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Monaco, Monte Carlo
Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino and Place du Casino mysteriously laid out as a vineyard in 2013. The Mirror art thing is by famous – and expensive – sculptor Anish Kapoor. Look lower down for a more traditional Casino exterior experience!
"Alcatraz for the rich": Jack Nicholson
"A sunny place for shady people": W. Somerset Maugham
Why visit Monte Carlo, Monaco?
Most of Monaco's tourist attractions are in the wards (districts) of Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo, Port Hercule (Port de Monaco), and a couple in Fontvieille, by far the biggest sight being Le Jardin Exotique.
Monaco is mainly known for its monarchy – the longest ruling autocracy in Europe – the Monte Carlo casino and zero income-tax.
The Monaco city-state also has narrow streets, CCTV cameras in excess, 1 policeman for every 62 residents and a hugely expensive marina and shops. However, it is possible to eat and drink for a reasonable price in many places – around the port, Condamine, Larvotto and even up in Monaco-Ville you can pay an acceptable amount for modest foods and drinks (€3 for a beer, €12 for a pizza).
Monaco is the second smallest country in the world after the Vatican in Rome, and officially has the highest population density in the world (depending on how you calculate it). With about 35, 000 people in about 3/4 of a square mile (1. 2 sq kms) it may seem like it's going to be choc-a-bloc packed, but take into account that most residents are exceptionally wealthy and simply have a base in Monaco for tax reasons. They are more likely to be found actually working/playing in Paris, London, New York or Beijing, or taking lengthy vacations just about anywhere more beautiful and less crowded than Monaco!
Monaco attractions apart from Monte Carlo
Old Monaco-Ville
Monaco's old town, Monaco-Ville (aka The Rock), adjacent to the palace.
Also known as The Rock/La Rocher to see the Palace, panoramic views, the Cathedral and several museums, especially the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium. It's also a good place from which to watch the annual F1 Grand Prix.
An exotic garden in Fontvieille for under €8, with awesome cliff-hanging collection of cacti from differing environments scattered along zig-zag walkways.
But the best bit is 65m underground, if you can handle 365 steps and get to the entrance on time. On the hour through most of the day a guide takes tourists down to a stunning and totally unexpected cave system full of stalactites and stalagmites. Under Monaco? What? And free? !
But a trip to Jardin Exotique will require a long walk or a short bus ride to get there from other sightseeing hot-spots. e. g. the #2 from most bus stops, costing €2. Buses are frequent, punctual and all stops offer clear information.
Casino Square and Monte Carlo Casino
Three Rolls-Royces and a Lamborghini is a typical selection of motors in front of the Casino that the tourists just love to snap.
Great place to see luxury cars. Enter the Casino if you are permitted or wander round the rear of the block to see the large and ornate Opera House, then walk along the sea front on top of the Fairmont Hotel and enjoy the statues as well as the panoramas.
Checking out the expensive cars in Monte-Carlo square is a popular thing to do in Monaco. On my day there the white Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé (German registration) on the right was the most unusual motor in Monaco that day as someone had installed massively oversize wheels and tyres on the beast. Isn't that a criminal offence for the attention of the style police? !
The same vehicle was spotted earlier 'parked' in the middle of a small road in the port, completely oblivious to the traffic havoc he was causing. Funny how many German supercars are cruising Monaco, but NO French, Italian or British cars are visible at all! How do you say nouveau riche in German anyway?
Tourists who wish to enter the Grand Casino to gamble or just wander around will have to bring a passport as residents are not allowed to gamble, must wear formal clothing such as jackets and ties and have to pay for the pleasure of entry. The price depends on the activity chosen, but for just looking it's just a few euros and worthwhile as the rooms inside are superbly ornate and decorated with stunning art.
The view from Monte-Carlo across Port Hercule to the original rocky and easily defended settlement of Monaco-Ville.
Stroll around the port area to window shop for luxury yachts, see different views of Monte-Carlo and Monaco-Ville and check out the lovely little Sainte-Dévote chapel and a couple of excellent, solid bronze F1 racing cars (you can sit in the one race-car replica near the Monaco-Ville end of the port).
Larvotto public beach.
Walk along to the shore path from Casino Square to the beach, taking in the gorgeous little traditional Japanese Garden on the way. It's free to enter.
The public walkway on top of the Fairmont Monte Carlo (hotel)
The Fairmont walkway is not like any hotel roof we've ever seen before. And it's kind of traditional to rub the diminuitive gentleman's sausage over on the right as you pass by!
Beside the sea it's officially known as Chemin des Sculptures and does host some odd and interesting – and undoubtedly expensive sculptures.
L'Eglise de Sainte Dévote
Beside the port is the Roman Catholic chapel of Sainte-Dévote, the patron saint of this little principality.
Built before 1070 but much restored and 'improved' since, tourists can enter Sainte Dévote and enjoy the elaborate décor and stained glass windows.
Nearby is a solid bronze, early F1 race car beside one of the corners of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, but more usually seen dividing lanes used by busy port traffic including many fine cars and a good number of supercars driven by excessively self-conscious individuals. OK, I'm just jealous.
Monaco Weather
Similar to the Côte d'Azur in general but even more moderate due to its immediate proximity to the sea and the vast rocky backdrop so frost is very rare as is extreme heat, though humidity can be oppressive in the summer.
The best months to visit are May – September for high sun and low humidity, with average high temperatures of 23C (73F) and lows of 19C (66F), but even in July and August temperatures are not too bad with highs under 30C (86F) and lows around 21C (70F).
The wettest months are October and November. Wintertime brings in about 6 days of rain a month, highs of about 13C (55F) and lows of 8C (46F).
A Day in Monaco
The Japanese Garden, a free-to-enter oasis, small but perfectly formed.
These photos show the fairly limited range of sightseeing in this tiny principality embedded in France as they were all taken one September day between 11am and 7pm. Admittedly I didn't visit any museums and there are plenty of interest. The Oceanographic Museum, the Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs in Monaco-Ville, the National Museum of Automatons and Dolls of Yesteryear in Monte-Carlo, the Museum of Antique Automobiles in Fontvieille (Prince Albert's personal collection).
I also didn't spend any time gambling, lying around on Monaco beach, visiting the zoo, watching an outdoor movie, riding the hop-on, hop-off bus or lazing in a mega-yacht's jacuzzi smoking dope with a crew of spectacular ladies (mainly because no one invited me).
I did however spend longer in Jardin Exotique than I should have, traveled on the superb buses a fair bit for little cost and stopped for a short lunch and drinks later in the afternoon.
So. . . bottom line is a tourist on France's Côte d'Azur could visit for a day and have a fun time, though budgeting two or three days would cover some museum time and a lot more relaxation.
For easy sightseeing take the little Azur Express tourist train if your ego can handle the embarrassing vehicle for a 30 minute ride around the main sights, with multi-lingual commentary. Alternatively go for very efficient €2 public buses or use the Hop-On, Hop-Off, Open-Air-Tour bus service. And that's quite enough hyphens for one sentence.
F1 Grand Prix time
And don't even think about staying here during the Grand Prix time in May unless you have a big budget, though you could find good value accommodation in a nearby city such as Ventemiglia (Italy), Menton or even Nice and travel in by train along the coast.
Grand Prix fans can easily walk the race route with the help of a Tourist Office map.
The famous Grnd Prix tunnel runs nearby. I thought about taking a photo of the tunnel but it was both dark and dull, though livened up by foreigners hammering their hyper-sports cars through it. Great sound effects. The car that I would love to have photographed (I was too stunned to react in time) was a chopped and slammed, matt black, race-tuned Bentley Continental with German plates and straight-thru silencers who really put his foot to the metal and went past shrieking and smoking! Donner und Blitzen!


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The BBC has a fascinating, exhaustive report on why the Elves of Middle-Earth sound as if they might have come from Wales. Given that Tolkien was one of the most English English professors who ever lived, the answer is not quite as random as you might think. Cellar doors are involved.
[Via TheOneRing.net]

subset: commoncrawl


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It takes fitness and stamina to be a grandparent—it's practically a sport. After a few days of watching my parents with my daughter, I came up with a short, simple sequence that prepares you for the physical requirements of grandparenting. I trust www.fitnessbysheila.com when practicing fitness with my yoga. Practice this sequence ahead of a visit with babies or before a family vacation with little kids— it only takes about 5 minutes. We're standing on a yoga mat here, but it's not needed. You don't need any props for this sequence, and you can even do it with your shoes on. My dad (Umpa, to his grandchildren) filmed with me and did a great job of demoing!
Technology presents the cigarette one hitter and tobacco industry with an enormous opportunity to continue to give smokers their desired nicotine, but in a less harmful way. If you also want to buy vapor products online, visit migvapor.com for more information.
For a weekend with grandchildren, you need stamina, a healthy spine, and strong glutes (for picking up those little kiddos).
A simple, short sequence you can do anywhere and anytime.


