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The language on Russia is the most discussed element of the EU Global Strategy, the guide for the European Union's global actions in the future, which is being prepared by the Union's foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, diplomats said today (19 May).
The most important agenda item of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday (23 May) will be discussed over lunch, when Mogherini will brief the ministers on her draft. Diplomats said they had only seen the 25-page document, but were not given a copy, due to confidentiality concerns.
More than a decade after the 2003 European Security Strategy prepared by Javier Solana, EU leaders tasked Mogherini to prepare an EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy to guide the Union's global actions in the future. The Global Strategy will be presented to EU leaders at the 28-29 June summit, days after the 23 June referendum of Europe in the UK.
Reportedly, there have been extensive consultations with member states, with parliaments, with think tanks as to what should be in the EU Global strategy. The text to be presented by Mogherini is not a negotiated text. Rather, it is a text drafted by the Commissioner, and her staff.
However, member states have been given the chance to see the draft as it evolved, in a series of private reading room exercises over the last three weeks.
'Like in college'
"We have been able like in college or in school to take away some elements," a diplomat said.
He explained that member states have had the chance to submit observations and comments, but there is no obligation for Mogherini to take those on board. It is unlikely that ministers will see a final draft until the period between the UK referendum on 23 June, and the 28-29 June summit, he added.
The next stage would be for the Council to acknowledge the presentation of the draft and come back to it at some later point. It is still unclear how the further decision-making would take place, and diplomats prefer that the text to be finally adopted via the regular Council formats, including the foreign affairs and the defence ministers.
Unsurprisingly, the draft includes a clear restatement of the importance of mainstreaming human rights, on the UN and the multilateral system and the EU's role in upholding the rules-based system, disarmament, issues of priority in the Middle East peace process, etc.
"Some of the more sensitive areas for member states include the language on Russia," a diplomat said. For his country, which is a small Western nation, the text doesn't pose problems, but he explained that some countries saw the resolutions on Russia as being weak, while others wanted them softened.
"All of us have interest in [the text on Russia], but for some, it is particularly sensitive," the diplomat said. He added that for his country, the present text represented a good balance between being clear on principles, while also recognising that engagement with Russia is important in areas are important for the EU.
The aim of the EU Global Strategy is that the Union be better equipped with a follow-up mechanism, particularly on the security and defence aspects.
"It will help prevent roll-back in areas where we have agreed positions," the diplomat said.
It is expected that on Monday, everything will become clearer. The assumption is that Mogherini's final text will be published during the 28-29 June summit, but not before that.


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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer wasn't overly concerned when his team struggled to get wins on an early road trip despite controlling play for much of the time. San Jose was able to put it all together on a two-game homestand that showed what this team could be capable of achieving this season.
Brent Burns scored San Jose's first goal from a defenseman this season and Logan Couture got his fourth in two games to lead the Sharks past the New York Islanders 4-1 on Saturday night.
The Sharks outscored Buffalo and New York 9-2 in winning both games at home after starting the season with just two wins in the first six games.
''We didn't get rewarded on the road to start the season, but I knew it was a matter of time if we kept playing that way,'' DeBoer said. ''We got home here, we're comfortable, we started to score, we feel a little bit confident. There's two good home wins for us. We go back on the road again now.''
Timo Meier and Joonas Donskoi also scored to help the Sharks avenge a 4-0 loss at the Islanders earlier this month in a game that got testy down the stretch. There were 76 minutes of penalties handed out over the final 24 minutes, with two fights and several other smaller skirmishes.
The Islanders were upset at Burns for what they thought was a slew foot, while the Sharks were angered by a hit from Anders Lee against Evander Kane, among other plays.
''I like that we stood up for ourselves,'' Couture said. ''I'll never understand when guys go out down 3-1 with 5 minutes left and try to act tough and start fights. It has no bearing on a game when a game is over like that. It's good to see us stick up for ourselves.''
Martin Jones made 24 saves to earn his second straight win after opening the season with three regulation losses in his first four starts.
Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders, who finished a 1-3 road trip. Robin Lehner made 37 saves after shutting out San Jose on Oct. 8.
''At times we weren't really fully engaged as a team, especially in the second. When we had a few mistakes the bench kind of sunk, we didn't pick each other up and find a way to take the game back,'' forward Matt Martin said. ''That's disappointing but I definitely think the third period from a physical and emotional standpoint, it's a positive that we're all going to have each other's backs in here, no one's going to quit.''
The Sharks came into the season expecting big production from the blue line after acquiring two-time Norris Trophy winning-defenseman Erik Karlsson from Ottawa. Burns also won a Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman and the two are the top scoring blue-liners in the league in recent years.
But neither one had scored a goal until Burns struck in the second period during 4-on-4 play. Shortly after being denied by the post on a big shot, Burns muscled his way in from the boards and beat Lehner from in close with a backhand to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead.
Donskoi had put San Jose ahead earlier in the second when he converted on a rebound after fellow Finn Antti Suomela forced a turnover from Scott Mayfield in the offensive zone.
Couture, who had a hat trick Thursday against Buffalo, added the insurance goal early in the third off a feed from Tomas Hertl.
The teams traded goals in the first period, with Meier opening the scoring after taking a feed from Couture in close. Lehner saved Meier's first shot with his pad, but Meier knocked the rebound under Lehner's arm to give him points in five straight.
The Islanders answered in the final minute of the first when Nelson converted on a pass from Josh Bailey.
NOTES: Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier (illness) was scratched and replaced by Tom Kuhnhackl. ... Sharks C Joe Thornton missed his sixth straight game with swelling in his surgically repaired right knee.
Islanders: Host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.
Sharks: Visit the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/tag/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

