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In celebration of the first year of the Our Plymouth (Cities of Service) volunteer scheme, here are some highlights.
We marked the milestone on Wednesday 21 October. Plymouth was one of seven cities selected by the Cabinet Office and Nesta to take part in Cities of Service, based on a successful American project.
Since the initiative was launched, 12,500 portions of healthy food have been distributed through Grow, Share, Cook, Plymouth residents have saved £134,000 on their energy bills, and 117 volunteers have been recruited to the project. In addition, almost 2,000 residents have had conversations with our Energy Champion volunteers.
Initially focusing on two of the Fairness Commission's priorities, 'heating and eating', the two main local volunteer projects under Our Plymouth are Grow, Share Cook and Energy Champions. Grow, Share, Cook sees the mobilisation of volunteers to grow more fresh fruit and vegetables, the development of community gardens and the distribution of the food to those in need, as well as healthy cookery sessions, while the Energy Champions project promotes energy efficiency across the city.
October 2014 – Our Plymouth is launched
We officially launched Our Plymouth and hosted a visit from Marcia Hope Goodwin, our mentor from the City of Orlando. Cities of Service is based on an American model introduced by Mayor Bloomberg, and each UK city taking part has a mentor from the US. Marcia met with Darin Halifax and Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Housing.
Marcia said: "It has been a great pleasure supporting and encouraging Darin and his Cities of Service UK team in Plymouth. The volunteer engagement and program outcomes that 'Our Plymouth' has achieved in its first year are outstanding! I look forward to seeing the program expand in the future and I wish my adopted city continued success."
We also invited all the local Our Plymouth partners – Tamar Grow Local, Plymouth Energy Community (PEC), Plymouth Community Homes and Food is Fun – to Plymouth City Council's headquarters at Ballard House to meet with local journalists and officially launch Our Plymouth.
Simon Platten, Project Manager for Tamar Grow Local said: "As an Our Plymouth partner we are now delivering 100 veg bags a fortnight to front doors across the city, all sourced from Tamar Grow Local growing projects, Tamar Valley growers or English farms which is fantastic both for the recipients who get really fresh food and the small local growers who are benefitting from increased sales."
Tami Skelton, Nutritionist and Director of Food is Fun, said: "The most rewarding thing about being a delivery partner in the Grow, Share Cook project, has been seeing the big difference it has made to people's lives.
"The people that have taken part in the cooking sessions with us have become much more confident through A having the access to more fresh vegetables by receiving free veg bags, and B having the knowledge of how to cook them."
December 2014 – Our Plymouth at Christmas
In the run up to Christmas we promoted Our Plymouth and how the scheme can help those who may be struggling to make ends meet as they try to afford Christmas presents on top of the usual food and energy bills.
The Plymouth Fairness Commission estimated there are around 14,000 households in Plymouth living in fuel poverty, while Plymouth Foodbank saw over 8,000 users in 2013/14 and our soup runs provided over 23,000 meals in the same period.
At the time, Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cities of Service Ambassador for Plymouth, said: "The winter can be a particularly difficult time for many people, many are struggling to pay bills, heat their homes and afford good healthy food. While many people enjoy Christmas, it does bring added financial pressure to many people and for some it is simply unaffordable."
Among events held in the run up to Christmas was an Energy Champions training session (pictured).
March 2015 – Councillors muck in at Morley Court
In March, Councillors including Councillor Ian Tuffin, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, mucked in with a Grow, Share, Cook, cookery session at Morley Court, taking part in a session with Food is Fun and local residents. In total, 12 families took part in the session at the Plymouth Community Homes property, and support was provided via councillors' community grant schemes. Also involved were Councillor Chris Penberthy who is the Cities of Service Ambassador, and Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health.
Councillor Tuffin said: "We're very pleased to be able to support more tenants to benefit from the healthy cooking sessions – it can be expensive to access fresh fruit and vegetables so the Our Plymouth scheme gives a great opportunity for people to try something new and healthy."
April 2015 – Lord Mayor's reception and Spring Bulb Giveaway
In April, Our Plymouth volunteers were invited to a special Lord Mayor's reception to thank them for their hard work. Volunteers and representatives from partner organisations attended the reception at the Lord Mayor's residence at Eliot Terrace.
At the time, the then Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Fox, said: "I was very pleased to welcome the Our Plymouth volunteers to Elliot Terrace to say thank you on behalf of the city."
Also in April, a Spring Plant giveaway was held at the Sundial on Armada Way to promote Our Plymouth and encourage people to 'grow their own'. On the day, Tamar Grow Local gave away potted peas, beans and herbs, along with growing charts, pots and compost to get gardens, allotments and windowsills growing.
There was a seed swap for people to bring along their saved or spare seeds to swap for something different and a table where people could plant their own seeds in a pot to take away. In addition representatives from PEC attended to help recruit more Energy Champions and provide advice to people on renewable energy and saving money on their bills, as well as encouaraging people to take part in a competition to win a slow-cooker.
At the time, Darin Halifax, Chief Cities of Service Officer for Plymouth, said the event aimed to "inspire local people to grow their own fresh produce."
Zoe Nile, Communities Survey Assistant for Plymouth Community Homes, said: "The wellbeing of our residents is something that is very important to us at Plymouth Community Homes which is why we want to support the Grow, Share, Cook project. Growing your own food is something anyone can do, however small your garden or kitchen windowsill and today is a great place to start.
August 2015 – Pots and Pans Amnesty
A pots and pans amnesty was held in August to encourage people to donate their unwanted pots and pans to those who need them.
A marquee was set up outside Plymouth Guildhall where people could come and donate and also find out about Our Plymouth's Grow, Share, Cook and Energy Champions schemes.
The aim of the amnesty, which took place during Plymouth's Flavour Fest food festival, is to encourage local people to get rid of their surplus, unwanted pots and pans and donate them to help others who can't afford them. There are 8,000 people a year using food banks in Plymouth so the aim is to help those in the city who can't afford healthy food.
October 2015 – Happy Birthday Our Plymouth!
A week of celebrations are held to mark the first anniversary of Our Plymouth, with local media attending a range of events, from a Grow, Share Cook cookery session with Tami and the Food is Fun team up at Plumer House, to an Energy Champions session up at Schneider Electrics.
Clare Mains, Volunteer Coordinator for Plymouth Energy Community, said: "Our energy volunteers are doing a great job helping Plymouth residents to make their homes warm, healthy and affordable.
"It doesn't take a lot of time to make a huge difference and they're using their new skills in their own homes too. What could be better than that?"
To find out more about Our Plymouth, contact Darin Halifax on 01752 305446 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
The Our Plymouth website can be accessed at www.ourplymouth.co.uk
You can also follow Our Plymouth on twitter at @ourplymouth


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I've had a lot of people ask me about my natural hair journey and I thought I would share a few things that I've learned about my own hair along the way. I know I'm newly natural but perhaps someone will find these tips helpful.
7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Natural
They say that when a woman cuts her hair, she's about to change her life. When I big chopped my hair (cut the remaining relaxer off), I had so much confidence. You couldn't tell me nothing. It was freeing!
The Big Chop! May 2017
You may get more looks from people who are curious about your natural hair. Sometimes, people stare and that's okay. You know you look good. You might even notice that you don't get as many looks as you used to. But seriously, who cares? You didn't go natural for the attention right? You did it for you.
This was an epiphany. For years I had thought that my hair was unmanageable and just nappy. I honestly had no idea my natural hair was full of curls and waves.
It's not like it was decades ago when all you had was grease and water. There are so many companies putting out natural hair care products, you are bound to find something that works for you.
6. Coloring your natural hair will make your curls pop.
I liked my natural curls just fine but when I colored them, I loved them even more. You can see the definition so much more. Just make sure to take good care of your hair so it doesn't get damaged.
I have had many failed attempts at trying curly hairstyles on YouTube and Instagram. I would follow all the directions, buy products and do the exact steps and it would not work for me. Why? Because my hair is different from theirs. Plain and simple.
It's all trial and error. It takes a lot of practice and tons of hair care products to find a natural hair care regimen that works just for you.
All in all, I love wearing natural hair and don't have any plans to change it. I relaxed my hair for 32 years! It was time for something different.

subset: commoncrawl


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UNC receives federal funding to expand pediatrics primary care residency program
This 5-year grant will be used to create four additional intern slots per academic year, beginning in 2011, for resident physicians in UNC's Department of Pediatrics who plan to pursue careers in primary care.
Media contacts: Tom Hughes, 919-966-6047, email@example.com and Doug Allred, 336-832-8659, firstname.lastname@example.com
Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010
CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine has received a federal grant totaling $3.7 million to expand its pediatrics residency program focused on primary care.
This 5-year grant will be used to create four additional intern slots per academic year, beginning in 2011, for resident physicians in UNC's Department of Pediatrics who plan to pursue careers in primary care. The 20 doctors-in-training selected for this program will complete their residencies at UNC and two sites in Greensboro, N.C.: The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital and Guilford Child Health, said Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, director of UNC's Pediatrics Residency Program and project director for the grant. Kaye Gable, MD, director of the Pediatric Teaching Program at Moses Cone Hospital, is the project's co-director.
These sites were selected for several unique educational factors, Byerley said, including a well established community teaching program with Moses Cone Health System, and award-winning community resources in Greensboro, which include extensive public-private partnerships that have been created to benefit the health and welfare of children.
"Our current residents already spend several months during their residency in Greensboro at each of these superb community sites, where excellent faculty are in place to supervise their experiences," she said.
Gable said Moses Cone Health System is "very excited to be part of this opportunity to train pediatric residents in the patient-centered medical home model of care. We recognize this as a huge benefit for our community."
The funding comes from $320 million in grants given by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to strengthen the health care workforce. The UNC grant, in particular, was funded from $167.3 million set aside for the Primary Care Residency Expansion (PCRE) program.
The PCRE program funds 82 accredited primary care residency training programs to increase the number of residents trained in general pediatrics, general internal medicine, and family medicine. Grantees will use the 5-year grant to provide stipend support for new enrollees in 3-year primary care residency training programs. By 2015, the program will support the training of 889 new primary care residents over the number currently being trained and more than 500 of these residents will have completed their training.


