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Behind the Scenes @ Fresh & RIPE: Connecticut's Craft Juice Movement
We are in the midst of a craft food and beverage movement. Craft cocktails, craft beer, craft butchers, so why not craft juice? The New Haven-based FreshBev Craft Juicery, best known by its RIPE bar juice and Project Fresh product lines, is seeking to define the craft juice movement, one cold-pressed bottle of fresh vegetables and fruits at a time.
I had the opportunity to visit the New Haven factory (read: I was nosy and curious, so I invited myself over) to meet the folks behind the juice, taste some juice, and was excited to find a Connecticut business succeeding in the emerging and highly competitive juice market. First a little history. In 2008, frustrated by the abundance of preservative-laden shelf-stable cocktail mixers, founders Michel Boissy and Ryan Guimond took to their kitchen to create a natural and fresh juice for cocktails, beginning with everyone's favorite cocktail staple, the margarita. The result was the Agave Margarita—a well-balanced sour and sweet combination of cold pressed Persian lime juice, filtered water, organic agave nectar, and Valencia and Hamlin orange juice. The drink became the inspiration for an entire product line, and remains their best-selling product to date.
FreshBev occupies a one-story factory near the Port of New Haven that was once occupied by the Old Perry Sausage company (queue the business comparison and laugh track). The space is home to the company's offices, hundreds of square feet of chilly 38 degree factory floor space, and about 35 employees. The factory encompasses FreshBev's entire operation, from cold-pressing, milling, bottling to the packaging and shipping of their products. Donning a hairnet, I took a quick tour of the factory with JD Altobello, Brand Manager at Fresh Bev, to get a peek at the life cycle of FreshBev's products, from its raw materials starting with fruits and vegetables, to its transformation through chopping, pressing milling, bottling, filling, to finally its packaging and storing. In between is quite a bit of large and impressive looking machinery.
We've always wanted to be on the cutting edge without being trendy," said JD Altobello, FreshBev's Brand Manager.
What surprised me most on my spin around the factory was the seeming dichotomy of technology with the natural. FreshBev couples cold press technology with a rigorous focus on the organic and natural. Juice, in its simplest form, is simply fruits and vegetables. FreshBev leverages technology, those aforementioned impressive machines, to keep themselves at the top of their category WITHOUT the additives and fillers that sustain much of the juice market and their huge super market shelf space.
This realization came to me with full force when I met one of the most impressive FreshBev "employees"—a large and in charge machine resembling a Japanese high speed train that is responsible for cold press process. This machine ensures the juice retains its quality while avoiding immediate oxidization, and therefore gains a bit of shelf life all the while retaining its natural integrity. There is no heat or pasteurization involved, so nutrients aren't sacrificed.
RIPE continues to be the first and only company in the nation creating cold pressed juices for cocktails. Today the Agave Margarita is still their most popular mixer, and just one of several in their bar juice repertoire, including San Marzano Bloody Mary, Agave Lemon Sour, Agave Mojito, and Agave Punch, sold across New England at stores such as Whole Foods and bars such as Mikro, BAR, Max Restaurant Group restaurants, and with Marcia Selden catering.
A second product line, Project Fresh, has recently introduced a line of juices that are vegetable and/or fruit based intended as meal replacements, as part of a juice cleanse, or simply a vegetable-based beverage. These juices are cold pressed and micro milled (into micron-sized particles) from certified organic whole fruits and vegetables maximizing protein and fiber. The latter process means that these juices tend to have a much higher protein and fiber content than many similar juices.
So natural, fresh, cold-pressed...yaddah, yaddah, how does it really taste?
The RIPE juices are no brainers.If you're looking for a bit of convenience for your home bar, yet actually still have tastebuds and care about what you are ingesting, there is no comparison on the market. Don't even think about buying something shelf stable.
In terms of the Project Fresh offerings, I tried two juices, beginning with the Carrot, Apple Ginger blend, a crisp, light and lightly tart juice. Loved this juice, and was absolutely something I would order at a juice bar and have tried to make at home (yes, this tastes much better). I also tried their most popular, the Whole Deep Kale Blend which showcases the micromilling in its discernible pieces of kale that aren't nearly large enough to chew but lend a substantial texture to the juice that is impossible to get at home with a juicer and rare in my experience of juice bars that tend toward smoother juices.
This kale juice took a little getting used to. I wasn't sure if I should chew or swallow the dense juice, but once I got past this initial conundrum and coached myself on the nutrient density, I immediately felt that smug afterglow that only a green juice swigging gal can feel and polished it off.
Project Fresh and RIPE at a Whole Foods near you and other local markets. For more information, visit them online at drinkripe.com and projectfreshcraftjuice.com


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Foundation Years Parents' Guide
Following on from the publication of the Parents' Guide there has been feedback from settings about the guide. We have made a number of changes including a new tearaway page on at the back of the document so settings can include as much information as they wish. This will be available from the EYFS framework and guidance page on the Foundation Years Website from midday Monday.
User Guide to the Parent's Guide
The Foundation Years Team has produced a user guide for the Parent's Guide that helps settings edit the text boxes and insert their setting logo. This can be found on the EYFS framework and guidance page on the Foundation Years Website from midday Monday.
4Children launch Children's Centre Census 2012
Exclusive research by the national family charity, 4Children, reveals that despite significant cuts within local authority budgets, and the removal of the dedicated Sure Start grant, a picture of resilience and creativity has been found among children's centres. Over 500 Sure Start Children's Centres responded to a census conducted to gauge their financial viability, their service delivery, their role in delivering childcare, their staffing and their views of the future demands and challenges.
An Equal Start: Improving outcomes in children's centres
The Institute of Health Equity was commissioned by 4Children to identify the most important outcomes Children's Centres should be striving for in order to give all children positive early-years experiences. The IHE have published both an executive summary (which includes the outcomes framework), and a full evidence review, which call for a renewed focus on supporting good parenting and the environment in which parents live and work.
NCB and C4EO Free Early Years Peer to Peer Support for Quality Improvement
The Peer to Peer Support programme delivered by NCB with C4EO aims to provide managers and practitioners with knowledge of what works to improve children's outcomes and life chances. This DfE funded programme offers free tailored consultancy support and training to local authorities and organisations.
NCB Free one-day training events
If your organisation is delivering services for young children you can apply for one of a range of training events which will support your staff to meet the requirements of the revised EYFS. Training can be tailored to meet the needs of various groups, from children's centre practitioners to health visitors, childminders, and reception staff. Full details are available here.
Now available Family Foundations: Working with Parents: course
For all those wanting to examine and improve their work families, this course helps develop parent's confidence in supporting their young children's development, learning, health and wellbeing. The programme addresses recent national policy developments on the need for increased support for child development; putting parents and families at the heart of services; the importance of intervening early and the role of services working together to ensure that families receive early help where and when needed. This course is based on 3 units at Level 3 and can lead to assessment for the City and Guilds Work with Parents Award. An integrated 5-day programme, it can be delivered in a flexible way of a number of weeks, to meet the needs of a variety of professionals including children's centre staff, home visitors, outreach workers and health visitors. For further information please email [email protected]
National Childcare Week
Childcare providers around the country celebrated this year's National Childcare Week from 2-9 July. This year's theme was 'Families in Focus', which aimed to increase childcare volunteering and involvement amongst grandparents and dads. Daycare Trust's research shows that four million grandparent carers in the UK provide an average 10 hours of childcare each per week. Whilst there is little demand among grandparents for financial reward for providing childcare, many expressed a wish for greater involvement at their local children's centre. Meanwhile Bounty's Word of Mum Volunteering Survey showed just 1% of dads volunteering in a nursery, children's centre or school, compared to four times as many mums. For more information on National Childcare Week, click here.
2012 London Childcare report
Daycare Trust's latest report, 2012 London childcare report published earlier this month shows that Parents in London face a harder time than families anywhere else in the country when it comes to finding and paying for childcare. The report gives an in-depth analysis of the childcare picture in London. It reveals, for the first time, the particular factors which together are causing a growing childcare crisis in the capital – from, lack of childcare available outside of 9am-5pm hours, the higher cost of childcare in the capital, and the fact that parents in London are least likely to be able to rely on family to help with childcare. To download a free copy of the report click here.
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) launches new accident book
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has launched a new accident book to help nurseries keep an accurate record of any accidents. This booklet contains 50 accident forms, checked by Ofsted, and is suitable for nurseries in England, Scotland and Wales. The form can be completed in the event of an accident involving a child, parent, staff member or visitor. The booklet includes carbon copies so only one form has to be completed and a copy can be given to parents. To out more information visit: www.ndna.org.uk/publications.
NDNA helps nurseries prepare for the new EYFS online
National Day Nurseries Association has launched three new online courses to help nursery and childcare professionals to integrate the new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) into their day-to-day work when it comes into practice from September.The courses are entitled 'Supporting 0 – 2 year olds in the EYFS', 'Supporting 2 year olds in the EYFS', and 'Supporting 3 – 5 year olds in the EYFS' and are available on the NDNA Early Years Development Zone. More information about the NDNA Early Years Development Zone can be found here.
NCMA Local's peer support networks
NCMA Local's peer support networks for childminders and nannies continue to grow – we are now active in almost 45 local authority areas across the country, with more than 1200 active members of our website. They recently completed their first membership survey which has highlighted the wealth of knowledge and activities taking place among their local networks – over half of members are attending organised meetings on a monthly basis while 68% are happy that the online services being offered are meeting their needs. They are adding new areas to NCMA Local all the time and are always on the lookout for people to Facilitate networks. If you know anybody who is active online and keen to support their peers, please direct them to ncmalocal.com.
Contact a Family's Special Educational Needs (SEN) Advice Service deals with parents' top worry and proves its worth in first six months
Nearly 2,600 people who care for children with SEN or additional needs got in touch with Contact a Family's new SEN National Advice Servicein its first six months (November 2011 – May 2012) to get advice and information about their child's education. Nearly half (46 per cent) of the enquiries handled by the charity's expert SEN advisors were from parents worried about lack of support in school for their child's additional needs, and wanting to know more about the procedures for getting extra help in school, including the statementing process. Nearly a third of people (28 per cent) contacting the SEN National Advice Service wanted more information about the appeals process and almost one in five people (29 per cent) wanted advice and help about either official or unofficial exclusions of their child from school. Further information can be found here
Contact a Family resources for settings supporting a child with a rare condition
Contact a Family offer relevant, up-to-date and validated information on hundreds of disabilities and rare conditions. Find out information on the causes, symptoms, treatment and the support available in your local area. Contact a Family also runs a free family linking site called MakingContact.org. Being a mum, dad, sibling or grandparent of a child with a rare condition can be very isolating. MakingContact.org gives families the opportunity to get in touch with one another without having to give out personal contact details, share experiences with others and get support too.
The Children's Society's project on barriers disadvantaged families face to engaging with children's centres
The Children's Society's policy team is working on a project looking into the barriers disadvantaged families face to engaging with children's centres. They would really like to hear from you! What is your experience of working with disadvantaged families and helping them to engage with children's centres services. They have a short survey which will take 10 minutes to complete and can be found here.
Join The Learning Exchange
The Learning Exchange is funded by the Department for Education and aims to provide people who are responsible for running extra-curricular activities and clubs with ideas and support to help broaden the range and increase the quality of the activities offered.Membership is free and benefits include free training and resources, access to the VCS Hub, a new databasewhich holds the profiles of quality-checked voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations offering extra-curricular activities, networking opportunities and up-to-date news and information. You can to register to become a free member here.
National Association for Forest School Launched
Through its commitment toward encouraging and inspiring individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences, The National Association for Forest School was recently launched on 7th July as a national governing body for Forest Schools, the main contact and a membership association for organisations and individuals across the UK. The Association will also oversee Forest School qualifications.
Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC)
CREC has recently been involved in the construction of a white paper about preschools in 45 different countries. The four index categories are: the 'Availability', 'Affordability' and 'Quality' of their preschool environments, as well as the broad 'Social context', which examines how healthy and ready for school children are. Across all categories the UK came out 4th overall and Singapore came 29th. The full report can be found here.

