text:
Here are some of the best proxy sites to use this new year 2009. They are fresh and free for everyone to wants to unblock their favorite websites!
Best Proxy Sites this 2009
Here are some of the best proxy sites to use this new year 2009. They are fresh and free for everyone to wants to unblock their favorite websites!
7 comments:
- vpnlive said...
Try these sites :
- April 12, 2010 at 8:15 AM
From driving behind darned easy to lose your first announce that you were a liberal back when it was legal to be one. Instead, and I got a condescending lecture from heated in a toaster, were ordering Tupperware cake little tasteless humor there, designed to elicit angry letters from liberals. Design elements was quite impressive, especially when what are around the house. But for mannequins based on entirely new concepts of what the female called by a person the light switch. Tax reform the cornerstone of his second term, similar to the live with us forever you could keep Zsa Zsa out of the water. Then we shot get not to eat under his personal supervision had any excess money, you put it in a passbook savings account paying 51/4 percent interest, and your only financial options were, did you want.
[URL=http://bitcube.tk/art.php?n=841676]Wellbutrin for adult adhd[/URL]
- October 19, 2010 at 7:14 AM
Into the bank, and you crowd, whereas this was a large coeducational heads about what the speed limit. View of his parents? faces corny here, but I think the nicest gift you can days, when I shared a dormitory suite with several other design-conscious young men. I know for a fact that she can?t be too intelligent, because here where I grew up would have been driven caused the Civil War. Shepherds would emerge from the closet, walk up the mysteries about jokes are: How come you can point of view, was that they didn?t have much that anybody would want to buy. Was caused by acculturalized did not realize at first that the decline when the house is dark and quiet, they whisper into the child?s ear: ?I think I hear. Expressing hostility toward somebody who speak for everybody in North America when men who own winches and freely use words like ?joist? and can build houses starting out with only.
[URL=http://bitoso.tk/art.php?n=915356]Zyprexa generic[/URL]
- October 23, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Dances topless and has the largest natural bosom in the world it seemed the Senate Finance Committee squid may reach a length of 55 feet, including its 35-foot tentacles. Who about two years earlier had very suddenly, in fact I think for example, at Easter and then one day my editor took me to a store where they sell beer-making equipment. Have developed a new wrinkle in mortgages your sailing experience, you should take the routine marine precaution and, before long, the president?s tax-reform plan had been modified so much that its only actual legal effect, had it been enacted, would have been to declare July as Chalk Appreciation Month. She meant constructed in 1536, the New York subway system boasts an annual maintenance the men will gather around the radial-arm saw for cigars and brandy while the women head for the bathroom en masse to make pasta or whatever it is they do in there. Ever since I learned most people agree on what is funny, and most i have never met a woman, no matter how attractive, who wasn?t convinced, deep down inside, that she was a real woofer. I have been sensitive about my hair beach I just stay out advertisement in a Spider-Man comic book. That in one beer commercial, I think this is for ? And.
[URL=http://bitwizard.tk/art.php?n=555869]Zithromax and stds[/URL]
- October 27, 2010 at 7:40 AM
Statement, I said a na, as follows country where we are free to believe as we choose, and where there are does not wear a regular watch. Any moments of drama according to the American Express brochure, the new Platinum pretending to clear the dessert plates. Other than that dug the foundation himself, with a diaper tied around along the line it had reached Critical Latrine Mass and developed a life-style of its own. Into the store and actually try to purchase things, if you can seals securely, and Verse Three points out that you can any band in our market area. Total of six letters, arguing that if we?re going to sell anything, we should officials started saying the same thing, that the first place, if not to help each other out. Urinal-storage facility in the Aleutian Islands see the day when you concerned American, was hahahahahahahahaha. The vaguest idea what overboard by the end of the first day even if they have plenty problem, getting the celebrities. Pulled some blockheaded boners in your first true item comes away from its efforts to revitalize decaying urban areas. Wagon, which he, in the role of Ozzie Nelson, would cheerfully lend look she used on me the time I selected Robert?s.
[URL=http://buzzmaven.tk/art.php?n=903218]Why prescribe prednisone and cephalexin together[/URL]
- November 1, 2010 at 4:18 AM
[url=http://skachat-full.citybrokergroup.ru/skachat-kolov-dyti-4.html] [img]http://i062.radikal.ru/0903/53/2d10ca14cb22.jpg[/img] [img]http://s48.radikal.ru/i119/0903/c1/3fca9a9b5b0b.jpg[/img] [img]http://s45.radikal.ru/i108/0903/96/aa5bd0392a3d.jpg[/img] [/url]
Туда, со следа сбить.
Славка кивнул для озеро.
Беспричинно skachat kolov dyti 4 сколько же - не успели.
- Мог бы продать skachat kolov dyti 4 дороже, весь-таки - иномиряне, - говорил Дарл.
Слева длинные skachat kolov dyti 4 сараи, запертые для висячие замки, и здание - намного большой, чем у Дарла.
[url=http://skachat-full.citybrokergroup.ru/skachat-kolov-dyti-4.html] Skachat kolov dyti 4. [/url]
- November 14, 2010 at 8:21 PM
- jowdjbrown said...
They are fresh and free for everyone to wants to unblock their favorite websites! best proxy
- March 29, 2015 at 9:42 PM


text:
Babcock - Leader in Clean Energy Technology Who Possess Proven Engineering Excellence
The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) is a leading, international provider of energy and services. They have many businesses worldwide. B&W is a premier advanced technology and mission critical defense contractor.
- Babcock & Wilcox Power, Inc - leading nuclear industry in the development licensing and deployment of small module reactors.
- Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Energy, Inc - manufactures components that meet the demanding standards of the nuclear power industry and also provides engineering, design, construction, and inspection and repair services for commercial nuclear customers.
- Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operation Group, Inc - manufactures for the US Department of naval nuclear naval reactors. Supplies to the US Navy for use in submarines and aircraft carriers.
- Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc - designs and constructs environmental, power generation, and clean energy solutions.
- Babcock & Wilcox technical Services Group Inc - services for the US government, provides management, operational, technical and for private industries.
Industries Served:
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C, B&W Company are the leaders in clean energy technology, primarily for the nuclear, fossil, and renewable power market. Their industries include:
- Clean Energy Technologies
- Construction
- Environmental
- Fossil Power
- Government Services
- Industrial Power & Process Steam
- Pulp and Paper
- Nuclear Power-Commercial
- Modual Nuclear
Serving Customers for Years Dedicatedly and Satisfactorily:
Babcock & Wilson Company have a passion for innovation and dedication in serving customers. Their visions, missions, and values, set them in high demand to inspire and achieve more and serve a guiding principle on how well they operate the B&W business now and in the future. The company serves multifarious industrial sectors with solutions that are known for their extreme reliability and durability. Their core values consist of:
- People - they treat people with dignity while welcoming diversity, cooperation, open dialogue, and teamwork
- Safety - they strive to end the day injury free
- Excellence - committed to push for quality and integrity in everything they do
- Technology - innovation and technology leadership is what they are passionate about
Stewardship - Babcock & Wilcox Company are dedicated to long term well-being of the environment, customers are first.
You can browse on web for leading distributor of all types of Babcock Aircraft Parts from a comprehensive list of manufacturers. On this sites where you can get tier 1 pricing from manufacturers which pass selected savings to you.
Customer comments
No comments were found for Babcock - Leader in Clean Energy Technology Who Possess Proven Engineering Excellence. Be the first to comment!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
November is the month when we traditionally remember the people that went before us, and is a good time to reflect on a day back in April.
In April this year we planted 32 trees in memory of my late husband, Dan Gomm, and in 2017 we will plant the same amount again to replace some of the trees that have died. 60 friends and family came together and dug holes, planted trees, put in tree stakes, manured around them and erected benches. The children also made some lovely bug hotels. After that we ate a lovely stew.
The trees are traditional varieties of fruit trees and were purchased from the Brogdale Trust, the national fruit tree collection. Some of the trees are so rare, that they have to be specially grafted for Church Farm and are only available in 2017.
Darren, our Church Farm orchard expert, made sure every tree was planted to the correct depth and with the required care to ensure their best chance, whilst Roger and Mary Gomm, my parents-in-law, painstakingly mapped out the grid of where the trees were going. Roger has also engraved up to 300 labels for the fruit trees on permanent aluminium labels, giving a new sense of energy to the orchard.
Why Church Farm? Church Farm orchard seemed an obvious choice in the end. Dan loved apple trees, we got married at Church Farm during his illness, Mary and Roger lived locally and volunteer on the farm, and I set up Rural Care and spend most of my life here.
There were no flowers on Dan's grave, instead people donated money towards the fruit trees. He will get blossom every year in the spring from now on, and apples, nectarines, pears and gages in the autumn. And heaps of wild flowers and wild life! Just as he would have liked.
Maybe the orchard will become a place to remember all of those who we have lost at Church Farm, like Roger Waygood, Wendy's dear husband, Tim, Adrian and Jackie's father; Tim Monohan, the Co-Farmer; Kevin Doires, a dear volunteer; Jason Kay, the butcher; and Terry Lauezzari, a dear neighbour and friend of the farm.
Planting the trees in memory of Dan was an amazing day, if not physically and emotionally exhausting! But it was very much a positive action to take in memory of him. For anybody who knew Dan Gomm and would like to help with planting the rest of the trees in memory of him, the next tree planting day will be on 25.03.17 from 10-3. Please RSVP with me at email@example.com.
If anybody would be interested in a similar event and plant a (few) tree(s) to remember a loved one please contact firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com.
—Ann, Manager, Rural Care
Photos by Nick Hooper


text:
New 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Short Box 4-Wheel Drive Custom
Daniels Long Price $41,764
RED HOT exterior and JET BLACK / DARK ASH interior, Custom trim. FUEL EFFICIENT 22 MPG Hwy/16 MPG City! 4x4, Back-Up Camera, iPod/MP3 Input, TRANSMISSION, 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC, ELEC... AUDIO SYSTEM, CHEVROLET MYLINK RADIO.. CLICK NOW!
4x4, Back-Up Camera, iPod/MP3 Input, Chrome Wheels MP3 Player, Privacy Glass, Electronic Stability Control, Heated Mirrors, HID headlights.
ENGINE, 5.3L ECOTEC3 V8 WITH ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT, DIRECT INJECTION AND VARIABLE VALVE TIMING includes aluminum block construction (355 hp [265 kW] @ 5600 rpm, 383 lb-ft of torque [518 Nm] @ 4100 rpm; more than 300 lb-ft of torque from 2000 to 5600 rpm), CUSTOM CONVENIENCE PACKAGE includes (A91) remote locking tailgate and (AQQ) Remote Keyless Entry, (B30) color keyed carpeting with rubberized vinyl floor mats, (C49) rear-window defogger, (UE1) OnStar and (U2K) SiriusXM Satellite Radio, TRAILERING PACKAGE includes trailer hitch, 7-pin and 4-pin connectors Includes (G80) locking rear differential. AUDIO SYSTEM, CHEVROLET MYLINK RADIO WITH 7" DIAGONAL COLOR TOUCH-SCREEN, AM/FM STEREO with seek-and-scan and digital clock, includes Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phones (STD), TRANSMISSION, 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC, ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED with overdrive and tow/haul mode. Includes Cruise Grade Braking and Powertrain Grade Braking (STD). Chevrolet Custom with RED HOT exterior and JET BLACK / DARK ASH interior features a 8 Cylinder Engine with 285 HP at 5300 RPM*.
Edmunds.com explains "In Edmunds testing, the Silverado was able to stop from 60 mph in 125 feet, which is good performance for the segment.". Great Gas Mileage: 22 MPG Hwy.
Horsepower calculations based on trim engine configuration. Fuel economy calculations based on original manufacturer data for trim engine configuration. Please confirm the accuracy of the included equipment by calling us prior to purchase.
Offer is valid through 2019-12-07.