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(CNNMoney) - The Romney-Ryan camp is trying to discredit the falling unemployment rate, claiming it's due mainly to workers dropping out of the labor force. But Obama administration official Gene Sperling shot back Tuesday: "That just ain't so."
Sperling, who heads the White House's National Economic Council, pointed to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which shows the unemployment rate fell to 7.8% last month, down from 9.0% a year earlier. Most of that decline is due to workers getting jobs - not people dropping out of the labor force, Sperling said at the National Association for Business Economics Annual Meeting in New York Tuesday.
Watch CNN's coverage of Tuesday's presidential debate starting at 7 p.m. ET on CNN TV, CNN.com and via CNN's apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Web users can become video editors with a new clip-and-share feature that allows them to share favorite debate moments on Facebook and Twitter. Click here for 13 reasons to watch the debate only on CNN.FULL STORY
The unemployment has been coming down for the past few years now and all of sudden when it drops below 8% it's some big kind of conspiracy. No one ever questioned BLS before, now they're some corrupt organization. Give me a break!
Willard needs to explain to me why he has supporters that wear shirts, "PUT THE "WHITE" BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE."
It wasn't so much a drop in unemployment as a shift. The unemployment rate is right where President Hollywood found it except now the jobs have shifted to more low paying, unskilled labor jobs. So, congrats, Hollywood. We are now poorer than when you took office.
Yes, there is a drop in unemployment. We are hiring, it is not SEASONAL. It is a Full time. With all benefits. But surprisingly we are not getting people. Yes, there is a lot of potential for honest employees. Yes, on Obama12.
Poor Romney, he really is a clown. It will be over for him on November 6. You can put that in the bank folks.
This is so ridiculous. Why are we wasting time on this when there are so many other issues. This is a red herring and the rest of us are all jumping through hoops because Mr. Romney says so. Folks this is what a Rpmney White House will do. They will never answer any questions but will constantly question what others are dong. WE will not be privy to what they are doing. That is how he worked in MA and that same secrecy and sense of his importance is still there. Things will be done his way only and he will not work with Congress. He says he will but history tells us he does not.
Fact. The unemployment rate is coming down and indicates a slow recovery from the policies that created The Great Recession.?Fact!
Obama Logic: Finds unemployment at 7.8%. Takes away middle class jobs until unemployment reaches 10%. Creates job growth below the poverty line. Unemployment now at 7.8%. Obama claims bragging rights.
It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.
Romney really hates our country so much he wants people unemployed so he can be President. The economy is improving without the help of Romney's rich CEO friends. People would rather work than get unemployment any day.
The White House should not have "defend" a good jobs report
Unemployment has been steadily declining
We were in a HUGE hole
We are FINALLY starting to see real progrees
WE should be happy more of our fellow Americans have found jobs
WE should be rooting for American success
but Romney and the GOtP see things differently.
American success is the bane of their existence
They NEED America to be doing poorly so a stupid, forgetful electorate will be stupid enough to put them back in power. This has been their plan all along. This is their plan to make Obama a one term President.
That's why they filibuster EVERYTHING
If they allowed government to function under Democratic rule things would get better and people would never vote GOtP again, because they have been proven WRONG
It is because of this reason and so much more that the Republican Party MUST be defeated
Mitt just can't do the math......... Oh the 12 million jobs that he say's he's going to create, and claims in his 47% video he doesn't have to do anything but just sit back. Right those are job projections of what the economy is going to create no matter who is running the country.......... Mitt BS Romney just go home...........
Obama 2012
Why if its true do they defend thier position. Being an old geeze i know when the outbackhouse is ripe. That being said, that fellar in the Big D.C.house has plummed filled it up. Time for that fellar to dig a new hole and i personally hope its somewhere else besides America
The article mentions:
"While the labor force has grown in the last year, it also has failed to keep up with population growth. The percentage of the population that's participating in the labor force is at 63.6%, hovering around its lowest level since the 1980s. "
Does anyone remember all the talk about the 'Baby Boomers' retiring?? That could have some effect on the numbers.
And CNN is helping the GOP/Teatrolls sell their idiotic conspiracy theory in order to help their horse race narrative. Where were you for the past 4 years while the GOP/Teatrolls relied every single month on the BLS numbers to fuel their giddy little crap-flinging festival abotu how awful the economy has been and hwo well their obstruction is working at keeping it that way? Oh yeah, helping them sell those talking points too. Now though, they suddenly have "grave misgivings" about the MATH beacuse it was good news for Obama and the economy in that it crossed a magic threshhold, so CNN has to help them do damage control? Does CNN realize how much people aroung the intertubes are talking about the blatant and palpable shift to the right that CNN has engaged in over the past couple months? Do you? Are you angling to become the conservative alternative to Faux with less "appearance" of obvious conservartive bias? Because helping the GOP do a full 180-degree turn around on the BLS numbers based on a conspiracy you're helping them sell? Ridiculous. That article does nothing to check the numbers on WHY the labor participation rate is so low and what the demogrtaphic make-up of the people leaving the labor force is and instead just cites the unexplained and unanalyzed statistic to give the GOP a leg up and legitimize their tinfoil-hatted about-face on BLS unmbers when they suddenly show something that they don't think works in their advantage.
Actually, much of that drop is manipulation of the numbers, by this administration. They publish, people take and suse the numbers, then they "revise", and everyone ignores the revisions.
Already, the numbers published on the 11th, have been debunked, because 33000 unemployed, were not included in the figures, which simply means, the numbers went UP, and NOT down!
These manipulations have been going on, weekly for many weeks. Teh administration is basically LYING about the unemployment numbers.
"Does anyone remember all the talk about the 'Baby Boomers' retiring?? That could have some effect on the numbers."
There's a reason the article stops short of discussing the underlying demographics.
"Takes away middle class jobs until unemployment reaches 10%. Creates job growth below the poverty line."
Oh? Now that's a good one. Please explain in detail how Obama "took away middle class jobs" when we were almost at 10% within a couple short months of him taking office and before anything he enacted could really take effect. Go ahead. We'd like to hear it. You have no explanation and will run from this demand liek the chickensh-t liar you are, but I'm still going to demand it. EXPLAIN AND DEFEND YOUR ACCUSATION.
Romney and his pathetic liars told us 47% we are the dispensible, we don't take responsibility.
How do you punish Liars like Romney? simple, VOTE NO on ROMNEY/RYAN.
This country is too good for the two clowns.
Employment is picking up. It takes a long time as Bush Cheney dug the hole 10,000 miles into the ground. We are now above water, American always come back stronger, better and more optimistic.
I actually told my husband a year ago that the unemployment rate would come down just prior to the election. If that doesn't work, i'm sure bho can part the sea.
"then they "revise", "
This is how the BLS numbers have ALWAYS worked. ALWAYS. Do you understand the concept of ALWAYS? It didn't stop the GOP from relying on the monthly BLS reports they thought gave them political leverage though....and it certainly didn't cause the GOP to suddenly revise their criticisms when the revisions showed that MORE jobs were created than the original release. No no...the revisions were perfectly fantastic though when they revised the jobs creation downwards though, weren't they? Fact is, the GOP/Teatrolls are throwing a fake hissy fit about the BLS numbers based on an unsupportable and unsubstantiated conspracy theory adn the MSM is HELPING YOU DO IT. Thank the MSM. THANK THEM. They helped you scream and rant about the BLS numbers for 4 years when you thought they were in your favor and now they're heling you debunk the ONE month that you think is not in your favor. THANK THE MSM FOR THEIR RIGHT-WING SUPPORT. Go ahead. It's only proper and shows good Christian values to thank those who help you.
We simply must not have people going back to work or that might be bad for this country. VP Biden said it best when he said," he had never seen two people so DOWN on the U.S." Ryan and Romney both need to go to another country where they can find happiness because we sure don't need them here.
On another note: Ryan needs to find another clean kitchen to clean up instead of wasting our time with his nonsense.
Why defend it? Just be blunt and ask Romney to explain why he would say that. Romney isn't smart enough to explain his reasoning on that. He just isn't.
gurgyl, why would people actualy get a job when they can collect unemployment for 1000 weeks , obama has all their votes . between unemployment checks and food stamps , why work?
WOW how about it's because the President (Obama) has worked hard to turn the tide, while the sorry repuks in Congress haven't worked at all. Just think of how much better and lower the unemployment rate would be had repuks in Congress DID THEIR JOBS.
If the unemployment rate went up romney the tax cheat and the gop bafoons would blame Obama ,if the rate goes down they try to discredited the figures ,while they have voted againest every Obama jobs and and vets bill ,gop kicked to the curb in gop train wreck in three weeks ,thank god and romney and the gop goofballs party !!!!!
Why does the Bagger Party not rejoice that the unemployment rate is coming down? Why does the Bagger Party continue to use the embassy people killed in Libya as political fodder when the families have asked them not too? Why does the Bagger Party continue to run like striped apes from George Bush? Why did the Bagger Party cut spending for security at our embassies? Why does the Bagger Party not admit that they drove our ecomony off the cliff and the man or woman has not been born yet who could fix in in ten years much less four? Why? Why? WHY!!!!


