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Read All About It: 15 Must-Read Books For Travel
Take a look at these 15 books recommend to take with you when travelling. We list the great reads for unwinding on arrival of your destination
Take a look at these 15 books recommend to take with you when travelling. We list the great reads for unwinding on arrival of your destination
Road movies get too much attention. Easy Rider. Mad Max. Thelma and Louise. The Motorcycle Diaries. But, wait, the latter was a book first. And On the Road was a far better novel than it was a film. In any case, windscreens and car windows shoot their own movies and all drivers have to do is gawp and wonder. The key thing is to have something to inspire you on arrival at your motel, hotel, campsite or car park. Here are 15 great reads to take with you on the road…
Banner Image Credit: iStock.com/patpitchaya
Bridging the Jazz Age and the Age of Aquarius, the Beat movement was a celebration of youth, passion and freedom. Kerouac's famous story of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty's criss-crossing odyssey on the coast-to-coast highways of the USA has the breeziness of wound-down windows, open roads and journeys without a destination. "Going nowhere fast" became a mantra. But there's a mystical aim to all this wandering.
One of Green's light-hearted "entertainments", about a Catholic priest and his communist pal travelling around Post-Franco Spain in an ancient little car called Rocinante. Spiritual and intellectual matters are addressed along the way, but always with heaps of humour and humanity.
One for the travel-loving anorak, this is a non-fiction account of Britain's road network, tracing the evolution of the motorways, roundabouts, flyovers, and spaghetti junctions, and livening up the long journey with plenty of anecdotes and quirky asides.
In December 1951, the young Ernesto Guevara set out from Córdoba, Argentina with his best friend, Alberto Granado, on a sputtering 1939 500cc Norton nicknamed La Poderosa II (The Powerful One). Their gap-year took them down to Buenos Aires, west across the pampas, and north through Chile to the Atacama desert all the way to Cuzco and, eventually, the Amazon basin. Guevara's journal, while heavily edited, is a vigorous, excitable account of first exploration, and our knowledge that what he saw moulded his political vision makes the reading doubly satisfying.
One of the world's most fabled highways, the Silk Road is in fact a complex network of ancient trading routes between the Far East and the edge of Europe. Seasoned travel writer and regional specialist Thubron visits northern China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey on his epic journey, sharing political insights, all the colour of the markets and social mores that have survived despite the long period of Soviet control, and remarkable landscapes from the Central Asian steppes to the Gobi desert.
In 1960, Steinbeck set off on an exploratory overland trip from Maine to the Pacific Northwest in the company of his poodle. Hoping to shake off the stasis of too many years at a writer's desk, he also had lots of questions he wanted to ask about America's present and future. After using the ferry to travel from Long Island to Connecticut, Steinbeck takes the wheel of his camper and follows a high line across the northern states to the Mojave desert, before dropping south to Texas. It's a roundabout journey and one in which the author feels, ultimately, lost and directionless – like America itself.
The only way to travel down the great mountainous spine that links Colombia to Tierra del Fuego is by bus. Jacobs finds himself peering out over many a hair-raising hairpin as he recalls the literary and scientific pioneers who originally mapped and described this dramatic landscape of ancient peoples, modern political challenges, thin air and woolly llamas.
Once upon a time – somewhere around 1967 – before the packaged tour, Lonely Planet guides and cybercafés, there was a hippie trail from Istanbul to Kabul, and then on to Kathmandu and Goa. Maclean retraces the journey, comparing those times and these, the pioneering potsmokers and budget-conscious backpackers. Sadly, he cheats by using ordinary buses, and some trains, but the account is wise and often witty. You'll have to imagine the old VW, and the fuzzy peace of the pre-9/11 era.
As a fiftieth birthday present to himself, Hugo-Bader sets out to drive from Moscow to Vladivostok crossing the continent-sized wastes of Siberia. What he sees through his rain-spattered windscreen is a post-Communist disaster zone, stricken alcoholism, homelessness, suicides, murderers, and AIDS. The author seeks refuge and comfort in the company of dropouts, shamans and rappers. Darkly entertaining and a lot easier than doing the journey yourself.
On home turf after 14 years in England, Bryson travels 14,000 miles through 38 states looking for his lost youth and the mythic America of metals and real-meat hamburger. A futile odyssey, in a way, but a very funny one.
Having scooped the story of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1923, Lancashire-born Morton cashed in on his newfound fame by writing a series of travelogues around Britain. His 1927 account of a road trip from London to Dartmoor to Herford to York to Norwich and back again was a bestseller and is full of the pungent prejudices and dusty stereotypes of its day.
This Dolman prizewinning travel book guides us through Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana, three oft-overlooked tiny nations cut off from the rest of South America by language, history and impossibly dense jungles. Well-researched and quietly intelligent, it unearths a land of breathtaking biodiversity, dusty red roads, prison camps, cricket and colonial exploitation.
Warrington-born comedian Pete McCarthy travelled around Ireland in his rented "repmobile" to rediscover his roots and came away with this drily hilarious, occasionally rather drunk, account of the characters and conflicts, beauty and blarney that define the modern nation.
Stark, muted, often melancholy photographs from a year-long journey from Kamchatka to Kaliningrad, accompanied by quotes from Russian literary and political figures and an informative introduction – one to enhance the coffee-table bored of lifestyle magazines and pretty pictures.
Because overland trips can become endless and sometimes arrive only at spiritual dead ends, Grescoe's attempt at describing and decoding the global tourist circuit – and its traps – deserves a mention here. He takes buses, taxis, trains, and Shanks's pony to Calais, Brussels, Gruyères, Beaune, Paris, Rome, Corfu, Istanbul, Mumbai, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Hong Kong and many points between. Travel as endurance test.
Discover five new cool gadgets useful for travelling. Read about…
Explore Yorkshire's most famous literary family Brontës. Inspires by Avis…


