to go the juco route, then two years at Temple isn�t the normal way to go about it. I�m fortunate that I get this great opportunity to show my talents and that I�m willing to work.�
Streater will take his chances with the Raiders. Oakland did its homework on Streater.
�They contacted me before the draft,� Streater said. �They called again between the fifth and sixth rounds to say that they were still considering drafting me. I spoke to some of the top people in the organization. They had nothing but great things to say about my chances of helping them on the field.��
There are no guarantees for NFL Draft picks. For rookie free agents, the most important thing is to find a way to show teams everything they can do.
�I�m just going to play football,� Moses said. �All I can do is worry about what I can control. I�ll play as hard as I can and get better every single day. This is a great opportunity for me.�
Players have rookie mini-camps, organized team activities and training camp to make their mark. To make an NFL roster, players have to make every single opportunity count. Veterans and draft picks have a built in edge. Moses, Moore and Streater went undrafted. They know what they�re up against.
�Just getting a chance is all anyone can ask for,� Moore said. �I wasn�t really highly recruited out of high school. I realized I�ve always played with a chip on my shoulder. It�s no different as an undrafted rookie. All I need is a shot.�
Tom Rimback: 609-871-8067; email, firstname.lastname@example.com; Twitter, @rimbackBCT


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Winner of the AMVCA 2014 award for Best Actor in a Drama, was a year older on Thursday (June 5, 2014). His birthday found him working on the set of a new film being directed by Desmond Elliot in Lagos, coincidentally titled Birthday Bash. However, cast and crew of the movie still found time to present him with a birthday cake, and celebrate with him.
|Tope Tedela (in red) with cast and crew of Birthday Bash on Thursday


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We're pleased to announce that we've nominated the following writers' works from CLOCKHOUSE Volume Five for the Pushcart Prize:
Creative Nonfiction
Ira Sukrungruang, "Because, the Ferguson Verdict"
Diana Wagman, "Small World"
Sabine Bradley, "I did it to a man"
Paisley Rekdal, "Atlas Moth,"
Clifford Thompson, "2014"
Please join us in congratulating these writers, and please consider submitting to Volume Six of CLOCKHOUSE. Submissions are open until January 1, 2018, and copies and submissions guidelines are available on our website.
Congratulations to Our Pushcart Prize Nominees
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CWC is the alumni association of Goddard's MFAW Program. It holds the annual summer Clockhouse Writers' Conference & Retreat in Plainfield, Vermont, and the annual winter Lighthouse Conference & Retreat each winter. Its national literary journal CLOCKHOUSE is published in partnership with Goddard College and the MFAW Program. For more information, please visit www.clockhousewriters.com or contact CWC's lead steward, Lucy Turner.
Latest posts by CWC (see all)
- Last Call for the 2019 LWC&R - January 11, 2019
- Nominations for the Pushcart Prize & Memorable First Lines - December 14, 2018
- CLOCKHOUSE: There's Still Time to Submit! - November 16, 2018
- LWC&R Request for Workshop Proposals - November 10, 2018


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A$AP Rocky is in hot water with brown girls!
In a recent interview with The Coveteur, ASAP was asked about his own beauty regimen and after detailing his love of witch hazel and exfoliating, he went on to talk about women.
Things quickly took a left when ASAP was asked his opinion on girls wearing makeup. While he points out that he prefers natural girls over ones that cover their face in cosmetics, ASAP should have stopped there. However, the braided rapper went on to offer some specific and misguided advice when it comes to wearing red lipstick.
"But for real, for me, I feel like with the red lipstick thing it all depends on the pair of complexion. I'm just being for real. You have to be fair skinned to get away with that. Just like if you were to wear like—f*cking for instance, what do dark skin girls have that you know fair skinned girls cant do… Purple lipstick? Naw, that looks stupid on all girls! Purple lipstick, guys! Like, what the f*ck…"
Ummmm. Wow!
While there isn't one universally flattering red lip color, there are definitely enough shades out there to find the right one for every skin tone. And from Rihanna to Alek Wek, every woman can wear red lipstick and look stunning.
ASAP needs to take several seats!
TELL US: What do you think about ASAP's comments? Does he have a point or does he have some colorist issues?


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So I believe you all saw my photo of the redesign we did of the girls' room? For those of you who didn't, here it is again. I'm so proud:
I absolutely love that room now, when it's neat, and when the dang decal doesn't fall off the wall, but the downside of dismantling bunk beds in favour of two individual beds is, it seems, a loss of a sense of security on the part of the child who used to sleep on the bottom bunk.
That's right. You guessed it. My almost 6 year old, who had been sleeping through the night relatively consistently for quite a while, now wakes up once or twice a night and insists on being put back to bed. It wouldn't be such a problem if she'd wake up at normal kid wake up times, like 1 or 2am, when Fred is actually in bed, but for some reason she's choosing to come get me and rouse me from sleep at anywhere between 9:30 and 11pm. I can't figure it out.
Anyways, we've tried all the approaches we can think of. The incentive program, where she sleeps for X number of nights and then "earns" a prize, has worked in the past, but it's not working now. We're currently not letting her watch any tv at all until she sleeps five nights in a row, but incredibly even that isn't having any sort of an impact. I'm now seriously considering pushing my husband to drop the cable bill (as IF) because if the kids don't need Treehouse, what are we paying that bill for? Yelling doesn't work, threats don't work, pleading doesn't work, bribes don't work.
Last week I had an appointment with a new retailer and while I was in the store my eye was caught by this bizarre looking ladybug. When the owner told me what it was for, I nearly jumped out of my pants from excitement! This ladybug would solve Azure's sleep problems!
The thing is a soft body with a hard shell, and the shell is perforated with a series of stars, and when the room is dark and it's turned on it projects a constellation on the walls and ceiling and this is supposed to provide the child with a sense of security. I figured this would be a great gimmick for Azure as she insists she can't sleep with the light off, but at the same time, I wonder if it's because of the light that she's waking up at odd hours.
Anyways, I came back the next day with Azure to get her approval and she fell in love (she attaches easily to material things - that's my daughter!) so we bought it.
That first night was great. She was so excited to use it that she went to bed with no problems and when she woke up at night, she turned it on and went back to sleep.
But the novelty seems to have worn off, a measly two nights later. She seems to wake up disoriented and does not remember to turn it on. So then how does she remember to come find me every night??
I'm working my way to the punchline here, so bear with me.
So LAST night Fred put her down at the usual time, around 8:15pm, and she fell asleep quickly as she usually does. Phoenix was another story and at 9:45pm when Azure woke up for the first time, Phoenix was still wide awake. I followed Azure to her room and turned off the overhead light, which she'd flicked on to look for something, put her into her bed and turned on the ladybug. At that point Phoenix, who had followed me, insisted she wanted the ladybug for herself, so I told her that she was welcome to get into "her" bed and sleep there and then she could see the lights. She climbed in, lay down, I tucked her in and I left the room.
About ten minutes later I was ready to pass out myself but I was nervous that Phoenix would wake up Azure or, if she was actually, miraculously asleep, that she'd roll off the bed, so I went back in to check on them. And they were both FAST ASLEEP. Phoenix was a little too close to the edge for my comfort so I moved her over and put a pillow next to her so she couldn't roll, and she stirred and complained that she wanted to stay in that bed, so I went back to bed and went to sleep.
At 11pm I was jolted out of sleep and out of bed by a child calling, but Fred was in the kitchen and went to check it out.
And then it was morning, after a long series of awakenings caused by anxiety about not being able to hear the kids and Fred's snoring. And Phoenix had not only gotten into the bed by herself and gone to sleep by herself, but she'd SLEPT THE ENTIRE NIGHT THROUGH WITHOUT ME!
Oh, there is a god. And he's an electronic ladybug.
Fingers crossed it happens again tonight! Can you imagine that I could sleep by myself for the rest of this pregnancy?? Maybe I can even convince Fred to go snore in another room...
If anyone has suggestions for Azure, I'm all ears!
This is a photo of the ladybug, and if you click here you'll be taken to the Cloud B Twilight homepage (which needs lots of work!). The photo was taken from the website.