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Our Mission
The mandate of New Orchestra Workshop is to provide a focus for creation of an original West Coast musical idiom through concert performances and recordings, supporting creation of new Canadian compositions, and offering free educational workshops to the public. Our artistic mission is to create, develop and provide a focus for an original sounding music, which is distinctly Canadian West Coast. Our audiences benefit by exposure to local and international artists who are making a lasting contribution to improvisational music. We also explore improvised music and its relationship to other disciplines such as dance, theatre, spoken word, video and film.
About NOW SOCIETY
The NOW Orchestra traces its roots to Vancouver's C.O.R.D. Orchestra (Community Orchestra for Research and Development) of the late 1970s. Inspired by the exploration of improvisation in a large ensemble context, the NOW Orchestra has picked up where C.O.R.D. left off and continues to explore how the composed form and improvisation can best enhance each other.
Boasting a 20-year history, the NOW Orchestra is rightly renowned for its longevity and creative output of improvised music. Under the umbrella of the New Orchestra Workshop Society (in its 30th year), the NOW Orchestra is a 15-piece improvising ensemble that has gained local, national and international acclaim for its past work. It is the only ensemble of its kind in Canada – an improvisational group with a unique West Coast music style. Deriving from both big band jazz and contemporary new music, the NOW Orchestra has a sound all its own.


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Translation by minivicki @ asianfanatics.net
Not fated to be a couple in the previous era; Ethan and Qiao En comes together on big screen
The period drama version of "Fated to Love You" has been confirmed to have ended before it even began. Ethan and Qiao En are not able to be "Husband and wife in previous era" and can only wait till the movie version to "continue their earlier destiny"!
Forced to stop acting as husband and wife in an earlier era
Before Ethan and Qiao En guest star in TTV and SETTV's "Invincible Shan Bao Mei" as the "Mr and Mrs Ji", there were plans to specially bring "Fated to Love You" to the ancient times and let them act as husband and wife. When the producer Chen Yu Shan was asked, she confirmed that "There was indeed such a plan. And they even went for costume fitting already." However, because of the script's problem and the difficulty in getting the cast's schedule to fit, the originally plan of having 2 episodes of the period drama of "Fated to Love You" being filmed in 2 weeks, was forced to stop.
In that 2 episode of special, Ethan was a poor family's child called "Ji Tian Ding" in his previous life and Qiao En was the daughter of a rich landowner's little wife called "Chen Wang Shi". Due to some accident, the two became husband and wife. Chen Yu Shan laughed and said that besides showing how "Mr and Mrs Ji" were destined to be together in their previous life too, the episodes would have showed how the "Legend (Chuan Cheng)" soap and "Lord Ginger (Jiang Wang Ye)" originated. The storyline is very funny and she finds it a pity that it wasn't filmed in the end.
"Fated" might have movie version
As for how "Fated" will end, which is what most people are curious about, Chen Yu Shan expressed that they will not disappoint the fans. Yesterday, Ethan and Qiao En's wedding photo was revealed first and although it was meant as "Go Olympics!", it seemed to hint towards a perfect ending for "Fated" too.


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Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts...
Contact us with your news. Email email@example.com, or email@example.com or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700
As we approach trading times that are uncertain as a result of the Covid-19 Virus pandemic now is a good time to access information that could help with managing sales and expectations during what could be a slow Spring.
GTN Bestsellers has been recording and analysing garden centre EPoS data for over 10 years so we've got history of how garden centres have traded through slow Spring seasons in the past.
Over the coming weeks we'll be using that analysis to keep our GTN Bestsellers subscribers as informed as possible about what sold when during March, April and May of 2018 and 2013.
To receive that information along with our weekly printed Top 50 chart updates of what is actually selling well this year all you have to do is take out a subscription to GTN Bestsellers which costs just £145.00.
And to add to the funds of Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day, for every new subscription purchased before 12:00 noon on Wednesday 18th March 2020 we'll send £10 to the Greenfingers Charity.
To buy your subscription on-line use this link or the button below:
Thank you for subscribing and helping Greenfingers too. If you have any questions about GTN Bestsellers please e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com or call 07973 504214.
The GTN Bestsellers weekly EPOS analysis combines data from a pool of independent garden centres whose annual turnover is around £100m. Data from the same centres is received every week which makes the week on week and year on year comparisons particularly useful and great indicators of trends as and when they happen. By subscribing to GTN Bestsellers you don't have to wait until the end of the season and next year to see if a new product or a new sector of products are selling well.
GTN Bestsellers subscribers stay ahead of the game. Buy your subscription today.
GTN March 2020 Issue. To view a digital version click here


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Dal Negro Oxford Walnut 20-inch Backgammon Set - Inlaid playing surface
Ref: 00H646
Was: £217.99
£157.49 (Ex.VAT)
ETA: 1 working day + transit time
Price includes delivery for Eng/Wales/Lowlands.
- Premium quality Backgammon set from leading brand Dal Negro
- Sumptous Walnut cabinet exterior and playing surface
- Inlaid Maple and Toulipier wood points
- 35 mm Boxwood backgammon playing pieces
- Dal Negro signature lid is tiled grain embossed. Every set is unique
The Dal Negro Inlaid Walnut Backgammon set in various guises has been the stalwart of the Dal Negro Backgammon line for many years. This version is called the Oxford Backgammon Set and features a lid with a diamond section of wood formed from 4 triangles at the central section of the piece with parquet corner pieces. The pictures do not do it justice.
Dal Negro of Italy have been the leading manufacturer of production Backgammon boards since the 1950s. The Dal Negro Walnut Oxford Backgammon Set is a top quality 20 inch Backgammon set made from solid Walnut with a tiled grain embossed lid. Every Backgammon set board is different, unique and special.
- Walnut cabinet and playing surface
- Inlaid Maple and Toulipier wood points
- Tile grained lid
- Magnetic catches - elegant and hardly visible
- Subtly engineered sunken hinges that do not protude outside the case
- 35 mm Boxwood backgammon playing pieces
- 4 standard dice and 1 Dal Negro doubling cube
- 2 plastic, slot style dice shakers
- Storage areas for stones and dice
The Oxford Backgammon set is the same as the London and York sets, the only difference being a variance in the parquet style of the lid.
The Dal Negro Oxford Walnut Backgammon set makes a terrific gift for someone who appreciates beautifully made wooden items.
Please note that the colour of the wood can vary with each set.
Approx. Dimensions:
Closed size 50.5 x 31 x 5.2cm. 35mm pieces.
Closed size 19.9x12.2x2 inch. 1.4 inch pieces.
Contains small parts. Unsuitable for children under 36 months.


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Sugaring is a method of hair removal since 1900 BC. It's natural, also has benefit of being anti-bacterial and will exfoliate your skin. Your skin will feel smoother and less irritation. Our sugaring hair-removal treatments includes High Frequency to send oxygen deep under your skin to help with any irritations. Below are base prices, which may be increase for extended sessions.
Brow clean up only $15
Brow clean up and brow designed $45
Lip $12.00
Chin $15.00
Neck $15.00
Nostrils $20
Full face, not including brow designed, nostrils and neck $45 ( including healing mask and hand, arm massage).
1/2 Arm {including fingers} $45
Full arm {including fingers} $65
1/2 back $55
Full back $85
1/2 chest $55
Full chest $85
NO Legs And NO BIKINI, BRAZILIAN OR BROZILIAN !!!!


