text: G.T-Rider members consist of experienced riders. However, there are a lot of beginner riders, and even people who have never ridden a bike before searching for information from the experienced riders to help work out the best approach to buy, rent and plan their trip in Vietnam. This article is aimed at the inexperienced and beginner riders. Vietnam is no place for beginners, so please take your time to learn until you have plenty of experience and confidence to have a safe, enjoyable ride! For any beginner, venturing out on a big trip really is jumping in the deep end and one that should really be consider hard because of the numerous dangers involved. If you are determined like so many other travellers to complete a trip in Vietnam by motorbike then please, please, do the following: Buy a good ABS quality helmet. Better to bring your own from back home or, if you don't have the room to carry it then i would recommend you buy a Andes helmet or Osakar helmet. Both companies cater to foreigners, so it will help get a good tight fit. Under no circumstances should you buy a cheap fake helmet that the market is flooded with or if you buy a bike, don't accept an old beat up helmet from the seller that doesn't fit. Brocken bones can mend but your brain is very sensitive and difficult to mend. Buy some body amor protection or at least wear long sleeves , jeans, gloves and boots. It will help protect you from the strong sun but will give you some mild protection if you have a small crash. Wearing boots and gloves are a must because in an accident, a natural reaction would be to either put your feet down to gain balance or if you come off the bike you would tend to automatically put your hands out. Always respect the bike. Once your away It's easy to start gaining confidence and start racing or driving recklessly. In my experiences this is usually when a close accident accrues or even an accident happens and it can some times take that experience to learn to always respect the bike. In Vietnam there is a lot happening on the roads. When ever you move lane or take a turn its essential that you check over your shoulders. Its easy to forget this, and to easy to rely on your ears and mirrors for surrounding traffic. There are many blind spots, so always cover all areas by checking your shoulders. Learning to drive in Vietnam - Motorbike lessons in Vietnam How to ride a Semi automatic Vietnam is one of the countries that are best commuted by motorbike. Actually, the first thing a first-time visitor always notices is the overwhelming number of scooters on the roads and the long lineups behind a red light! To give you an idea, back home you see a few scooters a day (if the weather permits), in Vietnam there are millions on the road all year round, as this is the main affordable method of transport. So, if you want to live here, you have two options: (1) walk/take taxes/bum rides and be inconvenienced or (2) go with the flow and ride a scooter. Now, if you are worried about how to ride one, you should know that it is not that much different from riding a bicycle and you can always have motorbike lessons in Vietnam and get the hang of it without spending a fortune. What are the essentials when trying to learn how to ride a scooter? 1. Learn how to ride a BICYCLE in the Vietnamese traffic – Familiarising yourself with the traffic is important. As a pedestrian, things are easy. You just make sure you always walk outside (or across) the traffic flow. As a cyclist, though, you will have to learn how to manoeuvre the bicycle in and out of the flow, identify when the motorist in front of you is going to turn (you won't see much of a turn signal-instead, Vietnamese drivers slightly tilt their heads to the side), and how you can make your way on the road, where car drivers treat everyone else as second-class citizen. 2. Find a bike & Place to practice – It's best to start with a automatic scooter because scooters are lighter and slimmer (hence easier to handle) than manual motorbikes. Once you get the hang of a automatic you can move on to a Semi automatic, and finally a manual. So, having a friend that can take you someplace convenient to learn how to ride your bike is a must or you can join a BASIC TRAINING SCHOOL. There are plenty of empty roads, perfect for the occasion, in suburban districts. 3. Learn the Basics – This will be one of the easiest motorbike lessons in Vietnam! First, sit on the bike. On your right hand, you have the Front brake and throttle. If you are riding an automatic bike, you will have an extra hand brake on the left (Back brake). A fully automatic doesn't have any gears so it's just twist and go! On a Semi automatic you have gears, no clutch your left foot control the gears and your back brake is controlled by pressing your toes down on a lever with your right foot. To change gears with your left foot you click down using your toes and you go up a gear (you can go from Neutral to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th). If you click back using your heel or toes, you go down a gear. After learning how to drive a semi automatic, driving a manual isn't that much more difficult. Hold in the clutch and press down once with your left toe to put the bike into first gear. Hold in the clutch and click the gear up with your toe to put the bike into second gear, and so on up to the 5 or 6 gear. To put the bike into Neutral just, Downshift all the way to first gear, then a light click up will get you into neutral. Neutral is between 1st and 2nd gear. Here are the laws that you should abide by when riding a motorbike in Vietnam: 1. You must have a driver's license to be eligible to ride a motorbike that is larger than 50cc (besides Honda Cubs, this applies to the majority of common bikes). 2. On the rare occasion police stop you (they usually don't stop foreigners), you will have to pay a small fine. 3. You must wear a helmet at all times, regardless of what you believe about the protection provided by wearing one. 4. Motorbike riders can occupy the rightmost lane. All other lanes are reserved for car drivers, although almost everybody in Vietnam rides a bike. It seems that the rules are made by car drivers. 5. No one will yield to you, unlike in other countries. So make your own way. 6. Look for the speed limit that applies to the type of road and vehicle you are riding. There is little signage, though. 7. You can't run a red light, although you will see the exact opposite more times than you can count. Also, you can't go the wrong way on a street or the wrong lane, despite the fact that you will see that happening all the time. 8. Always carry a raincoat. Rainy seasons in Vietnam are not to mess with. Learning to drive a manual motorbike in Vietnam. Below are two videos to help you get a better understanding how a manual bike works and how to drive it. If travellers are seriously considering buying a motorbike in Vietnam then they should read my Article below: THE TRUTH ABOUT BUYING AND SELLING CHINESE HONDA WINS IN VIETNAM When it comes to road rules Vietnam has its own unique system so best to have a read about: Road rules in Vietnam If you want to take lessons to learn how to drive a motorbike in Vietnam please visit the link below Basic training school - learn how to ride a motorbike in vietnam Chris - Flamingo Travel


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Japanese spring in Rome: sold out for the new garden
From March 12th to May 30th, there will be a little Oriental space in Rome: the Japanese Institute of Culture in Rome opened a garden where you can meet Japanese culture.
In the garden, there are all elements of Japanese tradition: the small lake, the waterfall, the rocks, the small island, the bridge and the stone lamp.
There are also many plants originating from that country: cherry tree, wisteria, iris and dwarf pines.
The garden was built 50 years ago by the architect Ken Najima.
Both Roman citizens and tourists are excited by this new opening:
The switchboard is clogged, hundreds of requests continue to arrive, for a success also due to word of mouth on the web. All tours for the opening of the spring Japanese garden are sold-out!
In the garden, 9 visits per week are scheduled from March 12th to May 30th, for groups of 30-40 people per day. The entry is free, but reservations are already sold out.
The Director Matsunaga said: "I want to thank all Italians and Romans for their interest. The only difference between this and a real Japanese garden is the presence of an olive: symbol of the friendship that binds Italy and Japan"

subset: commoncrawl


text: Friday, May 3rd – the Heritage Boys Tennis team took a win over Bishop Amat Lancers 12-6 in the 2nd Round of CIF. They now have a 14-4-0 overall record and will move on to CIF quarter finals!! The Patriots will take on Montclair HS @ Heritage on Monday May 6th at 3:00pm.


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Kaospilot Melbourne OCT 2020 Masterclass: The Art and Craft of Designing an...
The highly acclaimed 3-day Masterclass, The Art and Craft of Designing and Facilitating Learning Spaces, is an opportunity to start an "education and learning reboot". It invites participants to explore, experience and be trained in the KAOSPILOT approach to designing and facilitating learning that inspires and promotes creativity, engagement, innovation and risk-taking in learning spaces.
Kaospilot is an alternative business, design and leadership school in Denmark. BusinessWeek has recognized The Kaospilots as "one of the best design schools in the world", and Fast Company has named it in its Startup League's Big 10, "preparing you for the fast moving startup economy".
More than 2500 educators, program directors, learning designers and consultants, trainers, facilitators and edu-preneurs have participated in this Masterclass across 40 countries, and in 2018 it arrived in Australia.
During the Masterclass, participants will be introduced to the unique 'opportunity based pedagogy' and competency model of the Kaospilots, which has been developed over 25 years from working with young dynamic learners and leaders and by exploring the potential in transformational education.
Participants will have the opportunity not only to talk about their ideas for pedagogical and methodological change, but also practice and develop them! Through imaginative interpretation, "hacking" and creative application of your curriculum, new pedagogical and methodological processes will be explored which will challenge and "reboot" approaches to learning and content delivery. You can read the full description and agenda overview here.
Bring your real projects and program challenges, your openness to unlearn and learn, your questions and imagination, your experience and your beginner's mindset, your curiosity to connect and learn with others also seeking to transform education.
(include lunches & refreshments) - the course is 3 full days (9am - 5pm) and allows for a maximum of 24 participants.
$950 (+ GST) as part of our ed2ed, public and not 4 profit EDUCATION SERIES
$1950 (+GST) for private (non-ed2ed*) participants, consultants or trainers.
If you are eligible for the ed2ed discount, please contact Ramon Marmolejos at firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
Innovative educational experiences
Most unusual college in the world
Business School for KaosPilots
Dane to believe (Monocle article)


