text:
It was said on numerous occasions that the good Roman citizens cared about only two things: bread and entertainment. No one had clarified that, in truth, the people cared mostly about entertainment. Unlike bread, quality fun never went stale.
Cumulus had never witnessed, much less participated in, traditional merriment of the Romans. He felt slightly overwhelmed however, when he set off towards the Coliseum early in an afternoon and soon encountered a great crowd that headed in the same direction.
The Coliseum bubbled with life, pretty much like a Wal-Mart during the grand opening. Beer bellied fathers with dark, sunburned skin, dressed in Saturday best trailed behind their large bosomed wives, who in turn yelled at their unruly children. Countless junk food stalls, selling hot dogs, pizzas or 'Nubian roast specials' emanated a crematorium stink of burning flesh or cheesy, onion-pregnant fumes. Young teenagers with spiky hairdos and fake tattoos on their forearms were walking in twos or threes, scowling at their elders and betters, or eyeing passing girls. Elderly pairs whose appearance spelled a 'professional librarian' or, even worse, a 'schoolteacher' shot alarmed glances towards the less cultured citizenry, engaged in unwholesome activities. Groups of soldiers enjoyed their last jug of wine before the show at numerous wine stalls, attracting wistful sideway glances from solid family men, whose health, or wives, or both, prevented them from the joys of drinking. Wealthy people arrived in litters, carried by their slaves, inspiring considerable envy in everyone. In short, it was a typical early Saturday afternoon before a big gladiator fight.
Cumulus was squeezing and elbowing his way through the crowd, trying to locate the main entrance, when he spotted the large figure of his friend, looming behind a bared area further ahead, by the Coliseum wall. Cletius seemed to be deeply engrossed in the process of reading something from a much-crumbled piece of parchment. His honest and normally docile face was twisted by rage so much it looked like a mask from a Greek tragedy. The rumble of his voice resembled an awakening volcano.
- Fucking script! – he bellowed, once Cumulus approached him, - They gave us these new scripts, see? And I cannot get not a single damned word straight! Who the hell wrote it? Some unemployed poet?
- Can I help you with it? – volunteered Cumulus.
- Nah, thanks juss' the same, pal. It doesn't matter. What pisses me off however is that the boss knows I'm not a lit'rary person and still he gives us these! Just look at it! 'Walk valiantly toward the enemy without dropping your gait!' Huh? How d'you like it? What the hell is a 'gait' and how to walk 'valiantly'? Shall I be wriggling my ass like a prostitute or somethin' like that?
- No, it means walking bravely, see?
- Really?
- Yes.
- All right then.
- And the gait means a manner of walking.
- Then why the fuck they couldn't juss' say 'walk straight and be brave' or somethin'? Why put all these shit in the writing? Not that I am completely illiterate guy, mind, but I've killed a good part of my mornin' just trying to understand this! Do I look like a reader to you or something?
- Well, no…
- Do I look like a damned bookworm? A fucking professor? I'm a gladiator through and through! Any fool can spot that! I tell you, pal, they do it out of spite. See, they wanna drive us harder for the miserable pay we are getting! Oh well, that's life for you, mate. No peace for a working man! And how are you doing today? That bloodsucker of your restaurant manager really let you have a free day then.
- Well, actually he fired me this morning.
- Did he? Damn! What luck! So you'll be looking for work again, huh?
- Maybe. I guess I'll…
- And where are you staying now?
- I've met this lady and…
- Hah! Lady, huh? Way to go man, way to go! And did you check out those coach surfers I told ya 'bout?
- Yeah but…
- No-good bunch of fools, are they? I thought as much! And who in his right mind would let some guy from the street snooze on his couch, come to think of it, huh? Anyway, lemme get out of here and I'll show you the way in, all right?
- Sure.
- Juss' wait here, man! I'll be with ya in a moment.
Cumulus turned around and started watching the crowd. It crossed his mind that he was getting used to his perpetual confusion. After all, it didn't really matter, what you remembered, it was important what you were able to forget.
* * * *
Half an hour later Cletius accompanied him through the entrance and to the upper level to the row of free seats.
- So you'll be all right then, - Cletius said, - Well, enjoy the show and keep an eye for me. I'll be fighting in the second sequence, with Wild Gauls.
- All right. Thanks, Cletius.
-You're welcome, pal. Enjoy the show.
- Will I see you after the fight?
-I recon so. The boys´d want to hit the town after work so I'll show you my crew, so to speak, and we'll have a few drinks and then we'll see… All right, I'll be off then.
The circus was filling up fast. Cumulus had a persisting feeling that it reminded him of …Well, he could not tell exactly what the rows of spectators reminded him of, yet the feeling of a vague recognition buzzed inside his skull like a beginning of a headache. He rubbed his temples and sighed.
Meanwhile, the rows of spectators exploded in loud cheers. There was a commotion on the biggest balcony, then somebody shouted 'Hail the Emperor! Hail Caesar!' and everybody started to chant 'Caligula! Caligula!'
Cumulus squinted at the dressed in a snow-white toga crowned guy who was leaning on the balcony rail and waiving to the crowd. There were more cheers and chants; then the announcer, occupying the next, smaller balcony, roared:
- Hello again, the people of Rome! Welcome to the show! Thanks to the kindness and exceptional care of our beloved Caesar and his foundation for entertainment and sports, today we are proud to present an extra special program! The first number of our show is…' The man made a dramatic pause and yelled,
- The star of one hundred deadly fights, the famous Pigeon! Give the guy your hearty welcome, folks!
The public exploded in cheers and catcalls once again while the big wooden gates, leading to the arena, opened and out of them ran a group of scantily clad girls. They formed two lines and began to perform bodily jerks, while shaking something that looked like bunches of feathers, high above their heads. The next moment a group of heavily armed men emerged from the gates and trotted to one side. The crowd hollered. Cumulus, half deafened by the new wave of catcalls, stared at the fighters in a morbid fascination. His heart was pounding and his hands were shaking. 'Maximus, Maximus!' he mumbled, transfixed by the sight, then gasped, startled by the sound of what he had uttered. He began to feel terribly dizzy and looked around himself while the powerful voice of the announcer reverberated in his ears.
'Here comes the barbarian team! The leader of barbarians- you can easily recognize him by the red beard and the evil grin on his beastly face- spells out the last orders to his teammates! Yes! They seem so sure of themselves right now! They stretch their wiry limbs and attempt to form a fighting line but what can barbarians know about any such things? Huh! Just wait and see. They'll surely try their favorite trick – to fall on their opponent like a pack of hungry wolves but don't fret! We will find out soon enough what the good guys can achieve. Aha! Here comes our hero and his unbeatable brave boys! Here! Here! Look!'
Another group of armed men emerged from the gate and started to run across the arena in a single file. The man at the head of it wore a strange outfit, adorned with what looked like a grotesque pair of wings, flapping on his sides. The upper part of his face was hidden by a mask and his breastplate bore some symbol. He waived to the crowd, showing off his astonishingly muscular frame. The circus broke into applauses.
'Pigeon! Pigeon! Pigeon!'
'And here our great Pigeon, '– announcer was almost howling, 'The fighters are taking their prospective positions now. In a few moments the fight will begin.'
'Pigeon! Pigeon! Pigeon!'