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Our tour group a.k.a Mashi Mashi
Where our tour took us:
The only negative in my opinion is that we didn't get to know our tour-mates really well. We met a couple of very nice people and I'd have liked more time to chat to them. Part of the problem was obviously that this was a fairly short tour and also, we had to sit at the same table with the same people at every meal on the cruise, which made sense logistically, but it meant that we didn't get a chance to chat to different people. We also didn't have seat rotation on the bus – I enjoyed the seat rotation on the European tour as it meant that we got to chat to different people everyday while travelling.
Egypt was amazing. The mind just boggles at the fact that some of the buildings we saw have been around for more than 4000 years. Yes, the vendors are a pain and the tipping gets you down a bit, and we won't mention the toilets, but it is all SO worth it in light of what you are seeing and the places you are visiting. I'd recommend this tour 100%
Cairo: * Ramses Hilton (3 nights) * Concorde El Salam Hotel
Nile Cruise: * MS Sapphire
Alexandria: * Helnan Palestine Hotel


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Memories from May…
An outdoor lifestyle blog about family life and home education. Inspiring a love of nature and empathy for our natural environment.
Memories from May…
These are some of the things we have been doing so far this month…
In addition to these activities, we also practised estimating (time mainly) and discussed the difference between a guess and an estimate. We have also played a game several times that she invented whereby we try to recall what we were doing x number of days ago. This proved to be a fun memory game and we enjoyed talking about past events, as well as doing the maths to work out how many weeks, months and sometimes years ago the day was. I also discovered she didn't know what a typewriter was when she found a miniature toy one (then again, why would she know!) So we discussed technology and how it has progressed, which she found very interesting.
We made gluten free, dairy free, soya free and egg free pancakes for dinner, to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. This was partly based on family diet restrictions (both mine and Squiggle's) and partly because we decided to rise to the challenge of using what we had available in the kitchen without taking a trip to a supermarket!
1. 250g gluten free flour
2. 600ml alternative dairy free milk (we used almond milk)
3. Egg replacer
4. Mix together
5. Fry in sunflower oil or alternative (we used rapeseed oil)
6. Flip or toss the pancakes
And here is Squiggle enjoying the finished product….
For more free from pancake recipes see the BBC good food website www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2920662/egg-dairy-and-glutenfree-pancakeshttps://livinglifeourway.files.wordpress.com/


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With investment flows thinning, China vows to open up economy
Beijing has pledged to open up more economic sectors to foreign investment, an official statement said, as foreign chambers of commerce complain of a worsening business environment in the country.
China will "unwaveringly insist on the opening-up policy" and "create fair competition environment by treating foreign and domestic funds as the same", the State Council, China's cabinet, said in a statement late yesterday after a meeting hosted by Premier Li Keqiang.
Foreign direct investment in China is estimated to reach 785 billion yuan (now $113 billion) this year, China's Ministry of Commerce said Monday, lower than the total of $135.6 billion last year.
The EU Chamber of Commerce in China has complained of an "unequal investment landscape" in the country and called for it to drop widescale prohibitions on foreign investment.
China will allow foreign firms to operate fully-owned subsidiaries, rather than joint ventures, in sectors including rail transportation equipment and motorcycles, the statement said. It will also let them enter fields including auditing and architectural design for the first time.
Foreign companies will be given the same treatment as Chinese firms in terms of capital required to set up shops, products purchased by the government, and preferential policies for high-tech enterprises, it added.
Beijing has repeatedly pledged to make its economy more responsive to market forces. But China ranked 84th globally –behind Saudi Arabia and Ukraine –in the World Bank's ease of doing business index for 2016, and second to last in an OECD report on restrictiveness towards foreign investment.
The country is trying to stem capital outflows with its yuan currency falling and its vast foreign exchange reserves dropping eight percent from January to November.
China is the world's second-largest economy and has one of the fastest growth rates of any G20 nation, but its stock markets have been among the worst performing in the world this year.
Starting with a botched attempt to reduce volatility that instead triggered a spectacular meltdown, Chinese bourses have spent the year struggling against feckless policymakers, massive capital flight and a languishing currency.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index (SCI) closed on Friday down 12.3 per cent for the year, compared to a rise of 0.4 for Japan's Nikkei 225, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also rose 0.4 per cent.
China was vying with debt-ridden Portugal for last place among the 40-plus countries tracked by Wall Street Journal's Market Data Center.
It is a significantly worse performance than 2015's wild ride, when the SCI surged by 60 per cent in the first half before plunging by more than 40 per cent in under three months. Even so, it finished the year with an overall gain of 9.4 per cent. Then authorities brought in a "circuit breaker" mechanism in January to automatically shut down trading if prices plunged. It went into effect twice in one week, kicking off a self-reinforcing selling panic that spread to global markets, and was scrapped after just four days.
"The Chinese market had a meltdown this year, and so far it has only half recovered from that," Northeast Securities analyst Shen Zhengyang told AFP, adding the market was still in "slow and gradual restoration".
The chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission was sacked over the debacle. His replacement, Liu Shiyu, has kept a low profile, hurting market confidence and leaving investors seeking direction, said Oliver Rui, a professor at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).
"People don't understand much about the regulator's policy direction," he said, adding that the lack of clarity partly explained the market's weak performance. The falling yuan –lowered seven percent by the central bank over the year in the face of a surging dollar –has also driven investors abroad in search of better performance.


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Starting in October of this year, a new TV sitcom is coming out, featuring a plot about a stay-at-home dad learning to cope with his wife going back to work full time. Spending all his time with the kids and doing 'mom stuff' definitely turns out harder than he originally thought it would be. Man with a Plan will be gracing us with its presence on CBS, and will be starring none other than the oh-so-famous Matt LeBlanc… well, I know him better as Joey from F.R.I.E.N.D.S! This news is so very exciting to me, mostly because I don't think I've seen him in anything since the attempt at a F.R.I.E.N.D.S spin-off, Joey, which was not the biggest success, sadly. Lasting two seasons, LeBlanc did reprise his role as Joey on a show starring him living with his sister and nephew in Las Angeles, still trying to make it as an actor. Although I personally really enjoyed watching this show, I guess not a lot of other people agreed, because of it getting cancelled so quickly.
I found it interesting when reading about this new show, that the reader mentioned how this new character played by Matt LeBlanc is similar to the role of Joey Tribbiani. Now, I must say, at first this made me pretty happy, because I do miss seeing Joey Tribbiani on television, but I quickly started rethinking things. The whole idea of an actor playing a similar role more than once always makes me wonder… is it because they have been typecast, is it because they may not be as talented as I had thought, or is it just to please fans? Unfortunately, I have seen this happen before, for example with Jennifer Aniston, who seems to often land similar roles. Of course this could just be my perception, but I feel like I mostly see her play not-as-serious roles… this could be for many reasons, but it's always interesting to notice. Anyways, seeing LeBlanc again in this trailer made me really happy,and this show looks pretty funny.