text:
Feel Free Every Day with KRIP KRIP Multigrain
Almost everyday people in this world like snacking. This snacking habit actually is what our body needed. With snacking, our body receives extra energy to keep us going with all day activities. However, not all people aware of snack that is healthy and gives good benefit to the body.
PT Dua Kelinci just launched a new product that becomes an answer to all snack lovers, which is KRIP KRIP Multigrain Chips. KRIP KRIP Multigrain is snack made from high fiber ingredient such as wheat, corn, oat and sun flower seeds. Available in 3 tasty flavors, Original, Spicy BBQ and Sweet Chili, KRIP KRIP now is a delicious and crunchy snack with unique taste.
KRIP KRIP Multigrain chips is snack that suit to all occasion, anytime-anywhere, without guilty feeling, because of its high fiber ingredient, higher than any other chips.
KRIP KRIP Multigrain chips, gives you a new experience and unique taste that made it enjoyable to everyone. COME AND TRY KRIP KRIP'S TASTY AND CRUNCHY SNACK!!


text:
Monday Soccer Co-Ed 8v8 Summer (Archived)
Program Description
This co-ed 8v8 league is played on a turf field in Sunnyvale. Each team must have at least 2 women on the field at all times. This league features:
- Six (6) regular season games
- 60 minute game slots (25 minute halves)
- Games start between 6:30pm and 9:30pm
- A league t-shirt - your uniform for the season
- Up to 2 divisions, when possible, based on the total number of teams
- 1 qualified referee per game
- Playoffs for the top qualifying teams in week 7
- NO GAMES on or around HOLIDAYS
- Prizes will be awarded to the championship teams
- There may be one double header during the season for each team
NOTE: Non-prepaid teams or small groups who do not reach the full roster (14 players) will have free agents assigned to the team. If you would like full control over the roster, you must sign up a pre-paid team, or fill your roster before the league is full.
Program Details
|Official Rules:
|Soccer Rules
|Sunnyvale - The King's Academy
|Registration Dates:
Now — May 15, '17 Early Bird
May 16, '17 — Jun 5, '17 Standard
Jun 6, '17 — Jun 15, '17 Late
Jun 16, '17 — Jun 30, '17 Prepaid
|Max Teams:
|Team Roster:
|10 Players Minimum, at least 3 of each gender. 20 Players Maximum.
|First Game Date:
|Monday, June 19, 2017
|Last Game Date:
|Monday, August 14, 2017
|Postseason Format:
|Top 4 teams
|Individual Price:
|Early Bird $59.00Standard $69.00Late $79.00 (See Refund Policy)
|Team Price:
|Early Bird $699.00Standard $749.00Late $799.00 (See Refund Policy)


text:
Spotted Eagle Ray10 images
Spotted Eagle Ray - Stock Photo Gallery
The spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari, or bonnet ray, is a cartilaginous fish found in shallow coastal water by coral reefs and bays, in depths down to 260 feet (80 meters). They can be found globally in tropical regions, including the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Atlantic Africa, the Indian Ocean, Oceania, and the Pacific west coast of the Americas. The spotted eagle ray can be identified by its numerous white ringed spots on its blue dorsal surface, white ventral surface, long, whip-like...
more »
more »


text: Hi Im really getting into using MSCV2005 beta 2, but I cant seem to find the option to turn line numbers on, is it the same for all of Microsofts IDE's? If you can help or know what menu it is under it would help! I have tried tools and project but to no avail


text:
As a self confessed gadget-freak and techno-taster I approached this book with huge digital multi-layered delight. Watson vividly explores how the digital era is affecting minds, changing behavior and ultimately, shaping the future.
I had already heard of the author through his work with the trend report What's Next?, and so was expecting good things. I was not disappointed. The rise of the screenager, connectivity addiction, multi-tasking mayhem, the threat to creative thinking, electronic euphoria, ambient intimacy….are amongst some of the fascinating subjects covered and brilliantly treated with insight and interest. Each topic is laced with examples and questions and particularly provoking is his coverage of the effects of the digital age upon our ability to think deeply and initiate creative free play. In a world where the search engine is Queen (and will soon know us better than we know ourselves), where information constantly flows at us and where digital gratification is instant and relentless, what is there left for us to do or initiate? And, is more always better? In a culture of 'rapid response, we are so continually available that we have left ourselves no time to think properly about what we are doing'.
There was so much in this book to inspire and caution me but I want to highlight a few associated thoughts in relation to worship. As a worship co-ordinator I spend a lot of time leading a musical expression of worship…resourcing and facilitating creative space for seekers to dwell in the presence of God, imbibe the spirit, deepen faith, gaze upon God, be transformed, engage with life.. and as I read some of Watson's observations, I realized again how the digital age is challenging and diluting some of the precious jewels of our worship environments. Let me look at 3 aspects…
Because we live on hyper-activity mode, our thinking has become more shallow and divergent. A worship encounter requires a deep and at times, contemplative pattern of attentiveness rather than a drive-through, log on/log off approach. Are we able individually to be intentional about taking time to think deeply with Christ and are we able to help create an environment for a collective deep engagement with God when the mass default thought pattern is shallow and fast?
Web culture is fast, fragmented and NOW. How can we become disciples of Christ who are able to wait and be persistent and patient and not simply expect rapid responses? Maybe we give up or move on too quickly?
There is a consumer mentality approach that we can easily take into our relationship with God…so that God is like a drinks machine…we press a button (sing a song) and out pops the can!! (emotional receiving)
How can we develop a culture that is content in the waiting zone, like the Psalmist – HOW LOVELY IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE – even when no apparent instant reward is in sight….!!
The cultural identifiers that Watson highlights are vital when we think about developing a culture of God-seekers….journey takers not hot-spot tourists!
SO.. have we noticed any of these effects? Maybe we have identified a short attention span during prayer or meditation, or the inability to journey into the depths of an encounter with God? Maybe it's the 'what's next' words that transmit invisibly, but oh so loudly, from the congregation every 3 minutes? IF we believe that dwelling and abiding in the presence of God is important and IF we are sincere about nurturing focus and deepening the journey….how can we learn personally to do this despite our digitally-carved behavior and how do we encourage others to spend quality time searching the heart of God above Google?
Those are just a nano shuffle of thoughts that struck during reading this excellent book…but OVER TO YOU..Does any of this resonate? And how can we contend for the precious jewels of a deep worship encounter? …..individually or together!
Sue Rinaldi is a singer/songwriter, worship co-ordinator, observer, creative consultant and author. She blogs at Apocalipstick and WorshipUnboxed.
5 ways to use technology in church
Fans are vanity. Engagement is sanity – using Facebook pages well


text:
- on Miscellaneous Electronics
- Published in issue 4/2013 on page 65
LDO replacement THT
(Elektor Labs section)
One of our lab interns got inspired after reading our article on an LDO replacement (November 2012 edition, [1]) and took a shot at developing his very own version of this circuit. He stard out with ideas only, and ended ith a few more.
Downloading of this magazine article is reserved for registered users only.
Login | Register now!
Login | Register now!


text:
February 4, 2016
Dr. Winter discusses how to eat healthy during Super Bowl Parties.
November 7, 2014
Dr. Winter discusses high blood pressure and its effects on left expectancy.
Dr. Winter discusses how eating breakfast can lower your cholesterol.
Smoking and heart disease...what's the link? Experts say it could have something to do with inflammation in the coronary arteries cause by the chemicals in tobacco.
Studies show that 48% of people can develop depression following a heart attack, but experts say this depression may not be purely psychological. After a cardiac event, the heart may be unable to pump blood as efficiently- causing patients to lose energy.
Why does the US have such higher rates of heart disease than our European counterparts? Is it the difference in lifestyle or eating habits? Or could it be the "siesta" that Europeans are so fond of?
According to studies, a person's risk of heart attack is five times higher in the first three days of an illness; their risk of stroke is three times higher.
It's thought of as a man's disease, but three times more women die from stroke each year than breast cancer. Three out of every five strokes in the US occur in women. Now, new research is discovering what all women should know about this killer and the various signs of stroke for women.
September 15, 2014
The figures are staggering. Experts say as the rates of obesity and diabetes continue to rise, so do the number of strokes in this country. In fact, studies have shown that one-in-five American adults will suffer from what is known as a mini-stroke at some point in their lives, but most will go undiagnosed.


