text:
When I was young, I had a vision of what my life was going to look like.
I was going to be wealthy beyond measure. I was going to live in a mansion with servants. I would travel around the world and drive a really nice car. There would be much shopping, and many pairs of shoes. Jewelry, make-up and salon appointments would be a part of my daily life. It was going to be friggin' awesome.
I met my amazing soon-to-be husband and we planned our fairy-tale wedding and then our life together. We talked about future hopes and dreams, and in my head, my vision was still alive.
We got married and we moved to another city. I didn't move into a mansion but into a basement suite, in a place where I knew no one. I was not rich and was having to do all the cooking and cleaning myself. I was happily married, but I was not where I thought I should be. Suddenly, my vision was flung off to the side somewhere and reality set in.
I would spend days and sometimes weeks wondering if we'd be able to pay our mortgage. I was shopping in second-hand stores and only buying things that were on sale. The husband was always at work and I was home alone. I was going crazy from the peace and quiet that was now my life and I hated it.
Don't get me wrong, I loved my husband and I loved being married but I wasn't prepared for the real world. I was 21 years old, had never lived on my own and had in fact, only lived with my parents. I never attended college and only had "life experience" to put on a resume. I was completely dependant on my husband, and had to rely on him for everything. If I needed to buy milk, or underwear or tampons, I had to ask him for money. I was madly in love, but totally trapped at the same time.
I eventually got a job, made some friends and fell in love with the city that I still call home. But for those particular moments in time, my vision had led me down a path of unrealistic expectations.
I adjusted to my new life, bills were paid, businesses started and failed. Travel and experiences occurred and then I dreamed of having children, and my wild visions went crazy again.
I was going to be a perfect Mom that bought her children only the best of everything. I was going to make their baby food, and teach them everything they needed to know. There was going to be hours spent playing and learning. I would do crafts and make up stories and play board games. They would be angels, and my life would be complete. It was going to be flippin' fantastic.
And then I had babies. I was madly and deeply in love, but I was tired. With my first child, I had no clue what I was doing. I was fumbling about just trying to keep her alive. I let Barney and Wheel of Fortune teach her the alphabet and all of her colours. We played games and did fun things, but more often than not, I was stuck in "life" and not on her.
I then had a son, with more issues and trials than one could ever prepare for. He struggled to breathe, and learn and survive. Small everyday things challenged him in ways that were unfathomable. He was the cutest little thing, with the biggest smile and sweetest countenance, but man, was he a lot of work.
I never made a single solitary jar of baby food, I nursed them both for about 6 weeks and quit because I hated it. We tried crafts, but they both despised being dirty so that always ended in screaming. I became the Mom that loved her kids beyond measure, but one that purchased every single solitary thing from a store. I guided them and protected them and taught them how incredibly fabulous they were, but we didn't go on nature walks or did all that much frolicking in the wilderness.
I absolutely hated myself some days and couldn't believe how incompetent I was in many areas. I had become pretty much opposite to all that I had envisioned. I was SO not June Cleaver or even one of her long distant cousins. Once again, my vision had set me up for failure.
Looking back now, I do know this, I raised some UNBELIEVEABLY AWESOME children. Someway, somehow, I did the right things in spite of myself, and this crazy dreamer head of mine. 30 children later, I get it. I know what's important and what doesn't matter. My vision was wrong, and was in no way "me". That's where I got lost…I was trying to create a story that belonged to someone else.
Life is a weird thing sometimes, we paint a picture and then get stuck somewhere outside of it. Don't do that to yourself. Don't limit where you and where your path may go. Don't set a standard that is unattainable. Don't put unreasonable expectations on yourself or your children or your spouse. Don't get caught up in the world's version of perfect life, perfect wife and perfect children. That's all crap and it doesn't exist. Do not wait for something else, or another time or place to make you feel complete. Don't judge yourself based on someone else's standards.
Instead, Breathe. Enjoy the moments that you're in, no matter how big the struggle may seem. If you can't provide the "best" of everything, let it go. Who decided what the best stuff was anyways? If you need to run away or cry sometimes, that's okay. If you feel like today was a complete failure, remember that there is always tomorrow. If you find yourself standing there wondering where it all went wrong, start again. Listen to your heart and find your way out to something better.
Paint yourself a new picture of "perfect" and trust in that. For me, that means happy faces running amuck and becoming people of character. They have the best of nothing, but have everything at the same time. It's hissy fits and belly laughs. It's unmatched socks and extra TV time. It's unbalanced meals, unbrushed hair and a sink full of dirty laundry. It's a husband and wife that love each other more today than they did yesterday. It is leaving this world a better place.
Let it go, and just be the best YOU that you can be. I hope you find your happy place.
Tagged: challenges, children, finding happy place, freedom, good enough, happiness, joy, life, mom, parenting


text:
When two folks determine to get married, a alter happens in their lives—hopefully for the much better. But if people are not willing to spot their companion/loved ones above others, it can lead to devastating consequences, regardless of how superb the union started.
Yes, we are talking about the challenging stuff here!! Due to the fact it is relevant! Small did I know that the gal leading worship that month had a daughter who was living that way of life and she had not told any of us because she believed it was an off limits subject in Christian circles. Shame on us! But so freeing for her and an additional gal who have been impacted directly that night. The conversations went on for over an hour afterwards, and I know God employed this challenging subject to SHINE ON his young children that evening!
I celebrate her global attain as a teller of potent onscreen stories, of course. From her first short film Peel (1982), which won the Quick Film Palme d'Or at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival. To Sweetie, 1 of my all-time faves. To The Piano, which won a lot of awards, including – the only woman winner to date – the Palme d'Or in 1994 and the Academy Award for Ideal Original Screenplay, a single of only seven ever won by women. Dame Jane – doesn't it sound ideal (partly simply because adding 'dame' in this context carries a teeny Raymond Chandler-sort suggestion?) – was also nominated for an Academy Award as Greatest Director for The Piano, the second of only four women ever. To all these characteristics after that. To her most recent function, Top of The Lake, which she wrote with Gerard Lee, directed with Garth Davis and executive developed.
I know her buddies are good to her and trustworthy but I believe they are slowly convincing her to dress in a way she's not, consciencely or not. Not exactly brainwashing, but still… I never really know what they speak about when they are out as I am in no way with them when I suspect this occurs (she has a cell telephone to get in touch with me with in case of emergencies).
I'm aware of that, just as well as I am conscious that practically nothing genuinely lasts forever. But to me, life and relationships is not about forevers', it really is about the bonds you construct and enjoy along the way, the experiences we each have- good and bad and what we can learn about ourselves and our lives along the way.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Is there a way to think of one's childhood without a narrative, without viewing it through some kind of lens? Or by the virtue of thinking about it, do we change it? By the way we construct our past, what we focus on and what we leave out, how we interpret our actions, do we inevitably cast some kind of slant on our past?
I've posted before on my childhood and how it certainly isn't anyone's "typical" trans narrative. I've felt much pressure, and had to deal with many feelings of illegitimacy, because there are so many "girly" parts to my childhood. Most noticeably, I never thought I was going to grow up to be a boy; I never felt that being a girl felt wrong or not enough. But then I realized that it's not as though my childhood was exclusively filled with moments of stereotypical girlyness. In feeling somehow inadequate in the "trans-ness" of my childhood, have I actually gone the other way and constructed my childhood narrative as being more gendered than it truthfully was? And is it even possible to tell a story without constructed it, changing it, in some way? Continue reading


text:
wikiHow is a "wiki," similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time.
This article has been viewed 7,695 times.
Learn more...
Strawberry shortcakes are layer cakes that are filled and topped with macerated strawberries and whipped cream. This recipe recreates the strawberry shortcake in the form of a strawberry cookie sandwich. The strawberries go into the cookie batter, and the whipped cream becomes a rich white chocolate ganache.
Servings: About 3 dozen
- 2 cups strawberries, hulled and diced
- 1 tsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- Sanding sugar for sprinkling
- 8 oz. (227 g) white chocolate
- 1/3 cup heavy cream, room temperature
- 3 to 4 tablespoons strawberry juice, freshly squeezed
Did you make this recipe?
Method 1 of 3:
Prepare the Ganache
If you don't own a juicer to juice the fresh strawberries, then you can add 3 to 4 tablespoons of a purchased strawberry juice beverage. A quality bottled strawberry lemonade, for instance, would be delicious in this ganache.
1Add the white chocolate and the heavy cream to a double boiler.
2Stir the ingredients continuously with a whisk until the chocolate has melted. Do not allow the cream to boil.
3Stir in 3 tablespoons of strawberry juice. Add an additional tablespoon if the ganache needs to be thinner.
4Cover the bowl with the ganache with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 3 hours. The ganache will set but will not be hard.Advertisement
Method 2 of 3:
Bake the Cookies
Make sure to handle these cookies using a tablespoon or cookie scoop. The addition of heavy cream will make the dough very sticky.
1Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2Combine the strawberries, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a medium bowl.
3Whisk together the flour, baking powder, kosher salt and remaining sugar in a mixing bowl until the ingredients are well combined.
4Add the chopped butter pieces to the dry ingredients and cut them into the mixture with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles large, coarse crumbs. Alternatively, you can mix the butter into the dry ingredients using your clean hands, but make sure you do this quickly so that the heat from your hands doesn't melt the butter.
5Stir in the heavy cream with a large wooden spoon, just until the dough begins to come together.
6Fold in the strawberry mixture using a flat plastic spatula.
7Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop the dough onto the baking sheet, leaving about 1-1/2" (4 cm) around each cookie.
8Sprinkle the cookies with sanding sugar.
9Bake the cookies until they are golden brown, which will take about 24 to 25 minutes.
10Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the stovetop for 2 minutes.
11Remove the cookies from the baking sheet with a spatula and transfer them to wire racks so that they can cool thoroughly.Advertisement
Method 3 of 3:
Assemble the Cookie Sandwiches
Beat the ganache for as long as is needed to make it light and slightly fluffy. You don't want it to have the consistency of whipped egg whites, but the consistency will be close to that of whipped cream.
1Take the ganache out of the fridge and whip the mixture with a handheld mixer or a stand mixer with a whisk attachment.
2Transfer the whipped ganache into a pastry bag with a medium-size round tip. Alternatively, you can put the ganache in a resealable plastic bag and cut a small hole in one corner of the bag.
3Place half of the cooled cookies facedown on the wire rack.
4Squeeze the bag of ganache over each cookie half to put a generous dollop into the center of each upturned cookie.
5Top the ganache covered cookies with the rest of the cookies, pressing the bottom of the cookie into the ganache.
Community Q&A
- These cookies taste best when they are served immediately. They can keep for about a day in an airtight container, but they begin to lose their shape and texture quickly.Thanks!
- Place a strawberry on top of the strawberry shortcake cookie for a final touch.Thanks!
Things You'll Need
- Double boiler
- Whisk
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowl
- Medium bowl
- Pastry cutter
- Large wooden spoon
- Flat plastic spatula
- Spatula
- Wire racks
- Handheld mixer or stand mixer with a whisk attachment
- Pastry bag with medium tip or a plastic resealable bag


