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I think we all know or have heard by now about how good meditation is for us. I would go so far as to say it's better than good, it's straight up magical!
Now the scientists would disagree with my magic statement, but that's ok. They've been studying and proving what the yogis have known for thousands of years, which is meditation = pure awesomeness.
All we have to do is pull up a comfy seat, keep your spine tall, close your eyes, breath with awareness and let the meditation begin to dissolve all those distractions.
Simple, right?
Well let's not get ahead of ourselves.
So, real talk. Meditation is easy to learn, but hard to do. That's why were going to do this together.
This challenge is happening from April 2 – May 11.
Here's a link to the video I made kicking off the first day: https://www.facebook.com/KashiAtlanta/videos/10154252012971987/
If you join later, just do the math and extend your end date as needed.
The actual scenario as you learn to meditate looks like this.
We sit down, start to breathe, maybe set an intention and all of a sudden all these thoughts and emotions come barging into our space, demanding attention.
We sit a little taller, breathe a little deeper and try to force those thoughts out and come back to what we were doing. I mean how hard can this meditation, sitting still thing be?
Honestly – it's hard in the beginning.
But it gets easier.
Some of you might think, why bother? Well think about this.
We are not our thoughts or emotions, as my teacher Swami Jaya Devi says.
Yet we get lost in that illusion of our mind and those thoughts dictate our reality way too often, leading us into anxiety, displaced anger, depression, lack of confidence, jealousy, addiction…the list goes on.
Really, we are the boss of our own minds. Well, we should be. But so often our experience is the other way around. We've let our mind become the boss of us.
It's time for a change. It's time to befriend the mind, as opposed to coming at it like you're going to conquer it. This isn't a war. And honestly when we use that strategy, does it really help? War is never the answer.
Instead, we can think of our mind as a puppy in training. In the beginning, when you tell that puppy to sit and stay, it might be there for half a second before being distracted and running off. With positive reinforcement and compassion, you start over with the puppy and repeat the process as you hold it's attention for longer and longer periods of time. That's how it is with your mind.
The time is now, let's make a change for the better.
Thoughts you might have:
- 40 days is intimidating.
- I don't have time to meditate everyday, let alone for 40 days.
- What am I supposed to be doing for this meditation challenge?
- I don't know how to work with a mala.
- What's the point of doing it everyday?
I got you. All your questions will be answered here on this page or you can connect with me through social media or use the contact form on this page, all of which is included below.
So sit back, relax and get ready to get grounded, reconnect and meditate.
Why 40 days?
Here's the deal. Our world is filled with endless ways to indulge in instant gratification. Our attention spans have been reduced to 150 characters, an endless, scrolling feed on social media and binge watching our favorite shows through the magical internet. And, voila, we fall into bad habits. All this has done quite a number on our ability to concentrate. And concentration is one of the first steps in meditation.
So some bad habits have snuck into your everyday life. Ah, to be human! No reason to worry, because you are amazing and have this ability to transform, evolve and create new habits. Habits that actually empower, nurture and support you being your best self.
Swami Jaya Devi loves to remind us that we have to go just beyond our comfort zone and into our growth zone to begin real transformation.
That's where a 40 day practice comes in. The ancients mystics and spiritual beings from many traditions use 40 days as a way to deeply rewire the brain and nervous system, changing old habits and allowing us to adopt new ones.
Keep in mind, there's a catch.
This practice must be completed over 40 consecutive days. If you miss a day you need to start over.
You have to use the honor system with your Self. So what if you miss a day and have to start over? Look at it this way, time will keep rolling by anyway, giving you opportunities to jump back in. No loss really. Though the lower ego may not agree, but that pesky ego is always trying to start trouble isn't it?
Now that you have some answers to why we would do this kind of practice, here's the how:
1. Choose a place to meditate
Make it a place that is relaxing and quiet. In the beginning, it's best to create a space that will become your go to spot. When you keep using the same space over and over for meditation, the energy of your practice accumulates. It becomes like a magnet that draws you in, making it easier to get into your meditative groove. Just like when we walk a path over and over again, it becomes well marked, easier to follow.
You can also have a back up place or impromptu session somewhere else, like outside and the magic will still happen if you set your intention.
2. Prepare your body
- Do some conscious movement for a few minutes before you sit. That could be yoga, tai chi or something else.
- Yoga asana practice (postures) was actually designed to help yogis sit for long periods in meditation.
- Do a few sun salutations.
- Take several deep, conscious breaths before beginning your mantra practice.
- Maybe take a short walk outside before you get started.
3. Find a good seat
This is the original yoga posture.
- Find a good cushion or meditation pillow, sit on the floor, with a tall spine, legs crossed with the knees relaxing down, lower than the hips. If the knees are not dropping down, sit on something higher.
- You can even sit in a chair, moving towards the edge of the seat so you're not slouching. You could place a pillow behind your back to help.
- Lift your sternum and gently roll your shoulders up, back and down.
4. Using the mala beads
- Count the beads on your mala, or count on your fingers – I demonstrate how to do this in this video: https://www.facebook.com/KashiAtlanta/videos/10154252012971987/
- With the mala, extend your index finger on the right hand and drape the mala over your second finger.
- Use your thumb to move the beads as you chant. You'll start at the first bead just past the "guru" bead, the one with the tassel hanging from it.
5. Learning to use pranayama and mantra for your meditation
- Watch the video I shared to learn the pranayama and mantra practice that we're using in this challenge.
- Repeat the breath 12 times.
- Repeat the mantra 108 times while counting the beads. 108 repetitions will bring you back to the beginning of the mala.
- If you don't have 10-15 minutes at one time to dedicate to this, try repeating the mantra 54 or even 27 times. Then do it again in the evening.
- Repeat the mantra with what the Buddha would call right attitude, opening to the idea that you are immersing your Self into potent, sacred energy that has been used for literally thousands of years to help us align with that vast, immeasurable presence of the Infinite.
- Repeat the mantra at a medium speed, to keep your mind engaged.
- When you complete the mantra practice, sit quietly for a few moments and enjoy the effects.
- When you feel ready, slowly open the eyes and welcome the world back in.
- I'll keep sharing more about pranayama and mantra meditation when I post on social media throughout this challenge.
Traditionally as you begin using mantra as a meditation tool, you will chant out loud to help train the mind to stay focused. Then with time you can whisper the mantra. With practice and as your mind becomes accustomed to being more concentrated, you can do it silently. After you've practiced it out loud for awhile and your focus has become noticeably stronger, you can practice it however you like, out loud, half and half, whatever feels natural.
Finding time
I think this is one of the hardest parts in the beginning.
Here are a few suggestions to help make time and space:
- Choose two times that work best with your schedule. If you work full-time, carve out 10 extra minutes in the morning after waking up (set your alarm just a few minutes earlier) and save a few minutes before heading to bed. If you're a stay at home parent or a solopreneur type, choose the times that best fit with your schedule. But stick to them!
- Practicing at a consistent time everyday is best and helps make the habit stick. It's just like how you make time for that cup of coffee every morning. Would it serve you as well if you had that cup of joe at different times everyday? Ok, silly metaphor, but you catch my drift 😉
- Write it down in a planner. Literally schedule a meditation date with yourself.
- For your meditation space: Hang up an inspirational photo, quote, or anything that serves as a reminder. Dress up your area with a candle, crystals, that special seashell that reminds you of the sound of the ocean, or whatever connects you to the vibe you're trying to create.
Are you ready?
Let's do this together, one day at a time. I'll be sharing my journey on Kashi Atlanta's facebook page and I'd love to have you join this 40-day meditation tribe! I'm using the hashtags #meditatefor40 and #kashiatlanta. I would love for you to add those hashtags with your reflections on your own journey. Do it everyday.
Post a little something everyday to help keep you accountable.
It could be as simple as sharing a photo of the candle you lit, a peek into your meditation corner, a snapshot of the beautiful day you're walking into after meditation, an inspiring quote that resonated with you after meditating, whatever strikes you. Join the community and let's do this one meditation at a time.
Plugging into a community of like-minded people who are creating a movement of higher consciousness, mindfulness, exploring radical shifts into positivity and self care is contagious.
I don't think you'll regret it.
I'm here, along with my amazing community at Kashi Atlanta. You can reach out to me through the contact form below or find me on social media: facebook or instagram
Kim Candika Alford
[contact-form email@example.com' subject='#meditatefor40′][contact-field label='Name' type='name' required='1'/][contact-field label='Email' type='email' required='1'/][contact-field label='Comment' type='textarea' required='1'/][/contact-form]


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SYNLawn® backyard golf greens and indoor putting greens are made from the industry's most natural looking synthetic turf, and offer the look, feel and playability of your favorite natural grass greens. Our artificial turf greens are a favorite of residential and commercial customers alike. Ask us how a SYNLawn® putting green can improve your short game. Ask also about our artificial grass customized golf kits.
A great deal of research and development has gone into creating practice putting and chipping surfaces that perform like natural grass greens in every way. The convenience and optimum practice conditions your very own backyard putting green will provide will benefit your game, your leisure time and your home's value for years to come.
We will work with you to create a design that accentuates the existing surroundings in your outdoor space. When we finish, you will be the owner of a practice golf green that maintains its perfect look and feel year-round while requiring little to no maintenance and upkeep. The ability to practice your golf game simply by walking out the back door is a luxury that is certainly within your reach.
Our golf-related products include:
- Backyard golf greens
- Indoor putting greens
- Fringe and collar turf
- Commercial tee lines
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- Customized Golf Kits
As a golf enthusiast, you owe it to yourself to learn more about SYNLawn® synthetic grass putting greens. We promise you a design and installation process you'll enjoy, and a finished product you will absolutely love.