subset: commoncrawl


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A Limited Federal Government: Half Full or Half Empty?
How National Federalism Leads to a Bigger, More Activist State
In a previous post, I explained how constitutional federalism uses two levels of governments to protect liberty and restrain the state. In contrast, the new school of national federalism uses two levels of government to create a more activist and burdensome state than one level does.
First, scholars advocating national federalism do not see much, if any, role for judicial enforcement of the Constitution's textual limitations on the federal government. That failure alone allows the federal government to be much more intrusive than permitted by the design of the Framers. Moreover, failing to enforce the enumerated powers also can kill useful policy competition among the states, because a single federal policy then replaces many state policies. Sometimes such competition deadening federal statutes are passed at the behest of state officials who, not unlike private actors, would prefer not to compete if they can create a cartel and an easier life. Constitutional federalism, in contrast, protects a beneficent distribution of powers that the Constitution's agents cannot undermine to the public's detriment.
Second, so-called cooperative federalism—the form of federalism that national federalists most admire—is a recipe for bigger government.
How Two Governments Protect Liberty Better than One
The happy paradox of constitutional federalism is that two sets of government can protect liberty better than one. This promotion of liberty depends on a federalism of different governmental spheres laid down in the Constitution itself. The Constitution enumerates and thereby limits the powers of the federal government– basically to provide national defense, protection of interstate commerce, and a few other public goods that state and local governments cannot provide.
The states are thus left with very substantial powers. But they are forced to compete with one another in market for governance that is intensified by a few federal constitutional guarantees–those of the free flow of goods, people, and speech across state lines. As the limitation of power protects against tyranny of the federal government so does the ability of citizens to exit protect against state tyranny.
Moreover, by decentralizing most legislative responsibilities constitutional federalism addresses a fact that we must never forget: federal legislation is an exercise in central planning by temporary majorities.
The Fugitive Slave Clause, State Action, and Congressional Power
Here are two related thoughts about the Fugitive Slave Clause.
State Action: It is often said that the Constitution only imposes obligations on government officials. While that may be generally true, it is not clear that it is entirely true. One famous example is the 13th Amendment, which simply prohibits slavery, rather than prohibiting the federal government or the states from imposing slavery. ("Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude . . . shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.")
It is often argued that the 13th thus prohibits private persons from participating in slave relations. While this is certainly a plausible interpretation of the Amendment, I genuinely don't know if it is correct.
The other day, however, I came upon a couple of other clauses that may not have government action requirements. The Fugitive Slave Clause provides that "No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due."
A Classical Liberal Constitution Welcomes Immigrants
Immigration of the right kind is a great benefit to a nation run under principles of liberty. If the immigrants obey our laws and work productively, they will add to the nation's wealth. If they assimilate to the nation's creed of liberty under law, they strengthen its power throughout the world, because their former compatriots take heed of their success and that example may encourage more liberty in their home nations. And not only do the citizens of the welcoming nation benefit, so also do immigrants. The value of their human capital rises as soon as they set foot in a nation of free markets and the rule of law.
The way to encourage citizens to embrace immigration from abroad is to have a constitution that limits welfare programs and precludes ethnic discrimination. Without such commitments, citizens may rationally worry that poor and even work-shy immigrants may come and eventually vote themselves higher levels of benefits, even at the expense of long-time citizens and their descendants. Without guarantees against discrimination, citizens may also worry that ethnic groups who still feel solidarity based on previous ties, will try to organize government benefits on the basis of ethnicity, impeding assimilation.
And now I can reveal that once there was a nation that had a constitution with the pre-commitments needed to facilitate a sound immigration policy. It was the United States after it had ratified the 14th Amendment.
Barack Obama, the Progressives, and the Presidency Unbound
He may be modeling his re-election efforts after those of Harry Truman in 1948, but entering the last year of his term, President Barack Obama is taking considerable efforts to also wrap himself and his presidency in the mantle of Theodore Roosevelt. The comparison is not without merit. His January 2012 recess appointment of Richard Cordray as the head of the new Consumer Protection Bureau, in fact, has its best precedents in the actions and constitutional theories of Roosevelt and the wider progressive era challenge to the Founding vision of America.


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The abrupt resignation of the land ministry's parliamentary secretary, Takeshi Tokuda, on Monday was the result of a sex scandal involving a minor, according to the weekly magazine Shukan Shincho.
The magazine, which hit newsstands Wednesday, says the Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker in February 2004 "forcefully" had sex with a 19-year-old in a Tokyo hotel after getting her heavily intoxicated at a restaurant and bar.
Tokuda was 31 years old at the time and married. He was then serving as a secretary to his father, Torao, a former Lower House lawmaker and head of the Tokushukai medical group.
The magazine reported that despite efforts by the girl to fight off the assault, Tokuda molested her once in the evening and again the next morning before leaving the room with her still on the bed.
The woman, now 28, filed a petition with the Tokyo District Court in February 2007 and demanded ¥20 million in compensation. According to the magazine, Tokuda agreed to pay half that amount but has yet to formally apologize to the victim. He reportedly said the sex was consensual.
Tokuda has remained publicly mum on the topic, only stating on his blog that he "cannot comment on the matter" due to his agreement with the victim. "I apologize to the public for causing trouble in such a manner," he wrote.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reportedly decided to tap Manabu Sakai, a Lower House member from Kanagawa Prefecture, to replace Tokuda.
Tokuda, from Kagoshima, was a rising star in the ruling LDP for his fundraising clout. He raised the most in 2011, raking in ¥250 million and topping big guns Abe and People's Life Party chief Ichiro Ozawa.
Tokuda also continues to hold influence over his father's Tokushukai group, Japan's largest medical conglomerate. It runs 66 hospitals and more than 280 medical facilities in total. According to the Sankei Shimbun, ¥8 million of the ¥10 million compensation paid to the victim came from the medical group.
The pre-emptive exit by Tokuda, two days before the scandal broke, has yet to damage the Abe administration. But during his previous one-year stint as prime minister that began in September 2006, his support ratings fell amid scandals involving his Cabinet, and one minister's suicide.
In December 2006, state minister Genichiro Sata resigned over a political money scandal, while Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma stepped down in July 2007 after making comments that justified the atomic bombings of Japan. Farm minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka hanged himself in early 2007 amid a scandal, and his successor, Norihiko Akagi, quit in August 2007 amid a financial scandal, paving the way for Abe's resignation a month later.
The opposition camp hasn't gone full throttle over Tokuda's resignation, at least not yet.
Asked Monday whether the Democratic Party of Japan will take a jab at the administration, DPJ Secretary General Goshi Hosono said he had nothing to say at that point.
"I am completely unaware of the details so I can't comment" about the resignation, Hosono, who himself was involved in a scandal involving a female newscaster in 2006, told reporters.


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Some time ago I came across content where a design engineer experienced a strange occurrence. He had inserted ferrite bead in a circuit. What resulted out of this took him by surprise. The ferrite bead actually worsened the noise condition. The ferrite bead which was supposed to have suppressed unwanted noise had actually increased it. The occurrence had confused many who are dealing with EMI cases. A Ferrite Bead Coil is a high inductance material used in electrical components.
Ferrite beads used in coils act as major impediment against very high frequency noise. The bead manufacturers ensure that the ferrite beads should possess higher impedance power against noise of very high frequency range. These beads which have high inductance power are capable of averting a part of noise energy. The rest is allowed to pass through. This is an electrical component acting as a resistor against noise energy. It actually absorbs noise from the electrical circuit with the help of a heating process.