text:
Round 2 for the amazing collaboration between Delta Element and Destiny Sierra at LA Models and another stunning C-Heads Exclusive. As always, the work of Delta Element is limited to the essentials. Natural light, great shapes, and the incredible charisma of Destiny will put a smile on your face. For the whole day…
Photographer — Delta Element
Instagram — @angelalfaro
Twitter — @deltaelement
Model — Destiny Sierra @ LA Models
Instagram — @destinysierra
Twitter — @destinysdelisio


text:
Posts Tagged 'Collective Bargaining Agreement'
10 Things To Know About New CBA
We're trying to simplify the new collective bargaining agreement for you.
Owners, Players Thank Foxworth
Ravens CB, NFLPA executive member Domonique Foxworth did the "dirty work" in CBA.
NFL Lockout Finally Over
We've got labor peace in the NFL for 10 years with unanimous player rep approval.
Late For Work 7/25: Most Hectic Week In NFL History
Plus the Ravens' first post-lockout move and staying is Wilson's "best-case scenario."
Reports: Agreement Reached, Vote May Ensue
There are conflicting reports as to how close owners and players are to a new CBA.
Breaking Down Owners' CBA
Here's some key points in the new collective bargaining agreement – in layman's terms.
Don't Expect Deal Over Weekend
The NFLPA sent an email to players saying they would meet Monday to discuss next steps.
Late For Work 7/22: Rice Wants To Stay Long-Term
Plus Ravens players like CBA, but not the pressure; and how the cap affects Baltimore.
Mason Anticipates Good Deal For Players
Ravens WR and player rep. Derrick Mason says players could vote to end lockout tonight.
Cass: Ravens Are Ready For Post-Lockout
Ravens Team President Dick Cass responds to the owners' ratification of the CBA.


text:
I meant to write this yesterday, but a surprise visit from an old friend and an innate ability to procrastinate everything means it's here today instead!
1. Wedding Bells
Remember when I went to a bachelorette party last week? Unsurprisingly, it meant I got to go to a wedding this week! And because it's my life, I got to go to it with a bunch of nuns! Right after work on Friday, my coworkers and I dressed up and went to our friend and former coworker's wedding. The ceremony was lovely, the reception was a great party, and the cupcakes were delicious. Congratulations, friends!
2. Uptownin' Around
On Saturday, I dropped in to the Pizza Luce Block Party in Uptown with my friend Manolo.
We stuck around for Communist Daughter, then realized we could hear the concert almost as well from Manolo's porch, which is kind of a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Things got even better in the evening when I convinced Manolo to watch the Vikings' preseason opener. I'm not going to say it was a good game, but I had a great time trying to teach Manolo about the football.
Lesson two: Our current starting quarterback's name is Donavan McNabb. Not, as you guessed, "Don Juan Diablo."
3. Irish Fest!
I went to my first ever Irish Fest in St. Paul on Sunday! I ate O'Brien Potatoes, drank a Guinness, accidentally bought a loaf of soda bread (I thought I was just buying one piece and yes, I am the kind of person who accidentally buys a loaf of bread), and got my name written in Gaelic. It is, disappointingly, "Raicheal." I managed not to tell too many complete strangers about my citizenship — but I let my redheaded Irish buddy, known as "Saibher" for the day, tell them for me. I absolutely recommend bringing your own ginger wherever you go.


text:
Anti-Wrinkle Injections
A smile doesn't end with beautiful teeth, nor should a trip to the dentist only be about beautiful teeth.
In conjunction with the Australasian Academy of Dento-Facial Aesthetics, DentArana would like to introduce you to anti-wrinkle injections. Dr Lo-an can not only smoothen over your fillings, but also those few wrinkles you wouldn't mind saying goodbye to!
We are very excited to be introducing these anti-wrinkle injection techniques into our practice!
What is Facial Rejuvenation?
Facial rejuvenation employs safe and minimally invasive techniques to restore the appearance of your teeth and face in a quick and painless way. The ultimate goal is to make you look youthful and vibrant. It's comprised of specialised treatments intended to give you a smile makeover that will not only improve your teeth's aesthetics but also the profile of your face.
Anti-Wrinkle Injection Procedures
There are two main types of anti-wrinkle injections: muscle relaxants (also called botox injections) and dermal fillers.
Botox – this is ideal for patients who want to reduce the lines on their face without having to undergo to surgical procedures. Dental professionals who perform this procedure have a thorough knowledge of facial anatomy and can carry out the treatment with precision. Facial rejuvenation techniques can soften skin wrinkles, resulting in a more youthful appearance.
Dermal Fillers – another way to achieve a more youthful look is through dermal fillers. The fillers fill and plump up the lines and wrinkles on your face. Dermal fillers can significantly reduce medium to deep wrinkles, making the skin look smoother and younger. The procedure can also be used to create fuller, more sensual lips, as well as for shaping facial, neck, and hand contours.
The Amazing Benefits
The technology of anti-wrinkle injections provides numerous benefits, such as:
- Smoother skin
- Diminished facial lines in just a few days
- Prevents the creation of more wrinkles
- Normal routine can be resumed right after the treatment
- Results can last between 6 to 12 months
Dr Lo-An Vu
Lo-an is a member of the AADFA (Australasian Academy of Dento-Facial Aesthetic), trained and qualified in providing anti-wrinkle treatments, dermal fillers, CGF facials and Threading.
Read more about Dr Lo-An Vu by visiting Our Team page.
FREE Consultation on Anti-Wrinkle Treatments at DentArana
Look younger and feel younger with our advanced Anti-wrinkle Treatments. This non-surgical facial aesthetic procedure is the best way to achieve younger looking skin in the least invasive way possible.
Enjoy your FREE Consultation for Anti-Wrinkle Injections.
Contact us on (07) 3351 3366 or visit us at Shop 5 Patricks Place, Corner Dawson Parade and Patricks Road in Arana Hills.


text:
Paper Bag Records; 2010
10 Tracks; CD, LP, Digital Download
Review by: Jen Polk
Remorsecapade, Woodhands' second full-length, is a follow-up to 2008's explosive Heart Attack. This new release keeps the band rocking the keytar, pounding out the dance hits, and exploring its emotional baggage. It offers up eminently danceable tracks and much artistic interest, and establishes the Toronto duo of Dan Werb (keytar, synth, vocals) and Paul Banwatt (drums, live vocals) as the go-to band for electro-pop-rock that's smart, surprising, and impossible not to move to.
The first track, "Pockets," sets the tone, and assures the listener that all the ingredients that made Heart Attack great are still present. Slow builds and quiet moments compete with pounding beats and aborted symbol crashes. The song's both groovy and meaningful. It's a love song, after all. "Talk," next up, is about a girl, too. It has dance hit written all over it, but the angst-ridden, yearning kind, not the bubble-gum version. "CP24" you've perhaps heard (and seen) already. (The video for that was put out as a teaser before the album was released.) Here the angst gets aggressive and embittered. "Sluts" — which I just noticed begins with a technical glitch and Dan swearing "fuck this machine" — has a more dance club vibe. The girl problems continue, but there's a resolution. What begins aggressively ends with a much more healthy attitude. Awesome.
And then comes "Coolchanize," my favourite song on the album. As Dan himself might say, "Oh shit!" Screams! Grunts! This song takes me through the ringer. Dan — or the man he's singing about — has been done wrong. "Why are you fucking with my focus? Why do you have to be the closest thing to me?" etc. The man can't get a break, though, deciding next that "I Should Have Gone With My Friends" instead of following his date around. This is another great dance track. After all this "Dissembler" comes as a welcome reprieve. Maylee Todd (guest vocals), whose smooth vocal performance on "Dancer" added so much to the first record, is back, performing a duet on this one with Dan. Much airier, this pop love song is really lovely. Everyone now feeling better about things, it's time to dance (and scream) again. "When the Party is Over," featuring fat synth beats, under-emphasized drumming, and great singing, is another solid Woodhands song. The final track ("I Want To Be Together," followed by the outro "How To Survive A Remorsecapade"), is radically different in sound. It's slower, contemplative, sad — "I want to be together" is the repeated refrain — but also a smart way to end a record that's full of anger, heartbreak, and other emotional struggles.