subset: commoncrawl


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|System: Switch
|Dev: Konami, HexaDrive
|Pub: Konami
|Release: March 3, 2017
|Players: 1-8 Player
|Screen Resolution: 720p-1080p
|Cartoon Violence
by Sean Engemann
A blast from the past, Bomberman games have lit their little fuses for decades now, popping up every now and then in different forms on different platforms. Its staple gameplay of blasting walls and incinerating enemies (and friends) has burned fond memories into many gamers nostalgic minds, making it an easily recognizable series. It seems perfectly suited to complement Nintendo's quirky new console, and if it were a budget-friendly eShop offering, Super Bomberman R would have been. However, with minimal content options, an obscenely brief solo campaign, and frustrating controls, the $50 price tag is far too steep to recommend as a launch day purchase.
If you ignite Super Bomberman R's Story Mode first, you'll have to suffer (or skip through) some pretty bad, Saturday morning anime-inspired cartoon cutscenes. It sets the scene by introducing an evil mastermind bent on destroying the universe with the help of his Dastardly Bombers, five sinister, yet easily flappable, underlings who helm the boss battles at the end of each world's eight stages. Each board presents a winning condition of finding keys, flipping switches, rescuing hostages, or clearing out every last baddie. New mechanical enemy types are introduced to hinder your progress, such as jumping grasshoppers, drill-tipped drag racers, bomb eating chompers, and others. You'd think this would bolster the strategic requirements, but in practice placing well-timed bombs with a dash of luck takes care of the objectives. On the other hand, luck takes the forefront in part one of the boss battles, where the Dastardly Bombers have a chess-like mastery of finding a safe spot away from the blast zone. Part two consists of the boss in a massive mechanical form, where blasting the weak spots becomes a tedious chore rather than an exciting climax.
After clearing the Super Bomberman R campaign in roughly two hours, you'll feel unfulfilled, a little cheated, and somewhat frustrated with the death dealing controls. For likely presentational purposes, the camera lens in the Story Mode is isometric, which is fine, but tilted at an angle, which is not. This odd perspective makes it difficult to maneuver around the grid-like stage. On larger boards with a cooperative partner, too much distance apart can cause one of you to get lost off-screen or covered by the interface. This annoyance is compounded by a movement system that requires absolute precision in your turns. If you don't hit the gap just right, you're left staring at a barrier while the fuse on your bomb dwindles or overshooting and heading down the next alley, likely into the embrace of an enemy. The frustration even has you question whether you should pick up speed and bomb upgrades that are revealed or burn them off the board.
Switching over to the multiplayer Battle Mode yields an opposing force of controls, actually feeling heavy, sluggish, and unresponsive. This is particularly irritating in online battles, where the slightest hiccup in the network connection (which happened many times in nearly every one of my online matches) can toast your Bomberman's butt right off the screen. Considering there are ranked League Battles accompanying the casual Free Battles, tight controls and a smooth connection should have been at the top of the quality assurance checklist. At least the viewing angle is at a clean, centered, nearly top-down angle, with a dodgeball like perimeter for players knocked out early to perch and still affect the outcome, or even get tagged back in.
Super Bomberman R's control vexations aren't limited to the action on-screen, but a poor thought process in the menu screens. For instance, if you have been playing the Story Mode solo using both Joy-Cons in the grip, a partner couldn't simply pop in and play, even though the "Press Any Button" signal on the bottom right of the screen suggests you can. In order to do this you have to go back to the main menu, start a local multiplayer battle, and go to the final setup screen in order to change the controls to Horizontal, which allows each Joy-Con to sync individually. Also, there is no "Quit" option during a match. You can leave the game, but you have to press the "Battle Menu" option, which you wouldn't immediately guess translates into "Quit". Yes, some issues are small, but they're still big enough that they should have been caught before the final release.
Local multiplayer is where Super Bomberman R is meant to be played, and should be the only redeeming quality when deciding whether to purchase the game. It is a welcome addition to any party lineup or couch gathering, allowing up to eight players to join the mayhem. Getting caught between a bomb and a wall, quietly (or vocally) setting your sights on a singular opponent, and narrowly avoided a blast are all elements that will strengthen (or test) relationships. In the end you'll likely be joking and taunting your couch neighbors, and loading up the next grudge match.


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WizarDave's blog
WizarDave's introductory post
This is my very first post!
I first saw the Internet back in '95
- I saw 2 things the Internet would do:
- Connect People to People
- Connect People to Information
People used to gather on the front porch
- sharing stories with family and friends
- passing down knowledge from generation to generation.
But people became scattered
- making it
- Read more 5 comments


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Have a new business you want to get off the ground? Finally looking into getting that custom sign for your established company? Studies have shown that businesses with signs stand out and get more traffic than those without signs. But what kind of sign is better for your business? The debate boils down to two types of signage: electric signs, usually made with neon or fluorescent bulbs, and traditional signs, which are typically made from metal or wood. We here at Signs by Van have made this blog to show you why traditional wood and metal signs can be more beneficial than electric signs. Keep reading to learn why you should choose a custom wood sign over a generic neon sign for your store, business, or organization.
Sign Placement
We've all seen the soft, bright tones of a neon sign glowing in front of a storefront, or the dimmed bulbs buzzing behind 3D letters. Though they can grab attention and look good at times, neon signs can only go in certain areas. Most neon signs are confined to indoor areas as any kind of condensation or weathering can cause them to malfunction or short circuit. They also need a constant source of electricity, meaning you'll need to place them near a plug or connect them to a powersource of some kind for them to do their job. On top of this, electric signs only stand out at night, meaning you'll be missing out on about 12 hours of business advertising.
Traditional signs are only limited by the space you have to put them in. They don't need electricity, so you can put them anywhere on your property that you see fit. Their custom design and colors will stand out against any background and immediately draw attention to your business. Each sign is made with treated wood or metal, so you won't have to worry about adding extra protection to your custom metal or wood sign either.
Sign Durability
Like most electronics, electric signs work great until they don't. Most electric signs are made with plastic or glass, which is easily broken by the elements or a herd of grabby, unsupervised children. Electric signs that are outside or in high traffic areas will need constant upkeep, which can be quite costly. Plus, the cheaper the sign the more repairs it will require, which can be expensive depending on how intricate your electric sign is, where it's located in your business, or how much maintenance it needs.
As we stated earlier, traditional signs are made from treated wood and metal, making them weatherproof. Because traditional signs are made with durable organic materials, they'll only require a bit of routine servicing, which will usually just be topographical cleaning. Depending on where you live, this cleaning can be once every month or so, or every other week. But for most custom signage, minimal maintenance will still allow it to last for decades on end. Because traditional signs are made with sturdy materials, repairs and replacements are minimal at most.
Sign Customization
Electric signs are customizable to an extent. You can usually get your company logo or name written how you want it; however, if you opt for the backlit sign or wording, it will most likely be lazily illuminated with a fluorescent bulb that can easily go out in a few months. Neon lights have shown that they can be made into any shape or letter, but they're bright lighting can take away from your sign and can even make it impossible to read. Colors are heavily limited for neon lights as well as each gas encapsulated in the glass tubing burns a certain color when introduced to an electric current. And unless you protect your electric signs, they'll be confined to protected areas where they may not be able to be fully appreciated.
With a good sign maker, a traditional sign can be made into any design, whether it's as intricate as the Sistine Chapel, or as simple as a name. Traditional signs aren't limited by colors either, especially in today's day-and-age where paint can be matched to any color. Custom traditional signs are only limited to space and imagination. They can also be enjoyed at night with a simple spotlight or some simple, well placed lights.
If you're looking for custom business signs in California, Signs by Van can create the custom sign of your dreams from San Francisco to San Diego. See our portfolio of signs we've created, learn about our Wine & Sign events where you can drink wine and make your own custom sign, or contact Signs by Van to answer any questions and get a free estimate.


text: School Chefs Team Up for Culinary Competition at CNIC January 18, 2013 – The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in San Antonio hosted a "Chopped"-style cooking competition for SNA members at the 2013 Child Nutrition Industry Conference (CNIC) this past weekend. On Saturday, nutrition directors from school districts all over the country battled it out to prepare delicious and economical meals that meet the new meal pattern requirements. CIA chefs joined in on the fun, too – Chef Michael Katz provided a culinary demonstration, lectured participants on flavor profiles and recipe development, and gave pointers and tips. SNA members prepared healthy meals as part of a cooking competition at the Culinary Institute of AmericaBut before they got cooking, each of the six teams hit the local Farmers Market with $25, collecting whatever fresh ingredients they want to feature in their recipes. Some of the inventive recipes included an avocado ranch dressing, jalapeno relish, risotto fries, southwest tuna wraps, and black bean soup served in a tortilla bowl. Each team was judged on creativity, team cooperation and planning.The winning dish? Tuna casserole, fiesta chicken salad, local greens, Arborio rice, and a pineapple & strawberry cup. Congrats to the winning team members: Julia Bauscher, SNS, Jefferson County School District (Ky.)JoAnne Corcoran, Sheldon Independent School District (Texas)Dora Rivas, MS, RD, SNS, Dallas (Texas) Independent School DistrictLinda Stoll, SNS, Jeffco School District (Colo.)Executive Chef Robert Lafond, J.T.M Food GroupA complete recap of CNIC 2013 will be available in the April issue of School Nutrition.


