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British rockers Gang Of Four are selling vials of their blood in a bid to raise money to fund the recording of their new album.
The post-punk band, who found fame in the late 1970s, are currently working on their new record, Content - their first album since 1995's Shrinkwrapped, but they are struggling to find the funds to pay for their studio sessions.
The musicians have now come up with an innovative scheme to raise much-needed cash - they are selling unusual merchandise including a box set which features a pot of diluted blood, a 'scratch and sniff' book and artwork.
Guitarist Andy Gill tells BBC 6 Music, "We're having discussions with health and safety to find out what percentage of our actual blood we're allowed to put in there."
Fans will also have the chance to purchase a helicopter ride to Britain's Glastonbury music festival with the band, and for Gill to remix one of their tracks. The rockers are also letting fans donate cash through U.K. site Pledgemusic.com, which helps artists raise money to record their music.


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Jon D. Levenson
Author, 'Inheriting Abraham: The Legacy of the Patriarch in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam'
Jon D. Levenson, Albert A. List Professor of Jewish Studies, began teaching at Harvard in 1988, having previously taught at the University of Chicago and at Wellesley College. His work concentrates on the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, including its reinterpretations in the "rewritten Bible" of Second Temple Judaism and rabbinic midrash. He also teaches a seminar in the use of medieval Jewish commentaries for purposes of modern biblical exegesis. He has a strong interest in the philosophical and theological issues involved in biblical studies, especially the relationship of premodern modes of interpretation to modern historical criticism.
Much of Professor Levenson's work centers on the relationship of Judaism and Christianity, both in antiquity and in modernity, and he has long been active in Jewish-Christian dialogue. His interests and courses in Jewish theology include the modern period.
His book "Resurrection and the Restoration of Israel: The Ultimate Victory of the God of Life" (Yale University Press, 2006) won a National Jewish Book Award and the Biblical Archaeology Society Publication Award in the category of Best Book Relating to the Hebrew Bible published in 2005 or 2006. His most recent book is "Inheriting Abraham: The Legacy of the Patriarch in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam" (Princeton University Press, 2012). In all his work, Professor Levenson's emphasis falls on the close reading of texts for purposes of literary and theological understanding.

subset: commoncrawl


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Please look at http://safeandsavvy.f-secure.com/2013/12/04/why-it-is-silly-to-whine-about-glassholes/ , copy of text also follows a tad below.
My take:
- I will no longer worry about Google Glass (change in opinion)
- I will still _not_ worry too much about the proliferation of CCTV in public life – I think they do make sense to make our life safer and I gladly live with the consequences (same opinion)
I'd be interested in other peoples opinion on both…
Copy of quoted blog follows:
Why it is silly to whine about glassholes
by Micke
Google Glass is a hot topic. This innovative concept is again in the headlines after a glass user was thrown out of a restaurant in Seattle. They didn't want "glassholes" as customers. He didn't like to be thrown out and made a public issue of it. This is not the only establishment that dislikes the wearable camera. And some customers are chiming in, they prefer to dine in an environment where they can't be filmed secretly. But does this ban make any difference? Are we better off without Google Glass users around us? No, not really. Here's why.
Google Glass is not unique when it comes to privacy. Yes, it's an innovative concept, but there are many wearable cameras that are designed to be hidden. If someone really wants to film secretly, one of these would be the optimal choice. Not something that you have in the middle of your face and anybody can see. Not to mention that you can film quite discreetly with a mobile phone too. Have they thought about that? Do they search customers for mobiles and hidden cameras? No, they don't.
And perhaps they don't care as there would be no PR value in banning old technology. Banning Google Glass can be just a populistic marketing trick. Definitively a well working one in the cases described above, regardless of if this was the restaurant owner's primary intention or not.
Yes, I have written a lot about privacy and what role cameras play. CCTV surveillance can be a serious threat against our privacy if it is done in the wrong way or for the wrong reasons. But it looks like the Google Glass critics are mixing up two things and applying those arguments to private persons' shooting. State sponsored surveillance can build up a comprehensive picture of our lives and we have no way to know how it is (mis)used. Shooting and filming private persons can at worst pick some moments and publish them out of context in an embarrassing way. That's a problem too, but magnitudes smaller than the large CCTV systems.
The debate about if Google Glass is good or evil is missing the point. We should really be talking about photography and publishing, not about a particular gadget. The law varies from country to country, but some basic principles are commonly present. You can take pictures quite freely, at least in public places. You can also publish your work freely as long as it doesn't hurt others. These principles are good, and applies regardless of if you are using Google Glass or any other kind of camera. We do not have a problem as long as people know these rules, and their rights when confronted with someone who doesn't. And now we have come to the core that we really should be discussing. How to endorse common sense and lawful behavior when using a camera? People are no doubt shooting and publishing a lot without any clue about the rules. That's the true problem, not the new gadget.
Safe surfing,
Footnote: The author is not a Google Glass owner and has actually never even tried them. He is, among other things, a hobby photographer with a deep interest in privacy issues.


