text:
Picture this: your best client calls up looking for a picture from your archives. "Remember," she says, "that whjen you photographed our VP leading a meeting at the company retreat that time? I think it was 2010. Or maybe it was 2011? Well, they were just promoted. That picture is perfect for our next annual report!" You're about to get paid for a picture from years ago, a picture that's been sitting on your hard drive collecting digital dust. Easy money! That is, it will be if you can find the file.
Photographers accumulate pictures over years of shooting. Adding keywords to your photos in Adobe Lightroom can help you to describe your images and make them searchable and explorable. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to add keywords and use them to their full potential.
Use Keyword Tags to Describe Images
Importing images into Lightroom carries the metadata that the camera adds, like the capture time, shutter speed, and other settings that the camera knows. What the camera can't add, however, is meaningful descriptions to our images. That's where we come in, to add descriptive keywords in Lightroom.
Many photographers with growing collections start multiple catalogs to keep their collections seperate, small, and stable. In the long term, adding metadata like keyword tags is a better approach to keep your photo archive manageable. If you start adding keyword tags while building out your collection even a huge collection will remain easily searchable.
Keyword Tags Add Context
Keyword tags are a simple yet powerful tool to add descriptions of the content and context of your pictures to image files. Adding a tag to an image means simply that it has a keyword attached to it, like "wedding", or "portrait", or "bride." You have ultimate control over how to add these keywords to your images, and they can be as specific as you wish.
1. Add Keywords Manually
Adding keywords takes place in Lightroom's Library module. The best way to work with keywords is to work in the Grid view to view multiple images simultaneously.
To add your first keyword tag, find the Keywording panel on the right side of the Library module. You'll need to scroll down slightly to find it. When you're ready to add your first keyword, select an image in grid and start typing keywords in the box. Press enter, and you've added your first keyword to the image!
Once you've added keywords to an image you'll notice a new tag icon placed over the thumbnail. This indicates that there are keywords attached to the image. To view an image's keywords, click it and check the Keywording panel on the right side of the Library module.
You can add multiple keywords by separating them with commmas. There's no limit to the number of keywords that can be added to files, so add as many as you need to describe each image.
When you want to add keywords to multiple images, the power of Grid view really comes into play. You'll want to select multiple images at the same time to give them the same keywords simultaneously, and grid view is perfect for that.
With grid view enabled, we can select several images at the same time. Do so by holding Control on your keyboard (or the Command key on a Mac) and clicking on the images you wish to select. You'll notice that they all appear selected. You can also click on an image, hold Shift, and select another image to select all images in a series.
When you've selected several images, you can add keywords to all of them in a similar way as described above. Typing a few keywords and pressing enter will apply the keywords you've added to all images.
Eventually, Lightroom will begin to show Keyword Suggestions based on your commonly used keywords. You can also build keyword sets to keep your commonly used keywords at the ready.
2. Syncing & Painting Keywords
We've already looked at some ways to apply keywords to multiple images above, but I want to share a couple more ways that you can apply keywords en masse.
The first of these is to sync keywords. When you've already applied keywords to some images and need to add those same keywords to other images, syncing the keywords will make two or more images have exactly the same keywords.
Another option for applying keywords is to use the Painter tool. Again, this is best applied in the Library module using grid view so that multiple images can be seen simultaneously. Make sure the filters at the bottom are showing by choosing View > Show Toolbar. You'll see a spray can icon appear. Enter a few selected keywords, and click your images to rapidly apply those keywords to your collections.
3. Keyword Images on Import
Another way to integrate tagging in your workflow is to add the tags at the same time as importing images.
On the Import dialog, the panels on the right side of the window include a panel titled Apply During Import. If it's currently hidden, press the dropdown arrow to show the additional fields. You'll see a Keywords window similar to what we've already seen. Add keywords in this window to apply them to the images being imported.
When tagging during the import process, your approach may need to differ slightly from applying tags on an image by image basis. The import tags are likely to be more general and apply to all images. You can always add additional keywords later to add detail, but the import keywords should be general and accommodate all images included on import.
Searching by Keywords
Now that we've spent time adding keywords to our collection, it's time to reap the power that a well-described catalog gives us. Searching for keywords shows us how much more structured a catalog with keywords is.
To get started with searching for keywords, press Control + F (Cmd + F on a Mac) in the Library module to bring up the search box. Inputting a keyword to search will show the images matching that keyword or keywords.
Filtering for Keywords
If you don't know what keywords are attached to the images in your collection it can be difficult to search for the keywords you're looking for. This is where filtering for keywords using Lightroom's metadata filters is so powerful.
In the Library module, add the filter bar by choosing View > Show Filter Bar. After doing so, click the text that reads Date on the far left, and switch it to Keyword. What results is a list of all keywords on the images in your collection. If you click one of the keywords, your image collection will be filtered to those images.
Lightroom is a powerful tool for managing huge collections of images, but only you can assign the data to helps you find precisely what you need. Taming your collection takes planning and dedication, but every bit of data you enter, every tag, will help your archive stay healthy and explorable as it grows.
Envato Tuts+ tutorials are translated into other languages by our community members—you can be involved too!Translate this post


text:
If flowers are not your thing, or the flowers growing in your yard are not the variety you like, you may decide to kill them. While you could use harsh chemicals, they are bad for the environment. Using white distilled vinegar makes quick work of flowers and prevents harmful chemicals from getting into the air, water and soil around your home.
Step 1
Fill a spray bottle 80-percent full with tap water. Fill the other 20 percent with white distilled vinegar.
Step 2
Place in five or six drops of dish soap. The dish soap acts as a binding agent and keeps the vinegar on the flower.
Step 3
Place the lid on the bottle and shake the contents to mix the soap.
Step 4
Spray the flowers during the hottest part of the day. Take caution, as the vinegar will kill grass and weeds around the flowers. Concentrate the spray only on the flowers you want to kill.
Step 5
Repeat the process daily until the flower shows signs of wilting and death.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Several of the biggest corporate buyouts in recent years are in trouble, says Breakingviews.com, especially Sam Zell's highly leveraged take over of Tribune.
Tribune looks to be the megadeal most at risk, the publication notes. Sam Zell's $12 billion buyout of the company, the publisher of The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune, was financed nearly entirely with debt. Operating cash flow was down by 66 percent in the third quarter. Tribune is on the cusp of breaching its debt covenants, and some of its bonds trade for as little as 9 cents on the dollar. With the advertising market deteriorating in line with the economy, Tribune has few easy options to stabilize its revenue.
Clear Channel, the radio broadcaster, is also "deteriorating fast." Via New York Times


text:
City of Craig, VFW reopen park talks
The City of Craig and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4265 recently exchanged letters, opening up lines of communication regarding the 2.88-acre Craig City Park.
Talks regarding the park were prompted by Craig City Council member Jennifer Riley, who voiced during the Dec. 13 city council meeting that a resolution needs to be hammered out between the two parties.
"The issue with the VFW is still unresolved," Riley said during the meeting. "We need to know where they are because we still have things to plan for next year."
Riley recommended the city re-issue, in writing, its offer to buy the park for the appraised value of $25,500, and request the VFW to respond before the end of the year.
Craig City Manager Jim Ferree sent the city's letter Dec. 14.
"As you know, the appraisal put the present market value of the property, as deed restricted, at $25,500," the letter states. "The city is required by ordinance to obtain an appraisal when purchasing property.
"However, ordinances do not require that the city council adhere to the value established in the appraisal."
VFW quartermaster Larry Neu believes that statement implies the city is open to negotiating the purchase price, but he said Thursday a sale to the city is not an option.
That decision was reached Nov. 21 during the VFW's most recent member meeting, which was heavily attended, Neu said.
"I've never seen so many members at one of our meetings," Neu said. "There were members there that I have never seen at a meeting before, and the decision was unanimous — our park is not for sale to the city."
Neu said the decision to end purchase negotiations is due to the appraisal, which was conducted by Arnie Butler & Company of Grand Junction, and set the market value of the park at $255,000, but issued a 90-percent reduction because of deed restrictions that state the property must remain an open space.
However, according to the VFW's Dec. 28 response letter, signed by new post commander David Walters, the veteran's organization is interested in discussing a new lease agreement with the city.
"The Veterans Park is now available for lease to whoever is willing to accept terms agreeable to the membership of the VFW," the response letter states. "The commercial property (occupied by the Marcia Car) at the corner of Washington and Victory Way will now be leased as a separate piece."
Neu said additional terms of a lease agreement would be discussed privately with the city.
The VFW has given the city council until Jan. 15 to respond to its letter.
"If there is no response, the VFW will pursue a third party option," the response letter states.
Riley said she believes the park will be a discussion item when the city council reconvenes Jan. 10, 2012.
"The primary intention of the city has been to maintain it as a park for the benefit of the public," Riley said. "I don't think there is anything off the table in terms of what the city is willing to talk or not talk about, and I certainly don't think any doors have been closed on our part."
Click here to have the print version of the Craig Daily Press delivered to your home.


