text: Scott Carney is an investigative journalist and anthropologist whose stories blend narrative non-fiction with ethnography. He has been a contributing editor at Wired and his work also appears in Mother Jones, Foreign Policy, Playboy, Details, Discover, Outside and Fast Company. He regularly appears on variety of radio and television stations from NPR to National Geographic TV and has had academic work published in Nature and SAIS Journal. He holds a number of academic appointments including as a Senior Fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism. In 2010 he won the Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism for the story "Meet the Parents" which tracked an international kidnapping-to-adoption ring. His first book, The Red Market: On the Trail of the World's Organ Brokers, Bone Thieves, Blood Farmers and Child Traffickers, was published by William Morrow in 2011 and won the 2012 Clarion Award for best non-fiction book. His second book A Death on Diamond Mountain: A True Story of Obsession, Madness and the Path to Enlightenment came out with Gotham Books in 2015. He first traveled to India while he was a student at Kenyon College in 1998 and spent six years living there. Along the way, he learned Hindi and twice drove a motorcycle across the country. In 2004 he received a MA in anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He currently lives in Boulder, CO.


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2 1/3 cups whole grain spelt flour (or flour of choice)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup plus 1 Tablespoon olive oil
In a medium-sized bowl, stir flour and salt with fork. Then, continue stirring as you add the oil. The mixture should resemble course crumbs.
Sprinkle 2 to 4 tablespoons of cold water into the mixture, until pastry is moist and cleans sides of bowl. (I used two.)
Form pastry into a ball, then diving into two balls, with one slightly larger than the other. Roll the slightly larger ball out with a rolling pin, on wax paper, until it is about two inches larger than your pie plate, all around.
Carefully place pie plate over the rolled out dough, and turn wax paper upside down so that pastry carefully lands in the pie plate.
Roll out the second ball of dough, and cut a few slits in the top with a knife. You will place this crust over the pie, once the filling is inside, and then attach the two crusts by squeezing them together with your fingers.
Follow directions for pie filling to see how long to cook it.
For more details and photos, click here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mon: 7:50am - 5:00pm
Tues: 7:50am - 5:00pm
Wed: 7:50am - 1:00pm
Thurs: 7:50am - 5:00pm
Fri: 7:50am - 1:00pm
Sat. & Sun.: Closed
1920 Vindicator Drive, Suite 209
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
The Colorado Springs area has numerous dentists that provide sufficient care, however, if you are looking for the epitome of dental care then look no further. Roger Humphreys, DDS prides himself on providing modern treatment that is suitable to your budget. Our emphasis on lasting relationships and proficient treatment is why we have been able to thrive in the dental field and grow into one of the leading providers in the region. The acknowledgment of how the quality of care transitions into the quality of life for a person is our fundamental purpose towards our patients. We offer a wide variety of services that will enhance your life as well as the others around you.
Not only does our dental work exhibit the dedication to your smile our patient rooms and lobby does so as well. We believe that your stay should be a comfortable experience and convey a sense of tranquility. The modernizations of both areas allow our patients to understand that their well-being is among our top concerns. By implementing a lobby that provides refreshments, relaxing furniture and scenery, and technological elements so the maintaining of the busy lives we all have demonstrates how important your appointment and time is to us. As aforementioned our patient rooms are equipped with up-to-date technologies and devices that will make the experience even better. Also, our dental chairs are softly padded and structured to fit the contour of the human body. The devices and procedures that are used create a unique and delicate approach to dentistry, again, our patients serenity is a major priority.
Each service that we offer has beneficial results and is tuned to meet the needs of each patient. Every appointment incorporates the use of aesthetics even if the procedure takes more than one appointment to complete.
If you're looking for a new dentist in Colorado Springs, CO, Roger Humphreys, DDS will make your transition easy. Whether you're due for a bi-annual exam or you have discomfort due to a dental ailment, our experienced team will take care of your needs in a safe and comfortable environment. We offer appointments for new and existing patients to diagnose any dental issue and talk about a plan of action to get rid of your dental discomfort and restore your smile to its natural look and feel.
We believe no one should suffer from an imperfect smile. Feeling self-conscious when you speak or laugh can really hamper your day-to-day life and interfere with your social life, your work life, and your overall sense of well-being. Don't worry. Whatever the issue may be concerning your smile, we can fix it. Our highly experienced staff of dentists, hygienists, and dental technicians are passionate about their patients and it shows in their work. When you come to Roger Humphreys, DDS in Colorado Springs, CO, we will plan the best course of action to treat you in a safe and comfortable environment full of friendly, helpful staff.
Whether you're new to town or just looking for a new dentist in Colorado Springs, CO, call Roger Humphreys, DDS today for your winning smile. You'll be glad you did. We look forward to seeing you smile!
This is the best dentist's office I have ever been to. All the staff are so friendly and helpful. The doctor and staff, especially Tracy,...
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Had a great cleaning and exam today with Oleta and Dr. Humphries. Have been going to that office for many years and they are always...
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Dr. Humphreys and his staff are simply the best. Friendly, smart, kind compassionate & caring. They took care of me after a traumatic...
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Diet For Colitis: Top 10 Foods To Avoid
A diet for colitis can help avoid or minimize flares while still providing necessary nutrients for overall health. Symptoms of colitis, or inflammation of the colon, include bleeding from the rectum, pain in the abdomen, and diarrhea. Here are some foods that you should avoid:
1. Any food that has previously triggered your colitis. Each person is a little different; therefore each diet for colitis will be a little different.
2. Popcorn, seeds and nuts have no place in a diet for colitis because they may not digest fully and further irritate the colon wall.
3. Caffeine. Be sure to check labels. Many soft drinks and some candies contain caffeine.
4. High fat foods are to be avoided in an ulcerative colitis diet because fat is digested slowly in the intestines.
5. Alcohol
6. Raw vegetables and fruits, particularly those with skins should be avoided in a diet for colitis because they are hard to digest.
7. Beans
8. Prunes
9. Spicy foods
10. Large portions of food
There are several types of colitis each requiring different treatment. Infectious colitis occurs when you swallow foods that are contaminated with certain bacteria, or from infections caused by parasites or viruses. This type of colitis usually infects the small intestine and not the colon. As the name implies, antibiotic associated colitis is a side effect of taking antibiotics. Antibiotics kill off the good bacteria that are naturally live in the colon and that allows undesirable bacteir to flourish. Toxins from these bacteria cause diarrhea, fever, and even pus. Lympohocytic colitis and collagenous colitis occur when the lymphocytes or collagen become inflamed in the inside of the colon. These types of colitis are not common and could be auto-immune. Finally, ischemic colitis occurs when the blood supply to the colon becomes limited because of narrowing arteries.