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I created an account on youtube and will be uploading videos as soon as I get my new camera or find my old one. I will have videos demonstrating makeup application, hairstyles and howto's on alot of diferent things.
Hopefully this will be a good experience. Also I will start another blog dedicated to youtube and what ever I am thinking of doing videos on. It will all be coming soon once I et everything together.
I have posted my youtube link on the sidebar and if you have an account friend me!

subset: commoncrawl


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Letters to the Editor
Traffic circle art
I have been so upset by the choice of "art" for the Segovia circles.
Whether I like it is not the question. It has nothing to do with the ambiance and charm of Coral Gables. It certainly is not in keeping with the vision of our founder, George Merrick.
We homeowners spend thousands in making any restoration to our homes appropriate and acceptable to the Coral Gables Board of Architects and to our Historical Department. How this garish monstrosity got past these boards, I can't imagine. It would have been better placed at Disney World.
Coral Gables has used more than $1 million of our tax money and, aside from the bad choice, has also created an unattractive nuisance that is an accident waiting to happen.
Ellen Kellner,
Coral Gables


text: Captain Sierra 869 Posted February 8, 2016 28 minutes ago, Nertea said: What do people use for their nuclear engine mods these days? You kind of just stole the show as far as NTR mods go .... I see a lot of Atomic Age lately. KSPX, RLA, and FtMn are all still working IIRC (citation needed on FtMn) but not very common. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Every hard-core OS aficionado has done it: Laid out a grand scheme for creating the perfect OS. Taking all the best features and attributes from the OSes we love, and making sure to assiduously avoid the pitfalls of the OSes we don't. Maybe our goals were modest, and we just wanted a slightly tweaked version of an existing OS. But sometimes we're feeling ambitious, and we have large, creative ideas for revolutionizing computing. Long-time OSNews reader and contributor J. Scott Edwards just couldn't help himself, and he has set about to not only plan, but to try to build his dream OS.
Link: OSNews


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We offer an eclectic selection of antique to mid-century collections specializing in original artisan-painted furniture. Whether elegant, intricate, rustic, or refined – even fun and funky - with over 30 years experience, our painted furniture is among the finest available.
Art brings dynamic character to any home. We feature a large collection of original paintings, etchings and other works. Find Antique, Mid-Century to contemporary art - with listed artists to local favorites.
With a unique and eco friendly approach, we seek to rediscover the forgotten heirlooms, curious collectables, fun ephemera, photos and fashion to bring character to your nest.
Enjoy the final touches that make a house a home and your personality your own. Complete the story with handmade rugs and textiles to vintage fashion and jewelry, or that unique object that creates that spark of curiosity.
Find an ever-changing eclectic collection of unique décor, antiques and art, curiosities and collectables. Ancient artifacts to mid century gems mix with original art -classic to contemporary. We help furnish your home & garden responsibly and with originality. Reuse, Reinvent and Re-love with Sonoma Nesting Company.
We are currently developing our new site. We are excited to share with you, but during this time no orders will be fulfilled online.
Please Contact us at 707-869-3434 or visit our showroom located at 16151, Main Street, Guerneville CA 95446Showroom Hours are Thursday thru Monday 11 - 6 or by appointment. We are currently closed on Tuesday & Wednesday.


