text:
Oddly, the Folger Consort's latest program, "Florence: Christmas Music of the Trecento," which I attended at the Folger Theatre on Saturday night, features relatively little Christmas music. It does feature 24 pieces, mostly without a known author, that collectively paint a picture of music of the 13th century in the title town. Whether in sacred pieces or the vernacular religious tunes known as "laude," melodies soared and fell in ecstasies of notes, yet kept resolving on the same harmonies, and returning to the same refrains. The program itself, organized mostly in tercets of two vocal pieces surrounding an interlude for virtuoso instruments, seemed to mirror the feeling of action circling around a center.
Nevertheless, of the 24 pieces, nine show off the manifold skills of consort program director Robert Eisenstein and guest instrumentalists Christa Patton, Mark Rimple, and Mary Springfels, without making any reference to Christmas. (The title of the tune "Ave maris stella," another instrumental jam, seems close enough to be counted as Christmassy.) The vocal pieces provide no fewer than five settings of parts of the Latin Mass, which are dependent upon the occurrence of Christmas but not specific to it. Another five praise Mary, who I grant is also essential to Christmas' eventual occurrence (and whose impregnation is described in various dodgy euphemisms by the songs) but whose story, in these songs, occurs before we go away in a manger on a silent night with herald angels singing joy to the world. So we have five total pieces that clearly evoke the spirit of the season.
Not that the music wasn't evocative in general! It all started with Trio Eos, consisting of sopranos Jessica Beebe and Michele Kennedy and mezzo-soprano Maren Montalbano, who handled the vocalizing and showed beauty of tone and precision that made even the most tricky melodies feel balanced and unearthly. In "Da ciel venne messo novello" and "Nova stella apparita," their readings of the rhapsodic verses ached with awe at Mary's blessing in the former and exploded with joy at the arrival of the Christ child in the latter; the unison refrains, in which the trio attractively blended their distinct voices, felt like a refuge from the intense emotion of the verses.
Eisenstein and his crew made sure that the instrumental pieces and accompaniment were just as distinctive and intense. The program note explained that many of the instrumental pieces were basically just melodic lines for virtuosos to play on, with no arrangements or harmonies indicated, meaning much of what the Folger Consort is presenting is a result of their own choices. They chose well; "Ave maris stella" sounded like a constellation looks with Rimple and Patton plucking a psaltery and harp, respectively, and Eisenstein frequently showed commanding virtuosity on his medieval fiddle. Pretty much every time Patton picked up her over-the-shoulder medieval bagpipe was a highlight, especially when she got to lead the melody in "Benedicamus," the line buzzing and darting about in a most diverting way. Occasionally, the musicians enjoyed the repetitions of the melodies a bit more than I did, but I understand the exuberance that comes with playing something challenging that you really enjoy. Trio Eos also pitched in on percussion a few times, with everyone shaking or pounding something for the finale, "Gloria in cielo e pace in terra," a satisfying Christmas-related song in which the trio just barely managed to sing over the exuberant clamor of the instruments.
As you may have guessed, this is not one of those early-music Christmas concerts where you'll hear a tune or two whose descendants have made it into modern hymnals, especially given that only 21 percent of the tunes played at the concert have anything to do with the holiday. Nonetheless, as an imaginative look back at the spirit of instrumental playing and vernacular religious music, this program is well worth a detour from your last-minute shopping.
The program will be repeated Wednesday through Sunday (with two shows on Saturday!). Ticket info and purchasing here.
Other People's Perspectives: Joan Reinthaler, Charles T. Downey.


text:
HARTFORD — Chase Kowalski didn't want to wear his swim vest. So he watched Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte during the Olympics last summer and taught himself how to swim.
The training wheels stayed on his first bike from Christmas until the first nice day of spring.
"He was like, 'Dad, I want to take them off,'" his father, Steve, said Saturday.
Off came the training wheels. He was 4.
At age 6, Chase ran a road race last summer with his mother, Becky, who could barely keep up with him. He won his age group in a first triathlon, a kids race in Mansfield.
Steve and Becky aren't runners or triathletes or swimmers.
"Chase," Becky said, "was the biggest runner in the family."
But to honor the memory of their son, they ran with about 200 of their friends and family members Saturday morning — part of a massive group of 15,000 people who engulfed the streets of Hartford — in the Sandy Hook Run for the Families 5K.
And they crossed the finish line holding hands.
Chase, a first-grader at Sandy Hook Elementary School, was one of the 26 victims of the Dec. 14 shooting in Newtown. The Race4Chase team was one of many teams Saturday honoring different children and teachers who were killed in the massacre.
Before the race, they gathered in an Allyn Street parking lot, with a DJ blasting music, wearing Race4Chase shirts, hugging, talking and remembering.
"This is a celebration of what Chase was into," said Bob Terry of Newtown, who has known Steve since grade school and Becky since they all went to Masuk High School in Monroe. "He was always running, ultra-competitive, never slowing down."
"This is a celebration. As much as we're mourning, we're really celebrating."
He and another of Steve Kowalski's friends from high school, Greg Ruel of New Jersey, set up a Facebook page for the Chase Kowalski Memorial Fund. Ruel ran Saturday. So did Kevin Bresnahan of Colchester, another family friend, who plans to run 1,000 miles for Chase this year and is taking pledges per mile that will go toward the fund. His blog, 10004Chase.blogspot.com, has taken $7,000 in pledges so far. Bresnahan is giving a dollar for each mile he runs.
The goal is to build a community center where children and parents can come together and participate in sports, have pasta dinners and go to homework club. It will be called Chase's Place.
Becky is outgoing and friendly. She ran and walked Saturday, occasionally complaining good-naturedly about how much farther they had to go before the finish. She and Steve blended into the crowd as two runners among so many, rather than grieving parents who had lost their youngest child in a horrific tragedy.
"How am I so positive?" Becky asked. "I've always been a people person. I have so many great friends."
"He's in a better place. He's happy. He's running with his friends. He filled me with peace."
Becky had a vision of Chase two nights after the shootings. She was sleeping but not deeply.
"He explained everything to me," she said. "What I needed to do. Before he left me, he filled my heart with peace. So I don't have that burden of a broken heart. Steven and I — I married my husband because he made me laugh — if you can't laugh, I'd be crying all day long and I can't do that. I can't do that to him. It wouldn't honor him."
"He told her how everything was going to come together," Steve said. "She wrote it all down. About the community center. ... She was just rattling it off and here's a lady who doesn't talk like that. She became this machine."
So there was that. And the support from friends and family and the nation and the world. Letters and cards and teddy bears. And whales.
"We've got whales," Steve said. "Six or seven whales named after him. You can buy a whale. So we've got a few of those. A goat and a soccer ball that was donated to Africa. He's got 10 stars named for him."
And the goat?
"I don't know what they named it," Steve said. "It could be dinner now. Who knows?"
They can still laugh.
And they have their memories.
Latest Sports
"When I got home every night, he'd say, 'Dad, what are we doing?' 'I just got home, give me a minute,'" Steve said. "'Let's play football, let's play baseball.' If it was raining, I'd pull the cars out and we'd play hockey down in the garage. He was always playing a sport. Something. The bean-bag toss game, we'd be doing that in the basement in the winter. Anything. Just to beat me. 'I'm going to beat you.'"
Chase would have loved Saturday's race.
"He would have been right on the front line," his mother said. "He would have kicked our butts. Absolutely."
Donations may be made in memory of Chase at http://www.chasekowalskifund.com or http://www.facebook.com/ChaseKowalskiMemorialFund.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Available ebook formats: epub mobi pdf lrf pdb html
Chris Bruce was born in England and educated in South Africa. After a long career in the construction industry in South Africa, Namibia, Hong Kong and the Philippines, Chris moved to Thailand in 2001. He built and equipped a sausage factory in Bangkok which was operated by his wife. Not being Thai, unable to speak the language, no longer a part of the construction "EXPAT NETWORK" due to the slump in the Asian construction industry, it was not long before he became somewhat bored with life. One way to alleviate the boredom was to write. Chris decided to use his knowledge of the sausage industry to write a book of sausage recipes. This was followed by a book of recipes for preparing meals using sausage and a book of liqueur making methods and recipes. After completing the three recipe books he encouraged friends from around the world to send him jokes and cartoons by email. This series of TAKE ME TO THE TOILET BOOKS (VOLS I to VII) is the result of the huge response he got. Chris makes no claim to have dreamt up the jokes, anecdotes and other amusing facts or stories featured in these volumes and in fact it is impossible, with very few exceptions, to say where the jokes originated. Two Thai cartoonists Kitti Meeboonnum and Wirat Sukcharoen provided the illustrations. One thing Chris did realize was that people do not have much time to read a little humour and the "Thunderbox", as it used to be called, is the ideal place to do so. The internet, the source of much modern humor, is not normally accessible during visits to this most private of places and it is hoped that these "TOILET COMPANIONS" will add amusement to the otherwise idle moments spent in the "BOX".


