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Beet & Black-Eyed Pea Hummus
Last week I was feeling low. I was tired, the weather alternated between gray and uncomfortably muggy and gray and frigid cold, and everybody in our house seemed off: the baby napping badly, Rob and I getting annoyed at each other about stupid things.
But the biggest blow came when I heard back from the director of the nutrition program at the only school in the New Orleans area with the classes I need to finish my coursework. After going through my transcripts, she determined that I would need to take 13 more classes. Thirteen. Four more semesters. At Cal State Northridge, I had four classes and two semesters to go. You can imagine how my heart sank.
I'm going to do it, of course. It helps that I went to the school to meet with the director in person, and she was warm, down to earth, and happy to welcome me into the program next fall. It's been strange not being in school for the last year, so I am looking forward to getting back in the classroom and using my brain again.
I returned to school in 2010 to become a registered dietitian and — with my remaining schooling, dietetic internship and a masters degree still ahead — it's looking like I won't be a full-fledged RD, MPH until 2020, but these last five years have convinced me there is nothing else I'd rather do. As my wise friend and former classmate Jocelyn advised me, "Truly, at the end of the day — there is no rush. Especially if you enjoy the ride!"
Still, I needed a little pick-me-up last week. And luckily it came in the form of a casual Sunday dinner with some friends visiting from L.A. and a mutual friend who lives in New Orleans. There was some gossip, some movie talk, some mujadarah for dinner and Louisiana strawberries for dessert, and a bowl of this bright, creamy dip made with black eyed peas and roasted beets. It's impossible to feel bad while sharing a bowl of hot pink hummus in your living room with friends.
This dip uses the basic formula I follow anytime I make homemade hummus: homemade beans, oil, lemon juice, tahini and salt. From-scratch beans and their cooking liquid are the key to light, flavorful hummus, I've found — although you can use canned beans, they just have a flatter taste that is hard to hide, even with lots of seasonings. I typically go classic with chickpeas, but this time I used a batch of black-eyed peas that I cooked in the slow cooker over the weekend. Roasted beets add sweetness, a little more body — black-eyed peas are less dense and more watery than chickpeas, so this combination works especially well — and of course that irresistible hue. I like the nuttiness of walnut oil with the sweetness of the beets, but extra virgin olive oil is just as good if you don't have walnut oil on hand.
→ Bonus tip: this is the best & quickest way to warm up pita bread.
I served it with crudite and pita chips, but I've been finding all sorts of uses for the leftovers: slathered on a whole wheat pita stuffed with kale salad, spread on a grilled cheese sandwich, and even mixed with a little plain greek yogurt for a snack. Hummus, veggies and pita was one of my go-to, easy to pack lunches when I was in school full-time, so I'll be remembering this recipe come August when it's back to school for me.
Beet & Black-Eyed Pea Hummus
Yield: About 2 1/2 cups
{ Ingredients }
2 cups (or one 15-ounce can) cooked black-eyed peas, drained, liquid reserved
1 cup roasted beets, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons walnut oil, plus more for serving
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon tahini
{ Directions }
In the bowl of a food processor, blend the black-eyed peas, beets, walnut oil, lemon juice, tahini and 2 tablespoons of the reserved bean cooking liquid until smooth. Taste and season with salt. Serve drizzled with a little additional walnut oil.
• You can substitute chickpeas in place of the black-eyed peas, but you may need to add additional bean liquid.
• You can use extra virgin olive oil in place of the walnut oil.
• This recipe has instructions for roasting beets, if you need them.
{ 9 Comments }
sorry about the extra classes but…it will go by so quickly!! i have been in graduate school for who knows how long but im enjoying the ride. we will all get there eventually 🙂 this hummus looks wonderful, esp with beets.
Good luck! I'm just starting out prereqs to get going on my path to RD and you're an inspiration! You'll get there 🙂
Ugh, this exact same thing happened to me last year when I transferred schools! I'm enjoying the journey along the way so it's not that bad. I think the worst part is friends and family asking if you're done with school yet and "why is it taking so long just to become a nutritionist?" Grr. Hang in there and just enjoy the day to day!
Sorry to hear about the tough times you are having! I completely understand how you feel – I've gone through a similar experience at law school. On a lighter note, this hummus looks super delicious!
What a gorgeous dip! I just tried my first beet hummus at a restaurant last night, and I practically licked the bowl. This recipe couldn't have come at a better time–fate! Can't wait to try it.
Sorry to hear about the extra classes. I'm at CSUN working on the DPD classes with grad classes and the internship ahead of me, so I understand how it must feel to suddenly have 2 extra semesters. Good luck. It will all be worth it in the end. And your blog is beautiful and amazing. Congrats.
Hello Anjali! Firstly I want to say Good luck for your classes and just enjoy this time . Time and tide never stops for anyone it always move with its speed but always changes the external circumstances w.r.t time for human being. So do your work with 100% effort in present,while your best time is waiting for you in the near future. Next you have shared best unique recipe. I am going to try this in the weekend . Thanks for sharing this and Good luck for the classes.
Hello Anjali! Firstly good luck for your classes and just enjoy this time. Next you have shared best unique recipe. I am going to try this in this weekend. Thanks for sharing this and again good luck for the classes.
Hi Anjali!
I just found your blog! I was wondering – are you vegan? I am from southern cali as well and would love to ask you a few questions! I just recently decided to go vegan but am having a hard time.


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Artists are a community. Some artists are a community within a community. For example, the theater industry has communities of actors, painters, model makers, dancers, pit musicians, directors, set designers, sound techs, producers, costume designers, lighting techs, and many more. And in such communities, most artists often set themselves a part from those enterprising individuals outside of their community that see a career more as a means to make money, live well and climb a metaphorical ladder.
That's not a judgment against anyone not a part of an artistic community, mind you, but merely a reflection of the mindset of people who claim pride in being a part of the artistic circle. They are a community. But like those outside that circle, artists don't always act like one.
As a matter of fact, a lot of artists engage in much of the same community-destructive habits that those who work a 9-to-5 or multi-hustle career have. Sometimes it's their special brand of "office" politics. Sometimes it's the fruitless practice of comparing and competing. But personally, I find the worst habit to be motivation through shaming.
You know what I mean. You see it every week — if not every day — on social media, in bios on websites, and in testimonies of personal struggle. Sadly, you can even stock an entire bookshelf in your local bookstore with titles created to shame people under the guise of motivating them.
Not a week goes by where I don't see quotes or messages created to invoke a sense of guilt in someone for not acting in just the right way at just the right time with just the right attitude. It seems at every turn, judgment lies in wait to tell you how you're not achieving a goal, you're not cut out for your industry or you're not enough all because you're not perfect. (And then those same people will tell you how perfectionism is evil! Isn't that rich?)
You doubt me? How many times have you come across these types of statements:
Someday is code word for never. Stop planning and just go do it.
— the Life of Popeblo (@Popephoenix) August 10, 2017
Why do we feel compelled to engage in this toxic grandstanding in order to "support" each other? Instead of understanding someone else's journey may not be exactly like yours, people resort to shaming others for not rushing headlong into action, needling them about plans they're still researching, and harassing them about shifting priorities to meet more immediate needs. And the favorite word to use in this act is "excuse." If you're not doing what someone else has done exactly the way in which they executed it, apparently you're making an excuse.
And somehow, such an accusation is meant to fill you with so much shame, you'll immediately jump up and do exactly what the finger-wagger wants you do.
The sad part of this mindset is that for so many, it works. Not because millions are motivated to do what they said they'll do, but because millions are made to feel like they're worthless, untalented and undeserving of success because they dared to not follow the same path as the person running the shame train. It works in that it pushes so many into abandoning their goals because they now see themselves as failures for not following the paths of those deemed "successful."
Here's an idea. Instead of sharing toxic grandstanding that paints you as the quintessential achiever, why not share words of encouragement and understanding. Offer genuine support that's meant to uplift, instead of harmful phrases that's meant to tear down. Here are a few examples to illustrate:
For my creatives, hear this: your art is still art even if no one (aside from yourself) sees it.
— (Miss) Dimplez (@Dimplez) June 29, 2017
My current freelance mantra:
You ARE doing enough.
Everything is broken but it's not your fault.
You can't hustle your way out of it.
You can't worry your way out of it.
Go easy on yourself.
— Bizzy Coy (@bizzycoy) July 14, 2020
See, you can deliver the same power of motivational cheerleading without the abusive act of shaming or preying on someone else's fear of inadequacy. Because if we can't urge others to act on what they want most without the pressure of negative feedback or public shaming, then perhaps we're not the mentors, colleagues and creative game-changers that would like others to think we are.
This isn't a call for everyone to hold hands and sing "Kumbayah," but it is a call to remove this toxicity from our community … and, well … from every community. And if we can achieve the same results with encouraging words meant to inspire action, instead of with discouraging words meant to prey upon our fear of feeling less than, we will move one step closer to becoming that community that we're all so proud to be a part of.

