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Sand and Sky Face Mask : My Honest Review
Who else has seen this Australian pink clay mask by Sand & Sky doing the rounds through social media? As with any product that seems to pop up out of nowhere, I found myself very sceptical at all the videos and reviews...to be fair I've been caught out before ... **coughs, Misfit Cosmetics powerful peel off mask** so I kept looking the other way, or indeed scrolling past the posts...
A few weeks went by and I noticed that good old Harvey Nich's had started stocking it, surely if one of the poshest shops in town has bought into it, it can't be that bad right? I held tight onto my purse for a little longer then discovered my favourite online beauty shop had started selling it - Beauty Bay - and you know what that means ....yesss! Free Delivery! Somehow this magical face mask from across the waters fell into my basket and the very next working day, it landed on my porch.
But what makes it so special?
Well! This is a very special clay mask and not just because it's pink. Although in a way, it kind of is because the main and most important ingredient in this bad boy is Kaolin, Australian pink clay which comes from, and I quote, "the purest environment on Earth".
This clay is said to absorb dirt and impurities, draws out toxins, restores the skins natural defence shield and tightens and refines pores. Even with all these incredible claims it is still gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Sounds amazing doesn't it? Having had an ongoing battle with my face lately you can understand why the grip on my purse loosened ever so slightly...
Along with Kaolin, this mask includes a multitude of impressive ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Kakadu plum, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Kelp, Pomegranate and many more.
Sand & Sky promise instant results (reminding you that everyone's skin is and behaves differently), including clear complexion, youthful glow, smaller pores, reduced imperfections, enhanced collagen production...the works!
After reading all of this on their website, which I strongly recommend you visit, I couldn't wait to try out this little tub of goodness.
How to use
When you open your box you will see a cute little brush provided to quickly smooth the contents over your face. I tend to scoop a small amount out of the tub and place on the back of my hand, just so I don't keep putting the brush which has been on my face back into the tub. You don't have to do this, I mean you should have already washed your face before application, it's just because I obviously have breakouts and I try to take extra care in not contaminating my products, especially the ones I'm using to battle skin problems.
Then just spread the product all over your face avoiding the usual places...hairline, eyebrows, lips. You can also use this in targeted areas, I've seen that some people just pop a little of this on their spots and leave on overnight. As with most masks, you can tailor the application of this to your needs.
The instructions advise to leave on for just 10 minutes until dry, but you can tell when it's completely dry as the pink clay turns perfectly white and hardens.
Once finished, wipe away with a clean warm cloth and give a quick splash of cold water to the face. Take to the mirror and see if there has been any instant improvements!
What does it smell like? How does it feel?
I find describing the scent of this mask very difficult, if someone told me what it smelt like, I'd be like 'Oh yeah' haha!, all I can say is that I found it to be a nice, pleasant and very clean smell.
I laid back in the bath after applying this all over the face and noticed a tingling sensation over my cheeks. This is completely normal...it just means that it's working it's magic. It wasn't at all painful or uncomfortable.
Go on then, how much is it?
As mentioned before, I picked mine up from Beauty Bay. There was no delivery charge and the product itself cost £39.95
You get 60g of clay mask goodness along with the little brush for application.
So far I have been able to get around 6-7 uses out of this tub and there is still a fair bit left for some more pampering. I have to admit that I do use this very generously, so if you perhaps were a little more sparing with it, you could easily gain more uses out of it.
It is advised to use this 2-3 times a week depending on your skin, I have been using it to the max at 3 times a week, only now cutting down to 2 times a week as I'm hitting the tub bottom.
I want to also mention the packaging... it's so super cute and they haven't skimped on it either. The tub itself feels very heavy and expensive, the brush is a fantastic addition with a little cover too.
My personal results
So, before we begin, I have a little disclaimer so to speak. Since the start of trying this product out, I have been going for some skin treatments which may have helped the results I've found with this mask. I've been having a course of gentle chemical peels and light therapy, as I'm typing this I've had 2 out of 3 sessions.
I genuinely feel that using this mask in between sessions has really helped and improved the condition of my skin.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get into my thoughts and review!
Redness and spot situation - After the first time I used the mask I noticed the next day that I had broken out a little more than normal. This is totally OK, new products can do this as they are bringing the badness to the surface to tackle it head on. I used it for the second time a couple of days later, and that's when I first noticed a positive change...
So after the second use I noticed that the redness in one of my cheeks had drastically gone down, and in the other cheek - my worst side - had gone down a little. You could see clear skin between spots instead of large patches of redness. This didn't happen as soon as I wiped away the mask, but instead the very next morning (I tend to use this late at night before bed).
After the third use I noticed that the texture on my better cheek had smoothed out a touch, still a bit bumpy, but a noticeable difference.
With continued use and another treatment at the skin clinic, I have noticed that the texture on one side of my face is the smoothest and clearest that it has been since suffering with what I can only describe as acne, and the other side of my face, the worst side, although has a little way to go, I have noticed a huge reduction of redness and the spots have gone down remarkably.
I cant tell you how many different products I have tried which start to make a change in my skin, then suddenly seem to stop after the first few uses. I never thought that I'd have better skin, clearer skin, skin that would let makeup sit nicely with minimal bumps, but I think ... touch wood ... I might be getting there.
Other impressions - My skin has felt smoother, softer, looked brighter and healthier, and as mentioned above, my makeup is sitting better and better with each passing day.
I cannot recommend this mask enough. It's not a scam. It's worth the hype. Even if you have clear skin, this would make a wonderful once a month treat. As I have seen such a huge difference I really do think it's worth the £39.95, as even though I have been going to the skin clinic, this has prevented any breakouts, kept redness down, and arguably tackled my existing spots within my two week visits.
I've honestly not come across a product that I want to recommend as much as I do this in such a long time. Try it, you'll love it! This is not sponsored haha!
Also, you guys know that I only recommend cruelty free products, I was overjoyed to learn that this is indeed cruelty free.
Update (19th March 2018) -
I just wanted to pop back onto this post months and months later after originally writing it to say that I still absolutely love this product. I've now finished my third pot, ready for my fourth. I never went back for my next chemical peel and light therapy as I thought they were actually aggravating my skin, but I continue to use this mask 2-3 times a week and the results are still there. Highly recommended!
If you've made it this far, thank you for reading!


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Coconut crusted chicken and spicy green beans
Coconut crusted chicken and spicy green beans served with yoghurt dipping sauce
For the chicken
4 large chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
3 free range eggs, beaten
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups desiccated coconut
2t chilli flakes
1 lemon, zested (reserve the lemon juice for the yoghurt dipping sauce)
For the spicy green beans
300g fine green beans, blanched
2t coconut oil
1 lemon juiced
2t smoked paprika
2t cayenne pepper
1T sesame seeds, white or black
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the yoghurt dipping sauce: combine
1 cup plain fat free yoghurt
The reserved lemon juice
4T parsley
1T finely chopped mint
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Dip the chicken in the beaten egg and coat well. Combine the coconut, chili and lemon zest before adding the chicken ensuring that the chicken is well crusted in the coconut. Allow the chicken to rest with the crust on for 15 minutes before popping in an oven preheated to 200 to cook for 10 minutes.
While the chicken is in the oven prepare the beans. Add the blanched beans to a pan with the coconut oil over a medium heat. Add the lemon juice, paprika, cayenne pepper, sesame seeds and seasoning. Allow the flavors to marry in the pan cooking it for 2 minutes.

subset: commoncrawl


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Despite my initial objections, I spent three an a half days of nonstop pondering on this issue, and in the end I decided to share my FAQs with you. You may find them enlightening, intriguing and/or helpful, and if that's the case then you probably find this picture quite wonderful. Why? Because you get me, and I thank you for that.
Here are the questions, in a coded order of importance:
1. I really like how journalists refer to their schooling as "J-School." Why don't doctors and lawyers do that?
That's a good question. It really is a mystery that sociologists have tried to explain for years. It just sounds so cool, why wouldn't more professions want to get in on that? One theory is that "M" and "L-School" just don't sound as good as the euphonious "J." I tend towards liking that explanation. I also think there is some professional snobbery going on. Doctors would never settle for referring to their school as a letter because they want to be able to namedrop the prestigious school they went to. Obviously the same goes for lawyers.
2. What is the best picture on the internet?
This one:
3. "This one is a two parter," they usually say. A) How many Americans, as a percentage of the population, have danced in the rain?, and B) How many of them do it because of various songs in multiple genres that reference the act?
Now, the numbers for this answer are quite interesting. 70 percent of Americans report that at some point in their life they have danced, or at least "shuffled" in the rain. The strange thing about that figure is that it breaks along gender lines disproportionately. 20 percent of the 70 are women, and 80 percent are men! What this means is one of an infinite amount of things. One possibility is that we have a lot of female dance-sluts in this country, in which case the parents of America will need to take a long hard look in the mirror. The other, and I think more likely answer, is that we have a whole lot of men dancing, alone, in the rain. This answer flies in the face of a lot of preconceived notions about men and their level of emotional sensitivity, but when faced with facts it is better to embrace them than to flee from them.
The answer to part B of the question is that a staggering 100 percent of people who have danced in the rain said they did it because they got the idea from a song (Note: all respondents who said they danced in the rain for "religious reasons" were stricken from the record because a requirement invalidates free will; if they would have been counted the numbers would have shifted to only 68 percent dancing in the rain because of a song). That means that if the myriad songs out there had not made that obnoxious reference we wouldn't have to deal with this indulgent and insufferable practice.
4. Have you ever danced in the rain?
Yes I have. Next question.
5. Is smoking bad for your health?
No. People smoke every day and it does not age them one bit. What people try to say is that it give you wrinkles and it rots your teeth and your organs, but do you know what else does that? Time. So if time, sorry time, has the same exact side effects as smoking...wouldn't you agree there is something they are not telling us? The truth is that if you smoke a cigarette, or even a pack, you will look exactly the same as if you didn't smoke it. You will only age 24 hours no matter how many cigarettes are smoked in one day. But I know you won't believe me, so I have photographic, documentary evidence. Observe these boys, they're smoking and yet they are in perfect health, their looks still betray their true age, and they are happy. Immediately the defender will want to go to the time argument, but I have already invalidated that, so case closed.
6. Is it a good idea to have these guys at the front line of border security?
No. I don't know why people keep asking that and I don't know why it would occur to them that that might be a good idea.
7. Is the Bible's depiction of Adam and Eve and the fall meant to be taken literally, or is it just a story?
Does this answer your question?
Well, I've already said a lot. There are tons more questions, like seriously four dozen, so maybe I'll do some more somewhere down the line.