text:
Nature and Science
April 2017
"Imagine what might happen if birds studied us."
~ from Noah Stryker's
The Thing with Feathers
Recent Releases
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes
Dan Egan
Clustered along the border between the United States and Canada, the Great Lakes are an "interconnected watery expanse that sprawls across 94,000 square miles." In this thought-provoking book, journalist Dan Egan recounts the 14,000-year history of the world's largest freshwater system from its Ice Age origins to its modern-day role as both a shipping corridor and threatened ecosystem. He also explores what lies beneath the surface (an estimated 6,000 shipwrecks as well as a number of invasive species, the result of 19th-century efforts to connect these bodies of water to the Atlantic Ocean) and reflects on the precarious future of this unique natural resource.
The Sensational Past: How the Enlightenment Changed the Way We Use Our Senses
Carolyn Purnell
The "Age of Reason" heralded by the
of the 18th-century European Enlightenment might just as easily been called the Age of Sensation, as intellectuals sought to discover how our five senses influence our perceptions of the world. While their conclusions were somewhat hit-or-miss -- therapeutic doses of chocolate were prescribed alongside tobacco enemas, while attempts to link music theory and cosmology are responsible for pianos made of live cats -- their insatiable curiosity laid the groundwork for aspects of our society that we take for granted, from coffee shops to special education. With its blend of history, science, and philosophy, this book may appeal to fans of Diane Ackerman's
A Natural History of the Senses
Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History
Bill Schutt
Never has the expression "you are what you eat" been more apt. Sometimes called "intraspecific predation," cannibalism -- in which members of a species eat part or all of other members of their species -- is widespread in the animal kingdom for reasons that include (but are not limited to) overpopulation and the stresses of captivity. It's also not that uncommon among humans, who may engage in cannibalism for medicinal purposes, as part of funeral rites, or as a demonstration of filial piety. Examining biological and cultural aspects of cannibalism, author and zoologist Bill Schutt also offers thoughts on the circumstances (such as famine and disease caused by climate change) that could make this taboo more...um, palatable.
The Inkblots: Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test, and the Power of Seeing
Damion Searls
Although most people are familiar with the iconic Inkblot test, not many know about its creator, Swiss psychoanalyst
Hermann Rorschach. A student of Eugen Bleuler and Carl Jung, Rorschach was also the son of a painter and an admirer of modernist and abstract art, all of which influenced his work. However, Rorschach's life and career are only part of the story. After his death, the test took on a life of its own: adopted by military, embraced by the advertising industry, and debated within the psychological community, this set of ten symmetrical images continues to be administered to students, job applicants, and even war criminals while at the same time leaving an indelible mark on the popular imagination.
The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease
Meredith Wadman
Until the 1960s, children regularly suffered (and frequently died) from measles, mumps, rubella, diptheria, pertussis, polio, and more. Thanks to immunizations, this is no longer the case. However, as author Meredith Wadman explains, the breakthroughs in virology that saved so many lives came at a high human cost. While researchers benefited from advances in tissue culture, they also owed their success to a steady supply of test subjects in orphanages and schools, asylums and prisons. Readers who enjoy moving and thought-provoking books about medical ethics, such as
Rebecca Skloot's
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
, will want to read
The Vaccine Race
Focus on: Birds
The Genius of Birds
Jennifer Ackerman
"Birdbrain" should be a compliment, because our feathered friends (or foes: hello, pigeons!) are very intelligent. (If nothing else, they've had 100 million years to get smart.) Addressing our imperfect understanding of intelligence as well as longstanding misconceptions about bird cognition, author Jennifer Ackerman assesses what we now know about avian intelligence by drawing on copious research, as well as personal observations drawn from a lifetime of birdwatching. For more on animal cognition in general, check out Frans de Waal's
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
The Most Perfect Thing: Inside (and Outside) a Bird's Egg
Tim Birkhead
On the outside, a bird's egg is "irresistible." Inside, it's "perfect." Working inwards from the shell through the albumen to the yolk, ornithologist Tim Birkhead examines the physical structure and evolutionary development of the egg through the three-part process of fertilization, laying, and hatching. In the process, he recounts episodes from a 40-year career studying birds and reflects on the enduring appeal of birds' eggs to collectors. If you're inspired by this ode to the ovum, you may also like Roger J. Lederer's
Beaks, Bones, and Birdsong: How the Struggle for Survival has Shaped Birds and their Behavior
H is for Hawk
Helen Macdonald
Struggling with depression in the wake of her beloved father's unexpected death, author and academic Helen Macdonald decided to acquire and train a goshawk, a challenge even for an experienced falconer like herself. As she rears Mabel, her goshawk chick, she reflects on the history of the sport and reconsiders a favorite book from her childhood:
The Goshawk
by T.H. White. Replete with sensory details of falconry and soaring descriptions of the countryside near her home in Cambridge, England,
H is for Hawk
is both a moving account of grief and a fascinating glimpse into an unseen world. For another lyrical memoir by a falconer, try Richard Hines'
No Way But Gentlenesse
Birdology: Adventures with Hip Hop Parrots, Cantankerous Cassowaries, Crabby Crows...
Sy Montgomery
What makes a bird a bird? To find out, nature writer Sy Montgomery observes and interacts with specimens ranging from bean-sized baby hummingbirds to six-foot-tall, 150-pound cassowaries. Describing seven encounters with birds, including Montgomery's own backyard flock and the dancing cockatoo whose moves made him an internet celebrity, this upbeat book by the author of
The Soul of an Octopus
will delight animal lovers with its enthusiasm and gentle humor.
The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About...
Noah Strycker
What do penguins fear? How do pigeons find their way home? Why do bowerbirds build such elaborate nests? Noah Strycker, an associate editor for
explores these and other questions. Divided into three sections, "Body," "Mind," and "Spirit," this book considers behaviors specific to birds, such as homing instincts and the pecking order, as well as those once attributed solely to humans, such as self-awareness, the creation of art, and romantic love. For more insight into bird behavior, try Tim Birkhead's
Bird Sense: What It's Like to Be a Bird
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Bloomington Public Library
205 E. Olive St
Bloomington, Illinois 61701


text:
Anthony Smith is a four-year-old boy from New Hampshire who was born with a chromosomal disorder that left him mostly deaf. He started wearing a hearing aid, which he calls "blue ear" because it's blue, and it made a huge difference in his life by allowing him to go to school and socialize more easily with people. But a few weeks ago he suddenly refused to wear it anymore. He told his mom it was because "superheroes don't wear blue ears." Oh, the heart strings, they are twisting already. His mother, desperate to convince him to keep using his "blue ear," sent an email to Marvel comics asking if there were any superheroes who had hearing aids. They wrote her back the next day and sent her a picture of Hawkeye, a superhero who suffered hearing loss in the line of duty and actually does wear a hearing aid.
But one of their comic book artists did something else which will make your eyes mist profusely: he drew a picture of Anthony with Hawkeye and also one of Blue Ear, a brand new superhero who wears a blue hearing aid. His mother says Anthony immediately latched onto the picture of Blue Ear and wouldn't let it go. He started wearing his blue ear again, and says he's now going "fight bad guys and help people." He's off to a good start. He brought his new drawings to his preschool, which is for hearing-impaired kids, and spread the inspiration around. You can see a video of the adorable Anthony here, which is guaranteed to brighten your day.
Marvel Comics creates superhero in honor of NH boy [MyFoxBoston via The Daily What]


text:
Gaelic at heart
A weekend of sports in Dublin has fans and visitors alike riveted by fast-paced matches. Ireland is home to sports that are completely unknown on the continent.
All of Dublin has come out for today's hurling game. At least, that is what it looks like from the stands of Croke Park. Europe's third largest stadium is in a residential area. Two-story red or yellow houses with narrow yards line three of its sides. The fourth borders on a canal. 82 000 spectators dressed in white and blue or crimson and white arrive on foot at the stadium in Drumcondra district for the giant family festival.
On foot? "You can't drive your car to the stadium," says J.J. Daly, "because we don't have any parking." American visitors are particularly surprised to see a major sports event like this taking place without lots of available parking. J.J. Daly works for the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). He is used to seeing visitors stand open-mouthed when they see how approachable, raw and authentic the big Gaelic games have remained for the past 130-odd years: Hurling, a hard, fast-paced combination of rugby and handball, and Gaelic football, a mix of rugby and soccer. There's no celebrity posturing, no bonuses (at least not officially), no dramatic diving. "All the players are amateurs, they're students or have day jobs," Daly explains. Leaving their team to play for another county would never occur to anyone here.
Hurling has a massive cultural significance in Ireland, and is far more than just a sport. There are 15 players on a side. The playing time is 70 minutes and the pitch is roughly one-and-a-half times the size of a soccer pitch. Points are made by hitting the ball (the sliotar) with a bat (a hurley) into or over the opposing team's goal. Players are allowed to take four steps carrying the sliotar but then they have to pass it or hit it. Brave players run with it lying on the bat's rounded edge while the craziest and most talented juggle the ball as they run. Every few seconds, one sturdy 100-kilo man crashes into another. Even the qualification matches between counties are a traditional spectacle full of circus-worthy acrobatics. At the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final, twelve minutes before the whistle, Galway's Conor Cooney, a 24-year-old elementary school teacher, is beset by two Waterford players at the center of the pitch. He staggers, swings and while falling, hits the ball over his shoulder. It whizzes between the goal posts behind him, 70 meters away. The fans go wild. What an incredible feat! It's one of the decisive points on the way to a 26:23 win.
Two hours later, Drumcondra is a bright happy place with multitudes of people descending on the pubs around Croke Park. They congregate in and in front of Quinn's, Big Tree and James Gill's Corner House, whose outer walls are painted with hurling and Gaelic football motifs. The beer fetchers wait patiently inside. There are 150 happy fans outside on this late- summer day, drinking Guinness from plastic cups at 5.40 euros per pint. Nobody here looks like they would break anything out of joy or frustration, but just to be sure, breakable glasses are prohibited outdoors. A few SUVs and many compact cars crawl down the North Circular Road. At the red light outside James Gill's Corner House, they roll down their windows and wave or call out. Irish folk music drifts over. Then a van appears around the corner carrying the victorious Galway team. No tinted windows, no police escort. The sparkling Liam-MacCarthy trophy can be seen beside the driver. The Galway fans hold their smartphones in the air.
Ireland's cultural heritage lives in sports that are unknown on the continent, but which everyone here grows up playing
A trip to Dublin can be healing for anyone in search of a remedy against over-exposure to commercial sports. Hurling and Gaelic football matches take place every weekend. And it's not the tattoos, fast cars or crazy hairdos that give players their charisma, but passion and skill. Delve into the country's local sports and you will find in a strange world. Ireland's cultural heritage lives in sports that are largely unknown on the continent, but that nearly every Irish child grows up playing. Dublin alone has about 100 GAA clubs.
"Hurling has been around forever," says Aron Shanagher, 21, a student from Stillorgan district who plays a small-side variation with seven players. "I've been playing with my friends from the county since I was five years old." It's a sunny morning. The clubhouse is selling coffee, waffles and jerseys for babies in the colors of the best hurling teams. Elderly Irishmen in windbreakers study the program: a whole morning of great sporting entertainment for just 10 euros.
Ireland has also imported sports, like rugby and football (aka soccer) from England, but they are no match for their Gaelic competitors when it comes to popularity. It's easy to get tickets to first-division League of Ireland games. There are gems like the Bohemians Dublin, one of the world's oldest soccer clubs owned by its members, which plays at Dalymount Park. But open The Irish Times or The Irish Independent a day after a game and you'll only find a short soccer report – and eight pages on the hurling final."
The Irish like rugby but they carry the Gaelic games in their hearts," says Cormac O'Donnchú, putting on our helmets with wire face guards and pressing a hurley and a bucket of sliotar into our hands. Here on the GAA premises in northern Dublin, Cormac and his wife Georgina arrange excursions into the world of Gaelic sports. He's an inspiring instructor. A group of young Austrian women is taking turns trying to hit the sliotar (pronounced shlittar). It's a lot more difficult than it looks from the stands. The best hurlers can hit it a distance of more than 70 meters. We pass the Gaelic football back and forth and take turns shooting. Then it's handball time with Liam. This sport is a bit like squash but you hit the ball with the palm of your hand rather than a racket. Nobody here has ever heard of European handball.
This evening, it's only a 20-minute drive from the Gaelic games to a top amateur rugby game. Lansdowne is playing a derby against Dublin at University College in the south of the city: free admission, floodlights, Astroturf, 100 spectators. "What's the score?" we ask, arriving 10 minutes late. "10:3?" "No, 10:6," says a woman in a down coat. "Good tackle, lad," she shouts at the Lansdowne captain Ian Prendiville, 27, and the star of the team. He learned to play at Clongowes Wood College, a famous rugby school in Leinster Province, but never made the pros and now works in accounting. Prendiville is short and sturdy. The steam rises from his jersey and he apologizes for having to catch his breath. "Rugby is a contact sport and a team sport. Everything you do, you do for your teammates. There's a place for everyone, that's what I like about rugby." Like all of the athletes we meet, Prendiville's roots lie in the Gaelic games. He has played Gaelic football and he loves hurling. "I don't have the right body for it, but I like hurling because it comes from the competition between rival clans – nobody wants to give up the ball." Hurling was mentioned as a "prelude" to the Battle of Moytura, which according to ancient Irish mythology took place around 3500 years ago and in which the Túatha Dé Danann are said to have defeated the Fir Bolg in both the game and the battle. The occupying English, who did everything they could to ban the game, likely only increased its popularity.
Hurling is a national game. The future is playing out on a field near the highway leading to Belfast. The sliotar plops against the hurley as Ellie, Lizzie, Eva and Natasha hit the ball. It's St. Jude's against Na Fianna, a youth derby played by young girls 12 and under. They're playing camogie, the women's version of hurling. There aren't so many goals but plenty of tears due to sprained thumbs and broken fingernails. Ellie has been playing camogie since she was three, usually on Saturdays. Sundays was Gaelic football day. She has also played hockey and soccer. Irish children evidently never just play just one sport. Ellie is looking forward to next week's camogie final between Cork and Kilkenny in Croke Park: "I want to play there too one day."
Two teams of seniors one field over are knocking themselves out: running, gasping, swearing as they play Gaelic football. The force and precision with which one man slams the ball between the goalposts clearly shows that he's a veteran of the game. His teammates raise their arms in jubilation. They'll have a drink to celebrate, perhaps even two… but later.
Tips for Dublin before and after the game
Match Munchies
The Dublin Pizza Company (Aungier Street) serves pizza until late at night.
Watering hole
Want to meet the locals? Head to Sheehan's (Chatham Street), a traditional pub.
Fancy feet
Colorful socks from Avoca Handweavers in Suffolk Street make great gifts.
Sleep it off
The O'Callaghan Mont Clare Hotel has a superb location and good service.
Getting there from Germany
In September, Lufthansa flies to Dublin (DUB) four times daily from Frankfurt (FRA) and twice daily from Munich (MUC). Use the app to calculate your miles. Download here:


text:
In addition to GJEL Accident Attorneys, a San Francisco law firm specializing in auto injuries, Ray LaHood, President Obama's distracted-by-distraction Transportation Secretary, is a big fan of Justin Bieber. Who knew?
He's also a fan of Jordin Sparks. Which makes us wonder — does LaHood have a thing for young girls?


text:
In my practice, I can only help people get healthier and lose weight if they follow my advice. Unfortunately, there are far too many people who don't have the will power to make these permanent healthy choices. For these people, I recommend they use Dr. Roberta Temes' medical hypnosis program at home. These professional sessions seem to make people "want" to make these changes at a deep enough level to increase their success rate significantly. So if will power is a problem for you, I strongly recommend you try these sessions.
— Joel Fuhrman M.D.
Board-certified family physician,
NY Times best-selling author and nutritional researcher
Matt Hoover, Season II Biggest Loser Winner, was not feeling too good about himself after he gained back 55 pounds of the fat he had worked so hard to lose.
Since he had made a career out of being a weight loss motivational speaker, he felt like a hypocrite. The problem was that without the contained environment of the show (with the cooks and the 1-on-1 training), he had not learned self discipline.
He knew how to lose weight; he just did not have the right mindset to follow through.
Matt was raised in a small town in Iowa, is very religious and the last thing in the world he thought would help him would be hypnosis! That is just some gimmick they do in county fairs and in bad late night movies.
But because Dave told him about the quality of the therapist and the research behind medical hypnosis (and because Dave is well respected and is known for his lack of BS), Matt agreed to give it a try.
Matt was excited, he told us that for the first time in his life he actually felt in control of his eating. And he was motivated again to start exercising.
We told him we were glad the program was working and to give us a call if he continued to see success.
It has been a few years, and Matt not only lost the weight he had gained after the show...he has kept it off because it now comes from the inside.
Nothing has been more satisfying than reading the positive letters and emails that come pouring in from customers of Enjoying Weight Loss.
This program helps people get control when they had none before.
Read below and see how this program has helped Rebecca, Terrisa, and Christine eliminate the self sabotage, gain control over their lives and lose a whole lot of weight!
Are these folks any different than you? No, they are not. They simply put aside their doubts and gave Enjoying Weight Loss a try. As a result, they are now losing more weight than they ever have before. They are eating less, exercising more, and shedding unhealthy fat more quickly than they ever imagined.
The Hypnosis Network is clearly the best resource for audio hypnosis programs available today. Their programs are recorded by the top professionals in the field and careful research has shown me that they are a high integrity company which is why I strongly recommend their guaranteed programs.
— Dr. Joseph Mercola
New York Times
Best-selling author
Because we believe so strongly that this program can change your life, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to give it a try.
First, we are going to give you a 33% price reduction on our download only version, taking the total price down from 3 payments of $39.66 to 3 payments of $26.33. To put this in perspective, just one session with Dr. Temes in person will cost you at least $240.
This program consists of seven sessions, so it would cost you $1,680 if you were to get all seven of these sessions in person (and that is if you can get an appointment). This is actually why we created this program, so people could also get the same lifesaving results that Dr. Temes provides her celebrity clients at an affordable price.
Then we are going to add another hypnosis program, created by Dr. Neil Fiore, called Mental Toughness. The reason for this is to eliminate any and all barriers that may arise during your weight loss journey.
The Mental Toughness sessions are specifically created to ensure that you have the perseverance to overcome any obstacle that stands in the way of any goal you may be trying to achieve. Users report that they simply feel unstoppable. This is normally a $39 program, but today we are going to give it to you free with the weight loss hypnosis program.
Finally, we are also including The Coping with Stress and Anxiety Ebook, another $39 value, yours free as well. Since stress saps your health and makes it harder to lose weight, we thought you could benefit from it as well.
In short, you can end the struggle and finally get to the weight that makes you look and feel wonderful, plus get $78 worth of valuable bonuses (that are yours to keep even if you return the product) for only three payments of $26.33. This is less than the cost of dinner for two at a chain restaurant!
I almost forgot, we offer an unheard of 1 Year No Questions Asked Guarantee. We can do this because we know that 9 out of 10 people who buy will be successful. If it doesn't work for you, you can still keep the bonuses.
Simply click the "ADD TO CART" button below to be taken to our 100% secure order form. Remember your satisfaction is guaranteed and backed by our ONE YEAR no questions asked guarantee!
Select the payment plan that works best for you.
Enjoying Weight Loss Download
$119 - Now Only $79
Mental Toughness Download
Enjoying Weight Loss 5CDs
$119 - Now Only $97
Mental Toughness 2CDs
Enjoying Weight Loss 5CDs + Download
$238 - Now Only $119
Mental Toughness 2CDs + Download
Hypnosis is one of the most misunderstood (and effective!) tools for self-change available in the world today.
When you say "hypnosis," most people think of magic shows, silly stage acts, and possibly even witchcraft.
Frankly, nothing could be further from the truth.
Hypnosis is simply this: a relaxed state of focused attention that allows people to control and change mental and physiological patterns that can't be changed in everyday awareness.
The use of hypnosis to treat disease (also called "hypnotherapy") has been around for more than half a century. In fact, the British Medical Association approved the use of hypnotherapy in 1955. The American Medical Association approved its use in 1958.
As you might imagine, if major medical associations have approved the use of hypnosis to treat disease, imagine how powerful it is when treating thought patterns that stand in the way of the slim body you deserve!
The Power of Hypnosis has not been Lost on the Mainstream Media as you can see below:
As a "Thank You" for coming to our site, we have compiled 20 strategies you can use Right Now to trick your mind into losing fat.
The retail value of this report is $19, but today we are making it available for you to download for FREE.
Thanks for requesting your free copy of Scientific Weight Loss Secrets: Tips from the Psychological Research by Dr. Roberta Temes.
Watch your email for the link to the report. It will be emailed to you within the next 20 minutes.
Numerous clinical studies have proven that hypnosis is amazingly effective in helping folks lose weight:
The bottom line here is that when hypnosis sessions are added to various weight loss programs, the results are always better — more than 146% better over the long term!
Your order is risk-free with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Results like this don't just come from any hypnosis program.
Since 2005, The Hypnosis Network has been creating home use hypnosis audio programs with the goal of creating the absolute best program for every issue where hypnosis is proven to be effective.
The reason why we have had favorable reviews in the health section of The New York Times, Shape Magazine, About.com, Natural News.com, Choice Magazine, and numerous health blogs is because we take our therapist selection very seriously.
The Secret is Specialization
All of our Therapists have doctorates in psychology and are known experts in the subject they create sessions for.
Think about it like this, if you are having stomach issues you first see a doctor who is a general practitioner. The doctor checks you out, and might give you a prescription and some advice.
But if this doesn't work, the doctor then sends you to a specialist who has more expertise with your specific issue.
It works the same way in psychology. A general practitioner can usually help you, but when all else fails they call in a specialist.
As you'll see, there's nobody in the world as qualified as she is to help you re-program your mind to lose weight fast. Nobody can even come close.
Not only does Roberta Temes, Ph.D. have her doctorate degree in counseling psychology from The Union Institute, she's also a published author, editor, and certified hypnotherapist.
Dr. Temes is the editor of Medical Hypnosis, the first medical textbook addressing hypnosis. She is also a member of the faculty of SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn, NY.
More importantly, Dr. Temes has been helping people lose weight easily and quickly for over 30 years! She is involved in research at The National Weight Loss Registry (the largest prospective investigation of long-term successful weight loss maintenance at Brown Medical School.)
This database consists of over 5000 people who have lost an average of 66 lbs and kept it off for 5.5 years. So you know that Dr. Temes' advice is not based on intuition, the new psychology fad of the day, or old wive's tales. Dr. Temes program is based on extensive research into the psychology of effective weight loss.
This has been my first successful experience with hypnosis. I have tried similar products in the past without results, but am glad I persevered and found this professional program… What is most amazing after all my failed attempts at weight loss is the ease of sticking with my program since using the CD's! For the first time in my adult life I feel like I am in control of my response to food
— Angela Roberts
Somerville, New Jersey
I was very skeptical but called and talked to someone in sales and was reassured that there is no gimmick — money back within a year if you aren't happy…I am now down 20 pounds and still have not had any problems with stress eating (my lifetime habit is to overeat). .. people are finally beginning to notice. I personally thank you for your program even though I don't understand how it works. I am starting to like who I see in the mirror.
— Syndi Ellison
Advertising & Finance Manager
Washington State Magazine
Enjoying Weight Loss is fabulous. Thought I forgot all about it yesterday, until I realized that I ate breakfast (which I rarely do), drank a lot of water, had a veggie dinner and DIDN'T EAT ANY SUGAR . . . A MIRACLE!