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360º Stitching rubber outsole: Durability and flexibility
Elastic laces, internal zippers: Easy wear
Removable footbed: Better fit
Leather Working Group certified
Lining: 41% Polyester 34% Leather 25% Fabric (60% Nylon - 40% PU)
The First Walkers range features flexible-yet-sturdy styles made for little ones who are taking their first steps.
Our Peu kids' shoes are shaped with the natural curve of small feet in mind. Featuring elastic zigzag laces and a 360-degree stitched outsole, these unisex shoes are made for little adventurers with ambition to explore.


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ZAG-S&W's activity in the UK is conducted through our London office – established by Sullivan & Worcester, our U.S. joint venture partner. Widely recognized as a lucrative global hub, London is a key base from which our lawyers advise clients with respect to their business activities worldwide, with a clear emphasis on emerging markets in Africa, Asia, the Commonwealth and Latin America.
Our team is at the forefront of trade and export finance, and also brings clients vast experience in commercial banking, securitization, project finance, insurance, compliance programs, and dispute resolution.


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EOS Exchange Coming Via Huobi Pool in Early 2019
December 29, 2018 by William Peaster 0 Comment 38685 Views
Huobi Pool, the mining wing of the Huobi Group business group, is reportedly launching an EOS exchange in a few weeks' time. The subsidiary, which already serves as an EOS super node, is now betting on advancing its position in the EOS ecosystem even further.
Also see: Crypto Mining Theft Snafu: Georgia Politico Jailed on Insurance Fraud
Subscribe to the Bitsonline YouTube channel for great videos featuring industry insiders & experts
EOS Exchange Expected Early 2019 After Huobi's Busy 2018
On December 29th, Huobi Pool, Huobi Group's mining subsidiary and the current top-ranked EOS block producer, announced plans to open up an EOS exchange by the end of 2019's first quarter.
The exchange, which will be the inaugural exchange platform venture for Huobi Pool, will let users trade EOS as a base currency against a currently unspecified range of cryptocurrencies.
"Launching this EOS exchange is simply the next logical step in our support," said Huobi Pool CEO Cao Fei, who noted the cultivation of the company's super node status was "high on its list of priorities."
The move caps off what has been an expansionary year for the pool's parent business group, even amid the crypteconomy's 2018 correction.
This past spring, Huobi announced it was eyeing offices in London after starting its pivot beyond from China late last year. Days after that declaration, the cryptocurrency group poached former OKEx CEO Chris Lee with a mind toward international growth.
I've officially joined Huobi group as secretary of the board of Directors & Vice president of International business development
With e combination of #Huobi expertise with industry leading marketing & operational abilities, we WILL be biggest in the entire industry! @Huobi_Pro
— Chris Lee (@ChrisLEE_Crypto) May 21, 2018
Over the summer, the business group declared its work on Huobi Chain and Huobi Cloud, both aimed at providing platforms for the creation of tokens and exchanges respectively.
Then, in the fall, Huobi expanded toward Russian language support and created a Chinese Communist Party liason committee — two unambiguous signs the group had further entrenchment in Russia and China in their sights.
However, the business group also quietly weathered scandal this year, as a document allegedly leaked internally from Huobi in September 2018 seemed to detail voter collusion among Chinese EOS block producers.
Into the Deep End With EOS
On Dec. 28th, Huobi DM, Huobi's derivatives arm, added EOS contracts alongside the bitcoin and ether contracts it already offered and said support for more digital assets was nigh.
"[We've] seen strong demand to expand Huobi DM to other coin types as well," Huobi Global CEO CEO Livio Weng said.
"Adding EOS contract service is part of our ongoing efforts to address customer demand."
Accordingly, users of the platform are now able to take out shorts or longs on EOS, with the options going as high as 20-times leverage positions.
Whether other crypto derivatives plays follow suit into the EOS breach is an open question for now, but with growth being paramount in business, it seems likely for now.
What's your take? Is it rather unsurprising that Huobi Pool is pursuing an EOS exchange? Let us know in the comments section below.
Images via EOS Authority, Pixabay


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I will admit that this made things a bit clearer to me:
Tracy, 63, had more than 30 years of leadership experience with the Seattle Archdiocese and at area Catholic schools before 2010, when she joined Eastside, a private, independent school affiliated with the archdiocese but overseen by its own board. [...]
Originally from Spokane, she's a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. She spent 20 years as dean of students and principal of Holy Names Academy in Seattle and served for 15 years at the National Catholic Educational Association in Washington, D.C. [Emphasis added--E.M.]
Holy Names Academy was the unholy faux "Catholic" school where I was taught, among other things, how to use contraception during fornication (hey, don't all high school students fornicate regularly?) by our supposedly Catholic "health" teacher and, by my religion teacher, that the Church used to burn all intelligent women as witches so they wouldn't question male authority. Charming place, really; I credit my survival as a Catholic to my parents' heroic decision to pull my siblings and me out of the Seattle area's sad excuses for Catholic schools and begin homeschooling us all those decades ago.
It's not at all a surprise to me, then, that Sister Mary Tracy is skilled in the fine art of dereliction of duty and taking money under false pretenses ("Why, yes, we are a Catholic school full of authentic orthodox Catholic teaching! Now fork over the dough!" etc.). I'm actually more surprised that she fired the gay "married" administrator in the first place; perhaps some orthodox Catholic parents found out about the marriage and threatened to go public or something, or perhaps the administrator posted his "wedding" pictures on the school's bulletin boards. Who knows? All I know is that if Sister Mary Tracy and her ilk had resigned from Seattle's Catholic schools a long, long time ago, there might be some hope of restoring them to actual Catholicism. As it is, I stand by my earlier recommendation that the schools be vacated and shut down, then burned to the ground which should be salted and blessed in accordance with approved Church exorcism rituals. Nothing less will help the benighted Catholic high school students of Seattle, I'm afraid.


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It's funny how you don't really appreciate the worth of anything until you realise you don't have it anymore.
Well, of course you appreciate it, you might think. But do you really? You can feel lucky for having things, they can make you feel truly content or a part of something greater than yourself. Appreciation is something that we do every day.
Is that appreciation, though? For me, I feel that that's something for afterwards. What you don't, can't, realise is just how deep down inside these things can take root. When you lose something, a person, a place, something close to you, you don't always realise that you also lose a part of yourself. More?


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LINKAGES Burundi decided to introduce HIV self-testing as a way to improve testing uptake and HIV case finding among key populations.
ATLAS, a project funded by Unitaid, rolled out by the Solthis consortium, IRD in partnership with health ministries from Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Senegal
Senator Francisco Chahuán took time to demonstrate Members of Parliament how HIVST can be used.
UNITAID and WHO updated the Landscape of HIV rapid diagnostic tests for self-testing
WHO HTS Info provides on the go access to up to date HIV Testing Services guidelines, including HIVST
Supportive policies for HIV self-testing have almost doubled from 2017. Check out our policy map for more information.
Tools to help with the introduction or implementation of HIVST
HIVST documentary from a community perspective.
Search the database of HIVST research
Country-level policy and regulatory data