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12th Shilpgram Mahotsav- 2018, from January 17 to 20.North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), an autonomous organisation set up by the Government of India with an aim to safeguard and promote culture, is organising Shilpgram Mahotsav- 2018, a national level festival of arts on music, dance, theatre, food, craft and children's activities, marking its 12th foundation day, on its complex at Panjabari here from January 17 to 20.
87th session of Sankardev Sangha to be held at Dergaon
DERGAON, Jan 16 - The venue of the four-day 87th session of Srimanta Sankardev Sangha (SSS) to be held here from February 7 to 10 is abuzz with activity as a Naamghar contructed for the session was inaugurated .
- The naamghar was formally inaugurated by the president of the reception committee Pabitra Pran Bora by placing the Guru Aashan ceremonially at a function held on the occasion.
- It may be mentioned that the 87th annual session of Srimanta Sankardev Sangha is scheduled to be held from February 7-10 at the Pandit Raisaheb Gopikaballav Goswami Samannay Kshetra here under the aegis of Golaghat district branch of Srimanta Sankardev Sangha.
6th Bhairabkunda Tourism Festival from January 17 to 20
Bongaigaon Refinery receives OGCF-2017 Award
- Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development, Dharmendra Pradhan presented the award to Bongaigaon Refinery in presence of Kapil Dev Tripathi, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Sanjiv Singh, Chairman, IndianOil Corporation Ltd in the inaugural function of 22nd Refining & Petrochemicals Technology Meet (RPTM) held at Bhubaneswar from January 13 to 15th.
- BV Ramagopal, ED (OSD), RHQ and GC Sikdar, Chief General Manager (In-Charge) received the award from the minister, the release added.
Dibrugarh equestrian programme gets international recognition by FEI award
- The FEI award was announced at the FEI General Assembly at Montevideo, Uruguay and was given to the Equestrian Federation of India for the Pilot project being implemented by the Equestrian Federation of Assam in Dibrugarh.
- The FEI solidarity project is a two-year programme, which commenced in October 2016. This collaborative project is being conducted by Anthony Lowry and Roy Ibrahim, both FEI nominated experts.
- The programme is based on progressive camps and the participating beneficiaries of the project include trainer riders from Assam Police, Manipur Equestrian Association, Young Riders representing EFA, Assam Valley School, Delhi Public School Numaligarh, North Eastern Police Academy and West Bengal Mounted Police.


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Status: Open
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first MLive.com user to add photos or videos of Wally's Bar
The food is great. Good time
Great Place!!. Wallys is a local favortite! Live bands every weekend. If you are looking for a place thats laid back then you will love this place. Prices are right and the bartenders are fun! I definetly recommend it...
Wallys Bar can be found at Delta Ave 917. The following is offered: Bars & Pubs. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Gladstone there are 6 other Bars & Pubs. An overview can be found here.
Wally's Bar is a great place to meet friends and listen to live music!! Local bands, fun atmosphere, and some crazzy nights.. what eles would you want?


