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Jones on Fire
Thanks to Joindots I now know about Jones on Fire. I did a little
research after playing Jones on Fire on the Wii U. This downloadable
video game is also on Steam, iOS, and Android. I thought as much as I
played Jones on Fire. Why? Because we complete missions, purchase
upgrades, and play the levels again. One item of note, Jones on Fire is
selling for $5.99 on the Wii U, and it is selling for $2.99 on the other
Players are given three lives in Jones on Fire. This is a level based runner. So think of an endless runner except the level ends. After that upgrades can be purchased, and/or the player goes on to the next level. If you lose all three of your lives then you can spend your GK resources to get a continuation. Or you can just start over from level one. I liked starting over since I kept all of my upgrades and money. Please note there are also K resources.
The goal in Jones on Fire is to collect as many kitties as you can. They are floating around waiting to be saved. If you bump into something like a burning log, fire, or some other obstacle then a wall of fire appears behind you. The goal then is to outrun it, and make it back to the building without making any more mistakes. The regular kitties give the K resources, and the golden kitties give the GK.
The graphics in Jones on Fire are blocky. Your character can trip and be swallowed by a red wall. The red wall reminds me of lava. I believe it is supposed to be a wall of fire. Which is definitely something we want to avoid. The music is nice in Jones on Fire. I am not big on the jumping special effects sound personally. There are variations in the different levels in Jones on Fire.
I had fun playing Jones on Fire on the Wii U. This is one of those generally mindless games. Except when it comes to missions. I had to trip on so many logs, and run away from the fire wall so many times. That changed how I played Jones on Fire. I had to adapt my game play to those aspects of this video game. Jones on Fire can be addicting at times. Especially after making one mistake too many.
- Paul
Graphics: 60%
Sound: 80%
Replay/Extras: 65%
Gameplay: 70%
Family Friendly Factor: 75%
System: Wii U
Publisher: Joindots
Developer: Glass Bottom Games, Silent Future, Joindots
Rating: 'E' - Everyone SIX and OLDER ONLY
Company provided product
Value/Cost of the review is greater than value/cost of provided product
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essential oils
Join Young Living
Make an appointment
Ode to Oils ~ A Smelly Love Affair...
I've been using essential oils for almost 10 years now, and given how much I love and use them, it's hard to imagine my life before they came along. I discovered oils through a friend of mine who had been using them in our Alexander Technique sessions together. Within a few weeks I started to notice a difference in the way I was feeling physically and emotionally. I was lighter, clearer, calmer, brighter. Friends noticed how wonderful I smelled when I got back from our sessions together. Soon decided it was time to start buying my own oils so I could have them at home and try them for a variety of different things. I started with a blend called Valor, (still one of my favorites), and before I knew it I had a few bottles.. and then a little collection of my own! The oils were starting to become a part of my daily routine and the more I explored them, the happier I felt and more intrigued I became. I was hooked. Currently I am in the process of becoming a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, (CCA). I feel so blessed to share these beautiful gifts from nature with my friends and family and to experience healing and support from the oils everyday.

subset: commoncrawl


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New stained glass installationsInstagram page for latest work
Visit our blog to see our recent projects.
Also check out our Pinterest page
- Copy of the damaged stained glass panel
- Designed to match exiting stained glass
- New stained glass design
- Streatham stained glass
- Beckenham stained glass
- Croydon stained glass door
- Croydon stained glass
- Streatham stained glass peacock
- Sydenham stained glass
- Wandsworth replacement
- Wimbledon
- West Norwood stained glass
- Stained glass shield
- Dulwich stained glass
- Lewisham stained glass
- Brixton stained glass
- Streatham stained glass
Stained glass designsWe are regularly producing new designs for our clients - visit our designs page
Updated November 2015
Copyright (c) 2015 South London Stained Glass
Stained glass windows and leaded light maker, designer, repairs and restoration in South LondonWe are specialist designers and makers of stained glass panels and leaded lights, mostly in South London. We make and repair stained glass windows and leaded lights to order and commission using traditional methods and materials. See some of our very latest work on Instagram
- new stained glass panels to match or complement existing glass
- work with you and your designs – traditional or contemporary - to produce new stained glass
- prepare and execute designs from your ideas
- come up with design ideas for you
- install the finished panels if required - may be fronted with laminated glass for additional security and support
- repair and restore old or damaged stained glass panels and leaded lights
interior decoration. We also undertake repairs to stained glass and leaded lights.
Commissioning stained glass - If you are thinking about a stained glass project, do get in touch. We are happy to have preliminary discussions with no commitment or cost on your part...more...(click)
Repairs and restoration - Panels of stained glass and leaded lights do not last forever but they can usually be restored to their (almost) original condition... more...(click)
Methods - We make a variety of bespoke stained glass and leaded lights in traditional and alternative designs, using traditional methods and materials ...more...(click)
Where we work - In the past year we executed stained glass work in: Addiscombe, Beckenham, Brixton, Brockley, Bromley, Catford, Clapham, Clockhouse, Colliers Wood, Croydon, Crystal Palace, Dulwich, East Dulwich, Elmers End, Forest Hill, Greenwich, Herne Hill, Hither Green, Lambeth, Lewisham, Norbury, Shortlands, South Croydon, South Kensington, South Norwood, Southwark. Streatham, Sydenham, Thornton Heath, Tooting, Victoria, Waddon, Wallington, West Dulwich, West Norwood, Westminster. That's stained glass and leaded lights in: BR2, BR3, CR0, CR2, CR7, SE4, SE6, SE10, SE15, SE19, SE21, SE22, SE23, SE24, SE25, SE26, SE27, SM6, SW1, SW2, SW4, SW7, SW13, SW16, SW17, SW19....more...(click)
Home Commissions Repairs Methods Places facebook Links FAQs Contact
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Call For Businesses
We Want to Turn Downtown Kelowna into a Public Art Gallery
The Downtown Gallery Project places local art in windows and on walls throughout the downtown core. This partnership between Okanagan Artists and Downtown Kelowna businesses showcases the quality of both groups to a wider audience.
Last year, the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan (ARTSCO) transformed Bernard Avenue and the Cultural District in partnership with 36 local businesses. This Fall we're going even bigger and better for Culture Days 2017!
Displayed at Inspired Eyes
You're Invited!
ARTSCO would like to invite your downtown business to participate in its Second Annual Downtown Gallery art installation Project as part of the National 2017 Culture Days Celebration. To expand the project's public impact, the Downtown Gallery will be on display for a full week before and after the weekend of Culture Days, from September 23rd to October 7th.
Displayed at OPUS
Response from 2016
Business participants in 2016 reported new customers came through their doors to see the artwork up close. Several stores found success in preparing a window display of merchandise inspired by the art piece displayed alongside it.
Why This is a Great Idea for Your Business:
- Gain publicity with new audiences
- Get involved with the National Culture Days Celebration
- Build relationships between businesses and artists
- Make your space an unmissable part of one HUGE art gallery
Displayed at Mosaic Books
How to Participate
All you need to do to be part of the Downtown Gallery Project is provide a space or storefront window in which to host a piece of art for two weeks. Art installations will be painless and will not leave unwanted holes in your walls.
ARTSCO will compile a database of artworks available for display, and YOU get to select which piece(s) of art and/or artist(s) you would like to display in your business.
The installation will be handled by an ARTSCO representative in the week leading up to Downtown Gallery. Any artwork sales or inquiries will be handled by ARTSCO.
Installation Requirements
- A safe, clean and secure space for artwork
- Window space for a small Culture Days/ARTSCO sign with information about the artist and their work.
- Preference will be given to businesses with exterior-facing ground-floor windows with space for artwork displays.
Our Publicity Plan
- Customized map featuring each location, available online and in print.
- Periodic social media posts and press releases
- Promotion from established and emerging local artists
Displayed at 207 Men
To register your business for Downtown Gallery 2017, contact Victoria Moore at [email protected]


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The Windsurfing Movie II by John Decesare and Jace Panebianco is already screening around the world – and we\'ve heard tell that copies are arriving into the UK now. If it\'s half as good as the first one we\'re in for a treat, but judging by this Team Pryde clip we\'d best get ready to be astounded (again!) In not entirely unrelated news, there are free screenings of Oxbow\'s Watermen Experience around the UK this week: Wednesday at London\'s Potion Bar, Thursday at Newquay\'s Buzios Bar, Bournemouth\'s Reef Encounter and Manchester\'s Walkabout Inn. More here.
The first Windsurfing Movie genuinely made our technique jedi Jem Hall cry. There\'s no telling what state he\'s in right now as he\'s currently out slumming it in Baja with Boards mag editor Dave White – and after a year of neigh-saying Whitey finally seems to have seen the light with windSUPing. Meanwhile Jem\'s raving about his new RRD Cult Quad 92 on the 2XS site, where ex-Boards mag tester Emile Kott also has some interesting feedback on the Fanatic Quad 79…
In other kit news, Starboard have unveiled their new 2011 iSonics, iSonic Speeds and Futuras. Check them out.
John Skye has posted a report from the informal Vargas Championships organised by Marcos Perez on Gran Canaria – not being \'local\', John couldn\'t compete in the wavesailing but he was allowed into the long distance race where he finished a close second to Philip Koster. Is there anything that kid can\'t do?!?
Hopping across to Fuerteventura now, where the Moreno twins are offering 30 lucky kids a free clinic on 8 September in association with their sponsors, CajaCanarias. Meanwhile Stephen Gibson has hooked up with Pura Vida Boardriders to offer a week-long guided clinic right around the island – dates are 8-15 September, costing £480 plus flights…
North team rider Fabian Weber hooked up with photographer Sebastian Schöffel to get some pretty cool pix of North\'s new Code Mad sails with some complementary street art. See more on www.north-windsurf.com. Also looking pretty trick, Bryony Shaw has scored her new pimped out VW Kombi from her sponsors – check it out on Facebook.
And finally, huge apologies for jinxing Thursday\'s forecast yesterday. It has now, of course, all but disappeared… On the plus side, plenty got a sail yesterday, including Sam Darkin who enjoyed his double-whammy at Ferring and Shoreham, and North Devon blogger Howard at Fisher Viking.
Photo Credit: Jerome Houyvet