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Winter 2002 Issue (Issue No. 3)
- In The Dragon
- Post 27 December 2002
The third issue of "The Dragon" published in Winter 2002. Free with this issue is an audio CD of "Chenrezig Practice" recited by His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa
The following are some of the articles in this issue
- In Search of An Authentic Guru (A Teaching by His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa)
- The Three Victorious Ones (Gyalwa Gotsangpa, Gyalwa Lorepa and Gyalwa Yang Gonpa)
- The Origin of Buddhist Painting & Sculpture (Article by His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa)
- Swayambhunath, the Self-Originating Lord (Article by Keith Dowman)
- Spiritual Practice in the Modern Age (Advice from the Gyalwang Drukpa)
- Relationship between Master & Disciple (Advice from the Gyalwang Drukpa)
- Wisdom (An Exclusive Interview with Ven. Khenpo Losal Zangpo)
and many more interesting articles!!
Type: Bilingual, English & Chinese
Price: USD 5.99 (excluding postage, which will be calculated based on shipping address)


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Holiday Table
Today I am joining a group of talented bloggers to share our holiday table all decked out for Christmas. I am so thankful to be a part of this group. Thank you to Chloe of Celebrate and Decorate for organizing all of us!
My friend got some christmas table decorations in Australia and her table looks amazing, so I decided to try and make mine look good too. This big stud was an after Christmas find several years ago. He was marked down and then marked down again so I just couldn't resist. But don't look too close. Those crazy kids I often talk about…well they have knocked him over so many times that his antlers have been glued on more times than I can count! Adds to his charm I think! 🙂
My buffalo check runner makes another appearance on my holiday table. I used it for my halloween table a while back and loved it so much. It really is a classic piece that can be used over and over again. Using a piece of cotton from the local fabric store, I cut it to size for a fraction of the cost of an actual table runner.
This sprig of greenery is an easy way to add volume to the center of the table. I literally just set it in place.
This sweet little Santa has been a treasured part of our holiday decor for years. He likes to pop up in different spots each year.
Our wedding china makes another appearance every year as part of our holiday table. After all these years I still love the classic design. At some point I will add name cards to the little silver reindeer place holders.
After downsizing earlier this year, I am really trying to keep my decorating simple. The beauty of downsizing is it enables you to keep things so much simpler at home. I often think, if I hadn't looked at this bridging loan example I would have never realized that this form of financing existed! Without a bridging loan, it is definitely possible that we would have missed out on the property. It has been such an empowering process to free myself from the extra pressure. I am learning to use the same pieces just in different ways without running out to buy something new. Without much storage in the new house, I really have to get creative with my holiday decor!
You can also see my table decorated for Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Fall.
This blog hop is full of great holiday tables that will inspire you this Christmas season!
Everyday Living | Belle Bleu Interiors | Home is Where the Boat Is
The Little Yellow Corner Store | Bluesky at Home
Red Cottage Chronicles | My Kentucky Living | Savvy Apron
Rattlebridge Farm | The Red Painted Cottage | Knock it Off Kim
The Painted Apron | A casa di Bianca | Hey Fitzy
Dining Delight | Corner of Plaid and Paisley | From My Carolina Home
Life and Linda | B. Lovely Events | Rosemary & Thyme
Sweet Sensations | Panoply | Our Crafty Mom


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Sinusitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Up Next
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Sources | Medically Reviewed on 08/07/2020 Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on August 07, 2020
(1) WebMD composite image
(2) Living Art Enterprises, LLC / Photo Researchers, Inc.
(3) Eye of Science / Photo Researchers, Inc.
(4) WebMD composite image / background photo by Voller Ernst
(5) Radius Images
(6) Living Art Enterprises, LLC / Photo Researchers, Inc.
(7) © ISM / Phototake -- All rights reserved.
(8) Image Source
(9) Kenneth Eward / Photo Researchers, Inc.
(10) Brayden Knell / WebMD
(11) Uppercut Images
(12) PHANIE / Photo Researchers, Inc.
(13) PHANIE / Photo Researchers, Inc.
(14) Siri Stafford / Taxi
American College of Physicians, PIER: Physicians Information and Education Resource web site.
Jim Young, PhD, biostatistician, Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Joe, S.A. Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery, September 2008.
Jordan S. Josephson, MD, director, New York Nasal and Sinus Center and author, Sinus Relief Now, Perigee Trade, December 2006.
Harvey, R. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews, Jul. 18, 2007.
Ian G. Williamson, MD, senior lecturer, University of Southampton, England.
Lim, M. American Journal of Rhinology, July/August 2008.
Lindbaek, M. Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 5, 2007.
Morten Lindbaek, MD, PhD, professor, University of Oslo, Norway.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases web site.
Piccirillo, J.F. The New England Journal of Medicine, Aug. 26, 2004.
Schumann, S.A. and Hickner, J. Journal of Family Practice, July 2008.
Williamson, I.G. Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 5, 2007.
Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on August 07, 2020
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
WebMD Slideshows
View our slideshows to learn more about your health.
Psoriasis 14 home remedies to try.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Is it the source of your aches?
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Cancer Does THIS cause cancer?


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Getting a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI)
What is a CVI?
A Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) is an official medical document that details your child's eye condition, and their level of vision impairment.
You need it, for example, if you want to get benefits for your child or any help from your local council.
How does my child get a CVI?
You get a CVI from your child's eye specialist after the examination appointments.Your child's vision has to meet the criteria for a CVI. It will detail whether your child is sight impaired or severely sight impaired.
What happens next?
The eye specialist will send the certificate to you and your GP for their records. They will also send a copy to your local council who will get in touch with you to talk about registering your child.
Make sure you keep the CVI somewhere safe, as you may need it in the future.
Once you have a CVI you can register your child with your local council and apply for financial support.
RSBC can help you with:
- practical advice about your child's development
- support when you feel overwhelmed
- understanding your child's vision impairment better
- living as a family and being supportive of each other
Call 020 3198 0225 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Published: October 2017


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Amanda Holden has told how her fellow Britain's Got Talent judges David Walliams and Simon Cowell finally "got a room", as she joked that their relationship reached a new level while filming the show's latest series.
Her comments came as she joined judge Alesha Dixon at the new season's press launch on Wednesday – but their male counterparts were nowhere to be seen.
"David and Simon finally got a room," she said, "they are loved-up in a shack somewhere and that's why they aren't here, that's an exclusive.
"They took their relationship one step further and we are all very proud and excited about it."
Simon and David are known for their relentless teasing of each other throughout the show, but Amanda revealed how she and Dixon also have a special bond of their own.
She said: "Having another girl on the show is fantastic. As soon as the cameras stop rolling we kick off our high heels, put on our slippers and dressing gowns, get straight on the menu and order stacks of food, and sometimes a cheeky glass of wine."
Asked how the two pairs would fare if they swapped their comfy judges seats and buzzers for a sports contest, she said: "Obviously we would beat the boys in any kind of sports day, they aren't fit at all.
"They might do all right in a wrestle – I have seen David wrestle Simon to the floor and it's not for family viewing – but for speed and agility, we would win every time."
Alesha joined in the teasing as she compared the foursome to a family of unruly siblings. "Simon would be the annoying big brother," she said.
"David would be the cheeky youngest member if the family, and Amanda and I would be somewhere in the middle keeping the boys in line."
Britain's Got Talent returns to ITV at 8pm on Saturday.


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Friday, March 20, 2009
Antiwar Rally In Eureka Tomorrow
Where? Humboldt County Courthouse. When 3-21-09 at 1pm. Click for more info.
Posted by Tom Sebourn at 3:50 PM
1 comment:
- Tom Sebourn said...
The weather must have been brutal.
Hucktunes covered the march with some photos.
I usually go to this but was filling for an auctioneer for a fundraiser that afternoon and didn't have the energy to go from peace march clothing to my suit without driving all the way back to Trinidad. Sad, even the Times-Standard didn't cover it in the Sunday paper. Not enough room since they shrank the size.
- March 22, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Phone Strap - Game Nerd
Item : Laser-cut Charm + Mini Phone Strap
Material : Light MDF Wood, with 2.5 mm thickness
Size : 1.8 x 2.5 cm
Finishing : Personally Matt sealed + Glossed
Shipping : With a backing card, in a clear plastic + bubble wrap. You can choose Pos Laju / Pos Express for the shipping 😉
How to care :
- Please keep away from water and moisture to avoid damage.
- Even though these woods are matt-sealed and glossed, please make sure that they are not exposed to the water for long and soaking it in the water is also not a great idea !
Made by all the love in the world <3