'All right! The opponents are rising their shields and… Yes! They run towards each other. Ah! What a crush! The barbarian on the far left flank goes down. Wow! Good thrust! Blood is gushing from the fellow by buckets! Here you go! Another of their team is down. Way to go, guys, way to go! The blond barbarian tries to balance on his knee while he is counter blocking two guys at once but… Oh, no! Now the fellow in the yellow helmet, a guy from Pigeon's team is down. What a shame. But wait! Pigeon himself is making a good progress towards the enemy leader. Watch the Red Beard! Hah! He seems to be a brave enough fella but he clearly lacks in the art of maneuver. Yeah! Yeah! Get him, man! Once more! Way to go! Aaaaaaahh! True to his name, Pigeon literary flies above his enemies! Go, man! Go, go, go! Yes! The Red Beard is down! Hurrah! For just a moment Pigeon stumbles on someone's arm but regains his balance and goes on. What a wild show! I wonder, whose arm is it? Fighters perform the swordplay at such a close range that it is impossible to see who else is down. It looks like it is getting more and more difficult to fight down there – the whole area is now littered with dead or dying bodies, cut off limbs and whatnot. Aha! A huge barbarian bodily picks up his opponent, raises him in the air and hurls him into the midst of Pigeon's team, or at least what is now left of Pigeon team. Hah! Hah! Hah! Nice move but I doubt it helps. Yes! Pigeon cuts him down with his sword like a rotten tree. The fight is nearly over. Get them, guys, get them! All right! It seems like there are only two barbarians left alive. Both of them are badly wounded. They surrender! A victory! Shall Pigeon let them go or shall he kill them? That's always a million-sestercii question. Let's hear what the people say!'
'Death! Death!'
'Aha! The people demand death but what is the opinion of the Caesar? Hah! He shakes his head and points his thumb up. The barbarian scoundrels will live then! Hurrah to the Caesar!'
'Hurrah!' – echoed the crowd.
'And now, ladies and gentlemen – a thirty-minute break before the second show!'
He was a man to be reckoned with. In fact, he was THE MAN. Even a slightest frown on his pallid face, aimed at a fat senator, a consul, a priest or a wealthy aristocrat threw these unfortunates into paroxysms of panic. Yet he was a man with a sense of humor, although it seemed that practically no one was able to appreciate it. People simply grew scared. They started to mutter in a trembling voice, stutter or turned dull waiting for whatever they had pictured was coming. They were dumb and deaf to the intricate art of Pranks of the Naughty God. But then, they were not Gods. He was a God. It hardly mattered if they believed in him or not as long as he had his way. And he always had his way.
He beckoned the General of the Praetorian Guards to step closer and said:
- Say, Gallicus, how old do you recon this fellow Pigeon is.
- I can find out for certain, sire, but I believe he is around forty.
- Forty? Oh, no, you don't say. He looks like an old man to me.
- I agree, sire. He looks rather old indeed.
- I believe I've watched him fighting so many times during this year, and the previous one too… yet he is still alive and well. He does appear to be quite well, general, doesn't he?
- Yes, sire. He looks healthy enough.
- You know, it just crosses my mind that he truly reminds me of an old actor, a famous actor at that, who has been around for only Gods know how long, and so everybody has grown accustomed to his face and seems to like him, and yet you cannot help but wonder 'When are you going to retire?'. Isn't it so, General?
- Quite true, sire.
- I think we should ask him to take part in the second sequence as well, what do you think, Gallicus?
- Do you mean, sire, that you want him to join the Wild Gauls or …
- To fight on the side of the Untamed African Animals, you wanted to say.
- Hmm, yes, sire. Precisely that, sire.
- Personally, I feel the poor and still untamed African Animals can do with some help from our everlasting hero.
- I will let him know your wish right away, sire.
- Thank you, Gallicus. You do that. In the name of Priapus, you are a truly professional fellow.
The face of Claudius Gallicus reddened but he quickly masked it with a happy smile, bowed deeply and withdrew.
- Run, fool, run, while you still have legs to run with, - smirked Caligula and took a delicate sip of his wine.
Cletius was sitting at a small table, struggling to get drunk but his thoughts were somewhere else, but he remained painfully sober. The place was the favorite gladiatorial hangout, which meant that the service was quick and sloppy; the air reeked of sweat and beer tried to mask itself as a testosterone cocktail. 'The Boys' eyed him wearily but refrained from comments. It was one of not-so-rare times when Cletius needed to talk to someone. He nodded to Cumulus - a faithful, but a noncommittal listener and said,
- That is why I hate this job, pal. Well, I guess I don' need to go into the dirty details, since you saw everything but shit! How did you like it, huh? I ask you, how did you like it?
Cumulus shrugged. Cletius banged the table with his fist and went on.
- Well, I recon these so called Wild African Animals were OK. Did you know that a half of them were specially trained, huh? I mean, there's no harm in that if you wanna a good show but don't want to damage people and your prop..propprty, but shit, man! When an old lion starts pissing in a corner and tries to go to asleep, I call it cheating, man. As simple as that! On the other hand, I still don' unnestan why they told us to dress up like clowns in this fucking outfit with furs and so on. Wild Gauls, huh? Wild Gauls my ass! I wonder if any of them management bastards ever saw a real Gaul. I mean there are plenny of Gauls in this damned city but oh well… I'm talking 'bout a real fighting Gaul, you know. And here we were, just a bunch of clowns! Well, a coupla tigers were fierce enough. Three of our boys are badly scratched but Pigeon! I know who ordered him to go and fight!
Cletius lowered his voice and hissed,
- This Great Caesar of ours, that's who! A crazy bastard! I mean, everybody knows he's as loony as a loony bin! Sleeps with his own sisters. And that's not political news any more, mind! Fucks boys right and left but it's juss' small stuff. I've heard he's got him some older dude who also fucks him. Can ya picture all these shit? Besides… I don' know juss' how many good people he killed, a dirty scum! He and his fucking praetorians… Secret police… Oh man! He does it easily, seems like, I mean, killing people and shit… Just like this very afternoon. But what I am babbling about? You saw that shit yourself!
- No, I didn't see anything strange. What's happened?
- Ah! Yeah, right. You couldn't see anything 'cause it happened not on the arena but later, in the locker room. Well, did you notice Pigeon's got hisself this huge cut on his head?
- Yes, I've noticed but I didn't notice who did it to him.
- Hah! All I can say, pal, that it wasn't me. Oh, no sir! A good fighter as I am, I am no match for that guy, lemme tell you. I mean, I've got me professional pride, man but I am a just guy, you see. Never badmouthed talented people. But anyway, where was I? Ah, yes! So he's got this cut on his head but it was OK. Then listen what happened! Did you see him approaching Caligula right after the fight? Juss' went on and gave the bastard a salute. Did you see it?
- Sure, I saw it.
- Then listen here. Caligula comes forward and approaches the guy. It looks like he's telling him something, maybe compe…compelimenting! him on his skill and all that shit. Then he takes a tiny bottle out of his snow white toga, opens it and pours a bit of what's inside right on Pigeon head, right on his bleeding cut. And everything seems all right except ten minutes later Pigeon goes back to the locker room, starts taking off his armor and shit and falls down dead as a stone! I mean, they summoned a doctor, right enough, and do you know what the doctor said?
- No.
- That the poor guy was poisoned! There was plenty of that shit in this wound of his, can you imagine? I am asking you, why this crazy bastard did him in? Huh? I mean, why? Pigeon was a hero! And he went and poisoned the guy right in front of everybody. And no one noticed! I call it a bloody crime, man. That's why I am so sad. That's the kind of business I am in, man! It's a bloody shame.
- Oh, my!
- Yeah, man. Drink your beer and let's get another, while we´re still alive!