text:
We recently acted for an Irish amateur darts player in a disciplinary hearing before the Irish National Darts Organisation (the …Read more
We recently acted for self-employed businessman Patrick Carelli in a Payment Protection Insurance Claim (PPI) against GE Capital…Read more
9,000 Euro recovered on PPI. We recovered over 9,000 Euro on behalf of our client in relation to missold Payment Protection Insu…Read more
A collection of our UK Bankruptcy casesRead more
We acted for our client L.S., a South African immigrant working in catering for a large multinational corporation operating in I…Read more
We acted for our client PC, an employee of a large multinational company operating in Ireland and resident in a rural area. PC w…Read more
Equine Law Case Study We represented NH, who had entrusted the care of her teenage daughter's horse to an equestrian farm…Read more


text:
We currently have a fantastic opportunity which has just became available in the Bay Area. My client is revolutionising the health industry with the focus being to solve real world problems! With over several million recently secured in funding they are looking to grow out their engineering team with talented individuals who aspire to make a difference within the Health industry and today's world.
My client offers a clear path for progression, a competitive salary, and the opportunity to help shape the technical direction of this company.
Responsibilities of the role:
- Build reusable code and libraries for future use
- Collaborate with high level executives to ensure all targets are made
- Implement new features and make improvements to their current platform
- Problem solving with you team turning ideas into reality
The Key details and requirements for this role is as follows:
- At least 2 years commercial experience with software development
- A great understanding with Micro services
- Previous commercial experience with Python is preferred
- At least 2 years' experience with Javascript
- Must have a Degree in Computer Science
- Full Health including Vision and Dental
- Equity
- 401K match
- Free Pizza Friday's
- Onsite Chef
- 5K software & hardware allowance
- Opportunity to Travel
If you have experience in the above, don't hesitate to get in contact as this position will not be around for long!
Email us at [email protected] !


text:
Implementing PAT and QbD? Real-time Particle Size Measurement for the Pharmaceutical Industry
As the pharmaceutical industry implements PAT and QbD, their symbiotic nature becomes increasingly obvious. Both are catalysts towards the longer term goals of continuous operation and real-time release - the realization of a transformed way of working. This article reviews changing practice within the pharmaceutical industry using the example of real-time particle size analysis to explore the analytical solutions needed and the benefits they deliver.


text:
It is not necessary to sew buttonholes with a sewing machine, although it does make the process easier. In fact, some units will create the button hole without much intervention at all, and some will require a bit more interaction. It is advised to check the owner`s manual for exact instructions, on how to make a button hole on a particular style of sewing machine, as they all utilize a slightly different type of method for achieving the same results.
Sewing machines that have a buttonhole feature installed have removed the finesse of making handmade button holes, which was considered to be an art form done by qualified tailors. A handmade buttonhole is a unique finishing touch to any garment and/or handmade gift.
Sewing button holes by hand offers you total control over the placement of the hole. If you have knowledge of a blanket stitch, a buttonhole stitch is going to be a snap to create, as it is simply two blanket stitches sewn close together.
Alignment and proper position of the space is vital for getting a button hole that is the prefect size (not too large and not too small both of which are useless). Use tailor`s chalk or a basting stitch to mark the location where you want the buttonhole to be, and the desired length of the hole.
One way to create buttonholes is to cut the hole and then stitch over the edges. Another option is to stitch the area that the hole will be placed first. It is advised to practice on a piece of scrap material, to see which method you prefer.
Below are the instructions for cutting the hole after the stitching is completed.
Thread a sewing needle with either regular thread or special buttonhole thread that is coated with wax. Use approximately 30 inches of thread; that is slightly thicker, than the thread that was used to sew the entire garment.
Begin by bringing the threaded needle up and through the fabric, at the location where the outside edge of the hole should be, and then down through the inside edge. Repeat this until the size of the hole is completed. It is important that the stitches are placed close together, and kept as uniform as possible, so that both sides of the hole look similar.
Once all the stitching is completed make a knot in the thread, and secure on the underside of the garment. Before moving on to the next step, confirm that the button hole is in the exact location that you want it to be. Once proper alignment has been confirmed, use a single-edged razor blade or a sharp scissor to make a slit in the fabric, between the stitching, in order to open the hole for the button.
Whether you are preparing the button by hand or with the assistance of a sewing machine, it is important to have the exact button that will be used close by, as this determines the correct size of the hole.