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There is a common view that I am some kind of technically proficient person with a good grip on all things with plugs and flashing lights. I have been referred to by some as 'our computer friend', which quite apart from being a serious demotion is a very bad way to describe me.
I use computers because they are the tools of what I do. I prefer the title of 'creative professional'. That makes me sound less like a geek and more like the person that I am. A computer user out of necessity rather than desire. I'd even correct the term 'computer user' with the more accurate and perhaps a little snobby 'Mac user'.
The thing is, computers, be them Mac's, PC's or nasty boxes with four letter commands, constantly confuse and perplex me. Just a few weeks ago while preparing the final version of Reality Radio ready for the web, my computer decided to stop allowing me to launch the application I needed to complete the task. Just a few weeks after this little dilemma (which had to be fixed by an engineer!) had been resolved, some virus called MDEF infected my server. I thought it was called 'M Death', but no, even the title of the nasty little bugger made no logical sense. MDEF… I mean, who thought of that one?
So now, at ten to eleven on a Sunday night, right about the time I start to think about jumping into a nice hot bath with a copy of something interesting to read, my normally trusty G3 has decided to create a little vortex for me to figure out. What? did I look like I needed a challenge? Was my computer looking at me thinking that life has been a little too kind to me recently? Or is this just part of what life is like as a citizen of the new age of information and communication?
I'm no techno wizard, no expert on computers, I only watch Star Trek if it's on, I don't make a habit of it. When it comes to this technological revolution and the whole internet community thing, I am very much an accidental citizen. I am the lost tourist of the 1990's, a guy not lacking in purpose but lacking a map… [Click here to continue reading this article at 'Meanwhile']


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Hebrews (Program #59) – The Manna in the Golden Pot
In the Old Testament, manna was something given by God to his people openly and freely. But, a small portion of this manna was offered by the priest back to God and hidden within a golden pot in the Holy of Holies. This hidden portion in the golden pot represents something so rich in experience.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


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Khon Kaen Destination Guide
Explore Khon Kaen in Thailand.
Khon Kaen in the region of Khon Kaen with it's 147,579 inhabitants is a town in Thailand - some 242 mi (or 390 km) North-East of Bangkok, the country's capital city.
Current time in Khon Kaen is now 02:41 PM (Tuesday). The local timezone is named "Asia / Bangkok" with an UTC offset of 7 hours. Depending on the availability of means of transportation, these more prominent locations might be interesting for you: Ban Pet, Ban Nong Saeng, Ban Don Bom, Ban Bung Rua Yai, Yang Talat or Vientiane. Since you are here already, make sure to check out Ban Tao No, Ban Non Sa-at, Ban Non Muang, Ban Nong Waeng, Ban Nong Lup and Ban Si Than. We encountered some videos in the web. Scroll down to see the most favourite one or select the video collection in the navigation.
Weather Conditions Today & Next Days Forecast
Khon Kaen | May 19 2010
NBT | Anti-govt protesters (red shirts) in Khon Kaen burned the City Hall and NBT station next to Khon Kaen University
Khon Kaen Countdown 2011 and Magnificent...
The second year of Khon Kaen Countdown 2011. This year is themed "The Year of Light". More than 20 Khon Kaen people gather at the city gate near Central Plaza shopping center, The magnificent firework...
Hammer Time The Groom and Best Man get d...
My Brother Chris and I joke around while getting dressed in traditional Thai sarong pants before the start of the IQ Wedding parade on the morning of July 11th, 2009 in Khon Kaen, Thailand - this is f...
The Spirit That Likes Action Movies - Kh...
Yui and I visit downtown Khon Kaen where on Chinese New Year the local people are playing action movies for the god spirit "Jow Pah" in an outdoor theater. Jow pah loves to watch action movies and man...
Videos provided by Youtube are under the copyright of their owners.
Interesting facts about this location
Khon Kaen Province
Khon Kaen is the second-largest of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Nongbua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Buriram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Phetchabun and Loei.
Located at 16.45, 102.83 (Lat. / Lng.), less than 0 mi away.
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen is a city in Isan, Thailand. It is also the capital of Khon Kaen Province and the Khon Kaen District.
Located at 16.45, 102.83 (Lat. / Lng.), less than 1 mi away.
Openmind Projects
OpenmindProjects (OMP), located in Nong Khai Province, Thailand is a developmental aid organisation focused helping communities in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal by the creation and management of ground roots projects in the areas of e-learning, education and environment. The main focus of the organisation is using information and communication technologies to educate individuals in schools, orphanages, national parks and villages.
Located at 16.45, 102.83 (Lat. / Lng.), less than 2 mi away.
Khon Kaen University
Khon Kaen University(KKU) is a public research university in Thailand. It was the first university established in Northeastern Thailand and remains the oldest and largest university in the region. The university is a central hub of education in northeast Thailand. It is an internationally recognized university in Asia.
Located at 16.45, 102.83 (Lat. / Lng.), less than 2 mi away.
Khon Kaen Airport
Khon Kaen Airport is located in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Serving Khon Kaen, a city strategically important for the region's infrastructure both geographically and economically, the airport was upgraded to international standards in 2005 with the opening of a new terminal. It is located a few kilometers west of downtown. The airport is equipped with one jet bridge.
Located at 16.45, 102.83 (Lat. / Lng.), less than 4 mi away.
Related Locations
Information of geographic nature is based on public data provided by geonames.org, CIA world facts book, Unesco, DBpedia and wikipedia.


text: Sharp 3 Report post Posted November 14, 2009 YES! I finally go my Windowsd 7 upgrade in the mail!!!! Be right back. Time to upgrade! Me too. Expect a bunch of new art once I get it installed :twisted: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Welcome To The Multi-Tasking Nursery
When space is already short, a new arrival can threaten to take over your office/spare room/storage space forever. We'll show you how you can have both.
Babies might be small, but they come with a lot of stuff, so finding space in your home can be tricky. But using a room for your child to sleep in doesn't necessarily mean losing your spare bedroom or office.
The trick is to think of your baby fitting into your home, rather than having to change the status quo dramatically. It's taken you years to get your living space how you want it, so why should you ditch or move your gear for a tiny new arrival? After all, they don't really need a whole room to themselves until they are at least two. Until then, you just need somewhere to park their cot.
If your budget or space isn't large, forget matching nursery furniture. Apart from buying a Moses basket, crib or cot (these can be second-hand, but always buy a mattress new for safety reasons), you can reuse and repurpose existing items.
Versatile Spare Bed
But your new multi-tasking space can look good, too – and work hard for you and your baby. Make use of a single spare bed in the corner of the nursVersatile Spare Bedery by covering it with lovely throws, blankets, toys and cushions. It'll create a cosy day bed for stories and quiet times with your child.
Choose A Portable Crib
Make space for visitors in your (former) spare room with a portable or folding crib – for one like this, try the Katie Crib, £99.99, Babies R Us. Simply move it when your guests arrive, and your baby can sleep in another quiet corner of your home.
Multi-purpose Shelving
Use a shelving unit or bookcase as a room divider. Two rooms instead of one, plus extra storage? Yes, please. Works with kids of different ages or in a nursery/office.
Share The Same Storage
Got a big shelving unit? Put toys at the bottom in easy reach of young children and paperwork for the grown ups at the top. Cover in gorgeous but durable fabric and voila! Storage for the whole family.
Two Rooms In One
A multi-purpose area can transform from dining room to nursery in a matter of minutes. Go for a wheeled cot (for one like this, try the Stokke Sleepi Bed), so it can easily make way for a table and chairs.
Creative Toy Storage
Don't feel you need to buy everything new – be creative and add a magical edge to an old bookcase by using it to store toys. We love this dollhouse-style shelving, or create a multi-storey garage for cars and trucks.
Customise Old Furniture
This simple bookcase once held office files but now organises babycare essentials. Use non-toxic paint to transform your own – ideal for children's bedrooms. Inspire me Children's Spaces:
Find your baby a space
If you're planning on creating a multi-tasking room, here's what to consider:
> Try and remove items that you know you'll need from the room before bedtime.
> Use blackout blinds to keep light to a minimum.
> If you need to move furniture around regularly, make sure it's on wheels or portable.
> As your tot grows, keep all dangerous or breakable items out of reach.


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Brown, Goldstein, & Levy, along with Disability Rights Ohio, represents three blind Ohio voters and the National Federation of the Blind in a lawsuit demanding that Ohio allow blind voters to vote absentee privately and independently through the use of electronic ballot marking technology.
After the district court dismissed this claim, Plaintiffs appealed. Today, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals revived Plaintiffs' lawsuit by holding that Ohio cannot point to the mere existence of an unmet state certification requirement for new voting technology as an excuse for denying Plaintiffs their federal civil rights.
Attorney Jessie Weber stated: "The Sixth Circuit has recognized that Ohio cannot deny blind voters the opportunity to vote absentee privately and independently, as all other voters do, when the technology that would allow this is available, but simply has not yet been certified according to state law. All states should take notice and ensure that they are providing the blind with an equal opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to vote."
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Decision


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Community Partners
For over 40 years, we have established and maintained solid partnerships with a diverse and growing list of nonprofit and community-based organizations, working closely together to bring much-needed services to the underserved communities where we operate. Through ongoing dialogue, our network of community partners provides us with a broad-based perspective that we use to better inform our decisions regarding community needs and opportunities at the local and regional level.
A partial list of organizations that we have sponsored and partnered with over the years includes:
Chinese American Lions Foundation of Atlanta, Inc.
Chinatown Main Street & Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Assoc.
Quincy Asian Resources, Inc.
Asian American Association of Quincy
Chinatown Community Development Center
Citizens for Better Community
APA Family Support Services
Family Bridges, Inc.
Junior Achievement of Northern California
Charity Cultural Services Center
Asian Advisory Comm. on Crime & Asian Youth Svcs. Comm.
Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
Friends of the United Nations Population Fund
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Asian Pacific Fund
Boys & Girls Clubs - Los Angeles County Alliance
Asia Society Southern California
Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation
Asian Pacific American Legal Center- Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
Pasadena Community Foundation
Special Olympics Southern California
Anti-Defamation League
Asian Youth Center
California Journal for Filipino Americans
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment
High Desert Opportunity Project Access, Inc.
The Los Angeles Police Foundation
WISE & Healthy Aging
Chinatown Service Center
La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center
Search to Involve Pilipino Americans
Villa Esperanza Services
East Wind Foundation for Youth
National Asian American Coalition
Journey House Inc.
St. Joseph Center
Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
Hope House for Multiple-Handicapped, Inc.
Simply Help Foundation
Chinatown Senior Citizen Service Center
Apple Valley Comm. Resource Foundation
Boys & Girls Club of the Victor Valley
High Desert Communities Food Bank
High Desert Community Foundation
Philippine Independence Day Foundation
St. Francis Center
Orange Children Parents Together
Tzu-Chi Foundation
Elder and Adult Day Services
Boston Chinatown Resident Association
Chinatown Community Children's Center
Indochina Sino-American Comm. Ctr. Inc.
Desert Communities United Way
Upward Bound House
Friends of the Apple Valley Library, Inc.
Korean Health, Education, Information & Research Center
Elite Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses Network
Friends of On Lok
The Assoc. for Chinese Families of the Disabled
Make-A-Wish Foundation Greater Los Angeles
Asian Art Museum
The Greenlining Institute
The Greenlining Institute - Leadership Academy
Zamboanga Hermosa Organization of N. Cal
Museum of Chinese in America New York
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
DEA Educational Foundation
Bowers Museum
The Huntington Library
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
USC School of Architecture
Victor Valley College Foundation
USC Latino Alumni Association
Bowers Museum, Chinese Cultural Arts Council
Apple Valley High School
Boys & Girls Club West San Gabriel Valley
Houston Independent School District - HISD Foundation
Houston Community College Foundation
Seattle King County Asset Building Collaborative
Construction Financial Management Association
Peralta College Foundation
Santa Monica College - Small Business Dev. Ctr.
Western University of Health Sciences
SEEK Education
The Molina Foundation
Centro Latino for Literacy
Elder Financial Protection Network
Asian American Social Welfare Foundation
Vinings Business Association Inc.
Self-Help for the Elderly
Minority Business Development Agency Business Center
South Bay Center for Counseling
Global Views Business Forum
Black Business Association
Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council
Latin Business Association
National Minority Supplier Development Council
Inland Empire Economic Partnership
The Independent Petroleum Association of America
Black Economic Council
Association for Corporate Growth New Jersey
California Black Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Foundation
California Reinvestment Coalition
Asian American Economic Development Enterprises, Inc.
California Community Economic Development Association
Pace Asian Consortium In Employment
South Cove Community Health Center
Tufts Medical Center
Asian Health Services
Auxiliary of Gouverneur Hospital
AHMC Health Foundation
St. Vincent Foundation
Saint John's Health Center Foundation
Methodist Hospital Foundation
Hoag Hospital Foundation Pacific Clinics
St. Mary Medical Center Foundation
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Service
March of Dimes
The Laurel Foundation
HOPE Clinic
Indochinese Housing Development Corporation
Century Villages at Cabrillo / Century Housing
Escrow Associates of San Gabriel Valley
Westside Center for Independent Living
Los Angeles Escrow Association
Asian American Real Estate Association