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musician, producer, songwriter, wordsmith, educator:
David Cooper Claire
Cooper Claire is the moniker and musical calling card for multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter David Cooper Claire.
Cooper Claire's home recording "Th3 W312d W3st" was his debut full-length album as a singer-songwriter, as well as the literal autobiographical timeline from 2012 to 2017 — a chronology involving: two years of initial descent into mania, a period of psychosis followed by multiple psychotic breaks, several hospitalizations and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, then extremely debilitating treatment with heavy-handed antipsychotics and a considerable loss of cognitive functioning, thereby quitting music performance altogether, before, fortunately, an eventual a return to mental health through both therapy and precisely adjusted psychotropic care.
David has worked extensively as a sideman, drummer, and musical mercenary in both Michigan and Texas, recording and performing with Edgar Struble (Music Director, Academy of Country Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards), Jeff Jacobs (Foreigner, Billy Joel), Kerry Marx (Johnny Cash, Shania Twain), Chuck Jacobs (Kenny Rogers), Andrew Tinker (The Polyphonic Spree), Kaela Sinclair (M83), and Erskine Hawkins (Eminem).
Dave has also composed musical segments for the Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards on ABC.
...so tell me, dude, like, what is AM321T20N1CA?!
Howdy partner! Well, if ya gotta ask, you'll never know -- just kidding.
AM321T20N1CA is a most holy union between the folkloric cowboy culture of the old west (i.e. Americana) and the modern digitization of reality now observed within The Information Age.
In so many regards, Internet culture is a visage mirroring the vaqueras and gunslingers of old, an endless expanse of uncharted frontier, limitless possibilities, tremendous uncertainty, good, bad, and ugly characters. A specific literary subgenre, Weird West, combines Western themes with those of other major fiction -- horror, occult, fantasy, and sci-fi. I'd like to think that Weird West much more accurately conjures the many subtleties of our vested online technocracy; it is truly a strange time to be alive -- perhaps even the strangest?
Reckon' I'd liken myself to some sort of psychedelic prairie minstrel, a campfire crooner tryna' hear The Music of the Spheres.
The Music of the Spheres?! Well, that's the musica universalis, an ancient Greek philosophical concept that an inaudible orbital resonance borne across our universe dictates the many harmonies of nature, physics, math, and spirituality. Basically, a cosmic music, likened to the Hindu supersoul, is literally the maestro of all existence.
While this remains to be scientifically proven, it has certainly been true, at least anecdotally, in my own little universe. Isn't that really what really matters, anyhow?
Anyway, in my opinion (which may, or may not, be shared by anyone, anywhere) music is the best thing in the universe -- and I'll even venture the conjecture that IT IS THE UNIVERSE?!
Welp. Alright, buckaroo. No time to argue with ya. I've got to be off, things to do today. In the meantime, have yourself a look around.
Feel free to drop me a line, anytime: DCooperClaire @ gmail dot com
-- Cooper Claire
2018 release:
"Th3 W312d W3sT" - Cooper Claire
2018 release:
"I'll Be Going" - Chloe Kimes


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Cake, cake and more cake, who doesn't love cake?! We interviewed the Kate St Laurent, from Bake Shop Studio for this month's vendor interview and it has us drooling! From cakes to cupcakes, Kate has it all for your wedding! And, she doesn't fall short on the icing decorations! 😍
How far in advance does the couple need to book?
"4-6 months out."
What kinds of baked goods do you offer for weddings?
"Cakes and Cupcakes."
What sets your baking apart from others in this area?
"I began my baking career after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts at NSCAD University. I took all of my Fine Arts training and applied it to the Baking world, studying with international cake artist Lori Hutchinson and Sweetapolita author Rosie Alyea at Bonnie Gordon College of Confectionary Arts in Toronto. Cakes are a way to continue the practice of creating Art, now in an edible medium. I use local Arva Flour and I have developed my recipes with years of testing and experience behind each one. I love creating beautiful cakes but above all the cakes are created from the highest quality ingredients I can find. Looking beautiful is great but your wedding cake should better than any other cake you have tried before."
How often do you like to connect with the couple before the wedding?
"Usually couples will come into the shop to meet with me and try some cake samples and talk about their wedding plans. I can show them my work and discuss ideas I have for their wedding cake. After this initial meeting bride and grooms tend to stay in contact via email until the wedding date gets closer."
How can the couple customize their wedding package with you?
"I love designing cakes to flow with the decor, floral arrangements or overall vibes of the wedding style. I like to take inspiration from elements already in the wedding - the invitation, the venue, the bride and groom's style to create a personalized design for their cake."
How much experience do you have with baking for weddings?
"I began my Baking career working in local bakeries in London in 2009 and continued right up until I opened Bake Shop Studio in 2016."
How much of an investment is the couple looking at?
Prices are based on customizations and number of guests.
How do you help the couple pre-wedding?
"Usually the Wedding couple meet with me for a complimentary cake tasting (who doesn't love that) which is a relaxed and comfortable place to chat, try some cake and talk about wedding plans."
How do you help the couple post-wedding?
"Post Wedding I am happy to advise the couple how to properly store their top tier if they have chosen to save it for their wedding anniversary"
Thank you Kate, for taking the time to chat with us and we hope this helped some of you brides reading! If you're in the middle of wedding planning and have yet to find a bakery to provide your wedding cake or desserts, contact Kate at the Bake Shop Studio for rates and customizations.
And as always :), if you are still on the hunt for your dream wedding gown, don't hesitate to make an appointment today! PS. We have a Canada birthday celebration happening next week in the store, so now is the perfect time to say yes to the dress! See our Facebook page for more information!


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Master and Licence Internship and Ph.D. thesis
Subject for 2018-2019
Paleoenvironmental reconstructions and greenhouse gas characterization in permafrost aquatic systems of Central Yakutia (Siberia)
A 3-year PhD scholarship is available in the fields of paleoenvironmental reconstructions and greenhouse gas characterization in permafrost aquatic systems of Central Yakutia (Siberia). The project will be conducted at Geosciences Paris Sud (GEOPS), in close collaboration with the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE), both members of U. Paris Saclay, France. There will also be external interactions with researchers from Germany (Alfred Wegener Institute) and Canada (U. Montréal and INRS-ETE).
The project will be targeted at 3 main research axes:
The selected candidate will be actively involved in fieldwork sampling, to be conducted during at least two ice-free seasons near Yakutsk (Siberia). Laboratory work will be conducted at GEOPS and LSCE. The thesis will be supervised by Frédéric Bouchard and François Costard from GEOPS, and Christine Hatté from LSCE. Funding is available through the "Make Our Planet Great Again" international program launched by the French President.
Official start of the project: October 2018.
Candidate profile/skills:
See attached PDF file for project details.
Interested candidates are invited to send a CV, a one-page motivation letter and the name and e-mail address of three references to: Dr. Frédéric Bouchard Researcher GEOPS - Geosciences Paris Sud firstname.lastname@example.com +33 (1) 69 15 48 61
Subject for 2014-2015
PhD: Signal processing for Mars spectral data
The Phd candidate must have the following skills:
Advisors: Frédéric Schmidt, Matthieu Kowalski
Location: Laboratoire GEOPS, Laboratoire L2S, Université Paris Sud/SUPELEC/CNRS
Phd funded for 3 year: from September 2015 to September 2018 Salary: 1400 €/month net (social security and taxes included) Student with equivalent Master degree.
Implementation of advanced features for a Web client GIS
As a part of Photothèque Planétaire activities the Planetary Geomorphology team of IDES laboratory develop an image display and analysis system with GIS capabilities, entirely based on Web applications. The web client is coded in JavaScript and AJAX. It makes use of the open source libraries openlayers and mootools. The applicant will implement advanced features in the client (profile extraction, graphic plots, download of analysis results ...)
Supervisor : Chiara Marmo
Location : IDES Laboratory, Paris Sud University (Orsay)


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The Social Media Templates Pack
120 ready to use Social Media Templates ... and over 300 new elements to use (like background images, people graphics, icons and more!)
You'll find easy to modify templates for Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Google Plus and others! You can also use the templates for your blog, website or mix and match everything to make even MORE Social Media graphics!
Watch this quick walk through
120 Ready To Modify templates to get you off and running!
Use them to create images like these:
Click the images to see them larger:
Spice up your Instagram feeds (or just use the template for your new Blog article!)
Click the images to see what was made with this template!
Instantly create Facebook Ads by modifying just a few things in the template!
Click the images to see what was made with this template!
Create new Twitter Headers (and I also used the same template for my Facebook business page!)
Click the images to see what was made with this template!
We all know you need eye-catching, attention grabbing graphics for your website but QUALITY images CAN GET EXPENSIVE!
But with these amazing collection of 120 Social Media Templates... it's NOT expensive!
AND - you can create images like this in just minutes:


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Dear Colleagues:
Last week, the Chapin Hall Voices of Youth Count report was released, shedding light on young people across the country including Suffolk County who are homeless. Attached are the full report and the one-page Suffolk County overview. Thank you for being part of the research and involving young people in your programs. This is an independent report of statistical data, based on a one-day point in time count. This objective data is very much needed to organize an effective response, but we know that behind the data are very real children, many of whom experienced abuse and neglect and who, through no fault of their own, are on the streets.
Suffolk County was one of 22 counties from across the United States that participated in this first-of-its-kind national effort aimed at collecting data needed to end youth homelessness. The data from the point in time count revealed many important points that will help us craft a local solution and not miss an opportunity to addresses the complex needs of our young people. The following are some specific findings for Suffolk County:
• 56% percent of Suffolk County's homeless and unstably housed young people have been in the foster care and/or juvenile and criminal justice systems.
• 38% of these homeless youth are only 13 to 21 years old.
• While Boston has more established homeless service providers than other like-sized metropolitan areas, these providers predominantly serve adults and families who are homeless, with few accommodations for youth.
• 28% of females reported being pregnant or a parent and 11% of males reported they were parents or their partner was pregnant
• 25% identified as LGBTQ
• 67% of 18 to 25-year-olds had received a high school diploma or GED.
• 25% of homeless or unstably housed 18- to 25-year-olds were attending school
• The majority was male (65%)
• 40% percent of the surveyed youth identified as Black or African American yet they represent only 25% of the overall Suffolk County population
I look forward to working together in our continued partnership with you to address the needs of our most vulnerable young people and to develop permanent solutions to end youth homelessness. We will be convening groups for service providers and representatives from Chapin Hall in the coming months to review the data and develop a strategy for our collective response.
Voices of Youth Count is made possible with assistance from a broad range of providers in Suffolk County and with support from Liberty Mutual Foundation and Boston Department of Neighborhood Development.
Elisabeth Jackson


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Fancy Yellow and White Diamond Earrings/
These stunning dangle earrings will make any night extraordinary! 1.70 carats of White Diamonds are accented with 0.31 carats of Yellow Diamonds. The oval center stones are set in Platinum and accented with a halo of Yellow Diamonds set in 18 Karat Yellow Gold. The center stones hang from Platinum lines encrusted with Ideal Cut White Diamonds.