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Testimonial of the Month: Caremark Broxtowe & Erewash
"Amanda has a wealth of knowledge and experience of the social care industry. The help, support and encouragement that Amanda provided was invaluable but most of all her enthusiasm and can do attitude. Prepare2Care also support us with our care team training requirements, John's engaging professional training is of the highest standard.
Thank you to Amanda and the team at Prepare2Care, we look forward to a healthy long term working relationship."
Rajan Solanki


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Peace + Love +Bling ~ Ethical is Beautiful
Avalon Sterling Silver Intertwining Earrings
$37.00 $32.00
These earrings are feather light and so full of movement. Constructed of .925 sterling silver overlay with sterling silver french ear wires.
Sizing: 2.5" drop
Each item comes gift packaged in our signature pink bag with a card sharing expressing a special thought for you as well as an explanation of Peace+Love+Bling and our social mission to empower and protect women and girls.


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This weeks' smoothie recipe comes from our very own Fatimat!
A delicious blend of watermelon, hailed as s popular diuretic which helps to flush and cleanse out the system. High in water which supplies the skin cells with the hydration it needs, providing a youthful glow. This recipe is sure to cool you down in Doha's scorching heat!
With a splash of lime for some zesty vitamin C and an extra boost for the immune system, you have yourself an energetic punch in a glass!
Add bananas for fibre and a little organic honey for sweetness and antioxidant.
Half a Watermelon (de-seeded)
1 Banana
1 tsp Organic Honey
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Apple Juice
Splash of Lime


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Blog entry
Developing A Numbered Tile - Some completed tiles
This is the end result of all of the work shown in the previous tile posts.
Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6
Developing A Numbered Tile - Step 6: Finish The Process
So here's how I finish the process of making tile molds.
Up till now, I've got the base of the tiles made and had created a mold of it.
I roll out some clay, and lay out my foam template numbers onto the clay. I cut out the numbers and score and slip a number to a base tile.
If you look carefully at the image of the number 2, you'll see the slip before I've cleaned it off the base near the edge of the number two.
So now that I have this model, I next make a mold of it. I make eleven molds in total. One base mold which is used to pull ten base tiles, and each of the base tiles get a number adhered onto it, and a mold created of that number.
After the mold is made, the model tile is trashed because it has too much plaster. Plaster blows up claywork in a kiln because it expands at different temperatures than the clay. Because of this, it is best to be very careful about not reusing clay with plaster on or in it.
The mold is completed, and will be cleaned up, having air bubbles and undercuts addressed before pulling tiles from it. Air bubbles will have plaster added and sanded, and undercuts will be cut away with an Exacto knife from the plaster mold. Edges are rasped rounded and smooth.
There are many steps to bringing an idea from start to finish. Thank you for following along. I'll be posting these number tiles soon. Add yourself to my email newsletter list if you would like to see the finished results when they come out of the kiln.
Thanks for following along!
Developing a Numbered Tile - Step 5: Creating the Tile Base
For consistency sake, to tie all of the numbers together, I wanted the same tile base behind every number. So I rolled out some clay and made my design impressions, then cut the tile to size. I had planned in step 1 to bevel the edges of my tiles. My first attempt at beveling the edges left the bottom outside edge too thin. From that try, I knew I needed to leave some clay at the bottom edge. I used a paint stirring stick as my base to run the beveler over. It worked like a dream!
Now, I'm not great at getting things to look exactly the same everytime I create it. I'd have to be a machine to do that! So once the base tile was created, I poured some plaster over it. Shown below is the mold of the original base tile..It's not very pretty, but it IS very functional, and that's beautiful!
Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6
Developing a Numbered Tile - Step 4: Making Foam Templates
Once I have the numbers vectorized, I then print them out. I suppose if you are concerned about keeping the paper pristine, you could use clear shelf paper over the top of the paper on one side. I didn't bother doing that here.
Using plain white school glue, I glue the paper to craft foam. (The foam is the color red in this image.) I've found that other types of glue, such as epoxy, tend to eat the foam. After that I carefully cut out the numbers' shapes.
These foam pieces are the templates that I use to cut numbers out of clay.
Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6
Developing a Numbered Tile - Step 3: Vectorizing the Numbers.
In step three I scanned in the numbers to the computer. Then I took the jpgs into my Illustrator program. In the Illustrator program, I redrew the numbers using the sketches as a base to copy. Illustrator creates line art, not paint art. This line art is called Vector art. So I "vectorized" the numbers. The cool thing about Vector art is that I can resize an image without losing any quality. In a paint program, I am likely to lose image quality if I tried to upside the image.
After I redrew the numbers, I then printed them out, and checked that all of the number parts lined up with each other.
Developing a Numbered Tile - Step 2: Sketching Out The Numbers
So I knew I wanted my numbers to look sleek and clean. I wanted them to also look fun and slightly quirky without reaching "saccharin cute". I messed around with ideas on paper until I was happy with my general concept. I'd have the numbers break the wall of the inner base of the tile and offset them to get the feeling I wanted to achieve. I was pretty happy with my results.
The next step: getting the numbers into the computer.
Developing a Numbered Tile - Step 1: Math and Proportion
So I thought I'd create some house numbers. By developing these numbers from an idea in my head rather than from a premade font, these numbers will reflect the style I create. This will give you a lovely way to create unique beauty and interest in your doorways, mailboxes and other areas.
This and future posts will demonstate some of the basics I went through while developing the concept for these numbered tiles.
So I've decided that I wanted the number tiles to be about 5 inches tall and about 3.75 inches across. That felt like a good size with nice proportions and the tiles could be used vertically or horizontally. To add a bit of modern interest, I've decided to bevel the edges of each tile, rather than make the ho-hum "picture frame" commonly found.
Because I work in clay, and clay shrinks, I had to do a bit of math to accommodate the shrinkage.
If you want to know how I did the math, you can follow along by using the formula on this
Pottery Algebra Tee Shirt On Amazon
Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6
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Swarthmore Hatches a Big Red Bird
And Names a Student Team to Bring the Phoenix to Life
It's a big, red bird. Very big and very red. Note that the wing feathers also look a little like flames. Note the ever-so-slightly aggressive beak—it's a raptor, and it can be tough. Note the oversize shoes with the garnet S. Then allow yourself a laugh at the highly shakable tail and the overstuffed appearance of the whole silly thing. What more can you say about it—except that it's Swarthmore's new mascot, the Phoenix!
It's supposed to be fun—and it is. The Phoenix (we've decided to capitalize it, as with any other proper name) started making surprise appearances on campus in the weeks after "mascot tryouts" were held in the Lang Performing Arts Center in late March.
About 200 students turned out to watch as emcees Claire Melin and Kyle White (both seniors involved in making the mascot happen)—put seven would-be birds through a series of absurd performance exercises designed to, well, sort out the fryers from the broilers.
The judges included Registrar Martin Warner, Associate Dean Myrt Westphal, Assistant Track-and-Field Coach Tom Reynolds, Suneal Bedi '09, Maggie DeLorme '10—plus, special guest Dave Raymond, emperor of fun and games at the Raymond Entertainment Group and, for 16 years, the original Phillie Phanatic. Emperor Dave's Newark, Del., firm designed and built the Phoenix.
First, there's the talent portion of the competition. A brave Finlay Logan '08 (who later turned out to be an embedded reporter for The Daily Gazette) leads off, crooning a Gothic Archies' ballad that ends: "One would rather be a tick than be a tiny goat." As Anna Baeth's ['09] cheering section roars encouragement, she hurries down a line of 15 audience volunteers, popping everyone's collar in just 13 seconds. Juliana Macri '09 describes the mythical phoenix's curative powers, channels the spiritual bird in her tears, and revives two Swarthmore athletes who have "brutally injured" themselves. It's a miracle! Dan Hodson '09 shows off his skill at face painting with four volunteers—two "Haverfords" being decorated with tears of humiliation while two Swatties get (left to right on four cheeks) S-W A-T. These young people are so clever! Caitlin Mullarkey '09 role plays with two Swarthmore "athletes" and two from Haverford: "Why did you go to Haverford?" she asks. "Because I got under 1,000 on my SATs." Multitasking Alex Gilbert-Bono '10 lip-syncs "Be True to Your School" while dancing, blowing into a beer bottle, and clanging a cowbell. Melissa Grigsby '09 does a deeply affecting ribbon dance to "Make It Rain" by Fat Joe and Li'l Wayne. And Scott Storm '08, closing this portion of the competition with hints of the young Chris Farley of Saturday Night Live fame, does a wild ninja dance while completing a giant crossword puzzle that ends up spelling out PHOENIX.
The next part of the audition includes an obstacle course that could have been devised by a diabolical camp counselor and an opportunity for each would-be bird to jump and shout, "I'm a star!" while being struck by Beanie Babies thrown by Melin. She and White keep the fun rolling for 90 minutes, including energetic guest performances by the a cappella group 16 Feet and hip-hop dancers Rhythm 'n' Motion. In an almost sincere moment—almost, but tongues do find cheeks—16 Feet performs two numbers from a 1920s College songbook: "Hip Hip Hip Hooray for Old Swarthmore" and "Our Alma Mater Dear."
Finally, there's the "pep" portion of the program, in which each of the contestants must get the audience to cheer, stomp, and shout without saying anything. (This phoenix is mute.) At the end, everyone is on their feet while Storm smashes a piñata and strews candy across the orchestra seats.
Don't tell me that there's no fun at Old Swarthmore.
After five "winners" are announced (there will be a second round of auditions the next day), the speakers blare "Hot, Hot, Hot," and the Phoenix appears, prancing across the large stage with professional abandon. It's the first time anyone has seen the brand-new mascot, and there's a standing ovation for both the student performers and the big, red bird, which shakes its feathered booty until the curtain closes.
At Sunday's second audition with Raymond, which includes a chance for additional aspiring avians who could not attend the previous evening. In the end, a team of five are selected to perform as the Phoenix: Hodson, Grigsby, Macri, Storm, and Joel Tolliver '10.
"We've found a very talented group of people who will be highly motivated to promote the mascot and Swarthmore pride!" says White, who, with a core group of students—some of whom have already graduated—has been pushing the mascot concept for three of his four years at Swarthmore.
The idea began with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee in 2005–2006, proceeded to a student vote on various mascot nominations, followed by a student design contest. The Raymond firm was hired in mid-2007 to refine the students' ideas and create the costume. Raymond's team will also provide training and support for the Phoenix team. The students will have complete charge of the Phoenix—developing the bird's personality, practicing with each other, scheduling appearances, and making sure that the mascot represents Swarthmore's fun side.
Throughout its development, the Phoenix has been seen as more than an athletics-oriented symbol. This spring, it has made as many appearances at nonathletic events as at games—including escorting Chelsea Clinton at an April campaign stop and glad-handing (it does not speak) at a dinner for the Board of Managers in May. Although it wasn't marching with the faculty in the Commencement procession, it did make several appearances at Alumni Weekend, where many alumni were set to wondering, occasionally for the first time, "Does Swarthmore have school spirit?"
Apparently, the answer is "yes." It rises from the ashes every once in a while.


