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An Interview with Fedra Grillotti: November's MAI + t Collaborator
Introduction and Interview by Billy Zhao
When I first came across Fedra Grillotti's Eye-Contact Tumblr, I immediately knew I must invite her to collaborate. The blog is a compilation of film screenshots that show characters breaking the fourth wall, making direct eye-contact with the viewer. This simple concept manifests in one of the most fascinating and captivating film research projects on Tumblr, highlighting key moments of connection between actors and audience throughout cinematic history. I initially proposed to Grillotti to extend the concept of the Eye-Contact blog by relating her curation to Marina Abramovic's Mutual Gaze Exercise:
Mutual Gaze Exercise
Sitting on opposite chairs, look at each other. Motionless.
BILLY ZHAO: How did you get into working as a film translator?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: I've always wanted to work as a translator — especially for movies, because I've always been a great cinema lover. I love to hear the real voices of actors because I really felt, even as a kid, that there was a lot of stuff that I was missing due to dubbing. My dream was always to become a subtitler.
BILLY ZHAO: That's such an interesting dream career.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: I know it's weird; it's not a big dream, especially because it doesn't pay very well. But it's something I've always wanted to do. In the meantime, I started working as a videogame translator, which is cool. I still do it. But since I've actually started translating subtitles for TV series and movies, I realized it is something that I really want to do. It's funny how you end up watching the same three-second scene fifteen times in a row. It's kind of exhausting but at the same time, you notice many tiny details as you try to find the perfect synchronization for the tiny little track of dialogue. I find it fascinating.
BILLY ZHAO: What languages do you translate between?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Mostly English to Italian. I did a little bit of French, but my French is kind of rusty so I'd rather not do that. In the past, it has occurred to me to translate into Italian a text that was previously translated from Japanese to English. This is more complicated, because I can't even read the source and I have to rely on another translation. With subtitles, you have to be very concise. You have to respect every single word because if someone reads the subtitles, they can get lost if you miss out on some information or if you don't actually reflect what's happening on the screen, including facial expressions. In video games, you have so much more freedom. It's more creative because you're not only translating, you're also localizing to the culture that you're trying to adapt the game into. You try to make jokes and references so that they're understandable for the target audience, and that gives you a lot of creative freedom. It's a completely different job, two faces of the same medal which I both like.
In film translation, you have one piece of material and a very short sentence and you have to make it perfect to make the dialogue fit with the subtitles, the timing, etcetera. In video games, you have all the time in the world. It feels less strict and you can decide to change the dialogue from the source — even dramatically — if you think it works better. I'm not a creative person, per se. I've never considered myself an artist of any sort but I can see that I'm good at using other people's creativity. I can see my strengths in these kinds of things. The thing that fascinated me the most about the idea of starting a blog on movie frames is that I like to capture very small instances that actually have very hard work behind them.
BILLY ZHAO: What was that initial blog called?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Movies in Frames.
BILLY ZHAO: How did it get started?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: It was a friend's idea, actually. I have basic notions of Photoshop and he was looking for frames from a movie that I had on DVD. He was looking for pictures of the pie from the movie Blueberry Nights (2007) by Won Kar Wai. I took a series and he liked them very much. Afterwards, he said, "You know what would be cool? To start a blog about screenshots in movies that really capture our attention." We started discussing the idea and eventually, we decided to give ourselves some rules so that it wouldn't be yet another blog containing unlimited screenshots of the same subject. We decided that four frames per post would be a nice compromise and that gave us a little bit of liberty to give an interpretation of the movie, a way of reading it.
The thing that fascinated me the most about the idea of starting a blog on movie frames is that I like to capture very small instances that actually have very hard work behind them.
BILLY ZHAO: Wow, what a concept.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: If you decide to give importance to the scenery of the movie, you can decide to focus your screenshot on the surroundings and on the settings. That's actually how Eye-Contact started too. I was really interested in eye contact with the camera, breaking the fourth wall. At some point, I decided that I wanted to create a side project about it. That's how that started and then I got carried away by it. That was four years ago, I think.
BILLY ZHAO: It seems that Eye-Contact became your main focus.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yes. This happened because every time I watched a movie, I started noticing these moments of eye contact more and more. You know when you hear about something for the first time and then all of a sudden you see it everywhere?
BILLY ZHAO: Yes.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: It was the same with me and films. At first I thought, "Oh, there are the classic breaking-the-fourth-wall moments like in François Truffaut's 400 Blows (1959) and Ingmar Bergman's My Summer with Monika (1953)." Then I began to see it everywhere, even in commercial movies. It's very common to use this device because it creates a link between the character and the audience. Sometimes it's a bit abused, of course, but it fascinates me. I like the way that it can create a bond but also ruin it. Sometimes it's too much or it's not needed or it's too obvious or too sassy. I like how these moments can have different meanings.
BILLY ZHAO: There's also humor, sometimes, in those moments. In comedies, when actors glance at the audience, there is always an "expected" laughter. Then there are scenes in dramas when actors break the fourth wall and your heart stops. There is a lot of diversity in your blog. We see moments of eye contact from comedic late-night talk shows and then some from very serious art movies.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yeah, I think every moment of eye contact is so important because it always has a particular meaning, even if it's fake or is just there for the fun of the audience. Another friend of mine, after starting this with me, started another blog called Mirrors and Co. She collects old pictures of reflections from mirrors and glasses in films, which is also fascinating. Sometimes these two facets combine. I like these kinds of things, the tiny details. How they are scattered through movies differs depending on the film style and country of origin. This gives me the sense that this is something really universal. There are also several ways of creating contact with individuals across the screen which again, I would say is universal.
BILLY ZHAO: For Eye-Contact, do you just watch a film during your leisure time and automatically take a screenshot when you find the characters looking out at you?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: No, actually. When I was taking screenshots for Movies in Frames, I noticed that often, the pictures that caught my attention were moments of eye contact. I have a series of the screenshots that I took for Movies in Frames blog in which I really noticed that I started focusing on eyes and on the eye contact of the character with the audience but also between characters. I always found this interesting and at some point I said, "Hey, maybe I should focus on this and see what happens."
BILLY ZHAO: That's a great observation.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: I've always had a thing for the importance of the looks, the eye, and the perspective of a single character.
BILLY ZHAO: Did you work with a lot of collaborators or was it small group of friends working on the two blogs?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Well, I started Eye-Contact with only one collaborator, a girl I met on Tumblr. Movies in Frames had a lot more — around fifteen people, mostly real-life friends.
BILLY ZHAO: Movies in Frames is a big project then.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: The cool thing is that with both blogs, we immediately received a lot of responses from people on Tumblr. They really liked the idea. This was before there was even a submission button on Tumblr, and my friend started receiving emails from people saying, "Can I collaborate?" It was fun and we didn't really expect this. Eventually, a lot of people, without even being encouraged, started submitting pictures. Of course when the submission button came to Tumblr, there emerged many more photos and requests and comments. That is what I like about Eye-Contact — sometimes, for a whole month, I don't have to post anything because I receive around three or four submissions a day. They're all very cool and when I'm really busy, I basically leave it at that.
BILLY ZHAO: It's so wonderful that you formed this community through these projects. It seemed to have started something that was for fun for you and your friends, but also that people on Tumblr were drawn into.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yes. Eye-Contact has more than 200,000 followers. I was expecting around 1,000. I never did any publicity for it and it doesn't have a Facebook page or anything like that. I love to see how people react to it. Sometimes, I think that maybe I should stop running the blog because I'm too busy, but then I see these reactions. Also, every time that I see a moment of eye contact while watching a movie, I can't help but think, "I can't wait to have a proper screenshot of this."
BILLY ZHAO: [Laughs.] I love the support that you received from the Tumblr community. It goes back to what you were saying about how every moment that you capture in a blog is a moment of connection. When we are scrolling through our Tumblr dashboard, we stop and look.
I always like when someone is obsessed by a specific cinematic detail.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yes. Earlier, I had a different layout on the page, similar to your Tumblr theme. There were so many faces looking at you simultaneously that some people actually started sending comments saying, "My god, your page is freaking me out." [Laughs.] It put you in a position of discomfort because it was really haunting.
BILLY ZHAO: Your blog makes me feel like I'm at the cinema because of the black background.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yeah, eventually I changed the background layout because I couldn't find one that I liked. I also wanted the title to be always clearly visible. I like when there's a collection of pictures that you can just scroll through, but, being a cinema lover, I always hate when I see a picture and I'm intrigued by it but at the same time I have no idea what it is. I like when you can see an image and know immediately what it is and where it is from.
Another cool thing about Movies and Frames is that at the beginning, people started telling us that the way we had curated these images gave them so many ideas. They wanted to watch movies they'd never heard of before just because they saw this small composition and they said, "Oh my gosh, the movie must be great." And it's not even a trailer for something.
BILLY ZHAO: I get that feeling too, looking through your blog. What are some of your favorite film blogs by others?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: I really like this one by a friend of mine, a girl that I met through Movies in Frames. Her name is Marya and her blog is called Old Films Flicker. She currently works for Rotten Tomatoes, runs her own blog called Cinema Fanatic and watches an awful lot of movies — like 1,000 per year. It's impossible.
BILLY ZHAO: That is an insane number of films.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yeah, she's great. She has a strong community and sometimes posts thematically. For example she features a "Female Filmmaker Friday" every week, where she watches a movie by a female director and writes about it. I don't know how she finds the time, but she manages to write, even just a few lines, about every movie she watches and her perspective is always very interesting. Since I don't have much time to spend online, I like these kinds of thematic pages.
BILLY ZHAO: That's great.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: I always like when someone is obsessed by a specific cinematic detail. I have a friend who's really into food and she started a blog about the movies that made her hungry. For example, there's the scene in classic western movies where they eat beans out of a can. She would watch those scenes and say, "Oh my god, I want a can of beans right now." [Laughs.] I like when movies make you feel that sort of feeling. You feel like you're a part of it, like you could just grab it.
BILLY ZHAO: I love Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners in films. Those are some of the most amazing food scenes.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: I love dinners in movies. Being at the dinner table is always a very important scene in a movie. You can be sure that something interesting is going to happen. Being reunited around dinner is a communal experience and there always a lot that happens in those scenes. The cool thing about Eye-Contact is that it's just focused on one tiny detail. Since I began doing this, I've noticed that there are so many tiny details that are spread throughout movies from every country. They are so universal and contain so much variation at the same time. I don't know anything about philosophy, but there was a philosopher who said we have some ideas that are inside us even before we know it consciously. I think that not all directors have watched movies from all over the world but, at the same time, you end up finding the same ideas and patterns across films. This makes it possible to relate to stories from many different cultures. Through the perspective of the camera, you can enter so many realities or unrealities. Eye-Contact is just a tiny stone in the sea.
BILLY ZHAO: I like that. On your blog right now, you have stills from Spike Jonze's Being John Malkovich (1999) to the Matthew Akers film about Marina Abramovic, The Artist is Present (2012). Then there's Alexander Payne's Nebraska (2012), a film taking place far out west.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: I also like portraits, and I really like when actors look straight at the camera during shoots.
Being at the dinner table is always a very important scene in a movie. You can be sure that something interesting is going to happen.
BILLY ZHAO: I remember in a lot of childhood cartoons, like Dora the Explorer, characters would always speak to you through the screen.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yes. Of course, that's even more intentional. Even though it's just a cartoon, it ends up creating an immediate sense of connection.
BILLY ZHAO: When you were younger, it was something that you want to interact with. They'd say, "Hey, let's go on an adventure!" And you would immediately get off your seat.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yes, that happened to me as a child when I went with my dad to see puppet shows. I lived in Rome at the time, and there's a very famous place called Gianicolo where there were always very tiny puppet shows at the top of a hill. I loved it because it was with all the famous characters from Italian comedy, like Pulcinella and Arlecchino. I thought it was magical how the puppets were moved. Then, all of a sudden, they'd turn to the audience and ask the kids to help them to find the solution to a mystery or something like that. I thought, "But if there's someone moving the puppets from below, how can they see if the kids reply or not?" It was really magical to me.
BILLY ZHAO: I bet all the kids would jump up and scream in excitement.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yes! "He did it! He did it!" When you're a kid, it's important to find this sense of participation. Later, it changes a bit. Do you remember the scene from, Jean-Luc Godard's My Life To Live (1962)? Anna Karina watches Jeanne d'Arc at the cinema and starts crying when Jeanne d'Arc looks through the screen at her. She feels like they're sharing a connection, and she just can't help but cry. You are there watching her crying and you feel like you're part of it, too. And then you start to cry. [Laughs.]
BILLY ZHAO: [Laughs.]
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: The connection goes back and forth and it's just perfect. I don't know if you have the scene in mind but that I think that's really great when you are in between these two characters looking at each other through a screen and you're looking at both of them at the same time and you can relate to both of them in different ways. Godard just stole a scene that he thought was interesting. He took it and he framed it forever. He added an extra level of depth and meaning to it.
BILLY ZHAO: Yes, and you feel sympathetic for both characters. Like at the very end of films, when you don't want to let go of characters because they've become kind of like your friends.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yes. That happens even more with TV series. It's all just different ways of bonding with characters. I think even the actors have a hard time letting go of their characters. With Richard Linklater's Boyhood (2014), for example, the actors all lived through the experience together for twelve years and they went through so much… Not just the main character, but also Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette. Not to mention the director, of course. Again, it's like watching Anna Karina watching Jeanne d'Arc. It's the same thing but in real life. The actors have look at their own character and let them go.
BILLY ZHAO: It's like in method acting when you entirely become your character beyond the screen as well. Letting that take over and then having to let it go is all a part of the process.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Have you ever seen Husbands (1970) by John Cassavetes, for example? It's a movie about three guys that are really sad because their best friend has died. They make a mess so they escape and fly to London, where they make more of a mess. Two of them decide to return to their wives and their normal, everyday lives. The third one gets lost and can't return. Each and every actor and the director himself — because he's one of the three friends — put so much of themselves into the movie and into these three characters. They just acted as they would do in everyday life. One day, to create the right atmosphere, they started singing at a bar. Then the director said, "This is perfect! This is what I want from this movie! This is what this movie is about!" He put a nine-minute long scene into the film that is just them singing really badly.
BILLY ZHAO: That scene is so true to the characters.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yeah, exactly. It was what the movie was about for him. He must have said, "I don't want to show where this is going because this is not going anywhere. This is about three people grieving for their friend so they do meaningless things. Singing is what they felt in the moment so why don't we put that in the movie." I think that's how you make characters real. I've never academically studied film. As a part of the general audience, that's what I like to see in movies. I'm not a great fan of the crazy preparation that some actors do for certain movies. I'm more interested in the way that some actors manage to put everything they have already into their films.
BILLY ZHAO: Yes, it is more interesting this way. It makes them more vulnerable in assuming a new role. Acting has to be genuine in order to be credible.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: One thing that Cassavetes said is that he never really liked to write the lines for the characters. He wrote what was going on in the scene and he was really precise about that. Then he left all the characters, the actors, to choose what to say.
BILLY ZHAO: I wanted to ask you: what are some of the longest films you've watched?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: I have to think about that. Some movies seemed really long but probably weren't. I think the longest film I've seen was Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander (1982). It's around five hours long. It was cut and there was a shorter version for TV. Originally, it was meant to be a TV series but it ended up being an actual movie. Actually, I think I watched a longer one than Fanny and Alexander. It's an Italian movie, which was also supposed to be a TV series. It became so popular before its release that it was just released in the cinemas. It's called The Best of Youth (2003) by Marco Tullio Giordana. It's 354 minutes long.
BILLY ZHAO: What is it about?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: It's the story of a family. It tells their whole story from the 60's to the early 2000's. The whole film from the moment the two brothers' lives divide. They meet a girl who is kind of mad and one of them decides to take care of her. They take two completely different paths and you follow both of them. I like those kinds of movies. I like movies about families. I find it hard to watch very long movies rather than watching TV series for a whole night. I have so many friends writing about TV and how TV is the new cinema but I don't think this is true. It's just a completely different viewer experience.
BILLY ZHAO: What are you watching now and what is coming up in the future on your film list?
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Well, I'm really excited because I'm going to see a couple movies at the London Film Festival. I don't have time for much but I'm going to see the new Xavier Dolan movie Mommy (2014) then I'm going to see on Sunday White Bird in a Blizzard (2014) by Gregg Araki.
BILLY ZHAO: I'm very excited for Mommy to come out in the United States. You have to let me know how these films are once you watch them.
FEDRA GRILLOTTI: Yes. I will send you my first impressions straight away.