— Ann Carlo
Sag Harbor, New York
Dr. Temes has created a truly marvelous program - and you can tell the moment you start listening. There is the soft sound of violins, Dr. Temes' soothing voice, the positive suggestions. Not to mention the content itself is some of the most life-changing material you'll ever hear. Each session in the program has a very specific purpose. I've listed their titles for you.
In each session, Dr. Temes uses hypnosis techniques to put you into a relaxed state — a trance, if you will — so that both your conscious and subconscious mind are working together to learn as fast and effectively as possible.
You are still totally in control. You can stand up and walk away at any time. In fact, a telephone call can break the trance, which is why it's important to be in a quiet environment.
As you enter this relaxed "learning" state, Dr. Temes walks you through exercises specific to your stage of the journey. These exercises are simple and effective. As you follow her instructions, you will be creating lasting change in your life - so that you achieve a healthy weight as quickly as possible.
The recorded sessions you'll be listening to are so packed with information and exercises-and the audio is so crisp and so clear — It's Like Having a Private Session With Dr. Temes Herself!
Don't be surprised if you reach the end of a session and forget you're still at home. That's how relaxed and "in the moment" you'll be.
Since each session builds on the one before, you will notice more and more positive change the deeper you go.
And best of all, you can repeat the program as often as you like, to make sure your new slim thoughts are embedded into your subconscious mind.
Your order is risk-free with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
I feel totally grateful for The Hypnosis Network's CD programs. I have enjoyed using them with my many clients and for myself. They are professionally done and an essential tool for safe and effective weight loss. Again I highly recommend this product.
— David Grisaffi, C.H.E.K, CFT, PN, Corrective Exercise Kinesiologist
Author, Firm and Flatten Your Abs
I have been using the Enjoying Weight Loss program with my patients who tell me they don't even think about "bad" food anymore . . . it's just a fact in their mind. They find it easy to change self-destructive behavior and "stay with the program" that I recommend. This has always been my biggest challenge as a clinician.
— Dr. Deborah Baker-Racine
Huntsville, Canada
I'm listening to track 3 at this point and I'm making better food choices. I'm eating out of smaller plates and bowls. This is something I would never have done before. I'm eating smaller portions of healthy foods. I just seem to be doing this because it feels right. It's almost like I can't help it . . .
— Anna Crowley
Chestnut Mound, Tennessee
I have purchased the Enjoying Weight Loss CD's and have been using them since Christmas. I am a lifetime Weight Watcher member who has been 15 pounds from goal weight for at least a year without any success at getting closer. I never put on any more than that, but I have been unable to get the last 15 pounds off to get back to my lifetime goal that I reached originally in 2000.
I, so far, think it is just hilarious how much I like my water now. I have also planned my meals ahead without thinking about it and I have gotten more exercise than I have in months. I think I was the only person in my WW home group who actually lost weight between Christmas and New Year's.
— Kathy Hubbard
Lebo, Kansas
Weight Watchers Lifetime Member
I've been buying, licensing, and testing hypnosis CDs since 2002. Until I discovered the quality work from The Hypnosis Network, I had never found a company whose CDs I liked enough to recommend to my website and newsletter readers. Now, in December of 2006, I'm testing Enjoying Weight Loss by Dr. Roberta Temes. I can already see that it's a weight loss aide I'll be proud to recommend for many years to come.
— Chet Day
Publisher of Health & Beyond Weekly
My mom sent me your Weight Loss hypnosis CDs (as a not-so-subtle hint). I was about 40 pounds overweight and had already tried hypnosis for weight loss before with no results, so I was not optimistic. I have never been able to follow a diet for over 3 weeks, so I decided that this time I would use your CDs in combination with The South Beach Diet and see what happened. It has now been a little over 2 months and I have lost 25 pounds! The best part is that following the diet has been easy this time — it is almost like I can't NOT follow it.
— Kevin Goodrich
Computer Software Engineer
Miami, Florida
Are these folks any different than you? No, they are not. They simply put aside their doubts and gave Enjoying Weight Loss a try. As a result, they are now losing more weight than they ever have before. They are eating less, exercising more, and shedding unhealthy fat more quickly than they ever imagined.
I'm confident the same thing can happen for you.
How can I say that?
First, the feedback. It's resoundingly positive. Real people are getting real results, even though they've struggled for years to lose weight.
Second, clinical studies prove conclusively that hypnosis will help you get better results from whatever you're currently doing to drop pounds. If you listen to the program as directed, you will lose more weight than you would without it.
Now, you should know that Dr. Temes' time is very valuable. If you were to hire her for just one hypnosis session, it'd cost you $240 or more.
Since Enjoying Weight Loss contains over 7 genuine hypnosis sessions, you're really getting well over $1,000 worth of Dr. Temes' time.
But you won't have to pay $1,000. In fact, you won't even pay $200. You can experience the healthiest years of your life for just $79 (download version) or $97 (for CDs).
Hesitant to spend $97 right now? You can divide your purchase into three monthly installments. Just choose the installment payment option at checkout.
The best part is, your purchase is totally risk free. Because you're covered by . . .
Request your own copy of Enjoying Weight Loss today. Put it to the test in the comfort of your own home for a full year.
Then, if for some strange reason you decide the program isn't right for you, you can return it for a full refund of your product price.
But it gets even better . . .
So you won't spend a second deliberating . . . and to encourage you to take advantage of this generous return policy today . . . we have arranged a very special bonus for you — valued at $39.00!
Place your order today and you'll also receive . . .
In Mental Toughness, Dr. Neil Fiore will show you how to overcome setbacks in your life, how to finish difficult projects, and how to stick to your goals when the going gets tough. (Very important when you're losing weight.)
Dr. Fiore uses his 30 years of clinical experience combined with hypnosis to quickly produce dramatic, positive results.
Plus, Mental Toughness is the perfect companion to Enjoying Weight Loss, and it's yours free simply for taking action today.
WARNING: Because the number of bonus programs available is limited, this special incentive is only guaranteed until they run out. We reserve the right to remove this offer at any time.
And just to sweeten the deal even more, when you order now, you'll also receive . . .
Dr. Randy Gilchrist, a Hypnosis Network therapist who specializes in stress management, created this 33-page ebook as a tool to teach his patients to cope with stress in healthy ways.
Since stress saps your health and makes it harder to lose weight, we thought you could benefit from it as well.
It's a $39 value, FREE to you with our best wishes for your success.
If you have any interest in losing weight and improving your health as quickly as possible, what are you waiting for?
If you've read this far, then you've already made it clear that you are a person who is serious about losing weight as quickly and effortlessly as possible. You've demonstrated the kind of commitment it takes to shatter thought patterns that make you unhealthy and begin achieving your weight loss goals. Now it's time to turn that potential into reality. Simply click the link below and complete the form on the following page.
Remember, you have a full year to evaluate the Enjoying Weight Loss program. If at any time during that year you decide you're not totally satisfied, simply return the program for a full refund of your money, less shipping costs.
And even if you return your program, the bonus is yours to keep as our way of saying thanks.
Just click the link below to get started. The entire checkout process should take you about a minute.
Many people have asked about how our shipments are packaged, mainly because of privacy concerns. We want you to know that we understand those concerns.
The vast majority of our domestic shipments are delivered via USPS.
To protect your privacy, an absolute minimum of information is displayed on the shipping label. Even our return address is noted as "HN Shipping," rather than "The Hypnosis Network."
Typical shipment as you will receive it is shown here.
Simply click the "ADD TO CART" button below to be taken to our 100% secure order form. Remember your satisfaction is guaranteed and backed by our ONE YEAR no questions asked guarantee!
Select the payment plan that works best for you.
Enjoying Weight Loss Download
$119 - Now Only $79
Mental Toughness Download
Enjoying Weight Loss 5CDs
$119 - Now Only $97
Mental Toughness 2CDs
Enjoying Weight Loss 5CDs + Download
$238 - Now Only $119
Mental Toughness 2CDs + Download
|Enjoying Weight Loss is a 4-CD program.
|Therapist: Dr. Roberta Temes
Thank you for purchasing our very popular program, Enjoying Weight Loss.
This program uses hypnosis to help you adhere to your chosen diet and exercise program. Tens of thousands of people are using the sessions to make losing weight easier, and to ensure that they are able to make an ongoing lifestyle change beyond the normal "yo-yo" dieting scenario that most of us know too well.
The use of hypnosis for weight loss has now been validated in numerous studies. Most importantly, research shows the effects of hypnosis are even more significant over the long term.
You will be using actual hypnosis sessions created by Dr. Roberta Temes, an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the Downstate Medical School of the State University of New York (SUNY), and editor of Medical Hypnosis, the first hypnosis textbook used in medical schools.
This program is not designed to be a "quick fix," as crash diets are neither safe nor effective. Instead, the program is based on medical research conducted on over 5,000 ordinary people who have successfully lost large amounts of weight and kept the weight off for a significant length of time.
This program will help you make ongoing lifestyle changes in your eating and exercise behaviors.