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How to Increase Traction on a Concrete Driveway
The usual procedure for ensuring good traction on a sloped driveway is "brooming," or making a series of light lines perpendicular to the slope in freshly laid wet concrete. This isn't done on certain types of concrete installations, including stamped or other decorative surfaces. In such cases, you can give your too-slick concrete surface a sealing coat that has bits of grit built into it to provide better traction. Grit can be purchased as an additive to conventional coatings or already mixed with the coating product. In general, it isn't advisable to apply a grit-containing product with a sprayer because the particles tend to plug up the nozzle.
Choose the friction coating that best suits your needs and climate. Choices include polyethylene, silica sand and aluminum oxide beads mixed into an acrylic coating. With such a fairly broad selection of products, consult with a professional at your home supply center.
Choose a day when no rain is predicted and the temperature is moderate -- between 70 and 90 degrees for most products -- to apply the surface coating.
Block off access to the driveway, either with a barrier or by parking your car across the entry. You don't want anyone driving on the concrete surface until the job is done.
Deep-clean the concrete driveway with a degreasing cleaner; if the driveway is new and not yet dirty, plain soap and water are acceptable. Mix your chosen cleaner per manufacturer's instructions, apply it with a bucket or power sprayer and scrub stubborn stains with a shop broom.
Rinse the driveway thoroughly to remove all traces of dirt and cleaner and let it dry completely before proceeding. Keep drivers and foot traffic off the clean driveway to avoid getting dirt or contaminants on it.
Mix the grit additive into the base compound in the ratio recommended by the manufacturer and stir the compound vigorously with a stirring stick or paint paddle to ensure that the grit is evenly distributed. If you have the premixed kind, you won't have to add the grit, but both types need to stirred well initially and again periodically during the work until the job is completed. The gritty particles tend to fall out of solution quickly. Make sure that none of the grit is clumped up at the bottom of the bucket.
Dip your paint roller in the mixture and run it lightly over the paint roller screen to remove the worst of the excess. This is going to be a drippy job no matter what because the sealant is not a thick-textured product.
Roll the sealant onto a section of driveway and quickly go back and forth over that initial line at a right angle to it. Overlap each stroke slightly to ensure complete, even coverage without puddling. Work in sections appropriate to the amount of sealer you can load on the paint roller and work quickly to get the sealer spread evenly before it soaks into the concrete.
Stir frequently to keep grit in solution and continue to cover small sections until the driveway is completely covered. Avoid leaving clumps or puddles. The object is a thin, even coat of sealer.
Allow the first coat to to dry completely before applying a second. Drying times vary with the type of product you use. Keep all foot and vehicle traffic off the driveway until the first and second coats are completely dry.
Things Needed
- Power washer (optional)
- Garden hose
- Degreasing cleaner
- Stiff-bristled shop broom
- Gritty concrete sealer (friction coating)
- Paint roller
- Lint-free roller cover
- Paint roller screen
- Working barefoot might help you keep the concrete clean and free of tracks while you work.
- Lock the dog and cat in the house and warn the neighbors that you are doing this project so they can keep their pets in too. Some sealing products are mildly toxic until they dry.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images


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Texting is a highly personal form of communication. You're reaching out to someone on their phone, which often lives in their pocket. It's a very effective method for just that reason, but it entails a careful approach to maximize benefits and minimize annoyance.
When composing a group broadcast message, there are a number of tools TextUs has to make the message more personal. We also offer a number of tips when it comes to composing your message.
General Texting Tips
- Have a Greeting - You wouldn't email a stranger without at least saying "Hi" so why text someone without it?
- Personalize It - TextUs allows you to add in a name merge function that will address each Contact in your Broadcast by their first name!
- Introduce Yourself - People like to know who is contacting them and from where. Make it personal instead of just signing off with your name.
- Drive a Textable Response - We suggest ending Broadcasts with a question to prompt the recipients of your message to respond. Asking a question will also help you gauge your contacts' interest in what you are texting them about.
- Don't Look like a Promotion/spam - Place yourself in your contact's shoes. What kind of message would you respond to? One that appears generic and impersonal OR one that addresses you by name and asks for a direct response?
- Send Concise Messages - Keep your messaging short, simple, and to the point. This helps get the message across more clearly without unnecessary clutter.
- Keep it Real - Always remember that you are a real person sending a real message to another real person. You are working on building relationships and rapport with your contacts.
Examples of Good Verbiage
- Hi {{contact.first_name}}, this is John from ABC Staffing. We have a great RN position in Tulsa. Start date is 3/1. Interested in applying?
- Hi {{contact.first_name}}, I need Med/Surg nurses in Holland, Michigan paying $49/hr. Available to chat? John w/ ABC Staffing
What to Avoid
Phone providers use dynamic spam filters to flag numbers that they determine to be engaging in spam messaging behavior. A number can then be blocked by the carriers, which prevents messages from delivering for an unspecified amount of time. There aren't any hard and fast rules that will cause your number to get blocked but we do have a few recommendations to help avert number blocks. We suggest avoiding use of the following:
- Recycled Content - Sending the exact same message in several back to back Broadcasts or consistently over a long period of time.
- Special Characters - The overuse of special characters such as $%@&!?.
- Excessive Capitalization - Sending messages with words in ALL CAPS.
- Phone Numbers - The number that you are texting from will appear on your contact's phone when they receive your message. If your TextUs number is different than your office/desk line, calls will be forwarded to you.
- URLs or Email Addresses - URLs and email addresses can be sent in individual texts but they should not be included in Broadcast Messages.
**Do not try to go around the Broadcasting tool and send several individual messages with the same content.**
Why 140 Characters?
Messages with more than 140 characters are seen by the cell phone carriers as multiple messages, which effectively doubles or triples the number of messages sent. For example, a 200 character message to 100 people becomes 200 text messages. This can cause number blocks and messages to be delivered out of order, which is why we have a 140 character limit for Broadcast Messages.
Broadcasting Limitations
- Group Sizes are limited to 100 Contacts.
- You can send out up to 500 Broadcast Messages per day.
- Broadcast Messages are sent at a rate of 50 Messages per hour.
Upgrades are available for High Volume texting. Reach out to your Sales Representative or email firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.


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Oatmeal Cookie in a Ramekin (or mug)
Create a Recipe Makeover
Nutritional Info
- Servings Per Recipe: 1
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 226.7
- Total Fat: 10.3 g
- Cholesterol: 204.8 mg
- Sodium: 248.4 mg
- Total Carbs: 28.6 g
- Dietary Fiber: 1.9 g
- Protein: 5.1 g
View full nutritional breakdown of Oatmeal Cookie in a Ramekin (or mug) calories by ingredient
Submitted by: MELIANICHOLS
Number of Servings: 1
1 Tbsp. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Light
1 Tbsp. firmly packed Splenda brown sugar blend
1 Tbsp. Splenda for baking
2-3 drops vanilla extract {a splash}
Small pinch salt
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 egg yolk
2 Tbsp. quick cook oats
1 1/2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. Craisins (optional)
In a ramekin or coffee mug, cook butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until melted. Add sugars, vanilla, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to combine. Add the egg yolk to your cup. Stir to combine. Add oats and flour, then stir again. Add the Craisins (if using) and give a final stir. Cook in microwave 40-60 seconds, start checking for doneness at 40 seconds. Mine took the full 60 seconds.
Serving Size: 1 cookie
Number of Servings: 1
Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user MELIANICHOLS.
Serving Size: 1 cookie
Number of Servings: 1
Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user MELIANICHOLS.
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- by: BS1949