Cletius was staggering along an obscure alley. He stopped for an occasional break and cursed his temporary weakness. He managed to get wasted at last but the drunkenness failed to bring him consolation. He squinted at the shadowy perspective of the nearest corner and cursed loudly, as he caught a sight of two silhouettes, standing there. It looked highly suspicious. The taller one who pushed against the wall, was giggling and arguing subsequently, while a smaller and a fatter one was making somewhat futile attempts to grab the taller one around the middle. Cletius stepped closer and listened.
- Oh, come on, honey! Don´t be coy with me, all right? I am a good guy and I am a believer! – croaked the smaller figure, who was obviously a man. Cumulus, who had departed earlier in the evening, would have been able to recognize him at once. The other person, dressed as a woman, giggled in a rather low voice and replied:
- Chill off, darling. I've got to go now. Maybe we meet tomorrow.
- I cannot possibly wait till tomorrow, or my name is not Nikodimos, - replied Nikodimos sullenly,- My body is simply on fire, as it is. In the name of Priapus, stop fooling around, sweet. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you at that tavern. Now, what is your problem?
A woman cackled and pushed Nikodimos away with an unwomanly force. The unfortunate couch surfer nearly fell off his feet.
- Shit! What are you doing? – He roared, gaining his balance and lowering the head threateningly, - You wanna piss me off? I'll show you a thing or two, then!
Cletius released a roar and darted forward.
- Hey, you punk! Leave a good girl alone! – He snarled, seized Nikodimos by the collar of his flashy toga and bumped him against the wall. The couch surfer wailed and tried to wriggle out of the gladiator's grip. At this moment, Cletius suddenly realized that he finally found a proper relief for this evening and began to shake his victim, lifting him up and holding his plump body well above the ground.
- Don't you fuck with me, rapist! I am a pro killer, - He growled.
- Help! Help!
Nikodimos gasped and thrashed in the air, like a fish on a fishing rod. The woman, whose honor Cletius was protecting, broke into squawks of laughter. Then something strange happened. Cletius blinked, as a mighty blow hit his head from behind. He let go of Nikodimos, turned around and froze at the sight of four men, dressed in black. The men stepped forward and seized the gladiator's arms, then twisted them behind his back. Cletius groaned and tried to shake the men off but it was virtually impossible.
He fell on his knees and growled, as the men tied his hands securely and punched his face a couple times. Nikodimos squealed and broke into a run. Meanwhile the woman, who had enjoyed the spectacle while standing nearby, approached the fallen gladiator and eyed him with a grin. Cletius started to say something, then looked up and closed his mouth again.
The 'woman', or rather a young man, dressed as a woman, was shaking with guffaws. He was tall, but thin, with an unnaturally pallid face and blond, almost colorless hair. He could be called attractive except that his lover lip was too thin and curled under his upper one, which produced a menacing effect, and his watery eyes sparkled with what could be defined as playful madness. Of course, it was too dark in the alley to see much more of him but what Cletius had seen was enough.
- Well, well, well! My valiant hero, - said the pallid man, - Are you all right? Did this vile Greek pervert shake you too much? I think it was more the other way around, huh?
Cletius didn't reply.
- I think I shall be leaving now. It is getting late. But you guys are perfectly welcome to play with him as you like, - said the man and started walking off.
- Lemme go, you bastards, - hissed Cletius, trying to get onto his feet.
- Quiet, you, - replied one of the men and thrust a small metal sign into the gladiator's face, - Praetorian police!
Cletius gulped and went limp.
- Let's drag this bag of horseshit to the quarters! – Barked the Praetorian, then turned to Cletius and gave him a kick, - And you be quiet, you son of a whore, or you´ll be in Elysium tomorrow!


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What's Coming off Your Shelf?
Friends, it's an exciting time for Bookkaholic. We are celebrating our two-year anniversary. Over the past 24 months, we've shared our thoughts on old and new books alike. We've interviewed up-and-coming writers. We've even had a few debates about which books we like the best.
Through it all, you guys, our readers, have played a major part in our success. So, we thank you for supporting us.
While we've enjoyed sharing our thoughts with you, we want to know more about you. We've decided to start a new monthly feature called "What's Coming off Your Shelf?" Our monthly column, which will appear during the third week of every month, will ask you, our devoted Bookkaholics, to tell us about what you are currently reading. Let us know if what you're reading is worth checking out. Hey, if it's not very good, tell us that, too.
I'll also share my thoughts on what I'm reading. Maybe we'll overlap on a few titles.
Truthfully, I'm not very good at multitasking, especially when it comes to reading. I like to be completely engaged in a book, and handling more than two at any given time is just too much for this guy.
So, here are the two titles that are coming off my shelf:
Reif Larsen's I Am Radar
I'm finishing up Larsen's sophomore novel. Look, guys, Larsen's debut, The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet, is one of my favorites. I love how it revolves around a precocious boy. I like how it's a journey narrative. The voice is so remarkable. The included maps are so engaging. It's just great. I Am Radar is no T. S. Spivet, but it's not bad. It's just bigger, more literary, and much (much) more dense—arguably to a fault.
I won't go into all the plot twists because knowing where it's going might take away from part of the novel's appeal. If you are a reader who loves big, engrossing, ambitious tomes, you'll probably enjoy I Am Radar.
Also, if you are a reader who enjoys science, quantum physics, war, and art, you might want to give it a try. Be prepared to set aside a lot of time to get through it. This one requires a lot from its readers.
S. M. Hulse's Black River
Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm only a couple of chapters into Black River, but it's remarkably emotional and powerful. I know that it's only February, but this one will, without any doubt, be among my favorite books of the year.
If you are a fan of the late Kent Haruf's work, then run to the nearest bookstore and buy Black River. Even from just reading the first few pages, you can feel the Western atmosphere oozing from the pages. The prose is tender and even haunting. The characters are so brilliantly thought out and constructed.
I don't know what's waiting for me to uncover, but I can't wait to find out.
So, I'll ask again: What's coming off your shelf? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you're reading.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wilton Boy Scout troop to commemorate 101st Eagle Scout ranking
WILTON--After Monday's annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony, the local chapter of the Boy Scouts of America will commemorate its 101st Eagle Scout ranking.
Eagle Scout is the highest honor a Boy Scout can receive, a ranking the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) describe as "the pinnacle of scouting."
During Troop 125's 44-year history, 101 young men earned the rank of Eagle Scout, which is a milestone for the local chapter. Wilton resident Yuvi Singh is the 101st Eagle Scout from the chapter.
"Its one of those things you earn as a boy that follows you for life. Once an Eagle Scout always an Eagle Scout," said Jonathan Woods, an adult volunteer with Wilton's Troop 125. "People who earn it as a youth have it on their resumes when they're going for jobs at 40, 50 and 60 years old."
According to the BSA, "To achieve the Eagle Scout rank, a scout must be active in his unit for at least six months as a life scout. (He) must earn a total of 21 merit badges, including 12 that are required. (He) must serve in a position of responsibility and complete a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school or his community."
Woods said successful candidates complete a service project for the community while leading a team of volunteers through the project.
"These projects tend to be 100 to 200 team hours," said Woods. "Some of the projects include a number of bridges in the town parks and cleared trails throughout the town forests. Each project is different, but tend to be something in the woods."
Woods, a former Boy Scout, has two sons in the troop -- Andrew, 14, and Teddy, 16 -- who are actively working towards earning their Eagle ranks.
Troop 125's scoutmaster, Steven Gorenburgh, has led the troop for the last eight years, and has played a role in the lives of more than 30 young men receiving their Eagle rank.