Enjoying Weight Loss comes to you on four CD disks. Except for disk #1, all of the disks consist of two or three hypnotic tracks. The first disk contains the program introduction, and an introduction to hypnosis.
What can I expect in the first 3 weeks?
After the initial three-week period, you will notice subtle changes to your daily routine. Perhaps you are drinking more water, and snacking less. Maybe you notice yourself eating (and enjoying) more vegetables, or perhaps you are now being satisfied with smaller portion sizes. The changes are not going to hit you over the head like a hammer. They will be subtle, but noticeable.
You will also notice that going into hypnosis becomes easier as you learn to allow the sessions to work for you.
Enjoying Weight Loss comes to you as a downloadable MP3 format. With the exception of Sessions 1 and 2, the remaining sessions are all hypnotic.
What can I expect in the first 3 weeks?
After the initial three-week period, you will notice subtle changes to your daily routine. Perhaps you are drinking more water, and snacking less. Maybe you notice yourself eating (and enjoying) more vegetables, or perhaps you are now being satisfied with smaller portion sizes. The changes are not going to hit you over the head like a hammer. They will be subtle, but noticeable.
You will also notice that going into hypnosis becomes easier as you learn to allow the sessions to work for you.
Can I be hypnotized? What if I'm "resistant"?
People of average intelligence (unless there is some form of organic brain damage) can be hypnotized in most cases if they are willing and do not resist.
The depth of hypnosis varies with a person's ability to respond. If you are not a naturally responsive subject, you can improve your receptivity to hypnosis with practice.
If you are totally resistant to the intent of the program you are considering, then it's not for you. You can't use hypnosis if you don't want to, because no one can hypnotize you against your will.
How should I use this program for maximum effectiveness?
A comfortable chair is the best place to listen, although a couch will also work. If you are listening to these in bed, for the first cycle it will be best if you do not go into a deep sleep unless so stated by the hypnosis session itself. After the first cycle, you may use the sessions before bedtime (they make great sleep aids). Do not try to listen at your computer – experience shows that it won't work.
These sessions work best when you are undisturbed and comfortable. Please make sure your phone ringer is off and that you will not be disturbed for a 25-minute period. Headphones are OK, but are not necessary.
Listen to only one session a day - the introduction does not count as a session. The sessions are incremental and should be listened to in the order presented on the CDs. We do recommend that you repeat each session at least four times before moving on to the next session. You will find that the programs will be the most effective if you listen at least 5 days a week for a minimum of three weeks . . . changing behavior is not going to happen overnight.
Once you have listened to all the sessions in order, we suggest that you go back and re-listen to the sessions that you find most relevant. The listening order can now be mixed.
If you have multiple programs from The Hypnosis Network, please complete each program separately and completely before moving on to another one.
How do I know if it is working? How will I know if I am actually hypnotized while listening to the sessions?
The experience of hypnosis is different for everyone. For many people, hypnosis is much like reading a good book. You are absorbed, but are still aware of your environment and your internal dialogue.
The depth of the trance has no effect on your results. The best way to notice if the hypnosis is working is to notice your decisions during the day surrounding food and exercise. Gradually, it will be easier and easier to make the right decisions.
Can I listen while sleeping?
It is not a good idea to listen to the hypnosis sessions while lying down to go to bed. If you fall asleep, the sessions will not be effective. A great time to listen is in the morning when you wake up, or in the evening when you get home from work.
Will the program work if I fall asleep while I'm listening?
Probably not, but sometimes hypnosis is confused with sleep. If you wake up at the end of each session, then you were in a deep trance and were not asleep – which is excellent! If you wake up hours later, then you were asleep and the session will not be effective.
What if I stay completely aware during the hypnosis session?
The hypnosis sessions on these CDs are pretty light, meaning that it is not like the movies. You're not going to become a zombie.
Some people experience the sessions in the way you would experience a great work of fiction. You are totally absorbed, but are aware of the outside world. Other people (usually if they are tired or really need the relaxation) get so absorbed that they do not remember listening to the session. Either way, you will get results. The results are not tied to "going under," but instead are tied to the focusing.
Can I listen while driving?
Absolutely not. Never listen to a hypnosis session while driving or engaged in any activity that requires your attention. Please listen in a quiet place where you will be undisturbed, without operating a vehicle or any dangerous machinery.
Can I contact someone if I still have questions?
Yes! Please let us know if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions. We always welcome customer input.
How to contact us:
US and Canada toll free: 888-332-6463
Other international callers: +1 817-566-0050
Or you can email us at email@example.com.
We want to see you succeed, and we are here to help you! Please contact us if you need any assistance.
Do you ship overseas? Do you ship to APO boxes?
Yes, absolutely. Many of our customers live outside the United States.
Orders shipped to Canada will ship from the United States using USPS (US $19.95 flat rate).
Orders shipped to the United Kingdom, Ireland, other European Union countries, and Australia will ship from a nearby location using the local postal service (US $9.95 flat rate). See details at checkout. No import duties or handling fees should be assessed for any of these locations.
Orders to other international addresses will ship via the U.S. Postal Service Global Priority Mail for a flat rate of $19.95. Our prices do not include duties or value-added taxes. If assessed, these charges are the responsibility of the package recipient, who will be billed for them by the local Customs office.
Shipments to APO boxes are sent by Priority Mail using the U.S. Postal Service. NOTE: We cannot track shipments sent via the U.S. Postal Service and cannot guarantee delivery times.
What if it doesn't work? Do I have to try the product for a year before returning it?
No. If you purchase a Hypnosis Network program directly from us, you can return the program at any time within a period of one year after your order date for a full refund of the purchase price. (Your order date is printed on your receipt.) Most people know within about 2 months whether a program will be effective or not, but we like to give you plenty of time so you do not feel rushed.
Simply click the "ADD TO CART" button below to be taken to our 100% secure order form. Remember your satisfaction is guaranteed and backed by our ONE YEAR no questions asked guarantee!
Select the payment plan that works best for you.
Enjoying Weight Loss Download
$119 - Now Only $79
Mental Toughness Download
Enjoying Weight Loss 5CDs
$119 - Now Only $97
Mental Toughness 2CDs
Enjoying Weight Loss 5CDs + Download
$238 - Now Only $119
Mental Toughness 2CDs + Download
Dr. Temes is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hypnosis, and editor of Medical Hypnosis, the first medical textbook addressing hypnosis. She is a member of the faculty of SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn, NY, and the Department of Psychology at Union County College in New Jersey. Dr. Temes lives in New Jersey.EDUCATION
Enjoying Weight Loss - eat right, exercise more, and lose weight easily
Weight Loss For Life - eliminate old behaviors to lose weight for life
We offer a one-year no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.
If you are not getting the results you expected from any of our programs, you can return the product within one year of your order date with no questions asked. Your order date is printed on your receipt.
We honor all people as unique individuals and will NEVER share any correspondence (whether it be written or verbal) with anyone outside of the company without your written consent.
Furthermore, it is our commitment to protecting the privacy rights of anyone who visits our site.
We collect email addresses of those who ask to receive free downloads of our products, those who subscribe to our newsletter, those who sign up for our free teleseminars, and of customers who order products.
We will only use these email addresses to send you unique product offerings and discounts, information about your order, or information specific to lists you may subscribe to. You will always have the option of removing yourself from a list by following a link that is at the bottom of all of our newsletters.
Furthermore, we do not sell trade or otherwise share any information about our site visitors with third parties.
Right now, you'll receive FREE U.S. shipping with your purchase!
If you chooose this option and your order is under 13 ounces, your package will ship via USPS First-Class Mail. Larger orders will ship via USPS Priority Mail.
Without this promotion, UPS Ground shipping usually varies from $7-11, depending on delivery location.
We honor all people as unique individuals and will NEVER share any correspondence (whether it be written or verbal) with anyone outside of the company without your written consent.
Furthermore, it is our commitment to protecting the privacy rights of anyone who visits our site.
We collect email addresses of those who ask to receive free downloads of our products, those who subscribe to our newsletter, those who sign up for our free teleseminars, and of customers who order products.
We will only use these email addresses to send you unique product offerings and discounts, information about your order, or information specific to lists you may subscribe to. You will always have the option of removing yourself from a list by following a link that is at the bottom of all of our newsletters.
Furthermore, we do not sell trade or otherwise share any information about our site visitors with third parties.
We offer a one-year no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.
If you are not getting the results you expected from any of our programs, you can return the product within one year of your order date with no questions asked. Your order date is printed on your receipt.