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So I recently was reading at great blog post about commercials and it reminded me of my commercial rant..er…more like point and make fun of. I'm sure many of you have seen the new Miller Lite commercials about manning up. Now before I go any further, I'll just go ahead and say it, "My name is Kyle Smith and I am a beer snob. Well not snob, but I know good beer and sorry but Miller Lite is AWFUL beer."
The latest Miller Lite commercial really made me think about their marketing strategies because they pretty much call out everyone who drinks their beer…the actually made fun of the Ed Hardy crowd…ummm…hello…news flash…Ed Hardy wearers ARE THE ONES DRINKING YOUR BEER. Way to make fun of your own…next think you know Corona is going to start making fun of people who sit in chairs at the beach.


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Related Group:
iSamples Webinars held during the Fall of 2016 will focus on the efforts of the four iSamples working groups. The working groups aim to identify, develop, and build consensus around best practices and standards for sample registration, identification, citation, and metadata. The webinars will take place generally on Wednesdays from 1:00-2:00 pm Eastern Time beginning on October 19th. Call-in information is below. *Please note: A password may be required to join the webinar. It is highlighted below.
All webinars are being archived on YouTube. Please visit the webinar schedule to find links to individual webinars or browse all previous webinars on the iSamples RCN YouTube Channel.
December 7th Webinar
iSamples Working Group 4: Tools supporting registration of samples and use of IGSNs
Presenters: Jim Bowring and Joey Baldwin (CIRDLES.org; College of Charleston)
We will present the CIRDLES.org toolset that uses and supports IGSNs: GeoSamples, Ambapo, ET_Redux, CHRONI, MARS. MARS (Middleware for Assisting with the Registration of Samples) is the exemplar product for the working group to date. The group is very much in need of additional members. This webinar will discuss ongoing and planned efforts within the working group and will invite audience feedback.
Topic: iSamples Webinar
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Time: 1:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (New York, GMT-05:00)
To join the online portion of the Personal Conference meeting
1. Go to https://earthcube.webex.com/earthcube/j.php?MTID=mc6e67428578dd101d9165eed418bb65f
2. If a password is required, enter the Meeting Password: 73131647
To view in other time zones or languages, please click the link:
To join the audio portion of the Personal Conference meeting
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-855-244-8681
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-479-3207
Call-in toll number (US/Canada)*: 1-650-479-3207
Global call-in numbers: https://earthcube.webex.com/earthcube/globalcallin.php?serviceType=MC&ED...
Toll-free dialing restrictions: https://www.webex.com/pdf/tollfree_restrictions.pdf
Attendee access code: 731 316 47
* Call-in toll number (US/Canada) should only be used if the primary number does not work.
For assistance
1. Go to https://earthcube.webex.com/earthcube/mc
2. On the left navigation bar, click "Support".


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5 Proven Takeaways for Employee Engagement Success from the 2019 Summit and Trade Show (Afternoon Sessions)
Category: Employee Engagement
There's a lot of buzz about #EmployeeEngagement, but what does it look like? There are a variety of descriptions, but I like Gallup's: engaged employees are enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.
High levels of engagement promote retention of talent and foster customer loyalty while improving both organizational performance and stakeholder value.


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Not far from the coast of Barrow-In-Furness lies a curious little island with an rich and interesting history. Earliest records stretch back to the 12th century when King Stephen placed the island under the care of Savignac Monks and the Cistercian order. It was here that for centuries grain, wool, wine and other precious commodities were stored (and smuggled).
What remains of the castle and it's surrounding fortifications today is mostly a mass of crumbling stone and a pub called 'The Ship Inn'. This pub has taken care of those that pass through with lunch and a pint of local ale for centuries. Traditionally whomever runs the pub is crowned 'King of Piel Island' and the tradition continues to this day. Apparently there is a ceremony that involves you sitting in a 300 year old wooden throne and having beer poured all over you.
My idea of heaven.
Last July when we visited Cumbria we took a tiny little boat across waters peppered with jellies to explore Piel island and a few pints.
We made a friend on the ferry over. 😉
And even more friends once we got there!
I love a good sheepie cuddle. ❤
Our tour guide Mr. Chicken was ace.
Because I can't seem to do more than one thing at I time, I nearly fell of the side off the island and tumbled into the sea when I was busy framing a shot and not watching my feet. Thankfully my darling father-in-law was there in time to pull me out of the brambles and into safety. You really can't take me anywhere!
We celebrated my near death experience with a pint!
A few little jellies…
That's it! Piel Island done! x


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Here is the first of my mini-exploration at the L.E.A. Sim in Second Life. Before I dive in and pick a specific spot I'd like to cover, I just decided to wander around.
Wanting to get a feel for what I might come across.
The great thing I found is every area you visit is completely different from the next.
This is such a fun area to get lost in, you never know what you may find. So many creators have put so much into these amazing builds.
In the post before this I put up links if anyone is interested to learn more about the Linden L.E.A. Sims in Second Life. I'll add this here if you want to check it out. \/ \/
In the next post I'll be touring specific areas that have really stood out. I hope you enjoy these & also want to check out L.E.A. its such a diverse, and has plenty for everyone to enjoy.
Happy Exploring, Till next time
Toodles TTFN ~!!!


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Gastric sleeve surgery (also called Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, VSG, gastric sleeve, or "Sleeve") is a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is reduced to about 25% of its original size, through surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach. The open edges are surgically stapled together to form a sleeve or tube with a banana shape. The procedure, performed laparoscopically, permanently reduces the size of the stomach and is irreversible.
A sleeve gastrectomy will help you to lose weight by restricting the volume of food consumed (provided that you are eating solid-type foods). The sleeve gastrectomy may also alter gastric hormone secretion for approximately one year, which helps to reduce hunger. Unlike a gastric bypass, a sleeve gastrectomy will not cause dumping syndrome, as the pyloric valve of the stomach is preserved with a sleeve.
The weight loss with a sleeve is similar to that of gastric bypass — approximately 50-70% of excess weight lost during the first year post-op. Weight-loss generally levels off after approximately one to two years, and a weight re-gain of up to 20 pounds is common. Unfortunately, at this time, there are not enough long-term studies to demonstrate the weight loss durability of the gastric sleeve procedure.
Dr. Provost can perform a sleeve gastrectomy in approximately 45 minutes. Patients can expect to spend one night in the hospital and are back to work with no restrictions in two to four weeks. The dietary guidelines following the sleeve gastrectomy are similar to those of Lap Band or gastric bypass.
Life-long follow-up with Dr. Provost and his team will provide the best weight-loss results. We will require you to come in every three months for the first two years, every six months for the third year, and annually thereafter.
Short-term complications following a vertical sleeve gastrectomy are similar to those of the gastric bypass and can include pulmonary emboli, anastomotic leak, bleeding and wound infection. The nationally reported operative (<30 days post-op) mortality rate is about 0.5 percent. This means that approximately one out of every 200 patients who have sleeve gastrectomy may die within 30 days of their surgery.
Long-term complications can include stricture, GERD, ulcers (smokers and those who take anti-inflammatories can expect increased risk!), gallstones, staple line disruption, weight re-gain, and vitamin/ mineral deficiencies.
Nutritional complications are few, and can generally be avoided with mandatory life-long supplementation of a daily multivitamin with iron, calcium citrate twice daily with vitamin D, and occasionally, B12. We will check your vitamin levels every six months for the first two years and annually thereafter.
For more information about the gastric sleeve procedure or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Provost, please call our office at 254-724-2397.
Click here to learn more about the dietary changes and average weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery.