subset: commoncrawl


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When Assignments Are Gay—And So Are You/
I was sure I'd heard wrong. But, no, when I replayed our conversation, that's exactly what he said within the first minutes of our consultation.
"This assignment is just so gay."
For a blink of an eye—perhaps more like three blinks—I tried to remember the last time I'd heard that too familiar phrase. True, outside the auspices of the various colleges and universities where I've studied and worked, I have infrequently encountered such language (and far worse), but such encounters have also been relatively rare.
I realized that the last time I could really recall hearing that phrase inside the academy was during my freshman year of college. While walking down the hallway of my dorm, I overheard a girl talking to my neighbor. It was the usual, casual kind of banter thrown back and forth between friends. Then, like a bubble of dialogue blaring its neon in a comic strip, that phrase came out of her mouth.
When I challenged her about how pejorative I found her use of the word "gay" to be, she dismissed my objection with a wave of her hand. I understood this refusal to mean that, in her eyes, the argument forming in the air like a Texan thunderstorm on the horizon had nothing to do with her. It had everything to do with me. I wasn't just the one with a problem; I was the problem in this situation. Though a recreation from memory, her response could easily have been the justification I've heard so many times before and, less frequently, since:
"I mean 'gay' as in something that's dumb. Not 'gay' as in a homosexual person."
As you may have done when presented with a highly problematic statement of this kind, I thoroughly deconstructed what she said without leaving any etymological stone unturned. For good measure, I also offered several anecdotes about how, on numerous occasions, I'd personally heard not only things described as "gay"—as in dumb, as in stupid, as in [insert any number of negatives]. I'd heard people described in this way, too.
Though my memories of it are still vivid, probably because of how angry she and I got with each other, that particular conversation happened over a decade ago. That was also perhaps the last time I overheard or was part of a conversation where the phrase "that's so gay" was spoken in an educational setting. Until, that is, the writing center consultation I am remembering now.
This may be the moment when it would be appropriate for me to disclose that I am gay. Since nearly fifteen years have passed since I came out, I don't often think of my sexual orientation as something that might need to be disclosed. As it isn't hidden—which is a euphemistic way of saying that I am rarely mistaken for anything other than a gay man—I generally assume that people I encounter pick up on this facet of who I am.
So, to return: in the seconds after hearing "This assignment is just so gay," I had a decision to make and I had to make it fast. I mentally created a list of pros and cons for saying something versus not saying anything:
Pros: This is one of those "teachable moments" where a conversation about connotation and denotation could take off at the speed of light. What he said, however offensive, could simply be insensitivity due to a lack of awareness or exposure (i.e., he may not know any lgbtqia people). If I don't say anything, I may be uncomfortable for this entire consultation.
Cons: This is one of those "teachable moments," but what is the lesson to be learned and how should it be taught? What he said was offensive, but what might be lost if it isn't handled properly? If I do say something, he may be uncomfortable for this entire consultation.
My list, which continued for several more nanoseconds, also contained the nettlesome question of how to address what he said without disclosing my sexual orientation in the process. If I tried to talk about how using the word "gay" in that way is offensive to some people without disclosing that I was one of those people, the message might lose its force and not be heard. But, if I framed how and why saying something or someone "is so gay" is offensive because I happen to be gay and am offended by it, I might fail in the attempt to have him hear what I was saying.
Though you probably already know this, I was the uncomfortable one for the duration of the consultation. I didn't address his careless comment at all. At the time, I rationalized my decision in terms of not wanting to risk ruining the consultation. A semester later, I'm not sure that staying silent was the right decision. I am also still trying to figure out how I will respond if and when I find myself in a similar situation again.
~John Fry


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Could The DIY Pennywise Tying Red Balloons To Sewer Grates Please Chill
Pennywise–the demonic, bloodthirsty clown plucked fresh from our nightmares and Stephen King's It—is enough of a fright on-screen that we don't need to worry about someone trying to measure up to him IRL. So to the person (or people) attempting to lure people into the sewers of southern Pennsylvania with red balloons for the sake of a really good prank: STAHHHHP.
In Lititz Borough, local police officers have been removing red balloons tied to sewer grates in the days leading up to the movie's release, and they're freaked out and annoyed about the stunts that recall the famous calling card of the It villain. Mesmerizing kids with balloons is Pennywise's modus operandi, and as we find out within the first few minutes of It, the sighting of one just floating about means serious trouble.
"I don't think we have an accurate balloon count, but it's definitely above 20," Sergeant Stephen Detz of the Lititz Borough Police Department told CBS News. "They pretty much hit the entire town and the area around the town."
In a Facebook post on September 5, the LBPD admitted that they "give points for creativity, however we want the local prankster to know that we were completely terrified as we removed these balloons from the grates and we respectfully request they do not do that again."
Very much so same. It hits theatres on September 8. Approach a red balloon (or your local sewer, for that matter) at your own risk.


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Does it get any more fun than making gingerbread houses? We made these at my mom's over the weekend. I wasn't quick enough to get a good picture of Nina's though...that girl has the biggest sweet tooth! Ben is so much like his dad, a total perfectionist. He chiseled a doorway out of the graham cracker, as well as pieces to cover the attic space! Very detailed, as always.
I'm sure we'll be making more over the holidays because when else do you get to play with candy like this? I want to make one of my own!
{Here's a recipe for Royal Icing. It's perfect for gingerbread houses because it dries so stiff.}


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We have just sent an application for the Nasjonale Turistveger prequalifications, teaming up with three talented Norwegian designers: Mona Kramer Wendelborg (landscape architect), Brit Sejersted Bødtker (architect) and Thea Collett (architect and lighting designer).
This prequalification is organised by the National Tourist Routes of Norway, looking for teams of young and creative professionals to design fifty new resting places and viewpoints along its touristic roads, winding through landscapes of outstanding natural beauty.
These types of projects are close to our hearts: designing intimate spaces strongly anchored in their context, merging landscape and architecture, involving local communities and artists...
To illustrate the diverse and interdisciplinary skills and experiences of our team, we presented ourselves around three themes — thinking on the edge, togetherness and material tactility — choosing as our motto the word HAPTISK (Norwegian for haptic).
Thea is a creative lighting designer working for Rambøll Norway and both Mona and Brit share with me an office space in Oslo. It is great to collaborate once again with my co-worker from Sommerrogata 17!


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I can't remember what my first BDSM romance read was. I can tell you who my first favorite was, though: Cherise Sinclair. Her Shadowlands series, with sexy Doms and women who match them in strength and love, are perennial favorites for me.
The series is up to twelve books, but oddly enough, my favorite has always been #2, Dark Citadel. The schoolteacher, raised naive and totally unsure if she really fits in the world she's so desperately interested in, was always uniquely relatable for me. And her cop Dom, widowed and scarred, has the perfect touch of asshole in him. (Yes, I do enjoy a touch of asshole attitude in my heroes, but only if he's redeemed of his asshole ways by the end, LOL!)
Have you read this series? Which book is your favorite? Does a dominating cop and a sweetly shy schoolteacher sound like a story that would hold your attention?


