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Thursday, September 30, 2004
That time of year again...
Many folks seem to be heading to Rhinebeck in a couple of weeks, and there will be many opportunities for knitbloggers to meet and greet.
That's right. It's time to prepare for Spot the Blogger™.
Some folks will wear cool hats, some will be wearing the Fastest Aran Ever Knit (though we suspect that—as much as we at small hands would absolutely love to meet her—it may not be safe to approach this blogger, as the sleep deprivation, inavoidable pattern errors (and resulting frogging and reknitting), and final exultation that comes from winning against all odds, will all have made her slightly unstable). And some folks will have Blogger Bags™.
Join in! You know you need a big ole bag for all of the Rhinebeck loot. You know this is your only chance to break the yarn fast you're on since you bought way too much yarn this summer even though it was summer and there shouldn't have been very much cool fiber out there, so when it came up you had to snatch it 'cause it was like a little summer miracle each and every damn time. Or maybe that's just me.
But we'll all be getting loot! So make a bag to carry it in, AND represent your little corner of cyberspace.
For details on two different ways to make a bag, you can check out my archives here. (Don't bother looking for that Salt Peanuts page. I am a bad knitalong hostess. I will try to do better next time.) And Ann's archives here.
I will say that if you try to do the iron-on transfer, you absolutely must wash the bag first. There is sizing on it when you buy it that somehow repels the transfer.
If you make a bag (or even if you don't but you will be wearing a miracle sweater or a funny hat) please give a shout out in the comments.
On Poetry
It was brought to my attention the other day that my poem did not meet the requirements of a Haiku, since I wrote it with 7-5-7 syllables instead of 5-7-5. However, after a little research, I found this great link that dispells the 17 syllable misconception around the art of Haikus. Seems that even Ezra Pound wrote a 19 syllable haiku, and many consider it pretty good.
Now, I wish I was so punk rock and well-read to have written my poem as I did on purpose, but I really thought it was supposed to be 5-7-5, I just transposed the numbers in my head. But now, I feel good about it's Haiku-ity. So go crazy, one line or four, 11 syllables or 17, just stick to the essence of the thing. That is, be brief and celebrate nature and the human heart.
Dreaming of wool in
New York. While the clouds whisper:
"Pack your umbrella."
And I leave you with this beautiful vision of harvest:
Here is a larger version if you want it for wallpaper, like me.
Disclaimer: I am sure this image is copyrighted, but it was emailed to me, so I cannot give credit where it is due. I certainly hope that the artist, wherever he or she may be, does not feel that I am using it in a way that is unacceptable.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Of cabbages and kings
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
Because I don't have anything really organized to say, I thought Lewis Carroll might usher in this post, rather than I. You can read the whole poem here. Not the cheeriest thing, I'll grant, but a great bit of nonsense, nonetheless.
Last night I spent some long overdue knitting and chatting time with Lara. We waited out the brunt of a fantastic rainstorm at Barnes and Noble just before a terrible poetry slam started up. Terrible because of the turnout, not due to any lack of trying on the emcee's part.
Here is a shot of the Pagoda hat in situ.
For a less silly pic, click here.
Pattern .. Morehouse Merino's Pagoda Hat
Yarn .. Lambs Pride in black, Tess's Merino/Mohair in a brilliant carmine
Notes .. This was my first stranded project, and it turned out pretty well. I need to work on carrying yarn up the back of my work. The "seam" of my hat has all kinds of wonky awkward jogs and peeking MC and whatnot. But the floats are very consistent and the hat actually fits! This is a big ole success in my book.
And now for something completely different... If you need a good Christmas present for an older science buff child-friend (say 10ish), I would strongly recommend Triops. These lil guys are WAY more interesting than Sea Monkeys, in my book. I bought some for Sweet Baboo (I am slowly working him up the evolutionary chain towards a dog... Should take about 15 more years). And so far we like them a lot. Our first batch hatched 5 Triops and within 10 days, here is Fat Charlie (at about 3/8" or 1 cm he is our biggest).
The tank is made of magnifying plastic, so he looks a little bigger than he is. But essentially Triops are a type of Brine Shrimp (like Sea Monkeys) and are a true living fossil (approx. 220 million years old, give or take an eon). They look like little horseshoe crabs, and live for about two and half months. And they are crazy water acrobats. That, plus the three eyes, how can you not be entertained for many minutes at a time? For more info on Triops, click here. To order some for your budding marine biologist, click here (I got the DLX kit and it was worth it for the neat terrarium, perhaps for a turtle next).
Lastly, I would like to leave you with some sheepish zen... This is a very contemplative Jacob Sheep at the Montgomery County Fair.
For even more zen, click here.
He's saying 'ohmmm' in his own way. Today's Goal: Practice Random Acts of Relaxation and Meditation!
Monday, September 27, 2004
First up is the Winterthur Shawl. It is a terrible picture, but imagine it draped cozily across the shoulders of a statuesque Gaelic princess or something.
It's all in the details.
I love this shawl. I know this is heresy, but the first time I felt an AbFab, I was not especially impressed. The mohair seemed so scratchy to me. It looked all fluffy in the pictures, and I assumed—thought I know the danger of it—that (for the exorbitant freakin' price) the thing would be soft as baby bunnies and not unlike silken clouds. But mohair has a bit of a bite to it that helps it stick together to keep out drafts. This mohair clings bitingly against a chill in a very comforting way. And between the Manos and the Prism, I can stare at the colors for far longer than is publicly appropriate. I am converted. Without further ado, the stats.
Pattern—Winterthur Shawl, Colinette Comforts booklet
Yarn—Colinette Mohair in Velvet Leaf* and Pierrot (1 skein each); Manos in 113 Wildflowers (1 ½ skeins); Colinette Prism in Toscana* (one skein)
Size—approx 22 x 65... very frustrating that my measurements are almost spot on, but the picture in the booklet is obviously not to the same dimensions. I would guess it uses at least one more pattern repeat (if not two) to drape around the model the way it does. And the fringe looks to be 8 or 9 inches rather than the pattern recommendation of 6.
*Best Guess Colors (BGC)©
It knit up very fast. I alternated every other two rows between the light green mohair held with the Prism and the darker green with the Manos. I carried them up the side (and this made the tension on one side the tiniest bit more snuggly—need to watch that next time). I only had one skein of Prism and had planned on making up the other two with Manos, so just before the halfway mark, I cut the Prism and just used the Manos for a couple of repeats before bringing the Prism back in. I have enough of the mohairs and Manos left for a small scarf, but the Prism only had enough for a little adorment on some future project.
Did I mention that I love this shawl? It's only fault is a fair bit of shedding. But I am willing to overlook that. If you see it drifting through the sheeps and fiber at Rhinebeck, say hello.
Next up, the fastest hat ever. Gina sent me this yarn in swap for an RAOK giveaway. It was the perfect amount for this hat (and an add-in on my next "patchwork scarf").