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And we meet again and we meet on the BEST day of the week! I am liking this day of the week to post. It is a nice time to reflect on the past week, to talk about what happened, and to slowly start to unwind and enjoy the weekend. Today is a round up of friendly reminders for all of us to work on. I am looking forward to tackling them all. Aggressive...maybe...but totally worth it! Have a fabulous weekend and see y'all next week! xoxo
Treat Yourself
Do you make sure to spoil yourself every week? Maybe it is retail therapy, a manicure/pedicure, sweet treats, or a trip, I believe it is definitely a must that you treat yourself to something that makes you HAPPY! You work hard and not allowing yourself to enjoy that hard work, well is just not fun. It can be a simple treat or an elaborate treat, whatever it is, go for it. For me, it is a simple one, but something my body has been craving. A bowl of ice cream with peanut M&M's twice a week and I am a happy lady.
JUST DO IT!!! Whether it is for the entire weekend or 2 hours, put away your devices and just be in the moment. Enjoy the time away from staring at your phone and make eye contact with those around you...Be bored for a few minutes...Pick up a good book and read...And give those thumbs a little break.
READ These Inspiring Posts
- 8 Signs You Might Be Overtraining by Jill Conners - A great educational piece to make sure to listen to your body, especially if you are starting to get the itch to sign up for Spring races.
- 5 Ways To Find More Happiness At Work by Peanut Butter Runner - YES!!!
- You Are More Than A Meal Plan by Hummusapien - Always inspiring, REAL, and knowledgeable, another great post by Alexis to remind you that you are MORE than the number on the scale, a calorie, a meal plan. Fall in love with yourself, with food, with LIFE!
- Banana Foster Smoothie Bowl by A Whisk And Two Wands - Because heaven sakes I go a blog post without posting some picture about FOOD! With the warmer temperatures this past week, I have been whipping up a lot of smoothies and this one just looks so dreamy and DELISH!
Share The NuttZo LOVE
I LOVE working for NuttZo, not only because I am obsessed with their nut butters, but because I am inspired by Danielle and what she has done to build her business, while always making sure to give back. Check out our latest feature in the Daily Burn. Great stuff is happening this year for the NuttZo Team and the hard work is definitely paying off! Make sure to check out the #NuttZoNEWS page and spread the #NuttZoLOVE!
Do you know how many times I have heard NO? A LOT and yet I keep on trucking because giving up is not an option whether it comes to my personal or professional life. I have applied to so many jobs, campaigns, and emailed brands and people that I want to work with. I either hear a NO or no response. And the same goes with dating. I put myself out there and swipe to the right a heck of a lot more than I used to. And yes you guessed it...I hear a lot of crickets. No pity party here. I am just reminding all of you and myself of course, that we all hit a lot of speed bumps in life. "Adulting" is hard. Hearing "NO" day in a day out is hard.
Daily Reminder to: Keep your head up...stay strong...believe...give it 100%...NEVER GIVE UP!
Get OUTSIDE
We experienced warm weather this week and it was FABULOUS! I really hope that you took some time to get out there and soak up that Vitamin D. When you have been cooped up all winter, there is no better feeling for me than to put on my shorts and get outside for a long run and actually start sweating because it is so warm. WINNING! Each day this week, I made sure to take the pups for a walk and I know that they enjoyed the weather too. Disconnect and opt to get outside to soak up that fresh air. Spring is COMING!
☀Monday Motivation☀ - When the sun is shining and it is warm-er, you skip the gym, put some shorts on, lace up, and RUN! It has been months since I have run outside and it felt good to hit the pavement, soak up that Vitamin D, and #getoutside! #running #runchat #thesweatlife #zootsports #mondaymotivation #garminfitness #inspire #health #wellness
LOVE Yourself With These Self-Care Tips
This past winter I have talked a lot about self-care. I believe it is necessary for us to be selfish and to take care of ourselves in whatever ways make us feel our best inside and out. When you fell happy and healthy, it shows and you radiate your beauty, power, and confidence to the universe. And that energy is CONTAGIOUS! Read a few of my self-care tips in this month's Core Power post: HERE!
How are you practicing self-care this month?
Did you get OUTSIDE this week?


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Contestant Biography
Age: 29
Occupation: Special Education Teacher
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height: 5'3½"
Tattoos: Nope!
What are your three best attributes? My personality, my drive to succeed and work hard, my patience
If you could be any fruit or vegetable, which one would you be? An onion because they're a staple item and can be found all year round.
Do you have any phobias? Sharks/bees
What does your ideal mate look like? I don't really have a type, but a great smile is definitely necessary.
What are you most afraid of? Hurting people's feelings.
Do you speak any languages other than English? French and Italian
What's the most romantic present you have ever received, and why? A promise ring – because it's a freaking promise ring!
How important is your family's approval to you when it comes to dating? Very important. I respect my family's opinions as they usually are right in the end.