The troop also has three Eagle Scout coaches: Mark Tuscano, Jonathan Griep, and Alan Gorkin.
Over two million young men nationwide have received the distinguished honor since the award's inception in 1912, according to the BSA. Some of the most notable Eagle Scouts include former U.S. President Gerald Ford, famed astronaut Neil Armstrong, and award-winning film director Steven Spielberg.
Troop 125 currently has 40 members that range between ages 11 and 18.
The youngest Eagle Scout in recent history was Jonathan Haase, who received the honor at 16 years old.
Troop 125 traditionally participates in the annual Memorial Day parade, organized by the Wilton's American Legion post. They work in conjunction with the American Legion to provide over 100 wreaths each year at Hillside Cemetery at the graves of fallen service men and women on Memorial Day. The American Legion places American flags on the graves during the holiday.
The troop also sells Christmas wreaths to raise money for scout camp and troop equipment.
"This is a fabulous troop," said Woods. "It has some great leaders. It has a fantastic scoutmaster that has taught them life skills. The scoutmaster has taught these young men to cook, camp, plan meals, plan outings, basic first aid, basic survival skill in the wilderness, things these young men will carry with them for the rest of their lives."
The Eagle Scout ceremony, which starts after the 10 a.m. Memorial Day parade and ceremony, will take place at Merwin Meadows Park at 52 Lovers Lane in Wilton. Troop 125 will host a barbeque luncheon after the ceremony. The troop encourages all former alumni and families to attend.
Troop 125 meets every Tuesday evening at the WEPCO complex located at 48 New Canaan Road in Wilton. Meeting times are from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call (203) 761-6715.


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Tricks and Tips to Making Consistently Good Butter
(Principles and Practice of Buttermaking, McKay and Larsen, 1911.)
The definition (components) of butter:
- Fat = 84% (80% or higher)
- Water = 13% (range 6 to 18%)
- Protein/sugar = 1% (range .5 to 4%)
- Salt and mineral = 2% (average 2%, as added)
The ideal butter is:
- Made from thick cream
- Churned at 50-60 degrees F (as warm as possible, yet forming to granules/flakes, not a lump)
- Churns into evenly-sized flaky texture
- Washed thoroughly
- Worked clean
- Containing enough moisture as to remain pliable/workable
- Uniform in color & body
- Salt evenly distributed
- Tastes: clean, sweet, fresh, rich, mild
- Smells: pleasant, delicate, mild
Steps to Successful Buttermaking
For the cleanest, freshest-tasting butter, try making it in a food processor or mixer.
Alternative options for a "churn" are:
- Mixer – A KitchenAid style stand mixer or a hand mixer both work similar to how a food processor works. A tip – start with a whisk attachment until the cream has become thickly whipped cream, then switch to the flat beater to finish.
- Blender – An economical option for someone making butter only occasionally. Fast, but globs the butter into one lump making it difficult to clean properly.
- Old fashioned churn – Fun, but can be very slow to turn to butter and beware many old models are no longer food safe.
- Ice cream machine or bucket with lid and drill – Makes butter in bulk, but difficult to tell exact point when butter is done if using a lid. Is a cheap alternative to a commercial butter making machine. Can also use without lid – so you can see better what you're doing, but you may want to cover partially with a towel to keep down splatter.
- Electric ice cream mixer – I tried this once, thinking back how every time I made ice cream, the ice cream seemed to turn to half butter. No-go. I "churned" for upwards of 40 minutes with absolutely no change in the cream.
Fill Quisinart 1/3 full (which is about 1 quart of heavy cream for mine)
TRICK: Freeze cream before churning to speed the process. Normally, fresh cream takes 10 minutes to "break" into butter. Frozen and thawed cream takes under 2 minutes. If we only have small amounts of extra cream, I'll add to the jar in the freezer and wait until the jar is full to thaw the cream for churning.
Turn ON and let churn for 2-10 minutes (see photos below) until separated into butter granules and buttermilk:
Once butter is developed, pour into a wire mesh strainer over the sink (with a jar underneath if you want to save the yummy buttermilk).
Rinse with cold water (same temperature of butter, around 50-60 degrees F)
Until the wash water coming out the bottom is clear
There should be no whey coming out – any excess moisture should be clear water
Blend in ingredients by folding and kneading, then shape into a form. Note, if you add ingredients such as fresh garlic or honey ("wet" ingredients), there may be some sticky "seepage" out the butter, as the water and oils do not always blend well.
For storage, I have found that I best like waxed paper. Also, I cut the butter into individual sized pieces, wrap the whole block, and put it in a plastic bag with other butters like it and store in the freezer until use. Note – garlic is very powerful and if left in the fridge outside of a bag, it can and will contaminate your other food with garlic odor – we learned that with whipped cream we had in the fridge. Garlic whipped cream on our hot chocolate was….not yummy!!
Investment of wood or silicone butter molds and stamps can help dress up your butter further:
If you're adventurous, there are a number of ways to fancy up butter – I like the book: Recipes from the Dairy, published by the National Trust in Britain.
You can also come up with your own recipes:
Happy buttermaking!
For technical help and more detailed, exact instructions for the steps of buttermaking, see below:
Conditions Affecting the Churnability of Butter
The main factor in churnability is: Temperature
Problem: Cause: Solution:
|Butter comes out in a soft lump and is very greasy
|Temperature of cream during churning is too high
|Start with cream at a lower temperature (40-50 degrees). Look for evenly-sized flakes or granular balls rather than one lump.Make sure churn is around 1/3 full of cream (if not enough cream, the air will warm up the small amount of cream too much during churning).
|No matter how long the butter is worked, there is still a lot of buttermilk left in the finished product
|Temperature of cream to high, causing buttermilk to incorporate into butter rather than separate out
|See above, pour from churn into wire mesh strainer and gently wash back and forth at a cold enough temperature to remain granular. Wash until water comes out bottom clear.
|Butter sours quickly after being made
|Too much of non-fat portions of the cream are left in the butter after being washed/worked or too little salt applied.
|Wash thoroughly, work thoroughly (there should be no buttermilk excreting out from the worked butter). Spread worked butter out flat, evenly salt, and incorporate by kneading. Can also lay out flat on wax paper, cut into 1T pieces, wrapped, and kept in freezer up to several months. Only keep out what is used in a day or two. Can also pre-culture cream to produce a "cultured" butter which has a stronger taste.
|The cream churns forever before turning to butter
|Cream too cold or too light or too much cream in churn or cream from unhealthy animal
|Let the cream warm up a bit (50-60 degrees) before churning. This can be done by leaving the jar out of the fridge for a few minutes before churning.If using thin cream, try to use thicker cream via cream separator or by only skimming the top half of the cream off the container for butter (use the bottom light cream for your coffee). Or, double skim by skimming a large amount, then letting the cream set another day in the fridge, then skimming the cream and using the top 2/3 for butter and the bottom 1/3 for other use.Fill the churn about 1/3 full for maximum agitation – to speed up the quickness of turning to butter.If the cow is very late lactation or possibly sub-clinical mastitis, cream may not churn. Check for signs of excessive yeast (bubbly, ferment-y milk) or bacteria (CMT or SCC, or culture test).
|The cream turns quickly to butter, but a lot of cream is left in the churn.
|Cream too thick
|Use a thinner cream, as super-thick cream will stick to the walls/paddles and will not agitate, therefore will not transform to butter.
|The butter is rock-hard and very un-workable (hard to incorporate salt
|Cream too cold, making the butter very hard and excreting out a larger portion of the liquid.
|Warm cream to ideal temperature before churning (you probably dumped the cream in straight out of the fridge, right? Next time let it set out for a while first).Or, call this "super butter" and charge more for it since the butterfat content is higher!
|There are white curd-like particles in the butter
|Cream aged too long
|If this happens, wash the butter several times to remove the white particles. It can be salvaged.Next time, use fresher cream, as over-aged cream will become acidified to curd form and the curd will incorporate into the butter, causing defect (causing the butter to go rancid quickly).
|The cream solidifies and is not agitated, so butter does not form
|Cream is too thick
|Add light cream, milk, or water to thin the cream and produce agitation.
