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Late Saturday evening news broke about the Cleveland Browns releasing All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon. Gordon apparently arrived at the Browns facility on Friday and was not himself, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The Browns are set to release a 2012 supplemental draft pick they have given many chances to over the years.
Teams already are interested in Gordon, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
One team that ought to make phone calls to Berea, Ohio is the Houston Texans.
The Texans and Browns have been good trading partners since 2017, especially with the deal that helped Houston jump to 12th overall to take quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Texans have also taken a chance on players in the Browns organization who didn't pan out for Cleveland, such as tackle Roderick Johnson, who will now be the swing tackle with Seantrel Henderson lost for the season.
For Gordon, playing for the Texans would be the best way he could come back to the Lone Star State. After all, he was a star at Lamar High School in the Bayou City before playing with Robert Griffin at Baylor in the early 2010s.
Gordon could help provide some much-needed depth on the receiver corps. The 27-year-old was a red zone target for the Browns and hauled in a 17-yard touchdown in the Browns' 21-21 tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He caught 18 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown last year. Projected over 14 games, presuming a trade goes through and that would be the soonest Gordon could be on the team, that is good enough for 56 catches for 938 yards and almost three touchdowns. That doesn't sound like that bad of production for a third option at wideout. Gordon would be the third option due to DeAndre Hopkins being beyond supplanting and the team going to give chances to speedster, Will Fuller. However, the former 2016 first-round pick is often injured and has yet to play a full 16 games in his career.
With not a lot of options after those two, there is Bruce Ellington who has produced in limited opportunities and then injured rookie Keke Coutee. Gordon could be a solid option for the Texans to consider after Hopkins and Fuller and would be an upgrade over Fuller on talent alone.
Watson would benefit as well having three solid options on the field at once rather than Hopkins and then Fuller.
The Texans could absorb Gordon's contract as they currently have the fourth-highest cap space in the league at $26.3 million. The only issue is the Texans usually will not take a flier on player's that have past problems.Why bring on someone else's baggage when they have spent the whole off-season forging much-needed chemistry for a club that had 24 players finish on injured reserve a season ago?
We will have to sit tight and watch how this plays out, it will be an exciting weekend that could spill over to Monday before this gets resolved.


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Co-founded by Alexandra Fine and Janet Lieberman, Dame Products' mantra is to "make the world a happier place, one vagina at a time." Fine and Lieberman met two years ago, after they both (separately) founded their own sex toy companies based in Brooklyn. They hit it off immediately and soon after co-founded Dame. Fine tells us, "I have always been interested in the psychology surrounding sex and trying to make the subject more relatable for a wider audience, while Janet [a mechanical engineer] was plagued by the fact that the sex toys she was using were not held to the same standards as the products she was making at her day job." Seeing an obvious void, the pair started working on their first product and in October of the same year, Eva (a hands-free, non-intrusive vibrator) was launched and became the world's number one crowd-funded pleasure object. Fine says that was evidence "there was a significant audience out there interested in what we were doing."
The most recent way Dame is planning to make the world happier is with their second product: Fin. Launching on Kickstarter today, Fin is unlike other vibrators—it's worn between the fingers, making it easier to use and control. Featuring a removable tether, it can be worn at the fingertips, the palm or even on the back-side of the fingers. Fines says, the tether was one of the most satisfying problems they overcame during the design and testing process, "We were finding that some people loved the tether while others wished it weren't there at all. So we got to work trying to make sure all the components could fit in the bulb in order to make the tether removable if the user wanted to remove it. We were really pleased to discover that we could get all the components into a small enough shape, so the tether could be removable."
Made from medical-grade silicon, Fin features a three-speed motor and has been designed for solo use or between partners. With Fin (and all their products), Dame's mission is to "close the Pleasure Gap" which exists more often in heterosexual sex. Fine says, "We are a female-founded company in a largely male-dominated industry, which allows us to make products for women, by women—a rarity in this space. We're makers at our core—listening to consumer feedback and working to invent products that address real consumer needs. Rather than assuming we know what people want, we listen to what they tell us they do." Ultimately, it's about making toys that increase pleasure and satisfaction, and in doing so decrease awkwardness and stigmas. "We think what we do is NBD. We definitely think sex is important and sensational, but we think that being able to talk about sex like we talk about any other subject is important and helps inspire real conversations," Fine concludes.
Dame Products' Fin is crowd-funding on Kickstarter now.
Images courtesy of Dame Products

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to the new modern-day NFL, where athletes are also entertainers and celebrities who cater to every personal taste. Two high-profile athlete/brands will take the stage February 2 to compete in Super Bowl XLVIII. On the one hand, the Denver Broncos feature Quarterback Peyton Manning, who caters to fans of the strong, silent earnest persona — the Harrison Ford of pro football.
And as even non-football fans know by now, the Seattle Seahawks feature Cornerback Richard Sherman, the cocky, loudmouthed Kanye West of pro football.
Within hours, Sherman's emotional, self-aggrandizing interview with Fox Sports triggered an explosion of chatter and harrumphing not seen since Miley Cyrus twerked on the VMAs. As my blog post for Jermaine Dupri's Global 14 community points out, Sherman's post-game interview was just the latest in a series of outbursts and stunts that have built his controversial brand. And the Richard Sherman brand is good for the NFL.


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Like it or not, the tea bag is probably not going anywhere. Common wisdom suggests that it was invented just over a century ago and that it has undergone many changes since then. You can still get dubious tea in a standard issue tea bag, if you choose to do so. Or you can upgrade to high quality loose leaf tea in various "gourmet" tea bags that allow the leaves more room to steep.
Here are a few things you may or may not have known about tea bags:
Origin I
It's often said that the tea bag was "invented" more or less by accident by a New York tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan who offered samples of his tea in silk bags. Which the recipients unwittingly steeped in hot water. It seemed more like myth than truth to me, and so I attempted to sort it out in an article I wrote here a few years ago.
Origin II
In The Century Cook Book, by Mary Ronald, the author suggests that when making a large quantity of tea "it is well to put the tea into a swiss muslin bag, using enough to make a very strong infusion." Which sounds a lot like a tea bag, if you ask me. In the next paragraph the author goes on to describe silver balls that sound a lot like the tea infusers we use nowadays. Which is noteworthy since the book was published in 1895, about a decade before the tea bag was supposedly invented.
Origin III
Going back more than another decade, to 1883, an article in The Coffee Public-House News and Temperance Hotel Journal suggests using "a muslin or other bag" to make larger quantities of tea at one time. Which also sounds a lot like a tea bag.
Mess Prevention
One of the long standing problems with tea bags is that they tend to be messy. A lot of time and energy has gone into getting around this and I've written about a number of these gadgets. Here's a rather intricate solution from 1959 that was known as a Self-Squeezing Tea or Coffee Bag.
According to the Tea Association of the USA, as of 2012, over 65 percent of the tea brewed in the United States was prepared using tea bags. Which is a drop in the tea bucket next to the UK. There, as most accounts seem to agree, more than 90 percent of tea is made using tea bags.
Know When to Fold 'Em
Last of all, let us make note of the fact that tea bag folding is a thing you can do. A thing that's not completely unlike origami. Find out more at one of the many web sites devoted to this art.
See more of William I. Lengeman's articles here.
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article's author and/or the blog's owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.


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Starting December 13, "Star Wars" fans in Seattle will get a special treat: "Who Shot First," a gallery show of art pieces featuring characters and settings from the hit movie franchise. Taking place at the Ltd Art Gallery, the show will feature the work of more than 40 artists.
This is Greg Peltz's "Copilot."


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Page updated 02/08/2015
The coaches are now sold and will soon be heading South to the
Ropley Miniature Railway
Thank you to all who enquired or had a look at the coaches.
Ferry Meadows Railway. Coaches for Sale 10.1/4" Gauge.
These coaches are still for sale and must go soon, make us an offer before we are forced to dismantle them for parts and scrap, with a bit of minor work they will serve somebody very well as they have done for us for over thirty years.
Our set of green coaches are now up for sale, having been replaced last year by the covered set that we refurbished. They have been our main set for over 30 years and must have carried hundreds of thousands of passengers in that time.
The set comprises of 6 coaches in two sets of 3, each set carrying 32 people, by moving bogies around you can have 1×6 to carry 64 or 2×3 to carry 32 each or 1×4 to carry 44, or a very short set of 2 to carry just 20 people.
The whole set is in need of striping down and repainting, the last time they were painted was 3 years ago, the chassis are steel box and the seats are made of fibre glass (whoever buys the coaches will get the mould to make new seats) the bogies are lightweight and some of them have new wheel sets and bearings (the new wheel sets where only run for 2 seasons).
The coaches will be sold as a complete set, we will not split them unless we have 2 interested parties.
Offers in the region of £2.500 for the lot, buyer to collect from Ferry Meadows.
We can arrange transport at the buyers cost.
Please email firstname.lastname@example.com if you are interested.
Telephone after 18.00 01933 398889
If you type "Ferry Meadows Railway" in to Youtube you will find loads of videos showing the coaches, here is one to take you there.
Telephone after 18.00 01933 398889