subset: commoncrawl


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The next book from your wonderful imagination is "The Reign of Billie Blackwater." Have you always had a fascination with Pirates?Of course. I've loved them since I was young. Is it the romance of the genre or the adventure which lures you? A little of column A and a little from column B, but more so than anything, it's the revenge aspect of my novel that draws me into it. My main character Billie Blackwater is a tough, dynamic, layered character who is out for revenge and is more ruthless than any male pirate. She's a pirate, but she is also the hero. Again …how long from word one to final draft? I am still working on Billie and plan on doing another edit this year before querying for her. Now all I need to do is find an agent or publisher interested in her. Are you continually editing and altering your work? I like to write a novel and set it to the side before going back and rewriting/editing it. My work is never truly 'done'. Every time I look at it I see things I want to shift and change and improve. How do you know that it's done and there is no more to do? I find it easier for short stories. As for novels, there is a feeling of not being able to look at it anymore. Unfortunately, I haven't reached that stage with any of my novels. Is it difficult for you to let go of your creations and move on? Each story I write stays in my heart. I love some of them more than others, therefore it is easier to move on from them. It really depends on how tedious writing them is. Some stories flow smoothly out of me, others I have to fight to get them out. The ones I struggle with are easier to let go of. Do you work on more than one novel at a time? Yes. I work on several things at a time. I usually have three or four things on a go at any given time. Two novels and two short stories, one novel and three shorts. It's always a different combination. Bare is another change of pace. Tell us a little more about it? Bare is a young adult contemporary piece about eighteen year old Harlee Draker who moves to a new school for her final year of High School. The only difference is that Harlee has a condition called Alopecia Universalis, which means she doesn't have any hair. Her very strict mother makes her wear wigs to keep her condition hidden. When Harlee starts to be bullied by a girl in her new school things start to unravel and she finds herself with a very unlikely friend, a boy named Springsteen Walker, who has a few secrets of his own. What else do you have in progress at the moment? Currently, I am working on a vigilante, dysatopian novel for Young Adults. A girl named Falcon is trying to save her brother and help the 'good citizens' of Hell-A regain control of their city. It's a fun project, but has been a lot of work. Where do you see yourself professionally and personally in 2011? I see myself towing the line, trying to keep my head above water and working away. The dream to be published with always be aflame, but I know that will take a lot of hard work and time. Luckily, I have both time and the ability to work hard on my side. Music in all its forms is another passion with you, when did that develop? Who knows? I've been addicted to music since before I can remember. For as far back as I can think I've had a song on my lips. Music accompanies me throughout my life. There is a song for every mood and moment. Do you have a favorite style of music or are you eclectic in your likes and dislikes? I love pretty much anything. There is a strong admiration for music from the fifties and sixties, but I really do love all genres. For dislikes, there is little I hate. I don't listen to trance music or new country because there isn't much I can enjoy in those two areas. You have two adorable pets…tell us about them. Etnie is a magpie cat with a bad attitude and a strong dislike of people. He was a rescue kitten and I've had him for over ten years. He loves guacamole, tempura and sleeping by the fire. He dislikes people, being barked at and when you try to make him wear a collar. As for my dog, Oliver, he's a unique blend of French Bulldog and Pekingese. He's a little garbage compactor and will eat anything you put in front of him. They say cats sleep most of their lives away, but that's not true in my house, Etnie is usually awake and Oliver is always sleeping. He's lazy. Do you have a schedule that you stick to with your writing, or do you write when the muse grabs you by the throat? Since I work during the day I write by night, by default. I would love to write all the time, but unfortunately I need to pay the bills. If you had one wish to make in relationship to your writing what would it be? To be able to do it all the time. If I could make just enough money to survive off of that would be my one and only goal. I want to focus on my writing all the time. How important is the social media in promoting your work and building a platform? It's very important in developing readers and a semi-sort-of fan base. I use social media for staying in touch with other writers and keeping my finger on the pulse of what's going on in the literary world. You entered the world of Short Story writing and flash fiction during 2010 and very successfully, did you find it challenging? Up until this last year I hadn't wrote a single short story. It certainly is a craft all in its own, but once you find your groove it is a really fulfilling area. I feel writing short stories and flash fiction is harder than writing a novel in a lot of respects. You have a very limited amount of time and space to tell your reader the story, beginning, middle and end. It's a gift to be able to write something and tie it all together in a nice neat package. You post a vlog every Friday, please tell my readers how that came about and how much time it takes to prepare? I decided to jump into the vlogging world for entertainment. It was something I did on a whim that I never expected to grow, but it seems to be doing just that. I have a fair amount of subscribers now and receive views each week. It takes me about three days to complete record, edit and upload a vlog. What is your favorite novel of the three you have written and why? Actually, I have written seven novels. The Reign Of Billie Blackwater is by far the one closest to my heart because it is a subject which I love. On the other hand, I have a novel for adults called In Wolf's Clothing and it is a Boston-Gangster love story. I adore this novel because it is heartbreakingly beautiful under the layer of sadness and brutality. You travelled to Ireland in 2010, do you have plans for more travel in 2011? I am thinking about taking a trip down to Florida and going to Disney World. I would also like to take a trip over to England, but we'll have to see how funds are. The publishing industry is going through major changes with the introduction of Ebooks, do you ever envisage a time when the much loved paperback can be seen only in libraries? I think there will always be the printed word. People love to have own books. They love the smell of books. If they never exist, I will be saddened because there is something great about holding a book in my hands and being able to turn the page. I love the sound, smell and feel of books. As a special feature Tee has permitted me to upload CHAPTER 2 of "The Reign Of Billie Blackwater" for your enjoyment... Chapter Two The flags fly at half mast. They ruffle, billowing in the wind and waving to the clouds flecking the sky. The fabric snaps together one minute and slows to an intoxicating waltz the next. They seem to be mourning. Death is not new for me. It is not unheard of in my world. And yet today my heart is broken by it. Is it the suddenness? Or simply the way in which death closed its hand around our family's throat? Beside Mother I stand, with my chin raised high, my shoulders straight and nary a tear in my eye. I will not cry in front of these men and wenches. I will not let them see the hurt flowing through my veins like a rushing river, or the hurt causing my heart to rip apart at its seams. A clanging of a bell in the distance breaks the silence of the evening. The sky is red from the setting sun and the sunset shimmers on the water as I look out at the immeasurable ocean. To myself, I whisper, "Red sky at night, sailors delight." At the foot of the shore there is a boat bobbing on the water, dipping and bowing with the waves. There is nothing I want more than to board this vessel and sail away from my grief. From the crowd surrounding me, a man cries, "William Blackwater is dead." The men brushing arms with me bow their heads and silence once more fills the air, threatening to break my stony expression. I'm unaware of which men are praying for William Blackwater's soul and which are thanking God he is dead. The truth is: I care not what thoughts plague the people who've gathered here today. There is only one question I am consumed by—what will I do without my father? The evening is warm. A soft breeze caressed my hair, tickling my ear. I stare straight ahead, unmoving. I watch four men pick up the cloth swaddled stretcher holding my father and carry it to the small boat docked on the shore. They place him inside and set the boat adrift. Two men jump in at the last minute and, even from the distance I am standing, I can tell it is Thomas Crow and Charlie Trove who are accompanying Father on his last voyage. My heart skips a beat at the sight of Thomas. I haven't laid eyes on him in years. The skip is promptly replaced by jealousy. I'm resentful Mother wouldn't let me go with the men. She insisted I stand by her side, if not forever than at least on this day. What Mother wants I must obey, for that was Father's last wish. Crow and Charlie Trove start paddling the little boat with the wooden oars. I remain watching until they are but tiny specks on the horizon. No one is to leave until the blast of a musket rings out across the ocean. This gunshot will signify to us that William Blackwater, my father, has been laid to rest with the fish. His final resting place is perfect; it is the way a pirate should go; a burial at sea. A shiver runs through me. Nothing seems more peaceful to me than to rest for eternity in the black abyss of the ocean. Some of the men are starting to fidget. They play with their hats, twisting them in their hands as if trying to ring water from the fabric. My eyes pick up everything, every adjustment of a collar or shirt, every tightening of a belt about a waist. They have little discipline, unlike me who could stand motionless for hours without blinking an eye. My gaze flicks over the crowd of men and women. The faces of Father's crew are unmoving and grim. They do not twitch—not a muscle—and they do not adjust a thing. Like Mother and I, they have lost their leader, they have lost their Captain. It is the members of the other crews who are impatient to leave, eager to let the ale flow and commence the singing. Most notably restless are the Bollywog Gang and Captain Marlow's crew. Some of them have started to clear their throats and others have begun whispering to one another. Have you ever heard pirates whisper? They are about as soft as feet being dragged through gravel. I send a particularly rough looking man a sharp glare and he ceases talking, averting his eyes to the ground in an effort to hide from my gaze. I will store his face in my memory until the day I can punish him for being disrespectful. The Bollywogs are by far the worst. They are rude and vulgar and scummy looking. They simply do not care. They steal from women and would take a child's pacifier if they so pleased. There is no line they would not cross. They are only here to honour the alliance Father created with them. They are only here to save face. They are praying the Blackwater crew will hold up their end of the bargain and will remain in alliance with them once this day is over. They make me sick. Shrugging off the rudeness of the men, I search the crowd for a friendly face. At the far end of the crowd the Greevy family stands; Howl and Davey at their mother's side. Davey is staring ahead with a sombre expression, but Howl's eyes are riveted to me, watching my every move. Both boys are older than I, but my youth was spent running the streets with them, giving them a challenge or two. They are my family, they are my friends. In the last year, Howl has shot up to the sky while his brother remained short and stout. My eyes meet his, he nods, and I note the grief in the frown on his face. The Greevy boys admired my father. They wanted to be like him, nearly as much as I did. A loud shot echoes out over the ocean, piercing straight through the remnants of my heart. It amazes me that my heart can still beat when it is in pieces. Mother slips her hand into mine and squeezes once before dropping it away. She knows there is no point in showing these spectators the sorrow we are carrying around inside us. The men start to sing a sea-shanty. I know the words because Father taught them to me long ago, though it is told only pirates know them. "We live to sail the seven seas Live to be unchained and free Land does nothing for the likes of us For we drink and loot and cuss And when life is taken from me Bury me out at the sea Into the arms of my one true love Send me away with a musket shot and a hearty shove" Everyone waits until Mother and I begin to leave. It is customary to head back to a pub to have a stiff drink and tell stories of their fallen comrade. They follow us through the streets back to Swag & Ale, the tavern Mother runs. Their boot heels click on the cobblestone roadways, the sound is nearly deafening as they march in unison behind us. The whole time it takes to walk back to the pub I wish they would leave us alone. I need solitude for my misery, but I know I will not be alone for another few hours. It is well past the ninth hour of the night by the time Thomas Crow and Charlie Trove enter the bar, Charlie morose and Crow strong and surefooted. I'm standing in the doorway by the stairs that lead up to our living quarters above. When they walk through the door the crowd lets out a raucous cheer. Both men seem slightly put off by the condition of some of the men. Crow's eyes narrow at one man whose head rests upon the bar top. The man works to sit up when he notices he is being glared at. People clear out so Crow can take a seat at the counter. The barman, Harvey, slams two foaming pints of ale down in front of them. Charlie takes his and swigs it back, drinking it down in one manly gulp, but Thomas pushes his away. His black eyes scan the crowd. If I wasn't filled with misery my heart would be fluttering all over the place and my stomach would be a knot of nerves. Ever since I was a little girl I have been completely enamoured with Thomas Crow. He is ten years older than I, tall and brawny, yet graceful and strong. His eyes are coal black and rest under a brooding brow. His hair is dark as night and his mouth is wide and thin, often set in a stern line. With a straight nose, strong jaw and stubborn jaw line, he looks cruel and harsh, but there's a softness in his eyes that makes women weak in the knees. Tonight he is clean shaven, save for the tiny patch of hair under his lower lip, and I know his wardrobe has been selected to show respect to my father. Crow is now, and always has been, cloaked in mystery. Swallowing my sadness for but a moment, I admit to myself that tonight Thomas Crow is stunning. He is wearing dark pants, tucked into boots laced to his knee, and a white shirt that is rolled to his elbows. Over the crisp shirt he has a leather waistcoat tied in the front. Across my chest I brace my arms to keep my heart from beating from my chest. I stare at Thomas, willing him to glance at me. I try to think of the last time I saw him and the memory is distant. I must have only been twelve—it is hard to believe it has been four years. His gaze moves around the room and when they come to rest on me, they flicker to life. Is that surprise on his face? The corner of his mouth twitches, as if he is suppressing a smile. I remember his smile, the cheeky smirk he used to flash when he teased me as a little girl. He remains seated on the stool but raises his right hand, crosses his index and middle finger, and salutes me. Then he raises his glass and takes a sip. The gesture he has given me is the secret salute of the Blackwater crew. No one but a member should know it and if a crewmate turns their back on them they cut the two fingers off so they cannot make it anymore, forever marked a traitor. By saluting me in this fashion, Thomas is giving his upmost respect. At first, it shocks me, but I bow my head slightly and let him know I approve of how everything has unfolded. Thomas Crow has taken over Father's crew. He will now be Captain of the Willimeana and the men will answer to him alone. For the last two weeks, while my Father worked to fight against the infection in his lungs, Thomas Crow had been taking care of his boat. Now, with Father gone, I don't see anyone who would treat the ship or crew better. It is general practice for the first in command to take over, but often there are other members of the crew who will challenge the leadership, sometimes they must fight to the death. I highly doubt anyone will challenge Thomas, for Crow is not one to be reckoned with. While Thomas drinks his ale, his eyes don't stray from my face until two burly men distract him away. He shifts his attention and I take the moment to slip upstairs to check on Mother. I find her curled on her bed, bundled in one of Father's shirts, her skirts and petticoat a pile by the bed. Even her corset has been thrown to the side. Her eyes are closed. Her rich auburn hair, threaded with gray, is a mess around her face. She doesn't react when I enter and I wonder if she's heard me. She does not move, but remains curled in a ball, her face buried in the copious fabric she's wrapped about herself. It is as if she is in a cocoon. This is the first time I realize how small my mother is. Her tiny shoulders come in to a protruding collarbone and her bitty waist sits above slim legs. Mother is not tall, she barely clears my chest. I took after my father and stand at five foot seven. Regardless of her size, she is a sharp-tongued woman with a quick temper. She backs her mouth up with a pistol she keeps hidden under the bar counter. Anyone would be stupid to test her draw, for her hand is nearly as quick as her judgement. Once she has her mind made up there is no changing it. Granted, the men do not come into Swag & Ale looking for trouble; most of them don't want to be on the bad side of the Blackwater crew. Without warning, Mother's lids flick open and she stares at me with her jade irises. They don't move, but I know she is thinking; the cogs in her brain are always turning. In the smallest voice I have ever heard her use, she says, "I wanted to be close to him." She pulls the shirt tighter around her, shrinking into the fabric. Her words break my heart. I lock the door behind me, move over to the bed and crawl on top of the blankets. Shifting closer to her, she reaches out for me and takes me in her arms, holding me against her. Even though I am far larger than she, I still feel like a child in her embrace. Father's scent still lingers on the shirt. It smells of the salty sea, fire, and danger. Its aroma is that of adventure and I have this overwhelming urge to eat it, to shove it in my mouth so it becomes a part of me. The sounds of the men becoming drunk below drift up through the floorboards; they yell, they cheer and break into song. To me this is not an appropriate way to grieve, and yet, it seems fitting. Suddenly, I wish I was drunk. The drink would numb the pain filtering through me. If only for an hour, it would still be appreciated, a moment of freedom away from my misery. When I'm not paying attention, sleep takes me by the hand and leads me away from my grief, but for only a moment and when I open my eyes the hurt is still thriving inside me. I want my father back. Lets plug your sites...Website http://tltyson.weebly.com/ Vlog http://www.youtube.com/user/ThatGirlTyson?feature=mhum Thanks for joining me here today T. I hope 2011 sees all your hopes and dreams come to fruition.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Interview wth T. L Tyson author of "Seeking Eleanor" and so much more.
I'm delighted to have TLTyson join me this week for the featured interview. Welcome, Tee. So, let's get the geography sorted, where do you live? I live on the West Coast of Canada in the beautiful Province of British Columbia. Where were you born and raised? Same place. When did you know deep in your soul that you wanted to write? Ever since I was a little girl. I've always had a vivid imagination. At first it was an outlet, then it was an escape and now it's part of my daily routine. Has it become an addiction? I would say so. To be honest, I don't have a choice in the matter. It's something I have to do, not necessarily something I want to do. When did you begin writing "Seeking Eleanor"? I began Seeking Eleanor September 2008. Seeking Eleanor is book one. How many books do you envisage in the series? It's a seven book series. I have wrote three of the books in the Sought-After Series. How long did Seeking Eleanor take to write from word one till final draft? The truth is, I don't know if I have finished the final draft. It only took me three months to write initially and since then I've rewrote it about four times. I've set it aside for awhile, but I think there is another rewrite in its future. Agents don't seem to want it at the moment, young adult is hard to break into, but that's not to say it won't find a place in the future. You refer to your lifestyle in your bio as 'hermit-like' do you lock yourself away when you write? My general life is hermit-esque. I love solitude and lead a very simple life. It's not so much when I write, but all the time. I do go out when need be, but I much prefer to stay home and create. Of course, the daily job cuts into that plan. Do you answer the door or the telephone? No one knocks on my door and very few people call me. If someone calls, I decide if I will answer depending on who it is. But like I said, very limited amount of calls or door knocks come my way. You made the editors desk on Authonomy, that is no mean feat. How did you find the Authonomy experience? I loved it. Authonomy provided for me something I will forever be grateful for, a community of writers. Without these writers I would be alone in my creative world. It's nice to know others exist who are similar to me—you know the ones who feel like their head will explode if they don't tap the keys. Would you recommend it for others wanting feedback on their work? I don't know what the site is like right now, but when I was climbing the ranks I received a lot of comments, critiques and help. What I would caution to anyone who loads their work on Authonomy is not to cater to everyone. Go in knowing what you want from the site and don't change things just because someone suggests it. You know your writing; don't let other dictate how you 'should' write.
Posted by Soooz Burke at 9:00 AM
3 comments:
I love Tina and all her work.ReplyDelete
Go Tee! Great interview. I see a lot of myself in the "writing addiction" portions.ReplyDelete
Tee is just awesome! Thank you for posting the interview.... SEVEN novels? Now even more awestruck.ReplyDelete
Hey, Tee - come to England!!!! WAY better than DisneyWorld... (well, mebbe). jx
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Converse Summer Photo Contest
You already know that specific shoes are designed for specific sports, activities, and hobbies. There are shoes for walking, running, hiking, biking, dancing, climbing; really any niche category you could think of. But, what if we told you that your sneakers are designed for whatever you are willing to explore in them. Who says you can't surf, or climb, or traverse over a river for that matter while wearing your Cons? Change your mindset. With sneakers, the only limitation is yourself.
With summer in full swing, Converse and Finish Line have come together to celebrate our favorite time of year with a photo contest of epic proportions.
Tap into your imagination, and snap a photo of yourself wearing your Converse in some epic, unlikely, and awesome situation that captures the freedom of summer. By showing off your creativity, you'll be automatically entered to WIN a dream trip to anywhere in the U.S.A.
That's right, it's that easy…the more unimaginable, the more adventuresome the photo, the better your chances of winning the trip are, and don't forget to tell us about why your shot is worthy of a dream trip.
The top 30 photos with the most votes will be reviewed by Finish Line to determine a winner, so get those photos out into the viral sphere.
Photo submissions for the grand prize trip must be submitted between July 1st and July 14th. As an added bonus, when you vote each day on your favorite entries from July 15th to July 21st, you'll be entered to win one pair of Converse that we'll be giving away each day within that time frame. So make sure to vote and vote often.
Good luck, and happy shooting!