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18 October 2017
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A lot of our patients and their families think that summertime is the worst season for contracting poison ivy, but actually it's highly active 3 out of the 4 seasons: spring, summer and fall. In fact, here at Westchester Health Pediatrics we tend to see a spike in poison ivy cases this time of year (mid to late fall) because many families go apple picking. NOTE: Poison ivy loves to hug the bases of apple trees so be very careful.
Since so many people have a reaction to poison ivy, we thought this was a good time to remind everyone how to recognize this skin-irritating and potentially dangerous plant, and provide tips for hopefully avoiding it.
6 common sense ways to avoid poison ivy
- Steer clear of areas where you know poison ivy grows.
It typically grows as a vine or shrub, and it can be found throughout much of North America (except in the desert, Alaska and Hawaii). It grows in open fields, wooded areas, on the roadside and along riverbanks. It can also be found in urban areas, such as parks or backyards.
- Cover up.
If you know you will be walking/hiking in areas where poison ivy is present, cover all exposed skin with closed shoes, socks, long pants, long sleeves and gloves.
- Wash your skin asap.
Immediately wash skin that has come in contact with the plant. This may help remove some of the oil from your skin and lessen the severity of your reaction.
- Wash the clothes you were wearing, along with anything that may have touched the plant. Although the rash can't spread, the oil that caused it can.
- Scrub under your fingernails.
You can spread poison ivy to other parts of your body if the oil is on your fingers. Try not to scratch because this will only make things worse. While it may bring immediate comfort, scratching will only prolong symptoms. You may even develop an infection if you break the skin, causing itching to intensify.
- Wash gardening tools and other outdoor items with soap and water
that may have come in contact with the plant. Unfortunately, oil from poison ivy can remain potent for as long as 5 years.
Poison ivy changes color with the seasons, so know what to look for
Just when you think you know how to identify poison ivy, it changes color. Depending on the season, its leaves are:
- Reddish in the spring
- Green in the summer
- Yellow, orange or red in the fall
The main thing to remember is the old saying: leaves of three, let it be. In addition, with some types of poison ivy, the leaves have notched edges. With others, the edges are smooth. It can grow as a bush or vine, can grow up trees, and sometimes has white berries. Plus, the leaves can have a shiny sheen to them or be dull. Nature doesn't make it easy!
Important facts about poison ivy
- Poison ivy isn't really poisonous.
The plant itself isn't the problem, it's the plant's sticky, long-lasting oil called urushiol that causes an itchy, blistering rash after it touches your skin. Even slight contact, such as brushing up against the leaves, exposes your skin to the oil.
- A poison ivy rash is not contagious.
Once you have washed the urushiol oil off your skin, the rash itself is not contagious. It may continue to spread due to varying amounts of exposure on different areas of the body, but touching the rash does not cause it to spread. The rash usually peaks within a week, can last as long as 3 weeks, and looks like patches or streaks of red, raised blisters.
- Urushiol adheres to your skin within minutes.
If you know you've come into contact with poison ivy, wash the area with lukewarm water and soap. If there's no water available, rubbing alcohol or alcohol wipes can remove it. Keep the area cool, dry and clean. Thoroughly wash your clothes and clean your boots or shoes, and also hose down any garden tools that might have touched the plant.
- Urushiol can cling to your dog or cat's fur and rub off on you.
If your pet has been in areas where poison ivy is growing and then rubs against your skin, you can definitely have a reaction. To avoid this, bathe your pet with soap and cool water wearing gloves, then locate the poison ivy plants he/she is coming in contact with and remove them.
- See your doctor if a rash develops close to your eyes or is widespread over your body.
Once a rash appears, keep it clean, dry and cool. Calamine lotion, an antihistamine such as Benadryl, and/or hydrocortisone cream can help control itching. Cool compresses or baths with baking soda or oatmeal can also soothe the rash. Don't scratch—it won't spread the rash, but can cause scars or infection. There are also prescription medications you can take by mouth that will help with swelling and itching. If you experience a severe reaction in addition to a rash, such as nausea, fever, fainting, shortness of breath, extreme soreness at the rash site or swollen lymph nodes, call 911 or get to an emergency room immediately.
- Never burn poison ivy.
Particles of urushiol remain in the fire's smoke and can severely aggravate your eyes, nose and respiratory tract, as well as your skin. Instead of burning poison ivy to get rid of it, completely cover yourself with clothing and dig out the plant, getting as much of the root as possible. Then put it in a plastic trash bag and throw it away. Weed whacking poison ivy plants is also not recommended because when the leaves and stems are cut, urushiol is released into the air as vapor and can easily come into contact with your eyes, lungs and skin. Alternatively, a plant killer may work on poison ivy but be sure to read the label carefully and use it at the right time of the year. Remember: Urushiol remains active, even on dead plants, so be careful when handling them.
- Subsequent exposures to poison ivy are usually worse each time. That's why it's really important to try to avoid coming into contact with it in the first place.
- When using OTC cortisone creams, apply 3 times a day for at least one week.
If your child is having a severe reaction to poison ivy, please come see us
If your child has developed a rash from poison ivy that is not going away or is getting worse, please make an appointment with Westchester Health Pediatrics to see one of our pediatricians as soon as possible. Together, we'll determine the best course of treatment to control the reaction so your child can feel better soon and not develop scarring. Whenever, wherever you need us, we're here for you.
By Mason Gomberg, MD, Pediatric Physician with Westchester Health Pediatrics, member of Northwell Health Physician Partners
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We are very pleased to announce the our second Women in Photography conference. The Women in Photography conference will provide a unique opportunity for like minded photographers and film makers, who are passionate about photography, to get together and listen to some truly inspirational Women in Photography.
We have some amazing inspirational speakers at the conference including:
Emma Latham – Freckle Photography
Michelle Letts – Little Star Images
Louise Jutson – Mrs Jutson Photography
Phil Starkey – Phil Starkey Photography
The event will be hosted by Amber Leach – Owner of award winning photography agency Liberty Pearl Photography.
Please visit the biographies web page to find out more about the speakers.
Please join the Women in Photography and Film private members Facebook community which is an amazing source of encouragement, inspiration, friendship and opportunity.
How to buy your tickets
Tickets for this event will be £5 and are on sale through Event bright.
Plymouth Arts Centre is the venue for the next conference!
Charity event
ALL ticket fees will go towards the work of an amazing women's charity The Girl Impact in Africa
Because Empowering Girls Matter. Out of the world's 130 million out-of-school youth, 70% are girls. The Girl Impact seeks to support girls aged between 11 – 18 and give them a better start to womanhood by not only advancing their knowledge, but by ensuring the boys and men in their community see the value of healthy, educated and empowered local women. Our goal is to see young women and better informed young men, working together to close the huge gender equality gap that still exists in many African countries.
Every adolescent girl has the right to health, education and protection from violence and abuse. By ensuring
Refreshments will be available on the night from the venue and we have a charity cake sale to support this amazing charities!
The Women in Photography Conference is organised by Amber Leach, founder of Liberty Pearl Photography, an award winning wedding photography business based in Plymouth, Devon.
Amber started her wedding photography business in November 2013. She progressed from working in large structured organisations to being self employed and working from home. Whilst she enjoyed the independence of being self employed and her new found freedom from the chains of a 9-5 office job, she also missed having people around to run ideas past, share triumphs with, or receive encouragement from.
Amber has now established Women in Photography – Devon and Cornwall so she could meet other like minded creative photographers and film makers to share her passion with and to find people that understand her life as a self employed freelance photographer.
It is proven that friends 'at work' form a strong social support network for each other, both personally and professionally. Whether cheering for each other on big wins, consoling each other about mistakes, giving advice, or providing support for personal situations, comradeship at work can boost an employee's spirit and provide needed assistance.
Amber is excited to meet and collaborate with amazing photographers for an afternoon of inspiration and fellowship with like minded creatives!
We would like to say a big thank you to our sponsors:
Anon Design
Lovers of unique printed stationery and creative design.
They did a fabulous job at designing our beautiful posters.


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Celebrity Gossip
Photos: Hundreds charmed by Katsha's Golden Lamborghini
You could win big cash with FortBet. Click here for more
By BigEyeUg Team
When Katsha's 19 billion shillings golden Lamborghini took a test drive on Ugandan roads last evening, Ugandans were fascinated by the car.
Hundreds were seen in downtown Kampala looking at the beast with such admiration that they could even sell their souls to have a chance to ride in it.
The 24 carat gold coated Lamborghini which Katsha bought at 19 Billion Uganda shillings is the third addition to Katsha's collection of rides. He also has a Bentley, The latest Mercedes Benz Cross Country alongside more rides.
Bebe Cool is one of the few Ugandan celebs who have set eyes on the car and even enjoyed a ride in it.
Celebrity Gossip
John Blaq set for debut concert tomorrow
You could win big cash with FortBet. Click here for more
John Blaq is with no doubt one if not the finest musician this year. His consistence with chart topping music for two straight years cannot go unnoticed. His catchy beats, lyrics and unique vocals gave him an edge in the industry.
While he has proven all the above on the airwaves, tomorrow will be the real test as he hold his maiden concert at Freedom City in A concert dubbed "Aya Baasi"
While speaking to journalists, the "Do Dat" hitmaker said he was going to perform live throughout the show and the fans should expect the best from him.
"I will perform live. Nothing like singing on CDs. Expect a John Blaq you have never seen," he promised.
Celebrity Gossip
Fresh Kid tops his class in Third Term Exams
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By Staff Writer
Although he spends most of his time at concerts, this has not stopped Fresh Kid from beating his fellow classmates at Kampala Parents.
At the end of Third Term academic assembly, Fresh Kid was announced as an academic giant having topped his stream.
We have learned that Fresh Daddy is the person behind this academic excellence. "Fresh Daddy ensures that Fresh Kid completes all his homework without fail, he reviews all his school books,"said a source at the school.
Celebrity Gossip
American RnB star, Mya jets in ahead of All Music Safari concert
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By Our Reporter
American RnB singer, Mya has jetted into the country ahead of the Johnnie Walker All Music Safari concert slated for this Saturday at the Lugogo Cricket Oval.
Real names, Mya Marie Harrison, is an American R&B sweetheart who dominated the airwaves during the 90's and 00's, the booming days of R&B and Soul.
"I'm excited to be here! This is my first time in Uganda and I can't wait to live this moment with my Ugandan fans!" Mya shared on arrival at Entebbe airport in the wee hours of Thursday morning.
The 40-year-old singer was a household name at the turn of the century with tracks like Case of the Ex Love like Wo, Fallen, Take Me There among others that won hearts of many who still party to her timeless music to this day.
Mya will share the stage with local acts like, Kenneth Mugabi, Myko Ouma, Tonny Trumpet, KazKasozi, Black Roots Unlimited and many more taking guests and party animals on an exciting musical safari starring Reggae vibes, jazz, hip-hop, funk and of course the highlight of the night, RnB.
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Josh272341 needed a new stationery design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 67 designs submitted by 12 freelance designers.
We are a consulting and services company specializing in marketing American EB-5 Regional Centers' Immigration Investment products in China.
We need the following:
1. Business card design
2. Company letterhead
3. Letter and document envelopes
We have a contest up for a website. We'd prefer to get everything from the same designer so that the design concept will be consistent across all of our materials.
I've attached a file with our logo. We'd like the 'w' in AsiaWise to changed to a capital 'W'.
In America, our target clients are primarily real estate developers in the U.S. looking to raise funds from Chinese Immigrant Investors for development projects. They'll be in the late thirties to mid fifties age range, and mostly men.
In China our target clients are primarily Immigration Consulting services companies. They are men and women ranging from ages in their late 20's to mid fifties. It is a high pressure sales industry and very status conscious.
We need a design that is conservative without being boring. It should be simple, clean feeling, and well thought out.
I've attached a file with our logo. We'd like the 'w' in AsiaWise to changed to a capital 'W'.