text:
For the second consecutive year, Hope College has led all NCAA Division III volleyball programs in home attendance.
This past fall the Flying Dutch averaged 802 fans over 12 home dates to top the 400 Division III volleyball programs. Runnerup Heidelberg, Ohio was a close second with an average of 790.
"What a blessing it is to be a part of a community that cares so deeply about Hope College and our student-athletes," said coach Becky Schmidt. We are very grateful for the support that we have received and look forward to continuing the growth of volleyball for both players and spectators alike."
Hope led the nation in home attendance for the first time in 2009. The Flying Dutch have played at DeVos Fieldhouse for five seasons and have a dedicated space for volleyball. It provides an exciting environment for the team's matches. Some matches are moved to the main court of the arena where twice last season crowds exceeded 2,000 fans.
Hope posted a 12-0 record on their home court and in five seasons are 55-5 at DeVos Fieldhouse.
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) ranked third among all Division III conferences in home attendance last fall, averaging 249 fans across 89 home dates by the nine member colleges. Three other MIAA colleges ranked among the top 50 in Division III -- #27 Olivet 278, #31 Alma 255 and #37 Calvin 232. The leading conference was the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association with an average of 252 fans per match.


text:
Check out the latest RPG news | Podcasts | Twitch Streams
Also, how do I raise the altitude of the airship? Is that an ability for later?
You unlock it pretty shortly after entering the second area.
I think I said "grinding" and meant a different context - I view most dungeon crawlers as a whole as "grinding" since they're almost entirely combat and exploration. I didn't mean it in the "oh man I have to fight a bunch of enemies to get past the next thing". In fact, EOIV has a pretty damn smooth difficulty curve, though things got really easy after I got subclassing - regen w/ active circle for an arcanist made it so I almost never died.
The flowers on the walls of the first and second mazes, water down the walls in the third, so on, that mark the passage. Once you recognize it, it's easy.On a similar note, that cave where 80% of the secret passages damaged you was an absolute and utter nightmare.


text:
At Uber, we ignite opportunity by setting the world in motion. We take on big problems to help drivers, riders, delivery partners, and eaters get moving in more than 600 cities around the world.
We welcome people from all backgrounds who seek the opportunity to help build a future where everyone and everything can move independently. If you have the curiosity, passion, and collaborative spirit, work with us, and let's move the world forward, together.
About the Role
At ATG, Research scientists create the next generation of artificial intelligence algorithms to help Uber improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. You will collaborate and exchange research ideas with our current team, which includes world-renowned scientists specializing in deep learning, computer vision, and self-driving. You will also interact with the international research community by publishing research papers and attend conferences. We value original, high-impact ideas and rigorous experimental validation. Both senior and junior scientists are welcome to apply.
What You'll Do
Design, implement, train, and optimize novel algorithms that run at extremely low-latency on self-driving Uber vehicles and various production systems
Utilize large datasets of of various sources, including raw sensor data such as Lidar, using large GPU compute clusters
Collaborate cross-functionally with research and engineering teams at Uber and communicate your work to colleagues and management
Write patents and submit publications to top machine learning, computer vision, and robotics conferences
What You'll Need
A degree in a machine learning related discipline — positions are available at the PhD, MS, and BS levels
A very strong quantitative background
Excellent software development skills in C/C++ and/or Python
Knowledge of machine learning commensurate with education/experience level and a strong publication record as relevant to education level
Excellent presentation and communication skills
Machine learning areas of special interests include: CNNs, RNNs, distributed GPU computing, detection, prediction, motion planning, mapping and localization
About the Team
At ATG, we are ambitious, engaged and excited about transforming the way the world moves. With locations in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Toronto, the Advanced Technologies Group is comprised of Uber's self-driving engineering team dedicated to self-driving technologies, mapping, and vehicle safety. Our teams are passionate about developing long-term technologies that advance Uber's mission of bringing safe, reliable transportation to everyone, everywhere.
At Uber, we believe technology has the power to make transportation more efficient, accessible, and safer than ever before. Self-driving technology has the potential to make these benefits an everyday reality for our customers, but it's not going to happen overnight. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and safety is our priority every step of the way. Operating inclusively and transparently, while displaying responsible behavior in a structured development are critical to safety. We at ATG seek candidates who will role model these values.
We are a group of diverse researchers, engineers, and computer scientists working to develop perception algorithms for self-driving vehicles. Reliability and scalability are key drivers for us as our software must perform across a large fleet of vehicles in large and diverse operating areas.


text:
Will City Of Ember be the first post-apocalyptic movie aimed at kids? Based on Jeanne DuPrau's young adult novel, Ember features two kids discovering there's a world outside the dying underground city that they've lived in for the past 250 years. And director Gil Kenan (Monster House) sees it as a visual, epic teen adventure movie. But is it really the first ruined-world movie aimed at kids, as post-apocalyptic blog Quiet Earth claims? The Boston Globe's Josh Glenn says no, there have been plenty of others. Click through to vote for the greatest.
As we mentioned before, there have been a ton of young-adult postapocalyptic novels, many of them quite disturbing and hardcore. (And our list didn't even mention Uglies or Tripods.) And, Glenn adds:
I can think of a dozen post-apocalyptic movies that I saw as a teen, in the '80s, at the Harvard Square and Orson Welles theaters — including "Planet of the Apes" (1968) and sequels, "The Omega Man" (1971), "Sleeper" (1973), "Death Race 2000" (1975), "A Boy and His Dog" (1975), and of course "Road Warrior" (1981). As hard as it is to believe that adults would go to see "Death Race 2000," though, these movies weren't intended for teen audiences. So they don't count.
There have also been a couple of post-apocalyptic TV shows that seemed aimed at teens: the original "Battlestar Galactica," for example, not to mention "Planet of the Apes." I've never seen "Jericho," so I can't say whether it's aimed at teens. Oh yeah, in England, in the 1980s, there was a short-lived TV adaptation of John Christopher's excellent "Tripod" trilogy.
But there have also been a number of The Day After-type movies that were squarely aimed at kids, or at least very kid-friendly. Glenn comes up with three choices, and we've added a couple more. Vote for your favorite, or tell us what we left out!
Will City of Ember be the first Post Apocalyptic Children's film? [Quiet Earth]
Post-Apocalyptic Kiddie Movies [Boston Globe]


text:
There is currently no text in this page. You can search for this page title in other pages, or search the related logs, but you do not have permission to create this page.
- Welcome to Touhou Wiki!
- Please register to edit. For assistance, check in with our Discord server or IRC channel.


text:
36" W x 33-3/8" D x 69-7/8" H
Discover how our genuine filtration works to keep your water cleaner.
Slide-out for easy access and are designed to keep spills contained, making them easy to clean.
Keep your fruits and vegetables fresh in our humidity-controlled crisper drawers.Watch Video
Our refrigerator will automatically go into an energy-saving mode if not opened for 24 hours.2Watch Video
Keeps sandwich meats and cheeses organized in a convenient location
Refrigerator alerts you if the door is left open or if temperature rises.Watch Video


text:
SOCHI, Russia -- Roman Cervenka scored for a second time late in the second period to give the Czech Republic a four-goal lead, and it went on to beat Slovakia 5-3 on Tuesday and advance to an Olympic quarterfinal match against the United States.
"We're one game away to play for a medal and that's pretty special," David Krejci said after scoring the third of the Czechs' first-period goals.
The Slovaks pulled within a goal in the third, but their loss was sealed when Andrej Meszaros was called for slashing with 53 seconds left. They pulled their goaltender to create an even-strength situation and Tomas Plekanec scored an empty-net goal 14 seconds later for the Czechs.
"We got the job done, that's the most important thing," said Krejci, a Boston Bruins forward.
The Czech Republic will play the Americans on Wednesday for a spot in the semifinals.
"It will be a tough game, but at this point in the tournament there's no easy games," said Ales Hemsky, who scored the Czechs' first goal 6:53 after the puck dropped. "So anyone can win against anybody."
Ondrej Pavelec, who stopped 29 shots, didn't give up a goal until Slovakia's Marian Hossa scored with 1:03 left in the second period.
Hossa scored again, off a rebound, midway through the third period. Tomas Surovy's slap shot made the final 11-plus minutes intense in the elimination game until the costly late penalty.
"We came close, but it was too little too late," said Slovakia's Michal Handzus.
The rivals used to be a part one nation until 1993, when Czechoslovakia split into the two countries.
Jaromir Jagr and goaltender Dominik Hasek helped the Czechs win gold in 1998, the first Olympics with NHL players, and bronze in 2006. While Hasek has retired, the 42-year-old Jagr is still skating, shooting and setting up teammates.
The five-time Olympian assisted on Cervenka's first goal midway through the first period, putting the puck on his stick with a centering pass in front of the net.
Jagr has been around long enough that he played for Czechoslovakia at the 1991 Canada Cup — when he was 19 — after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win the first of two straight NHL titles.
Slovakia goaltender Ian Laco, a Kontinental Hockey League backup starting ahead of St. Louis Blues standout Jaroslav Halak, gave up three goals on the first 13 shots he faced and finished with 24 saves.
The Czechs opened the Sochi Games with 4-2 loss to Sweden, beat Latvia by the same score and lost 1-0 toSwitzerland in the preliminary round.
The winless Slovaks, who finished fourth and fifth at the last two Olympics, were perhaps the most disappointing hockey team at the Olympics.
Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, of the many NHL standouts on the Slovaks' team, said he wished he knew why his team fared so poorly.
"That's the million-dollar question. It's tough to say," Chara said. "We had a rough game the first game against the U.S. That game kind of put us really down mentally, our confidence was not there. But we bounced back against Russia and played our strongest game of this tournament. We thought we would follow up on that game and obviously we didn't.
"It's a big disappointment and we'll have to look back and figure out what went wrong."
Their best showing was Sunday in a shootout loss to Russia, when which Laco made 36 saves to earn a chance to play ahead of Halak. He was pulled from a rout to the Americans and had a goals-against average of more than five in two losses.
Slovakia coach Vladimir Vujtek said he stuck with Laco because of how well he played against the Russians.
"For 65 minutes, he did not miss a single puck," Vujtek said.
We're revamping our Comments section. Learn more and share your input.


