text:
It actually scares me when economists push housing as a panacea to ending the recession. What short memories they have – the housing market was the primary driver of this recession.
If we continue to emphasize the housing market as one of the key legs of our economy, we run the risk of recreating another devastating bubble in the long-run. Such an emphasis will almost assure a return to the mindless policies that pumped the market to an unsustainable level.
The increased mortgage underwriting vigilance we are seeing today will eventually dissolve as long as housing is promoted as an economic activity generator. The same types of policymakers, developers, investors and financiers that tanked the real estate market will be drawn back into the game like moths to a flame. We cannot allow that to happen.
How to unwind the debilitating effects of foreclosures and negative equity, along with defining what role housing should play in the economy going forward, must be the primary focus of our leaders and lenders. By contrast, too much time was wasted on a health care overhaul instead of fostering business growth, and stimulus money for "shovel-ready" projects was handed out like mortgages during the bubble expansion.
Allowing mass foreclosures amounts to a losing strategy. Mass foreclosures will continue to depress prices and leave vacant homes rotting in the sun. Some regions are more susceptible than others to this type of economic and social decay.
In all but the worst of cases, lenders should agree to allow the current owners on the verge of default to rent the properties and even allow a repurchase option if their circumstances change for the better. It would entail signing over the homes to the banks, but the alternative is worse. Renting back might even offer a path to solvency and stability for some.
Both the lenders and investors (including the government), need to bite the bullet, book the losses and move on.
How actual foreclosures are resolved depends on location. It pays for the lenders to fix and maintain properties in desirable markets with an eye to selling or leasing them.
Properties in undesirable, over-built markets, such as exburb subdivisions that never should have been constructed, need to be bulldozed. The cost to undo deterioration and maintain vacant homes does not make sense in weak markets. There is little chance a largely abandoned single-family tract on the outskirts of Victorville will ever attract prices adequate to recover repair and maintenance costs. The land should be rezoned to commercial use. Manufacturing should be encouraged to fill the vacuum, especially where infrastructure was established to support large housing tracts.
There will be pain, so get it behind us sooner than later.
Owners who have the resources to keep current on their mortgages despite being underwater are prisoners of their own homes. They can't unload them unless their lenders agree to do shortsales, but that will leave sellers with no cash and a scarred credit rating – hardly the foundation to start anew.
However, there is hope for these owners. It requires patience and resolve.
Consider this example. A home purchased for $625,000 five years ago during the height of the boom. The buyer financed 80%, or $500,000, at 5.5% interest for thirty years.
The value declined 40% to $325,000 and is underwater compared to its outstanding mortgage balance of $462, 303 (the borrower is current).
If the housing market where the property is located makes a very modest recovery – assume 2% annual average annual appreciation – the equity and the value will be almost equal in another five years. OK, it's still a loss, but once a property is above water, equity will build faster than most would imagine. Leverage will then be working for the owners; not against them.
This scenario would be better if lenders were to re-finance owners who have kept current into lower rate mortgages. There is at least one such program, but it is limited to loans owned by FNMA and FHLMC. How long the program will last is uncertain (Chase was part of the program and might still be. You have to be current and the loan must still be serviced by the original lender. Income documentation is minimal).
There should be a requirement to force lenders to re-finance their non delinquent portfolio loans. It's just good business and it is far preferable to having those borrowers walk away out of frustration.
What about the future of housing and the role it should play in the economy?
The most important step before any housing strategy is developed is to eliminate the notion that most people should own homes.
It's a goal everyone should consider, but whether you should depend on many factors, any one of which could make purchasing a home an unwise decision.
But don't count on the lenders and government officials to know what is good for you. Even with today's tougher underwriting standards, the personal circumstances of the buyers will never be addressed by loan officers fixated on debt to equity ratios, incomes and credit scores.
Government officials have always been obsessed with the increased consumer spending activity that accompanies home purchases. However, the correlation might not be anywhere close to what it was in the past. The "wealth effect" of the boom years may take decades to re-establish itself. Homeowners will likely clutch their wallets and save more as a reserve against another downturn. Also, many new homes are smaller, which means less furniture, accessories, carpets, paint, etc.
Even if you can manage the mortgage, tax and insurance payments, the utility costs will continue to rise. If you are a customer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, you will appreciate that. It took Prop 13 to rein in real estate taxes. However imperfectly it accomplished that, it did bring relief and some predictability. But there is no equivalent of a Prop 13 on the horizon for utility costs.
Then there are the prospects of employment. The ability to advance careers, increase the size of paychecks or just stay employed may require more geographic mobility. If you own a home, unloading it in a reasonable amount of time might not be possible. Goodbye job opportunity. Renting, then, might be the sensible option for most people.
As gloomy as all of this sounds, in the long-run an economy less dependent on housing will be healthier.
Houses will return to what they were in the post World War 2 era – a roof over your head and a source of pride; not a commodity to be traded for a fast buck.
Saving, while it diminishes consumer spending, helps stimulate investment in plant and equipment. Restoring some of the lost manufacturing segment would help improve our exports and create lasting jobs rather than the boom and bust employment from home construction.
If we want to compete with China, Brazil, India and other emerging economic powers, we must return to a more balanced economy backed by production capacity, not an economy built on buying and selling homes to each other.


text:
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Our licensed inspector will inspect hundreds of components found in and around the home using our customized inspection process. We want to help our clients avoid having to make costly repairs that sometimes don't get discovered until after moving into a recently purchased property.
We inform and educate our clients as part of the highly detailed inspection process. In addition to the general home inspection, we offer many other services such as; Wind Mitigation and 4-Point Inspections, Radon, Mold and Well Water testing.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mysuru, Jan 12 (IANS) Perennial favourites Services rode on strong performances from Mayur Bhat and Jairam Jat to beat former champions Railways 78-61 in a high voltage men's level one clash at the 66th Senior National Basketball Championship being held at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium here on Tuesday. Bhat, the Services sixth man, made a major impact off the bench as he turned the game in his team's favour with his 20 points. The experienced Jairam Jat also ran the Railways defence ragged, scoring 20 points. Setu S.M. and Ashutosh Rai chipped in with identical scores of 13.
For Railways, Ajay Pratap Singh (14) and Himanshu Sharma (12) strived valiantly in a losing cause. Both teams were equally matched in the opening quarter but Services outscored their opponents in the second and third periods to build up a comfortable lead. In another level one game, Delhi registered their first win of the tournament by beating Karnataka 84-73. Gopal Ram (33) was in superb form for Delhi with Parveen Dovan (22) providing some excellent support. Anil Kumar (24) was the highest scorer for Karnataka while Sashi Kumar (13) and Sashi S. (12) also played well. The game was anticipated to be a close battle with little to separate the teams. Karnataka got off to a quick start by taking an early lead. Forward Anil Kumar took the bulk of the scoring load for Karnataka along with Sashi. But late in the second quarter, the game turned after Karnataka centre Arvind Arumugam caught an inadvertent elbow from Delhi forward Gopal Ram that forced him out of the game.
The second half was a completely different affair with the tall and sturdy Delhi players scoring easily with no defensive presence for Karnataka on the inside. In the women's section, Telangana upset defending champions Chhattisgarh 79-72 in a level one contest. The Telangana women's side have been the surprise of the tournament so far with strong performances in all their matches.
Telangana executed their strategies to perfection against Chhattisgarh, sticking to their fast-paced style of play. Despite last year's most valuable player Poonam Chaturvedi putting up huge numbers with 46 points and 19 rebounds, Chhattisgarh's other players had a poor shooting day. Telangana played tight defence forcing 20 turnovers from the Chhattisgarh side while limiting their own turnovers to just seven. For Telangana, Anusha Anto put up a double-double score with 19 points and 14 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds. Divya P. also had a big game for Telangana with 23 points. All the Telangana players crashed the boards to pull down 23 offensive rebounds leading to 23 second-chance points.
Get the latest news and updates from Indian Premier League, ICC World Cup 2019, Match Prediction & Fantasy cricket. Follow SportzWiki for all cricket news, WWE News & Sports News.