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Sunday, 28 August 2011
John W's stunning Moto Guzzi Cafe' racer - for sale!!
We featured John's beautiful Moto Guzzi Cafe' Racer in Issue Two of the magazine - he's now decided to sell it as he has other projects in the pipeline. We rode the bike and it goes as good as it looks. It's a hand-built work of art, and considering some of the dross you see on Ebay for sale for absurd prices, John's Guzzi looks like good value. All details on his Ebay ad here, or you can contact him via us at this blog too or at www.italianmotormagazine.com
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
ITALIAN MOTOR out and about
Got a busy couple of weekends coming up, dusting down our table, putting up our banners, making sarnies and packing flask - ooh lovely - we'll be at the International V Twin Rally this weekend at Fordingbridge, on the Saturday only, selling the mag and talking nonsense. All camping tickets will have been sold months ago but it's ok to roll up on the day and have a look at the bikes, and V twins of all types, not just Italian stuff. There's always Indians, Harleys, odd Brit stuff...photos from last year here
Then on the following Sunday 4th September, we'll be down at the Italian Car and Bike Day at Honington, Kent. Have a look here for photos from last year, which was fantastic. It'll be bigger this year, and I think it'll become a big Italian day for the future. There's also a country fair with animals, quaint English stuff like duck herding, ferret racing etc., good food, beer etc, so ideal if you want to (are forced to) take the whole family!! More details here: http://www.honningtonevents.com/italiancar.htm
Monday, 22 August 2011
More Mondial 175 barn find
Having posted the other day about my barn find Mondial 175, I then started to look at more photos of it and thought I'd post some up here. It's a pushrod 175 Superturismo, so not a glam OHC version, but it's still sporty looking and handsome all the same. The castings are just exquisite, and the lines of the bike from fuel tank to seat to bars to rear light are just perfect.
I actually want to keep the bike unrestored but get it running well. Look at the rusty Santa Rita good luck charm strapped to the top yoke. Or the original decal showing how many race wins Mondial achieved in 1957. And the sadly partly missing original dealer decal on the front mudguard, showing that the bike was supplied by Migliorini of Colle Val D'Elsa, which was 20 miles across the beautiful Tuscan hills from where I lived in Italy, and where the bike ended up in its final resting place.
I don't think I am able to erase these things. What would you do??
Friday, 19 August 2011
Mondial barn find
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
"I bought back MV Agusta for 3 euros"
It's very sad to note the death of Claudio Castiglioni early this morning in Varese.
His recent re-purchase of MV Agusta back from Harley Davidson after just two years for a symbolic 3 euros payment was typical of his business style, nous and capability to be - as they say in Italian, azzeccato - able to make correct judgements.
Like most Italian industrialists, Castiglioni was a larger-than-life character, and though he had his detractors, he was giant in Italian motorcycles. I met him briefly a couple of times and he was kind and patient enough to listen to my London accent-tainted Italian questions full of bad grammar.
Cagiva 500 GP bike, Cagiva Elefant, Cagiva Mito (one of my favourites), Ducati 851, Ducati 916, Ducati Monster, MV Agusta F4, MV Agusta Brutale; just a few of the important motorcycles he was responsible for. Most importantly, he was a grandissimo appassionato with a genuine love for motorcycles. R.I.P.
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
M1 accident emergency lane blocked
Came across this by chance. This guy is great, reasoning with intelligence with idiots. You also need some balls to do something like this. He should be on TV...
Friday, 12 August 2011
From the frame up - Egli inspired Ducati special
Chris Baglin sent me some pics of his Ducati special work in progress - look at that frame!
"Thought you may like to see a couple of pics of my project. It's kind of an Egli inspired bevel, my frame, swing arm, engine plates, yokes etc with Ohlins rear, WP front, 18" Dymags. The 900GTS engine will be fairly high spec though, crank has been done to race spec by Kamena in Germany with late SS rods, 10.5-1 Omega pistons and fast road cams, ported and polished with 40mm Dell' Orto's and Silent Hektik ignition, so should be good for about 75hp or so - should be cool when done, will be finished with Imola style tank and short fairing. Probably not to everyone's taste, what with the old and new, but something I have been wanting to do for a while now. Hope you like it."
I love it and it's definitely to my taste. In case you missed it, Chris fabricated the incredible frame and swinging arm himself. Mind you, he does work on vintage aircraft and racing cars. We hope to have a ride when it's done, though Chris warns us it'll be a while. We can wait!
Check out more of Chris' incredible welding work here
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Life's a riot
Amongst all the tragedy, destruction and shitty pointlessness of what's happened in the UK over the past few days, some positivity and humour can still be found. Mass groups of people wielding brooms have turned up to clear smashed-up streets. People standing together to protect their homes and livelihoods. And people doing silly things with Photoshop - us Brits are known for having humour in the face of adversity, and we certainly need it now. I just laughed out loud looking at these, and it took my mind off friends and old neighbours who have experienced the most terrifying hours of their lives for just a few minutes. More here
Monday, 8 August 2011
London's Burning
Not just the title of one of my favourite Clash songs (or should that be White Riot?), but the reality of what has gone on in Tottenham over the weekend. As a North Londoner born and bred, it's sad to see what's happened, though it's weird to see how age changes you - when the last riots happened in 1981/1985 I was all up for joining in. Now I just see it as destructive waste. Pleased I moved out a few years back.
Not interested in the why or the politics of it all but two photos that affected me personally (pics by The Sun):
1) PC World was cleared out by looters but they still left the 27 inch iMac. Pleased to see that the Rolls Royce of computers is still the tool of an enlightened few.
2) What the hell does my beloved Tottenham Hotspur football club have to do with it?? Leave it alone!!
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
This Saturday - ITALIAN MOTOR at CORSA ITALIANA's open weekend
Come along and say hello if you can - I'll be there on the Saturday, but not the Sunday. More details and address here: http://www.corsaitaliana.com/index.php?f=data_new_shop_info&a=1
SATURDAY 6th August 9am-5pm - SUNDAY 7th, August 10am-4pm
Charity event for Help for Heroes, Raffle, Auction and Donations for Tea, Coffees etc welcome. Demo rides available on Griso, Norge,Stelvio,V7 Classic,V7 Racer.Please call to book your test rideCome and try a new Moto Guzzi, you will be suprised..
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Honeymoon Suite
Johnnie Dee and Derry Grehan, the principal and founding members of Honeymoon Suite, met when introduced by manager Stephen Prendergast in 1982. Deciding to work together, they formed Honeymoon Suite with Grehan's former Steve Blimkie And The Reason' band-mate Dave Betts on drums, plus an anonymous keyboard player and bassist.
In 1983 they decided to enter the Homegrown Contest put on yearly by Toronto's Q107-FM radio station so Prendergast approached his friend and producer Tom Treumuth to produce a song for them. Based on the buying public's response, "New Girl Now" won the contest and Bob Roper at WEA Canada was so impressed with the song and response that he signed the band right away.
Personnel conflicts eventually arose and the keyboardist was replaced with Toronto bred Ray Coburn. Although a session player named Brian Brackstone played bass on the album, the band soon found themselves a permanent bassist named Gary Lalonde. Originally scheduled for release on Valentine's Day, the milestone first album was released in June of 1984.
Throughout 1983 and 1984 Honeymoon Suite toured Canada and the US, consistently headlining club gigs and opening for such acts as Billy Idol, April Wine, Laura Branigan, Jethro Tull, The Kinks, and Bryan Adams. In 1984 the band was nominated for the 'Most Promising Group' Juno Award but did not win.
Propelled by the success of more singles from the album, 1985 saw the band begin to headline gigs throughout Ontario and the rest of Canada. A highlight was the presentation of an award at the 1985 Junos. By this time the first album had achieved platinum sales status. Almost 22 years later the album has now sold over 400,000 units in Canada alone.
Honeymoon Suite's second album was released on Valentine's Day 1986. 'The Big Prize' featured a rare appearance by Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. It went platinum in Canada almost immediately and started selling steadily in the US. Tours in the States that year included opening stints for Heart, .38 Special, ZZ Top, Journey, Starship, and Saga. The band also headlined a sold-out show at the Kingswood Music Theatre just north of Toronto. Ray Coburn left and was replaced by Toronto whiz-kid keyboardist Rob Preuss (formerly of the Spoons). 1986 also saw the band win a gold award for 'Best Live Act' at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo, the 'Group Of The Year' Juno and headline more dates in both Canada and some northern States.
For album number three, the band went to Los Angeles in the winter of 1987 to record with Ted Templeman (Little Feat, The Doobie Brothers, Van Halen), and while there Dee was hit by a car at L.A.X. airport breaking his leg in several places and requiring surgery for a ten inch pin to help the leg heal properly. While recovering in hospital, Doobie Brother Michael McDonald was brought in to help out with the recording sessions; he wrote lyrics and sang back up on one song. The results of all the hard work was 'Racing After Midnight', a slightly harder-edged more guitar oriented album that spawned a European tour with Status Quo and a headlining tour of Canada.
Problems then surfaced with long-time management company Head Office and after the group left the fold, keyboardist Ray Coburn returned to the band in time for WEA to release a 'best-of' compilation in 1989. Betts and Lalonde then took their leave and Coburn, Dee and Grehan began writing together again.
The trio returned to the studio in 1990 to craft 'Monsters Under The Bed' with Paul Northfield producing. The album featured Steve Webster ( from Billy Idol's band) on bass and Jorn Anderson on drums. Singles like "Say You Don't Know Me" and "The Road" did well in Canada. Some US success did come their way as songs got placed on TV's 'Miami Vice' and two movie soundtracks, 'Lethal Weapon II' and 'One Crazy Summer'.
In the very exciting news department the original band has reformed and is currently on tour all summer and fall! Touring activity along with other honeymoon suite info can be found at honeymoonsuite.com
In other recent activity a new Best of album has been released on Warner in Canada as part of their Essentials series. A new Best of Honeymoon Suite DVD featuring all their videos and live concert footage is also scheduled to be released by Warner this fall.
Songwriting has also wrapped up for a brand new studio album that will be recorded this fall and arrive early in 2008. A European/Japanese deal has already been signed with the prestigious Frontiers label and negotiations are now underway for a North American release.