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Yanmar will acquire shares held by the world's biggest private equity fund, Blackstone Group, which will make a rough three times return on a four-year-old investment.
The deal will value the company about Rs 9,000 crore. Blackstone had invested in ITL in 2012 and this exit adds to a series of successful ones the New York-head quartered private equity giant has made in the recent past. The transaction is expected to close in next few months, subject to the receipt of requisite regulatory approvals.
The deal has been signed and a formal announcement expected over the weekend or on Monday.
The transaction would be the second Japanese investment into agriculture-related sector. Earlier in June, Sumitomo Chemicals acquired a majority stake in Excel Crop Care for about Rs 1,386 crore.
BMR Advisors was the financial advisors and BMR legal as the legal counsels for Yanmar, while Goldman Sachs advised Blackstone on the deal, sources said.
ET reported in its June 16th edition that Yanmar is looking to increase its stake in International Tractors.
Yanmar was an early investor in the Indian company having bought the stake in 2005 for Rs 200 crore.
Both International Tractors and Yanmar confirmed the transaction. Confirming this development, ITL Vice-Chairman, AS Mittal said that partnership with Yanmar has and will be a game changer for the tractor industry both in India and overseas.
Naoki Kobayashi, India head and member of Yanmar Board said ITL is an integral part of the growth strategy for Yanmar and this investment is a testimony towards this commitment.
Sonalika is the third largest tractor maker in the country. Sonalika has sold around 50,000 tractors (domestic and exports) in the first eight months of this financial year.
The company has been working on scaling up its presence in international markets, its exports have grown by 20% to 8121units between April and November this year.
The company had a share of 14.2% in domestic tractors' market as of November 2016. Mid-term, the company is targeting doubling turnover to over Rs 10,000 crore by 2020. The company is eyeing profits of Rs 1,200 crore and volumes of close to 2 lakh units by the end of the decade.


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BENNINGTON, Vt. – The Southern Vermont College men's volleyball team was bested 3-0 by Eastern Nazarene College Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) matchup at the Mountaineer Athletic Center.
The Lions won the tilt with straight-set scores of 25-12, 25-14, and 25-17.
Southern Vermont (0-15, 0-8 NECC) turns to non-conference action for its next contest as the Mountaineers are set to host Mount Ida College at 7 p.m. on Tuesday for the second of their three-match home stand. ENC (10-10, 5-4 NECC) is back at it the same night with an 8 p.m. NECC tilt at Lesley University.
SVC was led by senior captain El Olivares (Miami, Fla.) who had 10 kills while adding seven digs and three assists to his line. Sophomore Te Hayward (Baltimore, Md.) tied the team-high of seven digs and chipped in with seven kills offensively. Junior Isaiah Backels (Derry, N.H.) had 14 assists, six digs, and three total blocks on the day for the Mountaineers.
Eastern Nazarene senior Kenny Sorensen (Quincy, Mass.) led all players in kills and digs with 11 and 10, respectively. Freshman Samuel Cueva (Swampscott, Mass.) notched six kills for the Lions while senior Matthew Tyree (Lansdale, Pa.) facilitated the offense by assisting on 29 of ENC's 32 kills.
Kills from Olivares and Hayward gave Southern Vermont the early edge in the onset of the match, but a 7-1 Eastern Nazarene run put the visitors in the driver's seat. The Lions would extend the separation through the remainder of the set as Sorensen finished the frame with four kills while Cueva pitched in with another three.
ENC junior Brandon Jenkins (Norton, Mass.) followed one of his own kills with an ace to make it a 6-2 visitor lead in the second before three Sorensen kills helped the Lions take to a 7-2 run for a comfortable advantage. Southern Vermont won three straight behind a Backels ace and a Hayward kill, but Eastern Nazarene kept SVC from getting any closer as service was traded until the Lions won four of the last five to finish it off.
Eastern Nazarene carried its momentum into the third—staking a 7-2 advantage to start the game. SVC would chip away, however, by going on a 5-1 spurt with the help of two Olivares kills to make it a one-point difference. The Lions answered in a big way as they rattled off five in-a-row to build a 9-1 surge; junior James Garofalo (Commack, N.Y.) had two kills and a pair of aces in that stretch to help ENC march towards the sweep.
– #LetsGoSVC –


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Establishes the structure, policies, procedures and resources needed to implement a Quality Management System
Quality of delivery drives the reputation of any organisation. To protect and enhance this key feature, we have developed our Toolkit to ensure that activities are aligned and focused to continually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your organisation.
Your customer's requirements are balanced with those of your organisation and other stakeholders to ensure that your planned results are achieved and sustained in a structured and systematic way.
Our tailored programmes will enable you to deliver:
- Greater focus on customer requirements
- Enhanced competitiveness and image
- Optimal efficiency and effectiveness
- Improved internal and external communication
- Greater process control
Get in touch


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Mifuko team
Mifuko was founded in 2009 by two Finnish designers, Mari Martikainen (on the left) and Minna Impiö. Both Mari and Minna have studied Textile Art and Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, and both have a Master of Arts degree. Minna and Mari have wide experience of work on different fields of design.
At the time when Mifuko was founded, Minna lived in Kenya with her family. Together with Mari she developed the idea of a design company operating between Finland and Kenya - and so Mifuko´s story begun. First Mifuko products were jewellery, Maasai style sandals and bags. Very soon wooden birds and Kiondo baskets were added to the collection. Minna and Mari meet the artisans in Kenya regularly a couple of times a year. To them work at Mifuko means creative and fun co-operation between different countries and cultures.


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CL Nation, the sizzlin' talented Ms. Selenis Leyva from NETFLIX's "Orange Is The New Black," unleashes her second blog for The Huffington Post titled "What makes a REAL Woman?"
It's up. It's raw. It's real. It's a must read!
Click here!
More on Ms. Leyva:Â
Selenis Leyva is one of the breakout stars of NETFLIX's hit series Orange Is The New Black, which recently won the 2015 coveted Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble Cast in a Comedy Series. Selenis will reprise her role as series regular (and fan favorite!) Gloria Mendoza when the hit series returns for a third season on June 12 and will also make history as the first Latina Governor on HBO's Emmy-winning series, Veep, starring opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus, later this summer. Selenis Leyva recently wrapped production in the highly anticipated feature film "CUSTODYâ€, starring opposite Catalina Sandino Moreno, Viola Davis, Raul Esparza and Hayden Panettiere in NYC.
Selenis' numerous television credits include recurring roles on hit shows like Law & Order: SVU; Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, Girls, Elementary, The Following, The Sopranos and Third Watch. On the big screen, she's been seen in Sex & The City 2, the Oscar-nominated film, Maria Full of Grace, and the animated films Ice Age:Continental Drift, EPIC and Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs.
A triple threat, Selenis also has numerous acting credits on the New York Stage, including the iconic role of CELIA CRUZ in the off-Broadway hit Celia, and the critically acclaimed plays Ana in the Tropics and Dona Flor & Her 2 Husbands. Expanding her career further Selenis is working behind the camera as Executive Producer to her 1st indie film called "Romeo & Romeo", release date in 2016.
Born and raised in New York City, Selenis is a proud Latina of Cuban and Dominican descent. In addition to being the first Hispanic Ambassador for the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research (her brother is a 2x cancer survior), Selenis is also the recipient of a 2014 ALMA Award, a Special Achievement Award for breaking barriers in the arts. She is also an advocate for LGBT rights and works closely with LGBT Human Rights Organizations and Anti- Bullying Campaigns.