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Larry Kunz
Larry Kunz is a Lead Technical Writer at Extreme Networks in Raleigh, NC. An active STC member since 1983, Larry has filled a variety of workplace roles: content producer, team lead, project manager, consultant, and marketing specialist. He has led numerous writing teams, some of which he's built from scratch, to the successful completion of their projects.
As head of STC's strategic planning effort from 2007 to 2010, Larry guided Society leaders in developing a set of core values, a mission statement, a set of strategic goals, and both short- and long-range plans for achieving those goals. For his work Larry was honored with the STC President's Award in 2010.
Larry has also served STC as a member of the board of directors, as manager of both the Fellows and Associate Fellows Nominating committees, as a member of the Executive Director Search committee in 2006, and several times as a lead judge in the international Summit competition. He has served in several leadership capacities in the Carolina chapter, including 3 years as president.
Larry was elected an STC Fellow in 2001.
Larry helped create the successful Technical Communication certificate program at Duke University, where he teaches a section on project management. He has taught and led workshops in DITA and structured authoring, both in his primary job and as an independent contractor. He has presented at several STC Summits as well as in chapter- and regional-level conferences.
For the past 8 years Larry has published regular blog posts about technical communication and leadership at https://larrykunz.wordpress.com/. He stays connected to the international technical communication community through the blog, through other social media, and by participating in STC events.
In his STC activities, especially in his work on the board and with strategic planning, Larry has worked with people from all sorts of backgrounds, of all ages, working in all sorts of industries. In STC and in the workplace, he has worked with teams in the U.S., Europe, India, and China.
Candidate Statement
A few months ago a colleague asked me, "Why is it so important that STC survive?" He was responding to a blog post I wrote about STC's efforts to retain members and remain relevant at a time where all professional societies are scrambling to redefine their roles.
My answer, which I also posted on my blog, went like this:
First, STC has been good to me. My experience with STC has been extremely rewarding. I don't keep up with friends from high school or college, but some of my STC friendships are going strong after 20 or 30 years. In STC, I feel an incredibly strong sense of belonging. This is my tribe.
I understand, however, that sentiments like these aren't enough reason for most people to affiliate with a professional society. Networking and information exchange, two of the traditional roles for a society, are now easy to find in many other places.
Yet STC is uniquely positioned to fill other roles that are just as vital, for example:
• Defining and compiling a body of knowledge — a collection of resources that, by consensus, is understood to contain the things every practitioner should know.
• Connecting academics with practitioners — serving both groups and especially engaging both groups in dialog. Our profession needs as much of that dialog as it can get.
• Bringing new people into the profession through chapters, SIGs, and the Summit conference — places where newcomers rub elbows with each other as well as with their more experienced colleagues.
With effective leadership and with the support of its members, STC can remain successful and relevant. That's where the Nominating Committee comes in.
I'm running for the Nominating Committee, in part, so that I can give back to STC for all the things it's given me. As a Nominating Committee member I can work to identify and nurture the people who'll lead STC through the challenges of the late 2010s and early 2020s.
I've worked with people from all over STC as a member of the board of directors, the Fellows Nominating committee, and the Associate Fellows Nominating committee; as the Strategic Planning manager; and as a judge in the international competition. I keep in touch with many of those people by attending STC events and through social media.
Through those contacts, I meet up-and-coming leaders throughout the technical communication community — people I also get to know by attending events with them and by reading the articles they publish. I try never to say no when, for example, a chapter or SIG approaches me and asks me to give a talk. One of those invitations led me to give a talk and a workshop at an STC India conference — which added a lot of new people to my network.
As an active blogger, I'm connected with many of the major technical communication bloggers, interacting with them both on their blogs and on mine.
Finally, as a chapter leader — including 3 years as president — I've learned how to identify volunteer leaders, recruit them, and help them grow. Several of those leaders have far surpassed what I envisioned for them, going on to major leadership roles inside and outside STC. I've learned to not make assumptions about what somebody can do but look for people with the right mix of talents and characteristics, and give them room to soar.
As a Nominating Committee member I'll put forth my ideas and attempt to forge a consensus within the group. I'm not flashy, but I have the courage of my convictions. Whether I end up getting my way or not, however, I'll "own" whatever decisions the committee makes.
As a Nominating Committee member I'll do my homework. I'm especially proud of a client project where I built a project team and a process from scratch. Before I did any of that, I talked with every stakeholder I could think of: tech support, engineering, regulatory, you name it. Every one of them gave me something valuable that proved to be useful on the project. As a Nominating Committee member I'll be just as thorough and just as careful to consider all options and all viewpoints.
As a Nominating Committee member I know that people across STC will see me as a leader. Some people might find that scary; I find it empowering. I look forward to taking on the challenge, to serving you, and to helping build a strong future for STC. I appreciate having your vote in the STC election.


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© Scott Hocker
A food processor makes fast work of chopping the chicken breast for this Thai salad. When simmering, don't overcook the chicken: It will get tough. Slideshow: More Chicken Recipes
How to Make It
Step 1
Cut the chicken into 1-inch chunks, then pulse in a food processor until coarsely chopped, about 10 one-second pulses.
Step 2
In a small saucepan, dissolve the salt and sugar in the water over medium heat. Add the chicken and simmer, stirring frequently, until the chicken is just cooked, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the shallot, lime juice, cayenne, fish sauce, mint and cilantro. Stir, then spoon into the lettuce cups and serve.


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Roasted Cauliflower Barley Risotto
Food editor Ian Knauer enjoys experimenting with home-brewing, so he understands how roasting malted barley can impart a deeper flavor to the final beer. He figured, rightly, that toasting barley (left over from Brown Rice and Barley) in a dry pot would also add an extra dimension to this hearty twist on risotto. Studded with roasted cauliflower and enriched with butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano, this one-dish dinner tastes just right on a chilly night.
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cored
- 4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 3.5 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1.5 cup water
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 0.25 cup dry white wine
- 0.5 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in upper third.
- Cut cauliflower into 1/2-inch pieces and toss with 2 Tbsp oil and 1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper. Spread in 1 layer in a large 4-sided sheet pan and roast, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is tender and well browned, 20 to 30 minutes.
- While cauliflower roasts, toast barley in a dry 4-qt heavy pot over medium heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and golden, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
- Bring broth and water to a simmer in a small saucepan.
- Cook garlic in remaining 2 Tbsp oil in 4-qt pot over medium heat, stirring, until pale golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add barley, stirring to coat. Add wine and simmer briskly, stirring, until absorbed, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup hot broth and briskly simmer, stirring, until absorbed. Continue simmering and adding hot broth, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and letting each addition be absorbed before adding the next, until barley is just tender and creamy-looking, about 30 minutes (you may have broth left over).
- Stir in cauliflower, cheese, butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in parsley and thin with some of remaining broth if desired.
Recipe Credit: Ian Knauer, Gourmet
Image Credit: Stephanie Foley


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Bank-owned properties are commonly referred to as REO properties, which stands for "real estate owned." It is easy to find current lists of these properties if you know where to look. Numerous commercial services are eager to sell you the information, but why pay for it when you can get current information from the banks?
Although commercial websites that aggregate REO properties and offer them to investors for a monthly subscription appear to reduce your work, the information many of them provide is often dated. When searching for good deals in bank-owned properties, the delay of a day or two can prevent you from being a successful buyer. There are three sources of fresh information: 1) bank and mortgage lender websites, 2) the websites of real estate brokers who list properties for the banks, and 3) contacts who have inside information.
You can save a lot of time otherwise spent on a search engine by locating lists of bank and mortgage lender websites. The web page lists at BiggerPockets.com and MarketplaceLists.com are a good place to start. If you are looking for a specific bank, do a search for the name of the bank and add "REO" after the name. Government-owned properties can be found at the individual agency sites (VA, FannieMae, HUD) or at HomeSales.gov.
The terms used by various banks or lenders to designate their REO properties may vary bank to bank. Some may call them "properties available," while others call them "bank-owned" properties. They are all the same thing. If you are exploring a bank website from its homepage, be prepared to see the tab to the REO page labeled something other than REO properties.
Once you have located the page with the bank's REO listings, you will often be able to search by location, property type, price, square footage, and number of bedrooms and baths. Depending on the bank, listings may change daily, weekly or monthly. Real estate brokers are often assigned as the agent for a property, so the broker, not the bank, will be your point of contact.
You can also search your local multilist for "bank properties, HUD homes, VA homes or REOs." The best bargains go under contract quickly. Be prepared to act immediately to perform a quick inspection of the property, do a quick valuation and have your financing in place so you can submit your offer. Bank properties may also be auctioned by local companies or through large auctioneers like Williams and Williams or Hudson and Marshall.
Other sources of foreclosed properties will include websites of real estate agents or companies that serve as listing agents for the banks. Get on their email lists for updates.
Not all bank-owned properties are discount priced. Some banks will price properties at or above market value anticipating lower offers from buyers.
Wholesalers, people who buy properties in bulk from banks and then turn around and sell the individual properties to investors, often offer deeper discounts than you will see directly from the banks.
As with any real estate deal, consult with experts when in doubt.
Perform due diligence before submitting an offer. Most bank-owned properties are sold "as is." Once you have signed the addendum, you may not be able to withdraw from your offer without a penalty, which could mean losing your earnest money.
When inspecting a property, look for major structural, location or other big-ticket problems that could drastically reduce your profit.
Photo Credits
- Images by: Keith Olsen


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Opus Bank's portfolio of products, services and solutions are particularly well-suited to support small to mid-sized businesses with revenues from $5 million to $100 million and more.
Opus Bank has commercial business banking resources to help your business grow and expand. We believe in building long-term business partner relationships, so you can count on us to be there as you grow.
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Business Loans
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- Small Business Loans - As a Small Business Administration Preferred Lender, Opus Bank can help you secure the critical funds you need.


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This was the first shot of my marathon full moon session that took place over the night and early morning of November 10th/11th, 2011.
While I was shooting this place, a car cruised slowly by, heading towards the dead end at the bottom of the road less than 100 metres away. Ten minutes later it cruised back up the road, this time more slowly and came to a halt directly opposite where I'd set up the camera.
A man got out of the car, clambered over the fence and walked slowly towards me, shining a torch in my face. I could have retaliated with my Lenser T7 but chose not to because he'd have been blinded for a week. Bear in mind this is after 8pm on a November night and despite the full moon, it's too dark for either of us to make out what the other is doing, or about to do.
I said: "Hello there". No reply. He kept walking in my direction, waving his torch at me. When he got within a few feet he asked: "What are you doing?".
('ere we go…) "Taking photographs", I replied.
"It's a funny time to be taking photographs", he said, suspiciously.
I showed him some of the pics on the camera LCD and tried explaining how and why I was taking photos in the dark. From the look on his face I reckon he thought I was harmless but a bit odd 😉
Figuring he was local, I asked if he knew how long the place had been empty. Turns out this had been Donald's family home and had been lived in as recently as 20 years ago. He still has sheep on the land around the house and was concerned a prowler was interfering with the rams he'd recently draughted in to impregnate his ewes. Not guilty, honest guv! 😉
From his point of view, imagine driving down the road and seeing someone walking around your property, shining a light in an erratic fashion. As soon as he realised I wasn't up to any mischief he was happy enough to let me carry on taking photos of his former home, got back in his car and headed on up the road. I continued taking more photos of the surroundings, a little better informed than I had been 10 minutes earlier.
The same house appears in this shot, which I took around an hour after Donald had left the scene. You can see a couple of his prized sheep standing next to the fence – they remained still enough during the 3 minute exposure to show up in the final image.
While taking this shot, I took my selection of coloured lighting gels out of the camera bag. I can only assume the rustling of the gels must sound very similar to the noise a plastic sheep feed sack makes because when I exited the back of the van having finished lighting the interior with a blue gel, I found a dozen or so sheep hanging around waiting for a late night meal they hadn't been expecting. Nope, you ain't having my flask of coffee or the three Viscount chocolate biscuits that would be my only sustenance for the next 10 hours!
When talking to Donald earlier, I learned that the old building I'd shot the previous month (just a little further along the road), had been his grandfather's house. It's laid empty for the past 70 years.
And to finish off this November's Manish experience, here's the view out to sea, taken a few metres to the left of the house in the above photo:
Not a bad little haul for such a small area.


