text: Development projects often fail if they go against the existing power structure in a village or region Samah El-Shahat, Al Jazeera's resident economist, will be writing a regular column analysing key elements that have contributed to the global financial downturn and its impact across the world. The US's bankers and the government - a toxic bond I am a development economist, and in very crude terms development economics is about how to make emerging economies grow, develop, and become like industrialised economies. Like many others working in my profession, I am always struck by the injustices facing less developed countries in trying to break out of the arms of poverty, from global institutions that placed the interests of those who fund them - always the richer more powerful economies - above the interest of those developing countries, to global trade rules that were and are blatantly unfair. So for those economists such as myself who opted out of analysing the world through a "neoliberal" or "neoclassical" perspective, we analyse power and how that can seriously affect, influence and manipulate trade for certain interests. These relationships of power asymmetry can also be found within the developing countries themselves. Far too often I have worked on projects which failed, not because of poor economics or poor design, but because it went against the existing power structure in a village or industrial cluster. "The power of banks and the bondholders are preventing the Obama administration from taking sensible decisions" That is, it was seen as disadvantageous to the existing power structures and status quo and hence those with power, prestige and a lot of money, went out of their way to stop it. Or equally as bad, they went out of their way to make sure it benefited only them. In economic parlance, we say they "captured" the project and, of course, the funds. So you find that when that happens, we write in our concluding reports that the reason for the failure of the project was the unique "political economy" of that village, town or country. What I am finding quite astonishing though, is the more I look at the banking fiasco in the US, the more I see elements of an "emerging economy", with that same in-your-face political economy. Blatant interests Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that in industrialised countries vested interests did not shape policies to suit them, but it has never been this blatant and there has never been more at stake - not just for Americans but for the whole world. Somewhere along the line, the way the US does business - particularly financial banking - has been captured by bankers and, dare I say, they have the government under their control. Out of want for a better word - the combination of power and vested interests is toxic. The bankers are manipulating the bailout of their banks to their advantage. But this is not Argentina, nor is this even Japan, this is the US. What do I mean by that? Well, I mean that the power of banks and the power of bondholders are preventing the Obama administration from taking sensible decisions that place the interest of the taxpayer before that of the elite minority of bankers. The US's strategy for fixing the banking mess we are all in is inherently unjust and unfair, for it is rewarding the people who caused the crisis in the first place. When the Obama administration is asked why it is doing that, it says it has no alternative. I disagree, and so do a number of renowned economists such as Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz and Jeffrey Sachs. Alternative policies They, too, have have been critical of plans by Timothy Geithner, the US treasury secretary. Over the next few weeks in my weekly column, I will draw on my experience in developing countries, and, as a development economist, try to show you why the bankers have captured the US government. I will also point you towards alternative policies that can get the banking system out of this mess without making the taxpayer carry all the burden, risk and loss. Over the next two weeks, I will be looking at two examples which capture this sorry state of affairs: the banks' "stress tests" - whose results were publicly announced on May 7 after some delay; and, the Private Public Investment Partnership (PPIP), put forward by Geithner, aimed at removing the toxic assets of the banks' balance sheets. We have to consider these two programmes together because they are designed to work in unison in reducing the capital shortfalls of the major banks. The pressure from the stress tests is supposed to lead to greater willingness on the part of banks to sell their bad assets, and the sales of the bad assets are supposed to provide more private capital. The PPIP plan relies on private investors teaming up with the government to relieve the banks of assets tied to loans and mortgages linked to securities of unknown value. This is private public partnership, where the American taxpayer takes all the risk, and the private investors walk away with the cash. It is a public swindle of astonishing proportions. So why is it happening America? Samah El-Shahat also presents Al Jazeera's People & Power programme. The views expressed in the above column are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera editorial policy. SOURCE: Al Jazeera Business & Economy US & Canada United States


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text:
On The Trail of Ghengis Khan
Nikolaiv to Kodima (Autumn 2006)
After returning from a journey to Australia to accept the Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year Award, Tim set off in October from the city of Nikolaiv in southern Ukraine and travelled as far as the town of Kodima, only a few kilometres from the border with Moldavia
The Kazak/Russian border (December 2005)
�(Some photos taken by an Astrakhan journalist as I made the border crossing Here I cross out of Kazakhstan, cross a part of the volga on a barge After a night in between the borders I arrive at Russian customs (on the 13th of December)
Turned back by Russian customs! (October 2005)
�Top: Saying goodbye to Kazakhstan in the village of Kuigen Middle: Being taken out to lunch by the veterinary department of customs on the Kazak border Tim looks a bit despairing the morning after being turned around by Russian Customs
Autumn In Kazakhstan (2005)
Below you can find some photos from Tim's last month of riding in Kazakhstan between Kulsari and the Russian border near Astrakhan on the Volga river delta (September/October 2005)
Summer in Kazakhstan (2005)
From the Betpak Dala in South East Kazakhstan to temperatures soaring above 50 degrees celsius These photos offer glimpse of the way through the western deserts to the Caspian Sea
Into Russia, Winter 2005/06
In December Tim arrived from Kazakhstan in Russia and crossed the Volga river in the city of Astrakhan As the Volga froze over he headed south towards Dagestan before heading west through the fairytale steppe of Kalmikia
First Steps in Mongolia (Summer 2004)
Tim has now set out on his journey across Mongolia
Into Kazakhstan (Autumn 2004)
�From the East, towards the West.
Training in the Australian Alps (Dec/Jan 2003/2004)
Over the new year in December/January (03/04) Tim and his partner Kathrin had their first real taste of packhorse travel


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Crafting a unique and appealing fragrance is an art. We create custom scents from the finest ingredients and works with the world's most renowned perfume houses. Our carefully selected formulas are made from premium ingredients without the use of any harmful additives. We ensure safe, genuine and authentic scents that add value to your business.
We also offer a unique collection of pre-designed fragrances that pave the way to the most diverse experiences, all aligned in a unique scent library. We invite you to find out which composition could vitalize and support your brand. Stimulating or relaxing, to awaken desire or boost confidence, from the ordinary to the unusual. With different strategies or moods in mind, an array of unique blends are available to change the atmosphere of your area in an instant.
Depending on your objectives and budget, a customized Scent Selection Program can be initiated to acquire your own unique fragrance. In co-creation with you or your team we can translate your concept, identity, emotions, values, and required image into a unique customized quality fragrance.
Get in touch or find out more about Our Approach


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With the release of my new book, I decided to also completely renovate my website and go back to hosting the blog and site at
I will not be updating this site any longer.
Please check out the new site and the new book!
Please don't forget to resubscribe to the new blog on the NEW SITE so that you can receive necessary updates!


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Monday, September 27, 2010
Investigating Obama's Marxofascist, Globalist Network
2 comments:
- Story Reports said...
Obama was more explicit in a May 3 interview with the New York Times, when he said there ought to be a national "conversation" over whether "sort of in the aggregate, society making those decisions to give my grandmother, or everybody else's aging grandparents or parents, a hip replacement when they're terminally ill is a sustainable model." Such decisions, added Obama, shouldn't be left to patients or their relatives, but to a "group" of "doctors, scientists, ethicists" who are not part of "normal political channels."
This group of "doctors, scientists, ethicists" are the "panel" Sarah Palin was referring to. She was referring exactly to what obama had said in the May 3 New York Times interview!
(These groups of "doctors, scientists, ethicists" are in fact the DEATH PANELS that have been talked about by obama. These panels are in fact in the obamacare bill that was passed by congress under suspection of fraud and coercion.
Obama himself thinks your own health should not be your personal decision but should be determined by a panel as the quote above reveals, ie DEATH PANEL, via obamacare. Obama truly is a recycled hitler that is willing to terminate, ie kill, older people even his own grand mother.) Story Reports
- October 24, 2010 at 6:21 PM
The third message from heaven...
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
God Loves You - Read Your Bible
- November 23, 2010 at 12:14 PM


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Just as we were about to close the TMT offices for the long weekend, Daniel Lopatin announced that a file labeled "Joyvtl Jvbuayf" was now available for download. We were confused, but quickly decided that we'd love to download a file labeled "Joyvtl Jvbuayf" from Daniel Lopatin.
However, that file is in RealAudio format, with the following text description:
Advanced Television Systems Committee A/52 digital audio coding algorithm for use in satellite or terrestrial audio broadcasting, delivery of audio over metallic or optical cables, or storage of audio on magnetic, optical, semiconductor, or other storage media as contained in a RealNetworks RealAudio (dnet) wrapper.
The next 45 minutes were spent desperately trying to open "Joyvtl Jvbuayf.ra" to no avail, searching troubleshooting forums from 2006 to find a workaround. Whatever audio codec needed to be installed was no longer supported by RealPlayer, and any archived early versions of RealPlayer were no longer supported by the OS. Holy shit: death by software update. Anyone who was playing the "Problem Areas" video at 1080p HD on multiple screens in their geodesic dome had unknowingly locked themselves out of the next OPN transmission.
Finally we found some shady site that could spit out an MP3 version (…at 64 kbps…) and got the audio, five minutes of song buried under a mess of quaking, blown-out radio static oscillations, which probably sounds even better streaming through some old Gateway 2000 speakers.
So what's going on here? Is this a comment on the fleeting nature of technology? Complex corporate control over our futures/presents, and pasts? A fracturing of the timeline where we're hearing a degraded memory of a not-yet-released album? Don't be so quick to cry "overthinking" — "Still Life (excerpt)" was a collaboration with Nate Boyce, "Problem Areas" with Takeshi Murata, and now "Joyvtl Jvbuayf" with Cory Arcangel, all visual artists spilling over into conceptual multimedia. You take it from here, readers… [solve the title like we did].
Also check out these upcoming OPN tour dates:
09.12.13 - Troy, NY - EMPAC
09.17.13 - Brooklyn, NY - Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral
09.22.13 - Krakow, Poland - Sacrum Profanum
09.26.13 - Leeds, UK - Howard Assembly Room
09.27.13 - Paris, France - Le Trabendo
09.28.13 - The Hague, Netherlands - Today's Art Festival
10.01.13 - Glasgow, UK - Centre for Contemporary Arts
10.03.13 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
10.04.13 - Berlin, Germany - Berghain
10.05.13 - Kortijk, Belgium - De Kreun
11.16.13 - Minneapolis, MN - Walker Art Center
11.23.13 - East Sussex, UK - ATP @ Pontins Holiday Centre
11.25.13 - Helsinki, Finland - Korjaamo
11.28.13 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Le Guess Who?
• Oneohtrix Point Never: http://www.pointnever.com
• Warp: http://warp.net
More about: Oneohtrix Point Never