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Kamchatka: a remote peninsula in the Russian Far East. However, to the ten-year-old narrator in Marcelo Figueras's novel Kamchatka, it represents much more. It is a territory to be conquered in his favorite game of Risk, it is "a paradox, a kingdom of extremes, a contradiction in terms," and it is the last thing his father ever says to him.
Kamchatka is Marcelo Figueras's English novel debut, translated by Frank Wynne. A novelist and screenwriter, Figueras has published several other books including El espía del tiempo, La batalla del calentamiento, and Aquarium. He was born in Argentina in 1962 and similar to the narrator of Kamchatka, he was a young child at the start of the Argentina's Dirty War in 1976.
Kamchatka chronicles the life of a young boy during this time of political instability and its suffocating climate of fear and violence. When he, his brother, and his parents, are suddenly forced to flee to a safe house, they must assume new identities. The boy renames himself "Harry," after his hero and famous escape artist Harry Houdini while his five-year-old brother rechristens himself "Simón," after Simon Templar in the TV show The Saint (although Harry continues to refer to him by his nickname, the "Midget." Despite all the disruptions, fear and sudden disappearances of friends and family members, Figueras's main goal is not to write another somber novel about the Dirty War. By retelling the events through a child's perspective, Figueras explores the impact this situation had on personal and family dynamics. In the face of this situation, Harry remains a typical young boy, reluctantly attending school, obsessed with TV shows, comic books, and superheroes. He spends his time playing Risk with his father and aspiring to learn the secrets of Houdini.
In addition to Harry's ten-year-old perspective, the adult Harry is often a companion voice, reflecting upon and filling in information that his younger self was incapable of comprehending at that time. Harry reflects on the information he gathers about the political situation.
For a long time I thought that my parents told me these little things because they believed I wouldn't understand the bigger picture—whatever it was they were not saying, whatever they were hiding from me. Now I think that they did it deliberately, knowing that by the time I put the pieces together and could finally see the picture in the jigsaw puzzle, I would be safe, far from the danger that, right now, threatened us all.
The novel is uniquely bookended by the same moment in time as Harry and his father see each other for the last time. The interior brings the reader back to the beginning and up until this specific moment. While the end scene contains much of the same wording as the opening, the father and son's encounter and the parting words of "Kamchatka" are full of new meaning and significance. While the opening was distinctly told in a ten-year-old voice, the final retelling is much more reflective, informed by the adult Harry's brief interjections throughout.
Harry's voice is most impressive, creatively and perfectly interweaving the ten-year-old and his older self. The novel is structured in five main parts, all around school subjects. In doing so, Figueras brings attention to how children, Harry and his little brother included, learn and decode meaning from their own experiences. Figueras favors short chapters, each paint their own small portrait of Harry's life. The 81 chapters reflect how a ten-year-old breaks down his life into small episodes, much like the way his favorite television show The Invaders does. These short chapters provide vivid and beautifully colored portraits of his family and the children's humorous exploits and adventures. The novel is filled with small touches of childhood reminiscence; Harry practicing holding his breath in the bath tub, Harry learning to slip out of knots, Harry and his brother's attempt to save toads from drowning in the safe house swimming pool by creating a "reverse diving board" and arguments over who is better: Superman or Batman.
In telling the story from Harry's point of view, Figueras is able to highlight the importance of family, courage and sacrifice within the context of fear, separation and ultimately loss. In the end, Harry realizes that in order to survive you need to "love each other madly." In retelling his story, he has brought the characters to life once more. Through this act of storytelling, he realizes that "I don't need Kamchatka any more, I no longer need the security I once felt being far from everything, unreachable, amid the eternal snows. The time has come for me to be where I am again, to be truly here, all of me, to stop surviving and start living."


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Six Unit Motel, Located along Salmon Creek in Historic Downtown Conconully.
The town of 4 seasons, Hunting, Fishing, Snowmobiling and ATVing, Conconully is fun for everyone!
Conconully Reservoir, located at the south edge of town, and Conconully Lake to the west are both within easy walking distance, and produce nice fish.
The Sinlahekin Valley Wildlife Area, Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, and The Okanogan National Forest allow for some of the best hunting in the area.
Ride your ATV or Snowmobile from your door throughout town, or the many miles of open forest service and county roads.
You may also wish to hike the many Forest Service Trails, Bird watch, visit historic mines and ghost towns, or just choose to relax! Conconully has it all!
Four Restaurants, 3 lounges along with gas and groceries are all located within 3 blocks.


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Now our government will reform our tax system, so ill people will get less in social services over the years to come. They want to go after the house owners who have lost a lot of value in their houses. They even want to go after the people who have saved decades for their retirement so they can learn the next generations to live like there are no tomorrow.
What kind of cruelty will be their next idea?
How does it matter that soldiers are not shooting at us ordinary citizens like they do in other countries when they remove our will to live?
Traffic fines have been increased lowering the production rate and mobility in the entire country.
There is no reason for this evilness from the central government over in Copenhagen and frankly we are cheated. We cannot see that populations abroad are suffering enough so I have joined a movement which is aiming at removing aid to other countries as long as we as a country have to go through so much.
- Home-owners lose out in tax reform (Denmarks Radio)
- Government 2020 Plan (Politiken)


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Tag archive for: Wild Fish Conservancy
Elwha River Lawsuit Update
On March 9th, Brian Knutsen presented an oral argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the Wild Steelhead Coalition, The Conservation Angler, the Federation of Fly Fishers Steelhead Committee, and Wild Fish Conservancy about the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe's hatchery on the Elwha River.
Tell the WA Senate Natural Resources Committee you support wild steelhead
In advance of their July 29, 2014 hearing, tell the WA Senate Natural Resources Committee that you support wild steelhead recovery in Puget Sound.
Show Your Support for Wild Steelhead at Senate Hearing – July 29, 2014
Show your support for wild steelhead in Puget Sound at a State Senate Natural Resources Committee Meeting on July 29, 2014 in Olympia, WA.
Court Rules In Favor of Elwha River Wild Steelhead
A federal court in Tacoma held on Wednesday that federal agencies violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in approving plans to release hatchery fish to the Elwha River.
Court Asked To Stop Elwha Hatchery Releases
Today, four conservation groups asked the US District Court for Western Washington to halt planned releases of hatchery coho salmon and steelhead into the Elwha River until the Court has an opportunity to determine whether the releases comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Interim Agreement Protects Wild Elwha Steelhead From Hatchery Release
Non-native hatchery steelhead will not be released into the Elwha River and its tributaries this year, say four conservation groups that earlier this month filed suit against federal agencies and officials of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (in their official capacities) for releases of hatchery fish into the Elwha.


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Si encara no formes part de la nostra comunitat, crea el teu compte i gaudeix de tots aquests avantatges:
Entra ara, posa't còmode i gaudeix de l'experiència
Four years ago, Isidre presented La sort del meu destí, a book that spoke about his experiences yet from that experience he was able to draw universal reflections. The book was a lesson in optimism, purity of mind, serenity, showing his willingness to struggle, work hard and overcome. His is a relentless search for new goals, a perfect balance between inner peace and constant dissatisfaction, a continual quest for improvement, and his basic need to keep moving. Don't ever stop shows that Isidre's optimism after the accidentwas not a passing response, but the seed of something deeper, the beginning of a new phase in his life consistent with his values, his struggles to improve and overcome, and his authentic and moving appreciation of all life has to offer.
The testimony of a very determined and positive person, used to working hard to surmount obstacles, and who will not ever stop in his search for new finish lines to cross.


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Ansar Mahmood
Having obtained a First-Class degree in Accounting and Business Management, Ansar has gone on to accrue over 14 years' experience in the sector. Pomegranate Consulting is Ansar's vision of what an accountancy practice should be – honest advice, a wealth of accountancy knowledge and first-hand business experience, all wrapped up in a professional and friendly service. If you're looking for expert accountancy advice without the jargon, Ansar is the man to speak to.


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Product Details
Grandmas favourite! Rum flavoured Fudge with rum soaked raisins.
Allergy Information:
Contains Dairy. Suitable for Vegetarians. May contain traces of Nuts.
Product Reviews
allergy & dietary information
All products may contain traces of nuts
All our products contain dairy
All products are suitable for Vegetarians - Except for our Rocky Road flavour
All products contain chocolate, which may contain traces of gluten (Ingredient: Whey powder)
Flavours which are NOT gluten free:
-Chocolate Oreo
-Jammie Dodger
-Ferrero Rocher
-Rocky Road
-Cookie Dough
-Lotus Biscoff
-Baileys, Nutella, Malteser


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To donate to support Marty or follow him on social media through his unjust incarceration please go to: FreeMartyG.com.
President Trump, I wanted to let you know that the American people see your struggle with the DOJ and that, while I obviously cannot speak for everybody, I believe that your supporters would support you against the swamp if you were to fire Jeff Sessions, Rod Rosenstein, Christopher Wray and Andrew McCabe.
As you can see here, here, here and here, I know better than most about fighting for justice against the crooked InJustice department and I also have an idea as to the advice that you've probably been getting from the legal world. I know about the DOJ's vile behavior; how they make their dirty tricks seem clean while making every clean strategy of yours seem dirty.
In large part thanks to you, the public is starting to find out more about all this too. But there's still a lot that needs to be exposed. America's once great legal system has been hijacked and turned against her own people. Mine is not an isolated case. You are not alone.
Any worker in the private sector who has done as these people have done would have been fired long ago and the plain reality is that as President you have broad Constitutional authority to remove them from office for any reason or even for no reason at all. In fact, you are the only person who can.
In the real world, one mistake is often enough to fire somebody and these people have exercised very poor judgment, demonstrating that at best they lack the courage, competency and/or moral compass that their offices require of them. Either that, or they are downright corrupt and evil.
Removing them from their misused positions of power in the DOJ has been like pulling a bad tooth and doing so quickly, all at once, down to its root, would be better than delaying while it continues to rot and hurt the nation.
They should not be allowed to continue the witch hunt/fishing expedition that is the so-called Russia investigation with an infinitely long leash while shielding the Clintons from obvious crimes that are already well-known. That double standard is glaring. It is unfair. And it undermines the public's confidence in the federal justice system.
If for no other cause than their failure to levy any charges whatsoever against the Clintons despite email-gate, the tarmac meeting, pay-to-play and DNC primary, amongst others, the American people know that all four of these federal employees should be fired and replaced with suitable professionals who will pursue justice even when it leads to criminal charges against a Clinton.
Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe should have stepped down when his conflicts of interest became apparent to him and long before they were revealed by the press, further tarnishing the FBI's shithole reputation, pardon my cursing. If Director Wray won't fire him for that, then both men should be fired together as well as for the suddenly and now conveniently missing text messages.
Mr. President, if you fire these men for any combination of these reasons — or for no reason at all — many of us will support you. But, if you would like yet another reason, please see this video and know that while these men fail to indict the Clintons and instead waste our tax dollars on bogus dossiers, wiretaps, and hypocritical special investigations, they have also failed to seek justice for a young lady named Justina and the statute of limitations begins to lapse next month.
The Reopen America Back to School Special is now live! Save up to 60% on our most popular items!