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Mandarin is one of the hardest languages I have tried to learn.
Teaching in China
There are so many things to consider while realizing my need to teach english in China. I've always wanted to be a teacher and plan on homeschooling my own children until they reach high school. In fact, while abroad I will be studying for the GRE to apply to grad school when I return for my MFA in Creative Writing – which is what I need to become a college professor. I love the look in a person's eyes when a concept clicks and they get that light that says they genuinely understand. It gets me fired up.
The thing about China is that I have never been to Asia or a communist country which poses completely different cultural norms and hopefully a huge shock. I'm ready for it and I need it. I yearn to make a difference in other human lives, this opportunity would definitely help bring that credo to life. The experiences of everything from Shanghai to the Himalayans makes me tingle inside. I want to know what life is like on the other side of the world.
What makes me nervous about China the most is that I'm a vegetarian and I don't know any Chinese. Not even hello. I'm a pleasant individual overall so I think I will get along just fine and I plan on taking some kind of basic mandarin or something. Finding food I can eat to survive while I'm there is very frightening because I can't say 'I am a vegetarian, I do not eat meat. Dairy and eggs are okay.'
For a bit that was a deal breaker. Then I came to the realization that while living in the Netherlands I did most of my eating from a grocery store which meant visceral stimulation. As long as I can see it is a fruit or vegetable I am okay. I can cook rice and meals for myself at a lower expense as well.
Once that got me over the major hump, I stumbled upon a few youtube videos that shed some light on the experience for people who eat like me by people who eat like me. This one in particular I found exceptionally helpful:
So this is something I will be practicing for the next few months and am certain I will be referring back to once I get abroad. Now to think about how much I actually plan to bring with me and what to pack in. I was thinking of investing in a 60L pack or something and staying minimal. Perhaps a small checked bag for hygiene products to get me by the first few weeks and a picture or two of my family.
xxx Sam
What's a Pilgrimage?
The meaning of a pilgrimage through the eyes of a pilgrim:
The journey takes many forms, there can be a religious aspect to it however it is not a requirement. For me, it has more to do with a personal journey and growth. I don't subscribe to any particular creed. Be happy, be honest, and be kind. That is my mantra. Finding your true soul is a journey that starts inside of you, therefore any one person's pilgrimage will not match any other. It starts when you allow it to.
Although the Camino De Santiago is largely rooted in a catholic background, the pilgrims on the route of Saint James are of various backgrounds. Any pilgrimage begins when you allow it to, traditionally from your front door. However the traditional route of St. James starts in St. Jean Pied de Port, France and ends in Santiago, Spain. Spending, on average, thirty days walking from France through to the tip of Spain is not an easy feat for anyone. Especially not when you stick to the true path of a pilgrim, relying on the way to support you through your travels. Breaking down both your physical and mental being and building you up again – much like daily life.
You see, a pilgrimage does not have to be some set trail that has been walked for centuries. A pilgrimage can be you getting up from your chair, going out your back door, and walking to another town or through the woods. It may not have much significance to an outsider however on said walk through the woods you may have reached a personal 'aha!' moment that alters the way you view your life forever.
I can't wait to have a pilgrimage of my own, to travel and reach a true transcendental state must be absolute bliss. Although I'm not so sure I can wait until I find my way back to Europe to complete the Camino. That goal will never leave my mind but I think that some preparation is required. Some cultures and religions believe in yearly pilgrimages; so why can't I take multiple pilgrimages throughout my life? I can and I will!
I want to call myself a citizen of the world and travel across our earth however when looking at my list (I keep a list of places I have been before) I realize that my focus has always been out of the Americas and I never took the time available to explore the land on which I was born. The land that my parents fell in love in and travelled across both together and alone. I need to experience the Appalachian Mountains and the Continental Divide. I need to see what the Rockies look like and the West Coast. I need to know what it is like to breathe in higher altitude, to truly be cold in the winter, and to see Redwood trees that I can't wrap my arms around. I wish to hike and camp and build fires in as many states as I can. I want to simulate parts of the Oregon Trail and try to understand what the Gold Rush was like. Stand on old battlefields and put myself in the shoes of the people who fought there.
I am a firm advocate that seeing is believing and believing leads to true understanding. Emerson said, "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." I feel that he uses the term experiment precisely because they are meant to be learned from. Scientists create a hypothesis and then conduct experiments to prove their hypothesis is correct or debunk it. But no matter what, any good scientist will always try the experiment.
Road Trips and Clarity
Last week called for an impromptu road trip to the East coast of Florida to beach hop down the coast with my boyfriend, Michael. Packing the cooler with water and snacks, we embarked on our journey at four in the morning. The two of us marveled as the sun came up over state road sixty — greenery all around us and open road ahead. It was glorious. We made a pact to take the back roads as much as possible for any trip we do. We want to see as much of the natural beauty the world has to offer as possible.
We arrived on the east coast at 8am ready for some breakfast and a nap. While we ate, we found the nearest beach about twenty minutes away from I-95. Hutchinson Island was delightful; so much different from the beach I grew up on. There are sand dunes with foliage blocking your immediate view of the Atlantic, the wooden stairs were picturesque. They took us over the dunes and down to the beach where the sand was darker than I'm used to and filled with bits of shells that stick to your skin. The roar of the ocean swam through my head as I drifted asleep on the shoreline. A bit colder than the Gulf of Mexico, the waves enticed me in. We watched the storm roll in from the water and decided it was time to move on.
We raced the storm and successfully made it far enough south to avoid the rain and hit another beach. Hollywood Beach was a cute little town complete with a fabulous beach front. Instead of dunes we encountered a line of retro, stubby bars and hotels with a stone broadwalk about ten feet wide and two and a half miles long to walk or ride along the beachfront. The ocean was crystal blue with a few patches of brown seaweed, but the water was shallow for a good while which was perfect for a little crashing around in the waves. The storm was nowhere in sight but as per Florida guidelines it stormed a few hours later and we found ourselves stuck until it passed. Gotta love happy hour showers.
It is so important to fit in little trips throughout your month to inspire your soul and help you clear your mind. It is a rejuvenating experience embracing what nature has to offer both nearby and far away. Crashing on the beach, driving all day and night, and showering at the beach accesses made me yearn for a cross-country road trip. I am certain that I can live that lifestyle and be completely happy; the vagabond lifestyle has whispered in my ear and I cannot shake it off. I'm convinced that traveling is a drug – heroin of sorts. I don't care where I get it, but I must go!
Djembes and Sunsets
Sunday nights at Treasure Island Drum Circle is the perfect end to every week; the best way to gear up for a new one. The beach is captivating and offers some of the best sunsets I've seen. The drums are plentiful and fill the air with rhythm from the late afternoon to sunset. The entire island seems to crawl out for the experience. It restores my faith in humanity to see so many people coming together and enjoying the beauty in those moments. There is a spiritual feeling similar to a church gathering. People of all walks of life come and dance, play music, and watch the sun part ways with the earth. It reminds me a lot of old practices such as chasing the sun and praying it returns tomorrow. As the sun escapes, the glowing paraphernalia comes out. The sky is now lit up again with vibrant colors. There are drum circles all over the world with good vibes and good people. You don't need to be afraid to check them out alone or with your own group of friends. To find a drum circle near you visit http://drumcircles.net and check out the plethora of information it provides. When I first began exploring these experiences I started there. Below are some pictures of the Treasure Island Drum Circle in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as a link to a video from June 7th's circle.
Twin Thing
((Short Story written by me, Sam, in 2011))
Before everything I was still a child, innocent and happy. We were both happy at one point splashing in the water, the wind blowing salt through our hair. But one day our world shattered as if it were a thin stained-glass globe at the wrong end of a rocket launching. Funny thing is, I can't quite pin point when it was. It all happened so fast: the drugs, foster care, mom came back, more drugs, dad came back, the violence started, and my sister couldn't handle it.
I just found my happy place, I tried to take her there but she couldn't see it. She was always afraid they were coming back to get us. So we left, and every time we left we had to leave where we went because they were still coming. The problem was that they never stopped chasing us. Instead of enhancing our lives, we lived on the run.
Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel By: Rolf Potts
'Vagabonding is about gaining the courage to loosen your grip on the so-called certainties of this world. Vagabonding is about refusing to exile travel to some other, seemingly more appropriate, time of your life. Vagabonding is about taking control of your circumstances instead of passively waiting for them to decide your fate." – Rolf Potts writes in Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
Rolf Potts' explanation of vagabonding is absolutely on point. Forget about social networks and lavish apartments, embrace the realness of the world around you. As you sit there in your chair millions of wondrous things are occurring in different places around the world, don't you want to experience the spectacle?
Vagabonding is about letting go of the things that hold you back from these experiences. Refusing to believe that the world has borders that cannot be broken; embracing your inner citizen of the world. Go on youtube and look at some satellite footage from NASA or any other reputable source. Look at how the land is aglow with light, the water dark and vast. Marvel in that glorious sight. Did you notice any borders? Anything except water separating us from one land to another?
Refusing to let your circumstances hold you back from any dreams you hold, vagabonding preaches minimalism. If you really want to spend a long period of time traveling the world that is set out for us, then stop putting so much emphasis on the ties holding you back and cut back on your spending. Live frugally where you are and save. Prove to yourself that you deserve this trip. Nothing good ever comes easy, but it is proven to always pay off in memories. If you can't afford expensive trains or taxis, walk you'll see much more.
Don't sit by and let life hand you whatever it chooses, grab life by the balls and decide your own fate. At the core, I believe that is the spirit of vagabonding, deciding your own fate and living it through. Experiencing as much as you can and sharing your insight with all those interested. I think the hardest part for me will be not getting too attached to any one place. There is so much to see and I've only got one life to see it.
He also gives many resources for cheap travel, work abroad, and other valuable information that you can find in his book. I purchased it at Barnes and Noble for $15 but for all you bargain hunters I'm sure you can find a steal. I'm not trying to sell you anything but it's a lot of information that I'm not ready to get into quite yet. This is just some thoughts I had after reading halfway, once I finish the book I will give you a proper synopsis.
Until next time bloggers, remember, vagabonding isn't a verb it is a state of mind so go suck the marrow out of life!


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About the Binona Radio Control Race Track
Located in Al Ain, UAE's 4th largest city approximately 160km from Abu Dhabi, is the new Al Ain Sports Club which is home to the 25,000 seat Hazza Bin Zayed (HBZ) Stadium as well as the Binona Radio Control Race Track.
The Binona Radio Control Race Track is not only home to the RC Championships but also the 1/8 Buggy and Truggy International Off-Road Race, the UAE National Day Race as well as being named the host location of the 2016 Worlds.
The race track facility has both a 1/8 scale (195 feet wide x 125 feet long) and 1/10 scale track (75 feet wide x 100 feet long) with 15 foot wide lanes separated by 4 inch corrugated piping secured to the surface with 12 inch stakes to contain the cars within each racing lane.
The track layouts have off-cambered, flat and bermed corners with 4 to 6 jump sections per layout, ranging from doubles, triples, step ups, whoops, elevation changes and tabletops. The perimeters of the tracks have a 4-foot tall chain link fence that is 5 feet away from the edge of the track. This borders the entire track and contains any runaway or out of control cars from reaching spectators or pit areas.
Racing track surface treatment & seal
75 truck loads of clay type material were brought in and compacted then treated with an EBS Surface Seal to preserve and protect the racing surface and prevent dust allowing it to take rubber and groove up well while providing medium to high bite traction.