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A bathroom accident has forced rugby sevens strike weapon Pama Fou out of the Australian team, delivering a major blow to their hopes of a Rio Olympic medal.
The 25-year-old ruptured his ACL when he slipped as he got out of the shower at his Sydney home on Wednesday afternoon, and he was officially ruled out of the squad on Friday.
He had only just returned from shoulder surgery and had weathered a physical six-game mini-series with the Australian development team.
The gutted Fou will undergo a knee reconstruction and join fellow sevens speedster and Wallabies winger Henry Speight on the sidelines.
While Speight - who was also ruled out this week with a knee injury - was on the fringes of the Thunderbolts squad, Fou was a certainty to make the 12-man team at the Games in August.
The former Queensland volleyballer, a 196cm restart specialist and elusive attacker, has been among Australia's most dangerous players on the world series circuit.
"We're all devastated for Pama," coach Andy Friend said.
"Clearly he is shattered himself and it is a bitter blow after the hard work he had put in during rehab following his shoulder injury."
Koroibete strikes for Wallabies
Fitzy defends the Wallabies' performance against the All Blacks: 5 Mins with Fitzy
Fitzy's Bledisloe II preview
"With Henry's knee on Tuesday, and now Pama, it's fair to say it's not been the best of weeks on the injury front, but this now provides a new opportunity for a champion to emerge."
In good news for the Thunderbolts, playmaker Lewis Holland will return to full training next week after recovering from an ankle injury that grounded him while in career-best form.
Nick Malouf (knee) and Tom Cusack (wrist) came through the trial matches against the Australian development side following lengthy lay-offs and will join a 16-man squad at a Darwin training camp next week.


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A former Labour MP has said that the police failed to bring the Rochdale sexual grooming ring to justice in 2008 because they were scared of being branded racists.
Ann Cryer, the former MP for Keighley, said Greater Manchester Police ignored the complaints from one of the girls two years before the initial arrests.
The lack of an arrest left the men of Pakistani origin to rape up to 50 white girls, causing "untold misery" because of political correctness.
"This is an absolute scandal. They were petrified of being called racist and so reverted to the default of political correctness," she said on BBC Radio 4.
"They had a greater fear of being perceived in that light than in dealing with the issues in front of them.
"Forces have been accused of being institutionally racist. That sort of thing sticks," she added.
"If you do say things like that about any police force then they will be majorly careful to avoid being put in line for criticism like that. It may well be that they then steer clear of the tragic events that we are talking about.
"And the results are cases like this and these girls were the victims. All for because police forces want to be politically correct.
"Ten years ago I was dealing with cases like this in my area but Greater Manchester police say they knew nothing about it (gangs)."
The nine men were today sentenced with the 59-year-old ring leader, who cannot be named for legal purposes being handed a 19-year jail term.
Sentencing, Judge Gerald Clifton said the men committed the crime out of "lust and greed".
He told them: "All of you treated [the victims] as though they were worthless and beyond respect."


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Will Permethrin Kill Ants?
Generally more of an annoyance than damaging pests, ants build mounds that may ruin the look of your yard or lawn. It's even more of a problem when they come into your home, looking for food. Insecticides containing permethrin will kill ants outdoors, eliminating the problem.
With more than 12,000 species, trying to identify the particular ant you are dealing with can be difficult. Most ant species can be separated into two different categories: one node and two nodes. These nodes are at the first part of the ant's abdomen, which is called the petiole. Argentine ants, odorous house ants and carpenter ants are a few common one-node ants, while pavement ants, thief ants, fire ants and pharaoh ants are two-node ants. If you suspect you are dealing with fire ants, contact the relevant government body or a pest control company.
Permethrin is the active ingredient in various synthetic insecticides used to control ant, fleas, ticks, scale insects, webworms, tent caterpillars, aphids, grasshoppers and mealybugs. Permethrin works as a contact killer and stomach poison, and can be applied to lawns and other areas of the yard, as a foliar spray and as a perimeter treatment. Permethrin has a low toxicity to people, pets and birds, but is toxic to fish, beneficial insects and bees. Before using pesticides to control ants, read the directions and warnings printed on the label. Each brand of permethrin insecticide has its own instructions that you should follow to prevent damage to plants and increase the pesticide's effectiveness. The label may also give a maximum number of uses per year.
The application rates for permethrin depend on what you are treating and what type of permethrin you are using. For example, to treat ornamental plants using liquid permethrin, dilute 1/4 to 1/2 fluid ounces of permethrin in 6 gallons of water and apply as a foliar spray. Try to avoid spraying any blooms because the insecticide may cause the petals to turn brown. For lawn treatment, apply 0.4 to 0.8 fluid ounces of permethrin for every 1,000 square feet. Use a spray volume of about 4 to 25 gallons of water.
Ants in your yard may begin making their way into your home, but you don't have to use chemicals indoors to keep ants out. Using permethrin to control outdoor ants while practicing good indoor hygiene will prevent the ants from infesting your home. For example, always keep sweets, fruits and other ant-enticing foods in sealed containers. When soda, juice or other sugary items spill, clean the mess up immediately. Seal cracks and holes with caulk to prevent ants coming into your home.
Photo Credits
- Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images


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Fire on the altar – Sh'mini
1. They brought fire "from the kitchen".
2. They did not work together or consult each other.
3. They ignored Moses and Aaron when answering religious questions.
4. They were intoxicated.
5. They did not wish to marry.
Each of these explanations has a lesson to teach:
1. The service of God must not be marred by anything unseemly or undignified; one must hallow the everyday but not cheapen the holy.
2. Leaders must be a team; the cause will be affected if they are each out for themselves.
3. Duly constituted authority must be given respect; being young does not make you right and being old does not make you wrong.
4. One's personal conduct must be free of excesses; even what is permitted must be taken in moderation.
5. One must not decide to leave it to others to maintain the human race or to keep Judaism going.