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The past few weeks have been spent working, reading up on publishing and the changing trends in the industry, other agents' blogs, and more work-related stuff. Never before has the power of social media been impressed upon me with such clout. Really, it's terrifying for someone like me. I've resisted blogging, Kindle, and Twitter for so long. But work has finally forced me to succumb to all three of the above.
In a climate where even writers have to be well-versed in the art of blogging, twittering, and maintaining a stellar website/newsletter/database…to be noticed by agents/editors/publishers…it is important, now more than ever, for me to do the same.
Which brings me to a somewhat related thought. For all you fiction and non-fiction writers out there, create a platform. I know the word robs you of the very essence of writers of the bygone era. But since the economy has taken a hit, despite quality fiction being produced every year, the role of marketing and publicity falls more and more within the writer's domain. So be alert, creative, and a technophobe. We are familiar with the idea of non-fiction writers having to do a proposal and submitting pages and pages showing market analysis and potential for their book, along with various speakers engagements, interviews, and other modes of gathering a huge following (these days editors don't just expect the proposal and sample chapters anymore. They expect the proposal along with a COMPLETED manuscript- in order to show them how committed you are to your project). But today, even fiction writers are asked to write a proposal. Not in as much detail, but enough to show how well-versed they are with social media outlets, how many followers they have (which will make marketing their book that much easier), and comparisons with authors that have books similar/yet different to the ones they've written.
For me, blogging and twitter are the best ways to network with other like-minded people, writers, and people in the industry. It is also lighter on my brain and fingers. While I enjoy blogging, after reading manuscripts and editing all day, the idea of writing a blog post makes my writer's juices shrivel and beg for a respite. That is when Twitter is a godsend. Where else can I share my thoughts in 140 word or less? 🙂 @FriscoDreamer (my Twitter name!)
Lesson for the day?
Embrace social media forums! Be aggressive about them! Enjoy them! Pay attention to what kind of books people are looking for/buying/publishing. Pay attention to what books have outrun their cycle (vampires, fairies, dystopian,etc…anyone?) And do not stop writing!
Signing off! Have a good evening folks!