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Terma Aerostructures: Grenaa, Denmark
This Danish manufacturer of precision composite aircraft parts and components has emerged as a significant player in fabrication of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II.
#workforcedevelopment #adhesives #airbus
A world leader in the manufacture of precision composite aerostructures and components, Danish defense and aerospace company Terma's plant in Grenaa, Denmark, Terma Aerostructures, has fabricated aircraft parts for 45 years. Terma worked at first in aluminum and titanium, and, as new technologies were introduced into aerospace, composites and composite-to-metal bonded assemblies. The General Dynamics F-16 fighter was Terma's first platform for the application of composites. Since then, the company's composite components have included panels for the AgustaWestland (Casina Costa di Samarate, Italy) AW101 Merlin helicopter, winglets for Gulfstream (Savannah, GA, US) aircraft, wing structures for Airbus (Toulouse, France), and warhead fairings for the RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM), built by Raytheon (Waltham, MA, US).
Today, parent-company Terma A/S is a key partner and major supplier to the multinational acquisition effort for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, for which Lockheed Martin (Bethesda, MA, US) is the prime contractor. That and Terma's significant history in aerostructural development was a strong determining factor in CW's acceptance of a recent invitation to visit the Grenaa facility.
Featured Content
CW learned that composites — especially on the F-35 program — are a very important segment of Terma's overall business thrust. Peter Worsøe, Terma's VP of business development and CW's tour guide, told us that although they have had a major influence on the aerospace industry for the past three decades, composites are still, in many ways, a new material. And, he says, despite the fact that the aerospace industry is very big, it's controlled by a relatively small number of companies — a few hundred worldwide. Worsøe goes on to say that this fact makes the aerospace manufacturing community necessarily interdependent: "Many of these companies are competitors and partners at the same time, depending on the program." (Programs like the F-35, in fact, are all about such partnerships. See the Side Story titled "Aerospace supply chain partnerships: Offsets vs. opportunities," under "Editor's Picks" at top right.)
Right people and right materials
The Terma Aerostructures Grenaa plant, on the coast of Jutland in Denmark, covers more than 26,000m2 and has 290+ employees. Another 30 work in design and engineering at Terma's headquarters in nearby Lystrup. Situated some 30 miles from Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city, the plant's location, Worsøe says, makes it challenging to attract highly educated engineers to the site. "But when we get them," he contends, "they tend to stay. We have a large and reliable group of people working in our workshop, and they are fundamentally the backbone of our company."
Although composites require special expertise, Worsøe points out that Terma's relationships to its composite materials suppliers do as well. "There are very few of them," he observes, noting, "It's not like in metallic, where you can find hundreds of suppliers and vendors for that kind of product. Our composites supply chain is controlled by our customers. They want to ensure that we have the highest and best-possible quality in our product, so they guide us to the right suppliers, who are mainly American, so the majority of our raw materials comes out of the US."
Different aircraft also have differing requirements. For instance, the entire F-35 aircraft is digitally designed, which means there are no paper drawings. For the F-35, the requirement is for highly precise components — so precise, in fact, that Terma's Donny Weaver, VP of business development stationed in Terma's US aerostructures business unit, who was at the Grenaa facility during the tour, told us, "There are six facilities in the world that do what we do."
Right products, right properties
Although advanced composites are finding wider military applications on naval vessels — the US Navy's DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer and Sweden's Visby-class missile corvettes are notable examples — Worsøe says the fundamental manufacturing principles are similar, but differ markedly in the details for aerostructures. They are at odds, in part, in terms of what motivates design. "We talk about fibers, and we talk about a resin, so that part is the same," he notes, but observes that the shipbuilding industry's choice of core materials "will typically be materials that are cheaper per weight unit in order to ensure that the total price of the ship composite fits to that industry. When it comes to the building of aircraft, weight is absolutely essential," he says, "so we drive the properties of the materials to the limit to ensure that the weight is as low as possible. So when it comes to the detailed quality requirements, we go one step further — or maybe many steps further." In that regard, Terma makes no accommodations that favor thrift or efficiency in sacrifice of performance when it comes to its molding processes.
Here we are introduced to Robert Fiorentini, Terma's VP of global operations. Although resin infusion is common practice in shipbuilding and has made some inroads into aircraft manufacturing (see "Resin-infused MS-21 wings and wingbox" under "Editor's Picks"), we're told, and on the F-35 program, in particular, Fiorentini makes clear that Terma Aerostructures employs autoclave-cured carbon fiber/epoxy and carbon fiber/bismaleimide (BMI), "to make sure there are no voids, so we have consistent structural integrity."
Although composites reduce part weight, they generally cost more compared to the same part in metal, Fiorentini acknowledges, but says that the cost differential is getting smaller. For that, he gives credit to automation and to the opportunities composites offer for integrating parts.
"An aircraft based on composites can typically end up consisting of fewer and larger, high-precision parts," agrees Worsøe, adding that parts integration also eliminates labor-intensive post-mold processing: "If they were done in metal, it would require more individual parts, which would require assembly."
Terma procures its carbon fiber, BMI and epoxy from Cytec Aerospace Materials (Tempe, AZ, US), its NOMEX aramid honeycomb core from Hexcel (Stamford, CT, US) and syntactic core materials from Euro-Composites Corp. (Elkwood, VA, US).
We walk through Terma's production process. After a visit to the area where plies are cut to precise shapes on an automated textile cutter, we move on to Terma's cleanroom, where part layup is conducted. Here, the simplest part might have just four plies, while the largest might represent as many as 800. The prepregged fabric can be placed manually or with the aid of a laser projector. Typical layups, we are told, take about eight to nine hours. But, something very complex — a horizontal tailskin, for example — could take as long as two weeks.
Autoclave cure is conducted from 180°C to 190°C, with some post-curing required at even higher temperatures. The autoclaves are calibrated to between +5°C and -2°C, but have a broader temperature range than is currently being used, if required.
To make autoclave cure as efficient as possible, parts are organized into "families" that can be processed and cured together in a single autoclave cycle. Terma has invested in a range of autoclaves, large and small, from Scholz Maschinenbau Scholz GmbH & Co. KG (Coesfeld, Germany). Each is equipped with computer-controlled curing cycles. Working capacities range as large as 3m in diameter by 8m long, with temperature capabilities of 250°C-450°C. Two programmable convection ovens, from Aeroform France(Brignais, France) and Lytzen A/S (Soeberg, Denmark), are also available for curing.
Heat and airflow are critical parameters for the autoclave process. "The local plan is approved by the customer to get the proper cure," Fiorentini says.
Making composite components requires skill, precision equipment and a little patience. "We're subcontractors to subcontractors," Fiorentini says. "There's a high level of complexity, because different primes have different requirements."
The processes are approved by the customer using their specified equipment, technical documentation and training. Tools are supplied or specified by the customer, and must be maintained and stored as directed. "We have 310 different customer-provided tools for our F-35 work," says Fiorentini.
Because Terma makes parts for different companies, each time the autoclave is used, the entire process is digitally recorded to assure quality and ensure adherence to customer specifications. "Each customer has a different process and quality certification, which has legal ramifications," Fiorentini points out.
Right fit, right function
Although molding and curing are critical to F-35 success, Worsøe says, "the most unique process linked to the F-35 is the trimming process, which has to meet stringent tolerance requirements." In support of that task, we see as we move on, Terma has invested significantly in machining capability. The Grenaa facility houses two Dörries Scharmann Technologie GmbH (DST) (Mönchengladbach, Germany) flexible overhead gantry (FOG) 5-axis milling machines. One has a work envelope of 4,800 mm by 3,500 mm by 1,500 mm and the other, 2,800 mm by 2,800 mm by 1,500 mm — with Siemens Sinumerik computer numerical control (CNC) by Siemens PLM Software Inc. (Plano, TX, US), which enables CAD drawings to be rendered into 3-D objects.
The facility also has two 5-axis Deckel-Maho precision milling machines: a DMF 360 (3,600 mm by 920 mm by 900 mm), and a DMC200P (1,800 mm by 2,000 mm by 1,100 mm), from DMG Mori Seiki Europe AG(Dübendorf, Switzerland), both controlled by a Heidenhain iTNC 530 PLC (HEIDENHAIN GmbH, Traunreut, Germany). Cutting and grinding is accomplished by a number of tools, including shears, belt and circular saws, and water jet cutters.
The F-35 has about 300 panels that make up the exterior of the aircraft, and Terma is responsible for 55 of them, of varying sizes, shapes and thicknesses. Fiorentini says flight-control surfaces can have as many as 651 total plies, with maximum stack of 60 plies deep (which equates to 12.7 mm thick, after cure).
Parts used for the skin of the airframe might have as many as 600 precisely drilled holes for fasteners, with tolerances of 0.127 mm. The finishing process includes countersinking parts for fasteners and attachments, and painting parts with the F-35's distinctive aqueous green primer, using a nonvolatile organic compound.
One advantage of the pursuit of exacting precision is that it's easier to exchange one component with another because they all fit perfectly. Another is that gaps between parts are so small that aerodynamics are improved. Additionally, the shape, the materials, and tight fit all contribute to low radar observability.
Most parts require secondary bonding, Fiorentini says, which requires careful surface preparation. Both "peel ply" and "grit blasting" techniques are employed. "Prior to cure, we apply a layer of peel ply to the surface area to be bonded in a cleanroom environment. After cure, we go back into the cleanroom and the peel ply is removed. Some parts also require trim or machining — or both — prior to secondary bonding, and these parts undergo a water break-free test and dry-out period prior to secondary bonding. On parts where peel ply is not an option, the parts are subjected to a grit-media blast for surface prep. These parts are cleaned, and a water break test performed to assure there are no contaminants, and then they undergo a dry-out period prior to secondary bonding."
Right instruments, right outcomes
Given the F-35 program's high expectation for precision and precision's role in the plane's aerodynamic performance, it's no surprise that the Terma Aerostructures tour terminates in the facility's quality-assurance area. Here, nondestructive inspection methodologies include not only aerospace-standard ultrasonic equipment but also X-ray technology. Terma, we are told, is the only supplier on the F-35 program that is approved to use digital X-ray for inspection of parts and pioneered the process in partnership with Lockheed Martin. "Digital X-ray reduces the inspection time by 75% and is more accurate that A-Scan, which is a more manual process," Fiorentini claims. Ultrasonic testing equipment includes a Karl Deutsch GmbH (Wuppertal, Germany) Echograph model 1030 ultrasonic flaw detector, and ultrasonic testing is also accomplished with 2- and 5-axis ultrasonic units for monolithic parts, including a Meccasonics Ltd. (Ross-on-Wye, UK) USJP-1 and USL Multi-Axis C-Scanner, and a Balteau X-Ray nondestructive testing and condition monitoring device, from Balteau NDT S.A. (Hermalle-sous-Argenteau, Belgium).
Right perspective … more opportunities
Terma still makes metal parts for aircraft. "We do advanced machining of metallic parts, such as 5-axis machining, and concentrate on the most complex parts, and outsource the less complex parts to someone with lower costs," notes Fiorentini. However, there are no sheet metal parts in the F-35. Worsøe says Terma is focused on today's F-35 work, but with an eye on the future, too. "We hope to have the opportunity to participate in modern high-rate production programs — military and commercial — that brings down our learning curve, and can justify implementation of automatic manufacturing procedures."
"We have unique expertise," Weaver sums up. "And we have space to add capacity as the F-35 ramps up."
Related Topics
- Markets
- Aerospace
- Reinforcements
- Carbon Fibers
- Materials
- Machining/Drilling
- Processes
- Cutting/Kitting
- Curing
- Aeroform Composites
- DMG Mori Seiki Europe AG
- Dörries Scharmann Technologie GmbH (DST)
- Euro-Composites Corp.
- Hexcel
- Maschinenbau Scholz GmbH & Co. KG
- Siemens Digital Industries Software
- Solvay Composite Materials
Microspheres: Fillers filled with possibilities
For composite applications, these hollow microstructures displace a lot of volume at low weight and add an abundance of processing and product enhancements.
Out-of-autoclave prepregs: Hype or revolution?
Oven-cured, vacuum-bagged prepregs show promise in production primary structures.
Getting To The Core Of Composite Laminates
A wealth of low-cost core solutions are available for high-performance sandwich structures.


