text:
- Like us on Facebook!
- Have polyester and cotton combined men's sweaters for a perfect look. Consider v-neck sweaters for extra style.
Underground City In Middle Of A Meadow
October 11, 2011 6,935 views
Uh-oh, watch your steps, something that seems like an endless meadow can soon turn out to be an artistic outdoor installation.
It is the work street artist EVOL did for music and art festival MS Dockville in Hamburg, Germany. At first he thought it would be a challenge because there were just grass there and nothing else, so he thought why not just grab a shuffle and make an underground city. After 8 hard-working days his installation turned out to be rooftop-gardens of tall buildings that are in a way built into the ground. The tunnels between each building has room for an average person to pass by. Another huge street art installation is this burning portrait selection made with Molotov cocktails.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Why spray tanning?
Whenever you come back from a holiday, the initial point friends and family typically comment on is your terrific tan, or lack thereof. Tanning has actually been popular because the very early 20th century, however the health and wellness risks related to the sun's UV rays have made sustaining an even tan -- much less any type of tan -- tough, specifically for those that live in chilly as well as wet environments.
Enter indoor tanning salons, which came to be a popular pattern in the '80s. Now, indoor tanning is a $3 billion-a-year market in the US alone.
Considering that the year 2000, sunless spray tanning has taken the tanning globe by tornado. It has supplied men with a method to get as well as preserve a healthy-looking, even tan without being subjected to the sun's rays. Exactly what is most impressive is that, unlike previous self sunless tanning methods, the results of spray tanning in fact look excellent.
What is spray tanning?
Spray tanning functions by using an unique mist to the body. This mist is sprayed into the body in a booth, which you could now find at the majority of higher-end tanning beauty parlors as well as medspas. The mist given off has dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is a chemical that responds with dead skin cells by cosmetically coloring them brownish. So after spray tanning, the skin takes on a gold brown colour that typically resembles an all-natural tan.
Depending on the booth utilized, the mist will either be water or oil based; guys with sensitive skin must opt for a water base. Also, some beauty parlors supply different types of mists, enabling you to choose the degree of darkening. If you are extremely fair-skinned, bear in mind that going as well dark will look fake and also uncomfortable, despite the high quality of the item.
Will it provide me an excellent tan?
The mist in spray tanning briefly makes your skin golden brownish, not orange. The chain reaction literally alters your skin colour, so there's no need to fret about smear lines; besides, the products on the marketplace have been well-tested in order to ensure they provide a colour that looks precisely like a natural tan (or as close as it's going to get). Also fair-skinned people that normally transform pink as opposed to brown while tanning will take advantage of a bronze colour by obtaining a spray tan.
For how long does it last?
Mystic Tan, one of the most preferred brands of spray tanning displays, states that as soon as an ideal colour is achieved, it could be maintained by tanning every 5 days. Dream Tan, a competitor, explains that their tans will certainly last around 10 days. As you'll uncover by continuing reading, there are certain steps you can take (before as well as after your spray tanning session) to make sure that your tan lasts as long as feasible.
Right here's a mini-lesson in dermatology: The top level of your skin normally sheds in order to pave the way to more recent skin. Because that leading layer of skin is the component that's colored by the DHA, the tan wears away as soon as the leading level of dead skin removes. So, to expand the effects of the spray tan, you need to utilize moisturizer (you know, that cream your female advocates) to maintain the top level from shedding as promptly. Basically, if you moisturize, you ought to have the ability to maintain an ideal tan for regarding 5 days.
There are many creams on the marketplace, by every cosmetic producer around the world. You cannot stroll into a drug store or outlet store without finding a complete rack of right stuff so head out and obtain that tan that you deserve.
Safe Ways To Stay Tan Year-Round: Top 10 Needs to Use Self sunless Tanners
There are ways to remain tanned without risking your health-yet many people still subject themselves to possibly destructive UV rays to attain a healthy and balanced glow.
A poll taken by the American Academy of Dermatology found that 61 percent of females under 18 assume they are prettier with a tan and also half believe a tan makes them look healthy. This might help explain a research in the Journal of the American Medical Organization that reported skin cancer cells amongst ladies under the age of 40 has actually tripled in the previous 30 years, mentioning the popularity of sun tanning as a popular reason.
Professionals from The Skin Cancer Foundation prompt individuals never to seek a UV ray tan. Nevertheless, for those that intend a tanned appearance, self sunless sun tanning items, such as the Tan Yer Hide ™ House Spray Tanning System, is a secure option as long as it is utilized in conjunction with a minimal SPF 15. Specialists offer these top 10 reasons that people are transforming to such self sunless tanning products:
1. No Hazardous Risks-Sunless tanners do not pose the threats connected from UV rays with sunbathing and tanning beds as well as you get the same great-looking tan.
2. Expense Conscious-You could have your personal sunless tanning set as well as at-home spray tanning system-usually for regarding half the expense of tanning in a hair salon. As an example, the brand-new tanning system from Tan Yer Hide ™ makes use of the exact same spray innovation as a specialist unit as well as could be used to obtain a natural-looking tan, without streaks or orange shade. It likewise has option that could last around 6 months or more.
3. Custom-made Tans-With the new at-home spray tanning system, you could manage the color of your tan. That indicates it is very easy to go from a refined tan to a "merely returned from the beach" appearance within days.
4. Tan Just Specific Areas-With self sunless tanners, you could tan only the areas you want, such as your face and arms, making you look more healthy as well as slimmer.
5. Save Time-There is no need to start repairing your tan months in advance. A sunless tan can be used the day of or the day prior to you require an impressive glow.
6. Sunless Tans Are Temporary-Although some sunless sun tanning systems could last around 2 Week, most only last five to seven days.
7. Safe For More People-Even if you cannot obtain a natural tan for medical factors, you could more than likely still use sunless tanners. Merely check with your doctor initially.
8. Tanners Are Better Than Ever-The use of DHA, the cornerstone in sunless tanners, has been enhanced for many years.
9. No Tan Lines-Tan lines are almost unavoidable with sunbathing and also tanning beds. With tanners, you can apply a tan to your whole physical body without bother with awkward lines afterwards.
10. No Odor-With sun tanning beds as well as creams, an offending smell could occasionally stick around on your skin for days. However, new systems such as the Tan Yer Hide Home Spray Tanning System option merely leave a refined coconut smell.


text:
- Biology & Biomedicine
- Immunology
- Antigen
Article By:
Polley, Margaret J. Department of Medicine, Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York.
Cohen, Zoë Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine Research, Saint Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Last reviewed:2014
- Classes of antigens
- Antibody response
- Sources of antigens
- Use in vaccines
- Related Primary Literature
- Additional Reading
Any substance that causes the immune system to produce specific antibodies or T cells against it. An antigen may be a foreign substance from the environment (such as chemicals, bacterial or viral proteins, or pollen) or formed within the host's own body. Reactions of antigens with antibodies or T cells serve as a defense against microorganisms and other foreign bodies, but can be detrimental if the immune response is mounted against the "self," as in autoimmune disorders. Antigen-antibody complexes are used in laboratory tests for detecting the presence of either antigen or antibody to determine a subject's previous exposure to pathogens. See also: Antibody; Antigen-antibody reaction
The content above is only an excerpt.
for your institution. Subscribe
To learn more about subscribing to AccessScience, or to request a no-risk trial of this award-winning scientific reference for your institution, fill in your information and a member of our Sales Team will contact you as soon as possible.
to your librarian. Recommend
Let your librarian know about the award-winning gateway to the most trustworthy and accurate scientific information.
About AccessScience
AccessScience provides the most accurate and trustworthy scientific information available.
Recognized as an award-winning gateway to scientific knowledge, AccessScience is an amazing online resource that contains high-quality reference material written specifically for students. Contributors include more than 9000 highly qualified scientists and 43 Nobel Prize winners.
MORE THAN 8700 articles covering all major scientific disciplines and encompassing the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology and McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology
115,000-PLUS definitions from the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms
3000 biographies of notable scientific figures
MORE THAN 19,000 downloadable images and animations illustrating key topics
ENGAGING VIDEOS highlighting the life and work of award-winning scientists
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY and additional readings to guide students to deeper understanding and research
LINKS TO CITABLE LITERATURE help students expand their knowledge using primary sources of information


text:
Breaking Bad
Season 1, Episode 2. Publicity still of Bryan Cranston.
Download Only premium members and contributors can download this picture.
More stills and photos from "Breaking Bad"
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte
Links: "Breaking Bad" tv posters, IMDb, AMC
Links: "Breaking Bad" tv posters, IMDb, AMC


text:
More Bang for Your Book
For an outing equally enriching for both parents and babes, head to Barefoot Books in Cambridge, where the wide array of books, toys, artwork, and magical spaces are imbued with rich artistry and mindful, creative storytelling for all ages. Books for younger babes offer the opportunity to learn about colors, numbers, and objects in smooth, soothing color palettes; books for older kids frame entertaining stories in the context of embracing diversity and culture, multigenerational bonds, and the value of creativity. The approach to storytelling is multimodal: many books include story CDs and offer an accompanying line of music CDs, artwork, and toys; the Folkmanis Puppet Line ($9.99-$21.99) allows kids to continue storytelling, even after you are done reading the words on the page.
Founded by two mamas who started their business out of home so they could continue to be close to their children, Barefoot Books is keen on helping other parents across the globe do the same. Their Barefoot Stallholder program provides support to develop home-based businesses; they also offer the opportunity to earn money and free products by hosting Barefoot Parties.
Check out their current schedule for free events and promotions; you'll want to make a habit of stopping in for story hour, currently Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30am.
Barefoot Books, 1771 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Tel: 617-349-1610