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Scottrade has the reputation of being one of the best online discount brokers in the space today. The purple and white continue to win JD Power and Associates awards for highest investor satisfaction and when compared against other online discount brokers, Scottrade seems to hold up pretty well.
Table of Contents:
Scottrade's Commission Structure
Pricing is always an important factor when choosing and online broker and Scottrade currently offers a flat fee of $7 per online trade. Regardless of the volume of trades you make with Scottrade, the $7 cost always remains the same. However, if you need help in placing your trade, the cost can rise. Telephone trades can run you $17 and broker assisted trades cost $27, making Scottrade a somewhat pricey option if you need expert assistance. For options commissions, Scottrade charges $1.25 per contract, and if you are looking for options exercises and assignments, expect to pay $17.
Scottrade's Trade Execution
The price of trades seems to get a lot of attention when it comes to discount stock brokers. While this makes some sense on the surface, one needs to avoid being penny wise and pound foolish. While the cost of stock, option and other trades is certainly important, poor trade execution can easily wipe out any cost savings from using some low cost brokers. So what's trade execution?
Trade execution is the process of bringing together a buyer who wants to buy a stock with a seller who wants to sell the stock. Remember that while the market is open, actively traded securities are continuously changing in price as buy and sell orders are executed. Because of this, the speed and price of trade execution can have a major influence on the price you pay when you buy a stock or receive when you sell. And Scottrade excels at both.
Scottrade's execution price beats industry averages when it comes to the percentage of orders that are executed at or within the National Best Bid and Offer (NBBO). The NBBO is an SEC requirement that brokers must guarantee customers the best available ask price when they buy securities and the best available bid price when they sell securities. Scottrade consistently beats the industry average for trades that meet or exceed the NBBO. And Scottrade goes one step further, and seeks to even do better than the price you are expecting, and succeeds more than half the time.
Scottrade's Customer Service
Customer service is another important consideration when choosing an online discount broker, particularly if you are new to investing or online trading. In speaking with family and friends that use Scottrade, they all agree that it's the best of the best. Rarely do you have to wait longer than 30 seconds on hold to speak with a representative. And if you're experience is anything less than perfect, expect to receive a follow-up call or email from Scottrade the next day looking to make things right.
Probably the best thing Scottrade has going for itself is that it's a no fee broker. A lot of the online discount brokers out there like to charge you for simply maintaining your brokerage account. Scottrade, on the other hand, does not charge a fee for the following notable services:
- Having an inactive account
- Monthly or annual account maintenance
- Real-Time streaming quotes
- Transferring money out or closing your account
- Terminating your IRA
Another real positive that Scottrade has going for itself is the ability to visit a brick and mortar location. For those not as comfortable with trading stocks online, Scottrade currently has 436 branches nationwide that can conduct all of the services they have available online.
Scottrade's No-Fee IRA Accounts
For me, this is one of the big reasons I'll be opening a Scottrade account later this year. Scottrade offers no-fee IRA accounts, including a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, and SEP IRA. Scottrade's retirement accounts have no opening, closing, annual or custodian fees, and there is no minimum annual contribution requirement.
Overall, Scottrade grades pretty well when taking everything into consideration. With their main downfall to be pricing, they certainly make up for it with other amenities.


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Free Shipping for orders over £150*
Please see terms for more information
This high quality Black Velvet T bar display stand is ideal for displaying or organising your bangles, watches of other jewellery items in a professional way.
This item is hand crafted and is very sturdy compared to others and it will last for a long time due to the quality materials and craftsmanship.
Stand Size 22.5 cm wide, 7 cm deep and 13 cm high
Bar diameter is 5 cm


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Easter is Coming
It's almost Palm Sunday, and that means the start of Holy Week and Easter prep! I pulled out the pictures and daily note cards and plastered them all over our kitchen today, and that plus some simple Easter decor is making it feel just right. I've shared quite a bit about Easter preparations in the…… Continue reading Easter is Coming


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River of Smoke (Compact Disc)
Special Order—Subject to Availability
The Ibis, loaded to its gunwales with a cargo of indentured servants, is in the grip of a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal; among the dozens flailing for survival are Neel, the pampered raja who has been convicted of embezzlement; Paulette, the French orphan masquerading as a deck-hand; and Deeti, the widowed poppy grower fleeing her homeland with her lover, Kalua. The storm also threatens the clipper ship Anahita, groaning with the largest consignment of opium ever to leave India for Canton. And the Redruth, a nursery ship, carries Frederick "Fitcher" Penrose, a horticulturist determined to track down the priceless treasures of China that are hidden in plain sight: its plants that have the power to heal, or beautify, or intoxicate. All will converge in Canton's Fanqui-town, or Foreign Enclave: a tumultuous world unto itself where civilizations clash and sometimes fuse. It is a powder keg awaiting a spark to ignite the Opium Wars. Spectacular coincidences, startling reversals of fortune, and tender love stories abound. But this is much more than an irresistible page-turner. The blind quest for money, the primacy of the drug trade, the concealment of base impulses behind the rhetoric of freedom: in River of Smoke the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries converge, and the result is a consuming historical novel with powerful contemporary resonance. Critics praised Sea of Poppies for its vibrant storytelling, antic humor, and rich narrative scope; now Amitav Ghosh continues the epic that has charmed and compelled readers all over the globe. PRAISE FOR River of Smoke "On one level, River of Smoke] is a remarkable feat of research, bringing alive the hybrid customs of food and dress and the competing philosophies of the period with intimate precision; on another it is a subversive act of empathy, viewing a whole panorama of world history from the 'wrong' end of the telescope. The real trick, though, is that it is also fabulously entertaining." --Tim Adams, The Observer (London) "Eloquent . . . Fascinating . . . River of Smoke's] strength lies in how thoroughly Ghosh fills out his research with his novelistic fantasy, seduced by each new situation that presents itself and each new character, so that at their best the scenes read with a sensual freshness as if they were happening now." --Tessa Hadley, The Guardian " This] vast book has a Dickensian sweep of characters, high- and low-life intermingling . . . Ghosh conjures up a thrilling sense of place." --The Economist.


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Every year we look forward to peach season, and this year was no exception.
We love them!
We eat them fresh, put them in pies and breads and main dishes, we jam them and we can them.
I took some pictures of our canning extravaganza we did with my in laws this year--there were so many peaches!
But the old saying of "many hands makes light work" is so true. We visited as we peeled, sliced, jarred, and processed and the time flew by.
I should have counted--I know we ended up with well over 50 quart-sized jars full of them.
Great Grandma and I were on peach slicing duty--we had the messiest job for sure.
We had 4 generations helping us out--Great-Grandma, Grandma and Papa, the moms--Sister-in-Law and Me, plus our kids coming in and out--they were mostly serving as official samplers.
All-in-all a delicious, fun day that we will be enjoying the fruits of all winter long.
We even finished the day off appropriately with a fresh peach pie!
Here's my recipe from our early blog days.
And, if you are a peach fanatic as we are,
then here is our Pinterest board with more fun ideas:
then here is our Pinterest board with more fun ideas:


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Start of Racing Season
Rod End SALE!!
(this stock clearance is for one month only)
Included in this Sale
8x 1/2" x 1/2" UNF Right Hand Male ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE Rod Ends (XMR8)
8x 1/2" x 1/2" UNF Left Hand Male ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE Rod Ends (XML8)
8x 1/2" UNF Right Hand Zinc Plated Half Nuts
8x 1/2" UNF Left Hand Zinc Plated Half Nuts
Usual price: £141 inc VAT
Sale Price: £111 inc VAT and FREE UK 1st Class Shipping!!!!
XM Racing Series Ultra High Performance Rod End
(XMR8 - 1/2" x 1/2" Right Hand Male)
Chrome-Moly Steel with Teflon®/Kevlar® injection moulded liner.
McGill XM - Racing Series Ultra High Performance Racing Series range features a loaded slot style of rod end that was introduced to the market in 1995. The body is machined with a significant groove going all the way around the interior of the body. The ball is then inserted into the machined slot and a Teflon®/Kevlar® material is injected. Serving as a liner to keep dirt and debris out, the Kevlar also lubricates the ball. In addition to providing added strength, the injection moulded race also won't "pound out" like traditional PTFE (Teflon®) liners, increasing the longevity of your rod ends. The body is heat treated and is made from Chrome Molybdenum for excellent strength and corrosion resistance. This is simply the best rod end design for most motorsport applications.
BALL: 52100 Bearing Steel ~ Heat Treated ~ Hard Chrome Plated ~ Precision Ground
RACE: Injection Moulded Kevlar Reinforced with PTFE ~ Self-Lubricating ~ Self-Sealing
BODY: Chrome Molybdenum ~ Heat treated ~ Corrosion Resistant
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES: Thicker Body for Increased Tensile Strength ~ High Radial Load Capability ~ Metal to Metal Support for Heavy Shock Loads
XM Range - Ideal for Motorsport and Marine Applications.
To complement this item, we have a range of other products available in our online store. We supply suitable all components in a range of imperial and metric sizes.
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Company No. 01592 654 136 | VAT No: 989 5977 13