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[MP3] Raising ADD Kids
This is a must listen for any parent whose child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. Dr. Daniel Amen calls upon not only his many years of clinical experience in working with ADD kids and their parents, but also his personal experience of raising three ADD children himself! You'll learn what works and what doesn't when it comes to helping your ADD child reach their potential and succeed. Raising kids who have ADD can be very frustrating and it affects you, your child and your entire family structure. But, there is hope and help … Dr. Amen systematically guides you through steps to acquire the skills needed in this fascinating audio presentation.
Download File Access:
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Login to your account (click "Login/Register" in the left-hand navigation to login), then click Account Settings to go to your orders, and select the "View" button on your download order(s). The link(s) to your download(s) will be available there.


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Actually, I probably can't… unless you have unusually specific needs. But that's okay, because a lot of other people can. In about ten minutes.
Yesterday in a fit of boredom I read an article of about that length over on Medium, detailing how some guy had "rebooted his life". I've seen the chap's name around and gather that he's pretty Famous On The Interwebs and possibly elsewhere. The piece was well-written and engaging and studiously self-effacing and hit all the right affirmative notes — but basically boiled down to "exercise more, and drink less beer", and thus was clearly the babbling of a madman.
And it made me realize, again, that I don't blog as often as I'm supposed to. I should blog more. I'm not sure why I should, actually, except that we're all encouraged toward this form of expression — to regularly produce earnest little think-pieces positioning ourselves as battle-hardened but clear-eyed citizens of the brave new worlds of self-empowerment and productivity, seasoning our intellectual savvy with the freewheeling imagination of a Chagall and the tart piquancy of a nonpareil caper.
This is not one of those pieces.
Words are not my friend right now, but pictures are still spilling out. So rather than a wise ten-minute-read along the lines of "I've by-God got the measure of the world and am passing on the pearls, oh and by the way, here are links to my book, product or service", instead here are some recent autumnal images cropped to the ratio of an iPhone lock or home screen. So you could use them for that, if you wanted.
They'll probably work on Samsungs too — but first I urge you to look deep inside and ask yourself what entrapping script is making it so hard for you to resist the warm embrace of our Cupertino overlords.
The pictures aren't super high res but then neither is life most days. No, I have no idea what I mean by that either.
Enjoy. Or not. I'm off to try exercising less, while drinking more beer.
I'll let you know how it goes.
To use, click and hold on an image and say yes, you want to save it. That's on a phone.
There's a crapload more on my Insta.


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Monday, June 4, 2007
Four Non Blogs
1. You can download my 13-page ebook, an essay entitled Just a Small Town Girl, for only two dollars—that's less than the cost of a movie for heaven's sake! And, you can print it out and take it with you to the bathroom; nobody has to know.
2. Please patronize the bloggers on my blogroll:
3. Check out the "Samples" page at JodyReale.com. There's a new entry there, entitled In the Middle of Somewhere, especially for you Colorado folks.
4. If you're not a MySpace junkie yet, you're missing out on some good phishing attacks and messages from complete strangers who want you to know that, no kidding, you two were married in a previous incarnation. Sign up already, and come see me at http://www.myspace.com/jodyreale. We will be friends, screw Jeremy Piven. After all, you and I were married once, which entitles me to your password. Give it up.
See you next week.
9 comments:
- Rosemary Carstens said...
In the Middle of Somewhere is great, Jody. You write really well and I can see why it won a prize. I wrote a little essay about Being Western, too, that you can find on the Articles page of my website at www.CarstensCommunications.com if you are interested. It took me a long time to realize I can visit the whole world and have a blast--but I belong west of the Mississipi--waaay West. Rosemary
- June 4, 2007 at 3:10 PM
- JodyReale said...
Rosemary! I love your western gal essay--I happened upon it a few months
ago, as I've been a fan of your stuff for a while. Thanks for coming by and
for the kind words.
Kids, please go to http://www.carstenscommunications.com/ and read up.
- June 4, 2007 at 3:25 PM
- Marin said...
Hate MySpace.
Love Jeremy Piven.
Think you're pretty swell.
William L. Bryan's seester
- June 11, 2007 at 1:20 PM
- JodyReale said...
If there's one thing I can say about William L. Bryan, it's that his female siblings have excellent taste. You doll, you.
- June 12, 2007 at 8:35 AM
- Marin said...
You know I'm going to have to quote you at the next family dinner.
Thanks for adverting me on your list. I've been poking around some of the blogs and... well, I may need more time in my days.
- June 14, 2007 at 1:56 PM
- n.l. said...
If it weren't for myspace, I would be lost. It's where lots of bookstores, libraries, writers and readers hang out.
Although not the best marketing tool, it gives us long and friendly arms. -n.l. (noveltown)
- June 16, 2007 at 9:57 PM
- JodyReale said...
Down with war, up with long arms. Way up!
- June 16, 2007 at 10:04 PM
- Amy said...
Jeremy has a MySpace account??!!??
Dagnabit!! How come I didn't know this until now?! That's what I get for not wasting my lunch hour. Well, no more!
I'm heading over to beg to be Jeremy's new friend right! now! I'd love to hug it out with Ari/Jeremy. He's the hottest talent agent with just enough touch of sleaze Hollywood has right now.
I'm going to have search through all my sluttiest pictures and find just the right one to attach to my friend request.
- June 21, 2007 at 3:51 PM
- JodyReale said...
Go get him, girl, and show no mercy.
- June 21, 2007 at 7:20 PM


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Epic blood draw this morning. I've only had this much taken at once a few times and am still a little loopy. May have figured out the cause of my tummy issues- change in meds and if not better in 10 days it's to the GI I go. Whee.
I have been asked to act as a consultant for another Uni to help them expand their services similar to the services that my team provides. I'm very flattered and am looking forward to working with some great folks. I'll have to use two vacation days to be on-site, but they'll cover my travel and provide a small stipend. I haven't done consulting since I left my last Uni and it will be a fun challenge. Also looking forward to re-visiting a city I've only been to once before (Jacksonville), and, maybe, just a little bit looking forward to not having cats wake me up for one night, heh. I will miss my hubby though- we spent enough years doing long-distance that we miss each other if we can't spend the night together.