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|For the character, see Tandi.
"You are bartering for Tandi's release."— In-game description
Tandi's release is an item in Fallout.
Simply, it is Tandi's head. Trading items for this releases Tandi from her cell.
Related questEdit
- It appears only when interacting with Garl Death-Hand. If the Vault Dweller can't persuade Garl to release Tandi, then he needs to trade items ($600) for her release.
- If the Vault Dweller does not pay, Garl and his Khans turn hostile.
- If Garl mistakes the Vault Dweller for his own father, it is impossible to get this item.
- You need a bag or back pack for this. Now when you are at the raiders camp in order to free Tandi, ask Garl to barter for her release. On the barter screen, buy her head and put it in the bag. When ending the dialogue Garl won't attack and Tandi's barter head will remain. But Tandi isn't free yet. In order to free her you can talk to Garl again and barter, fight or talk her out of her cage. You can also keep on going with the Tandi trick and get more of them. The Tandi head weighs 10 pounds and looks very strange when thrown on the ground - it looks like a red rectangular with a question mark. This also works with the light, medium and heavy healing you can get from Razlo. Once you've got the head you can talk to Garl with the head in your inventory and say nothing at all; Tandi will be released and you get to keep the head. [verified]
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Welcome to T. Powell - Sports Music
Motivational Speaker
Welcome to T. Powell - Sports Music
Motivational Speaker
Need clean music to get your team motivated?
Need a speaker for your next event?
T. Powell Sports Music has been featured on ESPN NFL Sunday Countdown, during the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers Playoffs and at High School Stadiums across the world!
Thanks for visiting our page and thank you for supporting Sports Music by sharing T. Powell's music with your team, school, family, friends and community.
Clear Eyes, Full Heart, CAN'T LOSE


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SiliShapes® Soft Bricks, Set of 24
These perfectly sized SiliShapes® Soft Bricks are made to fit a young child's hand with ease and can be stacked, placed and arranged into patterns or sorted. They interlock in a row or around a corner and provide young children with their first building brick set. Set of 24 bricks are made from a special see-through silicone in 4 colors which is soft and flexible to the touch and safe to handle by children of any age. They are ideal for use by toddlers on a light panel too, where their softness and colorful transparency and color mixing properties will prove fascinating. They can be used in sand and water or as props within small world play. After use they can be washed clean using soapy water or cleaned in a dishwasher on a high temperature without harm. The set comprises of 24 pieces in 4 colors: 6 each of red, blue, green and yellow. Size: 3" x 1.50" x 1". Suitable for children ages 12m+
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Hugh Jackman was once again asked about the possibility of doing a Wolverine and Deadpool crossover movie, and was quick to rule such a project out. Years before the MCU made actors like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pratt into household names and A-List movie stars, the X-Men franchise was doing the same for a then mostly unknown Australian named Hugh Jackman. Wolverine had always been the clear "star" of the X-Men team, and with Jackman bringing him to life, he unquestionably remained so on the big screen.
Jackman has played Wolverine in eight different X-Men films, including two cameos in X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Apocalypse. Sadly, following his highly acclaimed performance as an older version of the character in James Mangold's Oscar-nominated 2017 effort Logan, Jackman made it known that he had no plans to reprise the role ever again, whether it be when the X-Men inevitably appear in the MCU following Disney's purchase of Fox, or in the crossover movie featuring a Wolverine/Deadpool team-up that Ryan Reynolds so desperately wants.
Despite these proclamations, Jackman's work as Wolverine remains so beloved that whenever he does an interview, talk eventually gets around to whether or not he'll ever don his claws and signature sideburns ever again. During a recent interview with People, Jackman responded to that question by insisting that although he believes Wolverine will star in a film again, it won't be him playing the part. Additionally, he doesn't intend to come out of retirement for the aforementioned crossover, no matter how much his friend Reynolds bugs him.
Ryan is relentless. He keeps coming back to me in all these ways, shapes and forms, I just said, 'You know, I just don't think the world really wants to see Deadpool with Wolverine.' Maybe a cameo from Deadpool? I just think it runs over it for Deadpool.
That said, one wonders if Jackman would ever be willing to relent on his stance if Reynolds was willing to accept a Wolverine cameo in the upcoming X-Force film, or some other way for Jackman's Logan and Reynold's Wade Wilson to share the screen briefly. it wouldn't necessarily have to violate overall X-Men franchise continuity for Jackman to make a brief return, as the Deadpool films basically take place in their own nutty side realm away from the main series. On the other hand, Jackman may just adamantly insist on not breaking his word about retiring the role.
However, putting aside Jackman's comments above, one wonders if perhaps he's already filmed a cameo for Once Upon a Deadpool – the PG-13 cut of Deadpool 2featuring new framing scenes with Fred Savage – and is just trying to keep it a surprise. The disconnected nature of the framing device scenes would serve as a perfect outlet for such an appearance, and it would serve as a nice holiday treat for anyone who goes to see the new cut. Speculation notwithstanding, for now, Jackman is by all outward appearances still done with Wolverine, and Reynolds will have to live with the fact that X-Men Origins: Wolverine is their only collaboration.


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I am teaching my students how to write the electronic configuration of the elements of the periodic table.
Thus, following the rules on how to fill the orbitals, the electronic configuration of iron (for example) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d6 , thus, it is abbreviated form is [Ar] 4s2 3d6.
However, I has not been easy to find the explanation on why in any periodic table it is written as [Ar] 3d6 4s2 instead of [Ar] 4s2 3d6. Same case for many other elements.
Why is that?


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Talking about this sound here (phantasm_plus)
Right now, this sound just plays together with the default cast sound as an extra layer. How about making that sound exclusive to the scepter upgrade, make it allied-only, and give it a global radius, similar to how Lycan's Howl sound used to be global? The aghs upgrade does have a global effect, so it would make sense.


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What is the Nutritional Value of Corn?
Corn is one of the most commonly eaten grains on the planet. Despite the fact that it is a basic element of much of the world's diet, many people are unaware of the nutritional value of corn. Lovers of this grain will be happy to learn that it is a good source of some important nutrients, including several B vitamins, fiber, phosphorus, manganese, and vitamin C. It is also free of unhealthy saturated or trans fats. When considering the nutritional value of corn, however, it is also important to note that it is somewhat high in calories, and thus should be consumed in moderation.
One of the most beneficial aspects of the nutritional value of corn is its B vitamin content. Corn is considered a good source of the B vitamins thiamin, folate, and pantothenic acid. Regular consumption of these vitamins can help preserve the memory, prevent birth defects, lower the risk of heart disease, and facilitate the breakdown of carbohydrates.
Another noteworthy aspect of the nutritional value of corn is fiber content. One cup (approximately 130 grams) of corn kernels provides more than 18 percent of the recommended daily intake of fiber as determined by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). When eaten regularly and in adequate quantities, fiber can provide a wide range of health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, assisting digestion, and providing a feeling of fullness that may discourage overeating.
Further, corn is considered a good source of phosphorus, manganese, and vitamin C. Both phosphorus and manganese contribute to bone health. Vitamin C provides a number of health benefits, including supporting the eyes and the immune system as well as protecting from heart disease.
It should also be noted that corn contains no saturated or trans fats. These fats can elevate the body's levels of harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, in turn increasing the chance of heart disease. Consuming a diet low in these fats can contribute to good cardiovascular health.
When considering the nutritional value of corn, it is important to remember that it is somewhat high in calories, with one cup (approximately 130 grams) of kernels containing nearly 180 calories. Corn should therefore be consumed in moderation, as part of a nutritionally balanced diet. It should also be noted that spreads and sauces which are commonly used to enhance the flavor of corn, such as butter, can be high in both harmful fats and calories, and thus should be used sparingly.