text: Great question! I can't remember when I first saw foo and bar used in examples. It was a long time ago. I have this sense that it was quite popular around MIT and maybe even the DEC crowd and in the Multics community. It is typically used in composing file names in code examples about file processing. There is also a potential pun, from the days when connections to files had funny names, like A01, C05, F00 (those are zeroes). It is a mild joke. There is an old US military acronym, FUBAR (other military organizations will have their own versions). In the context of Python it means something like "Friendlied Up Beyond All Recognition". Cf. RTFM. Once you've seen it, it becomes difficult not to use it. The continued use of it is for the same reason that it was used in the first place: "Where can I get some easy, meaningless file names to use in an example?" It's easier than inventing new names. And it is automatic. And there is tacit knowledge of it in the community, like recognizing a recuring character in your favorite series of novels. I'd be amazed if FOO and BAR are *not* mentioned in the Hackers Dictionary. I'm grateful that you asked. It reminds us of how much is taken for granted that, for a neophyte, is not easily distinguished as having material or only incidental importance. With the wonderful international nature of computing today, it is an important challenge for those of us who are already "in the know" to provide clarity and simplicity. -- Dennis ------------------ Dennis E. Hamilton InfoNuovo mailto:email@example.com tel. +1-206-779-9430 (gsm) fax. +1-425-793-0283 http://www.infonuovo.com -----Original Message----- From: email@example.com [mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com]On Behalf Of Walter Hanagriff Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 22:21 To: email@example.com; email@example.com Subject: [Tutor] what is foo bar? greetings to all yet again: the words foo and bar are used so much in examples, why? there is even this example: 'from foo import *' does this do something, i got it from an example of importing a package, and the comment on it was that it was poor style, does foo and bar, or just foo or bar actually do something or just useful as example names of variables, modules and such? ______________________________________________________ Get your free web-based email at http://www.xoom.com Birthday? Anniversary? Send FREE animated greeting cards for any occasion at http://greetings.xoom.com _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - email@example.com http://www.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor

subset: commoncrawl


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Fan-made Metroid 2 Remake
The Metroid series of games has always been one of my favorites. Few other games have captured as well the sense of isolation, mystery and exploration. While Super Metroid is definitely my favorite of the bunch, Metroid 2 was the favorite GameBoy game in my collection when I was younger. Wandering around Planet SR388's caverns […]More »