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There is something refreshing about seeing a turtle. In this instance a loggerhead. I have never seen an adult swimming under the ocean. I have seen many in the ponds all along the east coast, painted, box, snappers, mud,bog and I have always been treated kindly and with respect. I showed them the same.
However on one of my beach walkabouts I spied a baby loggerhead shell in the tidline. It was low tide and I was a good 400 yards from the water. This was back when I used to collect artifacts and such from the tidal treasures left on the beach. So I picked it up with great admiration and I surveyed it's markings. You must imagine my smile and delight when a little curious head popped out followed by arms and feet. Feeling that little life in my hand was sensational!
I walked down to the surf, waded in waist deep and let it swim out from my hand. What a feeling ! My young daughter might spot this creature one day in her world travels! I hope.
My friend Margi was looking at my last post of the roses and remarked, "Not only is it beautiful but I get a great sense of peace too." Thanks for that by the way.
This is the feeling that seeing great creatures in nature gives me and at least for the time being it's one of the great 'authentic' experiences for which I give thanks.
This is a watercolor on watercolor board 15x20 inches. Sold. Original price $1,500.00
Remember to visit Zazzle online and search for sunnybeachman to find my watercolor art on a variety of products you might like.
More to come....
All art and images copyright Alan Phillips 2014


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How the internet of things is transforming energy
The internet of things (IoT) in the energy sector represents a new reality that will reach all aspects of the value chain, with a new digital foundation enabled by the rapid adoption of internet-connected devices.
Out of the many impacts of the IoT in energy, Engerati has identified three for an indepth focus an – intelligent asset management, situational awareness with predictive grid analytics and grid flexibility and resilience.
Back to the future
For the utility sector, the IoT represents a natural progression from the smart grid, which in turn has its foundation in smart metering.
But the challenges the IoT presents are two-fold – one is the significantly increasing volumes of data from the new devices and sensors coming onto the grid, and the second the integration and analysis of that and other data not only from within the utility but also from external sources.
"The concept isn't new," says Iain Stewart, Practice Partner Utilities at Teradata International in Engerati's In Focus webinar.
As examples, he cites two projects of data integration onto a single platform – one at Pacific Gas & Electric in California, the other at Smart City Aspern just outside Vienna.
"The IoT is all about data and the ability to monetise it is what drives value," Stewart comments, offering a five-step process for managing data. "But the IoT is expanding and the need to collect and analyse data at scale is increasing."
He also advises, as the process is expensive, a focus on data use cases.
IoT and asset intelligence
Asset management and maintenance is an obvious use case of IoT, given the costly and distributed nature of utility assets – and especially so in an environment of ageing assets on the one hand and growing numbers of new and more complex assets on the other.
It's about improving reliability and customer satisfaction while reducing the operating costs and optimising the capital expenditure, says Roger Goodwin, VP, Industry Solutions Group at SpaceTime Insights.
He comments that IoT solutions provide "a new source of data" for asset maintenance and advanced analytics are the key to unlocking its business value. But there are several levels of analytics and not all are the same.
"The greatest business benefit comes from prescriptive analytics, which tell us not only what is likely to happen but how the event should be handled," Goodwin says. "That is the value IoT can provide and we see early adopters reporting savings of $4m to $6m a year."
Rhys Davies, President of consultancy eAsset Management, and Boudewijn Neijens, Chief Marketing Officer at decision analytics software provider Copperleaf Technologies, reference the ISO 55000 asset management standard in their webinar.
"ISO 55000 provides some key messages for organisations," says Davies. "These are the need for aligned objectives, a long-term strategic view and rules and knowledge for transparent and risk-based decision making."
Neijens comments that value is the key metric when it comes to asset management. "Value can have different interpretations and an organisation needs to generate the greatest possible value to itself from its assets."
The heart of Copperleaf's approach is the Value Framework, which encapsulates all the elements of value that are important to the business of the organisation and enables these to be compared on a common scale.
Grid flexibility and resilience
For John Simmins, Technical Executive at EPRI, much of the excitement of the IoT is not in simply adding more devices into the network but in how the utility's assets can be leveraged in new applications, such as smart cities.
"There are semi-active assets such as the communications infrastructure and active assets such as smart devices that can be leveraged by other entities and for new measurement or monitoring applications. There are many exciting possibilities," he says, pointing out that in this context the consumer is also a 'sensor' in the utility network.
As an example, he cites a distributed energy resource architecture that is being leveraged without utility involvement for energy trading.
EPRI's jargon references the 'integrated grid' and 'integrated energy network' with research under way on a wide variety of topics pertaining to the communications infrastructure and its architecture and utility planning and operations.
"For me the microgrid is the ultimate IoT environment," Simmins says. "It can act as a 'black box' for demand response and distributed resource integration. And when islanded, the 'things' can maintain operational reliability and it can un-island itself."
Submetering in buildings
Another example of the IoT in action is the optimisation of the energy efficiency performances of buildings, driven by data from smart submetering.
In a presentation, John Gionas, Chief Commercial Officer, and Stelios Koutroubinas, CEO of energy management company Meazon, review this proposition.
Connected submetering has been enabled by the latest technology advancements, says Gionas. He explains: "Organisations are now able to centralise and manage their energy use across heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, etc. in near real time, enabling energy efficiency at scale."
The challenge is in harnessing all the data to provide benefits not only for the building owners or managers but also the occupants.
Gionas recommends a cloud-based approach, which can readily be leveraged with the submeter technology and avoiding significant hardware and software capital expenditure.
A case study example is a large bank, at which 50 branches and 25 buildings were selected for energy efficiency interventions. More than 500 submeters were installed achieving savings of 7m kWh/yr and a project IRR of over 15%.
IT/OT convergence
As noted above a key challenge for the utility IoT is bridging the IT/OT gap that is common in many organisations. Both manufacturers and system integrators need a basic knowledge of IT and OT so that they can provide or integrate a suitable system for grid implementation, such as substations, solar energy, wind energy and energy management applications.
In a presentation on this topic, Dean Samara-Rubio, Solutions Architect for Energy and Utilities at Intel, discusses the need for intelligence at the edge of the grid in order to meet the transformation challenges the IoT is bringing.
"The compute or 'convergence platform' at the edge can provide the path for the apps and services the utility needs to provide to come to fruition," he says.
Tony Milne, Business Development Manager at industrial computer company Advantech, points to the potential for automation of Europe's approximately 20m low and medium voltage substations with the move to the IEC 61850 standard. There are opportunities for both visualisation and virtualisation applications.
Examples of automation projects that integrate OT and IT include Nice Grid in France and the power development and reform (R-APDRP) project in India.


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Close to 70 Northwest Indiana students from Gary, East Chicago, Hammond, Knox, and Michigan City participated at the Regional Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference on February 7th at Indiana University Northwest in Gary.
JAG students are considered at-risk students who need assistance in completing high school and transitioning to employment or post-secondary education. The Career Development Conference (CDC) is one way to prepare them for the future by allowing them to compete in events to showcase employability related skills. Through individual competitions, students had the opportunity to advance and gain a spot to compete on March 14th in Indianapolis.
Competition sections included: Career Presentation, Cover Design, Creative Solutions, Critical Thinking, Employability Skills, Financial Literacy, Public Speaking, and Writing Skills. In addition, the JAG schools as a whole, competed in chapter competitions including banner design, JAG commercial, and a Service Learning Binder that clearly defines their community service activities.
Awards were presented at the end of the program recognizing the following recipients who will move on to the state:
Career Presentations-Zacahry Weis, AK Smith Area Career Center
Cover Design-Jasmine Alvarez, Roosevelt College & Career Academy
Creative Solutions-Jose Arcinida, Calumet New Tech High School
Critical Thinking-Kayla Patrick, AK Smith Area Career Center
Employability Skills-India Rodriguez-Gary West Side Leadership Academy
Financial Literacy-Damon Ellison-East Chicago Central High School
Public Speaking-Kayla Case, Calumet New Tech High School
Writing Skills-Sarah Horstman, Knox High School
In addition, recognition was given to Sabrina Ridgell from East Chicago Central as the JAG Outstanding Senior, Knox High School for their JAG banner and commercial, and Roosevelt College & Career Academy for the Service Learning Binder.
For further information about the local JAG program, contact Tamara Stump at 219-462-2940, ext. 32 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
The local JAG program is an initiative of the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board. Sponsors for the CDC were Indiana University Northwest, Ivy Tech Community College, and the Center of Workforce Innovations.


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Color(s): Beige
Sweatshirt by Vero Moda, Cotton-rich sweat, Crew neck, Raglan sleeves, Balloon style, Ribbed trims, Relaxed fit, Machine wash, 80% Cotton, 20% Polyester, Our model wears a UK S/EU S/US XS and is 178cm/5'10" tall. Danish fashion house, Vero Moda, made their mark on the fashion scene by using top models Kate Moss and Gisele Bundchen in their marketing campaigns. With emphasis on quality, affordable and inspiring clothing; their range of statement dresses and tailored garments embrace the essence of current trends whilst maintaining a practical edge. Meanwhile their lingerie collection, Vero Moda Intimates, channels the brand's feminine aesthetic, with soft lace trims, ditsy florals and candy colored prints adorning a selection of bras and briefs."