text:
- Home
- Academics
- Online
- Graduate Programs Online
- Online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction
Online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction
Design curriculum. Stay current. Prepare for National Board Certification.
Education today is a dynamic process that must respond quickly to changes in cultural, demographic, technological and other forces. The William Woods University Online Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction prepares you to respond to these challenges by designing and developing curriculum for your classroom and assessing its effectiveness. You'll learn about educational trends, assessment procedures, and how to use advanced learning theories and educative design to adjust curriculum in response to current research.
You will be participating in a top-ranked Education graduate program known for its excellence and for providing a significant number of the leaders in Missouri's state school system. As one of these students, you will have the opportunity to learn from active practitioners in the field and make the connections you need for leadership and career growth.
The Online Masters in Education Curriculum and Instruction degree is designed to fit the schedules of working pk-12 teachers and can be completed in two years or less. You can expect rigorous coursework with real-world relevance, designed and taught by professionals who have proven their expertise. We structure the online curriculum intentionally to allow you to develop lasting relationships with peers focused on similar career goals. And, to make this an investment you can count on, your tuition will not go up as long as you stay continuously enrolled.
Your Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree at work
This curriculum and instruction degree will prepare you for National Board Certification by using the National Board Professional Teaching Standards as the focal point of the curriculum. It will also prepare you to become a master teacher within your school district, and may also qualify you to become a curriculum and instruction director within your district. It does not meet Missouri requirements for building-level administrative certification.
You will earn the degree by completing ten three-credit courses, plus a three-credit Action Research course that includes research, a study that can be carried out in the classroom, and an action research paper suitable for journal publication. Students enrolled in the capstone course will also create a portfolio demonstrating their proficiency on each of the National Board Professional Teaching Standards.
Current Issues In Education
Research Design
Improvement Of Instruction
Literacy Instruction
Curriculum Construction
Schools & Law
Appraisal Of Student Learning
- Completed application
- Official transcripts (2.5 GPA or higher) mailed from the college/university of which you graduated
Your digital classroom. Available anywhere.
William Woods online graduate programs are available to students across the country. From our main campus in Fulton, Missouri and beyond, our online program graduates hail from California, Illinois, Kansas, Washington, Arkansas and many more.
Our graduate education programs are available online and are ranked among best online programs in Missouri by US News and World Report.
William Woods in the real world
Many of our graduates hold leadership positions in Missouri's schools. All of them are great teachers.
Admissions Information
Learn more about online admissions requirements, deadlines, tuition and financial aid available to you.


text:
Smith and Hay release their debut album Jazz
Grammy Award winning Jerry Hey played on Jazz, which was a great asset to the album. Hey has played on Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall", "Thriller", and "Bad". Hey also played on albums by Quincy Jones, Chaka Khan, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, George Benson, Earth Wind & Fire, Average White Band, Herbie Hancock, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Elton John and many more.
In addition to Jerry Hey, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey also played with Smith and Hay on Jazz. Brailey was a drummer of Parliament-Funkadelic and co-wrote one of their biggest hits "Give up The Funk".
"Can't Help Falling In Love" with Iliana Eve and Benny Reid (from Concord Music Group) is expected to be the single.


text:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!
For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
Wishing you and your family a very
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Happy NewYear
DIY Christmas Trees
Tools and Materials
- Cereal boxes
- Glue
- Tissue paper
- gift ribbon (the curly ribbon kind)
- Scissors
Take the cereal box and cut it into a square shape. Roll the box into a cone shape and hot glue together. With one of the cones, I hole punched throughout and wrapped with tissue. (to make the tree illuminate, place a battery operated tea light candle underneath).
Glue and wrap with tinsel, tissue paper, ribbon...whatever is pretty in the house. (I've seen music sheets, twine, you name it!).
See you in January 2013!!!


text:
Longitude Sunday Photos and Review
Longitude Festival – Marley Park, Sunday, 21st July 2013
Top Acts from Sunday
Landing at Longitude on Sunday my mission was to check out as many of the acts as humanely possible, in order to narrow down who performed outstandingly and to tell you of new ones to watch for further down the music line.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Main Stage
Our favourite art punk rockers crashed landed right down on us with new material "Sacrilege". Gorgeous, inspirational Karen O in her shining turquoise suit showed us how it's done, never failing to impress once. The crowd piled in as she shaked her black and blonde hair from side to side, stinging us with "Mosquito" while sucking our blood and squealing out in perfect tune as the sun went down. Karen O still has the most amazing electric energy and her on stage presence is magnetic. We loved the slow build up by Brian Chase to "Gold line" and "Zero" perfectly showcases Nick Zinner's insanely brilliant guitar work, which cut through the atmosphere. Terrific work, they didn't forget to thank anyone. What else do you expect from the YYY's? Get your leathers on and never miss them again.
Hot Chip – Main Stage
Hot Chip was one of the biggest surprises of the day! Their beats could be heard across at the Woodlands stage, drawing us all along 'west side story' style fingers clicking. "Over and Over" with its 'muck-savage' funky beat, we will never forget this wonderful performance. Hot Chips new material harnesses world beat influences infused with nostalgic rock similar to "The Lost Boys" in places. Alexis arriving in his powder blue suit supported by the synth players air dance moves, were noted and highly respected. Hot Chip beat their infamous Ambassador gig of 2006 hands down and absolutely smashed up any preconceptions we had. Moving on don't forget to check out "One Life Stand".
London Grammar – Heineken Live Project Stage
London art rock trio, with Hannah Reid at the helm, she blew our minds away and gave us goose bumps. Dot Major and Dan Rothman with Reid knocked us all out attracted major attention and cheers from the audience. If Sinead O'Connor, Bjork and Florence Welch were melted together, Hannah Reid would be the result. Her heavenly voice, that voice – was simply magnificent. LG's simple, funky beat drove home their unforgettable, otherworldly sound supported by these haunting synth keys. 'Excuse me for a while' and listen to "Strong" it's beautiful, can you imagine hearing this live? Get all over "Wasting My Young Years", actually listen to any song by London Grammar as each song is a delicious as the next one. Their debut album is out in early September 2013.
SBTRKT – Heineken Live Project Stage
SBTRKT's (pronounced 'Subtract') Aaron Jerome enjoys performing from behind a tribal mask to preserve his anonymity. Playing a savage dub-step set minus collaborator Sampha, only his symbolic mask up and screen supports him amidst spacey lighting. A glimpse through the smoke at his set ensured a masterly display of tribal-electro infused urban beats. As the camera orbits around space rocks, it felt like we were transported into another world. Check out "Hold On" and "Wildfire" and be sure to never miss a live performance of SBTRKT again, okay!
Milo Greene – Woodlands Stage
On the last day of their European tour, L.A. based band Milo Greene played a very tight, self styled cinematic pop set with "Fleet Foxes" type souring harmonies. They're hipster types,very, very impressive and stylish with a few James Dean types in the band mix. Mulch-instrumentalists, they move and rotate around their instruments with envious ease, very impressive. Keeping the atmosphere hotter than a 'cat on a hot tin roof', the crowd absolutely love them. Milo Greene songs to go after are "1957" and "What's the Matter".
"Ones To Watch" – from Longitude (Sunday)
Half Moon Run – Woodlands Stage
Grunge infused funk like a cross between "Red Hot Chilli Peppers", "Pearl Jam" and "Kings of Leon" playing upbeat keys with a seriously strong bass line. Their harmonies are similar to "Little Green Cars" and they even squeeze in a harmonica. Arty hipsters types they were appreciated by the crowd, demonstrated by a jam packed tent. Loads of pent up energy looking forward to seeing these guys in a venue where the people can crowd surf, give it up for Half Moon Run. The Canadians will return to Dublin in November for a show at The Workman's Club.
East India Youth – Heineken Live Project Stage
The sublime one man electro musician William Doyle rocked our minds at the Heineken Stage check out his Hostel EP which contains boasts four awe-inspiring creations. Still very new and very young, he's standing out as an architect of electronic sound and receiving rave reviews. East India Youth is definitely one to watch over the next few years.
Nialler9 – Redbull Stage
DJ Niall Byrne played an impressive array of electro tropical, dream-wave some deep, deep funky bass. Crowd jammed in now. Lovely dance vibe. Check out his dreamy under water coral sound at a Dublin venue soon via Nialler9.com and we look forward to hearing more material from Nialler9.
Kraftwerk – Main Stage
German electronic outfit Kraftwerk were last band on the bill over the weekend. The band shared 3d glasses with the crowd, these were perched on the crowd's noses creating a very interesting spectacle, while the four robotic DJ's (Ralf Hütter, Fritz Hilpert, Henning Schmitz and Falk Grieffenhagenand) beat us with their older than Old school 3D light show beat and pumped up the crowd for a feast of their tunes. Kicking off with "The Robots", it didn't really grab my attention, the old school graphics didn't work well in the bright sunlight.
For "Radioctivity" green numbers smacked our eyes old school, giving a warpier feeling combined with nice distorted drums. "Computerworld" was very limey with more old school graphics becoming like rainbow lasers. Lights went down for "The Man Machine" and "Numbers" ruled the crowd. The early computer graphics backdrop was good, but slightly hard on the eyes after a long weekend but no major shakes.
Man and machine became one for the last set of Longitude, all in all a good way to slow things down and end on a calm note.
Review by Áine Byrne
See also:
Photos by Tudor Marian