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what kind of router do you have?
try logging onto the router...
open up IE window, type in the IP of the router and log on. try to look for a status tab which should show you the ip addy, gateway, subnet, and dns server numbers. from there you should be able to release and renew.
make sure all number are there, then connect the pcs to your router, make sure the tcp/ip is set to obtain auto., then reboot and try it.
how long have u had the router for? i just had a router take a crap on me last week and it was doing exactly what u stated above


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- Home
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- Recreation
- MORE Outdoor Recreation
- Ropes Course and Team Building
Ropes Course Group Development & Team Building
Missoula Outdoor Recreation and Education (M.O.R.E) offers unique team building activities and opportunities for adventure and fun that utilize our challenge course and highly trained staff.
Our challenge course program is multi-faced. From focusing on team building or experiences built around simply to have fun, programs are tailored to meet the goals of your group. Four elements make up our program, games and initiatives, low ropes, climbing wall, and high ropes.
Contact Outdoor Recreation Specialist email Meg Whicher or phone 552-6271 to schedule your ropes course adventure today!
High Adventure Parties - 2 Hours
Ropes Course parties are great for birthdays or celebrations of any sort! Rates starting at $200 for up to 15 guests, includes 2 hours on the climbing wall and High Ropes Course. Ages 5 and up.
Games and Initiatives
Ice Breakers and Cooperative Games
Activities are designed to reduce inhibitions, have fun, introduce group members, warm up minds and bodies, and practice socialization.
Group Initiatives
These are activities that will challenge a group to pool their resources and work together to find solutions. These are done on all of our elements.
Trust Activities
These activities are designed to provide
Low Ropes Elements
Series of elements 12 to 18 inches off the ground coupled with specific activities that invite participants to test their physical strength, stamina, agility, balance, teamwork, and communication. These elements are a way to bring your group together and witness the strengths of members. Our trained staff members provide debriefing sessions that help your group process the activity for maximum insight and growth. Groups come away from these elements feeling empowered and enthusiastic.
Climbing Wall
Our climbing wall is an excellent addition to any challenge course program. A great warm up for the high ropes course, a perfect addition to the low ropes, and a great way to exercise and have fun.
High Ropes Elements
Series of elements 15 to 35 feet off the ground that requires harnesses and ropes to access. Trained staff will lead your group through a variety of activities initiating
Challenge by Choice - The M.O.R.E. program works under the principle of "Challenge by Choice." Given that many of our challenge course elements put people in places outside of their comfort zone, our philosophy revolves around each individual having the choice to choose their limitations. This recognizes that for each of us, success is based on personal aspirations.
Packaging Options
Please feel free to contact us to ask which package will best fit your group. All options include the facilitation of games and initiatives, canopied shelter, refreshments, and trained staff. Times are approximate varying on weather, group size, and group goals. If you have a group of more than 40, call Meg for specific price options at 552-6271.
High Adventure Ropes Course 4 hours
|Group Size
|1 to 15
|16 to 30
Team-Building and Low Ropes 3 hours
|Group Size
|1 to 15
|16 to 30
Corporate Synergy Session - 4 Hours
A great opportunity for staff retreats and team building to get out of the office and
We strive to create a balance between activity and team dynamics in providing your team with a processed learning environment geared to achieve your desired outcomes. Included is a specialized tailored program, use of our Currents' conference room for a team meeting and lunch, pictures of your day, a report detailing goal progress, and a meal provided by Tagliare Delicatessen.
$60 per person, minimum of 5 people.
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Become A BFT Sustaining Member
Birmingham Festival Theatre has been delivering quality theatre in Birmingham for 45 years. And we're ready for the next 45!
Ticket sales account for less than half of annual operating costs. So we've created a new membership program that allows you to easily contribute on a monthly basis, and get lots of great 'Thank-You's' from us, including:
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One Free Ticket to Each Opening Night Performance and Reception
Ticket to any BFT Extras! *hint* there will be several this year
Name recognition on both program and website
Tax Deductible
Our Undying Gratitude


text: One in four of UK's workforce suffering ill health 13 November 2013 BHF Press Office Category: Survival and support More than a quarter of the UK's workforce (27%) – a staggering eight million people - have a health problem that's lasted more than a year, according to our new Health at Work Index. With nearly one in six of these health problems (16%) relating to the heart and circulation, we're calling for employers to champion the health of their workers. The risk of developing problems such as coronary heart disease can be greatly reduced by losing weight, increasing physical activity and eating a balanced diet. One in ten workers (12%) – approximately 3.5 million people - said their ability to do their job is limited by poor health. This includes over half of diabetes sufferers (58%) and the same proportion of people suffering from depression, mental illness or panic attacks (58%). Poor health can lead to more sick days, lower morale and less productivity. Lisa Purcell, Project Manager for our Health at Work programme, said: "This research reveals the true health of the UK's workforce, and the results are shocking. But there is something that can be done. "By shining a light on the health of workers in a range of industries, we hope to inspire employers to champion the wellbeing of their workers. This will ultimately benefit the health of their business in the long-run. "Poor health can lead to more sick days, lower morale and less productivity. So it's not just your workforce that will benefit from a health kick, but your company's bottom line will get a boost too." Through our free Health at Work programme, we help employers to create health and wellbeing initiatives that improve the health and productivity of their workforce. The scheme includes free tools and resources to encourage workers to get active, eat well and reduce their stress. More than 7,000 organisations have already benefited from the programme. Sign up for free today


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From the Rector: Candlemas/
The feast of the Presentation of Our Lord always falls 40 days after Christmas when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem as told by the Gospel of St. Luke. Simeon and Anna are overjoyed to greet the Messiah, having waited their whole life for this moment. The Song of Simeon, which we say or sing every night at Evening Prayer, is Simeon's response to having greeted the Christ Child.
At the High Mass on Thursday evening, the choir will sing a setting of Simeon's Song, the Nunc dimittis, as composed by Scott Villard, our bass section leader in the choir. After the candles have been blessed, this canticle is sung as the candles are distributed to the people. Once everyone has their candles, the entire congregation processes throughout the church. It is as if we too are on pilgrimage to meet the Christ entering his temple. The alternate name for this feast, Candlemas, is the result of the blessing of candles at the beginning of the mass. In many places where it is still dark early in the evening, this feast continues the celebration of the Epiphany light that is coming into the world.
This week you will notice that our weekly Wednesday Evensong is also dedicated to this feast. The Presentation of Our Lord is one of the feasts in our prayer book that has two services of Evening Prayer - one on the eve and one on the day. This is in addition to the readings appointed for Morning Prayer, as well as the mass. Because the Presentation falls on a Thursday this year, we have the chance to celebrate the Eve of the Presentation at our normally scheduled Evensong, as well as enjoying a high mass on the actual day. If you are able, join us for the First Evensong of Candlemas on February 1, and then join us again on February 2 for the High Mass. This day is a high ranking feast. If February 2 falls on a Sunday, this feast replaces the Sunday celebration. Only a few feast days in the prayer book calendar allow for this provision. In the middle of a busy week, I know that this seems like a lot to do. Nevertheless, it is an opportunity that we could not ignore.
The offering at these services has been designated for the Life Foundation. Every year St. Mark's gives money to the Life Foundation for their work with those affected by HIV/AIDS. Please give generously. If you cannot come to the Evensong or the High Mass, you can always bring your donation on Sunday, or you can mail it to the church. Please notate "Life Foundation" on the memo line of your check.
On a personal note, this feast has always been special to me. When I was instituted as your rector several years ago, we used the Candlemas readings at the mass. Would you believe that we are beginning our ninth year together? And even prior to my coming to St. Mark's, when I was ordained a priest, I began a pre-ordination retreat on Candlemas, being ordained on February 5, the feast of Paul Miki and the Martyrs of Japan.
Speaking of February 5, this coming Sunday we will have the St. Blase Blessing of Throats after all three masses using two blessed candles from the Candlemas mass. The Feast of St. Blase is on February 3. The tradition maintains that Blase, also spelled Blaise or Blasius, was an Armenian bishop who saved a child from choking, hence the blessing of throats over time. When you consider the illnesses that often spread among people at this time of the year, a blessing of throats can be quite helpful, not to mention that all humans need their speech blessed due to the vices of gossip and other forms of sinful speech. After the mass come to the BVM Chapel, and kneel if you are able. The priest will then place two candles around your throat, invoking the Blessing of St. Blase.
Finally, with everything going on in our world today, we need to step up our vigilance, honoring that which is good and full of light. More and more I am convinced that the worship we offer is a form of resistance and strength within a world that honors competition, materialism, and consumption. We need the worship of the church more than ever before. Whether it is the quiet services of Morning Prayer throughout the week, or the glorious high masses of Sundays and feast days, such worship forms us to be the people that God desires us to be. Come and be formed by your worship of God, and come and bear witness to the healing that only the Light of Christ can bring.
Father Paul+