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I have deleted my EBook: According to my account no one had viewed the sample read nor bought it since I published it on the 10th April 2017.
I also reread the publishing conditions and it wasn't to be shown anywhere else digitally.
I will republish it when I publish my second book: and charge more. People told me that they couldn't even find my book: I think that I put the price too low.
Long ago when the dinosaurs roamed the earth— well maybe not that far back 😛 I went to teachers college and took art music and drama as subjects ( sociology was my major) One of my art lectures told us that once you make your name in the "art world' you can paint any crap and people will pay thousands for this.
Having seen a painting with a green background and an orange diagonal line win an art competition it reminded me of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes"
I think this can also apply to novels.
Mind you it helps when there is sex and violence.
I have decided to include sex and violence in my next book which I have already started.
It has the same main character, Kunapipi, but is set 200 thousand years ago, where humans are livestock for giant arachnids who having appeared as humanoid, have the humans believing them to be gods.
I write because I enjoy doing so.
Blessed Be
Thinking of making the picture below the cover for the second book.
NO — it doesn't look scary enough.


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Thomas Sabo Gold Charm "DRAGONFLY"
Thomas Sabo Gold Charm "DRAGONFLY"
A journey to paradise: Creative, Boho-inspired and playful at the same time, the dragonfly Charm crafted in rich detail with colourful stone embellishment stands for lightness and positive energy.
|Lobster clasp
|2.5 cm
|925 Sterling silver; 18k yellow gold plating
|Zirconia orange; glass-ceramic stone green; glass-ceramic stone violet; glass-ceramic stone turquoise
|1.57 cm
|Article number:
All items purchased from THOMAS SABO come with a matching jewellery packaging.
It's great that you would like to give a special gift to a child. Every child is very individual.
To guarantee the best fit, our age recommendation for wearing our designs is 8 years and above. We recommend that children under 3 only wear the jewellery under adult supervision, since small parts could be swallowed.
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BALTIMORE – Due to the recent weather in the Baltimore area and the field conditions heading into the weekend, UMBC head coach Joe French has announced an updated schedule for the 11th annual UMBC Spring Classic.
On Friday, the tournament will have two sites hosting games, with Bowling Green traveling to Mount St. Mary's for a doubleheader and the Retrievers hosting Sacred Heart and Saint Peter's.
UMBC Spring Classic Game Schedule
Friday, March 21
1:45 p.m. UMBC vs. Sacred Heart
3:45 p.m. UMBC vs. Saint Peter's
@Mount St. Mary's
2:30 p.m. Mount St. Mary's vs. Bowling Green
4:30 p.m. Bowling Green vs. Mount St. Mary's
Saturday, March 22
8:45 a.m. Sacred Heart vs. Bowling Green
10:45 a.m. Bowling Green vs. Saint Peter's
12:45 p.m. UMBC vs. Saint Peter's
2:45 p.m. UMBC vs. Sacred Heart
Sunday, March 23
10 a.m. Saint Peter's vs. Mount St. Mary's
12 p.m. Sacred Heart vs. Saint Peter's
2 p.m. UMBC vs. Mount St. Mary's


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It's the birthday of the philosopher and poet George Santayana, (books by this author) born in Madrid (1863). He's best known for having coined the famous phrase, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." He also said, "History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren't there." And "There are books in which the footnotes or comments scrawled by some reader's hand in the margin are more interesting than the text. The world is one of these books."
It's the birthday of Noel Coward, born in Teddington, Middlesex, England (1899), who became a successful child actor after he appeared as one of the Lost Boys in a London production of Peter Pan when he was 14 years old. Within a decade he was writing plays, composing songs, and starring in many of his own productions, and he went on to write books of verse, short stories, and three memoirs. He once said, "I am all that I have, to work with, to play with, to suffer and enjoy." It took him less than a week to write each of his best known plays, including Hay Fever (1925), Private Lives (1930), and Present Laughter (1943). He wasn't taken seriously by critics, because his work was primarily comic, but he said, "I could no more sit down and say, 'Now I'll write an Immortal Drama' than I could fly, and anyway I don't want to. I have no great or beautiful thoughts." He chose the epitaph for his memorial stone in Westminster Abbey's Poet's Corner. It simply says, "A Talent to Amuse."
Noel Coward said, "Work is much more fun than fun."
It's the birthday of Philip K. D i c k, born in Chicago (192, who began to suffer from visions and hallucinations in the 1950s. He once thought he saw a face in the sky, which he described as "a vast visage of evil with empty slots for eyes, metal and cruel, and worst of all, it was God." He wasn't sure if his visions were authentic or if they were symptoms of mental illness, and he was fascinated that he could no longer tell what was real and what wasn't. He started writing a series of increasingly strange novels about the nature of reality that have since become science fiction classics, including The Man in the High Castle (1962), Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (196, and A Scanner Darkly (1977).
Philip K. ++++++++++++++++++++ said, "Insanity is sometimes an appropriate response to reality."
It's the birthday of Jane Austen, born in Steventon, Hampshire, England (1775). She is best known for her novels about women yearning to get married, including Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Pride and Prejudice (1813). But she never got married herself. She did fall in love as a young woman, but the man she loved had no money for marriage. Later, she got a proposal from an older wealthy gentleman. She said yes, but then found herself unable to sleep that night. In the morning she did something that was almost unheard of at the time: She told her fiance that she had changed her mind, because she did not love him.
Austen didn't seem to mind the single life. In her letters, she often wrote about the many women she knew suffering from and often dying from childbirth. Of her niece, who had just gotten pregnant for the second time, she wrote, "Poor animal, she will be worn out before she's thirty." In another letter, she wrote, "Mrs. Hall of Sherbourn was brought to bed yesterday of a dead child, some weeks before she expected, owing to a fright I suppose she happened unawares to look at her husband."
She spent most of her life relatively poor and dependent on her older brothers. She decided to try publishing fiction in order to get herself some money. She wrote on a table in the family drawing room, and he asked that the squeak not be taken out of the swinging door because it gave her warning to hide her notebooks before someone entered the room. Her first published novel was Sense and Sensibility (1811), and it became a big success. Her other novels include Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), and today she is the only English-language novelist published before Charles ++++++++++++++++++++ens whose books still sell thousands of copies every year. All of her novels have been made into movies at least once in the last 20 years.


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A decision has been made to merge NMIA and the National Military Intelligence Foundation (NMIF). The new, merged Foundation will no longer have members. Rather, it will seek interested individuals to support the Foundation as associates. Again, details are provided in the newsletter. We are in the process of implementing these changes. If you are a currently a NMIA member in good standing your membership will automatically roll over to an NMIF Associate. When your renewal date approaches you will have the option to continue on as an Associate. Until these changes take place we are no longer accepting new memberships. We will post updates, please check back.
Please contact Deb Davis at email@example.com if you have any questions or concerns.
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Joe Dunn said he was dropping out of the race for Buncombe County Commissioner. An e-mail was sent from his campaign to his supporters, stating he needed to place family ahead of politics. Dunn has not announced his decision publicly, however, a member of the Asheville Republican party confirmed that he indeed was no longer in the running. It is not known whether another Republican will be able to get on the ballot before elections in November.
Dunn stated in his e-mail that he was very frustrated with Asheville city government and that elected officials worry to much about tax payers and not enough about citizens. The former candidate does plan to return all contributions to his campaign.