In summary: "The lower the temperature at which the churning can be successfully accomplished, the more complete will be the churning; that is, the less fat will remain in the buttermilk." (McKay & Larsen, pg. 231.)
Other Factors Affecting the Churnability of Butter:
- Season –
- Spring (early pasture season) > Softer Fat > Churn at a cooler temperature
- Winter (dry hay season) > Harder Fat > Churn at a warmer temperature
- Breed –
- Jersey cattle tend to have the largest (softest) fat globules > Churn at a cooler temperature
- Holstein cattle tend to have the smallest (hardest) fat globules > Churn at a warmer temperature
- Other breeds of dairy tend to be in between those extremes
- Lactation –
- Fresh cows have the largest (softest) fat globules > Churn at a cooler temperature
- Late-lactation cows have the smallest (hardest) fat globules > Churn at a warmer temperature & make sure cream is thick
- Type of feed –
- Some feeds (such as cottonseed & by-products) give butter a "crumbly, tallowy, hard condition"
- Succulent foods tend to make softer butter
- Type of churn –
- Dash or barrel style churns – very slow in forming butter. Not generally used (or found in useable condition )today.
- Dazy hand-churns – can work, but works best only with "ideal" churning butter. No noise.
- Blender – Makes quick butter, but the fat tends to glob together on the blade and sink, forming one lump that is very difficult to clean properly. Also very high noise.
- Food processor – The best choice in making speedy granular (cleanable) butter. Noise is minimal, and only takes 10-15 minutes max.
- A homemade churn can be made using a square bucket (assists agitation) with a lid (prevents splashing) and a long handled wooden spoon or metal paddle that can fit into the head of a drill and tightened down. (A hole is put in the lid, slide arm of paddle through the hole, put lid on bucket, attach drill, and turn on.). This can make a large amount of butter at one time and is effective. Operator has to hold the drill the whole time and stop to check occasionally.
When to know to stop churning:
- Size of granule similar to the size of a kernel of wheat or a flake the size of a kernel of corn.
- Bluish tint to buttermilk
- Butter raised higher above buttermilk
Why care about when to stop churning? If churning ceases too soon, much fat is lost to the buttermilk. If over-churned, the butter will contain too much buttermilk and be very difficult to wash clean.
Cleaning the churn:
First, rinse with lukewarm water. Wash thoroughly with soapy water. Rinse with lukewarm water. Rinse again with scalding hot water. Dry completely. If sour smells remain, sanitize the equipment by wiping or spraying on vinegar. Let set a few hours, then rinse off with hot water and dry completely. (For wooden churns, McKay and Larsen recommend food grade lime in a liquid solution to be put in the churn. Swish around and let set until next use. Before using again, rinse out lime.)
Washing the butter:
Butter should be washed 1 to 4 times at a similar temperature to churning temperature. Extreme changes in temperature should be avoided. Use only clean water sources.
How much salt to add?
- Salt is added to butter to help remove buttermilk, increase length of preservation, and adds additional flavor that most people are familiar with.
- One-half to 1.5 ounces of plain white salt per pound of butterfat is generally suitable. A study indicated that Americans prefer butter with a salt content of 2.5%.
- If you prefer unsalted butter: please keep the butter frozen until use!
- Butter should be formed into large granules before salt is added.
- When to add more salt: Use a higher amount of salt if the butter is high-moisture. If the butter is worked a lot, more salt should be added as some will be lost in "brine" form as moisture drips out of the worked butter. Hard granular butter may need more salt, as it does not easily incorporate. Older or poor quality butter may require more salt to help preservation.
- When to add less salt: Soft greasy butter readily attracts salt, so less should be added. Clean, fresh butter requires little salt (you don't want to mask the butter flavor!)
Add anything else?
- Herbs, seasonings, and flavored salts can make butter unique.
- Some of our favorite blends are "Sicilian Family Blend" – fresh Garlic & ground Rosemary; "Hot Pepper" – Cayenne, Jalapeno, and Turmeric; Honey butter (30-50% honey); and Cinnamon, Vanilla, Cardamom Honey Butter.
- A fun book with some wild "Savoury" butters is: Recipes from the Dairy by Robin Weir and Caroline Liddell with Peter Brears, published by the National Trust (Britain).
Working the butter:
- Butter should be worked (or kneaded) 10-15 times to fully incorporate salt and expel excess water (if any). Soft butter works faster, hard butter may need to be worked longer.
- When the "Principles and Practices of Buttermaking" was printed in 1911, the government standard for butter included a limit of 16% water in the final product.


text: How to Volunteer at the Common Ground Country Fair A volunteer in the Fair's recycling area WELCOME FAIR VOLUNTEERS! Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering at the Common Ground Country Fair. We rely on our many volunteers to keep the fair running smoothly. We're so glad you want to help out! If you already have a volunteer profile, you can see all the available shifts by clicking the button: Pre-registration – There are two ways to register in advance for volunteer shifts at the Fair: 1. Pre-registration Online: Please fill out a volunteer profile or log in to your existing profile at MOFGA.VOLUNTEERHUB.COM in order to register to volunteer at the 2019 Common Ground Country Fair. If you need to cancel a shift you've registered for, you can do so under the My Schedule tab in your profile. If you have questions, please email the Fair Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] or call 207-568-6046 during business hours. If you are using a cell phone, rotate it so that the screen is in landscape orientation, and then it will allow you to scroll further. You can also search for a particular area (such as "Parking") and all those shifts should display. If you have access to a computer, that is the best way to experience the full version of the site. 2. Pre-Registration by mail: Please contact the office to request a volunteer registration packet! You can also get a copy of the Minor Consent Form from the office for anyone under the age of 18 who wants to volunteer. Eligibility: 1. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian signed consent. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old to volunteer without a guardian. Children between the ages 10 – 12 may volunteer if accompanied by a guardian 21 years of age or older with at least 1 adult : 2 children ratio. 2. Special cases: Children's Area: Minimum age 13 years old. Auto Gates, Common Kitchen, Country Store, Entertainment, Low Impact Forestry, Parking, Ticket Takers: Minimum age 16 years old. Safety: Minimum age 16 years old for daytime shifts and 18 years old for nighttime shifts. Ticket-sellers: Minimum age 18 years old and must be well-known to MOFGA staff or Board members. Shuttle Assistants: Minimum age 18 years old. Download or print the Minor Consent Form here. Confirmation: We will confirm online registrations via email. Volunteers who register through the U.S. mail will receive shift confirmations via U.S. mail. Keep your confirmation. It will entitle you to a Volunteer Admission Pass when you arrive at the Volunteer Check-In Tent. You will also need to present your confirmation to the camping area coordinator in order to camp. If you need to cancel, please email [email protected] or call 207-568-4142 to let us know as soon as possible, and no later than September 18th (three days before the Fair). Arriving at the Fair: Give yourself plenty of time to get to Unity. Consider camping the night before or arriving in the early morning to avoid traffic and to be on time for your shift. Check in at the Volunteer Check-In Tent at either the Pine or the Rose Gates. Volunteer Check-In: Set-up and Clean-up volunteers (the heroes who help before and after the Fair) should check in at MOFGA's main office - the yellow building in the middle of the fairgrounds. Volunteers helping during the three days of the Fair should go to the Volunteer Check-In Tent upon arrival at the Fair. The Volunteer Check-In Tent is the only place where you may obtain your Admission Pass. Free entry is NOT available anywhere else (unless you are a MOFGA member). If you do not attend your scheduled shift and do not cancel your shift through your volunteer profile, you may face restrictions when volunteering at the Common Ground Country Fair in the future. Volunteer Guidelines 5466 Next Article Fair Volunteer Benefits Tags: Volunteering Fair


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- 74 Simcoe St S, Oshawa, ON L1H 4G6
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All items featured on this site represent the types of arrangements we offer and may vary depending upon availability in certain regions. Substitution Policy


text:
A Nigerian lady @Mz_Waltz who couldn't hold back her joy, took to Twitter to celebrate after she graduated as a medical doctor after 11 years of study.