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Alaska 2006
* Alaska 2006
02. Ice Physics
03. Bears and Tourists
04. A Pleasant Hike
05. How to Avoid Exercise
06. In the Company of Bears
Share This Page
Alaska 2006
Territory: Washington State, British Columbia, Alaska
Time: April - August 2006, 6000 miles traveled
Vessel: "Teacup", Nordic Tug 37
Primary Activity: List things to be repaired when back in civilization. :)
Copyright © 2006,
P. Lutus
. All rights reserved.
(double-click any word to see its definition)
In the Company of Bears
Bear Buffet
Salmon, Bear, Tapeworms
Bear Whiz Kid
Thoughtful Bear
I am not sure I know how to express this. Okay, imagine you can visit an alien society, a society so alien that you have no common language, or passions, or much of anything else. The alien society's events are fascinating to the degree that they are distant from your own life and its concerns.
There are other, similar experiences. One of them is reading the history of a distant time and place, so that you can immerse yourself in events that have no element of uncertainly — dramatic set-pieces, written as though each event speaks some universal truth.
When I sit in my kayak in Geographic Harbor, or wander around in bear terrain, or visit an organized bear viewing area, I watch the unfolding of events in just such an alien society, a society completely removed from my own, but a society of intelligent creatures with their own struggles and passions.
As to why I do this, year after year, well, the list of reasons is long and distinguished. One I dwell on regularly is that the existence of bear society means we humans haven't completely ruined the planet. Bears have their own land and their own rules. We are visitors, the bears tolerate our being there, but that tolerance has limits.
Another is that I get to see the workings of a society in which, unlike my own, individuals aren't constantly lying to each other. It's hard to sustain falsehood among individuals guided by highly sensitive noses — if something stinks, it stinks, and no one can put a spin on stench.
Look at the picture of the tapeworm-infested bear on this page
. This poor bear drags those long tapeworms through the brush as she moves around, sometimes even getting tangled up. What a burden. On the other hand, she doesn't have to put up with taxes, HMOs and insurance salesmen. If you think this comparison is silly, perhaps you haven't met enough insurance salesmen.
Scholars reading this page will likely recognize this position as an update of Rousseau's "Noble Savage", and there's some truth to that comparison. I admit there is a certain amount of empty romanticism in my view of the bears, and it's true their lives are, as the saying goes, red in tooth and claw. But in the plus column, they don't make pointless trouble for themselves as we do, by, for example, inventing imaginary superbeings, and then murdering each other over whether my imaginary superbeing is better than your imaginary superbeing.
I'm going to say something controversial here
. I personally think religious belief is a transitional phase in human biological development. I think it represents a temporary adjustment to having a forebrain. Our forebrains are such powerful processors that, at the moment, we are unable to distinguish them from a separate personality, a separate voice if you will. So we created the God-myth to explain how we can have thoughts "higher" than what to eat next. We perceive those thoughts as emanating from a separate entity, a separate voice ... not us.
I think in the future, we will finally adjust to being able to think about things in the abstract, we will own our thoughts, and the God-myth will evaporate. What I am saying is that the forebrain exists, it functions as it should, but it is not yet integrated. That's the next phase of human evolution.
Just my opinion.
By the way. Did I say there's no God? No, I didn't. But I will say there's no God that tells you to kill your neighbor because his God is different. For that, you have to accept personal responsibility, a development for which I won't hold my breath.
You have to respect the wisdom of bears. If we were visited by aliens with mysterious, powerful weapons, we might think of them as Gods. But when I visit the bears, they think of me as lunch. I can see it in their eyes.
Bears get tapeworms from salmon. No salmon, no tapeworms. I haven't figured out how to tell the bears.
I might save space by instead announcing I'm going to say something that
Alaska 2006
* Alaska 2006
02. Ice Physics
03. Bears and Tourists
04. A Pleasant Hike
05. How to Avoid Exercise
06. In the Company of Bears
Share This Page


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In recent weeks Lily has found a new friend in the gardens around our apartment complex. She used to feed him and I would often see him in the morning on the way to work.
Our little furry friend has not been seen in the last week or so which leaves us to believe he has either hopped of to greener pastures or participated in a rabbit stir fry with one of our neighbours!