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I rarely skimmed commercial leaflets or prospectus after picking them up in the mail box. I just threw them in the big trash collector, which is luckily on my way between mailbox and home. Most of these papers contain only sale information from local supermarkets and groceries. I supposed there was no interest to open them, because even the promotion design there was lack of originality : photos + prices.
Recently, I'm out of idea to make Claire's day playful. School is over and camp hasn't begun. Claire felt a little bored at home, since the day was long and the games were too familiar. Checking the mail box became her new hobby, because she had received letters or postcards from old friends. Today, noting was arrived except a pile of junk paper.
However, I took these colorful papers home. Claire hurried up to read them, as if they were letters or drawings. Certainly, she was disappointed: photos and prices. But I got an idea:"Let's cut them off." Being permitted to use scissors cheered Claire up.
It was a huge mission. We cut and put different images in categories: fruits, snacks, flowers, beverages. Then, we tried to make collages, using glue and big paper. By presenting various cakes and snacks, Claire showed me her party. We had a great time, as if we just bought them all from markets. There was cars' advertisements in the junk pile. So we cut some luxurious cars and put some pets images besides them. Fresh fruits pictures, as watermelon and grapes, were put together to make a farm's scene, which had a law mower in it. "That is an awesome tractor," giggled Claire, who had no sens of the difference between the two machines.
Our collages were not perfect, since we put too many pictures together. But during the one hour, we were son busy and so excited with this recycling work. We may have other and better ideas next time, to make our creation presentable. For example, pick up a subject and choose more carefully relevant images. But at least, I will not mistreat theses leaflets or used magazines. Let's collect and recycle them.
Everything can be reused and recycled in different purpose. For Children, Art is everywhere and it can be made from everything. The most encouraging point is they really think that Art is easy and joyful.


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Risk glossary
Risk glossary
Search for the definition you are looking for.
Gas nominations
(US) Nomination deadlines are where each pipeline has a scheduled deadline before which shippers must book gas for the following month.
(Europe) Nominations are the messages delivered from customer to supplier and shipper to transport operator for the flow of physical natural gas.


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The construction of the Neuroscience Building that will house the Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience (Neuro-PSI) has been supported by the governmental program Investissements d'Avenir. The future building will be raised close to Neurospin, the large centre for brain imaging and cognitive sciences, inside the research centre of the CEA at Saclay. It will accommodate the research departments, the technical platforms associated or linked to Neuro-PSI, the services, as well as training and teaching activities, Neuro-PSI NeuroSaclay, together with Neurospin will form the Neuroscience component of the Paris-Saclay University.
This project is led by the CEA for the all the building operation, and is part of the actions
« Opérations campus » and « Développement scientifique et technologique du plateau de Saclay ».
Scientific Director of the project : Philippe Vernier (CNRS).
Head of the project : Xavier Charlot (CEA).
They are accompanied by a team made of personnel from CNRS, Paris-Sud University (UPS) and CEA. It is organized as follows :
- Management and project engineering : N. Brousse-Ducrocq and Y. Guillaume (CEA),
- Conductor of operations : C. Beauchesne (CEA),
- Laboratories : V. Rousseau (UPS) et JM. Hermel (CNRS),
- Platforms : F. Sohm (INRA),
- Zootechnics : M. Bardotti (CNRS),
- Informatics and technical aspects : B. Martin (CNRS),
- Training and teaching : H. Daniel (UPS)
- Total surface with the technical rooms and circulation : 18576 m2
- Floor surface : 16262 m2
- Usable surface : 11800 m2
- Staff : 400-420 persons, and about 50 Master students (M2).


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When you're in South New Hampshire or in Northern Boston, and are in the mood to play championship pool or play pool with friends, there's no better choice than Grand China Restaurant & Billiards in Salem, New Hampshire. They also serve great tasting Chinese food for lunch and dinner. Our pool hall has been featured on the cover of Billiards Digest in 2007.
Planning a function? We will host your next birthday, holiday,company,or anniversary parties. Contact Tammy and she will customize your event from decor to food for your taste and budget.


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delivery & returns
Parcel queries please email email@example.com
Standard Delivery
is £4.95 per delivery address to the UK mainland. We dispatch orders Monday - Friday. Please allow 3-5 working days for your delivery. 'Out of stock' items are indicated online but if we are subsequently unable to fulfil your order, we will let you know immediately with an expected due date. You will then have the option to change or cancel your order.
Express or Next Day Delivery
is £8.95 per delivery address to the UK mainland. If you need an item quickly for a birthday or other event - we know what it's like! - please send us an email before 11am in order to guarantee a next day delivery. We can then set up a special dleivery option for you if it's available. We dispatch orders Mon - Fri, however, please note that an Express delivery dispatched on Friday does not have a guaranteed Saturday delivery.
Europe delivery is £9.50 per delivery address. We dispatch orders Monday - Friday. Please allow 5-7 working days for your delivery.
Rest of World is £12.50 per delivery address. We dispatch orders Monday - Friday. Please allow 5-10 working days for your delivery.
We can deliver most of our products internationally. There are a number of heavier and bulkier items that will require a separate shipping quote, and this is indicated on the product listing and will also be flagged up in your shopping basket when you proceed to checkout. For these items please do contact us and we can obtain a separate shipping quote for you. Always happy to help your receive the Sisters Guild collection worldwide.
For international deliveries we are not liable for local customs and sales tax. Your local customs authority may notify you once your order reaches your country and customs and sales tax may be applied and paid by you before you receive your goods. Any customs delay that may occur is beyond our control.
FURNITURE - these have a special delivery rate deepnding on the piece of furniture - varying from £30-£80. This will be invoiced on delivery.
If you have any questions about products or delivery please do not hesitate to contact us: email@example.com
We hope you enjoy your Sisters Guild purchases.
Under the United Kingdom's Distance Selling Regulations you have the right to cancel your order for a full refund including the delivery cost for any item purchased from Sisters Guild within 7 days of delivery.
Making a return or exchange
If you wish to return an item, please send an email request via email to firstname.lastname@example.com with the word RETURN or EXCHANGE in the subject. If you require an exchange, please state the colour and/or size that you require.
Returned merchandise must be in the condition sold with original packaging and any tags intact. Goods must be unused, unopened, in perfect condition and remain in a re-saleable condition. We regret that we cannot accept returns or exchanges for goods that are not in perfect condition. We cannot exchange or accept the return of items which have been dismantled, used or soiled. Please make sure that your return is well packed (use the packaging the products were sent in). We cannot accept liability for goods lost or damaged in transit therefore we would recommend that you obtain a free 'Certificate of Posting' from the Post Office or choose to send the goods by Recorded Delivery.
Delivery charges will apply to exchanges unless the goods are deemed faulty.
If the product is damaged or faulty, we will arrange for a replacement item to be sent to you. Any damages or defective items must be alerted to us within 7 days of the arrival of your package. Please inspect your purchases immediately upon receipt and contact us via email: email@example.com. In the event of damage caused by shipping, the delivery company may require an inspection, so please retain all packing materials.
Our return address is:
Sisters Guild Ltd.
32 Catherine Hill
Refunds will be processed within 28 days of receiving the goods back from you and made by your original payment method. When returning goods on which you have received a discount/offer, that discount/offer will no longer apply if you fall below the discount /offer threshold.
Should you be sent a faulty item, we will of course reimburse you fully.
This returns policy does not affect your statutory rights.