text:
Due to annual maintenance on our servers, you may find some parts of our website pages disturbed a little. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
All Garage Door Services is a one stop shop for all the customers who are in search of high quality services of overhead door installation and overhead door replacement in Newtown Square PA. We specialize in repairing, installing and replacing all makes of garage doors. We are proud to carry huge variety of genuine products from leading manufacturers. No residential and commercial job is too big or too small for us. Crew of professionals includes highly trained and organized technicians who are dedicated to fix all kinds of issues related to overhead door repair. They offer the best possible advice to choose garage door in accordance with the needs and budget of customers. They use the most reliable techniques and technology to meet and exceed the expectations of customers.
For details, please feel free to send us an email at email@example.com.
For details, Please feel free to call us at 800-345-1451


text:
There are 16.5 million adults in the U.S. that regularly practice Yoga, according to the Yoga Journal, and an additional 25 million that say they want to try Yoga. Yoga classes, based in Yoga asanas (physical forms), are a national phenomenon that can be found in almost any gym. There are well-established benefits from learning the asanas that have pushed its popularity: increased muscle tone and flexibility, stress reduction, and a sense of community born out of the class experience. Yoga also has a somewhat gentle reputation—a perception that Yoga is "less intense" then other workouts, and that there's little or no downside to adding Yoga to your routine.
That gentle reputation is taking a hit, however, as more and more Americans are getting injured in Yoga classes. Those injuries cover the full range of severity–from sore backs and strained hamstrings to torn knee cartilage and sprained necks. Roger Cole PhD., a scientist and Iyengar Yoga teacher in California, names the lower back, knees and the neck as the most prone to injury in Yoga. Injuries most often come from just being too aggressive—a forward bend that goes too far aggravates the back, for example, while falls from challenging headstands and forearm balances can cause neck injuries.
The Nimble team is here to remind you that though there are significant risks associated with practicing Yoga, there are some simple recommendations that can keep your practice safe and effective, regardless of the style of instruction:
*INTENTION—take a few moments to make sure your head's in the right place before you step on the mat. Usually, we're to blame for our injuries. We watch the rest of the class and let our egos take over—we want to be the best in that new pose, even if we've never tried it before! No amount of ego is going to help you if you push your body too far.
*3 KEYS—in Anusara instruction, there are 3 basic "checks" we use for each pose: foundation, alignment and breath. If your foundation is strong, whether it's your feet, hands, shoulders, forearms, or hips, you've greatly reduced your chances of falling. Alignment basically refers to the spine, pelvis and joints. Be especially mindful of these areas—your body will let you know if you're going too far out of your natural alignment. The last is obvious: if you can't breath in a pose, we humbly suggest you back off and start over!
*PRIVATE INSTRUCTION—most people in the U.S. experience Yoga asanas for the first time in a crowded classroom, where there's minimal instruction and minimal space. If you're starting out, find an experienced instructor who can take you through the basics before you head into a class. You'll feel more confident and enjoy it a lot more.
*GO AT YOUR OWN PACE—a Yoga practice should be built around your body's strengths and limitations—you should never try to adapt your body to a form your body's not ready for. What's the point? Your body will react by trying to protect itself any way it can, and the results are usually not good. Slow and steady wins the race here—and you'll surprise yourself at how far you progress when you're consistent and attentive to what you're ready for on the mat. Plus you'll really start to enjoy yourself!
Please share your Yoga experiences with us!—submit a question or comment on our community board at www.nimblefitness.com. Also, stay tuned for more Yoga info in the coming months as we break down the keys to an effective practice. For those of you who are new to us, Nimble Fitness is a health and wellness company based in New York City that offers instruction in Anusara Yoga, either privately or semi-private groups.


text:
- No Software to Download
- Connect from Anywhere
- Immediate Access to New Features & Enhancements
- All Major Browsers Supported
Overview Screen
- Income Snapshot
- Expenses Snapshot
- Services Due
- Calendar
Location Management
- Maintain All Locations in One Place
- Track Commission Rates & Charity Contributions
- Earnings Graph
- Integrated Google Maps
- Record Individual Service Entries
Multiple Machine Types
- Bulk Machines (Vendstar, Revive, U-Turn)
- Bulk Candy, Gumball, Sticker, Toy, Energy, Etc.
- Bulk Racks
- Combo
- Soda
- Snack
- Cold Food
Multiple Users
- Unlimited Additional Users - No Additional Cost
- Assign Different Permission Levels to Each User
Mileage Log
- Record Business & Personal Mileage
- View Mileage Reports by Individual or Business
- Year End Mileage Reports
Route Management
- Easily Build Multiple Vending Routes
- Record Services for Entire Route
- Auto-Generate Routes Based on Service Due Dates
- Clone Routes
Product Usage
- Track Product Usage
- Estimate Product Needed for Upcoming Services
- Product Usage Reporting
- Build a Custom List of Products for Your Business
- Interactive Charts and Graphs
- Cash Flow Reports
- Export Company Data to Excel
- Build Custom Route Service Sheets to Ease Service Recording
- Compare Location Earnings and Average Earnings/Month
Start your trial today!
- Manage your vending route easily with the Vend-Trak software...start now!


text:
One of the biggest bad-asses on television is Original vampire Klaus on The CW drama series The Vampire Diaries. Played by Joseph Morgan, Klaus likes to use his charm to wreak havoc all over Mystic Falls, and makes life very unpleasant for Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), and all of their friends and family.
While at the TCA Winter Press Tour, actor Joseph Morgan talked about getting to play a character that's lived through so many different eras (of which he's enjoyed 1920's Chicago the most), bringing the human element to the evil behavior that Klaus has become known for, that he's been pushing for a love interest for some time now, that he hopes he'll get to hang around on the show for awhile, and how he'd love to do a guest spot as a human survivor on the hit zombie series The Walking Dead. Check out what he had to say after the jump:
Question: When you play a character that's lived for so long, how do you approach the backstory for that much time?
JOSEPH MORGAN: It does go on forever. There's a certain amount that's developed for you, through the flashbacks, and then you fill in some of the gaps. I tend not to make up too many solid events that he's been through because then that informs what I'm playing, and then that's redefined by the writers anyway. When I joined the show, I didn't know that Stefan and Klaus had a history together. My first few scenes that I was playing with him, I had no idea that it was going to go back and that you would find out that we knew each other, for years. Back in the '20s, we were friends. So, it's useful, to a certain extent, to make backstory and think about that, but to create anything that's too solid is detrimental, when you're playing things, later on.
Out of all the flashbacks you've done on the show, which era have you enjoyed the most?
MORGAN: Chicago 1920's, for sure. I've done a lot of period drama before. A lot of my jobs have been that. A few of the eras, I had visited before, but 1920's Chicago was something that I was immediately attracted to. The tuxes, the style of the whole thing, and the speakeasys were incredibly exciting for me.
What is your take on the allure of vampires?
MORGAN: First of all, they've been made sexy, over the last few years. They were always monsters, before that. Interview with a Vampire made vampires sexy. I think there's something that people can relate to, especially teenagers, with the idea of someone who has an older, dark secret and is struggling with something inside themselves and to be accepted because there's a part of themselves that they're ashamed of, and yet they really would just like to be like everybody else. I think that's something that's instantly relatable to teenagers.
Are you surprised that there was room on this show for a character that was more evil than what was already there?
MORGAN: No, I wasn't that surprised. I'm a fan of the genre, and I have been for years. I thought about how I'd play a vampire for awhile because I grew up watching vampire films and reading books. I think the element that was missing was the really playful element of the guy who's not afraid of anything. Ian's character, Damon, has it to a certain extent. It was the Hannibal Lector crazy/scary that I thought could be brought in, that's that kind of quiet calm. I felt like there was room for that, at least.
Don't you think he's not all evil, though?
MORGAN: There's a human element to him, for sure. The more I do this, the more I have to pull away from being two-dimensional evil and give this guy motives. That's been a great thing about the writing. It's really helped me because they've layered the character now. There's all these things with his family, and he's bringing in all of these feelings. That hideously dysfunctional relationship that he has with his father is something that is relatable to a lot of people. A lot of people can relate to that relationship with their parents, their children or their siblings. They are often very complex and can be the motives for acts which, if they were seen objectively, could be deemed evil, but I really think there needs to be something behind all of that. I hope they just keep writing stuff like that, so we just keep learning more and more about the motives. I don't think we'll ever get to the point where we forgive everything that he's done, but at least we can understand it.
Did you know you would get to stick around for another season?
MORGAN: I knew that there was potential, from the beginning. It was more like, "I'm doing four episodes, and if I really mess them up, I'm not coming back." That was that pressure of, if everything goes well, I'm coming back for a season, at least. So, I wasn't expecting it, but I was hoping. Once I started, I wanted to come back, desperately, because I'm having so much fun doing it.
Would you like to have Klaus stay around?
MORGAN: I hope he's going to stay around. The truth is, none of us know, if we're going to stick around for another season. We all get our contracts renewed during the break. You can guess, by the way the storyline is going, but honestly, I have as much idea as you. I'm not done with the character yet. I hope he's sticking around for a little while, but that's really up to them, at the end of the day.
Have you moved to Atlanta?
MORGAN: Yeah, it's the only home I've got now. It took me awhile to get used to, but I like it. It's very hot in the summer, it's very cold in the winter, there are loads of great restaurants, and I don't know anybody there, apart from the people who are on my show. I love it. I love everyone there. I do feel like it's this little family. Even though I only had two weeks off, between Christmas and New Year, I was feeling like, "I'm ready to get back now and see everyone."
How is the relationship between Klaus and Tyler (Michael Trevino) going to continue?
MORGAN: Tyler is going to struggle with it. I don't know where they're going to take it, but I know that, at the moment, the sire bond is pretty unbreakable.
Will Klaus have a love life?
MORGAN: Something that I've been pushing for, for a long time, is a love interest for Klaus. [He does have his] eye on [Caroline], and it is going to be difficult for him. He's used to getting what he wants, and he's not going to get what he wants out of this, immediately. It's going to be something where it's going to take a little time. For the first time, in a thousand years, he's going to be challenged by [her].
Do you ever worry about the fact that there could come a point when you can't be the villain on The Vampire Diaries anymore?
MORGAN: Yes, I worry about them making him softer. I think they can make him more human and more relatable without necessarily taking away any of has bad-ass-ism. I think that it's possible to have someone who is an anti-hero, who does tear hearts out and break necks, and you can still relate to him, on a certain level. I do worry. I trust [the writers], and I think they'll keep him as bad-ass as possible.
You've got two new Original brothers coming in this season. How do they rank, compared to Klaus?
MORGAN: They're bad-asses in training, I would say. They are doing well. They've started to master the heart-pulling-out and the neck-breaking, and all that stuff. One of them has been around for a good few hundred years, and the other one's no spring chicken either. They've got a lot to learn, coming into the modern world. I think one of the differences is that my character is hybrid, so he's part werewolf and part vampire. That boosts me up the bad-ass scale a little bit. At the moment, I'm looking back over my shoulder and they're still way behind me, but I don't know. We'll see if they catch up.
Do you know who's in the fourth coffin?
MORGAN: Yes.
What do you enjoy most about working on the show?
MORGAN: I came into the show late, at the end of Season 2. On a personal note, everyone just completely welcomed me into it. They could have been really standoffish. There's no reason why I needed to stay on past the four episodes that I did, at the end of Season 2, but everyone was just so welcoming, like a big, happy, dysfunctional family. That's why I love it.
What is your favorite part of your character?
MORGAN: For me, it's the sociopathic nature of the character, for sure, and the idea that you can be in a room with him and you never know what he's going to do. He could kiss you or kill you, and it's all the same to him. There's no clear line. It's all completely blurred. That's really where the danger comes from. That's the interesting thing for me, as an actor playing that. From one moment to the next, he can completely switch moods and emotions, and not be aware that he's done it, or not be aware that it's anything abnormal. That's really the part that fascinates me.
What are you currently watching on television?
MORGAN: I know it's not on our network, but I'm a massive fan of The Walking Dead. I'm a huge, huge fan. I love that show. I'm doing a fan convention in February, in Orlando, Florida, and I think Lauren Cohan is going to be there, as well. I'm excited because I've never met her. I've read all the comic books and the graphic novels. I just love it. I'm putting it out there, just in case they want someone for a guest episode.
So, it's not enough for you to be a vampire and a werewolf, you want to be a zombie now, too?
MORGAN: I'd rather be one of the survivors. There's something intriguing to me about them, and about being alive in this post-apocalyptic world, where suddenly we define the rules. There's no society. There's no formula there. Suddenly, it's down to us to define what's good and what's bad, what's right and what's wrong. That's what's exciting to me, about all of that.