text: MusicManNJ 1,025 Report post Posted July 18 15 minutes ago, PamahoNow said: But on 7-16 you said: "Tonight is the night where we begin to see where everyone stands head to head. I am expecting a great run... the rest will take care of itself!" Sunday, will you be saying "Atlanta is the night we begin ..."? On 7-16 Crown was 0.4 further back than on the previous meeting with SCV at Memphis. Always have hope, but Crown needs more than hope. They need to improve relative to BC BD and/or SCV. Maybe even pass one. They were within a point at the first meeting AND they had a great run! So on that I was correct. The reduction came in a show where there was no competition and no brass judge. And we have the fact they were .05 from 2nd in Music when they were with everyone 2 nights ago. We have three shows in a row to see how things stack up... and I have more than hope... I believe this staff knows what they need to do and they have plans for next week to complete the show... GE will come as the show cleans up. Let's see where we are on Sat night... so yea... I have much more than hope... they have a great show to refine and a bad a&& drill to go with that musical book. 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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By Wink Lorch with photos by Brett Jones
On our recent wine tour in Trentino in north-east Italy we had the chance to visit the cellars of the famous Metodo Classico sparkling wine producer Ferrari. After a cellar tour and a rather special tasting of their wines, we were given not only a guided tour of an extraordinary 16th century villa owned by the Lunelli family, owners of Ferrari spumante, but also the chance to eat at their fine dining restaurant in the hills. Certainly we felt like we were in the fast lane of life in Italy.
Ferrari spumante was founded in the city of Trento by Giulio Ferrari in 1902. His family owned vineyards and he had been trained in wine production at the local prestigious San Michele all'Adige agricultural school and later in Montpellier, France and Geisenheim, Germany. He also spent some time in Epernay, Champagne and thought that Chardonnay would be ideal to grow on the high altitude limestone hills of his home area in Trentino, so he smuggled in some vines.
From the start Giulio Ferrari aimed to make high quality spumante using the Champagne method, today known in Italy as Metodo Classico. Until the 1950s production remained highly limited (less than 10,000 bottles a year) and much in demand all over Italy, but with no successors Giulio finally sold the company to Bruno Lunelli, who ran a successful wine shop in Trento and had long been an admirer of Ferrari Spumante. Giulio continued to work in the firm until his death in 1965 aged 86. The biggest change Bruno Lunelli made was to increase production to create a viable business and the company has never looked back. Today Ferrari spumante remains owned and run by the Lunelli family and produces nearly 5 million bottles of Metodo Classico sparkling wine.
The current offices and three hectares of cellars are on the outskirts of Trento and are open to visitors. The reception area is quite sumptuous with a wonderful display of pop art-decorated Ferrari bottles and a shop where you can buy period posters and other related artefacts as well as the wines of course. If you've never visited a Champagne house then the visit through the cellars is well worth it – it's usually available with an English guide if you are prepared to wait a little while, though always better to make an appointment.
All the sparkling wines under the Ferrari label are Trentodoc – the name developed for Metodo Classico wines from the Trento D.O.C. and Chardonnay is the dominant grape variety. We tasted their excellent non-vintage 100% Chardonnay Maximum Brut which has three years on yeast before disgorgement alongside its rosé partner from a blend of 70% Pinot Noir base wine made as rosé with 30% Chardonnay. Both had lovely freshness and delicacy with the rosé ideal for food as was proved later that day. The Perlé vintage 2004 (again 100% Chardonnay) was a tremendous wine with elegance joined by roundness and real length. As we were part of a group of British wine educators, we were honoured to be given a taste of the latest vintage of their single vineyard Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 1999 produced in very small quantities only in good years: it was mature, spicy and sumptuous – and has been described as "one of the four wines that have changed the story of Italian wines."
Joining us to taste the Giulio Ferrari was Franco Lunelli, one of Bruno's sons. Marcello Lunelli the oenologist commented "my uncle always turns up when we open this wine", but Signor Franco Lunelli, now in his 70s worked hard for his share. He was our knowledgeable guide around the extraordinary Villa Margon owned by the family and set in parkland in the hills a few kilometres above the winery. The situation and the collection of buildings including an 18th century chapel are simply beautiful in themselves, but it is the actual villa and the art that it contains that is the highlight of a visit here. It was built in 1540 by the Basso family, who had purchased the land from the Bishop of Trento. The villa became a summer retreat for prestigious guests travelling through Europe, including cardinals and other church dignitaries, and it is believed that Emperor Charles V was a guest too.
Between 1540 and 1560 artists were invited to the villa from Belgium and from Venice to paint frescoes on the walls and these have never been restored. All the rooms of the villa are adorned with these allegorical and historical frescoes, which remain in amazingly perfect condition with colours so bright that experts continue to debate what materials must have been used to paint them nearly 500 years ago. The frescoes in one room illustrate the battles in which Charles V was involved; in another they are devoted to bible stories from the Old Testament and a further room has stories from the New Testament. My favourite room had 12 frescoes each representing the typical activities occurring in one month of the year. At least three were wine related with March showing the pruning, August preparing the barrels for the new harvest and September illustrating the harvest itself. Two months that amused me were January showing the men playing cards whilst the women work in the kitchen and December which was the shopping month – prospecting for wood amongst other purchases. For further insight, check out this recent visitor's blog post.
Close by on another side of the hill the Lunelli family have opened a restaurant Locanda Margon, which now has one Michelin star. In a beautiful setting above the Adige valley, but only a few kilometres from Trento, it would make a fantastic summer evening's excursion and the food we experienced was high class country food, beautifully served.
Over lunch, Matteo Lunelli, another family member working in the company explained something that had intrigued me, namely whether there was any relationship between Cantine Ferrari spumante and Ferrari Maranello, the car company. Matteo told us that that Ferrari was, along with Rossi, one of the most common names in Italy – the equivalent of Smith or Jones, so it was crucial for both companies to protect the use of the name commercially. The two companies are good friends and Matteo explained that they were "two expressions of luxury lifestyle". Some years ago they came to an agreement giving Cantine Ferrari the exclusivity of the name for the world of drinks while Ferrari Maranello has the exclusivity for all other products. When Ferrari wins at a Grand Prix race, the team always celebrate with Ferrari spumante.
A perfect wine tour day should include all these things: interesting cellar visit, great wines, a superb meal, good views and some sort of cultural experience. Thanks to Ferrari you can get these all, close to a major city too.
Contact Ferrari via their website to arrange a visit to the cellar or to Villa Margon. Villa Margon is open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays, plus a few special opening days.


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Claire - Singapore Escort


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"I want to vapourise you with a death ray from space"
08 October 2009
Warren Ellis latest column for WIRED UK is out on the innertubes: I don't think, however, that Interorbital Systems has fully embraced the science-fictional condition. There is one important omission in its list, and it's the reason why I need to borrow $8,000 from you. Orbiting death rays. Ah, see, now you're interested. Like most […]
- filed under death rays, interorbital systems, warren ellis


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Turkey has sentenced a Wall Street Journal reporter to two years in prison simply for doing her job.
The reporter, Ayla Albayrak, was convicted and sentenced on terrorism charges over an article she wrote two years ago on Turkey's war with Kurdish militants, the Journal said in a statement.
But journalism is not terrorism.
Thankfully, Ayla Albayrak is in New York and intends to appeal the decision, the Journal said.
But within the country, where the Turkish clampdown on press freedom focuses on local media, more journalists are in prison than anywhere else in the world.
Does anyone – governments, intergovernmental organizations including the UN, civil society groups – have any influence on Turkey at all?
The Turkish clampdown has been part of a rapid decline in democratic and secular values that escalated following a failed coup attempt in July 2016.
When governments jail local journalists and close local news outlets, their actions often don't get proper attention internationally. Press freedom advocates have forcefully responded, but the general public around the world often doesn't pay attention. Repressive governments count on this.
Turkey makes no apologies in treating journalists as terrorists. Good men and women are languishing in Turkish prisons. Let's hope the wrongful sentencing of a Wall Street Journal reporter might bring additional attention and international pressure to bear. Turkish journalists need all the help they can get.
How to help Turkish journalists:
Solidarity and letter writing campaign organized by the International and European Federation of journalists;
Twitter campaign, #FreeTurkeyMedia, from Amnesty International;
Petition from Reporters without Borders.


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Welcome to "The Seashore at it's Best".
The Garden Club of Stone Harbor welcomes you to this "special, idyllic" place. For 40 years the Garden Club has strived to add to the beauty of this island with annual projects such as planting flowers on the medians of Second Avenue, planting and tending to the "Garden of Remembrance" at 122nd and Second Avenue, and providing the many downtown hanging baskets and floral urns, with assistance from the Borough and SHPOA.
In order to fund these projects, we sponsor several events such as the Fashion Show in October, the Plant and Bake sale on Mother's Day weekend, the Community Yard Sale in May, and the House and Garden Tour on the first weekend in June.
These fundraisers are successful through the enthusiastic efforts of our membership. Browse through this web page and see our members in action, and also enjoying themselves in activities such as field trips and the Thanksgiving weekend Christmas Parade.
We welcome you to explore membership for yourself, and attend one of our monthly meetings the 2nd Monday of the month (September – June) at 9:30 am at the Women's Civic Club Building, 96th St. and the beach. Guests are always welcome! See you soon.
Sandy Slabik, President
New members are always welcome.
Come join us – friends and flowers bloom together!
Visit us on Facebook
The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses
Hanna Rion 1875-1924


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Jenny Daley
CEO, Omega Performance
Sydney, Australia
As President and CEO, Jenny is leading Omega Performance in what is perhaps the most exciting phase of growth since our inception in 1976. She is responsible for running all facets of the business. Since becoming CEO in 2013 Jenny has developed a business strategy and a new highly profitable business model while embracing the core values of integrity, innovation and growth.
One of the company's most tenured staff, Jenny first joined the growing team as a business development manager in Australia and quickly rose through the ranks to become managing director of Asia-Pacific (APAC). As managing director of APAC, Jenny established several regional initiatives to increase customer value by bringing about operational efficiency and enhanced customer satisfaction. In 2012, Jenny moved to our global headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, to serve as Chief Operating Officer and subsequently was promoted to CEO.
Jenny possesses extensive hands-on experience with Omega Performance's credit training solutions, having worked with clients at all functional levels to develop and implement successful, multidisciplinary performance improvement programs.
She is most fulfilled when helping people grow professionally. Her vision and ability to nurture relationships has led to long-term solutions and success.
Jenny's extensive career in the financial services industry includes more than 20 years in sales and management across a variety of business environments. In addition to holding leadership roles in learning and development, her career includes experience in foreign exchange, branch management, mortgage broking, and commercial banking. Jenny holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Adult Education from the University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.


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SRAM GXP Blackbox Ceramic Bottom Bracket
Select style & size:Select options
- One Color, 68sale $162.98
- One Color, 70sale $171.96
Tech Specs
Fast. Smooth. Durable.
SRAM's GXP Blackbox Ceramic Bottom Bracket features ceramic bearing technology, making it one the smoothest, most efficient bottom brackets on the market. In addition to being lighter than standard bearings, SRAM's ceramic bearings use a more rounded cut to reduce mechanical drag and create optimal power transfer. Also, these durable ceramic bearings are more resistant to moisture and dirt, which means this bottom bracket will perform season after season. The GXP Blackbox Ceramic Bottom Bracket has alloy cups, anodized in Red, and is designed to work with all SRAM road cranksets.
- Made with silicon nitride ceramic balls in sealed cartridge bearings
- Ceramic bearings are lighter and more efficient than standard bearings
- Ceramic bearings use a more rounded cut to reduce mechanical drag
- Compatible with all SRAM road cranksets
Great Upgrade
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
I have ceramic bearings in my Cannondale frame but GPX ceramic is unbelievably smooth......and unlike the other reviewer......my first 75 mile ride on the new Pinarello F8 (see another review) with the new BB was so good kept looking at the crank! Worth the extra money!
Solid Bottom Bracket
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
First of all, I probably should have read the product description in more detail because the product I received was the red anodized color (not the depicted silver color). However, color wasn't a huge issue for me. So I slapped this on my bike, and haven't regretted it yet. I can say this was a solid upgrade from the Sram GXP Team BB.
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
I'm not 100% sure what "breaking it in" means, but I've used ceramic BBs since they were available (one of the most cost effective upgrades you can make IMHO) and have owned one of these for years. It's worked flawlessly since day 1 and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
Don't buy!!
- Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
If you have loads of time on your hands to "break it in" then by all means spend the $200.00, otherwise do not buy it. My old BB was way better and in fact I just had the shop put it back in until I have time to burn breaking in this waste of money.
Breaking in a bottom bracket makes as much sense as buying a 100% organic steel bike frame. Both instances use words in the English language but not in any recognizable or logical way.