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Cultural anthropologists Karen Hébert (Yale University) and Danielle DiNovelli-Lang (Carleton University, Ottawa) recently began a three-year project funded by the National Science Foundation to investigate relationships and perspectives on climate, environment and economic crisis in two of Alaska's rural subarctic communities: Dillingham and Sitka.
"We're interested in how people form knowledge about environmental and economic risk in their communities," says Hébert, the project's principal investigator. "Where do they get information, how does it inform them, and what do they do with the information they acquire? How is knowledge developed, circulated, and received? How do ideas evolve and travel, and how are they communicated? How do different and often opposing viewpoints bring together or divide people on issues surrounding local resource development?"
The two coastal Alaskan communities at the center of the study are accessible only by air or water. Both have native and non-native populations, and commercial fishing is a main part of the economy.
The comparative study aims to better understand how different communities address resource concerns and identify avenues for building more inclusive and effective efforts. The researchers plan to share what they learn with coastal communities in Alaska and around the world that are facing similar challenges.
Dillingham, located in southwestern Alaska, north of the Aleutian Islands, is Bristol Bay's largest population center. The Bay boasts some of the most extreme tides on earth—up to 30 feet—and the shallow waters host the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery. These fisheries not only feed the local people, but also are the foundation of the region's commercial fishery. The population doubles during the summer salmon fishing run with the influx of non-local workers.
In the early 2000s mining companies began making plans to begin mining for gold, copper, and molybdenum in the area. One of these proposed mines is the Pebble Mine, which would be in the headwaters of rivers near Dillingham. Local communities began to worry about the impact of mining on the local fisheries, controversy brewed, and what followed was a greater conversation about natural resources management. In addition, mine opponents worried the mine would bring an unsustainable influx of workers and other people.
"The issues surrounding the Pebble Mine have brought together some otherwise opposing groups," says Hébert. "Community members are largely motivated by preserving the health of their water and fisheries, but they sometimes have had differing ideas about how to do this."
Groups unified to lobby the Environmental Protection Agency to declare Bristol Bay off limits to mine development under the Clean Water Act. The EPA recently issued a proposed measure that, if approved, would do just that. Now, many investors have abandoned the project. Hébert and her team aim to "capture and understand changing opinions and motivations."
Sitka, located on an island in southeast Alaska, also relies on commercial fishing for its economy. Unlike Dillingham, Sitka fisheries employ a variety of methods and gear, and extend beyond salmon to herring, halibut and black cod. A slight majority of the city's population identifies as non-native. And Sitka has a long history of producing scientific research.
"In Sitka, perhaps because of early colonial settlements, which set up missionary schools, the educational infrastructure is well-developed. The community is still known for its schools, so people have a different relationship to science. This may have informed how local NGOs advocate for community research and conservation," says Hébert.
For instance, when the local pulp mill closed in 1993, some Sitka residents questioned the viability of their economic future, and argued that diversification was key. Since then, there has been a big push to deliberately concentrate on science and education so that the economy is not based solely on extractive resource uses. Many Sitkans hope that the community might evolve to become a regional center for research relevant to coastal Alaska.
Hébert says it's often tough to capture the wide range of perspectives these communities present.
"Environmental issues can be very polarizing," she says. "We sometimes have to work hard to get people to talk to us who feel like they hold views that put them at odds with others in their community. Some people are very reticent despite the fact that interviews are confidential. Some issues create lots of disagreement and so it can be tough to do research that moves across socially disparate views. In both communities there are clear, local conflicts, as well as others just below the surface, such as issues surrounding subsistence hunting and fishing. There is always tension surrounding protection and access to resources."
The team approach to this study uses methodologies such as participant-observation, which involves taking detailed field notes. Hébert's team is also conducting semi-structured interviews to gain a better understanding of Dillingham and Sitka.
"We are attempting a team approach with two lead scientists and five graduate students," she says. "We do many interviews together, which can lead to really different follow-up questions and more lively conversation. There are some huge advantages to this approach. It's really exciting, if also very challenging."
Hébert uses relatively unsophisticated technology for interviews—just a notebook and digital voice recorder. The exception is in a series of oral history interviews captured in high-quality audio and video that will be preserved and shared with the communities through the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society and through the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.
In coming years, Hébert's team will continue their research, conducting interviews with people who are not necessarily community leaders or in resource management positions, hoping to capture the full range of viewpoints among those who use coastal resources.
"We are really interested to know what makes environmental issues polarizing as well as when and how they bring people in the communities together. How do ideas travel to align people or break them apart? How do people think about future resources and what informs and motivates them to confront their concerns?" –Marcy Davis


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The REAL Jungle Book [ 1:08:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Tonight, we are joined by Rick from "United States of Geekdom" to talk about The Jungle Book! I met Rick at Dallas Stripcon at the beginning of August, and we had a blast! I broke his mind multiple times, and yet he keeps coming back!
Topics Covered
Jungle Peter Pan!
The Right to Bear Arms!
Louis Prima's Widow is a bitch!
Tigers that ooze class
The Disney Xerox look
Walt spinning in his grave
Ben explains Amazing Spider-Man again
Jerry Nelson
Also, check out Neil's appearance on Episode 38 and Episode 39 of Toocast Beyond.


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Gambia's dictator Yahya Jammeh has rigging the country's 2016 Presidential elections ahead of time, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Over fifty thousand Gambian Identity Cards (ID Cards) have been issued to non-Gambians residing in the country by the Immigration Department. The goal is to ensure that the non-Gambians—mainly from neighboring Senegal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Bissau Guineans, and elsewhere around the region to be able to acquire a voters card during the Supplementary Registration of Voters due later this year. Non-Gambians acquiring the Gambian ID Card is the pathway to Gambian Citizenship. The ID Card cannot be scrutinized or contested when presented at the Independent Electoral Commission Centers during the issuance of voters cards.
A senior Immigration officer stationed at the Banjul Headquarters told the Freedom Newspaper that the directive to issue ID Cards to non-Gambians came from dictator Yahya Jammeh. He said the Department has been instructed by Jammeh to issue ID Cards to West African migrants residing in the country.
"We have so far issued over fifty thousand voters cards to non-Gambians. We even issue IDS to refugees residing in refugee camps. The goal is to pave the way for Jammeh to win the coming elections. The issuance of ID Cards to non-Gambians is still ongoing. Our personnel travel to communities even during at night to issue IDS to foreigners. Casamance natives constitute the greater percentage of those benefiting from the free ID Card issuance," our source said.
"The President has given directive for the Department to stop using the Biometric ID Cards. He wants to rig the elections. The laminated paper ID is easy to forge compared to the Biometric ID. There is no proper accountability of the laminated paper ID. Some of our records are hardly retained. But with the Biometric ID, we have the fingerprints of the applicants and their contact details. The international Community is being place on notice that an illegal issuance of ID Cards to non-Gambians is currently ongoing in this country. Such practices will no doubt undermine the freeness and fairness of the elections. This is not the first time that such an illegality has been taking place here. But we never had such a magnitude of ID Card issuance to non-Gambians," he added.
Interior Minister Ousman Sonko oversees the activities of the Immigration Department. Mr. Sonko has been working with the dictator to ensure that non-Gambians are issue with IDS before the Supplementary Registration of Voters, said our source.
Written By A Staff Writer


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Do you skimp on geography in your homeschooling? Kids get some geography in their history studies and it's easy to put it on the back burner when you've got math, language arts and science to teach. I happen to love geography and have discovered some excellent programs this year that not only teach world geography, but encompass and reinforce history, art, math and science.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Hip Homeschool Moms.
For upper elementary through high school geography curriculum:
I've been using this program since September with my son and a group of kids in our homeschool co-op and it's been a huge success. The history lessons focus on the history of geography and map-making but include lots of general history, math and science. The map drawing lessons include all kinds of great tips and tricks to help kids remember the shape of a country, and they are wonderful art lessons, too!
For lower elementary children:
For my younger child, I've been using the Trail Guide to World Geography by Geography Matters (recommended for 2nd grade and up). This program includes daily drills at three different levels so you can use it for children of different ages for many years to come. Children learn the basics of reading and creating maps, along with details of every continent. The program ends with a unit study using "Around the World in 80 Days" and includes mapping, arts/crafts, spelling, vocabulary, research and writing activities for each chapter of the book. It's really an "out of the box" program that takes very little prep for you to use.
Here are several more resources you can check out if you're a geography buff like me!
- Expedition Earth: A Journey Through God's World is a geography unit study that covers 31 countries across the world. It is designed primarily for K-3 students.
- Galloping the Globe is a great hands-on geography unit study for countries around the world. It's counterpart for US geography is Cantering the Country, which is just as great.
- Little Passports sends your child a special package every month with an adventure letter, souvenirs, activities and access to their online Boarding Zone full of games and activities. I just signed up and can't wait to see this program!
- National Geographic Beginners World Atlas is a must-have for any homeschool library.
- GeoPuzzles are fun, as is Prof. Noggin's Countries of the World card game.
- LizardPoint has a slew of online geography quizzes.
- LearningGamesForKids has some simple online geography games.
Please add your favorite geography teaching tools in the comments! Happy Travels!
Shannon Entin has homeschooled her 12 year old son and 6 year old daughter since birth. She's an unschooler at heart who has recently discovered a love of planning classes and teaching for the fun of it. She also enjoys personal development, scrapbooking and skiing. Shannon blogs at The Discipline Project and Mom Improvement.