text:
In Myanmar's slums, women pool savings to get relief from crushing loans
YANGON, Myanmar — It's late on a Sunday morning and the sun is beginning to beat down on the tin-roofed huts of Yakhine Yo Ley, a village on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.
Sixty women of all ages sit cross-legged on the wooden floor of one of the huts, sipping tea and chatting in low whispers. All eyes are on a small middle-aged woman standing before one of several large charts pinned to the thatched bamboo walls. The charts are filled with columns and numbers displaying, among other things, the incomes and savings of each of the women.
She motions to the charts, then glances across the room. "It doesn't matter if there are 8 or 60 of us," she says. "By working together we have achieved success."
Suddenly, quiet gives way to spirited shouts of approval from the floor. "Yes, that's true!" one woman can be heard yelling above the clamour. "Not wrong at all!"
In this neighbourhood, the women have set up a savings cooperative. Everyone makes weekly deposits into a community fund — and can access loans at reasonable rates. This has enabled families to break free from the clutches of debt collectors.
Like millions in Myanmar, the women of Yakhine Yo Ley were once trapped in a vicious cycle of debt. They owed money to landlords and loan sharks, sums that kept growing with interest, making it impossible for people as impoverished as they are to pay off the loans in full.
That was until a local NGO called Women for the World convinced the women to form the savings group. They pooled what little money they had so they could begin issuing each other their own loans, on their own terms.
One Sunday every month, the group meets to discuss the monthly progress of their savings scheme.
The savings group requires each of the neighbourhood's 65 households to put away 1,000 Kyat per week, the equivalent of 70 U. S. cents. Twice a year, families can take out a small, low-interest loan, which they can use to pay off outstanding debts, to buy supplies for their businesses, or to pay for their child's education.
The group also saves 30 percent of deposits in a community "rainy day" fund to pay for funerals.
"Before, we had no community," says Pyit Phyo Aung, who as an unofficial leader of the group is the person members go to for financial advice. "We would be socially discriminated against because we were poor. People wouldn't trust us."
"After we started this project," she continues, "we felt a lot happier."
Drowning in debt
The savings cooperative is a creative grassroots response to a long-festering financial problem that has held back Myanmar's poorest residents for years.
Myanmar suffered decades of economic mismanagement under a paranoid, isolationist military junta. People feared losing their savings on the whims of the military leaders, which led to a widespread mistrust of formal banks and lenders.
In 1987, General Ne Win famously changed the country's bank notes to denominations in multiples of nine, his favourite number, wiping out the savings of millions of people overnight. In 2003, weak regulations led to a bank run that saw many of the country's private lenders facing cash shortages and imposing strict limits on withdrawals.
Trust among neighbors is paramount in the savings scheme. The community's money is stored in a box, not a bank. (Connor Macdonald)
As a result, an informal market for small loans developed. Landlords, pawnshop owners and individuals with money became the go-to community lenders. Often, small loans come with monthly interest rates of 20 to 30 percent and hefty fees for late payments. While Myanmar now has its first fairly elected government in more than five decades, these expensive informal lending systems remain the norm for many people.
For Pyit Phyo Aung, such loan arrangements were crushing. The mother of two moved here from a rural area, looking for work after her crops started to fail. But life in the city proved difficult. Initially, landlords would allow her family to rent a plot on a monthly contract. But then they would demand the contract be revised to six months paid up-front. Then it was 12 months. The family would move frequently, abandoning homes because their debt was spiraling out of control.
"We had to borrow money from lenders at 20 to 30 percent a month just to pay the rent," says Pyit Phyo Aung, "When we couldn't pay back the interest, the lenders would come to the front of our house and swear and shout at us in front of everyone."
Mike Slingsby, an urban poverty expert who's worked on poverty alleviation projects in Bangladesh and Cambodia, says that Myanmar has the worst levels of informal household debt in the region.
"I've never come across such bad conditions in terms of people being in the hands of money lenders," says Slingsby. "Both in terms of the percentage and the rates of interest."
According to his own surveys, between 70 and 80 percent of Myanmar's urban poor have borrowed money at rates of 20 percent a month. Some charge up to 20 percent on one-day loans.
"There's a good chance that the lady who sells vegetables in the street has borrowed 10,000 Kyat (USD 7.30) in the morning and has had to pay back 12,000 Kyat (USD 8.80) that evening."
The house that women built
Eight years ago, Yakhine Yo Ley didn't exist. The area where it stands was a field, dotted with bamboo slums where destitute families came to scrape together an existence.
It was in these Yangon slum communities that Van Liza Aung and her organization Women for the World (WFW) identified a group of women to partake in a community savings pilot project in 2009. She had developed the idea based on successful models implemented in neighbouring Thailand, and tweaked it to make women the focal point. That was partially because women and children are most vulnerable to poverty. It was also because in Myanmar, the husband are often the earners but women are usually in charge of household decisions.
Establishing the savings group helped residents to obtain a long-term lease on land and a grant to upgrade their homes and community infrastructure. (Connor Macdonald)
Van Liza Aung convinced Pyit Phyo Aung and a few neighbours to each save 700 Kyat (55 U. S. cents) a week in 2009. Van Liza Aung spent time with the group, earning their trust and teaching them fundamental savings techniques. The women quickly began to see a change.
After combining the minimal weekly deposits, the group began issuing small loans at reasonable rates to its members. It wasn't long before households could finally make ends meet.
"We said 'come together and bring as much money as you can'," says Van Liza Aung. "With all of their money pooled together, and with a financial management system, they started finding solutions to their problems. First little individual problems, but then bigger and bigger problems. Soon enough, they could handle anything."
Bottom-up approach
With savings, the women could even begin to stabilize their tenuous housing situation. Squatters in slum communities like theirs could be evicted at any time by the government, and forced to rebuild their lives elsewhere; the lack of land tenure is another reason Myanmar's urban poor remain stuck in a cycle of debt.
After two years of pooling savings, the group had a breakthrough. They were able to secure a grant from the Asian Coalition for Community Action, a Bangkok-based fund supporting housing rights. Then, with the help of WFW, the group managed to secure a long-term lease from the government for a tract of land to build what became Yakhine Yo Ley.
The families designed and built weather-resistant houses that sit above marshland on concrete footings, and have tidy gardens out front. They upgraded the site's dirt roads to concrete, and built sturdy wooden bridges to replace bamboo ones.
As word of the project spread throughout the area, more families moved to the neighbourhood. Soon, with the help of WFW, other slum communities nearby began forming savings cooperatives, securing land and building their own houses.
As the Yakhine Yo Ley group spent down their housing grant, they replenished it with weekly repayments; that money now serves as a revolving fund for members of other savings groups to build their own houses.
Yakhine Yo Ley has paved roads and weather-resistant homes on concrete footings. (Connor Macdonald)
The new groups look to the women of Yakhine Yo Ley as mentors and regularly meet with them for guidance.
Members like Kyu Kyu Moe are an inspiration. She takes out a loan worth 1,000,000 Kyat (USD 730) every five months for her car-washing business, which she says generates enough income for her to easily meet her repayments.
Pyit Phyo Aung takes out the same size loan every five months as well. At the moment, she uses it to pay back debts to relatives and friends who loaned her half the money to buy a car, which has become the family's main source of income — her husband is a taxi driver.
"At first, even saving 100 Kyat a day was hard," says Pyit Phyo Aung, sitting on the floor of her modest wooden home. "But now, because we have our businesses, every family can save between 1,000 and 5,000 Kyat a week." (Between 70 U. S. cents and USD 3.65.)
Trust in neighbours
Everything in Yakhine Yo Ley is based on trust between the group's members. The community's money is kept in a box under a bed, not in a bank. This can lead to problems, like when one member ran off when she couldn't repay a loan.
"Maybe they ran away because they were embarrassed," says Pyit Phyo Aung. "We would rather that person stayed here and we could've helped them out. For us, they stole a little of the group's money. For them, they left their entire house and had to start a new life."
Building trust within the group is the most difficult part of the process, says Van Liza Aung.
Pyit Phyo Aung (left) and Kyu Kyu Moe both have benefitted from loans through the savings collective. (Connor Macdonald)
Invariably, it is the women who build these safety nets. While the men have traditionally gone out during the day and earned, it's the women who stay in the communities.
"Community managed savings… is something which really brings about a change in people's lives," says Slingsby. "Usually they're managed by women and it's a process that empowers people to show that 'We can save and we can lend and we can recover our community loans'."
Pyit Phyo Aung and her friend Kyu Kyu Moe have seen their standard of living increase measurably since they began saving in 2009, but they say some of the biggest changes are less material.
"We help each other here because we are like family members," says Pyit Phyo Aung. "When you go outside and visit other wards in Yangon, you don't feel this sort of intimacy. But here everybody is part of a community."
Stay up to date on global progress toward creating sustainable cities! Sign up for Citiscope's email newsletter here, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
More from Citiscope
Latest Story
Latest Commentary
- Women who have joined a neighbourhood savings group put aside the equivalent of 70 U. S. cents per week.
- Twice a year, families can take out a small low-interest loan, which they can use to pay off outstanding debts, buy supplies for a business or pay for a child's education.
- The scheme has helped families get out from high-interest loans, access land tenure and build homes.


text:
Shirokuma - Pillars - Long-Sleeve - Tour Leftovers
Shirokuma - Pillars - Long-Sleeve
Black 'Gildan Ultra' long-sleeve shirts w/ double sleeve print and front print in white ink. These are leftovers from the recent State Faults/Shirokuma tour from this Summer, once they're gone they'll be gone forever!
All orders placed through the Dog Knights store come with free flyers, stickers and digital download codes whenever possible. The more you order; the more free stuff you get.
All orders are usually dispatched within 24 hours unless it is a pre-order item. In that case, read the item description carefully and check the social network pages for updates.
If you believe your order has gone missing or arrives damaged by your mail carrier, please email firstname.lastname@example.com. Any rude customers will be ignored.
If you have been charged too much for postage, send an email to receive a partial refund. Please note that postage costs include PayPal fees/packing costs.
Please read the FAQ section for more information.
that's out of stock?


text:
UK Mainland Delivery is FREE for orders over £75.00 (inc VAT).
UK Mainland is England, Scotland, Wales Mainland.
Some Islands where a road bridge exists may be classed as Mainland but not all such Islands are included.
We regret that our Courier classes the following Scottish postcodes as "Islands", although we appreciate that some are not Islands. We are told it is related to remoteness:
If your order total is below £75.00 a UK Mainland P+P charge of £6.00 (inc VAT) will be applied.
For deliveries designated outside the UK Mainland we will advise the shipping cost BEFORE we process your order. This will afford you the opportunity to cancel if the shipping cost is too high. In this event, no payment will have been taken.
Most of our deliveries are made by courier, some smaller items are sent via Royal Mail.
Where our courier is used, you will receive an automated email telling you when your order is despatched and what day the courier expects to deliver. On the Day of delivery you will get another email with an estimated time of delivery. If we have your mobile phone number, the courier will also send you a text approximately 15 minutes before they expect to deliver.
PLEASE NOTE - Courier deliveries will need to be signed for. If you do not expect to be available you can ask us to leave the parcel with a neighbour or in a safe place. Please use the "Any Special Delivery Instructions" box in our checkout for this.
IMPORTANT - Neither The Welders Warehouse nor our courier will be responsible for loss or damage incurred as a result of following customer delivery instructions that ask for the parcel to be left without a signature or at a different address.