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The Big Wave That Ate My Best Friend, now in a theatre near you
So it begins.
Remember my very healthy dislike for all things Decemberish? And remember my countdown thingy? We have officially entered Tsunami season.
I've just received an email from Lila. I have been dreading receiving such an email bcs it was rather obvious that it would, and now I have and now I - .
Kibbutz memorial service on the 23, I am to write something pleasepleaseplease. Again. Let's all get together and collectively remember how very and horribly dead he is. Last time, at least, we still had hope. Of sorts. I don't think this will be very good. In fact, I have just caught myself rocking back and forth. I know I will do it, I know I'll survive it but I don't see how I will manage to write something even half meaningful. I wanted to, I wanted it to honour him. I don't suppose I can have Lila hand out the link to my Uzi category, though that would be fine by me. Peruse the hundreds of posts or something and pick what best suits your mood.
You want to know what's really killing me? After Uzi was killed everyone pretty much was told or found out, one way or the other. Mostly not by me, I don't think. I vaguely remember having my Tweedle ring people for me and spread the joy. I don't really remember a lot abt those months, my psyche has served me well. back in the Summer I went for a coffee w a friend of mine. Not exactly a friend, maybe. We once had boyfriends who were brothers and spent a lot of time together. I really like her and I know she likes me as well but we have never got really, really close. I mean, she's not the one I call when the sky falls on my head but I very much want for her to have a fabulous life and enjoy her loads, and I know it's the same for her. So we were sitting at an outside cafe and I realised she didn't know. I certainly didn't know how to tell her, it's been months since I'd last been in that position. Above all, I didn't want to tell her. To her Uzi was still very much alive and gorgeous and a part of me wanted it to remain so. But something had happened to me a few weeks earlier and that was a horror of such epic proportions I knew I didn't want to risk it happening again. See, I wrote a post abt going to the beach house w my Tweedle for a few days, remember that? While we were there we went for coffee w a former professor of mine, w whom I became friends and Tweedle got to know as well. We were sitting there, enjoying our drinks (going for a coffee might involve all drinks but coffee here, so it was Caipirinhas for them and Coke for me) and all of a sudden he asked How is our Israeli friend? I couldn't think of whom he meant and thought he might mean some Criminologist in israel, I remember trying to look someone up for him the first time I was there. But I was wary and so I said What do you mean? And he said That Israeli boyfriend of yours that I met, he is amazing, remember you came round to see me, how is he doing? And I simply sat there, horror-struck and couldn't even breathe and I remember Tweedle looking panicked and him asking What's wrong and later she told me I looked as though I'd been punched in the gut and went white but my memory of it is slightly worse than that and I sort of remember trying hard not to burst into tears while Tweedle told him and he must have been shocked and said the things you say at a moment like that but that's the last bit of our reunion I remember. My psyche, it serves me well.
So I didn't want to risk that happening again, over coffee (coke and juice), again, and so I said You remember Uzi, right? And she said, yes, of course she did. And I said Well, he was in Thailand in December and she looked at me blankly and the sky did fall on my head then bcs see, too many months had gone by and even though to me the Tsunami was a daily experience it no longer was for the rest of the world, and that little sentence had always served me well, people immediately knew what had happened but it was no longer so and I was going to be forced to spell it out so I sat there and started crying and said He was in Thailand in December when the.. When the... and then, I think mostly bcs of my tears she finally understood and her eyer were all of a sudden very shiny, which didn't help me at all, and I also don't remember how the rest of it went.
People have forgotten, people will forget even more. When Yaniv died the first Jahrzeit loads of people showed up at his Mum's. The next year there were a bit less. And so on and so forth. I don't want that to happen to my Tig, I want the world to stand still, the earth to abruptly come to a screeching halt with objects flying off shelves and dragons flying in to wage war bcs it IS the end of the world, it is, IT IS.
I don't see how I will find the words.
And now, bcs it's Wednesday, I must go and be trampled further by some big animal, or worse, be forced to inject some dog intraperitoneally. I'm in the mood for a fight so I hope it's the bloody donkey and Donkey, be warned I'll be the one doing the kicking today.
UPDATE: it was the cow, the cow that usually is meek and patient, the cow that today started kicking the manger and us the moment we walked in the box, the cow that decided this morning she'd had enough of being pierced by incompetent hands. There was ass-kicking done, as Cow literally kicked my colleague in the buttocks. It hurt. Cow also slapped me with her ears a few times, also not pleasant, and managed to slap my cornea with the ear plastic tag, which was even less pleasant and made me go blind for a short while. The highlight of an otherwise lovely day was when Cow, huge Cow, all 650 kg/1400 lb of Cow, stood on my foot, for many seconds, while I screamed for my colleagues to move her. When they did she lifted the other foot thereby increasing the pressure some more. I am now limping and foot hurts like the bloody hell, taking off galoches and putting on regular shoes was memorable. One colleague remarked I looked as if I were in labour but that was a tad exaggerated. With a bit of luck nothing was broken and I can avoid the ER. So I am icing my raised foot (frozen peas work the best, FYI, bcs they adapt to the shape of whetever it is you need to ice, much better than icecubes) which is lovely bcs really, this heat wave was driving me bonkers, and Voltaren was duly swallowed. But I won bcs I did manage to engorgitate the vein, at the expenses of a formerly healthy left wrist, and inject her jugular and the needle stayed put and then I screwed in the syringe and did it and so did my 2 colleagues, and we are proud bcs the cow kicked and rolled and shook and tried to horn us and moved the whole bloody time and us with it and one of my collegues is huge and tall and really really strong and he was seating too from the exertion, and the teacher later told all of us she isn't worried abt us, most big animals we will come across in the future will not have any behavioural vices and will have had very little contact w humans so by the time they realise what is happening it should all be over, from her lips to God's ears, see, we are the lasts shift, by Wednesday afternoon the animals have been inaptly poked and pierced till kingdom come, they are fed up and sore and frankly, I'd be too, no ill feelings, I think it's only fair. And it only took us an hour and a half and some monor injuries! Cannot wait for the stable exam.
Labels: Uzi my Tig


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A wonderfully primitive Uncle San pincushion to sit beside your sewing basket.
We are happy to offer a new line of delightful pincushion patterns ready to make up in our beautiful primitive woolens or from our new line of hand dyed velvets. These pin cushions are easy to make and will be useful additions to your sewing basket. And be sure to make up a few to give away to favorite friends this winter.
We have a kit to make one Uncle Sam pincushion that includes a mix of our cotton velvets and our textured hand dyed wools, as an optional add-on to this pattern... You'll need to add stuffing, thread, beads, buttons, yarn for hair, and maybe a bit of ribbon and other trimmings to make your creations unique.
A delightfully prim design from Kay Cloud.
Our wool kits* for our appliqué designs are created especially for each design and are carefully prepared with ample wool to complete your project. The wools in the kit will generally not be the same wools used to stitch the original and are intended to give a look similar to, but not the same as, the original. Keep in mind that the photograph accompanying the pattern is meant as a guide only; your piece will be uniquely your own.
* Please note: Unless noted otherwise in the product description, our kits do not include threads, non-wool fabrics called for in the design, buttons, or other non-wool items.
In The Merry Hooker Woolens dye studio, we honor the slow and labor-intensive process necessary to obtain richly dyed woolens with good colorfastness, colors that permeate into the core of the fabrics and create a soft hand that make them a pleasure to work with. We don't rush the wool and we don't subscribe to the "hurry up" method of dyeing.
We use the same wonderful 100% woolens you'll find in our rug hooking offerings and, with one significant variation,our process for dyeing wool for appliqué and quilting uses the same thorough dye methods. This single variation is to put the fabrics through an extra wash to create a slightly denser fabric that is better suited to the appliqué and quilting processes. Our appliqué wools are fulled, not felted.
Our pre-washed wool is soaked in a bath of water and a wetting agent for at least 24 hours to make certain that the fibers are completely saturated. To ensure colorfastness, each dye bath is brought to the proper temperature and simmered with the appropriate mordant for at least one hour. After dyeing, we add our lanolin-based fine wool soak to the dye bath and allow it to cool completely, usually overnight. Once it's completely cooled, the wool is removed from the dye bath, dried and fulled in the dryer.
Our hand dyed woolens come to you ready to use in your chosen craft with no additional processing necessary.


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Accelerating Devolution of Authority and Resources to Local Councils, Sierra Leone (2004)
Sierra Leone had just emerged from a devastating civil war, and as part of the political reform agenda, nineteen Local Councils were elected to manage the local development agenda and to begin the process of decentralizing authority and resources to the local level. The World Bank team in Sierra Leone provided a capacity building grant to support the decentralization process, and the project team leader asked us to work with the newly minted Local Area Councils. The immediate challenge for the Local Area Councils was to build the credibility of the newly elected officials, and to create trust among community members. Together with the World Bank team, we decided on a three-pronged strategy:
Commit to providing a small block grant to each Council ($30,000), even before disbursement procedures were set up and Bank accounts established.
Help each Council focus on one campaign promise, and use the Rapid Results Approach to mobilize the community to deliver on this in 100 days.
Recruit and train staff in the decentralization unit as Rapid Results coaches to provide on-going implementation support to the Local Area Councils.
All 19 Local Councils participated in the program. Here are some of the results of the initial wave of 100-day projects that they launched:
Travel time between Sewafe and Kono District was reduced from 1 hour to 15 minutes and transportation costs were reduced from Le 5,000 ($1.75) to Le 2,000 ($0.70).
High-yield quick-harvest Inner Valley Swamp Rice seeds increased yields by 4,000 bushels within 90 days in Pujehun District. The actual goal was to increase the availability of high yield rice seeds from 20% to 60% of the farming population in the District.
The total volume of garbage in two lorry parks and two markets in Kenema Township was reduced by 90% within 95 days.
The local coaches continued to provide support to Local Area Councils for several years after this initial round of RRI 100 Day Challenges. After two rounds of successful 100-day Challenges implemented by the Local Area Councils, the champions of decentralization in Central Government had the ammunition they needed to push the agenda of devolving authority and resources from key service delivery ministries to the Local Area Councils. The devolution from the Central Ministry of Health to District Health Offices was completed as a wave of 60-day RRI Challenges in each District.
We introduced the Rapid Results Approach to the Ministry of Local Government in Sierra Leone. The work was documented in a World Bank "Findings Note" in 2006.
Additional Resources
Interview with Yongmei Zhou, Senior Economist, AFTPR & IRCBP, 2004
Interview with Daniel Murphy, Consultant, AFTS4
Supporting Governance Transformation in Sierra Leone Through Devolution and Strengthening Local Governance, Case Study (RRI)
For more information, please email email@example.com.