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Cloud Native Operational Solutions – Malware Prevention Management
Malware prevention is a very hot topic due to the recent ransomware attacks that have completely crippled several companies and organizations. For most smaller companies, being able to hire a full-time security engineer is a pipe dream at best, and even larger companies just don't see the need to spend money on a dedicated security resource. The need for malware prevention is undeniable given the number of threats that are out there on the internet and the incentive that hackers have to continue to create more and more malware. Malware prevention and endpoint protection software at an enterprise level have traditionally been cumbersome and unwieldy to manage and maintain.
The benefits of managed malware prevention are:
- Simplified Deployment – Malware prevention management solutions are notorious for being a pain to install and get started. This becomes less desirable based on the fact that malware prevention is a true business value add in the eyes of most on the business side of a company.
- Simplified Scalability – One of the challenges with managing malware prevention or endpoint protection servers is the storage for packages and maintaining the database. Leveraging the SaaS offering can offload that work and allow management of 10,000 hosts to be similar to that of a back-end environment of 10 hosts. Not having to worry about re-architecting the deployment when reaching a certain number of nodes is a major win for operational efficiency.
- Faster Access to Technological Advancements – Malware prevention is a constant game of playing catch-up to prevent the latest form of malware that is smarter and more advanced than the last one. SaaS offerings enable administrators faster access to advances that security companies create. An example is a more advanced threat detection engine that utilizes machine learning but would require an upgrade for non-SaaS implementations.
Managed Deployment
The following solutions are managed deployments. This means the malware prevention management software company has added a deployment solution to the respective cloud provider's marketplace to allow the infrastructure to be provisioned with the click of a button.
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Next-Generation Firewall Bundle
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Next-Generation is a virtual instance that is deployed as a traditional perimeter firewall just like the Palo Alto firewall and includes the ability to detect and prevent malware at the network level. The firewall is available in both the AWS and Azure marketplaces.
Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall
Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall Bundle is a virtual instance that is typically deployed as a traditional perimeter firewall, but the bundle also includes the ability to detect and prevent malware at the network level. The firewall is also available in both the AWS and Azure marketplaces.
SaaS Deployment
The following solutions are Software as a Service (SaaS) deployments. This means the malware prevention management software company hosts the software for its customers.
Trend Micro Deep Security as a Service
Trend Micro Deep Security is an agent-based Software as a Service solution that supports dynamic inventory validation for AWS EC2 instance workloads and can be used to secure other native AWS services like WAF and Inspector.
Symantec Cloud Workload Protection
Symantec Cloud Workload Protection is an agent-based SaaS solution that supports instances as well as containers. Cloud Workload Protection supports dynamic inventory/discovery for the three major public clouds (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Symantec Cloud Workload Protection for Storage
Symantec Cloud Workload Protection for Storage is a SaaS based deployment that is used to scan AWS S3 buckets for malicious objects. This solution integrates with Symantec Protection Engine to provide a single management interface for both malware protection of AWS EC2 instances as well as AWS S3 buckets.
Arc4dia SNOW
Arc4dia SNOW is a lightweight endpoint detection/response sensor that feeds data into the SNOW Cloud where advanced anomaly detection and deep analysis are performed on the data gathered from the sensors.
Malware prevention, much like many of the other topics covered in this Cloud Native Operational Solutions series, is an area of IT that very often goes overlooked and uncared for until there is a major crisis that brings the organization to their knees due to a system outage.


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Blue Dragon Consulting offers a broad range of consulting, facilitation, planning and training services and supports for not-for-profit organisations, their managers and leaders and boards of directors. Supporting not-for-profit organisations in enhancing their efficiency and effectiveness, focusing on their goals and purpose and strengthening their sustainability.
Blue Dragon Consulting – Supporting not-for-profit organisations, using collaborative and holistic approaches and innovative techniques, designed to strengthen organisations, teams and/or boards and help them reach their goals.We are guided by the following core values:
- Respect and Compassion
- Integrity and Honesty
- Focusing on people – supporting people's growth and development helps build a stronger organisation.
- Collaboration, Innovation and Excellence in providing service and designing tools and resources that are tailored to meet our individual client's needs.
Facilitation – Good facilitation supports strong dialogue and respectful exchange of views which in turn supports good decision-making. We support organisations by offering our facilitation skills, to help guide meetings, discussions, deliberations and planning.
Strategic Planning and Visioning – Defining a strong vision for an organisation or program, having a clear direction for the future and a plan on how to get there is crucial for an organisation to be successful. We support organisations in visioning, planning and realizing their future. Using a variety of tools and techniques, we tailor and design a process to fit each individual organisation.
Board and Leadership Training, Coaching and Support – Supporting boards in understanding their roles and responsibilities and providing good governance to their organisations. Training and supporting not-for-profit leaders in guiding their organisations and programs. We will work with you to design supports that meet the needs or your organisation and team including: board training and development, board and organisation policy development, executive director and manager coaching, and team building.
Project Planning and Community Consultations – Defining objectives, goals and long-term outcomes for a project; gathering input from the community, various stakeholders and partners are essential components in strong a project and organisational planning process. We have extensive experience in designing, facilitating and delivering project and community planning processes. We will work with you and your team to design and deliver an inclusive and effective planning process.
If you'd like more information about the services that we offer, or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us:
Kemlin Nembhard
Blue Dragon Consulting
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Phone: 204-292-8629
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Ladies I am telling you, this store is so beautiful that you don't want to leave. Especially the dresses from Kaviar Gauche are divine. And if you are looking for a wedding dress I am sure that you will find your perfect match here at this Berlin-Mitte Store.
If you do not know Kaviar Gauche, it's time to change that. The two german fashion designers Alexandra Fischer-Röhler and Johanna Kühl graduated from the ESMOD Berlin before founding their own label in 2004. Since then the design duo has won several awards, present their collections during Berlin, London & Paris Fashion Week and are featured regularly in Vogue, Elle, Interview and other influential fashion magazines. Since 2009 they also have a "Bridal Couture" Collection, which is also shown at Berlin Fashion Week.
Only a few Berlin Labels are successful internationally, Kaviar Gauche is one of them. They also celebrate their 10th anniversary this year. Happy Birthday Kaviar Gauche.
And this is the Kaviar Gauche Store at Linienstrasse in Berlin Mitte.
Kaviar Gauche
Linienstrasse 44
10119 Berlin


text: On Tue, Jan 29, 2008 at 08:19:29PM +0200, Elad Efrat wrote: > Thor Lancelot Simon wrote: > > >>What's the motivation of adding the accept filters? I understand one may > >>be performance -- are there any relevant benchmarks? Is it possible to > >>hear more about why this is necessary, and what are planned future > >>extensions, if any? > > > >It is not necessary. It provides an opportunity to optimize the processing > >of certain application-layer protocols (the ones that like to make a lot > >of connections at once) > > I'm afraid I don't agree benchmarks are unnecessary. You asked "Is it possible to hear more about why this is necessary". I responded that "it is not necessary". Given that I think you probably misunderstood my response. I'm glad to get you some benchmark numbers. It's not practical for me to generate them using my actual application for accept filters, mostly because of the amount of explanation I'd have to provide about how it works to make its performance metrics interpretable by others. But I can try to throw something together for you with Apache. >From my point of view, Apache is so much slower than the applications I deal with that the performance characteristics may be dramatically different (large Apache configurations seem to handle perhaps 10,000 connections/second; my proprietary application is about an order of magnitude better, but is not a pure-userspace application). But I will get you what I can! I think the effect can be observed using inetd, and that it's a useful illustration, so I will still polish that code up as, at least, an example. Thor