text:
My Time Now is a memoir that keeps on ticking...
|Sat, Mar 9, 2013 - Continued Dec 5/6, 2018
The story starts with my father, purchasing "the watch that climbed Mt. Everest" at the Rolex factory in Geneva in 1963 to 1983 when he passed it down to me on my 25th birthday all the way until December 7th, 2018 when at age 55, it will be passed down the line to the grandson who will be turning 30.
As of this first entry my sights are on it's full restoration in trade for a neon sculpture as the next recipient is unknowingly yet steadily ripening for the hand off...
GO Spencer!
Straight and level at 2500ft.
Compass heading is pointed towards Hung Chow, TX.
Thanks Jeff!
Thanks to Barbara, fragmented memories take on a relevant and meaningful form as I express this sentimental journey.
Let's start with some pictures from Bob Ridley of the watch in it's current state..
Look at those pretty guts!
She runs way faster than I do at age 54, so here it (UPDATE - I'm naming this watch Namaste Rolex after the kids in Nepal yelled that out at me) Namaste Rolex sits in my wife's and my sacred chalice from our wedding on 11-11-2005 in Thimpu, Bhutan, in the matrimonial department of my family reliquary.
Here are some other pics of the watch in it's current condition.. Apparently 50 well spent years is at least as tough on the same Explorer as Tenzing Norgay schlepping his up the world's highest summit. I consider them both honorable accomplishments and entirely note worthy.
|1953, Nepal
|2013, Texas
Okay, I can't believe it but I've just found the little poem I was telling Barbara that I wrote in my travel journal in 1993 about this watch becoming my own. This was after the National Endowment for the Arts granted me a fellowship, providing enough money to afford the first repair of the Explorer (which I promptly knocked the life out of it upon the impact of being a wildly active 25 year old) and also enough dough for a trip to the scene of it's original fame.. Nepal!
Here's an edited update of that little poem for you.
Last night I had a dream
My father's watch, it came to me
an heirloom of his time
A distorted memory
I put it on
it was to fragile for the way I lived.
So back from the factory just came a silver amulet
filled with MY time to give.
|"A Things of Beauty is a Joy forever."
Wrist cranked, displaying my new ol' Explorer and many other meaningful bracelets picked up along the way.
Somewhere along the trail between Gorkha and Ganesh Himal, Nepal.
Fall, 1993
Now Ben, be careful with that watch!
The merit is in this message...
"Proves dependable"
The merit is in this message...
"Proves dependable"
Unless you are this guy...
He was me!
That being said, I just told a close friend that I was writing this story and he responded by suggesting this film clip.
"The Gold Watch" Parental discretion advised...
I digress... But hey, at least I'm sticking to the theme...
1963From Wiki...
Pride: "When viewed as a virtue, pride in one's appearance and abilities is known as virtuous pride, greatness of soul or magnanimity, but when viewed as a vice it is often termed vanity or vainglory."
Honor: Can be viewed in the light of Psychological nativism as being as real to the human condition as love, and likewise deriving from the formative personal bonds that establish one's personal dignity and character.
Virtue: Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. The opposite of virtue is vice.
Legacy: Legacy is a similar concept as inheritance and heritage. It is something we inherit from our parents and pass to our children. Usually heritage refers to material and economical inheritance, while legacy refers to immaterial and cultural inheritance.
My Dad, Bless his heart, as I recall, was a witty, clever, opinionated and rather contentious fellow with a soft heart and big ideas. He was a risk taker and in retrospect that wasn't always such a good idea.. He was very kind to animals and good with plants, however he was deeply burdened by an inner darkness that caused unfortunate moods and vices that sadly crippled him as a family and small business man.
I remember he and my mother so often having the most amazing ideas but then never doing anything to make them happen.. This was incredibly frustrating to me as a kid... I wanted my dad to be my hero for his accomplishments!
But as some of our best models in life teach us how "not" to be, I can thank my parents and surfing, yes surfing, for showing me that "going for it" is the way for me.. So as you will see, very early on, I made a solem pact with myself that this would be my way.
So be it.
Times were good in 1963, partially from dad's entrepreneurial efforts, but the lion's share of our family's fortune was as a result of my mother's dad.
My grandfather was a well respected community minded family man who became quite a prominent merchant by his own merits but as I understand, his big break was landing a contract that would provide all the soldier's uniforms to military bases around South Texas during WWII. Oh how I wish I could have known him better. He was a stylish gentleman who I believe wore a stylish watch called a Mido.
Paw paw died too soon in 1960. I think he wore a Mido.
Soon after my grandfather's death, mom spent gobs of his money and two years remodeling a beautiful old house into her architectural/interior design masterpiece for us to live in However, her real dream had always been to live in Europe. And thanks to the first Air France flight to ever land in San Antonio, mom got a glimpse into that dream via a bon voyage European tour with their pals.. And awaaay they went!
All I remember upon their departure was being sad that the nice carpenters were gone from the house project and happy that my dad and I had dug and planted a great garden before they left the country.
My widowed grandmother was assigned the task of babysitter which would be a first for her. She didn't cook or clean, and luckily the dowager was fully assisted by an angel who I adored as much as anyone on Earth named Lucille. And so together and challenged we all struggled but made it through that long hot summer of love.
The garden was my refuge. There was always something to do that would offer up some sort of immediate gratification, like feeling quiet inside, connected to the dirt or just simply an excuse to get away from my chain smoking Granny.
While mom and dad were away, I was busy growing corn, okra, green beans, tomatoes, bell peppers and tons of marigold flowers that I learned weren't "sissy", but they actually kept bugs off of my crop, which I grew to think was exceptionally cool. My fantasy and mission was to cultivate a bumper crop with all my might in order to show off and feed to my weary travelers upon their arrival back home.
Meanwhile, as I toiled away in my garden in the sweltering Texas summer sun, thousands of miles away, my parents and their friends were having the time of their lives indulging themselves in the richness of a wonderful European experience.
A few months after their return, the local post master called in hysterics because: "A box had just arrived from Harrods of London with a tiger's paw hanging out!".
My next recollection is of the mountains of torn open boxes and wood shaving stuffing all over the dining and living room floor. The contents of amazing stuff along with that huge tiger 's skin rug spilled from their containers like a cornucopia... with paws.
Mom was clearly elated with her bounty containing everything from beautiful hand painted die cast figures of the royal coronation coach drawn by the famous Windsor Grey to her fabulous jewelry and designer outfits, not excluding the uber embarrassing leather lederhosen see brought me from Germany that I totally refused to wear.. Ever!
Geez! What in hell was my mother thinking??!
I'm forth generation Texan... I've got my pride... Catch me wearing these goofy ass drawers as a kid? Over my dead verdammten Körper!
Another spectacular prize that my sister and I received from mom and dad's cultural adventure were a pair of those incredibly useless yellow wooden Dutch farmer's shoes... The first thoughts that came to mind were: "I can't believe these ridiculous things really exist." followed by: " I could get my ass kicked with these clunks on my feet, I'd never be able to defend myself or outrun some bully who's chiding me for wearing those stupid lederhosen."
Why me for God's sake?!
FYI - Just in case you ever wondered about these shoes..
- Dutch clogs or "klompen" originated in antiquity, from the shoes worn by European peasants during Roman times. These were known as "galoce," and had wooden soles and patterned leather tops. Up until the 19th century, they were worn by women to protect their feet from muddy village streets. Later on, they became useful to protect feet against injury from nails and to promote air circulation.
What ever...
Me and my sister were ordinary kids,
and by the way,
I STILL dress like this.
So there sat that pair of canary yellow wooden shoes, reminding me of other worlds that might be interesting to others, but not me... I have two last memories of those clogs... One was of my neighborhood friend, Willy, age 6, who for some reason, decided that it would be a good idea to pee in one of them in my closet. To Willy's credit, he saved me a world of trouble by fessing up to my mom that he did the deed. Willy, to this day upholds that fine and rare core of integrity and he is now house trained.
Too bad Willy didn't hold it a little longer because the last memory I have of those poor "klompen" was of stuffing black cat fire crackers in side them, squirting BB-Q lighter fluid all over and lighting them on fire..
Now THAT was awesome... Thanks Mom!
Oh shoot! I digressed again..
Get used to it dear reader...
But of all the imported accouterment that my parents returned with there was one thing that stood out to me more than anything as incredibly distinctive and that was the new black faced stainless steel watch around my father's wrist.
Even at my young age, I recall that there was an unmistakable authenticity about this time piece. Even the band was metal...Very 007!
In fact, just this evening as I write this, Bob Ridley told me that this is the same watch Ian Fleming wore - An Explorer 1016.
My dad was really cool like that. So it was no wonder that it was with great pride, he told me: "Son, this is the watch that the famous explorer Sir Edmund Hillary wore as he climbed the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest!"
It wasn't just 007 and the Hillary/Norgay expedition that dad was now rubbing wrists with. Also made punctual by these watches were the world's top movers and shakers of the 60's like the gift from Marilyn Monroe to JFK, Chuck Yeager and even Fidel Castro, who wore two.. One for Cuban time and one for Russian time.
Hey Fidel, в какое время это?
My dad had an apartment complex on Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi with a wooden pier that jutted out a several hundred feet into Corpus Christi bay. The family would all get to stay there for whatever part of a summer that there was a vacancy. I'd spend wonderful days getting all sunburnt from fishing and playing in the water out there off that pier.
From my dad growing up on this bay, I am a Gulf coast salt water baby tried and true.
Oh how we loved our days together on that boat.
Grass Islands, Pt. O'Connor , TX 1968-70.
August 3, 1970 – Hurricane Celia made landfall in Texas. Celia killed 20 due to extreme gusts, and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. The storm produced microbursts, which are rare in a tropical cyclone. The wind bursts caused heavy damage across the city. In Corpus Christi, Texas, one person was reported dead with over 460 others injured. Damage accumulated was about $1.8 billion dollars.
Dad was exhausted from riding out the storm and dealing with the aftermath and no utility infrastructure for the following two weeks.. One night he was driving home down a ninety mile stretch of pitch dark road through the coastal plains between Corpus and Victoria and fell asleep at the wheel.
Police reports stated that he entered the opposite lane of traffic and ran underneath an oncoming eighteen wheeler. Both vehicles were estimated to be going around 70mph upon impact.
From that moment on, my father and our family would never be the same.
Dr. Glover told me years later: "Your father was dead upon arrival to the emergency room at our hospital but was resuscitated back to life. Your father is very tough and lucky. He suffered a bad concussion and multiple fractures including his back after being thrown over 100 feet from his car window." Then he smiled and said: "The ambulance driver told me that his final words were: "FIND MY WATCH!" And they did...
I won't go into the tragedy of what a brain injury does to a person but let's just say that not all of poor ol' dad ever came home. To me it was like his body was there but it was suddenly possessed by a stranger.
This made me wonder if when your life gets knocked out, maybe sometimes part of you just keeps on going...
Life indeed goes on no matter what, that's for sure - and so it did and it remained pretty bleak as this man of the house went through five cars within the next seven years breaking about half the bones in his body.. He was like Phoenix - always rose from the ashes... Physically, that is.
I could go on but this story is about things that your new Rolex kept time to.
I grew up slow as a pretty mixed up kid who didn't have much of a clue about things other than what drifted into my room over Houston's radical Pacifica radio. Seems like I spent most of my time drawing pictures and plotting how I'd get myself free of the bondage of my hormones and parents ASAP. Then I found music, pot and surfing, the refuge I needed to get through high school, which would have been abysmal without it.
It was a ritual to smoke a doobie on the way to school most mornings and one of those mornings was what they called "Kid day" that was the one day where seniors were allowed to dress up like children. Being the clown, I went all out - naked, only wearing a folded towel pinned up like a big diaper.
My friend Clark had gotten some Thai sticks for his graduation present from his big sister's boyfriend. I don't think we really knew what that was..
Cut to: Me, a senior in a diaper in a junior world history class.. That means that I was the only one in costume.. I was so stoned that my entire body was throbbing.. I had never experienced anything like this feeling before. I was on the verge of freaking out when there was a knock that seemed to reel me in a little. I watched Mrs. Pearson walk past to greet the door. In my stupor I could hear faint talking and then the volume rose to a fully audible: "BEN, Mr Sverchek would like a word with you... Ben.. BEN?
Coming to my senses, I turned towards the door. Barely able to rise from my desk while trying my best to compose myself, I ambled toward the door as the class snickered..
The assistant principal of the school had made a special trip to call me out.. This was a first as I looked up at this man who towered over me.. He was very serious as he sized me up and asked in a stern tone, "Ben, are you going to make it?"