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Brett's descent into addiction started out as a bundle of teenage angst and an identity built around rebellion. Skateboarding turned into smoking cigarettes, which turned into smoking Marijuana.
"I found my identity as the bad kid," Brett said.
"For so long, I thought that drugs were cool. I thought that making money was cool. My whole perception was wrong," Brett said.
His rock bottom happened when he overdosed shortly after leaving prison on the day of his brother's wedding.
"My mother almost had to bury and marry a son in the same day," Brett said.
"That took a lot of courage to finally walk in and realize that I was defeated by this disease. My probation gave me another chance. I had been to prison twice. I had been to 10 rehabs at that point. I had no other choice," Brett said.
One of the principal factors that helped get him to the point where he realized he couldn't continue in his addiction—beyond his rock bottom moment was his family going to Al-Anon programs.
"I can't continue to use if I'm not being enabled by somebody," Brett said.
His parents learned to take care of themselves. At first he was resentful when they began the program, but he was able to follow shortly after when he wasn't enabled by them anymore.
Forming a New Identity from the Inside, Out
"My new identity really has nothing to do with these outside things. It has more to do with who I am and who God made me to be," Brett said.
One of the things that gives him purpose in life now is helping kids who are in recovery.
"I believe my purpose in the program is to make recovery look cool," Brett said.
Brett feels obligated to gain wisdom from the older guys and pass it on to the younger people. "I might attract them with my humor and intellect. I have things to offer these days, not stuff to hide behind," Brett said.
Giving Back, Moving Forward
Brett wants to encourage people who have loved ones struggling in addiction that the person isn't doing drugs because they want to hurt them. He's celebrating six months sober and doesn't want to go back to that life.
"I'm not going to lie and say drugs aren't fun. It just was a managing thing. I was doing them just to get by," Brett said.
However, now Brett realizes that he has a higher purpose, connected to the youth and to his higher power.
When he talks to people who struggle in addiction, he tries to put himself back in their shoes in order to relate to them.
"I'm in a place today where [just] yesterday I had a few mothers asking for suggestions and help. Before that it was my mother calling frantic. Today I get to sit in front of these cameras and carry a message of hope," Brett said.


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"I would like people to make their choice knowing the issues and do as I do when I reach for my glass of wine and think, 'Do I want my glass of wine or do I want to raise my risk of breast cancer?'. And I take a decision each time I have a glass."
If that's how she wants to see out her miserable existence, she's welcome to it. I've written a piece for the Spectator in which I argue that she can throw as many taxes and bans at us as she likes. She thinks about cancer whenever she sees a glass of wine. We don't, so we win.
Do have a read.


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I'm very happy to announce the fourth and probably final release of
XDP. This one features some nice graphical changes and has the VMU
loading bug fixed. It's currently being uploaded over my dialup
connection which will take a while, but download links will appear when
it is finished.
New version of XDP?
This forum is for discussion pertaining to homebrew and indie software for the Dreamcast, such as homebrew games, emulators/interpreters, and other homebrew software/applications. Porting requests and developmental ideas are not to be made here; you can make those here. If you need any help burning discs for homebrew software, this is the place to ask as well.
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5 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Maturion
- Moderator
- Posts: 619
- Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:52 pm
- Location: Munich, Germany
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- Contact:
New version of XDP?
I am a member of the XDP mailing list and yesterday I got this email:
- Basil
- Insane DCEmu
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:04 am
- Has liked: 5 times
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Re: New version of XDP?
Yeah ! They`ve updated the site too .
Buy more independent Dreamcast games:
https://www.goatstore.com/Products/Sega ... elopments/
https://www.goatstore.com/Products/Sega ... elopments/
- dream devil
- DCEmu Freak
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Re: New version of XDP?
XDP is the best web browser for dc. xdp has been made with a great and dedicated work.
- Somewhat Dumb Knight
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Re: New version of XDP?
So is the ban on XDP lifted again? I understand it, but it seems almost back-asswards.
- az_bont
- Administrator
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Re: New version of XDP?
It probably isn't all too accurate ot talk of bans on discussion of particular software as our last few attempts at clarifying the rules on this sort of thing have stalled, as we've been unable to agree even on what the current rules permit. The only action related to XDP that has so far been taken is that the previously-deleted 80-odd page thread on it was restored from deletion about a year-and-a-half ago.Sir Savant wrote:So is the ban on XDP lifted again? I understand it, but it seems almost back-asswards.
Of late here's been a general shift towards a more tolerant attitude as regards some of the previously more-contraversial elements of the Dreamcast scene (and those of other consoles as well)--it probably wouldn't take much effort to find a dozen other things we have since permitted discussion of with little fuss that could probably be considered more objectionable from a legal and/or moral standpoint, but given the forums' diminishing popularity and Sega's complete lack of interest in the Dreamcast at this point, I doubt we need be that concerned.
Sick of sub-par Dreamcast web browsers that fail to impress? Visit Psilocybin Dreams!
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5 posts • Page 1 of 1


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A Day on the Set of Breaking Bad – Part II
This is the second and final part of AMC.com's report from the set of Breaking Bad. Click here to read Part I.
Over lunch, Michael Slovis tells me that the seriousness and heightened stakes of these final episodes of Breaking Bad has had a noticeable effect on the crew. "This set is usually a very congenial, easy-going place to work," he says. "Now there's a wistfulness that indeed we're in the last episodes, and after this we're all going to go our separate ways."
What's more, he says, there's a stress level that comes with a desire to stick the landing; to make sure the ending is what the writers envisioned and the fans are hoping for. "It's been the credo of this show to not leave any open ends at all," he says. "Everything gets summed up. All actions have consequences, and every action will be met with an even greater reaction. So something you saw in Season 3 and maybe forgot about may just resurface in Season 5."
Endings are indeed on the forefront of peoples' minds. Between takes, Anna Gunn wipes a tear as she tells me, "It's been so intense. I feel like my head is going to explode." Aaron Paul swears he's OK for now, but knows that when the wrap date gets closer, "I'm gonna be a mess." Bryan Cranston admits that after six years and sixty-two episodes, he could even go for another season — "But I respect Vince Gilligan's decision not to draw the story out and dilute it," he adds. "And now that it's ending, every episode is just…" Here he slaps his hands together and then shoots his right arm forward, mimicking a car speeding away at full throttle.
By late afternoon, cast and crew are in a rhythm. The cameras have moved from the stage to the floor and are circling the cast like prey. They'll focus on one character for a number of takes, then Slovis will cut and reposition on the next character to do it all over again. Throughout, Hutchison watches each performance and gives notes. Even though the scene's been acted out dozens of times, it's not until she sees an actor's face close up in a monitor that she can truly gauge how a line is being delivered.
Slovis calls cut and the action stops. Outside, lighting techs are shining huge lights through the windows to replace the fading daylight. Bryan Cranston doesn't even notice the switch. "It's like a casino!" he tells me when I remark how natural the streaming rays look.
The extras — even the ones who paced themselves — are becoming visibly exhausted at the sight of the food in front of them. Dean Norris leans back in his chair and stretches his arms wide. "Guys," he announces, surveying the restaurant, "the good news is we're about a third of the way done." Everybody laughs.
Albert and Slovis take a seat in "video village" — where director's chairs face an array of monitors that stream the camera angles. They're two veterans enjoying a brief respite from the frenzy. Tomorrow, production on the episode will wrap and Albert will leave Albuquerque for another job while Slovis resumes his duties as DP. "We're both due for new adventures," Albert tells Slovis.
"That's the way I look at it," Slovis agrees. "I'm looking forward to seeing what doors open for me."
That is, after one more door opens — or rather bursts open. It's the following day and the crew is back to the relative comfort and ease of Albuquerque Studios, where Breaking Bad resides across two different sound stages that house the White house, Jesse's house, portions of the car wash, remnants of the Superlab (RIP) and Saul's office among other interior sets.
The level of detail in the sets is astounding: Sitting on Saul's desk (in front of the infamous U.S. Constitution wallpaper) are stacks of legal briefs all with Saul's name on them. Hanging on the wall is a fully-written newspaper article extolling the virtues of one of Albuquerque's finest litigators. Stewart Lyons explains the reason is two-fold: First, the era of HDTVs has fundamentally changed the way set designers approach their craft: "It used to be you could get away with less detail," he says, "now everything has to stand up to scrutiny." The other factor is Vince Gilligan's meticulousness. Even if viewers can't see it, Gilligan wants the details done right.
Slovis needs to film only one more scene to complete his episode: one of the lead actors kicking down a door (you'll have to wait 'til this summer to find out which actor, and which door). The construction crews have prepared the door and Slovis has positioned the camera low inside the room. Though I'm standing behind the camera, I'm asked to leave — they're not sure exactly how many splinters the doorframe will break into or which way they'll go, so it's safer for me to be behind the monitors.
Off-camera, the actor begins grunting loudly, psyching himself up. Slovis asks if he's ready; the actor grunts louder: He's ready. Slovis yells "Action!" The door explodes on its hinges as wood splinters indeed fly everywhere. The actor storms into the room. The cameras cut. "There's one for [his] action reel," Slovis laughs.
And just like that, the episode is in the can.
Click here to read an interview with Breaking Bad's Executive Producer and Director Michelle MacLaren.Read More