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In 2015, Brooks Running Athlete and Ultra Running Legend Scott Jurek broke the world record for the fastest known time on a thru-trek of the Appalachian Trail. He covered the 2,189 miles in 46 days, 8 hours, and 7 minutes. His trek covered 14 states and his legs accumulated a staggering 515,000 feet of elevation change.
During this event Scott will share the highs and lows of his journey and illustrate what it was like to average almost 50 miles per day on foot through some of the country's most testing conditions.
Here's an overview of the evening's events:
5:00-5:30 - Book Signing with Scott Jurek
5:30-6:00 - Run with Scott Jurek
6:15-7:00 - Appalachian Trail talk and video
Food and beverage will be provided and catered by Chipolte from 6:15-7


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Thanks so much for all the well-wishes on our vacation and baby-on-the-way! We had such a fab time! Despite being awakened at 3:30 am the first night by a VERY LARGE earthquake, the rest of the trip went so smoothly: our weather was great, the places we stayed were fantastic, and the travel portion (trains, planes) went off without a hitch. Our travel companions, Nate's sister Sara and her husband Don were loads of fun to travel with. And have I mentioned the gelato yet? Yum.
This post reads more like a travelogue than a sewing blog (sorry peeps) but maybe this small smattering of photos from our trip will inspire you to take a vacation (babymoon?) to one of the most beautiful and amazing places on earth. We started with three days in Rome:
Then a couple of days along the Mediterranean in the villages of the Cinque Terre:
: : A view towards the sea in Riomaggiore : :
: : The village of Manarola…yes, there really are places left in the world this idyllic : :
: : Wouldn't you love to come home to this every day after work? : :
: : Breakfast patio at our B&B in Monterosso (see the lemon trees? and who's that hottie looking so mysterious over there?) : :
Then to Florence for a few days, where we ended our trip:
: : Florence's Duomo Cathedral : :
: : A view of the Duomo from our hotel's rooftop terrace : :
: : Ponte Vecchio, Florence's oldest bridge : :
: : A special Easter treat on our day in Florence, the Explosion of the Cart, a festival that dates back to the Crusades : :
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Will be back soon with Spring Tops and more. And the shop is back up if you need a backpack pattern. Ciao!


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ENGAGING SCIENCE CONFERENCE 3-4 April, Manchester Conference Centre Science for all: is public engagement engaging the public? Developments in science affect society in many ways and pose major questions for us all. The Wellcome Trust, the independent medical research charity, is committed to supporting and encouraging public engagement with bioscience. The Engaging Science Conference will provide the platform for many different sectors to share ideas and discuss current issues around public engagement with science. There will be opportunities to learn from the profiled activities, live events, policy initiatives and research, supported by the Wellcome Trust. Register now to take part. Sessions include:
• Involving all stakeholders
• Y-Touring's new theatre performance on biomedical issues
• Digital Science in public engagement and education
• Wellcome Trust public engagement funding opportunities. For a registration form and conference programme, go to: www.wellcome.ac.uk/esconference.


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Latest Research Released on U.S. Diplomatic Attacks in Cuba
This week, the University of Pennsylvania released the results of its research into the mysterious attack on U.S. diplomatic workers based at the U.S. embassy in Cuba.
The matter dates back to late 2016, when some government employees in Cuba alerted doctors of the sudden onset of hearing loss, persistent headaches, and other neurological symptoms.
According to the research, the 21 victims examined "described something that seemed like a directional sound attack, like a sound or ray gun, in their residences or in hotel rooms at night. Most described high-pitched noises; some recalled low-pitched ones. They also used seemingly contradictory descriptions such as 'buzzing,' 'grinding metal,' 'piercing squeals,' and 'humming.'"
The victims also reported that covering their ears seemed to make no difference.
Of those impacted by the attacks, 95 percent "reported effects lasting longer than three months," according to Government Executive, while "86 percent had at least six symptoms," with victims consistently complaining of mental fogginess, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating.
Many of the victims were also said to have shown "signs of emotional change," becoming "irritable, more emotional, and more nervous," with 1 in 4 complaining of persistent sadness.
Ultimately, researchers have not year been able to "determine if the noises caused the illness, or were merely a byproduct of whatever was doing the harm."
Suspicions as to the culprit behind the attacks have included the Cuban government, anti-government forces within Cuba, and Russia, which was reportedly behind a similar acoustic attack on USAID staff in Uzbekistan in November.
Posted in Featured News
Tags: budget, Office of Management and Budget, Donald Trump, Trump Administration


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Business and Community
Alumni Association
The mission of the Lansing Community College Alumni Association is to serve, to inform, and to involve alumni and friends fostering lifelong relationships. More »
Business & Community Institute - Specialized Workforce Training
Leaders in customized training for all businesses: Organizational Performance Assessment, Performance Improvement, Workforce Development, Quality Assurance. More »
Catering & Conference Services
The Lansing Community College Conference Services offers a fresh and unique alternative to the traditional venue. From first-class meeting facilities and on-site catering to personalized event planning and commendable service standards your satisfaction becomes our priority. More »
Continuing Education
Continuing Education courses are designed to update and expand professional certification - especially for Health Care professionals and Emergency personnel. Continuing Education also includes Small Business Development courses. More »
Educational Resource Development
The Educational Resource Development (ERD) Department is designed to build bridges, create awareness, and heighten visibility between the campus, the community, business, industry, and government. More »
Employment at LCC
Looking for a great career? LCC is the third largest community college in the State of Michigan. We provide leading edge opportunities for professional growth and personal learning. More »
Extension and Community Education
Bringing classes right next door, and to your computer, with variable hours and start dates to fit into your busy schedule. More »
Through the generosity of individuals, businesses, and organizations, the LCC Foundation awards hundreds of scholarships each year. More »
Veterans Memorial
Lansing Community College's Veterans Memorial honors all local men and women who have served in the armed forces. More »
Michigan Small Business Development Center
The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center regional office, affiliated with the Business & Community Institute at Lansing Community College is one of 12 offices statewide, providing services and support to the Michigan small business community in the areas of counseling, training and research. More »
Entrepreneurship at LCC: Take your Business to the next level
LCC provides critical support to entrepreneurs at any stage of development. From established businesses to startup ventures to the innovators and business leaders of tomorrow, LCC has a multitude of programs and offerings to assist. The following five divisions are the foundation for LCC's vibrant entrepreneurial culture. More »


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Cobblestone Country Club - Palm City
Cobblestone Country Club - Palm City
Palm City offers great schools, many parks, and activities. Being in Palm City you have easy access to Palm Beach, Martin, and Saint Lucie Counties.
Call us if you are interested in Cobblestone Country Club or a beautiful Palm City Home. Let Distinct Estates help you find that perfect Palm City Home.
Cobblestone Country Club Features
- Gated Community
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Browse Cobblestone Country Club Real Estate Listings
For more information on any homes you see
call (561) 910-0158 or email us.
Information in regards to Palm City real estate and Cobblestone Country Club homes for sale or other listings may have come from a cooperateive data exchange service. All rights reserved. Information deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from a cooperative data exchange program of the multiple listing service (MLS) in which this real estate firm (Broker) participates. Listing broker has attempted to offer accurate data, but buyers are advised to confirm all items. We provide all information about Palm City homes for sale and Cobblestone Country Club real estate or other listings as is with absolutely no warranties. This site will be monitored for 'scraping' and any use of search facilities of data on the site other than by a consumer looking to purchase real estate, is prohibited. Feel free to contact our agents to find a great Cobblestone Country Club Palm City specialist.
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Democracy v European Integration? Rejection of the ECI against TTIP
The EU Commission has decided not to allow the ECI against TTIP and CETA to proceed. In terms of politics, the formalistic blockade on citizen participation is a disaster. And from a legal standpoint, the Commission's arguments are extremely weak. Commentary by Steffen Stierle from Attac Germany, a co-initiating NGO of the ECI "Stop TTIP".
It's not exactly news that all is not well with the democratic legitimacy of the EU. Major institutions – like the European Central Bank and the Troika – behave outside of any parliamentary control; the powerful Commission is nominated, not elected; and the European Parliament isn't a real parliament because it lacks such crucial parliamentary rights as the right to initiate legislation.
Despite this, it must be admitted that in the years before the banking and finance crisis there was some progress. The Lisbon Treaty did strengthen the Parliament, even if this was a relatively minor improvement. And the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) introduced for the very first time an admittedly rather weak element of direct democracy at the EU level. The weakness lies above all in the fact that a 'successful' ECI can only present recommendations; it cannot impose any obligations on the EU institutions. Nonetheless, these steps could have been a good start – one which was long overdue. In particular since the 1980s/1990s, there has been a massive transfer of political powers from the Member States to the EU. As long as the EU resists further democratisation, each of these transfers of powers effectively represents a degradation of democracy. The absolutely core element of any restoration of legitimacy for the continuing integration process has to be the consistent democratisation of all the decision-making levels of the EU and the introduction of strong and effective direct-democratic instruments.
In recent years, however, there has been a failure to build on the supposed good start and to expand European democracy. Quite the opposite: the EU's response to the crisis brought with it a wide-ranging dismantling of democracy. The fiscal pact and the European Stability Mechanism were approved as international treaties alongside European law, thus bypassing the European Parliament; lacking any democratic legitimacy, the EU's Troika programmes made deep incursions into the economic and social policies of some Member States; in practice, core elements of the banking union were devised by lobbyists from the world of finance. Furthermore, and against the wishes of the majority of citizens in the member states, the Council of Europe agreed a new wave of rearmament and militarisation. These are just a few examples of the current anti-democratic nature of EU politics.
Now the Commission has made it clear that even the non-binding ECIs will only be given the go-ahead if they do not disturb the politico-economic fortunes of the Brussels bureaucracy. There's simply no other way of interpreting the refusal to register the "Stop-TTIP" ECI. The stated 'arguments' are absurd; it is claimed that two formal requirements are not met. Firstly, ECIs may only contain 'positive' demands, not 'negative' ones i.e. they may only acclaim the Commission, not seek to block its proposals. Secondly, an ECI must refer to a 'legal act' – but the negotiating mandate for TTIP is supposedly not a legal act, but merely an agreement between the organs of the EU.
Politically speaking, this formalistic blockade of citizen participation is a disaster. The ECI is backed by 230 organisations from 21 EU member states. 700,000 signatures against TTIP have already been collected in Germany. For an ECI to be 'successful' (in terms of progressing to formal submission to the Commission) a minimum of 1 million signatures must be collected from at least 7 member countries. Given the German tally, there is hardly any doubt that this ECI would have been successful. It seems clear that the Commission intends to block citizen participation and push TTIP through against the will of the population. The many closed doors behind which the negotiations are taking place are now to be protected by a giant lock.
From a legal point of view the arguments given by the Commission are extremely weak – as is shown by a legal opinion commissioned by the ECI Alliance before the proposal was submitted. Whether the non-registration of the ECI is legally sound or not is not, of course, decided by independent legal opinions. The issue will probably be decided by the European Court – yet another EU institution that is outside of any democratic checks and balances and that has already on several occasions excelled at producing extremely borderline interpretations of European law when it served the political interests of the Council and the Commission.
The anti-democratic character of the EU's policies to deal with the crisis has already caused the approval ratings for European integration to plummet in many places. The successes of right-wing populist parties at the last EU elections are another consequence of the undemocratic policies of the EU. But the rejection of the Stop-TTIP ECI takes it to a new level, cashing in even the weak existing democratic rights at the EU level.
It poses the question as to whether it is at all possible to achieve any democratisation of this EU, or whether the focus must now be on defending what democracy remains against further EU integration.
Steffen Stierle is an economist and a member of the "Euro Crisis" project group of the Attac network. He is a co-author of the Attac core texts: "Europa-Krise: Wege hinein und moegliche Wege hinaus" (The Crisis in Europe: How we got into it and possible ways out of it) and "Umverteilen: von oben nach unten. Verteilungsgerechtigkeit statt Kuerzungsdiktat" (Redistribution: from above down. Distributory justice instead of enforced cut-backs).
(Translation: Paul Carline, 15.09.2014)