text:
Momentum is building behind big projects that could transform Chula Vista from a bedroom community into a world-class destination for recreation, retail and work, but the city needs to be wary as it moves forward, Mayor Cheryl Cox told a packed-in audience Tuesday during her seventh annual State of the City address.
The speech highlighted accomplishments ranging from the day-to-day, like responsible financial decision making, to the red-letter, like state Coastal Commission approval of the Bayfront Master Plan and the implosion of the colossal South Bay Power Plant.
She spent the first part of her speech outlining what's next for the long-awaited bayfront community that promises 556 acres of residential, resort, conference, retail and recreational spaces.
"I wanted to begin tonight with the bayfront because of the great promise it holds for our city, and I believe this will be a year of promise for Chula Vista," Cox said.
The audience applauded when Cox declared that SeaWorld chose well when it chose Chula Vista for its next Aquatica water park.
Other economic assets include the city's enterprise zone, she said, which has saved local businesses more than $22 million in tax credits and allowed them to hire 1,400 employees, many of them hit by unemployment in the economic recession.
The city also commissioned consultants to study and identify what type of business and industry would do well in Chula Vista.
"The results will create a road map as we look to balance a mix of housing with more jobs closer to home," Cox said.
It will also prove helpful in shaping the city's vision for a four-year university and technology park, which Cox said is nearly in reach.
That university would build off the successes in the local elementary and high school districts, which Cox praised at length in her speech.
Although the mayor's speech was sprinkled with positive words, like "promise," "optimistic," "progress," "successful" and "opportunities," it also contained notes of caution.
"Last year I said we had one more painful year of belt tightening," Cox told residents. "We got through it." She said that in 2012 she felt the burden of financial problems begin to lift slightly.
She acknowledged that Chula Vista still lags in creating jobs in the private sector and in capturing revenue from local spending.
She noted that although the city is more financially stable than in recent years, another economic dip, paired with the wrong decisions, could spell disaster.
"We can argue whether running a city is like running a business, but one thing is certain: Every decision made on this dais is tied to a dollar," she said.
She criticized split council votes in 2011 and 2012 to extend library hours, merge the library and recreation departments and to put district elections and an Office of Legislative Counsel, as examples of "unchecked spending decisions."
"You know, we can create a prosperous future for Chula Vista, provided we stay focused on financial responsibility," the mayor said.
She said the city is working to rebuild its savings account, and she has asked City Manager Jim Sandoval to develop a standard procedure for vetting and prioritizing proposals from the mayor and council members based on how affordable they are and how much return the city will get on its investment.
Chamber of Commerce President and former councilman Jerry Rindone said he was pleased with the mayor's emphasis on education, which he said is the key to the city's economic future.
Councilman Rudy Ramirez said he thought the tone of the Cox's address was appropriately upbeat and optimistic, given some of the challenges the city has overcome in recent years.
"Chula Vista really has turned a huge corner, we're beginning to settle a little bit and this is a good opportunity for the city to showcase its accomplishments," he said.
Former councilman and current Otay Water District board member Mitch Thompson said he felt the speech was realistic.
"I was on the council in lean times, and we were cutting like crazy," he said. "It's nice to not be facing that anymore."
He added that Cox seemed to hold back from boasting much about how well he feels the local economy is doing, but "I think she would rather under-promise and over-deliver."
Despite her own reluctance to toot Chula Vista's horn too loudly, Cox encouraged residents to "talk up" the city in order to make the most of its investments in things like the Bayfront Master Plan, the university and Aquatica. Others are already taking note of what is happening in San Diego's South Bay, she said, and it's going to be a good year.
"The fact that our city's largest projects earned national and international attention indicates momentum is building," she said.


text:
Last January, Ingrid Duthie's favorite pants became very uncomfortable. Holiday parties led to extra calories, along with less time at the gym, for the 40-year-old Detroit native. She wasn't surprised she'd put on a few additional pounds, but she was taken aback when she noticed some extra girth on her 6-year-old cat, Felix, too. "I was probably more aware of Felix's belly since I was thinking a lot about my own, but I'd always thought of him as skinny, since he was very thin as a kitten," she remembers.
At Felix's annual checkup the following month, his veterinarian confirmed that Duthie's small-boned feline had added two pounds in the last year — increasing his weight by more than 20 percent. He prescribed the following treatment: fewer calories, more calorie-burning. Below, veterinarian Trisha Joyce, DVM, of New York City Veterinary Specialists, weighs in on how cats acquire tubby tummies and how you can help to reverse the damage.
Why Cats Get Fat
According to Dr. Joyce, obesity in domestic felines has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. This is accompanied by health problems all too familiar to Americans: diabetes, arthritis and even premature death. But unlike dogs and humans, underlying health issues usually do not cause obesity in cats, according to Dr. Joyce. "In dogs we'll see hypothyroidism, but it almost never happens in cats," she says, explaining that this condition slows down an individual's metabolism. Hyperthyroidism, which causes just the opposite to occur, is far more common among felines.
So what does make Fluffy fat? Lifestyle. "Overweight cats are that way because of overfeeding and lack of exercise," she says. "Some cats are good at regulating their food intake, but others are not. If too much food is made available to them, they will eat it." Indoor cats generally don't have much stimulation in their environment — they aren't stalking, chasing, jumping. Indoor cats are safe from trauma, which is obviously critical to their well-being, but they also sit a lot.
How Cats Get Thin
"Weight loss diets have the most successful outcomes," says Dr. Joyce. This includes both a commercial weight loss formula and portion control. "I recommend wet food, but only because it seems easier for owners to regulate how much they are feeding. Also, it's eaten in one shot, so if there are two cats in the household, there is less chance for the fatter cat to eat the skinnier cat's portion." Dr. Joyce also recommends strictly limiting treats and eliminating table scraps altogether. A grain-free food containing the amino acid L-carnitine may also be beneficial, as it helps to burn fat while maintaining lean muscle mass.
Though a gym membership may not be in your kitty's future, exercise should be on the menu. But be prepared. Getting Fluffy moving may take a dedicated and creative owner. "See what your cat responds to," Dr. Joyce says. "Some enjoy chasing a laser light, which you can operate from the couch. You can put a cat on a harness and an extendable leash and let it run around an enclosed yard with you. Make your cat work for its food — take the bowl and ask it to follow you around the house to get it." If adopting a kitten is an option, a younger companion's eagerness to play and chase may also get your adult cat off the couch.
Enlisting Professional Help
Unlike dogs and humans, cats cannot tolerate severe calorie restriction. Consult your veterinarian about acceptable portion sizes for weight loss in order to avoid fatty liver syndrome, a serious condition affecting the liver that results when cats do not consume enough calories. Adds Dr. Joyce, "Fatty liver syndrome is also something to be aware of if you introduce a new cat into the home. The first cat may go on a hunger strike, to act out, which can seriously endanger its liver functioning." She suggests monitoring the first cat's food intake closely while the felines become acquainted.


text:
- Successor to the Echelon 5
- SAUC_FIT delivers a dynamic, supportive midfoot fit
- Robust external heel support frame delivers a lockdown fit.
- 3mm EVERUNTM topsole construction for continuous cushioning throughout the run.
- Foundation Platform provides a more high volume fit throughout, that is specifically crafted for orthotic wearers and runners.
- 8mm PU Sockliner delivers added durability and resiliency at foot strike
- Tri Flex Outsole Design adds flexibility and ground contact from heel strike to toe off
- Helpful for runners who suffer from underpronation, also known as supination. Click here for more information
- Pronation: None
- Cushion: Plush
- Construction Type: Neutral
- Surface: Road, Track
- Arch: Low, Flat
- Water Resistant: No
- Water Proof: No
- Offset: 8mm
- Heel: 27mm/Forefoot: 19mm
- Weight: 9.2 oz. | 261 g.
Cheat Sheet: check out our technical running terms guide >
Cushioning is distributed more evenly between the heel and forefoot in shoes with an 8mm offset. The result? Your body stays in a more balanced and comfortable position with every foot strike.
A breakthrough in cushioning. Livelier and more responsive, with smoother landings and stronger takeoff.
Increases force dispersion over a greater surface area while also delivering optimal flexibility and traction.
The underfoot feel and amount of impact protection provided by the compressing materials between the foot and running surface.
The level of pronation control built into the shoe. Pronation is the inward rolling of the ankle through the gait cycle.
The difference in height between the heel thickness and forefoot thickness of the shoe.


text:
In Angler's Mail print magazine, you will find loads of waters to visit in the North, Midlands and South, with ticket prices, contact details and catch reports compiled specially by the AM team of regional reporters.
Here on the AM website we've got some exclusive AMTV video footage on the following Tactical Briefing venues featured in this week's magazine.
These videos are just a brief snapshot of just one of the waters visited by our unrivalled team of regional experts:


text:
Merman Reif - Guardian of sea creatures, and general RMM - Reef Maintenance Merman!
All 27 inches of Merman Reif floats/swims on the wall and really looks good as wall art! Even my husband - and the carpet layer, was impressed with this one!
I am happy to announce that this doll is now available as a Cloth Art Doll Tutorial e- pattern, and best suited to someone with a bit of experience at cloth doll making, although it is pretty comprehensive, with many step-by-step photo's.
This tutorial covers everything, from needle-sculpting face and body, colouring the face, dreadlocks, costuming, trident, to armature.
Reif is often seen working with Greenpeace, during clashes on the high seas! Currently organising shoals of fighting fish, using his guard-fish Snapper, to repel and disrupt underwater blasting in NZ waters and create general mayhem to protect the undersea environment!
I hope you will enjoy making your own wall art!


text:
Cosworth 20003486 High Performance Short Block Assembly Subaru STI EJ25 2.6L
Cosworth Subaru STI EJ25 Short Block (2.5L) 81mm Billet crank 20003486. Cosworth EJ25 (STI) short block has gone through countless hours of dyno evaluation to determine the best combination of parts to guarantee performance and reliability. Each EJ25 short block starts with a brand new Subaru case. The case is inspected and then the bores are honed to perfection to receive Cosworth Forged Pistons. We then balance the rotating assembly that includes a new STI Forged crank and Cosworth Forged H-Beam Connecting Rods to within .5 gram. The select parts are professionally assembled by one of Cosworth's skilled engine builders using our own coated , tri metal race spec bearings. Options include: Billet 79mm crankshaft, Billet timing belt guide.