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Software Deployment Question
Windows Update in Unattended Install (Windows 10)
03/24/2016 3949 views
I've created a Windows 7 deployment that uses KACE 2000 to install the OS and copy over files from a server location, and then a series of batch files to carry out WSUS Offline updates, installing software, and so on. I've tried implementing the same thing with Windows 10, and while most everything works, I cannot seem to get Windows Update to automatically detect and install updates. In Windows 7 you can use wuauclt.exe /detectnow /updatenow but it will not work in Windows 10. This is just a minor nuisance but nonetheless, I would still like to include it in the automated install. Any thoughts or advice would be great, thanks.
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from searching google that feature has been depreciated.
two links suggest powershell or vbs
two links suggest powershell or vbs
(New-Object -ComObject Microsoft.Update.AutoUpdate).DetectNow()
Set automaticUpdates = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.AutoUpdate")
Answered 03/24/2016 by: SMal.tmcc


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I was trying to get the PubNub J2ME libraries built for the Sun SPOT devices (http://www.sunspotworld.com/) and I got most f it done, but it turns out that the entire library relies on the tinylinegzip library, which is proprietary (as best I can tell) so I can't add that to the compiled library. Bummer, as I have a TON of these devices that I'd love to get up on PubNub as a data backing store. Any suggestions?
Hey David ! I did a quick google search and I came across the tinyline library's website : http://www.tinyline.com/utils/index.html - They have a license document listed here : http://www.tinyline.com/utils/tinylinegzip/TINYLINE_LICENSE.TXT - It seems like you would be okay redistributing it.
Thanks. And yes, It is licensed so that I can redistribute it, but it is not open source, so it doesn't appear that I can get the source for it to recompile it for my target platform. That is the issue I'm having.


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Taking it to work
Yesterday the first meeting of the Club of the Bavarian Gentlemen was held. I was quite pleasantly surprized by the event and am already looking forward to the next club meeting in March. Cthulhu willing, I will be able to participate.
There will be more on the meeting later on my German blog. After all, this was an event by a German society so it would be weird if I would not write a German article about it. Anyway, one of the things we talked about yesterday was how far we were able to take our prefered style of dress into the real world and more specifically to work. I talked about this before and mentioned it is perfectly possible for gentlemen to wear waistcoats and pocketwatches to work. Cufflinks are also possible, provided you prefer shirts. It seems to me now, Steampunk (and Dieselpunk even more) is a subculture where gentlemen have at least the same if not even a greater range of options of being low-key lifestylers at work. Granted, ladies can always wear some piece of jewelry. Fräulein Zierlich wore a particularly fetching pair of gear ear rings yesterday, which could be worn to work no problem.
But I guess bodices or corsetts are out of the question in most offices these days. Of course, some of us are lucky enough to own their own business. Miss Amelia Grey is starting her own shop in a few months and from what she told us, a little dress-up at work is definitely going to be an asset. For those who are not that lucky, we have to do it differently. I guess more than just a few of us work in some IT-related field and more often than not, there is no dress code, so there should be little trouble working all steamed-up or at least a little steamed.
On the other side there are those who have a rather strict dress code at work (banks and lawyers come to mind) or wear actual work clothing. In this case, all you can do is resort to jewelry, as mentinoned above. If you are a craftsperson, you could wear a steampunk toolbelt. Obviously, not a toolbelt like this:
By Amanda Scrivener:
More something like this:
With a little modification this type of belt can look really Steampunk.
But since most of us actually work in an office right now (the structure of our economy indicates this anyway), there need to be other ways.
Apart from pocket watches, jewelry, time-keeping devices in general and waistcoats for ladies and gentlemen, there are other ways. Find a retro-looking business suit (available for both genders) and shift a little towards the Dieselpunk side of life. Also, there are shoes available, which go well with the Steampunk lifestyle and can be worn in a regular office. Brogues come to mind and there are a number of rather classy boots avalable. Lamentably, the ones for gentlemen tend to be a bit on the pricy side.
So, with a little effort and a little digging in boutiques or on the ætherweb it is not too difficult to find something you can incorporate into your outfit for every day. Obviously, you should not overdo it, unless your workplace is very liberal or you are selfemployed in a suitable sector.


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Jérôme Tonnerre
Alexandra Lamy
Augustin Legrand
Jalil Mehenni
Technical data
Year: 2011
Language: Français
Country: France, Luxembourg, Belgique
Duration: 98min.
Producers: Mon Voisin Productions (F); Mosaïque Films (F);
Nicolas Steil - Iris Productions; Iris Films (BE);
Distribution: Ad Vitam (France, Andorre, Monaco);
Mercure International
Awards and festivals
Semaine de la Critique du Festival de Cannes - France - 2012;
Festival International du Film de Namur, Section Emile Cantillon - Belgique - 2012;
After ten long years of absence, Jacques returns to France for his father's funeral and tries to get back into his former lover's life Mado. Now married and mother of a seven year old boy Paul, Mado is suspicious and hesitant of resuming ties with Jacques…


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Libya: Achieving a Ceasefire, Moving toward Legitimate Government
International Crisis Group
13 May 2011
(…) The longer Libya's military conflict persists, the more it risks jeopardising or undermining the anti-Qaddafi camp's avowed objectives. Civilians are figuring in large numbers as victims, both as casualties and refugees. The country is de facto being partitioned, as divisions between the predominantly opposition-held east and the predominantly regime-controlled west harden into distinct political, social and economic worlds.
As a result, it is virtually impossible for the pro-democracy current of urban public opinion in most of western Libya (and Tripoli in particular) to express itself and weigh in the political balance. All this, together with mounting bitterness on both sides, will constitute a heavy legacy for any post-Qaddafi government.
The prolonged military campaign and attendant instability likewise present strategic threats to Libya's neighbours. Besides fuelling a large-scale refugee crisis, they are raising the risk of infiltration by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, whose networks of activists are present in Algeria, Mali and Niger. To insist on Qaddafi's departure as a precondition for any political initiative is to prolong the military conflict and deepen the crisis. Instead, the priority should be to secure an immediate ceasefire and negotiations on a transition to a post-Qaddafi political order.
Unlike events in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt, the confrontation that began in mid-February between the popular protest movement and Qaddafi's regime morphed into a civil war from a very early stage. (…)
(…)The character of the Libyan crisis today arises from the complex but so far evidently indecisive impact of the UN-authorised military intervention, now formally led by NATO, in what had already become a civil war. NATO's intervention has saved the anti-Qaddafi side from immediate defeat but has not yet resolved the conflict in its favour. Given its mounting political and human costs, complacent assessments that simply sustaining the present military campaign or increasing pressure will force Qaddafi out soon enough reflect a refusal to reconsider current strategy and envisage alternatives.
In any event, it would be reckless to ignore the possibility that, should the regime suffer swift military defeat, the outcome might be not a transition to democracy but rather a potentially prolonged vacuum that could have grave political and security implications for Libya's neighbours as well as aggravate an already serious humanitarian crisis. (…)
(…) If some way cannot be found to induce the two sides in the armed conflict to negotiate a compromise allowing for an orderly transition to a post-Qaddafi, post-Jamahiriya state, the prospect for Libya but also North Africa as a whole and the Sahel countries (Chad, Mali and Niger) will be ominous.
A political breakthrough is by far the best way out of the costly situation created by the military stalemate. This will require a ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access to all areas within the country, implementation of which should be monitored by a UN-mandated international peacekeeping force. It must be accompanied by immediate, serious negotiations between regime and opposition representatives to secure agreement on a peaceful transition to a new, more legitimate political order.
Such an outcome also necessitates involvement by a third party trusted by both sides -- actors currently in short supply. A joint political proposal by the Arab League and the African Union --the former viewed more favourably by the opposition, the latter preferred by the regime -- is one possibility to lead to such an agreement. But this cannot happen without the leadership of the revolt and NATO rethinking their current stance.
Their repeatedly proclaimed demand that "Qaddafi must go" confuses two quite different objectives. To insist that he can have no role in the post-Jamahiriya political order is one thing, and almost certainly reflects the opinion of a majority of Libyans as well as of the outside world. But to insist that he must go as the precondition for any negotiation, including that of a ceasefire, is to render a ceasefire all but impossible and maximise the prospect of continued armed conflict.
To insist that he both leave the country and face trial in the International Criminal Court is virtually to ensure that he will stay in Libya to the bitter end and go down fighting. Ultimately, only an immediate ceasefire is consistent with the purpose originally claimed for NATO's intervention, that of protecting civilians. (…)
(…) The international community's responsibility for the course events will take is very great. Instead of stubbornly maintaining the present policy and running the risk that the aftermath will be one of dangerous chaos, it should act now to secure a negotiated end to the civil war and facilitate a new beginning for Libya's political life. (…)


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Technologies: php, mysql
Languages: Greek, English
Jewelry shops in Hersonissos, Crete. There are gold and hand made silver jewels with gemstones and semiprecious stones. Also, there is a big collection of watches made by well known brands.
Technologies: php, mysql
Languages: Greek, English
Attenzo is involved in submitting proposals under subsidized programs (e.g. ESPA).
Attenzo is a group of professionals working in the field of IT since 1999. Our primary aim is to constantly be close to our clients and to develop solutions that fully meet their needs, while keeping our prices low.