I used the Vickie Square recipe in Knit Great Basics for a "sports beanie" and modified it for the 2.5st/in gauge. It took around 2 hours on size 11 needles (going down to 10.5s for the decreases). One of the yarns is Katia's Himalayan (it looks much lighter because of the flash, it is a darker camel color) , the other is an unknown mohair-y type yarn (caramel tweeded with a darker brown). Sweet Baboo, modeling above, says "This's gonna be one warm hat!" Thanks, Gina!
In between Sleepy Hollow (loved it), New York Stories (not so much, a bit too shmaltzy), and 13 Conversations about One Thing (made me sad, in a good way), I also worked a bit on Amon's green and red socks, which were not feeling photogenic, and started a gift scarf that I am not sure I love yet.
I also finished the knitting and started the finishing on Little Boy Blue. I hate this sweater on many levels. The yarn is unwieldy, the pattern is awkward, and between them they exemplify a perfect example of poor substitution on my part. (And that concludes today's alliteration.) Pics when the sweater is —finally— done.
Lastly, I love haikus and am sad that I have been too busy to participate in the lovely Haiku-along that I first saw on Norma's blog. So, better late than never:
Autumn geese, pure wool knitting
by the window, while
leaves fall, in the afternoon.
Friday, September 24, 2004
Ideas from the blog-o-sphere
I hope everyone out in cyberknitspace has heaps of fun things planned for the weekend. I know I do! Why I am going to clean house, do laundry, and finish up some WIPs. The excitement is palpable.
Why do my shoulders sag at the thought of finishing my WIPs? It is like a little goodbye to a friend when I weave the last end in, I think, so I put it off. (That and it is a little like cleaning grout, too: you carefully over under over under and then voila, done! Then you recount, and sure enough, there are 9,733 ends left to go. Which is also why I put it off.)
And while I say I am not excited, I really am. An FO, after all, means I can start a brand new project if I want. And I have no shortage of ideas there, so really, it will be a wonderfully productive and gratifying weekend.
If you don't have heaps of fun things planned (even if you do, but you need to take a break from it), I would like to recommend learning something new. I am a taker-of-classes, and a reader of how-tos, because like yarn stash, I can't stop stocking up on information.
Are you having trouble with a technique, or are you afraid to try something that sounds really tricksy (like socks or entrelac)? Do you have a UFO in the bottom of the pile because the cables didn't behave, or you can't figure out the neckline?
Well, never fear! Your knit-bloggers are ready to come to your rescue! There is amazing tutorials and mini-lectures all over blogdom, if you look. Here are some of my favorites (and a few new finds as well). PS, thanks to Lauren for the first link that got me on this train of thought.
Since Fall is in the air, I have been thinking of chunky woolly arans and complex cable patterns. Not that I will pull one off this year, but I may practice a bit.
On Arans, Guernseys, Cables, and More
- Stitch Definition - A comprehensive treatise by Mary (Morcaknits). I have just started looking at this one, and there is some really great information so far (check out the great resources in the sidebar).
- No-Frog Mis-crossed cables fix - How cool is this?! Robbyn has a great tutorial for fixing a wrong cable a couple of rows down. Very nice pictures and text. But, as she points out, this won't work for a "bad" cable in a finished piece, so she thoughtfully directs us to...
- Judy's Mis-crossed Cable cable fix - This site had exceeded bandwidth when I visited, but I will leave the link because of Robbyn's glowing recommendation.
- Running with scissors - For the stouter hearts, follow along as this intrepid knitter actually cuts up some cables to fix them. Thanks, Aven for boldly going where I would be too chicken to! (She recommends The Harmony Guides Knitting Techniques Vol. 1 for more detailed instructions on cutting your cables.)
- Cable needles? We don't need no stinkin' cable needles! - Teresa, Robbyn, and Wendy do it... now you can too. Also, don't miss Stephanie's story of her conversion to needle-less cables.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
I have been knitting, no really, I have
I do have some outdated progress pics.
Here is Morehouse Merino's Pagoda hat when I boarded plane 1 to Austin:
And here is how far I got by the end of flight 2:
The color of the red is not quite as brick as the first, and not quite as pink as the second. It is a true deep crimson. (From Tess' Designer Yarns.)
Meanwhile, back at home, I have been working on a Colinette Winterthur Shawl (from Comforts) in Prism, Mohair, and Manos:
(For a detailed pic of the yummy autumnal goodness, click here.)
The colors are so wonderful, they make my mouth water and my heart leap. It is both reassuring and somewhat alarming that fiber can do this for me, but it is what it is. One of the Mohairs is Pierrot (thanks again, Monica!), and the other is (I think) Velvet Leaf. The Manos is this amazing variegated (don't have the number here) and the Prism is part of the mill pack, so I haven't the faintest idea. It is definitely greenish, but with a lot of cranberry/orange/gold and bits of brown/cream/navy.
Notice, peeking out from underneath, is a copy of Artyfacts. This great little booklet will help me use up all the onesies and twosies from my millpacks. Hats, bags, scarves, and mittens! Could it be any better? Thanks, Stacey, I think this was the book you recommended.
Monday, September 20, 2004
How often do you hear this?
RAOKers, Secret Pal 3, new knitting friends, and old knitting friends... I couldn't have made it without you.
I don't want to dwell on the details, but it was a trying and emotionally exhausting weekend. One good thing about Uninvited Out-of-town Guests: I did get to see some interesting things at the Smithsonian and National Gallery. And even though said guest did not have any interest in my interest in knitting (it is not, after all, an art or a science, so what is it but an almost-charmingly out-dated way for women to keep busy and waste time all at once? ... Not that I am dwelling), I briefly peeped in at the DC Knit Out and Crochet Too...
(Sarah, I really wish I could have stayed and knit for a few minutes or an hour, sorry to be gone so quickly...)
I have some pics that need posting, but it will have to wait. I need to recover tonight with a movie and a hot bath. The weather has been a little cool these last two days, and that (and the overwhelming kindness of friends and not-yet friends) is making me feel much better.
Wow....THANK YOU so much, SP2!! (I forgot I used my work address for SP2, so I had some great surprises in my mailbox.) She just sent me a fabulous prezzie! (And since the return addy is NJ, may we pass eachother on the streets of Rhinebeck Fest.)
- More Luxury Cashmere! I am gonna be swimmin' in the stuff... this time a beautiful creamy white.
- Moda Dea Burst in cream and warm browns (it will go great w/ the cashmere!).
- Some very cute musical charm buttons.
- A Chibi (Now I am finally a real knitter!!) and some sweater-shaped Dbl point protectors (I really needed these, how did you know?)
- No. 4 bamboo dbl points, a size previously missing from my collection!
SP2, you have really made my day! Thank you again.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
As quick as I can, so I can go collapse...
In Austin I met some amazing knitters, but I am too tired to write about how great it was... you can read up at (L-R) Cynthia's, Lisa's, Susan's, and Karen's.
After a long week of travel, I arrived at the airport in Austin to sunny skies but with concerns about Ivan's path Northward. Said the airline: We haven't heard anything about any delays to Dallas (this was great, because DFW shuts down if a bird sneezes). In DFW, the airline said: We haven't heard about any delays to Dulles (DC).