text:
Supervision of the use of genetically modified organisms in Finland
The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira), the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and Finnish Food Authority is responsible for the supervision of the Gene Technology Act in practice.
The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health supervises the contained use of GMOs and in health matters also the deliberate releases. The Finnish Environment Institute supervises the deliberate releases in environmental matters, and the Finnish Food Authority supervises the deliberate releases in matters concerning agriculture and forestry.
The Board for Gene Technology leads and coordinates the supervision. As necessary, the Board also orders which authority is competent in a matter related to deliberate releases. The inspection procedures under the Gene Technology Act are provided in the Decree 198/2007 of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Supervision plans
The supervision committee of the Board for Gene Technology has drawn up instructions in Finnish for the product supervision of GM plants.


text:
Bangkok on a Budget
Bangkok on a Budget Cheap Food Bangkok has some the most diverse variety of restaurants in the world to cater to every budget. Here are 2 even cheaper options:- Street Food Street Food on Khaosan Road It also some of the best street food in the world. If you are staying on Khaosan Road then … Read more


text:
Hello my Bunnies,
Yup I'm back, and you guessed it, with another edition of the Lush Diary. Yes … again.
Today is another bubble bar day but this one doesn't look like a macaroon. It looks like a great pyramid and is called Karma Bubble.
I'd say that this bubble bar would be one of the best bubble bars to buy as a gift for a men. For one thing, The Man in my life picked it last time I brought him to Lush.
I find that this bubble bar looks quite badass (yeah okay, I'm way off ^^) with its dark colour and geometric prints.
Once in the bath, it doesn't fail to deliver and creates a ton of bubbles. Not unlike the two macaroons that I mentioned earlier this week. It creates enough bubble to hide the surface of the water entirely.
The water underneath is a deep, rich purple with a few specks of glitter (but don't tell the men, it'd scare them off.) Really gorgeous, even though you absolutely can't see it because of the bubbles.
Scent wise, this bubble bar has a more musky and spicy scent which also leads me to believe that it'd be amongst the ones that men would like. It's a bit richer and deeper than most scents in Lush and also a tad more manly. However not truly manly as I find that it works perfectly for a girl/women too.
All in all, another great bubble bar that creates a heap of bubbles and smells delicious. I like this one for cold and dark nights and to buy as gifts for men.
Have you tried it ? What are your thoughts ?


text:
September 25, 2017
Watergate XV - Ltd.15 Years Boxset: 5x12"
A1. Henrik Schwarz - Kantine, A2. Jimi Jules - Every Detail, B1. Matthias Meyer & Ryan Davis - Hope, B2. Gorje Hewek & Izhevski - Arkkaim, C1. Solomun - Amanacer, C2. Rodriguez Jr. - 1PM Sunrise, D1. Anja Schneider - Vibration, D2. Mathias Kaden - 7th Dimension, E1. Ellen Allien - Lost In Paradise, E2. Alex Niggemann - Ava, F1. Marco Resmann - Beehive, F2. Catz 'n Dogz - Mr Invoice, G1. Cinthie - Hatschi Hatschi, G2. Sebo K - Mirage, G3. Osunlade - Nyepi, H1. Hyenah - Elinga, H2. Floyd Lavine & Gumz - Black Note, I1. Oliver Koletzki - The Inner Me, I2. Adana Twins - Zuul, J1. La Fleur - Femton, J2. Tiefschwarz - Control, J3. Kollektiv Turmstrasse - Kisses In The Dark Tracklist 2CD: CD 1: 01. Henrik Schwarz - Kantine, 02. Jimi Jules - Every Detail, 03. Matthias Meyer & Ryan Davis - Hope, 04. Gorje Hewek & Izhevski - Arkkaim, 05. Floyd Lavine & Gumz - Black Note, 06. Ellen Allien - Lost In Paradise, 07. Alex Niggemann - Ava, 08. Marco Resmann - Beehive, 09. Tiefschwarz - Control, 10. Catz 'n Dogz - Mr Invoice, 11. Steve Bug - Silver Ants, 12. Osunlade - Nyepi CD 2: 01. Butch - Nowhere, 02. Solomun - Amanacer, 03. Rodriguez Jr. - 1PM Sunrise, 04. Lee Jones - Sacbe, 05. Oliver Koletzki - The Inner Me, 06. Adana Twins - Zuul, 07. Anja Schneider - Vibration, 08. Mathias Kaden - 7th Dimension, 09. La Fleur - Femton, 10. Hyenah - Elinga, 11. Cinthie - Hatschi Hatschi, 12. Sebo K - Mirage, 13. Kollektiv Turmstrasse - Kisses In The Dark
September 25, 2017
V/A - Deep Love 2017
The annual Deep Love compilation has become one of our most important releases to showcase what Dirt Crew Recordings is all about. It gives us the chance to highlight and welcome new faces alongside the residents who keep the Deep music we stand for alive. This year more than ever we have artists from all over the World, from Japan to Canada and Lithuania to Austria represented. The man the myth…Mr. Nightcrawler himself is back with another masterpiece. True to his usual unique blend of many styles, Nachtbraker has delivered typically off-kilter "Cobi Cabani" with crashes and sound design that punctuate a freaky bass and rippling lead. Dropping in for his debut outing on our label, Viennese resident of Sass club and founder of the "Secret Crunch" imprint, Roman Rauch brings the filtered Disco House. Ripe with fruity percussion and deeply ingrained groove, "Sweet Ears" breathes and builds keeping up energy to work bodies throughout the cut. Close friend of the Dirt Crew family and member of Detroit Swindle's Live super group, Lorenz Rhode is an extraordinary artist who's not only active in the House Music scene but also created his own Big Band, the Rundfunk-Tanzorchester Ehrenfeld. He gets right to it in "On Top" a legit live key and bass jam with all the funk from a seasoned jazz musician. From across the Atlantic we have Toronto's Jesse Futerman teaming up with Dan Only, Jesse remixed Harry Wolfman's last EP on DC and is known for his laid back house grooves. On "Changes" he wanders into coastal tinged Deep House territory.
September 25, 2017
Various Artists - 10 Years Of Sci+tec
In The Name Of What A decade deep into its ongoing investigations, documenting and pushing the sonic frisson and fusion between science and technology, SCI+TEC remain at the very forefront of electronic music. Its feet firmly on the dancefloor, its spirit deep inside the machines, its sights set on the future: Dubfire's label has continuously forged its own deep furrow and has been doing so from day one. With breakthrough Dubfire releases such as 'Roadkill' and 'I Feel Speed' SCI+TEC has managed to create a whole new framework for 21st century techno. All the while SCI+TEC has consistently championed and encouraged new and unsung talent from around the world, amplifying legions of rising names; Davide Squillace, Paul Ritch, SHADED, Simi, Delete, Harvard Bass, Joop Junior and countless more include SCI+TEC releases in their rich histories. This precision balance of stark sonic signature, technical ideology and nurturing new ideas and talent has led to SCI+TEC's perpetual momentum into every house and techno DJ's playlists and sets for the last 10 years. Be it the label's penchant for deep, undulating subby grooves or its passion for warehouse-razing thunder-powered techno, the SCI+TEC sound covers every corner of the floor and every chapter of the night; as proved by the label's many world tours. And proved once again by this fittingly stacked anniversary album.


text:
Making Scottsdale Streets Safer
Photo enforcement has been in use in Scottsdale since 1996, so years of data exist to determine if it actually makes Scottsdale streets safer. According to a recent study, it does.
Lee Engineering, an independent firm specializing in research and forensic traffic engineering, analyzed crash data from 2007 to 2013 at 13 intersections and 6 street segments in Scottsdale with photo enforcement and found that crashes were significantly reduced.
"We wanted to know whether we should continue to use photo enforcement. This data and its analysis tell us we should," said Paul Basha, Scottsdale Transportation Director. "It makes our city streets safer."
Lee Engineering analyzed up to five years of data from before and after photo enforcement was implemented. Noteworthy results from the study include the following:
- At the 13 intersections with red light and speeding photo enforcement, overall crashes were reduced by 23 to 24 percent, and crashes related specifically to red-light running were reduced by 33 to 35 percent.
- For the six road segments with speed photo enforcement, overall crashes were reduced by 37 percent.
- At intersections with enforced left-turn movements, left-turn crashes were reduced by 63 percent.
- Both enforced and control locations saw a reduction in crashes, likely due to a positive spillover effect on driver behavior in surrounding areas.
- In 2007 red light and speed photo enforcement was implemented at southbound Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard, resulting in a 28 percent reduction in the average number of crashes per year. (Photo enforcement was chosen for this location because in 2006 there had been 46 accidents at the intersection, and it had the third highest collision rate in the city.)
The study adds to a growing body of research conducted both in the Valley and nationwide that has shown the effectiveness of photo enforcement for reducing traffic violations and crashes.
This study, in particular, attempted to address some of the challenges to analyzing photo enforcement programs, such as small data sample sizes. Lee Engineering used two statistical analyses known as the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test and the Mann-Whitney U that work with smaller data sets.
Adding to the robustness of the study, nine of the locations with photo enforcement had a full five years of crash data from before and after implementation. Data was also available for corresponding control segments and intersections that had similar traffic control, lane configuration and traffic volumes, which further validate that the reduction in crashes wasn't due to other influences besides photo enforcement.
Not only does photo enforcement improve safety, it also saves taxpayer money. A 2005 study done by the Arizona Department of Transportation (Report No. FHWA-AZ-05-550) of red light camera use by Phoenix and Scottsdale estimated that the reduced number of severe crashes resulted in $4,504 annual savings for the 10 Phoenix intersections studied and $684,134 annual savings for the 14 Scottsdale intersections studied.
Scottsdale plans a second phase to its study that will look at photo enforcement activated prior to 2007. It will take longer to compile as the records aren't as complete related to where signals, left turn arrows and through lanes were located.
"It's more complicated to analyze older data," said Basha. "But we want to investigate more data to either verify or dispute what we have discovered in this first phase of the study."
To view the complete study, click here.
Learn more about Scottsdale's photo enforcement program.