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Women who are planning to have a baby, are pregnant, or just had one will totally love SmartMomma. It's the smart way to go shopping for all of your needs. What's more, it has the information about the concerns about being a mom that you may have been looking for.
Being a mother isn't easy. From the time the pregnancy is confirmed, and even before that, the preparations have to be done. The primary consideration of many is what how to be able to budget their money. Nice baby things are rather expensive and there is a whole load of things that are needed.
SmartMomma is a practical site. There are items such as playpens that can last for years with different sizes to choose from. It's very difficult to decide what you will buy but with SmartMomma and the discounts that you get, you may be able to buy better and more things than from other sites.
That's because SmartMomma is more than just a store. Members get bigger discounts, financing on baby furniture, and even get to sign up for classes.
Still, you don't have to become a member to avail of the baby things are on Sale to everyone like 20 to 50 percent off a new crib or a furniture package is a tremendous amount of savings - and this kind of bargains you can find at SmartMomma.
SmartMomma has a Baby Registry. The baby products are delightfully cute. If there is going to be a Baby Shower or a Welcome Home Baby Party in the near future, you have found a great site for baby gifts. A tower of diapers, adorable baby clothes, bottles and feeding equipment, the site where mothers gather to go online shopping at is SmartMomma.
SmartMomma has classes, too, like Yoga, Pre-natal, Infant CPR, and Postpartum. If you have been looking for an excellent learning environment, you have the support of SmartMomma.
Nowadays, most of us have to be practical. Shopping at sites like SmartMomma allow you to pamper yourself and your baby more. There are more wonderful things at this online store for you to see. Look around and learn what more saving you can get when and if you decide to become a SmartMomma member.


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Decisions made for Venice cruise ships, channel routes and offshore platform.
A meeting was held on 7 November 2017 in Rome of the 'Comitatone' committee charged with managing Venice and its lagoon. This committee includes representatives of the national government and local administrators, including the Mayor of Venice. After years of debate about different scenarios for cruise ships navigating the Venetian Lagoon, it was decided … Continue reading
Battle over Venice cruise ship exhibition indicative of wider battle for the oceans
Venice's Maritime Port An exhibition depicting cruise ships sailing through the Venetian lagoon will open in Venice on 22 October 2015 after it was previously blocked by the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro. The exhibition of photographs by Gianni Berengo Gardin was due to open on the weekend of 19 September 2015 in the prestigious … Continue reading
Venice's MoSE dam project facing legitimate and illegitimate criticisms
Venice's mobile dam project has been mired in controversy over the last 30 years with environmentalists usually opposing it while many Venetians hope the dams will significantly reduce high flooding in Venice and islands throughout the lagoon. This week the project faced new criticisms as it approaches completion, estimated for 2017. Firstly, it was claimed … Continue reading
Definitive layout presented for offshore platform for Venice
Plans to develop Venice's port with an offshore platform and changes to onshore facilities are progressing. It was reported on 11 November 2014 that the Dutch company Royal Haskoning DHV presented its definitive layout of the platform to Venice's Port Authority: Terminal offshore, consegnato layout definitivo The cost of the project has been reduced and … Continue reading
Mayor of Venice reveals possible new solution to cruise ship 'problem'
Giorgio Orsoni, Venice's Mayor, has revealed that he has commissioned a study to investigate establishing a new maritime port for cruise ships at Marghera, which is on the mainland side of the Venetian lagoon. This proposal was outlined during a meeting on 2 October 2012 between the Mayor and representatives of the "No Big Ships" … Continue reading
New investment for innovative offshore platform to develop Venice's port
Plans to develop Venice's port with an offshore platform and changes to onshore facilities are progressing. In January 2013, €2.45BN was committed to this project. This was announced in an article in the Venetian newspaper La Nuova Venezia, which can be read using this link: Tre_miliardi The plan is to construct a four kilometre-shipping terminal … Continue reading
New Venice terminal for cruise ships and campaign against them
A new terminal called 'Isonzo 2' was opened at the Maritime Station in Venice on 13 July. This terminal will provide more space for larger cruise ships to dock, as illustrated by the Venice Port Authority here: Inauguration of the new Cruise Terminal Isonzo 2 However, the inauguration of the new terminal was met with … Continue reading


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When planning a vacation to Estonia, Maardu can be a good choice to include in your travel itinerary. Rootsi-Kallavere Kuelamuuseum is one of the tourist attractions that one can cover during their tour to Estonia. Travel planning to this city also includes a visit to some famous places near to Maardu. Book from approximate 3 hotels in Maardu and read traveller reviews of tourist attractions & hotels before planning a holiday. Maardu trip planner that helps travelers select the perfect places to visit, sights to cover, things to do and hotels when visiting the city. Maardu travel planning made easy with JustOrbit.
Maardu is famous for & as:Museums
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British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has made her long awaited speech about the United Kingdom's plans for exiting the European Union following the referendum to leave last June.
In it, she revealed a final deal on Britain's exit from the EU will be put to a vote of both Houses of Parliament, and Ireland will have a common travel area between UK and Irish republic, 'which will protect the security of UK'.
She also confirmed she wants to guarantee the rights of EU nationals in Britain, and Britons living in Europe, as soon as possible.
On the subject of trade, she revealed Britain will leave the single market, but the Government will seek 'the greatest possible access with a fully-reciprocal free trade deal'. While she indicated that Britain could pay if necessary, the country would stop making the huge contributions it makes now.
Mrs May also said she wants to see 'a phased process of implementation of new arrangements outside the EU' from 2019 but also warned she would prefer 'no deal' to a 'bad deal', telling EU leaders punishing Britain would be "an act of calamitous self-harm"
The UK High Commissioner to Kenya, Nic Hailey, picked up on Mrs May's point about it being time for Britain to "get out into the world and rediscover its role as a great, global, trading nation", Tweeting: "Ambitious, open trade deals as we leave EU will be good for Kenya & UK investors here & help our trade expand."
Ambitious, open trade deals as we leave EU will be good for Kenya & UK investors here & help our trade expand @UKinKenya #BrexitSpeech https://t.co/l7AO418kaK
— Nic Hailey (@HCNicHailey) January 17, 2017
Leave campaigner and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also used Twitter to post his reaction to the Prime Minister's speech.
Hi folks, here's my reaction to the Prime Minister's fantastic speech on Brexit pic.twitter.com/BzYrizwISp
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 17, 2017
Mrs May's 12 point Brexit plan at a glance:
- Provide certainty about the process of leaving the EU
- Control of our own laws
- Strengthen the Union between the four nations of the United Kingdom
- Maintain the Common Travel Area with Ireland
- Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe
- Rights for EU nationals in Britain and British nationals in the EU
- Protect workers' rights
- Free trade with European markets through a free trade agreement
- New trade agreements with other countries
- The best place for science and innovation
- Co-operation in the fight against crime and terrorism
- A smooth, orderly Brexit
Negotiations are set to begin after notice under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is served by the end of March.