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By guest Contributor: August Pointneuf
Mandela is widely held to be "one of the greatest statesmen in the world". This seems to be based on these six pillars:
- Martyrdom. A closer look at this "self sacrifice" is not convincing. Mandela was jailed following an open trial, under one of the best judicial systems. It has never been suggested that this trial was perverted or corrupt. He was found guilty of contravening the laws universal to the land, and more than that, he had promoted a policy of terrorism. He had plans to disrupt law and order and impose a terrorism which would result in the maiming and death of many good and law abiding persons, children and elderly. When subsequently imprisoned he was offered release provided only that he would renounce his support of violence. He would not. Accordingly he remained in prison. Later, by the most extraordinary inversion of innate justice he was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace. It may well be that the Nobel Prize committee will, in retrospect, attempt to distance themselves from it.
- He saved South Africa from a blood bath. When persons spoke, prior to independence, of an impending "blood bath" they were imaging the events as they had previously occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. These past "blood baths" were not as much exercises in retribution (the veiled threat to South Africans) but simply sprees of looting and rapine. There was probably no possibility whatever of South Africa as a whole rising in this way, because of a well formulated social infrastructure, with an effective police force (operating entirely within an open judicial system) and the other components of a stable society.
Such was the relationship between the communities under apartheid rule in South Africa that an intrinsic stability, and for that matter mutual respect, existed.[1] There were, of course, the well recorded "insurrections", but a critical look at the numbers will demonstrate that these were by a minute percentage of the population. "The Blood Bath will come…" was an emotively convenient threat, much along the line "if you don't give me your ball, I will ask my daddy to beat you up". This phrase and its implied emotive threats, was something conjured by those who were intent on destroying an existing system by inducing fear.
Far from demonstrating that Nelson Mandela was responsible for "preventing a blood bath", the evidence points in the opposite direction. He founded and was the head of an organization which promoted bloody massacres of civilian populations.[2] Not only that, he was leading the ANC which effected a bloody suppression on their own "recruits" in the ANC army-in-exile. The truth and Reconciliation Commission ruled that these ANC activities were a "gross violation of human rights"[3]
A blood bath did occur, but after "independence" and after universal suffrage, when Mandela was in command. Part of this was black on black violence during the build up to the first election, reported to have claimed more than 20,000 black lives. Did Mandela stop that blood bath? Short answer; no.
The slaughter still continues with the selective execution of isolated (white) farmers by the thousand and the phenomenal homicide, mostly associated with robbery.
Under a "liberated" black government the "blood bath" happened more slowly than the other African atrocities. The difference was that "world opinion" did not want to believe that this was happening after an "independence" which they had promoted. Slowly accumulating statistics of killings do not make headlines.
The looting of South Africa did occur but in a different way from the rest of Africa. What distinguished the looting of South Africa from other historic rampages in Africa was that it was slower and politically engineered, under the leadership of Mandela. The initial looting was by "cold theft" engineered by the ANC by the subtle stripping of the assets under various legislated ploys such as "black empowerment" and "affirmative action". This was followed by massive corruption, embezzlement and fraud perpetrated by individual members of the ANC, on their own account.
Later the avalanche of confrontational crime, murder, hijackings and wide spread theft cascaded throughout the country as criminals began to appreciate that under a black government there were now no longer the same restraints against lawlessness as there had been under white government.
- Mandela exemplified pacifism, as claimed in his well publicized comment: "Our resort to the armed struggle in 1960 with the formation of the military wing of the ANC , MK (Umkhonto we Sizwe) was a purely defensive action against the violence of apartheid. The factors which necessitated the armed struggle still exist today. We have no option but to continue. We express the hope that a climate conducive to a negotiated settlement would be created soon, so that there may no longer be the need for the armed struggle."
Mandela founded the MK, and became its leader immediately after he had been acquitted from his first trial. This gives credibility to his initial arrest since. Mandela had been actively promoting terrorism. This earlier acquittal underscores the judicial objectivity of Mandela's first trial, such that he was given the benefit of doubt and acquitted (although it subsequently became clear that he was intent on promoting violence).
The reason for what Mandela called "the initial passive resistance" was not that he did not want violence but simply because there were no funds to run a military campaign. Mandela was hardly the organiser it is claimed that he was. Further he had little support from the black population, despite the consistent emotive rhetoric about a "suppressed people". At that date the "armed struggle" was an empty fantasy. It was later conceded by the ANC that this was no more than a propaganda strategy primarily geared towards mobilizing mass political support. Mandela was simply garnishing inability with virtue
- Mandela was dispassionately objective. This attribution later allowed him to act as an international mediator over a wide range of political and legal issues. How objective was he? A demonstration of his lack of impartiality was his speech in Havana on 26 July 1991. Nelson Mandela supported the Cuban version of the battle of Cuito Cuanavale by saying: "The defeat of the apartheid army (at Cuito Cuanavale) was an inspiration to the struggling people in South Africa! Without the defeat of (sic) Cuito Cuanavale our organizations would not have been unbanned! The defeat of the racist army at Cuito Cuanavale has made it possible for me to be here today! Cuito Cuanavale was a milestone in the history of the struggle for southern African liberation!"[4]
Chester Crocker, with his backing of CIA knowledge, and with arguably a more arms-length objectivity, saw it quite differently[5]. If one accepts Chester Crocker's countering opinion, Mandela's views can be regarded as grossly distortive "Black Consciousness Propaganda".
- Nelson Mandela personified opposition to black oppression. Undoubtedly Mandela was symbolic to the large and unsuccessful peasant populations, implying that they, also, via their vicarious surrogate, Nelson Mandela, could triumph over the white civilization. This re-ignited the symbolism of Mahatma Gandhi, who also had a reputation for passifism. Ironically he was also a lawyer, who obtained, from the British Government, the benefit of training in law. But his "passifism" must also be doubted.[6]
Far from "rescuing" the masses from impoverishment the income of most peasant South Africans has decreased since "independence". Small numbers of selected elite blacks, on the other hand, have become exceptionally wealthy
- He exhibited supreme statesmanship as President of South Africa. Nothing could be further from the truth. Prior to the release of Nelson Mandela and the truce offered to the ANC, Mandela and the ANC were approached by South Africa's very successful financial and industrial cohort. This was as an "economic truce within a political truce". It must be remembered that the entire population of South Africa, in distinction from the rest of Africa and most of the rest of the world, were the beneficiaries of the extraordinary successful system evolved by Colonialism. In pre-independence meetings with ANC, notably in Lusaka, the high probabilities are that the cohort wanted to explain to the ANC that they would be inheriting a jewel. It would have been pointed out to them that damaging this financial axis would damage the entire country, probably in an irreparable fashion. Those affected by damaging the South African economy would be the most vulnerable, the poorest.
There could have been no other reasons for the Lusaka meeting other than that portrayed here. Paternal, as it might have been, for Mandela to heed this cautioning from the people then in power was vital to the future welfare of the entire population of South Africa and beyond.
The preservation of South Africa's economy depended upon Mandela's leadership.With huge international and internal support no politician could have had a stronger mandate than Nelson Mandela.
Despite such support, and despite august warnings, Mandela failed totally to protect the existing structures, and within a short period after "independence" it became clear to the financial and industrial core of South Africa that the ANC would proceed on its own agenda, which would destroy the industrial/financial infrastructure of South Africa[7].
This resulted in the financial axis, exemplified by Anglo American, Liberty Life and Old Mutual, rapidly exiting. While powerful companies in South Africa had sufficient resources to relocate into the First World many lesser businesses did not and remained trapped. Therefore individuals, seeing themselves threatened, emigrated en masse[8], thus further reducing the professional and other skilled resources of the country, and so by a cascade damaging the financial benefit which had made black South Africans the best cared for, best educated, healthiest and most affluent in (at least) sub-Saharan Africa.
Once in office Mandela took control of only one portfolio, Race Relations, which was unlikely to be controversial, and could hardly fail. However, in the circumstances, this instantly invested him with more virtue. He took some interest in the military where he tried to ensure the language of operation was not English. He was rapidly over-ruled, having displayed an astounding lack of common-sense, let alone a lack of statesmanship. For the rest he delegated to his ministers showing little interest in their management, and so effectively abdicating any leadership.
Therefore Mandela' failed as a politician by not recognizing the extraordinary infrastructure which he, and the ANC, had inherited. He failed protect it and failed to support the existing structures in a way which could multiply South Africa's past success. The jewel which was South Africa – in stark contrast to the rest of Africa - should have been obvious to the blindest. But Mandela permitted the progressive erosion of the South African infrastructure by nepotism and crime at an administrative level and by gain-seeking individuals - primarily those with political connections to him – and who were (nominally) under his "statesmanship". Most of the "statesmanship" purported to originate from Mandela's office was in reality orchestrated by the now defunct Thabo Mbeki. An illusion of his political capacity was thrust upon him by a surge of world wide emotion which obscured his limited intrinsic abilities,
Mandela abandoned his role as leader of the country after the least possible period, and while it still needed stable leadership. However he was in office long enough to accumulate a substantial wealth, which further distanced him from the increasing poverty of the population under his control.[9]
No saintly asceticism here.
Conclusion. The greatest condemnation that must be leveled at Mandela was his failure to accept that with universal franchise all playing fields had been leveled. He failed to demand that the future success of individuals and groups would depend upon their intrinsic capabilities. Instead, he over-saw an astonishing exercise which effectively said that the groups coming into power should have their past inferiority recognized by being given advantageous benefits, in the form of black empowerment, affirmative action and similar. This shows the hollowness to his oft quoted statements
"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve".
Further, those persons who had previously created the successful socio-financial axis were intentionally and unfairly discriminated against.[10] This inflicted a substantial deprivation of human rights and an injury to those individuals who had historically created for their communities from the parched earth of what had been a derelict country when they arrived.
This paper aims to be factually correct. To ensure veracity Mandela and others are invited to respond correcting any inadvertent errors.
August Pontneuf
[1] In a separate essay it will be posed that the black population, if extremists are excluded, fully recognised that the basis of apartheid was no more than the natural, and expected, protection by the white population of their complex culture, and material social creation. The indigenous population recognised that apartheid was not a system of malice, and far from exploiting the indigenous culture, it offered the opportunity for the indigenous population to enter the realm of capitalist Christian Democracy.
2 Report (Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)) 2: 333. http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/
4 ^ Castro Ruz, Fidel Alejandro and Mandela, Nelson (1991). How Far We Slaves Have Come. N.Y.: Pathfinder Press. pp. 18–20. ISBN 0873484975.
5 ^ Crocker, Chester A. (1992). High Noon in Southern Africa: Making Peace in a Rough Neighborhood. W.W. Norton. ISBN 0393034321. http://books.google.com/books?
6 Gandhi, also famed for pacifism actively encouraged the British to recruit Indians in Natal into the army, during the Zulu war. He argued that Indians should support the war efforts in order to legitimize their claims to full citizenship.
7 Anglo-American Corporation has moved almost all its gold interests out of South Africa.
8 Semi-official figures state that one quarter of the white population has emigrated. The true figure will be considerably higher.
9 The number of "Mandela Trusts is obscure, but there are at least three. Best known is the Mandela Children's Fund. Totally separate and less known is the Nelson Mandela Trust holding funds available to Mandela personally. One of the scams relating to "Nelson Mandela Signed Artwork" was expected to make for the Nelson Mandela Trust (i.e. Mandela personally) 200,000,000 rand in two years. Clearly there are immense funds in Mandela's purse.