Then, over Dulles, this:
Yeah. Wow. That for an hour, until: "Um, ladies and gentlemen, they have evacuated the tower at Dulles due to a funnel cloud touching down at the airport. We are going to need to land at another airport, and they are currently telling us that will be Buffalo."
Excuse me? BUFFALO?! (Turned out it was Baltimore, but not for another hour and a half.)
So, tired, sans luggage (they wouldn't take it off the plane at the "wrong airport" for security reasons; remind me to rant about that particular bit of bureaucratic idiocy later), and dreading the next morning with "awkward relative," I came home and passed out.
I didn't open the substantial looking envelopes from fellow RAOK-ers, I didn't even get all excited about the little postal "we dropped a little sumpin-sumpin off at the apartment office for you" note (I love those notes so much, so much possibility in them, so fun to go to the office with the little note and say "I'd like my pressie, please!")
But hoo boy in the morning! I had Baboo get the packages from the office while I raced about getting ready for tourist-entertaining (slightly more fun than the dentist).
I can't write about how fun the night with the gals was (can't wait for the trip out there next month!), how uncomfortable and maddening today was with "estranged relative," (ugh, ugh, and UBERugh) and I can't yet gush about the great gifts from fellow RAOK-ers (Gina, Uli, and Caro, you are all the absolute best, I will write more after I get some rest)...
But I just can't sleep til I brag on this:
My SP3 has read up on me! See that little blob on the (best ever) milk bath packet? Want a closer look? It is a shiny green beetle! My SP noticed that I collect insects... she probably has no idea that I have one of those EXACT same beetles in my collection and have nearly rubbed it's soft carapace to bits... AND, there is some cashmere yarn... FANTASTIC for a woolly hat or mittens, which I am totally obsessed with right now. AND some pampery salves and things (which I can't get enough of, seriously), AND a lovely little silver box that will fit stitch markers or earrings perfectly... thank you SP! You ROCK! I hope I can be as good a pal to my own SP... This really was a great surprise to come home to. Even Sweet Baboo was impressed with the "right-on-edness" of this little bundle o' joy.
Lastly, thank you to all who sent in patterns for the contest! I got some great ideas, and can't wait for a spare moment to get going on some of them. My Sweetest Baboo drew a name out of the proverbial hat and MEGAN is getting the Wigwam. I love contests, so keep your eyes peeled for another in the not-too distant future.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
First, here is the progress on Little Boy Blue (as he is now so dubbed):
I am not loving the fabric; though others seem to like the drapiness, I think it looks a bit holey. The GGH Aspen should probably be knit at a quarter or half a stitch/inch less gauge. But the intarsia looks great. Only a few more rows before the neckline goes in. That will have to wait til next week.
Next, I got my first official RAOK in the mail (though I have received many unofficial ones over the past few months—you know who you are). From Maggie, I received this great little stash of Fargo. This will make someone a very warm and soft scarf or hat!
And now for the first contest ever at small hands....
I am always looking for cool patterns that are available online. Lately I have been craving the usual fall stuff: pullovers, scarves, hats, mittens, and now, socks (worsted wt). Send me your favorite fall pattern (or a working link to it) at devakali at verizon dot net with "blog contest" in the subject in the next week and your name will go into a drawing for this:
One skein of Colinette's Wigwam in a very vibrant turquoise with hints of dark navy and splashes of red. The color is pretty close in this picture, but it is a little brighter.
To qualify for the drawing, the patterns can be free or paypal-type .pdf downloads (I am happy to support designers!), but please no mail order—I like my gratification quick! The cutoff will be Friday at 5 pm CST.
See you all next week!
Friday, September 10, 2004
No-Ideas Friday
My SP3 sent me a wonderful email wherein she told me that my life seemed glamorous with all of the traveling, and big city living...
Thank you SP, for reminding me to appreciate my life these days.
Too often, I focus on the negatives (like traffic, too much work, not enough time to knit, no best friends for thousands of miles...) instead of being grateful for the amenities of a big city (why don't I go to museums more often?), new friends (I hope to make October's meetup, and an Arlington SnB at the end of the month), a job that makes me think and lets me travel (ok, airports aren't the most fun, but you can't beat the great knitting time in-flight and on the train!) not to mention it brings me into contact with great consultants who bring me amazing hauls of yarn from across the pond (possibly one more batch next month, we at small hands have ALL of our fingers crossed!)... I am going to work on a little appreciation for the next couple weeks.
Believe me, I am going to need it. Next weekend will be very difficult, as I will be dealing with an awkward visit from a rarely-seen relative. I am trying to stay positive about this as well, but it is very hard. I will likely arrange a spa-day and a shopping spree at the end of it, just to dissipate the bad mojo. I know that my attitude is everything, so I really need to turn it around or it will be a miserable coupla days.
The posts may be thin next week, since the hotel internet connection can never be guaranteed... I am hoping to work on a pair of socks and a new something on my trip (not sure what yet... I have a little scarf to finish, and about a million things in the queue... I think I want to surprise myself). There is a black sweater in my future, but it won't be blog worthy (on account of not being very photogenic) so I need some bright somethings for my three regular readers. (You know who you are.) :)
I am also trying to think of a good blog contest ('cause I will never use up all of this stash). I hope to have an idea (and a prize) up this weekend... Stay tuned.
In the meantime, here is a wonderfully altered pic of my other FO from the Princeton trip (Jessie, thank for the LYS recommendation, I was only in town for a couple of hours this trip, but I have one more planned and will try to hit that shop.)
My Sweetest Baboo has artfully removed me from the pic (as I looked much too old and haggard). And he added the lovely inset so you could see the stitch pattern. The pattern is a large loop that can be worn as a neck-wrap (looped twice), or as a hood with one of the loops pulled up.
Pattern: Esperanza Knitted Loop-thing from Little Box of Scarves
Yarn: Schaefer's Esperanza in Edith Piaf on size 11s - approx 2.5st/in.
Mods: I added 12 stitches to the loop, and as a result had to cut out one repeat of the pattern.
Start/Finish: Not sure, I had one row of knit done when I got on the train on Sunday, and finished the last when I got off the train on Monday. It was a very quick knit!
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Am I blue?
Here is the nephew #2 sweater in progress:
The pattern is from Vogue Knitting Kid Knits, the Colorblock Pullover.
On my very brief trip up to Princeton, NJ (approximately 20 hours), I finished the Blue Wave Scarf. I haven't blocked it yet, but here is a peek.
Click here for more.
(I really love how the pattern and Tess' yarn combine to create such wateriness!)
This one really took a lot longer than I would have liked... Three months or so? For a freakin' scarf? I am hoping that I can get the pattern a bit flatter with blocking. Right now, the "eyes" are curved outward (looking decidedly eyeballish) rather than flat and wave-like.
In other knitting news, I still haven't woven in the ends on the Eyelet Cardi, I am working on some Xmas gifts, and I am starting to get a little freaked out at the length of my list of KIWS (knits I wanna start). Maybe I will write it up later.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Bring on the snow and sleet!