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City Hall Selects Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone sills, window heads, watertables and a jack arch add a new façade to Tipton's City Hall.
The City Hall building in Tipton, Ind., recently underwent an exterior remodel. The fresh look of the new façade incorporates red brick with limestone sills, window heads, watertables and a jack arch above the main entryway. Full-bed-depth Indiana limestone was the limestone material chosen by the architect, general contractor and mason contractor.
Indiana Limestone comes from a geographically unique area centered in just two counties in South-Central Indiana. It is considered sedimentary bedrock, comprised mostly of calcite and aragonite. Indiana limestone can range in coarseness from an extremely fine-grained stone to a coarse-grained material. It also is available in a range of neutral colors, from a warm buff to a cooler blue or silver gray.
This limestone started its life as the sediment of a vast ocean, where the shells and skeletons of marine organisms collected. Over time, this debris lithified and became what we know today as limestone. A close inspection of the stone will show the fossils of these organisms, lending beauty and interest to the stone.
It is this natural variation, the hint of fossils within the neutral tones of the stone, which allows Indiana limestone to be beautiful in a large unbroken expanse. This natural variegation means that a large Indiana limestone installation never gets monotonous or boring.
Indiana limestone is a very consistent, homogenous material comprised of more than 97 percent calcite, with no weaknesses in any plane that would compromise its integrity. The nature of the stone is that it has few partings or imperfections, allowing for the creation of large blocks or veneer panels. Because the small variations in the stones do not exist in large, noticeable concentrations, there is no need to pattern blend the stones during application to maintain a consistent look.
Versatility and durability
Because Indiana limestone is a freestone, it does not tend to split in any one direction, so it can be easily worked. Indiana limestone can be shaped by turning on a lathe, hand carving, planing or sawing in any direction without fear of compromising the stone. Indiana limestone allows fine carved detail, making it appropriate for accent pieces that lend elegance to any structure.
Indiana limestone develops a hardened layer, or "skin" over time that protects the surface from external forces such as pollution and acid rain. Weathered Indiana limestone is actually stronger than un-weathered stone. Studies by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) clearly show that Indiana limestone resists environmental damage, maintaining crisp lines and detail even decades after installation in polluted environments.
These characteristics mean that limestone can actually approve in appearance over time. Rather than looking dirty or worn, aged limestone gains character and patina naturally.
This limestone is the definition of a "set it and forget it" stone. For the most part, long-term care is limited to re-pointing of stone joints and occasional cleaning. Unlike manmade stone substitutes that may develop shrinkage cracks or problems around the internal reinforcing bars over the years, Indiana limestone will remain a stable and durable part of the building for decades or centuries to come. This makes Indiana limestone a value as maintenance costs for a building can be reduced without sacrificing quality or beauty.
Many masons prefer working with Indiana limestone. Cutting and shaping can be accomplished quickly on the jobsite with total confidence, using the hand and power tools that masons commonly have on hand. Indiana limestone has no grain, no large inclusions and is uniform in hardness throughout.
The value
Indiana limestone is priced competitively with other natural stone and manmade stone substitutes on the market. Kathy Baker-Heckard, president of Indiana Cut Stone in Bedford, Ind., enjoys working with Indiana limestone.
"We believe that Indiana limestone is the best natural stone for building, period," Baker-Heckard says. "Nothing else can match the beauty and patina of Indiana limestone. It's one of those rare building materials that actually gets stronger and more beautiful with age. We were very pleased to fabricate the limestone for the Tipton City Hall project."


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Problems with Apache Virtual Hosts
Hey! I'm having some problems with the Apache virtial hosts and I can't understand why. I installed my virtual hosts by this guide : https://www.digitalocean.com/community/articles/how-to-set-up-apache-virtual-hosts-on-ubuntu-12-04-lts The problem is, my domain directs my to the apache root folder (WWW folder) instead of the specific folder I defined for it.. Anyone knows why does it happens?


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Laid-Back Lisbon Apartment Opens Up to Let In Light
Margarida Matias of Arkstudio completed the redesign of an apartment in Lisbon, Portugal. The updated home has a better layout and shows off a charming mix of rustic and contemporary details.
"Many old houses in Lisbon have inside rooms with no natural light or air circulation," the architects said. "This project aimed to improve the quality of the space. We achieved this goal by opening a hole in a wall of an interior room without windows." The result is a seamless connection between the living room and the kitchen.
We love how the architects reinvented this apartment, located in Lisbon's São Bento neighborhood; you can sense the laid-back spirit of the city within these rooms. At the same time, it exudes a contemporary style, thanks to the carefully chosen furniture and lighting.
In the living room, heavy wooden doors and window shutters are contrasted by a delicate modern chair, black-framed wall art and decorative black birds on the wall. A vintage TV stand goes well with the magazine basket and other tables with a mid-century vibe.
The kitchen is highly modern, with hidden storage and just enough space to cook and enjoy family dinners. The bedrooms provide a feeling of coziness and are in perfect harmony with the rest of this laid-back Lisbon apartment. [Photography by Rodrigo Cardoso]