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How Tall Is Robert Wadlow?
Robert Wadlow's height is 8 ft 11.1 inches or 272cm
Page submitted: Thursday, 19 December, 2013 - 13:42
At a height of 8 feet 11.1 inches, or 271.78cm tall, Robert Wadlow was the tallest man to have ever lived on record.
His abnormal height was a result of excessive amounts of growth hormone being released by his pituitary gland into his blood stream. Now that modern advancements in medicine exist, along with the early detection of growth problems, it's extremely unlikely that Robert Wadlow's height will ever be matched again.
He weighed 215kg and unfortunately died at the age of 22 due to an infection caused by braces attached to his leg.
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BEFORE BUYING AN EVENT TICKET, PLEASE MAKE A RESERVATION on Ramen Takeuma's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ramentakeuma/ OR through OpenTable to ensure a dinner seating is still available.
Authentic Japanese ramen comes to Winnipeg!
Ramen Takeuma is owned and operated by Atsushi Kawazu, a Japanese native from Kyoto, who was trained in Japan to make ramen and will be opening a ramen shop in the near future.
This event is a temporary pop-up ramen restaurant that will run from July 10th to August 23rd at 937 Portage Ave (formally Café Ce Soir restaurant) by reservation only. The purpose is to see how Winnipegers respond to authentic ramen and to conduct some market research.
Event tickets will include a 4-course meal of Gomae (Japanese Style Spinach), Tatsuta-age (Deep-fried Chicken), Ramen and Dessert. Ticket price includes all taxes and gratuity for the food.
Please note: due to the nature of this 4-course meal, we are unable to accommodate vegetarian and gluten-free diets. However, we hope to have these options at our future permanent location.
Non-alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverages such as Japanese beer and sake may be purchased on site. Or you can bring your own wine for a corking fee of $12.
We are also featuring local Manitoba pottery artists and their ceramic ramen bowls.
Cancellation/No Show Policy: Once a reservation is confirmed and tickets are bought, please notify us of any cancellations or modification. If your group is four or less, please inform us at least three days (72 hours) prior to your seating. For groups of five or more, please inform us at least one week prior to your seating, in order to avoid any penalty charges. Failure to inform us within these terms will result in full charge of the tickets purchased.
Please present your receipt (printed or off your phone) at the event to confirm payment.
Hope to see you at our pop up event soon!
Ramen Takeuma


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2011 – 2018
Ligature.ch has come to an end. With no less than 350 interviews with graphic designers, product designers, type designers, art directors, photographers, illustrators, passionate and creative people from all over the world, it has been a pleasure to highlight these talents. We met so many great people thanks to this project. We hope that this little contribution to the design community influenced passionate people like ourselves.
Ligature's interviews project is now like a collection, an archive of a specific moment of the contemporary creative landscape.
We will continue to do what we love most: sharing, promoting and talking about design and visual culture. Say hello to Curated Content.
Thank you for everything.
Dennis Moya and Tiffany Bähler


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Like almost any seasonal Chanel collection, the Spring 2014 Chanel Make-up collection is to die for. I, myself, really prefer the fall collections as my palette is more geared towards the rich fall colours. But the beautiful and light pastels for Spring 2014 might convert me!
I am loving the bright lipsticks and polishes! Since Chanel is one of the fashion houses that sets the trends... It seems the trends this Spring are gearing towards soft eyes with bright lips and a pop of colour on the cheeks. I'm always expecting pastels for Spring and have gotten pretty sick of them so I'm loving the fresh take for the season,
I'm going to have to get my hands on the coral-red Rouge Allure colour.
I've also seen some swatches of Charivari (the deep purple and glossy nail colour) and it's to die for. Also an untraditional colour for Spring, as it's super dark and smokey but also lovely to see for the season!
As you can tell, I'm fairly impressed and pleasantly surprised with the amazing choice in colour palette this season.
You go, Coco!
Oh and uh, Happy Valentine's Day Lovers! xo
À Bientôt Mes Amours,
Kisti Belle


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Child Message:
Child Tui Na originated from China, with a long established history of 2000 years. One of the pioneers of Qingdao Child Tui Na, Tian Chang Ying has conducted 2 tests utilising Traditional Chinese Medicine principles.
The first test involved stimulating the acupuncture points of the spleen. It was discovered that doing so will aid the stomach in promoting gastric contractility. There will also be enhanced secretion of gastric acid and increased levels of pepsin. All these result in an improvement in the children's appetite.
The second test is to stimulate the nerves of points so that the child can sleep soundly.
Both tests confirmed that 2 thousand years of Chinese medicine theory is consistent with the theories of modern science. In summary, the two major strengths of Child Tui Na benefit the both the spleen and the nerves.
Once infants (28 days to 1 year after birth) undergo Child Tui Na, there can be early detection of potential diseases. Examples include torticollis, on the face drooping, narrow chest syndrome, inverted nipple, breast, crooked spine, umbilical hernia, O-foot, hearing impairment and so on. Early detection and timely treatment is better than a late treatment of more than 1 year. In addition, the infants are delicate and more susceptible to colds. Furthermore, they cannot regulate their food properly yet, resulting in abdominal pain, bloating and bowel disorders. Also, they are easily frightened. If a child undergoes Child Tui Na from an early age, it can aid the child in healthy growth and development of organs, laying the foundation for a healthy life throughout their lifespan.
Preschool children (age 3 to 6 years old) are exposed to television, computers, video games, etc., which easily affect their vision. An eye care massage can prevent myopia and improve their eyesight. It is recommended that such blindness prevention measures begin when the child is still in preschool.


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Orblue Cut-Resistant Gloves and Chef Knife
Disclosure: Creative Lifestyle received a sample(s) and/or compensation for this post. All opinions herein are 100% my own.
I have come to depend on the Orblue line of high quality kitchen products for all of my every day needs, so when they asked me to evaluate their Orblue Cut Resistant Gloves and their Orblue Chef Knife I didn't have to think twice about responding with a big fat YES! They have done it again and supplied me with two excellent products.
I run a very busy household and meal time preparation is usually rushed and chaotic to say the least; with many hands in the kitchen accidents are bound to happen so having two products that will keep safety in mind and help quickly get made meals made quickly is a perfect and necessary match in my kitchen.
The Orblue Cut-Resistant Kitchen Gloves fit like a glove; pardon the pun!
They are a tasteful grey and white colour with royal blue trim at the cuff and you get a pair that is similar in feel to thermal gloves and fit my hands nice and snug so they allow me to get a good grip on my knives while chopping and slicing.
Having a large family who likes to eat, meal times are a big production and when company comes over the kitchen is a very busy place; I can't begin to say how many nails or knuckle skin I have cut off over the years when not paying close attention to the task at hand. I've even skinned the front of my fingers up to the knuckles on the slicing mandolin when cutting up potatoes for French fries and cabbage for coleslaw ~ ouch that does hurt and sting really bad!
I find when using the gloves to slice and chop onions that I am able to get a really good grip and finish the task much quicker and I find that when I am de-boning meats, being quite slippery, that I have a better grip on the meat.
On the odd chance that I hit the gloves with the knife the knife did not cut through them, it simply leaves a mark at the moment of impact but when I looked back the mark is gone ~ impressive!
I have been washing them in the kitchen sink between uses in standard antibacterial soap between uses to avoid cross contamination and leaving them to air dry overnight in the dish rack and happy that they retain their shape and feel exactly the same way each and every time I put them on.
Over the course of my lifetime I have gathered a huge collection of knives from chef, boning, paring, bread and so on…I have so many that I have lost track of what I actually own tending to always use my 'go to knife' the one I purchased in college some 25+ years ago with its huge thick blade and heavy wooden handle, it has served me well over the years and found no matter how much I spent on other collections I always went back to 'old reliable' never finding 'the right knife' for me; really never finding another knife that feels good in the palm of my hand.
You don't need to be a chef or a cook to understand the importance of a good quality knife, whether you're preparing a meal for yourself, your family or a large a large catering function. A good knife will be your best friend in the kitchen and improve efficiency as long it is sharp, weighted properly and can effortlessly cut through whatever food item regardless if it's a thick roast, a whole chicken, a pork shoulder or if you're slicing, chopping, crushing, mincing or julienning fruits and vegetables; it will help you get the job done quickly.
I have been using the Orblue Chef Knife for well over two weeks now on a regular daily basis and am proud to say that it is living up to my expectations of a high quality knife. Not only is it all rust proof stainless steel, it's very pretty lightweight with the blade weighing in at only 6.34 ounces and is 8 inches long with a 1 ¾ inch blade. It is ergonomic and comfortable to use with no pressure sensations on the wrist or between the thumb and the forefinger. It's well balanced and weighted evenly so chopping vegetables or cutting up meat is effortless. I don't have to even pull out a serrated knife to slice tomatoes nice and thin without denting and mushing up the tomatoes.
To protect the blade and preserve the longevity of the knife, I wash and dry it by hand and put it away between uses so the blade does not get damaged or dull.
Personally I think this is an excellent knife and worth every penny.
Orblue thoughtfully sends out a thank you card that is enclosed with each and everyone one of their products offering a 15% discount on their entire product catalog.
Check out our short video demonstration using both products.