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I was in a black and white look at the next day when Tokyo was covered with heavy snow last time.
In recent days, I love looks which focus on their back style! This turtleneck sweater which has 4 ribbons on its back looks so lovely, doesn't it? And I love this back seam pantyhose, which gives ordinary looks upgrade!
I'm hiding the look with lovely back style in the amazing coat whose hem is decorated with lots of beautiful feathers!! It's like keeping a secret in the feather coat, isn't it?


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Richmond Boating Accident Lawyer
There are very few things more relaxing than a pleasant day spent boating on the lake or ocean, but pleasantries can quickly take a dangerous turn when an accident takes you by surprise. In order to protect passengers and others who share the water, boat operators are urged to exercise the highest level of caution and care at all times. When an individual fails to do so, it can result in a serious, even deadly, accident that carries long-term consequences for all parties involved.
If you have been injured in a boating accident, Halperin Law Center wants to provide the quality legal service you need during this time. Our seasoned Richmond boating accident lawyers are here to protect you and your injured loved ones by holding the liable party responsible for acts of negligence. We are on a mission to help you recover fair compensation!
We Work to Establish Liability of the Responsible Party
There are four elements to proving negligence in a boating accident:
- In the first stage, the plaintiff must show that a duty of care was owed them. In context, a duty of care means that a boat operator must be in compliance with local boating laws and regulations.
- Once a duty of care has been established, the plaintiff must show that the liable party failed to adhere to this duty by breaking one or more laws, such as being under the influence of alcohol at the time.
- In the third stage, the plaintiff must be able to prove that the injuries sustained were a direct result of the responsible party's failure to adhere to the established laws. This could include speeding or even lack of lights.
- During the final stage, the plaintiff must provide evidence of the damages suffered as a result of the defendant's acts, therefore providing a base foundation for compensation. This can help ensure a strong case.
Have questions or seeking counsel? Get the experienced and knowledgeable representation of Halperin Law Center in Richmond and Glen Allen! Call our skilled Richmond boating accident lawyers today or fill out a free case evaluation.


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So, I am typing this blog from a place where I can't add pictures. I know - shocking that I would blog without pictures! :) And trust me, I have plenty of pictures to share! After all, we have had the birth of another grandchild! And Christa is EXCELLENT at sending us constant pictures of the beautiful grandchildren my kids keep tucked FAR AWAY in Florida. No, I am not bitter or upset by that at all! After all, (as David often reminds his parents) WE are the ones who moved away! :)
April 15th is normally a day that strikes fear in our hearts since we have to pay taxes that day. Isn't self-employment just the dreamiest thing???? Or not! Anyway, I digress! :) After more than one hour of labor, little miss Estaley Bronwyn Ruth Wilhelm entered this world at 12:52 pm weighing 8.2 pounds and 21 inches long. A beautiful little girl who has turned her mom and dad into complete mush! :) Mommy, Daddy and baby are all adjusting as normally as possible with proud grandparents close by. She is a good little baby when she decides to let her parents sleep at night but I am pretty sure they wouldn't trade her for anything! Now, the little four legged creature who barks loud on occasion and wakes her up - he might be traded for a little copper penny!!
It appears this post is turning into a sappy "Nana" post! But, want to know something really cool?? I love my iPhone! I love being able to do Facetime with all the kids! What is so neat is when Christa calls and she shows Lil' David my face and I say "Hi" he just instantly smiles! It is pretty neat this technology thing! Listening to Addison chatter away and watching her little mind work is so cool! I can't always understand what she is saying but let me tell you, she works hard to get her point across! Being apart is not easy but our handy, dandy little smart phones help a lot! :) David is not necessarily fond of phones much but it is a neat thing to watch him interact with his kiddos! He and Christa do a pretty awesome job at the parent thing as well!
As for Josh and Carrie, I love being able to call and see them whenever. That is especially easy with them because they aren't often apart - a fact we tease them about a lot! :) They are both finishing up some college courses and working! And yes, so that you all know - I keep asking for more grandkids but man, adult children just don't always listen to their parents! :)
So - once again I am posting about my great kids, wonderful grandchildren which problem draws groans from the few who read here. But, want to know what is really great??? Enjoying this phase of life called the "empty nest" with my best friend ever. We are gone a lot on weekends - it is obvious if you go look inside my house. It suffers greatly from a dust overload. But, dust or no dust, I am thoroughly enjoying spending time with Dave and just "living life" together!
Ok - that is it for now! Who knows, I may go home today and add some pictures to this! :) I guess you will just have to wait and see!


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November 19, 2014 — The FDA has received two petitions from citizens who are concerned that the label on Levaquin does not include warnings about psychiatric side effects and mitochondrial toxicity, according to ABC15 News.
One petition (PDF) is calling for warnings about toxic psychoses, hallucinations, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or acts, loss of consciousness, delirium, depressed level of consciousness, amnesia, coma, and memory impairment.
The other petition (PDF) wants warnings about mitochondrial toxicity, a side effect that could lead to neurodegenerative diseases, developmental disorders of the brain, optic neuropathy, neuropathic pain, hearing loss, muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, and lactic acidosis.
Last year, the FDA ordered the manufacturers of Levaquin to add stronger warnings about peripheral neuropathy, a serious type of nerve damage. The warnings emphasized the rapid onset of symptoms and potentially permanent complications.
However, evidence of rapid and permanent nerve damage was first published over a decade earlier. In 2001, Annals of Pharmacotherapy reported 45 cases of antibiotic-induced neuropathy, including 33 linked to Levaquin. In over 80% of cases, symptoms appeared within one week. Nearly 60% of patients still had symptoms after one year.
Do I have a Levaquin Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Levaquin induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.