text:
Boy was that a storm last night!
Around 7:30pm, we noticed the darkening of the sky. I knew there was a chance of storms, so I decided to check weather.com to see what was heading our way. The radar showed a nice, long storm system moving across the state of Ohio, right along I-70. It was just reaching the west side of Columbus & stretched all the way to the OH/IN border. We were in for quite a storm!
The Prophet happened to notice a spider outside our kitchen window moving quickly & acting differently. I saw another in our patio door, also acting peculiar. After watching for a few minutes, I realized it was rapidly taking its web down, as the wind was picking up. I looked at the other & it was doing the same thing. These two spiders were using their spider sense & intuition to protect their homes from the approaching storm.
The munchkins had already eaten their bedtime snack, brushed their teeth, & were settling down for reading time. They are not terrified by storms, but they did want me to sit near them instead of doing household stuff. I stopped what I was doing & joined them in the living room. Why not have a reading time for all of us?
...Because the power went out!
Not five minutes after I'd sat down, there was a bright flash of lightning, a crash of thunder, the power flickered, then out it went.
We didn't want to light candles due to the heat & wanted to keep the flashlights until we really needed them, but thankfully there was still light outside. Also, The Princess has a battery operated light up angel that gives off a good bit of light, so we also used that...until The Saint confiscated it for himself, running around w/ this "lightsaber angel." (Yes, he is all boy & a Star Wars fan, esp. Star Wars weapons!)
So, what did we do to pass the time while the power was out?
Because the lightning was so incredible, The Princess & I went upstairs to watch from the boys' bedroom window. Huge bolts of lightning streaked through the sky constantly. It was a magnificent light show while the thunder rumbled non-stop, sometimes loud enough that the house shuttered.
When we came back downstairs, all of us gathered around the kitchen table, holding hands to say our bedtime prayers. We changed them slightly to allow everyone a chance to offer their own intentions. The munchkins really liked this change & had some wonderful, heartfelt prayer requests.
The Prophet & I enjoyed a nice mother & son chat afterwards. He had some questions regarding some words he'd (very unfortunately) heard from neighborhood kids. We talked about some of their meanings (not all because he's WAY TOO young to know their definitions) & why they should not be repeated or used in any context.
The Archangel just wandered around the house. He did play The Prophet's DS game system for a bit, but not for long. He was very tired, but knew he couldn't sleep w/ the storm raging outside. All the while, The Saint continued waving the angel around...perhaps this was his was of keeping us protected!
The spiders returned & began to weave new webs around 9:30, so we knew the storm was dying down. Not knowing how long the power would be out, we decided to make up beds on the living room floor for the munchkins. I opened up & spread two outdoor sleeping bags on the floor, the outer side up because it's cooler than the flannel side.
The munchkins were still a bit wound up, so I started singing to them...Be Not Afraid & Like a Shepherd. The Saint just didn't want to sleep, so I figured I'd just take him up to sleep in our bed. As I was preparing to go up, the power returned (about 10pm). I've never seen the munchkins move so fast to get upstairs to bed, each one thanking Jesus all the way up the stairs! Within 15 minutes all but one were asleep...& he soon followed!
The lightning had changed by this time. It was now behind the clouds...no bolts, just beautiful flashes silhouetting the clouds. As I stood in the boys' bedroom window watching this gorgeous display of light, I couldn't help but think of how wonderful our God is. Through this storm that had just passed, he brought much needed rain to water the earth, a lesson in survival through watching the spiders, & a show of light that was much better than any TV show or video game! He gave us a chance to enjoy each other's company w/out any distractions...and there was no bickering! The power was only out for about two hours, but I could easily have handled much longer...esp. if it meant more time w/ my dear family in such a peaceful way.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
What the Storm Brought Last Night
Boy was that a storm last night!
Posted by Maria at 2:07 PM 0 comments
Friday, July 29, 2011
Where I'm From
Dear Judy, my wonderful blogging friend, posted this fun blog activity. Following the outline for a poem by George Ella Lyons (find the template HERE), you create your own "Where I'm From" poem. Let me know if you give this a try...I'd love to read about where you're from!
Where I'm From
I am from soaps and cleaners,
From Tone and Palmolive, from Snuggle and Pledge
I am from the home on a hill –
Sledding in winter and avoiding the creek…mostly,
Biking barefoot in summer…foot caught in spokes…lesson learned,
Somersault races in spring and fall…grass in hair and stains on clothes.
I am from the mint for our tea,
Green beans snapped on warm summer nights…more eaten than stored,
A pine tree, given in third grade, now twice as tall as me 30 years later.
I am from holiday decorations and nearsightedness,
From HandyGramps and HelpfulGrammy
From (last names removed for anonymity)
I am from the teller of jokes and eyes in the back of her head,
From "Be nice to your sister!" and "I love you!"
I am from the crucifix and the rosary, weapons of my Faith –
Comfort for sorrows, healing for pain
Joy of salvation, Heaven's eternal promise.
I'm from Ohio, yet a melting pot…a mutt of the world:
Five eighths Italian, then German, Irish, & much more
From rigatoni & ravioli, to pizzelles and biscotti,
Add a bit of sauerkraut and potatoes, stuffed peppers and zucchini.
From the brandied cherries, accidently given to Dad at age two,
Two parents who played as kids, not dating until after high school,
And from first time desert driving…in the rain!
I am from frames hung around the family room,
albums on shelves, scrapbooks of memories,
reflections of the times gone past…
Gone but not forgotten.
Posted by Maria at 11:44 AM 1 comments
Labels: Fun and Games, memes
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Small Successes
Sherry at her blog, Chocolate for Your Brain, hosts Small Successes each Thursday. Check it out to see others' successes & share your own. Recognizing the small things we accomplish each week helps us realize that even when it doesn't seem like it, we are getting things done!
1) I said, "Yes," when the boys asked if two of their cousins could spend the night last night. They've been asking All. Summer. Long. but the timing has never been right.
2) We received the computer from Connections Academy last week. We bought an inexpensive computer desk for it & I got it all set up on Monday in the school (w/ The Archangel's eagerness in helping...he's SO excited to start next month). I also got most of the schoolroom organized, including a place for all the munchkins' textbooks & supplies.
3) I forced myself to do a few tasks that I don't like to do...some weeding of the garden (mostly around the veggies that have managed to survive the heat) & scrubbing part of the shower. Both were not completed (& at this rate, may never be completed!), but I saw the need & just did it. The Princess helped some w/ the garden & we talked about the Gospel from a couple weeks ago when the man sowed his seeds & his enemy later planted weeds so that the wheat & weeds grew together. She is so like a sponge when it comes to discussing faith!
BONUS: I didn't catch this a couple of weeks ago, but I've hit the 100 mark on posting my "Small Successes." I LOVE this meme each week!
Posted by Maria at 7:33 AM 2 comments
Labels: Small Successes
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings
My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.
1) I'm thankful for sweet hugs & kisses from the munchkins. Even The Prophet, at age 10 1/2, still loves to give them. One night, he specifically asked for a hug because the one I gave him the night before "felt so comfortable" to him.
2) I'm thankful for the helpfulness The Saint exhibits. He'll come up to me & say, "I help, Mommy-uh?" (I'm not sure why he puts the "uh" at the end of Mommy. He does it w/ Daddy too!)
3) I'm thankful for the faith The Princess continues to share. Last night, during reading time, she was going through the leftover pages in her PSR book. She cut out all the pictures of saints & this morning, pasted them on construction paper to make a collage.
4) I'm thankful for thrift stores. I found another one the other day near where I work & it just so happened that everything was 50% off that day. I bought 6 pairs of pants & 3 long sleeve t-shirts for The Saint, one pair of pants for The Prophet, & a small bag of melon flavored gummy rings for all of us. Grand total w/ tax: $9.50! (BTW - The gummy candies were a brand new package, not resale! LOL!)
5) I'm thankful I was able to get set up in our new time clock system at work, even though I forgot to go in last week. When I remembered, I thought I was too late & was afraid I wouldn't get paid, but thankfully everything worked out.
Posted by Maria at 10:00 AM 3 comments
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Simple Woman's Daybook
I am thankful...that the rain slowed down enough for me to drive home from work safely last night.
From the learning rooms...one last continent to study this week - Africa; math skills practice; getting the school room organized
From the kitchen...I'm thinking something w/ zucchini tonight since I picked one from our garden the other day
I am wearing...a black cotton short-sleeved top, a long denim skirt, & barefeet
I am creating...(continuing to create) a home of peace & simplicity - clean & uncluttered!
I am going...to continue working through the 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way. Primary focus for me this week (deviated a bit from the ebook) is to get the school room organized.
I am reading...The Curious Adventures of the Abandoned Toys by Julian Fellowes (reading aloud to the munchkins), Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming, Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset, & The Imitation of Christ.
I am hoping...relief from this heat wave.
I am hearing...the crackle of The Saint's mylar birthday balloon (it's lost its air, but the munchkins love squishing it)
Around the house...I'm still working through 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way. I love the reflections & tasks in this ebook.
One of my favorite things...listening to The Saint as he repeats the prayers he is learning
A few plans for the rest of the week...setting up physical therapy for my back, more cleaning & organizing, schoolwork, library, & "Mom Therapy" on Fri.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...This was taken for our church directory when I was about four years old. It's one of my favorites because it's one of the few times I liked my hair as a child. This was one of the photos I put on my parents' anniversary collage.
Posted by Maria at 8:34 AM 0 comments
Labels: The Simple Woman's Daybook
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Catholic Company Book Review - Wholly Mary - Mother of God by Chris Padgett
2) That night, at my prayer group gathering, one of my friends mentioned that she heard Chris Padgett speak on Catholic radio on the way to our gathering.
3) When I got home that night, Casinodad asked me to look up online a book he'd just heard about. When I found it, Wholly Mary - Mother of God was also listed. It turns out he was listening to the same radio program as my friend.
In Chapter 5: Trailblazer for Heroic Spirituality, I really loved how he related Mary to foreshadowings in the Old Testament. For example (without giving all of them away):
"Mary is the great women of old, such as Judith and Esther, defeating the enemy through strength and intercession." (pg. 46)
Chapters 8 & 9 are dedicated to praying the rosary. He briefly describes the four mysteries & gives insights/suggestions for praying the rosary as a family. I found his descriptions of his own family's rosary time very comforting...not all kids will be completely on board! There will be arguments, there will be distractions, but the important thing is to keep at it. It takes time to adjust to the practice of praying the rosary together. By trying out Mr. Padgett's tips, you will eventually find a rhythm that suits your family.
Mary is present in all aspects of our lives...in prayer, at Mass, in secular society, etc. All we need to do is call on her prayers & intercession. She points the way to her Son, Jesus.
Posted by Maria at 8:20 PM 0 comments
Labels: book reviews, The Catholic Company Review
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Small Successes
Sherry at her blog, Chocolate for Your Brain, hosts Small Successes each Thursday. Check it out to see others' successes & share your own. Recognizing the small things we accomplish each week helps us realize that even when it doesn't seem like it, we are getting things done!
1) I recovered our kitchen chairs. About 2 years ago, I got tired of the spotted, faded, stained cushions on the chairs, so I purchased a couple waterproof, fabric shower curtains from the dollar store. They worked great & were easy to clean. Thankfully, I only needed part of one package & had plenty left over to recover them again. A little Murphy's Oil Soap to clean up the chairs & they are almost looking new!
2) The kitchen is still clean & de-cluttered from the deep cleaning!
3) We finally started doing some of the schoolwork I'd been promising the munchkins we'd do this summer. I kept putting it off, but finally decided to push through & just do it! I even found some fun Harry Potter educational activities for The Prophet since he's been reading the books lately (Harry Potter math problems, journal ideas, etc.)
Posted by Maria at 7:30 AM 4 comments
Labels: Small Successes
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings
My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.
1) I'm thankful The Saint is FINALLY sleeping in the boys' room in the toddler bed we bought about six months ago! Until just a few days ago, he refused to even sit on it.
2) I'm thankful the other three munchkins were able to talk him into it. He's sleeping better & is happier throughout the day because his sleep isn't disturbed as much. (I think he & The Princess kept bumping into each other throughout the night & it would wake him up.)
3) I'm thankful that I am becoming unattached to stuff! It is amazing how much less stress I feel in a clean, de-cluttered room. There is definitely a connection to outer stuff & inner peace.
In the process of cleaning & de-cluttering our home, I've been ruthless in purging stuff we no longer need or use. Some I've pitched, as it was not worthy to even pass on to others. Some I've boxed up to donate. Some stuff has been re-purposed. The kitchen is completely done & this week, I've been working on the living room (which isn't too bad) & the front room, getting it ready for school.
4) I'm thankful for The Archangel's excitement to begin school! We've been through so much in the last couple years, adjusting to his ADHD & aggression issues. While things are still not completely under control, it is GREAT to hear him say that he's going to like Connections Academy & that he can't wait to start! (After much prayer & discussion, we decided an online school might be a good fit for him. The other two will still be doing mostly Catholic Heritage Curricula, w/ some other stuff thrown in.)
5) I'm thankful for the wit & wisdom of Bill Cosby! The Prophet wanted to watch something yesterday afternoon & chose our DVD set of the complete first season of The Cosby Show. What better way to beat the heat than laughing through the antics of the Huxtable family!
Posted by Maria at 7:30 AM 5 comments
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Simple Woman's Daybook
I am thankful...for the help I've had from the munchkins & Casinodad in cleaning the kitchen.
From the learning rooms...taking a book trip to Europe & Africa to finish up our continent study from this past school year - STILL; going to start refreshing our math skills this week, too
From the kitchen...Casinodad's sister & BIL came for dinner. I made chicken stir-fry, fried rice, & coconut crusted shrimp (I actually just opened the box for those & fried them!)
I am wearing...white T-shirt & pink shorts w/ white flowers (my jammies)
I am creating...a home of peace & simplicity - clean & uncluttered!
I am going...to continue working through the 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way. Today I started on the living room.
I am reading...The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen, Wholly Mary by Chris Padgett, & The Imitation of Christ.
I am hoping...relief from this heat wave.
I am hearing...the hum of the refrigerator & air conditioner.
Around the house...I'm still working through 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way. I love the reflections & tasks in this ebook.
One of my favorite things...time spent w/ family.
A few plans for the rest of the week...more cleaning, schoolwork, prayer group Wed. evening, library & "Mom Therapy" on Thurs., & just trying to stay cool (heat advisories are already up for tomorrow - high of 92 w/ heat index around 100)
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...This is my kitchen on Sunday afternoon, after spending about 2 1/2 weeks on the 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way. The kitchen was to take only eight days, but I took my time & cleaned out everything! I even have extra space in a few cabinets right now!
Posted by Maria at 9:38 PM 0 comments
Labels: The Simple Woman's Daybook