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925 Sterling Silver Square Hollow Personalized Engravable Necklace Adjustable 16"-20"
Custom Engraved Name Necklace—Customize Your Own Necklace With Name
There are many different engraved name necklaces fit in different occasions which are beautiful and elegant. Besides name, you can also engrave a short message or special date on it to make it a thoughtful gift for mom, sister, friends, girlfriend or wife and any one you love.
Material: 925 Sterling Silver
Pendant Diameter: 18 mm (0.7 inch)
Chain Length:16-20 inch(Adjustable Chain)
Chain Type: Rolo Chain
Clasp: Straight lobster clasp
Package: delicate jewelry box


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Why social policies are key to ending HIV/AIDS in black America
OPINION - Two years ago, the nation's oldest civil rights organization and oldest university formed a partnership to investigate the persistent racial disparity in HIV/AIDS in the United States...
Two years ago, the nation's oldest civil rights organization and oldest university formed a partnership to investigate the persistent racial disparity in HIV/AIDS in the United States.
With the help of national partners from academia, the non-profit sector, government, and medicine, Harvard University's Center for AIDS Research and the NAACP held a symposium in Boston to offer explanations for why African-Americans make up a startling share of Americans dying of HIV/AIDS.
When this group of experts reviewed the research literature, they verified what AIDS activists have clamored for since the 1980s—that the U.S. needs increased access to care and a comprehensive response to social inequalities to successfully fight AIDS. Although the U.S. has made important steps toward this type of policy response, the current threat of across-the-board budget cuts in Washington threatens to reverse progress toward ending the epidemic and reducing this disparity.
In many respects, African-Americans bear the brunt of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in this country. Accounting for only 14 percent of the population in 2009, black Americans represent a disproportionate 44 percent of new HIV infections. Black Americans are also much more likely to die of the disease than their white counterparts, with blacks making up 57 percent of all HIV-related deaths in 2007. Even more troubling is that the gap in HIV-related mortality rates between blacks and whites has increased more than two-fold since 1985, reflecting continuing inequalities in access to treatment and stark differences in socioeconomic status across races.
Recognizing this, participants in the symposium generated policy recommendations that ranged from including African-Americans in clinical trials for new medicines to integrating African-American studies into public school curricula as a means of empowerment. By and large, these proposals emphasized that social determinants — such as poverty, lack of insurance, discrimination, and inequalities in education — work to create the gap in HIV infection and HIV-related mortality in blacks versus other groups.
For instance, participants highlighted that black Americans are currently more likely to be uninsured than white Americans (20 percent versus 11 percent), making access to HIV/AIDS medications more difficult for African-Americans. Black young people are also much more likely to attend public schools, where sex education is neither required nor guaranteed to be funded in more than half of all U.S. states.
These social determinants may contribute to the reasons why black Americans are more likely to be "late testers," or to learn of their HIV status only months before developing full-blown AIDS. Notably, factors like widespread stigma, inadequate access to primary care, and the inability to reveal one's sexuality to their primary care physician were cited as barriers to diagnosis and treatment for HIV. Ultimately, participants in this symposium — along with several other public health experts and AIDS service providers — have made the case that the role of social and economic inequalities in HIV transmission calls for a broader social policy response to the epidemic.
However, in today's political environment, where the dramatization of a fiscal cliff and the terror of sequestration keep many policy wonks in the grip of suspense, it is hard to imagine the possibility of fully-funded social policies that begin to truly address the complexity of HIV/AIDS. In fact, with domestic discretionary spending very much on the chopping block — and both Democrats and Republicans responsible for placing it there — the heads of community programs all across the country move forward in a precarious circumstance, not knowing whether the work they do to keep HIV-positive-persons in safe and affordable housing, for example, will exist in the next fiscal year.
However, what is distinct, and hopeful, in the current political landscape is the unprecedented level of institutional and legislative commitment to combating HIV/AIDS and the mesh of social factors driving the epidemic. To their credit, the White House's Office of National AIDS Policy issued the first National HIV/AIDS Strategy in 2010, explicitly highlighting the need to address disparities in HIV/AIDS, and noting the role of stigma and discrimination in the spread of HIV. With past administrations paying considerable attention to the AIDS epidemic outside of the United States, this marks a major shift in executive-level commitment to the domestic epidemic.
Additionally, as we approach full implementation of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") in 2014, we can move forward with greater confidence that people living with HIV will no longer be discriminated against by insurers because of their pre-existing condition, and that this barrier of access to care will be removed.
However, other vital federal and state-level public health programs—including Medicaid, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program—currently face the threats of cuts with the impending fiscal cliff and require protection from members of Congress.
Following the re-election of a president who understands the social determinants of HIV, we must not forget to address the root causes of the epidemic. Given the evidence of such strong connections between poverty, discrimination and other social inequalities and HIV, this is perhaps the only sure way to combat the spread of the virus and to end AIDS. Even at the edge of this fiscal cliff, the U.S. must keep its commitment to the social policies that will prevent those of us most at risk from falling off.
Alecia McGregor is a Ph.D. candidate in Health Policy at Harvard University
*Disclaimer: This article does not reflect the opinions and views of the NAACP or Harvard University, only those of the author herself.


text: Thirty insurance professionals met at ADP Statewide Insurance Agencies in Florham Park for an education class by Kelly Donohue-Piro, president of Agency Performance Partners. Participants learned about sales techniques, customer service skills and entrepreneurship in the engaging presentation. Afterward, attendees went to Vanderbilt's Sports Lounge for more informal networking. In addition to the photos posted on this page, you can view more images of the event on Twitter at #njyipamazing. We'd like to thank our sponsor, Hollinger, for its generous support.


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click image for full view (2200x2600px)
Work done for Elite Models 3D
Promo render for Dainty Poses for Genesis 2 Females and Victoria 4 by Lunchlady : SEE PRODUCT IN STORE HERE!
Resources: SV7 Astera for V4, Melody Hair for V4, Dainty for V4; AS Uraalys' Ny for V4; Stonemason's Village Courtyard Bundle.
Technical: Standard camera with DOF, 1 Uber Environment, 1 Distant Light, 1 Advanced Spotlight, 1 Specular Spotlight - rendered in DAZ Studio 4.6.3 using 3Delight render engine at 32 pixel samples, no postwork.
All other scene, posing and materials customization by VAlzheimer Studio.
Thank you for looking!
Note: you are not allowed to edit, reproduce or repost this artwork elsewhere without the strict written permission of VAlzheimer Studio. For more information please refer to Rules and FAQ section of this webpage. Thank you.


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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested the tiny Smartfortwo for crash safety.
[The Smartfortwo] earned the top rating of good for front and side crash protection. Its seat/head restraints earned the second highest rating of acceptable for protection against whiplash in rear impacts.
Larger cars are always safer than smaller cars
But among the smallest cars, the engineers of the Smart did their homework and designed a high level of safety into a very small package.


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Julia Engenhardt finished her studies at the Cooperate University of Baden-Württemberg, Friedrichshafen in 2011 successfully in the field of industrial/ mechanical engineering with a Bachelor's degree. During her studies she was contracted to MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH partnering the dual education model. Ms. Engenhardt enriched her working experiences during a 6-months working period at MTU Detroit Diesel Inc. in Detroit, USA. After finishing her studies Ms. Engenhardt started working as Application Engineer for naval propulsion systems at MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH. Since 2013 Ms. Engenhardt is working for Vector Informatik GmbH, Stuttgart. She first started as Sales Engineer and Account Manager in the technical sales department taking care of automotive customers. In 2014 she took over responsibility for a number of automotive customers as Key Account Manager. Additionally since October 2016 Ms. Engenhardt is leading one of the sales teams of Vector Informatik GmbH.
Why I Tech
There is nothing more exciting in life than being part of technological changes.
My personal tech/IT-trend 2017
Autonomous Driving challenging Security, Safety and Big Data