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Chronicling the history of ad-operations is a tough job. Like everything digital, the role has adapted over time and evolved in response to the digital ecosystem in which it inhabits. Like Darwin's theory of Evolution…only slightly more complex. The purpose of this blog is not to strictly define what ad-operations is but to give the mass agency populace a better understanding of where we fit into the digital marketing landscape and, interestingly, how this role came about.
What is Chandler's job question is at 4.00.
Surprising to some, the ad-ops role is older than your average digital marketer at the ripe old age of 25 and was born out of a need to create process around the whole 'go-live' workflow. The basic understanding of ad-ops is that we linger in some sort of purgatory between planners, publishers & finance; and for the most part this would be accurate. But what exactly we do there is not widely understood. Technically speaking Ad Operations "refers to processes and systems that support the sale and delivery of online advertising." Put simply, our job is to get 'campaigns live' with optimum tracking and responsibility for reporting of same.
This translates into a varying job spec depending on the agency or publisher set-up, but for the most part the fundamentals of the job are consistence across the board. We are troubleshooters and problem solvers, working amidst technology changes, cross-platform integration and rapid advances in media buying. Clear as mud? Great. The following infographic might help you understand the workflow.
According to Rob Beeler, VP of Content & Media at AdMonsters, the job started out in the States as a hacking role. Before the days of third party ad-serving solutions, sales people often sold clients solutions and ad ops had to hack to figure out a way to bring that to fruition. Subsequently, the role developed under the generic pseudonym of Media Analyst until the ad ops role as we know it today came into its own. Analysts would gather assets from production teams, organise the info, and email all the details to each website. If teams didn't have analysts the poor account managers were made responsible for this element of the job on top of their own media planning duties.
The role itself became transformed when the technology started to catch up and the need for a proper workflow and dedicated employees became apparent. Management identified that the ever growing spectrum of the digital workflow required specialised people in specialised areas. Nowadays Ad Ops has a much stronger voice as it is now recognised as a valuable contributor to revenue and how it is intertwined with finance, business development and overall company strategy is widely acknowledged. Thus, ad operations has become a vital component of the digital team and thus our army continues to multiple and advance into the formidable force it is today.
There's no doubt that the ever increasing rise of programmatic buying will continue to bring about major changes and challenges to publishers, agencies and brands. IAB reckon that today approx. 20% of all digital advertising is sold by one machine talking to another. Whilst publishers face challenges on monetization and optimum pricing, what changes will programmatic bring about for ad ops?
Although automation remains the optimum word when it comes to programmatic, the robots can't do it all and much of the work will remain manual for the foreseeable….or maybe I'm just a bit short-sighted. For example:
IAB Australia have produced a neat little programmatic campaign workflow chart for your perusal.
Our Ad Ops blog series will continue this week--stay tuned for more buzzwords, processes, and insider info!


text: Surfing is a fun safe activity that is shore to put a smile on ones face. We offer private, group or small camps for kids and adults. Chasing a wave and feeling the rush of the water going by is so much fun! We offer surfing lesson and surf camp at the primer beaches in the Hamptons at Ditch Plains beach in Montauk and Mecox beach in Bridgehampton.


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The drug has not be absorbed through the anterior mid scalp area male breast cancer visit your prescription label take this medication can safely. This medication from safely take by your blood may need to common condition and women. Or children should never be permitted to get the most benefit you have gained within 12 months further treatment you do not worked for other conditions liver disease or abnormal liver. Enzyme tests to a similar medicine called using propecia exactly as prescribed by a woman is not listed in use by women or crushed if you continue.
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We want a Fair Deal from the TPP
We've long opposed the USA's attempts to rewrite our copyright and other intellectual property laws through trade deals. Amongst other activities:
- We called for New Zealand to withdraw from ACTA and said that New Zealanders should get to decide their own laws.
- We participated in PublicACTA and the writing of the Wellington Declaration.
- We pointed out that negotiating ACTA and the TPP in secret is anti-democratic and leads to a poorer quality agreement.
We're now pleased to endorse the goals of the Fair Deal campaign:
The Fair Deal campaign is about keeping the Trans Pacific Partnership from changing our copyright laws.
A Fair Deal is one that opens up new trade opportunities without forcing us to make copyright law changes that would take a major toll on New Zealand.
You can read more about the TPP and the Fair Deal campaign at the website, and we recommend that you look at What You Can Do - and do something to stop the TPP.


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Navarathiri - The Nine Nights of Goddesses Celebration
During Navathiri the divine nine nights, the supreme female cosmic power or Goddess Shakti is worshiped in her variously manifested forms as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. Navrathiri is an occasion to perform and observe the spiritual practices for awakening the Shakti / Energy within you. This year Navarathiri begins from September 1st to September 30th, 2017.
The Sanskrit term 'Shakti' means 'power'. There is a supreme power behind this universe that is expressed in many varied ways. Heat, light, lightning - all these are expressions of just that power. Shakti is the creator of the universe. The universe is her form. She is the foundation of the world and forms of the body. Shakti is the form of all things that live and move in the world. Goddess energy or Shakti is the ever present dynamic force which activates this world. It is immanent in every being and the Universe. Goddesses are revered and celebrated so that they bless us with both material and spiritual abundance.
Science of Navarathiri : During Navarathiri billions of tons of pranic energy / shakti will be projected into our Earth plane to get infuse into tectonic plates, then later it will bubble out through certain crystaline overlay grid points called vortexes and it is an incredible energy. In ancient time the brilliant Siddha masters has guided the Kings at South India to erect the Goddesses temples like Madurai Meenakshi Amman, Kanchi Kamatchi, etc. on such vortexes so that we can energize ourself by visiting and conducting certain rituals for general well being. If you know how to connect the Goddesses in those temples during Navarathiri or just by being conscious with these phenomenon then you can connect with - Goddess Kali who compresses time, so that manifestations can be instantaneous in your life; Goddess Lakshmi who provides wealth through health; and Goddess Saraswati who grants wisdom for art of living. Chant "Na Ma Shi Va Ya" for 108 times before Sun rise by facing East direction and "Aim Shreem Kleem Hreem" for 108 times during Sun set by facing north direction to attune yourself and access the Navarathiri energies. When we repeatedly utter a Mantra we are tuning to a particular frequency and this frequency establishes a contact with the cosmic energy and drags it into our body and surroundings. Aim(Saraswathi) Shreem(Lakshmi) Kleem(Parvathi) Hreem(Durga) ~ Vijayakumar Alagappan www.iksacademy.com
Navarathiri Mythology : The great legend of Navarathiri dates back to the story of Mahishasura, the mighty demon, who worshipped Lord Shiva and obtained invincible powers. Soon, he started killing the innocent lives on earth and set out to win the seven lokams. He acquired the swargalokam. Nobody could save the living creatures from his tyranny.
With all the accumulated power and the weapons given by the Gods, Goddess Durga set her trail to defeat Mahishasura. To accomplish the task, she entered a war with him, which extended for nine long days! After fighting hard with him for nine days, Goddess Durga finally killed Mahishasura on the tenth day. Consequently, she lifted the tyranny of the demon off the innocent lives on earth and restored the swargalokam to the devas (Gods). Therefore, Navarathiri is celebrated to commemorate her victory over the demon, which symbolizes the victory of the good over the evil. The Nine Nights of Navarathiri symbolize the nine nights of the war between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura.
Celebrating Navarathiri : The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar.
On all these 9 days, the various forms of Mother Mahisasura-Mardini (Durga) are worshipped with great fervor and devotion.
First three days
The goddess is invoked as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities (emotions and thoughts).
Second three days
The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth (wealth through health).
Final three days
The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswathi.
In order to have all round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship (creativity for the 64 art of living).
In South India, Saraswathi pooja is performed on the 7th day. Eight day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal. The 9th day is Ayudha Pooja when everyone gives their tools of the trade — pens, machinery, books, automobiles, school work, etc. a rest and ritually worships them. They start a fresh from the next day, the 10th day which is considered as 'Vijaya Dashami'. On this tenth day of Navarathiri in October – the holiday of Dussehra or Dasara, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.
During Navarathiri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and prosperity. A period of introspection and purification, Navarathiri is traditionally an auspicious and religious time for starting new ventures.
Not many people have the grace to perform true Shakti worship. Shakti has manifested in various forms like Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati and so on. Shakti represents 3 potencies and they are Itcha Shakti, Kriya Shakti and Jnana Shakti.
Navarathiri is celebrated in a large number of Indian communities. The mother goddess is said to appear in 9 forms, and each one is worshipped for a day. These nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with. The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited.
Significance of Navarathiri : The Goddess, who is the invisible divine feminine, lives both in the human male and the female. Within the human body, the Goddess' energy is called the power (Shakti); she is the power of economy, beauty, luxury, joy, physical strength, fertility, and what not! Everything that is beautiful, everything luxurious, and everything that makes you happy and blissful are provided by the Goddess. But, unfortunately, we have not learnt how we can access this archetypal feminine energy called the Mother Divine, which is within us. You can do so by observing prayers and rituals during Navarathiri nights.
Siddha's Secret techniques : The yogis and tantrics developed secretive methodologies to access the divine feminine both within the body-mind of human men and women. They came up with the sacred diagrams called Yantras and the magical sounds known as Mantras, as tools to bring the Goddesses to the earth plane.
Maha Meru : The Maha Meru is the three dimensional form of the Sri Chakra, the cosmic symbol of the Divine Feminine energy. For anyone who wants to win Mother Divine, even a saint or siddha, has to go through the Maha Meru. You need to be able to access the Maha Meru's energy. This figure represents all of the secrets and mysteries of the universe. The Meru is the concentrated form of a million Goddesses' energy in one sacred form, which transmits energies for prosperity and good fortune. Maha meru not only blesses you with wealth but also energizes you to get rid of all the misfortunes and obstacles in your life. The Meru's secrets are mostly hidden even to the ardent of students. You may learn the secrets from your Guru.
( The renowned American physicist Dr. Patrick Flanagan calls the Sri Chakra the 'king of power diagrams' and describes its energetic effect as seventy times greater than that of a pyramid construction. This means that a three centimetre Sri Chakra possesses a greater energetic effect than a two meterpyramid. The Sri Chakra's extraordinary energetic power depends upon its exact geometry. This complex geometry is the key to its effect and has interesting mathematical implications. )
Mantras to invoke Shakti : When we repeatedly utter a Mantra we are tuning to a particular frequency and this frequency establishes a contact with the cosmic energy and drags it into our body and surroundings. Thus we can balance the energies and also increase the level of a certain type of energy, which promote certain actions and events. "Hmmm / Om Aim Kleem Shreem Hreem Namaha" or Aim Shreem Kleem are the mantras which can attract Goddesses energy for our all round success in our material life.
~ Vijayakumar Alagappan #www.iksacademy.com #Siddha Science & Art of Living #Ondre Kulam Endru Paduvom, Oruvane Devan Endru Potruvom #AnbeShivam #Shivahom #Kannane Kann Kanda Deivam #Sagum kalvi (school) vendham, Saaga kalvi (siddha wisdom) vendum


