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FreeFunk Festival in Cradle to Cradle Haven Venlo (NL)
The Cradle to Cradle enchanted Dutch town Venlo is hosting the 5th FreeFunk festival this year. Last year, the festival's turntables and LED-lightshow were powered by 12 solar panels, home trainers (!) and wind turbines. This year, the FreeFunk Festival will reduce its environmental footprint even more with 60 solar panels on the main stage to power the audiovisual equipment. Because waste is a big problem at such events, all the waste will be collected and separated for recycling. Cups and food containers, the biggest waste-creators at festivals, will be biodegradable, as are the free ponchos that will be handed out in case it rains.
The idea behind making this a sustainable event is not only to reduce its negative impact, but also to show people that doing things in a sustainable way is possible, whatever the project.
Because of the massive effort by both government and industry in Venlo to design and make things from cradle to cradle, and as a preparation for the Floriade 2012 (World Horticulture Fair), a platform for eco innovation, socially responsible business and sustainability has been set up. The FreeFunk Festival intends to create a link between the industry and young professionals by using and promoting sustainable and durable technology at this two-day event. The result will be eliminating pollution and informing visitors about the locally available sustainable technologies.
FreeFunk Festival is free and will be held on the 5th and 6th of July at the Julianapark in Venlo, the Netherlands. Some of the techno, funk, jazz, house and hip hop performing artists this year will be Pete Philly & Perquisite, Michel de Hey, Gregor Salto, Wighnomy Brothers, Gabriel Ananda and Aux Raus.
For more information visit the FreeFunk web site (in Dutch only). Thanks Jannie & Daan for the tip! ::FreeFunk


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The lotus is known to be associated with purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness. As a lotus is able to emerge from muddy maters – unspoilt and pure – it is considered to represent a wise and spiritually enlightened quality in a person; it is representative of somebody who carries out their tasks with little concern for any reward and with a full liberation from attachment. It is very interesting how the open flower and the unopened Lotus bud forms are associated with human traits. The unopened bud is representative of a folded soul that has the ability to unfold and open itself up to the divine truth.
The handcrafted fully bloomed lotus pendant is made of sterling silver, and accented with Swarovski crystal pearls to symbolize the calm it spreads. It comes with a hammered and handcrafted half neck wire for that contemporary touch.
Alternative available pearl options: Silver grey/ Dark grey/ Mauve / Tangerine coral / Iridescent white

subset: commoncrawl


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980 Waters Creek Blvd, Suite P900, Allen, TX, 75013
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Pet Nutrition
With our
pet nutrition certification program
, we have the best trained staff in the market. You can be confident that our recommendations are scientifically backed and based on the latest pet nutrition research and information. Our natural pet food offerings are vetted extensively and all food products that we select for the store are meat-based and free of corn, wheat, soy and by-products. It is our goal is to help you find the most biologically appropriate foods for your pet.
Whether you are dealing with a new puppy or kitten, a senior citizen, picky-pete, a pet suffering from sensitivities or just your family fur-kid, let our staff help educate and guide you through your pet diet choices. Pet Food selections include dozens of raw frozen and freeze-dried products, dry kibble, wet and dehydrated choices from our trusted manufacturers. Confused we can help. Looking for something specific, let us know.
Raw Food (Frozen)
Our selected Raw Frozen Diets are designed to mimic a pet's natural ancestral menu. Raw Diets are minimally processed resulting in higher levels of natural nutrition. High protein and low carbohydrates have customers reporting dramatic changes in their pet's energy, skin and coat in addition to improved digestion and smaller pet waste. We carry a number of nationally recognized brands. We'll be glad to take the time to educate you regarding the aspects of feeding your pet their natural diet. From "A" Answers fermented products to 'Z" Ziwi Peak Air-Dried we have a wide selection of possibilities.
Dry Food
We research and evaluate
Ingredients, Manufacturer Quality and Value
of our pet food products. They are meat-based and free of corn, wheat, animal by-products and artificial colors. If your pet has sensitivities or special dietary needs, we carry and will help you select the most appropriate pet food. If you pet doesn't like his food or it's not working for him, bring it back, we only work with manufacturers that guarantee 100% customer satisfaction. And with thousands of fellow pet owners providing feedback from their fur-kids, we can help you find the perfect product for your picky eaters.
Freeze-dried and Dehydrated
Many of the benefits of Raw diets coupled with the convenience of Dry our wide and growing selection of Freeze dried, Dehydrated and Air-dried foods products are some of the highest quality pet diets available. Adding warm water to our offerings allows you to quickly serve some of the most nutritious meals your pet can have.
Wet Food
We love the extra moisture of our canned products. High quality ingredients and convenient sizes from some of the finest manufacturers. Looking for toppers to pair with your dry food, we can help. If your pet has dietary restrictions such as low fat or urinary restrictions, come see us and we'll find the appropriate products.


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- Fee assured
- Verified this account
Specialises in
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Counselling
- Short Term Psychodynamic Therapy
About me
I am a qualified Counselling Psychologist who is registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) as well as with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). I have worked both within the UK and in South Africa.
I work within an Integrative Model, drawing upon various models and techniques which best suit each clients' individual needs, thereby individualising treatment to what works best for a client and their presenting issues.
I offer a full counselling service seeing both children and adults in a warm and non-judgmental space, seeing clients both short and long term depending on their needs.
Individualised therapy is offered in the following areas: scholastic, ADHD, divorced parents and step-families, adjustment problems, grief/bereavement, anxiety, depression, trauma/crisis intervention and general wellbeing. Assessments offered are cognitive assessments adult and children or adolescents as well as career choice assessments.
Areas of interest
Depression, anxiety, bereavement, trauma, panic attacks, Work related issues, abuse, bullying, relationship issues, phobias
- Video and telephone consultations
Affiliations / memberships
Registered with the Health Care Professions Council and with the British Psychological Society
Practice hours
Appt Bookings
- Local Counselling CentreVenture HouseFifth...
- Monday
- 15:30 - 19:30
- 07985 630527
- Local Counselling CentreVenture HouseFifth...
- Friday
- 09:30 - 13:30
- 07985 630527
- Local Counselling CentreVenture HouseFifth...
- Saturday
- 08:00 - 13:00
- 07985 630527
Post treatment communication
Following treatment of a Bupa member, I will communicate with GPs in line with Department of Health, GMC and appropriate professional bodies guidelines.


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Since 1982, Coosemans Interproduce has been at the forefront of the specialty produce business. In fact, we were selling specialty produce when many referred to it as "Weird Stuff." Over the years, a lot has changed. These days, specialty produce hasn't just established itself as a viable commodity; it's become downright essential in today's produce industry.
Now that specialty produce has established itself throughout North America and the rest of the world, it's critical that you establish a relationship with a knowledgeable, reliable, experienced specialty produce company.
For over three decades, we've served countless clients across the nation. With distribution centers in Tampa, Miami, Dallas, Cleveland, and 24 other locations, we've attained a well-earned reputation as a provider of uncommon produce. We've also become neighborly fixtures within each of these communities. In short: whether you need something from far or near, Coosemans Interproduce is your ideal partner.
When it comes to specialty produce, you want to be close to the source. With this is mind, we also want you to know that we are growers, shippers, brokers, importers, and exporters. In many instances, when you order from us, you couldn't be buying any more direct unless you were planting the seeds yourself!
Whether you have a well-established specialty produce business or a small start-up operation that's just getting off the ground, you need a friendly, reliable supplier. Plug in to the world's most effective specialty produce network: Coosemans Interproduce, and feel the power of a direct connection.
So what are you waiting for? Contact us today to see how we can help you with your produce needs.


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Because puppies and kittens grow so rapidly over the first few months of their lives, they have higher calorie, fat, and protein requirements. They need fuel to keep up with their body's growth spurt. More specifically, they have twice the energy requirement of an adult. This is why your puppy or kitten may act like they cannot get enough food. Because of these high energy needs, you should feed your pet a high quality puppy or kitten food. Do not feed products labeled "Adult" or "Maintenance" Formula. A juvenile's needs are much higher than the fat and protein that are provided in these foods. Begin by setting out the recommended amount on the label. Keep an eye on your puppy or kitten's weight, and adjust as needed. Most cats and dogs won't become overweight during their first six months because of their higher metabolism, but it is possible. Do not begin to switch over to an adult food until at least 6 months of age.
Some high quality pet food brands include:


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Filipino architects, responding to the tropical environment, softened the severe Western architectural style. Thin concrete slabs broke flat facades, protruding from unadorned wall surfaces to protect door and window openings from torrential monsoon rain and hot sun.
For increased air circulation in the hot and humid Philippine tropics, windows were enlarged, and geometric hand-wrought iron grilles covered openings cut into the exterior walls for ventilation.
The wall of translucent glass blocks so typical of 1930s Art Deco architecture has a tropical twist at Far Eastern University. Instead of the expected solid wall of square glass blocks, it is a checkerboard of open and closed glass block squares that allow airflow.
The deep greens of tropical foliage in gardens with full-grown hardwood trees shading buildings from the sun further soften the tight architectural lines.
Adaptation of Filipino elements in Art Deco detailing—stylized flora, fauna, folk art patterns and even mythological figures—infuse a distinctly Filipino handcrafted dimension to the otherwise foreign style.
The wealth of detail surviving in Manila's Metropolitan Theater (by architect Juan Arellano) is testimony to the creativity and cultural grounding of the Filipino artist despite his working in a western idiom.
At first appearance, Art Deco in the Philippines follows the dictates of the international style. Upon closer inspection, the Filipino overlay to the style is obvious. The Filipino, master of adaptation that he is, has created a national version to the international Art Deco.
Architecture in Art Deco style appeared all over the Philippines. It once was the embodiment of being abreast with the times and with the latest technology.
Art Deco civic buildings were built in many Philippine cities. Appropriately, homes of the affluent were in that style. Movie theaters, the new palaces of pleasure, were Art Deco fantasies.
Art Deco pervaded all levels. Not only was architecture and furniture in the Deco style, so were lighting fixtures, and home accessories from vases to ashtrays. Airplanes, cars, even toasters were designed in Deco.
Fashion was totally Deco. Think Dior's "New Look" and Chanel who liberated women from confining clothing. Think Hollywood glamour. Think Art Deco as a lifestyle.
The Art Deco style took the world by storm as it did the Philippines. It was the perfect vocabulary for the country to showcase the Commonwealth era's thrust to fall in step with the world and with the 20th century. Those were heady, adolescent days for the Philippines, now a forgotten era whose golden memory this book hopes to revive.
"Art Deco in the Philippines," edited by Lourdes Reyes Montinola, and with contributing authors Gerard Rey Lico, Manuel Maximo Lopez del Castillo-Noche, John Silva, and Augusto Villalón, is published by ArtPost Asia.


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Online shopping is one of the most trending actions these days with almost every little thing obtainable in many online stores. Quirky is an fascinating web site the place you may design merchandise as a community and store by way of the ones which have already been designed. We are able to all save ourselves and households a lot of cash if we store smart and resist these impulses to buy no matter we wish.
One other good thing about the web shopping for clothing is the good opportunity to browse a global market on the easy click of a button. Famous US tourist outlets like Laborious Rock Cafe and the Harley Davidson clothes store can be discovered right here.
Tangible merchandise that must be touched and felt are generally troublesome to purchase on the Web. Undoubtedly, someone may make this a full time job scheduling all forms of shops throughout the day. Explore the wide assortment of ethnic , formal, informal, western put on and winterwear clothing for girls and store for the styles that greatest swimsuit you.
You make a lot of good points and provides sound advice concerning the cautions to take when shopping on-line. I am sorry to say that these firms concentrate on hiring thriller customers in North America. Shopping online allows you to set your alarm, shortly pick the products you need, and then head right again to bed.
In case you dwell in a big country you will be stunned to search out out that there are literally thousands of on-line shops obtainable where you live, and these outlets sell all the things that may be sold, from child merchandise to canine houses and motor oil. Shops are required by regulation to display worth tags for all gadgets.
Boasting an eye-catching green facede, Lot 10 is a well-liked hang-out for both local and foreign customers with Isetan as anchor tenant. Topshop is a one other British-based retailer that focuses on style, accessories, everyday clothes, and wonder products.


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What I've learned since returning to work
Six years ago when I left my part-time job in retail, I was six months pregnant with my first daughter. I didn't ever intend to be a stay-at-home mom, but it's not easy to hold down a regular journalism job while moving every year or two and having babies. So I opted to stay home with my two kids until the oldest one reached school age.
She'll be in kindergarten next fall. The time is upon me. (gasp)
So here I am, entering a new phase (or returning to an old one, depending on how you look at it).
I started working back at the same retail store that I was at six years ago (about 25 hours a week). There is only ONE person left there that I know from back then. Time has, apparently, been marching on.
And so has fashion. I quickly learned how out of touch I was.
But here are the real lessons that this stay-at-home mom has learned since going back to work:
My kids struggle to say goodbye. If I leave for work while they're at preschool, it doesn't bother them because they are none the wiser. But if I have a night or weekend shift, my kids get pretty sad to see me go. We're talking chasing my car down the driveway, sobbing in Daddy's lap and little faces pressed against the tear-streaked window sad. I'm hoping it won't last long, but it's also a reality of life that they would have to face at some point, so I guess now is the time. Luckily the tears don't last long, according to Daddy.
I am a queen when I return. As hard as it is for my kids to watch me leave for work, I am finally the recipient of those post-work hugs, kisses and snuggles! After years of watching my husband be the king each night as he returned home, I am finally the queen!
I missed talking to other women. After spending several years immersed in baby talk and cartoons, I find myself jumping at the opportunity to have conversations with grown-ups! I could seriously discuss the weather with just about anyone if it means that I don't have to wipe their nose, spell any words to avoid being understood or remind them to "go potty." And don't even get me started on conversations about the really fun stuff, like fashion, pop culture and trashy TV shows that air on networks other than Disney Junior.
New roles in the household are a good thing. My husband and I have taken on fairly traditional male and female roles in our household over the past several years, solely out of necessity. I cared for the children, did most of the household cleaning and prepared most of the meals. He tackled things like yard work and the finances. But now everything is different. My hubby is picking kids up from preschool some days, in charge of dinner duties occasionally and putting them to bed solo sometimes. So far, I've been really impressed and thinking that maybe he's been holding out on me! His culinary skills are on point and the kids make it to bed without a fuss in Mommy's absence. Meanwhile I've been really into landscaping this spring because I want to get outside and enjoy the weather before my shifts!
I was taking time with my kids for granted. Now that I have to divide my time between work and home, I realize that I was not always taking full advantage of those precious hours alone with my kids for the past few years. I knew that there would be another day, week and month of round-the-clock mommy-and-me time coming, so sometimes I would put off activities or allow hours to slip by doing mindless things. Now I know that my time is limited so I plan diligently to maximize our days together. Don't get me wrong, I know I did a lot of things well while I was home full time, but working has helped me shift my focus.
I have a renewed sense of self. With my kids attending preschool three days a week, I was starting to slip into a dark place. A place no woman and certainly no mommy wants to go to. I was questioning my self-worth and wondering whether I could still contribute to society outside of the realm of motherhood. The years passed so quickly and I wondered if anyone would want to hire a woman who had been on a 6-year hiatus. But they did. And it turns out that my gypsy mom skills are valuable in the workplace: time management, organization, attention to detail, managing multiple priorities and adaptability all come in handy no matter what line of work you're in! After just a few weeks back in the working world, I feel more confident as a professional and more focused as a mother.
Although I'm only working part-time hours and in a field that doesn't utilize my journalism degree, I'm relieved to have this transitional period to help me and my kids get accustomed to a new phase in our lives. And it's not a bad way to rebuild my wardrobe, either!
-By Emily Shedek


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Arno developed the concept of paintings as lights to create an original interior design element with a Polynesian flair.
The idea of positive and negative is at play in the lighting. This effect is created with the white clay that I find at Raiatea.
This clay, particularly dense, creates an opacity with the lighting coming from behind the painting! These paintings are certainly among the original pieces that Arno can custom create.
For all orders outside of Polynesia, he furnishes the painting only.


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A fine art print of your 18 year old looking out of the initial of his or her name with a stunning 3D-effect is really personal and totally unique. The print comes with an off-white mount that will fit a standard 16"x12" frame.
All you have to do is upload a digital photograph of the person. We choose a background colour to suit the image but if you require a specific background colour please contact us. You will be sent a digital proof for approval before anything is printed.
All prints are 12" x 8" (A4). Larger sizes are available on request but will depend on the size and quality of the images supplied. Click on link below for more information and sizes.
Price includes free postage to mainland UK addresses.


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It's been a minute since I've done one of these Yay or Nay's and I have a feeling I know how this one will turn out…but, part of the fun of doing them is to get a feel for where my readers heads are at, musically.
Today, I give you Ty Money, from Chicago.
At first glance, his name , production and affiliations will either make you love him or immediately dismiss him. Basically, He's a coke rapper with the word "Money" in his name. I know how much that bothers a lot of you. But, I dunno…Listening to these few songs he does seem to have more to offer than a simple blanket generalization might lead you to believe. There is something interesting in there to me. Clearly, this isn't for everyone but I'm curious if any of you out there see it as well.
So, here he is:
Monthly Archives: November 2013
Fuck/marry/Kill vol. 30
What better way to lead into Thanksgiving than with a rousing round of Fuck/Marry/Kill. As always, lemme preface this entire article by saying none of this is serious and , if you're offended by it, you need to calm down. I'm well aware I do not possess the power to choose who I hypothetically fuck or marry or kill. That's kinda the joke.
P.S. I love that i have to explain that every week but , the few times I haven't I get long diatribes from people who relate this column to women getting paid less than men for doing the same job and spousal abuse. Just know, it's not that serious. It's NEVER that serious when I'm typing it. I'm an asshole , but I'm not a dickhead.
Anyway this weeks batch consists of starlets, fruits , and directors. Have at it.
F/M/K:Batman's sloppy seconds: Katie Holmes,Marion Cotillard, Anne Hathaway
Marry: Katie Holmes
You know, because that whole thing with Tom Cruise went down, I feel as If Katie Holmes stock dropped way lower than it ever should have. It was like she was a star NBA player who accidentally shot someone. She may be slightly off in the head, but she can still ball out, know what I mean? Sure, it does make her either look crazy or like the highest of high priced mail order brides but let's not forget how much we (I) loved her before it all happened. She was adorable and likable. I'm a man who can forgive and forget. Also, I have a strange feeling that that "fresh out the cult" sex might be next level shit.
Fuck: Marion Cotillard
I honestly don't recall her as anyone in Batman so I had to google. She's definitely beautiful (and a little nervous looking). This pick is more of a "she just landed here" kinda situation as I definitely had my mind set on marrying Holmes and killing Hathaway. I'm sure mrs. Cotillard would be thrilled to read this and one day tell her grand children about the time some guy on the internet shrugged his shoulders and said "Yes, I would fuck Marion Cotillard". That's a huge moment for any starlet. Like a step below getting your star on the walk of fame.
Kill: Anne Hathaway
I'm sure some of you are scratching your head at this one as Hathaway is definitely very pretty. Others , however, are rolling your eyes at how obvious and easy this choice was to make. For all her talents and physical beauty, Hathaway is perhaps the most annoying actor-y actresses of all time. She is the girl you went to high school how was so deep in the drama club game that she probably spoke in shakespeare quotes. Well, this may not be an issue for some of you, I cannot handle most actors. They are generally the most self involved and corny people on earth. I doubt they even actually have real feelings and I'm pretty sure that sex is just a breathing exercise for them. On the bright side, I'd kill her in a really dramatic fashion so, at least she'd be into that.
F/M/K: The films of Woody Allen, David Lynch, Tim Burton
Fuck: David Lynch
I'mma be honest, I think David lynch is really hit or miss. He's made some amazing films but he also makes movies that I either don't get or that bore me with their weirdness. But, for a fuck, he works perfectly. Cause, with his movies, you never know what you're gonna get but you do know it's gonna be , at the very least, strange. Sure, this could mean some terrible slightly violent ass play kinda stuff or it could mean some really interesting and rewarding threesome where everyone wears Scream masks. Regardless, I'm willing to take the risk cause I definitely don't wanna marry his movies or kill them.
Marry: Woody Allen
I'm not even a big Woody Allen guy. I mean, I like his movies but I'm not one of those people who's life has been deeply effected by them either. The reason I'd put a ring on them though is cause he's consistent. Even when he's mailed it in, it's usually watchable. Sure, in his old age, that's become more and more common but, hey, that sounds exactly like married life. As you get older and more stationary, reliability becomes a factor. With Woody's movies, I'd know what I'm getting on some level and I'm okay with that for the long haul.
Kill: Tim Burton
While burton has made some movies that I love more than anything either of the prior two filmmakers have ever done (Pee Wee's bid adventure, Ed Wood, Beetlejuice) let's be honest here, dude makes terrible fucking movies now. When "Mars Attacks" is the last movie you made that didn't completely suck (and it wasn't good), it might be time to be put to bed. I dunno what happened to him…perhaps he overdosed on whimsy?Perhaps the end of the goth era had a profound effect on his creative vision? Whatever it is, I'm convinced he's incapable of making a good movie at this point. I'd be doing him and myself a favor by putting him out of his misery. Who knows, he'd probably be into that shit.
F/M/k, Rock star daughters: Elizabeth Jagger, Alexandra Richards, Lily Collins
Marry: Lily Collins
Is she even old enough to be legally married? Whatever, she's hot and looks nothing like her dad. To me, that's a huge victory in this heat.
Perhaps it's cause her dad was never a balls to wall, drug fueled animal type rock star but she , judging from the 15 seconds of google image searching I did, seems far more well adjusted than the other two girls. Sure, she's an actress and I already spoke on my disdain for that kind of person but, hey, you know what's worse than an actress? A socialite and a model. At least actresses actually do something.
Fuck: Alexandra Richards
I'm sure I've spoken on "Whore eyes" before. It's not a bad thing. In fact, it's great. This girl got them in spades. "Whore eyes" are a certain twinkle some ladies have that make every man they encounter think they have a shot at them. While this is never the case, just being around them is a huge ego boost, even if it's all in our heads. That said, when i see whore eyes, I want to have sex with them. So, the math on this one is pretty simple.
Kill: Elizabeth Jagger
I dunno…she's pretty and stuff but she looks like she's been through the ringer already. I can't even put my finger on it…well, maybe it's cause she looks like her mom , Jerry Hall, and i always was kinda grossed out by her. This "Kill" may simply be the result of her own genetics that, while they are great, are just not up my alley. Also, I never gave a shit about the rolling stones. So deal with that.
F/M/K: an apple, a banana, a grapefruit
Fuck: Banana
I mean, it would probably fuck me, AMIRITE?!?!!?
Nah, but bananas are good for you and good on an occasion. They're one of the few fruits that are actually filling so there's that too. I fucks with banana milkshakes too. Though, I think all banana related candy is disgusting. For me, this more a matter of it being something I'd want when I want it, but I don't think i could ever eat two banana's in one sitting.
Kill: Grapefruit
I kinda like grapefruits but they also are a touch bitter for my taste. Worse than that, they're dangerous. The amount of times I've had one squirt in my eye is like…i dunno…4? That's enough for me to return the favor and stomp one of these heartless motherfuckers to death.
To me, they are only good for breakfast and , generally, if there are alternate choices, I will always pick whatever other fruit they got. Even some bullshit like a pear.
Marry: Apples
The timing of this one could not be more perfect. I've been on an apple rampage lately. I'm obsessed with apples. I eat like 3 a day. All different types (Though Granny smith will always be my main bitch). I would gladly marry apples. Hell, I'd name our kill apple just to make it clear how much I love apples.
Tim and I discuss music and stuff Vol. 53
This week Tim AKA Alaska and I discuss the videos of Kanye (couldn't ignore it…), Cannibal corpse and Lord finesse.
This is a pretty tame week as, at times, it seems like Tim and I are testing the others boundaries with out picks. Well, we are. Cause that's that' what friends do, guys.
Peep this song I did for a compilation!
I did a song for the "array vol.3" compilation, put together by the people who book my shows over at Autonomous music. It's an upbeat little ditty.
Check it out:
If you wanna peep the rest of the comp, it features 25 songs by a wide variety of artists including Little People, Dj Vadim, Emancipator and Quantic (just to name a few). You can download it all for free right here:
Answers for questions vol. 163
Tally ho! Also, tally hoes.
How's life? all's good over here. Gearing up for a thanksgiving trip to my girls families crib. So, I got that going for me.
Anyway, this is that thing where I answer any and all questions you send me. If you'd like to be a part of the process and , thus, fortify your role as a great person who contributes to society, please send me questions. Leave them in the comments or email them to me at: email@example.com
Everything is anonymous so don't worry your NSA fearing little heart.
So, let's see what we got this week…
What types of fights do you get in with your girlfriend? How often do you guys "fight"? When you first started "dating" (I know you mentioned you took it at a mad slow pace), did either of you have stupid fights where you try and end it because you'd get scared 'n stuff? I've done that a lot when I'd start to develop feels when I'm starting to see someone and would get scared bc I'm starting to feel vulnerable and am scared that they'll peace out on me — I mean, I'm pretty smart, talented, and accomplished a lot so far in my life, but MAN am I weird and can be super difficult. I feel like the smarter you are the more difficult you'll be — but maybe that's because you're just more complicated, ya know?
My girl and I almost never fight. Neither of us are that type. We're both pretty easy going and , generally, not looking for combat. Basically, we're both really passive , which makes for very little friction , in that way.
We do bicker occasionally about dumb little things but more the way any two people who live together would. Things concerning the house being clean and not leaving crap all over the place, etc…
I don't think couples fight cause they're more complicated or more intelligent. What intelligent person would want to fight with their significant other? That seems counterproductive to the ultimate goal of "getting along". I think couples fight cause someone is usually either insecure or unhappy. Some people are also just naturally combative and, the more comfortable with another person they get, the more that side feels free to flourish. Which is too bad for that other person!
Have you ever been caught masturbating? By parents, family, friends, gf?
Yes and no. I haven't actually been caught in the act but, when I was like 14, I was in bed watching tv, scratching my nuts and my mom walked in. She was like "Oh! sorry!" and then fled the scene. So, in a way, I might as well have been caught even though I wasn't. I forget if I even bothered explaining myself to her or I just let it go. Either way it woulda seemed like I was lying. And, to her credit, she probably walked in during one of those rare moments when I wasn't masturbating. At 14, that was a pretty common time passer.
When I was in college, my roommate and I were best friends. We had known each other since kindergarten and arranged the living situation. We were close enough friends where a game evolved where the goal would be to catch the other jerking off and ruin their day. I never got caught cause I wasn't dumb and always locked the door. My friend wasn't so savvy. But, the thing is, even when he locked the door, I'd sometimes catch him cause I'd quietly turn the knob and , if it was locked, I'd know he was caught in the act. So I'd put the key and bust the door open in one fluid motion. It was admittedly a strange game but catching someone jerking off is fucking hilarious. So much shame on display and, the best part, they don't get to finish, which is also funny. Though, he did kick me out a few times and made me wait outside for him to finish…which was strangely gross feeling.
What are the stats on your site? How many hits do you get a day/week? What entries get the most hits?
My daily hits range from 1,000 on a terrible day (saturdays when i don't post are usually my worst day) to 3,000 on a good day. As far as entries that get the most hits, anything involving porn or riff raff. Those two things are the golden ticket to site hits. It's sad but true. Also, the Lana del ray write up I wrote a few years ago still gets steady readers.
Anytime something I post gets linked on Reddit.com, I also get an influx of hits as well.
It's funny, I'm a guy who loves stats. As a kid, I used to play the early nintendo video games and keep detailed stats for all the players. This is like that but all futuristic.
What are the weirdest search terms that have led people to your site?
(Maybe you could make that a weekly post if you're bored/lazy.)
The search terms people find my site by are fucking ridiculous. Almost all of the are porn related and it truly gives a glimpse into the mind of how pathetic most dudes are who are googling stuff. Here's a screen cap of the top searches that led people to my blog…I might add that I have no clue how these searches actually landed the here but, hey, readers are readers, right?
The funniest shit about these searches to me is that it's as if these dudes don't realize porn sites exist where you can type any word in to a search engine and 50 porn clips will pop up. These are clearly come amateur masturbators. Mad pathetic, yo.
What are the major differences in your approach to producing for instrumental albums versus beats for rappers?
This is a question I get asked in interviews a lot. Whenever I answer it,I feel as if the person asking is expecting like two separate processes but, in reality, I do the same shit either way. When I make a beat, I make that beat. It's got changes and multiple parts ready to go. If a rapper picks it, I sequence all those parts around his vocals. If I use it for an instrumental track, I simply fill in the blanks left by no vocalist with other sounds and samples. But the process is identical. I'm basically building a song either way.
Do you get any money for working on your blog?
That's a rich concept. I wish but, no, I do this 100% for the love of the game and cause, honestly, I enjoy doing it. Being an "Artist" with no real schedule is awesome but , sometimes, you do need structure in your life. This blog kinda forces me to have some. It also is a great way to vent or rant about dumb shit that really doesn't matter. It's fun. If I could get paid for this (substantially) that would be awesome but I never came into this thinking that would ever be a reality. I've gotten asked about people putting ads up here but, honestly, I don't need that 30 bucks (or whatever it is) per month. I'm good.
I blow glass for a living and was working a late night, when my friend whom I work with invited me to a gallery/music hangout, aka hipster mecca dubbed "the venture compound" right around the block. I came to a place where multiple tvs playing sleepy hollow on rewind, with random junk from all around who knows where, dantily decorated around this downtown st.petersburg crackhouse looking venue. Where I learned of a new sound/concept or even (very loosely used here) "music" called "noise" which is pretty much a bunch of reverb from the sound system playing multiple songs/sounds. I imagine u have a common idea or maybe even heard it as the popularity is growing. In my opinion. …its pretty funny watching these kids mesmerized in these meaningless, stupid, pointless, no rhythmic sounds. It makes me want to go listen to Mozart in the loudest possible way, just to reassure myself the entire world isn't totally moronic sheep. So my question is, how do you feel about this new concept of…I dk how to put it… sounds/music. Have you been to a show? Or do u have absolutely no idea as to what I'm talking about? Do you think its another stupid fad? Am I just a cynical asshole? Or i guess I'm just getting older. If u haven't heard it I'll send you a link. Overall how does this make you feel? I went back to work about 45 minutes later in utter disbelief and thought, if theres anyone's opinion I'd like to hear, is one of my favorite artist who (in your case) happens to be the most brutally honest in opinions.
I have seen a noise show or two in my time…not my scene. It's been around since the 80's , I believe. I mean…the genre title says it all. It's noise. I feel as if it's music for people who reject the concept of music. There's no explanation that can sell me that kinda music is enjoyable. I don't care how you deconstruct it. It's one note…or a tone…that just hums with slight variations. I mean, perhaps there is a drug tailor made for that kinda sound but I definitely don't do it.
I actually have an awkward story about a noise show I saw. I was Djing at this bar in chinatown once and they had a small stage there where people performed earlier in the night. I got there around 9 (I think I started djing at 9:30) and there were two dudes on the stage with their heads down, slumped over their guitars, turning knobs on peddles. They were two chubby guys wearing all black. Like, imagine if you took trench coat mafia guys out of their trench coats and made them eat Wendy's for 4 months. They looked like that. Anyway, they were playing noise or whatever it's called and I was sitting there just kinda baffled. They had maybe 4 friends there watching them and a person I believe was one of their mothers. That part killed me cause all i could think about was what their mom must have been thinking watching her tubby son make what's basically feedback for 35 minutes in a shitty empty bar in chinatown. When they finished I went to go set up the DJ stuff and didn't really pay them any mind. As I was doing that, I hear a voice say "Tony?" and it was one of the Noise guys. Turns out we went to high school together. I wish I had a transcript of that conversation cause I really would like to remember how I politely danced around me thinking his music was awful and, at the same time, him probably judging me for making hip hop stuff. Different worlds, I suppose.
But, yeah, that shit ain't music. If it were, my bellowing furnace would be a world famous Noise rock star.
Demo reviews vol. 36
Hello everyone. Welcome to another edition of "Demo reviews". This is a thing where readers submit their music for me to review. Simple really. Except I tend to kinda hate everything and have no clue why anyone would want me to tell them what to do with their art. Yet, the submissions keep coming.
Last week I opened the door to submissions and got a lot of demos so I'mma go ahead and close that door. Please do not send me your demos at this time. I'm "full" right now. When I need more, I'll announce it for sure.
If you send me a demo after this point, I'm not even opening the email. Really this is just a test to see if people actually read this first part cause I have a feeling they don't.
Anywaaaay, the reviews are like so: I do a brief write up the arbitrarily rate the songs from 1-10 in these categories:
This weeks bunch is instrumental heavy. Not my favorite but, hey, beggars can't be choosers, right? Who knows, maybe you like that kinda stuff more than I do?
Let's get on with it…
Song: A sense of adventure
This is one of those cases where, if given better sounds and a slightly more adept sense of song structuring, I could see some potential. It just sounds kinda cheap as it is now. Also, the second part flies of rails, tone wise as that little solo synth break does not mesh well the other instruments (around the 1 minute mark). After that , everything past that point is tainted.
Production:3.5 out of 10
Listenability:3.5 out of 10
originality:4 out of 10
Artist:Mike videogames
Song: Mission critical Paradigm matrix
The name of this song is infuriating but that's just cause I had to type it out a few times. that's besides the point though…
This is a track that doesn't really work as a stand alone instrumental track. It would be much better suited with some vocals over it. Even though it has changes and some nuances , it's still pretty boring. Not bad or poorly made there just isn't much range to what it offers.
Production:4 out of 10
Listenability:4 out of 10
originality:4 out of 10
Artist: The branches
Song:After 4AM
The Piano sample (and variations) in the beginning were awesome. I was kinda hoping that would be the building block for the entire song. Once the actual songs begin, there's a slight tonal issue with the first horn sample. It needs to be fine tuned or something. Other than that, it's a decent chill jazzy track. The final section is actually really nice. Definitely a song that shows a lot of potential.
Production:5.5 out of 10
Listenability:5 out of 10
originality:4.5 out of 10
Song:Take you there redux
This is a solid, yet fairly uneventful track. Like the Mike Videogames track, it would work much better with a rapper on it. It's got some cool parts but it simply doesn't go anywhere. This is a beat. Not a song. A good beat, but a beat nonetheless.
Production:4.5 out of 10
Listenability:4 out 10
originality:3 out of 10
Artist: Steven Roe
I'm just happy to hear vocals…All these instrumental tracks are boring me.
The rapper sounds like a mix between Elucid and T-mo from the goodie mobb but not as good as either of those guys.
Still, he ain't bad either.
The hook is pretty bad but the verses are decent. The beat is okay. I like parts of it but don't like other parts. Not mad at it though. A new hook would make this song a lot better though.
Production:4.5 out of 10
Vocals:4.5 out of 10
Listenability:4.5 out of 10
originality:4.5 out of 10
Artist: Sean Woosley
Song: I hope that you find love
Hmm…so this is a rock song. At first i thought I was hearing a sample cause it's recorded pretty lo-fi. Well, as I've said before, I'm not really the guy to be reviewing this kinda stuff. So, I guess this is a pretty good? Or not? I have no idea. I don't mind it and appreciate the crunchiness of it. But, yeah, I'm not a rock guy so who the fuck knows.
Production:5.5 out of 10
Vocals:4 out of 10
Listenability:4 out of 10
originality:4 out of 10
Artist:Customer care
Song:Throwback to the weekends
I'm a lo-fi guy but this just sounds shitty. Was this recorded on a computer mike? Like the one you would skype through? Regardless, sounds bad , guys. That aside, the beat and live guitar are not working for me at all. The first rapper actually isn't the worst…but he's not that great either. The second is straight up bad though.
Pretty tough one to sit through for various reasons.
Production:2 out of 10
Vocals:3 out of 10
Listenability:2.5 out of 10
originality:4 out of 10
Artist: Eleven & Ormo
This beat is bugged out and abrasive but I see where they're going with it. Not mad at it. The rapper is kinda in the same vein. He's got some good lyrics and a definite angle. I don't love his voice and he sounds a bit preachy at times but , hey, at least he's trying something slightly different. Overall, this isn't really my cup of tea but it's nothing if not interesting. A younger me woulda loved this in the late 90's though.
Production:4.5 out of 10
Vocals:5 out of 10
Listenability:4 out of 10
originality:6 out of 10
Artist: Daixie
Song:Beggar in blue
So, the theme for this week is beats that are decent that should never have been standalone tracks. This is no different. Even with the vocal sample. This whole song is just that and a few little inconsequential switches and subtle layers. Not a bad beat at all, it just makes for a boring song.
Production:4.5 out of 10
Listenability:4 out of 10
originality:3 out of 10
Song:Open Air
I could see this music playing in a 3rd world country version of the movie "Drive". It's got the mood for sure. I just don't love all the sound choices. That said, it's a nice mellow track that is definitely not offensive in anyway. Good background music. As a stand alone track? Eh…not really. But, like I said, for a movie scene it would work much better.
Production:4 out of 10
Listenability:5 out of 10
originality:4 out of 10
Things that are wrong with the world Vol. 29
I think we've gotten past the point where simply being a white rapper is looked down upon. Unless you're Lord Jamar, most people have just accepted that , at this point, hip hop is music for everyone. Hell, little kids make it. Still, while wealthy kids from suburbs and urban socialites proceed in making music, completely not understanding why people might question their authenticity, there's a bigger problem. The children of famous people. Rapping.
I'm not talking those kids who were groomed to be actors like Will smiths terrible children. They're just following after their dads. I'm also not talking about the children of rappers who, even though they have enjoyed the spoils of being the spawn of a rich and famous musician, they still rap as if they grew up in the trap just like their dad. I get those people existing. I don't wanna hear it, but I get it. I'm speaking of the children of actors or millionaire moguls.
The one that comes to mind immediately is Tom Hanks song, Chet Haze.
This fucking guy.
I like to imagine a thanksgiving dinner at the Hanks household. Tom and his wife are there. His successful actor son Colin is there. And Chet is there…slowly sucking the life out of everyone in the room as he regales them with amplified stories of the "moves he's making". Sure, his dad is a millionaire thousands of time over but Chet is probably acting like all his hard work and focus on rap singing in auto-tune is the real reason he's been able to get music made. Not cause his dad was Forest Gump.
I also like to imagine Tom and his wife , alone in their bedroom later that night, silently weeping in each others arms asking the other where they went wrong with Chet. My guess? naming him Chet but, hey, I could be wrong.
Recently, this jewel got dropped by none other than Daniel Day Lewis' son, Gabe Day.
(Editors note: Apparently he made the video private…which sucks. So just imagine a mac miller kinda dude rolling joints endlessly and rapping with his college buddies on the sarah lawrence campus cause that's what this is)
Now, apparently, this is a kid from NY. I honestly thought Daniel Day Lewis was british or some shit but, honestly, who fucking knows with that guy. Regardless, Gabe is the son of possibly the most revered actor on earth. A man who can afford to make one movie ever 5 years and spend months in far away locations , whittling wood in preparation for what ever role he's working on (I'd assume it was the role of a wood whittler). The thing about Gabe is that, just looking at him, I know him. I went to High school with 50 kids just like him. He's a cornball. His friends are cornballs. Hell, even those wildly mediocre girls in his video are cornballs. But, at the same time, he's also fairly harmless. Still, doesn't stop me from wishing whoever played him hip hop when he was 9 years old had chosen bluegrass music instead.
Again, i like to imagine a family dinner where Daniel and gabe are sitting together. Daniel is brooding (I can't imagine him any other way) and gabe is telling him about the new video he made where he raps about smoking weed and being his dads son. Cue more brooding…but with purpose.
Now, these two aren't the first extremely well to do people from high profile families to decide rapping is their calling. No, before Gabe and Chet, there was Chilly Tee. Son of the Nike Owner Phil Knight.
He released an album in 1993 called "get off mine" that included production by the highly respected Bomb Squad member Hank Shocklee. I dunno if Hank Shocklee got paid in money or sneakers but it wasn't the first time the Bomb Squad put their heads down and took a check from shitty white rappers (Young Black Teenagers, yall…never forget.)
Chilly Tee was exactly what you'd expect from a white rapper in 93 (Post Vanilla Ice rap was no easy time for most white rappers). He tried hard. Had good beats but, in the end, he just kinda sucked. But what he had in common with the other two dudes mentioned in this article is that he had the money to make it happen. That's the thing. With wealth comes freedom to be an artist. All three of these dudes probably had very high expectations put on their shoulders from a young age. I'd imagine being the child of a famous/super wealthy person is not easy , in that sense. So, in a way, they were all rebelling. And what's more rebellious that rapping? Well, probably being an actual violent criminal but, come on…these guys aren't that dumb. Rapping is the perfect amount of rebellion. Weed and pussy. It's ultimately safe but just dangerous enough to have Daniel day lewis quietly questioning his parenting techniques.
Now, I'm not here to say these guys shouldn't rap. I don't make those rules and they're entitled to do as they please. Hell, there are people who could apply this very logic to me and most other white dudes who have made hip hop music over the last 20 years. But, in the end, talent is talent…and these dudes don't have it. What they do is have the finances to ride it out as long as possible just in case. 5 years from now, Gabe Day (I suppose he dropped the "lewis" to keep shit extra real) might have released 2 albums and 4 mixtapes, done shows all over the country and made a plethora of uninspired videos of him rapping while rolling pinners. His situation and fan base right now could be the very same as it will be then. But, whatever it is, he'll be okay. Once he gets over rapping, he'll move onto the next thing he feels like doing cause…he can. Look at Chilly Tee AKA Travis Knight. He made one album that no one liked and faded away from music. Now he's an animator and film executive. I have no idea if he's successful in either of those ventures (it's totally possible) but what I do know, for sure, is that he's doing fine. He never wasn't gonna be fine. While it must be nice to be able to do whatever you like in life , knowing there will never truly be dire consequences , I think I just wish that that kind of freedom could be given to people with actual talent and vision. Not some little dickface who's only here cause he can be.


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Now that your site project has been completed and has successfully launched, it's time to make it more visible to search engines and start attracting potential customers. Depending on your competition landscape, your site may need ongoing content development as well as off page SEO. To take full advantage of what your website has to offer, we also recommend establishing a Social Media Marketing campaign. As time passes, you may want to change or add new things to your site. We here at Watson Media believe in a quick turnaround time. We are easily reached and respond quickly by phone, email, text or through one of our Social Media channels. Try us today, give us a call and let us put your idea's into motion.
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In the neighbouring county of Wiltshire, is one of the wonders of the world and the best known prehistoric monument in Europe, Stonehenge.
Constructed between 3000-2000BC, Stonehenge is a feat of engineering. The monument's use is shrouded in mystery, with ideas of its use ranging from a place of religious worship to an ancient burial ground.
Stonehenge, located on Salisbury Plain, is just 20 minutes' drive from The Hawk Inn. You can explore the Stone Circle on foot and enter the Neolithic Houses to discover more about Neolithic life. Visit the world-class exhibition to view over 250 archaeological objects and walk around the visitor's centre, where you can experience what it might be like at Stonehenge during winter or summer solstice. There is also a visitor's café where you can relax and take in the countryside views with some delicious locally sourced food.


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At Trophy Consultants International we understand that capturing and preserving the memories of your hunt is paramount to the overall success of your Safari – so that's where we begin- by making sure that we fully understand and share YOUR vision of the completed Trophy.
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Do you feel financially secure? What would it take for you to build a huge nest egg to become financially secure?
Conventional wisdom says it's mostly about investing better. It suggests you should focus on getting a higher return or lower fees.
My experience, though, is surprisingly completely different. I have seen the full finances of thousands of people. The ones focused on investing usually had small portfolios. I call these people "performance maniacs". This is a broad generalization with lots of exceptions, but mostly true. They were mostly young guys focused on investment returns, fees, dividends, market timing, the economy, etc. For some reason, the typical portfolios I have seen are only about $25,000.
By comparison, when I met people much less interested in investing with mutual fund portfolios and working with advisors, they tended to have much larger portfolios of $200-300,000. This is partly because they were usually older. However, the comprehensive study by CIRANO1 in 2012 showed people with advisors had 4.2 times more financial assets – after adjusting for age, income, gender and almost 50 other factors.
Many studies have shown that people working with advisors tend to have much larger investment portfolios, similar to my personal experience.
This difference cannot possibly be explained by higher rates of return. The Ipsos Reid survey (chart 1) shows the longer you work with an advisor, the farther you are ahead of the non-advised. I did the math. It would take a return 10% per year higher to explain this only from investing.2
Key #1: Better saving behaviour
The CIRANO study showed the real secret is better saving behaviour. People working with advisors had much larger portfolios mainly because they invested more! Those with advisors:
- Were more likely to save.
- When they saved, it was twice as much (8.6% of income vs. 4.3%).
- They invested the savings, leaving much less in cash.
- They used RRSPs, TFSAs and other tax methods more effectively.
Financial planning – not investing – is the key to financial security.
This is good news. Saving behaviour is much easier to control than investment returns. The study was clear that saving behaviour was a far more important factor than investment rate of return. "Investment returns, while important, are of limited value ultimately."3
Key #2: Retirement Plan
The core of a financial plan is the retirement plan. It alone is a huge factor in both achieving financial security and having a large nest egg. Another study "Making a Difference" (chart 2) shows that people working with a financial planner who prepared a retirement plan (Comp Planner) had almost 50% more retirement savings than those working with an investment-focused planner (Planner).
Do-it-yourselfers benefited even more from a retirement plan. DIYers that estimated their own retirement needs (Self Directed) retired with about 100% more than those that didn't (No Plan).
The financial industry and the media just give lip-service to financial planning, but my experience and these studies show direct, huge benefits.
Why is having a financial plan, especially a retirement plan, so hugely beneficial? When you have a plan:
- You have a clear picture of the future you want.
- You know how much to save to get there.
- It is important to you, so you find the money to save.
- You work towards it consistently.
- You are clear on which strategies may fit your plan.
- You save tax because it's obvious whether RRSP, TFSA or other methods are best for you.
- You know the return you need, so you may invest less in interest-bearing investments.
- You are less likely to get distracted by short-term factors like business news or market crashes.
- You think long term.
A retirement plan makes you think long term and puts all your financial decisions in perspective. Whether or not you work with a financial planner, the secret is to have a quality, written financial plan with a retirement plan.
In short, the 2 things you must focus on to achieve financial security are:
- Better savings behaviour. Focus on the 4 saving behaviours.
- Retirement plan. Develop and follow a retirement plan.
Investing is the last 20% of financial planning. To have the future you want, focus on the 80%.
Join this discussion forum to Get updates by email. I will walk you through becoming financially secure in Quest for Freedom.


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In the wake of Major League Baseball's firing of longtime arbitrator Shyam Das after he ruled against it in the Ryan Braun case, I thought it might be a good idea to examine why this fashionable alternative-dispute-resolution mechanism is deeply flawed.
Arbitration has long been the norm in labor cases (that is, cases between unions and management). And baseball arbitration is of the labor-law variety. But increasingly, nonunionized employers are choosing to subject themselves and their employees to arbitration. Which is dumb.
"Why?" you may ask. I'm glad you asked. Here is my jeremiad on arbitration, from Chapter 12 of Firing at Will: A Manager's Guide:
Arbitration is much less common in employment cases, and usually only happens when there is a preexisting contract providing for it if there is a dispute. In other words, the employee would have signed an agreement — often at the start of employment — waiving his rights to go to court or an agency and instead having the dispute resolved by an arbitrator.
The arbitrator is chosen by both sides from a list of potential neutrals. In effect, he acts like a judge. Unlike a mediator, his job is to make a decision at the end of the case.
Many employers and management lawyers think it's a good idea to have mandatory-arbitration clauses in employment agreements. They think arbitration is a good idea because it tends to be cheaper and faster than the agency-and-court system. They believe that arbitration ends up favoring the employer.
But they are wrong.
Arbitration is a terrible idea, for four reasons. First, the less-formal approach to litigating the case, dispensing with the evidentiary rules, means that the employee can bring in evidence that never would have seen the light of day in court. As I said before, rules of evidence are a good thing if you have a lawyer who understands them. Ignoring the rules turns the case into a free-for-all.
Second, there is no precedent in arbitration. In the court system, the judge generally has to abide by past decisions of earlier court cases, especially higher-level courts. Our legal system is based on the authority of precedent. But in arbitrations, there's no such thing. Yes, lawyers can cite to past arbitration cases for examples of what arbitrators have done in similar cases. But the arbitrator is free to ignore it.
Third, there is almost no ability to appeal a bad decision. I don't want to overstate this. While you can almost always appeal a bad decision at an agency or in a court, appeals typically have little chance of success. But it's even worse in the arbitration world. Yes, you can file the equivalent of an appeal in court to prevent the enforcement of an arbitration award. But you shouldn't bother: there's next to no chance of it succeeding.
My final reason is the most important (and why arbitrators want to smack me in the nose). Remember how I said a few paragraphs ago that arbitrators are chosen by the parties? That's the whole problem. If an arbitrator doesn't get chosen for cases, he can't make money. And if he gets a reputation as being too pro-employer, plaintiffs' lawyers will stop agreeing to use him. (Likewise, if he gets a pro-employee reputation, management lawyers will stay away.) Trust me: this happens. At our firm, we had a list of arbitrators that we would never use because we felt that they were too likely to side with the employee.
In court cases, judges are assigned, not chosen. So the judge needn't worry about acquiring a reputation of favoring one side or the other. But an arbitrator has some pressure to avoid that sort of reputation. This pressure naturally moves an arbitrator to try to come up fairly even-steven over time, with a rough balance of wins for both employers and employees. Sounds fair, right?
Coming out more or less fifty-fifty sounds like it evenly benefits both employers and employees, but in fact it drastically favors employees. Why? Because employees don't win half of the cases filed. At the various antidiscrimination agencies, the percentage of cases where probable cause is found tends to run in the 5- to 15-percent range. (There are no reliable figures from court cases.) There are a number of reasons for these relatively low success rates.
For example, discrimination claims are inherently difficult to prove; it's hard to get inside a manager's head and find a discriminatory bias. Also, many cases are merely disgruntled employees' weapons of last resort. Many fired employees bring their cases because of anger instead of an honest belief of having suffered discrimination. So a low success rate is to be expected. That's why a success rate approaching 50 percent, which is more typical with arbitrators, dramatically favors employees.
So if your employment lawyer tries to talk you into arbitration agreements, ask her if she's thought about these points.
To order your own copy of Firing at Will, which is a wicked-good idea if your ever have to deal with employees, click any of the following links:
- Kindle
- Paperback (Amazon)
- Nook
- IndieBound (independent bookstores)
To read Chapter 1 for free, click the link at the top of the page.


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Hickman Charter School is a "university model", which blends the best of study at home with on-site classes and online programs. In 1994, HCS was created in response to parents who were looking for high quality individualized options for their children, and teachers who recognized that the traditional system does not meet the needs of all children. At HCS students are instructed by their parents at home with the support of an education coordinator and the many resources of the Hickman Charter School.
Homeschooling families in the Bay Area can utilize the Alameda County Resource Center to enjoy all the services provided at our Hickman site without making the drive to Hickman. Classes are taught here in the Bay Area throughout the year; all curriculum and other supplies can be checked out and returned; and the center in Emeryville is fully staffed for the convenience of those who reside in Santa Clara and Alameda counties.
If you are interested in our program, please fill out our Interest Application
Update, March 16, 2020: Information Sessions have been cancelled until further notice. Please contact us to schedule a phone appointment with an Education Coordinator to learn more our program and inquire about fall enrollment.


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Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is
the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United
Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four
continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim
world and ensuring to safeguard and protect the interests of the
Member States in the spirit of promoting international peace and
harmony among various people of the world. The Organization was
established upon a decision of the historical summit which took
place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 25 September 1969.
Please click on the following link
for more information www.oic-oci.org/


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Lk. 17:5-10
Life for some does not seem fair. Jesus tells a story in today's Gospel about a slave who worked in the fields all day long. Then at sunset he went to the house, only to be told that he was to prepare and serve his master's evening meal. Only after that was the slave allowed to eat. Then the kitchen would have to be cleaned and made ready for the next morning. Finally, the man was able to get some much needed and deserved refreshment and rest, probably collapsing on his bed, almost too tired to sleep.
This is one of the strangest stories Jesus ever told. It seems out of character: where is the compassion in it? The master took advantage of his position, demanding to be served rather than serve. Is this not the attitude that Jesus repeatedly condemned? The man worked his slave to the point of exhaustion, without even an expression of gratitude for services rendered. If we say the story is strange, the application is stranger still. Jesus instructed His disciples to say to themselves, "We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty." What can all this mean?
The first thing we can say is that this story is true to life. Many of us can relate to that slave's experience. Some people's days are long. Their work is hard. They have spent eight hours at their job. When they get home there is more to be done and they often do it with no expression of appreciation from anyone. Think of a mother who is also a teacher, a secretary, an executive, a sales person or a cleaner. All day long she concentrates on her duties. When she gets home, do her children have the tea ready? Do they tell her to sit down and relax while they wait on her? It is much more likely they will say they are starving and when will tea be ready! And what happens after she has fed then? Does she hear anyone say, 'You sit down and rest. I'll do the washing and tidying up and make you a well-deserved cup of coffee.' Does anyone even think of thanking her for all her hard work? Hopefully yes - but often they do not. Life is like that.
The man who thinks 'I am feeling overworked, underpaid and unappreciated' is not alone. This story of Jesus about the master and his slave may not be typical of Jesus, but it is a slice of reality. And why did He tell it? I think it was precisely because of the Pharisees' attitude towards religion which they approached from the wrong angle. For them it began with me and not God. The Pharisee thought, 'If I stand before everyone and let them see me saying my prayers and make them think what a good and holy person I am, surely God will be pleased with me. He's bound to give me Heaven.' He could not be more wrong.
Rather he should have approached religion from the angle of God. He should say, 'Look what God has done for me. He has created me. He has given me a beautiful world in which to live. He provides me with food and clothing. He has placed me in a family in which I have experienced love.' He could go on and on in that vein. And the conclusion he should come to is this … 'However can I thank Him? No matter what I do I can never repay Him'.
Now we can understand Jesus' story of the master and slave. Who understood this perfectly was Saint Francis of Assisi. He did extraordinary things to thank God for all He had done for him. You could make a case for him overdoing things and being cruel to his body. In fact, as he lay dying he apologised to his body, which he referred to as Brother Ass, for mistreating it. Now note what he said to his brothers as he lay dying, "My brothers, let us begin to serve God for up to now we have done nothing." How typical that was of St. Francis! Yes, his focus was not on self, but only on God.
Lord Jesus, let us concentrate on what You have done for us out of love, and give us a little of the generous and self-sacrificing spirit of St. Francis and say, "Let us begin to love and serve You for up to now we have done nothing."
Lord Jesus, let us concentrate on what You have done for us out of love, and give us a little of the generous and self-sacrificing spirit of St. Francis and say, "Let us begin to love and serve You for up to now we have done nothing."


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Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission --
Summary of Wisconsin Court Decision relating to Unemployment Insurance
Subject: Ralph A. Aiken v. Village of Elm Grove and LIRC, Case No. 786-525 (Wis.
Cir. Ct., Milwaukee Co., March 10, 1988)
Digest Codes: MC 659.01
The employe was caught sleeping in a vehicle at work in September 1986 and warned that repetition of such conduct would not be tolerated. He was again caught sleeping in a vehicle at work in February 1987, was again warned, given a two-day suspension and was urged to see a doctor about his problem. He was also told that a repetition would result in discharge. He was again caught sleeping on the job in March 1987, while sitting on a parked piece of heavy equipment with the motor running. He was discharged. On each occasion he denied sleeping on the job and also denied there was any problem. After his discharge he consulted a physician who diagnosed narcolepsy.
The final incident above occurred when the employe felt drowsy and drove the
equipment into a concealed area and then went to sleep, as opposed to falling asleep.
Under the circumstances his behavior amounted to misconduct and benefits were
Held: Affirmed. If the employe's action on the third occasion had not been intentional it might not have amounted to misconduct, but here it was deliberate.
Please note that this is a summary prepared by staff of the commission, not a verbatim reproduction of the court decision.
[ Search UC Decisions ] - [ UC Digest - Main Index ] - [ UC Legal Resources ] - [ LIRC Home Page ]


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co-educational nursery pre-school to sixth form
On Wednesday afternoon, six Clifton High pupils were given the opportunity to attend the 'She Rallies' Tennis Festival hosted by Judy Murray at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex.
Founded by Judy Murray, the 'She Rallies' initiative aims to empower and expand the number of women and girls coaching and playing tennis. This initiative feeds into the wider 'Women and Girls Strategy' from the Lawn Tennis Association, which aims to significantly increase female participation in tennis over the next four years.
The afternoon included a question and answer session with Judy Murray, in which she shared with pupils how both her sons were introduced to tennis, the different drills that be completed with either very limited or adapted equipment and some of the most important moments in her career. The remainder of the afternoon was spent enjoying some cardio tennis, drills and mini competitions, taught by specialist female tennis coaches.
"We had lots of fun and it was a great opportunity to get tennis tips from Judy Murray, and improve on all our tennis skills and compete alongside different schools." - Greer, Year 7.
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DHS Checkpoint refusals
That creamy sensation that soothes your tastebuds
Monsanto Protection Act' quietly extended by Congress
A budget provision protecting genetically-modified seeds from litigation in the face of health risks was extended for three months in an approved US House of Representatives' spending bill on Tuesday evening.
Called "The Monsanto Protection Act" by opponents, the budget rider shields biotech behemoths like Monsanto, Cargill and others from the threat of lawsuits and bars federal courts from intervening to force an end to the sale of a GMO (genetically-modified organism) even if the genetically-engineered product causes damaging health effects.
The biotech rider first made news in March when it was a last-minute addition to the successfully-passed House Agriculture Appropriations Bill for 2013, a short-term funding bill that was approved to avoid a federal government shutdown.
The current three-month extension is part of the short-term FY14 Continuing Resolution spending bill.
The Center for Food Safety, a vocal opponent of the rider, released a statement expressing dismay that the measure once again avoided proper legislative process while usurping the power to challenge GMO products in court.
"The rider represents an unprecedented attack on US judicial review, which is an essential element of US law and provides a critical check on government decisions that may negatively impact human health, the environment or livelihoods," they wrote. "This also raises potential jurisdictional concerns with the Senate Agriculture and Judiciary Committees that merited hearings by the Committees before its consideration."
Following the original vote in March, President Barack Obama signed the provision into law as part of larger legislation to avoid a government shutdown. Rallies took place worldwide in May protesting the clandestine effort to protect the powerful companies from judicial scrutiny.
To read the full article, click the link above.
UN team finds no proof on chemical weapons
United Nations investigators have listed a wide range of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Syria, but provided no conclusion on the issue of chemical weapons use.
"On the evidence currently available, it was not possible to reach a finding about the chemical agents used, their delivery systems or the perpetrators," the team probing human rights violations in Syria said in its latest report on Wednesday.
It was clear however that "the majority of casualties result from unlawful attacks using conventional weapons," the Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a statement
Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad's regime "have continued to conduct widespread attacks on the civilian population, committing murder, torture, rape and enforced disappearance as crimes against humanity," according to the report, which covers the period from May 15 to July 15.
It also charged that anti-government groups had "committed war crimes," including murder, torture and hostage-taking.
Since the beginning of the year, the commission concluded that government-loyal forces were responsible for eight massacres, while opposition forces had committed one. Nine others were still under investigation.
The report does not address the period after July 15, which includes the August 21 suspected chemical attack on civilians near Damascus that sparked international outrage and could still lead to US-led military strikes, despite intense diplomatic efforts to avoid them.
In Wednesday's statement though, the four-member commission led by Brazilian Paulo Sergio Pinheiro insisted on the "need for accountability, both to bring to justice those who used them (chemical weapons, if confirmed) … and to deter anyone else from using these abhorrent methods of warfare."
The commission, which has been tasked with probing rights violations in Syria since shortly after the conflict erupted in March 2011, warned that the conflict in Syria which has already left more than 100,000 people dead and forced more than two million Syrians to flee the country, "has taken a dangerous turn."
"Failure to bring about a political settlement has allowed the conflict not only to deepen in its intransigence but also to widen, expanding to new actors and to new, previously unimaginable crimes," the commission said.
The investigators, who are set to present their findings to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, however rejected military action as a solution to the crisis.
"There is an urgent need for a cessation of hostilities and a return to negotiations, leading to a political settlement," the commission said, warning that military strikes would "not only intensify the suffering inside the country but will also serve to keep such a settlement beyond our collective reach."
The report came amid renewed hope that a Russian diplomatic initiative could rid the Assad regime of chemical weapons and remove the need for a "limited" US-led military strike on Syria.
Agence France-Presse
Microsoft, Google sue US for right to reveal nature of surveillance requests
Microsoft and Google announced Friday they are going forward with a lawsuit against the US government for the right to reveal more information about official requests for customer data by American intelligence.
The companies originally filed suits in June following revelations provided by Edward Snowden of their relationship with the National Security Agency and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which oversees the government's requests of the companies' systems.
Microsoft's general counsel Brad Smith announced the companies were following through with a suit, saying negotiations with the government since June have not yielded significant progress. The companies maintain they should be allowed to disclose the nature of their relationship with government spying — via the program known as PRISM — in the face of public criticism after the NSA stories were reported by The Guardian and The Washington Post.
"On six occasions in recent weeks we agreed with the Department of Justice to extend the Government's deadline to reply to these lawsuits. We hoped that these discussions would lead to an agreement acceptable to all. While we appreciate the good faith and earnest efforts by the capable Government lawyers with whom we negotiated, we are disappointed that these negotiations ended in failure," Smith wrote in a post entitled "Standing Together for Greater Transparency" on Microsoft's corporate blog.
The companies deny PRISM allows the government direct access to their systems, but they are not legally able to disclose how often they have been asked to provide information on users.
"We believe we have a clear right under the US Constitution to share more information with the public," Smith wrote. "The purpose of our litigation is to uphold this right so that we can disclose additional data."
Though the US government has said it will reveal more details of the nature and scope of their requests of the companies in 2012, Smith said it's not enough.
"We believe it is vital to publish information that clearly shows the number of national security demands for user content, such as the text of an email," he wrote.
In 2012, the secret FISA court granted 1,856 government requests for customer data while rejecting none.


text: This pink flowered version of the Asian dogwood will slowly grow into a small deciduous tree to 4metres or so with flat tiers of branches on top of which sit the soft pink starry flowers in early summer. the Asian species don't get the nasty Anthrachnose disease that attracts the North American forms and so is a good choice for a sheltered site in the garden. Morning sun and out of thew hot winds and a soil well enriched with compost are what is needed. I have lovely plants in 25cm. pots for $58.50


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We have over 200 specific pitch blocks for outboard propellers. Each pitch block is an exact fit to a master propeller provided by the propeller manufacturer, including all blade geometry and even cupping. These are especially important when repairing badly damaged or advanced geometry type propellers.
We have 2 vibratory polishing machines. Our reconditioned stainless steel propellers are polished to look better than new. We also can polish other parts for you, just ask.


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Weekly Special!
2019 marks our 29th year in business, to celebrate this milestone, each week this year we will feature a different item from our catalog offered at a 9% discount!
In Chinese culture, the number nine is considered to be quite auspicious. Its a homophone for the word for 'long lasting' and represents longevity. Without your continued interest in our plants, our nursery would not be where it is today! Sign up to our email list to receive notifications of sale items as well as timely growing advice.


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Compiler Error: 'InjectionConsumerInfo.ServiceType' is deprecated¶
With Simple Injector v4, the properties InjectionConsumerInfo.ServiceType and ExpressionBuildingEventArgs.RegisteredServiceType have been marked obsolete and an exception will be thrown when these properties are called at runtime.
When using these properties the C# compiler will emit one of the following compiler errors:
What's the problem?¶
The InjectionConsumerInfo and ExpressionBuildingEventArgs classes are used at a point in the pipeline where only the given implementation type is known. Although in some cases the actual service type could be determined correctly, in other cases it just contained a wrong value (of a different registration).
InjectionConsumerInfo and ExpressionBuildingEventArgs are used by Registration instances. A Registration instance is responsible for creating and caching a specific implementation, but it has no notion of the abstraction/service for which it is registered. This is deliberate, since a Registration can be reused by multiple InstanceProducer instances. InstanceProducer instances are responsible of the mapping from an abstraction to the implementation provided by a Registration.
The following example shows multiple registrations for the same implementation:
container.Register<IFoo, FooBar>(Lifestyle.Singleton);
container.Register<IBar, FooBar>(Lifestyle.Singleton);
These registrations result in two separate InstanceProducer instances (one for IFoo and one for IBar), but both use the same Registration instance for FooBar. This ensures that a single instance of FooBar will exist within that Container instance.
The result of this is that when FooBar is built, there are multiple possible abstractions. However, since a Registration is only built once, it could only be aware of the first service type it is built for, which could be either IFoo or IBar.
Since the use of these properties was ambiguous and could lead to fragile configurations, they needed to be removed.
So what should I do instead?¶
In general, try to use the ImplementationType or KnownImplementationType properties instead. If required, you can extract the actual service type from the implementation type using the new IsClosedTypeOf, GetClosedTypeOf and GetClosedTypesOf extension methods.
The following snippet shows how to use the GetClosedTypeOf method:
container.RegisterConditional(typeof(IRepository<,>), typeof(ReadOnlyRepo<>), context =>
var implementation = context.Consumer.ImplementationType;
var serviceType = implementation.GetClosedTypeOf(typeof(IRepository<>));
var entityType = serviceType.GetGenericArguments()[0];
return typeof(IReadOnlyEntity).IsAssignableFrom(entityType);
The GetClosedTypeOf will throw an exception when the ImplementationType implements more than one closed-generic version of the supplied open-generic type. In case multiple closed-generic abstractions are expected, GetClosedTypesOf can be used. It returns a Type array.


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Over the last few years, in many industries, and specifically in the power engineering industry, we have been talking about the brain drain. In the wake of experienced engineers retiring, we are finding there is not enough good stock to replenish the dwindling pool. I first heard of this "all-call" for engineering resources in 1998 when I started college. I was convinced that I had chosen the correct career path.
Now, here we are 16 years later, and I would say we are no better off as an industry. Power engineering professions face many challenges, none greater than the perception of, "It's just not that cool to design substations, power plants and transmission lines."
As an electrical engineer, I could provide many examples to provide a strong rebuttal to that belief. However, as many of you reading this are from other industries, I'd like to speak to a larger concern affecting us all, and that is a shortage of skilled workers.
With many people promoting a narrower focus on obtaining a college education to get ahead in life, skilled trades have been left in the dust. There are many examples of too much development planning and not enough workers to do the actual development. From electricians, pipe fitters and welders, to plumbers, carpenters and masons, there's a shortage of skilled workers to complete jobs designed by an ever-dwindling engineering staff. The effects of these shortages are many and wide-ranging.
The need for skilled tradesmen affects salaries, schedules, budgets, and resourcing. It's not a bad deal for those tradesmen already in the industry. But it's important to note, as the race for skilled workers gets tighter, we will see more positions filled by those who are not 100 percent competent for the job. That can lead to the possibility of improper installation and/or execution of intended designs, resulting in often-hidden defects that could have disastrous results.
As a resident of North Dakota, I get to bear witness to a market with a severe skilled labor shortage, mostly due to the explosion of oil and gas development in the state. Tradesmen hop from one job to the next for the promise of another dollar (sometimes many more dollars). It leaves industries reeling to fill those positions and keep projects on track.
You may know who Mike Rowe is. For those who don't, he's the guy who used to do the Dirty Jobs television show. He has been a vocal supporter of education for skilled trades to the point of establishing a foundation to promote those trades and address what he calls the "Skills Gap." That's what we, as an industry, need to do to address a very real and immediate concern. Feel free to post your comments and/or stories of your experiences. The discussion needs to start somewhere and it may as well start here.


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London loves dumplings, and we're not just talking about dim sum. Most countries have their own version of stuffed dough. These are some of our favourites.
This is what you'd term 'special occasion dim sum' because a) it's expensive and b) it's intricate. Some may argue it isn't worth the money, but we think every Londoner should try this style at least once. The dumpling skins are almost impossibly fine and they often come in fun, creative shapes like miniature pumpkins. The one consistent problem here is the service... we do wish they'd be a little less snooty.
8 Hanway Place, W1T | 17 Bruton Street, W1J
Little Georgia
This is among one of the tastiest and best value Georgian restaurants in London. Cheesy khachapuri breads, nutty salads, blinis and hearty stews all feature on a regularly changing menu. Portions are large, but there's a finesse in the place of the stodge that can be found at lesser Eastern European joints. We love their dumplings as you can probably guess - look out for khinkali, thick, soupy meat dumplings, flavoured with black pepper.
87 Goldsmiths Row, E2 | 14 Barnsbury Road, N1
This is the place to go if you're into xiao long bao, or Chinese soup dumplings. King crab and pork broth fill the siew long bun (different name, same dumpling) and they're some of the best in town. Just be careful to let them cool sufficiently before attempting to eat them, whole, or your next stop could be St. Thomas' A & E.
15-17 Broadwick Street, W1F | Broadgate Circle, EC2M
Silk Road
The dumplings at Silk Road are made fresh every evening and, if you walk past at the right time you'll see a lady sat under a lamp, pleating like her life depends on it. The prawn and leek are delicately flavoured, the flavour of both seafood and vegetable coming through, while grilled five spiced beef versions are immensely satisfying, chewy bottomed and richly flavoured.
49 Camberwell Church Street, SE5
Beijing Dumpling
A short walk from Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, this Chinatown institution is the place to go for Beijing dumplings. Freshly made by hand every day, what they may lack in elegance, they more than make up for in flavour. We love the vegetarian jianjiao or fried dumplings (£6 for eight pieces) but you can also order boiled dumplings (£5 for eight pieces). It is a popular spot at lunchtime and the big green, formica topped tables are big enough to share when it gets busy. There are forks for children who haven't mastered the art of chopsticks yet and plenty of drinks to choose from (but the toilets have a habit of being out of order which you might want to bear in mind with small children in tow).
Rainbo Homemade Gyoza
Rainbo Street Food Truck is known for turning out box after box of vibrantly hued, tasty yet fortifying food. Their gyoza boxes come with either pork or veggie gyoza and we prefer the latter, their mixture of tofu and shiitake mushroom consistently hitting the umami sweet spot. They come alongside a set of brightly coloured salads, meaning your dumpling craving is sated, but you don't feel like you've missed out on a 'proper' lunch.
Dumpling Heart
Dumpling Heart serves Taiwanese street food and is one of the most thrilling dumpling restaurants in London. Fillings are slightly more inventive and seasonal than other dumpling pedlars. You'll find seasonal greens for example, alongside anything else artist/designer Meihui Liu fancies.
My Neighbours The Dumplings
There's a delicacy and fragrance about the dumplings here which you'll struggle to find elsewhere. So often it seems that prawn dumplings in particular are over-steamed to the point of ping pong bounciness. Here, the care is discernable in every bite.
Dumpling Shack
There are few things as fine to eat as a plate of Chinese dumplings and Dumpling Shack at Broadway Market make some of the best. Their soft, pleated bundles come with fillings like pork and crab soup, or eight-hour braised beef short rib. They also look fantastic, their pudgy pleats gleaming all over Instagram.