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Farnaz Ghaffarisaravi
Associate Attorney
Phone: 678.714.1131
Fax: 678.714.5391
Email: Contact Me
Farnaz is an associate attorney at Spooner & Associates. She attended undergrad at University of Florida and attended law school at Florida Coastal School of Law. Farnaz went on to receive a Masters of Law (LL.M) degree at The George Washington University School of Law in Washington DC. Prior to joining Spooner & Associates, she practiced bankruptcy law and helped her clients overcome financial difficulty. Farnaz understood the emotional difficulty her clients faced when filing for bankruptcy and took the time to listen. Farnaz's passion and desire to help families during one of the most emotional and difficult times of their lives is what drew her to the area of Family Law. She assists clients with divorce, custody, modifications, and property division issues.
In her free time, Farnaz enjoys traveling, discovering new things to do in Atlanta and spending time with her family.
- State Bar of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- University of Florida, Cum Laude, B.A.
- Florida Coastal School of Law, J.D.
- The George Washington University Law School, LL.M.
Professional Associations
- Secretary of the Metro Atlanta Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Group (MACBAG)
- Gwinnett County Bar Association
- English
- Farsi


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While an athlete or body builder in schooling, you probably need some benefits fast. Slim rock hard muscle mass can come with some plenty of training, but if you would like to speed things up a lttle bit, you might want to get one of these natural testosterone booster. Testosterone boosters help you increase strength as you gain muscles and strength. Fortunately, there are many healthy testosterone booster gadgets on the market today to help you do this properly with few or no side effects.
Who Can Consider Testosterone Booster devices?
Testosterone booster gadgets are not advised for teenagers or men under the age of twenty-five. Teenagers' systems already generate sufficient levels of hormones pertaining to growth and development. Teenage boys in their early on twenties are generally at their particular peak of testosterone production, so the booster gadgets are not needed. Warning: Taking testosterone booster gadgets when your body is already making sufficient testosterone can be bad for your health.
Indications of Decreased Testosterone Levels
Any time a man's testosterone levels lower, he displays certain symptoms that can slow down weight training attempts. These can include a lack of strength, memory damage, loss or reduction of sexual travel, reduced muscles or failure to gain muscle tissue, lack of concentrate, low metabolic rate, irritability, and weight gain. These types of symptoms often occur in increasing age adult males mainly because their systems slow down in producing the testosterone hormone. As men age, the stamina and endurance pertaining to long routines or athletic activities will usually decline due to this enhancements made on hormonal creation.
Benefits of Healthy Testosterone Booster gadgets
Natural testosterone boosters provide a number of rewards. They support boost energy, increase durability for longer, more effective workouts, block estrogen, improve libido (sexual drive), reduce body fat, and gain muscle tissue faster than in the past.
Since there is certainly such a vast selection of testosterone boosters available today, it's very good to know the differences. Creatine products are legal forms of testosterone boosters, and are much safer than various steroid items. They usually tend not to cause numerous side effects and therefore are readily available that you can buy. Illegal testosterone boosters are anabolic steroids.
Then simply there are healthy testosterone booster devices that contain herbal ingredients just like Tribulus Terrestris, Tongkat Ali, Mucuna Pruriens, Epimedium, Dehydroepiandrosterone, and Tesofen (TM). Organic testosterone boosters help you gain lean rock hard muscles with out exposing you to dangerous medicines or chemicals that can harm your health.
Additional Natural Testosterone Boosters
There are two different ways to increase stamina levels and boost testosterone by natural means. You can improve testosterone through a change in diet and a rise in exercise. Eat more of particular food items that will increase testosterone levels in the bloodstream. These include ovum, beef, broccoli, cabbage, oysters, chicken, and garlic. Regular weight training will also help your body to generate more testosterone.
As with any kind of muscle-building supplementation, check with a medical expert before choosing any type of testosterone booster. Question which healthy booster ideal you and research online to know all you can on the subject of different products. Look for companies that provide you with all the ingredients of the item up front so you can make a proper choice.
With t bomb 3 reviews in addition to a consistent muscle development routine, likely to soon enjoy the benefits of your brand-new, healthier, solid-built muscle equipment!


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RIMS Classrooms:
The classrooms at RIMS provide the ideal environment needed for learning. The academic block of the institute has eight large classrooms with a capacity of 90, six rooms with a capacity of 60 and four rooms with a capacity of 45, a multimedia hall, and training halls. Separate classrooms are assigned for all the streams of Management, Computer Applications and Mass Communication. The classrooms are spacious, well-lighted, ventilated and well air-conditioned. All the classrooms are well equipped with audio-video systems, overhead projectors, wireless public address systems, computers with large monitors and network connection. Major classrooms are equipped with PCs, Large Monitors and LCD projectors for displaying information.
RIMS students work and live in a wired environment. The institute's facilities include wired classroom conferencing and high-speed data communication networks. The classrooms are equipped with the most contemporary teaching facilities, which make learning a complete experience. The classrooms are designed to provide maximum interaction between the faculty and the students.
Salient Features of RIMS Classrooms:
• Classrooms are well equipped to deliver the effective teaching methodology.


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Before Public Roads, Private Companies Did It Better• https://www.thedailybell.com
Even the U.S. Department of Transportation has to admit, the first major U.S. roadways were not built by the government:
The privately built Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road was the first important turnpike and the first long-distance broken-stone and gravel surface built in America according to formal plans and specifications. The road's construction marked the beginning of organized road improvement after the long period of economic confusion following the American Revolution.
The road opened the territory northwest of the Ohio River and provided cheap transportation between the coast cities and the new Republic's "bread basket" region surrounding Lancaster.
In the early days of the United States, the government certainly saw the benefit of roads. But most politicians didn't think it was their place to raise taxes to pay for them.
State governments laid claim to all unoccupied land. So state governments would grant charters to private companies to build, improve, and maintain roads on "public" land.
The companies sold stock in the routes to investors, which funded the development of these roads. Tolls made the companies profitable so they could pay back investors.
The government's only role was granting ownership of certain public pathways to these companies, under the condition that they improve them.
The best roads at the time were privately funded, for-profit businesses. Travel for leisure was not as common. People tended to work at home, or close to where they lived. Therefore merchants moving their goods to market paid most of the tolls. This surely brought down the price for other travelers.
Of course, the price of the toll would make it into the price of the goods. In that sense, everyone contributed to the roads. No taxation necessary.
Great Britain Started the Trend and brought it to America
During the 1700s, the British started experimenting with paved roads for the first time since the Romans built some roads after conquering the island.