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New Kia Optima in global debut at the New York International Auto Show
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
- Refined exterior styling and premium-quality interior
- Package of ride and handling improvements
- European introduction in the autumn
Five years ago Kia Motors America revealed the all-new Optima at the New York International Auto Show and introduced a game-changing midsize saloon that captured the essence of the brand's design-led transformation.
History has been repeated at the US show with the all-new 2016 Optima, a symbol of the Kia brand's maturity through continuous refinement and obsessive attention to detail, making its global debut. The Optima has been KMA's top-selling vehicle for three consecutive years, and the all-new model is poised to continue that success.
Conceived under the watchful eye of Kia's president and chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, with modern and instantly recognizable design cues, the Optima maintains its athletic identity but rides on a chassis that is longer, wider and stiffer for improved ride and handling and a more spacious cabin.
Available in the USA with three engine choices, including a new 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), the Optima is more confident than ever on the road. The all-new Optima's roomier, more luxurious cabin features an impressive level of craftsmanship that will come standard across five US trim levels - LX, LX Turbo, EX, SX Turbo and SXL - when sales begin in the fourth quarter of 2015.
As with its predecessor, the all-new Optima will be built at Kia's plant in West Point, Georgia. Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle's launch date.
"The Optima changed the way people felt about the Kia brand, and KMA owes much of its growth and success to its head-turning design and sporty performance. It was - and still is to this day - a fresh alternative in the midsize sedan segment, and it amplified a five-year design-led transformation that propelled Kia to record-setting sales year-on-year," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, sales and marketing, KMA.
"The all-new Optima retains the signature personality of its predecessor, but we've literally improved everything, providing more space, better ride and handling, more technology and greater refinement," he added.
Instantly Recognizable European Design
Because the previous generation Optima was such a success story for the brand, Kia's designers had to strike a delicate balance, retaining the identity of the vehicle while, at the same time, making a confident move forward to keep the car modern and fresh. Sweeping contemporary surfaces and modern architecture inspired the design of the all-new Optima, revealing a sophisticated and dynamic saloon that is instantly recognizable yet has more road presence than ever.
The all-new Optima is boldly designed to be functional and sporty with exterior dimensions that are marginally longer, taller and wider. The wheelbase has been extended to 110.4 inches (increased 0.4 inches), and the vehicle has been widened to 73.2 inches (increased 1.0 inch). Both changes enable a roomier and more comfortable cabin with more head room, shoulder room and rear seat leg room. The increased dimensions also allow for more luggage capacity in the boot.
The aggressive front treatment pulls the sheet metal taut over the wheel arches, and the swept-back headlights reach deeply into the bumper.
The all-new Optima introduces Kia's first application of bi-functional HID headlights - with available Dynamic Bending Lamps and High Beam Assist - that illuminate the road surface around corners.
The greenhouse maintains the raked A-pillar and sweeping C-pillar that lend the Optima its sport-saloon appearance. The rear vent windows kick up smartly just ahead of the carved rear bumper. As with its predecessor, the all-new Optima incorporates a raised boot lid.
The 2016 Optima rides on alloy wheels ranging from 16 to 18 inches, with three new unique 18-inch wheel designs, depending on trim level.
Exquisite Interior Craftsmanship
Optima's interior is larger and more comfortable with an innovative and functional cabin that is well-appointed with up-market touches. Drawing inspiration from Kia's broad global model range, the Optima utilizes more soft-touch materials throughout the passenger compartment.
The interior is obsessively crafted with an impressive attention to detail including real stitching along the dash and doors, complimented by tasteful metallic accents, varying by trim level. The driver-oriented cabin has been simplified with a cleaner, more unified design than the previous model, with a stronger horizontal plane and a wider centre console to help create a greater sense of space. By grouping and reducing the number of functional keys and buttons, Kia's already-superior ergonomics are markedly improved.
The interior design team also paid particular attention to seat comfort. A stiffer seat frame reduces vibration and soft foam in the headrest, upper back and thigh-support areas allows occupants to nestle into seats with deeper side bolsters made with denser, more supportive foam. For extra convenience, heated and ventilated front seats are available in the USA with power adjustable driver and front passenger seats. Depending on trim level, the seats are covered in cloth, leather or luxurious Nappa leather and new interior colours.
Convenience and Technology
Kia USA's cutting-edge connectivity system, UVO , comes standard with four additional eServices not previously available on Optima: Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score . Additionally, Optima is Kia's pilot vehicle for the introduction of AndroidTM Auto and Apple® CarPlay which allow drivers to access a suite of core functions from their smartphones.
While the standard six-speaker audio system will satisfy all but the most demanding enthusiasts, true audiophiles will gravitate to the available Infinity® Premium Audio System , which includes 14 speakers, Clari-FiTM technology and an upgraded 630-watt digital amplifier. Clari-Fi is a patented music restoration technology that rebuilds audio signals that are lost in the digital compression process. This technology breathes new life into your favourite music, restoring a high-fidelity listening experience to any compressed digital source. Optima's premium Infinity audio system also comes equipped with next-generation QuantumLogicTM7 Surround technology, which extracts signals from the original recording and redistributes them into an authentic, multidimensional soundstage for playback that is clear, refined and detailed. Kia Motors America was one of the first automakers to incorporate Clari-Fi technology into their audio systems with the debut of the 2016 Sorento, and Optima is the first-ever Kia saloon to feature QuantumLogic Surround technology.
The all-new Optima takes convenience to the next level with a long list of available technologies across the various trim levels. Available on every Optima is a rear-camera display, while other US trim levels offer the 360-degree Around View Monitor. Available driver-aid technology, including Advanced Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) - which, under appropriate conditions, will bring the vehicle to a complete stop to potentially avoid a collision or reduce damage - makes the task of driving easier and more convenient.
Also available for the first time on any Kia vehicle are Bi-function HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Lamps (DBL) and intuitive High Beam Assist (HBA), which recognizes oncoming traffic and automatically switches the lights to low beam until the opposing vehicle has passed.
Smart Performance and Safety
The 2016 Optima features a uniquely engineered body that combines various high-tensile strength steel alloys and sits on a chassis that is stiffer and more durable thanks to the increased use of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS).
With more than 50 percent of the body constructed from AHSS, the all-new Optima benefits from a 150-percent increase in the use of this material over the previous car. The greater use of structural adhesive - more than 450 percent over the previous generation - improves NVH and contributes to structural rigidity. Engineers also added more hot stamped components to the all-new Optima, a 350-percent increase over the 2015 model. This body structure helps provide crash protection, better driving dynamics, and is the foundation for a quieter ride.
Additional innovations were implemented to reduce NVH, lighten the vehicle and enhance aerodynamics. The 2016 Optima is the first Kia to feature a panoramic sunroof support structure made with carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic, which helps reduce weight and lower the vehicle's centre of gravity. A larger full floor under cover helps reduce wind noise and aid fuel efficiency. Increased dash insulation, added windshield side moulding and the increased use of structural adhesive ensure a quiet ride with reduced road and wind noise. Engine mounts, body panels and wheels all are stiffer on the all-new Optima, reducing vibrations, engine noise and road noise. Larger cross-member bushings are utilized to help isolate road and engine noise, as well as reducing engine vibration through the floor and steering wheel.
Improving ride and handling was a top priority for engineers. Overall, the chassis is lighter and stiffer, resulting in improved steering response, high-speed stability and handling. Moving the suspension location points of the front and rear sub-frames outward optimizes suspension geometry for a smoother ride over uneven pavement.
Where the previous Optima utilised dual bushing mounts, increased lateral stiffness was achieved with a four-bushing mount system for both sub-frames. The increased stiffness pays dividends in improved steering response and tractability through corners. More robust wheel bearings up front and the addition of larger dual lower control arms at the rear also help refine the all-new Optima's ride and handling characteristics. Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) improves steering response with a higher gear ratio.
The all-new Optima is available in the USA with three engine choices, striking a performance balance between sportiness and fuel efficiency. Two powerplants carry over from the previous generation, the 2.4-litre GDI four-cylinder and the 2.0-litre GDI turbo engine. Tthe 2.4-litre is estimated to produce 185 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 178 lb/ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 2.0-litre turbo is expected to generate approximately 247 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 260 lb/ft of torque at 1,350 rpm. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic shifting while some variants add paddle shifters. Both engines have been retuned for fuel economy and better performance and drivability with maximum torque now available at a lower RPM.
All new for the 2016 model is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine delivering an estimated 178 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a stout 195 lb/ft of torque at just 1,500 rpm. The new engine is mate to a seven-speed DCT, a first for the Kia brand. The transmission optimises the engine's responsiveness for a sporty feel that doesn't sacrifice fuel economy.
Exact specification details, trim levels, pricing and launch dates for European markets will be communicated in due course.
For further information on Kia please visit www.kiapressoffice.com or contact:
Stephen Kitson
email@example.com - 01932 832075 - 07795 011936
Daniel Sayles
Press Relations Manager
email@example.com - 01932 832073 - 07747 149149
Sara Robinson
firstname.lastname@example.com - 01932 832072 - 07919 482332
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email@example.com - 01932 832071 - 07557 262252
Rebecca Gibson
firstname.lastname@example.com - 01932 832079 - 07795 011475
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One - 2014
One is a state of consciousness where the body knows everything at one. All that we know and are conscious how little we do know, the many contradictions there are in what we know. It is a state in which you feel all at one.
Choreographer Marta Reig Torres keeps working with the theme " Invisible power". In this short solo she wants to experience the theme through her own body.
Full of poetical power she makes visible that what does not want to be seen and tangible what seems to be unfathomable.
One is the second part of a trilogy following The Body Minds that premiered in the festival Cadance 2013. One is being made in Cloud at Danslab and in Korzo theatre in The Hague.
Choreography and dance: Marta Reig Torres
Artistic advisers: Angelina Deck & Johnny Schoofs
Composer: Ivo Bol
Light designer: Ellen Knops
Thanks to: Conny Janssen, Maria Elshout, Judith van der Made, Yanaika Holle and Robert Benschop