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Art & Design
Sustainability Consulting
Seema Lisa Pandya is a Brooklyn based accomplished sustainability consultant and a multidisciplinary artist that explores the intersection between sustainability, art, and the built-environment with an aim of connecting audiences with experiential awareness of natural cycles. Her work ranges from sustainability consulting, certification coordination, public art, building integrated installations, artful community/ occupant engagement programs, and social 'happenings', painting, photography, bio-inspired forms, kinetic sculptures, and more.
Sustainable sensitivity influences Seema's process. With 10+ years of experience in the environmental building and design industry, she has an exclusive perspective into sustainability-oriented integrated creative solutions. The work is informed by beauty, function, and deep context examination into how natural systems and art merge with the over all intent of creating a direct artistic experience of natural systems.
Seema's work aesthetically explores the interaction, biological fractal division, and the interchangeable boundaries between positive and negative space. Many of her sculptures are designed with the audience's changing perspective in mind, as they must move around pieces to fully grasp the form of the sculpted negative space. Her kinetic sculptures require audience participation to set the sculpted negative space in motion.
Current Affiliations
LEED AP- BD+C since 2007
LEED reviewer - GBCI
Adjunct Professor at New York School of Interior Design - Introduction to Sustainability and the Built Environment
Adjunct Professor at FIT SUNY - State University of New York
Member of U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) NYC Urban Green chapter
Member of The Living Building Challenge's NYC chapter
Curator – Co Founder FTP Art Salons, Brooklyn, NY
Past Affiliations
Executive Director- Brooklyn Raga Massive (music collective)
Co-Owner- Curator of Revoluciones Collective Art Space;1999 -2007; Denver, Colorado
Senior Sustainability Manger for YR&G, a sustainability consulting company 2007-2015; New York, New York
Technical Expert and Co-Author for LEEDuser, a LEED guidance tool developed in partnership with Building Green and the USGBC; 2009
Adjunct Graduate Professor at FIT SUNI College in NYC-The Future of Sustainable Interiors
Active Design guideline development with NYC Department of Buildings; 2011; New York, New York
New York Board of Directors Member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
Co-chair of the IIDA NYC Sustainability Forum
Select Art Exhibitions and Residencies:
Group Exhibition – FTP Art Salon, Brooklyn, NY 2019
Group Exhibition – Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition, Brooklyn, NY 2019
Animation Sound Installation – Leon Gallery, Denver, CO 2019
BRIC Arts & Media - Group Exhibition - November - December 2017, Brooklyn, New York
New York School of Interior Design - Group Exhibition - October - December 2017, New York, New York
Goddard College - Guest Artist in Residence - September 2017 Ft. Townsend, Washington
Public Sculpture - Wagner College; July 2017 Staten Island, New York
Public Sculpture in Park Slope - Art Slope - Seed of the Void; September 2016 Brooklyn, New York
Tabla Sculpture Series at Pioneer Works- Ragas Live Festival; July 2016; Brooklyn, New York
(SAW) Storefront Art Walk June 2016; Bay Ridge Brooklyn, New York
Figment Public Art on Governor's Island; 2014; New York, New York
Revoluciones Collective Art Space Solo Show; 2005; Denver, Colorado
Revoluciones Collective Art Space Solo Show; 2003; Denver, Colorado
Revoluciones Collective Art Space Solo Show; 2001; Denver, Colorado
Select Lectures and Speaking Engagements:
Moderator- Panel Lecture, Art, Environment, and Justice in a Changing World, Asian Arts Alliance, Brooklyn, NY 2019
Moderator- Panel Lecture, #Metoo and Power in South Asian Performing Arts, The Rubin Museum, NY,NY 2019
Featured Presenter, Creativity and Sustainability, FIT State University of New York, Sustainable Business and Design Conference NY, NY 2016
Panel Lecture, Regenerative Culture, MINDS, Treeline Pictures, Bitcoin Center, and US Dept. of Arts and Culture, People's Xchange event, NY, NY, 2015
Guest Lecture, Art and Sustainability in the Built Environment, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 2015
Panel Lecture Facilitator, The WELL Building Standard, IIDA, NY, NY, 2015
Panel Lecture Facilitator, Beauty, Biophilia, and the Living Building Challenge, IIDA, NY, NY, 2014
Panel Lecture, Land Art Generator Book Launch, Arsenal Gallery Central Park, NY, NY, 2013
Select Sustainability LEED Consulting Projects:
National Audubon Headquarters; New York City
Delos Living Multi-family; New York City
Starwood Offices; New York City
Westmoreland Museum; Greensburg, PA
199 Mott Street Mixed-Use, Multi-family; New York City
14th Street Mixed-Use; New York City
Columbia University, School of Journalism; New York City
WestLB Headquarters; New York City
Trinity Real Estate Headquarters; New York City
City Bank Corporate Offices,111 Wall Street; New York City
City Bank Changi Business Park; Singapore
Barclays Corporate Offices; Toronto
ING Headquarters; New York City
Kings County Courthouse; Brooklyn, NY
The Flea Theater; New York City
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe Headquarters; New York City
Jean Nouvel Residential Tower, 100 11th Avenue; New York City
WilmerHale Headquarters; New York City
Active Design Guidelines Developer Outreach; New York City
Inscape Showrooms; New York City
"Brooklyn Designer Adds Sustainable Art To Built Environments", The Editor At Large, March 3rd 2015, http://www.editoratlarge.com/articles/5044/brooklyn-designer-adds-sustainable-art-to-built-environments
Pollack and Melconi, Designing for Privacy and Related Needs, New York: Fairchild Publications, 2005, pg. 231 – 232, Pandya's Nautilus Lounge
2005 Competition 3rd Place National, IDEC Student Design Competition, Cradel to Cradel Eco Effective Design
2004 Competition 1st Place, Fairchild Publications, Sustainable Design Concept, Denver, CO
2004 Art Curatorial, Best Alternative Art Space, Top of the Rockies, Denver, CO
2001 Art Curatorial, Best Gallery Award, Go-Go Magazine, Denver, CO
2001 Art Curatorial, Best Gallery Award, City Search.com Editors Choice, Denver, CO
2001 Art Curatorial, Valedictorian Award, Go-Go Magazine, Denver, CO
2000 Art Curatorial, Editors Choice Best Gallery Award, City Search.com, Denver, CO
2000 Art Curatorial, Audience Choice Best Gallery Award, City Search.com, Denver, CO
2010 LEED Accredited Professional – Building Design + Construction, US Green Building Council
2007 LEED Accredited Professional, US Green Building Council
Bachelor of Arts, Interior Design/ Area of Specialization in Green Design Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Denver, Colorado FIDER Accredited, GPA 3.8/4.0 Suma Cum Laude August 2003 - April 2005
University of Texas, Austin, Texas September 1994 - August 1996
Certificate, Digital Fabrication Program in Subtractive Fabrication New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY January 2014 – May 2014


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Next Meeting
Regular Board Meeting
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Cambridge Police Department
First Floor Community Room
125 Sixth Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
MEETING Documents
FINAL Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board on March 15, 2017
Letter to DHCD regarding proposed amendments to regulations 760 – CMR 12.00 – Urban Renewal Regulations (April 7, 2017)
Kendall Square Transit Enhancement Program Memorandum of Understanding
Monthly Staff Report and Financial Update
2017 Forward Fund Selections Summary
Kendall Square Transit Enhancement Program Memorandum of Understanding (red-lined)
Regularly scheduled board meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority is a "local public body" for the purpose of the Open Meeting Law pursuant to M. G. L. c. 30A, § 18.
M. G. L. c. 30A, § 20, provides in relevant part:
(b) Except in an emergency, in addition to any notice otherwise required by law, a public body shall post notice of every meeting at least 48 hours prior to such meeting, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. In an emergency, a public body shall post notice as soon as reasonably possible prior to such meeting. Notice shall be printed in a legible, easily understandable format and shall contain the date, time and place of such meeting and a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting.
(c) For meetings of a local public body, notice shall be filed with the municipal clerk and posted in a manner conspicuously visible to the public at all hours in or on the municipal building in which the clerk's office is located.
It is the policy of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority to provide notice at least 7 calendar days prior to its meetings whenever practicable.


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Does Music Help You Focus?/
One morning, I had to walk my dogs alone, since my wonderful wife was out of town. At first, I popped my headphones in and started listening to Comedy Central. But for some reason after I walked out of my home's Wi-Fi range, the signal crapped out, and so I was met with silence. Rather than drag my phone out of my pocket, I just walked with the silence, and after a couple of minutes of consciously enjoying the sun and view of the lakes and my cute dogs, my brain popped out the answer to a complicated problem I'd been thinking about for a couple of days. Eureka!
This reminded me of what we've been talking about in our Getting Focused for Entrepreneurs class. Multitasking is not real, our brains only work on one thing at a time, and when we switch activities we lose time and focus. One of the points we discussed was that even listening to music with words (much less a comedy routine) causes part of your brain to focus on the words rather than whatever else is at hand.
However, I often prefer to do focus work while listening to music. I am reminded that I should put Beethoven instead of Def Leppard on my focus-work playlists, or just use one of the many focus playlists on Spotify.
P.S. We are running the Getting Focused for Entrepreneurs class again starting July 9. Click here for more info about the class or to sign up.


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I've had a few emails today and noticed a similar comment over at Scoble's blog asking whether LiveSide is a Microsoft project or a community project. It is definitely a community project. If you have any more questions about the site either email us or comment below.
PS: You can find a French Microsoft blog dedicated to Windows Live at livebackstage.fr.


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Based on recent media coverage and conversations with financial advisors around the country regarding separately managed accounts (SMAs), it's clear that the SMA players have done an excellent job marketing these products and pushing their benefits. Probably every self-respecting advisor knows the purported benefits of SMAs: tax efficiency, customization, tax control, risk control, and simplified reporting.
But what most advisors may not realize is that only approximately 12% of taxable separate accounts actually receive some kind of tax treatment, according to Cerulli Associates Inc, and industry estimates show that only 24% of accounts benefit from tax customization. This is due to the fact that the industry has neither technology nor the manpower to deliver on the promise that was made when the account was sold. This is particularly painful for high-net-worth investors since tax is their single largest obstacle to long-term growth. To understand the solution for these investors, we need to take a closer look at the underlying inadequacies in the SMA industry.
Customization vs. Scalability
The SMA business has frequently boasted about the advantages of using a separate account structure over pooled vehicles claiming customization and tax management as its winning combination. In reality the SMA industry has come to mirror the mutual fund world in many ways and the promise of customization and tax management, in most cases, has not been delivered upon. Why?
From the manager's perspective mutual funds are far more attractive to manage due to the fact that their structure eliminates customization or tax management at the individual client level. As a result the margins on running funds are substantially higher than those on separate accounts.
For decades the industry has utilized separately managed accounts, but until the 1980s reserved this vehicle primarily for large institutional clients. With the advent of the wrap account, the structure was introduced to the high-net-worth investor in the late '80s on a mass scale, however, the popularity of the vehicle was limited due to the initially high investment minimums. With the introduction of "mass customization," otherwise known as the "models approach," minimums fell precipitously and assets under management began to grow.
Using this technique the manger simply created one "ideal" model and mandated that all accounts they managed conform to it. Although each client owns individual securities, their account does not differ from the thousands of other accounts under management in the strategy at the firm. The AIMR compliant returns posted by every separate account manager in the business bears this out. In this report, the manager states assets under management, performance, benchmark performance and dispersion for each of their products. Dispersion simply states the difference in performance from the best to the worst-performing accounts. (Ask your favorite SMA manager to see their AIMR report to see for yourself.)
This SMA methodology was introduced primarily to benefit the nontaxable institutional investor whose sole concern was and is investment performance. Firms with low dispersion could assure these institutions that the performance was consistent among their accounts and that the institution would get what the manager had advertised. Firms strived for low dispersion. Unfortunately, this demand for consistency flew in the face of what the SMA industry had promised the high-net-worth community. Customization and tax management at the individual client level would most certainly lead to high dispersion. The SMA managers had essentially created a mutual fund with a lot of different account numbers.
Customization and tax management also led to scale problems that the SMA industry could not handle operationally. A simple example of the challenge faced by a manager would be to look at two hypothetical clients. Client A invested with an SMA Manager in January 2007, who at that point purchased 10 shares of IBM for $10 per share on the investor's behalf. One year later, client B invests with the same manager who still owns IBM which is now worth $6 dollars per share. If the manager harvests the $4 loss for client A, two issues arise:
1. What should be purchased with the proceeds from this sale?
2. Who is responsible for making sure that IBM isn't repurchased within 31 days?
If the manager does in fact conduct this trade, now client A's and client B's accounts are different and cannot be traded in bulk. The dispersion will increase. This problem compounds exponentially as the number of accounts and positions owned grows.
The Overlay Solution
In the past five years advances in technology have brought the idea of alpha, tax management and customization back together in the SMA industry in the form of the overlay manager. The solution's roots date back almost 100 years to Henry Ford and his assembly line. His revolutionary idea was to have workers specialize in a certain aspect of the construction of a car. This focus approach allowed them to master their specific craft and allowed Ford to turn cars out at a frenetic pace.
With the SMA business the solution is identical – separate the process into its component parts: alpha generation or stock selection and tax management/customization or trading and allow each entity to master its craft. The concept is quite simple: allow the stock pickers to pick stocks and identify a trading manager to execute on these ideas with an eye to tax. The concept has further matured by allowing the investor to combine multiple managers into one account and allowing the overlay manager to trade them all simultaneously.
Early on, overlay managers faced the same challenge of scale as the SMA business. The recent development of batch order trading systems, smart technology and quantitative trading tools tailored to the taxable client is making it possible to deliver customization at the individual level for the mass market. Today, the client of an overlay manager can designate the investment managers they want to use, the capital gains tax budget they are willing to realize annually and the restrictions that they want in place at the security level.
Additionally, if the client is changing strategies or advisors, they can dictate the level of realized capital gains taken in transition. Gone are the days when tax management was relegated to tax loss selling in the last days of December. As the market moves, beneficial tax trades can be made daily on the individual client level. With overlay management, the industry's focus on simply beating a benchmark has shifted to providing the client the best absolute return (investment – fees and taxes) possible.