According to the Nigerian, she started studying medicine in Nigeria before moving to Ukraine. She tweeted;
I'm a doctor y'all!! After 11 years of studying medicine, from Nigeria to Ukraine, It's finally official! somebody hold me please. I can't contain my joy. To Jesus be my glory


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Thu, 28/02/2019 - 07:38
The upgrade and expansion of the Virgin Australia (VA) baggage handling system at the Domestic Terminal is great for our passengers, our airlines and for Brisbane Airport (BNE).
The opening of this new multi-million dollar facility means BNE now has a larger, faster and more efficient airport baggage handling system.
The first in a series of upgrades for both the Domestic and International Terminals, the work is part of BNE's Baggage Development Strategy, and helps to bring the airport one step closer to our goal of being the major gateway in Australia.
The project delivered:


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Monday, June 02, 2008
I went with Joe to his Pirates game yesterday. At one point when Joe was playing first base I yelled to him from the third base sideline where all the parents were camped out. I do shout out a lot of encouragement and "fine tunings" like "Joe, move over" or "play shallower" or "Joe, wake up" and stuff like that.
This time, I yelled,
As soon as I yelled your name it registered in my brain and I just closed my mouth tight. I looked left and right at the parents next to me to see if anyone noticed what I had done. There is a Henry - Henry Sosland - on the team (he goes to JPDS) so it wouldn't be too bizarre for me to yell that name. But Henry wasn't there yesterday.
No-one noticed. I was confused.
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2 weeks ago we had here in Cluj a warm and sunny week end. Nice temperatures (~12 Celsius). The snow melted down and the tracks were almost dry. So was perfect to get off road and do some training. It's good to be back on the trails and is fun.
Was a good chance to test my new Ashima AiRotors and the Ashima disc brake pads.
The rotors in 160mm are 85grams (one of the few products that the claimed weight is the true one). For such a lightweight product, it's performing better than the standard rotors and the pads are lighter also the the original ones. I can say that I have now more braking power, less grams and a bigger smile :D
So you can also try them. You won't regret. Ashima is producing the rotors in 140mm, 160mm, 180mm and 203mm and a full range of pads and brake adaptors.
So I can say that I had a great week end with nice tours.
Even if did not believe the weather guys... the snow came and in a few hours everything was covered with a white cold carpet. I can say that we didn't had an early spring attempt but a late winter snow session (ok, it's not that late since it's just February). According the forecast, the cold days and the snow will continue to make me a hard winter but I don't care almost at all.
That's why I have a trainer and a lot of dvd`s with movies. The hours are passing faster and I get trained every day. I still have to learn a bit since I am in the last year at the University and I have more imporant exams.
Now I wanna wish you all happy winter and hope that you all are doing well.
If you wanna see the whole gallery for this article please click HERE
Also wanna thank you to Voicu for the "action" photos.


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Easy Breezy! This is a super comfort dress with waist pull drawstring and loose elbow length bell sleeves.
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Care: Hand Wash - Hang Dry
Style: 2001-7472
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Producer Perspective: Guy Nickerson
A 27-year veteran of broadcast television and two-time Daytime Emmy winner -- and seven-time nominee -- Guy's career began in television news in the early 80's. In 1987 he left news to found Spectrum Productions, a full-service television production company in Tampa, Florida. Guy recently shared his unique producer perspective with CableU Confidential.
1. Where do you find inspiration for a new show idea?
GN: We are always on the search for compelling characters with stories to tell. Like most producers, I scour the Internet, newspapers, TV news, radio… and I selectively entertain solicitations that come in from people who have heard of us and think they have interesting stories to tell; although that is one of those things that I do with care, because if you let every person that calls tell you his or her life story, you could go out of business.
Beyond my team's character/story searches, watching the networks inspires me. I jokingly tell my wife I have to watch TV for research, but truthfully I do. I love TV! When I'm in a pitch meeting and I tell the development exec that I watch, it's because I do. Many times the ideas I bring to the table are derived from being a fan/viewer of the actual of network.
2. What research do you do before going into a pitching session?
GN: As I mentioned, I really watch the networks I'm pitching to and their competitors. So aside from the vetting process we go through internally, we also make sure there is a need for the show. I don't mean for this to be a plug session, but I really rely on Cable U as well as personal contacts in the networks to create the best scenario going into a pitch.
3. What advise do you have for upstart producers trying to get their foot in the door?
GN: Being based in Tampa, I can sympathize with being an outsider in a very competitive and tight community.
When I started, the only way to find out the information currently packaged by Cable U was to fly around the country and meet with the development folks at each network. So the fact that this resource is available now is a phenomenal advantage to an upstart producer.
Beyond that, the most important thing to understand is that this is a relationship business. Get out there and meet people at the festivals. Don't worry about not getting access to the VP of Development for a certain network immediately. Get to know people and develop relationships over time. Deliver ideas that you are capable of producing and fit the networks needs, but realize that success generally takes time. Don't get discouraged! You have an uphill battle competing with established producers, so go overboard in your pitch materials and preparation, secure access to unique characters, learn the networks and trends (all of the information you need is in Cable U…plug, plug, plug) and provide a sample DVD, not a finished pilot. Stay positive, take your lumps and try to come back each time with better ideas.
And last but not least, don't get into producing because you have one idea for a great show.
4. What show do you wish you had produced and why?
GN: Well, of course I'll say all of the ones I've presented because I so passionately believe in the potential of every one of them. Aside from our own material, I'd truthfully have to say House Hunters and HH International. That show just doesn't stop. It is a simple, well-conceived and very repeatable concept, which in the end means a win for all parties. Otherwise, the list is long for various reasons.
5. What types of shows do you think are most in demand now?
GN: Anything with strong characters and a unique perspective seems to appeal to viewers.
6. What types of programs do you wish were in demand now? (or think should be).
GN: I guess the programs that are succeeding right now are doing it for a reason. The viewer's taste evolves, so my goal is to try and guess where that is going instead of wishing what it might be.
7. What types of projects interest you most and why?
GN: Again, I love characters and big personalities, but not necessarily people who just want to be on TV. Projects with authentic people with heart are what I am interested in. Beyond that, my company has a certain cinematic style and perspective that draws us to highly visual productions, so in addition to compelling story lines, we are attracted to certain projects with visually engaging subjects that we can put our mark on.
8. How important do you think it is for your show idea to have an online component?
GN: The importance varies depending on the network and project. My company has two divisions, one that focuses on programming and another with highly specialized experience in online content and web development, so we always have a plan for supporting a project with online content should the network have the interest.