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Please take a second and leave your feedback!
|I really enjoyed the tour, it was a great experience, very informative and fun. I will definitely tell everybody about that tour, keep it it is a fantastic idea!
– Alexa, Germany
|Sorry I do not remember the guide names … They were very talkative and very into everything. I think they both really love the city, and they made me feel like this too. They knew much about History, which was very informative! Great guides!!!
– Malte, Germany
…We partook of the fantastic Venice Free Tour. Due to our timing during the low season, it ended up being just us and Sonia, the super-guide. She quickly ascertained the limited scope of our wanderings..
– Berti, USA
tks so much!
– Linda, Singapore
Thanks for coordinating the tour. We had a great time in Venice meeting new friends and getting to know of the local people, local culture and Italian history. It's something I would recommend to my friends!
– Sara Sze, China
It was really great, we enjoy it a lot and we learn many things. It is a tour totally recomendable.
– Ruben Gomez, Spain
Hi, I just wanna say that the tour was amazing…….Nastia was really nice with us and I will recomend it if anyone ask me.
– Fabricio, Spain


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Episode 11
"Can I Interest You In a Mattress?" with Super Fan Bob | The Biggest Fan of the Podcast
November 27th, 2016
1 hr 8 mins 10 secs
Season 1
About this Episode
Watch the sketch on YouTube here!:
Super Fan Bob joins Stuart for this episode. Bob Rhodes is a friend of Stuart's in the real world and they both work in the same industry… you probably won't be able to guess what industry that is. Bob used to be somewhat internet famous when he did stuff with Woot! and had a channel on Justin.TV… what's that? You don't remember Justin.TV? That makes you and just about nearly everyone else under the age of 40.
How do you spell relief? Is it r-e-v-i-e-w-s? That's how we here at Marathon Productions spell it at least. Do me a very quick favor. There are a number of you listening to these older episodes and for that, I thank you! Now, if you could do me a favor and touch the screen of your phone and go to the show notes and, if you scroll down you are going to see a couple of links. Click on the link next to the way you like to listen! Now, there is someplace on that destination that allows you to leave a review. I appreciate all of the reviews we have received, like the one from Winterbotton titled "So funny": "What a funny podcast. I really love it. I can't wait to listen to more episodes." No exclamation points, but I am pretty sure that they were intended… If you would like to hear your review here, you have to post one so… get posting!
iTunes: bit.ly/SCPSitunes
Stitcher: bit.ly/SCPSstitch
Google Play: bit.ly/SCPSgoogleplay
Or just go to our website and leave some feedback!: sketchcomedypodcastshow.com
And now, episode 15 "Can I Interest You In a Mattress?"
Sketch Comedy Podcast show is an independent and completely improvised sketch podcast that is based on conversations with interesting people like YOU! We welcome all suggestions, and we are always looking for new and interesting people to have on the podcast. Thank you so much for watching this video, and please check out our other links for more information, interaction and overall fun!
For more episodes, information, and a chance to be on the show, visit: http://sketchcomedypodcastshow.com
Tell us what you are hungry for at Facebook: http://facebook.com/sketchcomedypodcastshow
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Subscribe on iTunes: http://bit.ly/SCPSitunes
Or Google Play: http://bit.ly/SCPSgplay
Or Anywhere!: https://scps.fireside.fm/rss
Sketch Comedy Podcast Show is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
© Copyright 2017 Marathon Productions, LLC.Support Sketch Comedy Podcast Show


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Defending his widely condemned comments about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), conservative radio host Bill Cunningham contradicted himself within a matter of minutes yesterday on Fox News's Hannity and Colmes about whether he refers to Obama as a "Manchurian candidate":
CUNNINGHAM: And the daily — the Daley political machine gave us this — this stealth candidate, this Manchurian candidate. We don't know who in the heck he is. I'd like to know more about Obama.
CUNNINGHAM: No, I did not concur with any caller. I do not believe Barack Hussein Obama is a terrorist or a Manchurian candidate. I do believe we know nothing about this guy from the daily political machine.
The "Manchurian candidate" label is part of the false chain e-mail claim that Obama "is actually a stealth Muslim" who "would take the presidential oath with his hand on the Koran."


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High-Quality Tennessee Roofing
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Regardless of the business you're in, our Tennessee roofers have the expertise to provide you with the roofing services you need. We can work on any type of structure, whether it's a warehouse, office building, school, or strip mall.
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Our Tennessee roofers know that running a company is no easy task. That's why we want you to leave the roofing to us, so you can focus on building your business.
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Whether you're looking for a new roof for your business or your home needs a leak repaired, we're the company for you. Our Tennessee roofers have built a solid reputation by offering high-quality craftsmanship with attentive customer care. Here are the communities in the Middle Tennessee area that we provide roofing services to:
If you'd like to learn more about the services provided by our Tennessee roofing company, feel free to explore our website. And if you have any questions or would like to request a free estimate, please don't hesitate to contact us. We can be reached at 615-590-7428 or through the contact form on this site.


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The night after their grandfather's funeral, three cousins engage in a verbal battle royale over a family heirloom. In one corner is "Super Jew" Daphna: volatile, self-assured, and unbending. In the other, Liam: secular, entitled, and just as stubborn. And in the middle, Liam's brother Jonah tries to stay out of the fray and honor his grandfather's memory on his own. A savage comedy about family, faith, and legacy.
Studio's Subscription Series is the core of our programming, offering an uncommonly rich repertoire of provocative contemporary writing from around the world and inventive stagings of contemporary classics.
Hilarious! Devastatingly, acidly funny... directed with a maestro's keen powers of perception by Serge Seiden.
A must-see for everyone this theatre season...
outrageously funny!
Bad Jews is so over-the-top funny, so razor-sharp smart, and
so plumb-the-depths profound that it left me gobsmacked in utter awe.
The Artists
Production Team
Featured Writing
The title of Joshua Harmon play Bad Jews came to him on the heels of an awkward service in honor of Holocaust Memorial Day. It would take him eight years to write the actual play—a lacerating comedy about three twenty-something cousins battling over how best to honor their Holocaust survivor grandfather's legacy.Read More
As the only Jewish cast member in Studio Theatre's production of Bad Jews, Alex Mandell (Liam) brings a unique perspective to the proceedings. Mandell recently spoke with Artistic Apprentice Nathan Norcross about his personal experiences of family and faith and how they informed his work on the play.Read More
Joshua Harmon's play traces one of the great questions of Jewish-American identity: To what extent is American Judaism a cultural identifier and to what extent is it a religious one? How do you balance assimilation and authenticity? Meet the characters of Bad Jews and take a look at where the three cousins—and one unexpected guest—fall along the spectrum from true believer to non.Read More
As the cast of Bad Jews celebrated 100 performances, making it the longest running show in Studio Theatre history, they sat down with Assistant Director Nathan Norcross to discuss their experience sharing this battle of barbs and beliefs with Studio's audiences over the past several months.Read More
Joshua Harmon's Bad Jews is a play of opposing viewpoints, of deeply felt convictions. And a play of loud—and long—argument. This savage comedy unfolds the night after their grandfather's funeral, as three cousins battle it out over an heirloom—a necklace of a chai, the Hebrew word and symbol for life.Read More
At 31, Joshua Harmon is both a graduate student at Juilliard and an award-winning playwright with a sold-out, Off Broadway run under his belt. Harmon continues to successfully juggle both lifestyles as multiple productions of Bad Jews spring up across the country. While Bad Jews was his breakout work, his career as a writer started much earlier.Read More
As the cast and creative team of Bad Jews assembled for the first time to share their vision with Studio Theatre staff, board members, and supporters, director Serge Seiden opened his remarks with a personal anecdote about what it means to be a "good" Jew...Read More