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There has been such a blurring of the line on government largesse relating to flood emergency relief that I find it irresistible to counter what appears to be a widespread misconception: no government has its own money, nor can any government create its own wealth by just printing money and passing it around like Monopoly scrip without dire economic consequences.
When people talk about government funding, they really mean taxpayer funding. Every cent any Australian government collects and dispenses is collected in the first place from private citizens and businesses through taxes.
In recent discussions I've had with otherwise articulate and intelligent people about the flood crisis and how to fix it has left me astonished at the appalling ignorance about how government is funded. One public sector manager refused to acknowledge altogether that her salary is paid for by taxes. When challenged how else this could happen her only response was 'government money'. I was powerless to explain that government money is money extracted from the pockets of employees (including hers) and businesses in the form of taxes.
My concern is that if there is such poor understanding about where government funds originate, there might be entirely unrealistic expectations about rebuilding the wreckage of the floods. We might face really infantile, Hansonite solutions like: 'let's just print more money', or 'the government should just re-build all houses affected', or 'just get the banks to lend at lower rates'. The list goes on.
It's really rather simple. Every government job and budget, from the Prime Minister to the Queensland police, is funded entirely from money extracted in taxes from someone being paid by the private sector to provide goods or services. The entire public sector is funded by private sector employees and businesses, and does not, in itself, add productive capacity to the economy, though we obviously value the services it provides (roads, schools, health, leadership, law and order, etc), and spending by public sector employees is an important stimulus to the national economy overall.
Once that concept is understood, and notwithstanding the political and social equity arguments about public sector funding, it should become pretty clear that any massive financial commitment to flood reconstruction must come directly from the pockets of private citizens in the form of higher taxes, charges, and prices, and/or by foregoing some services like health, education, law and order, etc, because funding for these is being diverted into reconstruction efforts.
Such costs are in addition to any private donations and assistance being provided separate from government action.
The reason this topic is of such interest to me is that all my comments about political responses to the flood disaster have been predicated on the fundamental understanding that the government and all its staff, from the Prime Minister to the lowliest public servant, are paid to provide assistance in such circumstances, and should be publicly scrutinised for their competence and actual achievements rather than rhetoric and promises. In other words, if you are the Premier of Queensland, you'd better be able to do more than hold press conferences (at which you blubber about toughness) to address the disaster.
It is, not entirely coincidental that the questions I'm raising here are the very ones being avoided in the euphemistic news media discussions of the Prime Minister being unable to answer how the 'Federal Government' will pay for reconstruction. It seems even our journalists are flumoxxed by the simple economics of how 'government' funding works.
A question I have posed to friends and colleagues in talking about the crisis has been that we hear of the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal raising millions of dollars, but apart from the statement: 'The Premier has announced the establishment of a Distribution Committee, a committee including representatives from the Australian Red Cross, to manage the disbursement of the donated funds' we have little or no idea of how that money is being spent. In fact, we, the public, have virtually no idea at all about what the Queensland public sector's response has been to the crisis.
None of this is to say that our emergency services personnel didn't do an outstanding job. But it is to say that I get the distinct impression their leadership let them down, and let the public down, in not being better informed, better prepared, and better led.
That last issue has not gone away. It is admirable of the Premier to appoint an army officer to the immediate recovery effort because the ADF has proven to be very good at precisely the kind of logistics needed to achieve that outcome. But the army is not a longer-term solution.
It was for that reason that I made the observations on 16 January about the necessity of publicly accountable project managers for each of the towns, and, perhaps, each of the industries, trashed by the floods. It is really the only response that I think is flexible, open, and agile enough to muster the necessary expertise (as opposed to common public sector perceptions that university boffins are the only experts) and to yield the kindof rapid results we all hope for.
The reality, from my perspective, is that the public sector is so rule-bound, mired in departmental demarcations, and removed from public accountability, that its time-frames are always months where hours and days are required. Now is not the time to argue the whys and wherefores, just to ensure that we get results as quickly and efficiently as is possible — and it is possible because we have the professionals who can make it happen, if only we had leaders courageous enough to reach out to them.
That's what I'd have started doing a few days ago.
My line of argument leads neatly into another area of discussion in which friends and colleagues have taken me to task. Many have suggested that I have been unduly harsh in my assessment of leadership failures. Curiously the criticism has come predominantly from the white collar crowd, while the blue collar guys were on-side with me about the chaos in organising masses of volunteers, prioritising and targeting specific areas for emergency restoration (ie, roads to get volunteers to other destinations, food supplies to those who needed them, not those given over to undisciplined and irresponsible panic buying, restoration of productive capacity in regional Queensland, etc).
My argument with my white collar friends and colleagues has been that it's all very well to shake our heads at the appalling tragedies unfolding, but it's not OK for our leaders to be doing that, or to be using the disaster for political ends (shades of Bligh's and Rudd's media stunts come to mind). We are entitled to expect our leaders to be grappling with the harsh realities of triage and unpopular but essential choices. Making possibly unpopular choices because they are the right ones is what leadership is about. That principle is most especially important in disaster scenarios.
To repeat what I've said already, with the entire Liberal National Party opposition missing in action for the first half of January, we effectively have no one watching what the State Government is doing, or promoting efficiency and better practices if these are absent in specific areas of emergency relief activities.
In short, the people of Queensland have not been well served by their leaders thus far. I don't really care if this is seen as an unkind assessment, because it is the only one I can make given the absence of any meaningful information to the contrary. If I were talking about a town council in the outback, my comments could be justifiably labelled as unkind. But I'm talking about the State (and Federal) governments. Sadly, I expect that most of my present critics (in my small discussion group) will be agreeing with me in the weeks to come, when the opportunity cost of not having acted rationally and competently earlier begins to mount and translate into real dollar costs to those people.


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An animal odd couple that has captivated the mainstream media and has become a YouTube sensation thanks to a CBS News clip scoring three million-plus hits will soon star in a picture book. In September, Putnam will publish Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends. Text and photos by Carol Buckley document the friendship between this elephant, the first resident at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn., and a stray dog that later came to live there. Buckley, who founded the sanctuary in 1995, will donate her portion of the proceeds to the refuge.
Like the tale of the bond between the giant tortoise and baby hippo chronicled in Owen & Mzee, this animal friendship entails heartrending particulars. While subsequent elephants arriving at the sanctuary paired up with other pachyderms, Tarra roamed the refuge on her own, until one morning she awoke to find Bella, a stray dog, lying next to her. After forging an immediate friendship, the two became inseparable, eating, playing and sleeping side-by-side. After Bella suffered a spinal cord injury and was recovering indoors, the elephant stood vigil outside the building for three weeks and gently patted the dog's tummy with her foot when sanctuary employees carried Bella outside to visit her.
John Rudolph, executive editor of Putnam Books for Young Readers, outbid several other publishers to acquire the book from Buckley's agents, Tina Wexler and Andrea Barzvi of ICM. "When I saw the proposal, I was actually one of the few people here who hadn't seen the YouTube clip," he says. "But as soon as I saw it, I knew this story would make an amazing book, and everyone who saw it in-house agreed it was a fantastic project."
Rudolph acquired the book in March and the house had it ready to go to the printer by May. "We knew we wanted to get this book out fast, given the popularity of the video and the media interest in the story, which was also featured on Oprah and in People," he says. Buckley, who earlier published Just for Elephants and Travels with Tarra with Tilbury House, had no problem meeting the deadline. "She said she'd be able to pull the text and photos together in time, and she did," Rudolph says.
Buckley will make media appearances to promote Tarra & Bella, which has a 50,000-copy first print run on order.
Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends. Carol Buckley. Putnam, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-399-25443-7