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Our Real Life
When we grow up, we leave the nest and finally fly on our own. But then, sometimes, it also feels like the opposite: we leave the realm of soaring dreams and reach the ground. We pull our heads out of the clouds where it has been all along. Time to face the reality of independent life, full of cares and responsibilities.
Remember how young we were
When unbidden love knocked on our door?
When naivety trully was bliss…
I wish it would last evermore.
Then, problems didn't exist as such.
To be honest, we didn't care too much.
It was nothing to really care for;
So we went to classes and shared lunch.
Now I share my lunch with TV;
And I have my dinner with myself and me;
And a tear might drop in my cup.
Have you ever had breakfast with salty tea?
Here it is, here comes the so-called
Our "real life," as professors told.
It's so real – I couldn't have ever imagined
That we'd live in different parts of the world.
Why can't you and I simply choose
To backtrack to the times we don't want to lose?
Do we have to wake up to adulthood
When I'd rather prefer to snooze?
And it feels like this every step of the way, with every new challenge in life. Every new phase brings in more complexity; and when we look back, the times that have passed don't look as tough as they used to seem before (at least when compared to the new bigger challenges). And this is a good thing. It is a sign of personal growth.
Not everyone is afraid of flying, but those who are will be able to relate to this poem:
I have no wings, but planes do.
So white, but not poetic.
So straight, but not trustworthy.
Inside the capsule belly I subdue
The thoughts that seem prophetic –
A fear so grave among the skies so frothy.
As if someone proclaimed that
I won't have more than a hundred
Pulse beatings to live to the end,
In haste to defy such a threat,
My heart must've frantically thundered
A thousand beats off-hand.
I have no relief for the itch of my knees.
Stiff muscles are bending my spine.
Like pieces of magnets, my bones
Are clasping as one in a desperate squeeze.
My nerves straighten up in a twine.
My thoughts are in clamorous tones.
I close my eyes and imagine the news
With letters across: "Plane Crash!"
The image of scattered debris…
My mind has sparkled and blown a fuse;
My heart has been burning to ash
In pain for those who care for me.
Flash back and envision the ruinous hit,
And watch with those panicky eyes
The metal and plastic fold up onto me.
The crumpling pit.
The harrowing cries,
Like weeps of a howling banshee.
And do feel a hit and open my eyes…
Chase after the markings and lights,
And feeling the friction – the steady runway –
Unfasten the belt from around my thighs,
As if having won tens of deadliest fights
And carried my life away.
(The photo above is a shot from my plane window on a trip from Madrid to Zurich)
What about you, readers? How do you feel about flying? If not the planes, than what other things give you a fright? How do you cope with it? I would appreciate any insights in your comments!


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January 16, 2019 - Latest: What has happened to markets this year? by Darius McDermott
28th March 2012
What is Gross Domestic Product?
Gross Domestic Product is the market value of goods and services produced by workers and property in the country concerned, regardless of their nationality. So it is defined with geographical boundaries.
Gross Domestic Product = consumption (personal) + government spending + business investment + net exports (exports – imports)
Seems reasonably simple How is it counted?
We immediately hit a problem in that their are three ways of measuring this and you have probably already guessed that they do not always agree. I examined the figures for Portugal a few months ago and they differed at the widest point by 4%. When you consider that 4% growth or reduction is very significant we have a problem. The best we can hope for is that the differences remain fairly static, although in the "expect the unexpected" era which we now appear to live in that is a long way from being convincing to me.
The three ways of measuring GDP are using expenditure in the economy,using output and using income. As discussed above they do vary and there is debate over which is the more accurate. In the UK a previous Chancellor of the Exchequer tried to silence this to some extent as when investigating the differences I was told that Nigel Lawson had instructed the statisticians to use the output measure and adjust the others to it. Why was I asking? In the United States research had suggested that in the credit crunch era using the income method was more timely and accurate.
In general the numbers published are for the output measure and I wonder how many of those who quote them know that there are in fact two alternatives.
For those wondering about the US situation then using the income method gives you a deeper recession and a stronger recovery but we are still in a worse position (about 3% worse). As economic policy depends on where we think we are we enter into a zone where it may be (frankly probably is inappropriate..)
For real economic growth we need to measure inflation
Here we have another problem as one of the most common complaints by the general public is that inflation is not measured well and is understated. Some economists (which include me) do think that there are problems here. If we just think of the UK then we have two measures of consumer inflation which are CPI (Consumer Price Index) and RPI (Retail Price Index) and they are usually different often by a wide amount.
To get a measure of real output we need to take the output we measure and use an inflation measure to take out the effect of inflation. Actually we do not use the two used above we use what is called a GDP Deflator. This adjusts the nominal figure to give us a real one.
The problem is how accurate this is and there are doubts to say the least. For the UK the 2010 number was 2.86% and whilst it covers the whole economy and not just consumer inflation I have less faith than I used to have that we can rely on it. The catch is that if it was higher then real economic growth was lower (perhaps as indicated by the income measure that some countries use….).
So added to the problems above we have another one.
Immigration/ Emigration is another issue
I do not wish to discuss these as to whether they are a good or a bad thing (although in general they are good) but they are something we need to measure. Otherwise if you have a lot of immigration into a country you will record higher GDP numbers due to their activity but whilst the country may be better off individuals may be worse off. Accordingly the numbers are often measured per person to allow for this effect.
Seem simple? Er well no as if my country is any guide where we have no real idea of how much immigration there has been over the past decade or so we are much less clear about its effect. As a consequence we are also less clear what our population is. So we can say that as we stand per person or as it is usually expressed per capita GDP has a high error count.
The Reverse is also true
If we look at Greece, Ireland and Portugal we see countries which are likely to be seeing net emigration right now. Individuals have mentioned they are part of this on this blog. It is often forgotten that GDP falls will include this factor.
The accuracy of trade figures is shocking
Using net exports or exports minus imports gives us perhaps the biggest problem for statistics which is that they are very inaccurate and can be revised years and even decades later. Just as an example the figures for the UK current account in the first quarter of 2011 have been revised favourably by £800 million this morning. When you see that exports were revised up by £2276 million and imports by £1476 I hope you see that we are dealing with a number (net exports) which is the difference between two numbers we measure poorly and even worse we are never entirely sure we get right.
Should we measure GDP anyway?
Having hopefully unsettled your view on whether we can measure GDP I now intend to raise some problems about whether we should measure it. One issue was put well by the French economist Alfred Sauvy.
Marry your cleaning person, and you will make GDP drop!
This highlights the issue of what I will label household production. Consider an economy where everybody cuts their own grass, now consider one where they cut their neighbour's grass and get paid for it. Suddenly GDP has surged and yet if you argue that you are likely to cut your own grass more carefully then you are left with the view that economic well being has probably just deteriorated.
We have a similar problem with voluntary work particularly if it replaces paid work. On a stand alone basis very little if any will be captured by GDP statistics and if it replaces paid work then we will see a recorded fall in economic output. Yet voluntary work can be valuable and if provided by people with specific skills it may be very valuable.
Accounting for public work is almost impossible and this part of government spending has lots of issues. As I am a fan of London's parks lets us look at their upkeep. Our only way of measuring this is by what they are paid which may bear little or no relation to work done. i see examples
of hard work and also no work and can only conclude,sadly, that my profession has no way of telling between the two.
GDP sometimes tells us the wrong thing
Continue reading…
More from Mindful Money:
Reading List: 'Greed is the Beginning of Everything'
Upside down economics – morality before greed
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By Justin Okadigbo
PAST RECORD: In August 2006, the EFCC had seized the sum of N104 Million from one Mrs. Nancy Ebere Nwosu. Nwosu testified on oath that the money belonged to Mrs. Jonathan, then the Bayelsa State first lady, and that she was a mere mule, contracted to launder the loot. The case eventually made its way through the EFCC's convoluted investigative hoops, ending up in the court of Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court Abuja. Then, like all corruption cases involving favored members of the PDP family, the case fizzled out, never to be officially mentioned again. Even the fate of the seized money, which Justice Chikere ordered frozen, is still a mystery.
Another incident came to light before the dust of the first incident settled. The story, widely reported in September 2006 in the local and international media, was of yet another EFCC interception of funds traced to the then Bayelsa first lady. This time, the amount in question was an unheard of $13.5 Million. Like the previous loot, it was destined for laundering in offshore schemes. Mr. Osita Nwajah, the EFCC spokesman, gleefully announced the seizure. Again, the case disappeared into the the PDP's labyrinth of impunity.
PRESENT RECORD: Our public debt is 17.8% of the GDP while crude oil accounts for 95% of our exports. Our foreign reserves have gone down from $72 billion in 2008 to $33 billion in 2011. Our gross external debt has been put at $9.689 billion and the Gross Domestic Debt has shot up from $13.6 billion in 2006 to $21.8 billion.
South Africa gave a contract for 5,000MW at just $3b, but Nigeria spent over $17b in 11 years on power to generate less than 2,000MW. The 2011 budget shows that the government will have to borrow additional N1.3 trillion in 2011, to finance a deficit. The National Assembly has widened the deficit gap further by jacking the budget up by about N700 billion!
Excess Crude Account was valued at $22 billion in 2007 but was down to less than $4 billion by 2010. Our Domestic debt grew rapidly between March December, 2010 by up to as much as $30 billion. The state of insecurity has become increasingly worrisome.
Manufacturers consume 8.7 million liters of diesel weekly for their operations, amounting to about N903 million weekly or N3.6 billion monthly. A total of 834 manufacturing companies closed their factories in 2009. 176 firms were shut down in the Northern area, comprising the Kano and Kaduna states manufacturing axis. In the South-East-178, the South West- 225, in the Lagos area, 214 manufacturers closed their factories. The implications in terms of job loss can only be imagined.
According to Prof Wole Soyinka, "Only four sets of people can vote for the PDP: (1) those who are intellectually blind. (2) those who are blinded by ethnicity (3) those who are blinded by corruption and therefore afraid of the unknown, should power change hands; and finally (4) those who are suffering from a combination of the above terminal sicknesses"
Justin Okadigbo writes from Houston, Texas