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|Q: How
does being extremely selfish fit into the trauma issue? Last Sunday
evening, it became very obvious that my teenage daughter was not going
to lift a finger to help with our Sunday family dinner when our other
children and extended family were all helping out. She said she was
A: It fits in perfectly. When children are in survival mode or simply overwhelmed, they feel as if they have to protect themselves and
|create safety for
themselves. It is all about self-protection. They seek peace and peace
comes from shutting down from the world. It is actually a brilliant
strategy: shut down the world and you reduce the stress in your life,
you deactivate the stimulus of the environment, and your nervous system
has a chance to calm down. Unfortunately for those around a child in
this type of self-protection mode, this brilliant strategy makes the
child look rude, selfish, and lazy.
In order to stay in a place of love, understanding, and tolerance as a parent for this type of behavior in your child (especially around extended family members), you have to ask yourself, "What is driving my child's behavior?" Too often, we approach our children asking the wrong question of "How do I get my child to change her behavior?". If you ask the wrong question, you'll get the wrong answer. In this specific situation, if you only focus on the behavior alone, it will look as if your daughter is being lazy and selfish.
By pushing her to change her behavior, you will come off to her as nagging and lecturing. This will only serve to increase her stress, thus pushing her further into her shut-down state. Ironically, you will actually create the exact result which you were trying to avoid.
Instead, work on the core issue: OVERWHELM. Moving a child out of a state of overwhelm happens within the context of the relationship. Focus on the relationship.
Also recognize that family get-togethers, while fun, are stressful. Friends, family, and more social interaction can overwhelm a child who struggles with relationships. While I'm an advocate for families, too much family outside of the nucleus family structure can be too much for many children. Their nervous systems are not equipped to handle the increase in noise, interactions, and stress of being expected to "behave."
To solve this issue, do proactive work and develop a plan with your daughter. This is a child who needs you to join her and to assist her in order to keep her from automatically going into overwhelm. Shutting down is an automatic response; she doesn't have control over it. It doesn't happen at a conscious level. Helping her to create an awareness around this reaction, as well as a plan of how to deal with it in the future, is your responsibility as a parent of a child of trauma.
When life gets busy, loud, and unpredictable, tell her you've noticed she doesn't seem to be as happy. Invite her to reflect about how she felt during last Sunday night's dinner and let her express herself honestly and openly. Beware, though, she may blame you for having too many people over (for example, "Why did you invite them, anyway, you know I don't like them!" or "Sunday night dinner is stupid anyway; I'd rather be in my room or be with my friends."). You don't have to defend your decisions or try to convince her why Sunday night dinner is important.
Explore the real issue: it's too much for her and it is threatening. Say something like, "Sunday dinner isn't your favorite so maybe we can figure out a plan to help make it better. If it gets to be too much, at any time, how about you go for a walk and if you want me to go with you, I'd love to - just the two of us."
You can also set the expectation that you need her to help out, but offer to help her. "I know it can feel like it's too much energy to help with the dinner or with clean-up, but what if you and I worked together? You don't have to be alone and overwhelmed anymore. I want to be here to support you and help keep your body from shutting down. Can you let me help you?"
"Beyond Consequences" doesn't mean a child can do anything she wants to. Children need boundaries; boundaries create emotional safety. Children need us to set the bar of what is expected, as well. However, due to the sensitivity of our children, it has to be done with love, kindness, and compassion.
Think about it as merging the strengths of Mr. Rogers (gentleness, compassion, understanding) with those of General Patton (strong, courageous, determined).
|Perhaps you're reading
these suggestions and thinking, "That would be fine if she were five,
but she's fifteen! Mr. Rogers is for little kids; when is it her turn to
grow up and take responsibility?"
Your daughter has already proven that she can't get out of overwhelm and she isn't able to take responsibility yet, at least on her own. Expecting her to simply dig deeper internally and uncover a vast source of willpower just isn't realistic. You can continue to battle it out, which is exactly what will happen if you approach it from the perspective of her being lazy and rude.
It is never the facts of the situation that create frustration; it is the interpretation of the facts. For example:
Fact. Your daughter isn't helping out.The first interpretation perceives only the negative and puts 100% of the responsibility on the child. It is her job to change. You hold your ground as the parent in charge (General Patten without Mr. Rogers) and she is the one required to take action and change. This interpretation will keep your parent/child relationship in a "me against her" power struggle.
The second interpretation sheds light on the truth about what is driving her behavior. The change in behavior shifts to a focus on improving your relationship with her. It focuses on how you can help your child, who is overwhelmed, get out of overwhelm, not go deeper into it.
It takes courage to do something different. Trust that love and relationship, coupled with setting expectations and boundaries, will be the solution to getting the tasks at hand completed.
Press on,
|Heather T. Forbes, LCSW
Parent and Author of Beyond Consequences, Logic & Control: Volume 1 & Volume 2,
Dare to Love, and Help for Billy.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Motivating a Lazy Child
Posted by Unknown at 12:07 PM No comments:
Labels: adoption, beyond consequences, choose love, chores, daughter, defensive attitudes, family, love never fails, mothering, parenting, trauma
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
"Stuck? Here is a cheat sheet to get you started."
|Q: I have been trying to implement the Beyond Consequences model of parenting but in the moment when my child is resisting, I get stuck. I truly don't know HOW to make emotional connection and I was wondering if you might have a "cheat-sheet" of some kind to help jump start me during these times my mind goes blank.
A: If you do not have a blueprint of a parent making emotional connection with you as a child, being able to do this as a parent is like trying to speak a different language. Unfortunately, most
|of us grew up in families where our parents intellectualized, minimized, or flat out ignored our emotions so we simply do not have a solid blueprint.
Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when you are working to make an emotional connection with your child:
If your child rejects your efforts, saying something like, "You're just trying to therapize me!" You can be honest with your reply, "It probably feels that way! You're right. But I know the more I offer my love and connection, the better off we are going to be."
Send me the phrases you come up with and I'll compile an even larger list to publish in next month's eNewsletter so we can all work on this together!
Press on,
|Heather T. Forbes, LCSW
Parent and Author of Beyond Consequences, Logic & Control: Volume 1 & Volume 2,
Dare to Love, and Help for Billy.
Posted by Unknown at 12:55 PM No comments:
Labels: adoption, beyond consequences, choose love, foster parents, love never fails, parenting, regulation, stress, trauma
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Redefining the Meaning of Motivation for Students at School
Children have a natural love for learning. As young toddlers, they learn to crawl and walk without external motivators. Certainly they like encouragement, but the natural desire to progress is already a part of their innate programming. Children do not need to be bribed or threatened into learning. What they need, especially children with traumatic histories (who we'll call "Billy" in this article), is to be supported, guided, and scaffolded up within an environment that is conducive to feeling emotionally safe, developing relationship, and feeling respected.
The typical behavioral techniques most schools use to try to motivate students can be barriers and hindrances to the Billys of the classroom because they create fear. Any technique based in fear is only going to elevate more fear for a student like Billy who already lives in fear. These techniques are illusions of control and motivation. The reality is that when fear is a part of the learning environment for a student like Billy, learning stops. What subsequently follows is exactly what these external motivators were intended to eliminate: negative behaviors.
Motivation is more about regulation than about simply making a choice to succeed and follow the rules. Motivators we see used in schools, such as stickers and rewards, address the area of the brain that is shut down for Billy. To think clearly and to sequentially rationalize that "if I behave, then I will have a prize from the treasure box" takes the work of the neocortex (the logical thinking part of the brain).
For Billy, when he is struggling and dysregulated, this part of the brain ceases to fire. The problem exists in the lower area of the brain for Billy (the Reptilian Brain). That is why Billy's thinking is going to be different than the typical student (who we'll refer to as "Andy"). This is especially true for Billy because Billy has a deep-seated negative belief system saying that he is stupid, the world is unsafe, and he has to do whatever it takes to make things work for himself (see below).
In the lower part of the brain for all of us, life happens in the next fifteen seconds. Consequences are not relevant. Morals, ethics, and the differences between "right and wrong" have no bearing. All of these guiding forces reside in the neocortex, an area of the brain no longer "in charge" when Billy is dysregulated.
When Billy is left to his own devices to regulate, all his internal resources and energy are already used for protection and safety, leaving no room for learning. The more Billy falls behind academically, the more he feels threatened and the less he learns. Hence, the negative and endless spiral begins with no way out when traditional approaches are put into place. Unfortunately, the only way out of this downward spiral for many students is to ultimately quit and drop out of school.
It takes a shifting our understanding of motivation from a behavioral perspective to a relationship-based regulatory perspective to interrupt a student's negative spiral downward. Many of the traditional techniques need only be modified slightly and delivered in the spirit of love and connection rather than in the framework of fear and control. It is a small shift yet one that can have a powerful impact on students.
It requires interactive regulation (through relationship) to calm Billy down, to create safety for Billy, and to decrease his anxiety. It takes switching from the strategy of getting students motivated--with the promise of a reward or the threat of the loss of a privilege--to the strategy that taps into the student's neurobiological predisposition for relationship.
For more extensive "real-life-how-to" strategies, read my latest book, Help for Billy: A Beyond Consequences Approach to Helping Challenging Children in the Classroom. With a trauma-informed classroom, let's help return our "Billys" of the world back to their natural love for learning!
Press on,
|Heather T. Forbes, LCSW
Parent and Author of Beyond Consequences, Logic & Control: Volume 1 & Volume 2,
Dare to Love, and Help for Billy.
Posted by Unknown at 1:19 PM No comments:
Labels: adoption, beyond consequences, choose love, family, homework struggles, love never fails, neuroscience, parenting, regulation, school, trauma
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Going Beyond the Behaviors: How to Heal from the Impact of Early Trauma
In order to understand the meaning of tall, we need to understand the meaning of short. To know if something is hot, we must be familiar with something cold. Likewise, good is relative to bad, wet is relative to dry, and happy is relative to sad. The same is true in order to understand the impact of early childhood trauma and abuse on a child. We need to first understand the impact of positive early childhood experiences in order to understand the impact of negative early childhood experiences. With the comparison of this information, we can have insight into knowing how to parent and connect with a child who experienced early childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect.
This article is designed first to give you the information of what happens when children are raised in environments of love and attunement and then to give you information on how to re-create interactions with an adopted child whose early life experiences were void of these positive experiences and tainted by trauma and abuse. In order to heal the broken, we must first know what it looks like unbroken. Tools for the adoptive parent are given in order to empower you as a parent to overcome, with your child, the effects of toxic caregiving many adopted children experience in orphanages or foster homes.
The Right Brain.
The first relationship an infant is designed to experience is the relationship with his mother. This relationship begins in the womb and is designed to continue at a high level of intensity for at least the next three years of the child's life. It is in these first three years that amazing development happens due to his mother's attention, attunement, devotion, and connection with him.
John Bowlby, considered the Father of Attachment Theory, identified this relationship between mother and child as critical to the development of a child's ability to relate to others during his entire lifespan. Bowlby stated that early life experiences create imprints that influence a child's capacity to maintain healthy and secure relationships as an adult. New research from neurological science reinforces this concept and shows that these early life experiences literally influence the development of a child's neurological system and influence the circuit wiring of his brain.
According to Dr. Allan Shore, the "King" of affect regulation, the development of a child's brain occurs primarily in the right brain the first few years of life. The right brain holds the capacity for emotional and nonverbal information processing while the left brain holds the capacity for language and logical processing. Thus, for the infant and toddler, with no or limited language skills, communication happens primarily in the right brain. These experiences occur at the emotional level, not at the cognitive or "thinking" level.
It is interesting to note that as adults, we operate from mainly our left brains. We think logically and we use words to express ourselves—all left brain functions. Yet, our babies and children are working from the opposite side of the brain. If you observe a mother with her infant, she has shifted out of her left brain and into her right brain. How logical is it to say, "Goo-goo-gaa-gaa?" Yet, when seen in the context of the parent-child relationship, it is perfectly acceptable and, in fact, necessary, in order to connect with
this a
child because the child's right brain needs emotional experiences.
As adults, it takes shifting back into our right brain, getting outside of being the adult, and meeting our child where he is at in order to create a healthy relationship. As adoptive parents, we need to realize that the bond we are trying to build with our children, at whatever age, needs to happen at the emotional level first. If we allow our children to experience what they missed with us in their early years—parenting from our right brains and being emotionally available and attuned—we will be creating an environment for healing and the development of meaningful relationships with our children.
Types of Communication.
When a young child communicates with his mother, he experiences her being predictable and manipulatable. For instance, if the baby smiles, his mother smiles back. If the baby cries, his mother attends to him in a soft and soothing tone in order to calm him. The child's communication, while non-verbal, is used to make connection with his mother.
There are three main forms of non-verbal communication prevalent between young children and their caregivers. First, mothers and babies communicate through visual and facial expressions. The child is reading his mother's face and vise-versa, the mother is reading her child's face. The baby smiles, the mother smiles. Through this communication, the baby develops a sense of coherence in his feelings. If the baby smiles and the mother frowns and becomes upset, the baby becomes confused and distorted in his understanding of feelings.
Second, the mother and child make connection through physical touch and with gestures. Think of the pleasant sensation you have when you touch a baby's skin. This is an important part of positive communication between parent and child. The skin is the largest organ in the body. It needs physical stimulation that is pleasant and enjoyable. This helps develop the child's sensory system. Children who are not touched or held are at risk of having sensory integration difficulties.
Third, the parent-child connection happens through the auditory senses whereby the mother's tone of voice influences the child's receptivity to his mother's verbal communication. The baby does not have the capacity to understand his mother's words and vocabulary, thus the baby is comprehending verbal communication solely through his mother's emotional tone of voice. It is not what the mother is saying, but how she is saying it. This verbal communication is essentially a function of the right brain, the feeling brain, not the left brain, the cognitive brain.