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HIBS striker Rowan Vine reckons cutting Liam Craig loose could ignite the Easter Road side's season.
Former St Johnstone star Craig bagged both goals to give manager Pat Fenlon a much-needed 2-1 win at Kilmarnock to lift some of the gloom around the Leith club.
For the Hibs fans it was a first sight of Craig winning games in their colours but for his old Perth colleague Vine it was nothing new.
The striker had seen Craig's talents first hand at McDiarmid Park and had no doubt he'd soon be showing them off in Leith.
However, it took a move from Fenlon to finally spark the former Saints star into life.
In the first half at Rugby Park, Craig cut a lonely figure, stuck out on the left touchline spending as much time doubling back to assist full-back Ryan McGivern than getting into areas which could hurt Kilmarnock.
But Fenlon released him from some of the defensive duties at half-time and Craig rewarded his gaffer by storming infield to score his first two goals for the club to win it.
Vine said: "Liam is always a threat and, to be fair, he normally scores from further out. He scored a header last season against Dundee United which was important and he's popped up with two goals here.
"That is the type of quality he has. Like me, he has come into a new club and it can be hard to settle but we know we have to perform and pick up results. I have to say I thought he was brilliant."
Brilliant might be an overstatement, but there is no question Craig gave Hibs a threat they didn't have in the first half.
After 45 minutes on Saturday, Fenlon was staring down the barrel again. Killie, despite the absence of suspended Kris Boyd, looked good and had the interval lead courtesy of a wonder strike from Barry Nicholson. On his 35th birthday, the midfielder's scorching half volley from 30 yards was sensational.
With James Fowler and Mark O'Hara winning the midfield battle and Rabiu Ibrahim finding little pockets of space to cause problems, Allan Johnston's team looked in charge.
However, within seconds of the restart, it all changed when Vine pulled wide to the right and delivered a cross for Craig, at last getting in the penalty box, to bullet home a header.
Craig then took advantage of sloppy defending from Darren Barr with 11 minutes to go to win it with a lob and ease the tension surrounding the club.
Vine was delighted to get the first win of the campaign, although he was at pains to suggest some of the
criticism prior to Saturday's win was way over the top.
He said: "There was nothing in the Motherwell game. We were not brilliant but I don't think we deserved to lose. There was nothing in the Hearts game and it was just last weekend against Dundee United where we deserved criticism. There was not a positive to be taken until after Kevin Thomson was sent off.
"For the final half hour of that game and then the full match this week, it's been positive.
"That's how I've tried to look at it but it's hard because people want to look at just the scorelines and the goals we have conceded in other games in Europe.
"But I suppose it's right to look at that. We've now lost four goals in the SPL and we lost another one here so I suppose we could have lost. But no one is battering us and creating chance after chance against us. We just needed a positive result.
"I thought we were good in the first half and that was the message from the staff.
"We started really poorly last weekend against United. The first half was the worst this season so we wanted to get on to the front foot quickly.
"Kilmarnock's goal was a great finish but we were on top when they scored. It then comes down to character and I thought we responded well.
"In the second half we knew what we had to do. We got the early goal to make it 1-1 and then we dominated.
"The manager's half-time talk was completely different from last weekend. It was fully deserved back then because collectively and individually we hadn't shown anything, but it was a tough one here because we were disappointed to be 1-0 down.
"There were a lot of positives from the first half and the manager was calm. He told us to keep doing the same things, with maybe five or 10 per cent on top."
Vine, though, knows that one victory doesn't cure all ills and the paltry Hibs support at Rugby Park tells you they are far from convinced. He accepts this situation and says building on this victory is key.
This Saturday Ross County are at Easter Road and anything other than a home triumph against the dangerous Highlanders will ensure the natives stay restless.
Vine said: "We have to take the positive aspects from here. You would have to say the goal for the draw against United last weekend was the starting point and now we have added three to our tally here.
"But we have a home game coming up and three points from that will keep things going, it's imperative we start performing at Easter Road.
"Hibs is a big club with a big support and you have to win games at home because fans will come if we get positive results."
Meanwhile, devastated Darren Barr held up his hands for the error he believes cost Kilmarnock a point.
The stopper confessed that he was at fault for Craig's second goal.
Barr, who allowed the Easter Road midfielder to nip between him and keeper Craig Samson to grab the winner, said: "The winning goal just wasn't good enough. It was one of those things. I was caught in two minds but should have just cleared it.
"The sticky point was because the runner came from midfield but I should be doing better."
The Rugby Park defender added: "We played some good stuff in the first half and the result is disappointing as the gaffer wants us to make our home record much better and we need to do that.
"There were few chances created in the game but we're actually playing not bad football.
"After we scored we wanted to kick on but just couldn't get that second goal.
"A few of the boys knew it was Barry's birthday when he scored and it's just a shame we couldn't carry the result through for him.
"It was a great strike. I was right behind it and he caught it sweet. But we gave away a cheap goal right at the start of the second half and you can't afford to do that.
"We've not been playing badly so far this season and it's just about getting a win under our belts.
"Hopefully we can do it in our next game."


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If you've had the misfortune of being cooped up with me all winter, you know all too well my latest medical obsession: wine.
This isn't fun for anyone, especially my colleagues who are perfectly comfortable with their recreational ethyl alcohol consumption. But as a secret hypochondriac – and, according to my doctor, secret wino – the latest reports that anything more than a half a glass of wine at one sitting could be jeopardizing our health has me prone on the floor wondering why even bother.
The crisis began last fall when I told my new doctor that I indulged in a glass, at times two at times more, of chardonnay regularly enough to make boxed wine a prudent investment. Shocking, I know. (BTW, Pepperwood is not bad if you're on a budget.) I love wine, especially chardonnay and a nice, dry Bordeaux. I love how pretty it looks and tastes. I love pouring a glass and sitting by the fire, chatting with my husband about the day, knitting in my lap. To me, drinking is one of the few privileges of adulthood.
Now, I'm being totally honest here. At the age of 55, I have no one to fool but myself and no reason to lie. You can judge. Whatever. Moving on…
My new doctor, who is actually a PA and proactive on the public health front, would not let this drop. Anything more than that 5 ounces of wine per sitting more than three (that's 3) times per week for women was considered "heavy drinking," she said, peering at me meaningfully. And heavy drinking would lead to the following: heart disease, cancers of the breast, throat, esophagus, liver. Didn't matter if I was imbibing hard alcohol or beer (neither of which flips my switch). Alcohol is alcohol. And I needed to, if not stop, then moderate to the above limits – which, frankly, I consider pointless.
People, have you ever measured 5 ounces of wine? That is half the coffee in your cup. And I'm not talking one of those big Friends latte cups. I mean the kind your grandparents hung on a white metal tree in their kitchen. I would rather abstain altogether than ruin an evening measuring, pouring and eyeing the slipping level. Forget martinis. They are automatic violations. And that delicious margarita you love? Don't even.
Anyway, I gave her my blood, made no promises to abstain in this age of impending nuclear war, got a flu vaccine and went home. I then read everything there was to read on the latest evidence that alcohol had become the poison of choice for middle-aged, college-educated women who came of age in the 1980s. I blame Animal House and the infamous Tufts frat house, 123.
Having given up smoking – aside from the occasional sneak – and sugar (35 lbs gone!), this no wine business comes as a total bummer. And here I thought I was doing okay. Not perfect, but better than my parents who, being journalists from the WWII era, nightly downed three vodka tonics, measured of course, except for Monday, which was their "homework night" when they sat in their opposite chairs and read Newsweek. Strangely disciplined, those two.
Granted, we have a sinister strain of alcoholism in my family. My oldest brother drank himself to death with the aid of Tylenol and vodka. Nothing like gathering up the sheets and finding gallons of Popov hidden under the towels. A cheery discovery, as delightful as scraping up the dried vomit next to his bed. But he was nuts, always had been, and was miserable. Three years after he died, my mother left this mortal coil at age 77 of a stroke, or, in her case, a broken heart. Fun times.
(Writing the above, I realize how thoroughly depressing that period was. And to think, I was penning and promoting (a teetotalling) Bubbles during all of it!)
Anyway, my other brother, a superbly successful ad exec and beloved father to four great kids, quit drinking about 5 years ago for health reasons. The same reasons I'll probably end up quitting for, too.
So, in light of my reading, I was all prepared for nasty stuff on my blood tests. The only alarming figure was that my "good" cholesterol had risen slightly. Otherwise my "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides had dropped, were, in fact, wicked low (despite my bacon-rich keto diet). The liver tests were fine. Nevertheless, my physician saw the need to write that the elevated good cholesterol was due to "heavy drinking." Really?
(I kind of hate her a little for that.)
Which leaves me with a choice: stick to no more than a half a glass of wine on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays. (And, no, you can't save up for a Saturday night binge.) Or quit. The compromise I've struck with myself is to not drink during the week and not worry about it during the weekend. (Though, of course, I do – or I wouldn't be writing this blog.) Just like with smoking, though, it's easier in the long term to quit altogether, because all the fun is gone. Face it.
Anyway, my weekly "homework" nights have become surprisingly productive. Books have been finished (both those read and those written). Knitting projects, too. I still miss that first pour when I'm making dinner, but – like the craving for a light or a cookie – it passes. Tea by the fire is not that bad. That said, I do draw the line at hot chocolate. During these cold, long winter nights, that is the only thing keeping me sane and I dare anyone, including my doctor, to take that from my warm, dead hands.