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Posts Tagged 'animals'
Lulu and the Dog From the Sea by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont
When Lulu, her parents, and her cousin, Mellie, spend a week in a cottage by the sea they discover an unexpected guest – the kind that walks on four legs.
A cute story that is designed to appeal to the large number of newer readers that love animals. Each of the characters has personality, and while the plot may be unlikely, the day to day discoveries and frustrations and interactions ring true.
It's not the most spectacular writing, but it's far from stilted, which is all too common in when books for this age group.
When I Grow Up: Sally Ride by AnnMarie Anderson, illustrated by Gerald Kelley
A biography of Sally Ride, written at about third grade level.
Unfortunately, this particular easy reader does all kinds of things that are common to easy readers that I hate, especially nonfiction easy readers.
The first is that it's just not very well done. The sentences make sense, but they aren't memorable either. The illustrations lack elegance and just don't flow. Worse, the practice of using photographs, and then drawing images of Sally Ride into them rather undermines the idea that this is a real person. It's also written in the first person, as if Ride herself was talking to us, despite the fact that Sally Ride was a real person who died recently and wrote words of her own that could be quoted.
It's not so awful that I wouldn't buy it for the library, especially considering the topic, but it's the kind of book that makes me wish we had higher standards for beginning readers.
Shin-chi's Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Kim LaFave
When Shi-shi-etko and her younger brother, Shin-chi, are sent to a residential school, they have to leave not only their parents behind, but also the names their parents gave them as well. The siblings are sent to separate dormitories and not allowed to speak to each other, or in their native language. But before they are forced to part, Shi-Shi-etko gives Shin-chi a small toy canoe, to remind him of the family who loves him, and that one day will all be together again.
This is not a happy book, but it is a beautiful book. A lovely, sad story about colonialization and destruction, and strength and importance of family. All told with gorgeous text and illustrations.
Stanley the Farmer by William Bee
Stanley the Hamster spends a busy day on his farm. With help from friends, he manages to get everything done.
(ok, for the record, unbound galleys of picture books are weird. now, moving on…)
A simple, cute story, that condenses the time needed to grow and harvest, but has bright pictures and the right amount of detail for small children.
Blue on Blue by Dianne White, illustrated by Beth Krommes
Cotton clouds.
Morning light.
Blue on blue.
White on white.
A peaceful, sunny day is interrupted by rain and thunder and lightning, but before the day is done, the sun comes back to say goodbye and goodnight.
It's a very nice book, and decent enough poem, and I love Krommes' style (with the exception of some of the peoples' facial expressions).
Are You My Mommy? by Joyce Wan
"Mommy! Mommy! Where is my mommy?" a little bunny cries, as they ask all the animals they encounter if they are their mother.
SQUEE! A new Joyce Wan book!
No, this is not a new premise, but Wan's take on it is excellent and fresh and adorable, as always. Wan turns the common trope into a guessing game, as each adult animal responds to the bunny by saying "No, I am a [chicken/pig/horse] and my baby is a…" with the answer on the next page, giving little ones a chance to guess and show off. Each answer is also revealed with the use of a clever cut out, creating visual and tactile interest. Plus, for such a small, short book, it does a wonderful job of introducing vocabulary – many board books use words like "chicken" but fewer use "foal."
In My Meadow by Sara Glillingham & Lorena Siminovich
I've reviewed another in this series and everything I said about In My Forest is true of this book as well. The sense of place is not quite as well defined here, but that's only because this book focuses more on sustenance (clover, strawberries, and cool water) than on surroundings. And since that's a decision that makes sense for a series of board books, and creates a richer experience over the course of the series, I can't fault it or the creators for doing so.
Creature Colors by Andrew Zuckerman
Yes, I know that your library probably has more books about colors than you know what to do with, but you'll want to make room for this one, I promise. Zuckerman's brilliant, bright, and detailed photographs really make this book stand out, even if it does sometimes feel like half the animals are birds of one type or another.
Waiting is Not Easy by Mo Willems
Piggie has a surprise for Gerald. The only problem is that it's not ready yet, and waiting isn't easy. But some surprises are worth waiting for.
Another wonderful Piggie and Elephant book from Mo Willems. I especially liked the way the word balloons grew so big that they became part of the action, rather than just text. And, of course, Willems' ability to surprise us all with the unexpected, even when we know it's coming.
Whether sad or happy, naughty or nice, a small elephant is always loved.
This is hardly a unique premise, but it's not like there's never a demand for new books for parents to give their little ones, telling them they love them. Dodd's illustrations are adorable and the sparkle throughout the book – ranging from a few glittering stars to a large shiny lake – help make it memorable. Which is exactly what one looks for in this kind of book.
A sad little girl finds something surprising in her reflection.
The blurb on the back of the copy I read claims that the ending to this story "provides a gentle reminder that every action has consequences."
My friends, the twist at the end of this story is no "gentle reminder." It's a bit of a mind bender actually, seeing as how [spoiler alert! – it's unclear if it's the original little girl or her reflection that pushes the mirror over and makes the other disappear]. All of which makes Mirror a great example of why I love Suzy Lee's books AND why I think they are a fantastic example of speculative fiction in picture books. (Yes, these two opinions are very related).
Is There a Dog in This Book? by Viviane Schwarz
Having established that There Are Cats in This Book (or wait, are there????), Schwarz and her feline creations must now determine if this new book also contains…a dog!
These books are so clever and funny, and do such a great job of breaking the fourth wall, that it makes me incredibly sad that they are not all still available to order for the library.
In My Forest by Sara Gillingham
designed by Sara Gillingham
illustrated by Lorena Siminovich
The deer finger puppet in the center, and the over widening cut-outs around the deer, are what first catch little ones' attention. (And mine, I must admit.) But Gillingham and Siminovich have managed to create a book that is much more than just that. The text is simple and straightforward, but never awkward, and the illustrations are full of texture and interest, yet soft and sweet. Most notable is the sense of place that Gillingham has managed to create simply by emphasizing the location of the deer as being in the forest, in winter, and combining that with the puppets and cut-outs.
Highly recommended.
Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
A young girl and her family prepare to celebrate the New Year.
What makes this book remarkable is all the ways in which it isn't – all the ways that it treats celebrating the Lunar New Year as important and special, but also just as normal or typical as any Western holiday. There's no introductory explanation of who this family is or where they live or when the Lunar New year is in relation to the Western calendar. It's simply a listing of all the things that make this holiday special. Just as one might find in a typical (US) book about Christmas or Thanksgiving. By centering the experience of the family in the book, rather than the experiences of others, Lin fosters connection and recognition rather than distance and detachment.
Lin's brightly colored illustrations fit the celebratory tone of the story. They also help to explain and define terms and actions that might be unfamiliar to some readers – without requiring awkward pauses that would interrupt the flow of the story, or a scholarly tone that might depersonalize the festivities.
Highly recommended.
Baby Loves Winter! by Karen Katz
"It's winter! What will Baby see?"
All kinds of wintry things, underneath large flaps. Good book, and large sized flaps are the best, but there's nothing super memorable here, and I'm getting a little annoyed with the fact that, in this particular series by Katz, "Baby" is always white.
Recommended, with reservations.
Reading Round-up 2014: week 11
Posted August 15, 2014on:
When disaster strikes the asteroid colony of Phoecea, it's up to Jane Novio, manager of the Resource Commission, to figure out the logistics of how the colony is going to survive. With Jane soon dealing with a rogue AI, probable sabotage, and the Martian mob – all on top of a colony threatening water crisis and the aftermath of a tragic accident – the question quickly becomes if Phoecea will remain intact and functioning, not how.
This wasn't a book that I fell into quickly, but when I did fall, I fell hard. It's not just that Jane is both competent and interesting, and old enough to have experience and history. I also desperately loved how much the story was aware of how vital many of the mundane things we take for granted are. Living in California, especially now, the importance of access to potable water is something that is increasingly hard to ignore, and so I found the underlying crisis both relevant and believable. The supporting cast is great as well, and I'm realizing that I'm a sucker for good AI stories.
Let's Play House by Emma Quay, illustrated by Anna Walker
In very few – but well chosen – words and with soft but expressive pictures, Quay and Walker show the ups and downs of playing with friends, and the joys of playing pretend.
I don't know if I'm just looking in the wrong places, but I have a hard time finding books for children that focus on the dramatic play they engage in every day. With the exception of Antoinette Portis' excellent picture books, the act of imaginative play almost feels like the preschool set's version of Fight Club: first rule of playing pretend, don't talk about playing pretend. Which is very odd, not only because I have memories of picture books and easy readers that talked about it when I was young (perhaps it's just books for toddlers in which the topic is lacking?), but also because it's extremely common for young children to preface their play with "but just for pretend."
Which is a very long winded way of saying: when I saw this book, I had to grab it. Short and cute, it's perfect for older toddlers and exactly the kind of book that I've been looking for to add to my "imagination" story time.