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I've finally reached the point where I can read and pay attention for more than a few sentences at a time. I've been reading a book called Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby. As hard as it is sometimes to read it, I wish I'd started it earlier. More than anything, I think reading it would have made me feel less crazy than I have a certain times, and I could have used the suggestions on how to safely express anger (although I can certainly still put them to use).
One of the suggestions for getting anger out is vigorous exercise. One of the things that has really been frustrating for me has been my inability to go to the gym. Going to the gym is the biggest stress reliever for me, and if I'm having a bad day, I always feel better after exercising. It sucked not having that outlet when I needed it the most. I finally got back there yesterday, and it felt so good to do it. My doctor's office told me to take it easy at first, but I didn't listen. I had so much that I needed to get out, and on top of that, I had to keep trying not to cry, which made me work out even harder. I didn't feel any pain (well, physical pain) while I was working, so I don't think I did any damage, but I'm paying for it today in soreness. It feels good to be moving again.
I was a little emotional because I kept thinking about the fact that I was 24 weeks pregnant the last time I worked out, blissfully unaware of what would be happening just 48 hours later. That was hard enough, but the Empty Cradle book is what kept bringing me to the verge of tears. I was reading a section about feelings of failure, which is probably the thing I've had the most trouble with, aside from guilt and missing Jillian. It's hard not to think that I've let so many people down, most of all, Dave and Jillian. Dave has assured me a thousand times that I didn't let him down, but my body's inability to carry this pregnancy longer is the reason we're where we are. I know I couldn't have controlled it, but there's still a part of me that feels like I should have known something was wrong.
The sentence that pushed me over the edge was "do remember that whatever happens, you are a mother." I needed to read that because it's hard to feel like a mother without a baby. I have to remind myself that Jillian didn't stop being my daughter when she died, so of course I'm still a mother.


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Growing up on a farm sparked Sam's interest in engineering and studying technical subjects at schools paved the way for his career as a technician at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL).
"My role offers a huge array of projects to get involved with, ranging from designing, making and programming flashing badges for wearable tech to programming robots to blow dust off Martian solar panels!"
Sam works with clients to provide them with access to robotics and automation solutions. One of his current projects involves the design of a collaborative robot, called Baxter. "The idea of collaborative robots is that they work in close proximity to and interact with humans. Industrial robots traditionally have been dangerous to work around but robots like Baxter feature proximity sensors that allow them to detect the presence of people and react accordingly."
The best bit of Sam's job? Showcasing new technology to his clients. "I love being able to provide technical solutions and bringing technologies to people's attention that they weren't previously aware of."
Sam - Career Pathway
- 1996-2001
Studied technical subjects at school for GCSE (IT, Design Technology)
- 2001-2003
A-levels in Design Technology, Geography & Biology
- 2005-2010
Degree in Music Systems Engineering
- 2011-2013
IT Trainer, NHS
- 2013-2017
Robotics Research Technician at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory
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In the wake of the success of the new movie, I've been hoping for some new Godzilla goods on this side of the pond. So far, I haven't seen any items related to the movie itself but I've finally found some new loot at a Toys Am Us in Kitakami. There were some transforming Ultramen as well but here are the goodies, transforming Eggs of Godzilla and pals. (Click that link to go to the webpage.)
As you can see, they're about 10 bucks a pop so I only grabbed one, King Ghiddorah. The E.G モード (Egg mode) is about the size of a large egg and with some manipulation, it transforms into A.T モード (Attack mode). Though it looks fairly cool, it is fairly flimsy and I'm not going to buy any more in the series (unless I find them discounted.)
To see more of Ghiddy, go to the 2:10 mark of this little video. Actually watch the whole thing, it's rather good.
I didn't get any of the Utlra-eggs, so here is a video of Seabozu being built.
I did though pick up a Mini-Big Head Figure of Ultraman because there were 13 bad guys and only two good guys so I had a good chance of getting a villain.
I got the aforementioned シーボーズ (Seabozu) who appears to have an unnatural attraction to a spaceship!
Note: beer sold separately.
I didn't get one of these but I thought it was worthy of a photo. Is there really a market for ハックニャン (Hack-nyan or barfing cats)? Apparently so.
More Kaiju capers tomorrow!


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You may or may not have heard of Ronda Rousey. You may or may not be aware that she's an "American mixed martial artist", or that she's "the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion," as well as a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter.
You may care nothing about that. Admittedly, the only reason I am even aware of Rousey is that she regularly appears in the various social media feeds I follow as well as in a few memes.
Rousey headed into her latest fight with 34-year-old W.B.A., W.B.C boxer Holly Holm undefeated, and the expected winner of their recent bout in Melbourne.
Rousey got her @$$ handed to her by Holm in the second round…a stunning defeat. Boxers don't typically do well when they enter MMA, so this took a lot of people, particularly Rousey, by surprise.
I'm not writing this to glorify martial arts or combat-for-entertainment. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch such a match. The only time I can remember watching boxing (except for rare occurrences) was when I was very young and visiting my Grandpa's house. He liked boxing. I'd be laying on a throw rug on his living room floor coloring while Grandpa smoked his pipe and watched a boxing match on his (now) ancient, black and white Sylvania TV set…the kind you had to manually change channels, way back in the early 1960s.
For some reason, those black and white TV boxing bouts remind me of how much I loved being with my Grandpa. I don't know why. Probably just the association of the two situations.
I'm not here to talk up boxing or other martial arts matches. I am here to talk about competition. I am here to talk about winning. I am here to talk about recovering after you lose.
Anyone who participates in sports, no matter at what level, knows about winning and losing. Winning is great, but nothing will test your character better than what you decide to do after you lose.
Although I am a lone wolf lifter, some days I walk out of that gym after a workout a winner, and sometimes I don't.
My back feels better, but since lifting last Saturday, just about everything else, particularly my quads and glutes, is really sore. I think walking has something to do with it.
Circumstances have required that I go on a couple of "high-speed" walks over the past few of days. On Sunday, I walked for almost an hour at an estimated average speed of around 4 mph (about 6.43 kph), and today I walked the same distance, but doing about 3.5 mph (~ 5.63 kph) for just over an hour.
Now I can barely get out of my chair and start walking. Well, I'm not horribly debilitated, but I am sore enough to have to take it a bit gingerly.
Assuming my car is ready by the end of the business day, the soonest I can get back into the weight room is tomorrow. That's 2 days of rest (except for the walking…and of course, yard work on Sunday) between lifting days. Squatting stresses mainly the glutes and quads. My glutes and quads are currently begging for mercy.
If I can get back to the gym by tomorrow, will I be a winner or a loser? I guess that depends on how you look at it. I've heard it said that showing up is half the battle. That's true as far as it goes, but Ronda Rousey showed up for her most recent fight and look what happened to her.
It was brutal to watch. These fighters don't hold back.
But how I approach lifting, my performance, and especially how I walk out of the gym afterward and deal with whatever happened in the gym, will be just as important as how many pounds I lifted for how many sets and reps.
Some days, when I'm lifting like a champ relative to my abilities and limitations, I feel great. Other days, my limitations are in my face and I do the best I can with that I have.
And some days, I get hurt. Rousey got hurt. I don't think severely. But now she has to face the road back. It seems inevitable that she's going to have a rematch with Holm. Most of the sports pundits say she'll eventually get her title back. If she intends to stay in the sport, Ronda can't let one defeat define her.
She has to push past the pain, the doubt, the embarrassment (she was pretty cocky going into the fight…she was undefeated, why wouldn't she be?), recover from her injuries, train, and then get back into the octagon and fight again.
That's how it is with us, those of us who are lone wolf lifters or whatever sport we do. Especially for we older folks, we are going to get hurt, sooner or later. Hopefully, it's nothing severe, but whatever it is, we too will have to push past the pain, the doubt, and the embarrassment, recover, and then get back in the gym and start lifting again.
I know that ostensibly, I lift in order to get stronger, to stay more healthy longer, to improve the quality of my life. But there's a strong psychological and motivational component of this as well.
When I returned to the gym after an absence of a mere 4 days, I realized how much I'd missed it. That sense of accomplishment from doing well. The challenge of increasing the weight on the bar just 5 more pounds than you thought you could lift. The surprise at being able to do 6 reps when you would have sworn you only had 5 left in you.
Even the "defeats" are bittersweet because at least you tried. You showed up. You did your best when a lot of people half your age were still in bed or sucking down a donut and a latte for breakfast.
I don't know anything about Ronda Rousey or Holly Holm personally, so I can't say that I like or dislike either of them. I don't know them at all. I just watched a few YouTube videos and read a couple of news stories.
But I can learn from their examples. I've already briefly described what faces Ronda next and how that applies to us. Holm is currently the winner, the underdog who didn't just get lucky, but who used brains, patience, and skill to unequivocally beat what everyone thought was a far superior opponent.
Now she's got to live up to all that and not let it go to her head. And if Ronda Rousey is half the fighter most people think she is, Holm will have to face Rousey in the octagon again.
And this time Rousey will be ready.
No matter what happens to you and me, no matter what knocks us down, either in the gym or outside of it, we have to get back up and get ready to face our opponent again. And even on days when we "win," when we do great, when we "kill" the gym, we are only as good as the next session in the weight room.
Each morning is a new fight. Win or lose, we are only truly defeated today if we don't go back tomorrow.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.
–Ernest Hemingway