text:
- "This looks like an alien UFO, complete with coloured flashing lights and siren. It's powered by six 90-watt motors and has hardened steel spikes"
- — Jonathan Pearce summarises REALI-T
REALI-T (also spelt with variations on capitals, such as Reali-t and Reali-T) was a competitor robot from Series 1 of Robot Wars. It reached the Heat Final in its only appearance, before being defeated by Bodyhammer in its Heat Final despite pushing it onto a grille at one point.
Its name was a pun on the word 'reality', and was also an acronym for "Reverse-Engineered Alien Technology" according to the team.
REALI-T was a large silver circular-shaped robot covered with wire-frame and mesh armour and designed to resemble a UFO, complete with a toy alien pilot sitting inside the front 'cockpit'. It featured flashing lights and a siren which played whenever the robot was in action, and was armed with a pair of front hardened steel ramming spikes as its weapon. REALI-T also had a top speed of 9mph and was powered by six 90W motors, which gave it good speed and pushing power as well as damage potential with the front spikes. However, its wheels, motors and gearboxes were easily susceptible to damage, which resulted in REALI-T having to be converted from six-wheel drive to four-wheel drive before its Heat Final.
Robot HistoryEdit
Series 1Edit
REALI-T started slowly in its Gauntlet run, taking the centre route and slowly going over both ramps. It dodged the drills and pendulum in the process, completing the Gauntlet and advancing to the Trial stage despite wedging itself through the wall upon reaching the end zone.
In the Labyrinth, REALI-T immediately collided with Psychosprout, causing the latter to stop moving and eventually roll back to the start, before advancing through the left-hand route past Bodyhammer. It reached the middle zone, but spun on the spot and collided with Bodyhammer as it tried to advance forwards.
- "I just wonder about this outer shell of REALI-T. It looks to me as if it's made out of cold spaghetti."
- — Jonathan Pearce expresses reservations about REALI-T's armour during the Labyrinth
REALI-T initially followed Bodyhammer, before changing route and going for the left-most lane, being blocked by Matilda in the process. It rammed Matilda in an attempt to get past, but despite nearly reaching the end zone, it did not complete the course, and finished second to Full Metal Anorak in the arena. Curiously, the results table showed REALI-T as finishing fourth, behind both Bodyhammer and Torque of the Devil. Following the Labyrinth, it was revealed that REALI-T's wheels and gearboxes were damaged by Matilda in the closing stages of its run, resulting in the team having to make extra repairs before the Arena stage.
In its Semi-Final, REALI-T met Full Metal Anorak, the robot that attempted to help it out in the Labyrinth. It started slowly as Full Metal Anorak tried to get underneath it with its front blade, and was attacked by Sergeant Bash after trying to chase Full Metal Anorak around the arena. Eventually, REALI-T rammed Full Metal Anorak a few times, eventually spiking and slamming it against the side bars and causing it to drive onto a grille after another bump.
Before the Heat Final against Bodyhammer, one of REALI-T's wheels had snapped off, so the team had to reduce its drive to four wheels before entering the Arena. Both robots chased, dodged and pushed each other around numerous times before Bodyhammer slammed REALI-T into a CPZ and a pyramid, allowing Matilda to come in and pin REALI-T against the wall. REALI-T escaped, clouting the swinging pendulum as Bodyhammer partially drove itself onto a grille, leaving it stranded as REALI-T pushed it fully on, losing a wheel in the process. Shunt subsequently pushed Bodyhammer off the grille, allowing it to keep fighting, despite REALI-T trying to spear Shunt and push him away. REALI-T became harder to steer in the result of its missing wheel, and got too close to the side bars itself, leaving it stranded and vulnerable to attacks from Sergeant Bash and Bodyhammer, who pushed REALI-T fully onto them. 'Cease' was called, and despite its strong performance, REALI-T was eliminated from the First Wars.
Series RecordEdit
|Series 1
|The First Wars - UK Championship
Heat Final
|Heat E, Gauntlet
|Completed (1st)
|Heat E, Trial (Labyrinth)
|Second Furthest (2nd)
|Heat E, Semi-Final
|vs. Full Metal Anorak
|Heat E, Final
|vs. Bodyhammer
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 1
NOTE: REALI-T's successful Gauntlet and Trial runs are not included
Series RecordEdit
|REALI-T Series Record
|The First Wars
|Heat Final
|The Second Wars
|Did not enter
|The Third Wars
|Did not enter
|The Fourth Wars
|Did not enter
|The Fifth Wars
|Did not enter
|The Sixth Wars
|Did not enter
|The Seventh Wars
|Did not enter
|Series 8
|Did not enter
|Series 9
|Did not enter
|Series 10
|Did not enter
- In Heat E, the Labyrinth's results were broadcast wrong, with REALI-T listed in fourth place instead of second. This was despite the clear order of REALI-T, Torque of the Devil, and Bodyhammer.
- REALI-T fought Full Metal Anorak in the Arena Semi-Final, but had the normal pattern of the Semi-final lineups been followed, (1st in the Labyrinth fought 3rd, 2nd fought 4th), REALI-T should have fought Bodyhammer in the Semi-Final.
- REALI-T's armour also acted as a weapon, as it was covered in chicken wire.
External Links Edit


text:
In the wake of the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill, many of the top fishing events in the gulf have been postponed or canceled. Those in recreational fishing regard the sport as a key part of the region's economy. Industry-financed studies estimate that the annual number of day trips on boats to fish in the gulf is 23.5 million, in addition to millions fishing from the shoreline. Although a small percentage of boating anglers compete in offshore tournaments, they are among the biggest spenders.
One of the largest tournaments is the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic sports fishing tournament in the Gulf of Mexico. Operating out of the Sandestin Resort in Destin, Florida, each team pays $5,000 to enter the two-day Emerald Coast competition, and the fees can reach more than $50,000 depending on the categories it competes in.
This tournament is ranked by Marlin magazine as having the gulf's richest purse, reaching a peak of $1.5 million in 2008, but just five days before the tournament's start the spreading BP oil spill forced its cancellation. The breaking point came when oil spread into the waters off the Florida Panhandle last week, leading to intermittent closures of a waterway that leads to deeper water. The federal authorities also widened the area closed to fishing. About half a dozen other key tournaments in June and July have also been canceled.
The World Billfish Series and the International Game Fishing Association, the two major offshore fishing series, choose top competitors from qualifying tournaments around the world. They will have to adjust their process for selecting the gulf fishing teams for their championships.
The Billfish Series championship in December will ge held in Costa Rica. It plans to invite last year's top competitors in the gulf and will also allow those who just missed qualifying to enter.
The game fishing association runs its championship in Mexico. Dan Jacobs, the tournament director, said it was considering allowing those from the gulf who qualified last year to enter. It may also allow fishing clubs like Emerald Coast to designate representatives.
Previous tournaments that were canceled or postponed stretch from Pensacola, Fla., to Mobile Bay, Ala., Biloxi, Miss, and Venice, La. But the cancellations may benefit other competitions. Several teams unable to take part in gulf tournaments planned to compete in events in Bermuda and elsewhere.
In sport fishing competitions, teams essentially bet on who will catch particular kinds of fish. The prize money is divided among top finishers. In catch-and-release categories, teams document the number of fish they catch. Other winners are determined by the weight of individual fish brought to shore.
The number of anglers competing in the gulf has increased fivefold in the last decade, rising to about 5,000 people a year. The growth has led to more tournaments, including the Emerald Coast competition, which started seven years ago.
Along with devastating the commercial fishing industry in the gulf, the oil spill is crippling the business of offshore recreational sport fishing. Offshore fishing, including tournaments, is worth $1.9 billion a year to the gulf region, based on an American Sportfishing Association's financed analysis of spending on items like hotels, docking and gear. The group said that millions of dollars have been lost.