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Review – Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition
I'll just be upfront that I never played the original Divnity: Original Sin 2 when it launched on PC. Hell, I never even played the first Divinity and now I'm thinking to myself: "Why haven't I played these before!?". It's such a fine RPG and while I don't have a measure of reference between the original and the definitive edition, I can confidently say that regardless of changes made it is one of the best RPG's I have played.
In Divinity: Original Sin 2 you play as a Godwoken, a title given to those (un)lucky enough to be chosen by the Gods to replace them. Godwoken are special sorcerers who can channel large amounts Source to become more powerful and eventually transcend into a Divine. To become the Divine One, the Godwoken must imbue parts of each of the seven gods and while there can be multiple Godwoken, there can only be one Divine One. The Divine One is tasked with protecting the world from the Void above all else and must never put their needs above this task.
After creating your character you will start your journey on a Magister boat that is shipping you and other sorcerers to Fort Joy. After the death of the current Divine One, a witch unleashes the Void upon the world yet again. The Magistrate Order is rounding up all sorcerers, putting a source collar on them (so they can't use their source powers) and locking them up on an island called "Fort Joy" to try and contain and cleanse the source out of sorcerers. You must gain allies and escape Fort Joy to follow your path to become the next Divine One.
The story in Divinity: Original Sin 2 is very good and has a lot of depth to it between the six main characters. I won't go into too many details as I don't want get into spoilers or ruin story beats, but each ally will change your story fairly drastically. Depending on the character you choose, dialogue and the story will be custom for you while your allies will weave in between. One detail I appreciate is the depth that was even put into the Magisters Order. While they main seem like the easy target for the bad guys due to their treatment of the sorcerers, there are definitive levels of command. While the White Coat Magisters are the higher ups and can be downright evil, the red coats seem like soldiers just following orders. Some can still be evil and abuse their powers, but some actually believe they're trying to fix sorcerers for the greater good. It's these small details in the world that help make each encounter feel so much more alive and genuine.
As I mentioned above, allies will have a large impact on the overall story experience. There are five possible allies to choose from during act 1's Fort Joy escape, which whom can all be exchanged to see who fits the party the best. Unfortunately, there can only be four party members, so decisions will need to be made on the three that will make permanent party members moving forward. Of the three members I chose I honestly can't say I prefer one over the other as they all have extremely interesting back stories and missions as they also try and become the Divine One. What makes it so entertaining is how it is so organically weaved into the main story and and even the NPC's.
While the initial story is the bait, the gameplay is the hook. There is so much depth in the gameplay that it takes quite a while to fully understand the ins and outs. Creating a character is not as simple as it sounds because there are a bevy of options: race, classes, aspirations, gender, and so on. Races include Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Lizards and Undead, which all have their place in the world and will be treated accordingly. For example: Lizards were slavers to races they believed below them, so Elves and Dwarfs will naturally not care for them.
There are a large amount of classes to choose from and all of them have unique skills and powers. While most titles provide the standard classes with some crossovers like Battlemage or Cleric, Divinity 2 offers the whole gamut. Typically, I tend to stick to rangers and thieves using stealth and long range critical attacks. However, there was a tough choice to be made as I was offered a Ranger, Rogue, Shadowblade, and Wayfarer which all appealed to me. All of which have their own strength's and weaknesses, but all viable to my play style.
Each ally will have their own class and abilities, but you're never stuck into one role even with the main character. If the class chosen for any character isn't beneficial to the entire team there is the ability to completely re-purpose stats to a more suitable build. This won't be evident within the first act or so, but once harder battles are presented there will be a need to change and tweak your party so each persons moves benefit each other. For instance, having a mage that can bring a rain cloud to soak the enemies and a ranger that can use poison to spread across all the water to poison all enemies in the area is crucial.
These team-based attacks are important and will be the only way for maximum effectiveness during a battle. Tactical positions before and during a fights plays an extremely important role to the outcome. You can control each ally separately or break them up in groups to strategically position each ally. For instance, before engaging in a fight giving a Ranger and Mage the higher ground before a fight will give them a bonus to damage dealt and a greater view of the battlefield to cast healing spells. An Assassin meanwhile, should use the sneak ability to get behind a tough opponent (typically one that should be focused on first) to get a bonus backstab attack in before the battle begins.
Every fight requires these types of tactics and can last up to 10 to 20 minutes depending on the enemy level and the battle area. It is extremely easy to stumble into a fight you're not prepared for, so I recommend saving often and not rushing your moves. Battles can become a game of chess where studying the order of attackers is critically important to anticipating future attacks and deciding who should be focused on first. It's amazing how even a simple attack plan can turn the tides of a battle that has previously bested you. This is essentially the largest learning curve besides understanding which magic activates or retards each other. A pro tip that took me a while to find is that there's a "Wait" icon that will delay your attack until later. This will help you line-up special moves when the time is more appropriate.
Each character has a physical armor and a magic armor. The amount of armor depends on the type of gear which includes: Helmets, Gloves, Chest, Belt, Leggings, Boots, Amulet, and 2 Rings. Each piece of armor offers positive and sometimes negative stats as well as the chance of providing a new skill. Each skill and attack will first be absorbed by however much armor the enemy has for either the physical or magical attack. It isn't until the armor is depleted that the special effects of an attack will come into play. For instance, a shocking spell will only stun an enemy if their magic armor is depleted. A shield rush attack won't knock an enemy down unless their physical armor is depleted. This is why sometimes waiting a turn can be beneficial until armor is depleted and then unleashing all the power moves. These are the kind of aspects that make each battle so engaging as each fight requires immense thought and planning.
Unfortunately, not everything is perfect with the gameplay or battle system, but most of that is because of needing to use a controller. A keyboard and mouse are the obvious way to play Divinity: Original Sin 2. It's not horrendous, but there are enough annoying instances of clicking on the wrong item or trying to maneuver the camera and attack icon to the correct spot. That being said, it's still completely usable and won't distract frequently enough to take away from the experience.
The visuals for the most part are striking and with a varied amount of environments there is plenty of unique things to look at. However, it is when you move the camera in close there are noticeable low textures and poor character models. While character models can lack fine details, there are a nice variety of unique enemies that make the model quality easily forgiven. Luckily, it will be rare to have the camera up-close as you don't have the best field of view in that position anyway.
The soundtrack, sound effects, voice acting, and general sound design are all top notch. Between the various physical and magical attacks, all of the effects sound the part whether it be the loud cracking of lightening or the piercing critical hit from a dagger. All of which is complimented by the fantastic battle music and ambient environment sounds. The majority of voice acting is great besides a few less than perfect line deliveries by side characters and animals. Yes, I said animals. I highly recommend having one party member with the "Pet Pal" skill, as this will unlock new missions or hints to completing a mission. However, this means you'll have a bunch of voice actors trying to voice these animals which can be a bit awkward.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition is not only the definitive edition of itself, but for the RPG genre in general. It is fantastic through and through from the story, characters, combat, visuals, and sound design. Despite a learning curve and some difficulty spikes there isn't much to harp on especially if you play on PC. Regardless of the platform however, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a must play for any RPG fan.
Graphics: 8.5
Environments and enemies are varied and beautiful, but some up-close textures and models can leave a lot to be desired.
Gameplay: 9.0
The tactical combat is fantastic, but not best played with a controller. Occasional difficulty spikes if you don't tread carefully.
Sound: 9.0
Soundtrack and various sound effects are very well done. The voice acting of the main characters are great, but some side characters are lacking.
Fun Factor: 9.5
Fantastic RPG through and through with a diverse cast and a story that really gets each character involved. Combat is diverse and satisfying.
Final Verdict: 9.0
Reviewed on PS4.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
A copy of Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition was provided by the publisher.