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The Pleasure Zone won hearts and minds
Delighted to report that our Pleasure Zone event in London on Wednesday went rather well.
A packed house (above) enjoyed a hugely entertaining evening that fully justified our decision to shoehorn two events into one.
The first was a presentation by Dr Neil McKeganey, director of the Centre for Substance Use Research and lead author of a recent report, 'The Pleasure of Smoking: The Views of Confirmed Smokers'.
The second was a balloon debate on the subject 'The Most Pleasurable Nicotine Delivery Device in the World'.
I first met Neil at a conference in Bologna in 2015. A few months later our paths crossed again – this time in Chicago – when we shared a taxi to the airport and spent a couple of hours chatting before our flight home.
Neil is extremely amiable and not a bit stuffy but I did wonder whether a presentation summarising the results of an academic study might be a little dry for an audience several drinks to the good before it even began.
Not a bit of it. Abandoning his Powerpoint presentation in favour of a more ad hoc approach, Neil struck just the right note. He was affable, humorous and, most important, interesting.
Dick Puddlecote has posted an excellent review of his presentation here. All I'll add is that Neil proved fearless in addressing several contentious issues.
In fact his very presence at the event, and his refusal to be intimidated by critics of his decision to work with Forest on 'The Pleasure of Smoking' report, says a lot about him, and them. (I'll return to this issue in another post.)
Anyway, after a warm round of applause from an audience that appreciated both his honesty and his integrity, it was time for the balloon debate.
We'd managed to engage the services of six speakers to advocate the following products – cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snus, heated tobacco (aka heat not burn) and e-cigarettes.
Each contestant had three minutes, give or take a few seconds, to make their case for the 'Best Nicotine Delivery Device in the World'.
I'll summarise the debate as follows – funny, engaging and enjoyable.
Andy Stewart, who has smoked a pipe for 35 years (he began when he was 17), kicked things off. He was followed by Ranald MacDonald (advocating cigars), Chris Snowdon (snus), Mark Littlewood (heated tobacco), Angela Harbutt (cigarettes) and, finally, Judy Gibson (e-cigarettes).
I don't remember much of what was said but I do remember plenty of laughter. I wish we'd had more time, especially for Q&As, but the format worked pretty well.
When we went to the first audience vote the three products with the fewest number of votes were ejected. In no particular order they were:
Heated tobacco, pipes and, surprisingly perhaps, e-cigarettes.
That left three contestants – Chris Snowdon (snus), Ranald MacDonald (cigars) and Angela Harbutt (cigarettes) – to battle out a final round (one minute per speaker).
The audience then voted for a second and last time and the winner was ... the humble cigarette!
"What did you expect?" I hear you cry. After all, it was a Forest event.
Truthfully? I really didn't expect cigarettes to win. Forest is a broad church and our events attract an equal number of smokers, non-smokers and, increasingly, vapers or dual users.
The public has been saturated with anti-smoking propaganda about smoking. Most smokers, we are told, are addicted and want to quit.
The consumption of cigarettes, in particular, is described as a dirty, disgusting habit.
Cigars are sexy, snus is cool, pipes are less harmful (you don't inhale), heated tobacco is the future, and e-cigarettes are, well, safer, fun and groovy.
Combustible cigarettes? Meh (or so we're led to believe).
On Wednesday night Angela Harbutt won the debate by a convincing margin, attracting more than two-thirds of the final vote.
So in 2017 it's official:
Cigarettes are the 'Most Pleasurable Nicotine Delivery Device in the World'!
Update: We've received many nice comments about the event. Here's one:
That was a great evening. I think it was one of my most pleasurable Forest events. Neil McKeganey was polite, humble and direct and a nice genuine guy.
The balloon debate was hilarious and very natural. A great platform for Forest and it showed great character. Being a smoker with strong views is increasingly difficult but humour always wins hearts.
See also: Fun in the Pleasure Zone (Freedom to Vape).
Below: Angela Harbutt with her prize, a jeroboam of wine courtesy of our event partner, Boisdale of Belgravia, presented by Dr Neil McKeganey.


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My arthritis is acting up and its pissing me off. I want to go to the gym and get back on track, but right now the pain is keeping me home. So many people who are healthy and able choose to do nothing. I dont want to do nothing, I want to do SOMETHING and I cant, and its not fair. **STOMPING FEET** sorry, had to have a little temper tantrum. In all seriousness though, it is really messing with my mental state of mind. I find myself wanting to say "to heck with it all, I cant do it anyway so why bother" but I know if I actually follow through with that I am only going to gain everything back and be right where I started a year ago. Im already up a couple sizes since thanksgiving and I feel myself bulking up and I HATE it. Yet, I cant work out because of my stupid body so it pisses me off! UAAUGH!
and I have gained back some weight over the holidays. WAY more then I intended and I am mad at myself for allowing myself to fall into my old habits. I am back up to 160. I really really have to nip it now because I DO NOT want to go back to being 230. So I was feeling all depressed about my weight gain this past month but then when I put the pictures from the morning onto my computer I realized I still look a lot better now then I did exactly one year ago. So, I have decided to post my pics as a reminder that even if I have lost track for a little bit, I am NOT where I started. So, my goal for 2009 in terms of weight loss is to get to 145, and then MAINTAIN IT!
December 2007
December 2008
I weighed in at 149.8 today! I cant believe it! I have not been this weight since I was 16!
I am still wearing 12/14's though so I am now going to start aiming for 140 and see if that helps the tummy area.
I just want to run away right now. Run away from my life.
I understand now why my mom did.
Here is a pic of me from a couple weeks ago. I bought this new outfit and was feeling pretty good. First is a pic from before (about 10 months ago).
I cant believe we are already at the 17th of August. Time has really flown by this summer. I am more then ready for the kids to go back to school though. They are getting bored, and I am going crazy with the whining and fighting between them all.
Not much to report in terms of weight loss. I am kind of at a stand still. Im ok with it though, at least for now. My goal at the beginning of the summer was to not gain, and while I did gain a bit camping, I lost it within a week of being home. I am at 155.2 this morning. My plan is to try to start losing again in the fall. I have been hovering around 155 for a little over a month now and really I dont see that as a bad thing. Summer is filled with lots of extra treats (bbq's, icecream) that kind of thing and a girl has to live! lol Besides, with the kids home I just have not been able to get to the Y. Also now I am working from 1-6 mon-fri so I dont have as much time as I did before. I hope I can get into a good routine come september.
I am planning to go to a cycling class in a few minutes, so better run.
I've noticed how easy it has become to be obsessed about every morsel of food that I ingest. I dont like that feeling, it makes me feel like food is in control and I dont like that. There will always be parties that include foods I may not eat on a regular basis, but I don tlike that panicky feeling that I get when I think about the calories or fat that is in it. I should be free to eat it no matter what it is because it is something I would not normally eat, and I dont need to have a lot of it. It's simple right? So why do I get so stressed out about food?? I love food. I love everything about it from the taste, to the texture, to the feeling of being full. I am addicted to it really. The thing about a food addiction is that you can't cut it out of your life like you can drugs or alcohol. You still need to eat to live. Some days I find that it is getting easier, other days I think I can NOT keep doing this. Planning meals, making lunches, it works…but it is mentally exhausting sometimes. I have been so tempted the last few weeks to pull up to a drivethru and just go for it. But I know that will put me right back where I was 7 months ago…and I do NOT want to go there…yet I still want to eat that food. This is SO hard. Harder then anything I have done, and even though I am thrilled with the results sometimes that doesn't seem like enough to keep me wanting that food.
It seems SO simple. Eat less, choose better foods, exercise. And it works….but why does it have to be SO hard all the time?? Right now I want nothing more then to go to timmy's and order one of their sausage, egg, cheese english muffin things and have a big iced cap with it. It's probably the equivilant to about a 3/4 day worth of cal's…but I miss it! The thing about doing that is it could easily send me into a downward spiral and bad choices. You know what I mean? You get a taste of it and instead of satisfying you it just makes things worse because you just want more of it.
AHHHHHHH Im hungry!!
I weighed in this morning at 161 pounds. I was so excited to see that number, I think that is the lowest I have been in 10 years. Its a good feeling! I can wait to step on the scale and have it tell me I am 15something. That will be awesome, and I hope to see it by the end of July. I dont think I have been in the 150's since I was a teenager.
I've been worried about how I was going to get to the gym during the summer, but a friend of mine and I were talking and decided that once a week I will watch her kids in the morning, and then she will watch mine in the afternoon. That takes care of one day a week. My mil also said she will watching them once morning a week, so that gives me 2 days a week. My dh is home on the weekends so I could go on saturday and/or on sunday which gives me 3-4 days a week which is great! That is what I have been doing, so even with the kids home for the summer I can continue to go to the gym and I have no excuse.
I totally have the munchies right now. I want nothing more then to make some popcorn, but the kind that we have in the house is the buttery flavor and its pretty high in cals/fat. I have been meaning to pick up some of the lighter kind, just I keep forgetting.
Im signing off now…nothing exciting to say. lol
I have been feeling lazy all week and I just have not been able to push myself to the gym. I was suppose to go yesterday…and I didnt so I said I would go today…well I didnt. I spent the morning cleaning, mopping, doing laundry trying to catch up on the house things and while thoughs things NEEDED to be done I still feel like I used them as an excuse not to work out. I do NOT want to go back to the way I was so why am I so not wanting to work out right now? Even food has been harder then it has been before to control. I want all the things that I have not really had…like the full fat pizza, and the burgers. It's taking a lot of energy just to say no to the food and I am not always successful at that either.
I think I am going to stop trying to lose weight for the summer and focus on just maintaining where I am now. I know that having my kids home everyday is going to stop me from working out the way I have been anyway, and I think this might be a good break for my body, and a test for me.
I wish I could be one of those people who could eat whatever they wanted and not gain an ounce. My sisters are like that and if you combine their weights together they STILL do not weigh what my starting weight was. Scary eh? I think I must have gotten my dads genes (thanks roll eyes).
Anyway, Im having a blah day and just not motivated to do anything really. So, while my cleaning is done…I just dont have that extra energy to work otu.
I was expecting disaster. I had a BAD food binge this past weekend and I was feeling crappy because of TOM all week so I didn't get many workouts in. I was SHOCKED when I weighed in at 166.6. Holy crap, that was two and a half pounds down from last week and during TOM to boot! Anyway, Im thrilled about it and my total so far is 63.6 pounds down. WOOHOO!
from the inside out