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Salisbury Trench
Organiser's Comments
What a glorious day in the Forest! It seemed that most competitors enjoyed themselves and found Hugh's courses demanding yet fun and engrossing. My thanks go to the helpers today who gave up their time to make this day a success. They were: Julis Loring,Norman Wilson, Julian Hartwell, Ian Moran, Tamsin Moran, Toby Tyrell, Veronica Barette, Robin Smith, Mike Frizzell, Vicky Barkaway, Barry Sowerbutts and last but not least my long suffering mentor, Kevin Bracher.
Thank you and look forward to seeing you on 4th November for the 51st November Classic.
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CALGARY – Alberta's energy regulator is toughening rules to reduce the potential negative effects of energy industry gas emissions.
The new rules will apply to industry practices such as flaring, venting and burning off gas and are to go into effect June 16.
Jim Ellis, president of the Alberta Energy Regulator, said the changes will help ensure the safe and environmentally responsible development of energy resources.
"Revisions to Directive 060 give the AER tools to require gas conservation, regardless of the economics of an oil and gas operation and addresses off-lease hydrocarbon odours," Ellis said in a release Tuesday.
The changes give the regulator the power to order the mandatory conservation of gases for specific areas and projects.
The regulator can also take action against a company if odours from a project are determined to be a problem.
The change is partly the result of hearings into odours caused by oilsands processing in northwestern Alberta that prompted some families to move away from the area.
Ellis said the regulator has also accepted most of the recommendations in a report released in March by a panel into complaints that Baytex Energy Inc.'s (TSX:BTE) operations are creating powerful gassy smells in the Peace River area.
The report said steps must be taken to eliminate gas venting, reduce flaring and conserve all produced gas in the area where feasible because it could cause health problems.
"We will take immediate action to address the panel's recommendations and work to address odour issues in the Peace River area," Ellis said.
The regulator said existing heavy oil and bitumen operations in the region must capture all produced gas by Aug. 15.
New operations must have gas controls in place by May 15.
Calgary-based Baytex uses an unusual method of heating bitumen in above-ground tanks to extract oil. Four other companies in the area use a similar process.
Last month Baytex said the company is moving to install equipment to capture emissions from the tanks.
The regulator did not accept two recommendations in the report that pertain directly to health, saying they fall within the provincial government's jurisdiction.
One recommendation calls on the Alberta government to conduct studies to better understand the potential link between effects of oilsands odours and emissions on human health.
The other recommends that the government help local physicians consult with environmental health experts to help diagnose symptoms associated with odours and emissions from oilsands operations, and to help physicians provide proper treatment.
"The Alberta Energy regulator supports both of these recommendations, however, the AER does not have jurisdiction over health-related matters," reads the regulator's response to the report.
"The AER will collaborate with Alberta Health on these recommendations to deliver a response."
An Alberta Health official said these two recommendations are under review.
— By John Cotter in Edmonton


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Åbo(redirected from ABO system)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Wikipedia.
Related to ABO system: Rh factor, Rh system, Blood Types
Åbo,Finland: see TurkuTurku
, Swed. Åbo, city (1998 pop. 170,931), capital of Western Finland prov., SW Finland, at the mouth of the Aurajoki River on the Baltic Sea. The center of the fertile agricultural region of SW Finland, it is also the country's largest winter port and an
..... Click the link for more information. .


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In today's fast-paced world the challenge to stay organised is even more present. Smythson's collection of modern day desk accessories will keep your desk looking sleek and feeling tidy.
- Brown letter rack in crocodile embossed calf leather
- Three dividers for stationery and pens
- Made in Spain
- Dimensions: W33 x H24 x D10cm / W13 x H9.5 x D4"
- Need help? Contact us
One of Smythson's most iconic collections, each Mara piece is instantly identified by its embossed crocodile print calf leather. This season sees a host of notebooks, accessories and bags reimagined in earthy shades of mahogany and ochre, alongside a cool sea green and striking sky blue.
Mara Letter Rack
Sorry this item is currently out of stock. For more information or to check in-store availability please contact our Customer Service Team on +44(0) 2076298558


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Black Lotus Yoga Studio is located in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia….
61 Warren Rd, Marrickville, Sydney, Australia 2204
The yoga studio is in the garden behind the big, old house. Walk down Stinson Lane along the side of the house and the long wooden fence. About halfway down you'll see a wooden gate with the studio logo painted on it. If there is a class starting soon the gate will be unlocked. Press the button, push the gate open …. and come in.
To contact us via email: email@example.com
Or call the mobile: 0416 228 213


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Every time I think about applying to anything—a job, an apartment, or a school—my mind just goes blank and refuses to move forward. It's like I'm staring at a huge ocean, with no idea how to swim. Faced with that ocean, there's no way I'd want to step into its water—which is why a lot of times, my applications never even get started.
Hopefully, this isn't how you feel right now as you work on your college applications. If it is, don't worry—you're not alone. While it may feel like you are swimming in deeper waters than you're comfortable with and no one is around to throw you a buoy, the truth is that there are a lot of people who are willing and eager to help you. As you begin your college applications, you don't have to feel like it's all on you to stay afloat—this isn't a sink-or-swim type of scenario. Sometimes you can only find success by looking to those around you for assistance. While you may feel like an inexperienced swimmer now as you start your college applications, learning from those around you can boost both your confidence and your strengthen your ability to brace the waves.
Your Resources to Help You "Swim"
There are a lot of different people to get advice from when you're choosing and applying for universities. I've been able to look back and see that I missed opportunities for guidance either because I didn't know about them in high school or I didn't appreciate them for what they were worth. Seeing this, I've put together a quick list of a few people you can turn to for help when it comes to taking this important step into the future.
Family and Friends
This one may seem a little obvious, but I never thought of my family as a resource when I was trying to fill out my applications (other than for reviewing my essays). I definitely could have gotten more help than that. To return to the ocean analogy, I basically chose to wade into the water without even asking for tips from those already swimming. You'd think I would have wanted to learn how to swim from them before jumping in, right? But for whatever reason, I thought I was on my own.
The benefit to asking family and friends is that anyone who has been to college before will be able to give you at least some advice for how to prepare for and apply to a university. And even those who haven't been to college might be able to tell you a thing or two about how to present yourself well on paper. So take advantage of that! They'll be able to tell you what helped them and what didn't. Then you can tailor your own application based on what you learn from them.
Teachers, Counselors, and Leaders
Basically anyone you know who has already served some sort of teacher or mentor role for you can help as you apply to college. These people are all around you, whether that be in school, in sports, in clubs, in church, or anywhere else. But the only way you can get their help is by asking them for it, which is something I was never willing to do. Call it shyness, or just plain pride, but I never thought to ask the many leaders I had already learned so much from. In essence, I had plenty of swim instructors to teach me, but I never even showed up to swim class.
Think of it, if I had just asked my humanities teacher about his thoughts on the humanities major (my area of study), I could have known so much more about what I was really getting myself into Or if I had asked any of my church leaders who went to the schools I was applying to, I could have made my essays so much more specific and focused. It's questions like these that will help you with your own college application, and I'm sure you have plenty of people in your life that are willing to offer answers.
University Writing Centers
I never even knew that these existed before I went to college, but believe it or not, writing centers are a great place to go for help with your application. Now, I know that not everyone will have easy access to these facilities, but if you happen to live anywhere close to a university (it doesn't have to be the one you are applying to), it would be worth it to check out their writing center. A lot of times, writing centers will help not only university students, but also anyone in the community—this is a resource many have no idea they can use! And truthfully, writing centers can save your life sometimes.
The reason that I even know about this option is because I work at my own university's writing center. I have personally met with a few people who were applying for college and wanted me to take a look at their application essays. The great thing about this is that writing centers have trained tutors who have been taught what to look for in all types of writing—including personal statements. So why not look up a writing center and give them a call?
It's Time to Jump into that Ocean
Even with just this short list here, it's already pretty apparent that when it comes to college applications, there's no reason to face them alone. Your friends, your teachers, your neighbors, and your dog all want to see you succeed, and you have the resources to do so! As you look out at that unknown ocean of applications, know that you can and will be able to swim through it. With all of the helpful people around you, there's no reason to fear you might sink. Instead, you can be confident that you'll swim, and swim strong.
Want more application advice? CollegeVine can also help with their mentorship program. Check it out here!
Christina Crosland
Latest posts by Christina Crosland (see all)
- The Midterm Slumps: 10 Things to Do to Keep Going Strong - January 14, 2018
- What I Wish I Did in High School - December 5, 2017
- High School Holiday-Itis. You've Got It. Now How Do You Get Over It? - November 27, 2017