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Do you want to know how a cold pressed juice fast can help you lose weight permanently?
I watched a You Tube video on someone who claimed to be doing a 5 day juice cleanse to test out what it would feel like and review it on her You Tube channel. I was left feeling totally frustrated because the You Tuber didn't even make it through one day of the cleanse, then she proceeded to bag the shit out of juice cleansing as a "Fad" diet that is dangerous and just should not be done. The worst thing about this is that anyone with questions about the validity of juice fasting to lose weight is being misdirected and misinformed by someone who is totally clueless.
A Fad Diet is a quick weight loss promise that is unbalanced and unhealthy and is generally tried once then loses popularity because it is not sustainable. This does not describe a juice cleanse. Juice cleansing and fasting in general has been used for thousands of years by ancient cultures and religions for ridding the body of toxins and promoting health and wellbeing.
Then there are the arguments that detoxing is not a scientifically proven way to lose weight and improve health. This is just not true. The 2016 Nobel Prize winner, Yoshinori Ohsumi proved scientifically that fasting is good for health and is a mechanism for the body to clean itself. Another scientific study discovered that fasting for as little as 3 days can regenerate the body's entire immune system by promoting stem cell production to produce white blood cells. Prolonged fasting can reduce the level of aging and cancer causing enzymes and hormones. That sounds pretty healthy to me.
So what about the argument that fasting causes the body to go into "starvation mode" holding onto fat and eating into, muscle to survive? Again, this is just not true. Body builders use fasting to reduce body fat and increase human growth hormone production for building muscle. A research report into fasting for weight loss has shown that fasting causes the body to activate fat burning enzymes, which not only increase the burning of fat cells but also does so at a greater rate than when not fasting.
So how can juice fasting help you lose weight permanently?
There are many different types of fasts you can do; it is easy to incorporate a fasting plan to suit your life. For example –
Intermittent Fasting –
This method works by not eating solid food for about 16 hours per day. (You can include sleep time into the total hours of not eating) For me personally, I intermittent fast on weekdays and eat and drink whatever on weekends. To do the intermittent fast, I follow a slightly 'Keto Diet' plan by increasing my good fats and proteins and reducing carbs. Below is an outline of a typical day –
6am wake – drink 30ml Lemon juice with cayenne pepper and celtic sea salt (Rocket) plus 10ml of mineral silica in a 500ml glass of purified tepid water. Followed by another 500ml of plain water. This is detoxifying for the liver, is loaded with vitamins and minerals and kick starts your metabolism.
6.30ish am – Cold brew coffee, almond milk and 1 tablespoon of Organic coconut oil, heated in a coffee frother. This coffee is delicious! Most keto coffee recipes out there add grass fed butter too and when I started this I was adding the butter but found that it didn't sit well in my stomach so stopped using it.
7am to 12pm – drink another liter or so of purified or mineral water.
2pm to 8pm – eat as normal or eat low carb foods and lots of green veggies. A veggie juice like Veg Out in the afternoon is great for boosting your overall intake of nutrients. If you are a meat eater, a small portion of grass fed, organic meat, wild caught salmon or organic hormone free chicken is a good source of protein. You can also increase your protein intake by drinking nut milks like our new Matcha Almond Milk.
Full 24hr Juice Fasting –
You can choose anything from 1 day to 40 days. It's up to you how long you want to fast for. I do recommend a coaching call if you are new to fasting to get quick and easy advice on the best type and length of cleanse to suit your individual needs. Plus, the cost of the coaching call is deducted from any cleanse pack you purchase after the call.
A full fast involves waking up and having a juice every 1 ½ to 2 hours from morning until a couple of hours before bed along with about 2 to 3 Liters of water. A full fast flushes your system and allows your liver to work on detoxing rather than on digesting. If you purchase a juice cleanse pack from Juzcit, it comes with full instructions so you can get the best out of your juice cleanse.
If you do plan to do an extended juice fast of 7 days or more or you have pre-existing medical conditions and are taking medications, seek medical advice from a holistic doctor before starting out.
Water Fasting –
Like it sounds, water fasting involves just drinking water for 24 hours or more. Again, people choose the length of time depending on their particular health goals. I would not recommend jumping straight into water fasting if you are new to fasting and seek advice.
Like anything in life, balance is the key. Any of these fasting methods will result in weight loss and an improved level of health. Incorporating them into your life on a regular basis will support long term, permanent weight loss and will support maintaining a healthy weight and healthy body.
If you have any questions about the different types of fasts, please leave comments below.
If you are interested in doing a fast, join our closed Facebook group to be supported on your journey.


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Hey, I threw at you.
And that was crazy.
But now we're teammates.
So call me maybe.
I'm thinking about it.
Hey, I threw at you.
And that was crazy.
But now we're teammates.
So call me maybe.
I'm thinking about it.
Kevin always reminded of Scott Brosius (my most hated mfy), but I would push the feeling down into my gut and bury it - not going to fight the thoughts whilst he's wearing that uniform.
Also? Only referring to him as Kevin.
I think Youk and Joba will be fine. Until Youk fills Joba's jock with poison ivy concentrate and powdered drano.
just thinking about if the yankees make youk shave his beard.....and Ever wonder what Youk would look like if his face was on one of those toys that you moved the metal shavings around with a magnet and we just moved his beard to his bald head?
No? Call me crazy
Chamberlain's a pimp.
Didn't Joba's leg fall off or something? I could only hope.
I keep forgettong Joba still exists, let alone still plays baseball. Maybe Youk keeps forgetting, too?
I kinda hope Youk socks Joba in the chops once they meet.
"Win one for the good guys"? Right.


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VIS_PUTCMAP ioctl command
establishes the console color map. The terminal emulator calls this function
to set up the color map of the kernel. The vis_cmap structure
is shown in the following code. This structure only applies to 8-bit color
indexed mode.
struct vis_cmap { int index; /* Index into colormap to start updating */ int count; /* Number of entries to update */ unsigned char *red; /* List of red values */ unsigned char *green; /* List of green values */ unsigned char *blue; /* List of blue values */ };
VIS_PUTCMAP ioctl command
is similar to the
FBIOPUTCMAP command.
VIS_PUTCMAP command is specific
to the frame buffer terminal-emulator compatible console code.


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BRUSSELS (Reuters Life!) - Two Belgian Antarctic explorers trying to set a world record for the longest polar expedition without outside support or motorized aid will try to plot a new route after heavy storms made their initial course impassable.
Adventurers Dixie Dansercoer and Sam Deltour had aimed to take advantage of the continent's wind patterns to cover a record 6,000 km (3,728 miles) in 100 days, using kites to help sail their sleds across the ice and snow.
After 10 days on Queen Maud Land the pair encountered impassable sastrugi — ice and snow formations made by strong wind — and overpowering headwinds, which made it impossible for them to continue along their chosen route.
"We spent 10 days in a labyrinth of sastrugi, which are the result of three unprecedented winter storms. We've only managed to proceed 4 km a day (2-1/2 miles a day)," Dansercoer told Reuters by satellite phone from Antarctica.
"Queen Maud Land has become an unsurmountable area for polar travelers such as ourselves."
In order to break the five-year-old record set by Norwegian Rune Gjeldnes, the pair would have to travel an average of 60 km a day (37 miles a day).
A Russian airplane will aim to pick up the pair from the ice on Wednesday to take them back to the NOVO research station, from where they will plan a new route.
"We are waiting to hear from the pilots, but the weather is pretty bad so we're waiting impatiently," Dansercoer said.
"Over the last 10 days temperatures have been between -30 and -40 degrees Celsius (-22 to -40 Fahrenheit), and we faced constant headwinds. That's asking for trouble and we've seen first symptoms of freezing around our noses and cheeks and we have to be very careful."
Project manager Stefan Maes said there were plans for a new drop-off point further to the south, from where the two hoped to restart their mission.
"The aim is to drop them off somewhere where they can use their kites, which wasn't the case over the past days," Maes said.
Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; editing by Rex Merrifield and Paul Casciato


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I was so flattered when my friends, India & John, approached me to design all of the assets for their astronomically themed wedding.
To create a full branding system and print design system from 3,000 miles apart (they were in Boston, I was in Portland). I had to inform the client and project lead about production terms and process in order to make the assets come out as we intended. Without any test prints or print samples for hundreds of copies of each deliverable, this was a bit challenging.
Utilizing the stars and constellations, we created all of the assets to reflect the sky converging with their affection.
I hand-painted all of the backgrounds of the night sky using various mixed medias interlaced with digital paintings and edits. The canvas was created much larger than any assets shows in order to make sure no two backgrounds repeated. All of the headers were a hand-written calligraphic script and style created specifically for this wedding. Utilizing a beautiful array of deep teals, blues, and purples, the extending printed assets such as the envelopes and crinkle paper enhanced the vibrantly painted designs. To balance the entire suite, very light complementary components were used such as a white washed wood and white table cloths. This also accented the bright light of the stars in the sky, as well as the couple's eyes for one another.


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Boxer Mix Dogs And Your Ownership Options
In fact, Boxer mixes are the result of a carefully selected breeding process that actively looks to breed Boxers with certain breeds to create a more desirable dog. This may sound a little odd but it is based around the idea of breeding undesirable characteristics and genetic traits out of the dogs in question. Given the fact that the Boxer has suffered the development of several illnesses, ailments and diseases as a result of in and over breeding throughout the years, breeding Boxer mix dogs is now an accepted route for breeders to take. There are several types out there today, some of which are mentioned below.
The first of the Boxer mixes is the Bull Boxer, or the Bulloxer for short. This is effectively the result of the union between the Bulldog and the Boxer, although the name can also refer to breeding with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. It is actually a recognized breed because the ACHC, or the American Canine Hybrid Club, accepts it. However, this breeding does have many critics because the two breeds most definitely have a lot of undesirable genetic traits between them, thus making it impossible for all of them to be bred out.
Free Boxer Dog Ebook! Click Here to find out more!
The Chow Chow Boxer is another of the Boxer mixes out there today. It is obviously a cross between a Chow Chow and a Boxer. These are not as common as other types of Boxer mix dogs as a result of the unique appearance of the breed. The body is long, the head is large and the coloring of the breed can be varying. They are significantly lighter than Boxers though for the most part. Another smaller Boxer mix is the Bogle, or the Boxer Beagle cross.
The two most popular Boxer mix dogs available through breeders today though are crosses with the Golden Retriever and the Labrador. The Golden Boxer and the Boxador are both beautiful dogs and neither have very many negative genetic traits as a rule. They are the most successful crosses, as well as the most popular amongst owners. Neither is recognized as a breed in its own right just yet but the popularity of the two may just result in them both being recognized in the near future! They are certainly leading the way in terms of the Boxer mix breeds and you will no doubt see more of them in the future.
Return from Boxer Mix Dogs page to Types of Boxer Dogs page.
Got a Question About Boxer Dogs? Just Ask!
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Welcome Home! MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION!!! This 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath colonial with a 1 car garage, close to schools, shopping and commuter routes in Severn MD is ready for you! Featuring fresh paint and new flooring throughout all you have to do is move in. Entertaining is easy with a nice sized Deck, fenced rear yard, and large Family Room. The HVAC and hot water heater are 5 years old. Upstairs there are 3 roomy bedrooms, including a large master bedroom with hardwood floors, full bath with a large soaking tub and separate shower, and a walk-in closet. The main level features an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances a laundry/mud room with access to the garage, and convenient half bathroom. The lower level is fully finished with a family room, an office and a full bath. Perfect starter home. Schedule an appointment today!
* Fee varies for homes over $300K. Call for details. 6% used for comparison purposes only. Commissions may be negotiable and are not established by law. Each Office Independently Owned & Operated. The information herein is deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed. All information to be verified.