text:
Join us for a Spaghetti Dinner to benefit Paula's House on Friday, March 18, 2016 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Grace Lutheran Church located at 630 N. Monroe Street in Monroe.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for children, and are available through Cheryl Wassus at (734) 430-9570 or at the United Way of Monroe County.
Hope to see you there! Check out the flyer here.


text:
Refine your search
Rawdon Road,
CONKERS, the award winning attraction at The Heart of the National Forest, a unique mix of indoor and outdoor experiences to keep you and your family engaged for hours.
In the Discovery Centre there are four discovery zones designed for children and adults of all ages, over 100 interactive exhibits, the Enchanted Forest Adventure Play area with scary troll, bats and spiders, the interactive forest floor and the simulated tree top walk – a moving bridge through the skies. NEW FOR 2017 Enjoy our exciting 4D Cinema Experience - opening at Easter
Enjoy the great outdoors and explore over 120 acres of the picturesque grounds including maturing woodland, lakes and gardens. There are 23 different outdoor activities including the 450 metre barefoot walk. Visitors can walk along sculpture trails or through a wonderful wildflower glade, try out the challenging eighteen stage activity course, climb to the top of the sky viewing tower for a treetop panorama or play in the Playdale adventure playground and our Twisty Towers play area".
There's also the new Aerial Adventure with high and low ropes, climbing wall, 110 metre zip wire and power-fan descender (please note there is an additional charge for the Aerial Adventure activities).
CONKERS also runs a number of activity programmes during the school holidays.
Jump on the train and take a ride between the Discovery and Waterside Centres. A great place for all the family!
There's a fun packed programme of events from Santa's Winter Wonderland through to Halloween and Firework Nights and live music in the Arena at Waterside. Our music concerts are performed in a covered amphitheatre.
New for 2017 the 4D Cinema Experience brings a whole new dimension to the visitor experience. You are immersed into a world of special effects including lightning and smells! This creates the ultimate cinematic experience.
The first show is "The Little Ant Adventures" – a short animation but full of surprises. In Little Ants Adventure, families will 'meet great friends, Qin and Ding as they try to fly and end up hurtling through the forest using a leaf as their mode of transport'. Cinema-goers will 'follow them as they slalom through the branches and swim through the river on a rollercoaster journey, brushing with nature at its best'.
Opening details
1 April - 21 September: 10:00 - 18:00
22 September - 31 March: 10:00 - 17:00
Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Adult: £9.95, Child: £8.95, (Under 2) Free, Family: £35.95, Concessions: £8.25
(Please note: There is a small additional charge for the Billy Bonkers Indoor Play Centre at Waterside).
Please visit the website www.visitconkers.com for full pricing.
From the South: M42 leave the M42 at J11, travel north west on the A444 towards Burton-on-Trent. After approximately 2 miles, when reaching the village of Overseal turn right at the junction with the B5003 for the Waterside Centre or take the second right at the next crossroads and follow the road up to the T junction, turn immediately right towards Moira and you will find the Discovery Centre entrance approximately 100 yards on your right.
From the North: A42 leave the A42 at the junction to Measham, travel south to the traffic lights. Turn right on to the B586 toward Moira. CONKERS is clearly signed on the junction with the B5003 at Moira. Travel straight ahead for approximately half-a-mile for the Discovery Centre entrance or turn left at this junction and follow the road to the Waterside Centre.
- Baby changing facilities
- Coach parties accepted
- Credit cards accepted (no fee)
- Disabled toilets
- Education/study area
- Facilities for groups
- Facilities for educational visits
- Gift shop
- On-site catering
- On-site light refreshments
- Picnic site
- Public toilets
- Pushchairs available
- Telephone (public)
- Welcome Host
- Wheelchairs available
- Accepts groups
- Facilities for conferencing
- Facilities for corporate hospitality
- Children welcome
- Disabled access
- Dogs not accepted (except guidedogs)
- Smoking not allowed
Self-Assessed Accessibility Details
- Designated parking for guests with disabilities
- Within 50 metres approx. of entrance
- Drop-off point for guests outside entrance
- The route from the parking area to the entrance:
- Is flat (i.e. without steps)
Public Areas
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift:
- From the entrance to reception / ticket area
- To a specially adapted public toilet suitable for wheelchair users
- To the gift shop
- Lift equipped with raised floor numbers or braille numbers or letters
- Contrast markings on clear surfaces such as glass doors
- Seating available for visitors with limited mobility
- Clear signage
- Effective lighting for visually impaired visitors
- Good colour/tonal contrast for visually impaired visitors
- Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility
- Displays at suitable height for wheelchair users / children
- Audible alarm system
- Visual alarm system
- Automatic door at the main entrance
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift to cafeteria
- Restaurant / cafe provide meals for visitors with special dietary requirements:
- Sugar free (diabetic)
- Gluten free (coeliacs)
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Seating suitable for wheelchair users, ie moveable and good height for person sitting in a wheelchair
- High chairs for children
- Children's menu
Received 24/11/09