Pattern: Bonne Marie's H20
Yarn: Colinette Point 5 in a dark blue/black color (one skein with a little left over)
Mods: I added a single crochet edge to the hat in the lighter One Zero, and made a few fringes for the top out of both the P5 and the 1O
Time: 2 hours, spot on!
Pattern: Started out as Bonne Marie's Buttonhole Chic, but the yarn didn't show the pattern well, so it became all seed stitch. I also added a couple of stitches to the width. Still has a button hole, and some slub fringes made from both the P5 and the 1O
Yarn: Colinette One Zero in a bright turquoise color (one skein with a little left over)
Time: Few hours (mostly to figure out a good pattern)
I liked knitting with these super bulky yarns, it is like magic watching the shape "appear" so quickly. I am not sure if I like the aesthetic for a whole sweater, but for a couple of cold-weather woollies, it's perfect!
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Dear Secret Pal
Now, the rest of this post is as per request of my SP3. Thanks for the intro email, SP3! Although I was a little freaked out at the "from" line on the friend's email you borrowed, and thought maybe I was being spammed or stalked by "Aaron" from UNCW.
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
It is not all the same, but I do have a soft spot for Lion Brand. (And for Colinette, so go figure.) I like the affordability of LB stuff, and you cant't beat it for ease of care. Mostly I just like fiber. All kinds, all the time. I got it piled to the rafters in all shapes and sizes. My current favorites: drapey chenille, this great cashmerino knock-off I found at A.C. Moore, alpaca anything, and worsted wt. sock yarns. (I like socks, but am not yet ready for toothpicks so I stay at or above a size 3 needle.)
2. Do you spin? Crochet? I learned to crochet when I was around 8 or 9. I just got the Interweave press "special" crochet edition and there are a couple of things in there I want to make (but NOT that crazy Big Wool "cardigan," ugh). I don't spin yet, give me three more years.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) I quit smoking exactly 592 days, 13 hours, 6 minutes and 50 seconds ago, so my house is finally "unsmokey," and I plan to keep it that way! Otherwise, no allergies.
4. How long have you been knitting? about 5 years
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I sure do, right over on the left side bar. Aside from books, I also have on my list: a nice windchime for my patio, a cool something to hold my wooden hooks and needles (like a vase-type thing, not a roll-type thing--I like to see them out), some kind of sachets for my new dresser (it smells kind of shellac-y) and I love cool stationery and stickers (especially japanese and "antique" look).
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Oooh, I like lots. How about Sandalwood (not patchouli), Lavender (not thyme), Tangerine and Grapefruit (not lime), Mints, Spices... I love essential oils! I just bought some L'Occitane lavender bath fizzies and shea butter to pamper me on this two-day business trip.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yep. I Love Chocolate, but I really need to cut out a lot of the sugar in my day. Please (much as it pains me): no candy.
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I used to be really into small scale woodworking, but I need a garage for even small piles of sawdust. I have embroidery and calligraphy "stuff" but haven't taken a break from knitting long enough to practice either.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if you want to make her a CD) I love working out to world dance and trip hop (on my mp3 player). I also like folk, acoustic-alternative, emo-alt, anything that moves me, really ... favorites include: Jim White, Kristen Hersh, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, Jane's Addiction, Tom Waits, Nick Cave....
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? ...blues and greys and deep reds and sagey greens. I like the golds and fires of fall, the crisp pales and stark constrasts of winter, and the soft greens and blues of spring. I do not like pink, salmon, coral, or teals much.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am currently in a LTR with my sweet baboo, who knows he will not get a sweater 'til he marries me ('cause I am superstitious). This has not encouraged him to propose, and I am trying not to let it affect how I feel about my knitting skills. We have no pets, but we do pet the cat that hangs out on the landing in our apartment building sometimes. We have one bamboo plant that might be named Norman.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) Ah, who knows?! I used to think I wanted to be an artist, then a healer, then a writer, and lately a teacher. I guess I am still searching.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Most recently: Schaefer Esperanza, Classic Elite Premiere, Plymouth Encore (socks in, like, no time! and machine washable!)...
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I do not like chenilles, because I don't know how to avoid worms (but I LOVE the feel of Isis). I also don't like tiny cotton much (except for crochet). I haven't learned to love scratchy wools.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? It's all about accessories, baby! Scarves, wraps, hats, mittens... maybe a sock or a glove if I am feeling adventerous. After two disappointing larger projects in a row, I am keeping the investment low and the pay off big. I have some sweaters in the queue when I get my confidence back, one in Jiffy and one in Peace Fleece.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? See above. I really like scarves and wraps because I can get all crazy about a pattern or use a new or expensive yarn in a small amount to big affect. I am not into "furry" scarves, and have only tried one "cast on two stitches on size 1000 needles and knit til the end of your skein" scarf. I like a little more complexity. I just bought a bunch of Morehouse Merino's mittens patterns (I *can't wait* to make a pair of the grizzly bear ones with felt claws!)
17. What are you knitting right now? Esperanza hood/scarf loop thing from the Little Box of Scarves, merino/mohair "lace" scarf from Heartstrings FiberArts, and a little boy sweater out of GGH Goa from VKotG Kids Knits.
18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiousity question for us) I really want to make lots of them, but I am too hung up on smaller projects right now. I want a warm bulky wooly one, and an airy pretty one, and a versatile classic one (if such a thing can be said to exist).
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Each has a place. I don't like mixing them in a project as I have learned that my gauge is wildly different on each. I love wooden straight needles, and addi turbo or natura circs.
20. How did you learn to knit? A friend helped me figure out the instructions in a "How to Knit" pamphlet.
21. How old is your oldest UFO? I have two, a long scarf and a hexagon crochet afghan. Both are only about 8 months old, but that is already driving me nuts.
Friday, September 03, 2004
Ideas for Designer yarns...
This would have been today's title if Fridays weren't for ideas. My wonderful UK consultants (who a couple of weeks ago got me a very cool soccer jersey) have come through again.
For a closer look at the yarn pr0n, click here
They brought back two whole Colinette Mill Packs for me (one blue, one green). Mill Packs contain first quality skeins that have unreliable or unmarked dye lots. Colinette groups them into "Palette Packs" of ten skeins each.
My new super-stash has been grouped, ungrouped, combined, and decombined into many potential projects.
Since they are all different colorways and fibers, I have been looking for some good patterns that use a skein or two. If you have recently enhanced your stash with some super fancy yarn, and don't know what to do with it, check these links out:
From Bonne Marie Burns
The fabulous Ms. B has many freebies and a couple of "so inexpensive they're practically free" patterns that would work well with luxe yarns.
- In the free pattern section, she has two hats (one that would work for Point 5, and one that would work for One Zero) and a Point 5 scarf pattern. Each could be done in one skein.
- Her buy-and-immediately-download patterns include this great scarf (one skein of One Zero or possibly Prism).