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6,000 Sex Trafficking Victims Rescued by Ashton Kutcher All Had One Thing in Common…
When you hear the name 'Ashton Kutcher' you probably think of television programs like "That 70's Show," or his latest series "The Ranch." What you probably don't know is that Kutcher and his ex-wife, actress Demi Moore, started an organization back in 2008 with the goal of fighting human trafficking.
He visited with Kathie Lee on "The Today Show" back in October to discuss his new television series set in rural Colorado, but it was clear that what he wanted to talk most about was his organization's latest efforts in countering sex trafficking and child pornography.
Kutcher explains that they've found a common trend among those being trafficked: they're all targeted on the Internet. So, that's what Moore and Kutcher's organization, known as Thorn, has been focusing on:
"We're building digital tools to fight human trafficking. Basically, the purchase and commerce for human trafficking is happening online, just like everything else now, and so we're building digital tools to fight back against it."
Thorn's mission statement says that its goal is "to drive tech innovation in the fight against trafficking." They further elaborate on how they do this on their website:
"We partner across the tech industry, government and NGOs and leverage technology to combat predatory behavior, rescue victims, and protect vulnerable children. The site also lists 20 members of what it calls The Thorn Technology Task Force, comprised of technology companies that lend their knowledge, time and resources to the work that we do. Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Adobe are listed among the names who are helping Thorn's cause."
And so far, Thorn has seen quite a bit of success, as Kutcher illustrates:
"We've built a tool to help law enforcement prioritize their caseload and recover victims and find traffickers. And we've found and identified and recovered over 6,000 trafficking victims this year. And we've found, identified, and recovered 2,000 traffickers."
But, Kutcher said that he and his organization aren't going to stop at eliminating human sex trafficking, their goal is much more grand in scope.
"Our next battle, my next commitment…I'm going to make a pledge that I'm going to eliminate child pornography from the internet."
Thorn has taken to the Internet because of how prominent it has become in the child pornography realm. Thorn uses their Internet savvy tech to locate victims and their captors, because while so many people make off-handed jokes about white vans parked on the corner of streets handing out candy to kids, that isn't really how sex traffickers operate--they work online.
The organization has gathered a slew of data that suggests that even very basic buy and sell websites, like Craigslist, are used everyday to facilitate human sex trafficking. They also found that in 2015, about 75% of child sex trafficking survivors who were surveyed said that they were sold in an online marketplace at one point or another.
One survivor, named Asia, told Thorn during a survey:
"People are posted and sold online multiple times a day. As far as the ad that was posted up [for me], there was a girl who eerily looked like me…just [like] you can go find a car, there was a picture, and a description, and a price."
At the moment, the anti-trafficking group Polaris reports that about 4.5 million people are currently trapped in the sex trafficking industry as a form of modern-day sex slavery. One Urban Institute study found that the underground sex industry was worth close to $290 million in the Atlanta, Georgia area by itself, a very eye-opening number indeed.
This article was republished from expandedconsciousness.com.
You can find the original post here.


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We came together to make a short film in response to the incomprehensibly horrifying way 2015 has started. It expanded into something of a statement of anger, frustration, disappointment, and grief. Maybe it's recognizable, maybe it's silly, maybe it's offensive. But overall, we hope this short film will add to a conversation that we need to keep having.
UPDATE: Even though we made this over 10 months ago, this week's events have proven our feelings to still be relevant - unfortunately. Let us not stop caring. - the filmmakers
starring Wendell Jaspers
with Barry van der Zeeuw & Suzi Diemel
directed by Jordi Wijnalda
written by Wander Theunis & Jordi Wijnalda
cinematography & editing by Freek Zonderland
sound recording, mixing & design by Brandon Grötzinger
music by Wander Theunis
grip Joost Kelderman
gaffer Ivar Teunissen
focus puller Marouane Issaoui
production Freek Films
gear Invite-AV
thanks to Annemarie de Vreede, Herman Zonderland, Jeroen Scholten van Aschat, Frank Diemel, Alex Pitstra, Rosan Breman,
and Merel, Judith, Luca, Ymke & Jimmy


text: Do you like TDM? We hope you pass! Good luck :) it's tdm ya know just read the quiz lolol moo12345678910 published on November 28, 20159 responses 1 5.0★ / 5 Questions in vertical order What is dan's 2 real life dog's names Elie and Darcie Grim Grim and Darcie Does tdm like trayoruos Select the two correct answers YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Yes No NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! does tdm like my little pony Select the two correct answers NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes secrately would dan marry a cow no yes no way! CRIAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No? no ok


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Clicking with Your Dog: Step-by-Step in pictures
Price: $22.00
How to Be the Leader of the Pack and Have Your Dog Love You For It by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.
Price: $6.00
Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage and Enjoy Your Multi-Dog Household
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Cautious Canine
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Feisty Fido: Help for the Leash Aggresive Dog
Price: $10.00
Diving into Water Training, by Cynthia McCullough
Price: $35.00
I'll be home soon! by Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
Price: $8.00
How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With, 4th Edition
Price: $13.00
Puppy Socialization
Price: $20.00
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> Recent Entries
> Archive
> Friends
> Profile
> Madd's World
Dec 21st, 2005
[note to humans]
To all my friends who go strickly by checking out your friend list, and wondering what happened to my entries of late, due to technical problems, I fell behind. I have posted the entries, backdated, thus they will not show up in your list. So they are there now, for anyone who wishes to keep to date, enjoy the 4+ hours of writing :D
[[Train your Brain]]


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Seep City — San Francisco Water Explorations Book & Map
The water in San Francisco is a window into the city's past—its "natural state" before the streets, neighborhoods and the built landscape we see today were created. I've been researching San Francisco water since the mid 1980s. The result, after years of requests for it, is a map that makes available what I've uncovered.
Check out an 8-foot tall print of the map, already installed on a sidewalk kiosk at 860 Divisadero St., SF!
It's a real challenge to keep a simple, clear and beautiful aesthetic with a complex, data-filled map. To accomplish this, I plan to create—with your support—a companion publication that will present my sources, research adventures and other enjoyable details.
The Seep City Water Log book will be ready this summer, and the map is ready now. It just needs printing. With your help, I can print the map, produce the book and hire the incredible Emily Underwood to adorn its pages with her skillful illustrations.
Much of the book is ready and our brainy design team is standing by. Some truly awesome people have already pitched in to help with the map (thanks especially to Christopher Richard and Abe Bingham) and to make the Divisadero Street kiosk you'll see in the video. SF Landmark Sign Company created (at no cost) a graffiti-protected giant print of the map and its explanatory side panel. Through this public education display, generously hosted at Green Earth, people wandering unsuspectingly down the street can be immersed in an exploration of the hidden water that flows and seeps all around us.
With your help, this book can facilitate a deeper understanding, at a time when knowing water is essential for public policy and the future of our society.
The map includes:
- Water forms based on mid-19th century US Coast Surveys.
- More historic water, based on other reliable sources, identified accordingly in the book.
- Hidden springs and creeks flowing today, despite drought.
- The city's original shoreline and bay fill.
- Innovations in portraying ground water movement through specific flood-prone dune topography.
- Intuitive visual differentiation between historic and current-day water.
- Other water features and land forms existing today.
The book will include:
- Personal notes from my water research.
- An overview of SF hydrology.
- Detailed location information and way-finding tools for water features, both historic and existing.
- Articles describing new discoveries about local water history.
- Points of topographic & hydrological interest.
- Water exploration walks you can try with your friends and family.
- Water terminology defined.
- Illustrations, supplemental maps, diagrams and charts.
Risks and challenges
The map presents no major challenges on its own: The map's ready to print with a quality high-resolution off-set press we've lined up for the 24" poster and a careful custom print shop to individually produce each 48" print.
The "Water Log" book will involve taking materials already collected and compiling it all into a beautiful volume for self-publishing and on-demand printing. This challenge will be simplified by the involvement of experienced project people.
Joel is already familiar with the publishing and on-demand printing process. Emily is an experienced illustrator who has created park displays and other informational material on natural history. Our design team includes brainpower and experience. Our distribution will be accomplished by our many wonderful Thinkwalks volunteers.
All this expertise is coming to the project at pro bono and discounted rates from people who love the public educational aspects of the work.Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Funding period
- (28 days)