text:
I was married pretty young, right after high school graduation, I was 18. Now I'm 28 and just celebrated my 10 year wedding anniversary.
This is us on our honeymoon in Hawaii. Crazy young love!
It's kind of a big deal to me.
Here are a few things I have learned along the way.
1. Stick up for each other-stay positive
Seriously, you have to be on each other's sides no matter who you're around: family, friends, co-workers, etc. Don't put each other down, It can be something as simple as saying, "Yeah, he/she is getting pretty lazy, the house is always a mess, or he/she never helps put the kids to bed, etc…." Sure those things may be true, but work on them in your own time, together. Try to stay positive at all times. Bring up your concerns in private and find a solution together. Bashing each other won't solve a darn thing! We've had our share of this and it's a slippery slope. When you start to talk negative about each other, somehow you start believing it… and it can be hard to get back on track.
2. Keep yourself looking good
I am a firm believer in this. My husband knew this before we ever got married. I truly believe keeping yourself attractive and healthy can go along way. Yes, it's hard, but Anything worth doing, is hard work.
Start small and just keep encouraging/supporting each other. You will feel so much better!
3. Be involved-truly care
Whether it's your kids athletics, a new job, a new hobby… be involved and care! Go to the game, actively listen to each other, support new hobbies that make them happy. Just showing up doesn't count, you have to be hands-on, you need to truly care. This helps makes connections within your family and brings everyone closer.
4. Have lots of [alone time]
It brings you closer. A strong marriage is the first step towards a strong family.
5. Eat dinner at the table
I love how we eat dinner as a family each night, not in front of a distracting TV, but at our kitchen table. We talk and laugh. We have discussions. It's amazing. It is the one daily constant that I think our entire family enjoys. Besides, I like having a table to put my plate on while I eat 🙂 Dinnertime is more awesome at a table! And we believe our marriage/family is stronger for it.
6. Be grateful
Don't forget to thank each other, or do something special every now and then. Whether it's arranging a night out for a surprise, bring home their favorite flowers/candy bar, or even a back rub…. anything and everything is appreciated. It will keep you both smiling!
7. Keep jealousy at bay-trust each other
Just trust each other as best you can. If there is a reason you feel like you can't, then talk about it, so you can move on and have a fun relationship without worry! Keep each other happy and you shouldn't have a problem with this one!
8. Paper, Rock , Scissors
This game has saved us from stupid arguments countless times! Who's turn to change the baby's diaper, cook dinner, take out the trash, mop the floor, etc…. You can use it for anything — Seriously, try it! We don't use it as much as we did when we were first married, but it helped us out in those first few years, when maybe you need it most 🙂
9. Never give up on each other-no one is perfect, including you
Not many people know this, but we went through a rough patch during our 2nd/3rd year of marriage. Going back to #1, this is really the reason we probably had issues. We felt like giving up, throwing in the towel, but we didn't. We got some help. We were in marriage counseling for almost 9 months. It didn't seem to solve all our problems, but it was nice to talk-to put everything out there for the other to absorb. I really think it kept us together during such a hard time, it kept us from giving up on each other. If we wouldn't have tried counseling it may have ended, or we may have stayed together, but had more unhappy times. It was the glue that held us together.
Don't be scared to get help from someone, to talk to someone. It may be the lifesaver you need, even if it's just buying you time to remember how much you really do care about that person.
On a side note: during our counseling, we were in a 'I don't really like that person anymore attitude.' But we still had some good times, it wasn't all bad. It was more like 50/50, but we both wanted it to be 100% happy again. And that's what happened. When you want something bad enough, it will happen, don't give up and TRY your best!
I am so happy.
Marriage is a rollar coaster, full of highs, lows, twists and turns. You have to go with the flow, don't be too serious, be light-hearted, laugh, have fun, and enjoy each other. Don't give up so easily. Don't take that other person for granted. Love them with all you have. Marriage is not 50-50, it is 100-100. You both must give 100% all the time to achieve the desired results. You must put in as much as you put out. And if you don't like what you are seeing, then change it, don't just give up on it. I promise it's worth all that effort!
Our 10 year anniversary date! We finally hit the mountain bike trails in NW AR for 2 hours and had a blast!!!! Then we got our grub on at Billy Simm's BBQ!


text:
The Anaheim Ducks will be the new NHL parent club of the Syracuse Crunch starting in 2010-11.
The Crunch announced the multi-year deal at a news conference this morning at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Anaheim is the third primary parent club of Syracuse in the Crunch's 16-season history. Vancouver ran the show the first six years; Columbus has been here the past decade.
Ducks general manager Bob Murray and senior VP of hockey operations David McNab come to the table with strong reputations as developers of talent at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Anaheim has appeared in Stanley Cup Final twice (2003 & 2007) in the last six NHL seasons, including a championship in 2007. The club has won 10 playoff rounds since 2003, equaling the most in the NHL (with Detroit). In recent years, McNab scouted and signed collegiate free agents Andy McDonald, Chris Kunitz, Dustin Penner, Ryan Shannon, Ryan Carter and Curtis Glencross.
''Anaheim is clearly one of the elite profile organizations. Everything I hear about them, these are the people we are looking for,'' said Syracuse owner Howard Dolgon. ''These are the guys who know how to get it done.''
Anaheim did not have an AHL affiliate this season. The Ducks spread their young players among Bakersfield of the ECHL and a handful of AHL teams.
The Ducks were partnered with Iowa of the AHL last season. Iowa missed the playoffs last season, but some financial issues on the Chops' end may have entered into that equation. Those money problems are a reason Iowa is no longer in the league.
For the three seasons before that, McNab helped put together a strong team in Portland. In year one, the Pirates compiled 114 points and reached the Calder Cup semis. In year two, they missed the playoffs despite posting a respectable 86 points. In year three, the team racked up 99 points and again reached the Calder Cup semis.
Since the 2005-06 season Anaheim's AHL affiliates have posted a record of 168-109-17-26, good for a .620 winning percentage.
An impressive list of players have graduated from Anaheim's AHL affiliates over the past five years to make their NHL debuts with the Ducks, including Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, Ryan Carter, Matt Beleskey, Troy Bodie, Brett Festerling, Dustin Penner, Drew Miller, Andrew Ebbett, Shane O'Brien, Curtis Glencross, Kent Huskins, Zenon Konopka, Ryan Shannon and Aaron Rome.
"We are going to do what it takes to win,'' McNab said of coming to Syracuse. "We want to win. We want to develop. They go hand and hand, and we have to figure out how to make them mix. We've had a pretty good record of combining winning and developing.''
I asked McNab about the organization's philosophy of spending on minor-league free agents.
"We have spent money in an attempt to win, and in an attempt to draft well,'' he said. "You have to figure out what you have. Come July 1 (the start of free agent season), we'll know what we have, as far as the nucleus of the team. And then we'll figure out what we need to do. It's hard to say we need to sign 'X' amount of players. If we believe we have four terrific players at a certain position, it's hard to say we're going to get a veteran guy and hurt them all. That doesn't make sense. We're comfortable in how we're going to handle it. We'll be fine.''
McNab, who has been with the Ducks for all 17 years of the team's existence, said Anaheim should have a strong number of players entering the pros from the college and junior ranks next year. For more info on some of the players in Anaheim's system, here's an in-depth scouting report.
McNab said he and Dolgon have known each other for several years, ever since the Crunch came into the league in 1994-95. Both McNab and Dolgon said the deal was completed in a matter of weeks, with no hitches. McNab visited Syracuse once, catching a game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. McNab said the Ducks didn't really pursue another team as an affiliate. Dolgon said a handful of other teams were interested in a potential partnership with the Crunch but did not name them.
McNab said he is not concerned about the travel issues between Anaheim and Syracuse. He's just delighted that all his prospects will finally be back in one place and that the Crunch's location allows for a minumum of travel and more practice time. The Ducks at one point thought about exploring an AHL franchise in San Diego, but without a couple more West Coast partners that wasn't feasible. That's one of the factors that led the team back East.
McNab added that the Crunch's coaching staff might not be named for a couple months.