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"Charles Smith—Watchmaker," Friend, Oct. 1988, 11
Heroes and Heroines:
Charles Smith—
When fourteen-year-old Joseph Smith received his first vision in 1820, Charles Smith was a year old. But his life, like the lives of thousands of people in the British Isles during the nineteenth century, would be profoundly affected by that vision. As a young man, Charles heard the gospel message in his native England and became part of "the gathering to Zion." He is one example of the faithful, though not famous, Saints who left their homes and came to Utah.
Charles was born July 10, 1819, in Ipstones, England. His parents, John and Ann Varley Smith, had six other sons and one daughter. Because Charles was not a strong child, he was apprenticed to a watchmaker. Children in England at that time did not have the opportunity to go to school unless their parents were very wealthy. Boys were apprenticed, or taught a trade, at an early age in exchange for their work. Sometimes they were only seven or eight years old.
In 1840, when Charles was twenty-one years old, he heard two Mormon missionaries preaching the gospel. He knew that what they were teaching was true, and he asked to be baptized. Charles was the only member of his family to join the Church. Not long after his baptism, Charles also became a missionary and was the companion of the missionary who baptized him! Charles served his mission in England and North Wales until 1843.
Later Charles and his fiancée, Sarah Price, said good-bye to their families and went to Liverpool, a seaport from which most of the Latter-day Saint emigrants embarked. They were married on shipboard after they set sail for Nauvoo. Although the trip across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Equinox was long, the 572 Saints "arrived in full health and vigor, with not one soul lost, full of praise and thanksgiving to the God of Israel for his mercy in blessing them with a safe journey with no serious difficulty" (Journal of Charles Smith).
The company of Saints remained together on the second part of the trip, from New Orleans up the Mississippi River to Nauvoo. As their boat landed at Nauvoo on April 12, 1843, the Prophet Joseph was standing on the riverbank to welcome them! The next day he delivered an address to the new arrivals that was very comforting to them after their long journey.
Charles worked in a brickyard and as a watchmaker. He also had the opportunity to help build the temple. A musician all his life, Charles played the flute and the dulcimer, a stringed instrument something like a harp, in the Nauvoo Band.
Sarah and Charles were happy in Nauvoo and grateful that they had joined with the Saints. However, the Saints began to be persecuted by mobs. Charles and Sarah's first son, John, was born in June, 1844, just a few weeks before the Prophet was martyred. John died in January of 1846 while the first group of Saints was preparing to leave Nauvoo for the West. A second son, Charles Edward, was born in August of that year, when the mobs were gathering to drive the rest of the Saints from Nauvoo.
Charles helped Mary Fielding Smith, Hyrum Smith's widow, move her belongings across the river. He and Sarah and little Charles Edward spent the winter at Winter Quarters, then, in March, fit out for the trip West. In fitting out, Charles bought a yoke of oxen, a wagon, a cow, food, and other supplies. They left Iowa City in March, joining Isaac Higbee's company, and entered the Salt Lake Valley in September, 1848.
The Smith family needed a home to live in, so Charles began making adobe bricks so that he could build a house. Charles also worked at his trade and was the first watchmaker in Salt Lake City.
Not long after the Smiths were settled in their new home, Charles Edward, who was two years old, fell into a pot of boiling water and was scalded to death. Of the nine children born to Sarah and Charles, only five lived to adulthood.
A second mission call came to Charles, and he returned to his homeland in 1852, leaving Sarah with a small daughter. He was thrilled to see his mother and family again. Still, none of them were interested in the Church.
Charles received another mission call in 1862. This time he was to take his family and help settle St. George, where he planted cotton, corn, peaches, and sorghum. St. George was a difficult place in which to live because it was very hot and dry. The pioneers tried many times to dam the Virgin River so that they could irrigate their farms, but each time a spring flood washed out the dam. At times Charles had to go back to Salt Lake City to work as a watchmaker for a while to earn enough money to feed his family. Finally, after ten years of his family's living in a one-room house, he was able to build a larger home in St. George.
Throughout the trials that he and his family endured—the deaths of their children, persecutions of mobs, separation from his family during his three-year mission, and difficult living conditions—Charles remained faithful and enthusiastic about the gospel. A devoted student of the scriptures, he was second counselor to Bishop Henry Eyring in the St. George Second Ward. Later Charles served on the stake high council there for twenty-seven years, and he spent many years doing temple work. For the last five years of his life he was the patriarch of the St. George Stake.
His granddaughter Ethel Smith Matheson remembered him as a very gentle, soft-spoken man who always carried a pocketful of peppermints. His grandchildren always ran to him for a handout and a kiss. She recalled that for many years he climbed the steep stairs of the town clock in St. George to take care of the clockwork.
Charles Smith, like many other early converts to the Church, helped build the kingdom quietly and steadily. Because he listened to the missionaries and was willing to leave home and family, hundreds of his posterity have enjoyed the blessings of the gospel.