From Crystal Palace
This company has amazing yarns in their own right, I love the color options in the Chenille (which relates very well to the Colinette Chenille), and Musique is dreamy (and subs just fine for Prism). The Deco Ribbon is a bit wider than either Tagliatelli or Giotto, but I bet a creative knitter could get the patterns to work for either.
- If you don't dig the flower washcloth that was all the rage (in Knitter's, was it? and also Melanie Falick's really beautiful Weekend Knitting) or are just ready for a new shape, here's a basic square chenille washcloth (you could get around three of these from a 100g skein of Colinette's Chenille).
- Check out the very cute Deco-Ribbon Purse. I think it would look great in Giotto (even if a little math is involved to adjust the gauge).
- A simple seed stitch dresses up a lush Musique Scarf.
And don't forget Lion Brand
Some may scoff, but LB yarns are often a great alternative to some of the more expensive stuff. Their Thick and Quick Chenille knits up at a similar gauge as Isis or Fandango (though both have much more drape), and the Wool Ease Thick and Quick is similar to One-Zero, while the WE Chunky or Homespun is close to Skye or Prism.
- Nice Beginner's Hat and Scarf (for a chunky wool)
- Who doesn't need a chenille boa?
- I have a skein of Skye with these two-needle mittens written all over it!
- This purse would look great in a vibrant colorway.
- Woolspun's been discontinued, but here's a winter hat that is still classic!
- Lastly, LB has a ton of patterns for Homespun, many of which would look great in Prism, Skye, or Wigwam.
Have a great weekend, and get some knit on!


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Neighborhood middle school will be renovated and reconstructed using bond funds
Families, neighbors, and community members are invited to a public meeting on December 9 about the renovation and reconstruction of the Arts & Technology Academy school building at 1650 W. 22nd Ave. The building will soon be significantly renovated, thanks to voters' approval of the 2013 school bond measure. The building formerly housed Jefferson Middle School.
School Design Public Meeting
Tuesday, December 9, 5:30–7 p.m.
Arts & Technology Academy, 1650 W. 22nd Ave., in the cafeteria
5:30 p.m. Open house begins
6:00 p.m. Presentation and discussion
7:00 p.m. Wrap up
Meeting participants will get an update on design progress, ask comments and share comments, and visit with the architects and other design team members.
Community members' input will help the school district invest wisely to make this the best school facility it can be.
Learn more:
• ATA project website
• Join the mailing list for ATA school design news

subset: commoncrawl


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Minneapolis, MN (October 24, 2017) – OnApproach (www.onapproach.com), the leading provider of data/analytics solutions for credit unions, is excited to announce Centra Credit Union (Columbus, IN) is the latest to join the collaborative Credit Union Data Integration and Analytics Platform after signing an agreement to implement the OnApproach M360 Enterprise.
"At Centra Credit Union, 'Centered Around You' is our promise to our members. In order to build upon this promise and provide our members with the superior experiences they deserve, we realized the need for a member-centric view of our credit union. OnApproach M360 Enterprise empowers us to create a single, validated member record so we can better understand our members as individuals, and collectively. As Centra Credit Union continues to grow as an organization, data analytics enables us to personalize our interactions with members, and make confident, data-driven decisions for the future of the organization," stated Carrie Jenkins, Director of Business Analytics, Centra Credit Union.
Centra Credit Union (asset size: $1.4 Billion, core processor: Fiserv – DNA) realized the need for an enterprise solution to integrate, validate, and take full advantage of ever-growing member data. Credit unions have been tasked with the challenge of keeping up with the personalization and analytics initiatives of companies such as Amazon, large banks, and thousands of fintech startups. Credit unions, as a movement, have a unique opportunity to collaborate on analytics to create superior capabilities, while sharing of the time, cost, and resources required. As the only Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) dedicated to credit union success through collaborative analytics, OnApproach empowers credit unions to take advantage of industry efforts to tackle advanced analytics initiatives.
"It is very exciting to partner with Centra Credit Union to provide a robust and collaborative data analytics solution. As a CUSO, we believe credit unions have an opportunity to excel in member satisfaction and prove themselves as the best financial institutions to serve their communities. Centra Credit Union makes a great addition to this platform, and we look forward to working with them," said Paul Ablack, CEO, OnApproach.
About OnApproach
OnApproach is the only CUSO dedicated to credit union success through a collaborative analytics ecosystem. By providing a secure and frictionless data experience, OnApproach empowers credit unions to take full control of their own data and their own futures. We exist to serve the credit union movement with technology and expertise required for the digital transformation of the industry business model. OnApproach's collaborative ecosystem enables communities of users, data scientists, and application developers focused on analytics innovation.
Contact Information
Austin Wentzlaff, Vice President of Business Development
(888) 523-6121 Ext. 110
About Centra Credit Union
For more than 75 years, Centra Credit Union has been known for its commitment to quality service. Its roots lie in Columbus, Indiana, where eight employees of the Cummins Engine Company founded the Cummins Employees Federal Credit Union. Their goal: to identify a source of low-cost credit and a convenient place to save their hard-earned money. In 1995, the name was changed to Centra Federal Credit Union, reflecting the company's growth and diversity. The credit union became state-chartered in 1997 and is known today as Centra Credit Union. Since its start, Centra has grown to more than 130,000 members with assets of more than $1.3 billion. Twenty-four locations serve communities in Indiana, New York, and North Carolina. The credit union employs more than 300 people.
Contact Information
Carrie Jenkins, Director of Business Analytics


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Experience Down-to-Earth, Gentle Orthopedic Care That's Close to Home
Granite Orthopaedics is Central Arizona's first choice when you need exceptional bone and joint care and excellent outcomes. You no longer need to travel to Flagstaff or Phoenix to experience state-of-the-art treatments that translate to amazing results.
Mon - Thurs: 7:30am to 5:30pm
Willow Creek office:
1223 Willow Creek Road, Prescott AZ 86301
Centre Court office:
2960 Centre Court, Prescott Valley AZ 86314
Call: 928.777.9950
3195 Stillwater Dr Suite D, Prescott AZ 86305
We serve the communities of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Williamson, Dewey-Humboldt and nearby areas.
Call Granite Orthopaedics at 928.777.9950 or use our online form to schedule an appointment.


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There is a fusion when artist, designer, maker, stylist and photographer come together and make some very attractive images.
Bluebellgray is a textile company from Scotland that makes some very pretty cushion covers and scarves. They are big full blossoms of watercolor on cotton and linen, all made in Britain. This selection is from their Autumn/Winter 13 Winter Peony collection.
I first saw these lovely pictures on my good friend and fellow blogger, Rona, on Flowerona, I looked them up and wow, they are so pretty, they will look beautiful on a big sofa, or maybe even stretched on a frame.