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I write and speak about the intersection of culture, design, and technology. I believe it is fundamental to both our design and business endeavors to ground them in a combination of theory and practice.
I'm currently available for speaking engagements and workshops. Let me know how I can help your event or company.
Upcoming PRESENTATIONS
- Google I/O Extended - May 18th, Grand Rapids, MI - "Designing Our Futures"


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Pre-sales Solutions Architect
Location: Vancouver, Toronto or Ottawa
- We are looking for a Pre-sales Solution Architect to join the growing team in Canada. As a key member of the sales team, you will support sales of our Qlik Data Analytics solutions to businesses across North America. Your technical and functional expertise will make you the evangelist and a key differentiator that shows the power of our Data Analytics solutions.
- Provide pre-sales technical assistance to members of the sales team to ensure the Data Analytics Solution is the proper technical and business solution.
- Skillful preparation and passionate delivery of onsite and web-based product demonstrations tailored to customers' business processes and requirements.
- Frequent communications with customer IT/IS Managers, Directors and VP's to ensure the appropriate fit of our Data Analytics solution in the customer environment.
- Identifying opportunities for cross selling and up-selling of licenses, maintenance, training and services
- Deliver training of Qlik (On premise and Cloud) solutions to pre-sales and post-sales customers.
- Complete understanding of all the products in the Qlik Data Analytics Platfirm as well as Add-on products.
- Translate technology, software and business solutions to all types of audiences such as non-technical people.
- Provide Training Courses for Qlik Data Analytics software
- Requirements Gathering & Business Analysis
- Solution Selling: skills focusing on getting the prospective client excited about the ability to address their business problem with Qlik Data Analytics software and GINQO Solutions.
- Understanding and validating a prospect or client's core needs and pains while demonstrating value on how to address these issues.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills
- Demonstrated experience working with the executive level customers and all personality types
- Prior experience in similar roles with both On-Premise and/or SaaS application providers will be preferred.
- Strong understanding of applications, integrations and relational databases.
- Technical expertise sufficient to support business applications.
- Technical expertise to be a certified trainer in Qlik Data Analytics software.
- Past experience working as a Consultant to implement a Data Analytics Solutions is preferred
- Active Listener and clear communicator; persuasive and articulate to apply the solution to the customer or prospect's unique needs.
- Quietly confident with a can-do attitude
- Ability to think independently and analytically is preferred.
- Supervisory experience would be an asset
- Great working environment and lots of company team-building and team development events
- We offer a competitive base salary based on experience, a performance bonus and a benefits plan
- Remote working flexibility
Ready to join a fun team and challenging environment? Then send your resume to email@example.com


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Life events experienced by loved ones can have a significant impact, and often result in connecting individuals or family members to a cause or charity that has become important, and valuable not only to themselves, but to the world around them. We ask you to consider Newton Wellesley Weston Committee for Community Living, Inc.'s, Planned Giving program.
Planned Giving with NWW creates an opportunity to convey one's values through a legacy gift, to an organization deeply committed to the happiness, well being and dignity of all members of our community, especially those most vulnerable.
Making a gift through planned giving may also offer you significant benefits, such as savings on your income, capital gains, and estate and gift taxes.
Other benefits include retaining control of your assets during your lifetime, freedom to modify your gift if your circumstances change, and peace of mind knowing that you have lessened tax burdens for your heirs.
You get to choose how NWW makes use of your gift:
Unrestricted Gifts may be used to support any of NWW's ongoing operating needs. Unrestricted gifts are used at NWW's discretion. They can be particularly useful to organizations because they can be put to use wherever they are most needed.
Restricted Gifts are earmarked for a specific project, or for the NWW's endowment fund.
Specific Projects: NWW always has a list of projects in need of funding. We will be happy to provide you with a copy of this list.
If you would like to learn more about NWW and the Planned Giving opportunities available, please contact Rachel Tetrault, Director of Advancement & Community Engagement at 617-964-6860 x14 or rtetrault(at)nwwcommittee.org.


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Sleep Improvement Quick Tip #6: No late-night meals or snacking in bed.By Dr. Gretchen KubackyChronic Illness, Integrative Healthcare, PCOS, Sleep, Thrivingchronic illness, PCOS, schedule, sleep
We're all familiar with the dozy satisfaction of having just eaten a nice (or large) meal. Unfortunately, while digestion does make us feel more tired, it will actually make it harder for you to fall or stay asleep. Want to make sure you don't sleep well? Eat a nice big meal right before bed. For better sleep, make sure that you finish your last meal at least a couple hours before bedtime and avoid snacking in bed. If you can't sleep at night and decide to get out of bed for a while to get a snack, make sure it's something that is low in sugar and easy for you to digest. No spicy Indian leftovers!


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As scientists prove that faith can relieve pain, distinguished psychologist Dorothy Rowe examines the case for and against religion
I'm not religious, but I have thought about religion all of my life. My mother never attended church but she insisted that I went to St Andrew's Church, a cold, unfriendly place filled with cold, unfriendly people. At home, my father, an atheist, would read aloud to us from the essays of Robert Ingersoll, the 19th-century militant atheist.
Ingersoll's prose had the music and majesty of King James's Bible. I loved the language of them both. I learned how to use Ingersoll's logic to examine the teachings of the Bible. My disapproval of the cruelty and vanity of the Presbyterian God knew no bounds, but I felt at home with Jesus, whom I saw as a kind, loving man like my father.
God had not been in the trenches, or anywhere else, with the ex-Servicemen whom I met at university. When religion was discussed, we listed the cruelties and stupidities of religion throughout history, just as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens were to do 40 years later.
However, when I went to work in psychiatric hospitals, I realised that criticising religion was not enough. I needed to understand why religion becomes an integral part of a person's life - and doesn't cease to be so when such beliefs cause the person much pain and guilt, or lead him to commit murder, even to the point of genocide.
Although they had not recognised it, my depressed or psychotic patients were struggling with the questions that theologians and philosophers had struggled with for thousands of years. "What will happen to me when I die?" "How can I be a good person?" "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
Siegfried, a depressed, alcoholic psychiatrist, told me about his uncle, who was in the RAF during the war. He provided the love and concern for Siegfried that was lacking in Siegfried's parents. He said: "Then, one day his aeroplane came down a bit too fast.
"Up to that time, aged 13, I'd had some vague concept of God - I sang in the church choir every Sunday. My last memories of any contact with God was that particular night when I called Him all the filthy language I knew. I thought, if He exists, He's a s--t." I asked him how he felt about God now. He said, 'If He exists, He's a s--t'."
Unable to find satisfactory answers about the meaning of their existence, the psychotic patients had constructed very idiosyncratic fantasies. Ella was a beautiful 16-year-old who had become withdrawn and isolated. Her parents had taken time to recognise that there was a problem because, to them, she was the perfectly obedient child they wanted.
Ella's mother told me: "I always obeyed my parents and I expect my children to obey me." Fearing her parents' anger, Ella learned to avoid all spontaneous decisions and actions. She told me: "I've begun to wonder whether I'm the only person who's really alive - the only living person. Everyone else is a vision. I'm living each person's life in turn."
I asked her how she felt about living all these lives. She said: "I never feel anything about it… I'm here for no particular purpose. My parents aren't real. They just behave like real people. I believe that everything I see is God. I'm part of God."
A child who is completely obedient is powerless. Only by being the only real person who was part of God could Ella seem to become powerful.
All of this was of no interest to the psychiatrists and psychologists I worked with. Psychiatrists were interested in identifying symptoms - "irrational guilt" as a symptom of depression, and hallucinations and delusions as symptoms of schizophrenia.
Psychologists assumed that their patients wanted to be happy, failing to notice that, for many people, being good is more important than being happy.
Death loomed large in my conversations with my patients. I would ask: "Do you see death as the end of your identity or as the doorway to another life?" This led on to a discussion about the purpose of life.
All we can ever know for certain about death is that a living person grows strangely still. We each have a fantasy about what happens after death and this fantasy determines how we see the purpose of life. If we see death as the end of our identity, the purpose of our life becomes making this life satisfactory.
There is an infinite number of ways in which we might choose to define "satisfactory", but whichever we choose becomes our purpose.
If we see death as the doorway to another life, we have to decide whether this next life will be better than this one. To give us hope, we decide that the next life will be better. This raises the question of justice. Do all people go on to this better life, or are there standards that have to be met?
A sense of justice leads us to choose standards, and in doing so we condemn ourselves to living this life in terms of the next. If you set standards which you can easily reach, you limit the amount of self-inflicted pain you will suffer, but if you acquire, say, a Calvinist conscience you set yourself impossible standards, and berate yourself for your constant failure to live up to them.
For all of us, life is full of uncertainties and difficulties, and it ends in death. Every religion claims to overcome death, to provide certainty, and reward us for being good. So great is our fear of life and death that most of us allow hope to override our intellect.
When Peter Stanford interviewed the Rugby League champion, Shawn Edwards, about his Catholic beliefs, Shawn spoke of the death of his younger brother, Billy Joe, which posed for the family the question: "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
He said: "My mum is very close to God, I often think the closer you get to God, the greater the tricks the devil plays on you. They get more and more harsh to try to turn us away from God." Does that mean that, if Mrs Edwards had been a less good woman, her son would have survived?
No religion accepts us as the person we know ourselves to be. Rather, we are told that we are inadequate, unsatisfactory and helpless. We fear that this is so, and to give us hope we, like Ella, construct a fantasy about how we are superior to those who do not share our views.
On these grounds we feel entitled to force our views on non-believers, and, if they resist, to kill them. I was taught that we Presbyterians were infinitely superior to Catholics and all the rest, while Aboriginals were not even human.
I thought that the man Jesus wouldn't have approved of such views, and this set me on the path of understanding that, although people differ as individuals and in terms of culture, basically all human beings are the same.
We all want to be the person we know ourselves to be, and for others to recognise this and treat us with respect. We want to live without being dominated by fear, to enjoy good relationships, and to have a secure place in our society. No one is better than anyone else by virtue of their beliefs.
When we are able to be the person we know ourselves to be, without vanity or self-pity, we have the wonderful experience of feeling at home with everything that exists. Some people describe this in religious terms, some in terms of nature, but, whatever, we do not feel the need to have a religion tell us what we should believe.
- 'What Should I Believe?' by Dr Dorothy Rowe is published next month by Routledge, price £9.99.