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(Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N) Chief Executive John Stumpf's pay increased 8 percent in 2012, making him one of the industry's best-paid leaders, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday.
Stumpf received $19.3 million in compensation, comprising a $4 million bonus, $12.5 million in performance-based stock grants and $2.8 million in salary , after the No. 4 U.S. bank by assets hauled in record profits. For 2011, Stumpf received total compensation of $17.9 million.
While many of its rivals suffered missteps, San Francisco-based Wells emerged from the 2007-2009 financial crisis as the nation's biggest mortgage lender and a coast-to-coast retail bank after buying Wachovia Corp. Berkshire Hathaway Inc's (BRKa.N) Warren Buffett is the bank's biggest investor, owning 8.8 percent of its shares, according to the filing.
Wells posted $18.9 billion in earnings in 2012, up 19 percent from the previous year, but investors are worried the bank will have trouble repeating the performance amid a decline in mortgage refinancings. The bank's shares rose 24 percent in 2012, below the 30 percent increase in the KBW Bank Index.
Stumpf is landing at the top of the banker pay scale as some of his peers are getting their paychecks docked.
Morgan Stanley (MS.N) CEO James Gorman's total pay for 2012 fell 7 percent to $9.75 million, while JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) awarded CEO Jamie Dimon $11.5 million after slashing his bonus in half after the bank lost billions on disastrous trades by its Chief Investment Office.
Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) chief executive Brian Moynihan, however, received a 73 percent raise that brought his total compensation to $12.1 million in 2012. New Citigroup CEO Mike Corbat made $11.5 million in 2012 for his work leading the bank and for his previous role as head of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) CEO Lloyd Blankfein has received stock awards worth $13.3 million as part of his 2012 bonus, but the rest of his pay hasn't been disclosed.
Thursday's proxy filing also disclosed 2012 compensation for other top Wells Fargo executives. Wholesale banking head David Hoyt made $10.65 million, followed by Chief Financial Officer Tim Sloan ($8.8 million), community banking head Carrie Tolstedt ($8.73 million), consumer lending executive Avid Modjtabai ($8.43 million) and wealth, brokerage and retirement head David Carroll ($8.43 million).
In a venue change, Wells' annual stockholder meeting will be held April 23 in Salt Lake City, Utah, according to the filing. Last year's gathering near the bank's San Francisco headquarters was disrupted by demonstrators protesting foreclosures and other issues. Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) is also holding its annual meeting in Salt Lake City this spring. <ID: nL1N0C56IZ>
Before this year, Wells had held its last 14 meetings in San Francisco. Prior to Norwest Corp's 1998 acquisition of Wells Fargo, Norwest held meetings in its hometown of Minneapolis, and Wells sometimes held meetings in other California cities.
Holding the meeting in Salt Lake City "is consistent with the company's ongoing practice of holding many major company meetings outside of San Francisco in cities where we enjoy a significant presence of customers, team members and operations," bank spokeswoman Bridget Braxton said.
At the meeting, stockholders will vote on whether the bank should have an independent chairman, a proposal rejected last year. Stumpf currently holds both the CEO and chairman positions.
Shareholders will also vote on the election of 14 directors. Current board members Nicholas Moore and Philip Quigley aren't standing for re-election.
Reporting by Rick Rothacker in Charlotte, N.C.; Editing by Stephen Coates


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I bought my new house with garden last May/June 2015 and bought a huge selection of tools from a range of famous gardening brands. I did some research and bought the larger items mainly from Bulldog and Chillington. However I couldn't really see a big difference between the hand tools so bought these from a range of companies. 1 year on I have binned a number of items which have been damaged or broke, accidentally put some in the green bin and then these are what I have left below, so I thought I would review the performance of these tools over the last year since I bought the house and garden.
I should state that the garden hadn't been touched for 20 years and different parts of the garden have different soil types, some parts are sandy, some are hard clay and others are normal. The area had previously been used to mine sand, so obviously the garden is very sandy and has a ridiculous number or pebbles everywhere, so everytime I dig I always hit a pebble or two! The garden also contained a lot of buried concrete and rubble! An annoying amount. In addition the garden was completely overtaken by brambles, I must of progressively dug up over 200 brambles root balls and filled a skip and made endless trips to the tip….so as you can imagine my hand tools have been put through a lot! They have either hit pebbles, concrete or thick tough bramble root balls! Hence some of the tools haven't withstood the test of time. I have dug up bin fulls of pebbles and boulders that I have now decided to make a dry river in order to use them and make a feature out of them 😀
Over the next few weeks I will be doing an in depth reviews of the different gardening tools as follows, so watch this space:
1. Part 1 Hand Garden Hoes
2. Part 2 Hand Patio weeder/ scrapers
3. Part 3 Hand shrub rake
4. Part 4 Hand dibber & Widget
5.Part 5 Hand Fork and hand Trowels
6. Part 6: Hand Secateurs and hand Cutting tools