Through these non-verbal communications, the attachment system is being created by both the child and the mother. In this attachment system, the mother is helping the child regulate his states of stress and fear. The mother who attends to her child's negative states is helping her child shift back into a positive state. This is known as "affect synchrony." Affect synchrony is the regulatory means for developing and maintaining positive emotional states within the relationship of emotional communication. Positive states are amplified and maximized for the child while negative states are minimized and neutralized for the child.
Regulatory Difficulties.
As babies and children experience these types of loving and calming interactions, their systems learn how to handle high levels of both positive and negative feelings. Their internal neurological systems become equipped to calm down on their own. Essentially, they begin to develop the ability to self-regulate.
For a child who misses these early positive experiences due to trauma, abuse, or neglect, he lacks the ability to read facial expressions and
to feel a sense of
internal security. If his cries for help
were either met with negative reactions from his parent, as in the case of
abuse, or ignored by his parent, as in the case of neglect, the child quickly
shifts from living in a state of love and peace to a state of fear and
terror. When children miss having the
experience of a loving parent or caregiver who helps them calm down, their
systems stay in a state of stress, unable to regulate back down to a calm
state. The result is a child who is very
sensitive to stress and lacks the regulatory ability to calm down on his own.
In severe cases, children living in these environments reach a state of absolute terror and plummet to a state of survival—life or death. Their nervous systems remain in a constant state of stress and hyper-vigilance, unable to predict what type of reaction they are going to receive with each cry for help. Some children, characteristically those who are neglected, simply stop communicating and shut down from the world.
Healing for these children happens when the adoptive parent can recreate positive experiences in order to give the children the experience of being soothed through the parent-child relationship. The child's nervous system needs to experience the state of calm arousal instead of staying in a state of perpetual hyper-arousal . It takes parenting from a new understanding that says, "Children's behaviors are a cry for regulation—a cry for relationship, not a cry for punishment and consequences."
The child does not know how to say, "Hey, mom! I'm completely stressed out here! I'm scared, in fact, I'm quite terrified because my world has been turned upside down and I need your help in soothing me-NOW!" The only communication the child knows at this point in his development is misbehavior. Thus, instead of parents working to extinguish and change the child's negative behaviors, it becomes clear that the child needs to be soothed and comforted by his parent. The child needs connection and needs interactions with his parents that provide safety, love, and security.
It takes going beyond the behaviors in order to create this necessary and essential parent-child bond. As adoptive parents, we have to learn the rhythms and flows of our children and then modify our own to fit into a parent-child matching. (For more information on how to do this while at the same time teaching children appropriate behaviors and maintaining boundaries, read Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control available at www.beyondconsequences.com). The focus of parenting then shifts from the goal of changing behaviors to building relationships. This is the essence of creating healing and safe homes in order to stabilize our children and prepare them for a future of peace, joy, and abundance.
In the past, parenting focused on ways to decrease negative behaviors and negative emotions. However, with this new understanding of brain development, we now see that parenting is about increasing positive emotions and creating positive experiences. Parenting emotionally healthy children is about joy, not fear-based punishments.
Interactive Repair.
Interactive repair is the key to helping children heal from the effects of early childhood trauma. Repair to the nervous system and
the child's sense of self, safety, and security comes through interactions with
his parent. As the relationship develops
between the two, through loving, safe, and kind experiences, the child learns
to tolerate negative emotions and eventually develops his ability to
self-regulate. The key to this is the
emotional availability of the parent and the intimacy offered by the parent,
which is the central growth feature for all children.
When the parent is calm, regulated, in a state of peace, and open to connecting emotionally with the child, this influences the child's ability to shift into this state of regulation and calm. Interactive repair is essentially a body to body connection. In terms of these interactions, both the parent and the child are co-regulating their central nervous systems and their autonomic nervous systems. At a physiological level, the body is changing. Cortisol levels are dropping; oxytocin is increasing. Their endocrine systems and their immune systems are being regulated by the nature of their relationship.
Creating a Healing Environment.
The number one person to help your adopted child is you. Every interaction you have with your child is a healing moment—a moment for interactive repair—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This is especially true during the difficult interactions when your child is demonstrating difficult behaviors. That is when he is most "raw" and needing you the most. These are the healing moments we have traditionally missed! Instead of punishing the behavior, step inside your child's pain, join him in relationship, and give him understanding and the opportunity to experience love and regulation through your relationship with him. Being mindful that his behaviors are requests for connection is essential to this process.
Be proactive in working to create experiences that build connection. Here is a list of playful activities for creating secure attachments:
- Carrying your baby
- Rocking your child
- Feeding your child
- Talking (It's not so much as what you say as how you say it—tone of voice)
- Playing – letting the child lead the play experience
- Hugging
- Massage and gentle touch
- Cuddling
- Co-bathing (when age appropriate)
- Swimming (skin to skin contact)
- Creating a life book
- Giving your child his story
- Playing "hide and seek" (recreating the coming and going experience)
- Tickling
- Wrestling (great for dads!)
Face to face play experiences feed the wiring of the brain. Traditionally, we have underestimated the importance of play experiences in early human development. For many children who have suffered trauma, abuse, and neglect, they do not know how to play. Create these play experiences and you'll be creating experiences that can truly repair the missing pieces from his past by changing his physiological system, decreasing his stress state, improving his relationship with you, and ultimately, creating the essential missing ingredient in his life: joy!
Posted by Unknown at 12:14 PM No comments:
Labels: adoption, adoptive mother, beyond consequences, choose love, fun, love never fails, mothering, neuroscience, nonverbal communication, parenting, play, trauma
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
The Power of Love and Relationship
Humans are designed to be in relationship. We are designed to grow up in families and live in communities. What is considered the most severe punishment of an inmate in prison? Solitary confinement. This is because we are neurologically and biologically designed to be in relationship. Being alone for extended periods of time goes against our physiology.
Our children need connection in order to feel love, accepted, and safe. They cannot sufficiently create this on their own. They need to experience this first from their caregivers before they can give it to themselves. Children, especially babies, do not have the ability to "regulate" on their own.
Our children need connection in order to feel love, accepted, and safe. They cannot sufficiently create this on their own. They need to experience this first from their caregivers before they can give it to themselves. Children, especially babies, do not have the ability to "regulate" on their own.
A baby crying in a crib is communicating that he is in need of help. The baby is seeking regulation. The baby has slipped into a state of dysregulation, needing to be fed, rocked, cuddled, or have a diaper changed. The baby is incapable of shifting from this state of dysregulation to a state of regulation on his own. If the baby is not cared for, he goes into a hyper-aroused state, whereby the stress hormones excrete excessively until ultimately, the body will protect itself from creating internal damage by shutting down. The baby then stops crying and appears to have settled down.
Yet in actuality, the baby has not shifted back into a state of regulation. The baby has simply shifted from a state of active arousal to a state of passive arousal, still dysregulated at the internal level. He has been denied an interactive experience with his caregiver. He has missed the vital experience of being calmed and soothed, or regulated, by his caregiver.
Yet in actuality, the baby has not shifted back into a state of regulation. The baby has simply shifted from a state of active arousal to a state of passive arousal, still dysregulated at the internal level. He has been denied an interactive experience with his caregiver. He has missed the vital experience of being calmed and soothed, or regulated, by his caregiver.
This same concept is true for any child. When a child is acting out, it is a sign that the child has slipped into a state of dysregulation. If the child has not had enough past regulatory experiences of being soothed through the power of a loving relationship, the child's ability to self-regulate is insufficient to shift to a state of regulation on his own. Whether describing an infant or a 15-year-old child who is dysregulated, the role of the parent is always to join with the child in order to help the child regulate back to a state of calm arousal.
Science is showing that essential regulatory functions occur in the right hemisphere. The right hemisphere is responsible for the processing of positive and negative affective states, such as interest, excitement, and joy, along with pain, fear, and overwhelm. The right hemisphere controls the human stress response system and cortisol secretion as well as vital functions supporting survival. When a child's early experiences do not include predictability, quality care-giving, loving interactions, and safety, these functions of the right hemisphere are impaired and the ability to regulate is compromised.
When parenting a child with difficult behaviors, look into the child's past experiences and you will discover a history of disruption. In order to help a child get back on track, it takes connecting with the child at the emotional level. This connection happens in the right brain, so it is not the words that are important. It is the facial expression, tone and volume of voice, as well as the posture, tempo, and timing of movement. It is about learning to simply be present with your child and allowing the child the emotional space to process through his stress.
This is an interactive process between the parent and the child, and thus, it is imperative that the parent be in a state of regulation. If the caregiver is stressed out and dysregulated herself, her ability to create a state of regulation for her child is severely compromised. Have you ever been in a store and watched a stressed-out parent instructing her child to, "Calm down. Calm down, right now!"? The words are effective words; however, the delivery of the words is far more important to consider. It is not what you say, but how you say it.
Imagine having the opportunity to sit next to Gandhi, Jesus Christ, or Mother Teresa. How do you think you would feel simply sitting next to any one of these individuals who simply radiate love? Would your system automatically shift to a state of regulation? You undoubtedly would feel a sense of calm and peacefulness, even if words were not exchanged.
Imagine having the opportunity to sit next to Gandhi, Jesus Christ, or Mother Teresa. How do you think you would feel simply sitting next to any one of these individuals who simply radiate love? Would your system automatically shift to a state of regulation? You undoubtedly would feel a sense of calm and peacefulness, even if words were not exchanged.
While this may be an extreme example, you do have the same ability to create this type of connection with your child. This is the power of love and relationship. This is "interactive regulation." Interactive regulation is the ability to easily regulate one's emotional state through interactions with others. As your child experiences these interactions with you and through you, he will gain experiential knowledge of what it feels like to be regulated. He will have experiences of going from a state of dysregulation and upset to a state of peace and calm.
As the child experiences this interactive regulation through your relationship with him, he then learns how to self-regulate, or as science is terming it, to "autoregulate." This is the ultimate gift we can give our child, to be able to self-regulate in times of stress, without others and without external measures.
You know what I am talking about when I say external measures - that cup of coffee you picked up before work today or the candy bar you downed at 3:00 this afternoon to keep you going. We all use external sources to help regulate us when we feel as if we cannot do it on our own. The ultimate goal is to teach our children to develop their innate internal capacity to self-regulate in order to keep them from seeking more severe external sources such as alcohol or drugs.
Childhood is the most opportune time to accomplish this goal. Science is showing that positive emotional experiences carve permanent pathways into a child's developing neurological system. Every interaction you have with your child is an opportunity to help your child regulate, make a positive emotional connection, and literally lay down neural networks that will enhance his brain's capacity to handle stress and overwhelm later in life. Conversely, research states that if a significant amount of a child's early emotional experiences are characterized by fear, then a negative and hopeless perspective becomes part of the child's personality framework.
It is important to realize these experiences influence a child far more than we once believed. In the past, it was believed that children who grow up with an abundance of experiences of distress, fear, separation, and rage simply develop bad behaviors and bad habits. We now know that it goes much deeper than this; they develop ingrained negative neurological pathways that control much of what they do.
The good news is that our grains are ever changing and ever creating new neuropathways. Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections based on life experiences. Yet it is vital to the healing of our children that these new neuropathways are formed from emotional experiences, not intellectual or cognitive experiences.
These emotional experiences are not experiences that can b created in a therapist's office once a week for 50 minutes. These healing moments happen every day in our homes, 24 hours a day. It is in the moments when your child is most "raw" and the most dysregulated that you are being presented with an opportunity to create change and healing. It takes parenting from not just a new perspective but from an entirely new paradigm.
Posted by Unknown at 2:45 PM 2 comments:
Labels: adoption, affect regulation, bad behavior, beyond consequences, choose love, family, love never fails, neuroscience, parenting, trauma
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Sprouts Alive Clover Red & White
Availability: Out of stock
This item is currently unavailable online. Shop the available range here.
Botanical Name: Trifolium repens & Trifolium pratense
Enjoy the freshest sprouts you have ever tasted – because they are grown in your kitchen. Clover is mild in flavour, extremely tender and packed with nutrition! Red clover is one of nature's richest sources of isoflavones, which have been linked with alleviating symptoms of menopause and improving cardiovascular health, amongst many other health benefits.
How To Grow
Growing in a Mr Fothergill's Kitchen Seed Sprouter:
Spread about 1 tablespoon of seeds in one or more of the four clear plastic trays. Stack the clear trays on top of the bottom tray. Pour enough water into the top tray to cover the outlet. This will commence the siphoning action and water will drain down through each of the trays and outlets. When finished draining, empty any excess water from the bottom tray. The water that stays in the clear trays is enough to provide the necessary humidity for successful seed germination. Water in this way at least 2-3 times each day.
Growing in a jar:
Place about 1 tablespoon of seeds in a large jar or similar container. Cover the opening of the container with a fine clean cloth and secure with a rubber band.
Add enough warm water to completely cover seeds and soak overnight at room temperature. Next day, pour off excess water through the mesh cloth. Add fresh water to
thoroughly rinse and drain. Rinse and drain sprouts at least twice a day.
When To Plant
All year round.
Our Seed Guarantee
If you are not completely satisfied with these seeds Mr. Fothergill's will gladly replace them for free. Performance subject to growing conditions.