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Unhealthy air days
Air and water quality
What does this measure?
The percentage of days for which air quality was monitored and found to be unhealthy, either for sensitive groups, such as people with asthma, or the population as a whole. The Air Quality Index (AQI) summarizes levels of ground-level ozone, particulate matter (soot and other particles), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide into one measure.
Why is this important?
Exposure to these pollutants can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Continued exposure can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.
How is our region performing?
In 2015, there were zero measured unhealthy air days in the region, continuing on the trend of zero measured unhealthy air days set in 2014. The region decreased overall from 6.4% days in 2006 and has been on a steady decline since 2009. In 2012, the last year in which multiple counties had unhealthy air days, Knox had the highest proportion of unhealthy air days (2.6%), followed by Jefferson (2.0%).
Rates among the counties were quite varied from 2006 to 2008, with the lowest rates of unhealthy air days occurring in Union and Roane (between 0% and 1%), while Blount had the highest rates (between 20.5% and 24.9%). Blount County has shown the largest decrease in unhealthy days since 2006 (down 20.5 percentage points). Most unhealthy days were unhealthy for sensitive groups, not for the population as a whole.
Notes about the data
Data were not available for the state or for some counties (Loudon, Monroe, and Roane) because they do not have air quality monitoring stations. Not every county with a station monitors air quality every day. The regional rate is the percentage of all measurements taken in the region.


text: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure video game developed by Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis and Development division for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It was released in Japan on November 21, 1998; in North America on November 23, 1998; and in Europe on December 11, 1998. Originally developed for the 64DD peripheral, the game was instead released on a 256 megabit cartridge, which was the largest-capacity cartridge Nintendo produced at that time. Ocarina of Time is the fifth game in The Legend of Zelda series, and the first with 3D graphics. It was followed 18 months after its release by the direct sequel The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. In Ocarina ... more on Wikipedia


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Picky Palate Meal Plan Week 31
Another meal plan for you today! This is the best time of the year to be in the kitchen. Soups, chili, pasta…..all of my favorites! Enjoy friends!
Monday: Perfect Weeknight Chili
Tuesday: Homemade Supreme Pizza
Wednesday: Classic Chicken Noodle Soup
Thursday: Weeknight Creamy Sausage Pasta
Friday and Saturday this mama takes a break from the kitchen 🙂
Sunday: Cheesy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Dessert Idea: Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
FOLLOW PICKY PALATE ON INSTAGRAM! Show me what recipes you're making from Picky Palate by using #pickypalate.


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Today marks the first post in a new series I'm really excited to bring you. It's called "Motherhood by Design: 52 Creative Mothers Talk About the Intersection of Motherhood and Creativity" and each week over the next year I'll be posting an interview with someone new. All of the women featured have found their own unique ways to combine their role as mother with running a creative business. They've got tons of information and inspiration for you! So without further ado…
"I appreciate time in an entirely different way and hardly ever waste it simply because time is my biggest luxury and is always in short supply."
I'm thrilled to kick off this series today with Abby Glassenberg of While She Naps. Abby's talents lay wide and deep - she's a textile artist, an author, a blogger and a podcaster. Not only does she design patterns and soft toys, she asks thought-provoking questions both on her blog and on her podcast that inform and educate her readers and listeners. She freely shares her wealth of knowledge and experience because, in her own words, "I believe it's possible to build a creative business that sustains you."
Welcome to Fuller by Design, Abby - can you please describe your family?
My family is me and my husband, Charlie, and our three daughters (Roxanne, age 10) (Stella, age 8) and (Josephine, age 4).
What is your business?
I'm a sewing pattern designer, craft book author, and blogger.
When you were a child yourself, how did you spend your free time?
I loved to make things and to teach. I made a lot of origami models, did some polymer clay canework, created a zine with my friend, was a summer camp counselor for kids with special needs, and an avid reader of Sassy magazine.
Did crafting or handwork play a significant role in your childhood? If yes, in what way?
Yes! My mom is very creative and always had lots of interesting art supplies around for us to experiment with. I tried all kinds of things and I also took art lessons after school twice a week throughout middle and high school. Making things has been a constant in my life from the very beginning for sure.
When you were a child, did you have ideas about your own future as a mother? Was motherhood something you'd always imagined for yourself, or is it an idea you grew into later in life?
Yes! I always wanted to be a mother. I always felt very lucky to have been born a girl so that I could have a baby. Being a mother and having several children was part of my plan for my life always.
In your early years of motherhood, did you have/make time for your creative pursuits, or was your creative work put aside for a while? If the later, when did you pick it back up?
When I first became a mother I was working as a middle school social studies teacher. I went on maternity leave knowing that I wouldn't be coming back to work. I'd always really looked forward to being a stay-at-home mom, but when the time came it turned out that I loved my job and had really mixed feelings about trading it in for being home with a baby all day! After about 9 months I really was ready to add something else to my life and had a bit of an emotional crisis. I was nursing and really felt strongly that I couldn't go back to work in a traditional sense and leave this precious baby girl at home with someone else, but I also couldn't just stay home with her. That's when I read about blogs in the New York Times and wondered if there might be blogs for people who like to craft. Sure enough, there were, and soon after I started one of my own. That was May of 2005.
Did you start your creative business prior to becoming a mother, or after?
My blog, While She Naps, was very much a hobby at first. I was making things and taking photos of them and posting them just for fun. It was fantastic to meet other women who were creative and also enjoyed sewing and crafting, many of whom were in the same position in life as I was (at home with a baby). Over many years my blog helped me to develop my skill and turn what I was making into a business. Throughout the years that I've had a creative business I've also always been balancing it with motherhood. For me, the two really came together at once.
What prompted you to start your creative business? Is it something you saw yourself doing when you were a child?
No, I didn't see myself doing it! I was always taught that art wasn't a good career to pursue. Although it was a fun hobby, I needed a liberal arts education and to choose a career that was separate from making art or craft. I majored in history as an undergrad and taught middle school with Teach For America before getting my masters degree in education. Then I worked for an educational non-profit and finally returned to the classroom before becoming a mother and creative business person.
My business really grew organically. I started an Etsy shop in July of 2005 when Etsy was still in beta and began selling things there and at craft fairs and through galleries. All of those connections came through my blog. In 2009 I got a book deal and wrote my first book, The Artful Bird, and that was really the first inkling that what I was doing could really become a business at some point.
How do you balance your creative work with your role as a mother and how has that changed over time?
I do creative things with my children, but not the creative things that I do for my work. Those are entirely separate. My blog is called While She Naps because I was working while my daughter was sleeping. Now she's 10 and I have two other daughters as well, but I still work while they are either asleep or at school.
Many people assume that because I design sewing patterns for dolls and toys I must make them with my children, or at the very least make them for my children, but that's not really true. I make them because I love making them and they are fascinating and satisfying work for me.
In what ways does motherhood affect your work processes?
Motherhood makes me hyper efficient. It's like having a deadline all the time! When I have 20 minutes free I can accomplish more than I used to accomplish in 3 hours before I had children! I appreciate time in an entirely different way and hardly ever waste it simply because time is my biggest luxury and is always in short supply. I'm so grateful for those constraints.
The summer before I became a mother I had the summer off and although I had grand plans to draw every day, I ended up just watching a lot of TV and doing very little. Now I look back at all that free time in awe!
In what ways does motherhood affect your creative products?
I think I know better what kids really like in a toy, and how they actually play with stuffed animals and dolls. Although sometimes stuffed animals get a bad rap because kids end up with so many of them, I think kids really do play with them. A stuffed animal or doll is like a fill-in for a person. My kids feed their toy play food, have birthday parties for them, teach them things, and even have funerals for them! Watching how they play helps me to know how a new softie or doll pattern should be designed and what would be really fun to play with!
What is the biggest impact that your children have had on your business?
I guess I don't really think they've had an impact on my business. Right now, at least, I see my work as work, even though I don't commute to an office. I'm a mom and I'm a business owner and I'm not really sure the two intersect all that much in real time.
How do you think your creative pursuits, including your business, affect your children?
My kids assume that we can make anything and fix anything. I truly have every craft supply imaginable so they know that we can come up with something clever and original for school projects or Halloween or just for fun on a weekend. I also know that they're proud of me and think it's really cool that I've written books. They think I have a neat job, and I do, too. I think it's nice for kids to see their parents go to work and get satisfaction from their jobs, and not just see it as drudgery. Both my husband and I feel that way about our work and that's truly wonderful.
Is there something you hope your children learn from you by having a creative business?
I try very hard to stand up for what I believe to be true and to not be afraid to speak up. We talk about those instances around the dinner table. I also think it's really nice for my three daughters to see that a woman can start a business and grow it from the ground up, out of her living room, and be successful. I record a podcast, write a blog, author books, design patterns, license my work, and more right from home and that's pretty neat!
What advice would you offer the mom who feels drained by the demands of motherhood and wants more hands-on creativity in her life?
It's entirely okay to get help. For a long time I felt that I needed to do everything myself. It took years for me to learn that having other caring adults help me with my children is a great thing for me and for them. If you have a friend or neighbor who can take your kids out for an hour or two a week, or if you can enroll your child in some kind of nursery school or daycare, do it! Don't feel badly or guilty. You're a better mom when you've had a chance to go on a jog, get your hair cut, sew, or just talk on the phone with a friend uninterrupted.
Thank you so much, Abby, for sharing with us today! You can find Abby and her gorgeous work at the following places:
Blog: http://www.whileshenaps.com Etsy: http://www.whileshenaps.etsy.com Facebook: http:// www.facebook.com/AbbyGlassenbergDesign


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(This site is under construction. However, the information below is up-do-date!)
Check out our Facebook page and the videos from past performances here!
Movements In Time Dance Company is an amateur dance group at MIT that was started to expose dancers within the MIT community to professional quality choreography. We practice a wide range of dance techniques, including ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, pointe and tap, and provide opportunities for anyone interested in dance to develop their abilities, regardless of skill level.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
Fridays 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location TBA
Sundays 10am - 12pm
Location TBA
Company History
Videos of Previous Performances
Contact Information