text:
Position Paper: PVC and chlorine management
Worldwide, about 45 Mio tons of PVC are produced each year for many different applications. PVC is associated with many issues during production, use and after use of products, and therefore challenged from different sides, including EPEA. In the1980s, Michael Braungart headed the chemistry section of Greenpeace Germany and led its PVC campaign. The number and severity of issues justified strong opposition to PVC as an emergency measure.
It took decades but meanwhile significant progress was made and is still ongoing in the market. Some companies dealing with PVC – often visible ones – have taken the raised issues seriously and addressed them: they substitute PVC or they improved PVC recipes e.g. by substituting phthalate plasticizers and heavy metal based stabilizers and by establishing take back systems for the safe and productive post-use management. Changes were also made in the PVC production background. For example, chlorine generation with the mercury cell Chloralkali process will have been finally phased-out in the Western world by 2018.
Conditions are given for thinking about PVC in a different practical way today. In their book "The Upcycle", Michael Braungart and William McDonough stated: "In fact, ironically, PVC was initially put into mass production to close loops in the manufacture of paper and hydrocarbons. Those processes created huge amounts of chlorine residue of sodium hydroxide and acetylene. Industry chose to put those byproducts into PVC, a choice that demonstrates how modeling manufacturing on a simplified version of a closed loop is often not sufficient. (…) Because hard PVC is manufactured without the problematic plasticizers or UV stabilizers found in soft PVC, we may have to consider sequestering these products in hard PVC piping deployed underground for the next thousand years or so." [1]
Historically, there was a good reason for the invention of PVC and its patenting on July 4th, 1913. It was to divert chlorine away from applications like chemical weapons or other very problematic routes of chlorine use. Chlorine gas is the toxic byproduct from the huge production volumes of some caustic chemicals, first caustic soda.
The magnitude of the issue can be illustrated by looking at the market: Caustic soda is one of the most demanded chemicals with a production volume exceeding 60 million tons/year [2]. As a byproduct, almost the same amount of chlorine is produced annually.
Caustic soda is a consumable with no opportunity to be kept in technical cycles. In effect, likely more than 98% of caustic soda and 100% of chlorine are produced this way. [3, 4] If this demand for caustics prevails and alternative offers are lacking or lacking suitability, a transitional chlorine management solution is obviously needed.
Our proposal
We believe that it is preferable to park chlorine in PVC applications with positively defined composition that can be managed after-use. Only those products for which a take back and recycling system can be established and properly managed come into question for this sequestration. It is rather possible for durable immobile applications in the construction sector but not for packaging or other easily scattered applications like bags or toys, wallpapers, etc.
In collaboration with companies involved in the PVC discussion, we developed the:
Charter for a Responsible Use of PVC™ and chlorine management
to structure frame conditions for distinction of "Tolerable PVC applications that provide a transitional solution" from still problematic applications.
Charter's implementation
We invite companies and public institutions concerned by PVC either as
user of PVC
or as producers of PVC, its monomer vinyl chloride or caustic soda and chlorine,
or as companies managing products` after use phase,
as distributor of construction products,
as purchaser of construction products,
as product/construction project coordinator,
as companies having phased out already or in the process of phasing out problematic uses of PVC
to download the Charter, to express publicly their adhesion to it and to inform EPEA about this at firstname.lastname@example.com.
This position paper can be downloaded here.
- William McDonough, Michael Braungart: The Upcycle. Beyond Sustainability – Designing for Abundance. April 2013, North Point Press, p. 43/44
- Cetin Kurt, Jürgen Bittner (2005), "Sodium Hydroxide", Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, doi:10.1002/14356007.a24_345.pub2
- Dow Chemicals. Caustic soda. Process overview.
- European IPPC Bureau. Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Production of Chloralkali. Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control). 2014.


text:
A transient high tension (25,000 V) occurs at the bulb sockets of the high intensity discharge (HID) lamps when the combination light switch is turned ON, that may cause serious electrical shock or electrocution if you do not observe the cautions.
• Never turn on the combination light switch before fitting the HID bulbs to their bulb sockets and completing the reassembly of the headlight assembly.
• Do not service the headlights assembly in wet conditions, such as rain or snow, near a sprinkler system, or when your hands are wet to prevent electrocution.
• Do not touch the surface of the HID bulbs with your bare hands and do not stain it with any oils and fats.
• Do not disassemble the inverter unit and the ignitor unit.
• Do not turn on the HID bulb by using a power source other than the battery mounted on the vehicle.
Starting Points:
- Turn the combination light switch OFF.
- Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0).
- Disconnect the Battery. NOTE: Some systems store data in memory that is lost when the battery is disconnected. Do the following steps before disconnecting the battery.
- Make sure you have the anti-theft code(s) for the audio and/or the navigation system
- Make sure the ignition switch is in LOCK (0).
- Disconnect and isolate the negative cable from the battery.Always disconnect the negative cable from the battery first.
- Disconnect the positive cable from the battery.
The Teardown:
- Remove the screw from the inner fender, and pull the inner fender back.
- Turn the cover (A) 45 ° counterclockwise to remove it from the headlight assembly.
- Turn the bulb socket (A) 45 ° counterclockwise to remove it from the bulb (B).
- Pull the retaining spring (C) away from the bulb then remove the bulb.
Installing the New Bulb:
- Install a new bulb in the reverse order of removal. Make sure the notches in the bulb align with the tabs in the headlight.
- Install the parts in the reverse order of removal.
- Clean the battery terminals.
- Test the battery if you have a tester.
- Reconnect the positive cable (A) to the battery (B) first, then reconnect the negative cable (C) to the battery.
- Always connect the positive cable to the battery first.
- Apply multipurpose grease to the terminals to prevent corrosion.
- Do the accelerator pedal kick down click system learn procedure. If you have an automatic car. if anyone requires this let me know
- Enter the anti-theft code(s) for the audio system and/or the navigation system (if equipped).
- Enter the audio presets (if applicable).
- Set the clock (for vehicles without navigation).
You have now safely changed the HID bulbs without electrocuting yourself to death
OEM HID Bulb Replacement
Accord 08-14


text:
Carlisle scholarship recipients
The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle Trustees are pleased to announce that the following students have been awarded scholarships for the 2017-2018 academic year. We are proud of all of these young men and women and wish them the very best in the coming year.
The Carlisle Old Home Day Scholarship
Arianna DiRomualdo
Timothy West
The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle Scholarship*
Jeremy Chiang
Luke Cogliano
Reed Cogliano
Joshua Elwood
Samantha Elwood
Ryan Hebert
The Christopher Hentchel-WIQH Scholarship*
Hugh Schmidt
The Tama Ishihara Memorial Scholarship*
Deedy Chang
The Adrian A. Martinez Memorial Scholarship*
Deedy Chang
The Elizabeth A. Mattison Memorial Scholarship*
Sophia Marsh
The Nick Ressler Memorial Scholarship*
Deedy Chang
The Doug White Memorial Scholarship*
Sophia Marsh
Scholarships marked with one asterisk are managed by the Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle. The scholarship marked with two asterisks is managed by the Trustees of Town Donations of the Town of Concord. All other scholarships are managed by the named affiliate organization.