text:
Skull Drip symbolizes what's underneath it all.
Artist and founder Al Baseer Holly (ABH) paints the Skull Drip including his famous brain in skull illustrations. Changing things up he also adds a skeleton in the painting, creating a whole body. In this artwork he paints first a black background and layers wording in colors purple, orange, yellow, green and white.
The Canvas to Reality Series works with artists who stand for the same ethos of Tango Hotel. The C2R series helps artist bring their creativity, story and art to reality through touch, wear, and feel.
Domestic Shipping Methods and Estimated Transit Times
If you select 2-day shipping, there will be 1-day processing and 2 days for shipping. Please account for that when planning.
World Wide Shipping
Tango Hotel ships anywhere in the World using USPS. Please note import/duty fees are not included in the shipping costs.
Orders Placed Over the Weekend:
Orders placed on Saturday and Sunday will begin processing the following Monday. Orders placed on Federal Holidays, regardless of day or time, will begin processing on the following business day.


text:
What's New
ABTS Feather Pen Font by Albatross
Tags: Dingbat, Font
Font Bros is your source for unique display fonts! Browse our library of over 5,000 one-of-a-kind typefaces to find the perfect font you've been looking for! Check out the Design Kits or take a look at our Merchandise.
Tags: Dingbat, Font


text:
Amid wild celebrations, a first shipment of gold bars arrived home in Venezuela on Friday after President Hugo Chavez ordered almost all the country's foreign bullion reserves be repatriated from Western banks.
Excited crowds lined the roadside waving big Venezuelan flags and chanting "It's returned! It's returned!" as a convoy of soldiers and armored cars carried the ingots from Maiquetia airport to the central bank in Caracas.
Experts had cautioned that the operation, which will eventually transport more than 160 tons of gold bars worth more than $11 billion to the South American country, would be risky, slow and expensive.
Nelson Merentes, the president of the central bank, traveled into the city at the head of the convoy. He did not say how much gold was brought back in Friday's shipment but said the bullion came from several European countries.
"Our gold is being stored in the vaults," Merentes, sporting a baseball cap that read "The Central Bank of Venezuela with the People," told the cheering crowds.
"We cannot give exact dates (for when the rest of the bars will arrive) due to questions of security. When we bring the last shipment, the people will learn about it."
Drums and sirens sounded out across the square as many in the crowd sang "Forward comandante!" in support of the president. Some waved homemade signs that said: "The gold has returned thanks to Chavez!" and "Long live our sovereignty!"
Chavez announced the repatriation in August as a "sovereign" step that would help protect Venezuela's foreign reserves from economic turmoil in the United States and Europe. Most of Venezuela's gold held abroad is…


text:
This oil painting (right) was inspired by an aerial view of a river (left).
Monthly Archives: February 2014
Groundfind Necklace + Bitter Sweet Story
The story of the groundfind necklace: one day Lauren went to meet Chaps for brunch. She was walking along Power St. She found a pink piece of twisted electrical wire in a creative shape. "that would make a nice piece of jewelry" she thought. So she picked it up and saved it from the street. It just so happened that Chaps was moving back to Canada soon so Lauren thought this piece would make a good going away present for her and told Chaps so at brunch. one month passed.The piece of wire managed to make it onto the lounge room floor and became a play thing for Bowie the cat for some time. Lauren found it one day under the couch, a little clawed, but still with its shape in tact. This time rescuing the wire from the floor and the cat's jaws, Lauren put it into a box. Lauren bought all the things she needed to create the necklace at a gem of a jewelry supply store called "Koodak" in Melbourne CBD. She was pleased with this progress but instead of making the necklace, all items were placed in the box 'for making later'. two more months passed. oh shit, it was now two days before Chaps was leaving to Canada and the parts of the necklace were still in the box waiting.and Lauren had no jewelry pliers handy.dammit. "this is what happens when things are left to the last minute" she thought. Lauren learns that lesson.again.or does she?…luckily through a little creativity Lauren manages to put the necklace together (using fingernails and teeth) and luckily Chaps lives with Lauren at this point and it can be measured up there and then! The necklace is made and able to be given as intended! Hooray! Except Lauren doesn't feel so much like celebrating because the finishing of the necklace also marks Chaps leaving. Bitter Sweet. the end.


text:
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Marble Maze Craft Project
I love to do craft projects with my kids. I guess I have passed down the "creative jean" and they love to do anything of that sort. It makes it easy on my part. So on Saturday they did a great job with finishing their chores and so we had enough time to do a craft project. I found this idea and I'm glad I did. They had a wonderful time "creating" and now they have a toy that can be played with for more than 10 minutes.
Supplies need to complete this project: 11 1/4 inch x 11 1/4 inch piece of wood, pencil, ruler, paint in different colors, paint brush, pen or other tool to mark holes, hammer, 1 1/2 roofing nails, protective spray, rubber bands, 3 or 4 marbles, wide ribbon, safety pin.
Using your pencil and ruler mark out a grid with 1 1/2 inch squares and a blank border that is about 1 inch.
At each intersection, make a small hole for the nail to be hammered in later.
Paint squares however your heart desires. Remember to paint one square close to the middle for the "goal" . I didn't paint one for the starting point because then you could have the marble start anywhere on the board.
Spray a coat of protective finish {so it could last a bit longer}.
Begin hammering the nails into each prepared hole.
Now you can start placing the rubber bands around the nails {start around the outer edge first}. On the inside you can place them to create the "walls". This is fun being able to create mazes with so many possibilities for the marble to go.
So our marbles would have less of a chance of getting lost I wanted a little baggie for them. I just took a wide ribbon I had and cut it 5 inches in length, fold in half and stitched down both sides.
Then using a safety pin, attach the little baggie to the board on the nail just under one of the rubber bands.
*TIP:We figured out that having 1 or 2 marbles on the board is pretty easy but when you add 3 or 4 marbles it gets more challenging.
I LOVE that this project was so Simple & FUN. My kids adore them and I know its a toy that will be Well LOVED! I hope you can help your kids get their creative juices flowing! Pin It
2 comments:
Hi! I was wondering where you got the idea for this project. My son has also made several of these and is planning to give them to his friends as Christmas gifts. I believe we originally got the idea from a Disney Family Fun magazine, which included something about the history of these toys and how they were popular in the late 1800s. I was hoping to give a copy of the article along with the gifts, but I cannot find the magazine now. Thank you!ReplyDelete
i'm a little late reading this but for "noteable scraps" if you go to family fun magazine's website, and type in marble maze, it's on there, haven't looked to see if the history is on there yet, but the craft project is. i believe anything they have in their magazine ends up on their website. hope you see this and are able to find it!ReplyDelete


text:
MANILA — President Obama, stung by criticism of his response to turmoil from Eastern Europe to the Middle East, defended his approach to foreign policy as a slow but steady pursuit of American interests while avoiding military conflict, and he lashed out at those he said reflexively call for the use of force.
Standing next to the Philippine president, Benigno S. Aquino III, a visibly frustrated Mr. Obama said on Monday that his critics had failed to learn the lessons of the Iraq war.
On a day in which he announced new sanctions against Russia for its continued threats to Ukraine, Mr. Obama said his foreign policy was based on a workmanlike tending to American priorities that might lack the high drama of a wartime presidency but also avoided ruinous mistakes.
"You hit singles, you hit doubles; every once in a while we may be able to hit a home run," Mr. Obama said at a news conference with Mr. Aquino. "But we steadily advance the interests of the American people and our partnership with folks around the world."
Mr. Obama's statement, delivered at the end of a weeklong trip to Asia, was a rare insight into a second-term president already sizing up his legacy as a statesman. By turns angry and rueful, his words suggested the distance he had traveled from the confident young leader who accepted a Nobel Peace Prize with a speech about the occasional necessity of war.
While he flatly rejected the Republican portrait of him as feckless in the face of crises like Syria, Mr. Obama seemed to be wrestling with a more nuanced critique, that aside from one or two swings for the fences — the nuclear negotiations with Iran, for example — his foreign policy had become a game of small ball.
Mr. Obama offered this trip as Exhibit A for the virtues of an incremental approach: He nudged along trade negotiations with Japan, consoled a bereaved ally in South Korea, cultivated ties with a once-hostile Malaysia and signed a modest defense agreement with the Philippines.
He drew a sharp contrast between the international coalition the United States had marshaled to pressure President Vladimir V. Putin and the proposals of some Republicans to funnel weapons to Ukrainian soldiers, which he mocked as ineffective.
"Why is it that everybody is so eager to use military force," Mr. Obama said, "after we've just gone through a decade of war at enormous cost to our troops and to our budget. And what is it exactly that these critics think would have been accomplished?"
The president did not name his critics, except to refer to them as foreign policy commentators "in an office in Washington or New York." He also referred to the Sunday morning talk shows, where Senator John McCain of Arizona, a fierce Obama critic, is a ubiquitous guest.
"If we took all of the actions that our critics have demanded, we'd lose count of the number of military conflicts that America would be engaged in," said Benjamin J. Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser.
These days, one crisis follows on the heels of another. Even Mr. Obama's Asian trip, which he had put off from October because of the government shutdown, was overshadowed by the tensions with Russia and the suspension of peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.
When Mr. Obama returns to Washington on Tuesday, his advisers say, he wants to regain the offensive with several speeches, most notably a graduation address at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., next month, in which he will try to place his decisions on Syria, Ukraine and other crises into a broader context.
He has done this before. In December 2009, when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, the president made a case for the responsible use of military force when responding to a terrorist attack, as in Afghanistan, or when looking to prevent the brutalization of a population, as in Libya.
Mr. Obama has not hesitated to use drones to target suspected terrorists in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, showing an appetite for shadow warfare that surprised many of his supporters.
But the president's profound reluctance to get drawn into Syria's civil war shows no sign of wavering. For critics ranging from Mr. McCain to human rights activists, it has come to symbolize the erosion of America's leadership role in the world during the Obama presidency.
White House officials counter that they are forging ahead on other fronts, like the nuclear negotiations with Iran and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional trade pact that Mr. Obama promoted in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.
"There is a tendency to view all of American foreign policy through the prism of the most difficult crisis of the day, rather than taking the longer view," Mr. Rhodes said.
The president's frustration flared during the first news conference of his trip, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. He was asked if, by declaring that the United States would protect disputed islands in the East China Sea under its security treaty with Japan, he risked drawing another "red line," like the one in Syria over chemical weapons.
"The implication of the question I think is, is that each and every time a country violates one of those norms the United States should go to war, or stand prepared to engage militarily, and if it doesn't then somehow we're not serious about those norms," he said. "Well, that's not the case."
In the case of Syria, Mr. Obama noted that after he canceled a threatened missile strike, the United States cobbled together a deal with Russia to remove Syria's chemical munitions. As of last week, he said, 87 percent of President Bashar al-Assad's stockpile of chemical weapons had been removed.
"The fact that we didn't have to fire a missile to get that accomplished is not a failure to uphold those international norms, it's a success," the president said, adding, "It's not a complete success until we have the last 13 percent out."
Mr. Obama challenged those who say the United States must take some kind of military action in Syria. "They themselves say, 'No, no, no, we don't mean sending in troops.' Well, what do you mean?" he asked.
The same dialogue occurs with Russia and Ukraine. Nobody is seriously advocating sending American troops, he said, but some want to arm the Ukrainians.
"Do people actually think that somehow us sending some additional arms into Ukraine could potentially deter the Russian Army?" Mr. Obama said. "Or are we more likely to deter them by applying the sort of international pressure, diplomatic pressure and economic pressure that we're applying?"
Despite his frustrations, Mr. Obama had some small victories in Asia. The 10-year deal with the Philippines will give American troops, ships and planes expanded access to bases here, something that would have been unthinkable a decade ago, after fierce public opposition forced the United States to relinquish its Subic Bay naval base.
Administration officials said they had made important progress on a trade deal with Japan, even if it was not ready to be announced by Mr. Obama and Mr. Abe. And by all accounts, Mr. Obama managed to reassure America's treaty allies without antagonizing China.
After offering an earnest discussion of America's relationships with various Southeast Asian nations, the president said that kind of foreign policy "may not always be sexy" and "it doesn't make for good argument on Sunday morning shows — but it avoids errors."
For Mr. Obama, who spent some of his childhood years in Indonesia, Southeast Asia is normally a place to slow down to its tropical rhythms. Not this time: After his impassioned answer to a question on his foreign policy record from Ed Henry, a Fox News White House correspondent, Mr. Obama said, "You got me all worked up."