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I recently designed a client website using the infamous Beaver Builder plugin, including the Beaver Builder theme. If you need a WordPress page builder, I recommend you read this, my full Beaver Builder review – in which I pit it against Divi, Thrive Architect and the Headway WordPress theme.
As you could read in my recent Divi review, I originally wanted to use Divi, but ended up not doing so for various reasons.
I also looked into Make Plus, a WordPress page builder theme by The Theme Foundry. I wasn't impressed with Make Plus at all, so this ain't gonna be no Make Plus theme review, and I doubt I'll ever write one.
How 'bout Beaver Builder vs Visual Composer?
I've worked with Visual Composer before… Frankly, to me Visual Composer is a typical, popular ThemeForest product: impressive features, bloated code. Just like the Avada theme et al.
What I'm always looking for when testing WordPress themes is one that truly is "piece-of-cake" to work with. Not just for me, but for anyone, even technically challenged clients, "befuddled" old-timers and such 🙂
With all that out of the way, let's take a closer look at Beaver Builder.
Beaver Builder themes
Even though Beaver Builder is responsible for a large part of how your website will look, it is a WordPress plugin. And as such, you also need a theme, as the foundation of your website design and page building.
Note: there's a Lite version available of the Beaver Builder plugin on WordPress.org, in case you wanna try it for free!
Fundamentally, all WordPress themes are also Beaver Builder themes. It's just that not all WordPress themes are optimal for the Beaver to show off its page building muscles, to its fullest extent.
What you need is a theme that first and foremost has a truly full-width page template available. Truly, in the sense that you'll want its content area to span the whole 100% of the browser window, with no unnecessary padding or margins. This is so that the Beaver Page Builder can take full control of your web design and layouts.
Dynamik Website Builder + Beaver Builder plugin = match made in heaven
Alternatively, you can use the Dynamik Website Builder theme. Dynamik has been made 100% ready for Beaver Builder! Just note that you'll also need the Genesis theme from StudioPress to use Dynamik, so it might be a somewhat elaborate package to purchase, albeit a good one! And if you already happen to own and use Genesis and Dynamik Website Builder, it's great to see that it supports the Beaver Builder plugin perfectly.
The Beaver Builder theme
The Beaver boys also make a complementary Beaver Builder theme. Tailor-made for optimal functioning with the Beaver Builder plugin, it strikes a good balance between feature-richness and "bloatlessness" – it does a lot very well, while keeping a simple, uncluttered UI.
I strongly considered using Dynamik Website Builder with Beaver, but in hope of an extra swift deployment, I decided on the native Beaver Builder theme. The Beaver theme's promise of "the perfect balance of power and simplicity" was exactly what I wanted and needed!
Oh, by the way, you can demo the Beaver Builder theme for free on their website!
Alternative good Beaver Builder themes are the bare bones Genesis theme framework (without Dynamik but with the free Genesis Dambuster plugin) or Genesis + one of the many fine StudioPress themes. Technically solid, design-wise elegant, leaving room for Beaver to work its magic.
Over half a million websites now use and depend on Beaver Builder's codebase. If Billy, Justin, and I get fed up with technology and decide to start a rock and roll band (which, admittedly, we do joke about sometimes), the code will live on. The project doesn't end with us.
Why GPL Products and Limited-Site Licenses Don't Make Sense by Robby McCullough, Beaver Builder
Beaver Builder vs Headway
Being a big fan of Headway, but deciding against it for this client project (for reasons I'll go into below) – I'll swiftly share a few words on how I think Headway compares to Beaver Builder, as well as how they differ.
There's a new… Beaver… in town!
The Headway theme has gotten itself a very serious contender!
As much as I love working with Headway, this project had a particular requirement that would have been a bit of a stumbling block with dear ol' Headway…
Client-editable layouts.
If a client needs the ability to "mess with their own layouts," it shouldn't end up in a mess. And THAT it will, my dear friend, if you ever let a low-tech client off-the-leash, inside Headway's very powerful, über-flexible and overall one-of-a-kind Visual Editor.
Not because anything is wrong with Headway. It's just not a very client-friendly tool. It's more of a web designers' tool.
Version 4 of Headway doesn't change that. I believe it's in Headway's DNA to be the best visual website design tool for professionals. Especially graphic designers, who'll love the world-class grid-based layout features, totally unmatched in flexibility and power, by any of the competiting WordPress themes out there.
So please don't get me wrong: I love Headway – and it ROCKS! Just not for projects where the client needs the ability to create or edit their own layouts.
In this particular case, the client was a Danish Tai Chi organization, with local clubs, each needing their own, individual club pages.
Originally, I built this Tai Chi Chuan site in Chris Pearson's Thesis (version 1.x) theme which was revolutionary back then. Being an old dog, Thesis 1.8.6 is not responsive though, and in April when Google sent out emails to webmasters telling them their mobile-unfriendly sites would be ranked lower going forward, it was time for a redesign.
WordPress – aka The Wimpy Content Editor™
When discussing the redesign and its scope, one of the primary wishes was for the tai chi club pages to be improved upon. Each club needed to present various different information such as training schedules, location, event calendars, staff and more. Doing it "the old way," that is; trying to make it all well-organized and good-looking, using nothing but the wimpy (yes, it is downright wimpy) native WordPress content editor: was never a huge success by any means. The clubs routinely messed up the intended "layout" (as if there ever was one – ha!) … Left- and right-aligned images going haywire, was the number one culprit.
So the clubs needed a WordPress page builder of some sorts. And this is where I decided to leave it to Beaver Builder!
Global templates
One thing that was missing in Beaver Builder until very recently, was global templates. In Headway these are known as mirrored blocks and wrappers. Thankfully, row and module templates were recently been added to Beaver Builder. Bravo!
Beaver Builder = Less. Headway = More.
Even though this is specifically a Beaver Builder review, and not a Headway Themes review, I can't help measuring Beaver Builder up against Headway. Especially since the sad "loss and demise" of Headway.
Compared to Headway, there's much less to tinker with in the Beaver Builder plugin (and theme, for that matter).
Looking at the responsive design options in both Beaver Builder and Headway, the difference is obvious. Beaver Builder offers less options, Headway? A lot more. For most users, Beaver Builder has the best approach. To many, too many options are nothing but a potential headache. Figuring out breakpoints and their behavior, in Headway, is no easy task. Trust me: I've done an epic Headway online course, and the responsive options were challenging to make accessible and easy-to-understand.
Just like Alex Mangini from Kolakube wrote in this intelligent blog post (that I agree 100% with): theme makers should make the hard choices rather than put these choices upon the end user, who might not be very technical, or like me; does have technical skill, but prefers to NOT do technical stuff. I care about reaching your business and personal goals by creating killer content, expressing yourself fully, contributing to the world. A website, to me, is nothing more than a means to an end. A powerful one, but still useless without purpose-driven content.
Beaver Builder vs Divi Builder
How about Beaver vs the new Divi Builder plugin recently released by Elegant Themes?
The Divi Builder plugin is basically a product like the Beaver Builder plugin. It's Divi, just without the theme.
I'll be upfront: I believe Beaver Builder is vastly superior to Divi Builder!
First of all, the Beaver Builder plugin won't leave a shortcode mess, unlike the Divi Builder plugin.
Usability-wise, Beaver Builder's page builder smokes Divi's page builder. Designing in Divi Builder is a somewhat abstract experience: you're moving boxes around, inside WordPress' (formerly wimpy, now Divi'ed-up) content editor. In Beaver Builder, you're working direcly on the page itself. Both Divi and Beaver Builder can be called drag & drop themes, but only Beaver Builder can call itself a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get).
However, it can be argued that Divi's more compact view, compressing the height of all page elements, can be a positive trait. That said, I'm confident most people will prefer Beaver Builder's live preview, over Divi Builder.
Beaver Builder vs Thrive Architect
Pitting Beaver Builder vs Thrive Architect could be a full blog post in itself. For this project I deemed Beaver Builder a better fit, as Thrive Architect seems more marketing-geared, and too technical. While most Tai Chi Chuan instructors are generally fearless, I felt they'd be intimidated by Thrive Architect's more advanced UI, powerful as it may be.
So I still haven't tested Thrive Architect, but would love to hear YOUR take on it. Voice it in the comments section below! Other readers and I are keenly interested!
Things I like about Beaver Builder, that it does nicely
Intelligent, adaptive design
In line with Alex Mangini's aforementioned blog post, Beaver is clever by design. Instead of first having to select whether I want to activate footer widgets, and then the amount of columns, I could simply put widgets in the footer widget areas. Or not. Brilliantly elegant! So if I only put a widget in Footer Column 1, that widget will stretch to the full width of the page. If I also put a widget in Footer Column 2, I'd have… you guessed it: two columns, and so forth. Smart, simple design. Bravo Beaver – you' a badass lil' beast!
Solid default styling
Specifically, plenty of padding and margin. Lack of sufficient padding is something seen on most DIY-designed websites, and something the theme framework should take care of. Non-designer people just don't seem to pay enough attention to the empty space around their content. It's VITAL to a balanced, elegant end result though!
Easy to override default styles
Unlike certain other WordPress theme frameworks, it was easy to override the default styles. I didn't need to use .custom classes or !important at all.
You can fool-proof your website!
If you're doing sites for clients, you can set the minimum capability/user role needed to add, delete or move page elements around. This means your client can edit various page elements, but not mess up the site layout! VERY cool and something Headway could learn from.
Great support
Support from the Beaver guys' was attentive, dedicated and competent.
What I don't like about Beaver
Yearly renewal at only 40% off
"40% discount on annual renewals" – that's stingy. 50% would be more right, IMO. And to make matters worse: you ONLY get that measly discount IF you renew WITHIN just TWO WEEKS, after it expires. And you have to do so EVERY year.
So if you happen to be traveling, are frantically busy or just plain forget to renew within 2 weeks: you're to pay full price. Really?
I get it! It's to put pressure on their users to renew. But hey! These are people (myself included) who've already paid in full, once. Yearly renewals are okay with me, but puh-leeze! A 50%+ discount would be appreciated.
Percentages – NOT pixels (for margins and padding)
Especially important for responsive web design, is the ability to set margins and padding in percentages – not pixels. That way everything scales a lot better. The layouts becomes more elastic. It saves a lot of work. I began working this way after reading Rafal Tomal's take on it.
No global styling of buttons
Buttons should be styled globally, for a consistent look, across your whole website.
For this, I actually like Divi's and PageLines DMS's approach, where buttons and text are either on light or dark background. That's all you have to think about, the software does the rest. Simplicity at its best.
Turning off the layout builder "chrome"
I miss a button to fully and completely turn off the layout builder. To quickly test hover effects etc.
Verdict on Beaver Builder – is it badass?
In the end, I enjoyed working with Beaver Builder so much that I decided to build yet another website with it: www.leadyourself.dk.
In short, I can honestly and wholeheartedly sum up my Beaver Builder review like this:
Are you in need of a WordPress page builder? Leave it to Beaver Builder 🙂
Comments? Step forward please, voice 'em below!


text:
Shek Mo Fong (Stone Mill) Desserts @ Tin Hau, Hong Kong
I sampled some of the Cashew Nut Cream. It was richly flavoured with the nuttiness of cashews and was not too sweet. This is a Must-Try!
The Chestnut Cream was awful! It was excessively starchy and sweet.
The fruit mix comprised mostly of cubes of mango, papaya and honeydew. The mixture was topped with what seemed like whipping cream (unwhipped) as though it was a tad heavier than milk but not as thick as double cream. I loved the Roselle jelly chunks as they had a delicately floral and tart flavour. A very refreshing fruit salad that is a Must-Try!
This was a really interesting dessert. Black Sesame puree had been mixed with rice flour to make the steamed rice sheets that constitute the Cheong Fun that was used to wrap the Black Glutinous Rice and Mango chunks. I typically do not like Black Glutinous Rice as it is used to make Pulut Hitam (a local dessert that is often a little too heavy and sweet) but found it acceptable in this form as the rice went well with the slight tartness of the mango and the soft, pliable Black Sesame Cheong Fun. This was topped with some coconut milk which added a smoothness and creaminess to the chewy concoction. This is a Must-Try!
Shek Mo Fong (Stone Mill) Desserts
Tin Hau, Lau Li Street 3 - 3C,
Hong Kong Island
天后琉璃街3-3C號向南樓地下 (Tin Hau)
Telephone: +852 2398-9493
Operating Hours:
Sundays to Thursdays: 2.30pm to 1.30am
Fridays, Saturdays, Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays: 2.30pm to 2.00am
Other Outlets:
1) 88 Hak Po Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon Tel: +852 2398-9490
2) G/F, 66 Soy Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon Tel: +852 2398-9400
3) G/F, 208 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Prince Edward, Kowloon Tel: +852 2398-9433
4) 48A-K Tai Tong Road, Cheong Fatt Building, Yuen Long Tel: +852 2398-9466
5) 120 Fook Wah Street, Sham Shui Po Tel: +852 2398-9499


text:
Nose Candle Holders Are Designed To Hold A Candle With Their Nose
Photography © Stéphanie Derouaux
Belgian industrial designer Quentin de Coster has designed NOSE, a prototype for a minimalist candle holder, where the candle is held in place on the nose of the abstract profile.
Photography © Stéphanie Derouaux
The candle holder is made from two pieces of laser cut steel that are then welded together. Once welded, the pieces are then powder-coated for a finished look.
Photography © Stéphanie Derouaux
When you attach a candlestick to the nose, the profile, which is available in grey, white and black, then becomes a place where you can easily pick it up.