text: A collection beginning with consistently engaging essays loses its footing in the dreary fiction that follows, bringing Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Kumin's (In Deep, 1987, etc.) latest to a wobbly end. The poet in Kumin is fully evident in her essays. With florid, not fussy, prose and precise observation, she chronicles life on her New Hampshire farm, elevating jicama (``a delightfully crunchy root I first met on an hors d'oeuvres platter in Texas ten years ago'') to unforeseen heights and reaping life lessons from an adopted city mutt and spindle-legged fillies. She's both a student and a teacher, rapturously researching and relating details of the world: She compares half a dozen mushroom field guides in search of edible fungi and choice passages; readers will feel able to buy, train, and breed horses on finishing ``A Horse for Fun.'' Some essays are anecdotal (``Mutts'' is a comic dog tale); others are philosophical (``Have Saddle, Will Travel'' is about horseback riding possibilities on reading tours); still others resemble diary entries (``Labors of Love'' records foals' births in earthy prose). Her interest in the most mundane subjects (the squash leaves covering a dung heap), her compulsive devotion to nature (she sleeps alongside pregnant mares when their delivery dates approach), and her ability to translate life into language (should the dog's name scan as a trochee or a spondee?) are infectious. But the short stories are everything the essays are not: rushed, blunt, and vague. Dominated by domestic configurations--daughter meets young stepmom, hunter beds vegan, three generations of women welcome the fourth--their characters are bland and the telling dispassionate. Every point and meaning is stated--no room for reader imagination or inference here. The best stories are ``The Cassandra Effect,'' about a troubled graduate student, and ``Flotation Devices,'' in which three women are stranded while snorkeling. Antiseptic stories pale beside lush and verdant nonfiction: an unfortunate coupling.


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Search our archive:
The Last 20 Days' Editorials
12/10/2018 "The Black Economy 50 Years After The March On Washington"
Politics Mondays: No Longer One Voice For A Whole Race by Lawrence Temple Jr.
In reading Jabari Asim's excellent article published Dec. 31 concerning the question of who qualifies to be a spokesman for African-Americans today, I was reminded of a former co-worker. Since I am black, this co-worker felt compelled to bring up famous blacks every time we spoke, assuming, I guess, that as a black man I spent every waking moment thinking about Tiger, Serena, Venus, Oprah, Bill, Michael (Jordan or Jackson,) Puffy (as he was known then) Janet or (for those a little older) Sidney. I am convinced that he meant no harm. But our conversations show a misconception that many people of all races have: that all blacks share the same interests, opinions and points of view.Well, just as every Irish person cannot be a member of Riverdance, and every Asian cannot do karate, all blacks do not think alike. That is why there can never again be one Booker T. Washington or Martin Luther King-type leader who can supposedly speak for all black people. We are as diverse as any other race of people.Of course, there are issues and problems that are shared by many in the black community. Employment, education, racial profiling, criminal justice issues, teen pregnancy and other issues disproportionately are affecting black people. But it is naive to believe that anyone who wants to saunter into the Oval Office has the right to speak for all of us. The social problems I mentioned don't affect all blacks to the same degree. Some of us are sheltered somewhat by a middle-class shield of money and geography and are removed, to a degree, from some of the worst of those social ills. And, even when we can agree that we are all at least partially affected by these problems, we will not all agree as to how to address these problems.Let me explain: As I write this, I am reflecting on the diverse group of African-American family, friends and associates that I have. Let's see. Two of my friends are black lawyers and Republicans. I have another friend who is so liberal he makes Jesse Jackson seem like Ronald Reagan. I have friends who are decidedly Christian in their worldview and others who have absolutely no use for religion at all. I know black people who believe that George W. Bush dynamited the levees in New Orleans to drown black people and others who still have Bush bumper stickers on their cars. I know black people who are single, married and divorced. I know people who hail rap music moguls as heroes of black capitalism and others who blame hip-hop for all that is wrong with us. Some of my friends say Bill Cosby's famous comments were right on, and others say he was dead wrong. Black people have many opinions, like anyone else.It used to be blacks were glad to have anyone speaking on their behalf. It was seen as a victory for us just to see any black person on TV, regardless of who they were. Just having public exposure was a major accomplishment. But now, since integration, civil rights acts and expanding of the black middle class and opportunities, blacks express a diversity of opinions, not just satisfied that someone wants to be a "black voice."Even in the time of Martin Luther King, every black person did not agree with his methods. At first, some blacks felt his sit-ins and boycotts were too aggressive, too much too soon. By the mid-1960s, other blacks felt he was too slow, and that nonviolent protests would never garner significant results. But, his was the voice that broke through to the American conscience, so the civil rights movement went his way, the way of integration (to a degree, but that's another essay) instead of the more radical and sometimes separatist views of other black voices of the '60s. The point is, if there was a diversity of opinions then, there is definitely one now. So, no one person is going to be the spokesman for the whole race.Ask yourself, who is the spokesman for all white Americans? Michael Moore? David Duke? Paris Hilton? Ashton Kutcher? George Bush? The ACLU? Fox News? The very question is ridiculous. Similarly for blacks, no one person has cornered the market on black opinion. And that is, in itself, a sign of progress . . . I think.Lawrence Temple Jr. , a teacher at Atlantic High School, lives in South Daytona. This article appears in The Dayton Beach News Journal
Lawrence Temple Jr.
Monday, January 9, 2006
To discuss this article further enter The Deeper Look Dialogue Room
The views and opinions expressed herein by the author do not necessarily represent the opinions or position of BlackElectorate.com or Black Electorate Communications.


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Need your order in time for Christmas? Check out our Holiday Shipping Deadlines.
Boundary: Bleed area may not be visible.
Click and drag to re-position the image, if desired.
The watermark at the lower right corner of the image will not appear on the final product.
by Yhun Suarez
Pillow Insert
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The image is near the edges of the product but doesn't cover the entire product. Some of the background color may appear around the outside edges of the image.
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Our throw pillows are made from 100% spun polyester poplin fabric and add a stylish statement to any room. Pillows are available in sizes from 14" x 14" up to 26" x 26". Each pillow is printed on both sides (same image) and includes a concealed zipper and removable insert (if selected) for easy cleaning.
Ships Within
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December 10th, 2018
Thomas Cook
December 7th, 2018
Welcome to my online gallery! Send me a message for any particular requests on my images at firstname.lastname@example.com You can also find me on the following sites: https://www.facebook.com/YhunSuarezPhotography http://500px.com/yhunsuarez http://twitter.com/#!/SpectrumCry http://spectrumcry.redbubble.com/
Our return policy is very simple:
If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on FineArtAmerica.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Fine Art America does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Fine Art America sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Fine Art America to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
All throw pillows ship from our production facility within 2 - 3 business days of your order.


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Posted by: CSCM Staff on January 23, 2018
In this issue of our periodic newsletter PremiumPoints: 2017 Review & Outlook, What Volatility?, Account Security & LogIns, CSCM Major Projects in 2017, What Is a Bitcoin Worth? and ETF Update.
2017 Review and Outlook
2017 is in the books and 2018 is underway, right where 2017 left off…with the global equity markets in levitation mode. The equity markets rallied strongly in 2017, with the U.S. benchmark S&P 500 gaining 22% for the year while the Emerging Markets benchmark gained 37%… great and unsustainable. Crypto-currencies gained visibility with absurd meteoric price gains and an obvious and dangerous mania driving it. Market volatility remained at historic lows. The bull market in stocks is now the second longest in market history and within striking distance of being the longest.