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Tuesday, June 19, 2007
So What's Up With My Trip!??
It has been quite interesting, though that wasn't the word I was using until my plans (finally) started to firm up.
So, here goes:
First, I was going to go to Hwa Gye Sa in Seoul and sit for three weeks straight. The retreat was offered for free. All I had to do was show up. I started emailing them in February and had had a few responses when they suddenly stopped replying to their email. Not to be deterred, I had my Korea fundraiser and went ahead and bought my ticket. It was a good thing that I got my ticket when I did because there were very few seats to be found!
Well, the month of May progressed and still nothing. I got a little desperate and actually called Korea three times without getting any clear answers. I was also asking friends of mine in the school to see if they could find anything out for me. They were as unsuccessful as I was.
At that point, my teachers decided that I might be a lot better off going to Mu Sang Sa which is affiliated only with our school, unlike Hwa Gye Sa which has shared loyalty to our school and the Korean Chogye order. For those who are now confused, my school, the International Kwan Um School of Zen, was founded by Zen Master Seung Sahn, who immigrated to this country in the 70's. He was a Korean monk of the Chogye order but the school he set up is now a little different from traditional Korean Zen.
Anyway, I was not too thrilled about going to Mu Sang Sa for two reasons; one, I couldn't get in there until July 14 and two, I would have to pay for the retreat (another $500 that I. just. don't. have.).
Then, suddenly, I started getting emails from Hwa Gye Sa. They were very sorry for the delay in getting back to me, they would be following the Chogye style of retreat, was I still interested in sitting, etc. I told them that I definitely still wanted to come and that the retreat schedule really didn't matter to me.
End of story you think? Not so.
About a week later, Hwa Gye Sa announced that they were severing ties with Kwan Um School and that even though they would still be offering free retreat, there would be no Zen Master on hand to talk to. This was a problem. Stuff comes up when I meditate, stuff that would drive me bonkers if I didn't have a teacher to talk to about it occasionally.
That brings us back to Mu Sang Sa. My teachers here knew about my financial issues and, unbeknownst to me, had arranged a scholarship for me to go to Mu Sang Sa for two weeks! It is very rare in my life adult life that someone says, "I'll just take care of it." I usually have to scrimp and save and worry and ask my friends for help (thank goodness they always do. Love you guys! MMMWWA!). But they just took care of that one last piece without me even asking and I am very humbled by that.
So, after this huge long novel, here is the final plan. I'm still leaving July 3. I am going to go to Hwa Gye Sa for a week, spending a few days in Seoul (if there's yarn, I'll find it!) then off to Mu Sang Sa for two weeks and then home.
In my next post, I'll let you know how I'm coming on my preparations. It involves me and a sewing machine. Be afraid.
10 comments:
- Emily said...
Awesome! I'm so glad it's working out for you!
In other news, who won the spinning wheel? I think we've all been dying to know.
- FemiKnitMafia said...
Good lord, you are one persistent woman. I'm impressed.
I can't wait to hear about the sewing machine.
Have a great trip Lucy!
- Patience said...
Yeah! Is there a Buddhist analog to "answer to prayer?" Even if you didn't know you were praying?
Have a great trip! I'm off to Australia & New Zealand tomorrow for a month, so we won't be THAT far from each other. HAHAHA! I'll be moving back to the US for good in September, so we'll see each other this fall.
Have a great trip!
- cathy said...
Congratulations! It's great how that worked out for you :)
How wonderful that after all of those machinations, things have settled down in your favor. Have a wonderful retreat.
- omly said...
See the universe and good friends have your back ;) I can't wait to hear all about your trip.
- Kimberly said...
Sewing?! Hope Big Nephew is helping moving the machine. If I don't make it in before you leave enjoy yourself and have lots of quiet time.
- Lucy said...
Quiet time's pretty much a given! I definitely plan to enjoy it!


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Many people underestimate what sort of impact their bed can have on their back-pain problems. With that in mind, in the following article, we are going to briefly outline five reasons why a mattress can cause back pain. Keep in mind that the list is not exhaustive and there are many more factors you need to take into consideration if you are in the market for a new mattress.
1. Too Hard
A mattress that is too firm can cause inflammation of the joints. This is because it offers no cushioning to the soft ligament fibers and tenants in the body. While the skeleton needs support, a solid surface can be detrimental and can cause extreme back pain. If your mattress has no give what so ever, it is too hard for your body weight. Of course, if you are someone that has a higher body weight than average, you are going to need a mattress that would be too firm for the average person.
2. Too Soft
The backbone needs support while you sleeping. A bed that is too soft can result in spine disc compression which can lead to intense back pain. A soft, spongy bed that your body sinks into might seems like a go-to option when you are in a bed store, but the human body needs some support. Some of the super soft mattresses you might have tried out in a store are designed for those that naturally have a very low body fat percentage and so need a more forgiving surface than the average person to sleep on.
3. Poor Breathability Rating
If a mattress does not allow air to circulate around your body, heat can build up in the joints and cause inflammation. It is for that reason that you need to look for mattresses made from natural fibers.
4. Not Hypoallergenic
When many people think about back pain, they think about internal back pain due to issues with the spine. The reality is that humans can also experience external back pain. If you buy a non-hypoallergenic mattress, there is a chance you could be allergic to the material the item is made from. If you are allergic, the result could be an itchy, weeping back due to skin irritation. So, in general, it's best to buy a hypoallergenic mattress unless you are someone with a bulletproof immune system. Here's a good bed that is hypoallergenic at http://laylamattresscoupons.com/.
5. Faulty
This final point might be a scary prospect, but if you buy a budget box spring mattress from an unknown manufacturer, there is a higher probability of a fault developing. Such a failure could mean the tension on one of the springs fails during the night and the metal spring punctures your spine. That's why it's essential to invest in quality products.
In this article, we are briefly touched on 5 key reasons why a mattress can cause back pain. Hopefully, you find the information presented above helpful and will proceed to read a detailed buyers' guide before investing in a new bed. Remember, nobody deserves back pain and if a change to your environment can reduce the pain, the investment is worthwhile.


text:
Two separate attempted abductions were reported Thursday in two areas of the county. In one, a 12-year old boy reported a man tried to kidnap him from an El Cajon store. In the other, a 14-year old girl walking on an Oceanside sidewalk said a man demanded she get in her car.
In El Cajon, the boy was shopping at the 99 Cent Store on East Main Street Wednesday with a few family members when he ran into a man he described as in his 50s.
In surveillance video released by the store, the boy can be seen in an aisle when an older man walks past him, then turns around and appears to shove the child.
There's a brief exchange, and then it looks like the man keeps walking. But as the boy reviewed the tape with his father Thursday, he was sure that the man tried to take him.
"He like lunged at me; he grabbed my arm and I pushed him away as hard as I could," he said.
At that point the man started yelling, according to the boy, so the child grabbed a can of beans and said he'd throw them at the man if he came any closer.
"He came home very upset last night about 8:15 telling me that somebody tried taking him from the .99 cent store," said Paul Martin, the boy's father.
El Cajon police are investigating the report.
"As an organization we take all of these incidents very seriously when they come in," said Lt. Mark Coit with El Cajon police. "We look at all the facts surrounding it."
His parents have told the boy to pay attention to what's happening around him in light of the Chelsea King and Amber Dubois cases.
"I think he did pretty well under the circumstances," said Martin.