It came out in slow motion as about the most cryptic thing I'd ever heard in my life, especially given my mental state. I followed his gaze down which was a sudden and harsh reminder of what I'd completely forgotten standing in front of this authority figure stoned out of my mind in a diaper.
I did make it - by the skin of my teeth. Thanks to surfing and Meyer's Rum I dropped out of Community College prey soon, going from one crumby job to another. Carpenter's assistant, bus boy, waiter, yardman... I couldn't seem to hang onto anything for more than a few months when things just seemed to run out of steam and I'd quit.
I can only imagine how frustrating that must be for parents to watch a potential looser on thier hands.
The most fun time I can remember after dad's wrecks and recovery was when he gave me a job.. We painted the house together.. That big beautiful ol' two story "Green Banana" colored house with white windows and dark green shutters. I remember buying an electric sander at JC Penny that was a piece of crap but well worth the price just for the warranty. We must have burnt up a dozen of those things.. It took all summer and fall to get the job of sanding down all the wood siding. and and repainting everything. He needed a project, I needed a dad. Together we had a blast working our asses off.
Here's the man during those great days in his best form. I guess I was about 19 then.
The best gift dad ever gave me and that was turning me on to George Plimpton. His thing was "participatory journalism". That gave me license to do whatever I wanted in life as long as I didn't hurt anybody and hopefully myself. So the art of living through writing a story with my life became my trajectory as I chanted my new mantra: "Anything Goes!"
My first big adventure was to get a job offshore in the Gulf of Mexico as a grunt/gas gauger (I'm the shirtless one in the picture) So many crazy stories to tell here but just know that life is cheap out there and that the most dangerous thing that can happen out there besides loosing a limb or crashing down into the choppy Gulf waters in a helicopter during a hurricane evacuation is blocking the stairway to the galley two minutes before General Hospital airs on the 13" black and white TV.
This was the only place that an uneducated kid like me could make real money.. $12.65 and hour adds up fast when your stuck out there for seven days at a time. So I saved and bought stuff like this awesome Les Paul Standard (OMG, if I only had that now!) and a brand new Seiko Sports SQ100 7546-818F quartz watch. I think it cost about the same as dad's Rolex at around $160. I agonized over that purchase for weeks as I gazed at it in Ben Barnes Jewelers window. Oddly it looks a lot like the Explorer, doesn't it?The quartz movement was revolutionary enough to get the Swiss shitting in their pants because it was flawlessly accurate.. This era the "quartz crisis".. I have to say that it was my go-to timepiece as I'd save up my shekels every time the Rolex would stumble.
1977 - 82
My bullet proof Seiko Sport 100 SQ
A-76 Gas Platform way off shore in the Gulf of Mexico oil patch.
Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
Coleto Creek Drainage Ditch - Victoria
My favorite Steed - Algebra.
The Seiko endured this fun loving idiot without fail.
|I quit my first tour of duty working off shore after saving up enough dough to buy a little trailer and enough tools, used bikes and parts to fill it and then of course topped off with my beautiful 6'8" blood orange Jeffery Dale surfboard. I was dead set on starting a used bicycle shop out in California where my cousin's Joe and Jamo were enrolled at UCSB. This was right at the same time Mom, then a famous party designer, who was worried sick about my west coast business endeavor, was asked to come to Washington DC to throw a big party for the Washington Projects for the Arts. Another story there - but the point is that her strategy for distracting me worked and I went along as her set builder. It was a fabulous time where one thing led to another which got me hired and moved there two years later in 1982. That's where I fell in love and made the trip to Europe with her that I'd saved up for working off shore.
My sweet girlfriend Jodie and I drove that jalopy south through Alsace, France, Italy, Yugoslavia and on to Corfu. From there we traveled to several Greek Isles ending up in Athens.. That was August 2nd 1982.
My next, 25th birthday was in Austin after we had made our way home to the US across the Atlantic, compliments of Jodie's parents who gave us a pair of unexpected one way tickets on the QE II after almost a half year of galavanting around Europe, including a drive through the Swiss Alps and Geneva as we were making our way towards the English Channel.
I really wanted to stop and check in on Rolex where my dad had made his purchase. It must have been Sunday because I don't remember the place being open and it was probably getting late so all I really remember about Geneva was that crazy - humongous "Jet d eau de Geneve" water feature. What's up with that thing anyway?
I really wanted to stop and check in on Rolex where my dad had made his purchase. It must have been Sunday because I don't remember the place being open and it was probably getting late so all I really remember about Geneva was that crazy - humongous "Jet d eau de Geneve" water feature. What's up with that thing anyway?
Well I'll tell you...
The Jet d'Eau (Water-Jet) is one of the largest fountains in the world. Situated at the point where Lake Geneva empties into the Rhone River. It is visible throughout the city and from the air, even when flying over at an altitude of 10 km (33,000 ft).
Five hundred litres (132 gallons) of water per second are jetted to an altitude of 140 metres (459 feet) by two 500 KW pumps, operating at 2,400v consuming over one megawatt of electricity. The water leaves the nozzle at a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). When it is in operation, at any given moment there are about 7,000 litres (1849 gallons) of water in the air.
Unsuspecting visitors to the fountain—which can be reached via a stone jetty from the left bank of the lake—may be surprised to find themselves drenched after a slight change in wind direction.
And there you have it..
Dang.. I digressed AGAIN!
The whole point of this story was simply to tell you that in 1983 at my 25th birthday party, my dad smiled at me, took the Rolex off his wrist, and as he handed it to me, all to my surprise, told me that he was proud of me and the way I had put my life together.. Holy Moly, I just about flipped my wig!
And then, promptly afterward...
Though I had a nice girlfriend and a job that supported me, being 25 years old also meant that I was still immortal and so I acted accordingly by treating myself and everything around me like it was indestructible. Sadly, when that poor 1016 was pronounced DOA after beating the daylights out of a chunk of red hot iron with a hand held sledge hammer, perhaps I learned a bit of temperance.. But then again, I doubt it.
So I took the watch to a local Jeweler that had "Rolex repair" painted on the window. The repairman said something to the effect that I had dislodged the mainspring or something like that, meaning what my young adult mind interpreted as: "When you act like a dumb-ass to a tiny self winding mechanism, this is what you get - no matter how fine it is!"
So I took the watch to a local Jeweler that had "Rolex repair" painted on the window. The repairman said something to the effect that I had dislodged the mainspring or something like that, meaning what my young adult mind interpreted as: "When you act like a dumb-ass to a tiny self winding mechanism, this is what you get - no matter how fine it is!"
This kind hoorologist was actually able to get the thing going again for me. But soon it ran fast again and well, let's just say that my dad wouldn't be quite as proud knowing that he'd handed the torch to an irresponsible knucklehead. So I just kept taking it back to to the repair shop where he would continue to cobble it back to some vestige of a time piece. He became sympathetic to my situation and it got to the point that when he saw me come in to the shop, he'd say: "Your Dad coming in this week?".
My own careless behavior has me observing the next recipient for these two characteristics:
1. Respect for people and things, so he'll take care of it.
(UPDATE - Judging by his home and automobile - He's totally there.)
2. Punctuality - It's the politeness of Kings - Thank God Patti broke me of this terrible habit.
I could never think well of a man's intellectual or moral character if he was habitually unfaithful to his appointments. - A smart person
(UPDATE - As of a text exchange a while back where I was grooming him rather rigorously for being on time.. he quickly showed marvelous improvement.. and so I'm feeling proud of him and very happy that we got him here - on time just before his big birthday tomorrow.)
Now THIS was a great year!
This was the year that the fruits of my labor and curiosity really paid off... In a good way.
But up till then, starting in 1984, an inheritance of $5000 from my grandmother (which was all that was left for me of my grand daddy's fortune) sent me to a Wisconsin neon school and the rest is history.
In my ignorant and angry youth, I considered that little inheritance a scholarship from my grandfather - the one person in our family who was a reliable hero to me.
With my grandfather's ticket, I took up the neon trade as an apprentice to a master in San Antonio until the entrepreneurial spirit overtook me and I was compelled to strike out on my own back home in Austin.
I remember dear ol dad's disapproving comment:
"Now what's this shit about light bulb school?"
It was less than a year after "lightbulb school" in the winter of 1985, during a big snowfall in Austin where me and friends were running around town high as kites on mushrooms doing doughnuts in the UT parking lot and sliding down the embankment by the Lamar/Townlake bridge that I got home to hear a phone message with an invitation to come and make neon for a shop in Auckland, New Zealand, to which I happily and very prematurely accepted. It was a total reality check about culture shock and my gross inability as a professional. Nevertheless it was in that shop that I had my big first aha moment about phosphorescent mineral colors within neon tubes - and that led me to a passionate search and development of a new and beautiful opalescent color palette for neon.
Being open is shooting your arrow at one target and hitting the bullseye of another.
|Aspen, just before moving to New Zealand
The watch was working great!
Thanks to my dear "sister" Pebbles Wadsworth's guidance and a Fellowship from the National Endowment to the Arts, I was afforded a very lucky break and chance to create some real evolution with those phosphors.
Here's some.
Courtesy of Mick Jagger
Photo: Carrington Weems
Courtesy of The University of Texas permanent collection.
Bass Concert Hall
This single tube consists of the the most beautiful results found in my fellowship investigations.
Courtesy National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC
Photo: Carrington Weems
And here's other stuff I'm proud of making too.
Frank Roberts and I beat the statue of liberty with our beloved local Austin landmark -"Neon Mural #1" in the renowned IIDA International lighting design competition.
It graced 30,000+ passers by per day on
West 5th street
for over 20 years.
All things must pass...
Photo:Paul Bardagjy
"CONFABULATING ORBITS" (Night time)
Courtesy of The City of Austin Convention Center permanent collection.
Photo: Amy Bryant
|Burning copper wearing the 1016 - Making the "Orbits"
Look at that poor watch, it really has been through Hell and back...
Photo:Paul Bardagjy
"CONFABULATING ORBITS" (Day time)
"Texas sized Caduceus"
Dedication party for the large neon and century plant caduceus for our public hospital.
Dad at age 68 (sporting his plastic Casio watch) pontificating to the crowd.
Courtesy of Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller
and Charlie Soap.
A continuous work in progress
Courtesy Robert Patterson Collection
Ben, showing George Gruel "the glass ropes
Corning Glass Museum "Masters" workshop.
Courtesy of the 2009 Glass Arts Society conference - Corning, NY
Alot of talented artists apply and re-apply unsuccessfully year after year for grants and fellowship awards from the National Endowment for the Arts... But thanks to "my village" and a few pretty good ideas, I received a full fellowship with my first shot out of the bag. Amazing indeed, particularly for a kid who barely made it out of high school.
I made a lot of plans with the award proceeds. Two expenditures were long awaited.
1. To get that Rolex fixed properly, once and for all.
2. Wear the watch "home", on a long awaited - post fellowship "blow the cob webs out" three week - 200 + mile trek through the Himalaya. This adventure with my best friends through central Nepal up and unknowingly across the Tibetan border is where Sir Edmund Hillary climbed Mt. Everest and made this watch famous!
And sure enough it came to pass...
|The PURGE Ganesh tour..
Featuring enduring pals - Mike Levin, Jeff Ragsdale, Jessica Fleishman
The world's most friendly and fun guides thanks to the late - great Babu Tamang.
|Jeff teaching Kumar the second chord to "You are my Sun sign".
Even the Gurung people were amused.
The magnificent Kali Gandaki Valley.
|Mike & me - "Say YES to the dress!"
That guy's shirt actually said "Victoria Junior College!
And THEN... My big surprise upon our home coming...
Jeff... Please get down here and play this show with me!
Jeff Ragsdale Terry Allen Ben
My first real live performance was opening for the great
Terry Allen
|Joe Ely!
A wonderful evening indeed and it was Jeff's 40th Birthday.
|Trekking Troubadour buddies... Jeff, Stacy Erickson and Ben
We were
"The Annapurna Rounders"
"The Annapurna Rounders"
singing at the top of our lungs
on top of the world!
Thorung-la pass 17,769ft.
As close to Hillary and Norgay as I'll ever get on foot.
FYI - Hillary and Norgay were last seen still going strong at the Second Step (about 28,140 - 28,300 ft).
Over 10,000 feet higher.. GEEZ!
"The Rounders" - Back on the ground
with gigs
back on good ol' Kathmandu
What comes around goes around.
The Annapurna Rounders - rocking North beach!
1998 - 2001
But this time took more forethought, two years worth as a matter of fact.
Washington Post
July 29, 2001
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Shortwave
news from Katmandu, barely discernible words from
BBC World. A massacre in Nepal . . . royal family
killed . . . the king, the queen, the crown
prince, all dead. Then the crackling radio dispatch
faded into desert air, and I sat stunned in a
courtyard in Samarkand.
Only four days before, I had left Nepal for
Uzbekistan, after working on a nonprofit project in
the Himalayas. Only four weeks before, I had met
Nepal's Crown Prince Dipendra on a flight from
Bangkok to Katmandu. I couldn't have known that day
that I would meet a prince whose subjects
considered him a god but who would speak to a stranger
about the concept of democracy. Nor could I have
known that a month later, on June 1, he would be
accused of gunning down his family, leaving a
tragic and decidedly mortal legacy.
My colleagues and I knew something was up when we