View the PremiumPoints Newsletter...
What Volatility?
Just as record-high volatility of 2009 did not presage the end of (market) days, record-low volatility does not presage perpetual smooth sailing for the markets.
View the PremiumPoints Newsletter...
Client Housekeeping: IBKR Security & LogIn
A word to all Clothier Springs Capital Management clients: please make sure you have activated your security device and are able to login to your Interactive Brokers account(s). It is important that you are able to administer your own account, transfer funds, download statements and trade confirmations, view holdings and balances and generally oversee our advisory activities on your behalf.
View the PremiumPoints Newsletter...
Major Projects and Improvements for Clothier Springs Capital Management
Clothier Springs Capital Management was busy this year. We undertook several major projects to maximize our back office efficiency, revamped our website to remain relevant and current, launched a partnership for investment in private market opportunities and formed a new custodial relationship with CamaPlan Self-Directed IRA LLC—a vendor for holding client assets in Self- Directed Individual Retirement Accounts.
View the PremiumPoints Newsletter...
What Is a Bitcoin Worth?
Crypto-currencies like Bitcoin exploded into the public consciousness in 2017 as astonishing price action grabbed speculator's attention. With no assets, shareholder equity, revenues, profits or dividends, crypto-currencies have zero intrinsic value and as such are not properly considered investments.
View the PremiumPoints Newsletter...
ETF Update
ETF.com reports that ETFs continued to take market share from their mutual fund cousins in 2017. Equity mutual funds saw net outflows of $153 billion in 2017 while equity ETFs picked up $348 billion.
View the PremiumPoints Newsletter...
New Highs, Party Poopers & Financial Engineering
August 30, 2018
PremiumPoints 2Q-2018 Issue: "Structure IS the Strategy"
July 19, 2018
We're in the Client Outcome Business, Not the Investment Performance Business
May 23, 2018
10 + 1 Things to Degrade Your Investment Outcome
April 27, 2018
PremiumPoints 1Q-2018 Issue
April 19, 2018
Alpha, Schmalpha and the Persistence of Sub-Optimal Business Models and Investment Advisory Offerings
March 19, 2018
PremiumPoints 4Q-2017 Issue
January 23, 2018
Of Dot-Com's, Internet Bubble and Pseudo-Currencies
December 7, 2017
Cryptocurrencies, Intrinsic Value and Greater Fools
November 1, 2017
The Pain in Active Management Land Must Be Unbearable…
October 9, 2017
PremiumPoints 2Q-2017 Issue
August 17, 2017
Asset Allocation vs. Stockpicking: No Contest
July 14, 2017Tweets by @clothiersprings


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In Ultimate I Spy, you discover a mysterious futuristic machine that houses the 10 interesting locations for the puzzles, including a fish tank, outer space and a city made of paper. Each location has four riddles that send you hunting for objects. The machine will also send you on a scavenger hunt to find eight objects within the 10 locations, which then opens one last game.
Ultimate I Spy is a good addition to a Wii library of games for kids who like the I Spy books. But these puzzles are harder than those found in books because of the immersive 3-D environments. Because they are challenging, they are best played by kids who like contemplative, visual puzzles, and may not be as good a fit for kids who want a lot of action.
However, the addition of the minigames will broaden this game's appeal to a wider audience than just puzzle-lovers.


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- I recently received a card in the mail from the post office. It stated they were holding a card for me that didn't have enough postage. I would have to come in and pay for my mail from unknown sender. Today I went in and paid $1.87 for a greasy envelope which contained a crushed up Oreo. It was from my brother. Don't tell him . . . but I didn't eat it. I smelled it just because I felt guilty.
- I made homemade Oreos for our Opening Ceremonies party with our friends. While making them, I got the bright idea to make red, white and blue frosting. It's a little bit pathetic how proud I was of myself.
- I'm sorry (actually, no I'm not), but people who post passive-aggressive statuses on Facebook are pathetic. We've all seen it. An upset person gets on Facebook and posts a status so that the person they are upset with will see it and feel bad. But the upset person didn't say any names or anything like that, so they don't have to own up to doing anything wrong. In my opinion, this is way worse than talking about someone behind their back. Seriously, instead of being a coward and hiding behind your Facebook profile, confront the person you are mad at to their face. Then you'll save all the rest of us from feeling awkward when we read your rage-filled status.
- Okay, I really am sorry. You're not pathetic if you do that. You maybe just make poor Facebook decisions. Just think before you post, yeah?
- I went to do the dishes a few days ago (there were dishes piled on dishes in the sink). I moved a plate to find a MASSIVE spider. I panicked. I'm totally comfortable with little spiders and try to avoid killing them. But when the thing is as big as my ear, that's sort of a problem. I called Brian so he could walk me through killing it. He told me to wash it down the sink and turn the disposal on. I put my phone on speaker and set it on the table. I told Brian to stay on the line while I committed the murder, just in case the spider attacked. I grabbed the sprayer and let the water gush out. The spider quickly dashed under a bowl. I screamed. I sprayed. I screamed. I sprayed. Water flew in all directions. I finally killed the beast. I was shaken up to say the least. Later when Brian got home, with a smile on his face, he guiltily told me he'd had his phone on speaker. Everyone at the office was listening to me. He's lucky I didn't do him in like I did with that spider.
- I'm over the top dog-hungry right now and I think I'm cursed. Every time I park somewhere, the car next to me has a dog in the backseat. Not only that, but each and every time, I lock eyes with the dog and then I want it. I'm going to dognap someone's dog from their car soon if I don't get help. Brian and I were going to get a dog for Christmas but we put it off because we thought it would be better to wait until spring. Spring is coming, guys. Spring equals dog.
- I'm thinking I'll start a new career in cat photography . . .
But come on, don't tell me that's not the best thing you've seen all day. I love Luna.


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Bath in the sound of Himalayan Bowls, Gongs & Crystal Bowls
Relax and feel the effects on physical, emotional mental and for some spiritual levels of your being.
Release from tension, stress just lay and absorb the sound. For some, it facilitates a journey of healing & enquiry. Bath in sound simply listen.
HealthSpace will host Sonja Grundy on the 3rd Friday of each month in 2018, and can be booked on-line.


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Joel Friant is a well-known business owner, financial investor and a free market fanatic located in Corpus Christi, Texas. Joel made his beginning career steps in real estate where he would purchase a foreclosure, and then sell it for a profit after renovating.
Joel is a clean-hearted man as he used the understanding he had gathered in the real estate to assist his friends to be homeowners. As he was doing this, he was also gaining experience in writing and mortgage lending earning him the title of the best salesman in the country. With this much experience, he opened a new mortgage lending company.
He is described by many as a person who is concerned about other people, and he would want them to achieve his level of success. He says that for a person to succeed either in their personal life or their career, he would need the right kind of mentorship. Joel is a go-getter, and this is the key to his success.