text:
Today we're gonna talk about a record that has been said to be "a point of no return for Reggae As We Know It".
Why? Well, let's see.
If you're familiar with Roots Reggae, or at least you've heard a Bob Marley tune once, you can't help noticing a deep change from the Dancehall Reggae tunes coming out today. It's a whole different kind of music. Dancehall Reggae sounds heavy, electronic, and the lyrics tend to be violent and explicit.
This tune was the shifting point of it all, the first fully computerised dancehall riddim . Moreover, for the first time the tune had no bassline: the keyboard worked as lead instrument and bass at the same time, a trait still present in Dubstep music today.
The Sleng Teng was created in 1983 by King Jammy and Wayne Smith on a small Casio keyboard. This was a revolutionary aspect: being able to make hits without expensive equipment.
The synthetic-sounding timbres of the finished tune experienced a huge success since the first time it was played, on February the 23rd, 1985, at the historic sound clash between Jammy's and Black Scorpio at Waltham Park Road, Kingston JA. The Sleng Teng riddim then dominated the scene for ages, and it's still big today. Hundreds of tracks have been released over the years on this milestone production. It made some appearences in Hip Hop music also, like in 2 Live Crew's "Reggae Joint".
Now comes the interesting part, at least for me. I recently discovered that the riddim was a built-in preset on the Casio MT-40 keyboard. It was labeled as the "rock" preset, and it was based on a Eddie Cochran song called "Somethin Else".
A classic Rock And Roll tune reprogrammed by some obscure Casio Engineer in Japan started the whole Digital Reggae movement! Now that's peculiar, isn't it?
Jammy added a couple of chords over the main riff and mixed everything together in the studio, blenging in the now legendary vocals by Wayne Smith about his beloved herb.
"With its catchy and thoroughly novel-sounding timbres, ' Sleng Teng' promoted a departure from the overused Studio One classics, whose dominance in the earlier years has been cited as a sign of conservatism, or less charitably, lack of imagination…"
(if you want to get deep, check this accurate paper about Jamaican music and its influences)
Well, this is pretty much all about the origins of this riddim…the Sleng Teng started the so called's Reggae "Digital Era".
Therefore, to end this post properly I cannot help dropping a killer Digital Reggae mix, showcasing some obscure tunes from this influential branch of Jamaican music… (if you are looking for the original Wayne Smith tune check out our "25 Essential Reggae Tunes" post)
LISTEN! Check it out here: DEAD STOCK MIX (Soundbwoy Killing Digital Reggae Selection)
So Swizz Beatz was a biter's biter
[...] Very interesting article from music-selections.comRead the full post at http://music-selections.com/2010/11/14/1985-the-sleng-teng-history/ [...]
[...] sound system, King Jammy revealed a totally digital reggae riddim for the first time : the famous Sleng Ten riddim. The most known version is of course the Wayne Smith's "Under Me Sleng Ten", but [...]


text:
YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS (TO MAKE About 20 COOKIES):
- 125g of butter
- 100g caster sugar
- One egg
- 200g pain flour
- The zest of two lemons
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- One pinch of sea salt
- 3 tablespoons demerara sugar (or brown sugar)
1. Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl (with an electric mixer) until creamy
2. Beat in the egg until the mixture is light and fluffy
3. Then add he flour, lemon zest, baking powder and salt and mix until you have a ball of dough. Cover and place in the fridge for 2 hours, or until firm
4. Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until ½cm thick Cut out shapes and place on a greaseproofed tray. Another alternative is to scoop small balls of dough with a tablespoon and flatten them down with the bottom of a glass that has been floured.
5. Sprinkle with demerara sugar and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are light brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
These biscuits are incredible easy to make and you can substitute the lemon zest for just about anything - dried cranberries and orange zest is a great combo. Another great Jamie Oliver classic which never fails.
Follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter and Instagram


text:
Natural HDR 2
The Death Knell for Nasty HDR:
Amazing dynamic range from single files without leaving Lightroom. That's awesome. It's what makes this the toolkit to polish off nasty HDR. Like it's predecessor, NHDR2 is a simple, refined, elegant system, but vastly improved and perfected to be the most versatile HDR toolkit available. NHDR2 is changing the game. Unite to end nasty HDR!
- New: Post Process II: Rebuilt presets made for ultimate versatility.
- New: Ultra Mix: it's the next generation of custom recipe presets.
- New: Dynamic Atmosphere. For perfect light finishing.
- Stop nasty HDR! Brilliant quality for any situation.
- V2.5 now even better. Click, mix, triumph!
- Works in Photoshop/Camera Raw
- SEIM 30 day IRON Guarantee!
NHDR Instant Download, $79
Complete LR Bundle + Workshop — SAVE $169 (See Details)
Get all 6 of our LR Preset Collections.
— Natural HDR 2
— Silver 3
— Classic Vinyl
— Belladonna
— Elegance Brushes
— + Sliders Workshop
A New Kind of HDR!
NEW: Post Process II: Getting great dynamic range from single files is not easy. Refining it for perfect richness and contrast is even harder. NHDR 2 has revamped every tool to a minutely refined, ultra-versatile level. It makes the complex simple.
NEW: Dynamic Atmosphere: NHDR 2 brings unprecedented local control to truly maximize light on the RAW file. This brand new category of tools focuses on making gradual, radial and local adjustments into one simple step that can be combined with any preset to make your subject shine.
Natural HDR is the only preset collection engineered for balanced refined dynamic range. Version 2.5 brings that refinement further more than 80 stunning tools and mix mods for everything from wild landscapes to portraits and scrumptious interior photography.
We thought you were as tired of crappy HDR as we were. Turns out that was truer than we had imagined. This is the counterpoint to overcooked, overdone HDR that you have been looking for. It works in Lightroom like magic. Click, mix, triumph. It's still bold; It's still HDR; It's still better. End nasty HDR.
What People have to say about NHDR 2!
"Awesome presets!!" – Ann Allison-Coté
"Just bought Natural HDR 2, a few minutes ago. A quick test, and I am already convinced it is truly a game changing toolkit." – Carlos Paula
much more pleasing in my opinion than tone mapping; … I give Seim presets a 5 star rating… – Chris Boynton
"Your presets are wonderful. I use them all the time to enhance my images. Thank you for creating great products!" BJ Spanos
What Tools Do I Need?
Our preset collections work in Lightroom and Camera Raw/Photoshop. Presets are all about applying a look to single or groups of images and being able to do so in a non-destructive manner.
PW6 is geared not only to allow creative combinations but also speed, quick fixes and details like sharpening and grain. It's our main preset collection and sits perfectly at the top of your go-to Lightroom tools. If you want a toolkit for everything that will help you work faster start with PW6.
Silver 3 is dedicated to amazing black and white. Most people that use Silver don't need other plugins. It allows for a huge array of processes for black and white that use the color information in your files to make incredible silver looks. That combines with tools for mixing tone, tint and more and allows for endless combinations.
Actions work in Photoshop. Sometimes people get confused about the difference between actions and presets. Presets are one layer deep and the best starting point for general workflow, color and tone corrections. Actions use layers and more advanced tools and can give richer and more finesse retouching. Our actions use vertical editing which means you can run an action with one click and can add more on top to keep advancing your edit. The possibilities are endless. Actions and presets together make the perfect workflow.
Alchemist is our ultra powerful retouching actions. It has everything from skin surface tools and glamour effects to color overlays and sharpening tools. All with an easy to use vertical editing style with layers and groups that can be ticked on and off and altered to give your image a perfect look with infinite combinations. Alchemist will take your retouching to the next level and save you time in the process.
Lumist: These game-changing actions are all about being a master of Light. They allow you to see the types and zones in your image with a click using the Total Map. Then you can select any zone and apply an adjustment manually or use one of the many effects for light, color, and style and apply it to the entire image or just the selected zones. It takes the power of luminosity making but makes it so much more simple, visual and powerful.
For detailed descriptions of all our products, check out the homepage.
Order 2 products and save 15% with code: BUNDLE or find more deals on the bundles page.
Get Handsy!
Here just a few interactive demos of the countless possibilities from this full dynamic range power pack. Take control.
- Visit the Guide – To watch the install video and
learn how different preset types work.
- Having trouble with your tools? Visit the help page.
- You can also contact us, firstname.lastname@example.com or phone, 509-754-5255
— Join our affiliate program and earn 20% of each sale you send our way —


text:
Hello, and welcome!
When I got my first massage I enjoyed it so much that I decided then and there that I wanted to be able to share that amazing feeling with others. 20 years later I finally realized that dream when I quit my desk job and enrolled in massage school. I've been practicing the art of massage for almost 20 years now, and I have quite a bit of experience with helping people reduce their aches and pains, let go of stress, and feel comfortable in their bodies again. When you get here, I'll listen to your concerns and together we'll make a plan for a massage that meets your specific needs. My goal is your complete satisfaction.