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Pain, Creativity, and Secret Notebook Excerpts
If you own (or used to own) a diary, have you ever looked through your past entries in an unsuspectingly good mood and found yourself offended by your own depressive writings? Don't worry, you may not quite be the Negative Nancy that your diary paints you out to be, or a person who is perpetually bummed out. You don't necessarily have to look back upon the works of your 15-year old self and cringe at your 67th "I'm am so alone" entry; as silly as you think they may sound now, these feelings were real at the point of time they were written, and every bit valid considering how circumstances were back then.
Some researchers have proposed a link between pain and creativity (think Virginia Woolf, or van Gogh), and perhaps this is true to some extent. We feel compelled to document our sadness and distress. That is, when we are happy and feeling on top of the world, we hardly ever to stop and question reasons for that being the case; in contrast, we seek incessantly for answers to "whys" when in grief — and not all of these can ever be found. Additionally, and perhaps an important mechanism driving the link between pain and creativity, we become hyper-sensitized to the pain of others and the sadness going on around us. You see the man without a home on the street and wonder about his story. You hear about the suicide of an old lady in the news and you hurt for the experiences that drove her to the point of ending her life. For many writers then, as for artists in general, doing what they do represents a temporary escape from reality.
As the 15-year old doom-saying diary version of yourself may not be a good representation of who you are though, there are several stereotypes of writers (and artists) which need to be dispelled; particularly, the longstanding myth about all writers being tortured souls, needing their pain to create. Undoubtedly, the number of books, songs, and paintings produced in grief or accompanied by sorrowful undertones exceeds that inspired by happiness. Angst comes with creative perks, and many writers have delivered their best works while in suffering. This is not a bad thing per se. It may simply mean that in good times, we are fully involved in the moment; given life's inherently bumpy nature, there are periods during which we need to take time to withdraw, retreat, and heal in the unique way that suits us. Even typically happy, jovial and social people are not spared from downs among the ups of life.
In the recent movie Paterson (2016), the protagonist pens beautiful poems in a private notebook. Said notebook unfortunately gets torn to unsalvageable shreds by a pet dog by the name of Marvin before its contents were shared with the world. I don't presently have a dog (yet); but in case this happens to my own secret notebook when I do in the future, here are a few pieces borne from personal and vicarious experiences – or a combination of the two. Without any inkling of their objective significance, I hope these short pieces would mean something to someone. To you, so you know that we are alone, together.
A man plays chess with himself
A single star lights the black sky
A farmhouse sits deserted
A dog waits, abandoned;
I guess I should count myself lucky
to be playing hide and seek
with a boy who doesn't even know
he is playing.
Cures for Common Injuries
There are many things that can hurt you
Infinitely as many proposed remedies
Aloe vera on burns and
Peppermint for indigestion and
Ginger for nausea and
Cayenne for migraines
As for the things that can kill you like
For deadly mosquito stings
As for snake bites
As for a broken heart
You shut up and
Here Today
Yeah you can
pat yourself on the back because
you got her clothes off
well done
But don't ever think
for one second
that you saw her naked
Don't ever claim
for one moment that you
knew about the dreams
clenched in the fists of hands
you never held.
Wei, M. (2018). Pain, Creativity, and Secret Notebook Excerpts. Psych Central. Retrieved on October 24, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/pain-creativity-and-secret-notebook-excerpts/
Last reviewed: By a member of our scientific advisory board on 8 Jul 2018
Published on Psych Central.com. All rights reserved.


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Voted Best Answer
Jan 19, 2017 - 10:25 PM
IBM stated in its Passport Advantage agreement (Clause 1.14 Verification) that it will use an "Independent Auditor" to verify the customer's use of its software - many other vendors don't use the "i" word (often "third-party auditor", "public accountant", "CPA", "Selected Partner") so indeed this backfires on IBM very oftenly.
However I am sure in a lawyer's eyes "independence" has its context and boundries. After Enron which brought Big Five down to Big Four today - most accountancy firms deploy rigrous conflict verifictaion exercise to ensure that their status of independence for each engagement meets their primary regulator's independence requirements (e.g. ICAEW - Institute of chartered accountants england and wales).
The grey is often between the regulated level of independence, and the percieved / expected level of independence from general public and clients.
In reality, we would only advice client to object a licence audit requst from IBM on the basis of CoI if its selected licence auditor actively holds external (statutory) audit or internal audit relationship with the client, and in most cases IBM will revert back to its alternative auditor. There are cases where both IBM's licence auditors were engaged with a target client in external / internal audit activities - and the outcome (whether to continue the licence audit) vary between countries depend on local regulation and legal requirements.
I will also be interested to see your view on the other major vendor's auditing practice - as far as I know - Oracle and SAP have always used internal teams to conduct audits, with Microsoft using a mixture of internal / external resources. Most of these audit teams are rewarded based on how much they can find (while IBM claims its auditors are rewarded on a T&M basis with no association to findings).


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Important Resources for Our Clients
To keep owners informed and well educated on how best to support their pets, Canandaigua Veterinary Hospital offers a variety of helpful resources and tools.
New Client Resources
We always welcome new patients and offer the following information online for your convenience:
New clients
Our client information section contains valuable resources including what to expect on your first visit, payment options, and how to request an appointment.
Client forms
Please complete and submit your form(s) online prior to your first visit. You may also download and print form(s) to bring with you to your appointment.
As a new client of Canandaigua Veterinary Hospital, we also encourage you to browse our website to learn more about us [link to About Us page], meet our veterinarians and staff, and take a virtual tour of our facility.
Stay Informed
Check out the latest news from our hospital.
Get Educated
At Canandaigua Veterinary Hospital, we work to ensure the health of a pet in his or her entirety, and a vital piece of this approach is keeping pet owners educated. Therefore, we've assembled a list of our favorite links to a variety of online resources related to pet care and wellness. In addition, never hesitate to contact us with any specific questions you have about the health of your cat or dog.
Learn more about Canandaigua Veterinary Hospital by visiting our about us page


text: Chihuahua behaviour is one of the main reasons that this little dogs ends up in a shelter. If they are not socialised well as a puppy they can develop some very challenging behaviours. But the good news is they are very clever and with training they can become a very loyal and awesome companion.


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Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic returns to criterium format on Sunday
In 2011 race director John Eustice decided that he'd shake up the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic by turning the 39-year-old institution into, of all things, a track event. "I like to experiment with racing." Eustice says. "One of the problems with cycling is that it's too static. The format never…
In 2011 race director John Eustice decided that he'd shake up the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic by turning the 39-year-old institution into, of all things, a track event.
"I like to experiment with racing." Eustice says. "One of the problems with cycling is that it's too static. The format never changes.
"If you look at Formula 1, where there's huge money in a traditional sport, they're constantly tinkering with their formula, trying to make it more interesting. So I tried an experiment with Harlem.
"There are races like that in Europe … omnium with miss-and-outs and points races. It worked to a degree, but for that sort of event to work you really need a cycling-savvy audience. It was exciting.
The 2012 edition, presented by Rockstar Games, is also the seventh stop on the 2012 USA CRITS Championship Series. And for that, Eustice will return to a 50-mile criterium format around New York City's historic Marcus Garvey Park on Sunday.
The race will be streamed live on VeloNews.com beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern time.
The 0.75-mile square is a fast, flat circuit that will be sweetened for this year's field by four $1,000 primes. That money comes from four local sponsors and is a part of Eustice's strategy to call more attention within the city to the race's deep roots in the Big Apple.
"One of the things I'm really trying to do this year is to get New York City to realize what an absolutely beautiful event this is," said Eustice. "It's one of only four NCC (National Criterium Calendar) and USA CRITS events on the calendar, it's got the best TV of any of them, and we've got a team of six to eight riders that we bring in from Germany. You have all these young men and women who are either the heads or marketing leaders of these dynamic New York companies who love cycling. So this is a chance to get involved and support a New York cycling institution."
Despite this year's race falling into two separate calendars, Eustice doesn't feel that what might be conflicting goals for different riders and teams will detract from any of the standard tactics.
"They're all racing as hard as they can," he said. "If one is marking the first-place guys in the USA CRITS overall and letting someone else go away, I can't help that. But what's very interesting is seeing the committed USA CRITS riders versus the committed NCC riders. It's almost like the old NFL and the AFL. It's brought us a terrific field of racers."
For Team Mountain Khakis-SmartStop, who lead the USA CRITS team competition and also have Luke Keough just 27 points behind series leader Oscar Clark (United Healthcare of Georgia-The 706 Project), their agenda remains fairly straightforward.
"I think the people we need to worry about are the people who are there trying to win the bike race," said Adam Myerson, who captains Team Mountain Khakis. "UnitedHealthcare are coming to win and we're coming to win. If there's any opportunity, we'll take it. We're perfectly fine letting one of our guys who's in the breakaway take his chances, and then we'll have Luke to win whatever sprint is left to win."
It's a tricky proposition for the North Carolina-based team, which will only be fielding four riders as opposed to UHC's six-man "Blue Train" lead-out squad. But having faced UCH's strength on many previous occasions, Myerson knows exactly how to respond.
"In theses situations it's almost whatever sort of race UHC wants it to be," he said. "Like at last weekend's Air Force Cycling Classic, they knew exactly how much leash to give that breakaway in order to bring it back. That's precision.
"If we see them making attacks or covering moves then we'll know how to represent. We're not going to go over the top of their lead-out, but if we're not spread too thin and can bring Luke into the top five on the last lap, we can drop him off and he can follow wheels from there."
As for the impact the NCC competition will have on the team and its race, Myerson doesn't hold it as a necessarily a chief priority for Mountain Khakis.
"Both series are important, but Luke winning the NCC might be difficult. We can surely keep him in the top five, but with racing conflicts, like Manhattan Beach being held the same time as Iron Hill, Luke will probably go to the USA CRITS events because we believe he is capable of winning it again like he did in 2011."
The Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic is being produced by Emmy Award-winning Tour de France veteran Kent Gordis for the NYC Life channel, and will also be streamed live on VeloNews.com.