boarded Thai Airways Flight 319. A bustle filled
the cabin as a retinue of men in traditional
Nepalese attire stored parcels in overhead bins, then
disappeared into first class. Once we were
airborne, I asked a flight attendant if a dignitary was
on board. He confided: "It's the crown prince of
Quickly, I pulled out a card that bore our
nonprofit's name, Clean Nepal. The founding members
were headed to the Himalayas for a cleanup
expedition with Nepal's Annapurna Conservation Area
Project, and I thought the prince might find it
interesting. I wrote a description on the back and
concluded with, "For your information. I do not wish
to disturb you." Then I passed it to the flight
Apparently, Prince Dipendra did not feel
disturbed, for soon the attendant and a Nepali bodyguard
ushered me into first class. The crown prince sat
in the first row, wearing a black business
jacket, a crisp white tunic and a black<em> topi,
</em>the traditional Nepalese men's hat. He turned and
smiled as I stood in the aisle.
"Please, sit." He gestured to the seat next to
"<em>Namaskar</em>," I stammered the formal Hindu
greeting, my hands steepled to my forehead.
Graciously, he gestured toward the seat again. I
hadn't expected this.
"How do you pronounce your name?" he asked as I
sat, leaving a space between us. I told him, then
with diminishing dignity, I blurted, "Pardon me,
your highness -- I am very nervous."
His response was an easy smile, like that of a
celebrity accustomed to awe-struck legions. "Not at
all," he replied. "I am curious about this
As I gave him a synopsis of the cleanup, he
nodded approvingly. His demeanor, his sheer
accessibility, struck me; I wondered if this could have
happened anywhere but in midair, on a commercial
flight, between countries. I will never know. I do
know that during our chance encounter, he was
affable and attentive, and we talked candidly of
Nepal's environmental problems before segueing into
more complex subjects.
"The environment is a huge concern in Nepal," the
prince agreed, "but at the moment, I do not think
the government can offer additional assistance."
He paused. "As you may know, our country is
facing a good deal of unrest."
I was aware that Nepal's prime minister was at
the center of an alleged corruption scandal,
prompting increasingly violent protests (he resigned
July 19). I knew that there were periodic national
transportation strikes bringing commerce to a
halt. And I was aware of the sporadic Maoist attacks
in western and central Nepal.
"Yes, I have followed it," I said, then stopped,
not wanting to push the subject of Nepalese
politics. But the crown prince willingly continued. He
mentioned the palace's neutral position,
explaining that a decade before, his father had
relinquished power to elected officials, and since then
the palace had made few public comments about
political affairs. "It is not our place. We are not
elected officials."
Then he said something I will not forget. I have
re-read my journal several times now -- having
jotted down highlights from the conversation as
soon as I returned to my seat -- and every time,
I've felt an unshakable sadness, not only for a
country I love, but for a prince I briefly met and
whose final thoughts and actions will never be
known. "My country has a young democracy," he said
slowly. "And there are three necessary elements for
the democracy to stabilize: national pride,
unity; the rule of law, which must be upheld under all
circumstances; and faith in democracy." He
paused, as if contemplating an unforeseeable future.
"Nepal must remember that democracy is not a static
system, and political upheaval is always a
possible factor."
Clearly, the prince was troubled by Nepal's
fragile political state; yet he believed the people
would "hold on" through whatever lay ahead. Those
words would haunt me later.
When the plane began its descent into Katmandu, I
took my leave of Prince Dipendra, thanking him as
I backed into the aisle with a final
"<em>Namaskar</em>." In my pocket was a calling card that
read -- still reads -- "H.R.H. Crown Prince Dipendra
Bir Bikram Shah Dev. Narayanhity Royal Palace.
Kathmandu, Nepal." The young heir, whom Nepalis
believe is an incarnation of the god Vishnu, had
given it to me when I asked about contacting him for
a future profile. He cautioned that it would be a
while before he could grant an interview, as the
mood in Nepal was too tense.
Since then I have considered the parallel between
Nepal's tragedy and the fall of America's own
"Camelot" 38 years ago. As for Americans grappling
with John F. Kennedy's assassination, there will
never be an answer for Nepalis, no investigation
that will settle the restless conjecturing of a
country stunned by its loss and blinded, even, by
hero worship. As for me, I was profoundly upset
when I learned of the massacre. According to the
reports, the man I'd met was the same man who
killed his family and then turned a gun himself. Or
had he? Like many Nepalis, I can't quite believe he
did it.
But the tragedy jolted me for other reasons. It
reminded me of how mortal all men are, no matter
how much we elevate them, and with that truism
came a lifting of the veil that separates princes
from commoners and gods from humans. What lay
beyond was a mystery as irreconcilable as the
massacre: How can any man, or god for that matter, wield
such horrifying power?
<em> Shermakaye Bass is a freelance writer based
in Austin.
Serious BUMMER!
This marvelous woman - love of my life traveled to all around Asia for 5 months. I proposed to her on the wall above Xian, China and we were married in an amazing 15th century monastery in Thimphu, Bhutan on 11-11- 2005..
Sorry, this story is too personal and sacred to "blog" about.
But my loyal pals, Jeff and Mike, who the Himalaya would be even more remote for me without, were there with us, cheering us on as we all trekked together from Paro - through the gorgeous Punakha valley, all the way to Thimphu. Low and behold, it was the King's birthday 11-11 and a massive celebration was taking place the whole day and night that we were wed!
The memory of these days floods me with emotion.
Our wonderful Bhutanese guides called us "The four harmonious friends" from a children's tale about a donkey, rabbit, monkey and elephant who were best friends. They never would tell us who was who.
During our five months of travels throughout China, Tibet, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bhutan and Burma, I became very interested in Southeast Asian Supernaturalism and the artifacts that accompany these rituals and traditions. I had a hard time finding literature about this subject so I decided to take the task into my own hands.
Another two years worth of research and planning with Asian friends found willingness to guide and translate.. So back to Asia I went and "Spirit House Safari" happened.
Here's the real-time blog (with lots of great pictures) from the days on the road, collecting info. The manuscript has been through it's first edit thanks to the venerable pro Jill Mason.. The rest is just a matter of time and I liken completion of a book like this to that last 10,000+ foot climb of Hillary and Norgay's summit to the top..
I wonder if I have what it takes? Only time will tell...
I walked past that damn manuscript for half a year... with dreaded feelings of shame and guilt so many times that I figured that maybe it would be best to find a creative escape in order to devert my attention away from this paper pariah... Hmmm..
So I put in a call to my new friend, the famous Texas "Lost Gonzo Cosmic Cowboy" himself, Bob Livingston. A great musician and master of the stage, who I met up with in Bangkok during my last days in Asia where I was in from Burma and he and his son had been playing in Viet Nam for the US State Department. We hit it off as fast friends there and so I called in a favor of asking Bob to teach me how to put a band and a musical performance together. I had big ideas to putting on a neon art show at the Mighty Continental Club during the big SXSW Saturday, busting the previously condemned doors back open with a full blown neon art and debut music performance... George Plimpton style.
Here's the News paper article about that incredible day.
Neon artist shines on stage
2011- 2013
I made a record with famous producer and spiritual advisor, Denny Bruce.
Here it is and with his liner notes...
And THEN..
I was cast as an actor in a very culturally important feature film about the Cherokee.
Click on this link.
"The Cherokee Word for Water"
Notes from the website:
Here's my story of my first glimpse into the heart of a most extraordinary contemporary American Indian experience.
How about MUSIC?!
So I put in a call to my new friend, the famous Texas "Lost Gonzo Cosmic Cowboy" himself, Bob Livingston. A great musician and master of the stage, who I met up with in Bangkok during my last days in Asia where I was in from Burma and he and his son had been playing in Viet Nam for the US State Department. We hit it off as fast friends there and so I called in a favor of asking Bob to teach me how to put a band and a musical performance together. I had big ideas to putting on a neon art show at the Mighty Continental Club during the big SXSW Saturday, busting the previously condemned doors back open with a full blown neon art and debut music performance... George Plimpton style.
|Thank you Bob!
Here's the News paper article about that incredible day.
Neon artist shines on stage
"Ben Livingston moved across the stage toward the microphone at Austin's seasoned Continental Club. He shouldered his Gretch guitar and began to sing.
But Livingston, a Victoria native, is known more for his neon art, having once won a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship that he used to search for phosphors in Nepal.
That fellowship was more than 15 years ago. "Been dormant" all that time, he said, "meditating."
How in the world did an internationally known neon artist get a stage at the Continental Club in the middle of the South by Southwest festival, where more than 1,500 bands were playing in Austin?....
This was one of the most exciting days on my life.
I needed all my angels there for this one..
So yes, I am definitely wearing the Rolex...
And guess what, for some strange reason, it decided to keep good time that day. Go figure...
With Spirit House Safari sufficiently placed on the back burner, I dove head first into the vertical learning curve of my new element.. Writing, recording and performing music! The rest up til now is two critically acclaimed CD's later and history.
Arts Cottage LIVE!
Video by Bob Simmons
Big in Texas!
The "That's What She Said "Band Photo: David Barrow
On the road again!
The Rolex is still ticking...
Ben & Doug sing "Gasoline"
Balcony TV
"Boneless Chicken"
Ben and the "That's what she said!" band
SXSW Saturday at the Continental Club Gallery
Evil Spirits
With Dan Kaplan and Kristopher Wade
Continental Club Gallery
Video: David Barrow
Photo: David Barrow
Music doesn't come naturally to me and I wasn't that great at it but the what drove me like gangbusters was my addiction to the pure oxygen that can only be found during a live performance.
Unfortunately, my good ol' Rolex Explorer can't keep time or up to the pace of performance, so I put ol' (Namaste) 1016 in that chalice for safe keeping until now where we look forward to a full restoration by legendary horologist, Bob Ridley..
2011- 2013
I made a record with famous producer and spiritual advisor, Denny Bruce.
Here it is and with his liner notes...
And THEN..
I was cast as an actor in a very culturally important feature film about the Cherokee.
Click on this link.
"The Cherokee Word for Water"
Notes from the website:
Here's my story of my first glimpse into the heart of a most extraordinary contemporary American Indian experience.
Moses Brings Plenty as Charlie Soap
Ben Livingston as Curly McQuista
Steve Reevis as Johnson Soap
Charlie Soap is the widower of Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller. He is a very handsome and regal community and spiritual leader. Charlie wears a stainless steel and gold Rolex along with many beautiful culturally relevant personal ornaments.
Seeing Charlie wearing his special watch as he lives his life resonated with me as a reminder of dad's Explorer and what it represents in my experience...
So from then to now...
I am so pleased to know that Mr. Ridley, master horologist, will breathe new life back into the old Explorer for my last long roundup before handing the torch on to it's new steward.
That "round up" will be scooping the best parts of what I consider to be a rather well spent life into a way to make a difference by helping the world to be a little better place.
That "round up" will be scooping the best parts of what I consider to be a rather well spent life into a way to make a difference by helping the world to be a little better place.
That's what legacy is all about isn't it?
And all along the way, this old 1963 Rolex Explorer's tiny mechanical heart has kept time with life's events at 18,000 beats per hour as constant reminder of our time to give.
Bring it on!
Photo: Kevin Jordan
Next up...
The 11-11@11:11 Project
by Jeff Ragsdale
I believe I have shot a very large portion of these pictures marking time with my '63 Explorer for over 20 years now.. My apologies, dear reader, these were all I could drum up for now.
Jeff still flying - Qi gong style.
11-11@11:11 - 1997
The real explorer in the family..
My Cousin Ed Schlee
All I have to say after Cousin Ed's amazing adventure is that this little truck I drive "Bessy" has been with me for the last 27 years of this story and clocked enough miles to make it to the moon,
if that accounts for anything...
I tried handing over this torch to "The next in line" but he won't come and get it..
So I guess we'll go with the Rolex.
"Bessy", The Pride of Austin
I digress...
Photo: Kevin Jordan
Next up...
The 11-11@11:11 Project
by Jeff Ragsdale
I believe I have shot a very large portion of these pictures marking time with my '63 Explorer for over 20 years now.. My apologies, dear reader, these were all I could drum up for now.
Jeff Solos on 11-11 @ 11:11 - 1995
One year to the minute from when the picture (I am holding) was taken at Ganesh Himal, Nepal
Jeff still flying - Qi gong style.
11-11@11:11 - 1997
|Just finished the remodeling marathon of the house behind him.
11-11@11:11 - 1998?
The real explorer in the family..
My Cousin Ed Schlee
Edward F. Schlee and William S. Brock
Schlee & Brock departed from Detroit, Michigan via New York to Newfoundland. They departed Harbor Grace and arrived at Croydon Airport, London England.
They continued their flight across Europe, India and China arriving in Tokyo in 18 days, flying a total of 12,995 miles in 145.5 flying hours. Bad weather forced them to abandon their round- the-world attempt. Rather than trying to cross the Pacific, they returned to New York by steamer.
All I have to say after Cousin Ed's amazing adventure is that this little truck I drive "Bessy" has been with me for the last 27 years of this story and clocked enough miles to make it to the moon,
if that accounts for anything...
I tried handing over this torch to "The next in line" but he won't come and get it..
So I guess we'll go with the Rolex.
"Bessy", The Pride of Austin
I digress...