text:
A survey released Tuesday found the retirement income market totaled $3.3 trillion at the end of 2010, or 11% of household investable assets. The survey, conducted by Hearts and Wallets, a retirement and savings research firm, found the market doubled since 2006, and the company predicts it will account for between 25% and 30% of all U.S. household investable assets by 2020.
The survey was conducted among executives at 23 financial firms with more than $10 trillion in assets under administration. Respondents indicated income planning is their top priority. While new products take lower priority, those with guaranteed income are "very important."
"The key will be how products are combined to produce a portfolio of income sources once full-time work in the primary occupation has stopped," Laura Varas, principal at Hearts and Wallets, said in a statement. "This is a key issue on which all firms will need to have a point of view."
Varas pointed to employer-sponsored retirement plan providers. "Only a few years ago, a good deal of them were still saying 'we don't focus on the distribution phase,'" she said. "Now, a retirement investment methodology has become a competitive necessity, with product implications for vendors who sell them."
Investors near or in retirement make up a large part of firms' clientele. Three-quarters of resources, including budget and management, are spent on "older investors," according to the survey. Over 80% of respondents said retirement income has become more important in the last three years.
She noted that firms are starting to recognize a need to help investors distinguish between what they want and what they need in retirement.
"It's critical to focus on must have's versus nice to have's," she said. "What happens when I'm unemployable? If I encounter health issues or lack of job opportunities, what's the minimum I need to have saved to be safe? Investors like this idea."
Respondents also indicated annuities will be a major player in retirement plans.
"Our data suggests more advisors are recommending annuitization and more plan sponsors are making immediate annuities available to participants," said Chris Brown, principal, in a statement.


text:
Fairly early in my tenure here at CropLife® magazine, I was charged with digging into the technology side of agriculture and becoming the quasi-expert on the subject as it related to retailers. So I got to attend a number of technology meetings and talk to a lot of interesting people.
One of those folks was David Waits of SST Software. Experiencing Dave's drive and entrepreneurial spirit, it's difficult to imagine he was ever a college professor at Oklahoma State. He would keep me on the showfloor late discussing precision technology, but he was most passionate about the subject of data standardization in precision agriculture.
Dave is certainly not alone, as others have made the call for standards as well. Unfortunately, left to their own devices, the companies that drive precision agriculture innovation have not moved the needle appreciably on choosing and sticking with a common standard.
Frankly, given that the most innovative ideas have been driven by smaller and more entrepreneurial companies, it's not that surprising that standards haven't been set. Companies are always going to seek to protect intellectual property, but in the end, the lack of continuity across hardware and software taxes the end-user up and down the line.
This year, there's a definite uptick in both the call for standardization, and the ranks of companies stepping forward to be part of a solution. Here are a few interesting examples.
Chip Donahue from John Deere stopped me on the showfloor at the International Conference on Precision Agriculture back in July and told me about a new data standardization effort involving some 20 organizations. The project is being facilitated by AgGateway, which has presided over standardization initiatives in seed, fertilizer and crop protection. There are plenty of heavyweights in the room along with Deere, including SST, Trimble, MapShots and Monsanto, who is taking a keen interest in integrating precision agriculture recommendations as part of its promise to double corn yields by 2030.
Then last month, we ran a column written by Joe Russo in our Fall 2010 PrecisionAg Special Report, declaring that the time for across-the-board industry standards for precision agriculture data has arrived. The article led to phone calls, some article comments and a few hallway conversations from growers to retailers to manufacturers who wholeheartedly support the movement.
To be honest, when Chip was talking to me about it, I was more than a little skeptical. Like I said, this is not the first time that this has bubbled to the surface. But it seems to have some staying power right now, and I'm starting to think that maybe, just maybe, it might have enough momentum to get done.
Growers are exhausted from looking at piles of data that are simultaneously invaluable yet devalued because of compatibility and consistency issues. Retailers who offer data services are similarly exhausted trying to figure out how to make it work for all growers, not just as a boutique service for select customers who demand it and are willing to work through the slog. It won't happen overnight, but getting everyone in the room is a good start. AgGateway's next big meeting is next month — I'll let you know how it goes . . .


text:
Southwestern confetti salad (6-8 servings)
I've whined about this time of year before. It's that tempting, sneaky period of time where the sun is shining, all the flowers are in bloom (Don't even get me started on Chapel Hill's slutty plants that gleefully spread their genetic material all over the damn place), and the afternoons are warm. The sunlight and heat make you want to rush to the farmers' market and scoop up all your summer favorites, like corn on the cob and juicy tomatoes. However, even though you feel like it's summer, it isn't, which means there aren't many local fruits and veggies quite yet. Spring is such a tease that way.
So this is the ideal time of year for "summer preview" recipes -- ones you can make with pantry ingredients for now and then make again with local produce in the summer. Today's offering is based on this Epicurious recipe, although I changed the Mediterranean flavors to more of a Southwest theme.
You will need:
- 3 cups corn kernels
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 14-16 oz frozen or canned legumes (I used frozen butter peas, but I'm sure black-eyed peas or black beans would be lovely)
- 2 cups green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 avocado
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/8 cup red wine vinegar
- a splash of lime juice
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 a chipotle pepper in adobo, minced
- 1/4 Tbsp onion powder
- 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tsp salt (smoked salt, if you have it)
- Mix all the dressing ingredients in a jar or small bowl. Set aside.
- Place the corn and tomatoes in a large serving bowl.
- If you're using canned beans, drain and rinse them, and then add them to the corn and tomatoes. If you're using frozen beans, cook them according to package directions, using the low end of the time recommended. (You don't want them to get mushy!) Drain and rinse in cold water and add to corn and tomatoes.
- Blanch the green beans for a minute or two -- just until they're bright green. Drain and rinse in cold water; add to corn, tomatoes, and beans. (If you're boiling frozen beans, add the green beans to the water for the last two minutes and then drain along with the beans.)
- Give the dressing a final shake or stir and drizzle it over the veggies. Toss gently. Taste for salt; add some cracked black pepper if desired.
- Once the mixture is seasoned to your liking, cut the avocado into chunks and add it to the mixture. Toss gently once more. Store salad in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
I can't wait to make this again with fresh ingredients in a few more months! Feel free to change up the veggies; bell pepper would be delicious (if your insides are braver than mine) and I'd imagine chopped carrots could add flavor and crunch.


text:
There are no easy solutions to gentrification, but there are things that can help address the problems it creates. Community land trusts, new renter protection, and non-taxpayer funded affordable housing are all ideas being advanced in Portland. Those efforts and other ideas could use your involvement. The important thing is for citizens to get engaged. Write and call local, state, and federal lawmakers and voice your concerns. Vote for people who promise to do something, and vote out do-nothings and obstructionists. Reach out to friends with a different opinion and convince them we need to make a change. Contact the organizations below and ask them how you can help.
Portland Tenants United
Grassroots activist leading street protests to reform tenant/landlord regulations
PDX Tenants United on Facebook
Groups and projects working to revitalize Albina's black community
Soul District (business revitalization), Right to Return (housing preference), Self Enhancement Inc. (black community center), The People's Plan (Portland African American Leadership Forum), P-Town Media (promoting black Portland), PDX People of Color-Owned Food Directory and Minority Owned Business Directory (support them).
Community Alliance of Tenants
Tenant advocate, assistance organization
Oregoncat.org 2710 NE 14th Ave. Portland, OR 97212 503-288-0130
Portland Housing Center
Assistance programs and counseling for modest-income homebuyers
PortlandHousingCenter.org 3233 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 503-282-7744
Fair Housing Council of Oregon
Housing discrimination watchdog
Fhco.org 1221 SW Yamhill St., #305 Portland, OR 97205 503-223-8197
Housing Oregon
Statewide coalition of subsidized housing providers
housingoregon.org 1207 SW Broadway, #400 Portland, OR 97205 503-223-4041
Urban League of Portland
African American services and advocates
Ulpdx.org 10 N Russell St. Portland OR 97227 503-280-2600
Coalition of Communities of Color
Advocates for racial and ethnic minority groups
Coalitioncommunitiescolor.org 221 NW 2nd Ave., #303 Portland, OR 97209 503-200-5722
Oregon Housing Alliance
Housing advocates with a legislative agenda
OregonHousingAlliance.org 10520 NE Weidler St. Portland, OR 97220 503.226.3001 x110
Find your legislator HERE and tell them what you think.