text:
The holidays are upon us and what better way to celebrate than with these free printable holiday gift tags I created for you.
Of course, they are even better when attached to a sweet little package with jewelry inside. Right now, at Blue Nile, you can save 15% off regularly priced jewelry thru December 23rd so you are guaranteed to have your pretty bling gifts arrive in time for holiday gifting. Simply use coupon code BLUE15 at checkout to save. Oh, and the best part? Blue Nile is offering Free FedEx 2 day on all orders, and it bumps up to Free overnight delivery on all orders placed on December 22nd and 23rd. I'd say it's time to start shopping, saving 15%, and wrapping up your jewels in the Blue Nile signature box {or satchel} with these pretty holiday gift tags.
Terms: *Offer valid on select regularly-priced jewelry purchases. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount code, cannot be applied retroactively. Offer is only valid on select jewelry items while supplies last. Without limitation, offer will not apply to sale merchandise, preset diamond stud earrings, preset diamond pendants, loose diamonds, Build Your Own Diamond Jewelry®, Build Your Own Ring®, Build Your Own Earrings®, Build Your Own Diamond Pendant®, Monique Lhuillier Engagement, Truly Zac Posen Bridal, Colin Cowie Engagement, custom engagement rings, preset engagement rings, gift certificates, custom orders, backordered items and jewelry cleaning products. Discount will appear at time of check out AFTER the Promotion code BLUE15 has been entered and does not apply towards any duties, taxes or shipping insurance fees. Void where prohibited. Offer expires at 11:59 PM EST on December 23, 2015. The offer terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Other restrictions may apply.
This download is for personal use only and cannot be re-sold and/or used commercially. Once downloaded, simply open in a photo editing program and print {preferably on photo paper to keep the brightness of the gems}. There are 8 on a single page, simply trim in half vertically and horizontally and then each in half again. Enjoy and feel free to share how you're using them on social media by tagging me @weddingsites - I would love to re-share.


text:
Sydney J. Freedberg, Arthur Kingsley Porter Professor emeritus of Harvard University, chief curator emeritus at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, died at his home in Washington, D.C. on May 6, 1997. He was 82. Professor Freedberg, a legendary figure in his field, High Renaissance art, was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1988 by the President of the United States, the only scholar ever to have been so decorated.
Professor Freedberg graduated from Boston Latin School in 1932. He held an A.B. summa cum laude '36 Phi Beta Kappa, A.M. '39, and Ph.D. '40, from Harvard University. He taught at Harvard from 1954-1983. He served as chairman of the Department of Fine Arts at Harvard from 1959 to 1963, acting chairman in 1958 and 1972-73. He was acting director of the Fogg Art Museum in 1978-79. He was also a member of the Lauro de Bosis Committee for Italian Civilization and the Advisory Committee of Harvard's Center for Renaissance Studies at the Villa I Tatti outside Florence, where in 1973-74 and 1980-81 he was professor in residence. He became chief curator of the National Gallery in 1983 upon retiring from Harvard University.
"Sydney J. Freedberg was by any account one of the towering figures among Renaissance art historians of this century," Neil Rudenstine, president of Harvard University, said in a statement. "But he was also much more than that. He had a masterful command of the entire corpus of the vast field that he claimed as his own. And that command left him free to concentrate all his efforts on developing a way of looking at Renaissance (and Mannerist and Baroque) Italian art that was literally sui generis.
"His ability to describe the nuances, the significant turning points, and the broad unfolding developments in style; his creation of a personal critical vocabulary that allowed him to express changing conceptions of Renaissance values in terms of their effect on works of art; his insistence on making judgments based on his sure instinct for aesthetic quality; and his intuitive understanding of the sensibility as well as the underlying energy and motivating visionof particular artists: these (and other) characteristics made Sydney Freedberg a unique presence at Harvard and far beyond. "He had the large-scale ambition and individuality that we are likely to associate more with nineteenth-century scholars. He wrote big books that followed one another as if they were part of a marvelous self-created continuum. He was therefore always at some risk, since there was ample materialof great scope as well as richness of detailfor others to criticize.
"But that did not matter, because Freedberg always had the utterly essential instruments at hand to do his work: powerful and penetrating visual and interpretive capacities, and an equally potent aesthetic and conceptual vision of his chosen terrain.
"As a person, scholar and connoisseur, he was all of a piece: formidable but affectionate, exacting but generous, humane, and very deep. We have lost someone who cared greatly about art because he cared about life. The authenticity and uniqueness of his care were as evident in how he lived, as in how he wrote."
"Sydney will be deeply missed," James Cuno, director of the Harvard University Art Museums, remarked, "not only for what he knew about the art of Renaissance Italy but for the set of unique and refined sensibilities he brought to his subject. He was unique as a scholar and teacher. His lectures cannot be forgotten: they were so perceptive, so intelligent, and so finely crafted. Above all, he defined the aesthetic achievement of the High Renaissance and the Maniera for his generation and for many generations still to come. We have lost a great mentor and a dear friend."
During the Second World War, while serving as an American army officer, attached to a British naval intelligence unit involved with the Normandy invasion, Professor Freedberg risked disciplinary action by refusing as a matter of conscience to work on intelligence about Rome. Later he would say that "I was worried that the information I might gather might be used in a military operation against that city," and thus lead to irreparable damage to works of art there. Despite his decision, and for his numerous contributions to the war effort, he was made an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division).
Twenty years later Italian art was again gravely threatened. In November 1966, news broke of disastrous floods in Italy. Art historians of the American academic and museum worlds responded instantaneously and formed the Committee to Rescue Italian Art, of which Professor Freedberg served as National Vice Chairman from 1966 through 1974. Under these auspices he, and others, raised money to offset the extraordinary cost of conserving the works damaged by the rising waters. In 1970, Professor Freedberg began service on the Board of Directors of Save Venice, of which he was a founding member. He continued on the Board until 1990, and continued to serve that organization until his death.
For all of these distinguished contributions to the preservation and greater understanding of Italian art and culture, Professor Freedberg was made a Grand Officer in the Order of the Star of Solidarity (Italy) in 1968 and a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1982, the highest honor Italy awards a non-National. He was also awarded honors in 1986 by the Socio del Ateneo Veneto and the Academia Clementina Bologna. A year later he began service on the Advisory Council to the Vatican Museums for the Sistine Chapel Restoration (serving as President from 1990 to 1993). And in 1988 he began a term on the I Tatti Council, serving as chairman of that organization from 1989 to 1994. From 1971-90, he served on the Advisory Committee, Harvard University Center for Renaissance Studies (Villa I Tatti). In 1995, he was awarded the International Galileo Galilei Prize.
"Professor Freedberg trained many people prominent in the field today," Everett Fahy, chairman of the Department of European Paintings at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, said in a statement. "He was the great continuer of the Berenson tradition."
Philippe de Montebello, director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, said in a statement: "It is a pity there are no more Sydney Freedbergs to enrich today's arid field of art history as it is taught. He was a true inspiration, believed in quality and communicated it convincingly."
"One of my proudest accomplishments was participating in bringing Sydney J. Freedberg to the National Gallery as chief curator, a position he came to upon retiring from Harvard," John Wilmerding, chair, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University, and former deputy director, National Gallery of Art, said in a statement. "It proved to be a crowning accomplishment of his distinguished career. With the combination of his authoritative scholarly standards and acute visual sensitivity, he brought a new level of luster to that institution. He was a titan in our field, who has left us a rare legacy of eloquent critical expression and deepest feeling for great works of art."
Earl A. Powell III, director of the National Gallery of Art, said in an a statement: "Sydney was one of the century's great connoisseurs of Italian painting. His knowledge and engaging personality made him a legend in his time. He was wonderful to work with and I greatly valued his encouragement and counsel as advisor on my thesis. He will be sorely missed."
Professor Freedberg's love of Italian art was deep and profound, but his love of the Villa I Tatti was even greater and more deeply personal. It was there, as a student of Bernard Berenson, that he felt most at home in the intellectual universe that comprised his professional identity and the sensuous surroundings that confirmed the rightness of his choice of academic specialty.
Walter Kaiser, director of the Villa I Tatti, wrote of Professor Freedberg: "For almost four decades, Sydney Freedberg was intimately involved in the Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies at Villa I Tatti. In both his person and his scholarship, he exemplified precisely those humanistic values to which I Tatti is dedicated; and from its inception he was one of the chief scholars who helped define its mission, shape its policies, advise its directors, and choose its Fellows. But there was also, beyond that, an intense love-affair between Sydney and I Tatti, which extended back to the days of his mentor, Bernard Berenson. I Tatti was Sydney's Italian home, and the boundless affection he felt for it was reciprocated in equal measure by the members of its staff, all of whom revered him. With his death, I Tatti has lost one of the most beloved members of its family, and I have lost one of my dearest friends."
Professor Freedberg wrote numerous books and articles on Italian art, including: Circa 1600: A Revolution of Style in Italian Painting (1983; in Italian, 1984; in French 1993); Painting in Italy, 1500-1600 (1971; rev. eds. 1975, 1978, 1990, 1993; in Spanish, 1978; in Italian, 1988), part of the Pelican Series in the History of Art; Paintings of the High Renaissance in Rome and Florence (2 vols., 1961; rev. ed. 1972, 1985); a two-volume study with catalogue raisonné of the Florentine High Renaissance painter Andrea del Sarto (1963); and Parmigianino: His Works in Painting (1950).