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How Does Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Function?
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice complies with a special approach to shedding persistent fat, which nothing else dietary formula deals. It is neither a metabolic booster, energizer, nor thermogenesis inducer. Instead, it controls the threat aspects that make metabolic process damaged to begin with, as well as one of the primary factors it changes is 'ceramides.
The ceramides belong of skin cells and also play an essential role in digestion, energy manufacturing, as well as fat accumulation. So weight problems can be controlled by transforming the ceramide degrees inside the body. The components inside this item work on ceramides and also clear the body from the extra, giving the metabolic rate to get totally practical and burn the fat obtained from the food.
When all of these calories are made use of to produce power, there is little to no chance of fat build-up. In this manner, the body never gains weight, no matter what you eat later.
Other advantages of Ikaria Lean Belly Juice include toxic substance elimination, managing high blood pressure, improving sugar levels, balancing cholesterol levels, as well as improving resistance. These results can take 3 to six months to show up, and the outcomes can be different for each user. Continue utilizing this item up until you obtain the outcomes you want. There are no negative effects also after long term usage.
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Ingredients
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice contains four proprietary blends, consisting of metabolic mix, probiotic mix, digestive system mix, and also polyphenol blend. These blends are made with natural components offering a complete metabolic transformation. Right here are several of the active ingredients from this formula.
Milk thistle: all-natural fat heater, improves liver health as well as regulates blood glucose.
Taraxacum: burns persistent fat, boosts cholesterol profile, regulates high blood pressure, improves digestion
Panax Ginseng: shrinks fat cells, raises power degrees, aphrodisiac benefits.
Resveratrol: reduces fat content, boosts heart and also arterial health and wellness, and also controls blood pressure as well as mobile features.
Citrus pectin: controls food cravings, provides cognitive advantages, gets rid of the body from toxins
ECGC: deal fat burning, high antioxidant matter, boosted heart as well as mind health and wellness
Fucoxanthin: antioxidant support, help in fat to energy conversion, better metabolism, and controls swelling
Bioperine: high nutrient absorption, blocks fat build-up, much better cognitive features
These active ingredients have actually confirmed benefits for wellness, and none of these can trigger any type of side effects. All customers are expected to adhere to the dosage guidelines and also use this product according to instructions. Misusing or altering the dosage is not recommended.
Also Read: The Complete Report On Lean Belly Juice Conflict That Will Blow Your Mind
Despite being an all-natural formula, Ikaria Lean Belly Juice is not safe for underage people, pregnant and nursing mommies, and also individuals with metabolic disorders impacting their weight.
Sometimes weight problems is linked with an additional condition, as well as obtaining treatment for the main disease repairs the trouble of being obese. See your closest healthcare provider to obtain more details on weight reduction supplements.
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice: Pros & Disadvantages
Right here is an evaluation of Ikaria Lean Belly Juice, revealing the most effective as well as worst about it. Read it first before confirming your orders.
Advantages about Ikaria Lean Belly Juice
- Uncomplicated fat burning, without workouts and also fad diets
- No irritants, gluten, milk, animal by-products, or chemicals inside
- Ideal for people with different dietary preferences
- Easy to use the drinkable supplement
- Controls sugar as well as junk yearnings by decreasing cravings
- Manages danger variables such as uric acid, cholesterol, and also high blood pressure
- Boosts mobility by strengthening the joints and muscular tissues
- An all-natural metabolic formula offering total fat burning
- Fat oxidation and also melting of persistent body fat, specifically from Belly
- Maintains excellent digestive tract health and wellness using the probiotic stress inside
- No sedative impacts or drowsiness anticipated
- Economical and also money-back offer
Cons concerning Ikaria Lean Belly Juice
- Not appropriate for kids, expecting ladies, and also older people
- May not be suitable for individuals with underlying diseases
- Not available at neighborhood stores as well as drug stores
Where To Get Ikaria Lean Belly Juice For The Most Affordable Rate?
Currently, the only method to buy Ikaria Lean Belly Juice is through the official internet site. If any other website, local shop, or individual supplies you the very same product for a much reduced cost, calling it the list price, do not believe it. The components, manufacturing, as well as product handling come for a rate, and also there is no way you can discover all that for an extremely small cost.
Utilize this link to get Ikaria Lean Belly Juice from the official internet site directly.
Buying from the business straight gets you the real item and makes you entitled to different discount rates as well as offers. In the meantime, the business is providing a huge price cut on mass acquisitions. You can purchase numerous jars in one go as well as pay much less than the per-jar cost. Here are the complete prices details.
Fundamental pack
Get one jar of Ikaria Lean Belly Juice (30 doses) for $69.99 plus distribution fees.
Popular pack
Obtain three containers of Ikaria Lean Belly Juice (90 dosages) for $59.00 with complimentary shipment.
Ideal value pack
Get six containers of Ikaria Lean Belly Juice (180 dosages) for $49.00 with free distribution.
All new consumers are suggested to go to the main internet site and check the details of every bundle. Once they select the package, add it to the cart, make the payment and give the information, i.e., the address for the distribution. They will get a confirmatory email from the company, and their order will certainly reach their address within a few working days.
Buying package loads costs less than acquiring one jar every month. In addition, there are no delivery charges appropriate on bulk purchases. If you are trying to find a cost effective alternative, do deny one container and also invest your money on three jars or six containers pack and conserve maximum cash.
Due to increased on the internet scams as well as scams, the firm provides a 100% money-back warranty on all orders within 180 days of the purchase. This is to guarantee that you will not lose your cash, and if the product fails to provide the outcomes, the client will certainly get his refund from the business.
All the orders made with the main site are automatically taken into consideration for this refund policy, as well as you do not have to make an application for it separately. The firm has an active consumer support line to deal with product questions and client problems. You can speak with them and also go over the refund procedure thoroughly by dropping an e-mail at [email protected] with your call information. Soon a representative from the company will certainly call you for aid, and also the money reversal will certainly be finished within a few days.
Go here to get Ikaria Lean Belly Juice with a 180-day money-back deal.
Extra Inquiries On Ikaria Lean Belly Juice
Still not persuaded to try Ikaria Lean Belly Juice and require even more reasons? Right here are some extra concerns to aid you choose.
Can you use Ikaria Lean Belly Juice to maintain weight?
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice is an all-natural supplement, supplying a much faster as well as much safer fat burning for everyone. Unlike various other products that are only good for a minimal time and are not suggested for long-term use, this product can be a veteran buddy. You can use this supplement for as long as you desire, even after accomplishing your weight. Some users have actually been using it to keep their weight, as well as it is functioning completely, as per their demands and also assumptions.
Why is Ikaria Lean Belly Juice not clinically examined?
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice is not medically evaluated, and also the company has not hidden this from the public. Professional testing seems like the only efficient test for many people, however it is really valid for medications only.
The prescription-based medications or supplements are examined through clinical trials to estimate the degree of adverse effects they could be supplying. It is unusual for natural items to supply negative effects, which is why clinical testing is not needed if the product utilizes only herbal removes inside.
The business, nevertheless, states that it complies with set screening for high quality and security to ensure that no client needs to endure.
Can you take Ikaria Lean Belly Juice with diet plan tablets?
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice is a weight loss formula created to make the metabolic adjustments the body needs to reduce weight. It is similar to using diet plan tablets that offer the very same metabolic impact that is required to reduce weight. Incorporating it with a diet plan pill implies you are making use of two products of the same kind, which is neither secure nor recommended. Use one product at once, as well as button to the other if the first one brings no success to you.
Can you take Ikaria Lean Belly Juice with medicines?
It depends upon the types of medications an individual is taking. Typically, no supplement is recommended to be taken with medicines, particularly prescription medicines, however, for generic medications, supplements as well as medications can be combined. If you are suggested any type of drug, speak to your doctor prior to utilizing Ikaria Lean Belly Juice, and also never ever self-experiment.
Is Ikaria Lean Belly Juice offered on Amazon?
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice is not readily available on Amazon.com or any other vendor. The company recommends ordering this product through the official website just and not trusting any seller. The function behind this minimal accessibility is to cut the danger of on the internet frauds and fraud, which prevails for any product that is high in demand.
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Customer Complaints
There are no mishappenings or issues from the customers, as well as a lot of them appear delighted with their experiences. These consumer testimonials are offered on the main web site as well as can be inspected before confirming the orders. If you are experiencing any type of problem or difficulty while utilizing this item, reach out to the business via the contact info discussed online. Either you will be suggested of a solution, or you can obtain your refund under the company's reimbursement plan.
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice Review– The Final Decision
From the information supplied above, Ikaria Lean Belly Juice looks like an item you can rely on with your health as well as cash. It is a nutritional supplement offering real-time services for fat accumulation, especially around persistent fat areas. The outcomes are quicker and also obvious due to the fact that this formula targets the underlying threat variables contributing to excessive weight. The components are trustworthy, and the consumer reviews validate that every little thing the business states about this formula holds true.
Every single ingredient inside this formula is checked and also verified via independent testing, however the supplement all at once has actually not been set for a medical trial. Normally, the supplements do not even require a trial because they are never ever prescription-based or offered to deal with an illness, so you can fully rely on Ikaria Lean Belly Juice.


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Hematocrit Protocol
SAFETY NOTE: To reduce the risk of transmission of blood-borne diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis B, wear protective gloves when handling other peoples blood, dispose of all blood contaminated materials in the provided containers, and clean up thoroughly when finished.
The number of erythrocytes in the blood must be high enough to carry sufficient O2 to the peripheral tissues, and yet not so great as to adversely increase the blood's viscosity. A simple test to determine the percent of formed cells in blood, 99% of which are RBCs, is the hematocrit (Hct) (hemato- = blood, -crit = separate). A fresh sample of blood is introduced into a capillary tube (coated with heparin to prevent clotting), the end sealed with a putty, and the tube centrifuged to sediment the cells. The straw colored supernatant is the plasma, the RBCs sink to the bottom, and the WBCs are seen as a thin buffy coat at the top of the RBC column. By determining the percent of the total represented by the packed cells, the percent of RBCs in whole blood can be determined.
Normal Hct values for men are 40 to 54 percent, those for females, 37 to 47 percent. Anemia is defined as Hct counts below these. Anemia may be due to inadequate nutrition, blood loss, hemolytic disease, or exposure to agents which inhibit mitosis (such as radiation or chemotherapeutic agents).
[This protocol may performed simultaneously with white and red blood cell counts and blood typing.]
70% EtOH
Cotton balls, or Kimwipes
Sterile lancets (or Autolet apparatus with sterile fittings)
Hematocrit tubes, heparinized
sealing putty (Crit-o-seal)
Clinical centrifuge fitted with hematocrit head
Micro-capillary reader
1. Set up all apparatus required for the variety of blood tests you wish to perform (i.e., blood typing slide setup, and for blood counts: dilution pipettes, diluents, hemocytometer.)
2. Wash hands well with soap and water.
3. Swab a less-used finger (i.e. ring finger on non-writing hand) with 70% EtOH. Lance finger tip with quick firm jab to the side of the fingertip pad, wipe off first drop with clean dry cotton ball. Dispose of the used lancet safely in sharps container.
4. Fill capillary tube to within 1-2 cm of top with blood by slightly tipping it to allow blood to flow down-hill into tube. Avoid bubbles.
5. Holding tube horizontally, press filled end into sealing putty (Crit-o-seal) to plug end. It can then be stored vertically in the Crit-o-seal tray until ready to be centrifuged. (Continue collecting the rest of the samples require for your exercises before clotting occurs.)
6. Lie the tube in the centrifuge Hct head with plugged end to the outside, note the number of your slot. Ensure that a balancing hematocrit tube is placed opposite, either by someone placing their tube there, or by adding an empty tube
7. Securely screw down top of head. Turn on centrifuge to speed 6, run for 5 minutes, turn off.
8. When rotation has stopped, remove tube, note appearance.
9. Place in hematocrit reader, determine % of blood as formed cells, according to instructions on the reader. Enter your data into class data table. Illustrate the centrifuged hematocrit tube in your book and label: hematocrit tube, putty plug, packed cells (indicate % of total blood volume) and plasma.
10. Place centrifuged tube with putty towards center.
11. Align upper portion of putty with the black line.
12.Rotate assembly so that the pin stops, lining up with the 100 percent mark.
13. Rotate the upper disk to move the curved line with the top of the plasma.
14. Here the curved is lined up with the top of the plasma.
15. Rotate the entire assembly until the curved line is lined up with the boundary between the packed cells and the plasma. Read the percent packed cells off the disc at the right. (It reads 44.9 %)