text:
Chapter 104 – Arrival at the royal capital
The sound of thunder within the pitch-black night slowly passed, however the mountainous forest did not experience any mercy from the lightning. As the dark night gradually scattered, a trace of dawn light came from the east slowly shine upon the horizon. The whole mountainous forest was immediately exposed showing a miserable appearance.
The round red flaming sun slowly rose from the eastern horizon and a warm light fell on the earth. For the forest that suffered a night of lightning and thunder, it brought some vigor and vitality.
Withdrawing his palm from Hua Yuntian's back, Feng Hao exhaled a long breath and slowly opened his eyes. On the depths of his pupils, a cold glow was wiped.
"Congratulations Old Hua, your body's heat poison has all been expelled!"
Looking at the similarly opening eyes of the old man, Feng Hao smiled as he spoke with a chuckle.
The old man exhaled slightly black air then opened his eyes. Hearing this, his old face was filled with an irrepressible expression of ecstasy.
"He Ah!"
He burst out a sound and his figure quickly went out. For a moment Feng Hao was stunned, then he followed out.
In the distance, the trees within the mountain range collapsed and the magic beasts dispersed to hide. There was an upright figure wherein boundless Wu Yuan burst forth, severe attribute went to his surroundings. Whether it was a rock or an ancient tree, all were pierced resulting into countless small holes.
Being repressed for far too long, finally being able to be free caused Hua Yuntian to laugh. Wu Yuan crazily poured out and everything in the surroundings was swept away.
Feng Hao quietly looked at all this without making a noise to disturb. Finally, after an hour later Hua Yuntian had a hint of a carefree smile as he returned.
"Thank you great master for your grace of detoxification, I, Hua Yuntian will forever remember this!"
Looking at the delicate face, Hua Yuntian slowly said with faint excitement.
"Hehe, those are Old Hua's words."
Feng Hao chuckled and shook his head, "Old Hua, in the future do not call me great master. I know that you want to say that you are really grateful, however Old Hua, I have to trouble you to change your way of address. Everytime I hear those words it's awkward, heihei!…"
Hua Yuntian stared blankly, immediately a smile emerged from his face, "Hehe, considering the difference in age, this is an unpleasant situation. Alright, in the future great master would be changed into little brother Feng, is that good?"
"Hehe, that works!"
After that, the two people laughed again.
"Little brother Feng, what is the next plan?"
Intentional or otherwise, he cast a glance to the youth at the side as the hot flaming sun rose in the sky, Hua Yuntian asked.
"Go to the the royal road, Wind Moon Academy!"
Looking at the red light, Feng Hao's smile gradually closed, his eyes brightly glowed.
Hearing these words, Hua Yuntian felt a bit surprised. Looking at his side, he saw the facial expression of the youth causing his eyebrows to cluster. Pondering for a little, he said, "Just in time, I also want to go back to the royal capital, we can go together. How about that?"
"That way works!"
Turning around, Feng Hao's face also revealed a smile.
"When are we leaving?"
"Right now."
Once again sweeping the cave with his eyes and looking the the mountain range, hearing the vague beastly roars, Feng Hao exhaled and nodded towards Hua Yuntian.
A pair of red and white wings spread from Hua Yuntian's back, instantly they were in the sky.
Azure sky above, together with a stream of light, gales of winds coming from far and near rushed. A moment later, in a flash they were at the edge of the horizon causing envious noises to be heard from the ground.
To be able to fly, one must at least be at the Martial Spirit stage. Seeing such a fast speed, no ordinary Marital Spirit expert can do such a thing. Who doesn't want to fly?
Along the way, Feng Hao also saw a lot of young male and females going towards the direction of the king's road, this caused him to have suspicion.
May be reading Feng Hao's doubt's Hua Yuntian chuckled, "Little brother Feng, you didn't know ah. Now is the enrollment time of the Wind Moon Academy.
"So that was the case!"
Feng Hao suddenly nodded and his eyes gently narrowed.
His agreement with Yun Ying of three years still had a few months left. In order to challenge her, he must first enter Wind Moon Academy, that is the first step. In the case that he was unable to enter the academy, then he was afraid that no one would take notice of him.
Therefore, he needed to enter the academy. Thankfully, the was just in time for the enrollment so he did not need to go through the backdoor.
"The Wind Moon Academy does not distinguish the poor and lowly, as long as one is talented enough, one can enter the academy to cultivate. This is the same reason why even royalty and nobles who's talent not reaching the bottomline cannot enter the academy. That is because if they did, it will only smear the academy's reputation!"
Seeing Feng Hao pondering, Hua Yuntian explained some more.
Feng Hao naturally knew this, when he thought of it, his mind became more urgent. In his urgent waiting, they flew for nearly half a month. Afterwards, the two finally reached their destination, West Mist Kingdom's royal capital, Brilliance Royal City!
Standing on the dome of sky above, Fang Hao looked down at the magnificent city under the clouds. Slowly exhaling a sigh of relief, more than two years time has already passed. More than two years of bitter cultivation, he was finally here!
Not only was this for himself, this was also for his father and family, he had to be on time!
"Yun Ying, the waste has come as promised!"
A pair of two resolute eyes stared at the city. Feng Hao's body at this moment trembled with emotion.
Seeing the youth be like this, Hua Yuntian sighed a little. Although he did not know why the youth's mindset had such a change, but he knew that it was absolutely not good.
He thought a lot, this youth was too unpredictable. With no attribute he refined an ice attribute yi crystal. This was the same case with his mastery of martial skills. All this were unusual, but the thing he most would not forget was the events in the ice field.
How can a Martial Practitioner explode with such earth shaking power? That even caused him, a Martial Ancestor to shake with horror!
Therefore, he made the decision from the beginning that he must entice him, even please the young man. Regardless of the price he was willing to pay!
"Whoever it is that offended him, I will sweep away!"
Hua Yuntian's eyes flashed with faint firmness!
"At last!"
Under the amazed eyes of everyone, Hua Yuntian slowly landed on a small hill outside the king's road.
Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter


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The play is about a couple – Jackie (Cannavale) and Veronica (Rodriguez) – who've been in love with each other since they were kids, but after years of drugs and alcohol addiction, Jackie has sobered up with the help of his AA sponsor, Ralph D. (played by Chris Rock); however, Veronica, hasn't.
I know, what a title. In spite of the title, which I think intends to offend, this is a terrific piece of theater. It stars Bobby Cannavale, Chris Rock, Annabella Scioria, Yul Vazquez, who nearly steals the show as cousin Julio, and Elizabeth Rodriguez <sp?>. The story is that a man who has been in jail and has been a drug addict is dealing with his sobriety with his girlfriend. And he finally gets a job, and he sees a hat that's left on the table and accuses his girlfriend of adultery. He then goes to see his sponsor, who is Chris Rock in his Broadway debut, and he's really terrific in it. He doesn't do any riffs, he just handles the character, but he handles him with a great deal of poise. And I don't want to tell you too much about it because I want it to be as much fun for you to see, but this is really, in spite of the language, which is incredibly rough– you can clean rust off pipes with this language, but it is terrific theater. It's very well written; there is a rhythm to it. It's very well acted, and it's really got a serious amount of heart. So I'd encourage you to go see it. Stephen Adly Guirgis is the playwright, and this is really a terrific piece of theater. So four and a half stars.


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The North Fork Table & Inn is hitting the books this summer. The iconic Southold restaurant has teamed up with NY Times best-selling author Judy Blundell for the launch of her new novel, The High Season (Random House, May 22), which is set on Long Island's North Fork. The collaboration will include culinary events with the author and a special High Season Getaway for two at The North Fork Table & Inn.
The package, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, includes:
- 2 nights accommodations
- 2 dinners (a chef's tasting and a 3-course)
- Lunch at the North Fork Food Truck
- A complimentary cocktail
- A copy of The High Season
- Wine tasting
- Full breakfast
(Cost: $1000 per couple)
On July 1, there will be a Brunch and Book event where Blundell will sign books, do a reading, and answer questions as guests enjoy the best brunch on the North Fork. (11:30 am, $75 per person). And on July 5, families are invited to dine alfresco at the North Fork Food Truck, with delicious fare such as lobster rolls, burgers, banh mi and Claudia Fleming's famous cookies. Blundell will mingle with guests and do book signings. (5:00 p.m., $30 per person).
The partnership is a logical one for Blundell. Not only is The High Season set on the North Fork, but she has been visiting the area since she was a child. "I am so delighted to be partnering with The North Fork Table & Inn," Blundell says. " Their history of commitment to local farms and purveyors has been a guiding light on the North Fork. Sit me down in their dining room with a glass of wine and their risotto fritters and you will not find a happier human on the planet."
For reservations and more information, visit www.northforktableandinn.com
About The High Season:
It's Memorial Day weekend, and Ruth Beamish, her not-quite-ex-husband and their teenage daughter are packing up their belongings in their home overlooking the sea. In order to keep the house, add to the college fund, and save for retirement, they've put off a divorce and rent out the house. When an elegant new renter arrives, Ruth's life is turned upside down, and the whole town finds itself on the brink of tumultuous change in the midst of one unhinged, unforgettable summer.
About the Author:
Judy Blundell is the New York Times best-selling author of What I Saw and How I Lied, winner of the 2008 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. She's written more than 100 young adult novels under pseudonyms. The High Season is her debut adult novel.
About The North Fork Table & Inn
The North Fork Table & Inn is situated in Southold, in the heart of Long Island wine country. The historic inn is only two hours from NYC and offers elegant year round dining and accommodations. Executive chef Stephan Bogardus' progressive American cuisine features seasonal, locally grown biodynamic and organic produce, the freshest seafood from the pristine Peconic Bay and L.I. sound and award winning North Fork artisanal cheeses. Nationally acclaimed pastry chef & proprietor Claudia Fleming and partners Mike and Mary Mraz are veterans of New York's finest restaurants (Gramercy Tavern and Hearth). The Inn has four rooms and is furnished and operated in the tradition of the finest European and American country inns.
SOURCE North Fork Table & Inn