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Come KTV with me
KTV is China's sing-a-long sensation that's taken the country by storm. Time to pick up the mic, select your song and join the fad that won't fade.
From Brits busting out some Beyoncé at their local, to SingStar-loving families gathering round the mic at home, there's no denying karaoke is a global phenomenon.
In China, however, their classic weekend activity of KTV is the ultimate in karaoke fandom.
KTV rooms – Karaoke Television – are found everywhere in China, often on the top level of a building, be it a mall, cinema, bar, or restaurant. And they're huge deals.
Unlike in England, where singing in front of a pub full of strangers is not out of the norm, KTV is about privacy. Countless private rooms with televisions, couches, and tables inside, each one rented out to a party of friends or colleagues. You're even likely to have your own personal waiter serving you drinks and snacks. The experience is very different to the one Brits are perhaps used to.
Sometimes KTV have their own supermarkets for those who want to whisk a trolley through the aisles in between belting out some tunes.
A Japanese phenomenon, karaoke came to China from Japan in the 1980s, first popping up in high-end hotels. Now many hotels today have their own karaoke bars for weary businessmen to de-stress after a long day.
To say KTV is a favorite among the Chinese is an understatement. The Chinese love singing pop songs. It's very common to find someone using the karaoke app Changba (Just Sing). This digital tool for your mobile lets users sing to their favourite tune and send it to their friends. It even has local charts and competitions for those hardcore KTV-ers.
KTV have songs for literally every generation, young and old. Visitors to China coming from the UK, USA, Japan, or Korea will be certain to find their favourite tracks on the KTV systems.
While Chinese songs come with their original music videos, sometimes Western ones are simply played over unrelated 80s videos so don't be surprised to find Kanye West rapping over some mullet-sporting dude strolling through an empty American suburban area.
But why is KTV so popular in China? "Our culture values the cultivation of self-restraint. People are not encouraged to be aggressive and show individuality. But, in KTV clubs, they can unleash themselves and perform anything they want," explains psychologist Gesang Zeren of Sichuan University.
"It's a way to relax. Chinese people also tend to shoulder pressure internally instead of turning to others for help. It's a good way to vent their emotions, whether it be depression, pressure, happiness or aspirations. Singing can help express various emotions."
In Chinatown, you can find your own private karaoke bar at Plum Valley, Jin Li, or Royal Dragon. It's time to drop the mic.< Go Back To Discover


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Another year, another Grammy show.
This may have been the 56th run, but the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences still can't work out the kinks. It certainly wasn't the worst Grammys we've ever seen, but there was plenty to bitch about.
Some of the performances were groundbreaking, and some of them were downright snooze-worthy. As usual, the Academy tried to make up for past mistakes by shutting out deserving nominees, and it still gave too much stage time to washed-up stars who would be better remembered as they were than as they are.
Life is about balance, so we here at Crossfade broke our highlights into two simple categories. Here's what sucked and didn't totally suck about the 56th-annual Grammy Awards.
See also: Miami's Cedric Gervais Wins Grammy for Lana Del Rey "Summertime Sadness" Remix
Things That Didn't Suck
Beyoncé and Jay Z
Sure, she may not have qualified for any Grammy awards this season, but Beyoncé still walked away a winner in the whole world's eyes. Her opening performance with hubby Jay Z was hot. Plus, "Drunk in Love" is a jam. We're pretty sure they're having the best sex of anyone alive right now.
Then Bey and Jay remained the most adorable thing about the Grammys all night long. They were supercute, dancing in the front row. That side-eye Jay gave Jamie Fox as he went on and on about Bey was classic. He's lucky Jay is a classy man these days; otherwise, for sure, he would've got stuck. Yes, Hollywood's greatest power couple still has no fear of competition.
Daft Punk's All-White Suits
How fresh were those new suits? We are loving the disco duds. Now we have to go get our own all-white ensemble. Clearly, white is all the rage in Paris. A special big cheers to Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo for finally winning for Album of the Year, even if we think Kendrick Lamar deserved to win more. You know the Grammys, always making up for past mistakes at the expense of newcomers. Still, the hug that the robots gave each other before climbing the stage was heart-melting.
See also: Daft Punk's Alive 2007 and Nine Other EDM Albums To Hear Before You Die
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Tie the Knot
Independent music won in a big way last night, and so did marriage equality rights.
Beyoncé's ass is fine and everything, but the most moving performance of the night goes to Seattle's underdog champions, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who welcomed 33 couples planning to exchange vows.
Queen Latifah was fighting back tears as she officially married those lucky couples, and so were we. Then Madonna came out and did her thing, and even though she was showing her age, the scene was only more touching. Bravo to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and best of luck to all the happy newlyweds.
See also: Macklemore: "If You Want to Be an Active Participant in Hip-Hop, Get Off the Couch"
The Goth Revival
We never saw this latest pop fad coming when we were in high school. Goth is totally cool again, you guys. Lorde is the gothest thing to hit the Billboard charts since the early '90s, and we couldn't be more pleased. But it's not even just the new girl bringing black back in a big way. Did you catch Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" performance? She was dancing on that stripper pole, lookin' like Elvira. This is a trend we would be happy to see more of in the coming years.
See also: Oh My Goth! Top Ten Creepiest Musicians
Pharrell's Hat
He's the kind of dude who never ages, and he's always bringing the freshest style to the red carpet. So it's honestly not surprising that Pharrell's hat, an inanimate object, was one of the brightest stars of the night. He was straight up walking around the Grammys like a Canadian Mountie on mushrooms. It was beautiful. The internet is already rife with hysterical memes celebrating the wonder of his gigantic headgear. We hope Mr. P wears that hat to all high-profile engagements for the foreseeable future.
She may not be the gossip column's favorite muse, but she is the best pop performer of her era. Every time Pink graces an awards show with her presence, she reminds us what real entertainment looks and sounds like. She's both graceful and powerful, and thank goodness she can be sexy without embarrassing herself. She must be the hardest working woman in the business. Do you know how many hours of training go into holding a full-grown man on your stomach? Her full live show must be nothing short of Cirque du Soleil-level impressive. Please keep inviting Pink to perform at everything. Thank you.
Things That Sucked
No Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus
We get it, the Grammys are supposed to be classy. But you know what another word for classy is? Boring. Life just isn't the same without pop's youngest train wrecks. How do you expect us to go without in a post-Miley reality? Instead of watching Chicago cling to life, let's get Justin Bieber to trip all over his baggy pants and do something he'll regret. Maybe it was "better" this way, but maybe every party needs a memorable pooper.
See also: Miley Cyrus and Nine Other Drug-Addicted Pop Stars
Fun Singer
What in the hell was that? Pink is up there taking pop music to places it's never been, and this schmuck comes waltzing out with his dick in his hand. Have you ever heard someone suck so badly? Dude couldn't hold a pitch if it came with two handles and a free bag of coke. How are you going to be touted as the modern-day Freddie Mercury and be that talentless? You knew this performance was coming; you had time to prepare. There's pretty much no excuse.
Ozzy's Grip on the English Language
This is nothing new, but we still love watching the self-appointed Prince of Darkness mumble his way through a prepared speech in front of 29 million television viewers. The always-recovering singer tried to introduce ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, but when he opened his mouth to speak, all that came out was years of spinal damage from decades of drug and alcohol abuse. There is no greater PSA to keep kids off drugs than a 20-second attempt at verbal communication from the "Iron Man." But hey, we ain't mad at him. The dude can still kick ass behind a mike when it matters most.
See also: Satanic Panic! Ozzy Osbourne and Other Musical Artists Accused of Loving The Devil
Robin Thicke with Chicago
We don't even really remember what the fuck happened because it was so boring. How old are the dudes in Chicago? How irrelevant is Robin Thicke without Miley Cyrus shaking her ass in front of him or Pharrell hanging out singing a hook that makes you forget what a sick, drunk, creepy uncle Thicke actually is? In fact, most of the performances from older people were terrible this year. We appreciate that you want to pay homage to the great musicians and entertainers that came before, but it's not making us feel better to see them hardly carry a tune while knocking on death's door. We want to remember them like they were in the '60s and '70s. As for Thicke, we can't wait until next year when he falls off the face of the Earth. Good riddance.
See also: Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" Is About Rape and Seven Other Songs You Misunderstood
Kendrick Shut Out
We've said it before and we'll say it again: Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City is one of the greatest hip-hop records of all time. It's an instant classic. It's lyrical, poetic, edgy, complex, sophisticated -- it's everything a record should be. But after last night, even when it garnered five nominations (nine for Kendrick in total), we can't say it's a Grammy winner. We've never seen someone so deserving get so screwed.
They made him perform with Imagine Dragons? As if the man who wrote that "Control" verse can't handle a crowd on his own. We guess we're glad Daft Punk finally got Album of the Year, and we're happy for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for showing that independent music can achieve great heights, but it's a damn shame Kendrick had to be sacrificed for those political maneuvers. To quote Kanye West: "If I don't win, the award show loses credibility." We're shaking our heads at you, Shammys.
Running the Credits on the First Good Rock Performance in Years
Let's face it -- rock 'n' roll is in a really bad way. When Led Zeppelin wins the Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2014, you know something is wrong. That's why we were so stoked that Nine Inch Nails performed a back-to-back set with Queens of the Stone Age -- and it was actually really great! The stage production was killer, and the crunching bass awakened rebellious parts of our body that we'd forgotten we had.
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Then, right in the middle of everything, drowning out QOTSA frontdude Josh Homme's voice, just when we remembered why people ever played guitars, the Grammys' closing credits came on! It ruined the mood; it ruined everything! It was the world's rudest cock-tease. Of course, NIN's Trent Reznor was pissed, tweeting, "Music's biggest night... to be disrespected. A heartfelt FUCK YOU guys."
The Grammy people made some statement. But who gives a shit, because there really isn't any excuse. If we're ever supposed to remember what rock 'n' roll feels like, we need to give some stage time to those who deserve it -- and keep the camera rolling.
Follow Crossfade on Facebook and Twitter @Crossfade_SFL.
Follow Kat Bein on Twitter @KatSaysKill.