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On average, temperatures range from hot to hotter, the rainy season lasts from May to October, chill hours do not exist, and Zone 12 is where it falls on the plant hardiness scale- this means buttery leafy greens and crisp apples are not going to grow well here. And what does grow naturally is not necessarily organic. I'm talking about Nicaragua of course, mainly the municipality of Chinandaga, which encompasses numerous towns and villages near the Pacific coast, just south of the Honduras border.
In the heart of the city of Chinandaga, near coastal villages and sleepy marinas, lies hustling Bisne. Spending a day shopping and running errands in Chanandaga is so brutally hot, sweaty, and tiring, that we like to refer to Bisne as the Belly of the Beast. Bisne is a large central marketplace packed with wall to wall, or plastic to plastic, shops along sidewalks, in between catacombs of structural ruins, and street middles where full sized vehicles still seem to squeeze by. Vendors sell everything from broom handles to mattresses, Tosca flip flops to booming stereo speakers, and my favorite, produce. In the sea of random goods, are islands of farmers' market tables selling local and imported fruits and vegetables. But beware, unlike Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade Farmer's Market, there are no organically grown advertisements here. Buyers get what they get, hoping for some signs of freshness.
Nicaragua's tropical variety of locally and organically grown fruits and vegetables are those which grow naturally around residents' properties or those which gardeners choose to plant using little to none of the commonly distributed, highly toxic pesticides. However, common produce such as nancite, mango, and yuca, are not the only components of a proper diet. The tropical climate here makes it extremely difficult to grow much of the edible produce without the use of cheap and unregulated pesticides. Many of the fruits and vegetables sold in markets, marketplaces, roadsides, and truck beds are abundantly harvested through the help of pest control chemicals, polluted irrigation, and artificial manipulation. With the fairly recent attempt at gaining access to the world's agricultural export system, as well as feeding its people who have suffered from poverty and absence of proper nutrition, Nicaragua is understandably more concerned with quantity production rather than high quality standards. There's a lot of catch up work to be done here.
Nicaragua, being one of the poorest Latin American countries, second only to Haiti, has a harsh history of chronic malnutrition and lack of agricultural production for export and population usage. After 1979, the Sandinista regime made an effort to make a country wide farming plan to increase production of cash crops such as coffee, cotton, bananas, and sugar for export in order to bring in revenue. However, by the 1990s, the government made little progress. Even under the leadership changes (and déjà vus) since then, the Ortega administration has not had very much success in creating a national sustainable farming and consistent export industry with the country's produce and raw materials. Much of the unsuccessful attempts at boosting the farm economy stem from an insecure and unreliable transportation system and severe lack of farming technology and education. Cash crop farms widely use life threatening poisons, outdated agricultural techniques, such as relying mostly on manual labor, and quality standards far below USDA guidelines.
Much of the produce sold in posh supermarkets, that only a handful of the populace can afford the luxury of shopping at, is imported. Many of these fruits and vegetables are full of chemicals in order to uphold the integrity of appearing fresh. Cheap and readily available harmful pesticides are also imported, and these are affordable to most local farmers and landowners. Organic and all natural farming, in general, is difficult and time consuming. Infestations of pests of every kind are common in Nicaragua's tropical climate, therefore a constant battle exists between farmers and plagues- the people cannot afford to lose these battles and starve, yet sickness from chemicals prevails. Although agricultural progress has been slow overall, there is hope and opportunity to bring in, educate, and implement more advanced, efficient, and less harmful farming technology to towns and villages countrywide. Some universities have launched agricultural studies and groundbreaking techniques in Nicaragua, such as recyclable irrigation and climate-controlled greenhouses. Some surrounding eco-conscious surf camps and resorts have also sprung into action assisting villages in digging irrigation wells and propagating local plants. The help has only made a dent, but planting, however small, the organic seeds of ideology, know how, and health awareness is better than creating lucrative tourism without regard to the wellbeing of the native inhabitants.
Meanwhile, back in Bisne:
Most of the produce we purchase has most likely been tainted with pesticides, the abundant watermelon and carrot harvests lack the sweet homegrown organic flavor, and the celery resembles clusters of dried green wooden sticks. La Colonia Supermarket's imported celery is juicy, packaged carefully, and costs a pretty penny- so do their crisp shiny white onions and clean light skinned potatoes. Let's face it- we have the luxury of shopping for chemically ridden produce in either place, buying whatever we choose regardless of cost, and suck it up due to our temporary stay in the country multiple times throughout the year. If we really want to choose to be picky, the only true naturally homegrown and organic produce we can be sure of is what grows on the property at Casa del Sur.
From the top left to right: nancite, pitaya (dragon fruit), guanábana (soursop), carambola (star fruit), coconuts, mangoes, plantains, sour orange, herb and chile pepper garden (habaneros, tobasco, basil, culantro, cinnamon basil, oregano, lemon grass).
Not pictured: Avocados, bananas, mamoncillos, guavas, tropical almonds, papayas, sapotes, mandarins, limes, and oranges.
Back to reality for many Nicaraguans:
Unfortunately, our neighbors in the village do not have the diet supplementation options we do, nor the time and resources to grow organically. In fact, it is easier and far more practical in their mindset to spend time making an income outside of the home, rather than tending garden beds for family consumption. Many of the residents in our village struggle to make a living by fishing, farming in corporate cash crop fields, repairing government funded roads, and working in the numerous "gringo" owned hotels, restaurants, homes, surf camps, and retreats popping up all along the coast. The country has suffered through wars, political upheavals, endless dry periods and heavy rainfalls, famine, disease, gnarly pests, and land exploitation. Organic farming requires patience, diligence, production costs and production only profits. It's a healthier option, better for the environment, but only on a small scale and is not subsidized by the government, as mass produced, genetically modified, highly pesticide controlled farms are. When almost half of the population is living below the poverty line and the other half is mainly split into poor and lower middle class, profit and successful production of crops seem more practical, even in lieu of harmful chemicals shortening the lives of farm workers and buyers across the land. The cultural climate seems to be that of a society always treading water.
So, what do we do? What can we do? Is there anything we should do?
Despite the fact that I recognize the lack of organic farming, and the many other agricultural dilemmas found in Nicaragua, I enjoy the land's natural beauty and friendly culture. When we're home in Casa del Sur while the fruits are ripe, we have the luxury of picking from the plants and trees to help quench our hunger and thirst for snacks and smoothies. Making a few Chinandaga runs to complete our diet, although organic-free, is inevitable during our longs stays, and Bisne is often the place we begin our grocery shopping adventures. Once we've conquered the heat in the bustling belly, we treat ourselves to an air-conditioned stroll in the La Colonia Supermarket before heading back for sunset Tonas in our balcony hammocks. Swinging gently side to side, overlooking the lush greenery and ocean currents, each sip teeters between refreshing enjoyment and major concern.


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Personal information
Assistant professor
Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies
(Afdeling Ontwikkelingspedagogiek )
& EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research.
Research interests
The parent-child relationship:
- as a secure base for emotion regulation
- in vulnerable children (referred children, children with chronic disease)
- underlying physiological (Autonomic Nervous System) and neurological mechanisms
- during adolescence: autonomy and relatedness
- during stressful situations
- a scope for interventions
January 2013-present
Assistant Professor, VU University Amsterdam, Clinical Child and Family Studies
October 2007-2012
Postdoc researcher, VU University Amsterdam, Clinical Child and Family Studies
October 2003 - 2008
Phd student, Clinical Child and Family Studies, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dissertation "Stress, parent-adolescent interaction and the course of psychopathology", under the direction of profs C. Schuengel and H.M. Koot.
September 2002 - February 2003
Research Internship, Department of Developmental Psychology, Leuven University, Belgium
Master in Special Education, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Bachelor in Nursing, Hogeschool Holland, Diemen, The Netherlands
Promotions (PhDs)
- 2013 : Advisor L. Scholten "Effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral based group intervention for children with chronic disease: A randomized controlled trial" (with prof Last, prof Schuengel, dr Grootenhuis).
- ISED International Article Award (2009)


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Digital Downloads
Give your early learner a head start with the FrootBudders™ Alphabet and Numbers Workbooks! These character inspired worksheets include, tracing, writing, coloring, basic math, and more! Print these worksheets from your own printer at your convenience or anywhere you have printer access.
After completing the workbooks, reward your early learner with a "Super Star Certificate" to display proudly on their wall!


text: SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR (July 30, 2009) The Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment 2 (ANDE-2) satellite suite designed by the Naval Research Laboratory is deployed from space shuttle Endeavour. The ANDE-2 suite consists of two spherical satellites to monitor atmospheric density and to improve methods for placing space objects in low Earth orbit. (Photo courtesy NASA/Released)


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Monday, June 27, 2011
FREEBIE: Sprint to 100 Place Value game
Remember to head over to Oceans of First Grade Fun to check out all the other amazing Place Value Freebies.
12 comments:
Thanks for linking up. I can never seem to give them enough place value practice.ReplyDelete
This is GREAT! Thanks for the freebie! I'm a new follower of yours. Perhaps you'll follow me!ReplyDelete
Awesome idea thanks for sharing! I'm a new follower and would love for you to follow me at mysecongradejournal.blogspot.comReplyDelete
my giveaway ends tomorrow if your interested.
Thank you for sharing!ReplyDelete
Has your Sprint to 100 been removed? After several attempts I wasn't able to access it from Google Docs.ReplyDelete
Love your place value items!
I'm hoping it will work now!It has been removed when we started to need a licence from Scrappin Doodles to have free items using her clip art - I thought I'd added all of them back in once I bought the licence but I must have missed this one! Let me know if there is any more problems!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous29 February 2012 at 11:49
Is the tens and ones bingo not a template that is printable?ReplyDelete
- Anonymous29 November 2012 at 11:42
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
I'm using this game with my kinders right now! They love it! Check out some pictures of the game in action on my blog, www.clubkindergarten.com :)ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing!
Wow, I'll go and check it out! :)Delete
Thanks for sharing. This is one of my students' favourite games. They ask to play it often.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks for popping by Su Anna! I'm so glad they like it!Delete


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Reading Catherine Woodard's post last week about NBA coach Phil Jackson reminded me that way back in the mid-1980s Jackson coached the Continental Basketball Association Albany (NY) Patroons. The Patroons' home arena was the 3,500-seat Washington Avenue Armory, a former New York National Guard center with a forbidding castle-like exterior. Jackson won his first championship ring when he guided the Albany Patroons to the 1984 CBA championship. Walter (Walt The Stalt) Williams was named MVP of the series and went on to become a key assistant coach to Jackson.
I lived a short block away from the Armory and with my girlfriends regularly attended Patroons home games. The mid-week games rarely sold out and we were able to get great seats near the floor. Phil Jackson no longer had the unruly hair and beard of his Knicks days but he was easily recognizable by the way he paced along the sidelines, hands on hips, shoulders back. It was sometimes more fun to watch him than the action on the court.
Those were the days!


text:
AreaIstanbul - Istanbul European Side
Orginal PriceUSD 150.000
|Property type
|Property ID
Sea view Istanbul apartments for sale choices of 2,3,4 bedrooms. Turkey property for sale Istanbul European side .
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Total of 36 properties complete the compound avaliable for sale now with competable prices completion is Febuary 2015 . Set in a peaceful neighbourhood within 5 minutes walking distance to metrobus and E5 highway road connections . 20 minutes to Ataturk International Airport .
The development offers open plan apartments with optional type ranging from 2 bedrooms , 3 bedrooms and penthouse 4 bedroom duplex suites . On site is communal swimming pool, gardens , children play area and open car parking .
Open plan homes with entrance hallway into main lounge and dining patio doors onto nice terrace with town and sea views . Fitted kitchen units and worksurface . Fully fitted bathroom suites and good sized bedrooms sizes ranging 95sqm – 188sqm living .
Quality materials used throughout the construction showhomes ready to see now .
Istanbul apartments Prices are from
2 bedroom apartment 95sqm – 150.000Usd - only a few remaining
2 bedroom garden apartment 105sqm – 165.000Usd - SOLD
3 bedroom apartment 130sqm – 240.000Usd
4 bedroom apartment duplex 188sqm – 270.000Usd - ALL SOLD !
Please contact us here at Armaya International to arrange viewings appointment - these apartments are mostly all sold out please ask for simular options .
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Gift Membership
If you're buying for a whisky drinker, whether they're a novice or consider themselves to be a professional, there is no greater gift than membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Membership unites whisky fans across the globe and offers access to an ever-changing collection of single cask single malt whiskies.
There are different membership options available but for the whisky pioneer look no further than membership with welcome pack. The pack includes 3 10cl bottles for them to explore along with a £10 e-voucher to use against a full 70cl SMWS bottling, their membership card and a Society lapel badge. In addition to the pack, membership provides access to the full range of Society single cask whiskies and special tasting events at exclusive member prices.
If this membership option is a little out of your price range, opt for membership without welcome pack. At £61.50 this membership comes with a wealth of benefits including exclusive access to new single cask bottlings every month and preferential post and packaging rates.
Membership to the Society is more than just a one-off gift; it's the beginning of a life-long appreciation of single cask whisky.
Gift Unique Whisky Bottles
Unique, distinctive and strictly limited to a single cask, our bottles are the gift that the whisky-lover in your life will never forget. Choose your favourite from the world's widest collection of single casks, all selected for their exceptional quality and interest by our expert Tasking Panel.