text:
A Lutheran pastor seeks to reclaim the role of pastor as theologian. Excerpts and reflections meant to generate discussion and devotion are posted.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Fear Itself, Early Reflections
Having read the first issue of the limited series "Fear Itself" and the one-shot "Fear Itself: Sin's Past" I posted an early reflection on the series over at The Other Journal's blog, Mediation, titled "Gods, Sin, and Fear Itself."
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Unvirtuous Abbey and Unicorn Theology
Here is a great guest post by Unvirtuous Abbey (on Twitter @UnvirtuousAbbey ) over at Two Friars and a Fool, "Unicorn Theology and Unplugging Your Head" They deal with the problems the Church deals with on both the left and the right ends of the spectrum.
As I prepare a sermon series on 1 Peter, I appreciated greatly the author's response to folks who would ask what he did for a job. "Advance scout to the alien fleet."
As I prepare a sermon series on 1 Peter, I appreciated greatly the author's response to folks who would ask what he did for a job. "Advance scout to the alien fleet."
Friday, April 08, 2011
Them bones, them bones, them dry bones...
Preparing for the sermon on Sunday, and preaching on the Ezekiel 37 text, and I read Jenson's commentary on the passage.
The question for us preachers is the same addressed to Ezekiel, I think. As we address our congregations the question resonates, "Can these bones lives?" Can the people tired out and worn down by competing messages that seek to divide our loyalty and drive us from the source of life, can they find the true life promised by God, even if it is a penulitmate life now, but to be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus "I am the resurrection and the life" for the resurrection on the last day.
When we prophesy or preach, do we bring God's Word, the word that vivifies ( I love that word), or just hot air that dries us out even more?
Can we help people see God's Word as life giving in a dry and desert land? Can we see Lent as the oasis that brings God's life-giving will to us that we are raised to new life now and ultimately at the end of time?
For it has come to this: Israel as a whole and as such (37:11) is--as Ezekiel so often threatened--well and truly dead, a strewing of remains no longer even skeletal, so definitely of the past that the bones have separated and preserve no personal identities--no one can even point and say, "Alas, poor... I knew him well." The word of Gen. 2:17 has finally been fulfilled: the clash between God's will and human will for his human creatures, by which alone they live, and their refusal to follow that will, has been worked out in the history of Israel and has come to its inevitable conclusion.
Is then what the Lord here shows Ezekiel what it appears to be, the irreversible end of Israel's history with the Lord? And that is, of the bearer of the Lord's history with all humanity? Can Israel rise again? Indeed, can humanity, dependent for its specific being on the Lord's presence in history, live as what it was created to be? The Lord puts the question to Ezekiel: "Son of a man, what do you think? Can the dead live again?"
Ezekiel has no answer; this knowledge is beyond a son of man. But Ezekiel does know that the Lord is the giver of life; our passage is pervaded by a reminiscence of the Lord's first vivification of humankind (Gen. 2:7). And he knows that therefore the Lord can answer the question yes or no as he chooses. So he throws the question back.
For answer he receives an implicit yes: a command to prophesy life to the dead. Even in the nonbeing of death bones can hear him, because the word given the prophet is the same word that gives being and life in the first place, that addresses precisely "things that are not" (1Cor. 1:28). Thus Ezekiel is to do nothing less that speak the dead back to life (Exek. 37:4-6): we arrive at the extreme possibility of the prophets' general assignment "to pluck up and to pull down... to build and to plant" (Jer. 1:9-10). In this vision, Ezekiel speaks as commanded and the dead are raised (Ezek. 37:7-10).Ezekiel, Robert Jenson, Brazos Press, pp. 281-282, 2009
The question for us preachers is the same addressed to Ezekiel, I think. As we address our congregations the question resonates, "Can these bones lives?" Can the people tired out and worn down by competing messages that seek to divide our loyalty and drive us from the source of life, can they find the true life promised by God, even if it is a penulitmate life now, but to be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus "I am the resurrection and the life" for the resurrection on the last day.
When we prophesy or preach, do we bring God's Word, the word that vivifies ( I love that word), or just hot air that dries us out even more?
Can we help people see God's Word as life giving in a dry and desert land? Can we see Lent as the oasis that brings God's life-giving will to us that we are raised to new life now and ultimately at the end of time?
Monday, April 04, 2011
A Church for All People
I love the liturgy. I love that it has been the primary locus not just of our worship but our theology as well. Lex Orandi Lex Credendi after all. The form of our worship has been around long enough that I am not a fan of muddling around with it. Innovation is not a positive term in my vocabulary when it comes to the liturgy. If someone feels the need to alter the form of the liturgy, I think there better be a very good reason. All too often, it has been my experience that when pastors and lay leaders want to change up the liturgy they have no guiding vision except that they want to try something new. To me simply being "new" is not good enough. Chasing "new" leads us down the rabbit hole always chasing the newest white rabbit that crosses our path.
In addition, there are far too many times when it seems that those who want to change the liturgy have agendas, are weak in preaching, and prefer style over substance. This statement is not meant to be overly general. It is not true in all cases, but I have seen few instances to the contrary.
But I continue to seek out what others are doing. I do think there are ways and models of worship that don't fit my vision. So when my wife and I were in Milwaukee recently, I looked around for a church that was fairly close. When I looked over my options, I decided that we would go and worship with the folks at All Peoples' Church. Their website simply promoted their Hip Hop Easter Vigil. But their worship tab also talked about what their worship was like. Now THIS was intriguing, even though it departed from the traditional liturgy (sort of). All Peoples' was clearly defined and I loved that they let folks who might come visit what to expect.
The service did look fairly typical in many respects. We gathered with some singing, and fantastic singing it was. There was praying. People freely shared joys and concerns which were all then lifted up by worship leader in extemporaneous prayer at its best. The prayer leader managed to lift up what people had shared (he had been LISTENING!) and his prayer included appropriate imagery and avoided the downfall of many who pray off the cuff. There was not any numerous repetitions of "Lord" nor the dreaded word "just." Unless we are describing God the word "just" just doesn't belong. I cringe when I hear "Lord, we just want to thank you Lord for just being with us Lord through all things Lord..." I know we are given the Lord's name to call upon at all times, but quantity of invocation does not make our prayers any stronger.
Nonetheless that was NOT at all an issue here. The leader did a phenomenal job even though I would not have classified him as a great speaker. He did however do a great job in praying. Praying is not about eloquence. I believe when we are praying corporately the one who wraps the prayers up should have first and foremost been listening. It was clear the leader had done that.
The service then moved into a testimonial. Being an urban congregation there was a wonderful mix of African Americans and whites gathered together. The African American tradition was strong in this congregation and the testimonial spoke to that. A large man stood up and spoke about a transforming event, namely the sermon of the previous week. And he talked about how he experienced God moving in his life to raise him up to new life (my take on his words, I do not want to put words in his mouth). But I was also intrigued then to hear the sermon since he referenced the previous sermon being a piercing word to him.
So then we did move to the reading and the sermon. The pastor had deviated from the lectionary and instead of hearing the woman at the well text appointed for the day, we heard 1 Kings 24, a dry passage to be sure. But Pastor Steve brought it to life as he unpacked the theme of exile and the cross. It was a rousing and energetic sermon that was full of the gospel. There was no choice here of style over substance. Clearly everything here was rooted in the substance of the gospel.
Then after a sermon whose length many congregations would have balked at, the whole church broke for education. The kids went to Sunday School and the adults all moved to a section of the sanctuary for bible study. Well that day they were hearing of their fruits of their partnership with a mission congregation in El Salvador. That congregation was celebrating its fifteenth anniversary that very day and All Peoples' was celebrating with it. What was interesting was that not one adult left the church. No one sneaked away. They all stayed. The presenter was seemingly more concerned with the time she was taking than the congregation was. When we had finished up with the study, everyone came together again to celebrate Communion.
All in all we were there over two hours. And despite the non-traditional flavor of the service, it all felt right in that place. It all felt genuine. It felt faithful to the gospel as it reflected the people gathered there. It lived up to its name. It was a church for All People.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Winter is here. The nights are longer and colder, our shoulders more tense, as we pull them up to not feel the cold air, and we generally go inwards more.
It's the best time for hot pumpkin and sweet potato soups with ginger and turmeric to nourish the spleen, hot water bottles and UGG boots to keep our toes warm and snug.
Some feel the cold more than others and some get sick more easily.
Have you ever wondered why?
And how you can support your immune system more, besides having nutritious food, hot herbal teas, the right supplements and plenty of rest and sleep? (These are definitely foundational for a rock solid immune system!)
First of all, there are different constitutional types, which vary from strong constitution/less receptive to weak constitution/very receptive. This doesn't just take your health and pathogens into account, but also your emotional state and how much you perceive (and feel) of others.
So the weaker your constitution, the more open your 'receptors' for other people's energies, emotions, toxins and 'stuff'.
This doesn't mean that people with a relatively strong constitution can't empathise or feel what others are going through - some are very highly intuitive and receptive, others are not at all. There are more factors that come into play with this (which is a topic for another blog post at some stage).
What it does mean, is that people with a relatively strong constitution might find it easier to discern between whether what they are noticing/feeling has got anything to do with themselves or if it's simply not their 'stuff' (and therefore ward it off).
When people are highly empathetic, but don't know how to hold their own space, they often perceive everything they are feeling as their own.
So for example, if they feel someone else's anxiety next to them, they will feel it for the other person, as if it was their own emotion. This can cause a feeling of having done something wrong or feeling guilty, with no real explanation.
This openness to whatever else is around them opens them up to not only emotions and energies that are floating around them, but also toxins, dense emotions, stress and pathogens, making them way more susceptible for sickness and exhaustion.
(No wonders! Imagine you are carrying around a bucket full of stuff needing to be processed for others and the world, that's not even your own!!)
So what can be done to strengthen your own constitution?
Your constitution is something you've received at birth, so it's fairly fixed. However, we can always work on positively influencing it, creating a healthy, clear and empowered space for ourselves.
Again, nutrition, adequate rest and sleep as well as self care will go a long way. Reflexology will improve healthy detoxification of all organs and body parts, enabling the body to rid itself of toxins, pathogens and waste much quicker and easier than it usually would for most people.
However, becoming aware of your own space will change everything forever. Realising that you don't need to feel the World through everyone else is the first step.
By getting out of your head and actually owning your own body and being 100% present in it, you effectively don't give anything but your own thoughts and emotions the right to rule your life. Even more so, this is the place from which you can begin to own your own experiences and create the life you want to live!
If you'd like to find out more how to empower yourself as an empath, then read more here https://www.thefootprintconnection.com/blog/7-steps-to-holding-your-space-as-an-empath
and learn about the "7 Steps to truly hold your Space in Life as an Empath".
...And what else affects our immune system and the way pathogens around us can either sweep us off our feet or not bother us all too much?
Now that we've covered everything from food, supplements, sleep and rest to our constitutions and the way we perceive things, it brings me to the last but certainly not least point:
Our thoughts and emotions that we hold towards ourselves.
See, our immune system is pretty much the physical representation of our protection mechanism.
If you imagine a fortress that's warding off an attack during medieval war times; they would have all helped together within the fortress to aim for success, right?
However, what's happening all too often is, that we attack ourselves within.
Maybe you've had a rough morning and you're driving to work, still thinking about it. Maybe you're feeling down on yourself for the way you reacted or responded to the situation. So instead of being at peace with yourself and being present in the moment, you attack yourself with yucky thoughts like 'oh you suck, you should have really known better' or 'that was so not good enough!!'
... all resulting in emotions such as self doubt, guilt and shame.
And what do these low vibrating emotions do to you?
They deplete you.
So going back to our example of the medieval fortress; Instead of fighting off the attack with all your focus and attention on the attacker, you have another attack happening - within your own fortress walls!! - taking away all your attention.
What do you think happens as a result from this?
Yes, the attacker wins over in no time!
What does this example have to do with our immune system?
When you're attacking yourself with harsh thoughts or self beliefs, you're effectively depleting your immune system.
Self doubt depletes your immune system.
So how can we clear this self doubt and inner war time, and create a confident, harmonious environment for our body to thrive and ward off anything negative - no matter if pathogens for the common cold, negative thoughts or emotions?
With my modality The Footprint Connection Reflexology we can clear physical, emotional, mental and energetic blockages, so you can fully be present in your body, love yourself and feel strong and confident within.
It involves not only highly specialised Reflexology techniques, which are great for your overall health and wellbeing; but also feet reading for crystal clarity, and clearing any (conscious or subconscious) blockages that are represented in the physical, emotional, mental, energetic or spiritual body.
Moreover, it includes coaching and mentoring, to take you to the next level of success for your wellbeing, abundance and fulfilment. So also you can thrive, live your dreams and make a positive impact in the World.
I also offer Clearing/coaching/mentoring sessions online, so you can clear your path to purpose and success with fast, effective, highly intuitive and loving support - fusing Spirit with Strategy!
Are you experiencing blockages that are holding you back and that are depleting your immune system/ love towards yourself?
Then come and see me for a session (in person or online) and let's clear what's holding you back, so also you can thrive with a strong and healthy immune system, clarity and confidence!
xxx Sand
Founder of The Footprint Connection Reflexology™ and
Monetise Your Inner Calling Coach & Mentor