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Fred's Auto Service is a full service auto body shop catering to Toledo, Ohio and other surrounding communities.
Our services include:
- Full Service Body Shop
- Collision Repair
- Bumper Repairs
- Scratch Repair/Removal
- Custom Body Work
- Custom Paint Jobs
- Dent Repair/Removal
- Ding Repair/Removal
- Computerized Paint Matching
- Frame Repair
- Unibody Repair
- Auto Restoration Services
- Towing
and much more.
Call us with any questions about our services, or visit us for your repair today! (419) 476-9482


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1,452 pairs of shoes including all the winter boots and footwear we had collected to date, were sent to Forget Me Not Ministries (FMN) an American non-profit organisation, based in Tinca, Romania.
FMN work in a Roma village of around 3000 people where there is much poverty, abuse, violence and abandonment on a daily basis. In January 2015 when temperatures reached -19, these kids had warm feet.


text: Which video editing software, should I use ? And Which is the Best Free Video Editing Software for video editing? These 2 Questions are probably most common question get asked by people who looking for learning video editing, or those people who looking for try some video editing for the first time. Because Video editing… Read More »


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Russia and the world's top energy user China may jointly develop six floating nuclear power plants (NPPs), Russia's nuclear export body said on Tuesday, a further joint energy project since the signing of a US$400 billion gas supply deal.
Rusatom Overseas, the export branch of state nuclear reactor monopoly Rosatom, said it signed a memorandum of understanding with China on the development of floating NPPs from 2019.
"Floating NPPs can provide a reliable power supply not only to remote settlements but also to large industrial facilities such as oil platforms," Rusatom Overseas Chief Executive Dzhomart Aliev said in a statement.
Hit by European and U.S. sanctions in response to the crisis in Ukraine, Russia is eager to diversify its economy away from the West. Following this new strategy, Russian state monopoly Gazprom signed a US$400 billion deal with China in May after 10 years of negotiation.
Rosatom plans to launch the world's first floating NPP in 2018. This mobile, small capacity nuclear thermal power plant, best suited to remote regions, will be based in Chukhotka in Russia's far east.
© Thomson Reuters 2014


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So many people think they can't grow food or have a garden in the city. Near the University of Tokyo, I spotted this amazing mini-farm on a concrete pad. I love how they are using recycled and simple materials, like plastic sacks as container pots. It seems mostly cherry tomatoes, bitter melon, and shiso, with some incredible hand-made supports.
Speaking of growing your own, my mother in law was talking about cooking with rhubarb, and I naturally suggested strawberries. Apparently it is very difficult to find commercial strawberries in summer in Japan because it's become known as a new year fruit. It seems like there's an opportunity there for some local summer strawberries without the hothouses.


text: The Van Man is a one stop shop for anyone looking to Buy Used Cargo Vans or Buy Used Service Vans. All of The Van Man's vans are Clean, Rust Free, Southern Cargo Vans and Work Vans. Our Service Vans are NYS Inspected and come with a Free 6 Month, 7500 Mile Warranty. Our competitors, such as Work Vans and Cargo Vans, sell newer model Cargo Vans for a substantially higher price. If you're looking for an AFFORDABLE and Clean, Southern, Rust Free Service Van that will last you and your business for years to come, come to 5200 West Ridge Rd and visit The Van Man.


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PAHCS Webinars provide instruction, discussion and networking from the convenience of your home or office. With established medical coding and billing speakers from around the U.S., our speakers discuss topics important to you! Check back on this page for updates for our next upcoming webinar. You can also subscribe to our newsletter (at the bottom of this page) for email updates on our upcoming webinars. PAHCS members automatically receive email updates.
List of upcoming Webinar(s)
|June 19, 2013 - Noon EST
|Presented by Steve Verno
Click here to view and purchase this or any Webinars or Webinars on Demand in our online store