text:
Hide email addresses from spammers
Registered by Tim Black on 2010-05-29
Hide email addresses from spammers. There are two key places where we need to do this: in the HTML displayed publicly in the church directory listings, and in the RSS feeds. It's relatively easy to hide email addresses from spammers in HTML by writing it to the page from JavaScript, but will be harder to find a way to prevent spammers from getting email addresses out of the RSS feeds.
Blueprint information
- Status:
- Not started
- Approver:
- None
- Priority:
- Low
- Drafter:
- None
- Direction:
- Needs approval
- Assignee:
- None
- Definition:
- Drafting
- Series goal:
- Accepted for couchapp-backbone
- Implementation:
- Unknown
- Milestone target:
- 0.3.3
- Started by
- Completed by
Related branches
Related bugs


text:
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text:
I was asked to put together this high-level and traditional software
life cycle information as a favor for a friend of a friend, so I
thought I might as well share it with everybody.
The General Model
Software life cycle models describe phases of the software cycle and
the order in which those phases are executed. There are tons of
models, and many companies adopt their own, but all have very similar
patterns. The general, basic model is shown below:
Each phase produces deliverables required by the next phase in the
life cycle. Requirements are translated into design. Code
is produced during implementation that is driven by the design.
Testing verifies the deliverable of the implementation phase against
Business requirements are gathered in this phase. This phase
is the main focus of the project managers and stake holders.
Meetings with managers, stake holders and users are held in order to
determine the requirements. Who is going to use the system?
How will they use the system? What data should be input into the
system? What data should be output by the system? These are
general questions that get answered during a requirements gathering
phase. This produces a nice big list of functionality that the
system should provide, which describes functions the system should
perform, business logic that processes data, what data is stored and
used by the system, and how the user interface should work. The
overall result is the system as a whole and how it performs, not how it
is actually going to do it.
The software system design is produced from the results of the
requirements phase. Architects have the ball in their court
during this phase and this is the phase in which their focus
lies. This is where the details on how the system will work is
produced. Architecture, including hardware and software,
communication, software design (UML is produced here) are all part of
the deliverables of a design phase.
Code is produced from the deliverables of the design phase during
implementation, and this is the longest phase of the software
development life cycle. For a developer, this is the main focus
of the life cycle because this is where the code is produced.
Implementation my overlap with both the design and testing
phases. Many tools exists (CASE tools) to actually automate the
production of code using information gathered and produced during the
design phase.
During testing, the implementation is tested against the
requirements to make sure that the product is actually solving the
needs addressed and gathered during the requirements phase. Unit
tests and system/acceptance tests are done during this phase.
Unit tests act on a specific component of the system, while system
tests act on the system as a whole.
So in a nutshell, that is a very basic overview of the general
software development life cycle model. Now lets delve into some
of the traditional and widely used variations.
Waterfall Model
This is the most common and classic of life cycle models, also
referred to as a linear-sequential life cycle model. It is very
simple to understand and use. In a waterfall model, each phase
must be completed in its entirety before the next phase can
begin. At the end of each phase, a review takes place to
determine if the project is on the right path and whether or not to
continue or discard the project. Unlike what I mentioned in the
general model, phases do not overlap in a waterfall model.
- Simple and easy to use.
- Easy to manage due to the rigidity of the model – each phase has specific deliverables and a review process.
- Phases are processed and completed one at a time.
- Works well for smaller projects where requirements are very well understood.
- Adjusting scope during the life cycle can kill a project
- No working software is produced until late during the life cycle.
- High amounts of risk and uncertainty.
- Poor model for complex and object-oriented projects.
- Poor model for long and ongoing projects.
- Poor model where requirements are at a moderate to high risk of changing.
V-Shaped Model
Just like the waterfall model, the V-Shaped life cycle is a
sequential path of execution of processes. Each phase must be
completed before the next phase begins. Testing is emphasized in
this model more so than the waterfall model though. The testing
procedures are developed early in the life cycle before any coding is
done, during each of the phases preceding implementation.
Requirements begin the life cycle model just like the waterfall
model. Before development is started, a system test plan is
created. The test plan focuses on meeting the functionality
specified in the requirements gathering.
The high-level design phase focuses on system architecture and
design. An integration test plan is created in this phase as well
in order to test the pieces of the software systems ability to work
The low-level design phase is where the actual software components
are designed, and unit tests are created in this phase as well.
The implementation phase is, again, where all coding takes
place. Once coding is complete, the path of execution continues
up the right side of the V where the test plans developed earlier are
now put to use.
- Simple and easy to use.
- Each phase has specific deliverables.
- Higher chance of success over the waterfall model due to the development of test plans early on during the life cycle.
- Works well for small projects where requirements are easily understood.
- Very rigid, like the waterfall model.
- Little flexibility and adjusting scope is difficult and expensive.
- Software is developed during the implementation phase, so no early prototypes of the software are produced.
- Model doesn't provide a clear path for problems found during testing phases.
Incremental Model
The incremental model is an intuitive approach to the waterfall
model. Multiple development cycles take place here, making the
life cycle a "multi-waterfall" cycle. Cycles are divided up into
smaller, more easily managed iterations. Each iteration passes
through the requirements, design, implementation and testing phases.
A working version of software is produced during the first
iteration, so you have working software early on during the software
life cycle. Subsequent iterations build on the initial software
produced during the first iteration.
- Generates working software quickly and early during the software life cycle.
- More flexible – less costly to change scope and requirements.
- Easier to test and debug during a smaller iteration.
- Easier to manage risk because risky pieces are identified and handled during its iteration.
- Each iteration is an easily managed milestone.
- Each phase of an iteration is rigid and do not overlap each other.
- Problems may arise pertaining to system architecture because not
all requirements are gathered up front for the entire software life
Spiral Model
The spiral model is similar to the incremental model, with more
emphases placed on risk analysis. The spiral model has four
phases: Planning, Risk Analysis, Engineering and Evaluation. A
software project repeatedly passes through these phases in iterations
(called Spirals in this model). The baseline spiral, starting in
the planning phase, requirements are gathered and risk is
assessed. Each subsequent spirals builds on the baseline spiral.
Requirements are gathered during the planning phase. In the
risk analysis phase, a process is undertaken to identify risk and
alternate solutions. A prototype is produced at the end of the
risk analysis phase.
Software is produced in the engineering phase, along with testing at
the end of the phase. The evaluation phase allows the customer to
evaluate the output of the project to date before the project continues
to the next spiral.
In the spiral model, the angular component represents progress, and the radius of the spiral represents cost.
- High amount of risk analysis
- Good for large and mission-critical projects.
- Software is produced early in the software life cycle.
- Can be a costly model to use.
- Risk analysis requires highly specific expertise.
- Project's success is highly dependent on the risk analysis phase.
- Doesn't work well for smaller projects.
And that's it. If you have any input, especially your views on
advantages and disadvantages of any particular model, feel free to
leave them in the comments and I can add them to my copy.