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This is something that can be skimmed over in "living with MS" guides, but is a very real issue for those of us with MS, and their partners. Apart from the psycological problems associated with living with a chronic progressive incurable disease, and the practical ones associated with poor bladder and bowel control, fatigue and spasticity, loss of sexual function in itself is often glossed over.
Numbness and loss of sensation below the waist means just that. No amount of lubrication and extra stimulation will help if the messages just aren't getting through. Loss of physical intimacy in a relationship is one more thing to chalk up to the MonSter.
As the sedation wore off after my operation, Robin stroked my feet, and I was able to feel his touch for the first time in a long time. He continued, touching my ankles and calves, joking that further exploration should be left for another time.
Five weeks after my operation, I am pleased to announce that full sensation has returned.
Sue has got her mojo back.


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Free trade was the phrase most frequently used by Premier Li Keqiang and his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull, during a tight schedule in Australia.
China and Australia can demonstrate for the world the benefits of free trade through a flourishing bilateral trade, said Premier Li.
At the news conference after the fifth round of China-Australia prime minister meeting, Turnbull said "protectionism is the shovel that will bury us deep in recession".
Premier Li said free trade is the solution for world economic recovery, and China and Australia should deal with possible instability in the global economy and other fields with stable bilateral relations.
While attending the China-Australia CEO roundtable meeting, Premier Li said that despite the slow growth of international trade last year, bilateral trade between China and Australia increased by nine percent, more than the GDP growth of both nations.
Opening up is a win-win approach, bringing benefits to the people of all nations, said Premier Li.
In a speech at the banquet after the CEO roundtable meeting, Turnbull mentioned that China's investment in Australia reached 15 billion Australian dollars ($11.5 billion) in 2015, much higher than in 2006.
The investment promoted Australia's economic growth and generated employment, he said, adding that beneficial trade relations between the two nations are the foundation for common prosperity.
Premier Li said today's development and prosperity comes from comparative advantages of all nations. Globalization and free trade could offer more choices for consumers, he said.


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You never know when a spontaneous trip will arise, and you always have to be prepared! I always have certain gear at the ready, just in case. Here's a list of things, where you can buy them, and how much … Continue reading
Category Archives: Tips & Tricks
My Travel Plans for 2016
For those of you who have been following along, you'll know that in a little over a week, I will be venturing off to Europe for six months to complete a semester abroad. Quite obviously, I'll be doing a fair … Continue reading
Virginia Is For Lovers: The Budget Travellers Guide to the Shenandoah Valley
Virginia has more to offer than the first US landing, although that is pretty cool. Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is home to some of the world's oldest mountains and their rolling hills display all the agony and weathering they've gone through. … Continue reading
Shenandoah Valley: A Story With Pictures
Me: "Where is the cabin this weekend?" Maggie (not a native Virginian): "Shenandoah!" Me: "Shenandoah is a big place…like… half the state. What do the directions say?" Maggie: "It says Shenandoah…" Me: "Oh boy… **takes a look at the directions … Continue reading
Get Your Ski On Around Washington D.C.! Best Skiing Around the Metropolitan Area
As the winter rolls in, most tend to flock south towards the warm weather! Rightfully so, I may add. However, for those of us who enjoy our cold weather and enjoy our winter sports, this posts for you! I've done … Continue reading
If I Were You, This Is Where I Would Go In 2016!
As the new year rolls in, most of us have either already begun or are just starting to plan our trips for 2016. But for those of us procrastinators, we're still ogling at a globe trying to figure out where … Continue reading
Get Your Wanderlust On! Best Jobs for Those Who Wish to Fulfill Their Wanderlust
We all dream of that perfect job that has us travelling non-stop. I guffaw at job requirements that say "Must be willing to travel internationally." It's the "must" and "willing to" that get me goin'! Travelling is a privilege, so … Continue reading
Look Here! Tools to Help You Find The Cheapest Flight
Every travel blogger has made some sort of post on how they find the cheapest flights. The stereotypical answers may be "be flexible with your dates" or "be flexible with your destinations" yada yada yada. Yes, both of those are … Continue reading
The Weekenders Guide to Niagara Falls
If Niagara Falls is not on your bucket list, it needs to be. I expected it to be cool, but I didn't expect it to be mesmerizing, or peaceful, or as cool as it actually was. I don't know why. But, the … Continue reading
Billy Bishop Toronto City and Porter Airlines Review: A MUST READ
If you're planning a trip to Toronto soon, read closely!! As I sit within Terminal A of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport waiting for my Porter Airline flight back to DC, I feel as if it is now that I … Continue reading


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We are looking to hire HP Service Manager with 6 to 9 years of experience in Chennai location.JD:HP Service Manager Administrator • Extensive technical knowledge & experience of the HP Service Manager (SM 9.5 to ITSM-X) including administration of the application and related operating components• Certification or training in HP Service Manager 9.x Administration and Technical Configuration • Strong experience in installing, configuring and maintaining HP Service Manager operations • Some experience in Implementation, Integration, and Deployment of HP Service Manager • Some knowledge & experience in HP Service Manager customizations such as form customizations, format controls and scripting • Having some knowledge of database concepts (MS SQL or Oracle DB) systems and past administration of similar systems would be a plus • Have broad knowledge of configuration management and asset management tools such as HPs uCMDB, uDiscovery and Asset Management tools. • 6y+ equivalent work experience in Information Technology, Business Administration, or Technology Management • Minimum of 3 years relevant experience in a process oriented environment with supporting IT Service Management / Service Desk solutions; preferably in HP Service Manager 9 or higher • Experience in working within an ITIL based IT support environment and ITIL service delivery processes would be a plus • A background and familiarity in service management functions such as incident management, configuration management and asset management would be an advantage • Experience with supporting system relating to CMDB / Asset Manager/Operations Orchestration/Connect IT as well as technologies such as Active Directory and database systems will be highly desirable • Experience in facilitating and coordinating a broad spectrum of IT teams in support of system administration activities • Understands and appreciate business and financial awareness of the impact of system downtime, service level and performance metrics benchmarks • Experience in working in a multinational environment • Have broad knowledge of connectivity interfaces (such as HP Connect-IT) and data streams that flows into HP Service Manager and appreciates cross dependencies • Have broad knowledge of HP Operation Orchestrations and integrations into HP Service Manager and other systems • Have broad knowledge of Microsoft Active Directory services and its data structures
Exp : 6 to 9 years
Notice period : Immediate to 30 Days
Job Location : Chennai
Capgemini, one of the world's foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working - the Collaborative Business Experience - and through a global delivery model called Rightshore®, which aims to offer the right resources in the right location at competitive cost. Present in 36 countries, Capgemini reported 2007 global revenues of EUR 8.7 billion and employs over 83,000 people worldwide.