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Popularity of Vertical Gardens is Flourishing Thanks to Patrick Blanc
Botanist with passion sows seeds of enthusiasm
It started out as a niche idea but vertical gardens have taken root, with their popularity now flourishing! French botanist Patrick Blanc was only a child when he started liking plants, but his enthusiasm has never waned. Now, he works at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and travels the world setting up vertical gardens in different cities. Not only does he have a 'green thumb' but he has taken to coloring his hair green too.
Find out more about vertical gardens and the pioneer behind their growing popularity, Patrick Blanc.
Taming the Wild
"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust." — Gertrude Jekyll
Humans have cultivated gardens for thousands of years; as an expression of beauty and nature, a place to retreat, or simply to marvel at a patch of wild we've managed to tame. While we increasingly become more urban-centric with our apartments and high rises there are fewer opportunities for gardens. The trend for planters and greenery shows that we still seek the pleasures that gardens can bring us, and as more buildings go up, so do our gardens.
Patrick Blanc
The first time I met Patrick Blanc was at a workshop held at Hong Kong's Knowledge of Design Week, where he presented a talk about vertical gardens and spoke with enthusiasm and passion on the topic. He is a remarkable character, not only in his appearance — Blanc has been dying his hair green since 1986 — but by pioneering his methodology for creating vertical gardens.
The Parisian botanist began inventing vertical gardens as a teenager, seeking a way to provide a water filtering system for his aquariums. He noticed that the plants didn't really need soil, they just need the minerals and water along with sunlight and carbon dioxide. He went on to get a PhD in Natural Sciences in 1979, and began taking care of tropical plants at the French National Centre for Scientific Research.
Blanc began to develop his vertical gardens, switching out soil and using fibers and filtration systems to give plants the nutrients they need to grow. His projects became more about hanging plants, but artworks in themselves.
In 2001, French architect Andrée Putman brought Blanc in to design a vertical garden for the Pershing Hall Hotel, which is still happy and healthy. In the last 18 years, Blanc has worked on projects around the world to create his green walls — bringing calm and beauty to the side of buildings, interiors of shopping malls and even experimenting with chandelier formats such as his 103m-long rainforest chandelier in Bangkok.
The patience and trust required for building a garden bears its fruit when you see the plants thriving in their environment. Visiting and checking up on his creations is also brings him a sense of joy, as Blanc loves to visit the hundreds of gardens he has worked on, and see how they're doing. When he visits Hong Kong for example, he likes to stay at Hotel Icon where his garden installation spans over many floors, and featuring 70 different plant species. During his stay he will often advise on which bits need to be trimmed.
The walls have proved useful in reducing noise level, acting as an acoustic installation system for sound absorption. They reduce air pollution and have even been shown to help bring down the air temperature. Let's hope to see more vertical gardens in our cities dealing with rising temperatures!
Knowledge and Skill
Since Blanc first began sewing the seeds of his vertical garden trend, more architects have begun to incorporate green into their design. Green is after all trendy, and green is sustainable. Except when it's not.
Unfortunately, not all projects have an expert botanist designing the vertical gardens. While environmentally friendly buildings have become a buzzword, they're often accused of "greenwashing" marketing tactics to sell. Building a vertical garden requires an intimate knowledge of the plants, and as many owners of vertical gardens don't know how to look after them properly the gardens don't always live as long as Blanc's.
Blanc explains "you've got to know plants and their habits, which ones you can prune and when to prune." Knowledge of tropical plants is after all, something Blanc has invested a lot of time into. After his many years studying tropical plants, in 2009 he identified a new species of Begonia in the Philippines, which was subsequently named after him.
So Are Green Walls a Sustainable Reality?
Yes! When vertical gardens are included in an urban setting they can really help to change the face of a building and provide a breath of air that helps a city. However that's not at the expense of cutting down natural flora and fauna. Trees and shrubs planted in our urban environments are also an important balance to the city. What is brilliant about the vertical gardens is their ability to bring art and structure to an otherwise concrete facade, turning gray to green.
I hope to see more of these sustainability projects incorporated into buildings, whether that's through vertical gardens or changing up the materials we consider for our habitat. If you're considering building up your plant collection at home, check out our article on hydroponic planters and see if you've got the green thumb!
Follow us on Instagram or Pinterest to keep on top of our stories, or subscribe to the NONAGON.style newsletter now.