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The summer is finally upon us, this styled shoot from Jennifer L. K. Thompson Photography and Perfect Day Weddings & Events has us wanting to go on a picnic and watch the sunset with our loved one in a vintage VW Bug. We love everything down to the cute outfits for him and her. The peaches, a perfect southern fruit and already we're smacking our lips for the delicious cake! There were too many good shots to pick from, so make sure to take a look at the gallery for even more inspiration.
Photography: Jenniferthompsonphotography.com
Coordination: Perfectdaystl.com
Dresses: Fleetcollection.com
Location and table: Burningbarnfurniture.com
Hair: Pixieshairdesign.com
Flowers: Peacockblooms.com
Bow tie: Foragehaberdashery.com
Day of set up: Amystudebakerdesign.com
Jewelry: Juxtaposejewelry.com
Vintage decor provided by: Jenniferthompsonphotography.com
Submitted via Two Bright Lights


text: As well as competitively priced hospital beds, Shelden Healthcare are experts in supplying the right nursing bed for your needs. Whether you need a bulk quantity of nursing home care beds or a single item for home care we can provide the right nursing care bed for your needs. Please browse our range for the… Continue reading »


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The trailer of the Selvaraghavan-directed Nenjam Marappathillai was unveiled at 6 pm on Friday, November 4. The Tamil movie features director-turned-actor SJ Surya playing the protagonist, with Regina Cassandra and Nandita Swetha starring in the female lead roles.
The video clip showcases some interesting moments from the movie, and gives an outline of the story, while introducing the main characters. The trailer has a good presentation and SJ Surya's performance remains the biggest highlight of the clip.
The video gives an indication of the film being a psycho-thriller and Yuvan Shankar Raja's background score adds huge value to the trailer of Nenjam Marappathillai.
Nenjam Marappathillai is produced by filmmaker Gautham Menon under the banner of Ondraga Entertainments and distributed by Madhan of Escape Artist Motion Pictures.
The movie marks the reunion of Selvaraghavan with Yuvan Shankar Raja. The duo have given many hit albums in the past, including 7G Rainbow Colony and Pudhupettai. In fact, the music director remained the first choice until Yaaradi Nee Mohini.
Selvaraghavan and Yuvan Shankar Raja parted ways following some differences. However, they have now sorted out the issues between them and have collaborated for Nenjam Marappathillai, which has turned out to be one of the attractions of the film.
Also, it is the first time in Kollywood that three prominent filmmakers (SJ Surya, Gautham Menon and Selvaraghavan) are teaming up in different roles of actor, producer and director.
The shooting of Nenjam Marappathillai has been completed and the team is now busy with its post-production works. The movie was supposed to be released in November. But the makers are yet to confirm the news.


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I never thought that I was that girl who got ludicrously excited about summer holidays.
The sort of excitement where you lie out all your clothes on the bed a week before you leave, and draw up a militant list of pedicures, waxes and tans. You line up you travel shampoos next to the travel toothpaste, and a meticulously packed travel wallet, and then leap out of bed at 5am on the morning of departure like the Boots advert women.
I was pondering over why I lacked these levels of enthusiasm. And the reason became clear. I've not been on a proper summer holiday for ages. Having a boyfriend who hates the sun, and loves driving near-to-broken down cars has meant that I've had a load of other trips. Great trips. But trips that involve weeing in bushes and shaving my legs in pub sinks. Certainly not the sort of holiday that inspires the conventional countdown.
Anyway, this year was different. We decided to go Italy. And, much to our surprise, when we woke up on Friday (to leave on Saturday) we began to feel a childlike enthusiasm. Work dragged like the last morning of school before you break up for summer holidays. By the time the hands clunked to 5:30pm I was quite honestly about to explode.
Now, this rambling prelude does have a point to it. I want you, dear reader, to imagine my excitement, and then consider that on the top of everything, I'd been emailed four days prior to departure, and told that I'd won a Jamie Magazine competition to eat at Massimo's Restaurant and Oyster Bar on Friday night. On top of that, you should know that it was also Tom's birthday on Saturday (something that would usually pass with little ceremony – but considering our childlike state of enthusiasm, we'd really got quite worked up about it). So, by the time that we met outside the grand, Mayfair building that is Massimo's, we were already bouncing about like a child who drank all the coke.
The restaurant was spectacular. If I'd been taken there on a business lunch I'd have been extremely impressed. If I'd been taken there on a date, I'd have definitely been wooed. Taking my excitable mood into consideration though, I felt more like a schoolgirl going the headmaster's office.
This feeling didn't pass when Tom waded straight in there before I could brief him, and asked Andy, the lovely editor of Jamie Magazine, whether Jamie was a weekly. Poor Andy looked a little disappointed, and asked if he should assume that Tom wasn't a subscriber.
I slipped my flats off, put on my heels, and was handed a chilled glass of prosecco. Holiday had started early. We spoke to Andy and Holly, the editor and deputy, who are a duo that Jamie himself sourced out in Australia. They moved near to the Old Street offices and put together what is a triumph of a magazine. So many people in the magazine world speak of their publications with the expected trepidation that comes from working in what's often referred to as a 'dying industry'. The guys at Jamie were the most optimistic I've come across though – and no wonder – they've struck a glorious balance of producing a collectable magazine that is seasonal, beautiful, and really encourages readers to treat themselves to the June issue so it can nestle next to their May issue in their cookbook shelf.
Anyway, I digress. Just as I was getting accustomed to the pillars, arched ceilings, and sparkly fresh fish bar at Massimo's, we were ushered into a wood-panelled side room where there was a huge table with places for the nine winners and their 'plus-ones'.
Here lies the second error of judgement. Tom had assumed that it would be dinner a deux. He'd let himself slip into the naughty schoolboy mode that is so easy to fall into, but very difficult to snap out of…and only then did it transpire that he needed to be sociably adept in a dining situation with lots of strangers.
Well, the first course came – heaps of parma ham, mozzarella and bread. Then Massimo himself appeared at an open demonstration kitchen at the back, and started to whisk out one after another antipasto with consummate ease. There was no set menu, so I can't tell you exactly what we ate, but it was light, and delicate, and some of the most flavoursome food I've ever tasted: tiny bits of battered cod, artichoke, sundried tomatoes, gnocci, carbonara…
…it was all going exceedingly well, until about four courses in we were given a fish tabbouleh (which was, incidentally, the best course of all) – Tom picked up the bowl, offered it to the two women to our right, and said: "you'll like this, because you're women, and women like couscous." Wow. To say that it received a similar reception to when Cameron told Angela Eagle to "calm down, dear" would be putting a really positive spin on events. He went to the loo after that course, and when he came back, I heard one of them stage whisper: "he's probably just snorted a line of coke." Then they left. Whoops – sorry Jamie Magazine – though I don't take full responsibility. They hadn't really seemed in the mood all evening.
Anyway – more fool them, because the next course was a phenomenal monkfish with tapenade, aubergine and cherry tomatoes.
Then (as is the Italian way) just when I thought I'd never be able to put another morsel of food in my mouth for at least another week, we were presented with the lightest and most wonderful tiramisu, which I devoured within seconds.
After supper, we stayed and chatted to the other diners, mulled over the great food, and took in the glorious surroundings. Then, our night of excess came to an end. I got the number 8 back to Bethnal Green, and played packing roulette in preparation for the morning flight.
Thanks for a great night, Jamie Magazine…and if it's any consolation, guess what I got Tom for his birthday – a subscription.
Italian chef Massimo Riccioli, of the famous La Rosetta in Rome, opened Massimo Restaurant & Oyster at the Corinthia Hotel in May 2011.
16 Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5BY
Tel: 0207 7998 0555
DISCLAIMER: The people from Jamie's Magazine have since confirmed that the reason the women left "wasn't related to Tom's offensive stereotyping of grains and women."


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The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is a community-oriented sidewalk show that features work from over 180 outstanding Florida artists. In addition to presenting quality visual art, the festival provides free entertainment and participatory events for the enjoyment of visitors and artists. The festival is held at beautiful Central Park located along Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park and attracts 200,000 visitors. The festival is hosted by the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival Committee, Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, and the Crealde School of Art.
Saturday, October 12, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 13, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.