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#SantaGoesElectric with Renault
Retail Group's electric Zoe car
Client: Renault Retail
Services: Outreach / PR / Content Marketing
Business challenge
The latest research shows that by 2040 new cars will be electrified. Renault is leading the way with its electric car, the ZOE, but the public can sometimes be wary of electric cars. Misconceptions around electric models include concerns over the distance they can travel per charge, or that the boots are usually impractically small. So Renault was in need of marketing services that show the ZOE's points of difference.
All good marketing campaigns should address customer pain points. Issues or preconceptions need to be answered. With Renault's ZOE car, we addressed this head-on, delivering a solid awareness-boosting Digital PR campaign that leaned heavily on seasonal creativity, and quality content and links to capture the audience.
How we solved it
It was approaching December when we were planning a Digital PR campaign. Now…. who travels a long way at Christmas, and who needs a big boot to carry a lot of things? Santa Claus of course! And there was our idea: #SantaGoesElectric.
The idea involved Santa driving an electric and fully campaign-branded Renault ZOE "sleigh" around the UK, delivering free gifts, with the public able to engage and track the car on social media through the campaign hashtag. The underpinning concept was to demonstrate the ZOE's capabilities and ease any misconceptions, by demonstrating the miles covered, while the gifts delivered showcased the range and capacity of the vehicle.
To give the campaign a strong news angle for press and increase the public engagement and likelihood of links – especially over the festive season – we used the opportunity to show Renault's commitment to its local communities near its dealerships. We took it as a chance to spread local Christmas cheer and added surprise gift drops to charities and hospices to the plan, in addition to the public who were signing up for free gifts via social media. Partnering up with luxury chocolate brand Montezuma for the Christmas gifts also saw the campaign rocket to national success from the brand partnerships.
In total, #SantaGoesElectric saw 1,000 boxes of Christmas chocolates delivered across four UK cities in four days, covering 820 miles. Local communities and charities were delighted. Big publications covered and linked to the campaign. And Renault's search rankings and traffic saw visible improvement.
It got people talking because it was relevant, engaging, and addressed customer pain points. Prior to the launch day, Honchō spent a day on the phone to professors and government environment advisors to find out how much CO2 nine reindeer would emit so that we could calculate their cost per mile (carrots per mile!).
Comparing this with the emission and cost of a Renault ZOE making the same trip, it positioned the car as a cost-effective, environmentally-viable solution. We used an infographic to demonstrate this when talking to journalists. The press angle was that Santa would use a four-day test drive to see how far he can get and how many gifts he can deliver in his ZOE sleigh to see if it is time to retire his reindeer and go 100% electric.
It drew lots of attention and public engagement around the Christmas period, but also for Honchō; our campaign was shortlisted in the 'Best Use of PR in a Search Campaign' and 'Best Use of Content Marketing' in The Drum's 2018 Search Awards!
"This campaign began as an innovative Digital PR exercise but soon became much more. We made real connections with our local communities and rediscovered the true meaning of Christmas by spreading a bit of happiness. We couldn't be more pleased, it was a rewarding project in every way."
Ashley Wade, Group Digital Marketing Manager at Renault Retail.


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Vinyl Flooring Installation in Burnsville, MN
Looking for a quality flooring solution that won't cost you a fortune? Consider vinyl for your upcoming flooring project. Our teams offer quality vinyl flooring installation services for homes and businesses throughout Burnsville, MN. Whether you're looking to redo your bathroom or are considering finishing up a basement, our vinyl flooring is durable, attractive, and affordable.
Enjoy the Benefits of Vinyl
Many people choose vinyl flooring because it tends to cost less than other common flooring options. But our vinyl flooring is also designed to withstand heavy use, making it an ideal choice for heavily trafficked areas and busy commercial spaces. Best of all, today's vinyl flooring options are more attractive than ever, which means choosing vinyl won't detract from the look of your interior. And when you choose us to install your vinyl flooring, you can rest assured that we'll take the time to do the job right.
If you're looking for quality vinyl flooring installation, look no further than our skilled, dedicated team. Call Distinctive Flooring for more information or to request an estimate.


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Riposte in white with a chunky EVA/Rubber sole. The design is inspired from the early 00s club scene with a modern futuristic twist. Riposte is crafted in premium suede leather, knitted textile and heat pressed TPU.
- Upper: suede leather, knitted textile and heat pressed TPU
- Lining: knitted textile
- Sole: EVA and Rubber
- Round laces
- Strobel constructed for comfort
- Small in size. Get a size bigger than you usually use.


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Planning your trip is important to make the best traveling adventure you could make !
I'll share some recommendations from my own experience how to choose your destination and how to make an original trip with lots of fun and new discoveries.
First Phase: Choose your destination
There are 195 countries in the world today, choosing your next destination is not trivial, below my recommendations to help you make the best choice.
- Make it Unique
"Once a year go some place you've never been before"Dalai lama
For me first criteria, I choose a place that I've never been (except if the trip is not just a vacation but it has another reason like business trip or conference trip)
- Define your goals and what make you happy
Second criteria, you need to plan your vision, why you want to travel and what you want from the trip ?
Some time we just have a destination in mind becasue we read about it, we know a friend who was there, we are curious to try a new kind of attraction, curiosity to visit at least one country per continent …
Add to that, you can use sticky notes and write down what destination you love to discover, what kind of activities you want to make that make you happy, and also define which traveler you are?
- 1. Solo Traveler (Relaxed and Unconcerned)
- 2. Urban Traveler (Smooth and Glossy)
- 3. Nature Traveler (Style and Substance)
- 4. The Settler (Firm and Calm)
- 5. Thrill Seeker (Bright and Animated)
- 6. The Passionately Curious (Freakish and outlandish)
- 7. Pilgrim (Relaxed and Serene)
- 8. Food Lover (Open and Broad)
- 9. The Discoverer (Quirky and Offbeat)
Using the list you prepared with additional research, you can easily limit your choice from 195 to a shorter list, and of course you are not obliged to make all your todo list in one trip.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
If the list is too large, you can check the best period to travel, is there discount available in plane ticket ? there are always questions you could ask yourself to help you choose from where you should start.
Otherwise, you can combine two countries or more if they are close to each other and very far from yours (may be you won't get the chance to travel again there). I recommend this combination only in case you will stay more than 10 days.
Honestly, I prefer one country per trip and discover many cities better than lots of countries saying 'Hi' then 'Bye' without living the country-experience.
"It is better to travel well than to arrive."
Second Phase: Prepare yourself
When you decided which destination you want to go for, all what you need now to complete your planification process.
- Plane Ticket:
It's better to plan your trip in advance, so that you can have a cheaper plane ticket.
I recommend before 2 months.
Taking the plane ticket could be from different online website, but I recommend to take it directly from the airline companies and follow the discount period of each one near your destination.
- Accommodation
Depending on your preference and budget you can choose different kind of accommodation such as: An Hotel, A hostel (you can even find hostels with a private room and private bathroom in your room for more compfort), You can look for an excellent house with great travelers reviews in AIRBNB.
Not because your budget can be limited, but to live the experience in a better way and live the authentic trip with the eyes of locals and their recommendations I highly recommend couchsurfing. Couchsurfers share their lives with the people they encounter, fostering cultural exchange and mutual respect.
Read more about this original experience from https://blog.couchsurfing.com/
- Prepare your TODO list
I do believe that people don't take trips, but trips take poeple. In fact, going on a trip may start with a lot of planning, but the truth is that once you arrive somewhere new, the area instantly begins to change you and may be your plans.
But for me I consider that preparing a great plan before the trip IS CRUCIAL, then I can adapt it with your new discoveries when I arrive.
Planning a new destination start with:
Explore the internet and search for top attractions then combine them with your hobbies and preferences defined at the beginning.
PS: I'm naming XXX the city or country I travel as an example to help you make your own plan
You can type in google those special keywords with the name of cities and countries you'll visit "Must visit places in XXX", "Top Sight Seeing in XXX", "Best adventures in XXX", "XXX through the eyes of a local", "A local's guide to XXX". Definitely, you can find a lot of inspiring blogs from here your TODO list will be generated 🙂
I recommend to make a FREE WALKING TOUR in every city you visit, it's an opportunity to get more live advice from locals (you can prepare some questions), get inpired with the history and mush visited places and guide recommendations for free !
- How can I find delicious food everywhere I travel?
I live in a mediterranean, we have delicious food, lots of my friends use to bring food with them while traveling using conservation boxes because they don't like to experience bad food experience. I even make that in my first trips.
Then I changed my mind and now I can find great addresses everywhere I travel even with all eating restrictings (no pork, no alcohol, no meat..)
Usually, I start with Instagram hashtags I try to write #XXXfood #XXXbestfood #XXXseafood #XXXdeliciousfood … and different combination.
Here ones of my best sea food I ate when traveling last year:
As eyes eat before via pictures, I prepare my list depending on pictures and review comments I see, then I verify with other reviews on their facebook page or google.
I use also google to find buffet sea food restaurants as I'm a biggest fun of this kind of food.
I search for more recommendations via facebook as well in travelers community.
Third Phase: Start your journey
Once done, I combine all the list I created and I save those addresses in google map, once done I make a zoom on google map and I start my journey with places near each other to save time in transport.
You can also use moovit or other mobiles apps
You can also walk when the distance isn't that far, you can discover lots of new/good places between 2 destinations in your plan.
"Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure."Irving Wallace
Hope this pandemic will disappear completely and everyone can travel again and "make new adventures" !