9. Where does most of your budget funding come from, if not from the network?
GN: Like most producers, our development funding comes from in-house coffers. Otherwise, most of our productions have been full commissions (either co-produced or with individual networks).
10. How often do you attend industry conferences and festivals, and which are most important for your business?
GN: I try to attend two a year minimum, but for me RealScreen is my favorite. I've been attending since its inception and have met some great people at a number of networks and other production companies. It's always great to hear firsthand stories of programming success and learn more about network needs in one fell swoop. And it's a great way to make the most of your development dollars.
A 27-year veteran of broadcast television, Guy's career began in television news in the early 80's. In 1987, Guy left news to found Spectrum Productions, a full-service television production company in Tampa, Florida. A two-time Daytime Emmy winner and seven-time nominee, Guy has executive produced, produced, directed and managed the production of over 400 episodes of television programming, ranging from natural history, hidden-camera and docu-soap formats to how-to and animation. Guy's productions have taken him to locations around the globe, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Alaska, Malaysia, Mexico, Fiji, Tazmania, Australia and Canada.
In 2007 Guy launched Mindclay Creative, a creative services division of Spectrum focused on branded and online content for commercial productions and network projects. The synergies between the two divisions uniquely positions Spectrum to address the growing trends of sponsor integration and online content in any production.
Guy produced and/or directed one of the longest running wildlife series, Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures, for many years and is now partners with Jack Hanna on his latest syndicated series, Jack Hanna's Into the Wild. Additionally Guy has produced numerous series and specials for Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Kids and BBC.
Guy and his team are currently nominated for Outstanding Children's Television Series category for Adventure Camp, a Discovery Kids/BBC co-production, for the upcoming 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards.
The television industry's top news stories, analysis and blogs of the day.
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Awesome new Carbon flights are manufactured from Carbonite, a hi-tech 100 micron sports performance laminate.
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text: As you can see I have stopped posting on this page. I have been waiting to launch my new website aerialtollhouse.com So from now on I will be using the new page. I haven't had an official launch of the site yet but for now your welcome to view it as I'm getting all the bugs worked out. Thanks for all the support. –Adyor


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Body Shaming or Self Love?
It is known by many people that in today's society, thinner women are thought of as more beautiful than bigger women, especially in the media. Many music artists have recorded songs about bigger women being beautiful. Some of the most recent songs are "Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj and "All About That Bass." Some music critics say that both songs promote love for curvier women but put down smaller women. For example, in "Anaconda" Nicki Minaj says, "He keep telling me it's real, that he love my sex appeal. Because he don't like 'em boney, he want something he can grab," and, "Fuck the skinny bitches, fuck the skinny bitches in the club." I find this interesting because Nicki Minaj isn't what most people would consider fat. Sure, she has a big butt but she still has a really small waist and stomach. Meghan Trainor sings, "I'm bringing booty back, go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that."
Regarding the song Anaconda, a Tumblr user said, "I think skinny people can turn off her [Nicki Minaj] song and open literally any magazine, watch any other video or movie and TV show and see their body types praised and idealized."
Meghan Trainor replied to the skinny shaming comments and said, "I don't criticize skinny people! I would never shame a skinny person!" she exclaimed. "I don't know who would want to. I gueress they stop listening immediately after I say 'skinny b-tches' and just turn it off. But I say, 'Just kidding, I know even you think you are fat.' For instance, I have skinny friends and some of them will stand in front of the mirror and go, 'Eugh, I'm just like so big.' And I'm standing there going, 'Jesus! If you're big then what am I?' That's not right. So I was just saying that. There was a huge Twitter account that made a blog about 'This is a body shaming song.' I was like, 'Oh my goodness, okay…' I don't get it. No, I would never shame a skinny person. It makes no sense."
There was an article written in Ebony by Melanie Yvette Martin titled,"I'm a Proud Curvy Girl, and I Will Never Support Skinny Shaming." Martin emphasizes that as a curvy woman she knows all about being shamed for her body and states, "As a woman who knows all too well how it feels to be insecure because of her shape, I have no interest in watching other women be put down for their body types. Being curvy doesn't make you more of a woman, and being thin or skinny doesn't make you less of one."
Song lyrics can be interpreted in many different ways. Regardless of people's opinions, all women can agree that body shaming is wrong and women should be uplifting each other.


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Bradley International Airport (BDL) is located in Windsor Locks, CT, which serves the Hartford/Springfield area and is approximately one hour from Hampshire. There are shuttle services to and from all area airports (see below).
Seemo Shuttle and Valley Transporter offer shared and private service to and from Hampshire and all area airports, bus, and train stations. Seemo Shuttle boasts hybrid and biodiesel vehicles, while Valley Transporter is the largest airport shuttle service in the Pioneer Valley.
Amtrak has limited service to Amherst and extensive service to Springfield, MA, just 30 minutes from Hampshire. If arriving in Springfield, transportation to campus is available through Peter Pan Bus Lines or by shuttle service.
Peter Pan Bus Lines runs from New York and Boston to Springfield, where there are connections to Amherst and Northampton. Peter Pan offers a one-way trip from Hampshire College to either Boston or New York City for $20.00.
Locally, Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus system connects all of the Five Colleges.
Celebrity Cab Company 413.253.7330
The Robert Crown Center features a bike shop where bikes are rented and repaired. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 2-4 p.m (hours valid when the College is in session).


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Had my first draft Friday in the rotowire championship. My big draft in my $500 league is tomorrow night, picking 8th. Wild draft season with all the injuries and holdouts. Gl to all
Had my first draft Friday in the rotowire championship. My big draft in my $500 league is tomorrow night, picking 8th. Wild draft season with all the injuries and holdouts. Gl to all
My rotowire roster. Picked 6th. Full PPR
QB: Kyler Murray
RB: Devonta Freeman
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Davante Adams
WR: Keenan Allen
WR: Tyler Lockett
TE: Austin Hooper
Flex: Cooper Kupp
Kicker: Faibairn
DST: you all my strategy with defense. I always roster two units, planning ahead one week to stream. Wll be streaming eagles week 1 and Bills are rostered for week 2
Derek Carr
Latavius Murray
Rashad Penny
Ito Smith
Jamaal Williams
Marvin Jones
Zay Jones
Muhammed Sanu
Trey Burton
Feel like i got the most value i could out of the brutal 6 spot. I like to target high upside running backs for my bench if the starter was to get hurt. Chubb was a key piece for me last year using same strategy.
Somebody in my leageu stole Zeke late round 2. The draft was right after Jones said he expects him out multiple games. Now of course hes about to sign.
That's the worst fantasy team I've ever seen.
Would be pretty remarkable to get this thread moved to the fantasy section
Melvin gordon to the eagles would be massive for Ekeler.
A fantasy team only a gay guy could love...if he was in the shower with these stiffs. Must be a 20 team league as I don't see who your first rounder was. On the other hand, I picked up Luck 45mns before he retired because one of my leagues drafts last weekend so the retards can spend Labor Day with their families.
I have the best wr core in the league with Adams, Allen, Lockett, and Kupp. Kupp is a legit WR2 and im able to start him in my flex. Got a RB1 in Freeman in the third round. And whats looking like a solid rb2 in ekeler in round 6. Was the last in the draft to take a qb so ill take a high upside option whos rushing and terrible defense gives him a high floor. Then i stashed several RBs on the bench who have instant RB1 potential if their starter goes down.
Picking 8th tomorrow. Love Julio there but will see how it falls. Like the 8 spot a lot in third round reversal.