text:
The summer before my internship, I had a very long list of things that needed to be done before school started. One of my priorities was finding a large quantity of high quality children's books for my classroom. I turned to a friend who is an experienced thrift shopper. She gave me a lot of great suggestions! Here are some of them…
Thrift Stores
I found some local thrift stores that have great book sales! You do have to be careful because lots of thrift stores try to make you believe that a $1 book is a good deal, when you can find much better deals than that! There are thrift stores that take about 10 books and wrap them in cellophane and sell them for less than a dollar! If I saw 2 or 3 books that I recognized as high quality literature, I would buy the whole package! The same store had different colored tags that went on sale each day of the week. I figured out what days were the best sales and went and found books with the daily deal tag on them. Also, be sure to mention that you're a first year teacher because they will give you much better deals! 😉
Used Book Sale at the Public Library
Many public libraries have book sales. Be sure to check the books for major damage before you buy them though! They tend to sell books that are too worn to lend.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair comes to my school for Parent Teacher Conferences. This year, the PTA had each teacher make a stack of "Wish List" books. Whenever someone from your class checked out at the book fair, they would encourage parents to donate a book to their child's class. I think half of my class did! Parents are so incredibly generous! Students got to write their name on the inside of the book, saying that they donated it to Miss Hinckley's Class.
Scholastic Book Club (Scholastic Flyers)
The parents of my students love ordering from the Scholastic flyers that I send home every other month. They consistently order and we consistently get free books for our class! Whenever a book order comes in, students love to share what books they ordered with the class! If you save up your parent orders until the end of the month, teachers earn lots of bonus points (which help you earn lots of free books!)!
Summer Used Book Sales at Schools
There was a sale at a school near my home. I happened to show up right as they were cleaning everything up. When the lady in charge heard that I was a first year teacher, she told me to take any books I wanted for FREE! They were going to be taking everything left to Deseret Industries afterward. Be sure to check for damaged books before you buy them at these sales too!
BYU Partnership Book Collection
My school had a collection of books for interns that I split with the other intern at my school. It really helped!
Some final tips would be to start early and don't be afraid to be picky! There's plenty of high quality literature out there-and for awesome prices too! Happy shopping!


text:
What style of Karate do you teach?
We teach Shotokan Karate to the highest standards at all our clubs. See our Instructors profile
Im a beginner what do I need to wear?
Light fitting clothes, Track suit with shoes and socks removed.
On joining you will be required to purchase a Karate suite and fighting mitts all available from Sensei Dave Owen or Sensei Mark Shaw.
Do you hold separate Adults and Children classes?
Yes. See club pages Central Dojo | Kihaku karate Club
Do you have a child protection officer / Designated Safeguarding Officer?
Yes follow link this to John Goodwin
How much does S.W.I.K.O. karate cost?
Do I have to grade?
No, although its not much fun remaining a white belt forever. We structure our training to grades.
I am from another Organisation/Club am I welcome to train?
Yes more than welcome :-)
I am from another Organisation/Club and wish to join S.W.I.K.O will my grade be recognised.
Yes if you are from a recognised organisation. Speak to Sensei Owen or Shaw for more details on this.
For More info contact South West Central Dojo - Dave Owen | Mob: 07970 481984 Kihaku Karate Club - Mark Shaw Tel: 01803 875583 | Mob: 07966 564857


text:
Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2016-2017 year.
We are looking for:
*Volunteers who are extremely enthusiastic about observing surgeries
*Volunteers who will be observing their first surgeries
You are eligible to apply if…
*you are a current Highland Hospital volunteer.
*you have been a volunteer for at least 12 months (highly recommended)–lower priority will be given to those who do not have the 12 months minimum volunteer experience.
Time Commitment:
This is a year-long program. Your first "Surgery Day" will be in October, and your last will be in August of the following year.
*Each student will have one Surgery Day per month that will begin at 7:15am and will go for a minimum of 4 hours.
> A shift longer than 4 hours is highly recommended
Application Process:
*Written application round (due in August)
*Interview (held mid-September)
If you are interested in knowing more information about OREX or have more questions after looking through our site? Would like to request an OREX application (July only)? Please email:
Lucy Ogbu-Nwobodo
OREX Program Director


text:
Top 11 Holiday Gifts for Apple Fanboys and Fangirls
Buying holiday gifts for your friends and family is always a stressful affair. Even when you're close to the person, you're still never quite sure that they'll enjoy the gift you've got wrapped up.
But if they're an Apple fan, you can be sure that they'll enjoy Apple-related products. Check out the following gifts that will make any Apple fan happy.
1. AirPods ($169)
This holiday season, gift your friend or family members literal magic. After being encumbered by spotty Bluetooth headsets, pairing, unpairing, inelegant charging solutions, AirPods feel like they're magic Apple AirPods Review Everything you need to know about the Apple AirPods. Read More .
They automatically connect to the paired iPhone when you open the case. The music stops when you take an AirPod out of your ear. You can invoke Siri with just two taps. AirPods last for 5 hours but pop them into the case and in a couple of minutes, you'll have an hour's charge. AirPods are amazing. In true Apple fashion, they just work. They're going to make for a great stocking stuffer.
2. Apple Watch (From $249)
Apple Watch is a great fitness tracker and a smartwatch Everything the Apple Watch Does Better Than the Fitbit Charge Thinking about a Fitbit? The Apple Watch is better at almost everything. Read More . It helps you manage your notifications, view information at a glance and to stay fit. If you know someone in your life who might benefit from better notification management or from a fitness tracker, get them an Apple Watch.
The Series 1 Apple Watch starts at $249. Series 3 adds GPS, swim tracking and starts at $399 (there's also an LTE version for Series 3 Forget the iPhone X, the Apple Watch Series 3 is the Future Confused? Enraged? Bought a Samsung? Relax, this benefits us all. Read More ).
3. Leather Case
You can help your friend class it up this holiday season by gifting them a saddle brown leather case for the iPhone. Apple's official leather case is a great fit for the iPhone. It comes in a couple of colors, has a microfiber lining inside, aluminum buttons and it just looks cool.
Nomad's Leather case is also a good alternative. Nomad's case is built from Horween leather from the USA. As the time goes by it develops a cool looking rugged patina.
Buy: Apple Leather Case ($45) | Nomad Leather Case ($40)
4. HomeKit Devices
Recently, Apple made some changes to how HomeKit devices are approved and connected to iOS devices. Now it's much easier for both the manufacturers and the consumers to adopt the HomeKit protocol. You can just scan a HomeKit device to add it to the Home app. There's no need to download the manufacturer's app.
You can help your friend or family member get started on their smart home setup Smart Home on a Budget: 10 Cheap Alternatives to Popular Devices All the functionality of your favorite smart gadgets for a fraction of the cost? Yes please! Here are 10 less-expensive devices you can easily substitute in your smart home. Read More by gifting them appliances that are compatible with HomeKit. So they can control their lights, fans, and security system using Siri on their iPhones.
Buy: Philips Hue Smart Blub | Koogeek Smart Plug
5. Apple TV 4K ($179)
Chances are, your friend or a family member owns a 4K TV Should You Buy an HDR 4K TV for Gaming? With console compatibility with 4K & HDR becoming more common, should you buy an HDR 4K television for gaming yet? Here's an overview of how HDR 4K TVs currently work with gaming. Read More (now that they're cheap enough). Even if they already own the last generation Apple TV How to Set Up and Use Your Apple TV Here's how to set up your Apple TV, what you can do with it, and what to do when things aren't behaving as you'd expect. Read More , you can still gift them the new Apple TV 4K. This new version will play 4K movies, in HDR. Plus, almost all movies they've bought on iTunes will automatically be updated to 4K free of cost (other than some Disney movies).
Apple TV 4K is really fast. And it supports dynamic frame rates. So if you're watching a 24 fps movie, you can set the frame rate beforehand (in an upcoming software update, Apple TV will do this automatically).
6. iPhone Tripods
The iPhone is a great camera How to Capture Great Night Shots With Your iPhone Camera iPhones aren't the best for taking photos at night, but this nifty app makes it MUCH better for that. Read More . And most of the time, it's the best camera that's on you. If your friend is into iPhone photography, you can gift them an iPhone tripod and a tripod mount.
For the tripod mount, I'd recommend Studio Neat's Glif. It's a versatile, expandable tripod mount. For the tripod itself, there's nothing better than a Manfrotto.
Buy: Glif Tripod Mount ($28) | Manfrotto Mini Tripod ($25)
7. Wireless Chargers
The iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X support wireless charging. If your friend just got a brand new iPhone, surprise them with a wireless charger they can put on their bedside table or on their desk at work.
It seems like a small thing but wireless charging is really convenient. You just prop your phone on the pad and it starts charging. iPhones use the Qi industry standard for wireless charging. So you'll find Qi-certified wireless chargers for as little as $20 The Best iPhone Wireless Chargers That Are Cheaper Than Apple's The iPhone X and iPhone 8 can be charged wirelessly. But most Apple fans don't know that there are cheaper and better wireless chargers available. Read More . Apple itself sells wireless chargers from Belkin and Mophie.
Buy: Mophie Wireless Charging Base ($60) | Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad ($60)
8. Apple Watch Bands ($49)
Apple Watch bands are compatible with every Apple Watch on the market. If your friend or family member is a big fan of the Apple Watch, you can gift them an awesome Apple Watch band (or two). Apple Watch bands are really easy to switch and they are a quick way to accessorize. Apple itself sells some really cool watch bands. From the Woven Nylon band to the Nike band to the new Sport Loop band, there's a lot to choose from.
9. Docks for Everything
An Apple fan has multiple Apple devices to charge at night – iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. And if it's a family of Apple fans, that number just multiplies. Which is why an all-in-one charging dock will make a great gift.
AllDock makes a great base for charging multiple iOS devices at once. StudioNeat has a great Material Dock for charging both iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time.
Buy: AllDock ($129) | Material Dock ($70)
10. iPad Accessories
If your friend already has an iPad Pro iPad Pro 10.5 Review: Is the Best iPad Good Enough? The 9.7 inch iPad Pro was the shortest lived tablet in Apple's history, surviving only 15 months before being succeeded by the new 10.5 inch model. So does 0.8 inches do enough to close the... Read More , try gifting them an Apple Pencil or Apple's Smart Keyboard Cover iPad Pro, Smart Keyboard & Apple Pencil Review The iPad Pro isn't just a larger and faster tablet — it represents an entirely new way of using iOS. The real question is: does it work, and more importantly — do you really need one? Read More .
Buy: Apple Pencil ($99) | Apple Smart Keyboard Cover ($159)
11. A New iPhone?
Nothing will surprise an Apple fan quite as much as a brand new iPhone. It could be the new $999 iPhone X iPhone X Review: The Future Has a Price The iPhone X is a flagship, business-class device. It's the first generation of a new generation, and such devices always come with a few pitfalls. Read More or the older (and still pretty good) iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus Review This year's iPhone 7 models break with convention. For the first time ever Apple has opted for the same general design three years in a row, while introducing some divisive, but long-overdue features. Read More .
What does your holiday shopping list for the year look like? What gifts did you end up buying for the Apple fan in your life? Share with us in the comments below.
Related topics: Apple, Gift Guide, Gift Ideas.
Affiliate Disclosure: By buying the products we recommend, you help keep the site alive. Read more.