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SOLD $725,000 A304/9 Derwent Street SOUTH HURSTVILLE
Combining the simple elements of boutique style with the closeness of cosmopolitan living. This beautifully designed 2 bedroom apartment is designed to meet the modern family. The Junction offers an ultra-convenient yet affordable lifestyle at the dynamic cross roads of South Hurstville.
With a breathtaking rooftop recreation space, equipped with with bbq facilities and outdoor seating, residents can also enjoy the amazing district views surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens.
This stylish boutique apartment features
2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms and 1 Secure car park space
Loungeroom and bedrooms with access to courtyard
Customised and detailed joinery featuring stone benchtops with matching splashbacks
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25Km to Sydney CBD and 10Km to Airport
15 Min walk to trains and Bus stop close nearby
Close to Schools, cafes, parks, shops and Hurstville CBD
Close to Schools,Close to Shops,Close to Transport,Secure Parking


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Teaching the Narrative Power of the Law
Program in Law and Humanities Sets Legal Study in Broad Context
Peter Brooks
Cullen CouchECHOING THE APPROACH but not the conclusions of the realist movement in the legal academy of the 1930s, the Law School's Program in Law and Humanities under director and University Professor Peter Brooks is looking at fields outside the profession to learn more about its own. By studying law relative to other disciplines that are centrally concerned with interpretation, evidence, and persuasion, Brooks hopes to build a program that unlocks and applies to the practice of law the conscious and subconscious power of good storytelling.
In a recent article profiling Brooks, he describes himself as a "restless scholar" who was first lured to the law in 1990 by Yale colleague Paul Gewirtz, the Potter Stewart Professor of Law. "We had lunch weekly," Brooks said. "He knew of my interest in narrative analysis, so he fed me court cases." From that came the courses that Brooks now teaches at UVA where he holds a dual appointment at the Law School and the College of Arts & Sciences' English department, teaching 19th century comparative literature and literary theory. Brooks has published a number of books, including Reading for the Plot, Troubling Confessions: Speaking Guilt in Law and Literature, and (as co-editor with Paul Gewirtz) Law's Stories: Narrative and Rhetoric in the Law.
|"One of the interesting things about narrative is that it is universal. It's not a language, but it is a UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR of how people put things together with beginnings, middles, and ends. I think that has something to do with our mortality, the fact that OUR LIVES HAVE BEGINNINGS, MIDDLES, AND ENDS and we have to operate within those constraints."
"Our primary interest is to set the study of law in a broad cultural and critical context," says Brooks. "We want to step outside of the law where we can look at it and make students more aware of some of its problematic issues in interpretation and storytelling. You can look at court cases not just for their doctrine, but also for what they're doing to you, for their rhetoric and narrative structure."
Dan Ortiz, John Allan Love Professor of Law, who will team with Brooks to teach law and humanities, says that Brooks is "catalytic for us. We get blinkered by disciplinary constraints," he said. "It is hard to get distance from these constraints if you are working within them." Working with Brooks will "expand my way of thinking."
Anne Coughlin, O.M. Vicars Professor of Law, organized with Brooks a weekend seminar last October with about a dozen professors from around the country that explored the dynamics and goals of the emerging program. Coughlin said the conference was also meant "to signal to the world that Peter Brooks is here and that the UVA Law School intends to be, and is delighted to be, a serious participant in his law and literature movement."
Law Tells a Story
Essentially everything a lawyer produces is a story. Whether it's a contract, legal memorandum, or brief, the lawyer marshals its critical elements into a narrative that a reader must interpret, understand, and ultimately agree with. It's not a work of fiction, certainly, but the writer is making choices that tell a story about that reality. The real question, then, is what conscious or subconscious devices drive those choices?
"They come out of a common canon of stories, a cultural collection of narratives or metastories that we have had since biblical times," says Coughlin. She believes the Program will teach students that good lawyering necessarily means good storytelling. "There is some reality that we must capture but we also want our students to understand that there are competing ways to understand that reality. We want to teach them to be really thoughtful about the source of these competing narratives and why they work. It makes them better lawyers. And whoever tells the best story wins."
Brooks wrote an article scheduled to appear in the Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities suggesting "if the law paid more attention to the narrative analysis of what it's up to it might learn something from that. It would learn that—first of all—storytelling is not innocent. The way you go about it makes a lot of difference to the result you come up with. One example of that is in cases of rape where the majority opinion and the dissent tell very different narratives of what you know are the same incident. The facts basically aren't in dispute. The question is how you line up the facts so that in one case they mean consensual sex and in the other case they mean forcible rape. You can analyze the judges' preconceptions through the way they tell the story. Both stories, the majority and dissent, are interpretations of the facts on the ground."
Brooks uses Bakke, the affirmative action case, as another good example of shifting perspectives in a story. "Most of the justices, and there were something like five different opinions in that case, are writing about 200 years of constitutional adjudication," he says. "Then Thurgood Marshall begins his opinion: 'Three hundred and fifty years ago, the Negro was dragged to this country in chains to be sold into slavery.' He just suddenly alters the whole time frame, the whole perspective on the story and you've got to say, 'Wow, this is a story that the others are not telling.' It makes you reconceptualize what the story is all about."
On the other side of telling a story is the reading and interpreting of narratives—indeed of texts of all kinds. The Program will explore the methodologies of literary criticism and the other interpretative humanities disciplines to study how a lawyer might interpret a text. Brooks "can put these questions for us in a historical context," says Coughlin. "He can tell us about the history of rhetoric and about the way prior generations of scholars have understood the uses, the purposes, of rhetoric. He can explain to us what literary methodology is."
The continuing debate surrounding "judicial activism" and constitutional interpretation lends itself well to this sort of analysis. "We hear from Justice Scalia that he has a particular way of reading the Constitution," says Coughlin. "We hear from him that there is only one way to read the Constitution. When he reads a novel, does he read it the way he reads the Constitution?"
Conference Sketches Outline of Program
The October conference allowed faculty who have an interest in law and literature the opportunity to spend a couple of days having a sustained conversation about the discipline. Coughlin credits Dean John Jeffries for having the foresight to establish and fund such conferences to give "space for much more intense conversations among scholars who are committed to having an open conversation, rolling up their sleeves, doing the work and doing it alone. Part of the great results we get comes from the fact that you're not performing for a large audience. You're just talking to each other and it's a pretty unusual thing. A number of other law schools have adopted this format because it's so rewarding for the people who participate."
Participants explored what lawyers can learn from literature, literary critics, and other humanities disciplines and what it should mean for the Law School now and for decades to come. They also asked the larger questions about the law and literature movement, such as why not teach law as one of the number of disciplines in the humanities, and why should professors specialize in law. The conference then probed more deeply into the connections between law school and the arts and sciences as separate entities, asking what literary theory can teach about law, what legal methodology can teach about reading literature, and how to employ literature as a tool within law teaching.
Using ideas derived from the conference, the Program in Law and Humanities will illuminate legal problems through comparison to issues and interpretive methods in such related fields as literature, philosophy, anthropology, and cultural criticism, supplementing the instrumental teaching of the law with more speculative explorations of the language, rhetoric, presuppositions, and cultural rituals associated with the law. Finally, it will encourage cross-disciplinary teaching and research on all topics that might enhance the understanding of law, and the law's contribution to other scholarly disciplines.
The Program includes an introductory course, Law and Humanities: Reading and Interpretation, taught by Brooks and Ortiz; a colloquium, Marriage in Law, Culture, and the Imagination, conceived by new faculty member Karen Abrams, and co-taught with Brooks; and a short course, Punishment in Law and Culture, taught by visiting Professor Austin Sarat. Other courses relevant to the Program include Sex, Drugs, and Lies: Regulation and Representation (Anne Coughlin and Barbara Armacost); and Environmentalism and the Supreme Court (Jonathan Cannon). Further interdisciplinary courses will be available in the future, including Crime and Punishment and Evidence Law and Narrative.