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How to Feed Your Children a Healthy Diet
Guest Post – by Orlena Kerek from Snotty Noses
How to Feed your Children a Healthy Diet.
Do you ever worry about your child's diet? You try really hard to get them to eat healthy food, fruit, vegetables, carrots, broccoli, peas? But what happens? They shout, they scream, they refuse.
Dinner times become a battle field. Parents get stressed and worried. You try bribery, flattery, coercion, and bribery again.
The peas remain untouched.
You worry about the long term health benefits of your child's diet. And rightly so. A healthy diet is one of the keys to a healthy adulthood.
So what are you to do? Jack it all in and stick to mac and cheese?
No, there is another way.
Firstly, stop worrying. The more you worry, the more you stress, the more pressure you will put on your children and the less likely they are to eat the offending object. I don't mean forget about healthy eating, I mean don't worry about it. I'll show you how.
The Stress Free Way to Healthy Eating.
Present them with food that is healthy and allow them to decide if they want to eat it or not. I know this is easier said than done, especially when you start, but you will get used to it and so will they. I am often surprised by my toddlers. When I present them with fruit and a biscuit (rather than just biscuits) mostly they eat the fruit first (although not always).
This technique does mean that you have to learn to trust your children. If they aren't hungry, don't push them to eat. You also have to be firm in your presentation. You decide what you'll present them with. If they want it, they'll eat it. If not, they either aren't hungry or they'll go hungry. No being persuaded into extra chips and cookies.
It's really not as difficult as it sounds. Once you're in healthy eating habits, it's just eating. My kids eat healthily and they love what they eat. Sure, they complain some of the time but I just remind them that they don't have to eat it if they don't want to. Quite often they don't eat it but that's their choice not mine.
If you'd like some more help with healthy eating, my book Crunch! Put an End to Picky Eating and Help Your Kids Love Veggies, has heaps more advice for you so that you can learn to feed your children a healthy diet without all that fuss and stress.
There's a special discount price of $10 for readers of 101 Things to Do with Kids.
I'm Dr Orlena Kerek. I'm a paediatric doctor and mother of four
young children. I used to think that healthy eating was easy, until I had children. Then I realised it's easier said than done. Over the last few years I've been researching and practising on my own children to ensure that they develop healthy eating habits.
* the links above are affiliate links


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EU development and humanitarian aid should not be cut from the budget.
EU budget cuts could cost lives in developing countries, warn NGOs
Joint Press Release by CONCORD, Oxfam, Plan and ONE.
Brussels, 20 November 2012 – Leading NGOs call on EU leaders to protect EU development aid against short-sighted cuts ahead of this week's special EU Budget summit.
Cuts tabled last week disproportionately target EU development and humanitarian aid, a clear attempt to balance the EU's books on the backs of the world's poor. In their attempts to reach agreement on the next 7-year EU budget, EU member states must preserve EU aid, a smart investment that represents just 6% of the overall budget.
"We could be seeing some large aid cuts of up to €9.6 billion. This would be a mistake as in time of crisis investment in poverty reduction and development is even more well-founded and important for global stability. By acting together, the EU as a donor is able to provide more added value, achieve greater impact, cheaply," said Olivier Consolo, Director of Concord, the European confederation of Relief and Development NGOs.
"Spending less than €0.50 per citizen per week is a sound investment in our common future and 85% of EU citizens support it. Cutting aid to the world's poorest countries by almost 10% is a damaging attempt to balance the EU's budget on the backs of the world's poor," said Natalia Alonso, Head of Oxfam International's EU Office.
"For the EU to turn its back on developing countries now would risk undoing the good progress towards poverty reduction which has been made in recent years. It is clear that there are few 'friends of development' among EU member states, who are effectively using life-saving aid as a bargaining chip in their negotiations," said Karen Schroh, Head of Plan EU Office.
"EU aid is effective and makes a huge difference to the world's poorest. But it will also more than pay for itself by 2020. The latest research shows that as well as boosting GDP in sub-Saharan Africa and globally, EU taxpayers would recoup the funds for the world's poorest with a 20% return on investment. There's just no good reason to cut aid.", said Eloise Todd, Brussels Director of ONE
In only six years, the EU aid has made a lasting difference in the lives of millions and helped them out of poverty: 50 million people were stopped from being hungry, more than nine million children have enrolled in primary education, more than five million have been vaccinated against measles and more than 31 million people have been connected to drinking water.
Notes to Editors
1. The latest negotiating paper being considered by EU governments to agree the EU budget 2014-2020 calls for aid cuts of up to €9.6 billion, compared to the proposals by the EU Commission & EU Parliament. Most affected would be the European Development Fund (EDF), the largest part of the EU aid budget that targets African countries. The EDF is facing a cut of 11% or €3.335billion while the overall cut is 7%.
2. The positive results and effectiveness of EU aid have been cited by many independent reports. Reviews by institutions including the Center for Global Development and Brookings Institution, and the OECD have also ranked EU aid highly. Publish What You Fund's 2012 Aid Transparency Index ranked the European Commission's DG Development and Cooperation (DG DEVCO) 5th out of 72 aid organisations across 43 indicators.
3. Support for EU aid remains strong among European citizens. The results of a Eurobarometer survey released in October show that 85% of EU citizens believe that Europe should continue helping developing countries despite the economic crisis, while almost two thirds believe that aid to developing countries should be increased. It is telling that this support remains strong in Greece, Spain and Ireland – the European countries most affected by the crisis.
4. A report published last week by the Overseas Development Institute, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and ONE, looking at the economic impact of EU aid on donor and recipient countries, can be downloaded from www.one.org/international.
For more information, please contact :
Daniel Puglisi, CONCORD, Tel. 32 (0) 2 743 87 77
Gaelle Bausson, Oxfam International EU Office, +32 473 562 260 or
Louise Hagendijk, Plan International EU Office, +32 470 59 80 62 or
Dudley Curtis, ONE Brussels' Office, +32 485 379945
Correction: Following our press release today, we'd like to make note of an error so that a correction can be made. It should have read 9.6billion in potential aid cuts, not 10.6 billion as perviously stated. Thank you for taking note.