text:
Connect with us! Text DAKOTARANCH to 47464 for more info!
Floor Plans
Apartment Features
Black Appliances with Built-in Microwaves
Refrigerators with Ice Makers
Large Walk-In Closets
Privacy Bathrooms
Full Size Washers and Dryers (In Select Units)
Faux Granite Countertops *
Cherry Cabinetry
Garbage Disposals
Washer and Dryer in Every Apartment
Built In Desk (In Select Units)
New Countertops*


text:
I made Spinach Quiches above for the bridal shower party yesterday. I was in a hurry and guess what happened... I forgot to add in salt & pepper ..! Although the outcome not so bad but could have been much better if I had not missed those seasoning!
Recipe will follow... Sorry, will update later including those below which yet to be updated. I'm running for my community service meeting this morning ...!
Sorry gals for late update, here is the recipe:
125g Butter
250g Flour
A pinch of Salt (added into flour)
Ice Water (indicatively about 5 tbsp)
- Cut butter into the flour until resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Add in water until a dough is formed.
- Roll & line a tart tin or mini tart moulds
- Bake for 15 minutes. Unmould & cool.
1 tin Nestle Cream (200g)
1 tub Yoghurt
4 Eggs
Some Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 can Spinach - see photo below
1 big Onion
1 Chili
4 cloves Garlic
1/2 tsp Curry Powder
4 Sausage - chopped
Salt & Pepper
Mixed Herbs
1. Heat up 1 tbsp oil & saute sliced chili, garlic, big onions & sausage.
Add in curry powder & some salt.
Stir for a while dish out.
2. Beat eggs slightly & add in cream & yoghurt.
Add in shredded cheese, spinach & cooked sausage.
Add in salt, pepper & mixed herbs.
3. Pour filling into cooked shells & bake 15 minutes until filling is cooked.
Serve warm.
I also made a big one (in the following day):
Here is the canned spinach:


text:
Gazelles Store
Domestic orders placed after
12:00 PM EST will be
processed the next business
day. International orders
may take an additional time
to process.
For more information
or questions, contact
Missy Giltner
(+1) 703-858-1655
We've detected that cookies are
on your computer.
In order to add items to your shopping cart you must have cookies enabled.
Please refer to the instructions for your specific browser below to enable cookies...
To enable cookies in Internet Explorer 6 & 7:
1. Select Tools -> Internet Options.
2. Select the Privacy tab.
3. If your privacy level is set to Medium, your browser will accept most cookies.
(You can click the Default button to set the privacy level to Medium.)
4. Click OK.
5. If you're still getting this message, you'll need to lower your privacy level from Medium down to Low, which will be sure to correct the problem.
To enable cookies in Firefox 2 & 3:
1. Select Tools -> Options (PC) or Firefox -> Preferences (Mac)
2. Select the Privacy tab.
3. Under the Cookies section, select the "Accept cookies from site" option.
4. Click OK.
To enable cookies in Safari:
1. Select the Gear Icon -> Preferences (PC) or Safari -> Preferences (Mac)
2. Select the Security tab.
3.Under the "Accept Cookies" section, select the "Only from sites you navigate to" option.
4. Click OK.
After making the changes, you may re-run our cookie test to verify your changes were successful...
Join Our Mailing List
Company Information
About Us
Terms and Conditions
My Account
My Wishlist
Customer Service
Contact Us
Copyright ©
Built with


text: Rob Mitchell is a singer/songwriter from Nashville, TN. He has played songs around Nashville and appeared at the Bluebird Cafe. Musical influences are James Taylor, Jim Croce, Jimmy Buffett and John Denver. Rob is not a writer but what he wrote for us is a real writing gem: Life Journey […] Life Journey29 Nov, 2007 in Arts / Culture / Writings tagged Changes in Attitudes / Changes in Latitudes / Cheeseburger in Paradise / Coral Reefer Band / First Niagara Pavilion / Folk music / James Taylor / Jim Croce / Jimmy Buffett / John Denver / nashville / PNC Park / The Jolly Mon by Manuel Marino


text:
What next? Weighing in on winter weather
The weather's been wacky– first a drought, then months of endless rain, now up-and-down temperatures that seem to be throwing even seasoned weather watchers for a loop. Que pasa?
Mother Nature did not return The Hook's repeated calls by press time, so we turned to a few other sources to see if anyone can tell us what kind of winter we're in for in the coming months.
Climatologist Jerry Stenger says there's no saying what winter will bring.
Jerry Stenger
Climatologist in the UVA-based Virginia Climatology office
When we spoke with Stenger back in August, the rain was coming down nearly every day, and he had some bad news for anyone dreading a repeat of last year's snowy season: "A betting man would give slightly better odds to us having a cooler, wetter winter than a warmer or drier one."
The reason for those odds, Stenger explained, was the jet stream. [See sidebar for more.]
For the first eight months of this year, the jet stream was in a "U" formation, sucking cold arctic air down across the western and central plains states and then reversing, channeling cool, wet weather up across the eastern seaboard. That pattern itself, Stenger explains, is not unusual. What is unusual is the length of time the pattern persisted.
Things, however, have changed in the past two months, and now Stenger says there's just no knowing what will come.
As of last week, the same "U" pattern was forming, but Stenger says it's anybody's guess if it will remain in place. If it does, there could be trouble.
"If it should become a persistent situation, like it was last winter," he says, "we could well be in for another grim season with a significant number of storms coming our way. That increases the likelihood that snowfall will be heavy."
Keep your eyes on that jet stream!
Farmer's Almanac
Forget Robert VanWinkle. Forget Pat Michaels. Everyone knows the most famous weather prognosticator is Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who tells us on February 2 whether we can get the bikinis out or will need to keep the woolies on hand for another six weeks.
Phil happens to be the most famous– but he's not the only– weather predictor in folklore. West Virginians rely on tadpoles instead of marmots for gauging the end of winter: "If the peepers see twice through glass, winter is sure to last," they say. "Thunder in February, snow in May" or "February fog means a frost in May," are other folksy alternatives to the Weather Channel.
But perhaps the most consulted weather predictor is the venerable Old Farmer's Almanac, which this year, its 187th edition, weighs in on the upcoming winter in Central Virginia. The Almanac, which we'll call the Old Farmer, divides the country into seven zones and makes each zone's weather predictions in three-day periods.
For zone three, the mid-Atlantic region, the Old Farmer foresees another cold one, but with less snow than last winter. We can expect temperatures on average one to two degrees below normal, he says, with "well-below-normal temperatures from mid-November through mid-January, and near-normal temperatures from late January through March."
Even though he's a bit off (so far) on November, the Old Farmer predicts that starting in February, "a seemingly unending series of disturbances will begin and continue into early spring," although he does concede that in the southeast, temperatures will be "milder than normal."
Climatologist Jerry Stenger says the Almanac uses climatology, a study of average weather patterns for particular locations, to make its often accurate– but quite often inaccurate– predictions.
The journal's website, farmersalmanac.com, gets specific about our expected precip: "The coldest temperatures will be around the New Year, with other especially cold periods in early December and mid-January. Precipitation will be below normal, and most places will also have below-normal snowfall. "
So cut this out and paste it on your fridge: "Southern parts of the region will get more snow than the north, with the best chances for accumulating snow in early December and mid-January. April and May will be wetter and much warmer than normal, despite the chance for a bit of snow after the first hot spell in early April."
Keep a tally, and see how he does. The Old Farmer's website claims uncanny (he calls it "freaky") accuracy: "Remember the snow that made Thanksgiving travel wet and messy in the East?" the old guy asks. "And don't forget the blizzard that dumped up to 30 inches of snow in the Northeast. All of these weather events were predicted in the 2003 Farmers' Almanac, as was the soggy wet spring in the East."
With a track record like that, who are we to quibble? We've already canceled our reservations for New Year's at Snowshoe.
Astrologer Gary Brand believes the stars point to a wet winter.
Brand says the chart seen above tells all you need to know about winter weather.
Gary Brand, astrological consultant
Though climatologist Jerry Stenger couldn't offer a firm answer on what this winter might hold, Gary Brand, an Albemarle-based astrological consultant, says the answer– like all answers– lies in the stars.
Brand says he has some experience in "astrometeorology": He's done "dozens" of single-day weather predictions for important outdoor events like weddings without a single rainout. But he had never done a chart for an entire season– until now.
Using the winter solstice (this year it's December 22) as the basis for his prediction, Brand delivered a complex chart, based on the 12 "houses" that represent the 12 pie-shaped segments of the sky in astrology. If the stars are right, we'd better get our coats out.
"Extreme mixed with moderate," is how Brand describes the weather we'll likely see come winter. "There will be quite a bit of fluctuation, " he says, "especially in the temperature and the winds. There could be a cold rain."
One thing's sure from the chart: "It's going to be a wet season," says Brand, "colder and with more snow than normal."


text:
A group of manatees displaced by Hurricane Hermine are heading home.
It's been nearly two weeks since the six manatees were left stranded in a pond at a golf course in Citrus County on Florida's Gulf Coast.
The four adults and two calves were swept in to the pond by flood waters that receded too quickly.
U.S. & World
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission workers and volunteers showed up Thursday to help move the manatees back into the Gulf, but it was no easy feat. FWC said one of the manatees was one of the largest they've ever seen, weighing in at more than 1,400 pounds.
Each manatee underwent a health assessment before being returned to the water.


text:
Emerging independent filmmakers showcase impressive socially relevant works
Dim Mak Studios Hollywood, along with Cinespace, hosted the 6th Annual African American ShortsFest on Sunday February 17, 2013. A hip, multi-cultural, multi-generational crowd gathered at the second floor Hollywood Blvd. hotspot for cocktails and a gourmet popcorn bar, before an intimate question and answer session with the evening's featured filmmakers.
6th Annual African American ShortsFest festival organizer, Kimberley Browning, took the stage first to introduce the emerging independent filmmakers who would be showcasing their works. "We thank you for joining us for our annual celebration of new film by African American filmmakers. We continue the mission to share the outstanding work of filmmakers and animators exploring new themes and crafting breakthrough storytelling that will expand the future of American Cinema, and African American images in film."
This year's African American ShortsFest contributing filmmakers were: Hilliard Guess, Erik White, Mathew Ellison, Tahir Jetter, Rocky Scott, Kelly Perine and Adam Rubin, and Life Garland. The trailer for Kelly Perine and Adam Rubin's short film A Perfect Day can be seen in its entirety on YouTube.
Themes of women's body image perception, marriage, gender identity, urban crime and the use of police force, teenage gun violence, unemployment, mental illness and socio-economic decline were explored in impressive dramatic, comedic and animated short films. The evening's showcased works were promising, socially relevant samples of more great work to come from these talented and effectively expressive emerging independent filmmakers.
For more information, visit the official Hollywood Shorts website.
Photos: Copyright © 2013 Anjeli Jana
Published on Feb 20, 2013