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Weak. Spineless. Cowardly. Politically expedient.
You pick the word and surely you can pin it on your governor.
Even as he has admitted this week that the pay raises our legislators passed for themselves are excessive, Gov. Bobby Jindal has shrunk from his obligation to veto the terrible bill.
His reasoning? No, he wasn�t struck by a conversion since his pronouncements during his campaign several months ago.
He hasn�t been won over to the dark side by the superior debating skills of the greedy lawmakers trying to line their own pockets.
His reasoning, he said, is purely political.
He won�t veto the raises because he�s scared that the legislators will stop working with him if he insists on only reasonable bills becoming law.
I�ve got good news for the folks who are crying about their pauper wages and for the gutless governor who refuses to uncap his veto pen out of fear.
There is an alternative.
Any of you who feels that he or she isn�t up to the job, please step aside and let someone else do it.
If Jindal isn�t enough of a leader to protect taxpayer money from a raid by money-hungry legislators, perhaps he should relegate his post, which he just recently won.
And if the representatives and senators are too put-upon by the pay of their office, there are people out there who will serve for you.
But if you�re not going to get out of the way for someone who is properly motivated, at least quit whining.
Jindal and the legislators have raised it to an art form in the past several weeks.
I�m scared the Legislature won�t play with me if I veto their raise!
I�m not making enough money doing this job I requested just last fall!
I have to work a bunch of hours.
Oh, and I�m not just voting for this pay raise to increase my own compensation. I�m doing it so we�ll have a better crop of candidates next time around.
If drawing better candidates were the motivation, the raise would kick in for the next crop of people to take office.
This was an act that cannot be justified no matter how many times we see their mouths moving.
And Jindal�s craven failure to rectify the situation puts him at or below the lawmakers� level.
You know, though, that any story that includes this much greed, moral bankruptcy and personal failure must also include a bright spot.
So it is with Rep. Dee Richard, an independent from Thibodaux.
Not only was Richard�s one of the few dissenting voices during debate of the pay raises, but he has refused to accept the shameful raise even when Jindal signs it into law.
I can�t say the same for Richard�s colleagues from this area.
It seems they can�t wait to move some folding money from the taxpayer pile to their own.
In the Senate, Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan, Reggie Dupre, D-Bourg, and Butch Gautreaux, D-Morgan City, supported the effort to raise their own pay.
Gautreaux helped lead the charge, brazenly defending the bill despite its obvious failings.
On the House side of things, Damon Baldone, D-Houma, Truck Gisclair, D-Raceland, Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, stepped up to the public trough.
Only Richard of all the local delegation had the integrity to stick with what he and the rest of them should know is the right thing to do.
Maybe with all the money they�re going to pay themselves and their successors, we�ll be able to get some folks to run for office who don�t mind standing up for principle rather than selling out their constituents for a few thousand dollars.
If that happens, it will, in the end, be money well spent.
Until then, let�s see what the money is purchasing.
We will have the 14th highest-paid legislators in the nation and the highest-paid in the South.
But what do you expect?
Have you seen the roads, schools, test scores, bridges, levees and coast of Louisiana?
Obviously, the money isn�t going for any of that stuff, so those guys might as well blow some on themselves.
Job well done, gentlemen.
We�ll see you at election time.
Editorial Page Editor Michael Gorman can be reached at 448-7612 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Jindal is not the political tough guy
Weak. Spineless. Cowardly. Politically expedient.


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Home › Vegetable Juice Recipes > Celery Juice
Disclosure: I may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this page at no extra cost to you.
Celery Juice is rich in both potassium and sodium making it an excellent choice for both weight loss and and after exercising. The following
recipes make lovely sweet salty drinks which hit the spot if you're
feeling thirsty.
This green juice is delicious sweetened with apples. Add broccoli for a nutritional boost and lemon for a spash of zing.
Celery isn't a juice that I drink on its own. It's lovely mixed with carrot and apple juice.
Tip: If you have a sweet tooth, or are making this for children then just use 1 stalk of celery.
Some of the many health benefits of celery include:
Good source of Folic Acid and Vitamin A with smaller amounts of Vitamin C and the B complex vitamins.
Particularly high in Potassium and Sodium celery juice also contains calcium, carotene, magnesium, phosphorus and silicon.
4 large 12" (30cm) stalks of celery contains approximately 40 calories.
If you'd like more raw celery nutrition facts go to the USDA National Nutrient Database and enter "raw celery" into the search box.
All juicers find celery easy to juice, in fact it could have been designed with the juicing in mind. Slice into long thin strips for easy juicing.
A centrifugal juicer will do a fine job, and a masticating juicer such as the Samson juice will do an even better one.
Masticating juicers yield more juice, and are generally easier to clean, while centrifugal juicers have the advantage of being cheaper and often faster.Like more information? Visit my Best Juicer page to learn mor
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Home › Vegetable Juice Recipes > Celery Juice Recipes


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Music News & Reviews
Canadians' career retrospectives — live
Critic's pick
Leonard Cohen
Live in London
Bruce Cockburn
Slice o' Life
Two Canadians, both folk-based songwriters known for weaving personal, topical and spiritual yarns into distinctive musical tapestries, have released new double-disc concert recordings that are compelling career retrospectives as well as revealing snapshots of where their music sits today.
Recorded last July, Leonard Cohen's Live in London is probably the more remarkable of the two only because it's an album no one expected to hear. After a 1994 tour, Cohen retreated to a Zen monastery and became an ordained Buddhist monk. Now that's what you call getting out of the business.
"I've studied deeply in the philosophies of the religions," Cohen tells his audience near the onset of Live in London. "But cheerfulness kept breaking through."
Reciting songs in a weathered, whispery and half-spoken baritone, Cohen is a gracious and subdued performer on the album and seems to inhabit fully the spiritual consciousness of his music, as in the ambient gospel reworking of Bird on a Wire. But the darkness is never shunned in Cohen's world, as shown during the still-chilling The Future ("I have seen the future, brother. It is murder.")
The distant romanticism and youthful drama from the decades-old studio versions of songs resurrected for Live in London have faded. But then, Cohen is now 74, a fact reflected with bittersweet whimsy during an introduction to the almost carnal Ain't No Cure for Love. Of his previous visit to a London stage, Cohen tells the crowd, "I was 60 years old... just a kid with a crazy dream."
But there is still incredible elegance to this music, even if mortality hangs in its shadow. Death and romance mingle on Take This Waltz, an ominous bass groove percolates throughout the still desolate First We Take Manhattan and, in the devastating finale of I Tried to Leave You, Cohen's nine-member band becomes a sort of doomsday cabaret that colors gray remains of ruined love ("Goodnight, my darling. I hope you're satisfied.").
Bruce Cockburn is less mystical, more forgiving and equally emotive on his fourth concert album, Slice o' Life. But this new musical journey has no guest list.
The solo acoustic setting, which Cockburn has employed regularly through the years, enhances the dynamics of his continually under appreciated guitar work (the extraordinary instrumental The End of All Rivers), illuminates the narratives of his political postcard songs (the still brilliant Tibetan Side of Town) and warms the sense of repose in more earthy jaunts (Mama Just Wants to Barrelhouse All Night Long).
The favorites are here, too, including Lovers in a Dangerous Time and If I Had a Rocket Launcher. But so are a fistful of less obvious delights, such as the pensive romanticism of Pacing the Cage and the Americana implosion of Kit Carson.
Like Cohen, Cockburn, 63, also offers a few between-song sagas. The wildest, The Mercenary, deals with a summer job offer during college years to work as a gun runner in Central America. "I was 18 years old and didn't have a very well-developed sense of the moral implications."
Feeling "under-qualified," Cockburn declined. "And here we are, here we all are, as a result."
Walter Tunis, contributing music critic


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Z10 Tension Sensor
Measures the mechanical disturbance of a tensioned fence wire, to raise an alarm when it is deflecte…
A single energizer platform that does everything from simple, single fence zone protection to complex multi-controller, multi-technology, fully networked solutions.
Available in four variants, Gallagher's F-Series Fence Controllers are the next generation in high-performance control for the Gallagher monitored pulse fence system.
F-Series Fence Controllers deliver maximum intruder deterrent, superior detection capabilities and exceed global safety standards.
F-Series Fence Controllers are available in four models: F31, F32, F41 and F42.
Note: Some features are only available in networked mode.
F-Series Fence Controllers can be deployed as either stand-alone (no need for an HBUS connection) or with Command Centre (v7.40 or later) as a fully integrated networked fence controller with full capabilities. F-Series Fence Controllers are delivered in their stand-alone configuration and can easily be configured as networked fence controllers via a simple on-board switch.
The stand-alone configuration is designed to integrate with a customer's existing alarm panel using simple I/O connections. This allows the fence to be controlled with the arming and disarming of the site, using the alarm panel keypads. Configuration of the device is via internal switches, control is via input signals, monitoring is via alarms (visible on the cover display), and relay outputs is to an alarm panel or other indicator devices. Stand-alone systems may consist of an individual fence controller or multiple fence controllers which are synchronized.
Note: To avoid having multiple masters, the stand-alone unit has been designed to integrate with an existing alarm panel and to be monitored and controlled from the alarm panel keypads.
F-Series Fence Controllers can be connected via HBUS to Command Centre, where alarm monitoring, hardware/software configuration and data reporting can all be undertaken. F-Series Fence Controllers use Gallagher's HBUS protocol for secure communication to a Controller 6000 which communicates to the server/workstation (Command Centre) via a TCP/IP network.
Networked functionality requires Command Centre v7.40 or later.


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Artemis by Andy Weir
Jazz doesn't want much from life. She wants an apartment with a bathroom and a real bed instead of the coffin-like structure she currently sleeps in. She wants to somehow make things right with her dad after the major screw up she made as a stupid teenager. But she needs to make money to make her dreams come true. She has a legitimate job, and her lucrative sideline as a smuggler, but it's not enough. When a job with an amazing payday comes her way, even though it is dangerous and extremely illegal, she leaps at the opportunity. Now she just has to figure out how to pull this job off without getting caught and deported to Earth. Yes, Earth. Jazz lives on Artemis, the first city on the moon, and she loves her home, she's never known any other, and she'll do everything she can to protect it and stay there!
Of course there is a lot of science in this book, just like there was in the author's bestselling first book The Martian, but there are no potatoes and the heist takes center stage here. It reminded me of the heist movies like The Italian Job but on the moon which lends its own special quirks to the action. It was great to see such a diverse cast of characters and that Artemis is set to Kenyan time with all passenger, goods and tourist transport leaving out of Nairobi.
Jazz is a criminal with a strict moral code and I certainly hope that this book is only the beginning of her story. Place your holds now — this book comes out November 14th!