text:
Scottish Attractions
A Heads Up : British Science Festival 2012 In Aberdeen
Mar 12th
We know it's quite some time off, but if you need a reason to head Northwards later this year and have never visited Aberdeen before, maybe this could help you decide.
The British Science Festival will be running from September 4th – 9th and has a programme packed with various events sure to entertain those of all ages. The festival is being hosted by the renowned University Of Aberdeen, and while in the 'Granite City' there will be many other summer events taking place to compliment your stay.
You can find out much more about the science festival on the official site here.
The offshore More >
Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2012
Feb 25th
March 15th – April 1st 2012 Various venues across Glasgow.
Glasgow's comedy festival has been entertaining residents and visitors of this famously vibrant city since 2003. The festival has grown to include more than 300 shows, held in dozens of venues across the city. If you are familiar with Edinburgh's comedy festival and have enjoyed shows there, the smaller Glasgow event should be right up your street.
The festival is popular and well-known throughout Scotland and the UK, so if you are planning to visit from outside the city be sure to book your Glasgow hotels early to avoid disappointment.
You can read more More >
Edinburgh Gearing Up For Xmas..
Nov 7th
With only weeks until xmas, the usual array of incredible festive celebrations, including late night shopping and a surprise-filled Treasure Hunt, it's little wonder that Edinburgh has been voted the best place in the UK to enjoy Christmas and Hogmanay. This year you can enjoy the German Market, the stunning Big Wheel and one of the largest outdoor ice rinks in Europe, the city's streets come alive with an incredible, bustling atmosphere thanks to a magical programme of festive events and activities, starting from the end of November right up to the beginning of January.
For those of you who have More >
Blair Castle International Horse Trials And Country Fair
Aug 19th
This is an equestrian event where nearly 1000 horses and riders compete in the arena. Four days of world-class equestrian competition is complimented by a massive tented village of over 200 shops and the Bruadar Country Fair which takes place over the weekend and includes displays and demonstrations.
The trials run 18th – 21st August and you can see full details on the official site here.


text:
Some favorites with my recent senior's shoot with Mark. Was a ton of fun, we went all around Turtle Creek right outside of downtown Dallas and found some pretty rad spots to shoot in the park. It was great getting to hang out with Mark while we shot, a buddy of mine I haven't seen in, well, quite some time.
Mark, it was good catching up, and best of luck to you headed off to school, man!


text: Yoga with Cats Wednesday, April 12, 2017 6:40 PM 9:40 PM 18:40 21:40 Google Calendar ICS Find serenity meow and join the cats in yoga at our new location. Come get a double dose of relaxation therapy with yoga and cats. Connect with cats and fellow yogis in a playful yoga setting. This is an all levels class where beginners are welcome. 45 minute yoga class starts at 6:40 pm and includes an additional 30 minutes of play time with the cats after class,Yoga passes are $25 and also include bottomless coffee.Yoga Class is taught by Laura Burns. See more about Laura and her work with Radical Body Love at https://www.radicalbodylove.com/about/ Book Meow