text:
Local Storage seems to be disabled in your browser.
For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Local Storage in your browser.
Morgan Design 1-oz Silver Bar
This product DOES NOT allow the following payment options: Bank Wire GM or Split Pay .
There's SILVER in Them Thar' Hills. Grab your Piece of America's Wild West Silver Legacy!
When travelers approached the mountains around Virginia City, Nevada in the 1850s, they reported the hills shone in the sunlight like a mirror. A few years later, the reason was discovered. Tiny flecks of silver covering the mountains were actually shinning like tiny mirrors in the sun! Americans have been in love with silver ever since. Now you can get these hefty bars of silver containing one ounce of 99.9% silver. The bars feature the image of a Morgan Silver Dollar struck onto the surface. In addition to being a hefty amount of silver, the collectible Morgan Dollar image adds interest and makes it even more desirable! With the future uncertain, these silver Morgan Silver Dollar ingots are a convenient way for you to stock up on the precious metal. Folks have been clamoring for them, and we negotiated a deal to bring them to you.
Don't miss the opportunity!
|United States
|1 Ounce - oz
|50.4x 30.6mm


text: I'm an area manager for a cleaning company, and am trying to hire workers that reside in Belledune, for our cleaning contract at the Smelter. Are you looking for work in the area? I have both full and part time openings. If interested, contact me by phone or text: 506-252-1679, or by email: firstname.lastname@example.com Dave DeGrouchie Area Supervisor - North Custom Clean Atlantic 506-252-1679


text:
More refinements
View open times for a different day of the week by selecting another day above.
Realestate.com.au is Australia's #1 home for rental property, listing real estate for rent in Trungley Hall, and other rental property listings by real estate agents in Trungley Hall. If you're looking to rent a property in Trungley Hall, we have house prices in Trungley Hall. Realestate.com.au can help you find rentals open for inspection in Trungley Hall, and houses to share in Trungley Hall. If you're searching for Trungley Hall property for sale or sold property in Trungley Hall, we can help you with your real estate search.


text:
100% Altec Mountain Bike Helmet (Slate Blue) (XS/S)
|Low Price:
FREE Shipping Eligible!
This item is eligible for Super Saver Shipping Learn More
This item earns up to 165 VIP Reward Points Learn More
COVID-19: We ask for your understanding as you may experience delivery delays.
|Low Price:
The 100% Altec helmet is packed with features . With a 14 point rotational protective system, and expanded coverage-the Altec is sure t keep you safe, while still being light and well ventilated. Adjustable visor, and integrated sunglass storage will keep your eyewear safe and out of the way when you don't need them.
This product was added to our catalog on July 26, 2019


text:
Oh, the fun we've had. Not since the Reverend William Spooner dumbfounded Oxford undergraduates have we been so entertained by the garbled syntax and grammatical infelicities that have been one of the more diverting features of the eight-year presidency of George W. Bush.
'Tell me, was it you or your brother that was killed in the war?', a question Spooner asked a former student after the first world war, could just have easily been posed by Dubya to an American soldier fresh back from fighting on one of the many front lines in the war on terror.
The debate over the achievements and failings of the eight-year presidency of George W. Bush will last for many decades, but what is not beyond doubt is the fine legacy of Bushisms that will be bequeathed when the 43rd President of the United States finally takes his leave of the White House next week.
My personal favourite is the President's remark, made in the summer of 2004 when presenting the annual defence budget, that 'Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.' Which, given the damage done to America's reputation by scandals such as Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, not to mention the thousands of unnecessary deaths caused by the Bush administration's handling of post-Saddam Iraq, contains its own pathos.
Indeed, watching Bush's performance during his final White House press conference, it was hard not to regard the president as a tragic-comic figure desperately seeking to justify a presidency that, at times, has lurched uncomfortably between the implementation of clear, decisive action and a bewildering inability to grasp the fundamental principles upon which a civilised nation should conduct itself in time of war.
Mr Bush might opine that it was 'a mistake' to put up a banner declaring 'Mission Accomplished' just a few days after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship in May 2003. But it was the neoconservative nation-building agenda he allowed to be implemented immediately after the war, combined with the administration's cavalier mistreatment of enemy combatants, that did so much to undermine a presidency that, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, was widely admired for its measured and dignified response to the world's worst peacetime atrocity.
Certainly it will be the September 11 attacks themselves, rather than Iraq or Afghanistan, that will ultimately come to define the Bush presidency. Bush's response in treating a well-executed and deadly terrorist attack as a declaration of war by Islamist fanatics against Western civilisation became the lodestar of his administration.
Bush's admiration for Winston Churchill was well-known long before Osama bin Laden's highly trained murderers struck, prompting Downing Street, soon after Mr Bush took office, to loan the White House a Jacob Epstein bust of Britain's wartime hero, which the president proudly displayed in the Oval Office.
After September 11, Bush unashamedly copied the wartime rhetoric Churchill had used to inspire the Allies to victory, with his clumsy attempt to characterise the war on terror as an existential struggle against the forces of Islamofascism.
Bush's mantra that America's worldwide military offensive against Islamist-inspired terrorism was being waged in defence of freedom became the administration's campaign slogan, and to some extent it was justified. The people of Afghanistan undoubtedly wanted to be liberated from the dire oppression of the Taleban and their acolytes, and the overwhelming majority of Iraqis were more than happy to see the end of Saddam Hussein's tyranny.
Once the US and its allies had liberated these two countries from their respective repressive regimes, all the citizens wanted was to get on with rebuilding their lives, not to be bossed about by interfering Americans. That was particularly true in Iraq, where Bush's insistence on turning the country into a beacon of democracy clashed with the fiercely nationalistic instincts of the Iraqi people.
Bush's insistence on placing the attainment of freedom on an equal footing with defeating Islamist terrorism as his principal war aims has at times caused unnecessary complications in what would otherwise be a fairly straightforward exercise, destroying the capability of the rogue states and terror groups that wish to do us harm. But freedom was the sine qua non of Bush's war on terror, and was used to justify American policy, no matter how unpalatable it might appear to the outside world.
Freedom was a word I heard time and again when I interviewed Bush at the Oval Office back in 2005 about his close alliance with Tony Blair. When I pointed out that many in Britain believed that Blair had been short-changed for supporting the invasion of Iraq, having received precious little in return from the White House, Bush immediately interjected. 'I believe that embedded in each person's soul is the desire to be free. There's something universal about the appeal of liberty. Tony Blair understands that.'
Bush might have had some strange ideas about winning the war on terror, but to his credit he largely got there in the end. The outgoing president was right to highlight his most important achievement as being to prevent America suffering a repeat attack on the scale of 9/11, which, given al-Qa'eda's well-documented ambition to inflict widespread carnage on the US (detonating a dirty nuclear bomb remains at the top of bin Laden's agenda) is no small feat.
The elections in Iraq at the end of this month will also signal the return of that benighted country to something approaching normality. It has taken six years rather than the three-year time-frame originally envisaged to rebuild post-Saddam Iraq, but Bush leaves office knowing that he has largely succeeded in his mission to transform Iraq from a rogue nation into one that has a good chance of joining the community of nations.
For this, Bush personally deserves much of the credit. He had the courage not to be hidebound by the ideology that had alienated so many Iraqis, and to back the military surge that eventually led to the country's revival. As he leaves office, his successor is already drawing up plans to implement a similar strategy in Afghanistan, where the Bush administration's record, after an impressive start, has been less successful.
Afghanistan is just one of many unresolved issues Bush leaves for Barack Obama to sort out following next week's inauguration. The fact that Iran will this year acquire the capability to develop a nuclear weapon, and the Israeli–Palestinian dispute has led to the bloody carnage currently taking place in Gaza, could also be taken as an indictment of Bush's foreign policy.
The war that began on September 11 is a war for a generation and, as the president himself might say, it would be wrong to misunderestimate the significance of his presidency's achievement in helping to make the world a safer place.