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Woe to cold turkey
Posted by Nato on 31 January 2019 · Leave a Comment
Last year, I participated in a special treat that is occasionally offered to random lone wolfs across America. They call it … Friendsgiving. It's like Thanksgiving but with friends. It makes sense in big cities like NYC because a lot of folk don't have family nearby to eat with. Most Yankees plan ahead and travel … Continue reading →
Category Food, Socialising, Yanks · Tagged with Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, Turkey
Rock rock Rockaway Beach
Posted by Nato on 10 August 2018 · Leave a Comment
The 4th of July happened recently, which for me is just another public holiday that I don't give 2 hoots about. Something about wasting good tea. Everyone gets the day off, though, which makes it a good excuse to hang out and do something weekendy mid-week. I joined some friends at Rockaway Beach, which was … Continue reading →
Category Food, Nature, NYC, Socialising · Tagged with beach, butter kuchen, Coney Island, fairy bread, frisbee, Rockaway Beach
Family Feuding
Posted by Nato on 23 July 2018 · Leave a Comment
We sat across from each other in groups of 4. It was Team Euro vs Team Social Deduction, in respect to the styles of board games that we prefer i.e. sociopaths vs socialites; quiet thinkers vs loud talkers; mouth breathers vs political tricksters. We were competing in a makeshift Family Feud at one of my … Continue reading →
Category Gaming, Socialising · Tagged with Family Feud, social deduction, Steve Harvey
A furious Dracula
Posted by Nato on 18 July 2018 · 2 Comments
My friends and I have been playing a lot of Fury of Dracula lately. It's a board game where 4 valiant hunters chase the hidden Dracula around Europe, trying to find his trail and vanquish him before his evil plots thicken. For me, the major draw is that I loved the book and movie of … Continue reading →
Category Gaming, Socialising, Uncategorized · Tagged with Bellucci, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Elwes, Fury of Dracula, Hopkins, Keanu, Winona
Corsendonkulous Belgian Double Magnum
Posted by Nato on 28 May 2018 · Leave a Comment
I recently had the occasion to drink a huge ass bottle of beer. It all started in June 2017 when I stumbled upon a well-stocked beer store in Connecticut which featured a 3 Litre bottle of Corsendonk Christmas Ale from Belgium. Even the guy at the beer shop was amused. "Why do you want this?" … Continue reading →
Category Beer, Random, Socialising · Tagged with Belgian beer, Corsendonk, Corsendonk Christmas Ale, Double Magnum
Three Men and a Baby
Posted by Nato on 20 May 2018 · 2 Comments
My mates and I struck a classic movie pose. See the trailer and real movie poster below. Trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohBNZZKmtnw
Category Random, Socialising · Tagged with Three Men and a Baby
Forgettable karaoke
Posted by Nato on 19 March 2018 · Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, my friend was leaving for an extended trip to Thailand, so he had a karaoke night to celebrate the joy of his departure. It'd been a few years since my last karaoke, back in my London days, so I felt compelled to give New York a shot. This place was apparently … Continue reading →
Category Socialising · Tagged with karaoke
Cell block tango
Posted by Nato on 14 November 2017 · Leave a Comment
I was blindfolded, handcuffed to a couple of my friends, and led me into a prison cell, with a few accomplices similarly bound in the cell next door. This wasn't a remake of 50 Shades on Broadway or the next Hostel movie; this was an escape room. Our mission was to work together to escape … Continue reading →
Category Random, Socialising, Thrills · Tagged with cell block, escape room, prison cell, Riddle Me Out
Fire in the hole
Posted by Nato on 18 October 2017 · Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, I engaged in that great American tradition for privileged, city folk – a balcony fire pit. A few of us gathered at a friend's balconied house for this occasion and it turned out to be much more lavish than I'd anticipated. I've roasted marshmallows on a homemade bonfire before, but I'd … Continue reading →
Category Socialising · Tagged with fire colorant, fire pit, Persian rug
Barefoot Bowls
Posted by Nato on 20 February 2017 · Leave a Comment
You probably thought lawn bowls was for boring, old people in stiff, white clothes. Nope; not anymore. Australia has lately gone mad for 'barefoot bowls' so I had a go over Xmas. It's just like a backyard party, where you get to hold a beer in your left hand and a lawn bowl in your … Continue reading →
Category Socialising · Tagged with Barefoot Bowls, lawn bowls
How do you say beer in Japanese?
Posted by Nato on 9 November 2016 · Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, I went to a random brewery after work on a Friday, as I'm wont. That's when I bumped into 2 random Japanese guys who were working in Ohio and had come to NYC just for a beer weekend. Seriously, they came to NYC not to see Lady Liberty and Central Park, … Continue reading →
Cards Against The Strand
Bookshops and libraries are for reverant, studious people right? You'd think so but you'd be wrong. It's for horrible people. I found this out when The Strand (famous NYC bookstore) recently hosted a Cards Against Humanity event, sponsored by Coney Island Brewery. This event was held in their Rare Books room, which is probably usually … Continue reading →
Category Beer, Gaming, NYC, Socialising · Tagged with cards against humanity, Strand Books, The Strand
Heavy auntie gaming
Posted by Nato on 23 June 2016 · Leave a Comment
What are the odds that you meet up with your retired, long-lost auntie and she plays Agricola, one of the most revered, heavy, modern strategy games? Over the course of a few nights, we also played Tzolk'in, Endeavor, Notre Dame, Egezia, and Innovation. Impressive, non?
Category Random, Socialising · Tagged with Agricola, board games, Egezia, Endeavor, Notre Dame, Tzolk'in
Cthulhu pizza
Posted by Nato on 18 March 2016 · Leave a Comment
On New Year's Eve, I visited old friends in a really old cottage in Biddenden, UK. We walked the English countryside, played German board games, wore Star Wars onesies, drank Belgian beer, and generally mucked about aplenty. We also took turns cooking, which gave me the chance to summon the meal that I'd practised once … Continue reading →
Category Gaming, Socialising, Travel · Tagged with Biddenden, Cthulhu, gaming, Lovecraft, New Year's Eve, onesies, pizza
Small Imperial Shuttle
Posted by Nato on 10 March 2016 · 3 Comments
While I was in Europe with my companion, we headed over to the UK to meet a few of my old friends for some jolly, dapper, English cottage board gaming in Biddenden. Driving a French car on British roads proved surprisingly easy until the sun set and the country lanes became progressively thinner, with local … Continue reading →
Category Gaming, Socialising · Tagged with Biddenden, cottage, farmhouse, Little Darth Vader, onesies, shopkeepers, slippers, Star Wars, Strom Trooper
The French Gentleman
Posted by Nato on 23 January 2016 · Leave a Comment
I visited my friend's family for Christmas again last year, which is in Amiens, northern France. Prior to one of our many large, mandatory, well-provisioned, family dinners, we were tasked with driving into town to pickup Grandma's sort-of boyfriend (it's complicated). Marcel, the charming chap, invited us to come a little early to have a … Continue reading →
Paint and Jrink
Posted by Nato on 30 December 2015 · Leave a Comment
My companion and I had never heard of painting and drinking classes, but when we saw one in New Orleans it just made so much sense to put the two together. It was pretty easy, too. All we had to do was sit on a chair with 7 other chilled out amateurs and follow the … Continue reading →
Category Beer, Random, Socialising · Tagged with Fleur-de-Lys, Paint and Jrink, painting, port, porter
Jess and Mikey sitting in a tree
My board gaming buddies, Jess and Mike, got married a few weeks ago. They both love board gaming heaps so this influenced many aspects of the day, without making it look silly. Our seating nametags were little toys with our nicknames attached, the party favours were custom-made dice, and each table's flower arrangement was in … Continue reading →
Category Socialising, Yanks · Tagged with board games, chuppah, Connecticut, Jewish wedding, wedding
The art of the beer dinner
Posted by Nato on 6 April 2015 · Leave a Comment
Last month, I attended an artisanal beer night at my favorite pub in the downtown Albany area, City Beer Hall. This pub has an ever-changing selection of interesting beers from around the country so I was keen to see what they would produce for a night like this. They'd arranged the tables to make a … Continue reading →
Category Festival, Food, Socialising · Tagged with Albany, ale, artisanal beer dinner, beer, beer pairing, City Beer Hall
Golden Gai time
Posted by Nato on 22 February 2015 · 2 Comments
Some of my favourite moments in Tokyo were when I found myself sitting in small bar-restaurants soaking up the local beer, food and culture. And just to confirm the stereotype, yes these places are full of men in business suits. After sampling a few in the downtown area, I learned of a fabled little shanty-town … Continue reading →
Category Food, Socialising, Travel · Tagged with bar, Golden Gai, pub, Tokyo, Yugo
More snake, less venom
Posted by Nato on 22 April 2014 · Leave a Comment
I joined some friends at their house for a gaming day 2 weeks ago, and it also turned it into a beer day, seeing as they had a remarkably diverse beer warehouse just down the road. The variety of styles and tastes from around the country and world was fantastic, but my main focus was … Continue reading →
Category Beer, Socialising · Tagged with Armageddon, beer, Brewdog, Schorschbock, Sink The Bismarck, Snake Venom, Tactical Nuclear Penguin, world's strongest beer
Blighty Surprise
Posted by Nato on 22 January 2014 · 2 Comments
Blighty Surprise Ever since I knew I'd be in France for Christmas, I'd been planning how to make a surprise visit to see my London gaming friends. As fortune would have it, most of them were spending New Years together in an English farmhouse, which posed a perfect opportunity for my scheme. I took the … Continue reading →
Category Gaming, Socialising, Travel · Tagged with Blighty, board games, England, Norfolk
Big Gay Wedding
Two of my favourite NYC friends got married last weekend and this was to be my first ever big gay wedding. From the moment I stepped inside the venue and picked up a flyer detailing the planned events and activities, I knew this was going to be the most fun wedding I'd ever seen. The … Continue reading →
Category Socialising · Tagged with Dinosaur BBQ, gay, gay marriage, ginger liqueur, wedding