text:
The Best Romantic Comedies On Netflix
Love is in the air on Netflix. If you like romance and comedy—and who doesn't?—you'll want to take a close look at this list of the best romantic comedies streaming on Netflix, ranked by movie fans like you. Netflix has a large collection of romantic comedies available, perfect for binge watching on a Saturday night when you just don't feel like going out. These Netflix rom coms are especially great to watch if you've just gotten out of a relationship, as they'll give you hope for love in the future.
Ranging from the classic pairing of Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell in the fast-talking His Girl Friday to the stuttering antics of Diane Keaton and Woody Allen in Annie Hall, this Netflix romantic comedy list contains some of the best ever made.
And, some of the most memorable. Who could forget Cher slapping Nicolas Cage (playing a romantic lead with one wooden hand, no less) and telling him to "Snap out of it!" in Moonstruck. Or Bill Murray reliving the same day over and over in Groundhog Day until he gets it right… and gets the girl. And then there are the classic romantic comedies on Netflix, How To Marry A Millionaire, Breakfast at Tiffany's and the utterly charming Sabrina (actually Netflix has the original and the surprisingly good remake.)
So, whether you're just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her like Julia Roberts in Notting Hill or if you're more like the bumbling Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones' Diary you'll want to make yourself heard by voting on this list of Netflix romantic comedies. Time to get out the Kleenex and the Haagen Dazs, and start binging!


text:
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Most windmills today are used to generate electricity or pump water. But along the shores of a man-made lake in Rotterdam, two giants of antiquated machinery remain conscripted to their original purpose: pulverizing the fruits of the land for human consumption.
See also: Snuff Lures Tobacco Fiends With Whiff of Exotic History
These two windmills, De Ster and De Lelie, both exemplars of 18th-century Dutch workmanship, are used to grind tobacco leaves into powdered nasal snuff.
Because of continued public health campaigns against smoking in Europe and the United States, the demand for alternative forms of smokeless tobacco like snuff is on the rise. And so, the giants are kept spinning.
Above: Jaap Bes is the head miller at the De Ster snuff and spice mill in Rotterdam. Bes stands on the "stage," a platform midway up the windmill's structure, and pulls the mill break to stop the mills' wings from turning.
Bes adjusts the sails attached to the mills' "wings." Much like the sails on a boat, the tension of the mills' sails can be changed to produce the desired operating speed of the mill.
The De Lelie and De Ster snuff and spice mills. The mills, both dating from the late 1700s, sit on the waterfront of the Kralingse Bos, a man-made lake on the eastern edge of Rotterdam.
Photos: Jock Fistick/Wired.com
Bes inspects tobacco leaves which have been hung to dry inside the mill. Bes says "the demand for snuff has increased," a fact he attributes to anti-smoking campaigns.
Bes holds a "carrot," a bundle of tobacco leaves that has been "sauced," or marinated in a secret recipe. The sauced leaves are rolled in linen and wrapped with a cord. Each carrot weighs about 5 or 6 pounds. The carrots are stored this way for a month. Then, the linen and cord are replaced and the newly-wrapped carrot is left to sit for up to a year. Finally, the cured tobacco is chopped up and turned into nasal snuff.
Bes holds tobacco leaves that have been sauced in a secret mix of sweeteners and natural aromatic oils, then allowed to cure for up to a year. Common "flavors" of nasal snuff include menthol, anise, chocolate and coffee, as well as fruit and floral scents.Photos: Jock Fistick/Wired.com
A handful of raw snuff. At this stage, the snuff has been chopped, but is still too coarse. It will be ground down further before being packaged and sold.
In an area called the "chopping room," cured and dried tobacco is placed in drums where giant knives are used to chop the leaves into raw snuff. The blades are driven up and down by the gears of the windmill.
A millstone used for milling spices, at De Ster snuff and spice mill in Rotterdam.
Photos: Jock Fistick/Wired.com
Bes stands next to the mill's camshaft, which is 15 inches in diameter and 36 feet long. The shaft drives the edge mill and powers the giant blades in the chopping room below. The wallower on the main shaft (the small horizontal wheel with orange bands) drives the camshaft when it is engaged to the large, vertically mounted camshaft wheel.
The whole mechanism in action: The wallower on the main shaft is engaged with the larger camshaft wheel, spinning the camshaft in a blur.
Jette Hannaart, 28, of Delft, The Netherlands, takes a tour of the mill with her friend, Corne Van Kempen, 42, of Rotterdam. "We were just walking around and saw the sign that the mill was open for tours," Hannaart says. "What a nice surprise."
Photos: Jock Fistick/Wired.com
Vintage snuff tins on display at the mill. Visitors can view a small exhibit about the history of the mill and the process of snuff and spice milling.
Bes says that most of the mill's nasal snuff is exported to the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany, in that order. Samuel Gawith's Assorted Snuff, tins of which are seen here in the mill's visitor center, is one of the mill's customers in Britain. "In Holland, snuffing is relatively unknown," Bes says.
Visitors read up on the history of the De Ster mill inside its lower storage level. In headier times, this is where the various goods produced by the mill would be stored as they awaited shipping.
Photos: Jock Fistick/Wired.com
The mill's vertical main shaft spinning behind him, Bes inspects the spices being ground by one of two small "cullen" millstones in action overhead.
Bes checks the machinery hidden in the "cap," or the very top of the mill, where the main mill shaft is connected to the wings. The top of the mill can rotate 360 degrees to catch the wind from any direction.
Photos: Jock Fistick/Wired.com
Bes operates the mill's giant brake, which stops the mills' wings from turning.
Bes spins the wings of the mill to get it started.
Aad Van Strien, left, and Nico Kemp, center, both volunteer millers, toast to the end of the workday with veteran miller Molenaar Van Harrewijen, 80. Raw tobacco leaves and cured carrots of tobacco sit on the table in front of them.
Photos: Jock Fistick/Wired.com


text:
A T-Rex Tries To Shovel Snow… But His Arms Are Too Damn Small.
Winter storms were the topic of conversation this weekend, with cities like Washington D.C. and New York getting over two feet of the white stuff. Officially dubbed Winter Storm Jonas, the Internet decided to give the winter whopper a different name and hashtag: #Snowzilla2016.
And, because a hashtag simply wouldn't be anything without a video to share it with, people also started uploading footage of their very own Snowzillas, grown people in an epic dinosaur costume that must have been huge this past Halloween. In the video below, we see one Snowzilla in his natural environment, shoveling snow. Suddenly, #Snowzilla2016 doesn't seem all that bad.
Jukin Media Verified (Original) * For licensing / permission to use: Contact - licensing(at)jukinmediadotcomPosted by Amy Saxon White on Friday, January 22, 2016
Source: Amy Saxon White


text:
When I grow up I want to be an astronaut.
With my bayong on my back, I am packed.
In this neo-primitive space age of ancient aliens, I am an astro - not.
Lunar tic toc, tic toc.
The fabric of spacetime is textured like those orbs.
Hand-stitched embroidery and applique, machine quilted and patch worked.
Time travel only takes reflection.
In neoprene and Scotchlite flare.
I manifest meditation.
An astral project-ion.
Creating this, my vision quest.
The Professional Collection for 2015 is about notions of adulthood from generations past compared to those of today.
After a 13-year hiatus, we created as we had, on location in Manila, Philippines.
From the modern and literally clean representation of the Filipino home (in our last film, Deep Conditioning), we go to this historical ruin, Kasa Boix.
It is soon to be restored, returning our heritage today.
A Paradox Vested Relics Production featuring:
Manila Team:
John Olarte
Mikey Huang
Melvin Mojica
Cenon Norial III
Debrah Eastwood
New York Team:
A.Re.Ci Studio
Nick Wu Design
Ryan Compton
Adidas SLVR
Alexandre Plokhov
AREAWARE /Jonas Damon
Alessi Watches / Achille Castiglioni
Hyden Yoo
Viktor & Rolf
"Vesica Piscus"BY Joey Koneko
Location courtesy:
Kapitbahayan Sa Kalye Bautista
For Kasa Boix
Manila, Philippines
PVR Headquarters, NYC
Special Thanks:
Carlos Celdran
Patrick & Miko Tetangco
Paolo Abella
Stephen & Peter


text:
Please reach out to Cruise 4 Kids for questions or inquiries regarding our charity. We are current looking for sponsors, hosts, donations for our silent auction/raffle, in-trade services, and volunteers. Feel free to contact us directly as well.
Cruise 4 Kids
MAIN OFFICE: Located inside Veloce Motors The Vault,
9340 Dowdy Dr, Ste 102, San Diego, CA 92126
Cruise 4 Kids, PO Box 1642, Vista, CA 92085
NINO VENTURELLA, President
T 760 716 5248 E email@example.com
BIANCA VENTURELLA, Vice President
T 619 415 1991 E email@example.com
Cruise 4 Kids 501(c)3 EIN: 46-5457920 (Consult with Tax Adviser)


text:
Your CI MindsetPosted: June 26, 2012 Filed under: Tricks of the Trade Leave a comment
If you are thinking of doing competitive intelligence yourself, get yourself in the right frame of mind. Here are a few hints for you.
Admit that you have not always been focused on what your competitors are doing:
We know that, like every other manager or executive, you try to keep up with what the competition is doing, but accept the fact that your efforts are sporadic and incomplete. Worse, you probably assume you know what your competition is doing. Never assume you know what your competitor is doing, and, more importantly, what it is planning to do. Take the time and make the efforts to find out what is really out there!
Know who your real competitors are:
They may not be who you think they are. Ask your customers what other firms else they considered before they chose you. They should be considered competitors, too. And keep a close eye on your partners, suppliers and major customers. They could quickly turn into competitors in the near future.
Familiarize yourself with the competition — as they are today:
Take the time to visit their stores, check out their web sites, and find out who owns them. Look for information about your competitors in the public domain – press releases, newsletters, government filings, etc. – as well as on their own web sites. Do this on a regular basis.
When you study your competitors, always remember, they do not necessarily operate the way you do:
Just because you are organized in one way does not mean your competitors are organized that way, too. Your competitors have their own vision of the marketplace – and of you. Even if you think that vision is wrong, always keep in mind that they will be guided by it.