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2nd BEACH SPORTS FOR ALL ACTIVITY
The Maltese Olympic Committee in collaboration with the Agenzija Zghazagh which is the national regulator for youths in Malta successfully organised the 2nd Beach Sports for ALL ACTIVITY ON THE 12TH OF August 2015.
This event was held at Mellieha Beach between 18.00 and 23.00. The atmosphere was very good with around 300 participants from associations of Beach Handball, Volleyball and Soccer with Beach Body Building as a guest sport. The idea was that we continue on what was started last year. This year the national teams of the three main Beach sports came to do an exhibition of their sports and the general youth present could practice their sports later. A bigger turnout was expected but unfortunately due to bad weather during the day the turnout was less than expected. Still the activity was held as a success.


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Ollie has been standing up on his own since he was about 9 months. He stands up and just laughs! He finds himself really funny. Sleep suits are annoying because he trips over the feet. He is going to be wearing mostly trousers with cuffs now!
Then he started holding onto furniture and moving around by himself. A couple of weeks ago he did two steps! We were playing upstairs after his bath and he was only wearing a nappy so his little legs and feet were completely free and he did two steps!
He carried on moving round the furniture for a couple of weeks and then the other day… Four steps! He was so pleased with himself. He just kept laughing.
I kept trying to film him or get a picture but he wouldn't do it again, this is the best I could get…
Yesterday, he was at my sisters house and… Five steps! This time I had witnesses. My sisters saw him walk! He looks so little to walk!
He is 10 and a half months and he can walk! I think we've got a few more weeks before he is properly walking but I think he'll be running round the garden by his birthday!
Hopefully next time he does it I'll catch him on camera. He is so cute!