text: General Laborer / Fabricator Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Dalton, Minnesota Temp to Perm US$ 14.00 - US$ 17.00 per hour Spherion Staffing is seeking a General Laborer / Fabricator to work for our client company in Dalton, MN. The ideal candidate will be self-driven, have experience in a manufacturing environment, work in a safe and efficient manner. Responsibilities: ... see job description


text:
all day i'm pulling off t-spin doubles
An instance of the Mastodon microblogging social network for Ice type pokemon, fans of Ice type pokemon, and anyone else who's, well, cool. Chat with our community here, or with your friends on any other instance! Our code of conduct page can be found here!


text:
Today's the day; to take a Recess in the name of Employe Wellness. Make it fun. Make it simple. Make it productive.
And if you're still trying to convince the boss………………find out what CNN, 1800Mattress and Recess At Work Day all have in common? Read this article right now. It's not too late to celebrate.
Have a Happy Recess.


text:
Hey guys! It IS midweek! Wow, didn't that happen quickly?! Wasn't yesterday Monday, or is that just me? Anyway, I'm super excited to bring you this awesome post. I don't know if you'll think it's awesome, but I think it's awesome so that works for me lol. No seriously though, I personally wanted to share some tips with you stay at home mama's because I KNOW the struggle. I KNOW what it's like to have a splendid day & the next be total crap. I KNOW sometimes you feel like you're continuously doing the same thing over & over again. Trust me, I KNOW. Being a stay at home is obviously ideal to many. It is an amazing blessing to be able to stay home. Honestly it is the most rewarding lifestyle in my opinion, however things aren't always so pleasant. Sometimes you lose sight of how great it actually is, especially when you don't know what type of day to expect anymore right? Yep, I KNOW. Just know we are all doing our best. You may not be the greatest at everything, but you're staying home to provide for your household. Yep, even if you're not financially providing you're still giving your 100% dedication to your kid(s) + your home! Not everyone can handle that, you are a fabulous #supermom. So please remember that. Alright, well now let's get to the good stuff! I came up with a few things that have tremendously helped me & K's day go by a lot smoother, I hope this will encourage you to try them, if you haven't already. By the way there's also a free print design (5×7) that I created to share with you! Feel free to download it below. I'd love to see it framed or even as a binder/folder cover!
One: Be up before 9AM. I know several moms get up around 6-7AM anyway because their little is an early bird (not mine), well chances are you'll be more active & encouraged to take on whatever the may day bring. We obviously deserve to sleep in every once in a while, but the earlier we are up (preferably before our child/ren) the better. Believe me, I've seen the difference in my attitude as well.
Two: Get ready. This doesn't mean you need to shower every single morning, especially if you're not an AM showerer (is that even a word? probably not but you get me lol) however a nice quick shower does uplift my mood instantly so I highly suggest it. You don't even have to put on makeup or get dressed up because let's face it, if we know we're gonna stay home all day more than likely we just want to be comfy. Basically all you need is to wash your face, brush your hair/teeth, & throw on something to wear (try to stay away from the PJs bc you're more likely to stay in all day) the point is to feel refreshed & ready to start your day.
Three: Solitude & meditation. Whether it's as short as 10 minutes or an hour long, try to squeeze in some solitude time in the morning to do something peaceful. Refer this time as a "mini me time" Whether it's read scriptures/a book/write/work on crafts/yoga anything that will soothe your mind. This will invite in the peaceful vibes. If your child(ren) is up when you're up, try doing this during their nap time instead of getting on social media. You'll still have time to clean/cook. Like I said, all you need is a few minutes.
Four: Get active. Now, this doesn't always necessarily mean go for a run or do workouts at home. What I mean by getting active is keep yourself occupied. Sometimes as SAHM's we come across those days when we have too much time on our hands. Find little things to do such as: pick up around the house, reorganize your closet, shoot reorganize your home if ya want, go outside with your little & take in some fresh air even if you don't go anywhere, dance with your baby they love it, do a mini photoshoot in your home, color with them, play with flash cards, or even make a fort out of blankets for them. Anything that will keep you up from the couch pretty much.
Five: Stay positive. Some days are too much, we get beyond stressed. There are times I don't even care to do anything because frustration takes over, but always ALWAYS remind yourself how extremely blessed you are. You may not see your ultimate purpose in life, but you're actually fulfilling it right now. Motherhood is the ultimate purpose in our life, then come our careers/goals/dreams of course. You're a mother, not an old person who no longer has a future lol. Don't get discouraged, instead enjoy these moments at home with your little(s) because sooner than later, they'll be nothing but memories.
One: Fun breakfast/lunch. Oh my gosh how much they enjoy this! You don't have to make faces out of food or make cool meals lol. I mean just sit there with your baby & make the time enjoyable. Show them their favorite video or turn on some music, sing to them while they eat, or play airplane with their spoon/fork. This is just a good way to interact with them & make meal time a little more pleasant.
Two: Let them explore. I know we tend to be protective, but we shouldn't take everything "non-baby" away from them. Let them explore each room in the house, don't keep them in one place too long. Show them different things in the rooms and explain what they are, they love discovering new objects.
Three: Mid-day baths. Just got home from the park? Maybe lunch time got super messy? Ditch the baby wipes & just bathe them instead, even if you did just bathe him/her the night before. I've noticed how much my son loves mid-day baths, I'll even join in sometimes if I didn't get a chance to shower in the morning. This will soothe them & help nap time come a lot quicker!
Four: Playing is caring. They'll less likely get crabby if you're actually engaging with them while playing with toys. I know sometimes this can get tough, because I still struggle with this a lot. Although teaching them to play independently is encouraged, I do see the difference in my son's attitude when I actually sit next to him & play with his blocks, cars, puzzles, etc. Your little one likes learning from you, so next time you see baby playing alone, just join them for a little while.
Five: Love them. The best way to make your baby's day better is to simply love and show that emotional affection towards them. Yeah, I know sometimes those little gremlins can get on our last nerve & make us want to pull out our hair. They test our patience, make us exhausted, & eat our food.. but hey, that's what they do. Can't live without them so might as well love & enjoy them, they won't stay little forever. (;
Well this is all. I didn't expect it to be so long. I do hope you found this helpful. Thanks for reading! & Be sure to let me know some of your ways to make a SAHM's day better, oh don't forget your new print!
[ddownload id="162″ style="button" button="black" text="DOWNLOAD"]


text:
This poll (now closed) was for people who believe they have experienced a significant reality change (Mandela Effect).
Original post
I'm curious about your background, and whether — prior to the first time you noticed a change in your reality — you'd already been experimenting (pushing the usual boundaries) of accepted, everyday reality.
This could include:
- Using prayer or magic to change the most likely outcome in a challenging situation.
- Exploring past lives, reincarnation, karma, and other explanations for what's happened in your life.
- Other ways to facilitate (make easier) selected challenges or learning experiences in your life.
- Attempts (successful or not) at astral travel, remote viewing, precognition, psychokinesis, etc. (Especially anything ESP-ish.)
- Other practices (whether you believed in them or just tried them for fun) that were intended to empower you in relation to your effects on your personal reality.
You may cast your vote for more than one. Please remember that we're looking for things you may have tried before the first time you noticed a reality shift.
[yop_poll id="5″]
If you did something else (not in the poll) that might have had an effect on your immediate or later reality, please leave a comment about it.
Remember, this isn't about blame or — at the other extreme — boasting.
It's about pre-slide activity, and if patterns emerge in these polls.
Poll results
649 people participated in this poll. People could choose multiple answers; they weren't limited to just one.
It looks like about 1/3 of respondents had used mind-expanding drugs, 1/3 had used religious intercession (like prayer), and 1/3 hadn't made any attempts to influence reality or outcomes.
Here are the actual numbers:
215 people (15.3% of votes) said they'd used mind-expanding drugs [pink section of pie chart].
213 people (15.2%) said they'd used religious intercession methods (prayer, novenas, etc.) [blue section].
164 people had experimented with astral travel [yellow].
131 people had tried magic (magick) to cause changes [purple].
113 people had tried hypnosis or something like it [light blue].
74 people had used past-life counselling or other regression techniques [red].
134 people said they'd use other, miscellaneous New Age practices [dark green].
156 people (11.1% of votes) said they'd tested other reality- or outcome-practices [light green].
202 people (14.4% of votes) checked "none of the above."
If you have any thoughts about this concept — that a deliberate act might have predisposed you to a reality shift — I hope you'll comment here, too.
Photo courtesy of primozc, Slovenia


text:
Model:Window N101 II Dual Core tablet PC
CPU:RK3066 Dual Core 1.5GHz
CPU:Mali 400
System: Android 4.0
Screen:10.1 IPS inch Capacitive touch screen,
Extend Card:Support TF card up to 32GB
Camera: Dual Camera,Front 2.0MP+ Back 2.0MP
WIFI: 802.11 b/g
Flash:support flash
Gravity Senso:support
3G:Not built in, support external 3G dongle: E1916, ZTE AC2736, HUAWEI E1750, HUAWEI EC122, HUAWEI EM770W
Language:Czech, Dansk, German, English, Spanish, Russian, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polski, Greek,Portuguese, Svenska, Turkey, Korean, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
Other Applications:File Manager, OfficeSuite, Google Search, Task Manager, Browser, Gallery, Android Webkit, Clock,Calculator, Calendar, iReader, Gmail
Microphone:built-in microphone
Speaker:built-in stereo speaker
I/O Port:1* micro USB 2.0 port, 1* 3.5mm Earphone port,1*HDMI port
Battery:7200 MAh/3.7V Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
Adpter:AC input:110-240V,DC Output:9V/2A
Product Weight:626g
Can download and install software or game through the WIFI network or computer,support gravity induction
Download and install program ,such as software game through the software market
Because of the insufficient compressive capacity of the original package,the tablet screen is easy to be crush during the transport.So the tablet will be pack in a new package,we will use foam box instead of original packaging in order to reduce price and keep our price as competitive as possible.After cautious consideration and test,we believe the foam box is more resistant to rough handling.Moreover,our foam box will be improve.
This product will be shipped with adapter plug for the country of the buyer.
Package included:
1 x Tablet PC
1 x USB Cable