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I hope I've done a little something to convince you to dust off the crock pot and start using it to save time in the kitchen.
If you don't have a crock pot you can always pick up one at a yard sale or thrift store or Amazon has some great prices on slow cookers like this one from Hamilton Beach with great reviews! Just remember that crock pots cook differently so adjust your recipes accordingly.
Here are some of my favorite crock pot links and recipes from around the web:
- 100 Crock Pot Recipes
- Crock Pot Cooking Tips
- Tips for Converting Recipes to Make in the Crock Pot
- A Year of Slow Cooking (crock pot recipes- for one year, no kidding)
- $5 Crock Pot Recipes
- 11 Tips for Crock Pot Cooking
- Crock Pot Chicken and Sweet Potatoes (Sweet potatoes are a very inexpensive and healthy filler!)
And, a few of The Happy Housewife Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes:
- Pumpkin in a Crock Pot (pies taste better with homemade pumpkin!)
- Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot
- BBQ Pork
- Salsa Chicken
- Crock Pot Roast with Sunrise Medley Potatoes and Carrots
- French Dip Sandwiches
- Apricot Pork Chops
See more Slow Cooker recipes here!
Be sure to visit these brilliant women during our 10 days adventure between November 7th-18th!
10 days of Character Studies | Confessions of a Homeschooler
10 days of Christmas Countdown Ideas | Milk & Cookies
10 days of Creative Writing | Chocolate on My Cranium
10 Days to a Godly Marriage | Women Living Well
10 Days of Growing Leaders | Mom's Mustard Seeds
10 Days of Homeschooling High School | Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers
10 days of I Wish I Had Known | Fruit in Season
10 days of Keeping Your Marbles | The Tie That Binds Us
10 days of Kid-friendly Food | Planner Perfect
10 Days of Language Arts Lesson Planning | Jimmie's Collage
10 Days of Learning Apps | Daze of Adventure
10 Days of a Mason Jar Christmas | Cajun Joie de Vivre
10 Days of More JESUS in Christmas | Preschoolers and Peace
10 Days to a Peaceful Home | Raising Arrows
10 Days of Raising a Life-Long-Learner | Bright Ideas Press
10 days of Science with Math | Blog, She Wrote
10 days of Teaching Values | Our Journey Westward
10 days of Winning your Child's Heart | I Take Joy


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The 92nd Glasgow Company of the Girls' Brigade (GB) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
A reunion event will be held on Friday, June 9, at 7.30pm in Cadder Church South Halls.
The 92nd GB would like to extend an invitation to all ex Captains, Officers, helpers and girls to attend the buffer dinner to mark the anniversary.
If you are interested contact email@example.com by May 22.


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Basics of Email Marketing: Best Practices Part Two
Welcome to the second part of email marketing best practices guide. Make sure you read the first part of this email marketing series of posts if you miss it or read it again to get a better understanding of what we'll be talking about in this part.
In the first part of this series we defined what's email marketing, newsletter marketing, its importance and how to get those precious subscribers. Part two contains some real gems, so keep reading and learn how to use email marketing effectively.
Second part covers the following:
1. (Most) Important elements of an email newsletter
2. Examples of some great emails
3. Flow of an Email Newsletter Campaign
4. MailChimp and some of its features
1. (Most) Important elements of an email newsletter
There are many elements which make a great email newsletter, so let's name a few. I'll introduce you to some of the most important elements like subject, email content, template design, quality email database, sending time, from name and preheader text.
Email Subject
Subject is the most prominent element which opens the door for visitors to view and engage with your content. Short and concise, intriguing, descriptive, straight to the point, personalized and time-limited subjects usually work best for boosting your email open rate.
Please avoid aggressive words and ALL CAPS (all capitals) letters or spam filter trigger words. Check this research on subject lines comparison before you write your next subject line and please provide the reader a valid incentive to open your email and enjoy your message. One quick tip, try using symbols in your subject line to influence your open rate.
Recipe for Great email Subject:
- Short and concise
- Intriguing
- Descriptive
- Straight to the point
- Personalized
- Time-limited
Email content
When you're creating your newsletter strategy, your content plays a big role in engaging your readers. Content of your email should be aligned with your campaign goal(s), so if your campaign is sales oriented you could include a strong message emphasizing your USP (unique selling proposition) and a call to action, maybe accompanied with an image and/or a nice, big button.
Your content should later influence how your template will be designed, so keep that in mind, or adjust your content for your existing email template to maximise the effect. Did you know that you can also do an A/B tests for your email content?
Email Template Design
In order to present the email content you carefully crafted, get a nice template and your readers will love you for it. Have your designer make a nice template, maybe one that can be easily edited with your email marketing software, or you can contact us for help, our designers will be happy to assist you.
I advise you to get a responsive design HTML template so your message will be nicely displayed on various devices and email clients, and if you're using MailChimp, you can take advantage of its editable email templates. For email template inspiration and ideas, check out Really Good Emails.
Quality Email Database
Quality of your email database or a list of emails you have for your email marketing efforts can greatly influence your email open rate and engagement. If the subscribers in your email list are new and they went through the DOI (double opt-in) process, if the list is correctly segmented and the incentives to join the email list are properly communicated to prospects or contact cleaned from time to time etc., you should achieve great success with email marketing.
Email Sending Time
Wondering when is the best time to send an email campaign?
Well, my advice is to combine the data from your customers and business, industry reports and researches and start your testing from there. Before doing this, you should ask yourself a couple of questions like: is my business/product anyhow specific, are my customers employed etc.
So, if you're targeting for example B2B, you could avoid weekends and lunch time, but also hours nearing the end of the work day. Regarding studies and researches, have in mind that it's always best to use localized studies as a starting point for your testing, because customer behavior usually isn't the same globally.
Email From Name
From name is the name of the email sender that can also greatly influence your open rate. There are many options to play with. If your brand is well known, use its name as from name. If your CEO is well known among your email subscribers, you could use his name as from name.
One great example of using well known person as a bait to influence open rate I really like comes from Arsenal football club. They are using the name of their football manager, Arsene Wenger as a from name for some newsletters – brilliant way to leverage his name and influence open rates from fans subscribed to their newsletters.
Of course, if your brand isn't established and well-known, you can always try it with female names like Anna, but please combine it with your business name like "Anna Surname – Degordian", so you don't look like a spammer.
Email Preheader Text
Finally, one element I like a lot that is so often overlooked – the preheader text. Customizing the text that is shown as a preview in email clients can be a big time win for your open rate, so try different combinations in your upcoming newsletters. Not convinced? I like the story of "The Hillstrom experiment" regarding preheaders, so check it out. I bet you'll change your mind.
Discover below how to implement it in your HTML templates right away.
Just put some text next to your opening body tag inside your HTML template. Something like this:
Write a short sentence why a reader should open this email...
I prefer the preheader text to be visible only as a preview and not inside the content when the subscriber opens the email, so I usually hide it with CSS. You can hide it like this:


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Like most good food geeks, we subscribe to several food and cooking magazines – Bon Appetit, Cook's Illustrated, Food & Wine, Gourmet and Everyday Food. Whenever the mail brings a new issue, I gleefully chant "Foodie Magazine Day! Foodie Magazine Day!" like a drunken Adam Sandler, circa 1995. And more often than not, the new magazine is perused in its entirety before the weekend is out. So what do we do with all that glossy paper once we've read through?
Before we started Capital Spice, the answer was "not much." I would make it a point to save some of the recipes that caught my eye, but I didn't always follow through on trying them afterwards. But now, inspired by the guys at The Bitten Word, we've got an incentive to put our subscriptions to use on a semi-regular basis.
I give you the inaugural "Foodie Magazine Day" post – a write-up of our efforts to recreate a recipe taken from one of the magazines we subscribe to.
In this case, the recipe is from the current issue of Gourmet. To be honest, this is probably my least favorite of the foodie mags we get, because it's really more of an aspirational magazine – features on culinary classes all over the world are nice, but of limited utility at this point in my life. Even so, it provides some very creative (and high-end) recipes if you take the time to look for them. And their focus on the exotic results in some menus that are guaranteed to stretch your culinary boundaries – though you may have to make a trip to a specialty store or two for some of the ingredients. For this dish, I had to track down fresh curry leaves…after a few false starts, I found them at Eastern Market, where a produce stand at the rear of the hall carries a wide range of fresh herbs and vegetables year-round.
I followed the recipe for these aromatic braised chicken thighs to the letter, but I opted to forego the fried onion accompaniment. I've included the full recipe, so if you try them together please share your thoughts on the onions! We found the chicken to be moist and tender (the dark meat holds up to slow-cooking a lot better than white meat would have), and the fragrance of the simmering chicken really whetted our appetites. Served with a cup of the 'Seafood Refresco' from Chris's Marketplace, a favorite producer at the Dupont Circle and Penn Quarter Farmers' Markets, it made a great weeknight dinner and provided plenty of leftovers for lunches. My only complaint is that it's not the most attractive dish in the world – the addition of the fried onions and rice in Gourmet's images still results in a rather brown, monochromatic presentation. If you want a more enthusiastic reception, you may want to serve this accompanied by a green salad studded with colorful peppers or radishes.
Recipe after the jump.
Aromatic Braised Chicken with Fried Onions
Gourmet, May 2008, p. 79
2 1/2 lbs. chicken thighs with bone, skin discarded (I bought boneless thighs to begin with)
4 medium shallots, quartered
5 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger
2 sprigs fresh curry leaves, leaves removed from stems
1 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
10 whole cloves
1 one-inch piece cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1/2 cup water
About 2 cups vegetable oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 teaspoons all-purpose flour, divided
>Toss all ingredients except water, oil, onion and flour with 1 teaspoon salt in a wide heavy medium pot. Marinate chicken, covered and chilled, 1 hour.
>Add water and bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until chicken is tender (40 minutes to 1 hour)
>Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 inches of oil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
>Toss onion with 1 teaspoon flour, then fry in 2 batches, stirring frequently (do not let burn) until golden brown (2 to 3 minutes per batch). Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels. Reserve 3 tablespoons oil.
>Remove chicken from cooking liquid, reserving liquid, and gently pat dry.
>Heat reserved oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then brown chicken all over, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a platter.
>Add remaining 2 teaspoons flour to fat in skillet and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add chicken-cooking liquid (with aromatics and spices) and simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened (about 2 minutes). Season with salt and pour over chicken. Top with fried onions.


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Vintage Collection Mermaid Tiered Mesh Skirt
A beautiful and elegant tiered ruffle mermaid-style long skirt.
Product Description
- Available in Multiple Solid Colors
- Full-Length Skirt
- Tiered Tulle Mesh Ruffles
- Designed in New York
The elegant Mermaid skirt by Vintage Collection is a long time Pinto Ranch favorite. The full-length skirt has a wide waistband and tiers of tulle mesh ruffles cascading down to the floor. Fully lined with a side zipper and fish-eye style closure.
Material: 100% Polyester
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Dry Clean Only
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How A Licensed Arborist Is Different from A Non-Licensed One?
When a professional gets a license for his work, then you should understand that he has some special qualities for this job. Similarly, licensed arborists are always better than the non-licensed ones. Before you think that both are same, and the only difference between them is just a paper where the license is declared, you should know what are the qualities or features of a licensed arborist.
The Top Features That Make Them Different
• The job of an arborist is the amalgamation of the art and science of tree care. A certified or licensed one has achieved a certain degree of skill and knowledge for this job.
• They have to pass a comprehensive examination to get that certificate. This examination is arranged and monitored by the top-class professionals of tree care.
• The professional needs to spend at least 3 years in the industry of tree care and know all the facets of arboriculture. The certification is given to the professionals once they complete their 3 years as well as pass that examination.
• Since they have the right experience along with proper knowledge about the field; thus, you can expect the better service from them than the professionals who do not have the certificate or the license.
• The job is a risky one, and there is no doubt about it. Only an experienced tree care specialist can understand how to make the matter safe and perform it flawlessly. He can know what type of instruments should be used to take care of a tree which may not be possible for an arborist with zero or minimum experience.
• Sometimes, the arborist has to take some immediate decisions during the assignment. Since they are dealing with a part of nature; thus, the situation may not be under their control for all the time. Only a certified arborist can have the skill and experience to understand the seriousness of the situation and take the right decision.
• Only a certified arborist has the proper training on the subject of arboriculture. He knows almost everything about tree care. He knows how to cultivate, manage and maintain various types of trees, including shrubs and vines.
• However, a non-certified arborist may not have such an extensive knowledge of this subject. He may not be able to take prompt decisions or use the proper safety measures while performing the tasks.
• The job of a professional arborist mainly involved physical management of trees as well as manipulation of the same. If you hire an experienced one, then you can get some excellent tips from them regarding the further maintenance of your landscape. You can hire them to perform the task of "tree hazard surveys" as well. They are here to offer you the best service as per your needs.
When you hire a professional arborist for your residential or commercial properties, then you need to check their credentials first. However, you need to understand that hiring a certified arborist and an arborist who has a certificate is different thing. The tree trimming Brisbane Southside service should be provided by ISA or the International Society of Arboriculture.


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Shaping Employees for The Future: Creating Value for Organisations
The workforce of tomorrow will be dramatically different from the workforce of today and yesterday. New trends are influencing the future of work. This will result in us working very differently in the future as compared to the past. In the past, rules were set and passed down to employees. In the future, the employee will drive how work gets done. Ironically, we are moving into an environment where it is no longer about employees needing the organisation, it is becoming more of the organisation needing the talent.
Millennials with their new ways of working and technological fluency bring a new perspective to work: they want an environment that they love and want to work in; breaking the paradigm organisations have that people need to work. By 2025 millennials who cherish mobility and globalisation will constitute 75% of the workforce. The future workplace would have been impacted far more than what one could have imagined.
Employees are now starting to drive the decisions and beginning to have conversations on how work gets done, when it gets done, who it gets done with, what technologies are being used to get it done, etc. New behaviours on sharing, communicating and collaborating are permeating organisations. Technologies such as big data, the cloud, the Internet of Things, automation etc. are enabling us to think about work differently.
Employees will cherish their experiences and it is these positive experiences that will drive engagement, productivity and superior performance. Employee Engagement is no longer the once a year dip stick survey but one that needs to be real time. Employee development strategies need to be aligned with the future workplace.
Join a panel of worldwide experts to explore how to align your strategies in line with the trends affecting the future workplace.


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Home Depot Inc., which is already the largest flooring retailer in the U.S., stands to benefit from the formaldehyde controversy surrounding two of its main competitors, Lowe's and Lumber Liquidators.
What's the Problem?
May 6, 2015 – Home Depot's reputation has remained unscathed amid accusations that Lumber Liquidators and Lowe's sold Chinese-made laminate flooring that contained toxic levels of formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). As a result, Home Depot may be positioned to attract customers as its rivals scramble to recover from the controversy.
Stock Prices
Home Depot's stock has climbed 2.9% this year, while Lowe's has gained 2.4%. Shares of Lumber Liquidators, on the other hand, have plunged nearly 60% since a "60 Minutes" report aired on March 1 that alleged the company had been selling Chinese laminate flooring that contained illegal levels of formaldehyde.
Laminate flooring, which offers a cheap, easy-to-install alternative to tile or hardwood floors, has grown in popularity in recent years. However, concerns about the manufacturing process — especially for products made in China — have dogged the industry. Formaldehyde, a chemical that has been linked to sinus infections, respiratory illness and cancer, is contained in the glue used to bind the flooring together.
"60 Minutes" Report
The "60 Minutes" investigation was the result of a June 2013 Seeking Alpha article written by hedge fund analyst Xuhua Zhou. Last week, Zhou wrote another article accusing Lowe's of selling laminate flooring that had levels of formaldehyde similar to Lumber Liquidators products.
Both companies maintain their flooring is safe; however, Lowe's has pulled the suspect products off the market until it can conduct its own investigation and testing. The flooring, sold under the Tecsun brand, was available by special order and on Lowe's website, but not in stores.
Zhou, who is short-selling Lowe's (meaning he's betting the company's stock will fall), has praised Home Depot, claiming that it maintains higher standards. He also owns shares in Home Depot.
Home Depot to Remove Phthalate Flooring
Home Depot further improved its image when it agreed last month to phase out phthalate-containing vinyl flooring by the end of the year. Phthalates, chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic products, have been linked to adverse health complications ranging from asthma to brain damage.
Lumber Liquidators announced last week that it has stopped sourcing laminate wood from China for the time being, though it may return to the policy should customer demand warrant it. Home Depot, on the other hand, still sells Chinese flooring.
Steve Holmes, a spokesman for Home Depot, said the company requires all suppliers to comply with health standards and laws. Most of its wood products are sourced from locations in the U.S., Europe and Canada. He declined to give the percentage derived from China.
Home Depot hasn't yet decided whether it will continue selling Chinese-made laminate, according to Holmes. "The bottom line is we're confident that our laminate flooring is safe," he said.