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War on Drugs
May 2013
The Longest War that America Lost: a Legal and Economic Analysis of the Inefficiency of Anti-Cannabis Legislation and Prosecution
Americans love to talk about their freedoms. Liberty forever, justice forever, equality forever and freedom forever are the phrases on a current series of United States postal stamps under a picture of our nation's flag. Most Americans are quick to cite the Constitution and the Bill of Rights on a plethora of political and social issues whether it is abortion, gay marriage, or international affairs. Our favorite Amendment is probably the First with widespread emphasis on the "freedom of speech" notion:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances (U.S. Const. amend. I).
I would venture to say that most Americans use the "freedom of speech" clause to encompass and justify everything. After the Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), one can even burn the American flag as an expression of their speech.
Another popular Amendment is the Fifth, which includes the text that "No person shall be… deprived of life, liberty, or property… nor shall private property be taken for public use" (U.S. Const. amend. V).
So with all these emphases on Americans' personal freedoms, which we very much take pride in as we well should, why is it illegal to privately consume cannabis and why does the discussion of personal freedom dissipate when one broaches the subject? It seems that every citizen or politician who supports the plant's legalization is quickly labeled as a 'pothead' or 'deadbeat hippie' due to the overwhelming amount of propaganda produced in the past seventy-odd years. Mainstream media fails to go beyond the stereotype and objectively explore the economic rationale, or lack thereof, behind legislation related to cannabis. It is completely inefficient, from both legal and economic perspectives, for the United States government to maintain its 'War on Drugs' with respect to personal consumption and possession of cannabis.
According to the World Health Organization, "cannabis is a generic term used to denote the several psychoactive preparations of the plant cannabis sativa. The major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is ∆-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)" (World Health Organization). The plant, which is native to Central and South Asia, though currently cultivated around the world, is used for its fibers to create hemp, its seed oil, medicinal purposes, and, of course, recreational consumption. Most developed countries started passing legislation to outlaw cannabis use in the early 1900s, though medical consequences were unknown and remain inconclusive. Chronic health effects of cannabis use, according to the World Health Organization, are primarily related to respiratory aggravation. Reputable medical journals, such as the Lancet, always include caveats in their findings regarding the effects of cannabis use due to the lack of reliable study pools. Many cannabis users also consume alcohol and/or tobacco, which taint the reliability of results. Nonetheless, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that cannabis use causes birth defects, long-term mental incapacity, cancer, or any other physical ailments. The American Medical Association even denounced the United States' first prohibitive legislation in 1937 (Woodward).
The United States criminalized the possession and use of cannabis under Federal law in 1937 with the Marihuana Tax Act, Pub. 238, 75th Congress, 50 Stat. 551 (1937). President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed this law in response to Western states' complaints of Mexican laborers infringing on white employment opportunities and following the 1936 release of an anti-marijuana film called Reefer Madness. The tax effectively prohibited the use of marijuana because the penalty for avoiding it was an exorbitant fine and long prison sentence. President Richard Nixon declared a 'War on Drugs' in 1971 to gain voter support. At the time, cannabis use was associated with social and political activism. The strong voice of the rebellious, younger generation prompted the government's aggressive response. Politicians wanted to rally support with a tough stance on crime. Spending on this war accelerated further under President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
States quickly followed suit by implementing severe consequences for cannabis use and distribution. Though politicians claim high moral ground by 'saving' the population from drugs and drug-related crime, the practice is drastically different from the rhetoric.
Over time, the 'War on Drugs' has developed into an attack on human rights. In terms of legality, proponents of cannabis legalization question the constitutionality of the Federal government placing restrictions on States and individuals. Even the government's initial anti-cannabis law was found to be unconstitutional in the case Leary v. United States, 395 U.S. 6 (1969) as it violated Fifth Amendment rights. However, the government responded with the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 to continue the prohibition of cannabis and other substances. In the case Gonzales v. Raich, 545 U.S. 1 (2005) regarding medical marijuana and the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor argued that the concept of federalism reserves the right to prohibit drugs for the State. Returning to the Bill of Rights, restricting the personal use of cannabis violates our Amendment rights on a number of premises: freedom of religion and conscience and the right to due process. Freedom of religion certainly attracted many immigrants to America. We have the right to believe in whatever we want and are not required to formally associate with any particular religious organization. Consuming marijuana could be part of one's spiritual practice and the government has no right to interfere with an individual's conscience. A few cases in the United States have argued that cannabis prohibition is not compliant with our right to substantive due process. There is no clear benefit to the State by restricting its constituents' liberties in this respect. Furthermore, it cannot be shown that one's cannabis consumption harms another or infringes on others' rights.
Last and most importantly, the 'War on Drugs' violates the Constitution's fundamental principle of equality. Not only is current legislation discriminate in which substances to target (alcohol and tobacco are absolutely proven to be more harmful to the individual and society than cannabis though they are obviously legal), but also it is severely discriminatory in the offenders it targets.
Even though White and Black people use drugs at approximately equal rates, Black people are 10.1 times more likely to be sent to prison for drug offenses. Today, Black Americans represent 56 percent of those incarcerated for drug crimes, even though they comprise only 13 percent of the U.S. population (The House I Live In).
It is appalling to see this level of racial profiling and it causes a perpetual cycle of desperate crime and repeated imprisonment for generations and for entire communities.
In addition to the moral implications of racist persecution, the entire structure is inefficient and perverse. It begins with policemen who are incentivized to capture as many criminals as possible: no matter if it is for murder or selling a gram of marijuana. This has resulted in swelling prison populations.
In 2009 nearly 1.7 million people were arrested in the U.S. for nonviolent drug charges – more than half of those arrests were for marijuana possession alone. … Today, there are more people behind bars for nonviolent drug offenses than were incarcerated for all crimes, violent or otherwise, in 1970 (The House I Live In).
Then, there is the privatization of prison institutions. Private firms capitalized on the 'War on Drugs' and the government's inability to fund the exponential increase in prisoners. There is a clear conflict of interest when policemen and prison operators are the ones benefiting from increased incarceration. This is not a scenario where one can argue society as a whole benefits from a criminal's imprisonment when the supposed crimes are nonviolent and involved personal possession. "Since declaring a war on drugs 40 years ago, the United States has … arrested more than 45 million people, and racked up the highest incarceration rate in the world" (The House I Live In).
The legal ambiguity and unconstitutionality of the 'War on Drugs' continue to be debated in courtrooms across the country. Fortunately, it seems the social tide is changing as well and modern Americans are less susceptible to anti-cannabis propaganda that has no evidentiary proof.
In the latest nationwide survey of 1,501 people polled in mid-March about legalizing marijuana, 52 percent of those surveyed favored making weed legal, and 72 percent said that efforts to enforce anti-marijuana laws bring more cost than benefit (Szalavitz).
The cost of the 'War on Drugs' makes the economic inefficiency of it glaringly obvious. The House I Live In puts the cost of it since 1971 at more than $1 trillion.
In 2013 alone, President Barack Obama's requested budget for National Drug Control is $25.6 billion:
This represents an increase of $415.3 million (1.6 percent) over the Fiscal Year 2012 enacted level of $25.2 billion. The FY 2013 request includes two new Departments and two new bureaus to the National Drug Control Budget. … Over $9.4 billion in FY 2013 Federal resources are requested to support domestic law enforcement efforts, an increase of $61.4 million (0.7 percent) over the FY 2012 enacted level (Executive Office of the President of the United States).
Even the U.S. Forest Service used $15.3 million in resources during FY 2011 to eradicate approximately 2.3 million marijuana plants on National Forest Land (Executive Office of the President of the United States). The NFS receives but a fraction of Federal resources in contrast to the Federal Judiciary. The Federal Judiciary requested $1.2 billion for FY 2013, which represents a 2.8 percent increase over 2012 levels. More than 80 percent of this $1.2 billion goes towards Court salaries and expenses. When the division's resources are evaluated by function, nearly 83 percent goes towards corrections and prosecutions, whereas the remainder is left for treatment and research and development (Executive Office of the President of the United States). The sheer number of departments included under the National Drug Control Budget is staggering. Despite all this investment in fighting drugs – in addition to having some of the harshest penalties – the United States still has the highest levels of cocaine and marijuana consumption in the world (Degenhardt et al.). While most of these statistics reference overall illicit drug use, enforcement, and prosecution, one can easily deduce that the majority of these costs are allocated towards nonviolent cannabis violations based on the Federal Bureau of Investigations' arrest records. As previously mentioned, more than half of the 1.7 million nonviolent drug charges in 2009 were for marijuana possession (United States Department of Justice).
The United States could benefit economically from the legalization of cannabis by drastically reducing or eliminating enforcement costs and then benefiting from the associated tax revenue. In 2010, the CATO Institute published a white paper on the Budgetary Impact of Ending Drug Prohibition. The authors said that conservative estimates of legalizing and regulating drugs could boost the U.S. economy by $88 billion a year in law enforcement savings and new tax revenue.
The report also estimates that drug legalization would yield tax revenue of $46.7 billion annually, assuming legal drugs were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco. Approximately $8.7 billion of this revenue would result from legalization of marijuana and $38.0 billion from legalization of other drugs. … Legalized drugs would also generate tax revenue because the income earned by the producers would be subject to standard income and sales taxation (Miron and Waldock).
The report based its calculations on the aforementioned budget and arrest data that U.S. departments make available online. The data is divided by drug type (marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and other drugs) and by State.
Washington and Colorado recently became the first states to decriminalize the possession of marijuana. They are the only two states where cannabis is legal for recreational use, outside the medicinal context. Based on 2008 statistics, Washington will save at least $98.9 million from expenditures that previously went towards cannabis prohibition while Colorado will save $74.0 million (Miron and Waldock). Complete legalization of marijuana would lead to approximately $62.7 million and $47.3 million for Washington and Colorado, respectively, in revenue based on the States' 2008 populations and usage figures (Miron and Waldock). Every State, especially those facing a budget crisis like California, should seriously consider the savings that stand to be unlocked and the revenue to be generated from cannabis legalization.
In the legal context, cannabis prohibition can be viewed as unconstitutional on several grounds. There is no benefit to society from excessively incarcerating individuals for possession. In fact, it is detrimental because it is profoundly expensive, perpetuates racial discrimination and it allows for the continued subjugation of America's black population. It promotes inequality and violates fundamental rights. The United States' incarceration levels and accompanying costs are shameful. One need only to look at Federal and State expenditures of prohibition enforcement and current usage statistics to see the lack of progress and utter failure of the 'War on Drugs.' From an economic standpoint, States and the Federal government could realize substantial savings and subsequent profits from tax revenues associated with the legalization of cannabis. Budget deficits at the State and national level are currently at the forefront of political debate. It does not make sense for politicians to focus their cost-cutting initiatives on social welfare programs such as Medicaid and Medicare while they continue to overlook potential gains from cannabis legalization. They should shift the emphasis from cost-cutting to opening up new revenue streams. The legal, social, and economic benefits of cannabis legalization are clear. What is not clear is why the United States continues to pour money into a losing war.
Reference List:
Degenhardt L, Chiu W-T, Sampson N, Kessler RC, Anthony C, et al. "Toward a Global View of Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis, and Cocaine Use: Findings from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys." PLoS Medicine April 2008. Web. 4 April 2013.
Miron, Jeffrey and Waldock, Katherine. "The Budgetary Impact of Ending Drug Prohibition." CATO Institute September 2010. Web. 5 April 2013.
"Substance Abuse Facts: Cannabis." World Health Organization. WHO, 2013. Web. 5 April 2013.
Szalavitz, Maia. "Majority of Americans Support Legalization of Marijuana." TIME Magazine 5 April 2013. Print and web. 8 April 2013.
The House I Live In. Dir. Eugene Jarecki. Abramorama Entertainment, 2012. Film.
U.S. Const. amend. I.
U.S. Const. amend. V.
United States. Executive Office of the President of the United States. United States Office of National Drug Control Policy. National Drug Control Strategy: FY 2013 Budget and Performance Summary. April 2012. Web. 6 April 2013.
United States. United States Department of Justice. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2009. September 2010. Web. 6 April 2013.
Woodward, William. "Statement of Dr. William C. Woodward, Legislative Counsel, American Medical Association." United States House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means 4 May 1937. Web. 8 April 2013.


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David Moufang's entry in the esteemed mix series is inspired by his sets at Freerotation.
David Moufang says the mix's inspiration came from his sets Freerotation—near-spiritual events that brought him to tears a couple of years back. His tracklist avoids big-name artists, with the focus on overlooked gems like Roy Davis Jr.'s "Under Tha Sun" (which opens the mix) alongside material from modern day favourites like Juju & Jordash and Smallpeople. There's also an unreleased track from Moufang himself called "Luvbyrds."
"The first time I heard about fabric was through an old friend, Peter (Baby) Ford—it must have been the early 2000s—way before I ever got booked to play there," Moufang says. "He told me about fabric being the only good club left in London, supporting the underground scene, which by its nature made the event something very special to me, and it still is. Playing Room One or Room Three in fabric is quite an experience for every DJ—the same most likely counts for Room Two too, I just never happened to play there myself."
The launch party will take place at fabric on February 22nd, with Move D set to spin alongside Craig Richards, Juju & Jordash and more. Tickets to the event are available here on RA.
01. Roy Davis Jr. - Under Tha Sun
02. Liz Torres - Your Love is All I Need (Dub Mix)
03. Liberty City - Some Lovin'
04. M.ono - Holding Back California
05. Jamie Trench & Angus Jefford - Bringin' Tha Heat
06. Earl Jeffers - The Goose
07. Darkman - Annihilating Rhythm (The Destruction Mix)
08. MD III - Shake That Body (K-Alexi Dubs You The Right Way Mix)
09. Dom 877 - Do It Right
10. Juju & Jordash - Loosey Goosey
11. Christo - New Jazzno
12. Last Magpie - Roots
13. Move D / D-Man - Luvbyrds
14. Willow - Feel Me
15. Smallpeople & Rau - Unke
Fabric Records will release fabric 74 on February 24th, 2014.