text:
One of my favourite opening lines in a novel is from The Go-Between (1953) by L. P. Hartley: "The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there". In a later introduction to the book from August 1962, Hartley wrote about what shaped his story of an older man reflecting on his past. It was largely one summer in 1900 that left such "a mark on my memory" at only four-and-a-half years of age: "From then on, for many years, I always hoped that the long succession of hot days would be repeated, but unless my memory betrays me it never was, in England at any rate, until 1959". He concluded that, "I didn't want to go back to it but I wanted it to come back to me, and I still do".
Patricia Florio would likely understand that sentiment. She has written a memoir, My Two Mothers: A Memoir with Recipes. My Two Mothers tells the story of a girl raised by two women in Brooklyn in the 1940s and '50s: Patricia's mother, Millie (actually Amelia), and Millie's sister, Jennie. Patricia writes that "Mama got her ideal situation – and so did Aunt Jennie – a daughter for her childless sister, a daughter to dote on so Mama could fulfill her need to work "outside the house" content that her youngest daughter was safe and well attended to".
The book originally came from Patricia's MA thesis at Wilkes University. Theses and dissertations are often destined to languish in library basements. In this case, publisher Gina Meyers of Serendipity Media Group thought that Patricia's work could make a book. In line with Gina's interests in cooking, she felt that the book should also contain some of the recipes from Patricia's growing up in an Italian-American house in Brooklyn.
The result is the addition of actual recipes to a memoir already filled with food: the J&M Grocery store that Jennie and Millie opened, with the tomato cans stacked in a pyramid; the "smell of fried meatballs [that] wafted out of the windows on Sunday mornings" in the largely Italian and Irish neighbourhood on and around Union Street; and family gatherings – be they for holidays, birthdays, or a death – that "began and ended around a kitchen table". It is a wise move, for food holds such memories for people, particularly (in my experience) children of Italian immigrants.
In addition to the rich characterizations of the Prano sisters, other family members, and neighbours like singer/songwriter Teddy Randazzo and his group The Three Chuckles, Patricia says that there really is one other character in the book. That is Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn seems to be one of those places very much representative of a collective past, even for those who have never lived there. Perhaps it is the nature of a place that was inhabited so largely by people who all left different pasts and foreign lands to start a common future (in my brother's genealogy research, even some of my own family). Children of these people, and their children's children, may have left long ago but many seem to still carry Brooklyn with them. In Walt Whitman's poem "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" Whitman speaks to imagined future commuters (fifty, a hundred or many hundred years from him) on the ferry between Manhattan and Brooklyn:
It avails not, time nor place—distance avails not,
I am with you, you men and women of a generation, or ever so many generations hence,
Just as you feel when you look on the river and sky, so I felt,
Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd,
Just as you are refresh'd by the gladness of the river and the
bright flow, I was refresh'd,
Just as you stand and lean on the rail, yet hurry with the swift
current, I stood yet was hurried,
Just as you look on the numberless masts of ships and the
thick-stemm'd pipes of steamboats, I look'd.
When I visited Brooklyn a few years ago, I looked across that water and, in particular, up at the very tall apartment buildings. My mind wandered not to the future, but to the past, and all those who had lived, loved, fought, and broken bread there. Those who had felt as Whitman had.
In this interview with Patricia, I asked her to reflect on researching, writing about, and grappling with family history; nostalgia; the changing face of Brooklyn; where her writing has taken her; and, of course, good old Italian cooking.
Adam: My Two Mothers was your Master's thesis. What led you to choose your topic of growing up in Brooklyn within a large extended family?
Patricia: "Write about what you know". This is a simple suggestion, one that most writing professors encourage their students to take seriously. So I did. Sometimes I thought of my family as Damon Runyon characters, like from Guys and Dolls, each one a distinct character from the other. Thinking that way put me in touch with my feelings, sights, smells, sounds and tastes for the old neighbourhood in Brooklyn and my family members. I sincerely thought Brooklyn could be a character in and of itself. It has so many definitions: home of the Brooklyn Dodgers; Nathan's Famous in Coney Island; Coney Island beaches; the Cyclone, Thunderbolt, and the Parachute Jump; and the aromas of all of the above. How could I not write about such an eclectic past? Some of the best writers come from Brooklyn, and I certainly wanted to be remembered as one of the good ones.
Adam: Tell me a little about the house on Union Street. How long was the house in the family?
Patricia: The house on Union Street was a gathering place for "la famiglia"; a fun place, not only where I lived with my parents on the third floor, but where everyone came to see grandma, the holidays were spent, tomatoes were grown in the backyard for the Sunday sauce, and where grandma had her basil bushes and fig trees. It was also where we connected to our neighbours: Philip, my best friend, and his family; and the Sconzos on the other side of us who had a contingency of family and friends bigger than ours. The house always evoked festivities. And to tell the truth, it still does.
The actual construction of the house was red brick facade, grey concrete steps, and beige/pink stone balusters. It looked like a mini fortress. There were windows in the front and back of the house. The front windows overlooked Union Street, a busy traffic street, and the windows at the back of the house overlooked backyards of neighbours and the steeple of St. Agnes Catholic Church on Sackett Street.
There were only two apartments in the early 1900s, where the entire Prano family lived in and slept. When I was born, there were three apartments: Grandma living in the basement apartment, Aunt Jennie and Uncle Frank on the second floor, and then up a steep staircase was our apartment. At one time, the apartment my Aunt Jennie and Uncle Frank lived in before I was born were the bedrooms for Grandma Petrina and Grandpa Giovanni's children (my aunts and uncles, of which there were nine altogether that lived. Grandma miscarried a set of twins later in life). I lived with my sister and brother, who were older than me, and my father and mother, of course. Some of the hallway decor I still possess today: beautiful frames and pictures of early Americana, and one of the Rialto Bridge in Venice.
Adam: Your book wasn't originally a food memoir. How did it become one?
Patricia: Gina Meyers had the idea to insert recipes into My Two Mothers, creating the new edition that you've read. I first sent her a version of what I called Cucina Amelia, a celebration of food and family. It was a hardcover cookbook that I made for family and friends with a local printer, using standard 8 by 11 typing paper and old pictures of family members from my parents' photo album. Gina loved it and utilized some of my grandmothers' and mother's recipes. She selected the recipes that are in the new edition of My Two Mothers: A Memoir with Recipes. Eventually, Cucina Amelia became my next project for publication.
Adam: How were the family recipes passed down to you? How did you choose which recipes to include in the book?
Patricia: Since the only time I spent with my part-time working mother was as she prepared our meals around four o'clock in the afternoons, I learned my cooking skills from watching her. The house on Union Street and all the family members celebrated the holidays as one entity every year for as long as I can remember. My mother and her sisters prepared all of those meals, and some of the stories of those holiday events are the head stories in Cucina Amelia. Again, watching and assisting in preparing the dishes, I picked up tips, influences, and the art of cooking for my own family after I was married.
Adam: What was good about choosing to write a family history? What was not so good?
Patricia: When a person chooses to write about family history, it's kind of scary. I remember that I pitched My Two Mothers as my thesis in this way: what if a woman who has a sister who cannot have children decided to give her unborn daughter to her baron sister, on loan that is, would you read that story? My classmates and professor wanted more. And I embellished, or got creative, about how to tell the story. The original thesis has more pages in it than the memoir that was published. There were some things that I didn't feel I had the right to tell, even though most of the people had since passed. It's the Italian guilt left attached to the psyche that did me in!
Choosing to tell this family story, even abbreviated, as it was, for me kept my mother and Aunt Jennie alive a bit longer. It's a bittersweet story, one I enjoyed telling especially during the time the women went into the grocery business together, and when I had them to take care of in their old age. I feel as if I had such a rich childhood, even with its depressive days, that I wanted to share these two women, Millie and Jennie, with the world.
Adam: Italians (I know) are notoriously guarded with the family secrets. There's the whole "don't let the neighbours see" attitude. Was this an issue or barrier when you were writing the memoir; both in terms of other family members finding out and for your own creative process?
Patricia: Yes, I'd have to say I was guarded, especially about their younger brother, whom I called Uncle Sly Fox in the book. His daughter, one of my favourite cousins, and I had always been friends up until the time she aided her father in taking Aunt Jennie away from my home and never bringing her back. I haven't been too forgiving about that. My mother yearned for her sister; they should never have been separated. It's still painful, even as I write these words. I allowed my creative process to go so far. I believe I didn't cross the line. Yet, when I look at my bound thesis, there is a painful aspect of my mother dying that I didn't put into in the book you read. She (Millie) died in 2004 at 95 years old. Jennie died in 2006 at 99 years old. I agonized over how painful it was for me to write. I just made a decision at the last minute that the book was going to the original publisher to leave that out and summarize the ending. But I can't say it stunted my creative process. I'm sure it didn't.
Adam: I'm interested in the allure of nostalgia, and how we may remember a time through rose-coloured glasses. How did you manage this natural human tendency while writing?
Patricia: I am a nostalgic person, but I don't live in the past. I just embrace it. I have a wonderful present life with my husband, children and grandchildren, and several good friends. I live in a beautiful section of the Jersey Shore with the Atlantic Ocean 50 steps from my front door. It has given me poetic license to dream and think and focus on my writing. But I loved Brooklyn and my family growing up there, both sides of my family, even though I'm more aligned to the Sicilian roots inside me. I love to listen to the aria "Nessun dorma". Different arias give me the vision of what used to be, how Italians celebrated life. The culture born inside me I allow to flourish whenever I come in contact with people. I love people. I love company. And I have plenty of it during the summers living in a beach community. I embrace the old ways, yet I'm as modern a woman as my mother and Aunt Jennie were. Nostalgia fills me on certain days and I allow it to enter into me. I don't chase its warmth away.
Adam: What was your family's reaction to the memoir? What did your two mothers, Millie and Aunt Jennie think of it?
Patricia: There are several reviews on Amazon, a few from my family members. My brother said, "You killed me", when we first spoke after he had read my story. My writing caused his emotions to flow. Others thanked me for the memories. My brother's daughter Christine said, "My father won't tell you this, but he felt like he abandoned when you needed him most as a child". Those years that separated me from my sister and brother were like a whole other generation; they are 14 years and 10 years older. My sister married when I was six years old. My brother went into the Air Force when I was eight. In essence, I was an only child.
My mother and Aunt Jennie had both passed when I wrote My Two Mothers. I think my mother would have been extremely happy knowing how much her life impacted mine. We weren't really friends until my mother was about 80 years old. I have to admit I was closer to Aunt Jennie. I had taken Aunt Jennie's infirmities and loss of two husbands, Frank Richmond and Nick Coniglio, as my job to handle. That's why it was so hard for me when she went with her younger brother: the fact that she allowed them to lure her, to go and live with them and abandoned my mother. It took a lot of praying on my part and years for me to get over it.
Adam: Tell me about your participation in the Fellowship program at the Norman Mailer Center. How did this come about?
Patricia: Norman Mailer was on the board of trustees of Wilkes University's Creative Writing programs. He helped get the courses accredited with its founders Dr. Bonnie Culver and Dr. J. Michael Lennon. Dr. Lennon is Norman Mailer's official biographer. Mr. Mailer had a stake in all of its students/writers. And we in turn had a stake and an opportunity to be mentored after graduating with our degrees by other faculty and professors from across the country. These scholarships and fellowships were set up by the Norman Mailer Society or the Norman Mailer Center, I forget which one, and anyone around the world could apply by sending 30 or 40 pages of a project that they are working on. I did this on two occasions. In 2012, I was a fellowship finalist and went to Provincetown to Mr. Mailer's home for my memoir workshop. In 2014, I was granted a scholarship and went out west to Utah for my week's workshop.
Adam: What are some of your other works?
Patricia: On my website, patriciaflorio.com, I have some of my other works that I'm proud of. One called Theresa is about my sister-in-law Terry. Phyllis Scott published a lot of my short stories. I'm especially proud of how I entered into the writing world via newspaper travel pieces and commentaries being published by local and major newspapers. I covered the Scene Page for the Two River Times, a Red Bank weekly newspaper, for a couple of years. I've written for stripedpot.com, a travel e-zine and my work can be found in numerous anthologies and literary journals.
Adam: Brooklyn has undergone tremendous change since your grew up there. To you, what is the most noticeable change?
Patricia: Ah, Brooklyn, to me it has never changed, although I know it has. The face of my grandmother's house has been modernized. Obviously, that's especially noticeable. But nowadays, the people in the neighbourhood where I grew up, now called Carroll Gardens, are rich or at least well-to-do! We were poor white Italian-Americans and Irish-Americans, struggling to better our lives. Now, I guess the neighbourhood is considered gentrified; people are tagged as nouveau riche.
Ebbets Field is no longer there, where the Brooklyn Dodgers were nicknamed the Brooklyn Bums. Brooklyn people loved the Dodgers when I was growing up. The "Boys of Summer" from 1955 when they beat the New York Yankees, will never be again. Brooklyn Heights is still upper class. I go there often to look out across the river and marvel at the skyline. My mother-in-law still lives in Brooklyn, downtown, as it was referred to in the good old days, so I still have plenty of opportunities to eat in restaurants that I had eaten in as a kid.
Adam: As you've gotten older, have your memories become less dependent on the physical house on Union Street, or do you still long to be in that place?
Patricia: My memories are not dependant on the physical house on Union Street. That's why we have memories. I can conjure them up anytime I want. I don't long to be in that place anymore. I can be anywhere where my husband is. We were just married 43 wonderful years. My life and his are joined at the hip. Well, that's what a lot of people say about us. We were in the same career for almost 30 years as court reporters. I still have occasion to transcribe his notes from the District Court at Newark, NJ, when things get hairy and he's on a long trial.
Adam: Do you have any recommendations for people wanting to document family history?
Patricia: I think documenting family history is a fun thing to do if you're up for the job. I spent several months researching my family's history from Palermo, Sicily to the United States, the ship they came on, etc. I even went on a trip to my father's parents' village in Avellino, Naples. I think I found the right spot where my Prato grandparents came from. I've learned a lot of interesting things going to Italy and reading other authors' books about Italy: recipes, culture, their holiday traditions, and so forth. I'm none the worse for all the reading.
A few interesting facts: my parents Amelia Prano and Rocco Prato, almost the same last name, were both born on August 16, five years apart. My mother's name Amelia is similar to my father's mother's name Amalia, whom my sister Molly is named for. Both of my parents had nine brothers and sisters.
Adam: What are you working on at the moment?
Patricia: At the present time, I'm working on what I've entitled Confessions of a Court Reporter. It's a book that starts out about a young girl who tells a very potent lie to her father when she is 10 years old. It also weaves in some of the cases I've worked on as a court reporter and/or transcriptionist. I'm not giving away any more of the story. The first half of the book is now revised and is being edited, while I continue to work on the second half. This is definitely a labour of love that I've been toiling over for the past two years and have workshopped at the Mailer Colonies. It even contains some poetry.
My Two Mothers: A Memoir with Recipes can be purchased at the publisher's website or at Amazon.com. Patricia's other book, Cucina Amelia, is also available on Amazon (link to her author's page). Patricia's website is here.
Excerpts from The Go-Between are from the 2002 edition published by The New York Review of Books (New York, NY). Excerpt from "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" is from Leaves of Grass, available through Project Gutenberg.