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When I first started working in retail many years ago, our job demanded we stand eight hours a day — Bloomingdales, Koenig's, Caldors, The Video Station, Waldenbooks — they all had us standing and walking around the store. And I never complained. Then I got into the 'big time' and for the the next 15-20 years, worked in corporate at a desk. When I started coaching, I built a huge desk out of birch plywood — it was beautiful — but I still sat for most of the day.
Lately, I've been reading about the healthy aspects of standing desks and learned about all the attributes of standing: better posture, more active, easy to reach items, etc. In addition, I tend to walk around while I coach because I feel it adds to the experience and allows me to think and communicate more clearly.
Unfortunately, standing desks are EXPENSIVE! They run into the thousands. I then ran into the Ikea Hackers site, where they take ordinary Ikea furniture and modify it into different designs. So I modified a few designs and came up with the standing desk you see at the top of the page. How did I do it? Here are the 'ingredients':
What were the results?
- It was a LOT cheaper to build than to buy. In addition, it's all wood and steel. It looks great.
- It was super-simple to construct. Just a drill, my 13-year-old son, and about 2 hours.
- I now have more room on my desk. I'm more organized and I keep the desktop clean.
- I feel better. Standing all day at first hurt a bit, but now I would NEVER go back.
- I no longer have to switch from standing-to sitting-to standing when coaching clients.
As you can tell from the finished desk image, I've also added a few drawers ($20 each) to the Kallax Bookshelf. I might even add more!
If you are interested in building a standing desk, drop me a line (firstname.lastname@example.com) or call - 203-500-2421. Would love to answer any questions you might have.
I have become a standing desk evangelist!
All images are from IKEA promoting their products. I love IKEA, their store, their service and all that they do. Check them out.


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Photo: Keesic Douglas
There is a certain kind of natural method acting that happens, just because of the nature of the character, and my own personal life, so it kind of stirred up the mud.
Mi'kmaq actor Glen Gould has been getting some well-deserved and hard earned attention lately. In early November 2014, he took home the award for Best Actor at the American Indian Motion Picture Awards in San Francisco, and was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role at the Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles just a few days later. Both nominations were for the role of Joseph in Jeff Barnaby's Rhymes for Young Ghouls, however Glen has been extremely busy with several other roles, including flying out to Ireland to film the mini-series Klondike, his recurring role of Smokey Stoney in APTN's Blackstone, as well as a recurring role on APTN's latest series Mohawk Girls.
With his dimpled smile and gravelly voice, Glen has salt-of-the-earth charm and a tough but lovable demeanor. When you first meet him, Glen gives the impression of a carefree, fun-loving storyteller with a heck of a lot going for him. Indeed, Glen does have a lot going for him, however, there is more to the impish smile and East coast charm than meets the eye. I had the opportunity to get to know Glen over the course of a two-part interview process, where he shared his incredible life story with me. Below is part one from those interviews.
MUSKRAT Magazine (MM): What does it mean to an actor's career to be nominated, and then to take home a win?
Glen Gould (GG): The nomination is acknowledgement for your work. To acknowledge the quality of your work, and that it's being recognized. The win is really the icing on the cake to let you know that you are really good at what you do. It doesn't matter if I win or not, the nomination alone is a win.
MM: Let's talk about the character of Joseph from Rhymes for Young Ghouls. We see him going through a lot and have some very nuanced moments on screen; how did you prepare yourself for that role?
GG: It was pretty heavy. I don't know if I sat down and said, ok I have to prepare and research this character, I didn't do that, it just happened naturally from reading the script and getting to know the character and what he's going through emotionally. As actors we personalize everything that our characters are going through, how can we relate with that character in our personal lives. The top of the film, Joseph's wife hangs herself. And right off the top, that hit me, it stirred up a lot of emotions for me from anger to pain, and sadness because my oldest son's mother committed suicide when he was seven. So when I read that scene I had to stop, because I cried. And then I probably went out and got drunk afterwards. It was so close to home for me.
When you get to the graveyard scene in the film – those emotions in that scene were real. I only went to my ex's grave once, and when I was there I was angry at her for doing this to our son, and not to mention her ten other kids. Right now one of them is missing, Chrisma [Joy] Denny, she's a missing person, they haven't seen her in two and a half months, so tomorrow I'll be spending the day putting up missing posters.
Jeff [Barnaby] wanted to rehearse that scene, and I said I don't want to. He said why not, and I told him, because man, my son's mother committed suicide when he was seven – and he said, ok we don't have to touch it then, we'll do it on the day.
I ended up drinking all night, didn't sleep – and I knew Joseph has to be going through the same kind of thing, where he's not sleeping, he's been drinking for days, he's on a bender, he's sad, he's angry, and hurting, he probably had a lot of guilt come up, just like me in real life. So I showed up that morning, I had a couple of bottles of wine in my backpack, and was replacing my coffee with wine. When you see the emotions in that scene, they're real. It's a lot of that, going back into memory about things in my own life.
And in regards to Joseph getting out of prison, I related that to my Uncle Donald, and what he was like when he got out of prison. There was a certain protective shell, he was hardened. I thought about all the times I saw my Uncle in big brawls just like Joseph, you know, I've seen that in real life. And then of course, when it comes to how Joseph feels for his daughter – I have two daughters, so it wasn't hard to pull up that emotion, that fatherly love and caring. You care for all your children, sons or daughters, but there is something different when it comes to daughters, there is more of a tender caring there. When you have boys it's a little more of a harder kind of love, and for girls it's more tender when it comes to being a father.
So that was my prep basically. At the end of the film when he gets arrested and pulled away from his family again for the second time, it made me think about when I got arrested – about eight months after my parents died. I was in jail for four months – it took me back to that. You feel deflated and powerless, unloved, unwanted, you know, all these things go through your mind when you're getting pulled away in the back of a police car, and you're getting beat up physically and emotionally. So it was a lot of digging into my closet.
MM: What is the emotional toll after the role? How do you care yourself after you've put it all out there on screen?
GG: This is something that is totally new to me, learning how to do that self care, because I've been clean and sober now for twenty one months. We wrapped [Rhymes for Young Ghouls] right around Halloween 2012, and then I went right into production for Thunderstick. So I had no time to do self care, so I just kept drinking. Which is what I knew, how to cope. I wasn't dealing, I was just coping – er, or not coping by drinking and getting high. I continued to drink and my drinking got worse after that. It's almost a repeat back to how I coped with my parents' death. They died in April of 1992, and I drank right up until July, three months of heavy drinking. I drank so much I [started suffering from] DTs [Delirium Tremens]. And here I was again, doing the same thing, twenty-some years later, but grieving, and there was a grief I was going through after doing that film. There is a certain kind of natural method acting that happens, just because of the nature of the character, and my own personal life, so it kind of stirred up the mud. I didn't do any self care until I sobered up in February, and my self care was getting treatment.