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Monday, 30 December 2013
Dystopian Wars Kingdom of Britannia Fleet
Despite the fact I knew I'd not score as many points in the painting challenge as the effort to paint these is worth, I simply couldn't resist and out came the brushes. I was sorely tempted to go with the "standard" dazzle pattern on the hulls but it has been done so many times before I decided to try something different. I've gone with a royal blue and bronze scheme with white highlights. It looks quite striking en masse and is easy to replicate which is a real bonus.
Here are some shots of progress so far...
I've got a couple of aircraft and a dreadnought complete as well but they can't appear hear til Curt has displayed them so stay tuned.
This is likely the last post for 2013 so it only remains to welcome aboard Warlord Pail and wish all our friends and followers a wonderful New Year and fabulous 2014.
14 comments :
Great looking fleet you must be very happy with them. Its been great following your blog in 2013 and look forward to more in 2014ReplyDelete
Peace JamesReplies
Thanks James. I thoroughly enjoy yours too mate.Delete
Excellent fleet.ReplyDelete
I loved these Millsy; a range I know nothing about, but always go 'wow!' when I see them. Happy New Year mate!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Michael. Seems a lot of people aren't up to speed with Dystopian Wars. I've not played a game yet myself but am loving the miniatures. Happy New Year to you too mate!Delete
Very nice work Michael, I have seen some of these IRL and man that work is impressive givenm the size of theseReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Andrew. You're correct about the size but the detail is there by the truck load. They certainly repay your efforts.Delete
They look splendid, well done. Have a great New Year.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks András. Happy New Year to your too!Delete
Thanks for doing all the heavy lifting blogwise this year, Michael, I resolve to post more in 2014!ReplyDeleteReplies
You've made a very solid contribution too sir. Now we just have to get the other lads to get their digits out!Delete
Wonderful work, Michael! You've stuck on a style that pops and is so well tied together.ReplyDelete
This is another system I'd love to try some day so, thanks for the temptation!Replies
Thanks Monty and you're most welcome :-)Delete


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Kyle Karnes
Chief Executive Officer
Currently the CEO of Student Agencies, Inc., Kyle formerly founded and served as the President of Red Pearl Advisors, a boutique strategy consulting and M&A advisory firm focused on delivering high impact strategy development, execution and transaction advisory services to small and middle market companies. As the principal on all Red Pearl client engagements, Kyle leveraged his experience as a consultant, start-up leader, line executive and corporate development officer to provide direct strategic and tactical support to client owners and executive decision-makers.
Prior to founding Red Pearl, Kyle worked for Harris Interactive for eleven years. He joined the firm in 1998 to lead the development of the company's pioneering Internet-based market research business, which ultimately led to the firm's IPO in December 1999. At the time of his departure in 2009, Kyle served as Harris' Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and was responsible for overseeing the firm's global expansion and related M&A activities. Prior to assuming the corporate development role, he served stints as Group President for the Technology, Automotive and Product Solutions business units; Division President for the Technology, Automotive, CPG, General Markets, Financial Services and Advanced Analytics business units; Senior Vice President, Technology Research; Vice President, eBusiness research; and Vice President, Product Development and Market Planning.
Before joining Harris Interactive, Kyle worked for the LIGHTNIN Company, where he was the Director of Business Development and Operations for LIGHTNIN Process Equipment Services. Prior to joining LIGHTNIN in 1996, he worked in the Office of the Corporate Vice President of Operations for General Signal, LIGHTNIN's parent company. He began his career as a Staff Consultant with Andersen Consulting and later worked abroad as an independent consultant for a then recently privatized company in the Czech Republic.
Kyle graduated from Cornell University's School of Engineering in 1991 with a BS degree in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering (ORIE) and later earned his MBA from the University of Michigan in 1995.
Board member since 2013.
Bonnie Enzian
Director of Operations
Bonnie is a graduate of UCLA and has been with Student Agencies since 2000. As Director of Operations she takes an active role in providing input and feedback to the student President and managers as they identify, evaluate and pursue growth opportunities for the organization. In addition, her professional goal is to improve our operational efficiencies and enrich the student experience through leadership and mentoring. Bonnie has 2 daughters in college. She loves spending time outdoors and on the lake during the three to four months of beautiful weather in Ithaca.
Lisa Moran
George Pipis
Facilities Supervisor
Lori Westmiller
Building Housekeeping
Angelle Aldridge (SAF)
Angelle Aldridge is the Program Director for Student Agencies Foundation.


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Ercol 'Marino' 3 Seater Sofa
Impeccably crafted design from British maker Ercol.
The Marino sofa by Dylan Freeth is beautifully crafted from solid ash timber. It references the qualities and features of Ercol design classics through a considered design aesthetic. Its elegance and flowing lines, combined with exceptional craftsmanship create a striking, contemporary sofa. The Marino Chair was awarded a 2016 Design Guild Mark from the Furniture Makers' Company UK for excellence in furniture design.
About the Designer / Dylan Freeth has been part of the Ercol design studio since 2011; he has designed many popular pieces of furniture including the Ercol Romana Sideboard which received the Design Guild Mark Award for excellence in furniture design in 2014. The latest of Dylan's creations is the Marino armchair and sofa, inspired by his values of creating elegant, engaging furniture with great attention to detail, values shared by Ercol.
NOTE: Price is for a Marino Sofa in ash with fabric from Ercol's most affordable range. Please ask about for alternative fabric options
Materials: Beautifully crafted from solid, sustainable plantation ash
A range of finishes available
/ Natural ash
/ Ash with chestnut stain
/ Ash with a selection environmentally friendly water based stains or a paint finishes
Wood Finish: Can be finished in a selection environmentally friendly water based stains or a paint finishes
Seat Cushions: Foam core with a duck feather top. Back Cushions: 100% duck feather
Suspension: Elastic webbing
Makers Label: Ercol badge plate can be found on the back of the seat base
Availability: Indent order – 12-15 weeks lead time