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Eliminate the Need for TVS Diodes and Gain ESD, Surge and Overvoltage Protection for USB Type-C Ports with Kinetic Technologies
KTU1108: Superior USB Type-C Protection for CC Lines
San Jose, Calif. – January 30, 2019 – Power management leader Kinetic Technologies announced an addition to their growing portfolio with the latest USB Type-C data line protection IC, the KTU1108. This protection device has been designed to provide industry-leading ESD, surge and overvoltage protection for USB Type-C ports, eradicating the need for bulky TVS diodes.
"Kinetic Technologies has developed the KTU1108 to increase USB Type-C port protection against a multitude of power fault conditions." says Kinetic Technologies Vice President David Nam. "Our integrated ESD protection meets IEC61000-4-2 standards, and our ultra-fast (15ns typ.) OVP minimizes output voltage spikes. Compliance with IEC61000-4-5 increases immunity, against nature-induced surges, like lightning strikes on power lines, while the KTU1108 also eliminates system damage due to physical- or moisture-related shorts between signal pins and the VBUS at elevated voltage levels."
The KTU1108 features CC1/2 DPST switches—both low capacitance and low on-resistance for passing VCONN power up to 1.25A while providing a high bandwidth for CC communications. Dead battery pull-down protection is also included on the CC1/2 lines to ensure the up-stream power source provides 5V on VBUS.
The KTU1108 is available in a Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Green compliant 1.3mm x 1.7mm wafer-level, chip-scale package (WLCSP).
Key applications for the Kinetic Technologies KTU1108 include laptop and desktop computers, and smartphones, tablets and wearables.
The KTU1108 is available and shipping now. Visit Kinetic Technologies for more information.


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The short bullet point version.
Born of Scottish parents grew up in London. In 1969 emigrated to SA at the age of 16.
Studied art and sculpture at the Joburg Art, Ballet and Music school. 1972 began career in printing and publishing then moved into advertising.
30 years in advertising as award winning Creative Director – accounts such as – Coca Cola, Nissan, L'Oreal, Camel, Xerox, Opel , 702 radio, Kreepy Krauly, and many, many others. Worked locally, London and New York with large multinational and local agencies.
Left the industry in 1999. Began lecturing. Various institutions. AAA School of Advertising, IMM, Bond University, CT Business School, Wits Business School, Vega Brand School, GIBS and Henley Business School.
Lectures in Innovation, Communication, Creative Development and recovery – and Self Mastery.
In 2005 studied Consciousness Coaching at CCI.
Today works as a business/innovation coach, lecturer, speaker, and consultant to businesses/organisations wherever he can be of help.
2013 published "The Genius Programme" – how to move from habit thinking to genius living.
Positions himself as a "Developer of Great People" – he believes "The magic is within you, I will help you set it free".
Philosophy "To give back".
The longer more colourful version.
I was born in 1953 (one of seven children) to Scottish parents – in the small town of South Ockendon, Essex (on the outskirts of London) – which is about 40 miles directly east of Buckingham Palace – and that's as close to royalty – that I guess, I'll ever get.
I grew up, in and around London, and was shaped and influenced by the ideas of the sixties.
In 1969 – at the developing age of sixteen – our family (or some of it) immigrated to South Africa.
I was not particularly gifted as a scholar – preferring to play football and watch telly – than put any real effort into studying maths, language, history, science or anything else, of real value, for that matter.
The net effect was – that when I arrived in South Africa – there wasn't much I could do.
I did have a marginal interest in drawing and this created an opportunity for my parents to offload me at the Johannesburg School for Art. I studied there for a while, developing my skill in drawing and a growing interest in sculpture.
Without any recognised qualification – I was extremely fortunate to secure a job in printing and publishing – as a paste-up artist (preparing material for printing).
I found this exceptionally boring but it paid the rent of a flat I had secured in Hillbrow.
My luck changed – when by chance – I was offered a job as an assistant to an art director, at what was then, Johannesburg's and South Africa's most successful advertising agency.
From that point on my career flourished – within a few years, I became a fully fledged art director and by the beginning of 1980, was a partner in my own ad agency.
I won numerous international and local awards, developing brands such as; The Trust Bank, The Yellow Pages, Ford, Fiat, Johnson and Johnson, Sealy Posturpedic and many others.
I was also involved in the launching of a number of local new business and brands including...Kreepy Krauly, 702 Radio and Menlyn Park Shopping Centre.
As a relatively young man, I found the responsibilities of management tiresome and boring.
My creative spirit got the better of my rational mind – and in 1984 I abandoned the directorship – in search of new and exciting challenges. I sold my agency shares and decided to offer myself as a freelancer.
Over the next decade I began to mature – and moved successfully onto the international advertising stage – working for a number of large international agencies based in South Africa.
It was here that I was involved in developing the brands of; Coca-Cola, Sprite, Tab, Black and Decker, Opel and Isuzu, Camel Cigarettes (back when smoking was still cool), L'Oreal cosmetics, Lion Larger, Nissan, BP, Xerox, Plascon Paints and the list goes on. Again my work was acknowledged with international and local awards.
As the eighties came to a close, so did my time with these large multi nationals. Once more uncertainty occupied my headspace – dissatisfied, I looked for another canvas to explore.
The next, and as it turned out final phase, of my advertising career, provided me with further experiences and unique challenges.
I joined a small South African owned company 'The Agency'. It had, at one point, enjoyed high profile status – but through the loss of significant accounts, had scaled down to a staff of just 20.
This was 1990 – the country was uncertain, as was the business landscape.
The "winds of change" were certainly blowing.
I wasn't aware of it at the time but the direction of those winds was firmly in The Agency's favour – because in a fairly short period of time The Agency got lucky!
We started to pick up new business, winning each of the new business pitches we challenged for – we were 'on a role' and that role continued right into the hugely significant political changes that were taking place simultaneously.
And as a local ad agency, we positioned ourselves to take full advantage of the situation, by making the affirmative changes required, ahead of our competition.
The result of these actions was the acquisition of some very substantial local accounts like: Eskom, SABC, Telkom, The Post Office, Absa Bank and a host of others.
These were all brands that needed to 'reposition' themselves as organisations – in light of the political and social changes 1994 initiated.
In 1997 I initiated an industry training and development programme to help promote and find positions for young black creative talent (specifically recruited from the townships for their unique insights).
The Abekwetha programme was ahead of its time. It enjoyed partial success with the support of the forward thinking agencies but the broader industry, having made gestures of support, failed to deliver.
By 1998 The Agency had grown into a business with over 300 staff and had become South Africa's largest independent advertising agency.
My creative work had again been acknowledged with many awards and my managerial skills had also been noticed.
I was asked to leave my position as creative director and to take up the role of managing director – such was the growth of the Agency's business.
The Agency merged with seven other (communication) businesses – and listed on the Stock exchange as Billboard Communications.
What initially appeared to be a bold new move came crashing down – once potential investors lost confidence buying into – "intellectual capital".
I came to realise (too late) that I had got caught up in a whole lot of investment and disinvestment stuff, that had very little to do with good communication practice and was wholly about making certain individuals wealthy – at the expense of others.
The joy and passion I once derived from advertising had been replaced with devious business deals and corridor politics.
As the millennium drew to a close and the world united in the fear around YK2 – I was put out of my misery and relieved of my duties.
At the close of 1999 – my advertising career over – I was 46 years old.
I spent most of 2000 in depression and despair and reached a whole new level of "lowness" something that I had never experienced before.
Yet, it was out of this dark and lonely place – that my new life was to emerge.
At the beginning of 2001 fortune smiled on me once more, when I was offered a position lecturing Art Direction at the AAA School of Advertising.
Whilst lecturing I experienced a number of epiphany's...
I came to see that communication is absolutely everything – in its absence – there is fear, chaos and certain darkness.
That everyone is creative – ideas are inside everyone – some people just struggle to express them – that I could help people realise them.
That I had something I could give back – and for the first time I found "purpose" to my life.
From 2002 I began building a new career and used as many lecturing opportunities as I could to shape and develop my new passion.
This included short engagements with Bond University, Cape Town University Business School, IMM and other institutions looking for lecturers in the field of communications.
The more I lectured, the more I recognised a need to learn more, myself.
I began to read as much as I could on the subjects I was promoting. The more I read the more I began to see differently and the more I needed to share.
The training and lecturing experiences accumulated and in 2004 I was offered a unique challenge – to help redevelop and improve the competitiveness of a large international advertising agency based in Lagos Nigeria.
This project offered me the opportunity to apply so many of the concepts and ideas I had been promoting through my lectures and to see how they would really work in a"real" environment.
It also required that I delve deep into the human component of the organisation – beginning to explore the stuff that made the individuals "tick" and the stuff that brought about disillusionment.
During this nine month adventure I had both success and failure.
For the agency there was success in the acquisition of a large telecommunications account, improved staff effectiveness and an overall strategic repositioning which led to them becoming more industry competitive.
In the many quite evenings that I had to myself, I also had time to reflect on how my methodology worked.
In 2005, on the completion of the Nigerian project, I enrolled on a consciousness coaching course through Creative Consciousness International (CCI).
The tools and techniques that I learnt on this programme have since benefitted many of the people who have since sought my help.
Today – I am really very fortunate indeed – for now I get to work with so many different people.
Over the last few years I have helped all sorts of individual wishing to improve their lives through coaching, I have worked with a number of NGO groups seeking to establish improved communications with their constituents and with each other, I have also worked on a corporate platform, helping organisations understand and gear themselves for innovation development.
I have also enjoyed a number of high profile speaking opportunities where I have talked of the tools and mind space required for successful people development.
In 2013 I published 'The Genius Programme' – how to move from habit thinking to genius living. This is a very basic and practical workbook that helps to present the argument for shifting our habitual thinking. The tools offered will help the reader gain a far better insight into what is governing their thinking and therefore their actions – their life. The programme also provides practical activities for establishing new thinking behaviours that will assist in generating more constructive and proactive meaning to the actions we take in building our lives – designing our futures.
I really am blessed and am particularly grateful of what life has given me. I looked forward to each day wondering what will be the next insight – and where is the lesson?
Copyright Graeme Butchart.
All Rights Reserved.
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So starting next month, I should be finishing up some development projects at Sony Imageworks and will be rolling onto Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Since Suicide Squad wrapped in July, I've been busy developing projects at work for multiple shows to use. I've also been busy on several smaller projects that we'll hopefully be able to talk more about soon, or not, depending on how things go. You know how it is.
I'm looking forward to Homecoming. We've obviously done every incarnation of the CG Spider-Man other than the one in Civil War and this will be a really cool new take on it. I think it'll be a really great project, and will be my third movie with the lead for this show. I think so far we've made for a really great team.
It's somewhat bittersweet, because I was slated to be Lead on my own show, involving giant mechas and monsters from the Pacific Ocean (I'll let you guess), but sadly that fell through and I've been reassigned to working on Homecoming instead. A bit unfortunate because it will be a while before I get to lead a show I think, given our current lineup but we'll see. I think it would have been a fun change, but c'est la vie.
In the meantime I'm still a Pipeline Lead at Imageworks but just not Lead Pipeline on a show if that makes sense. So still more responsibilities than before and it makes for some very interesting work as well as being part of the decision process that drives the company forward.
Anyway, it'll be good to get back into the rhythm of a show again, and I can't wait to start.