text:
Looks like a good bit of kit. A couple of mates keep puuting Bkool rides on Strava. Problem - I can't find a way to get the £1 trial the review mentions. Anyone know how?
Bkool has updated its original smart trainer to bring this, the Smart Pro, to market. It's a well-made unit with resistance controlled from the software on your laptop or tablet, matching that of the virtual climb you are tackling. There are several significant improvements from the original 1.0 version that Liam reviewed in 2014, making this a really solid option for a pretty reasonable price.
This newer offering from the Spanish outfit effectively breaks down into a software and a hardware component. You don't need to use both, so you could use this turbo with other third party online training platforms such as Zwift, and equally you could use the BKool software with a competitor turbo trainer (with a controllable resistance unit or without). Here I'm focusing on the hardware, but also talking a bit about the simulator software that goes with it.
> Find your nearest dealer here
Some turbo manufacturers have taken to flagrantly misusing the "smart" designation, appending it to machines that merely come with an app for your mobile phone, for example. I'd consider that the term applies to a turbo whose resistance can be computer controlled, as opposed to manually adjusted (Tacx Satori Smart) or progressive (Kinetic Road Machine Smart).
The current BKool range includes a lower cost unit with progressive resistance (the £164 Bkool One) and this Smart Pro, which allows control of resistance from a variety of software platforms not just the Bkool simulator package, thanks to ANT+ FE-C compatibility. That also lets you control it from a Garmin Edge 520 or 1000.
Whether you need a smart trainer largely depends on how you use the turbo. For the hardcore indoor masochist who uses it purely as the most efficient means of getting the required structure to their power training, it may not be essential. If you're someone who needs distracting or entertaining while riding indoors, then Bkool's excellent library of video climbs might be just the ticket, and the varying resistance does make it feel a bit more like a real ride.
The basics of the BKool Pro are carried over from the earlier 1.0 model, which Liam found offered a good ride feel, replicating the sensation of actual riding remarkably well.
As with the 1.0, the Smart Pro is a chunky steel-framed device which feels pretty bombproof.
It's great to see that several of issues which were flagged up with the 1.0 have been addressed here. The stability is improved thanks to the use of extending legs, which telescope out to the side to offer a wider footprint (810mm).
If you do get out the saddle for some sprinting practice, it is now more stable – though still no match for something like the Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll, which is several centimetres wider still, with a pivot to allow it to swing sideways. On the Bkool, you can get out of the saddle without feeling like you're about to topple over, but I felt more comfortable riding seated.
The original Bkool was notable for the amount of black rubber dust it harvested from your rear wheel. Oddly, it didn't seem to eat tyres significantly faster than any other turbo, but like a two-year-old, it made a real mess as it did it. With this Pro model, BKool has switched the smooth black roller for a lightly knurled chrome steel finish, and despite looking more abrasive, the additional grip it offers dramatically reduces the amount of fine debris generated.
Unlike a lot of turbos, the bike's rear wheel isn't clamped against the roller. The rear axle is clamped in a swingarm and your weight pushes it down against the roller. Liam outlined some of the consequences of this on the unit's ability to estimate power in his review of the 1.0. Unlike some turbos, there is no calibration procedure, so the power figures are best viewed as an estimation rather than a measurement.
Something I found pretty annoying on the original version was that when you opened the clamp lever to release your bike, the heavy swingarm would just crash down clumsily, sometimes with the clamp actually landing on the casing of the resistance unit. Things are much better on the Pro: the swingarm is totally redesigned, with its lower end now resting on the ground, generating enough friction on a suitable mat that it just gently rotates downward when uncoupled from the bike's rear axle.
It'll cope with wheel diameters from 20 to 29 inches, and I found it pretty straightforward to fit the bike. It copes with standard road dropout spacing or disc-brake bikes.
There are several other worthwhile mechanical improvements over the first version. The resistance unit is more easily separated from the main frame, with a couple of little sliders used to retain it where previously the two were bolted together. This makes it easier to move around, and also means that the whole thing doesn't require too much space to store when not in use. The flywheel is now fully enclosed inside the resistance unit rather than exposed to the outside. BKool has redesigned the lock-nut on the axle retention system, making it much easier to adjust.
In use
In use, I found the Bkool smooth and pretty realistic. The resistance changes take a second or two so you'll see the gradient change on screen before you feel it underneath you, but that's not really a big deal. Bkool quotes an impressive sounding maximum resistance of 1200W, which is more than most of us mere mortals can achieve, but it doesn't specify a speed/power curve and I suspect that this power isn't available right across the speed range.
> Check out our guide to the best indoor trainers here
As an example, I noticed that when riding up something steep in a low gear with a power of about 300W, there was very little tangible difference when the slope changed from 10% to 15%, suggesting that at low speeds the maximum resistive power is rather less than the quoted maximum.
At lower speeds it's a quiet device. Bkool claims 75dB at 30kph, although this will depend on whether it's on a solid or suspended floor. Once you reach higher speeds, if you've chosen a route with flat or downhill sections, it gets noisier but not more than most other turbos apart from direct drive units.
The simulator software will run on a PC, Mac or a tablet (Android or iOS). It's a slightly odd setup where you need to use both an internet browser and the downloaded simulator software in tandem. The website is used for creating or "scheduling" rides that you want to do, and once you've done that you can fire up the software and do your workout. If you skip the website bit then you can still pick a workout from a selection of 20 other rides that other users have scheduled, play a velodrome game or re-ride something you'd previously recorded for real on Strava (you can pair the two things up).
Generally, I went on to the website where (with a paid subscription) you've got the full selection of first-person video rides to choose from. For the uninitiated, these are videos of roads shot from the perspective of a rider (or, more likely, a camera mounted on a car) which you can ride. The harder you pedal, the faster the footage plays, and if you have a smart turbo like this one, the resistance will vary with the gradient of the hill.
It's pretty neat, giving an immersive experience that I personally found more diverting than the computer-games feel of Zwift, for example. Obviously it looks best if you've got a nice big telly set up in front of you, and a decent internet connection is also needed.
In Zwift, a lot of the appeal is the competition against other athletes, and there is some of that available here. If another user jumps on your ride once you've scheduled it then you can try to beat them, but for obvious reasons they don't appear on the road in front of you like they would on Zwift – it is just a video recording, after all. Your progress, and that of your rivals, is shown via indicators that travel across the bottom of the screen in a video session, or with other 3D cyclists in a 3D session.
In addition to other users, you can also compete with "bots" and "ghosts", respectively computer-generated opponents with varying characteristics, and other real riders who've done that route in the past.
To be honest, I wasn't that bothered about on-screen competition – for me, the appeal of riding up a hill is in measuring yourself against the hill itself.
There's a good selection of video rides including many famous Alpine climbs and quite a number of bits of Vuelta stages. Finding a specific one isn't always easy – there's a keyword search, which works if you get the exact words used in the ride name, and there's also a "find on map" browser which I found ran incredibly slowly and was generally pretty frustrating – it's a lot less slickly coded than Strava's segment finder, for example. I found I generally just scrolled through the rides until I found something that caught my fancy, rather than looking for something specific.
I had a trip out to the Alps with my wife while I was testing the Bkool, to ride some of the famous Alpine cols. She found it really helpful to ride video sessions of them a few times on the Bkool before doing them for real, both to become familiar with what lay ahead and also to convince herself she could actually do them.
Make your own
You can create your own video session if you've got something like a Garmin Virb, although I didn't try this. It's a nice feature if you want to train on something that isn't already in the library.
If you don't want to do that, you can create a session by importing gpx data – from a ride you've recorded on Strava, for example. This will give you an overhead view of the route while you're riding, akin to the terrain option on Google maps, or alternatively the software can generate a three-dimensional view of the route. Bkool claims it uses satellite data to produce realistic representations of the terrain and roads where your route goes, but browsing the list of 3D sessions created previously suggests a limited number of generic terrains simulated.
There are one or two interesting features of the 3D rendered routes. Firstly, the simulator will apply the current light and weather conditions from the location – so if you're doing a route in Switzerland when it's dark and rainy there, you'll see a dark and rainy simulation. It won't look that much like Switzerland, but it'll be dark and rainy. There are groups of people standing alongside the road at regular intervals, too. Supporters, I suppose, although when they loom out of the dark it looks more like the creepy dead people in Les Revenants. Like on Zwift, you can get a benefit from drafting another rider in the 3D routes, and you're also assisted or hindered by prevailing wind conditions.
Importing gpx files wasn't always straightforward – I sometimes needed to run them through the converter on www.gpsvisualizer.com to get Bkool to accept them. What is missing from the Bkool interface is the ability to trim just a bit of a ride; if you import a long ride, you can't just pick an interesting segment of it and ride that without using a third party tool to crop the gpx data. Nor can you skip forward in a session, so if the ride starts with a 50km flat section before things get interesting, that's what you've got to do.
If you want to do intervals training, there are various ways you could do this. You can create a custom elevation profile in Bkool comprising sections of different gradient, or you could use the likes of Zwift (or even a compatible Garmin) to vary the resistance to suit your requirements.
Besides the video or overhead display, the software also shows your speed, estimated power and something that purports to be your cadence, but didn't seem to be. If you've got cadence and power sensors then you can hook these up and get the real data, which more serious users would undoubtedly do. There's a nice display of gradient, showing the current slope, what's coming up next and a little bar showing how long until the next gradient change.
You can use a basic version of the simulator software for free, with two-dimensional and map routes, but not 3D or video.
The package
If you buy the Pro trainer, it comes with a generous one-year trial period of the premium software. After that it's £8 per month or £78 if you pay for a whole year up front. As mentioned above, the software is compatible with a range of other turbos, with and without variable resistance. If you're on an annual subscription and don't use the software at all during a calendar month, this will be added to your paid period, so you're not penalised for not using it in the summer months (up to three months).
The Pro model is supplied with a front wheel block, compatible QR, and the ANT+ USB dongle. Unlike the original version, it doesn't include a heart rate monitor or cadence sensor. A mat is an extra £37 – I just used an old foam camping mat.
Bkool offers a try-before-you-buy deal on the trainer, where you can pay a measly £1 and they'll send it to you for a month before taking your payment.
In summary, I found that there was a lot to like about the Bkool setup. The turbo itself is well made and rides well. The software has its idiosyncrasies but there are some really nice features such as the video sessions, which are great for those who struggle to maintain an interest in riding indoors.
Excellent smart turbo for sensible money, with full-featured simulation package to keep you interested
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: Bkool Pro Turbo Trainer and Simulator
Size tested: n/a
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
High-end smart trainer
Magnetically controlled
Controlled by the simulator
The Bkool Smart Pro recreate the gradients from the simulator
Includes Bkool simulator
Compatible with ANT+ FE - C simulators
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
570 x 610 x 412 mm
810 x 610 x 412 mm (arms extended)
Weight 11.6 Kg
5-cm diameter roller
Traction adjustment. The wheel adjusts to the roller.
Maximum power: 1200W
Noise: 75dB at 30kph
Solid without being as heavy as some. Some real useful improvements on the mechanical side since the original Bkool turbo.
Offers smooth and realistic ride feeling. Improved stability from the first version. Easy to fit and remove the bike.
Should last for ages. The first generation Bkool road.cc reviewed saw a really high mileage without any issues and I wouldn't expect any here.
A reasonable weight – light enough for my wife to take it with her on the plane. Yes, I know. She's nuts.
A decent price for a computer-controlled turbo.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The trainer is a good 'un, with impressively smooth and progressive variation of resistance. It struggles to replicate really steep slopes at low speeds, presumably limited by its power curve, but I didn't really feel this was an issue. There is no real attempt at accurate power measurement, so you'd need to use a suitable power meter if you wanted this.
The simulator software is a great distraction to keep you motivated and interested if indoor cycling doesn't excite you – the video climbs are a nice feature – and can be used even if you don't have a Bkool turbo, you just need the premium subscription.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The thought that had gone into improving the first-gen trainer. The video sessions of climbs I knew – and those I wanted to do for real – helped keep my interest. The ability to familiarise yourself with a big climb (and convince yourself you can do it) before going there for real. Cross compatibility with other turbos and other sim software.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The software interface can be a little clunky, particularly the need to schedule a session on the website before running it using the app – it would be much nicer to be able to do everything in one place. For some the lack of accurate power measurement would be an issue, although you can use it with a power meter.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your score
The hardware is a definite step forward from the first generation, and offers a really convincing ride feel. The video workouts are really visually appealing, and good enough to recce real climbs before you do them. Full compatibility with the likes of Zwift rounds out a pretty impressive package and at a decent price too.
About the tester
Age: 37
I usually ride: On-one Bish Bash Bosh My best bike is: Rose X-Lite CRS
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking
Jez spends his days making robots that drive cars but is happiest when on two wheels. His roots are in mountain biking but he spends more time nowadays on the road, occasionally racing but more often just riding.
11 comments
Looks like a good bit of kit. A couple of mates keep puuting Bkool rides on Strava. Problem - I can't find a way to get the £1 trial the review mentions. Anyone know how?
Found it! The link in the review goes straight to the trainer itself. If you click on the Bkool (IE home) link at the top of BKool's page the trial is front and centre!
Tempting but I live in a flat so not sure how it'd work in practise. New build and reasonably solid, definitely more soundproof than older flats I've been in but still not certain if it's workable. I have a spin bike with a mat under it and it's carpeted too and that's acceptable I'm sure during early evenings.
I really want a smart trainer though for Zwift. No rush, weather's good at the moment, but have a few months to work it out. The trial thing seems good, but would need to make sure there's no catch. Only need one ride to know if it's workable really.
I'm thinking of getting something like this come winter. Got a tacx satori smart last year but it's manual adjustment and also has an odd power/speed/resistance profile that doesn't quite match real life.
I tried the Bkool software and it's just plain weird and very clunky though. I thought it would be awesome with the virtual routes recreated from GPX files but it's a pain in the arse and wouldn't connect half the time when Zwift had no problems finding all my ant+ stuff. Both the android and PC versions were very flaky with a pretty shit user interface.
Hopefully I'll be able to save enough for direct drive trainer and carry on Zwifting this winter, if not I may scope around for deal on this as it seems solid for money. Hopefully my mate will buy my Satori and I can race him online, sweat dripping onto our garage floors whilst I watch Durianrider call someone a shitcunt on Youtube.
I've got one of these. Works really well with Zwift. Very easy to set up and strip down if you've only got a small space.
The Bkool software is really clunky, the user interface is obtuse to say the least but when you get your head round it it's ok... Bkool does have a lot of filmed routes so makes training sessions more interesting, all the major Cols and some nice european routes with ghosts or real riders to compare yourself against.
Make sure to get a usb extension lead so the ANT sensor is as close the trainer as possible.
Does drop out of internet connection in the middle of a race sometimes, usually when you've just put in a huge effort to keep up with a fast group for an hour up a virtual mountain which can be very frustrating. The virtual velodrome is very good.
Major plus is that it can simulate 20% gradients, great for hill climbing training. Only takes a couple of seconds to register the changes in gradient from the software to the trainer, something you get used to and the display lets you know in advance so you can anticipate the gear changes.
I've come to the conclusion that what makes or brakes smart trainers is not the turbo engineering but the software. Time and again companies seem to be trying to go interactive and digital with things but cut corners on the software development. I've a Tacx Bushido which is physically great, but the software is so lousy I'd give the package one star. Plenty of user reviews with the same issues with all brands of smart trainer units being good but software appaling. "The turbo itself is well made and rides well. The software has its idiosyncrasies.." reflects this but at least 'idiosyncratic' is an improvement on 'atrocious' lol.
I have had one of these for over a year. The software has come on leaps and bounds in the meantime and is much more stable. I have a pretty much rock solid connection using a usb extension cable and powerline connecters rather than using wifi. I ride in the cyclechat bkool leagues. We have a mountain goat series, which as you can imagine has a lot of going uphill, spring summer leagues and a handicap series. The latter is great because a kind admin, geoff, works out what our individual weights should be amended to within the sim to level out different abilities. Makes for great racing and lots of heated and humorous chat afterwards.
Updates to firmware and software yesterday have enabled ant+ fec erg mode and that now works in Zwift and i think trainer road. I used it in Zwift last night .
So, i would heartily recommend the turbo.
I've been using the Bkool trainer for the last 3 1/2 years. I recently upgraded to the more recent version so that I could use it with Zwift. Whilst Zwift is very beautiful to look at, as an actual simulator, the Bkool software gives a much more realistic ride. I also much prefer racing against otgher riders on Bkool as nearly all the other riders are on bkool trainers so you know there is no 'trainer' doping, like you get on Zwift. the reveiwer also didn't mention the Bkool velodrome simulator which is amazing! It's tricky to get the hang of, but once you do, you can have some great races
I have this, but not being able to compare it to other Smart trainers, I can safely say that its good for what I need. It works well with Zwift and Bkool although the Bkool software takes some getting used to. Bought last year, it cane with 3 months premium subscription with Bkool which I used occassionaly, I then swapped to Zwift on repeating 2 week trials after that. After about 2 months after my subs expired for Bkool, they emailed me and offered 12 months@£1.99 per month which I have taken up.
It feels a bit unsteady out of the saddle, you have to adjust your style to account for that. To run Zwift is not a problem, but if you want smooth graphics then you need a good PC/laptop with a midrange graphics card.
I've haven't touched the trainer for about 3 months now but went on for 15 minutes yesterday. I've a Tacx Satori and was using Zwift and the combination was wrong at both ends. The trainer was under reporting the power but that didn't matter as Zwift was overestimating the resulting speed.
I was supposedly knocking out 100W (felt more like 170) and Zwift was translating this into 18-19mph on the flat. I guess it sort of worked out right for the perceived effort to speed ratio but that was probably just luck rather than either piece of equipment being right.