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AdaptiBar. You keep hearing this name. What is it, some kind of protein snack?
AdaptiBar is an online study supplement for the MBE (Multistate Bar Examination, AKA the multiple-choice section of the bar exam).
The MBE has gotten a ton of criticism lately. For one, the president of the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) thinks newer MBE takers are "less able."
Sure, buddy. Outside of la-la land, more and more students are reporting how hard these questions are getting.
If you like to take information on the Internet at face value, here's a graph showing that the national mean MBE score continues to hit all-time lows.
Multiple choice? More like multiple guess.
Moreover, the MBE can account for up to half of your score on the bar.
California bar takers… tread carefully because the new two-day format in 2017 July means the MBE is now worth 50% of your score instead of 35%. This is good news only if you're confident in your multiple-guessing skills.
Half of your fate hangs on a series of alphabets. I'm not talking about your essays here (which are also a series of alphabets). Essays are important, too, but that's outside the scope of this review. You can find extensive discussion of essays elsewhere on my blog.
So what? You need to prepare. I'm not messing around, dude. You can't bullshit your way through the MBE because expert assassins are employed by the NCBE, the organization making these questions.
"How hard can it be? The answer is right there!" They are simply better than you, so don't count on being able to say "eh, I'll manage" and hoping to outmaneuver them later.
So yeah, things aren't looking too good so far. Unless you know what you're doing, you'll be filled with doubt on the MBE and suffer a death of a thousand cuts. 200 cuts to be exact.
But before you scream in despair, there are resources out there that can help you improve your MBE performance.
AdaptiBar is one of them. Let's get an inside look at its features, go through how to use them, and lay down some pros and cons.
I'm not going to try to convince you to get it one way or another. If it's not right for you, don't force yourself to get it! People have passed with or without AdaptiBar.
Let's actually examine and consider whether this is right for you or not. Or you can jump to the summary. There is a small incentive at the end if you end up deciding to get it.
Table of contents:
- Is AdaptiBar worth the cost?
- Summary of pros and cons
- An alternative (or complement)
- Final verdict (and how to get $30 off)
Is AdaptiBar worth the cost?
"Why do I need to shell out 400 U.S. dollars for this? Can't I just use Barbri questions that I paid 4,000 dollars for?"
I mean, you can. Don't let me or anyone else stop you from doing your thing.
Decide whether it's worth it… after you see what AdaptiBar can do for you. I'll also tell you how you can get $30 off if you decide you want to use it for your MBE prep.
Right off the bat, the thing I like about AdaptiBar is its utilization of real questions.
AdaptiBar comes with 1,955 questions—including questions from the four 100-question Online Practice Exams (OPEs) that you can normally buy separately from the NCBE for $50 a pop.
Update: What were previously known as "OPEs" and the "Study Aid" are no longer available for separate purchase as of March 25, 2019. They've been replaced with a different set of study aids that have a mobile online component.
In any case, AdaptiBar includes the entire universe of real questions that were tested in actual exams. PLUS questions from NCBE's Study Aid newly released in 2017 (including 30 actual Civ Pro questions).
Specifically, 1,530 of them make up every licensed question that was previously available through the NCBE. There are 200 Civ Pro and 15 Real Property questions that AdaptiBar's legal team wrote. There are 210 additional questions most recently released in the 2017 Study Aid, along with answer explanations written by the AdaptiBar legal team. These Study Aid questions can be taken in 100-question formats in random (but proportional to what you'd see on the real MBE).
Very good. You want to study with real questions. I keep hearing about how they're so much better than the ones bar courses provide. I recommend that a great bulk of your MBE prep involve real questions, whether you use AdaptiBar or not.
Before we proceed, I need to get on another soapbox on top of this existing one because this common concern really rustles my jimmies…
I get concerned and nervous about people who rely solely on company-written questions. Why take the risk when real questions exist? The NCBE licenses its questions for preparation purposes. They themselves even sell study materials containing real questions. Take the hint!
Companies that write their own questions say that you should use their questions, even if they may have a different style and feel. The logic is that the questions you'll see on the actual MBE will be easier in comparison.
I don't believe focusing on manufactured or artificially difficult questions is the right kind of "stress testing."
Would you study with multi-page final exams from law school to prepare for essays on the bar? It's the same thing but a lot more convoluted, right?
No, you wouldn't do that, or at least I hope not. You practice with something closest to what you'll actually see on the real thing.
That said, manufactured questions from prep companies are all right in some situations. The MBE is becoming trickier after all. You could use the manufactured questions for drilling particularly weak areas, warming up, or mixing it up with real questions (to train yourself for uncertainty, not "difficulty"). You can use them, say, 25% of the time. Not only that, rote memorization of rules will help too, since the MBE can test concepts that have never or rarely been tested in the past.
Note that, in AdaptiBar, (1) you may see questions from an OPE in the practice questions (which is fine), and (2) AdaptiBar includes about 200 simulated Civil Procedure questions in practice mode, as well as 30 past Civ Pro questions from the 2017 Study Aid. So if you plan to get AdaptiBar, no need to get any of the NCBE MBE study aids.
AdaptiBar is web-based and mobile.
Everything you get—the questions, software, analysis—is accessible on any Internet-enabled device, like your computer or mobile device.
This is useful for those who are often on the go, or working and studying at the same time, because you can prepare with AdaptiBar during lunch and breaks. No lugging books around or shuffling through flashcards while standing in line at Starbucks.
While this is convenient, many students find this mode unfaithful to the real MBE experience. That is, they say it's tiring to stare at a screen and click on answers for hours instead of working with simple paper and pencil.
You can't print the questions because the software takes your answers directly on screen and analyzes them later.
You can, however, print PDFs of answers and analyses to review them. Not sure if that's any better for an authentic MBE experience… but maybe you can give yourself a break between doing sets by reviewing them on paper.
Some have reported that it's better to use it on a tablet and have a notebook to go along with it for handwritten notes. Your mileage may vary.
There are detailed explanations for each question.
Like this (you can click on any picture in this review for a full version):
Feedback is critical to improvement. The explanations explain why you got an answer right or wrong.
These explanations aren't the most thorough (personally, Emanuel's Strategies & Tactics has better ones), but they're helpful considering that there's one for each question.
Even if you get a question right, I recommend that you thoroughly review answer explanations. Just because you were correct doesn't mean you were right. Each question is an opportunity to validate your understanding (if you chose the credited answer) or to learn the legal principle (if you were wrong).
You may notice that the question identifies the issue for you. See that at the top in the first picture? "Contracts / Parol Evidence and Interpretation" shows up when you're looking at the question.
This is a setting that can be turned on/off when going into practice questions mode so that you can, if you want to, see a question without any indication of what subject or subtopic it comes from.
You can use this identifier information in the beginning of your studies, but you may not find this helpful later on because sometimes you may misinterpret the identifier or be misled by it.
In any case, the actual MBE question won't tell you the issue(s) it's testing, so you'll need to stop relying on it eventually (if ever).
Speaking of feedback…
Is the AdaptiBar program supposed to adapt itself to you, or allow you to adapt based on your performance? The name has to mean one of the two!
AdaptiBar automatically adjusts the presentation of questions based on your previous performance.
Turns out AdaptiBar adapts to your performance. Explains the name.
In other words, over time, it gives you more questions of the types that you suck at, and it gives you fewer questions of the types you don't need more help with. It learns and caters to you so that you can get better practice—automatically.
This means the AdaptiBar software will help you target and shore up your weaknesses, without you having to figure them out yourself!
You can check the patent yourself for all the gory details. Yes, it is a patented technology. (BTW, when you see a Kickstarter campaign that says it has so-and-so patents, or it's "patent pending," don't assume it's anything amazing.)
It will also give you a bar graph of your performance by subject and topic. Here, you can see how you're doing in each subject and sub-topic…
Sometimes, it will suggest links to video lectures (see above). Here's what AdaptiBar has to say about them:
Not the "same old"? "Captivating"? I disagree.
You can check out some trailers here.
I guess if you need serious remedial help, these lectures could be a good way to procrastinate for 45 minutes, thinking you're going to remember everything and know how to apply it.
Note well that I haven't actually watched any of the lectures in their entirety (just random parts), so I could be wrong here and unfairly downplaying the lectures (I hear Jonathan Grossman himself is pretty good as a tutor).
Whatever the case, I'd rather solve problems, which is what simply works if you want to improve your score. The lectures are a nice bonus but not the main value of AdaptiBar. So this is a toss-up for me.
Some other features you can get out of AdaptiBar…
Practice mode and exam mode with selectable subjects (based on, e.g., what you find you need to improve on)
A timer to pressure you into answering in time (adjustments available for ADA-accommodated users)
Timing performance – tells you how fast you answered questions
There is a timing analysis page that covers the average time you take to answer a question, your projected completion time of the bar exam, and even a sweet spot for pacing yourself to answer the most questions at the highest accuracy rate.
Also, after you answer a question, you can see your time, the average time, and your optimal time if you've answered the question correctly before.
Back to the question at hand: Is AdaptiBar worth it? A summary.
I don't know. AdaptiBar is merely a tool. It depends on what you find valuable and whether you're willing to use it.
Remember how tough the MBE is nowadays, so do what's best for you.
I'm not going to pump a product you don't really need just so I could entice you into using my $30 coupon code that would get me $15 in kickback. (Though if you're going to sign up, why not use my code ;))
But I can help you weigh the pros and cons so you can decide whether it's a worthy investment for you. This is your bar exam.
Btw the cons I identify below aren't bullshit "cons" that other reviews have that are really weak strawmen that you might give in a job interview in response to "what are your weaknesses?"
Depending on your study style, these cons are actual concerns that might hinder your studies based on what I've heard from real users. If they dissuade you away from getting AdaptiBar, that's fine. I only want you to get it if it appeals to you. You can always decide to get it down the line.
Pros – convenience and comprehensiveness
- Pulls from a database of 1,500+ real questions (more than you need) plus the 200+ from the 2017 Study Aid (no longer available for separate purchase)
- Adapts to your strengths and weaknesses (score weighting allows you to pinpoint your weak areas without doing so manually)
- Designed to encourage you to practice and get feedback (exam mode, timer, and explanations), which is the process to improve your score as long as you learn from the process
- Offers detailed explanations so you can validate your understanding or learn from your mistakes
- Video lectures don't detract from the question-and-feedback system, which is the meat of the program; you can ignore the videos if you dislike long lectures, but they're there if you want help understanding a particular concept or like video lectures
- Better or alternative answer explanations may be available elsewhere (see below)
Cons – costly technology
- Questions are on screen, i.e., it may be tiring to stare at the screen, and it doesn't give you a paper-and-pencil practice environment
- Pricey @ $395 w/ no refund policy that I know of (plus, some video lectures cost extra) (find out how to get a coupon below)
Now that you've seen the cons, I want to say that this is actually a great supplement that has helped a lot of people. Even with these cons, it's one of the best MBE resources out there.
As an aside, here is an alternative (or complement) that compensates for the cons described above. It's what I personally used when I retook the California bar:
Strategies & Tactics for the MBE Volume 1 by Steven Emanuel
I consider this the MBE bible, even if it has a couple of typos.
It's great (and may be the only MBE supplement you need) because it comes with 500-600 representative MBE questions that are all genuine and were previously administered. The selected questions cover a broad range of issues. It also comes with a full 200Q practice exam. Each subject gets a brief review and strategies and tactics tailored to it.
One of the core benefits of this book is that the explanations are very helpful for learning. "To be honest, I found the explanations provided by Emanuel are way much better than Adaptibar."—Mostafa S.
The latest 6th edition comes with some excellent author-written Civ Pro questions.
Here's what it looks like inside (5th edition):
Subject overview
I went through this book back to back during my bar prep. There are a few typos, but no resource is 100% perfect. Overall, I would highly recommend this book.
Strategies & Tactics for the MBE Volume 2 by Steven Emanuel
This is the expansion pack to Volume 1, containing new questions. It's in a different format, where the answer appears right beneath the question. If you're doing a question for practice, you'll have to carefully cover the answer as you do each question.
Similar to AdaptiBar's questions, the book tells you the issue being tested right above the question.
Here's what it looks like inside (latest 2012 edition).
I didn't do all the questions in this book. I found Volume 2 to be more useful for getting extra practice with issues I wanted to improve on or already knew I was terrible at.
Note: I have no affiliation with Mr. Emanuel, author of the two books above. Also, the above links are Amazon affiliate links, and I'll get like 4% of what you pay for at no cost to you.
Verdict (and how you can get $30 off AdaptiBar)
All that said, AdaptiBar (along with Emanuel's S&T books) is one of the best resources I know for preparing for the MBE. [Click to Tweet]
If there's any takeaway here, it's that the MBE isn't impossible… and not enough people are talking about the possibility of success! We'd rather talk about how hard it is because the default state is fear.
A common concern I get from foreign-trained lawyers is that they're not familiar with the multiple-choice style of testing. But look at the screenshot above. This shows that it is most definitely doable if you are consistently learning and know how to approach the test itself. Approach the bar exam from a clean slate. Your preconceptions don't matter in Hell.
Overall, if you prefer having a comprehensive solution with many questions to work with, get AdaptiBar. If you can't handle studying on screen, don't get AdaptiBar. If budget were no concern, I would get both AdaptiBar and Emanuel's S&T.
People have passed the bar using either or both of these excellent supplements, even if neither is perfect. But you must do your due diligence and decide for yourself which, if any, you will use to study. I do recommend utilizing at least one of them.
If you're still interested in using AdaptiBar for your MBE studies, you can get a $30 coupon code for joining my weekly email list (since I'm not allowed to post the code publicly). This will also help me out because, as noted above, I will get $15 as a referral (different from the 30/30 program).
So, with the code, AdaptiBar will come out to $365 for the full MBE option and $265 for the baby bar. I'll try to ask for a better discount in the future.
Thanks for reading my review of AdaptiBar. I sincerely hope it was helpful!