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POST: 'Cry Havoc!' - I've been shaken, wobbled, rocked, and tossed
What's it about?
"Two damaged people, trying to heal each other is love." - R.H. Sin
What I experienced?
Holyyyyyyy shit. Get a snack this is a long one, dude.
Let's be real for a sec, though, I don't use words like "shook" and "lit", but damn it, if there has ever been a show that I can actually say 'shook' me. I've been shaken, wobbled, rocked, and tossed. I cried THREE TIMES - three! Actual perspiration from my tear ducts running down my face. Turns out feelings exist and eyeballs sweat. Now that we've established that I am capable of expressing emotion I think the best way to talk about what happened at Cry Havoc! is starting at the end.
This show runs for 2 hours - I know, I know...
But not this one! I promise. Ok, so the end.
I am one of 25-ish people sitting on Ikea fold out chairs assembled in a circle on the stage, I just saw a play... play out… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ? Anyway, we sit there mostly confused as hell about being told to get on stage, but one of the charming things about NYC and it's natives - when things are out of the norm we don't hesitate, because chances are we've seen weirder shit on the train ride to the theatre. I'm the only 'young' person in this group of people (for the 97th time in my life) and I'm also dressed in the most half-assed outfit someone can throw on before considering just going in pjs - my brother's very worn out college pullover, striped blue trousers, boots, and glasses.
Then, Stephan Wolfert - the actor and writer of the show - walks out and stands dead center of the circle. He had been wearing an all black ensemble before and now was in a cozy sweater, black jeans, and scarf wrapped around his neck. Nothing against people who lead a healthy lifestyle, but I can't help but mention that as soon as I saw him come out in his 'civilian' clothes I immediately thought of people who liked drinking things like wheatgrass shots and fresh pressed green juice. No hate at all toward the juices, that shit is delicious.
Just like my own experience with therapists and psychiatrists, going to a new one is always a unique kind of anxiety. Even though the New Ohio Theatre could not be colder and further from the warm vibe of a therapist's office, I still got that little wave of anxiety. I guess the years of experience with meeting new doctors, my instincts can detect it naturally. Given that this entire show is based on Stephan's own experience in the military, I didn't think the topics of veterans and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) were gonna be a surprise - at least to me - but the mention of rehabilitating those veterans struggling to return to a 'normal' life with Shakespeare was an unexpected thing.
The things is, I've been using Shakespeare for approximately the past 4 years with zero knowledge of why it worked to calm my panic attacks. For years I was ashamed of my struggle to get a hold over my mind, and I, much like my family, would try to deny that it was there or just suppress it and hope that it would go away. Since I was diagnosed, back like 7 years or so, I've gone through endless phases of dealing with it. Luckily, my brain decided it wasn't fuck*d enough that it had the courtesy to let me know that things would only get worse if I didn't get help. And that's how 14 year old Christine went to her mum and told her about the panic attacks and paranoia, the perpetual anxiety and insomnia, the fear of being left alone, the fear of sleeping and dying, and the fear of even stepping foot outside of the apartment. I am really the first in my family to suffer from a more prominent mental disorder, my mum had previously but she was fortunate enough to have been able to pull herself up and recover. I noticed that when she told me about her struggle she was uncomfortable and also seemed to be in denial that it had been real at all. That was the same way I was feeling, so being told that it is some sort of figment of my imagination was terrifying - there I was thinking I wasn't that far off from being taken off by some big men in white coats. That intense feeling of denial really screws with one's chances of seeking out help.
Stephan did what a lot of other people do to deal with it, self medicating - with alcohol. The desperation someone will feel to turn off their mind for a little bit is so great that no matter how bad of an idea something sounds, like, it'll be given a try at least a couple of times. It's a moment where you finally feel like you're in control of how you feel. Although I've done a lot of damage to mind and body since then, I think that something was looking out for me because the best case scenario happened. My high school junior year drama teacher chose Shakespeare as the focus of our training.
The moment Stephan blew my mind: The entire reason Stephan uses Shakespeare to deal with trauma...
The bane of my existence are my panic attacks. They suck, in every aspect, and have the most inconvenient freakin' timing! When I did my first play in high school (Romeo & Juliet) the entire rehearsal process was filled with yoga and obviously Shakespearean language training. At the time I had zero clue as why it was helping me out. And a lot of the time, out of desperation during one of my episodes, I would start trying to distract myself by reciting anything I could remember. My lines, sonnets, or the darkest sh*t I could remember from Macbeth. The most bizarre thing - it worked. It would calm me and I could feel myself breathe again. Five years of doing that almost every time and I still didn't know why it worked until March 24, 2017. Back to that reason Stephan uses Shakespeare to deal with trauma, because (here comes my shitty way of explaining, sorry) the meter in which his words are written are the equivalent of taking a breath.
Anyone familiar with meditation, yoga, or who has sat across from a therapist at any point knows that infamous phrase, "just breathe". So that's why Shakespeare is the man and will always be the biggest baller in history.
Back at the circle, Stephan starts going around asking vets and people with family or friends who are vets to share their stories. While, I'm sitting in my chair I start getting a bit nervous, because by the time he gets to me I have no fu*king clue what I am gonna say. I don't know any veterans or people with PTSD. But I know Shakespeare and I know what it's like to be scared of your own mind. Soon enough it's my turn.
Stephan waves his hand toward me. His face encouraging me to speak.
"Um... no." I muttered while I'm shaking my head and looking away.
"No family or friends? No connection at all?" he asks.
"No..." I laugh cause I am uncomfortable as shit.
"Well, not to be rude... but what are you doing here?" Fuck. Why am I here?
Then Stephan went on to say why he was surprised by my being there. After a little demonstration of slitting his wrists, mimicking that of a teenage that would be reluctant to see his show since it's themes are so depressing, I finally realized why I was there. "Well, I actually write for a magazine called PXP and I came to see…." blah blah blah, not the real reason why I was there. "But I actually - I'm here cause I don't know any veterans and I don't know anyone with PTSD. And I want to know."
So that's why I was there. I haven't had to deal with the crap that a lot of vets and their families have had to. I haven't seen my friends and brothers die, but I can connect with being lost and out of place when I am next to a 'normal' person. By far the worst part of recovering from war is reintegration back into 'normal' life, and the lack of support a lot of communities have in helping those who put their life on the line for us. During the show, Stephan talks about the training process that these men and women go through in order to form their 'brotherhood'. They're programmed to be perpetually paranoid about nearly everything, since they are usually in a high tension environment. And that's all well overseas when they are in danger 95% of the time, but once these men and women come back home to a relatively safer environment they struggle more than they would back in foreign land. The intense training was created to survive the harsh conditions that are present in war, but what the military doesn't seem to think is important is deprogramming the troops to be able to reintegrate back into everyday society. It's really a vicious cycle of people getting discarded back into society after dedicating a piece of their life to defending the same nation that will later on ignore them. That's where people like Stephan become an example of what we as a community should be toward our veterans.
These men and women aren't robots that can just be tossed out when they 'stop working properly', they're human beings with emotions (no matter how much training has taught them to suppress it). That veteran holding the cardboard sign or the ones walking aimlessly through the train carts were at one point risking their life for me, and a lot of the time I find myself at a loss of what to do. I am notoriously horrible with carrying cash so that option is almost never available, but it isn't always money, it can be food or something as simple as acknowledgement. These aren't people that will eventually go away if we just ignore them hard enough. The bubble of a perfect and progressive world we have needs to be popped, there are still a lot of improvements to be made in how we approach and reach out toward our service men and women.
Want to see it?
Sorry, this show is not currently showing :(
What did you experience?
Let PXP know in the comments below...


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text: Exhibition: Of Monsters And Bottle(d) Botanica. Nick Kreisler November 8, 2014 Of Monsters And Bottle(d) Botanica is a show of new works by Ben De Nardi & Benedict Ernst, and runs at Kreisler Gallery from Nov 8th to Dec 14th, 2014.You can read more HERE, and view and PURCHASE the works HERE. Benedict Ernst, Bottle(d) Botanica #8.


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I have a soft spot in my heart for 30 minute meals like this Pasta with Sun Dried Tomato and Almond Pesto that come together without a trip to the store.
Jars of oil packed sun dried tomatoes are a staple in my cupboard,, and I always have good almonds on hand. I've gotten to the point where I just grab fresh parsley every time I pass through the store, even though that might mean I sometimes have more than I need. It's cheap and adds so much to so many dishes. I keep it in a mason jar on my counter, just like cut flowers, and I use a heavy hand with it —no insipid flecks on top of my food— I chop masses of it for its fresh green flavor.
Fresh breadcrumbs are a must here, and they're so easy to grind from any sort of leftover bread. I had some leftover brown bread which turned out to be an inspired choice. I like the rustic feel it gave to the finished pasta. A small food processor is the perfect tool for grinding them up. Just pulse until you get your desired consistency, it takes only seconds.
Marcona almonds are rich and crunchy. They're a Spanish variety and well worth picking up, Trader Joe's sells them. Mine were still in their skins, and roasted and salted. If you can't find them, toast regular almonds before using them, it will develop the flavor and crunch. 15 minutes on a dry pan in a 350F oven will do the trick. They crunch up as they cool.
You can use the reserved oil from the drained tomatoes in place of some of the olive oil, although in general they aren't packed in top quality oil so I still like to use some olive oil for better flavor.
There are lots of choices in the pasta aisle these days, and I like to use whole grain spaghetti for this dish. The whole grain adds another layer to the complex flavors of the deceptively simple pasta.
- 1/2 cup, drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (I reserved and used the oil, it's got good flavor)
- 1/3 cup salted roasted almonds (I used Marcona almonds, skin on)
- 1 large garlic clove, sliced
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
- 12 ounces spaghetti (I used whole grain)
- 1/3 cup chopped parsley plus more for garnish
- In a food processor, pulse the tomatoes, almonds, and garlic. Add 1/4 cup of the oil and puree. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a skillet, toast the bread crumbs in 2 tablespoons of the oil, stirring, until golden. Transfer the crumbs to a plate; season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. In the pot, toss the pasta with the pesto, parsley, some of the reserved cooking water and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil until the sauce clings to the pasta. Transfer the pasta to bowls, sprinkle with the bread crumbs, a little more parsley and drizzle with olive oil.
- You can make a double or triple batch of the pesto and store it in a jar in the fridge for super quick meals.
Don't forget to pin this Pasta with Sun Dried Tomato and Almond Pesto!
other quick pastas:
Spaghetti with Tuna, Lemon, and Dill