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June 05, 2010 - Naneum Ridge State Forest - dandxrman
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Today's show, sponsored by VMware, is a different take on NSX. In the past couple of NSX podcasts, we've talked with customers about the "what" and the "how" of implementing this technology.
On today's episode we focus on the "why." In particular, we look at building a business case around risk management. Our guest is Brandon Hahn, Solution Architect at West Bend Mutual Insurance. West Bend is a billion dollar company dealing in property and casualty insurance.
We'll talk with Brandon about risk management, protecting assets, and how IT can develop a business case for adopting new technology.


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SSD-C57 - Two By Two They Came - Group 2
4 3/8"-5 1/8" w by 4 3/4"-5 1/4" h - 61-72 stitches w by 67-74 stitches h
Four cross-stitch designs ("Happy As A Hippo", "Bull Headed Animals", "Furry Giants" and "Ostrich
Feathers") stitched with pearl cotton (embroidery floss may be used with a laying tool) are each 'afghan
square' designs showing pairs of animals traveling through grass, water and trees to the ark to make a
unique "Two by Two They Came" afghan.
Instructions for making a pillow to go with the afghan are included. The 4 graphs each fit a whole page for
easy reading. Glass beads are used for the eyes, but if the afghan is intended for someone under 3 years
of age, French knots should be used instead of the beads.
The animal names, all whole stitches, are stitched in very dark garnet. Colors may be changed.
Materials used for model:
Angelica Patterned 14 count - Starlite (9205-28) and Mill Hill Glass Beads from Wichelt Imports, Inc. / Mill Hill
DMC Pearl Cotton (4 strands embroidery floss may be used with a laying tool)
DMC Embroidery Floss (for attaching beads and some outlining)
Beading Needle
Mountain Mist 14" pillow form (optional)
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(below) to order:
Susan Saltzgiver Designs -
Mushrooms and Moles
Copyright 2007/2012 Susan Saltzgiver Designs
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No matter that their dad is a movie legend who's starred in classics like Grease and Pulp Fiction, John Travolta's kids are most impressed that theirfather got to hang out with Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus. The duo star in animated film Bolt andgot together to sing a duet of "I Thought I Lost You" for the music video.
"I was so popular when I got home after they had gotten the news that I sang with Miley," he says. "Doing a movie with her was big enough news. But the singing and dancing with her was a whole other thing. So I'm finally getting some attention from my kids."
CLICK HERE for OK!'s Mega Miley gallery!
Due to the way animated pictures are made, however, John and Miley didn't meet up face-to-face right away.
"We finally sang together when we did the video for the movie," he explains, "But before that we had to sing our parts separately and we never saw each other. I guess it was like Barbara Streisand singing with Frank Sinatra on Duets. But we finally did perform together and we had a lot of fun."


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Ladies' Wedding Rings & Bands
You are planning a spectacular event to celebrate your love. The wedding bands you choose are the symbol of that love that you will wear for a lifetime. Ensure you get the best ladies' wedding ring by consulting with the online wedding ring experts.
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Our selection of ladies' wedding rings is exquisite and our jewellery experts are available online or by appointment at our Melbourne showroom to guide you through the process of purchasing a ladies' diamond encrusted or plain wedding band.
Traditional plain wedding bands are still a popular classic and come in a choice of white, yellow, rose gold, or platinum. Ladies' wedding bands with the addition of patterns can further personalise your look and can be used to create a matching wedding ring for your partner.
Diamond wedding bands have become an increasingly popular option for women in recent years, and these work particularly well for those who want the wedding band to complement their engagement ring. Incorporating diamonds of the same shape and cut, and in the same style setting as in your engagement ring will have the two seamlessly merging as a symbol of your relationship.
If you want to be less traditional and set yourself apart from the crowd, consider mismatching your wedding band to your engagement ring. The easiest and boldest way to do this is by choosing a different colour metal. This modern look will draw attention to your stunning jewellery pieces.
With free delivery, a lifetime guarantee, and a 30-day return policy you can trust Diamond Exchange with your special purchase.


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A New Dark Age
2. Boris Edgestone
Drug Fiend, World Traveling Vagabond, Prodigal Son.
Boris Edgestone,33: Edwardian Era social disgrace. Family wealthy mill owners from Lancashire, the Pendle Hill (as in Pendle Witches) border towns. Attended Rugby, for several brutal years, as a border and finished a BA in literary studies at Cambridge. 10 years ago sent on 'The Grand Tour' by his affluent parents only to end up a hopeless drug fiend with a predilection for drinking absinth, smoking the poppy and injecting the 7% solution. His fall from grace has prevented him from returning to his home isle and he receives just enough of a stipend from his family to ensure he stays away. He has since lead the life of modestly well to do travelling vagabond, frequently signing onto various merchant navy vessels to afford him a small degree of global mobility (having 'lost' his place in the world he seeks somewhere to call 'home'). He has seen unusual things and met many strange people, the problem is where do drug induced waking dreams end and reality begin?


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Relief Nursery in Springfield nearing completion
The Relief Nursery's new building in Springfield, Oregon is nearing completion. This second building in the Eugene/Springfield is being constructed to expand their program and provide services to the Springfield population.
Rowell Brokaw designed this 15,000 sf building which will contain six classrooms, a speech therapy room, a mental health counseling and observation room, a family resource area for food and clothing, and a parent education and community meeting room as well as office space.
The Relief Nursery currently helps around 1,000 families and 1,200 children a year through its primary location in Eugene. This new Springfield-based site will provide a closer location for families living in Springfield who use the Relief Nursery's services and account for approximately a third of the nursery's clientele.
Consultants on the project include:
General Contractor - McKenzie Commercial Contractors
Structural/Civil Engineering - Branch Engineering, Inc
Plumbing - Twin Rivers Plumbing
Electrical - Builders Electric
Mechanical - Comfort Flow
Kitchen Design - Curtis Restaurant Equipment
Landscape - Lorri Nelson (Rowell Brokaw Architects)


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Minor changes make big differences..
Written on May 9, 2007 by Kevin.
Rylan has always been a great eater for us. He will just about try anything and despite some wicked faces he may give us, he tends to go back for more. I can already see the signs of a foodie in training.
My wife recently noticed that Rylan was no longer eating grilled cheese sandwiches that we occasionally would make for him. In the past he liked them but something changed and now he isn't attracted to them the same way. I took this as a challenge and wanted to know if I could change it up in a slight way, would it have an effect on him. The other night I tried it out. I made him his sandwich and then punched bite size circles out of it with an Ikea apple corer. Presto! Rylan was interested again.
Part of parenthood is playing the games that counter your children's actions. This is a perfect example of how something that was boring turned into a good time again. I find it fun trying to think outside of the box to help Rylan stay entertained with things. I understand that this new take on a sandwich won't last forever but I am ready for my next challenge whenever it comes up.
Have any creative ways that you get your kids to eat food? Post a comment and let everyone know. Thanks.