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The Smith Tower is Seattle's Original Skyscraper. Recently, my Seattle Foodie Podcast co-host Nelson Lau and I were invited to happy hour in the Observatory & Bar, a prohibition-inspired space. The visit included complimentary admission to the observatory deck, self-guided museum, and a chance to try some food and drink. It was also very timely because they were getting ready to start a new three-part speaker series!
The series is called Smells Like Seattle Spirits: Tales of the Northwest's Rumrunning Past. The series combines history, whiskey, and storytelling. The next two dates for the series are April 1st (SOLD OUT) and May 6th from 8pm to 10pm.
The series features a specialty cocktail (only available at the events) called Runnin' with the Devil made of Appleton Estate Signature Blend Rum, FORO Amaro, lemon sheret, lime, and absinthe rinse. Sounds good right? This cocktail is smooth and delicious!
When entering, I noticed the lobby entry featured tons of cute merchandise. After picking up your ticket, you can peruse the self-guided museum which is informative and a blast from the past. I'm not from Seattle so I'm always looking for ways to learn more about the area.
Next came the ride in the historic Otis elevator. The elevator and attendant provided a unique experience. The conversation was very enjoyable and although I had to face the back of the elevator car (I'm afraid of heights), it was a smooth ride.
The bar is beautiful and I had to take it all in for a minute. Historic decor transported me to a different time compared to bright, modern spaces I'm used to. The space was filled with a good amount of people enjoying happy hour at dusk.
I tried the prawn cocktail, artisan cheese plate, and chocolate toffee kahlua mousse cake topped with sea salt caramel sauce. I had another event to attend after happy hour so the cheese plate was perfect! The prawn cocktail met my seafood craving but was just enough so I didn't get too full. The mousse cake was to die for! The flavors blended perfectly and my fork slid through the cake with more grace than I'll ever have! Each bite was more decadent than the last. Nelson isn't a chocolate fan so I thought I'd be able to eat the whole thing. Wrong! It was so good, I had to share it with him. Boo.
After I ate, I made my way out to the Observatory. You can walk around to get 360 views. Whether you want to see mountains or the Sound, they've got you covered. I'm afraid of heights but with the proper breathing exercises, can venture out for short periods of time. I liked The Smith Tower because I felt very safe while I was outside.
The last thing I did was take a few pictures with Nelson. In the bar, they have a fun photo booth that is part of a wall. You can sit in chairs for a picture or you can stand right in front of it. We're fans of photobooths and this was a great one!
If you can't make it to the last speaker series, not to worry. The Smith Tower has a happy hour that you can access for $10.50 that runs Tuesday to Thursday from 4pm-6pm. Many thanks to The Smith Tower for hosting us! I'll have to visit more often!


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My sister in law Carol is running in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in October and is helping to raise money for the Komen Foundation North Alabama Affiliate. Go to Carol's page to help her raise money for this worthy cause.
The Mayor of Bessemer, Ed May came to the Bessemer Neighborhood Association meeting Monday night, then again to the Town Hall Meeting we sponsored Thursday Night. May is trying to get support for his Water Bond deal that the council authorized him to pursue, then voted against it once he got it.
Rumors are swirling, and I'm not going to repeat them here. But certain council members are being accused of major improprieties. One council member has even stated that we do not even have a contract to sell water to the city of Alabaster (I have a copy). Here is the mayor addressing our group.
ABC 33/40 reported on the issue Friday night as their lead story, showing our group protesting at the Jess Lanier game, and explaining the issue pretty well. She mentioned that if the water rates go up, not only will Bessemer be affected, but parts of Hoover, Helena, Midfield, Hueytown and Ross Bridge as well. If you live in any of these areas, you should come to the Town Hall Meeting tonight. For more information visit Bessemer Neighbors .
Tomorrow night is the Bessemer Historical Homeowners Association meeting at 213 19th Street South at the home of Jason Burnett, at 7:00.
These are two meetings at you need to come to if you are interested in preserving Bessemer and moving the city forward. The weather will be great both evenings, so come on out. Broken Vessel tonight, Jason's house tomorrow night.
I made a new friend the other day outside enjoying my deck.
Who can identify this bird?


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Every so often we do a refresher of the solar system. The Engineer knows the names of the planets, of course, and he's working on various moons (unprompted, by the way!) I get Callisto and Io mixed up, but he's pretty good about it.
But that planetary order thing is a bit sticky. Tricky, it is! He generally gets the first 3 correct, but can't remember if Jupiter is before Mars, or if Saturn is after Neptune.
Enter: the Solar System Bracelet (ta da!)
Of course, distance and scale is NOT accurate in any way. It's an artistic, general attempt to assist memorization.
You will need:
- Beads for the appropriate planets, planetary bodies, and sun. Are you a Pluto fan? Include it. We even added a tiny wanderer for the asteroid belt.
- Stretchy string – in black.
- Scissors.
- Patience.
- Finicky fingers.
Now, what I did here is a special technique called "Plan A failed." No, seriously, this technique is used for stringing pearls. It keeps the beads from cascading onto the floor if the string breaks. Need a visual? Go watch this video (and ignore the clasp part.)
It's pretty simple: tie knots before and after each bead. Because this is stretchy cord, pull the cord a few times to stretch it out and set the knot.
If this seems too annoying, try stringing black seed beads between the planets. You'll need a fishing-line type string to make that work, plus a clasp because the fishing line doesn't stretch.
Try to keep the first group of planets closely bunched, and then adjust Neptune and Pluto if you need more room.
Once you're done stringing the beads, tie a knot. And another one. And one more – pulling tightly each time. If it starts loosening, keep tying knots. Once you're sure the knot isn't going anywhere, trim it down to 1/4 " ends. Add a dab of glue if you're paranoid about the knot slipping.
Finished stringing!
We're also working with our space memory cards to quickly label planets and planetary bodies. This set includes both labeled and unlabeled cards for the planets, the sun, earth's moon, asteroid, asteroid belt, a comet, and our galaxy. Gameschooling makes our lives much easier!
Note: you can adapt this idea and make a necklace – which I'm going to do for me! We went in whole hog and bought all the different beads because the Engineer is making bracelet kits to sell at a kid's craft fair. If you don't need this many, look for a multi-color strand instead.