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Day 01: Surabaya - Cemoro Lawang (Mount Bromo area)
Surabaya Bromo Yogyakarta Tour 4 Days. Our staff will pick you up from Juanda International Airport Surabaya or your hotel in Surabaya then drive you to Mount Bromo area around 3-4 hours. Upon your arrival in Mt. Bromo area, you will stay at Lava View Lodge / Cemara Indah Hotel / Bromo Permai 1 or similar.
Day 02: Bromo Sunrise Pananjakan viewpoint
At 3:00 am with the 4WD (JEEP), you will go to the world's most famous viewpoint at Mount Pananjakan on the rim of the Tengger caldera to see sunrise with Mount Bromo and an active Mount Semeru in the background is breathtaking the play light shadow with sunrise. Then continued to an active Mount Bromo volcano. After Exploring Mount Bromo, We will drive to the hotel for breakfast, take shower, packing, load the bags to the car then transfer out to Yogyakarta. You will arrive in the evening, Overnight at Ibis Styles Yogyakarta / Hotel Dafam Fortuna Malioboro / Whiz Hotel Malioboro / el Hotel Royale Yogyakarta or similar.
Day 03: Borobudur and Prambanan Temple
Morning earlier at 07.00 – 07.30 AM depart 42 km to the NW of Yogyakarta to visit Borobudur. A UNESCO world heritage site. 8th-century Buddhist monument, the world's largest. 7 terraces to the top represent the steps from the earthly realm to Nirvana. Reliefs depicting the birth, enlightenment and the death of the Buddha. Extra visit to Pawon and Mendut temple located nearby and is believed to have been built on one straight line with the Borobudur. The journey then continued to the beautiful Hindhu Temple of Prambanan and Sewu Temples. Afterward, back to the hotel.
Day 04: Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Free program until check out and departure to Yogyakarta International Airport.
Tax and Service
Accommodation for 3 Nights
Breakfast at Hotel
Private Full AC Transport
Professional driver, Fuel, and all Donation
English speaking Tour Guide
4WD Jeep
Mineral water on a car
Flight Ticket
Entrance Fee in all tourism objects
Early Check-In or Late Check-Out at Hotel
Meals (lunch and dinner)
Personal Expenses
Travel Insurance
Mount Bromo
IDR 230.000,- per person (Weekday)
IDR 330.000,- per person (Weekend)
USD 20$/Adult (Allday)
USD 10$/Children (Allday)
USD 18$/Adult (Allday)
USD 9$/Children (Allday)
Recommended to Bring :
– Jacket and long pants (Average temperature is 6-12'C)
– Shoes, warm hat, Glove
– Private medicine (If needed)
(Destination and duration can be Modified)
For further information and booking, please feel free to contact us with the quick response directly to our Email firstname.lastname@example.com or WhatsApp +62 852-0599-9977 / +62 813-5551-8188


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In my S'mores recipe I wanted to put everything I love, so I used a peanut butter cookie dough and added sone chocolate chips in it.
This month, my blogger friend J'amène le dessert who lives in Quebec organized the French Bataille Food #11. For this challenge, she chose a very North American theme: the S'mores! It's actually quite a challenge for me since it's the first time I'm baking S'mores. I knew these beauties existed and to me they were strongly connected with the idea of long summer nights, doing camping around a campfire with some friends. Well, it seems that my fantasy is a bit cheesy but who cares!
I used marshmallows and semi sweet chocolate for the topping and I also sprinkled some pretzels. They give this delicious sweet & salty taste to these cookie bars. An awesome recipe. I won't say more, that's your turn to bake now!Print
Pretzel Peanut Butter S'mores Cookie Bars
- Yield: 2 serves 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Cuisine: American recipes
In my S'mores recipe I wanted to put everything I love, so I used a peanut butter cookie dough and added sone chocolate chips in it.
- 2 ¼ (270g) cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda + ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup salted butter (160g), room temperature
- ¼ cup (60g) peanut butter
- ¾ cup (135g) light brown sugar, loosely packed
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (175g) dark chocolate chips
- 2 cups marshmallows, cut in two
- 7 oz (200g) sweet chocolate , broken into pieces
- ¾ cup (50g) pretzel, roughly crushed
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Blend together the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
- Melt the butter together with the peanut butter in a small saucepan or in the microwave. Pour the butter in a smaller bowl and whisk together with brown sugar until no brown sugar lumps remain. Whisk in the egg, the egg yolk and the vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together with a rubber spatula. Add the chocolate chips and try to disperse them among the dough.
- Grease and flour a square cake pan or cover with baking paper. Put the dough in the cake pan and press with hands to the edges, to be sure the dough fits the square form. The dough must be compact and flat.
- Place the sweet chocolate pieces on top, so that it almost covers the dough. Then add the marhmallows on the third laye and sprinkle the pretzels.
- Bake the bars for 25 minutes, covering with aluminium foil after 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares


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Looks like wiki is up again, thanks to Dennis. Marek Mahut wrote:
Hey, Gerold Kassube wrote:Hi all, ... the wiki seems down; could pls. anybody have a look because of I think Mike is already on his trip home from Europe ... ... and has maybe no possibility to have a look himself :-(Indeed it's down, but everybody are away :(Thanks
-- Marek Mahut Tel.: +420-532-294-111 (ex. 826-2046) Fedora Ambassador GSM: +420-731-076-674 http://www.fedoraproject.org http://www.jamendo.com ____________________________________________________________________


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Russian Leather-Covered Car Lacks Taste, Offends Vision
We're not Putin you on, this Russian custom car is swathed in real Canadian buffalo hide inside and out – including the trunk and the engine compartment. Better not take it out in the rain... better yet, don't take it out at all.
The latter advisory is well-warranted unless the smell of burning leather gets your juices flowing. One wonders if the vehicle's finish was inspired by "Don't Touch Me There" by The Tubes. The seller at Russia's online Auto Exchange guarantees a lifetime warranty on the buffalo leather's durability... the life of the buffalo or the vehicle, we're not quite sure.
Credit (or castigate) Moscow car enthusiast Maxim Sarmatov with this unique (one would hope) touring tour de force. Featuring a quad bucket seat interior that appears to be trimmed in fur, the retro rocket rolls on four Goodyear tires. The "they see me rollin', they hatin'" meme was never so appropriate.
By the looks of it, the car was based on a late Forties to early Fifties American chromesmobile. The vaguely lion-ish grill emblem offers few clues. Then again, regular production Russian cars sported that sort of styling well into the Seventies so its true origins must remain a messy mystery.
The engine is a 2.5-litre four-banger that certainly isn't original equipment. Other engineering features include automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive, and a steering wheel mounted on the right.
As for the tanned and cured bison leather masking every bit of formerly exposed metal barring the hubcaps (baby sealskin must have been in short supply), significant portions have been embossed with middle-eastern motifs. This leads to speculation the target market is somewhere in or around the Persian Gulf.
Reinforcing the inference is the sticker price: a whopping 40 million Russian rubles or 1,215,000 U.S. dollars. Don't know about you but for that amount of dough we'd demand a shirtless Vlad Putin pop over every weekend to buff der bison-wagen with saddle soap. (via WeirdHut)


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CHICAGO – The University of Chicago women's soccer team poured in a season-high seven goals to dispatch visiting Carthage College 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
The No. 2-ranked Maroons (7-0 record) have scored at least three goals in every game this season. The Lady Reds fell to 5-3.
Playing on the Stagg Field grass, UChicago turned in another dominating performance. The Maroons outshot their opponent 29-3, and held a 12-1 advantage in corner kicks. Eighteen of UChicago's shots were on goal.
Senior forward Caroline Olivero opened the barrage with a left-footed laser 10 minutes into the game. Olivero ran up the right wing, angled toward goal and buried her strike into the upper left corner.
The other tally of the half came in the 36th minute. Senior midfielder Mia Calamari delivered the corner kick straight to the head of freshman midfielder Claudia Hodgetts, who redirected the ball in.
Carthage played aggressively early in the first half and put together several looks when the attackers got behind UChicago's defenders. The biggest save of the game came in the 26th minute, when freshman goalkeeper Miranda Malone moved off her line and made a sprawling stop in front one-on-one to deny the equalizer.
The two-goal lead quickly ballooned in the second half. The Lady Reds held a high line in the back all day, which caught UChicago's forwards offside a total of nine times. However, that tactic also burned Carthage on the counter as the Maroons got shot after shot on goal when allowed to gain steam on forward rushes.
Hanna Watkins made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute when the sophomore midfielder launched a left-footed attempt over the goalkeeper's head. Senior forward Madori Spiker assisted on the play.
In the 64th minute, a corner kick opportunity paid off once again. The ball pinged off the heads of sophomore defender Mackenzie Peebles and junior midfielder Jenna McKinney before finding the foot of Rachel Dias. The sophomore midfielder then deposited the ball straight away to push the lead to 4-0.
Sophomore Adrianna Vera provided one of the highlights of the match at 5-0 in the 69th minute. The forward got the ball in space in the attacking third, dribbled into the box and juked the goalie left for an open-net score.
The sixth and seventh goals came in quick succession less than 30 seconds apart at the 75:39 and 76:06 marks. Freshmen Casey Jervier and Bri Fadden both netted their first collegiate goals, with the latter coming off an assist by Vera.
Carthage broke up the shut out in the 80th minute to account for the final score.
Malone moved to 2-0 on the year with one save in 77:32 of action. Sophomore Sydney Jones worked the final 12:28 with one goal allowed.
- Saturday, Sept. 23 @ 2:00 PM – UChicago at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh


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=====>>> Okay, so I wouldn't necessarily call this a "beach" but it has sand and water, and that's pretty much all we wanted for Kylie. During the 4th of July weekend we decided to take an impromptu BEACH DAY. It was so much fun. Kylie absolutely LOOOOVED the sand, was completely content and with putting it in and out of her bucket for hours. I ddin't get in the water because…well it looked pretty nasty lol, but Daniel did, and Kylie was perfectly fine with only wetting her feet…I was fine with that too. We picked a beach/park only 40 min from our home, we were going to go to one a little further that was a little more ocean like, but an alligator was seen in the water (and caught fortunately) just two weeks before! Soooo yeah, that kinda decided that for us. And no, alligators are NOT common in the Texas ocean, but with all the flooding that's been happening lately, gators have been showing up in random places.
If you live in the Houston area, here are some beaches that are pretty good, especially if you have kids.
Crystal Beach
Sylvan Beach
Stewart Beach0