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Paused deadlifts are one of my favorite deadlift assistance exercises.
When it comes to building a big deadlift, there's nothing more important than practicing the movement itself. When you're not doing the movement itself, choose a variation that specifically addresses your weaknesses.
I want to introduce you to the paused deadlift. They are an awesome choice for strengthening sticking points anywhere from off the floor to the knees.
Paused Deadlift: 545 x 3
- Creates more time under tension at your sticking point. This will allow you to build muscle and intuitively find your strongest position, while paused at your weakest point in the deadlift.
- Forces you to brace properly and stabilize the spine, preventing lumbar flexion or low back rounding.
- It will force you to keep everything tight, including your lats. This will keep the bar close to your body and allow you to keep your chest upright. This will create a better bar path allowing you to finish the lift more efficiently.
- They are great for building grip strength. The increased time under tension forces you to hold the weight for an extended amount of time which really puts your grip to the test.
- Improved technique. You will learn how to stay tighter and more controlled, even at your weakest point.
How to Perform the Paused Deadlift
The setup:
- Big air, brace and get as tight as possible.
- Try to touch your glutes to the wall behind you. Feel your hamstrings stretch.
- Grab the bar with an over/under grip. Choke the bar! (*In the video you will notice I'm using straps and a double overhand grip. This was done because my callouses were irritated and I had to use the straps. I recommend using the over/under grip with no straps so you can setup properly and build your grip strength.)
- Tighten your lats and pull the slack out of the bar.
- Use the bar to pull your chest up so anyone in front of you can see the logo on your shirt.
- Pull your hips into place and find your heels.
- Find tension in your hamstrings.
- Stand up explosively through your heels. You will want to drive through your heels as hard as possible. The deadlift is similar to a leg press. You push your heels into the floor as hard as possible rather than pulling the bar off the floor with your back.
- Pause at the point you struggle most in the lift, then accelerate and finish the lift.
A good rule of thumb is to choose a weight, between 60 – 80% of your 1RM. If you're new to the paused deadlift, start on the lighter side.
You can perform 2 – 5 reps a set, with anywhere between 1 – 5 seconds paused. You want to keep the total amount of reps each set fairly low. There is a lot of time under tension during paused pulls and too much weight, or too many reps can compromise your form. If you can easily perform more than 5 reps with the weight you've chosen, it may be too light.
Paused deadlifts are great for optimizing your pull, improving your technique and strengthening your sticking point. If you have any question on how to incorporate the paused deadlift into your program, or you're are looking to add pounds to your pull, send me a message at: email@example.com with "Deadlift" in the subject line.


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What is it about wet-shaving that appeals to so many? Is it a sense of nostalgia? Could it be a strongly held fascination for quaint technology? Might it be a deep seated appreciation for lost arts? Is it just obsessive collectoritis?
If you ask an enthusiast what brought you to using "outdated" shaving equipment and techniques, you will likely get as many different answers as people you ask. Some are in it simply because they are collectors while others enjoy the economy of a modest shaving set. Regardless of their reasons, they are legion and will probably be glad to bend your ear and wax poetic about "last night's shave."
This shaving "hobby" can be a very rewarding experience. I would like to take a few moments to offer some advice to those who have just discovered Grampa's razor and haven't a clue what to do next.
1. Mingle
This first piece of advice is not completely necessary, but I feel it is invaluable; Find like minded people. The internet is the world's town square and you can find almost anyone hanging out there at any given time. There are forums and informative blogs dedicated to this obsession of shaving with vintage tools and these places can help to prepare you for what lies ahead.
2. Get a dictionary.
It helps to know a few terms and what they mean before you get too involved in reading about the different techniques people are using. Here are a few to get you started.(But, don't fret if you see a term you don't understand, just ask, we're mostly a friendly lot and will be glad to explain.)
Grain–This is the direction in which your hair grows.
ATG–Against The Grain–The act of shaving against the direction in which your hair grows.
WTG–With The Grain–The act of shaving with the grain of your hair.
xAD–This is an acronym for _____ Acquisition Disorder.–This is the obsessive need to collect some item. "x" represents a variable here that could be anything from Razors to Shaving Creams.
SWMBO/TWGW–She Who Must Be Obeyed, sometimes referred to as The World's Greatest Wife.–Often the same person.
3. Choke up on the bat.
Many will suggest holding your razor near the tip of the handle. This is initially good advice. While holding the razor near the tips serves to teach one how to shave with a light touch, eventually you will want to choke up a bit and find your razor's more natural balance point. Some of you might even prefer to hold the razor closer to the head. This isn't necessarily wrong–a tad unorthodox perhaps–but not wrong.(I might suggest a Gillette Travel Tech) Remember when you're sliding a scary sharp piece of metal around on your face, you want it to be as comfortable as possible.
4. It doesn't matter when you shave(or where, for that matter).
Sure, some will tell you that you should only shave in the morning, but lots of us de-fleece in the evening when we have more time to devote to the ritual, and it hasn't caused any major harm, yet. There's also nothing wrong with shaving in the bath-tub. It was good enough for James Bond, it's good enough for you.
5. Ask questions.
When in doubt, ask. No doubt someone else has had the same question before, and will be glad to share what they've learned. Sometimes we take for granted that everyone understands what we meant when we say we did an N/S pass with our Fatboy set at 6, following an EVOO prep. If that didn't make sense, we won't laugh at you for asking for clarification.
6. Ask questions.
See #5.
7. Be patient.
Wet-shaving takes time. It can almost become a ritual. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to learn about the different techniques. You probably won't get it all straight away, but as your technique improves, your appreciation will grow. We won't disown you if you don't throw away your Fusion on day one. After 2 weeks, we'll need to talk though–sometimes it's just time to let go and move on, dude. Seriously.
8. Have a sense of humor.
If you find yourself over at the B&B and we make merry at your expense, please try to remember:
A. We kid because we love.
B. It's all in good fun.
c. As long as they're picking on you, they're leaving me alone.
D. Who am I kidding, they're probably picking on me, too.
So there it is, wet-shaver, a little advice to help you get started. Take it or leave it, but just remember, take note of what you learn on the journey that lies ahead; you never know when someone will need your advice.


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Lucchese Men's Handmade Luke Full Quill Ostrich Western Boots - Round Toe
Item # 2000210714
- Lucchese Men's Handmade Luke Full Quill Ostrich Western Boots - Round Toe
- Item # 2000210714
$694.99 Original Price -$49.99 Sale Savings
We're only able to ship this product to the following countries at this time:
United States
Additional Information
Features & Description
- Full quill ostrich leather foot
- Soft leather shaft with western stitching
- Single welt construction
- Light cushioned leather insole
- Smooth leather lining
- 13" shaft height
- Leather outsole
- Handmade in Texas
Every pair of Lucchese Boots are created from only the finest grade leathers, and every step of construction is carefully completed at the hands of skilled craftsmen. The Lucchese Luke Full Quill Ostrich Boot has a handsome silhouette with a complementary exotic leather for a more modern look. A smooth leather lining and cushioned insole wrap your feet in comfort. Step out in sophisticated western style with Lucchese.


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Attorney General Jeff Sessions has repeatedly hinted that he might crack down on states that have defied federal prohibition by legalizing medical marijuana or recreational cannabis use. Those threats have worried a lot of marijuana activists, but former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele welcomes the crackdown because he thinks it will backfire almost immediately.
"In one sense, I'm like, 'Go ahead, Jeff. Do your thing, baby. Bring it. Because you'll have 18 states lining up to bring an immediate lawsuit pushing back on your crackdown,'" Steele told Civilized. "And that really blows up the conversation at the federal level."
Which is the last thing Sessions wants, since he once criticized President Obama for even discussing marijuana legalization while in office. But hearing more people than ever debate America's cannabis laws is nothing compared to the humiliation Sessions will face when he gets "smacked" in court.
"Whatever position the federal government has, the legal states look at that and they're yawning," Steele added. "People forget, we are not a democracy. We are a republic. We are a union comprised of 50 individual states that are autonomous unto themselves but have decided to form this union while respecting the autonomy of each individual state. The federal government often times forgets that. And that's why the states are here to remind them exactly where that line is for them. And when they cross it, they will be smacked. And this is one area where I think if the feds continue to try to press and overstep their bounds, then they will get smacked."
But the backlash will likely go even further than that, according to Steele, who said that a crackdown could actually speed up the process of repealing cannabis prohibition across the country.
"If he does this, then he's gonna be in court, which, in my view, is the last thing this administration or Jeff Sessions would want — to have a court rule that what the states are doing is right and it's within their purview under the constitution, and the federal government has no business dictating to them what they can and cannot do in this area because this is an area that's reserved for the states. Because then, that Pandora's box is open for the federal government. They're gonna be forced to conform and change their laws on this matter."
And those changes could bring things to a head rapidly.
"If you get enough states that feel that they are being impeded, you get enough actions by the attorney general's office to go after growers or producers or manufacturers or the states themselves, more importantly, and yeah, you could bring this to a head in a matter of a year — not ten years from now," Steele said.
And even if Sessions avoids bringing things to a head with an ill-advised crackdown, Steele still thinks legalization is inevitable.
"It will happen," he said. "At the end of the day, it's gonna happen by virtue of the fact that as more and more states legalize it for medicinal or full use, there will be an enormous pressure brought by the banking system and by other institutions that the feds have put a chokehold on to lessen that chokehold because there's gonna be a hell of a lot of cash that's gonna get bottled up that the banks are gonna sit there and go, 'Wait a minute, dude. We're not gonna sit on the sidelines and not make money off of this too.'"
So a crackdown could ironically be the best thing to happen to the marijuana legalization movement. But even if Sessions holds back, the ground underneath him will continue to shift towards reform.