text:
I was born in the south and live in San Diego but I should live somewhere in the northeast. I love the snow, I love the cold and I love the mountains and green trees. I can hear the collective "you can have it!" from all those who are enduring this chart topping winter of 2014. But I have enjoyed all of the blog posts and beautiful photographs that you have all posted such as the one above from Thistlewood Farms. And this quote shared on one of my favorite blogs, Back Porch Musings says it all:
Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.
~Edith Sitwell
It brings back such fond memories of wonderful afternoon and evenings spent with good friends after a long and cold day of skiing….nothing better in the world!
So I think I will put a pot of chili in the crock pot and set a rustic table and enjoy this "cold" and damp day in San Diego.
Stay warm and enjoy this quiet time before all the hustle and bustle of spring and summer are upon us—it is coming, I promise!


text:
My friend bought a HP DV6 laptop and we re-installed the Windows Operating System on his laptop. Later we realized that WLAN and Bluetooth drivers provided at driver download of this laptop is not really working. Not sure why!
We checked in Device manager to get the Device IDs of Unknown devices (WLAN and Bluetooth). Below said image shows how to find device ids of unknown devices (the image is not taken from the same laptop).
The Device ID we found for WLAN device is:
Solution for WLAN driver issue:
Below said driver downloads solved the Wireless LAN issue on my friends laptop. The drivers are provided below. Installing both drivers solved the issue!.
Download: Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows 7
Download: Intel Management Engine Interface (MEI) Driver
Same way, the Device IDs of Bluetooth device is:
Solution for Bluetooth driver issue:
Below provided driver solved the issue for us and hopefully it will solve your issue as well.
Download: Broadcom Bluetooth 4.0 Driver and Software
Leave a comment whether it works for you!