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Senior Product Manager, Shopper Experience at Ibotta
Ibotta is the fastest-growing consumer tech company in Colorado and one of the five most frequently used mobile shopping apps in the United States. We are looking for a Senior Product Manager within our Shopper Group to lead a cross-functional team of engineers, designers, analysts, and marketers. This is an excellent opportunity to work at a high-growth consumer tech company improving the shopper experience within Ibotta's mobile apps and website.
What you will be doing:
- Lead a cross-functional team of engineers, designers, analysts, and marketers to measurably improve our shopper experience
- Partner with senior leadership to identify and prioritize initiatives with potential to deliver the greatest business impact
- Own the product roadmap for all projects related to your initiatives
- Define what success looks like, how it will be measured, and how it will impact company-wide goals including:
- Customer Lifetime Value / Customer Acquisition Cost (LTV/CAC)
- Net Revenue
- Use A/B testing, UX research, and other data, both quantitative and qualitative to inform product decisions and prioritization
- Build partnerships and manage stakeholders across product development and other departments
What we are looking for:
- 5+ years of product management experience at fast-growing tech companies
- Comfort navigating product challenges in a high growth environment, while working cross-functionally within a collaborative culture
- Excellent quantitative skills, with ability to run A/B tests, manipulate data, conduct analysis, and draw meaningful insights to guide decision making
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- BA/BS from a leading undergraduate institution in CS/Engineering or Economics/Physics/Math is a plus
- MBA and/or grad degree from a top program in a similarly relevant field is a plus
About Us:
Headquartered in Denver, CO, Ibotta ("I bought a...") is transforming the shopping experience by making it easy for consumers to earn cash back on everyday purchases through a single smartphone app. The company partners with leading brands and retailers to offer rebates on groceries, electronics, clothing, gifts, home and office supplies, restaurant dining, and more. Ibotta is the premier destination for rewarded shopping on mobile, and has paid out more than $275 million in cash back to its users. Launched in 2012, Ibotta has nearly 25 million downloads, and is one of the five most frequently used shopping apps in the United States.
To learn more about what our Tech teams are doing day to day, visit Building Ibotta on Medium.com.
Additional Details:
- This position is located in Denver, CO and includes competitive pay, benefits package (including medical, dental, vision), 401k, commuter stipend, and equity.
- Ibotta provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetics.
- Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.


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Laurier launches probe to determine how TA became exposed to radical Steve Paikin
Officials at Wilfrid Laurier University are launching a probe to determine how a TA who showed her students a clip from The Agenda became exposed to the extremist organization and its radical leader, Steve Paikin.
The clip featured a debate on the use of gender neutral pronouns. The university is still trying to ascertain how the TA got hold of such a graphic and disturbing clip.
University president Dr. Deborah MacLatchy says that the school is doing everything it can to determine how Paikin infiltrated their campus.


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A few days ago it emerged that "artist" Richard Prince was exhibiting and selling screengrabs of other people's Instagram pictures at a gallery in New York.
The prints were for sale for $90,000 to whoever fancied dropping that kind of cash on a print out of a screengrab.
One of the people whose photos was "reappropriated" has turned the tables on Prince by selling her own prints of the image for $90 - thus undercutting him by 99.9%.
The woman, Missy Suicide of the Suicide Girls collective, took to Reddit to do an AMA on the subject - unfortunately for her, Redditors took the opportunity to quiz her on the finer points of the Suicide Girls' own ethical policies...
So it's all going really well for everyone.


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Here's a week-in-review post.
Fast forwarding a bit, I have next week off before classes start up the following week. That'll be nice, I can get final preparations on my garden for fall/winter crops. I've already planted broccoli and hakusai/chinese cabbage, and they are growing nicely. Yesterday I planted two kinds of daikon radish. I just want to plant some red onions and some garlic, and will call it a season. The other thing I have to do next week is go to the driving center for a one-hour lecture in order to get my license renewed. This shits me to no end, and I won't even bother getting into how stupid it is on all kinds of levels. Suffice to say that I will not enjoy myself.
We've had some pretty spectacular sunsets nearly every day this past week, with lots of pretty skies like this.
Yesterday I rode my bike out to the beach. It's about ten miles, and there's a nice road that runs along the river. There is little traffic, no stop signs/traffic lights, and it tunnels under every major road that it intersects, so it's definitely the way to go. It was raining a bit on my way out and it started raining at the beach shortly after I arrived. I hung out under a bridge for a twenty minutes or so until the showers passed.
Some rice which since been harvested. It smells really wonderful around here this time of year — the Japanese equivalent of fresh-cut grass, perhaps.
Leo and his hair — I wish this picture wasn't blurry.
And Ray, trying to keep the voices at bay.
OK, it's a beautiful fall day here. Time to get out and wash the car or something. Later…


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The pomegranate is a delicious fruit known for its many beneficial qualities. It is high in fiber, potassium, vitamins and antioxidants. For more information about this wonderful fruit, please check our article "Pomegranate – A Super Food".
If you are a serious pomegranate lover or are just curious about trying it, you will be delighted with this refreshing smoothie. Not only is it mouthwatering delicious but it is also very good for you.
Difficulty: Easy
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2 people
1 pomegranate
1 orange
1 tablespoon honey
50 ml (1/4 cup) coconut milk
180 ml (3/4 cup) plain yogurt
Pomegranate arils for decoration
- Cut the pomegranate in half.
- Over a bowl, place the halved pomegranate face down on your hand and spread your finger.
- With a wooden spoon or plastic spatula, tap the top of the pomegranate. Repeat for the second half. Then, remove any white skin that stick to the arils.
- Cut the orange in half and juice it with a juicer or a fork.
- In a blender, whiz the arils of the pomegranate with orange juice. Blend until smooth and strain the liquid through a sieve.
- In a blender, pour the juice mixture and add the yogurt, honey, and coconut milk. Blend until frothy.
- Pour the smoothie into two tall glasses and sprinkle with the pomegranate arils (seeds).


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Homemade liquid soap
So, I have several different bars of soap I've been buying and wanting to try, but if you're like me, you like the liquid version. I've been scouring the internet for recipes, but most of the recipes make a gallon of soap at a time. I like to make small batches of the different types of soaps I have so that I don't have half a dozen gallon jugs filling up my cabinet. This way, I can make just enough to fill up my soap containers. This way I can have variety for different uses, but instead of running to the store I can just make up a new batch every month or two. If you like to make big batches, I'm writing my recipe in a way that you can multiply it.
You'll start by putting one cup of water for every ounce of grated soap into a sauce pan or stock pot. While heating, add one ounce of grated soap for every cup of water (I grate mine directly into the water while heating). Stir well, and after it is well mixed set aside to cool for a few hours. A good option is to make it in the evening and let it sit overnight (but if you're like me, you make it whenever you can!). For good consistency, you may need to blend up with a hand mixer after it's cooled. Pour into the container(s) of your choice.
More options (amounts are based on 1 cup of soap):
- 1/8 teaspoon of glycerine (a natural moisturizer from animal or vegetable fats) for every cup (this is optional as many soaps already have this).
- 1-2 drops of tea tree oil (a natural anti-fungal, anti-viral antiseptic. It helps treat acne, a dry scalp, body odor and repels insects such as mosquitos and lice…great for when bathing your kids!)
- 1/2 teaspoon of honey (a natural anti-biotic and is good for cleaning and first aid)
- 1-2 drops of essential oil for fragrance (and other benefits depending on the oil)
I plan on adding 1-2 of these things to each of my soaps depending on what I'll be using it for, but the beautiful thing is, if you start with a basic natural soap, you could use the same soap on your hands, for your face and in the shower (this may be a reason to make a big batch, so you can put it in several containers around your house). My goal is to try it out for my face and body and eventually get to my hair. If I like the way it works, when I run out of my store bought versions I'll just start using my home-made soaps for those purposes. Instead of spending $5-10 a bottle for good natural soaps (or more!), I can make all of it for around $20 a year.