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After the pool party we recently hosted, we had lots of leftover grilled vegetables. Pasta salads are a great way to make use of leftover veggies, so today I prepared some for the family. It was really easy; all I needed to do was boil some pasta and add some salad dressing to it.
This time around I made a spicy salad dressing that I drizzled over fusilli pasta, roasted bell peppers, grilled eggplant, grilled Portobello mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. This meal met everyone's diet, except for my father-in-law who's allergic to mushrooms (no meat, not nuts, no eggs), so I placed the grilled mushrooms on the side.
Cucumber sandwiches are the most delicious, easiest finger foods to make. All you need is sliced white bread, butter and of course, cucumbers. To enhance the flavor, I also spread a thin layer of parsley and garlic chive cream cheese spread.
We hosted a pool party today for Lya (my 13-year-old sis-in-law) and her classmates. I think everyone had fun, splashing in the water, chatting and reuniting right before school starts. They all seemed very hungry after swimming and the little cucumber sandwiches and other finger foods went fast!
Do you want your child to be the most popular kid in the lunch room? Try this macaroni and cheese recipe. I flavored the béchamel sauce with roasted red bell pepper, garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and of course a variety of cheeses. The color turns out more vibrant and the texture is perfect with both gooey and stringy cheese mixed together.
I packed the mac and cheese in a bento-style thermos lunch jar so the dish would remain warm until lunch time. My little 6-year-old sis-in-law has been going to school for less than a week but she's already made a lot of friends. When she came home, I found an empty box. She told me her lunch box is a great conversation starter!
Tuna pasta salad is one of the easiest school lunches of all times. The pasta salad can be prepared a day in advance; I usually prep the ingredients the day before and assemble the salad the next morning. All you need is mayonnaise, tuna, boiled pasta (I used fusilli) and various grilled vegetables.
Back to school lunches have never been that easy! Fusilli pasta have a fun look and the corkscrew curl in the center traps the mayonnaise so you get a creamy pasta salad. This one dish makes a balanced meal for kids in your life.
We've been setting up my little sis-in-law's school lunch menu as she's about to enter 1st grade tomorrow. She participated in the entire process. The little munchkin mentioned that she loves sushi and wanted to have some for lunch this school year. It's a fast and easy way for her to have a quick lunch, so I was happy to oblige. She also mentioned she loves baby octopus but she doesn't want to scare her friends away with weird food so I coarsely chopped them and used them as the filling along with other vegetables. I cooked each ingredient separately, let them cool completely and then combined then into sushi rolls. The sushi got an "A" from my sis-in-law, so I'll definitely be packing them for her this school year.
Involving children in preparing their own food encourages them to eat with more enthusiasm. Cooking in a fun environment is also a way to learn. If your kids aren't adventurous enough for octopus, you can try some of my other school lunch recipe ideas.