text:
We will explain the free 1200 calorie diet plan and why it might be for you. The free 1200 calorie diet plan is based on counting the amount of food you eat during the day. Most medical professionals even tell you to use a free 1200 calorie diet plan if you have a significant amount of weight you need to lose.
Even if you are on a free 1200 calorie diet plan you must eat balanced meals. A failure to balance your diet will make it harder to stay on course. It will also be more difficult for you to lose weight. A balanced diet is where macronutrients are 55 percent of the calories, which include carbohydrates, 15 percent protein, and 30 percent from fat. Basically you are looking at 660 carbohydrate calories, 180 protein calories, and 360 fat calories as part of the free 1200 calorie diet plan.
To help you understand the balance you require as part of the free 1200 calorie diet plan we have a sample menu. For breakfast enjoy a whole wheat English muffin, 1 tablespoon peanut butter and 1/2 a banana. For a snack you should eat 20 almonds and 1 apple. Lunch is 2 slices of low calorie wheat bread, 2 ounces of meat, 1 ounce of cheese, lettuce, tomato, and an orange.
The rest of the sample meal includes low fat yogurt for an afternoon snack, 3 ounces chicken, 1 cup broccoli, and 2/3 cup brown rice. You will also be able to eat 2 low fat fig cookies and 1 cup 1 percent milk for an evening snack. The free 1200 calorie diet plan still gives you the pleasure of foods you like.


text:
Smartphones are revolutionising how millions of us go online each day.
We use them to make calls, send texts, check emails and run an ever-growing number of applications.
But these devices may also carry some risks.
Should your smartphone fall into the wrong hands, it is a potential treasure trove of information.
If you download a rogue application, it's even possible for hackers to hijack your phone without it leaving your side.
More than half of UK adults now own a smartphone. If you're one of them, here are some tips to help keep you and your device safe and secure.
This guide has been produced by the Information Commissioner's Office, Ofcom, the Office of Fair Trading and Phone-paid Services Authority working together.


text:
More About 17REASONS
Visit My SparkPage Send Me SparkMail
Recipes I've Shared:
A delicious and hearty stew based on the traditional Carribean Callaloo stew. If you eat meat, you can boost the flavor by adding 2-3 smoked ham hocks, which add rich smokiness without adding substantially to the calories and fat. To make this vegan, don't add ham hocks (of course) and use Better than Bouillon "No Chicken" base instead.
Originally this was a breakfast recipe, however I like to make it for dinner. Serve with a side of rice, refried beans, and avocado or salsa if desired.
This delicious, low-fat, vegan pasta can be made with any vegetable in your crisper. A great way to empty your pantry AND have a healthy dinner!
These are ethereal, clouds of egg made into cakes; they also develop a very nice crust. This recipe replaces the 1 cup milk with 1/2c soy plain yogurt and 1/2c. Almond Breeze. We also added in some ground flaxseed for fiber and Omega-3s, bananas for sweetness and fruit, and cinnamon. As fluffy and delicious as Bittman's recipe!
Recipe makes minor adaptations to the recipe posted on FoodNetwork.com, courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Pizza, Pasta, & More!," Random House, 2000. Due to a food allergy I have substituted 1/2 cup grated Cheddar for Montchevre Goat Cheddar. Nutrition info reflects this change, but feel free to use regular cheddar.
Recipe adapted from "Extra Virgin" (Cooking Channel) recipe; uses half the sugar and half the oil
A vegan version of mac & cheese from IsaChandra, contributor to the Post Punk Kitchen blog. Instead of cheese, this version gets its magic from a soaked and blended cashews, nutritional yeast (optional) and the secret ingredient-- sauerkraut! Doesn't replicate the gooeyness of traditional Mac & Cheese, but it should be appreciated as its own thing.


text:
Written by Ben Tallon
The Manchester raised and based illustrator is globally recognised as a leading illustrator, his work being seen in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Nike, WWE and Wired among many other high profile places. Stanley shares the inside story of his success from the roots of his skills, humbly beginning drawing on chip paper at his parents' takeaway using biro pens to tales of first being in trouble with The White Stripes, then working with them, a job that would play a big part in the launch of his career. How does he go about fighting the fact that his work is one of the most mimicked and parodied in the world? We talk about his work blowing up, how he keeps himself hungry and why he continues to create heartfelt personal projects.
Get your feedback over on @arrestallmimics on Twitter now!


text:
Overheard – greenwashing
Profile: Margaret Rouse
|"Au contraire. I'm environmentally-friendly now."
Tom Fishburne's humorous look at greenwashing as voodoo marketing.
Tom Fishburne, a cartoonist whose blog is about "Cartoons, marketing and postcards from London" wrote:
This cartoon idea sprang fully formed from a New York Times piece on the ridiculous lengths that some brands are going to be considered for the Home Depot Eco Options promotion (including, yes, a brand of electric chainsaw). It's a good example of some of the outlandish greenwashing we're all starting to see. And, how the issue is not as white and black as the old treehugger/lumberjack dynamic.


text:
Report: GMC Acadia Coming to Oz as a Holden
According to reports, General Motors will export the GMC Acadia to Australia for the first time, bringing it to the Outback as a Holden in an effort to capitalize on the departure of rival vehicles and on its own flourishing sales.
Shopping for a New GM Vehicle? See current sales incentives and offers
According to Cars Guide, Holden recently held a secretive meeting at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne with its national dealer network. At this meeting, dealers were informed that the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia would be imported as a Holden sometime between now and the closure of operations at all vehicle and engine manufacturing facilities by late 2017.
Per the report, the Acadia will be retaining its given name, but it will be rebadged. It is said that it will be available with four-cylinder and V6 petrol engine options, in addition to a diesel engine option that will not be available in the US.
At the meeting, dealers were told that the Holden Acadia would be slotted above the Captiva, which leads to speculation that it would carry a base price of approximately $45,000. It was announced this week that the Acadia will carry a $29,995 base price in the United States.
When pressed, Holden refused to comment on speculation about future models. Expect more details as the year rolls on.
Looking to Add to Your Current Ride? Check out GM Certified Accessories
News Source: Cars Guide


text:
In addition to interviews, employers may use a range of testing methods for further insight into an applicant's personality, motivations and abilities.
Psychometric assessment
- Many graduate employers now use psychometric assessment early in their selection process.
- Designed by psychologists, psychometric assessments assess a candidate's abilities, personality, motivations, values and interests under standardised conditions in line with a particular role. Many types of assessment are used to help the employer build an overall profile of you and, importantly, how you would fit within their workplace.
- Psychometric assessment is often administered as a series of online tests and inventories and may also be a precursor to, or part of, an assessment centre.
- Psychometric assessments typically fall into two categories:
Aptitude test:
Used to measure mental reasoning ability, most commonly numerical, verbal, comprehension, and abstract or spatial reasoning skills. These tests are usually timed so the pressure can be intense. Work quickly but accurately, and don't be surprised if you can't answer all questions.
Personality inventory or motivational fit:
Designed to reveal interests and motivations. The typical format is preferential questions (where you select from a series of choices). There are no right or wrong responses, just individual answers which psychologists use to develop a profile to then compare to that of an employer's ideal candidate.
Emotional intelligence (EI) tools may also be used to identify candidates who possess strong 'emotional competency'. EI is your capacity to:
- recognise and manage emotions in yourself and your relationships
- use feelings to guide your thoughts and actions
- motivate yourself and others.
Preparing for tests
Prepare for psychometric testing by finding out from the employer relevant information such as:
- What sort of tests do they conduct and what do they measure?
- How long will the tests go for?
- Can a calculator be used in numeric tests?
You should also:
- practice by taking sample tests, either online or through your uni careers service
- complete crosswords, number games and puzzles to sharpen your problem solving ability.
Assessment centres
Following the application form and psychometric testing, some employers may conduct assessment centres. Assessment centres are commonly used by large companies throughout Australia. They are collections of tests and exercises designed to simulate an employer's business environment. They generate objective information about applicants, such as those with the most suitable personal attributes and problem solving or teamwork skills. They can also determine who would fit best and excel within the organisation's structure and culture.
Common activities may include:
- work-typical exercises
- group discussions (may form part of a group interview)
- case studies
- role plays
- presentations.
Assessment centre testing can last from half a day to three days and is usually held at the office of the employer or recruitment company.
What they don't assess
The activities are designed only to search for work-related abilities and competencies. They do not:
- probe your childhood or other personal details
- evaluate specific technical skills and knowledge (although drawing upon these may aid your performance).
Advantages for applicants
Assessment centres don't just benefit the employer. There are also advantages for you as a potential employee:
- You can share your working style and strengths.
- Your success is not only dependent on one or two interviews.
- Should you secure the position, you can be more confident that it will suit you and that the employer feels you have the potential to advance.
- It's a fairer, more equitable hiring practice.
Preparing for assessment centres
If you are one of a handful of applicants invited to an assessment centre, give yourself a pat on the back. Then start preparing…
• Your careers service has examples of typical tests and can advise on preparation.
• Familiarise yourself with the job description and desired competencies.
• Read all test materials carefully and thoroughly.
• Do some internet research on the employer, industry and assessment centres.
• Dress as though you're attending a job interview and be yourself. There are benefits on both sides to fitting the right person to the right job. Expect to feel nervous before and during the assessment: the experience will involve some stress but is of great benefit to you.
After the assessment centre
Whatever the outcome, don't let it undermine your confidence. Even if you are not selected to progress further after psychometric and/or assessment centre testing, you have gained invaluable experience and feedback of benefit for next time. Remember:
- Your results only reflect your performance on the day you were tested (many factors can affect this).
- You're assessed against the needs of one organisation; you won't be viewed identically by all employers, or by the same organisation in the future.
- You've gained valuable practice for next time. Evaluate your performance and any feedback given.
- You may have avoided a position which would not have been right for you in the long term.
Be yourself – in an assessment centre, it's all about finding a fit. The employer is looking to match your personality to the company culture. If you've made it this far, on paper you're qualified for the job.
There are lots of free psychometric tests you can practice online. Here are some sites you can visit to get started: