text:
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Scooby Syndrome
Despite having that solid track record and the precedent that should have come with it, the cast usually acted as if they believed just this once, it'd be a real ghost. Doesn't cast my predecessor in the best light, does it? Anyway, I often wonder if believers in psychics end up go through the same thing. If they ever catch on to a particular psychic's trickery, somehow, I doubt all of them are soured to the next claimant waiting in line. The same thing goes for a lot of other woo. I've seen ufologists, ghost photographers, and so forth get embarrassed by having the real cause of the weird lights they saw being found, and immediately pleading "well, what about THIS?" and moving on to similarly shoddy work of a marginally different kind.
Somehow, though, they never, ever arrive at the real thing by process of elimination. My guess is that they've really firmly rooted down in their culture of being nonjudgmental and relativistic towards each other, that disaffected John Edward fans who've moved to Sylvia Browne won't confront JE fans, and vice-versa. I don't hear about all that many rivalries, and when I do, it tends to be of the dogmatic sort. Back when I dealt with twoofers more often, for example, those sort of things were resolved with ban hammers, not evidence. The standard hushabooms would ban no-planers. The no-planers would ban the standard hushabooms. And they'd all ban the skeptics for wanting to talk about evidence and the laws of physics. Whoever they'd ban, they'd accuse of being shills for all the evil people and that at four o' clock, we'd all be two feet tall. TWO FEET TALL.
Okay, I'm getting weird. Back to my point: The thing that binds woos together is an unwillingness to investigate. They want their belief to be eternally available to believe in, so to set up Scooby Doo syndrome, they make it so they have an infinite chain of failure points before questioning their belief. There'll always be more people out there claiming to be psychic. It's true that psychic powers won't be falsified by finding out any one psychic is faking it, but shouldn't repeated failures and disagreements get them to at least question it? Even if that happens, though, the mindset involves working backwards: Instead of requiring that we debunk all the illions of claimants who have countless convenient excuses for failure, they should show us ONE psychic who's the genuine article and can pass a test designed to prevent cheating. Shouldn't it be easier to do that than require us to debunk each and every one?
I used to wonder if psychic powers existed, though I thankfully never tied myself down to any psychic claimant, especially since I saw Randi expertly take down Uri Geller on a TV special at an early age. I kept it vague for a while until oddly enough, a beloved TV show got me thinking: Star Trek: The Next Generation. Deanna's mother stopped by for an episode and was having some psychic troubles. Dr. Crusher mentioned her "psylocinine" levels, some brain chemical involved in telepathy. That got me wondering: HOW would psychic powers work if they were real? They've been investigating psychic powers and such for decades. Shouldn't they at least have working hypotheses? That was the beginning of the end for my potential belief in psychic powers. People like Randi investigated psychics, knew all sorts of tricks they could do, and they could gain headway by devising tests a trickster would fail, but a psychic would pass. All failures.
At the same time, paranormal institutes had been at "work" forever, and they still had nothing to show. Almost two decades later in my life, and I'm seeing the same thing, but now with less effort being put into it. Along with screams of bloody murder if I ask a woo to endorse stepping things up a few notches.
Woos who have fallen into Scooby Syndrome have a problem far more fundamental than belief in a particular woo-promoter: They've engineered easy excuses and dodges so that they can go on to believe what they like, no matter how much evidence there is. That's why I think, as an outspoken skeptic, we need to focus on bringing attention to the fact that they're approaching the problem backwards: You don't assume something is true until it's all debunked, you assume it's false until you have an example to prove you wrong. That's what makes science so exciting for me: Being wrong is a wonderful thing. It means there's a new part of the world to find out about. For the woo, however, being wrong is a character flaw.
14 comments:
The latest research in physics gives skeptics even more reason to dismiss so called paranormal events as nothing more than coincidence.
If there are a googol number of universes around, as physicists are suggesting, then even an event that has one in a billion chance of happening is almost certain to happen somewhere (the probability for this being 1 minus (0.999999 to the power of googol) - on the reasonable assumption that one in a billion is an average probability across all universes).
So any unusual woo event which does not seem to fit with established scientific theory can easily and most parsimoniously by explained by the fact that we just happen to be in the universe where that unusual event has occured.
- Bronze Dog said...
I wouldn't go with that rationale, but unlikely events do happen. Problem with using it that strongly is that it can explain just about anything. If some real psychic shows up and passes several well-controlled tests with one-in-a-million odds, I think it'd be more rational to accept that something odd is going on, rather than dismissing it all as dumb luck.
Apply the same rationale to other hypotheses, and you'd never accept anything.
Well if it's good enough to explain the amount of dark energy in the universe and other aspects of the so called "fine tuning" of the universe for life, I think by extension that it can also rationally be applied to other coincidences.
Skeptico has a good article on the parsimony of the multiverse:
- Bronze Dog said...
It's not the multiple universes thing I have a problem with. It's the ability to chalk anything up to coincidence that you're using it for.
Seems valid to me.
But I did realise that an adjustment is necessary to the calculation I made before in relation to average probablities across universes, to account for fine tuning.
If our universe is "fine tuned" for life say to the extent of 1 in a billion, then the probability of a 1 in a billion (in our universe) event happenning somewhere in the multiverse is 1 in (a billion times a billion).
This may seem remote, but if there are a googol number of universes out there, then such an event is still likely to occur trillions of times across the multiverse.
So if something unusual happens, it's more than likely because we just happen to be in one of the trillions of universes where it happened.
The problem is, no it isn't.
It works for life only because we're only going to be IN universes where life is capable of existing. It doesn't work for seemingly psychic randomness because there's no ontological demand that we be IN a universe where that event occurs.
It's no different than explaining it away by saying all those molecules just happened to shuffle to the left at the same time. The fact that there's a multiverse involved doesn't really do anything to the odds.
Let me put it this way. If there's just one universe and you roll a million 20 sided die and a psychic predicts all of them accurately, that's a pretty strange coincidence and very accurate. Certainly the idea that the psychic is actually psychic is worth considering over the idea that it's just a coincidence. If there are infinite multiverses, this changes nothing. What are the odds that we would find ourselves in that ONE universe where the psychic predicted everything accurately? The fact that a universe HAS to exist where that occured does nothing to affect the odds. It's the same odds either way. As a result we still have to consider it far more likely that the psychic actually has the abilities claimed than that we managed to, by coincidence, end up in that universe.
Saying it's another universe as an explanation is identical to saying "it was a really huge coincidence" as an explanation. The ONLY situation that helps to explain is "fine tuned for life" universes and that's only because life can only ask the question of how the universe is fine tuned in those universes that allow it to exist. Beyond that, a case where odds would be stacked perfectly in favor of us ending up in one of those universes, there's nothing that would stack in our favor of extremely unlikely events, which I'd say explains pretty well why we don't SEE totally unlikely events all the time.
Good point. I'm going to have to think about that some (but i have to finish my math assignment first).
I understand what you're saying re the "ontological demand" about life, but can't see how it bears on the likelihood that coincidences are best explained by coincidences in the multiverse, rather than supernatural explanations.
E.g. Richard Dawkins says that if all the molecules of a statue of the virgin Mary happenned to shift to the left so that she waved, the best explanation would be coincidence.
- Bronze Dog said...
Doesn't quite sound like Dawkins to me, so you may want to give us a citation. No offense, but I imagine he can probably put it more elegantly than you can, so it'd be nice to see his exact wording.
I think the statue waving thing is in the "Blind Watchmaker" (which I don't have right now). You're probably right that he was making a more complicated point than the way I phrased it.
Re the multiverse argument , I don't see why "The ONLY situation that it helps to explain is "fine tuned for life" universes and that's only because life can only ask the question of how the universe is fine tuned in those universes that allow it to exist."
It seems to me the only difference between the life situation and the unlikely dice predictions is that one has happened and the other hasn't. An explanation of why a psychic had an unlikely run of correct guesses (if this ever did happen) would only be needed in a universe where that unlikely run of correct guesses did occur.
Because it has never happened and probably never will, a multiverse argument has never been needed for that situation. Only difference with life is that it has happened.
But that is the sort of reasoning that IDiots criticize as being post hoc. An IDiot would say Goddidit is jut as likely an explanation for the universe being fit for life as the psychic having abilities is in your example - assuming the odds are the same in each case.
Of course, Victor Stenger has shown the universe may not in fact be fine tuned for life anyway.
I think you're getting hung up on the difference between prospective probabilities and retrospective probabilities.
The probability of last week's lottery numbers being whatever they were is exactly the same as the probability of correctly guessing next week's numbers - but only one wins you the jackpot.
It's the difference between the Texas Sharpshooter fallacy and actually being a really good shot.
I agree re the equivalence between retrospective and prospective probabilities - which is why I see the equivalence in applying mutliverse reasoning to things other than the fine tuning of the universe for life.
But having read the comments here and some other stuff by Laurence Krauss, I'm now not so sure that the multiverse theory is all it's cracked up to be (for explaining fine tuning or anything else). As Krauss puts it "a theory that can explain anything, in a sense, one might say explains nothing."
In fact i'm suprised that Dawkins endorsed multiverse reasoning in the God Delusion (which is what got me stuck on this dead end track in the first place) - maybe he should stick to biology.
Of course, if you reject multiverse reasoning then that could leave you open to the blatherings of IDiots that the universe has been designed for us by God etc etc.
But I think there is a way out of this. Other than the dark energy/ cosmological constant problem (which supposedly is fine tuned to 1 in 10 to the power of 120), all the other fine tuning examples are fairly easily explained by Stengers. In relation to the cosmological constant, Stengers refers to another theory called"quintessence" (which has not yet been tested) which gives a naturalistic explanation for this.
Stengers makes the point, which I agree with, that:
" As long as science can provide plausible scenarios for a fully material universe, even if those scenarios cannot be currently tested they are sufficient to refute the God of the gaps."
Here is the link to Stengers paper:
- Bronze Dog said...
What's getting me is how you're using it to dismiss the paranormal, implying that there's some reason we can use the argument for dismissing woo but not for dismissing anything else.
Changed my mind about that. Now I don't think it's a good explanation for woo either
I agree re the equivalence between retrospective and prospective probabilities - which is why I see the equivalence in applying mutliverse reasoning to things other than the fine tuning of the universe for life.
The point is that they're not equivalent. Throwing a dart at a blank wall and circling the point you hit is not the same as throwing darts at a target and hitting the bullseye.


text:
It's Christmas Eve, and I just got home from the "Wonder of Winter Lights" pageant at my church. My partner is out tending to other people's animals – she works as a pet-sitter, so holidays are her busy time. The house is clean in anticipation of company tomorrow – friends who are also far from family, are too busy to travel, and/or aren't Christian so don't have a reason to be with family on a random Tuesday. My dogs and cats are sacked out, so the house is quiet.
When I first get home, whether from work, shopping, or – as tonight – church, I almost always open the computer and check out what's been posted on Facebook since I last logged on. I check my notifications, read my private messages, and look to see if there are any new likes on the page I help administrate.
Tonight, for some reason, I scrolled through my old profile pictures – I tend to change my image pretty regularly. I went back almost 2 years. Some of them are of me and Jeanne. Some of them are just me. Some of them indicate causes (or teams) I support, or show our pets. And some of them are of Dad. There are a couple of me with Dad. Those are the ones that are making me sad tonight.
I didn't expect to have a hard time today – I got through Thanksgiving without much problem. As I posted after he died, I had lost him several times over the past few years. He really hadn't been with us for Christmas – mentally – for several years. So this shouldn't be all that different. At least, that is what I told myself.
But something about seeing this picture, taken almost 3 years ago, brought tears to my eyes. It was taken at the bowling alley where Jeanne and I were on a league. Dad was visiting for a week or so while mom was on a trip. This was the year that DC got hit with back-to-back snow storms that delayed my flight up there to bring him home with me. I was so relieved to have him with me at that point that I wanted to keep him close, even when we went bowling. He was so cute that night – cheering for everyone on my team, giving us a thumbs up when we did well and a thumbs down when we didn't.
I have so many happy memories of our times together – I am trying to just think of those and remember the love. The sadness kicks in when I start thinking about how we won't have any more chances to make special memories.
Even after the dementia got bad, up until the very end, he would smile every time he saw me – tonight, I am missing his smile.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Monday 23 March 2015 A glimpse at the gender-neutral fashion hitting the catwalk Exploring gender representations within the fashion industry is the theme of a charity fashion show hosted by Southampton Solent University next week. Organised by students on the BA (Hons) Fashion Management with Marketing course, a selection of designers, who push the boundaries of gender perceptions, will showcase their designs at the 'Gender Neutral' fashion show being held at the University on Wednesday 25 March. Designer Jack Kindred-Boothy's Collection, 'The Break in the Beam', explores structural vulnerability in menswear. Commenting on his collection, which was showcased at the Sustain catwalk show at Brighton Fashion Week 2014, Jack says, "It was inspired from trying on women's clothes and finding that very often the structure of the clothing – for example cut-away sections that leave the skin exposed, or thin, see-through fabric – created in me a feeling of vulnerability that menswear never subjected me to. "I thought it would be interesting to explore the idea of creating clothes for men that do not provide so much emotional armour as they are used to experiencing." There will also be live entertainment from DJ Audio k9 and Damien Murdoch and a raffle. All proceeds from the show will go to Mermaids, a charity supporting young people with gender identity issues. The show will take place at the Solent Studio in the John Millais Building at East Park Terrace. The doors open at 6.30pm and the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are available online at http://www.seetickets.com/event/gender-neutral-fashion-show/southampton-solent-university/861195 or on the door. For further information contact the media office on 023 8201 3040 or email firstname.lastname@example.com Share this article Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Print


text:
- 27 Sep 2010
Rog Day 10
I left my hotel at 10am in a taxi, and after the driver made a complaint that everybody in the States is in too much of a hurry, he proceeded to drive like Lewis Hamilton in a bid to get me to the airport as quickly as possible – unreal!
I was soon through security and sat at the gate for my flight to Chicago, where I was going to meet Jack who would board the same connecting flight to Hartford, Connecticut. People talk about internal flights in the US being like taking a bus back home, and how true that is. The whole experience was just so easy and hence it made it pleasurable, not like catching planes at home or in Europe where it's just completely the opposite. The flight to Chicago should have taken just over 2 hours, but the pilot landed us after just 1 hour 30 minutes.
After meeting Jack, who charmed the lady on the United Airlines desk and got us upgraded seats, we were on the flight to Hartford. Jack pointed out the fantastic Chicago skyline, dominated by the Sears Tower and of course, a Trump Tower – does any city in America not have one of these?! I never realised that downtown Chicago was so close to Lake Michigan, and as we flew away from Chicago the sheer size of this lake became apparent – it was actually like looking at the ocean! Jack told me that it was circa 100 miles long, and 100 miles across, so no wonder.
Again, the flight came in early, and Jack and I were soon at the Car rental depot picking up a huge Chevrolet Tahoe – a bit like a Landrover Discovery, only bigger! Jack actually grew up in Connecticut, and still has friends in the area. First stop was one of Jack's closest friends, JR, who lived on the 27th floor of a fantastic Apartment block in downtown Hartford – the view was out of this world. We then drove to one of the suburbs of Hartford to meet another of Jack's friends, Tony, his Wife Mary, and 4 year old Daughter, Eva. Jack and JR had started to tell me about the house I was about to visit, which had cost in the region of $2m, which is about £1.3m. When we arrived I can only describe the moment as jaw-dropping! I've never seen a house quite like it, and the view of a mountain from the back of the house was just spectacular. After drinks on the rear deck, we headed to Max's Oyster Bar in West Hartford for Dinner. I took the opportunity to get a lift in Tony's Jaguar XK convertible, and despite him being a bit chilly (to me it was a lovely summer's evening!) he kindly put the roof down and we went in style.
After a great evening of chat with Jack and his friends (Mike, another of Jack's friends later joined us, and he was a fascinating guy that does event management for Lego – needless to say I told him about my 2 boys and our love of the stuff), it was back to the hotel to catch up on a few emails before turning in for the night. I'm very excited about tomorrow and my first face to face meetings with US retailers…


text:
- Follow Meeting my family on WordPress.com
Recent Posts
- Tracking my family through Brighton in the 1930s
- The Olympics – Sports My Family Might Have Competed In
- Motoring and the Family
- My last throw of the dice
- A Month of Football
- My Family Spreads to New Zealand
- Searching for old friends – Karen Slade
- Searching For Old Friends – Deborah and Marilyn Simms
- School Trip to France (did I go on my own?)
- Happy Birthday to Jack and Nancy
- Easter Peace be yours
- The Similarity Between my Mother and Grandmother
- When I was three months old
- Mothering Sunday
- It can't be Half a Century ago?
Recent Comments
caroline on Woodingdean Primary School Pri… Jackie Dinnis on Young Love in Queens Road… simon robinson on Young Love in Queens Road… suzannethinton on School Trip to France (did I g… suzannethinton on School Trip to France (did I g…
Top Posts & Pages
- 38 Blaker Street
- 1920s
- 1930s Brighton
- Adoption
- Advent
- advent calendar
- Autographs
- Auxiliary Territorial Service
- Baptism
- Basingstoke
- bicycle
- Birthday
- Blaker Street
- blogging
- blogging101
- Brighton
- Brighton beach
- Christmas
- Dating photographs
- Dora Doswell
- Dorset Gardens Methodist Church
- Dummer
- Enid May Dinnis
- family
- Family History
- family members
- family photographs
- Farm Hill
- fashion
- Florence Violet Heard
- Funny Photo
- funny photo friday #
- genealogy
- grandfather
- guest blogging
- hats
- History
- Holidays
- Hove
- John Dinnis
- Joseph Taylor Dinnis
- letters
- Lower Market Street
- Maud Beatrice Crocker
- Middle Street
- Milliner
- NaBloPoMo
- Occupations
- old photographs
- Old Ship Shades
- Park Street School
- Photographs
- Photography
- Pontins
- Portslade
- Richard George Crocker
- Searchlight Regiment
- Ship Street
- Shoreham-by-Sea
- Sisters
- Susan Arkell
- Table Tennis
- The Chapel Royal
- The Old Ship Hotel
- The Royal Sussex Regiment
- toys and games
- Wedding
- Westlain Grammar School
- Woodingdean
- Woodingdean Primary School
- World War 1
- World War 2
- Writing
- Writing 101
Blog Stats
- 42,084 hits
Tag Archives: grandfather
Happy Birthday to Joseph Taylor Dinnis
29 November 1892 was the day my grandfather was born. Although I didn't know him, I have learnt so much about him from my cousin, Sue that I feel he is no longer a stranger to me. I thought I … Continue reading
Granddad didn't come home from World War 2
Joseph Taylor Dinnis, my grandfather, fought in both World Wars. He didn't come home after the end of World War 2. He didn't die or anything. He just didn't return home to his family. It is difficult to write about … Continue reading
Posted in Joseph Taylor Dinnis, World War 2 Tagged Granddad, grandfather, Joseph Taylor Dinnis, NaBloPoMo, World War 2 3 Comments
Who am I and Why am I Here?
Blogging 101 Day One So, here we go, day one! Today's assignment is 'Who am I and Why I'm Here'. Now at first reading this was a little alarming, very philosophical and deep, I thought. But it isn't about … Continue reading
Posted in jackiedinnis Tagged blogging101, Family History, genealogy, grandfather 6 Comments
Why do you look back?
Family History is big business these days, there are a plethora of magazines, websites, blogs and books on the subject. With the age of the Internet it is now easier than ever to type a name into a search engine … Continue reading


text:
Pleasanton, CA – April 27, 2017 – Interson announced at the American Telemedicine trade show in Orlando Florida, ATA 2017, their newest USB ultrasound arrays for telemedicine has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Interson is the market leader in open-architecture USB ultrasound imaging probes since announcing their first USB ultrasound probe in 2007.
Interson's new linear array probe and convex array probe enable telemedicine systems to provide ultrasound imaging by simply connecting the ultrasound probe to the USB port on the telemedicine system. The new SiMPLiTM series probes are light weight and handheld. No need to wheel in an ultrasound cart or carry a portable system.The SiMPLi probes provide image quality that every medical professional expects.Real-time performance and excellent image quality are available through a standard USB connection on the telemedicine system.
"These new array probes are plug and play for telemedicine customers as our SiMPLi probes and the telemedicine system providers support UVC. Our SiMPLi probes appear as a connected webcam to the system. Telemedicine can now realize all of the benefits of ultrasound diagnostics without having to connect to a floor standing or cart mounted ultrasound."Bill Wiedemann, Director Systems Integration
Interson's open architecture solutions provide the capabilities and features that previously could only be addressed by larger more expensive, proprietary, and closed-architecture ultrasound systems. SiMPLiUSB ultrasound is the smallest, lightest weight, and the most portable ultrasound imaging solution.
Interson Corporation, an ISO certified, privately held corporation located in Silicon Valley, is a leading U.S. manufacturer of ultrasound imaging solutions. Ultrasound systems using Interson products have been installed in offices, hospitals, and clinics around the world since 1989. Interson ultrasound imaging probes are designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. and have FDA 510(k) clearance, a CE mark, Japan PAL NINSHO approval, and a medical device license from Health Canada. Recognized as one of the top ten innovations of the year by the International Academy of Science.
The new SiMPLi Series probes extend clinicians' vision beyond their fingertips.
If you would like more information about the new SiMPLi Ultrasound Imaging Solutions, please contact:
Bill Wiedeman
Media Contact
Company Name: Interson
Contact Person: Bill Wiedemann
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 925-462-4948
Country: United States
Website: http://www.interson.com


text:
"There will always be people in your life who you'll love no matter how much they hurt you."
Often taken as a dis-grace or concluded as a setback, one-sided loves are under-estimated widely among people. I personally, being a fan of the concept of love finds one-sided loves as one of the most pure feelings ever. We've seen people loving the ones who loves them, we've seen people wishing for people to love them as much as they love them and then we've all known some losers who continues to keep loving the one who would never love them.
I don't really believe in the process of falling out of love. Yes, people do move on but that's only when they start loving themselves more or when they start loving someone else more than the one they used to love but the love initially never fades. It stays in our heart but as an outdated version of love.
As for the one-sided love, we all have to agree that it is comparatively easier to love someone knowing that they loves you too rather than to be in love knowing that your feeling wont be reciprocated EVER. There are hopes which are always present that maybe one day it will be reciprocated but eventually you just loses that hope and continues loving without such expectations.
You know that the one whose smile makes your heart dance won't even notice your smile. The one you stay up thinking about, your thought will never cross their minds. The sense of their safety gives you a satisfaction whereas they are unaware of your existence. You pray for their happiness before your own even if you know that you won't be a part of it. Knowing all the downfalls and still you continue to love, is what I believe requires the most loyalty and courage.
Human nature makes us intended to seek someone who could love us and we could reciprocate their feelings but going against it is the charm of single sided feelings. Being selfless is what that increases its credibility. The beloved stays in your heart even if they are not in your life and you are happy with knowing that they'll always be there without any influence. You don't expect anything from them even though you are ready to give everything for them.
I may sound like a desperate here but the exquisite pain I've noticed in these types of feelings are the ones which I adore the most. One sided feelings are the ones of which a person should be proud of instead of being sorry for themselves. Not everyone is capable of going through that and surviving. I believe that falling in love is easy but staying is not, especially after knowing that you'll be left all alone in the end.
"Love which is independent of the beloved feelings is the love which carries the most pain along with the most satisfaction."
Published by Ramsha Tahir


text:
Grriggles US1931 19 FUNdamentals Squeak Stick Blu
Grriggles® Fundamentals Squeak Sticks are the perfect toy for games of fetch. Made of durable TPR in bright eye-catching colors these stick toys even squeak to add extra excitement to playtime.
- Material – Thermoplastic rubber squeaker
- Size – 11.25 in.
- Color – Blue
- Floats on water
- Squeaker inside for added fun
- Durable and brightly colored
- Great for chewing and promotes dental health.
List Price:


text:
Oven Cleaning Salisbury
Hello - I'm Sacha your locally based oven cleaning and oven valeting expert in Salisbury and it will be my responsibility to restore your cooking appliances to near showroom condition for you. I'm now the Salisbury area franchisee now that Trevor (who many of you know well) has retired.
I live locally so I know the area well. A guide to how we work can be seen by watching the short but informative video below. As well as oven cleaning in Salisbury, I also cover Downton, Fordingbridge, Amesbury, Durrington, Tisbury, Wilton, Winterslow, Whiteparish and surrounding areas.Read More
As an Ovenu technician, I have been professionally trained to ISO 9001 standards. Your home or business will be treated with the utmost courtesy & respect. The oven cleaning process can take anything from 2-4 hours depending on the type of appliance, and everything will be left in a sparkling condition. I also carry comprehensive insurance cover to ensure your total peace of mind.
I use the exclusive range of Ovenu products to carry out my work. These cleaning products are guaranteed to be bio-degradable, non-toxic & totally free from caustic soda and therefore completely safe for you, your oven and your family. Our carbon remover is approved by the Vitreous Enamel Association, our degreasing solution is water-based and I operate totally within the Environment Agency guidelines.
I also carry a range of spare bulbs and replacement extractor filters. All, or some of which, you may wish to obtain whilst I am at your home.
I accept cash, cheques or online bank transfers
I very much look forward to discussing your oven cleaning requirements. I am easy to contact on 01725 510222 01725 510222 or complete the enquiry form and I'll be in touch as soon as possible.Close


text:
Wisdom's Cry
High in the Swiss Alps, I have felt protected from the constant stream of information about the state of the world by the beauty of the alpine meadows. The grandeur and stillness of the mountains have allowed me to feel cradled by the immense power of nature, and yet the day has arrived when I know that my sense of connection with my fellow human beings and the planet means that I can no longer turn my back on hearing how the world is faring.
As I open the BBC homepage, I am aware that I am holding my breath, as though bracing myself for the worst—images of typhoons, fires, attempted attacks on trains, migrant children caught in the middle of political and economic storms assail my eyes. The timeless purity of my surroundings vanishes in a split second and my shoulders slump as I plunge into a sense of despair and disappointment.
How can we, who have so much potential and possibility, cause such harm to each other and the planet?
I close my eyes, hoping that in the dark silence I will find an answer, but instead I find myself reliving the first moment that I experienced injustice based on something that I have no control over, the color of my skin.
At first I fight with this image, for the pain of others is far greater than this memory. But my surrender to Wisdom as the provider of answers demands that I pay attention to what arises in my inner world.
As I hear the racist taunts of the white boy, I feel the same sense of despair and rage that I feel when I see the image of the child migrants. To this image is added the smiling face of Trayvon Martin, and soon my inner landscape is full of the people who have dealt with and are dealing with oppression.
Now I am aware of how each moment of injustice that I have witnessed and my sense of impotence about what to do have created shells that have hardened my heart. I who have fought hard for a fairer, more just world cannot see a way out of the darkness. I am back in the same sense of isolation that I felt when I heard the taunts as a ten-year-old child.
But this time as I experience the same feelings, I realize that in my desperation to help others not feel the same as I felt, I have often suppressed my tears. I didn't and still don't want the white boy to see my tears. I will not let those that oppress see the hurt they cause.
And yet as a tear hits my chest, I know that a hard heart cannot be the answer. As the trickle turns to stream, I can feel how each tear is not just bearing witness to pain but a reminder that we are not alone.
Here a new hope arises as my heart gets tenderized by the saltiness of the tears. As Chogyam Trungpa says, "Real fearlessness is the product of tenderness. It comes from letting the world tickle your heart, your raw and beautiful heart."
And so today I will let the tears fall and let the wisdom they carry shine. For this cry, it seems, might just be the cry for freedom from all that enslaves us.
Image: Ticino mountains, Switzerland (2011) by Rio Hauser, Zenith Institute


text:
Send Letter to Editor
June 1999
Return to the main story, "Burned by wild parsnip"
Comparing the culprits:
Wild parsnip
Poison ivy
|History of contact
|No previous exposure required. Everyone can be affected if sufficiently exposed.
|Prior exposure and sensitization to poison ivy required.
Only 50-85 percent of the population will ever develop an immune response to poison ivy (and to chemically related poison oak and poison sumac).
It may take repeated exposures to develop sensitivity, though for many, one touch is enough.
|First exposure – redness within 24 hours, blisters for several days.
Subsequent exposures – same reaction as first exposure.
|First sensitizing exposure readies the immune system to respond.
Subsequent exposures – symptoms occur in several hours to 2 days.
Because poison ivy's reactive oil can last for months on clothing, pet fur and other surfaces, exposure can occur repeatedly.
|Location on body
|Limited to areas exposed to sun.
|Can occur anywhere poison ivy's reactive oil contacts the skin; often transferred by hands or clothing to areas "where the sun don't shine."
|Burning pain, which is short-lived.
|Itching, which can last for weeks if untreated.
|No new redness or blisters over time; condition confined to initial sites.
|New lesions can appear over a week or more; different skin areas react at different rates.
|"Signature" on skin
|Reddish or brownish pigmentation, noticeable for months or years.
*Adapted from Sommer, Robert G. and Otis F. Jillson, 1967. "Phytophotodermatitis."
New England Journal of Medicine 276(26): 1484-6.


text:
Projects often require professional real estate management services. SRF's Real Estate Group includes experienced, committed, and enthusiastic professionals who approach every project in a cooperative manner. This approach is necessary when working with landowners, homeowners, business owners, and tenants.
SRF offers stand-alone, comprehensive real estate services, including appraisals, right of way acquisition, residential and commercial relocation, asset management, and assistance with the eminent domain process. Our clients include states, counties, cities, and private entities, such as utility companies. SRF's reputation for carefully listening to property owner concerns ensures the highest possibility of a successful project outcome.
SRF's real estate services include:
- Project management
- Title research
- GIS property information services
- Field surveys and parcel sketches
- Legal descriptions
- Appraisals and review appraisals
- Document preparation for offers and conveyance
- Negotiations
- Relocation assistance for businesses and residences
- Condemnation assistance
- Foreclosure tracking and monitoring
- Damage settlements
- Land and asset management
If voluntary acquisition is impossible, SRF can also prepare the necessary parcel descriptions and other information required during the eminent domain process. All activities comply with the applicable requirements of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act.


text:
Boutique Events
We also have a wide variety of one-of-a-kind boutique style jewelry and purses for your purchasing pleasure. Take a look at all the sparkles and see what would go best with your ensemble! We are constantly increasing and changing the selections available, so you'll never see the same piece twice!


text:
Expand your knowledge. Create a better life. Share with your community. Inspire others.
Conscious Relationships Workshop
Length: 3 hours
Who should attend?
This workshop will be geared towards those who wish to improve their relationships with a spouse or prepare themselves for a future relationship. However, anyone who wishes to have any sort of relationship with another human being, will benefit from the content.
What to expect:
This is a group-participation workshop in which we will actively explore human connections and relationships. One of the top reasons for relationship issues, breakups and divorce is miscommunication. By changing the way that we communicate and by making conscious efforts to connect in meaningful ways, we can greatly improve our relationships. How beautiful it is to create relationships in which we can function with a sense of purpose, with love and awareness?!
Workshops available for children, adolescents and adults.
Contact us to host a workshop!
Yoga Tools for Adaptive Families
Length: 3 hours
Who should attend?
Parents of children with special needs, disabilities or emotional challenges. Caregivers, foster parents, anyone who works with children living with life challenges.
What to expect:
Learn how yoga can help children change their relationship to their disability or challenge. Learn specific poses, exercises and techniques that can assist in building mobility, confidence, emotional balance and overall better quality of life.
Conscious Parenting Workshop
Length: 3 hours
Who should attend?
Anyone who has children or plans to have children, anyone who works with or interacts with children on a regular basis
What to expect:
Break old thought patterns about the roles of parenting and the beliefs about how children should be raised. Explore different ways to connect with, raise, discipline and communicate with children.
Our Language Affects Our Lives!
Workshop for Adults and Children
Length: 3 hour workshop ; two hours lecture + 1 hour family yoga
Who is this workshop for?
The workshop is open to everyone! Parents, caregivers, foster parents, parents to be, and anyone who works with children. Children are also invited to attend.
What to expect:
The first two hours adults and children are separate for their age appropriate learning. The last hour everyone is together in a family fun yoga experience.
Adult two hour segment is inspiring and insightful. Be prepared, this information will change your life and the life of those around you!
Children two hour segment is fun, inspiring and imaginative.
All ages welcome! We will adapt activities and topics accordingly. Please indicate your children's ages when signing up.
Yoga Philosophy for Children
Length: 3 hours
Who should attend?
Anyone who has children or plans to have children, anyone who works with or interacts with children on a regular basis
What to expect:
Learn the basics of yoga philosophy and simple ways to incorporate yoga philosophy into every day life with your child.
Learn simple and fun yoga poses, games and tools to help every family live more in the present.
Crafty Kids
Length: any length
Who is this for?
Any age, all abilities.
What to expect:
Arts and crafts designed to inspire young minds to live with intention, learn about their emotions and how to create positive affirmations. Supporting happier, healthier lives with creativity!
Copyright 2017. Yoga For Life Las Vegas. All rights reserved.
Monkey Mind Management, LLC


text:
Conceptual Innovations engineering, consulting, and custom manufacturing service focuses on delivering cost effective, technical solutions.
Specializing in development, testing, automation and design, Conceptual Innovations (CI) provides cutting edge expertise to companies of any size.
Led by Dr. Elmer Lee, the CI team has experience in a wide variety of disciplines and can quickly assess and present actionable options for your project.
Highlights from CI's successful portfolio include:
- Automated guided vehicle development
- Driving simulator for military/commercial applications
- Fuel cell shock absorber
- Water brake dynamometer testing system
Working closely with clients CI can prototype a design, create a proof for evaluation, and test for both long-term usability and endurance. Each solution is optimized for both functionality and manufacturing costs.
Conceptual Innovations is second to none in industrial design and custom manufacturing. Over the past decade, our engineering department has developed into one of the most highly sought after services in the industry. With access to tools including SolidWorks CAD design platform, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and design, to prototype dynamic testing, to laser cutting, to CNC forming, to varying durometers of polyurethane wheels, to varying chemical makeup of polyurethane wheels to robotic welding, to ISO supported manufacturing processes, Conceptual Innovations can take concepts and turn them into innovations.


text:
Weimar. Fourteen streets named after fourteen men. Their life stories intersect at a place only a few kilometers away from the "City of Classicism": In 1937, the KZ Buchenwald was built on the Ettersberg near Weimar – it was one of the largest concentration camps in Nazi Germany.
"Namensgeber" is an atlas of these fourteen streets in Weimar. It documents their appearance, history, length, position and shows streets of the same name on a map of Germany. Every registry is followed by a biographical sketch.
All fourteen men were prisoners of the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, but: What happened before? And what became of the ones who survived?
Fourteen reports on resistance.


text:
It was the elimination time in the Bigg Boss 11 house, Shilpa Shinde and Akash Dadlani are in danger zone in this week. Though the companion voted for Akash and Luv Tyagi, house captain Vikas Gupta was given special powers to save one and he chose to nominate Shilpa in Luv's place. Companion wake up to the tune of Chota Baccha, Arshi khan told Luv Tyagi that his luck is with him.
Hiten makes fun of them said that they are a young couple. Arshi said Hiten is an immature man. The entire companion saw Luv and Arshi connection. Puneesh told the Vikas Gupta Arshi said don't talk with Shilpa Shinde. Hiten asked Vikas whom did you want to save? He said I want to protect Shilpa. Akash made fun and said what will happen is he is safe and Shilpa is eliminated. Shilpa is considered as the top contestant to win this reality show.
The baby tasks begin. Akash Dadlani had Hiten as a baby although Vikas Gupta acquires Arshi. They make fun of all of them. Akash said luv, hina and arshi are a bad caregiver. Hiten said we start to play with full enthusiasm. The signal given then they race for the parking of the buggy. Arshi told Vikas that she wants to be a captain, and then he gives the tips to her how she plays. While Priyank does not pass to park the buggy, Puneesh is out from the captain race. Priyank is the baby in Shilpa's buggy and told her he wants to be captain. Shilpa asks if he will save Puneesh.
Arshi harms her doll and happy with that Shilpa is not the captain. Vikas tell the Arshi to play with the planning. Akash gets angry on Arshi in the kitchen, then she said 'do din ka mehman', he requests to Shilpa to excuse her and ask her for a kiss. Vikas told Hiten that Akash is not attentive in the game, he also agreed and said I am tired and over. At 8 pm again the alarm rang and everyone run to the park with the buggy. Hinten and Shilpa are out of the commander race. Inside Hiten insult Akash that he got lost like a missing. They said they love one and all. Hina said she makes better captain with Luv and Priyank then Dadlani.
Vikas told Puneesh he play active if he wants to live long in the house. Puneesh said he wants to see Arshi win. Vikas said in any condition, Luv not win. Vikas told the Arshi colleague will not joyfully if he says she will be captain. He said he is working hard but he cannot promise for it. Arshi said you can make Bandgi Kalra captain but cannot make me one, she goes in the washroom and started to crying. Akash tried to divert her but she is in tears, he swabs her tears and said he wants to get out. Vikas told Puneesh that I am only working so that Luv is present with me.
Akash asks Arshi if she had believed in Vikas, she said yes I was but not this time. Hina told Hiten she wants to be captain, she said she cannot play the game I don't want to make Akash captain. Vikas and Hiten angry with her, they said they have buggy which is out of fitting according to you. At night, Akash said Hina is not curious about being a captain. The alarm rang and Luv makes soon entry.
They sat down the dolls in the carrycot. Shilpa makes Priyank and Luv's doll sleep with each other. Vikas explains how the game goes around to Luv and Priyank, he said there are many challenges. Vikas said Arshi, Puneesh all are in the game. Luv said no single player can win the game. Vikas and Shilpa discuss with each other how Luv is being saved. In the washroom area, Vikas promise that I support Arshi. He told Puneesh to make Arshi understand. He says Akash has said that we are against Arshi. Anger, Arshi says she does not keep about being a captain.
Arshi told Hina that Vikas only listens to Puneesh, she told Bandgi Kalra is a bad captain. Priyank said he plays like that. Luv asked Vikas why he didn't support me for the captain, he said there is no assurance. Priyank told Arshi that he wants to see Vikas game plan. When she questions his friendship, Vikas told her to remain quiet. He says your claim is repulsive. Priyank asks Arshi if she wants to be captain. She says yes. Luv, Priyank, and Hina take Arshi to their side. Puneesh tells Vikas and Hiten that Shilpa has taken immunity for him.
Akash Dadlani took Shilpa out and request her to forgive Arshi but she says no. He says I want to go home happily. Shilpa told Arshi that she deserves bad behavior. Akash says I have never found friends like you and Arshi in my life. Shilpa and Arshi had a huge argument and Arshi told her to leave. Akash apologizes to Shilpa for trying to make amends, Akash says I only want Shilpa and you to be friends.
Also read: 14 celebrity couple we saw in Bigg boss house, who were madly in love but broke up now..


text:
Regional European Alcohol Policy Youth Conferences (REAPYC)
1st REAPYC Chișinău, Moldova (16-22nd December 2013)
APYN with National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM) organized the first Regional European Alcohol Policy Youth Conference (REAPYC) in Chisinau, Moldova between the 16th and 22nd December 2013. REAPYC a youth conference, first of its kind that gathered around 50 young people from different countries of the Eastern European Partnership Window, building capacity for youth to become advocates of a more comprehensive alcohol policy in Europe
The project was supported by the European Commission – Youth in Action programme, Slovenian Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and Sport of Moldova and was organized in cooperation with the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM).
The idea of the conference is to build capacity for youth organizations and young people to become advocates of a more comprehensive alcohol policy in Europe. The conference offered parallel sessions focusing on youth research on alcohol, project development and advocacy on alcohol policy.
2nd REAPYC Kaunas, Lithuania (2nd-8th November 2016)
The second Regional Alcohol Policy Youth Conference was organized by APYN and LiMSA and it took place in Kaunas (Lithuania) between 2nd and 8th of November 2016. 2nd REAPYC gathered around 30 young people from different countries of the Baltic Sea region, some of them already familiar with the alcohol topic, others beginners, but all eager to learn.
Throughout the week participants got familiar with the topic of alcohol, they discussed why alcohol is a problem and got the knowledge about the alcohol industry and its tricks. The opening plenary offered participants a chance to listen to Nils Garnes from Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS), Lauri Beekmann from Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network (NordAN), Simona Stankevičiūtė from Lithuanian Junior Doctors' Association (JGA) and Lukas Galkus from APYN.
In addition, participants took a closer look on what youth organizations can do in the field of alcohol. Workshops on policy and advocacy, project development and youth research were held, where participants were able to get some practical experience on specific topics. In research workshop they concluded their own research, on project development they designed a new project and in advocacy they prepared their own advocacy campaign.
REAPYC was concluded with a study trip to Vilnius where the closing plenary session took place. Nijolė Goštautaitė-Midttun from Mental Health Initiative (MHI) talked about the role of NGOs in reducing alcohol related harm and good practices in Lithuania. Paulius Mikšys and Juozas Šerkšnas from youth NGO "Sober entertainment" presented a new movement of sober parties and encouraged young people to be more determined and establish similar initiatives in their own countries. Participants also presented their work from the workshops and discussed possible future initiatives and cooperation.
When closing the conference Lukas Galkus, the president of APYN, highlighted that REAPYC is really opportune and extremely relevant at present time. He said: "For the past 10 years WHO has constantly drawn attention to the region of the Baltic and Eastern Europe and its high alcohol consumption and alcohol related harm problems. We are one of the most problematic regions, therefore the inclusion of young people in the process of comprehension and solving of the problem is extremely important."
- Oops, our twitter feed is unavailable right now.


text:
Come on LG now you're just showing off…
LG has recently unveiled two of the largest OLED displays in the world at South Korea's Incheon Airport. To show the world the power of OLED technology LG has strung up two displays in the airport that each consist of 140 55- inch curved OLED panels- the equivalent size of three large shipment containers.
Measuring 8 metres across and 13 metres tall LG are showing travellers to the airport the magic of OLED technology such as fireworks set against a night sky.
Because every pixel emits its own light there's no need for backlighting making the structure incredibly light, allowing them to dangle above thousands of passers-by with minimal support.
"While the world's largest OLED sign is certainly something to be proud of, we are more excited about the opportunity to introduce travellers from across the world to the magic of OLED," said Ro Se-yong, senior vice president and head of business-to business solutions at LG Electronics.
"The benefits of OLED technology can only be viewed, they cannot be described with mere words."
Although OLED technology is becoming cheaper for the average consumer, its still relatively unaffordable considering you can bag a 4k 40 inch TV for under £400.


text:
Macadamia Nut Oil
16.9 fl oz bottle, cold-pressed |
Product #NMO301
Macadamia Nut Oil is a top choice among nutritionists and its mild flavor makes it a versatile choice perfect for cooking, sauces, salads, and more.But macadamia oils of high quality are hard to find — we encountered many that failed the taste test before finding a great one.Our velvety smooth Macadamia Nut Oil features a wonderfully light, delicate flavor that brings out the natural goodness of favorite foods — especially fish — without overpowering them.
Vital Choice Guarantee: We'll replace your product or refund your money if you're not satisfied.
- Certified Kosher OU
- Cold-pressed, unrefined
- Product of Kenya
Health benefits of Macadamia Nut Oil
- Like olive oil–but unlike most cooking oils–macadamia oil is very rich in monounsaturated fat (oleic acid), which has a neutral effect on blood fats, and may enhance uptake of nutrients from vegetables.
- Macadamia oil is also very low in the omega-6 fatty acids in which American diets are overabundant ... an excess that promotes chronic inflammation.
These attributes make macadamia oil a smart alternative to the most commonly used and omega-6-heavy cooking oils: corn, soy, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed. (Note: Like olive and macadamia nut oils, special "hi-oleic" sunflower oil is high in monounsaturated fat and low in omega-6 fats.)
Learn this food's omega 3/6 balance, and why it matters.
Average Ratings: 5Write a Review
Read more reviews >
For optimal freshness, keep your Macadamia Nut Oil in a cool, dark place, and use it within four months of opening. Or, keep it in your refrigerator for up to one year. Chilled Macadamia Nut Oil will become cloudy, with no harm to its flavor or nutrition value.
Serving tips
- Macadamia Nut Oil has a somewhat higher "smoke point" than olive oil, but it is still best to limit its cooking use to temperatures of 400 degrees or less.
- Macadamia Oil makes delicious dressings and dips, and you can add it to dishes after they've been cooked.
- Macadamia Oil is great on salads or drizzled on bread and crackers.
- Its versatility even extends beyond the kitchen: should the occasion require, it makes a superior massage and moisturizing oil.
Non-perishable shipments to Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, and
Northern California may arrive faster, in 1 or 2 days.
Standard Shipping Fees
- Up to $49.99 = $6.95 shipping
- $50 - $98.99 = $12.95 shipping
- $99 and over = FREE shipping
address, including non-perishables sent to Alaska and Hawaii.
Overnight shipping and other premium services cost more; for
more information on this and all shipping topics, see our Shipping page.


text:
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Rose Has Got Some Hips II
Rose Has Got Some Hips II - 8" x 8"
Last fall I collected some seed, berry and fruit specimens for new work. One that I especially liked was a group of rose hips. I am doing a series of small pieces that will be for available for sale at up coming exhibitions and thought these charming rose hips would be perfect for one of them. The little undeveloped rose hip was quite appealing and the bugs had found the leaves a real treat.
You can see a lot of different techniques in the leaves to show depth - for example: overlapping images, shadows, cooler colors in the back, warmer greens in the front. You can read more information on these techniques in earlier posts.
Posted by Nancy at 10:27 AM 2 comments:
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Who Does She Think She Is - Terrific Film
Pamela Tanner Boll has produced a great documentary of the lives and issues of 5 women artists. Had the opportunity to screen the film this afternoon with 18 other women, many of whom are artists and who ranged from 17 to 79 years of age.
In highly personal, candid sharing of their lives we learned how these artist struggled to create art while nurturing life. As Heather Cabot, of the Huffington Post said: "Boll's film reveals that mothers in the arts...face the very same imbalance in their lives as mothers slogging through 80 hour work weeks to climb the corporate ladder. Artist or not, mothers will be inspired and empowered by Who Does She Think She Is?"
And our group would add that women, mothers or not, will find issues that they can identify with.
My husband originally viewed the film with me and found that many men would also get a lot from the film, in terms of issues for their own lives. I am recommending that another screening be done at our church for both men and women.
Posted by Nancy at 7:23 PM No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Français Search
The Friends of Xenakis Association is a not-for-profit organization registered under French law. Its goal is to support and organize events, publications and information promoting all aspects of Iannis Xenakis's work. Our Association needs your support. You can inquire about becoming a member by simply sending an email to : . By return, you will receive information regarding different levels of membership and dues and payment instructions.


text:
We're opening doors . . .
for HFO based polyurethane foams in Europe
Understand more about the changing HFC regulations in your region
The 2014 amendment to the European Union's F-gas regulation now targets to phase down consumption of HFCs from 2015 to 2030 in steps, based on 2014 sales:
Market prohibition dates:
Refrigerators and freezers for commercial use (hermetically sealed equipment):
Therefore, under the new F-gas Regulation, the European Union is targeting to reduce emissions from HFCs by two-thirds by 2030.
In Spain, a taxation system on HFC-containing formulations was introduced in 2014; HFCs used in the production of polyurethane spray foam systems are now taxed at a rate of 10%, thereby presenting an incentive for formulators to investigate alternative blowing agents that are exempt from the tax.
France, Poland and Sweden are each considering the implementation of a similar form of HFC tax.
In the UK, BRE has introduced a voluntary green guide to specification, which provides guidance with regards to the use of building materials, such as insulation.
In response to the F-gas Regulation, new alternative blowing agents with a low global warming potential (GWP) have been developed, namely HFO-1233zd(E) and HFO-1336mzz.
Offering notable environmental improvements, both of these new HFO blowing agents have a chemical structure that breaks down quickly, resulting in an atmospheric lifetime of weeks rather than years or decades. This class of chemical is a "fourth-generation" family of compounds, developed to replace a long line of similar substances that had high ozone depletion potential (ODP) or GWP.
Air Products has been at the forefront of developing new catalysts and surfactants to enable the new blowing agent technologies
Polycat® 203 and Polycat® 204 are non-emissive amine catalysts specially designed to deliver high-end results when used with both HFO-1233zd(E) and HFO-1336zz in 2K High Pressure Spray Foam Applications (SPF).
Polycat 204 catalyst can help customers achieve between 6 to 8 months of polyol blend stability when used with HFO-1233zd(E).
Polycat 203 catalyst performs similarly to Polycat 204 catalyst, but brings the added advantage of having a low water content, providing additional flexibility to formulators.
Typical uses levels of Polycat 203 catalyst / Polycat 204 catalyst are 2-4% by weight on the polyol side. The product can be used in conjunction with other catalysts to optimise system stability, overall reactivity as well as back-end cure speed.
Recommended co-catalysts for HFO based systems include: Dabco® 2039 catalyst, Dabco® 2040 catalyst, Dabco® TMR-7 catalyst, Dabco® MB20 catalyst, Dabco® T120 catalyst and Polycat® 12 catalyst. Surfactant recommendations include Dabco® SI3503 surfactant, Dabco® SI4202 surfactant, Dabco® LK-221E surfactant and Dabco® LK-443E surfactant.
Below is a guide to using Polycat 203 catalyst / Polycat 204 catalyst with other Air Products Additives:
Click here for a larger version
Inherently, good flow ability is required to fill moulds when producing commercial refrigerators, in addition to good adhesion and thermal properties. Air Products has developed a range of additives for use in this application:
Dabco® TMR-7 post cure catalyst is again stable in LBA based systems, with excellent de-moulding properties and flow-ability.
Dabco® SI3102 silicone surfactant is stable in LBA based systems, and can provide good surface quality and improved thermal properties.
Whilst in Europe pentane remains the dominant choice of blowing agent, there has been a growing interest in hybrid systems (Pentane & HFO). Air Products offers the broadest selection of amine catalysts, trimerisation catalysts & surfactants for lamination, including the following grades:
TMR-12®Dabco is our latest trimerisation catalyst and provides formulators with the necessary tool for tailoring isocyanurate foam reactivity. It facilities easier processing by virtually eliminating the 'trimer kick' that is usually seen with conventional trimerisation catalysts.
SI3504®Dabco is a capped surfactant, which has facilitated enhanced lambda and improved board aesthetics.
Polycat® 5 remains the amine blowing catalyst of choice for PIR lamination systems.
This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some are essential to make our site work; others help us to better understand our users. By using the site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Read our Legal Notice to learn more.


text:
$ 145.00
Soft to the touch, Sharkskin brings outstanding quality to the casual exotic. Velvet toned with a muted grain pattern, it offers an exciting option in exotic skins. Buckle Not Included.
In order to find out what length and width strap you will need please see our Measuring Tips on our Leather Belt Strap Guide.
All of our Belt Straps are Custom Made please allow 10-15 business days. For an exact time frame please call 1.800.621.6668.
Need a Buckle? See Black Arrow's Buckle Collection and choose from Inlaid Belt Buckles, Sterling Silver Belt Buckles, Gold Belt Buckles, and More
Black Arrow Jewelry & Art and Black Arrow Buckles, 1-800-621-6668
Subscribe to our newsletter and always be the first to hear about what is happening.Call: 800-621-6668
Black Arrow Jewelry & Art
124 W. Gurley Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
© 2020 Black Arrow Jewelry & Art


text:
Is it me or has Summer just been and gone just like that? I feel like it was yesterday that we were getting ready to head into the warmer months. Even though in London it means we had Summer for a week and then it disappeared for another 11 months again. Now it's just like Summer sprinted past and Autumn is well and truly on it's way towards us.
Well, I've been trying to hang on to Summer as much as possible (I am not ready to bring out my winter wardrobe just yet!) and sipping cocktails just screams Summer and sunny vibes to me.
Even though it may not be sunny at the moment, these Martin Miller's Gin* Cocktails are no exception to making me feel all summery and they are so easy to make. I just simply cut up some Strawberries, added a squeeze of Lime and lots of ice. Then I poured some of the Martin Miller's Gin over the top and finished with some Apple and Raspberry Soda. I don't like my cocktails to taste too strong and this Gin mixes in perfectly with this combination. You could even just go with the simple Gin and Tonic mix, but I thought the Strawberries and Lime added a nice fruity touch to the drink.
What's your favourite Gin combination?
*Sponsored post with Martin Miller's Gin.


text: Child abuse video out of St. Lucia sparks outrage Loop News Created : 9 October 2018 Caribbean News WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL FIND DISTURBING Related ArticleRelated article :Arrested mother enrolled in a parenting programme A troubling viral video depicting child abuse believed to have been recorded in Soufriere, St Lucia is being investigated by police. The video, which can be seen below, shows an adult woman beating and dragging a young girl on concrete while another young girl looks on. The video was recorded from within a vehicle in which local and foreign accents can be heard reacting in shock. One person says, "Why she doing the child that?" Another says, "Tell her to stop that." A person exits the vehicle and approaches the three as the video cuts off. A second video shows someone recording the woman walking with the children, threatening to expose her actions on Facebook. The woman reacts angrily. Many reacted to the video, condemning the woman for her actions. It is believed that the woman and the child who was beaten are sisters. Get the latest local and international news straight to your mobile phone for free:


text:
A new chapter in our ongoing work with Jude's ice cream opened recently, as we created a new positioning for the brand; designing a new logotype and developing and updating their packaging to better reflect the premium quality of their products as well as consolidating their position as the go-to ice cream of artisan chefs and treat-hungry families alike.
We've been working with the Hampshire based company, helping them develop the brand over the past five years and so when they approached us with the brief to take them forward we were in a perfect position.
The original brand identity had looked to position Jude's as an authentic, family-run business delivering delicious hand-made ice cream of impeccable provenance. To do this, we had developed a visual language distilled from traditional Cornish pottery, summer fetes, licking spoons and hand labelling. The challenge going forward was to compete in the luxury ice cream sector up against traditional encumbents, new entrants and supermarkets' own branded products. Being fiercely proud of the high quality of its ingredients and of its Hampshire roots, Jude's also wanted to communicate a strong sense of Britishness.
We embarked on a process of appraising the visual assets, crafting those that we felt held equity for the brand and discarding those that did not help fulfil the new brief. In cleaning up the typography and developing new colour combinations contrasted with the use of black trim on the tub lids, ASHA created a framework within which to place the newly developed brand mark. Above the logotype, we positioned an ice cream 'kite mark' bearing the words 'Great British ice cream'.
With the new packs appearing on shelves in early 2016 reaction has been extremely positive. Jude's now feel they have a suite of brand assets that they can own within their sector with the new brand positioning, kite mark and descriptor conveying quality and craft while the familiar 'hand painted' stripes have become the visual foundation through which the brand can colourfully express its many scrumptious flavours. Several of which are often to be found in the ASHA freezer.
We're so delighted with the new packaging. We feel it really reflects the quality of our product and positions Jude's as Britain's best ice cream brand – with appeal across the country. The stripes help Jude's stand out on the shelf and the progression of the brand always helps to engage both new and existing customers.
Laura Pink, Marketing Manager


text:
20% off all wall art! Today only! Offer ends tonight at midnight EST.
Boundary: Bleed area may not be visible.
Click and drag to re-position the image, if desired.
The watermark at the lower right corner of the image will not appear on the final product.
by Rudi Prott
Pillow Insert
Image Size
The image is near the edges of the product but doesn't cover the entire product. Some of the background color may appear around the outside edges of the image.
Background Color
Our throw pillows are made from 100% spun polyester poplin fabric and add a stylish statement to any room. Pillows are available in sizes from 14" x 14" up to 26" x 26". Each pillow is printed on both sides (same image) and includes a concealed zipper and removable insert (if selected) for easy cleaning.
Ships Within
2 - 3 business days
There are no comments for Gaboon Viper. Click here to post the first comment.
Average Rating (4.84 Stars):
Evelyn Witman
April 1st, 2020
Love this pillow. Nice soft canvas material. Great quality. Will buy more.
Wendy Derk
March 30th, 2020
I ordered this product as a birthday gift. The recipient was thrilled.
Shirley LaTour
March 29th, 2020
Nice colors. Good work.
Shirley LaTour
March 29th, 2020
Nice work.
Shirley LaTour
March 29th, 2020
Cat is so cute.
Shirley LaTour
March 29th, 2020
Cute padre. Love your paintings.
The Gaboon adder, a kind of viper, is a venomous snake which lives on the ground of the african jungle. The head looks like a old leave. Copyright by Rudi Prott, Munich.
I started photographing when I was 16 years old. In the beginning I set the focus to soccer. Four years later I made the photos for the local soccer team and the local newspaper. After having finished my university studies I started traveling. Photographing nature and sometimes city views replaced the soccer engagement. In the 90s I had two exhibitions in the rooms of a Life Insurance in Munich (Carnevale di Venezia and Nepal). The Venice images where used by a big pre press company for a calendar. In the last years some shared exhibitions followed: modern architecture, micro and macro photography, black and white. For 2012 I published my first own calendar about World Heritage Sites of Nature. All my artwork is copyrighted !
Our return policy is very simple:
If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on FineArtAmerica.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Fine Art America does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Fine Art America sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Fine Art America to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
All throw pillows ship from our production facility within 2 - 3 business days of your order.


text:
Well hello there. Thanks for stopping by. I guess your probably wondering what all these crazy videos are about? Let me explain. This website is a collection of all the videos I have watched since starting my "little journey". What little journey might that be I hear you ask? Well, I'm talking about little "personal" journey that all of us should make in our life times. The journey of asking all the big questions like where do we come from? What is our purpose? and what happens when we die? All the biggies that theologians have been trying to answer since time began.
Perhaps I should start by introducing myself. My name is Scott and I'm just a regular 31 year old IT Manager living in North London, England. I decided to put this website together to help educate, warn, awaken and even scare people into understanding what is going on in the world today. To be absolutely honest, it was also the events that took place a few miles form me in Hampstead that really prompted me to start the site.
YouTube has allowed everybody to have a voice. It has allowed us to pass on information quickly and efficiently with the added benefit of video and audio. Like the saying goes "a picture can speak a thousand words". So how many words can a video of elite politicians devil worshipping in a forest speak?? Youtube has been a great aide for me in helping me find the truth. I like so many others don't read enough and if it wasn't for youtube, I would probably never have been able to figure this whole thing out. Take advantage of Youtube as regulations are getting tighter by the day and the videos you find here may not be around forever.
I have learned, and can say with 100% confidence. That this world is run by a group of Luciferian occultists working together to usher in a New World Order. A one world government. One world banking system. And one world religion. Everybody will be micro chipped and nobody will be able to buy or sell without it. If you refuse it. You will die. The 1% of the 1% are planning to install a VERY SPECIAL LEADER to run the this so called New World Order and it's just around the corner.
In order to attain the New World order, the planet will need to be depopulated to around 500 million. This can be found on the Georgia Guide stones. While we were sleeping and watching trash like the Kardashians or "Professional Football", the elites have been wrapping a noose around our necks. Human rights are quickly being taken away while military budgets increase. And when they're ready, they'll kick the stool out from under us. If you don't educate and prepare yourself now, you won't see it coming. Now, by all means you can call me crazy. You can say that I sat too close to the microwave while wearing my tin hat. Or that I've watched too much Doomsday Preppers on TV. But do yourself a favor and start asking questions like I did.
I agree that there is a lot of lies, opinions and theories regarding different subjects on the internet and that you have to take everything with a pinch of salt, sometimes a fist of salt. But a lot of things CAN be proven beyond doubt with the help of audio and video. And the funniest thing about that all this is that the powers that are controlling the New World Order have been hiding it all in plain sight. We just haven't understood their codes and symbols. But now… with the help of technology and some people who really know their s**t, we can expose their plan once and for all.
I believe that the ones in control are going to rebuild the old temple in Jerusalem. When it is built, a man will enter the temple and declare himself God above all Gods. This will be the man that will run the new world order. The Bible refers to him as the Anti-Christ.
So where did my personal journey take me? you might ask. I won't bore you with the details, but I found God. Or more precisely, I found Jesus. You see, you need to think about a few things. We can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that our leaders, heads of states, various influential characters and others are straight up devil worshipers. Don't get me confused. I mean this in the most literal sense possible. It is proved that they worship Lucifer, perform witchcraft, magic, rituals and even human sacrifices. This is fact. So now you must ask yourself. Who is this Lucifer that they are worshiping? Next you have to ask yourself another question. Were you created? or are you just the result of a random genetic mistake that happened billions of years ago? Any physics teacher worth their weight in salt will tell you that the facts and figures point to a creator/designer. I point you toward Dr. Kent Hovind for more information. If you decide and believe you were created by a something or someone, then you need to find out who that something or someone is and what they want.
Now we can go on for hours and hours but I need to keep it short. From the 7 years that I have been researching, I can tell you that I believe the King James Bible to be the absolute word of God. It's bullet proof. Water tight. Not a contradiction it. Powerful, awe inspiring and sharper than any blade. At the beginning of my personal journey, I was prepared to end up wherever it took me. I could have ended up being an Atheist, a Muslim, a Jehova's Witness or anything! But I didn't end up as any of them. Instead I asked Jesus to come into my life. I confessed to him that I was a sinner and I asked for his forgiveness. That's the true way to heaven. If you follow the truth, you will soon find that out for yourself.
From here on out, my job is to inform others. Jesus told us to spread the Gospel, which coincidentally is the very thing the NWO fear the most as it exposes their plans and offers you safety. Which takes us back to this website. Honestly. Use it! Ask questions! The truth fears no investigation! Share your findings with friends, family and workmates. Alert the world but most importantly, save your eternal soul.
If I can be of any assistance, just email me firstname.lastname@example.com . Good luck.
Scott Shaw


text:
Uploaded the 2011 Let the Dolphins Go album at our Bandcamp page.
And created a new banner.
~ Ivan
Uploaded the 2011 Let the Dolphins Go album at our Bandcamp page.
And created a new banner.
~ Ivan
Adrian and I met for breakfast. One of our rare face-to-face meet ups.
We talked about family, kids, wives, parents, work, life, music, Tagore.
Not necessarily in that order. But close.
Mostly we reminisced about our music. A reflection of why we started Seastars. (Funny thing: both of us forgot the name of the album! Goes to show how memorable it was, eh?)
We reminded ourselves we didn't plan for have an album. It was an attempt at expression, we realised. Music happened to be a suitable conduit. The format of working using computers and email suited our lifestyles. Forming the "band" and publishing the album was a convenient end-result of our collaborative process.
But subsequently, it seemed the process of technical refinement took over the expression. While the albums after SeaStars 2007 were technically more proficient (relatively speaking), they lacked that clean-cut simplicity of the first.
Adrian was more blunt: SeaStars 2007 was kinda crappy as an album. I thought so too, knowing what we know now 🙂 Still, we thought there was something in there that was uniquely our styles.
Writing this now, it occurred to me that working on SeaStars 2007 was like discovering we could hear. The subsequent albums was like putting on better earphones, with crisper sounds. But being able to hear better didn't necessarily mean we were really listening.
Kinda like what Adrian wrote here, about being poor in spirit.
And now we think we're continuing on that journey more consciously.
Trying to really listen this time.
And to have fun while continuing to find ourselves.
Originally uploaded by lekowala
~ Ivan
p.s. On this renewed musical "roadtrip", we have another friend on board. More to be revealed, soon.
Sent to the 'fans' on 7 Aug 2010:
Hey there!
Yes, you among the 124 people who've joined the official Starfish Stories FB fanclub (and were too lazy to unsub).
Here's the band's 4th CC-licensed album, for your listening pleasure:
Why are these two jokers releasing two albums in the same year, you ask?
This one is special. It's for a cause http://soundout.sg
The backstory is at this blog post:
Adrian and Ivan have even teamed up with a vocalist named I-Ling (this isn't a typo; it's on her NRIC). You can hear her at the first track. She wrote the lyrics too. The rest of the tracks are instrumentals (the guys didn't want to spoil a good thing and wisely refrained from singing).
The guys say they welcome your comment/ critique at the blog post (you don't have to worry about being nice either):
In spite of what people tell them, Adrian and Ivan plan to continue making music. Their 5th CC-licensed album is slated for release in early 2011.
Starfish Stories :: The Band
Many famous guitars brands carry the name of their creators, and in the process becoming generic brand names. Like "Les Pauls" and "Paul Reed Smith".
It shouldn't surprise me to hear Mr. Paul Reed Smith talk about his PRS guitars.
But for some reason it does.
In a good way 🙂
"… These are tools to play music on, that's all they are really."
But what beautiful tools.
What beautiful art.
To make more art with.
~ Ivan
As you can tell from the absence of posts, Adrian and I have been busy.
With our day jobs and stuff.
Musically, I'm still keeping myself productive by hanging out at ccMixter.org.
Here's the latest track that I remixed with my own guitars and arrangement, titled "Feel It Burning". Technically not a
Starfish Stories track, but have a blast hopefully:
"Feel It Burning (ft. Snowflake)" by Ivan Chew, featuring vocal and piano tracks originally posted by Snowflake. 2009 – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0). Click here for how to give credit and other conditions.
I think around end Sept, Adrian and I would have more time. I might get over my procrastination and work on tweaking the sounds for the rest of the Crystal Tears album.
~ Ivan
Just signed up for SOFT – www.soft.com.sg – probably THE music forum in Singapore.
Here's my first post, a self-intro:
Intro: Rambling Librarian ("0.5" of Starfish Stories :: The Band)
Hey everyone, I've heard about www.soft.com.sg but only signed up today. Someone told me most people here are in the mid-20s. I'm not sure if at 37 I'm the oldest guy here.
OK, self-intro (I didn't read any regulations against long intros… so here goes!):
1) I'm into rock guitar instrumentals (e.g. Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai) and New Age sounding stuff (e.g. Enya, Andre Vollenweider)
2) Started on the guitar at 18 years old. More to impress the girls but soon got REALLY interested in guitars. Discovered more about electric guitars and gadgets. However, am never formally trained in music.
3) Stopped playing after NS. My guitar collected dust for almost 10+ years. Only resumed playing in 2006. When I discovered GarageBand. First ever GB track here: http://tinyurl.com/qfoc9
4) In 2007, I re-discovered a long-lost Sec Sch mate. He also just discovered GarageBand. Sent me a track via email. I added a lead guitar to it. Sent it back. To cut a long story short, 4 months later we self-produced our music album. We didn't meet to jam nor record at a studio. Everything was done entirely using GarageBand. Then we released it online only. You might want to check it out here: http://seastars2007.wordpress.com/the-album/
5) We decided our music wasn't too bad (my wife didn't cover her ears). Plus we didn't have to spend any money, thanks to the Internet. So we continued as a team and gave ourselves a band name. And we released our 2nd album early this year.
6) Currently working on our 3rd music album. Probably going to release it this year. All our music is released under the Creative Commons license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/sg/. Meaning, anyone is free to use, distribute, share, remix… the ONLY requirement is to credit the band in the way we state (e.g. name and URL). No payment required — although if they decide to pay our of the goodness of their heart… ahem.
7) In my day job I work as a librarian (http://RamblingLibrarian.blogspot.com). What I do for fun, I post it up at http://MyRightBrain.wordpress.com
And now you probably know why I call myself "Rambling".
OK, look forward to meeting more like-minded people at soft.com.sg
Ivan Chew
Very informative video tutorials from Dave Weiner's Riff Of The Week series. Even though I use so-called "virtual equipment", i.e. software instruments and digital simulations of amps and effects, I found the tutorials a great help in boosting my understanding of recording fundamentals.
Increasingly, digital music interfaces are modeled after physical ones. For instance, in GarageBand '06 and '08, when you adjust a stomp box effect setting, you adjust the slider. On a real stomp box, you turn a knob. In GarageBand '09 (I've not tried it but saw it at demos like this one), the interface shows a stomp box and you turn a knob like the real physical thing.
Anyway, check out the videos below. It was the closest thing for me to attending sound engineering school (not that I know what they teach at sound engineering school… never attended one):
Recording Acoustic Guitar (28 Nov 2007)
Continue reading
Our first fan club was started by a fan "in the form of a monkey" – her words, not ours! 🙂 But that club was for our first album.
Now that we're a band, here's our Facebook fan club.
We'll use it more like a mailing list.
Updates and stuff for our adoring fans (yeah, right).
At most one email a month, in case you're wondering.
I think once in two months tops, realistically.
See you there.
Go post on the fan club wall or something.
~ Ivan
Adrian told me about Jamendo.com some time ago. Was pleasantly surprised to find lots of radio-friendly CC-licensed music.
It took me some time to get our SeaStars 2007 album uploaded to Jamendo (it only accepts WAV format, which is a pain to upload, at about 35MB per song!)
Here it is! http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/37025
Before that, I decided to create an email account for the band (details at our Jamendo profile page).
Jamendo is a social networking site for musicians: upload your songs (singles or full albums), license it under CC, share it, let people discover you, discover musicians you like, post comments/ review their music. You can also see a consolidated page of the comments you've posted. The site also recommends stuff that you might like (unobtrusively, I might add).
They also offer stats on your music (no. of downloads, plays etc).
You can offer friendship requests and receive requests as well.
Gotta admit I'm a bit skeptical about "I wanna be your friend" requests, 'cos I think some musicians who offer friendship often do it to publicise their music rather than make friends. Still, it's a way to discover other people's music.
I'm glad Adrian told me about Jamendo.
It's a very well conceived social networking site for musicians, based on a CC-licensing concept.
I like it waaaay better than MySpace music.
~ Ivan


text:
by Brian Snyder Depending on your political persuasion, it is the common thinking that the Islamic State was born out of some combination of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the Arab Spring, the Syrian civil war, and weak U.S. leadership in the region. But ISIS was around long before the Iraq war, before the founding […]
How to Love ISIS
Religious leaders try to cope with Islamic State attacks
U.S. Christian leaders have also spoken out and say they hope to dissuade youth from joining the Islamic State ranks by developing an alternative world view that counters the group's religious claims.
"Duck Dynasty" star on Islamic State: Convert 'em or kill 'em
You knew Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson, who says he never goes anywhere without his Bible or his "woman" (wife "Miss Kay"), would bring a fresh perspective on what to do about the Islamic State terrorists.
Is James Foley a martyr? A brutal death sparks a faith-based debate
From the moment news broke that U.S. journalist James Foley had been beheaded by Islamic State extremists in the Middle East, many Christians began calling him a martyr


text:
Guthrie - Rogers Engagement
Melissa Chadwick Guillebeau of Grayson Georgia is pleased to announce the engagement of her daughter Abbey Leigh Guthrie to Terrell Bryant Rogers son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Melton Rogers of Monticello, GA.
Abbey is a 2003 graduate of South Gwinnett High School and a 2007 graduate of Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville where she received her B.A. degree in Mass Communication. Abbey is employed with Primerica as a Life Insurance Underwriter. Terrell is a 2001 graduate of Jasper County High School and a 2005 graduate of The University of Georgia where he received a B.S. in Consumer Economics. Terrell is employed with Vulcan Materials.
Abbey is the granddaughter of the late Ronald L. Chadwick of Snellville and Barbara Peters Chadwick of Snellville and the great granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Peters of Snellville. Terrell is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. William B. Behling of Shady Dale, GA and the late Mr. and Mrs. Claude T. Rogers of Monticello, GA.
The wedding is planned for November 14, 2015 at The Georgia Club in Statham, GA.


text:
Every year I witness something special, something I have not seen or heard before from the barn owls on our ranch in Fiddletown. Catching these moments requires patience and involves sitting quietly near the owl boxes between 8:30 and 9:00 pm just as the sky is getting very dark. Ginger, our Aussie dog, always comes along and sometimes Bart the cat. They know the routine – sit and wait.
This year we had 60 inches of rain in Fiddletown. The cover crop and the wild grass in alternate rows grew to 4 feet high and were so thick that you couldn't see the earth below it.
I knew that we had owls in all 4 boxes in two different vineyards, but I had not heard a lot of action in the nighttime – sounds of the owls hovering and swooping down for their prey. Even though the barn owl's hearing is so sharp they can find a rodent without seeing it, I guessed that they were hunting in my neighbors' fields where the grass was grazed down by horses and cattle. Last week our vineyards were finally dry enough to get a tractor in without sinking. Our vineyard dude, Rob, started mowing the rows and after a couple of days I heard the "air force" return over the DTR Ranch.
A couple of nights ago under a waxing moon, I wandered down to our main owl box to stand and listen for signs of life. This is the time of year when the young owls hatch, usually about 3. The eggs are fertilized over a ten-day period, so the eggs hatch at different times in the order they were fertilized. Just as the light was fading the box came alive. I heard a rumbling and feet shuffling in the box (the female owl), and then a very faint screech (one hatched owlet).
Last night I checked again and was lucky to witness something new. The female owl in the box called out with a garbled sound, and then the male in the valley oak tree above the box answered with his loud screeching call. They called back and forth a few times. What were they saying?
"Hey, I'm awake and I'm starving. I'm stuck in this box and I need some food."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it."
Then with one long screech he soared off over the vineyard to start the hunt. The female went quiet and I heard the single owlet, today with a stronger voice, asking for something to eat.
The female barn owl will stay in the box until all the eggs are hatched, while the male hunts for her and the owlets. When all owlets are hatched they will share in the hunting. During the nesting period, they will need over 1,000 rodents. In order to live and breed over the course of a year, a pair of barn owls need to eat around 5,000 moles, gophers and field mice, protecting the vines from being destroyed.
This year everything seems to be on a late schedule, including the barn owls, so check back for updates on my owlet count.
Our organic vineyards in Fiddletown produce three wines that we are very proud of. Farming organically is a labor of love that you can feel in the wines.
2014 TERRE ROUGE Viognier, Rice-MacDonald Vineyard
2011 EASTON "E" Zinfandel, Rice-MacDonald Vineyard
2010 TERRE ROUGE Syrah, DTR Ranch Vineyard


text: Moonstone is such a mysterious gem, isn't it? A combination of albite and feldspar it comes in this natural range of color from silver to white to gray to deepest peach. I haven't offered peach moonstone before because I couldn't find THIS quality. Now, it's here and let me tell you, it's juicy. Like a ripe peach. Glowing from within with all the mystery of moonstone and with its own magic. Peach moonstone is the emotional healer of the moonstone family, allowing you to see beneath the surface of your challenges and explore and heal the feelings you uncover. This listing is for (1) piece of tumbled A-grade peach moonstone, which will come gift-bagged in organza with a white sage leaf that you can use to clear energies before using. You will also receive a card describing the properties and recommended use of each stone in case you are offering it to another who has not worked with this stone before. I charge all gems on my personal altar space and bathe them in full moonlight before listing. Each piece is chosen carefully and vetted for quality. Shop with confidence.Gem Blessings,Athena


text: I've been recently told that I should post my fanfictions on my blog, because they are part of me. It is true, they are. Even though I decided to stop writing real person fanfiction a good while ago, I occasionally indulge in dwelling on some of my favourite TV moments or characters. It's great writing practice and it helps get rid of a good amount of emotional steam locked up in this brain of mine. read more »