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This beautiful rose colored glass plate, is not glass, but candy.
It's marketed to people who'd like to throw a glass plate on the floor in anger, but then be able to eat the pieces to appease their anxiety. A protective covering keeps the plate clean and dry until you're ready to blow some steam.
A product of Sweet Madness Candies, LLC, it comes in six varieties, "Michigan Cherry" (pictured), "Wintergreen", "Pina-Colada", "Creme de Menthe", "Root Beer", and "Banana Cream".
Priced from $7.95 to $10.95 each, a portion of the sales goes to United Cerebral Palsy of Metro Detroit and Huron Valley Educational Foundation.
Hacked By Silver Hacker
8 months ago


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Ormeyngel 08 is now available from Ormeyngel right here. This is the debut release from DARK TIMES, a noisy indie rock trio who entered the Oslo scene in 2010. Features 5 killer hits, so get it NOW. Oslovers can get it at Tiger.
Also arriving from the amazing Sacred Tapes is the second run of 2010's most hated release here in Norway: DRUGGED SS - I Hate What You Think About My Life. Copies went fast over in America, we've got supplies available here. Or as always, at Tiger.
Arriving within a week or so is Ormeyngel 09, BLACKEST WOODS - All My Children. Prepare your tape deck for a true black attack.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
DARK TIMES + DRUGGED SS tapes out now
Lagt inn av Night Jerk kl. 8:48 AM
4 comments:
When will you re-release okkultokrati demo tape? and Obliteration's Nekropsalms?ReplyDelete
Obli tape won't be repressed, sorry. But we'll release an Okkulto tape collection featuring the entire demo sessions plus some other shit.ReplyDelete
kan man kjoepe dessa i amerika?ReplyDelete
'mericans can try getting these from Solar Funeral: http://solarfuneral.blogspot.com/2011/01/sacred-tapes-jams.htmlReplyDelete
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Updating Windows Store Apps
Due to my development laptop overheating and external hard drive crashing I have put a lot of my projects on hold. Good news isRead More »
App: Korean Slang
Korean Slang is now in the Windows Phone App store. Every month the list will grow.
Currently the app is free, but may switch to paid in June or July. So download it now while you can!
Link to the app is here:Read More »
New App : Bra Size & BMI Calculator
I've created a new app built for women. The new app is a bra size calculator and also finds the users body mass index. Currently, the app only supports measurements from the imperial system, but metric measurements may be added in the future.
Get it here:
Have any suggestions, questions or concerns?Read More »


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Buy quality Deadpool Costume at the lowest price. Spandexzentaisuits.com is a professional zentai suits online store, we offers a large selection of Morph Suits and free custom-made service. shop for fun and enjoy our sales now!
Deadpool (vol. 4) is written by Daniel Way and drawn by Alé Garza. In the story arc "DEAD" Wade is 'cured' of his healing ability and becomes mortal, as a side effect however, he also has his old, unscarred face back. Although he spent the majority of the story arc looking forward to dying he steps up and puts his desires on the back burner to protect his friend and lackey Hydra Bob.


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Villa Maria
Cellar Selection Marlborough Chardonnay 750ml
This wine has a youthful bouquet of citrus and stone fruit, with hints of lime, cashew and complex oatmeal notes. The palate has richness and texture in balance with gentle acid.
*Vintages may vary. We endeavour to make sure the current vintage is displayed, however variations can occur.


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Part of the series Repatriation, this large-scale photographic mural, Corner of the Courageous, Repatriation Ceremony for Sergeant Martin Goudreault, Grenville St., Toronto, Ontario, June 9th, 2010 (2012), in MOCCA's courtyard considers notions of nationalism, public duty, community, the media, heroism and sacrifice as pictorial subjects. Photographed in the manner of large-format street photography, McFarland creates a portrait of a repatriation ceremony for a fallen Canadian soldier returning home to Canada after being killed while on active duty in Afghanistan. A composite digital technique enables the artist to document a complete view of the scene.
Before a soldier's body is turned over to his family for a private funeral service, it must first be repatriated to the country. This involves a funeral caravan that drives from Canadian Forces Base Trenton east of Toronto, along the Highway of Heroes on the 401. Included in the convoy is the hearse, the fallen soldier's family and friends, and members of the military.
Corner of the Courageous is the name given to the spot McFarland chose to photograph on the repatriation route. At this location, the last corner the funeral procession takes before arriving at the Chief Coroner's office in the city centre, members from various emergency service organizations come together to pay their last respects to one of their fallen comrades. This unofficial grouping was first inspired by the members of various veterans groups also in attendance. McFarland's mural reinserts the sombre scene back into the Toronto landscape, to carry on the venerable tradition of History painting in photographic form.
Presented in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art. Supported by Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc.


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Easter holiday reading
Discussion in 'Book club' started by gorgybaby, Apr 9, 2011.
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Donna Yates, in an article posted online, explains how value is placed on authenticity in the antiquities market ('Value and doubt': The persuasive power of "authenticity" in the antiquities market'. PARSE 2 (2015): 71–84). This paper is available, open access, on the PARSE website: here.This paper is available, open access, on the PARSE website: here.
In the antiquities market value is intimately tied to the concept of authenticity. While beauty, form, function, and rarity are important factors in determining the price an artefact will fetch on the market, none of these matter to most buyers unless the object is "real". If an antiquity is not ancient, it loses its meaning to buyers: it is valueless. Research into the global antiquities market has revealed extensive market deception regarding the legality of much of the artefacts that are bought and sold. Criminal activity of various kinds exists at all stages and at all levels of the trade. Although it would seem that engaging in a potentially illegal market with very real punitive consequences should be of primary concern to buyers and dealers, in antiquities sales the specific legality of an object is rarely presented directly or openly discussed. In contrast, scientific testing and certificates of authenticity are featured prominently on dealer websites and storefronts. Provenance research may have the side benefit of potentially proving that an antiquity is not illegal, but its primary purpose is to establish an impeccable chain of connoisseurship and thus authenticity.Read more here. The points made concern issues that are fundamental to any understanding of the antiquities market (and apply to the art and antiques markets in general). In the latter context I am not sure that it is true that a good fake is actually valueless, even if sold as such, but that is mere quibbling.


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Saturday, August 19, 2017
Join the Kernersville Little Theatre at its Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at the Kernersville Moravian Church Fellowship Hall, 504 South Main Street, Kernersville. The covered dish dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Please bring one of your favorite dishes to share! The annual meeting begins 6:45 p.m., and we will vote for the 2017-2018 officers and directors. The awards ceremony starts at 7 p.m.
In addition to the awards, we will have KLT's performers present to entertain you with small skits, songs and plenty of laughs! You can't get a group of actors together and not have them want to perform! We hope you will join us for food, fun and lots of entertainment. We couldn't do it without you!


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Names & Faces
• Realtor Robert "Robbie" Dein has been honored as the top-producing agent for Maui island in 2017.
He was recognized during the 12th annual Top 100 Realtors Award Gala sponsored by Hawaii Business Magazine and Bank of Hawaii. The event was held at the Royal Hawaiian Resort in Waikiki.
Every year, the magazine publishes its list of the top 100 Realtors in Hawaii based on annual sales volume and total number of transactions. Dein also was acknowledged as the only Maui Realtor to be recognized among the top 100 agents statewide for 12 consecutive years. He's also a member of the Top Hawaii Realtors Hall of Fame.
Dein and business partner Kenneth "Ken" Hayo founded Maui Real Estate Advisors LLC in 2012. It is a boutique real estate brokerage at the Wailea Town Center. Its agents work islandwide.
• Wailuku attorney Cynthia Wong has been recognized as a 10 best personal injury attorney for client satisfaction, according to the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys.
The institute is a third-party attorney-rating organization that publishes an annual list of the top 10 personal injury attorneys in each state. Attorneys who are selected to be on the "10 Best" list must pass the institute's rigorous selection process, which is based on client and/or peer nominations, thorough research and the institute's independent evaluation.
The annual list was created as a resource for clients during the attorney-selection process.
• The Bank of Hawaii has named Michelle Pellettieri as the top residential loan producer on Maui for May, according to an announcement.
She produced $3 million or more in residential loans on the island for the month. She works at the Maui Loan Center.
• American Savings Bank has hired Jason Williams as vice president/financial consultant to American Insurance and Investments.
He serves clients on Maui, providing insurance and investment advice.
Williams has worked as a financial consultant for nearly 20 years and has an accredited investment fiduciary designation.
He holds Series 7, 31, 63 and 65 securities registrations and life, accident, health or sickness, variable life and variable annuities licenses.
He serves on the board of directors of Aloha House, Maui Youth and Family Services, Malama Family Services and Maui United Way. He volunteers with the Kiwanis Club of Kahului and Ka Lima O Maui.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua has appointed Will Peniche as director of group sales.
He was promoted internally from his previous position as director of banquets.
"Peniche has a proven track record of instrumental, sales-focused successes and leadership capabilities," according to an announcement.
Peniche has been with the Ritz-Carlton brand since 2013. He leads the resort's reactive and proactive group sales efforts.
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, he resides in Lahaina with his wife and newborn child.
• Miyamoto Dental Design Suite has welcomed Dr. Courtney Miyamoto to join her father, Dr. Michael Miyamoto, in the Wailuku dental practice.
For 30 years, Michael Miyamoto, known as Dr. Mike, worked alongside his late father, Dr. Alan Miyamoto.
Courtney Miyamoto graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry on May 18. She was the sole recipient of the Nathan David Gold Memorial Award from her graduating class.
New patients are welcome to the dental practice. New patients and emergency appointments are offered on the same or next day.
For more information, visit mymauidentist.com or call 242-7007.
• Fork & Salad, the Maui-based fast casual eatery specializing in healthy options with local Hawaiian flavors, has promoted longtime employee Lauren Mann to be director of operations and director of franchisee management, according to an announcement.
In the newly created position, she will oversee daily operations of all Fork & Salad locations, both existing and upcoming, and provide new franchisees with the tools they need to develop, open and operate their Fork & Salad franchised stores.
"I've spent the last few years learning and developing my management style" from the restaurant founders, she said. "And to now be working with them in a new capacity and for such a fast-growing brand like Fork & Salad is an exciting endeavor."
Mann has spent the last four years working with Fork & Salad owners Jaron Blosser, Travis Morrin and Cody Christopher at their full-service restaurant, Three's Bar and Grill, in Kihei. She was first hired as restaurant manager and worked her way up to corporate management.
• Rie Takahashi has been named as leisure sales manager for the 450-unit, all-suite-and-villa Fairmont Kea Lani, according to an announcement from Shannah Milstead, director of sales and marketing.
Takahashi will manage the transient business sales of the resort and work alongside regional managers of leisure sales in providing account management and development for key wholesale and leisure accounts. She has more than 14 years of hospitality experience, most recently managing group sales for Marriott International, Maui Sales Complex. Before that, she held positions in leisure sales at Marriott International and the Makena Beach & Golf Resort.
* Names & Faces is published on the first Monday of the month and welcomes news releases and announcements regarding new hires and employee promotions and awards at businesses in Maui County. Photos of the employee will be accepted as well. To submit material or for more information, contact citydesk @mauinews.com or (808) 242-6343.