text: www.thecarolinacrew.com Walkthrough video of 1850 Morgan Trace Dr. Winston Salem, NC 27127. This is a great home built just last year! If you are looking for a home in a great location this is it! Did I mention the neighborhood pool? If you like our house at 1850 Morgan Trace Dr Winston Salem, NC and would like to see this house or one like it give us a call at 336-265-7253 or email us [email protected] You can see all our available properties at www.thecarolinacrew.com


text:
Wisdom Academy FAQ
Q: How long will I have access to the course once I enroll?
A: When you are enrolled in a Wisdom Academy course, you'll have unlimited online access to teachings that you can return to as often as you'd like. With the Wisdom Academy you can learn at your own pace and on your own timeframe. If you are taking a course as an Wisdom Experience All-Access member, you'll be able to access Wisdom Academy courses while your membership is valid.
Q: Can I download the videos and watch them later?
A: For security reasons, videos cannot be downloaded and must be watched online with an internet connection—but there are no time constraints as to when you must watch them. You will be able to download PDFs of readings and MP3s of guided audio meditations to read and listen to offline.
Q: I live in a different time zone / want to start this course after its launch date. Can I still participate?
A: Yes! You can log in and take part in the course anytime. While the course is initially "live" just after launch while lessons release weekly, the discussion forums will remain active. Once a lesson has been released you can take part in it anytime.
Q: How can I customize my Wisdom Academy profile?
A: To edit your profile, sign in here. Log in with the user name and password you created when purchasing the course, and click on your name in the top right corner of the navigation bar. You'll see links there to edit your profile and change your profile picture. If you've forgotten your user name or password, you can either reset it yourself or contact us at [email protected]
Q: Is there a specific way I should progress through each lesson?
A: You must mark each item (videos, readings and practices) complete before you can take the quiz. You can take the quiz as many times as you like, but need to pass the quiz to be able to proceed to the next lesson. If you try to continue to the next lesson without passing the quiz at 80% or more, you'll be given the option to enter auditing mode. In auditing mode, you're free to move through the lessons without taking the quizzes, but you won't receive a certificate of completion at the end.
Q: What is auditing mode? And how do I get my certificate of completion?
A: When you attempt to go to the next lesson without having finished the quiz, you will be asked if you would like to enter auditing mode. In auditing mode, you will have the flexibility to take part in the lessons without completing the quizzes, but you will not receive the certificate of completion at the end of the course. If you later decide you would like the certificate, you can simply go back to the quizzes you skipped and pass them at 80% or higher. Once certificates become available, just go to the main course page and click the "Print your certificate!" button. This will open a PDF of your signed certificate in a new window.
Q: How do I get my free copy of the book associated with the course?
A: A limited number of our courses offer a free copy of a book associated with the course or a discount on the instructor's books to students who purchased the stand-alone course. You will have received information on how to get your free book or discount in an email from us. If you have questions about this, please email us at [email protected]
Q: What technical requirements are there for taking the course?
Q: What is your refund policy?
A: If you've purchased a stand-alone course offer a 50% refund before a course has launched and during the week following the release of the first lesson. After lesson 2 is released, refunds cannot be given.
Still need help? Contact us at [email protected]