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Product info
- Length
- 64.5cm
- Style
- roll neck
- Sleeve
- Long Sleeve
- Fabric composition
- 100% wool
- Washing instructions
- Hand wash
- Style code
- 9146
Editor's Notes
The Lara is a classic roll-neck jumper crafted of plush merino wool. This luxury fabric is back in the spotlight this season, loved for its ultra-soft feel and breathability. Our staple design is warm enough to wear alone with tailored trousers, or slim enough to layer under sweaters. Team with a sleeveless dress when the temperature drops for a trendy winter look. Model is 173cm/5'8'' and is wearing a size UK 8.


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It's that time of the year where Cigar of the Year is named. In 2016, The Ash Holes gave away our first ever Cigar of the Year tapping Serino Royale Continue Reading »
Today we are back with a vengeance, Kristoff Vengeance that is. It's a cigar that saw full distribution this year from Glen Case's company. It's made in the Dominican Republic Continue Reading »
Today on the show we smoke a cigar from one of the biggest personalities in the cigar industry, so it's only fitting we reach for the biggest size in the Continue Reading »
This week we travel down to one of the largest growers of tobacco on The Ash Holes as we broadcast live from Studio 21 Podcast Café. Plasencia started growing tobacco Continue Reading »
Welcome to this week's episode of The Ash Holes broadcast live Studio 21 Podcast Café. This week we smoke a cigar from Omar de Frias's Fratello Cigars. It's a cigar Continue Reading »
Today we wrap up the Blind Taste Test. We are joined by very special guest Glenn Boivin who knows how to smoke blind better than anyone we know…because he is…blind Continue Reading »
The Ash Holes turns 2 years old today, and we celebrate in style with Taino by Serino Cigar Co. We tell you all about this cigar that was a joint Continue Reading »
Just when you thought you wouldn't hear a political commercial for a year, we have one more very important voting process for you to take part in. We've made it Continue Reading »
As the final round of the Blind Taste Test gets ready to ship across the country we light up the Aladino Corojo Reserva from JRE Tobacco. It's a cigar available Continue Reading »
This week we welcome to the show the Vice President of Hammer + Sickle Cigars, Erik Wentworth. It's a full house at the show as we light up a cigar Continue Reading »


text: "Fake news." Funny, isn't it: After all these years and only after Hillary Clinton loses the presidential election to Donald Trump do we hear about the ominous scourge of the newly dubbed "fake news." Yet, those complaining are the people who created and propagated the concept itself. From Walter Cronkite, who bemoaned not being able to�


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July 28, 2016| Madeline Coffey
In April, the Democratic Party and I had a huge falling out. An avid Bernie supporter feeling more and more betrayed each day by the party, things finally had come to a head at the College Democrats of North Carolina (henceforth CDNC) Convention. It was my first convention, and I wasn't quite ready for the cunning political games that were sure to ensue. I figured, after all, that we college kids were much more open minded than our senior counterparts. I was wrong. I noticed early on in the convention that anyone running for state office with a history of supporting alternative candidates like Bernie Sanders or Ken Spaulding was quickly ousted. Even more obvious was the alliance between state schools' candidates that sought to eliminate opponents from smaller, private schools through manipulation.
I walked in bright eyed, with hope in my heart for a stronger Democratic Party that would welcome people like me and my far left friends. I believed that we were the party of progress, and that my approach of uniting the party with the far left would be respected and admired. I've always had a foot in both doors. As a democrat growing up in the red south, I learned early on that compromise and understanding is necessary. I learned that nothing would change without unification. Democracy is built on what the people want, and unfortunately, what the people want isn't as far left as I'd like. So with this, I set out on a mission. I ran for Political Director, a position responsible for managing the CDNC caucus system. As former caucus leader, I should have been perfect for the job. My opposition was a freshman college student with no experience in the caucus system. What my opponent had that I didn't have, however, was connections and a background at a state school.
I remember being warned before the Convention. I was told in advance that my opponent would turn folks against me and that no elections are fair within CDNC. When I inevitably found this to be true on my own, I was disheartened and, frankly, pissed off. I saw this as a reflection of the Democratic Party as a whole: if college students couldn't manage to host fair and honest elections (also evidenced by the College Democrats of America controversy in 2015), what does that say about the folks who have been in this game for years? I immediately decided right then and there: I am done with the Democratic Party. I've stayed silent for the past few months. I have been a democrat since my grandmother bought me a John Kerry-Edwards 2004 T-shirt at the Tennessee Valley Fair way back when. The Party held special significance to me as the party of progress that would help blue collar families like mine to, in the words of Hillary Clinton herself, "get ahead and stay ahead." It made my decision to split a hard one, and I never declared it officially to anyone in case I changed my mind. With these party politics, I guess, I didn't want to risk being ousted and losing all of my connections completely.
You might be asking, now, how I am going to manage to come back into the party with this revealing blog post that sheds light on the horrific realities of the party system? Here's how. I have been reunited with the Democratic Party. Their leadership at the DNC this year, the replacement of Debbie Wasserman-Schultz with the incredible Donna Brazile, and the most left platform in all of the party's history brought me back in. It seems that although many of our far left candidates lost out in the end, the Party is telling us that they've heard us loud and clear. So, I've returned but with conditions.
I will no longer accept the party politics of allowing candidates who have less progressive ideas but abundant party connections to win. Now that our grassroots movement has taken its place in American society, I think we have an excellent opportunity to reform the party. What I lacked at this year's CDNC convention was my peers' support for increasingly progressive ideas and candidates who reflect moving forward rather than stagnation. This week at the DNC, I have been inspired by the folks who are there. On a national level, thousands of delegates, Representatives, and Senators have acknowledged the move toward more progressive ideas that I was precisely looking for. From our very first event in Philadelphia this week, Nina Turner reminded us that we can work within the party to reform the powers within that inherently disadvantage people of color, queer folks, and other marginalized groups from taking office. These folks sparked some ideas that made staying in the Democratic Party more appealing than ever over the past year.
I have struggled with this issue for months. Although many of my friends disagree, I see dualism as an inherent quality of the American political system. I don't think we can change our country by voting for a third candidate, and I don't honestly know if a pluralistic system can work within our constitutional set up. I'd love to change the constitution, but it just isn't possible right now. So, we must seek alternative methods to moving our nation forward toward a political system that respects many different ideas. My solution? Let's work to reunite the Democratic Party by making it less monolithic. Let's stop kicking out candidates who are "too far left," and let the people speak for what they want. One way we can do this is through bringing far-left progressives back to the table.
This week at the DNC, my excitement has been renewed. I know, now, that the party can be reformed and moved farther and farther left. I just need others to join me. Reject the notion that the party system must inevitably create a monolithic policy stance. Let us have disagreements. Let us allow ourselves to deviate from the platform so that we can broaden our ideas. Let us let our imaginations run free and stop relying on past successes to inform our future ones. I'm done with the old Democratic Party, but I'm ready to make a new one. I can't do this alone, but if we reunite the party, it is possible. Through reunification we can oust this corrupt system that plagues progressive ideas while working within a system of dualism. We don't need to pick one side or the other when both sides can come together for an ultimately progressive cause.