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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Seems like everywhere I turn someone is gushing about their new Droid phone, including my TLF colleagues Berin Szoka, Braden Cox, and Ryan Radia, who all had great fun rubbing their new toys in my nose over the past couple of days. And why not, it's a very cool little device. It makes my HTC Touch seems positively archaic in some ways, and it's only a year old. Apparently, 100,000 people already picked up a Droid in just its first weekend on the market.
But here's the first thing that pops in my mind every time I see someone showing off their new Droid: How can a device like this even exist when America's leading cyberlaw experts have been telling us that the whole digital world is increasingly going to hell because of "closed" devices, proprietary code, and managed networks? I'm speaking, of course, about the lamentations of Harvard professors Lawrence Lessig, Jonathan Zittrain, and their many disciples. As faithful readers will recall, I have relentlessly hammered this crew for their unwarranted cyber-Chicken Little-ism and hyper techno-pessimism. (See my many battles with Zittrain [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 + video] and my 2-part debate with Lessig earlier this year).
"Left to itself," Lessig warned in Code, "cyberspace will become a perfect tool of control." He went on to forecast a dystopian future in which nefarious corporate schemers would quash our digital liberties unless benevolent public philosopher kings stepped in to save our poor souls. Code was the Old Testament of cyber-collectivism. The New Testament arrived last year with Zittrain's The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It. In it, we hear the grim prediction that "sterile and tethered" digital technologies and networks will triumph over the more "open and generative" devices and systems of the past. The iPhone and TiVo are cast as villains in Zittrain's drama since they apparently represent the latest manifestations of Lessig's "perfect control" paranoia.
The AppStore is the seductive angel of death for computing. It enables Apple to keep quality up and, more important, to keep support costs down. But a computer that can't be programmed except by its manufacturer (or with the permission of its manufacturer) isn't a real computer. The success of the AppStore is a gloomy, scary harbinger. From controlling the apps that can go on its mobile phone, it's a short step for Apple to decide to control the apps that can go on its rumored slate/netbook device. And since so much of the future of computing will occur on mobiles and netbooks, this portends a serious de-generation of computing, as predicted by Jonathan Zittrain in The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It.
I find Weinberger's claim that "a serious de-generation of computing" is looming because of the iPhone to be especially ridiculous. It's the same sort of rubbish Lessig was spewing in Code when he predicted that AOL's walled garden model was going to take over the entire cyber-world and ensure "perfect control," just one of the many things Lessig got wrong in the book. And it's the same silliness we see at work in Zittrain's work when he claims that we're doomed to live in a world of closed "sterile and tethered" digital technologies and networks. Similarly, last year, Public Knowledge analyst Alex Curtis managed to reach the zenith of this rhetorical insanity when he likened the Apple App Store to an Orwellian Big Brother that was bringing us a "1984 kind of total control." You know, because Apple is forcing us all to own iPhones and locking us into re-education camps. Right.
Moreover, it's not just that a remarkably innovative and generative device like the Droid gets widespread release and praise, it's the fact that there are countless other mobile devices and applications on the market today much like it. On the Zittrainian "generative-vs.-sterile appliance" spectrum, the range of mobile devices just continues to grow and grow in both directions. You can decide exactly what type of device you want. But here's the more important point: How much of a difference does it even make how "open" these phones and app stores are? You've got more "closed" systems like Apple's iPhone and Palm's Pre on one end of the spectrum and then more "open" systems like the Droid and even many Windows Mobile devices on the other end, but do these competing models really result in many difference in terms of functionality and innovation? The reality is this: tons of innovation is occurring across all of these devices and platforms regardless of how "open" or "closed" they may be.
For example, when I go to Handango, a terrific mobile application marketplace, and search for "all apps" available for my HTC Touch (which runs a Windows Mobile OS), my senses are assaulted with 6,677 choices. It's all a bit overwhelming. Luckily, a quick search can get me right to the important applications I really need -- like the "Pocket Fart" app. Folks, let me tell you, no "generative" device is worth its salt without a good farting application. I don't care how bad of a mood my kids are in, when I fire up a fart app, it puts an instant smile on their faces!
But hey, guess what... that "angel of death," the iPhone Store, offers fart apps, too! Dozens and dozens of fart apps, in fact. In terms of Zittrainian generativity, the iPhone is positively fart-tastic. Just check out that video below. And in addition to those dozens of flatulence apps, the Apple AppStore has another 100,000 apps available for downloading, making it the largest applications store in the world. And back in September, Apple announced that more than two billion apps had been downloaded from the App Store in its short existence. That's Billion with a "B". Does this sound like it "portends a serious de-generation of computing" as Weinberger suggests? Incidentally, if he's so frightened that Steve Jobs is the Grim Reaper incarnate he can always go find another phone. Seriously, Steve Jobs doesn't force anybody to buy one of these expensive toys.
But the Berkman boys don't seem content with all that. And I wouldn't usually give a damn about the lunacy of these hyper-pessimistic prognostications from the Harvard crew if it was all just harmless cyber-sourpuss ramblings from the ivory tower geeks with too much time on their hands. But the problem is that these people want regulators to take steps to correct these supposed "code failures," as Lessig calls them. Zittrain calls for "API neutrality" in his book, which would force net neutrality-like mandates on digital devices. And in a New York Times editorial this summer entitled "Lost in the Cloud," he made it clear that cloud neutrality regulation was next on the list. [Others are joining that call.] I've got a serious problem with that, as I detailed extensively in earlier essays (here and here), and Berin Szoka and I have discussed how these escalating neutrality wars are bound to lead to the digital equivalent of "mutually assured destruction" within the tech community before it's all over.
Finally, when the Berkman gang, which is the most respected cyberlaw shop in the land, go around casting these debates with terms like "evil" applications and "angels of death," then I have a serious problem because the game you are playing becomes hazardous to the health of the digital economy. This poisons the public policy debate by using absurd moralistic rhetoric about something as fundamentally agnostic as digital platforms and protocols. These things are neither good nor evil; they are just choices. They represent different ways of promoting innovation. And we should be happy that our current digital marketplace is offering us a rich mosaic of business models and options that can fill almost any need and fit almost any picky user's desires. If that ain't progress, I don't what is.
posted by Adam Thierer @ 6:15 PM |
, Innovation
, Internet
, What We're Reading
, Wireless
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Thanks, that video helps remind me why I got into public policy in the first place.
Posted by: Wayne Crews
November 14, 2009 11:16 AM
I would agree, innovation is what is being represented.
All of it is a choice if you want to participate.
I do think that a lot of use will be forced to participate.
I, on one had, have 2 macs, a ipad and a droid x phone.
Posted by: Dwayne
August 18, 2010 5:59 PM
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Belgian filmmaker Felix van Groeningen follows his first foray into international attention (his last film debuted at Cannes in 2009) with a story about illness, loss, and bluegrass music.
What it's about: "The Broken Circle Breakdown" tells the incredible moving love-story of
banjo-player Didier and tattoo-artist Elise. It is love at first sight,
in spite of major differences. Their happiness is complete after their
little girl Maybelle is born. Unfortunately, Maybelle, at six years old,
becomes seriously ill. Didier and Elise respond in very different ways.
But Maybelle does not leave them any choice. Didier and Elise will have
to fight for her together. Will you get through something like that if
you are so different? Or will love let you down if you need it most?
About the filmmaker: I'm a 35 year old Belgian filmmaker. "The Broken Circle Breakdown" is my
4th feature film. My previous feature was called "The Misfortunates" and
came out in 2009, and was my first film to capture international
attention when it premiered in Cannes.
I've been working with Dirk Impens, the producer of my films, since
2003. In fact, most of my close crew members are long time
collaborators, and I'm extremely happy about that. Although I see my self as a arthouse filmmaker, last two films have been major boxoffice successes at home. I always co-write on the screenplay. I've written original stories and
have adapted a book aswell as a theatre play. I really love every step
of the filmmaking process, allthough I find writing the hardest.
What was your biggest challenge? I guess bringing everything together. This film contains very
different styles, big emotions, bluegrass music, different
timelines… So, at some point I was really doubting if all that was
gonna 'glue' together somehow. but in the end I'm extremely happy, as it
combines a lot of stuff that I had been working with on previous films,
and which really makes sense in "The Broken Circle Breakdown"
What would you like Tribeca audiences to come away with after seeing your film? That's up to them. But please: come and tell me afterwards!
Did any specific films inspire you?
I have to say that I'm less and less inspired by other films. But let's not be too pretentious: of course the DOP and me watched some
other movies very closely and stole some things stylewise: amongst them
"Walk The Line" and "Magnolia."
What do you have in the works? I'm writing an original story which talks about nightlife in my hometown, and I'm adapting an English language novel.
Where did you learn how to make films? I went to the KASK filmschool in Gent, Belgium. It was a pretty crappy
school, but I had some great, great teachers. It's also the place where I
met Dirk Impens, my long lasting producing friend. While in film school I also made a theatre play with some friends, and
with a bunch of teenager non-actors. The play performed for over 3 years
and we toured all over Europe. I feel I learned how to "direct," how to
really "work" with people during that time. I feel that a lot of the people I worked with, were and are still mentors.
Indiewire invited Tribeca Film Festival directors to tell us about
their films, including what inspired them, the challenges they faced and
what they're doing next. We'll be publishing their responses leading up
to the 2013 festival.
Keep checking HERE every day up to the launch of the festival on April 17 for the latest profiles.
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.