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Crochet Teacup Ornaments
...and hot cocoa too! :)
I know, I know. You're probably saying,"It's July, Meredith!". Well...I was feeling inspired to get a head start on the holidays and work on some new crochet ornaments for the shop! In my opinion, it's never to early to get started on the busy holiday season. I made the first one for my mom last year to continue my annual tradition of giving her a ornament gift on Christmas morning. She loved it so much that I knew I had to add some to my shop this year! I think tiny cups of tea are cute all year long anyway.
As much as I love the excruciating heat of summer, I'm game for sweaters and tea any day. Oh, and records by the fire, twinkly lights, thick socks, blankets, baking, and...well you get the idea. If Hobby Lobby says it's time to put out the Christmas decorations, that's good enough for me! ;)
You can find the crochet ornaments in my shop here.
Has anyone else started on their holiday crafting yet? Or am I overeager and alone in my way-too-early holiday excitement? It's ok. I'm
not even a little bit ashamed...


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Two-tone brogue shoe, produced using calf leathers, Funnelweb is available in Tan, Brown and Dark Brown. Funnelweb features a double leather sole and is made using our popular and versatile 'Claridge' last shape. Funnelweb is made in England.- Goodyear Welted Double Leather Soles- Fully Leather Lined- Leather insoles- Last Claridge / F fitting
Free UK Shipping.


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Fall isn't officially here according to the calendar, but this morning I awoke to the welcome sound of rain on the rooftop. As I sit here at 9AM, it still almost feels like the wee hours of the morning, it's quite dark outside and with soft lamplight is making things feel cozy inside, definitely starting to feel like an autumn day, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite fall finds and rituals.
This Honeyed Pear and Blue Cheese Tart is on my list to make this week, the combination of flavors has my mouth watering....
I always find myself snuggling under a blanket in the cooler months. The soft, muted colors of Anthropologie's Talma Tasseled Throw caught my eye on Pinterest the other day, the tiny tassels on the ends are a nice subtle detail. These would be great at the foot of the bed or draped in the living room, close at hand when you get a chill.
The flickering light of a great smelling candle always makes me feel warm and cozy; I'm still a sucker for a seasonally scented candle, and this White Pumpkin scent layered with nutmeg, cinnamon, and warm vanilla bean is just what I've been looking for from local artisan Ilka Evans of Zoet Bathlatier.
What would fall be without apple cider? I'm looking forward to trying this version from Martha Stewart with the unique addition of maple syrup.
Fall's the harvest season for apples and all the delicious things to be done with them (the simplest of them eating out of hand): apple cakes, pies, cider, and apple butter. Last year, some friends and I headed down to a tree on a nearby street and picked apples and cooked and canned apple butter together. It's such a sweet memory, and we've been enjoying the butter all year. This year, we're headed to Westwind Orchard in October for fresh apples and cider. What are some of your favorite ways to enjoy the fruits of this beautiful season?
xo, Nicole


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We've Got a List of the Best Tropical Beaches for Your Next Vacation
Undeniably, the world we live in is blessed with hundreds of wonderful, golden, and sun-soaked tropical beaches. These glorious slices of heaven are lying out there, waiting for us ... which one would you choose?
Natasha Bantwal
Last Updated: Dec 15, 2018
Did You Know?
At a time, only 460 visitors are allowed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fernando de Noronha. This ensures that at any given point of time, this tropical island is relatively secluded.
Picture this: you are lazing around on a white sandy beach, soaking up the sun, with the deep blue waters surrounding you and the wind blowing lazily through your hair―doesn't that conjure up lovely visions of a tropical vacation?
From inexpensive to luxurious, and from weekend getaways to cruises, you can choose a tropical beach vacation that suits your needs. So, if you are looking forward to a good time in a place with sparkling blue waters, tropical weather, and sandy white beaches, then pack your bags and get ready for a mesmerizing holiday in the tropics.
Plan Your Vacation in Style ...
Bora Bora, Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia
With a land area of less than 15.6 sq mi, this enchanting tropical island can be covered entirely in just one trip.
The island is a luxurious resorts and expensive holidays, travelers can find cheaper accommodation options too. In 2013, Travel + Leisure readers, voted Bora Bora as the most romantic island in the world. A quiet, relaxed atmosphere with private beaches, over-the-water bungalows on motus, and the seclusion, this island is the most seductive of the lot.
Pink Sand Beaches at Harbor Island, The Bahamas
This small island has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. More so, it is famous for its beaches on the east side, all of which are blessed with pink sand.
With less than 2,000 inhabitants, the island has an unbelievably laid-back attitude, making it an awesome destination for tourists seeking relaxation. Stroll down the streets and gaze upon awe-inspiring Georgian architecture. You can reach this island by air (North Eleuthera Airport), and then by a short water-taxi trip.
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii
If you want to enjoy tropical beach vacation in the company of thousands, this is your best bet; the Hanauma Nature Reserve draws more than three thousand visitors every day.
The bay is said to be a 36,000-year-old volcanic crater. Snorkelers and swimmers take special pleasure in the sheltered bay, and are greeted every now and then by several colorful tropical fish. It is closed on Tuesdays to allow fish feeding with no interruption. During summers, the Bay is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and during winters, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Palm Beach, Aruba
Unlike many Caribbean Islands, Aruba has some of the most spectacular beaches. You can explore exotic Aruban buildings and go golfing at some of the most spectacular golf courses ever.
Palm Beach is idyllic for you and the family. Along with the obvious water sports, it has shopping malls, movie complexes, and an upbeat nightlife. Those looking for a holiday with a pinch of glamor―Aruba is the place for you. Apart from renowned, high-rise luxury hotels, you will also find condos on rent.
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Few people get the chance to travel to the unspoiled, unmarred, breathtakingly beautiful beaches of Fernando de Noronha. Also, tourists need to pay an Environmental Preservation Tax, which is decided on the duration of your stay.
Being a small part of a volcanic archipelago, Fernando de Noronha boasts of towering rock sculptures, natural swimming pools, pristine waterfalls, and exquisite white beaches that are snuggled amongst jagged caves and cliffs.
The most beautiful beaches are Praia do Sancho, Praia dos Porcos, and Praia do Leão. The island is one of the biggest sea bird breeding colonies in the South Atlantic.
Tulum, Mexico
Crystal blue waters and white sandy beaches greet visitors to this exotic paradise. The ancient Mayan ruins that tower over the beaches are one of the most mesmerizing sites in the world.
Sunbathers and swimmers will be swept off their feet with the beauty of the beaches here. Today, it is the third-most-visited archaeological site in the country. Due to its close proximity to Cancún, the sitesees an increasing number of tourists every year.
There are several tropical islands you can choose from for your next vacation. However, the ones we've mentioned here are clear winners. A trip to these paradises is nothing short of an experience.


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Dear Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association member,
Since our letter last week notifying you of the algae bloom detected in the west channel on August 15, 2017, both TKPOA and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB) have conducted testing and have begun a plan of action to address the issue.
Both TKPOA and LRWQCB's testing returned similar results, showing low-levels of toxins that warrant precautionary measures by TKPOA, Tahoe Keys property owners, residents and visitors.
LRWQCB has advised the same cautions now signed around the Tahoe Keys, with more protection for domestic pets – which should be kept out of the water until further notice. The levels of Anatoxin-A produced by the cyanobacteria can be dangerous for pets that swim in, drink the water or eat the algae in the Tahoe Keys west lagoon. Please help spread the word among other Tahoe Keys pet owners.
TKPOA has set out on a monitoring plan working with LRWQCB and the State Water Resources Control Board, US EPA and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to develop next steps. This does not effect Tahoe Keys tap water or drinking water.
Other key precautions remain in effect:
- Avoid contact with algae or scum in the water
- Keep children away from algae or scum
- Fish caught in these waters should be cleaned with tap or bottled water, guts should be thrown away
- Do not drink lagoon water or use for cooking
- Do not eat shellfish from the lagoons
As mentioned in the previous letter from TKPOA, the cause of the bloom has not been determined – but the most likely scenario is a combination of increased nutrients introduced into Lake Tahoe and the Keys by high runoff levels from the region's record-breaking winter along with increased water temperatures. While TKPOA landscaping is not thought to be responsible for the bloom, all property owners can help reduce nutrients introduced into the lagoons by following TKPOA's Lake and Lagoon Friendly Landscaping guide and installing BMPs, learn more here: keysweedsmanagement.org/#take-action
Similar blooms are occurring around the state – you can help officials track the bloom by downloading the Bloom Watch App: cyanos.org/bloomwatch/


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Hi there! I continue playing with polymer clay and I finally made my first pendant. The tutorial was created by Shatya and published on DevianArt. It was easy to follow because of the detailed pictures. Here is the result:
If you noticed, yes it is again a sheep. I found it very cute. I only need to add the glaze, wait about 24 hours and it will be ready to use.
What was your first polymer clay project?