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Time for a little shameless self promotion.
Vikings! is a band that both the writers of this blog play music in.
Below is what I copied and pasted from what I wrote for our bio on last.fm:
Vikings! is a three piece hardcore punk/screamo band from Hagerstown, MD. They formed in the winter of '07/'08 and began playing shows in mid 2008. They have released a debut EP (2008 EP) which was recorded by Mike of Pianos Become the Teeth at the Crawlspace Studio in Eastern Maryland. They have played shows with bands like Algernon Cadwallader, The Blue Letter, We Were Skeletons, Nationale, Fine Lines, Pianos Become the Teeth, Age Sixteen, Sawhorse, Debelia Debelia, and L'antietam. Their sound has been compared to bands like Envy, Funeral Diner, I Hate Myself, and even Explosions in the Sky.
FELLOW BLOGGERS: We encourage you to upload our release! We also encourage any readers with bands to send us e-mails.
Our myspace is located here


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NewAir AB-850 84-Can Stainless Steel Beverage Cooler
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- Compressor cooling system
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- LED lighting
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- Product Dimensions: 17 x 18.5 x 25.20
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Purée or sieve ingredients straight into the bowl. This Major-size colander and sieve comes with a choice of two screens with a fine side for sieving sauces and sifting flour and coarse side for sieving hard ingredients.
The ThermoResist Glass Blender with Stir Stick
This ThermoResist™ glass blender with stir stick can switch between hot and cold mixes without the slightest risk of shattering or clouding.
ThermoResist Glass Blender - KAH358GL
The innovative stir stick efficiently mixes even really thick recipes and the unique MultiZone blades can blend everything from soft fruit to ice.
A great attachment that can be used on all Chef and Major kitchen machines, even Cooking Chef.
This pasta has numerous regional variations. It's made of durum wheat semolina and water and is excellent with vegetable sauces such as those made with broccoli, rocket, courgette and aubergine. It's also a good one to make for lovers of seafood, especially mussels.
2 Cappuccino glasses, each with a capacity of 190ml.
Kneading Paddle suitable for Kenwood BM210 and FMP900 Bread Makers.
This shell-like pasta shape from Campania has a ribbed surface that's able to collect lots of sauce - so it's a great one to go with a rich and runny pasta sauce and to soak up the flavours in a hearty soup.
This long, spiralled shape can be topped with any sauce, broken in half and added to soups, or turned into a beautiful salad. Fusilli also bakes well in casseroles. What will you create with this pretty pasta?
Linguine literally means 'little tongues'. This is a great shape to make to complement a variety of sauces - and it's also a good choice for salads and stir-fry dishes.
Silatelli is a type of long spaghetti originating near the Amalfi coast in Naples. They look like short, slightly wider strips of tagliatelle and are sometimes 'pinched' in the middle. Silatelli are usually cooked with courgettes and mussels or clams, or can be served with a simple, but delicious fresh cherry tomato and garlic sauce.
Citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C and this handy tool will extract the very last drop of juice from an orange or grapefruit into the 600ml bowl, leaving all the pith and pips behind, ready to pour into glasses. Try it for a delicious start to the day or a tangy addition to cake and sauce recipes.


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A gathering of the Sydney Mines Associates was held on Wednesday, March 7th, 2018. Julia Townsend was the guest. She delivered the Director's presentation: Martha associates: carriers of the Charism.
A lovely meeting with discussion followed topped off by a wonderful cup of tea and coffee!
Here are a few pictures of the afternoon!


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False Needs
I recently wrote an essay about commodity fetishism and false needs. A point that stood out was "people in all societies produce useful goods—but not all these goods are commodities." This statement raised a few questions in my mind. If there are all these useful goods being produced, why aren't they all becoming commodities? Which ones become more in-demand, and why? Why does one product, which may be virtually the same thing as another product, sell for a higher price? These questions can be answered from many different point of views, depending if you are an economist, a businessman, a sociologist, a psychologist, and the list goes on. During my research, I began a self-reflection. Which three factors made me decide to purchase the pair of jeans that I am wearing today? What differentiates my Uniqlo jeggings from all other pairs?
- "This is the only Uniqlo store location in North America. I must buy something from here, or else I will miss the opportunity!": Ironically, I had never heard of this store before arriving in New York City. My cousin had been telling us about his favourite store and brought us to Uniqlo. What had convinced me to spend my money in a store I had never heard of? Did Uniqlo purposely establish only one location in North America to create a demand for their products? Looks like it was the exclusivity that attracted me to those jeggings.
- "These jeans are less than $50. What a steal!": The inner cheapskate in me does not make very frequent appearances, but I squealed upon seeing the price tag. Nothing can compare to discovering cheap finds.
- "The chick over there looks amazing in her jeggings...": You simply cannot argue with looking good... or can you? Who do I plan to impress when I get dressed? Leaning more towards those Sociologists, how are the social norms in terms of style created?
My self-reflection is far from over, and hardly answers any of the questions I raised in the first paragraph. Will I be spending less money on branded goods and services? Probably not, but I am slightly more aware of my false needs. I would like to encourage you to spend a little bit of time reflecting on your own habits as well. What factors influence your choices? Is it status? Do you relate to a brand's identity more? Does it affect your lifestyle?
For further reading on false needs in our lives, take a look at this article by Leo Babauta, "Letting go of fake needs"
This ends my quick little blurb. Hope to return to this topic at a later time, but for now, I am off to write another paper. Good night.


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Helene Cixous: Authorship, Autobiography and Love
Helene Cixous: Authorship, Autobiography and Love
ISBN: 978-0-745-66850-5 June 2013 Polity 216 Pages
Download Product Flyer
Susan Sellers, a major scholar on Cixous, provides a lucid account of Cixous's theoretical position, and in particular her distinctive theory of an 'écriture féminine'. She discusses the development of Cixous's literary oeuvre in the context of this theory, and analyses a selection of the works in detail to illustrate the different stages in Cixous's writing career.
Focusing on the key novels and plays, Sellers explores a range of issues and themes central to her work; the correlation between the death of Cixous's own father and her 'coming-into-being' as a writer; the psychological process of separation and individuation and the creation of a female authorial self; the discovery of the other and the dramatization of love; the delineation/depiction of an alternative form of relationship between self and other which would have a significance in a wider sphere than that of the merely personal.
This much-needed book will be welcomed by students in literature and literary theory, feminism and women's studies, English and French studies and philosophy.
Table of contents
1. The Early Texts.
2. Creating a Feminine Subject.
3. Writing with the Voice of the Other.
4. Cixous and the Theatre.
5. Recent Writings.
"A clear and scholarly introduction to the fiction and drama of France's foremost "poet-thinker" (to borrow Derrida's phrase). Using a novel approach for Polity's excellent Key Contemporary Thinkers series, Sellers concentrates primarily on Cixous's work in practice, and not in theory ... thus she offers an exposition of Cixous's (elusive) statements on écriture féminine, which should itself prove useful to the uninitiated reader. Sellers remains appropriately dispassionate, yet she is an enthusiastic reader ... Sellers allows another Cixous, Cixous the author, to be reborn in her reading." Times Literary Supplement
"Hélène Cixous: Authorship, Autobigraphy and Love provides an ideal way in to the fiction of Hélène Cixous. Sellers's account of Cixous's complexities is refreshingly clear and accessible, while her insights are convincingly articulated." Professor Whitford, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London
"Sellers brings to Cixous, a notoriously difficult writer, an admirable lucidity of her own. She presents Cixous in a clear, comprehensible fashion and her choice of quotation is excellent, such that the book provides a wonderful taster for Cixous's work in general. Further, Sellers adopts a chronological approach that lays out Cixous's development without any distractions and provides very honestly her own reactions to Cixous's work, in a manner that intriguingly undercuts Cixous's own claims." Nate News
"This book offers an accessible, jargon-free introduction to Helene Cixous that is clearly aimed at a student market." MLR
"This book is essential reading as an introduction not only to Cixous' writing in all its facets - critical theory, plays, fiction - but to the whole area of writing in the feminine. With welcome clarity, but faithfulness to complexity, Sellers makes accessible "écriture femine" and the gamut of dramatisations which occur across Cixous' oeuvre. Undergraduates and graduates alike will find this a springboard to an understanding of French feminism and a fine example of how to write well." Forum for Modern Language Studies
"Sellers' book operates best as a general introduction, differing from existing introductory studies, by not only following a particular trajectory in Cixous's work, but also including sustained analyses of her fiction and her writing for the theatre...The format Sellers chooses...brings welcome clarity to the complexity of Cixous's prolific oeuvre...Sellers has a thorough knowledge of Cixous's work and her readings do full justice to its richly connotative poetical language, to its themes which impact on personal, political and ethical issues, and to the open-ended nature of the texts wherein, to my mind, lies Cixous's real generosity as a writer."
"Feminist theory and practice will always be indebted to this book... Her evocative prose, her uncompromising political stand and her regard for the politics of difference..." Shelly Walia, Spectrum<!--end-->
* It provides a detailed exposition of Cixous's theoretical position, paying particular attention to her fiction and drama. This focus is what makes the book distinctive.
* It will be welcomed by a broad audience working in literature/literary theory, philosophy, French studies, and women's studies and feminism.