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NOTE: Very Picture Heavy!
A funny thing happened during the last 50 years. I grew up. That wild child with the Harley who traveled the country and lived on a sailboat and did everything she wanted, is the now responsible adult.
Last year I realized my mom was suffering from dementia, and as her power of attorney I moved her into assisted living for her own safety. But I was so depressed everytime I visited her and I knew that her mental health was declining rapidly as well. In November Joe and I moved Mom and her dog ShaSha in with us. One month ago today I found her on her bathroom floor suffering from a stroke. The paramedics arrived almost immediately but a lot of damage had already been done. She is now living permanently in a nursing home that is 10 minutes from our home. Those of you that are friends on my personal facebook page have watched me fall apart and pick myself back up again as I make sure Mom is well cared for. We just got home from spending the afternoon with her and having a Papa John's Chicken Cordon Bleu pizza delivered for our "Mother's Day Picnic" as she was telling everyone there! So her spirits are good and she can talk ok, but her 88-year old body is ravaged from the pain and she sits in a wheelchair during the day. But I know she is well cared for and she is comfortable, and that's the best I can hope for now.
I thought you'd enjoy seeing a glimpse of Mom's wonderful life. She was a vibrant woman who enjoyed life and lived comfortably but frugally, having been born during the depression. She grew up in Iowa with 2 sisters and a brother. This is the earliest picture I have of Mom. I know where I get my love for cats!
This picture is mom as a little girl with her older sister and brother. Aunt Helen is on the left and Uncle Eddie is on the right. My grandparents are behind Mom.
I'm not sure when this was taken but I'm guessing she was in her 20's. She was a beauty!
This is a great picture of Mom with her parents, her older brother and sister Eddie and Helen, and baby sister on the far right, Ferne.
OK I have to show this one. I always loved it! It's at Mom and Dad's wedding! How cute are they?!
This is another picture I just love! This is my older sister Sandie, Mom, Dad, me and Dad's drums on the left behind Sandie. My folks were musicians and we had a parade of people in and out of our house when I was growing up playing jam sessions with them. It was pretty awesome. There were drums, guitars, organs, and all kinds of percussion, string and wind instruments around our house.
Here's a picture of her with band leader Ralph Marterie in 1954. Sexy lady for sure!
Mom quit school during WWII and worked the factories like many other women of her generation. She returned to high school night classes and graduated with her diploma from the same high school I did 10 years after I graduated. I am so proud of her for this accomplishment!
Mom, my sister Sandie, and me at Sandie's son's wedding in 1986.
Mom, Sandie, Sandie's son Scott and Scott's son, Michael in 1988. Four generations!
Celebrating Mom's birthday 2003.
Mom, Joe and me at our wedding.
Mother's Day 2006.
Last year at assisted living with Mom and ShaSha.
Mom living with us and "working" (playing games) on the computer. She's really concentrating! LOL
And doing "slave labor" at our house!
Pooped out after a long day. Her ShaSha on the left and Friday cuddled on her lap!
At Ulta! We used to go there every couple of months for facials and hair cuts!
Mom the day after her stroke, smiling for the camera (I wanted my sis and bil to see she was ok).
After moving to the nursing home and having ShaSha visit her for the first time.
My friend Lisa's husband lives at the same nursing home Mom is at. She sometimes brings their dog to visit. Handsome is a HUGE Great Dane saying HI to Mom!
Last week ShaSha and me visiting again.
And a little video at the Mother's Day Happy Hour on Friday!
Mom shares a room with a sweet lady named Alice. Mom's name is Bea. They've already declared themselves A&B to everybody! They sit at the same table in the dining room and you'd better not split them up! It's a relief to see Mom is getting along better. I've been a wreck trying to make sure she is cared for. I think things will be ok. Thank you for letting me share my memories of Mom with you.
Happy Mother's Day to everyone, whether you have real babies or fur babies or both!
XO Jody


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Besta dægrastyttingin í Orlando
Kynnstu borginni með augum heimafólks. Finndu bestu dægrastyttinguna og matsölustaðina og fáðu ómetanleg ráð frá íbúum á staðnum.
Theme Park
"A mega-theme park combining the famous Universal Studios with the more specifically themed "Islands of Adventure", this resort experience rivals Walt Disney World with an immersive movie experience. Walk through mind-bogglingly accurate recreations of Hollywood and New York, and let your favorite famous actors guide you down the rabbit hole."
201 íbúi mælir með
Theme Park
"The most economical way to have the most fun in Florida. The Mako is the best coaster for full force thrills! Put your haves in the air, if you dare! That is the best way to ride this spectacular coaster. The shows are educational and awesomely beautiful."
180 íbúar mæla með
Outlet Mall
"Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets includes top designer brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein and many more, it is well worth the 40 minute drive from the Watersong resort"
160 íbúar mæla með
Outlet Mall
"Orlando Intertational Premium Outlets is a good option to go shopping with your family and friends, even if you don't want to shopping it's a good place to visit, it's beautiful at night."
209 íbúar mæla með
"Just all high end vendors here. Feast your eyes in this architecture and all the shopping :-)"
189 íbúar mæla með
Theme Park
"The rides at Islands of Adventure rides rock the Universal spectrum! The premium is on fun and the adventure is spectacular. Both parks rank very high, IOA is my personal favorite."
79 íbúar mæla með
Almenn afþreying
"Universal Studios Citywalk offers a range of foods to eat and is a brilliant place to wind down the day and it is only a 25 minute drive from the Champions Gate resort"
132 íbúar mæla með
Theme Park Ride / Attraction
"ICON Park is a 20-acre, walkable entertainment destination in the heart of Orlando's International Drive. A perfect place to ride, dine, drink and explore, ICON Park has more than 40 amazing restaurants, funky bars, boutique shops and can't-miss attractions, all anchored by The Wheel, a jaw-dropping observation wheel that stands 400 feet – 40 stories – in the air. Guests to ICON Park can visit SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, Madame Tussauds Orlando and SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology and the Orlando Starflyer, the world's tallest swing ride. ICON Park offers a diverse mix of restaurants for lunch, dinner and late-night dining that satisfy a wild variety of flavors and cuisines. There are nine full-service restaurants: Yard House, Tapa Toro Tapas Bar, Uncle Julio's Mexican from Scratch, Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Lisbon Portugal, Sugar Factory and Buffalo Wild Wings."
77 íbúar mæla með
"Wonderful mall with a great shopping experience. Extremely clean. Tons of shops with a vast variety of products, restaurants and services."
97 íbúar mæla með
Theme Park
"We found this to be great place for a couple days. Want some Universal Tips?? We have them for you!! "
75 íbúar mæla með
Water Park
"Universal's newest water park. I would almost recommend this one over the Disney water parks. SO cool! Lots of great water rides."
21 íbúi mælir með
Point of Interest
"The Orange County Convention Center is a convention center located in Orlando, Florida. Opening in 1983 as the Orange County Convention and Civic Center, it currently ranks as the second largest convention center in the United States."
11 íbúar mæla með
Science Museum
"The range of exhibits is "designed to inspire curiosity and exploration" according to the Orlando Science Center themselves, while there's also a range of shows, presentations, and hands-on interactions throughout that aim to "bring the exhibits to life" – great for the whole family. Highlights include Nature Works, a huge space on the ground floor that details much of the surrounding Central Florida wildlife and ecosystems. There's also KidsTown, a miniature town full of fun and interactive games. For the budding palaeontologists out there, DinoDigs is where you can uncover fossilised dinosaurs and inspect huge dinosaur eggs "
67 íbúar mæla með
"Walking trail 1 mile that goes around the Lake in Downtown Orlando. There are also restaurant & bars close by to walk to and a Sundays Farmers Market. "
121 íbúi mælir með
"Open-air mall with dozens of big-brand shoe, luggage & clothes outlets. Top designer names include: Aeropostale, American Eagle, Calvin Klein, Carter's, Converse, Eddie Bauer, Express, Fossil, G by Guess, Gap, Jockey, Justice, Levi's®, Nike, Old Navy Outlet, OshKosh, Reebok, Samsonite, Theme Park Outlet, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Travelpro Luggage Outlet, U.S. Polo Assn., Under Armour, VF Outlet, Wilson's Leather and many more. Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores is known among savvy consumers as one of Central Florida's "best-kept secrets for outlet deals," offering factory-direct premium quality merchandise at savings up to 75% off – and sometimes more! Everyday, FREE store-front parking."
31 íbúi mælir með
"Gatorland is an altetnative to the big parks. With thousands of alligators and crocodiles, an aviary, a breeding marsh and bird rookery, petting zoo, nature walk, gift shop, and one-of-a-kind reptilian shows including the Gator Wrestlin' Show, Gator Jumparoo, and the Up-close Encounters Show. Don't miss the White Gator Swamp with giant white alligators. Take a ride on the Gatorland Express train and then head over to Gator Gully Splash Park where kids of all ages can enjoy a good ol' fashion soaking! Looking for a little excitement, zip off on the Screamin' Gator Zip Line, voted the Top Zip Line in the U.S. by AOL Travel. New for 2018 don't miss the Stompin' Gator Off-road Adventure, where monster truck style all-terrain vehicles take you on a wild backwoods adventure through real Florida wetlands and a huge pond of live alligators!"
57 íbúar mæla með