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By Steve Baltimore / March 26th, 2017
Today during the Atlus live stream event there was an updated teaser for Shin Megami Tensei HD. You may remember this was shown off back at the Nintendo Switch event, but not too many details were given at the time. The updated teaser doesn't do much quell anyone's curiosity, but we did get one new image out of the deal.
Atlus teasing this one pretty hard so it's untelling what they have up their sleeves for this one.
AtlusShin Megami TenseiSwitchtease
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I really can't thank you enough.
As a supporter of Utopia42:
But really more than anything, thank you for believing enough in me and my crazy idea to actually put your hard earned money down.
That means so much to me.
Thank you,
Ron / Silicon Buddha / ZenPuppy – Utopia42 founder
Please use this link to download the game –
Please use this link for the voice communications information


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My Bialetti Brikka/
I've had my Bialetti Brikka (bought here) for roughly a month now, and I really like it. Time to share some experiences!
You bought a what?!
The Brikka is a slight variation on what is traditionally known as a caffettiera. It is a method of brewing espresso which relies on the pressure that builds up when heating the water, and releases it all at once (about 2 bar, I heard) through the coffee.
How does that work?
The Brikka consists of three main parts, a base that holds the water, a holder that holds your ground coffee, and a pot that will collect the coffee once it's done.
1. Fill the base with water
The unit comes with a measuring cup; I like to keep the water slightly below the marked line, but that's probably just my personal preference.
2. Grind yourself some coffee
Of course, you can go with pre-ground coffee, but if you're a little serious about this, get yourself a decent burr grinder. The amount of beans you need what you can easily fit in the cup of the Brikka. I'm pretty sure you can use any espresso bean with this; I personally really like Simon Levelt's Corazon. I set my Solis Maestro on roughly 24, which is right in the middle of the Filter grade. I can go a little finer, but when I do, some particles get through to the coffee.
3. Put the coffee in
Place the coffee holder on the base, and shake in the coffee. The coffee should sit loosely in the cup, so don't press it like you would when using an espresso machine.
4. Screw the parts together
Screw the images together, but not too tightly. Just put your hands around both pieces of the coffee maker, and don't use the handle for leverage. Also, make very sure that no particles of coffee get caught in the thread. If they do, it will not be possible to reach the required pressure, and water will start leaking from between the thread.
5. Put on a small fire
Although Bialetti states that you should put your coffee maker on a "small but intense heat source", I keep the fire as low as possible. This way, the water takes longer to reach the desired pressure, and I believe the pressure is slightly higher, resulting in better coffee. Could also just be me... It will take about five minutes to brew.
6. Pour!
As soon as you hear the guzzling sound, turn of the heat as quickly as possible, and pour your coffee. If you wait too long (ten seconds would be long), you will lose that nice layer of froth.
There, doesn't that look awesome?
7. Clean soon
It's no fun, but you will have to keep this device really clean. Once I make my coffee, I put cold water in the pot, and leave it to cool. After about half an hour, unscrew, tap out the coffee (notice that it is almost dry), and rinse the whole installation with water. Dry it, leave to dry a bit further, and assemble the next day.
The verdict
This is one of most laborious way I know of making coffee; it will take you some ten minutes before you can start enjoying a single cup of espresso. For me, this does add to the fun (my other favorite way of making coffee is using a French press).
The coffee is great, I think it's on par with what you would get at most bars or restaurants, plus you can pick your own beans and grinding. Short of buying a serious espresso machine, this is the closest you can get to good espresso. Plus, I really love the sound of the brewing process.


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Creating & Managing Your Account
Creating and managing an account on tervis.com is easy. Click on "Register" at the top of any page or wait until the checkout process. When ready to register, you will be required to provide the following information:
- Your first and last name
- Your email address (this will serve as your tervis.com user name)
- A password
- Birth month and day are optional (if you like surprises on your birthday, and who doesn't, we strongly suggest filling out these fields as well)
Once you have an account and are logged in, you can enter and edit shipping and billing addresses at any time. You also have the ability to keep multiple addresses on file.
Some of the benefits of creating and managing your account are:
- Faster checkout
- Save customized projects
- Track online orders
- Access to order history
- Receive news and exclusive offers


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The days are long and the temperatures are hot. The mornings are still and muggy and the water temps are into the 80s. Afternoon thunderstorms begin to pop up nearly everyday–you could almost set your clock by 'em. That's right, it's summer time here in Tampa Bay, Florida. While a lot people dread this time of year here in the sunshine state, us fishermen long for it. Because when we begin seeing this weather pattern and water temps, that can only mean one thing: The tarpon are in town! Continue reading "Tarpon Time in Tampa!"
Tarpon Time in Tampa!


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Lucy Puppies have Arrived!!!
Woodcrest International Airspace (Lucy) x Woodcrest Wild Is The Wind (Bowie) [gallery ids="9089,9090,9091,9092,9093,9094,9095,9096,9097,9098,9102,9103,9105,9106,9107,9108,9109,9110,9111,9112"]Read more
The driving force behind Woodcrest Kennel LLC is Jay Atwood. Jay can be described in one word – remarkable. Jay has an affinity with animals, particularly dogs. He strives to be the best and to provide the best service, without qualification or question.


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Smile Makeover
Your smile is usually the first thing people notice about you, and it can communicate a range of emotions, from confidence and happiness to doubt and self-consciousness. If yellowed, cracked, uneven teeth are stopping you from interacting with others, seeking professional opportunities or simply smiling, a smile makeover may just be the perfect solution.
As a seasoned cosmetic dentist, Dr. Robert Milner has helped hundreds of Mission Viejo patients regain their confidence by having a smile makeover. Much like every patient, each smile makeover is unique. If you wish to enhance your smile, Dr. Milner will design a treatment plan to help you restore your smile to its most radiant state. To schedule a smile makeover consultation, please call Dr. Milner's Mission Viejo office at 949-859-8899.
What Is a Smile Makeover?
Smile makeover is a multi-step dental treatment that treats two or more cosmetic dental concerns. Often confused with full mouth reconstruction, smile makeover is an elective procedure performed solely for cosmetic purposes. During your initial consultation, Dr. Milner will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and facial features. He will also discuss with you your areas of concern about your smile, whether it be chips, gaps or crooked teeth. Our expert cosmetic dentist will then use this information to design a treatment plan that best achieves your dream smile.
Am I A Candidate for Smile Makeover?
You may be a suitable candidate for smile makeover if you have two or more of the following dental concerns:
- Stained, discolored teeth
- Chips, cracks in teeth
- Silver (amalgam) fillings
- Gaps and spaces between teeth
- Crooked or uneven teeth
- Big, small or otherwise misshapen teeth
- Missing teeth
What Does Smile Makeover Typically Include?
Smile makeover is typically performed over the course of several dental visits. Your customized treatment with Dr. Milner may include:
- Teeth whitening, both in-office and at-home treatments, to lighten teeth up to eight shades
- Dental bonding to fill in gaps and spaces
- Porcelain veneers to conceal stains, cracks and chips
- Tooth-colored fillings to replace silver fillings
- Dental implants to replace missing teeth
- Dental bridges to fill in spaces and gaps between teeth
- Dental crowns to reshape cracked, chipped or misshapen teeth
- Orthodontics to straighten a misaligned bite or teeth
Once your treatment is complete, proper oral hygiene and maintenance are essential in preserving your brighter smile. Professional cleanings with our hygienists at least every six months can keep your new pearly whites both beautiful and healthy for years to come.
Smile Makeover Results
The results of a smile makeover can be life changing. A straighter, more attractive smile has the ability to enhance your entire facial appearance. The physical changes brought on by your smile makeover will only make you more inclined to smile, which in turn, may open the door to personal and professional opportunities.
To learn more smile makeover, contact the dental practice of Dr. Milner. Please schedule a personal appointment by calling 949-859-8899 today.


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I was surfing the net when I came across with an incredibly interesting upcoming release by Native Instruments. I've been looking for something like this for a quite a bit of time. Aggressive, thrilling, threatening, dark.. breathtaking DAMAGE – a cinematic percussion with epic edge. I have seen the trailer and listened to the sample recordings by Native Instruments and I am very excited – waiting forward to the 1st of November when Damage by Heavyocity will be available for purchase.
To me DAMAGE seems like an ultimate source of all the jaw-dropping cinematic damage sounds I have ever heard. Visit Music Recording Software on Blogspot's Youtube Channel To View the TRAILER. The exclusive sound samples express all of the tense atmosphere you can create by damage. I was listening to the samples and thousands of ideas came to my mind how I could make soundtracks for my favourite sci-fi pieces of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley with the DAMAGE by HEAVYOCITY.
Native Instruments states that DAMAGE offers 30 GB of breathtaking mix of electric and acoustic sounds. You get all the fusing industrial sounds, drama, orchestral drums, 200 deeply sampled percussion sources provided by Percussive Kits.
Native Instruments promises that DAMAGE will be just so user-friendly as all the other latest products offered by them. DAMAGE comes with 700 beat-sliced loops. Which can be used either as menu-style loop suites or single loops that allow you detailed tweaking. DAMAGE is promising to be intuitive so that amateurs can use it just like professionals can.
I like DAMAGE for being unique in some way. This itself means that it can enhance my creativity to yet unreached levels for me. DAMAGE can be fully integrated with your digital audio workstation. DAMAGE comes with automatic tempo sync. You can also use drag-and-drop feature to simply export the MIDI data of a loop you have been working on.
DAMAGE is also distinguished by its keyswitches that allow you to play effects and remix loops in action. You can create trailers instantly with simply using the unique "Damage Hits" feature. The "Punish" feature can then add the desired pressure.
Damage runs in the free KONTAKT 5 Player or in KONTAKT 5.
I am keenly looking forward to the 1st of November. Hopefully I have a possibility to try out the software as soon as it is released.


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M.F.A. Photography, Video and Related Media, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY 2014
B.F.A. Photography Alfred University, Alfred, NY 2010
Select Group Exhibitions
An Affair of Books, New York, NY 2016
NY Art Book Fair, Queens, NY 2015
SVA MFA Photo, Video & Related Media Thesis Exhibition, New York, NY 2014
Domestic Abstractions, The Cohen Gallery, Alfred NY 2014
People's Choice, Greenpoint Gallery Brooklyn, NY 2013
Art of the Urban Environment, Cakewalk Gallery, Baltimore, MD 2012
Noir, Subtext Gallery, San Diego, CA 2012
Momentary Value, Cohen Studio, Alfred, NY 2010
All About Ivan, Harder Studios, Alfred, NY 2009
Words Issue #77, 2013
The Visual Opinion Volume 19, Issue 1, 2012
All the Best, Alice 2012 & 2014
The Artist Catalog, Featured Artist, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2012
Alice Beck-Odette Scholarship, 2014
Photographers Forum 2013 Best of College Photography: Finalist