Where do you see Chubb's value this year? I got him ranked 8th this year amongst rb's.
Wow I can't wait to see this thread bumped constantly with you talking to yourself after every offensive play that involves one of your scrubs. So exciting. Love your game script analysis too!!!!
Shouldn't a thread titled "JustinCruise Official 2019/20 Fantasy football thread" be in the fantasy sports section?
You have really good wideouts and don't hate your running backs. I wanted Lockett but went Galladay over him and Keenan Allen got sniped 1 pick before me earlier.
You really stacked up on Falcons with Freeman, Hooper, Sanu, Ito Smith
Fantasy pro picked me to finish 4th in the league
Drafted in my $500 league tonight full ppr, picked 8th.
Fantasy Pro picked me to finish first in this one. I might like it slightly better than my first team but its close.
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Leveon Bell
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Davante Adams
WR: TY Hilton
WR: DJ Moore
TE: George Kittle
Flex: Christian Kirk
Kicker: Lutz
DST: streaming Seattle D week 1 at home vs bengals.
Kyler Murray
Rashaad Penny
Derrius Guice
Ito Smith
Jamaal Williams
John Brown
Mohammad Sanu
Demarcus Robinson
Jimmy Graham
Texans D for week 2 at home vs jags
Thought I would end up with Julio picking 8th, but guy picking 4th surprisingly chose Chubb, which caused Adams to drop to 8. I'm perfectly comfortable taking the most consistent WR in fantasy as my first round ppr pick. Felt like a steal with the 5th pick of round 2 to get Bell. He has been going first round in most drafts i've seen. He's a talented, Bell cow back, in what should be an improved offensive line and offense. Plus he will play a large factor in the passing game with a young qb. I opted for for Elite tight end Kittle in round 3 after a couple of my other top targets there were gone. Only other player I considered there was Cooper but he has burned me several time in the past, has a below average QB, is wildly inconsistent, and already has foot issues. My least favorite pick was TY in fourth round. Was targeting Robert Woods, Galloday, or Lockett, but all three of them went one after the other before my pick. I don't hate the pick entirely, because I think the colts system now will result in better TY production than 2017 when Brisset was QB. But I would have been happier with any of the other 3 guys. Russell Wilson was a steal in round 11 but expect Murray to overtake him as my starter. My bench is loaded with high upside RBs if injury or circumstances break their way. Guice, Penny, Ito, and Jamaal Williams all have RB1 potential if the cards fall right. I only need one to pop to make that strategy worthwhile. And until then Ekeler will be solid rb2 until gordon returns (if that happens)
My draft is tomorrow. I'm hoping to get the 4th spot. Want to try and swing something like Zeke/Kelce/Mahomes/Carson.
Ended up picking 2nd and Jstack was right. Kelce went the end of round 1. Here's what I ended up with. Really need to hit on 1 WR. Ballage will get dropped for either Dal def or maybe the Jets def. Almost pulled the trigger on Deshaun Watson for trade bait. He fell to the 6th and I had him as my highest rated player for 4 rounds.
QB - Patrick Mahomes
RB - Christian McCaffrey, Todd Gurley, Derrick Henry, Duke Johnson, Peyton Barber, Kalen Ballage
WR - Tyler Lockett, Robbie Anderson, AJ Green, Sammy Watkins, Corey Davis, Marquez Vales-Scantling, Courtland Sutton
TE - Evan Engram
K - na
Def - na
JC without a single Bears player amongst his starters
Thank Jesus
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Reiki: Energy, System of Healing, or Both? (The Short & Sweet of It)
One of the greatest misconceptions about reiki is whether it's an energy, a system of healing, or both. I hope this edition of "The Short & Sweet of It" will help set the record straight. In Japan there are hundreds … Continue reading
Your Reiki Practitioner Is Not a Healer (The Short & Sweet of It)
If you're at all familiar with subtle healing methods, whether you're a practitioner or a client, you've certainly heard the word healer casually thrown about as though practitioners are some mystical vessel of healing energy. No doubt you've even heard … Continue reading
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Scoring points has been an issue for the Arizona Cardinals in the early part of the season and things don't get any easier with Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears on the horizon in Week 3. We expected the Cards offense to look different following the retirement of Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer, but we didn't expect the group to be so inept. The Cards were shut out by the Rams last week and they have scored a total of six points on the season, easily the fewest in the NFL.
This contest in Week 3 of the regular season will go down Sunday, September 23, 2018, at 4:25 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium.
NFL Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chicago Bears -6
Arizona Cardinals +6
Over/Under 38
Odds Analysis
The Bears haven't played as a road favorite in nearly two years, but they'll be laying points in the desert. Chicago has the confidence of the betting public with 85 percent of the early action favoring the visitors. As a result the line shifted from its opening of Bears -5.5 to the current -6. And there's a strong chance it spikes even higher before kickoff. Arizona's inability to score resulted in movement on the total from its opening of 40 to 38.
Injury Report
Larry Fitzgerald – The Cards need all the help they can get on offense, which is why the hamstring injury suffered by Fitzgerald in last week's game is a concern. Fitz was pulled as more of a precautionary measure by Steve Wilks, and the coach thinks his receiver will be well enough to play on Sunday, but there is no guarantee. Fitz leads the team with 10 catches and 104 yards.
Matchup to Watch
The Cards are last in nearly every major offensive statistical category and the problems go well beyond a simple fix. In two games the offense has produced six points, 228 passing yards and 350 total yards, all dead last by a wide margin. At least the ground game doesn't rank 32nd. The Cards have managed to gain 122 rushing yards, ahead of only New Orleans.
In an attempt to rectify the problem, Wilks hinted at making changes after a 34-0 loss to the Rams. That could mean a change in personnel and also a change in the game plan. Wilks and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy are scaling back the playbook, getting to a simplified version so the team can play fast without thinking. There's also a chance Josh Rosen takes over for the ineffective Sam Bradford, who threw for 90 yards on 27 attempts last week.
Whoever plays and however fast they go, the Cards will have to think about Mack on the other side of the football. Mack's strip-sack of Russell Wilson on Monday was his second of the season and the sixth Bears sack of the game. Chicago leads the NFL with 10 sacks through two games and they didn't allow Wilson time to breath. Not only is Mack doing the job he's getting paid a lot of money to do, he's also opening holes for other defenders. Eight different Bears have recorded at least one sack this season with Mack and Danny Trevathan each collecting a pair.
Key Stat
20.0 – Arizona ranks last in another important category that explains their difficulty in scoring and moving the football. The Cards converted 3 of 12 third-down chances last week against the Rams, and their 25 percent success rate was actually an improvement from their opener. Baby steps for the offense.
The Cards were 1 of 8 on third-down against Washington and they are 32nd with an overall conversion rate of just 20 percent. As a result they're averaging 9.5 first downs, four fewer than Buffalo, and have possessed the football for just under 24 minutes per game. Two more categories the Cards are the worst in.
Free ATS Pick
Whatever the Cards are doing on offense isn't working and, according to Wilks, changes will be made. They have a weapon in David Johnson but he hasn't gotten the touches. Of course, that's hard to do when you don't have the football. And moving against the Bears is going to be a chore. The addition of Mack makes a good defense that much better and I can't see the Cards sustaining any drives.
After losing their opener, the Bears responded with a gritty effort on Monday night, and while Mitchell Trubisky is still a work in progress, he's proven to be the leader of the offense. He's only going to get better and so are the Bears, who win and cover while cashing the over.
NFL Betting Odds: Bears 26, Cardinals 14
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