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Mary Kilberg
Licensed Administrative Assistant and Office Manager
Mary Kilberg, Licensed Administrative Assistant and Operations Manager at Masus Financial Group, Ltd., earned her Associates, Bachelors, and Specialists degrees from the LPL AdminU Program, and currently holds her Series 6 and 63 Securities Licenses with LPL Financial. Mary has served in the financial industry since 2005, and worked with Allstate Insurance and Batavia Middle School prior to joining Masus Financial Group.
Outside of the office, Mary enjoys traveling off-the-beaten-path, photography, and strategic board games. A grandmother to two girls, Anabelle and Charlotte, Mary takes every opportunity she can to visit with her family in Houston, Texas.
A Christian philanthropist, Mary has been on several mission trips to Sierra Leone and Haiti.


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Jidai Matsuri Women – Kyoto
More of the lovely Jidai Matsuri or the Festival of the Ages in Kyoto, taking place annually through the center of Kyoto. The festival aims to show up important historical figures and costumes from the history of Kyoto, as a sort of historical reenactment celebration of the city's illustrious history. The costumes ranges about a millenia of history so I am not very read up on the meaning of the different costumes, but among these, my favorite would be the last, with the fantastic colors, patterns and make up! If you are in Kyoto early autumn, make sure not to miss this fantastic parade starting at the Imperial palace and ending up at the Heian Shrine, once a year.
Jidai Matsuri Men – Kyoto
I took these photos of some of the many young and older men taking part in the grand Jidai Matsuri, or festival of the ages, in Kyoto a couple of years ago. From the flute playing young soldiers of the Meiji restoration to nobles of the Heian era, they all represents different eras of the long history of Kyoto.
To explain all the costumes and their significance would take the better part of a month of blog posts. During the festival I was surprised at a number of volunteers who were selling official festival guide books that looked more like magazines, so I am not alone in finding the subject somewhat complicated. Please enjoy the photos at least, even without any accompanying explanations!
Shirasaginomai Asakusa Parade – Sensoji
If you are in Tokyo today I can recommend a visit to the huge Sensoji temple in Asakusa to see the rather unique and beautiful white egret dancers – Shirasaginomai (白鷺の舞). Local children together with musicians and performers from the large Yasaka shrine in Kyoto perform in the ceremony that was only revived in 1968 using an old scroll from 1652 as basis for the dance itself.
More Cosplaying Athletes – Tokyo Marathon
The second batch of cosplaying athletes from this year's Tokyo Marathon. I really enjoyed spotting all of these fantastic athletes, but to be honest there was one guy in particular I was looking for, and that is the by now pretty famous Mr. Lullaby (ララバイさん) who dressed as Jesus, complete with a cross, runs the entire marathon bare foot! Compared to better equipped runners, his finishing time of 05:24 might not be very spectacular, but considering he is an amateur athlete without shoes it is pretty amazing. After the race he ran off to head a gig in Ikebukuro, as he is the singer of the band "The Chambers" (ザ・チャンバーズ). If you missed the post race gig you get a second chance on the 28th of this month when the band performs at a small festival gig in Shinjuku. In 2013 he even participated in the New York Marathon, in costume of course. The band's twitter feed is full of fun photos of this guy right now.
There were plenty more of fun runners, like the zombie man with a meat cleaver in his head and a fork in his shoulder, or the man dressed up as Mount Fuji, or the many Super Marios. The list goes on!


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SHIMLA: An earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter Scale shook Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district today, the Meteorological Department said.
The tremors were felt in and around Kangra district at 1.18 am.
However, there are no immediate reports of any damage to property.
The epicentre was at a depth of 10 km in Kangra district, the department said.
This is the third quake within a week in Kangra.
Earlier a low-intensity quake measuring 2.9 and a moderate quake measuring 3.8 on the Richter Scale hit Kangra on July 25 and July 27 respectively.


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Ruffhouse and Gremlinz have announced a brand new label by the name of Uvb-76 Records.
The imprint, which shares its name with Ruffhouse's release on Samurai Music earlier this year, is still very much a mystery but you can be sure the Bristol-Toronto connection will be delivering the goods.
The two acts are responsible for some of the best releases of the last few years over on the darker end of the spectrum, and between them they've released on the aforementioned Samurai Music as well as Renegade Hardware, Metalheadz, Critical, 31 Records, Cylon and many more.
As details on the new venture remain scarce I recommend keeping an eye out on the Uvb-76 Facebook page for any updates.