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{image is a drawing of a rocket ship headed to Mars, Brooke, 2013}
My day at work was hard. The kind of Hard that doesn't stay at the office, but follows you home, where, welcome or not, it plops down next to you on the couch and hoists its dirty feet up onto the coffee table like the worst kind of house guest, making it clear that despite your best efforts to shoo it out the door, it ain't going anywhere.
The kind of Hard that won't be drowned at the bottom of the glass that your husband so thoughtfully left on the counter upon your return, but instead swims amid the ice cubes and slides down your throat before settling in the pit of your stomach, there forward immovable.
The kind of Hard that leaves you wondering how the hell you're going to make ends meet when the bills are getting bigger and your pay keeps getting smaller and the questions about how to reconcile the two are becoming impossible to answer.
"Dont forget I have to work tonight, babe," he says.
The new reality of our need for survival — family time gives way to tag-outs and hand-offs and Dinner is on the stove.
I want to cry or throw something or run fast and far, though let's be honest, I'd be gasping and heaving by the end of the block, so fine, I want to get into the car and drive and drive and drive until I get to a place that I don't recognize, any place that's away, just away — just anywhere that I won't be, but then, of course, wherever you go you are, so I swirl the ice and take another half-hearted sip from the glass. No matter how appealing the concept might be, I'm just not a drinker. I set the glass down and just sit.
Brooke, who has been frenetically drawing at the table in front of me suddenly shuts off the television I'd hardly noticed in the background and says, "Let's go play in my room, Mama."
The invitation is as sweet as the richest honey and my God, I remember how long I waited to hear those words, Mama! and Let's go! and Play!, my God, PLAY, but I'm cemented to the couch with the Hard and the Fear and the swirling ice and the What happens next and I can't. I just .. can't.
And I tell her that I'm sorry but Mama just can't do it right now and she says, "I have an idea!" and her finger goes up to her cheek as it does whenever she declares an Idea and then the silence follows, as it does, as she goes on a search through the orchard of words and she slowly, carefully reaches up and picks the ones that are ready and ripe and I wait in the silence, knowing that the orchard is vast and the branches are high and some trees bear no fruit and others are too full to find the right ones and the reaching and the testing and the picking take time and so I wait as the Hard and the Fear of the How will I take care of my family churn in my belly and then she says,
"We can go to Space!"
And I say, "Oh, baby, I'd so love to go to Space but I just can't right now. Mama's had a hard day, my love, and I need some time, okay?"
Her words shoot out now, propelled by the fuel of the rocket that she so desperately wants to take to Space.
"But I WANT to!"
And I know, God I know, that I should find a way to move and I know, God, I know, how lucky we are, how blessedly lucky that she can ask now, that she is asking, that she has stretched and reached and picked and delivered the ripe, precious words, and I know … I know.
But. I. Can't. Move.
"We'll go to Space at bedtime," I say. "I promise, baby."
Hard and Fear welcome Guilt to the party.
I serve the food on autopilot. Brooke gets the napkins, Katie the drinks. I set out the plates – replacing the one that Brooke won't eat off of with the one that she will.
We say our Grace, lopsided as it is with just six hands, missing Luau as we thank God for the food that he's cooked but won't join us to eat. Katie helps to clear the table then disappears into homework as I clean the dishes and load the washer and fumble for the detergent and start the machine and … and realize that I'm holding my breath. One can't breathe under water after all. I wipe down the counter and walk back to the den. I hear Brooke before I see her … then find her in her favorite spot atop the heating grate, wedged between the wall and the couch.
"C'mon, Mama!" she says, "We'll play in my room now."
I acquiesce but convince her to head into mine instead, into my bed, our safe space in the storms– the cocoon, she calls it. We sit for a while, doing what we do. A Godspell script – the friends on the playground. Matthew sneezes, Mary Magdelene says, "God bless you." We repeat the process three times until Jesus brings a tissue and Matthew blows his nose. Even in the absurdity of its details, the routine is like a sacred hymn. It is ours. It is bigger and smaller than both of us. Than anything outside our door.
We play Cariboo, then play it again as "Hint Game."
I begin to see light dancing on the surface of the water above.
I marvel at where we are. "I am a food," she says, "sometimes I'm chocolate or vanilla or red velvet."
"You're the cupcakes!" I say. We take turns hinting and guessing at all of the objects on the game's secret doors until finally there's nothing left but the aardvarks and she says, "I start with two A's and end with a vark," and I pull her close and I laugh and I gulp at the air, the air, the air.
She asks me what's in Winston's nose, then dissolves into giggles as I whisper, "Doggy snotties."
I remember trying to do something like this years ago. It was an epic bust. But now here we are, with boats that cross the seven seas and acorns that are sorta like a food and books that are dictionaries. My God, how far we've come.
"It's time for Space now," she says, "and of you promised."
"It is indeed," I say.
She runs off to her room, then comes back with her arms full of Space supplies. Three dolls will be our fellow astronauts, Barbie the glow turtle will shine her stars onto the ceiling and create the night sky, Up and Down, the floppy clown … well, he's just coming for the ride.
"I will say the ten," she says, "and everyone else will do the other numbers after. Could you tell them?" she asks. I tell the dolls that are all holding hands in a circle, ready to go. I forget to address them directly, so she asks me to do it again 'the right way.' I oblige.
"Ten!" she yells.
"Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one .. blast-off!" we "all" say together.
I wait to see what happens next.
Usually, someone falls out of the rocket and floats in space until they're rescued with bubble gum or sticky tape or a shoelace. But perhaps she's sensed that her Mama isn't up for a spacewalk today. Or maybe she isn't either.
"We'll take a space nap!" she says.
I curl my body around hers and close my eyes.
And here we are, somewhere in the outer reaches of Space, farther than I ever could have gone in my car.
I let the Fear and the Hard and the How fly off out into the universe, hopefully to find themselves a nice black hole in which to disappear.
And, as per the lead astronaut's orders, I nap.


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Key Communications helps small and medium Brisbane businesses take back control of there business services, improving accessibility, lowering overheads and refocusing your teams efforts back onto building your business rather than investing time and effort (that you don't have) into facilitating services required to do business.
Will your business recover from a disaster such as flood, fire or theft? What will it cost if you lost your data?
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We understand better than most the impact technology is having on the way Brisbane businesses are doing business, our aim is to provide more than cloud services, we want to equip you with a strategy for modernizing your business communications.
That is why we offer Brisbane business our communications and technology performance analysis, in addition to providing recommendations for costs and efficiency improvements the Key Communication team will provide you with...


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For years we've talked about cutting down the half-dozen or more dead trees behind our house that mark the start of the woods. They're an eyesore; some lean over and others have broken off tops. They remain leafless while their neighbors are covered in green all summer long. But they've remained standing because cutting them down was never on the top of our priority list.
A few years ago we were discussing removing them and our son told us it would be a bad idea. He studied environmental science in college and told us we should appreciate the dead trees for the natural habitat they created. He called them a haven for birds that carve out nest cavities and eat the insects and larvae that live in dead wood. His assertions were confirmed this past summer when we walked through our woods with a forestry volunteer, who pointed out a gnarly old maple deep in our woods and suggested the best course of action for that tree was to allow it to remain in place as a wildlife tree. So the dead trees in the backyard were given a permanent reprieve, and in return for putting up with their undesirable appearance, we've been treated to numerous yard visits by a variety of cavity nesting birds.
During the summer, there's one tree in particular that is a preferred resting spot and birds often compete for its top branch. That's where I first got a good look at the Northern Flicker early last summer, and it is where I saw him several times more as the summer went on. Downy and Hairy woodpeckers jump between the broken tree tops, pecking out holes as they frantically search for food. And the nuthatches – white-breasted and red-breasted both – make their way up and down the tree trunks, oblivious to whether they are walking right-side up or upside down.
The camera shy Pileated woodpecker first made itself known about three summers ago, when its topic-like call alerted us to its presence. At least a few times each year I get a good look at him (or her?), but I've never been quick enough to snap a shot of this outstanding looking bird.
I started watching birds more than 30 years ago, when my mother-in-law pointed out the difference between a junco and a nuthatch at our feeder. Over the years my observation skills have improved and I can now take better note of who is coming to dinner. This year I put my bird watching hobby to constructive use and joined the Project FeederWatch program sponsored by Cornell University. For two days each week, I observe the yard surrounding one of our three feeders and record the birds that visit. Nuthatches, woodpeckers, chickadees and cardinals are on the list every week. There have been a few surprises, too. I'll be reporting my findings to the Project FeederWatch program, along with thousands of my fellow bird watchers. The data is being collected by bird scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies of Canada to help them with their bird studies. So far it's been a great experience. My only regret is that I didn't join sooner.
Cornell sponsors a number of special bird watching events during the year. There is an upcoming 4-day bird count February 15-18, 2013. It is open to anyone who wants to take the time to observe and report what they see.
Click on http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/PFW for more information on the FeederWatch and other volunteer birding programs. http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/PFW