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I love Saturdays. They are so leisurely and non-comittal . . . just the way I like them. Todd is free to do his thing, which usually means watching man movies on the telly that bore me to tears . . . and I am free to do my thing, which usually means baking something scrummy for us to share.
Some weekends it may be a nice crumble or pie . . . other weekends may find me baking muffins or cookies . . . scrummy tray bakes, or puddings . . . something delectable.
I love cake though and that is my favourite thing of all to bake. I usually keep half of it for ourselves and then I have another half that I gift out to someone else . . . perhaps a neighbor, or an elderly friend. Sometimes the missionaries. Nobody has turned my offering down yet!
I found this recipe in a book for a chocolate marble cake with a crumble topping and it looked quite tasty to me. (Rachel Allen's Cake Book) Todd doesn't really like chocolate however and so I had pretty much scratched it off my to do list . . . although I do confess I did look longingly at the photo in the book from time to time. (Doesn't everyone do that????)
Anyways, I got to thinking about how much Todd loves spice cakes . . . and then I thought surely I could adapt the recipe in some way and create a marbled spice cake . . . and that's just what I did. I adapted and changed the ingredients somewhat, keeping the core ingredients the same . . . but at the same time different.
I deleted the cocoa powder completely, except for a touch in the spice batter for colour. I then had to up the flour amount to make up for it's lack. I kept half the batter plain, but to the other half I added a tiny bit of cocoa powder, some molasses and a whole lotta lotta spice!
Cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground cloves, ground allspice and ginger . . . a dusting of grated nutmeg. I also added some mixed spice to the crumble topping and switched the chocolate chips out for white chocolate chips.
Oh boy, did this ever smell good when it was baking. Spicy and warm . . . moreishly inviting. Just like a home should smell. We enjoyed nice big slices of it with cups of warm cocoa . . . and took several slabs of it over to our friend Doreen for her to enjoy this evening with a nice hot cuppa.
It is a nice comfortable cake. A sturdy cake. Buttery and moist . . . and most at home with a hot drink or a cold glass of milk. I love these kinds of cakes best of all. Enjoy.
Serves 6 to 8
1 TBS molasses
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then loosen around the edges using a small sharp knife. Release and remove the sides of the tin. Place the cake on a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Carefully loosen the bottom using a fish slice or palate knife and slice the cake onto a plate to serve.
I thought you would enjoy seeing a photo of my little baking companion today. Mitzie is never very far away when I am working in the kitchen, or taking my food photos. Always hoping for a crumb to fall I guess. I would surely miss her were she not there!