text:
Great Primary Resource Packet: Use ideas for guided math groups and math centers
Here is a packet full of great things. It includes finger flashcards, colorful ten frames flashcards, "I Have Who Has?" loop cards and a variety of great story mats with pictures. I would use these activities during guided math groups as well as in math centers. Be sure to laminate the materials. I might also use magnets on some of them so that the children could do them at a white board center. Be careful with magnets and small children though, you don't won't them to swallow them.
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki


text:
Market Measures: the verdict is in
Download the report to:
- Discover what the highest growth companies are doing
- See the latest trends in marketing technology products and services globally.
NZSA Networking Events
Join us for our popular monthly networking events which include a wine tasting with Regan from Glengarry as well as a full dinner!
- If you couldn't join us in October, you missed a cracker of an evening. Mitch Olson of SmallWorlds fame shared (through the guise of selling pirate-themed knitwear to animals) his keys to success as an entrepreneur, including self-authorship, empathy and originality. Check out Mitch's website for more.
- November 12: Export success: Catalyst IT's journey from Wellington to Brighton, UK with Don Christie, sponsored by UKTI. Register now!
- December 10: our popular annual Christmas celebration and AGM all rolled into one! We'll be pulling out all the stops to celebrate a year that has seen some outstanding speakers from Serko's Darrin Grafton to Vikram Kumar of Mega. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details.
Call for Nominations
We've got some big ideas for 2014 and need some talented people to join the NZSA Executive and help build on the legacy. If you've ever thought about joining or know someone who would be a good candidate, it's a great time to get in touch and find out more. The commitment is for a one-year term and elections will be held at our AGM in December.
Industry Events
- IITP National Conference – Tauranga 23-25 October
- Prof Jeff Cole will be presenting the results from the World Internet Project at AUT mid-November.
Stay up to date with NZSA news every day by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter, and tweet your own updates with #nzsa.


text:
As we move into 2017, brands continue to look for ways to make homes more responsive to consumers' needs. From appliances that handle clean-up to glorious colors and textures to aspirational products, the 2017 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) showcased endless enhancements and innovations in virtually every corner of our homes.
I combed the halls of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, seeking out the new and noteworthy of the more than 500 brands onsite at KBIS. Today, I've included here my picks for kitchen-related products and brands that I predict will rise to the top in the coming year.
Check back soon for my trend-spotting on products that will transform our bathrooms in 2017, as well as offer up solutions for families with kids.
See-Through Fridge Doors: Why do we have to open the fridge door to see what's inside and let out all that cold air? Now, several refrigerator brands have answered the call with innovations that allow families to figure out what's in the fridge without opening it. Frigidaire Professional Glass Door Concept Refrigerator features a blue dot Proximity Sensor that turns on interior lighting for 30 seconds (or longer, if you choose) to enable you at a glance to see what's inside. LG InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator also features a glass "ColdSaver" panel that illuminates fridge contents with two quick knocks called InstaView. Finally, Kenmore Elite with Preview enters the space with its own version that clearly reveals the contents of this workhorse appliance.
Dishwashers Achieve New Heights: For anyone who's ever had to run multiple dishwasher loads because you just couldn't fit it all in, Bosch Benchmark Dishwasher with a large "MyWay rack" adds a whole new level of flexibility. It dramatically increases load size with the industry's largest third rack – easily accommodating bulky cereal bowls, spatulas, and utensils, as well as adjusts at an angle to make room for wine glasses.
Cooktops Gravitate Toward Induction: We continue to see a shift in appliance manufacturers moving from gas to induction cooktops, and this year's KBIS featured innumerable chef demonstrations on induction cooking. Why? Induction offers greater control over temperature and faster heat-up times – a big plus for busy families. More and more, the industry's flagship range brands – such as the Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop (above) – offer this technology for home chefs looking for ways to elevate their cooking.
But for those of us who want to retain elements of the traditional cooktop and who've proved hesitant to switch to induction, manufacturers such as La Cornue (below) have created mixed surfaces that offer an induction burner with a gas cooktop.
Voice-Activated Commands Rule Appliances: Star Trek Next Generation fans will forever remember the command "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." Now, with new innovations showcased at KBIS, it becomes an achievable reality. GE Profile Suite brands feature "Geneva," which has become a specific GE skill set, e.g., "Alexa start Geneva . . ." or "Ask Geneva the status of my oven temperature . . ."
Or, when you need to re-order supplies from Amazon, just tell Echo what you need. You can also let your Keurig know that it's time for a cup of coffee – now that it's built into the door of your refrigerator and can access the appliance's water feed on its own.
In addition, Bosch "Home Connect" created a digital ecosystem for its applications and an open system for developers that connects with Amazon Alexa and Amazon Dot replacement and the Nest.
Kitchen Odors Go Down the Drain: Anyone who loves to cook knows what happens – the more ingredients dropped into the garbage disposal the better the chance that odors develop over time. Now, instead of having to figure out how to safely and effectively clean these units, InSinkErator: Fresh Kitchen Collection developed an automatically scented kitchen disposal. It offers up scented "baffles" in orange, lemon, and lime varieties that spray these fresh scents into the disposal as you use it.
Elevating the Items We Use Everyday: While we may think we need architectural finishes or creative floor plans to achieve a little drama in our homes, more and more manufacturers have realized the importance of color, lighting, and texture. Once these elements become incorporated into standard household fixtures, they can dramatically alter the overall look and feel of any home, as seen above with Bocchi Cucina Vigneto Double Bowl Kitchen Sink in red, with a built-in prep area. Other favorites include:
Watercolors for Your Kitchen: Want to jazz up a neutral room? These faucets from Grohe feature vibrant colors and have the ability to transform the look of not only the kitchen sink, but of the entire room.
Re-Inventing the Corner Cabinet: We love the idea of utilizing every nook and cranny of our kitchens, but sometimes it can be a challenge to store and remove pots, pans, baking dishes, and other gear from these corner cupboards. Glideware has now made it easier with its stand-up Lazy Susan that retrofits into your existing cabinet.
Closing the Door on Clutter: Increasingly these days, we find our kitchen counters cluttered with mobile devices, chargers, and more as we struggle to stay connected 24/7. Docking Drawer has designed cabinetry for charging multiple devices, built with flexible cords that move as the drawer opens and closes.
Indoor Gardening Blossoms: Most of us get by in the wintertime with a pot of herbs on the windowsill, but for those of us who want to take indoor gardening to the next level, Urban Cultivator has a solution. The brand showcased its dishwasher-sized Microgreen Grower at KBIS 2017. It grows herbs, greens, and microgreens in an indoor appliance that automatically handles watering, air circulation, lighting, and humidity. Simply hook it up to your kitchen plumbing system, and it's priced at $2,499.
Get Wine at the Ready for Your Next Get-Together: What could be more handy for an impromptu gathering than wine on tap? Dacor's Discovery Wine Station offers consumers a four-bottle wine preservation and dispensing station that uses argon gas to stop oxidation and enables hosts to serve a glass at a time for up to two months. It can also be locked to keep the system off-limits when parents aren't around. Priced at $5,500.
I've highlighted some other great finds at KBIS 2017:
See what I've identified as the Top Trends in bathroom design for 2017.
And see what 2017 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show finds will get your kids' hearts racing!
Photo Credits: * photo courtesy of GE; all other photos by Stacy DeBroff


text:
Following consideration of the full file now available to WADA, which consists of information and evidence primarily gathered by FIFA in conjunction with the government of Mexico, WADA has withdrawn its appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the decision not to sanction five Mexican footballers who tested positive for clenbuterol.
The footballers were suspended during the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June and insisted the positive samples were the result of meat they had ingested at a training camp ahead of the tournament.
The Mexican Football Federation decided not to sanction the players and WADA appealed this decision at CAS pending the obtaining of the full files relating to those cases.
WADA has subsequently received compelling evidence from a FIFA study at the U17 World Cup in Mexico that indicates a serious health problem in Mexico with regards to meat contaminated with clenbuterol. This is a public health issue that is now being addressed urgently by the Mexican Government.
The government of Mexico - which has legislation forbidding the use of steroids with livestock - accepts that it has an issue with contaminated meat and is actively looking to resolve the problem state by state. Already several arrests have been made pursuant to these laws and large amounts of clenbuterol seized. Investigations are to continue.
WADA applauds FIFA for the further research it has initiated, while WADA, the Mexican Football Federation and the Mexican Government have agreed to assist with the study which will continue as a joint project.
In the meantime, WADA's message to athletes travelling to Mexico remains the same, and that is to exercise extreme caution with regards to what they eat and where they eat.
If possible, they should eat in cafeterias designated as safe by event organizers and also try to eat in large numbers. The state government in Guadalajara has taken steps to ensure the meat available to athletes at the Pan American Games will not be contaminated.
Clenbuterol remains a prohibited substance and WADA will approach and study any positive case on an individual basis.