Reen, y'all
Posted by Nato on 12 June 2013 · 2 Comments
It was through casual feed surfing that I noticed that one of my best London friends had posted a photo on Facebook of a meal she had just had in Houston, TX. "What the … is she here?", I thought. A few texts later confirmed that she was indeed here for a mere 2 nights … Continue reading →
Category Socialising, Travel, Work · Tagged with Board game, Houston, rendezvous, Sherine, Tex-Mex
Look Mum, No Pants
Posted by Nato on 27 January 2013 · 3 Comments
Last Sunday, I took my pants off and rode the subway for a half-hour or so and walked around a park. Just another Sunday in New York. Why, you ask? The 12th Annual No Pants Subway Ride of course! No Pants is probably the most famous recurring stunt organised by Improv Everywhere, the NYC-based public … Continue reading →
Category Festival, NYC, Socialising · Tagged with Improv Everywhere, No Pants, No Pants Subway Ride, subway, Union Square
Slip 'n Slide
I recently engaged myself in the traditional Australian pastime of slip 'n slide. The basic premise of this activity is to lay down some plastic, get it wet and then throw yourself upon it. As you may imagine, injuries can be commonplace, so it is only with a high degree of skill and experience that … Continue reading →
Category Socialising, Thrills · Tagged with Australia, Gold Coast, Slip N Slide, Vegemite
Graham Pfefferkuchenhaus
Posted by Nato on 8 December 2012 · 2 Comments
Apparently the tradition of making gingerbread houses has passed from Germany and is now very popular here in the USA. Who knew? So it was with delight that I accepted an invite to join some friends in their sweet construction project. We didn't bake real gingerbread, because it's a bit of a faff, but opted … Continue reading →
Category Festival, Socialising, Yanks · Tagged with Christmas, Gingerbread, Graham cracker, Pfefferkuchenhaus
Fowl language
Posted by Nato on 25 November 2012 · 3 Comments
Thanksgiving is the season when all Americans are united in their common war against the bird, despite just recently being savagely divided over politics. I watched the highly-celebrated Macy's parade of balloons and floats before attending not 1 but 2 Thanksgiving dinners, which was all the merrier for me. The 1st one, on Thursday, involved … Continue reading →
Category Festival, Socialising, Yanks · Tagged with fairy bread, fried chicken, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving
The good times rolled
On a whim, I joined a few friends at a skee-ball bar named Full Circle in hip Williamsburg. I figured that this was an American activity that I should check out, plus the skee-ball and hot dogs were free (always a hit with me). The place didn't disappoint. It was just like a regular decent … Continue reading →
Category Shows, Socialising, Yanks · Tagged with 8-bit, Full Circle Bar, Jane Lynch, Skee ball, Williamsburg, Wreck-It Ralph
Rooftop Firefly
Posted by Nato on 6 October 2012 · 3 Comments
Last night I was at a Firefly screening on the roof of a nifty loft apartment in Brooklyn. For the uninitiated (why are we even friends?), Firefly is an 11 year-old sci fi show about a fun crew of space cowboy/smugglers. Fans like yours truly have adored it ever since it was axed after only … Continue reading →
Category Socialising · Tagged with Brooklyn, cutting hat, Firefly, Serenity
Flash mob said yes
Last weekend, I joined a flash mob to help a random guy propose to his girl while they visitted NYC. Here's how the mission went down for the couple that shall henceforth be known as Jack and Jill. Jack's sister posted a meetup online, inviting NYC strangers to join in a flash mob at Washington … Continue reading →
Category Socialising · Tagged with Chess, flash mob, proposal, Washington Square Park
BK, the Mini-Me
Posted by Nato on 15 September 2012 · 6 Comments
When I left London, a little hole was created in my closest circle of gaming friends. I'd like to think that I had provided some clever strategy, shameless aggression, cheekiness, sneakiness and general good humour. How could they possibly find all that again in one package? Enter Bonnie Kate. She's young, she's crafty, and she's … Continue reading →
Category Gaming, Socialising · Tagged with board gaming, Bonnie-Kate, London, London Rollergirls, roller derby
69 Bayard
Posted by Nato on 27 August 2012 · 4 Comments
I'm starting to develop a tradition with a buddy whereby we watch a free dance or music performance (NYC offers many of these around summertime) and then follow it up with a meal in Chinatown. He's Asian and was quite disturbed when I mentioned that I'd been living in Chinatown for 4 months but hadn't … Continue reading →
Category NYC, Socialising · Tagged with Bayard St, Chinatown, NYC
Mostly Sondheim
Posted by Nato on 24 August 2012 · 2 Comments
Last weekend I was invited to watch my friend perform at Mostly Sondheim. It's a weekly event at The Duplex, a piano bar, where people get together for a drink and to perform their favourite show tunes to each other. It's sort of like karaoke, but the quality is high, you have to know the … Continue reading →
Category NYC, Shows, Socialising · Tagged with Duplex, Mostly Sondheim, Musical theatre
Fondant of fabulousness
Posted by Nato on 7 August 2012 · 2 Comments
Some of my gaming friends decided to throw a surprise b'day for one of our number. They got together and baked him a scrummy red velvet cake and then used fondant to paint a picture of his favourite computer game character on it. As you can see, it looked amazing, and it tasted just as … Continue reading →
Category Gaming, Socialising · Tagged with Cake, Fondant, Team Fortress 2, TF2, TF2 medic
Storm's Coming
Posted by Nato on 2 August 2012 · 2 Comments
A buddy visited from London and it was great to hang out with him for a few drinks and some gaming. His flight background has given him a curious fascination with the weather, so when we saw a storm brewing over the Hudson River, he insisted that we stay and watch. As the black clouds … Continue reading →
Category Socialising · Tagged with Hudson River, storm
1 in 64 Trillion
On Wednesday I went to a free improv comedy event in Central Park, which turned out to be really fun. There was about 8 people and somehow they managed to consistently stay on the same page while changing the props, roles and scenarios. The show was made more enjoyable by the random bumping into of … Continue reading →
Category Festival, NYC, Random, Socialising · Tagged with Central Park, Comedy, Improvisational theatre, Susan
The MP3 Experiment
Posted by Nato on 17 July 2012 · 4 Comments
Imagine sitting in a big park on Governors Island, minding your own business, when suddenly thousands of people drop to the ground and lay still. Then they all start acting in silent unison doing things like following you, giving you high fives, walking in slow mo and running around with white sheets on their heads. … Continue reading →
Category NYC, Socialising · Tagged with Governors Island, Improv Everywhere, MP3 Experiment
Manhattan Mayhem
Posted by Nato on 20 June 2012 · Leave a Comment
Last weekend, I watched another local roller derby bout between the Manhattan Mayhem and Brooklyn Bombshells. The score ebbed and flowed and came right down to the wire. At parts, the bout got really heated and the refs needed to have big pow wows for some of their decisions. The atmosphere was top-rate, with jeerleaders, … Continue reading →
Category Socialising, Sport · Tagged with Brooklyn Bombshells, Manhattan Mayhem, roller derby
Katz's with Kohnsey
Posted by Nato on 3 June 2012 · 4 Comments
An old work buddy from London called me out of the blue because he was in NYC for the weekend. We hooked up yesterday and it was great to just chill out with an old friend. It was the excuse that I needed to finally make my 1st visit to Katz's Deli – a classic … Continue reading →
Category Beer, Food, NYC, Socialising · Tagged with Doughnut Plant, Economy Candy, Katz's Delicatessen, Lower East Side, Motor City Bar, When Harry Met Sally
Like a real American
I've wanted to watch a live ice hockey game, but it's too expensive because it's finals season. When a guy that I met invited me to watch it at his home, I jumped at the chance. We watched the New York Rangers take on the New Jersey Devils in the 4th of their 6 matches … Continue reading →
Category Socialising, Sport · Tagged with hockey, ice hockey, New York Rangers, Newcastle Brown Ale, NHL
When strangers game
Posted by Nato on 2 May 2012 · 2 Comments
I've had a lot of spare time lately, so I've been hopping all over the city and trying out various board gaming groups/venues. The variety is astounding. When I walk into a new place, I just never know quite how friendly, skillful, or "normal" they will be. In most cases, the thing that brings me … Continue reading →
Category Gaming, Socialising · Tagged with board games, cards against humanity
A man of the arts
Posted by Nato on 5 April 2012 · 2 Comments
I've really been arting it up in NYC. In London, I grew a passion for the fine arts when I saw a few plays, operas, ballets and best of all attended the Shakepeare's Globe with my buddies. Without really realising it, I've already pursued a lot of it here in NYC too. When Kay and … Continue reading →
Category Shows, Socialising · Tagged with arts, ballet, opera


text:
Stixy is a Karlhamn, Sweden based startup that has created an online version of the stickyboard. The service at first is a bit hard to grasp as the website reminds of a board in use itself. However, after a few minutes of looking around I came up with at least a few things how this tool could be used – with only one question in mind, is it better and easier than using simple post-it notes?
Nevertheless, the service is really customisable (a ton of different colours and fonts are available) and has lots of different possibilities for for content. They enable uploading of photos and documents. You can also add to-do notes through the widgets at the bottom. The best part of the whole service is perhaps the networking and sharing of the stixyboard with your friends or colleagues.
Stixy works really nicely with both Safari and FF on the Mac. In services such as Stixy, the biggest barrier of use is really adoption (ironic, I know). But by adoption I mean how you can drive this sort of tool through in your organisation or group of friends as the real potential of the service is unleashed in network usage.
Work on Stixy is not that active, if you look at their blog and they only have a few people in the team (guessing by the contact page). Despite all this it's a neat looking little app, but the real question is could this be something that agile companies could use to subsitute the real white board and post-it notes? Let me know what are your thoughts, especially those companies using these scrum-like methods?