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daytura are delighted to be exhibiting at The Georgian Hotel in Coatbridge at their annual wedding show. We will be on hand to answer all your music queries for your big day. If a glass of bubbly on arrival isn't tempting enough then the bridal catwalk is sure to be worth a watch. There will be lots of other wedding suppliers on the day to give you inspiration and help your ideas come to life.
We are offering £100 off for bookings made on the day. See you there!
Event details:
Sunday 3rd September 2017 12-4pm
Free entry
The Georgian Hotel
26 Lefroy Street, Coatbridge, ML5 1LZ
01236 421888


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Loughrigg Fell, just south of Grasmere and Rydal Water is a fantastic family fell to climb. It's officially a "Wainwright", standing at 335 metres.
The route we took was easy to navigate and pretty direct to the top. There are plenty of other routes, but be warned that the top itself is expansive and can be a bit difficult to navigate, which is why we'd recommend this particular route for ease.
We managed to park in a layby that accommodates up to 4 cars on the A591 at GR 345062 on OS map OL7. Obviously you have to get there early. Benefits include free parking, but also it knocks off about a mile of the walk, so if you have very little ones it makes it a bit easier for them. If the layby is full, there is pay and display parking at White Moss, GR 351065.
If you're starting from White Moss, simply follow the clearly marked footpath along the river, over the far bridge and up to the shore of Grasmere. We've done this walk before, as a walk in itself. Details of the White Moss walk can be found here.
If you're starting from the layby, there is a little gap in the wall on the other side of the road with steps down to join the path. Turn right on this path, then turn left to follow the path down to the little bridge over the river to the shores of Grasmere.
Enjoy Penny Rock beach while you're there, it's a beautiful little place with magnificent views. When you're ready, head up the footpath opposite the bridge which is signed "Rydal Caves". Follow this path gently uphill until you zig zag almost back on yourself to walk gently up Loughrigg Terrace. This is a beautiful easy walk, offering magnificent views and with plenty of benches to rest on. If you feel you can't make it up Loughrigg Fell, then the Terrace is worth coming to, as it's a very manageable walk to here.
At the end of Loughrigg Terrace, turn left and head up. This is the steep bit of the walk, but it's not too hard and it's not too far. Keep following the clear path all the way to the very top, where you'll find a trig point. Hopefully you'll get better views than we did, as today we were in a cloud at the top! I've marked up the route from White Moss car park on the map in the photographs below.
We did an out and back route today, which totalled 3 miles and took about 3 hours including all our stops (4 miles if you were to park in the White Moss car park). But, if you've got enough energy, you could head back down towards one of our favourite spots, Rydal Caves, for an explore. They are at GR 355058, and we'd recommend heading back down and across Loughrigg Terrace to get to them most easily.
We were going to go to Badger Bar, which is close by on the A591, but our little girl wasn't feeling 100%, so we headed home. We'll save that one for another day.
For more walks like this, stay up to date and "like" our facebook page Family Walks and Pubs in the Lake District
Categories: >2.5 miles, caves, great views, lake shore, summit


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From the Collateral Consequences Resource Center:
Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new guidance asserting that housing policies that exclude people with criminal records may violate the non-discrimination provisions of the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) if they fail to consider the nature, severity, and recency of criminal conduct and if they are not narrowly tailored to protect residents or property. The Justice Department has taken the first step toward judicial enforcement of this guidance.
Read more here.


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If you blindfolded the average person, drove them off-site, served them this meal with a side salad and told them they were eating a $24.95 entree at a French restaurant, I can pretty much guarantee they'd believe you. (And if you don't believe me about the price difference, know that pasta dishes have the highest profit margin in almost all restaurants.)
Granted, it takes a bit of work and skill to prepare, but if you're looking to impress for less than the price of a bag of chips, this is your dish.
I'll come out and admit right now that I love foie gras. I know it's wrong in all kinds of ways, but if it's on offer at a dinner that I'm not paying for, I'm going to order it, and to me this tastes very similar. Even if you think liver isn't your thing, there's a high likelihood of this dish changing your mind.
The recipe below makes 4 servings.
• 1/2 lb. chicken livers: 81 cents
• 1 cup milk: 50 cents
• 3 small French shallots (from a 99-cent bag), minced: 12 cents
• Zest from 3/4 lemon: 3o cents
• 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme (garden): $0
• 2 small cloves garlic, minced: 6 cents
• 1/4 cup dry sherry: 20 cents
• 1 T canola oil: 3 cents
• 1 1/2 cups flour: 25 cents
• 4 T unsalted butter: 24 cents
• 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk: 30 cents
• Salt to taste: 1 cent
• Pepper to taste: 1 cent
TOTAL: $2.98/4 = 75 cents/serving
Trim any fat hanging off the livers, rinse them, and soak them in the 1 cup of milk for about an hour. This both tenderizes them and gives them a milder flavor.
Sure, you can skip the making-your-own-pasta step and buy fresh pappardelle. But that ain't gonna be cheap, and making pasta just isn't that hard. I'm of the firm belief everyone should try it at least once. Even if you screw up royally, you're still going to come out with something edible.
Pile the 1 1/2 cups flour, mixed with about 1 tsp salt, on a clean counter or large cutting board. Make a well in the center, crack the egg and into it, add the egg yolk, and beat slightly with a fork. Gradually start incorporating flour into the beaten egg. Slowly incorporate more and more until a dough is starting to form; add water if needed—I usually have to add about half a cup or more. Search YouTube for videos of someone doing this (there are many) if it sounds nerve-wracking to you. Knead dough for about 8-9 minutes, until the pasta dough is velvety-smooth and supple. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let rest for about 30 minutes.
Once it has rested, cut the dough ball into quarters (keeping the spare pieces under a damp towel or plastic wrap so they don't dry out) and either roll out it out with a rolling pin on a floured surface to the desired thinness (make sure it's even), or use a pasta machine, stopping on the second-to-last thinness setting. Hand-cut into wide noodles, dust lightly with flour, and set somewhere to dry slightly. (If you have enough counter space, lucky you. I had them hanging pretty much everywhere.)
When the chicken livers are done, drain them, rinse them, and pat them dry. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 T canola oil. Add the chicken livers and sear on both sides. Add the thyme, garlic, and shallot and sauté until the livers are cooked through. When cooked, deglaze the pan with the sherry, scraping up any browned bits. When almost all the liquid is gone, transfer the pan contents to a food processor and purée. With the machine still on, add the butter one T at a time. Add lemon zest, salt and pepper to taste.
In a large pot of heavily salted boiling water, add the pappardelle (try to add it all at one time; you may have to drape it over both arms) and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Drain, reserving some of the pasta water. Return the pasta to the pan and add the chicken-liver sauce. Make sure the pasta is thoroughly coated; if it's drying out, add a little bit of the pasta water. Serve immediately.


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Our activities are accountable, responsive, and effective. We will continue to improve by regularly evaluating our progress and ensuring that lessons from past activities and experiences are leveraged to deliver better outcomes in the future.
Council does not believe that environmental sustainability should be a matter for any single team. To help integrate sustainability principles throughout Council various mechanisms are being employed and investigated to ensure we have continuous improvement and innovation in how we deliver environmental sustainability.
To inform Council's own development standards we have developed an Environmentally Sustainable Design policy, which sets out guidelines and expectations that will apply to new, replacement and renewal of Council buildings and surrounding assets.
Maroondah became a Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) member, for the first time and BESS subscriber, in 2016/17. The CASBE is an association of Victorian councils committed to the creation of a sustainable built environment within and beyond their municipalities. As a CASBE member, Council and the Maroondah community can access the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) tool to help assess the sustainability of buildings at the design stage. It assists builders and developers to show how a proposed development demonstrates sustainable design.
A number of environmental grants are available through a variety of organisations at different times during each year. These can apply to anything from capital works projects to plantings and community education. Sometimes it is necessary to be an incorporated group to apply, although in some cases you can apply through other incorporated groups if they agree to assist with the grant.
Maroondah City Council's Sustainability Team on 1300 88 22 33.


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MJ's going to wait a little longer to harvest her Ponderosa and Aprile, but here's her report on her Grappoli — aren't these gorgeous? From MJ:
For most of the summer, I was looking forward to tasting one of the most prolific tomato vines in my garden: Grappoli d'Inverno. About a month ago the first ones turned red and the tasting began. I was a little disappointed with the results and only gave it a solid "meh," and then they started ripening in droves — way too many to keep up with. As luck would have it, Deb Kam posted a timely article on the Seacoast Eat Local blog reminding me about roasted tomatoes … ah yes, roasting. And this, in my opinion, is where the Grappoli really began to shine; they are off the hook delicious.
And now that I've been clued into the idea of winter storage and how to hang them — I'm frankly a little over the moon for these little buggers. The very idea of plucking a sweet little tomato from the basement in January makes winter in southern Maine seem not so bad.
Note: The tomatoes in my post for Seacoast Eat Local on slow roasting them are a mix of Principe Borghese and Grappoli from Meadow's Mirth. Though not part of the grow-out, the small yellow blush plum tomatoes are from New Roots Farm, and are also great for drying and slow roasting.