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I Fell in Love with a Murderer
I am healing. These deep wounds of mine keep coming to the surface. I have slept with a murderer. I was in a relationship with him for two years. 18 years have gone by and he STILL has an effect on me.
I remember him walking into the room that night. I was at his house for a party and he had just gotten off work. My whole world stopped. I was introduced and shyly shook his hand. My best friend at the time, knowing I was never intimidated by men, took one look at me and said, "Don't even think about it." But I did. I couldn't take my eyes off him. Something about him drew me in, and I had to get to know him. I walked into his bedroom after him.
That was the start of a whirlwind of drunken nights, love and heartbreak and one of the biggest lessons learned in this lifetime. I remember the first night his control took hold of me. We were drinking and he opened up about his mother's murder. He told me how his stepfather dragged his mother into the back yard and beat the hell out of her. He handed a shovel to the three children present and told them to dig a grave. He shot her in the head and made the three children bury her at gun point.
He continued on that night about a girl who was murdered in the town we were in. It was a small college town and I had only been there for about 6 months. I had heard the story of the girl's unsolved murder over and over. She was a fellow sister in the sorority I became a member of and the death was still fresh. He spoke of her because he was her roommate.
I remember the chills coming up my spine as he told me about the grisly murder scene. How he was the first one to find her and was under fire from the police. The murder greatly impacted him and although he never admitted it, and was in a relationship with her best friend, I could tell he loved her. I felt this feeling I'd never felt before. I feared for my life. My gut told me he was guilty and that never went away.
The first time he hit me, I ran out the back door, down the alley, looking for help. He was in the army and quite fit, and tackled me to the ground. He held me down by my throat and told me he would fucking kill me if I ever tried leaving again. I had just found out I was pregnant.
I lost that baby. My first pregnancy. Doctors told me it was due to stress. Nobody knew how stressful everything was. I was too afraid to let anyone know. I knew my friends and family would try to make me leave him…..I loved him. I couldn't explain why, but I did. I was deeply attached to his soul. Instead of running, I moved in with him.
Over the next seven months the abuse continued. He was smart about it and never left bruises. He would hold me down and choke me, smack me on the arms and legs, any surface that wouldn't show marks. It was all carefully monitored, just enough that I didn't have proof. He prided himself on this, telling me the cops would never believe me. The emotional abuse continued as well. Telling me I was never good enough for him, or telling me no one would want me. That I was too fat or didn't fix my hair right. He broke up with me after I questioned the condom wrappers I found in our bedroom after I was out of town for a weekend.
I got pregnant during this time and lost the baby again. He told me I was worthless.
We stayed separated for two months before he re-entered my life. We dated long distance for the next two months and everything was great. He convinced me he had changed and I believed him. We moved back in together and the abuse started again. It actually got worse.
A friend of mine remembers him slapping me in the face and calling me stupid. Another friend took me to the police station after he pushed me down. I was pregnant. Again. A few weeks later, this pregnancy almost cost me my life. I was sent to emergency surgery to have the pregnancy terminated. I was hemorrhaging so badly that I had to sign a hysterectomy form. The doctors weren't sure they could get the bleeding to stop. I was 19. Waking up in a hospital, not knowing if I was ever going to have children.
A few months later we had a fight and I ran to the bedroom and locked myself in. He screamed at the door for me to let him in. I was scrambling to pack my clothes and was about to jump out a second story window to escape. He kicked through the top of the door, unlocked it and proceeded to beat me. We hung a wall tapestry over the hole a few days later.
I met some amazing people in my life and started to open up to them about the abuse. We formulated a plan for my escape. I still remember my one friend standing at the door with a knife while another helped me pack my things. He moved out and I moved back into our apartment. He didn't give back the key. I slept with a knife wedged between my mattress and a shot gun propped beside my bed.
That wasn't the end though. He showed up again a few weeks later, and I let him back into my life. He proposed to me. I said yes. He was leaving for basic training and we were to get married during his break before active duty so we could get housing set up. That's when I met my daughter's dad and wrote a "dear John" letter.
I have done many years of healing around him. Lots of therapy and failed relationships. Lots of self blame and anger. My biggest breakthrough came a few years ago when I recognized my path as a healer. I realized my light was attracted to his dark. I stayed with him because I thought I could heal him. I loved his soul for what I thought it could be, not what it was. That was my first big lesson on being a healer: you can't heal everyone. No matter how much you love them. It just won't work unless they are ready.
I'm not sure why this is coming out now or why I'm feeling the need on THIS day to share all this. Maybe I'm just NOW ready, 18 years later to speak freely of it. Whatever the reason, I'm wise enough to not question it and to embrace it.
I'm not looking for pity or remorse.
I'm looking for freedom.
May my words free me.
May my soul find rest.
So mote it be.
Jessica Holden is a yoga teacher, mentor, writer and metaphysical practitioner living in Atlanta, GA. She has co-facilitated Breathwork events, led Sabbat ceremonies and women's circles. She is passionate about Shadowork and bringing a balance to the Feminine and Masculine energies. She is a seeker and intuitive who enjoys healing others using her positivity and energy. Jessica has a degree in Complementary and Alternative Health and focuses on helping others achieve health and wellness on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. You can find her on social media platforms Instagram and Facebook under Regulus Wellness.


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Independence Day Iftari
Ramadan Mubarak to all our readers!
August 11, 2010 – September 9th, 2010
I started fasting for Ramadan when I was eleven or twelve years old. I'd have to do a fact check on the exact age with my mom since she remembers it better than I do. The first few days were the hardest. It would get easier along the way, until the week or so after Ramadan when every time I ate during the day I felt like I was making a mistake or doing something wrong. It's interesting how a month can make or break a habit.
We fast from sunrise to sunset each day during Ramadan. It is especially challenging during the summer months when the days are longer and the weather is hot. The highlight of the day is definitely after the call for maghrib salat (prayer after sunset) when it's time to break the fast.
Muslims host iftar parties for relatives, friends, and/or the community to share in the breaking of fast together. Breaking fast with someone is considered a blessing even if you aren't fasting. It is also a good deed to feed those who are fasting during the month of Ramadan. And God knows we can all use those extra brownie points.
This year I hosted my second ever iftar party. Last year, I had a dozen or so guests and I was just starting out learning to cook. This year I have some experience under my belt and of course, the rest is left to God to make my food delicious or not. I hosted 33 guests on the 14th of August which is also Pakistan Independence Day, so obviously it was themed accordingly!
I set the menu as follows:
Kajoor (dates)
Keema samosas (shaped like dumplings)
Aloo samosas
Chaana chaat
Vegetable Pakoras – Eggplant and Zucchini
Palak Paneer
Lamb Korma
Chicken Biryani
Chicken Jalfrezie
Pineapple cupcakes with cream cheese icing
Roofza with milk
Roofza with water
It is traditional in my culture to have an iftari which is more snacks based (see appetizers list) and follow it with a dinner later in the evening. This was the largest dinner party I have thrown. It was definitely a lot of work to cook for that many guests. Of course, I had my mom on video chat and on the phone guiding me, but it also took a lot of planning and coordinated execution.
First I thought of my theme. I am a proud Pakistani American and saw the opportunity to combine the celebration of Ramadan iftar with the celebration of Pakistani Independence day – 8.14.10. That set my color scheme: Green. I sent out a custom evite to all my guests 6 weeks in advance. Reserving the first weekend in Ramadan is very difficult because there will be many competing parties. I bought green glasses, white silverware and of course it helps that proud Pakistanis have lots of souvenirs, flags and symbols to scatter around the house. I got my holiday lights out and put them up, I used a giant Pakistani flag as a table cover, put out village souvenirs near the cupcakes at first and then near the drinks when we needed the freezer.
I rearranged all the furniture in the house to comfortably seat guests. I went for an open floor plan, removed all tables from the center, and created a large oval. I threw floor cushions in various spaces so people could sit on the carpet with comfort. I put small tables near chairs so people could rest their glasses. I developed an icebreaker so people would be forced to be creative, come out of their comfort zone and engage with the wider crowd.
Then I thought about my menu for about 10 days. I finally settled on the above mentioned menu. I bought green food coloring for my cupcakes as well as green icing to decorate them. I asked everyone to either wear green or South Asian clothes. My guest-list consisted of mixed races and faiths so it was great to have people join in the theme even when they were not Pakistani or Muslim.
My biggest concern was whether the quantity of food would be enough. At least a dozen of the guests were not fasting. The rest were so they had neither drank or eaten anything all day. Having many items is actually a plus because everyone will take a little of everything and then the dish can go a long way. I knew the main dish was the biryani.
I had to make as much of that as I could. Knowing my nature and tendencies to do things big, I have pots that will cook large quantities. I made 8 cups of uncooked basmati rice for the party. I began by creating the chicken masala for the biryani. I then boiled my rice with salt, bay leaves and black cardamom. Once the rice had boiled I strained it and divided it into two halves. I layered one half of the rice on the bottom of the large pot and put in all of the chicken masala on top, then I layered the rest of the rice on top. I added the yellow food coloring and put the entire pot in the oven at 180⁰F to keep warm until the guests arrived two hours later.
I served all the appetizers first. I fried the samosas and pakoras right before the breaking of the fast so they would be fresh and hot. In the meantime, I kept all the entrees warm. Fifteen minutes after everyone had a chance to eat the appetizers I reviewed the table, removed what was finished and set up the entrees.
After dinner, I facilitated the ice breaker, served dessert and chai.
All in all it was really memorable for me and I am glad I did it. I definitely think it was crazy to cook for so many people, but now that I have this under my belt it won't be as overwhelming the next time around.
More photographs on DesiGrub's facebook page
Posted in: Food Culture | Tags: Aloo samosas, Breaking fast Ramadan, Chaana chaat, Chicken Jalfrezie, iftar parties, Iftari Appetizers, Iftari biryani, Iftari dish, Iftari food, Iftari snacks, Kajoor, Keema samosas, Lamb Korma, maghrib salat iftar, Pakistani chicken biryani, Pakistani food, Pineapple cupcakes, Ramadan Iftar food, Roofza, Roofza with milk, Rooh Afza, Zucchini Pakora