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Even some of the biggest fans of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial aren't aware of Harrison Ford's cameo. And for good reason, as it was cut from the finished movie. But now the true story behind this legendary missing footage is being told by those who were there, and it all comes courtesy of Entertainment Weekly and their annual reunion issue.
You might think to yourself, where could Harrison Ford have shown up in E.T.? Was he Dee Wallace Stone's unseen Halloween date? Was he part of the research team? No. He was supposed to be part of the iconic frog escape that comes midway through the movie. Alas, his role in this scene has gone unseen for over thirty years.
The scene itself is notable for including a cameo from future Baywatch babe Erika Eleniak, whom Elliot gets to kiss. But when it came time to shoot the scene, then 10-year-old actor Henry Thomas was way more interested in getting to hang out with Han Solo and Indiana Jones himself, Harrison Ford, who was on set while these scenes were shot.
Henry Thomas didn't just get to meet Ford, though. He actually got to act opposite the man, who was already a certified icon by the time E.T. started shooting. Thomas says this about meeting Harrison Ford for the first time.
"When I met Steven, the first thing out of my mouth was I think, 'I love Raiders of the Lost Ark,' and my hero was Harrison Ford. I basically was just excited to meet Steven in hopes that I would meet Harrison."
Not only had Harrison Ford starred in Steven Spielberg's earlier classic Raiders of the Lost Ark, the actor also happened to be dating E.T. screenwriter Melissa Mathison at the time. Between Mathison and Spielberg, Ford couldn't say no when asked if he'd step in for a quick cameo, which shouldn't have required more than one day's shooting. Ford was soon cast as the 'uptight, condescending principal' who scolds Elliot after he sets the frogs free, ending his revelry with a kiss on Erika Eleniak's lips. The joke was that this character was very against type for Ford, known for playing brash space pirates and swashbuckling archeologists. Says Spielberg about the cameo.
"He did the scene where E.T. is home levitating all of the stuff for his communicator up the stairs. Elliot is in the principal's office after the frog incident. We don't ever see Harrison's face. We just hear his voice, see his body."
Throughout the first two acts of the movie, Spielberg shot everything at child's-eye level. And he never showed the faces of the adults with the exception of mother Mary, played by Dee Wallace Stone. Because of this, Ford's face was never seen as he delivered a snivel-voiced grump in a swiveling chair. Other teachers are seen peeking through the blinds into the office, whispering about how Elliot is 'his own worst enemy'.
During the scene, Elliot still has a psychic connection with E.T. And that was put to good use in this deleted moment. Here's how Steven Spielberg describes it.
"Henry's chair starts levitating. So as E.T. is lifting all of the communicator paraphernalia up the stairs, Henry starts rising off the ground in the chair until his head hits the ceiling. Just as Harrison turns, E.T. loses control of the weight of everything and it all falls down the stairs, and Henry comes crashing down to the ground, and lands perfectly. Four-point landing. The principal turns around, and as far as he's concerned, nothing ever happened."
The scene is said to have been shot like a film noir, and it didn't really fit the tone of the movie. It also didn't add much to the story. Ford's huge presence, despite his face being obscured, felt like more of a distraction than anything else. There is blurry Youtube video of the scene, and you can see bits and pieces of it in a making-of featurette. About the moment winding up on the cutting room floor, the director says this.
"That was the scene that we cut out. But that's where [Henry] got a chance to meet Harrison."
Henry Thomas fondly looks back at that moment as one of the shoots bigger days. But he didn't end up saying much to his on-screen hero. And their interaction has been shuffled off into the dustbin of cinema. Some of these moments can be seen in the following Youtube clip.


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Meet Bobbi Brown at Bloomingdales!/
I was just notified of a great event that any beauty or Bobbi Brown fan in the NYC area should not miss.
Bobbi Brown is taking appointments for two hours, while her team will be there all day. Call 212-705-2055 to reserve your spot.
Check it out!
Do let me know if you score a spot and come back here to comment on the experience. I wish I could go, as it would be a dream come true for me to meet Bobbi Brown.


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The Victorian government provides a range of specialist staff, services and programs to work with schools and students.
On this page:
- Specialist staff
- Language Support Program
- Assessment services
- For students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Specialist staff
DET school networks employ Student Support Services Officers (SSSOs) to work with students and schools in each region. These specialists work to build schools' capacity to meet the needs of all students, including those with disabilities. They can help schools plan and develop learning plans and appropriate supports for all students with additional needs (not only those on the Program for Students with Disabilities).
The SSSO workforce includes psychologists, social workers and speech pathologists. Each DET region also has a Visiting Teacher Service, including staff with expertise in specific disabilities, such as hearing loss, physical and health disabilities and visual impairment. SSSO services are in high demand, so the principal should refer your child to them as soon as the need is identified.
DET also employs autism teacher coaches, who can advise teachers and school leaders on adjusting the school environment and teaching approaches to meet the needs of students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); see below for more programs to support the needs of students with an ASD.
Regional DET offices also employ Koorie Education Support Officers (KESOs), who can support students and families (for example giving advice supporting them at meetings with the school) and can give advice and support to school staff on supporting students and families in culturally safe and appropriate ways.
- Much more information can be found in Rock Solid, our resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families about supporting the learning journeys of their children with special needs.
Students who are struggling at school can also be assisted through re-engagement programs, or through partnerships between their school and community agencies through the School Focussed Youth Service Program. For more information, talk to your school's welfare coordinator or contact the regional DET office.
"Flynn's needs are quite diverse. Academically he can't access the curriculum as it stands. Socially he needs help. He gets sensory overload very easily. He needs a lot of routine and structure to his day. And so that's made it quite challenging for a teacher.
I now go and pick up Flynn at 10 past 3 every day, rather than half past three, so we have 20 minutes of getting him calm every day, before we get the girls and go in the car. And he's allowed to just de-stress. And he holds my hand for the first time ever. It's a highlight of my day now. He holds my hand as we walk around the school, and he chats away to me, and it's just him and I.
That was a strategy that the regional autism consultant put in, and it's made a world of difference. Because I just wanted to drive into a tree on the way home from school, because he had had no down time, to adjust.
I also let him go into the classroom 15 minutes early, and he goes and sits in his same spot. So he's not walking in or out with the congestion. He's in there early. He doesn't annoy the teachers, he just sits on his iPad. And at assembly time the respite lady comes and sits with him. For something so simple, it's made a world of difference.
Also, the education department has what's called a curriculum toolkit, which talks about modifying the curriculum to meet the child's needs. And so I researched that, so I felt that I was empowered to be confident to know what I was talking about." Mel
Language Support Program
The Language Support Program is a support and professional learning program that helps teachers and other school staff work with students who need additional support to learn oral language. It includes a self-guided online professional learning package that helps teachers build the skills to:
- identify students with language difficulties
- plan the student's curriculum and work with their Student Support Group
- learn effective teaching strategies in primary and secondary classrooms, and
- build a whole-school approach to supporting students with language disorders or difficulties.
The online package includes specific information about working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with language difficulties, and those for whom English is a second language.
Assessment services
If your child's school is putting in an application for the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD), their application requires support reports from DET Student Support Services Officers, early childhood intervention practitioners or other professionals such as therapists or paediatricians.
Your child might also be required to undergo further assessment. If the application is under the categories of Intellectual Disability and/or 'Severe Language Disorder with Critical Educational Needs', this should be done by DET's assessment service – there is no cost to schools or parents and carers.
- Read more about the application process for the PSD.
- For more about the assessment service, search on the DET website.
For students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
The Victorian government has a range of programs and services available to help mainstream schools meet the very diverse learning and support needs of students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This includes autism teacher coaches (see above). A number of schools have developed 'Inclusion Support Programs', which aim to make their environment and practices more 'autism friendly'. This program includes Inclusion Support Coordinators – specialist teachers with expertise in ASD – who give training and advice to staff, and provide specialist input into the Individual Learning Plans of students with an ASD. Students can also receive more intensive support as required.
It is worth asking any mainstream school you are considering whether they have undertaken these kinds of activities and training, in order to become more 'autism friendly'.
- For more information on approaches to supporting students with an ASD in government schools, including resources for schools and parents or carers, visit the DET website and search on 'autism friendly learning'.
- The Amaze and Positive Partnerships websites are excellent sources of information, training, support and resources for students, families and schools, about the diverse needs of children and young people with ASD.


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Agar usaha berjalan pada jalan yang benar maka seorang wirausaha harus menyusun business plan. The identical might be said with me looking for a brand new storage to get my automobile labored on. You because the janitor are affecting how these new prospects will see the corporate for the primary time; a clean, spot free profitable business or a grimy, field-stuffed warehouse with little success.
Maybe in the future you would possibly no longer be working at your company, and a previous established status as an expert will get you employed quicker – or provide you with a pool of clients should you resolve to start out your own business as an alternative. Speaking from experience, it's easy to get consumed with what you deem would be the difficult aspects of the business and notice that, down the road, you're struggling because you did not sort out the fundamentals. Vital choices about a plan or other facets of an organization ought to often not be made on account of anyone variable. This of course may very well be a potential for a small time home business and to match it along with your pastime. To be a good businessman, one must have good business qualities and abilities. They've nearly all the corporations I need for auto, residence, business and work comp.
This is the type of passion that gets people up out of the lazy chair, will get them to go away their paying job, scrape collectively money from wherever they'll find it and make the plunge into the good unknown of the start-up world of business.
Necessary subjects that your cookie business plan should deal with include principal targets of your business, investment finances, strategic position, licenses, gross sales summary, future imaginative and prescient, pricing coverage, competitors analysis, market …Read more


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Attention Makers! Design your own fabric, wallpaper, decals, and wrapping paper with Spoonflower! You can even sell your designs, and shop from some of the best up and coming fabric designers around. New banners are headed to Porter Flea Holiday courtesy of Spoonflower and we cannot wait!
Thanks so much to Spoonflower for being a generous sponsor of Porter Flea!