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European Commission | Press office & event
2017 marked the 30th anniversary of the Erasmus Student Exchange programme organised by the European Commission. The representation of European Commission in Spain approached Canela to ask for ideas on how best to celebrate this anniversary with the intention of celebrating the idea of European Citizenship.
After investigating testimonials from ex Erasmus students one recurring theme was that many of them had fallen in love during the programme with someone from a different country and had gone on to start a family with that person. So we decided to look for some these "erasmusbabies" and bring them and their families together in an event to celebrate 30 years of the Erasmus Programme. We began with a creative call to action in social media channels with the hashtag #Erasmusbabies. We also created a Facebook competition looking for these couples with the prize of a trip to the city where they first met. In addition, we sent to the media information about the Erasmus programme and offered them interviews with families of "erasmusbabies".
In just three weeks of the social media campaign we hit 1,302,850 people and achieved a total of 18,882 clicks on the link to the campaign. 300 plus families came forward to participate in the competition. We selected 30 of these families to attend the 30th anniversary event in Madrid. 4 of the 5 major national news channels, Antena3, Cuatro, Informativos RTVE and LaSexta, attended the event, as well as local television TeleMadrid, news agency EFE and the radio stations Cope and Ser. More than 70 national media covered the news of the #erasmusbabies and the 30 year anniversary of the Erasmus Programme, the coverage included 20 interviews with families and the European Comission spokespeople.
In recognition of this campaign Canela was nominated for a SABRE Awards in the category of Institutional Image 2018.
+300 #erasmusbabies identified
+1M People reached in SoMe
+70 Articles in national media
20 Interviews with families


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Photo credit: Sky Cinema / Shutterstock.com
Kim Kardashian took home the CFDA Fashion Influencer Award last night – the first of its kind – but not everyone was thrilled for the mother of three's accolade.
Although the Council of Fashion Designers of America deemed Kim Kardashian a huge fashion influencer, many social media users questioned the award, and even suggested that it should have gone to a far more deserving recipient.
New Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, was understandably one of the names thrown into the mix, as were the likes of Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez!
Here are just some of the disgruntled Tweets:
How is it that you have snubbed @jlo and the influence she's had in fashion? I mean she helped create Google Images with her Iconic Versace dress that literally broke the internet!! This is an insult through & through.
I can't believe we live in a society where the CFDA made an award specifically for Kim Kardashian…
Why does she deserve this award so let's just award all women who post nudes on however many sites she can I'm sick of seeing her fake ass implants reward that
I have very mixed feelings about Kim Kardashian receiving an award at the CFDA awards tomorrow night. Personally, I don't feel that she's brought anything positive to the industry or to the world's perception of American Fashion. But as an influencer, she's clearly the epitome…
Of course, Twitter was also filled with praise for Kim Kardashian…
Congratulations, @KimKardashian – you have earned the first ever influencer award, and your influence will only continue to grow. We love you.
@KimKardashian winning the CFDA influencer award is well deserved. She sets trends and her outfits are always on point. When was the last time she had a bad outfit? Don't remember
Do you think Kim K deserved the award, or should it have gone to someone else?


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Applications now open for Aurizon's Community Giving Fund
Local community groups and charities in the Central Queensland region are encouraged to apply for cash grants via the latest round of Aurizon's Community Giving Fund.
Grants of up to $20,000 from Australia's largest rail-based transport business are available to assist with community projects aimed at delivering positive outcomes in the areas of Health & Wellbeing, Community Safety, Environment and Education.
Aurizon Managing Director & CEO Lance Hockridge said the Community Giving Fund continues to contribute to the success of local community projects in the regions where Aurizon's employees live and work.
"We are proud to say that we have helped over 200 charities and community groups around Australia since 2011 with projects that touch the lives of many people across the country," he said.
"This funding goes a long way towards improving the future of our communities, and it's great to see the previous recipients of our grants delivering such positive outcomes with their projects."
The grants are helping three charities from Central Queensland – Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Man Up! Qld Inc and HopeLINK – to make their communities a better place to live.
The RFDS's QCoal Community Dental Service is providing a free mobile service to those living in rural and remote areas of Central Queensland without access to a dentist.
Man Up! is touring at least 17 communities in the region with an education program to raise awareness for prostate cancer, its detection and treatment for men and their families in regional and rural areas.
HopeLINK's Mentoring Mums project in Gladstone is connecting experienced mothers with other mothers who are struggling with issues related to mental health, domestic violence, addictions or isolation.
Applications for the latest round of the Community Giving Fund are open until5pm AEDST Friday 21 October 2016.
To apply visit www.aurizon.com.au/community


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In your
[SetUp] method, load the
app.config into two separate instances of the Configuration class, like so:
public void SetUp()
//load config so it can be edited for tests
_originalConfig = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
_currentConfig = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
//any other init code here
In your
[TearDown] method, ensure that you restore the
app.config to the original (presumably you want it to be the same every time your tests start).
public void TearDown()
_currentConfig = _originalConfig;
When you need to modify any part of the config you can do so (provided there's a "set" property for the element or attribute) at runtime like so:
public void MyTest()
//... set up stuff here ...
//modify config for this test. Set the lockout period to 120 minutes
//_client is an instance of a custom configuration element
int lockoutPeriod = 120;
_client.Profiles.PasswordLockoutPeriod = lockoutPeriod;
//... carry out your tests here ...
Pay particular attention to the call to
ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("clientSettings");. The change I made to the config is within this section and so I want to refresh it before continuing in order to ensure that the new version is used.
Also note that any objects that reference the config need to be re-loaded after you've modified (and refreshed) the config in order to get the changes. For example, if you have loaded an instance of a class in your
SetUp that uses config you'll have to re-initialise that class after making your config changes in a test.


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|Warranty length
|Limited Lifetime
|Chord Company
Product Description
Chord Sarum T DIN Interconnects, available in 1m length as standard, bring a sense of life and reality with an extraordinary increase in musical detail just like the Super ARAY RCA and XLR cables. Sarum T is the most recent, updated version of this range and showcases unique Taylon insulation.
Rich in Detail
All that extra detail is in exactly the right place and every piece of music has something new to be discovered. If it wasn't the detail, it was timbre and melody and just how well musicians played together. All this from CD and CD rips. In an industry that favours high resolution high bit-rate recordings, the realisation that CD can sound this great and musical is both shocking and wonderful.
Loved by Naim Users
When Sarum Tuned ARAY was launched, the DIN versions quickly gained a great waiting list. The cable was praised by owners of Naim systems for transforming what was already an excellent system into something quite spectacular. Forums spread the word like wildfire, and people talked openly about being moved to tears by what they were listening to.
Transform Sound
Sarum Tuned Aray was highly commended for how real and beautiful it transformed the systems. To produce Super ARAY, Chord added to the existing Tuned ARAY design enabling upgrading to Super ARAY specification.
The Sarum T Super ARAY DIN series are available in DIN to DIN, RCA to DIN, DIN to XLR and 240 degree Snake DINs as well. A complete system wired with Sarum Super ARAY cables is one of the most exciting and musically immersive experiences there is. The standard length is 1 metre and longer lengths are available to order.