After the 2008 financial crisis, Joel Friant came up with the Principle of Income Thermostat that explains the reason behind the success of other people's life and financials. This principle borrowed much from Maxwell Maltz and Wallace Wattles writings. He has however gone ahead to publish more articles that have been published in many corners of the globe.
As a young entrepreneur, he took a keen notice in the restaurant industry that made him open a one of a kind fast food idea he made him be known as 'The Thai Guy.' He loves to cook and has always had a thing for the Thai cuisine. In 1995, he launched the first joint that offered Thai cuisine marked as first America's Thai fast food cuisine concept.
Habanero Shaker
This has to be his most significant invention to date. He developed it from experience he gathered many years in the food industry. He wanted to create something authentic as most of the spices he used before were mixed with other cheap spices or salt. Habanero pepper was his first product, and due to the gap that existed in the market at the time, it took it by storm.
Joel discovered that the key to the best Habanero pepper is to harvest the peppers when they are fully ripe as they get hotter with maturity and before harvesting, one has to ensure that the plant is thoroughly dry to avoid the spread of diseases that can potentially spoil the flavor.
Habanero pepper has some health benefits as it is rich in vitamin A and B essential for body immunity system. Another advantage is that, is a wholesome painkiller as it contains capsaicin that makes the brain to free endorphins.
Habanero pepper can be ordered online with avenues like Amazon and eBay. Joel Friant saw the online markets as an accessible platform to market his product.


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As long as you have the right knowledge, buying a laptop is not that difficult. This article will help you understand laptops and what you should look for when you buy one. Now you just need to start reading and absorbing.
Some of the best deals for a laptop can be found on home shopping networks. You may be able to make installment payments without worrying about a credit check. You can get a great laptop for less than $100 a month.
You should have look for dedicated graphic chips in a laptop if you are interested in playing games and watching HDTV movies. You may find that integrated graphics are insufficient to support some video games. Do some quick research to see if you'l be best served by a processor for your laptop that has two cores, of if you need one that has a quad-core chip.
Do not think that a more expensive laptop is a better laptop. Often a lower price model has the same features as a higher priced laptop. Sometimes, you're just paying for a brand name and how you'll look with the laptop you get. You want to look at the specifications more closely than price.
Before purchasing a laptop, consider how you will use it. That will factor into how much you need to spend on one. For example, a graphic designer will need a higher pixel resolution than someone who only uses the computer to surf the net. The more you do on a laptop, the more expensive it will be.
Your laptop is sure to last longer when you purchase a cooling pad for it. Many laptop crashes are caused by overheating. To help combat the overheating problem, pick up an inexpensive cooling pad that keep the laptop working much longer.
Get a good laptop cooler to go with your laptop. You might not know just how warm laptops get. Your thighs can also get pretty hot if you don't have a way of keeping them cool.
Try out any laptop before making an actual purchase. People often think more about battery life and memory functions than ergonomics when buying a laptop. However, being comfortable and staying healthy while using your computer comes down to ergonomics, which is why you should look at that.
Get a good system for sound set up on the laptop you have. Some laptops don't have good sound because they're not carrying great speakers. Then, when you're trying to watch a video, the sound is terrible. The audio capability is one thing you need to check before purchasing a laptop.
When you are transporting your laptop around outside of the house, care must be given as to how it is handled. Get a firm sturdy bag so that it is not swinging and banging against you while you walk. If you allow the computer to be mistreated, it may not last as long.
When shopping for a laptop, consider going a little above your original price point. A bargain-basement laptop will be quickly outpaced by the increasing hardware demands of new software and media applications. Adding a little RAM or file saving capability may ensure that your computer is more useful for a longer period of time.
Is security important in your laptop? Luckily, there are several security options available on laptops. If security is an issue, consider buying a computer with a fingerprint or face recognition software. This will prevent anyone other than you from accessing your laptop.
Is network security important to you? There are a wide array of security options available for your laptop. These include both fingerprint and facial recognition software. This makes it accessible to just the individuals you want to have access.
Inspect the ports prior to making your purchase. If you have many USB devices, such as a mouse, cell phone charger, printer, or iPod, you will need to make sure you have enough USB ports. Make sure you know the ports that you need and that they are available.
Dim your LCD screen on the laptop in order to ensure you're maximizing battery power and life. Your display screen drains more power from your laptop battery, so keeping this setting at a minimum can boost your battery life significantly. The Control Panel gives you the ability to dim your lights.
If you want to listen to music or play games, check the speakers out. The speakers can come in very handy for your needs, and you will not want to lug around external type speakers all the time.
A majority of laptop users don't require the most powerful computing power. Unless you plan to play video games, you won't need a ton of RAM and a very fast motherboard. Economizing on features like this can really bring down a laptop's price; make sure you don't splurge on anything you aren't going to use.
Wait until the next laptop model is being released before making a purchase. There are two important reasons for making this your purchase time. The first reason is that older models become cheaper, so you save money. The second is that the newer model will offer you better features which can be worth the price.
A lot of the laptops coming out now aren't coming with drives for Blu-ray/DVD. This is because there is a lot of content available to be streamed on the Internet. You'll need a DVD/BluRay drive if you want to watch movies on DVD or rip discs.
Refrain from starting up your computer unless it is at room temperature. Changes in temperatures can cause condensation to form inside the laptop. If you turn it on too quickly, the moisture can damage the inner components of your system.
Consider getting a customized laptop. It is not difficult to get a laptop that is ready to go right out of the box. However, you never know what you need in the future. Customized laptops can easily cost less than a pre-set system, as you can avoid paying for high level hardware you may not need.
Are you searching for a laptop just for online surfing and to check your email? You should consider getting a Chromebook. The Chromebook has very little storage and is missing a huge operating system. They are ideal for web browsing, though. A good connection is more important than processor speed for that. The are also relatively inexpensive. You can often find them for under 300 dollars, for a laptop that is full sized.
Temperature Changes
Look for the term, no-drive-bay to find a laptop that is affordable and lightweight. You can save a significant amount of money by going this route. Any software you want to install will need to be done by downloading or using a USB key. There are also USB DVD drives that are relatively inexpensive.
Do not turn your laptop if it has be subjected to temperature changes until it gets to the temperature of the room. Extreme temperature changes can lead to a buildup of moisture. If you do it too fast, moisture can harm the inner parts of the system.
You don't necessarily need a high end dedicated graphics card in order to be a gamer or do memory intensive work. Graphic cards that are dedicated, cause the battery life to decrease faster. A lot of people get their laptops because they're sure that the dedicated GPU is needed, but a lot of the time they don't use it beyond that.
For those who love playing games or need work programs with intensive memory, a dedicated card for graphics is not really an option you must have. Graphic cards that are dedicated, cause the battery life to decrease faster. Many people consider dedicated graphics cards when purchasing a computer, but most of the time integrated ones are enough.
Determine the software that comes installed on your computer. You'll most likely need spreadsheet and word processing programs. You don't want these to be the trial versions. You will need these programs and if they are not included, you will have to spend more money to buy them separately.
If you don't need a lot of storage space, you can save money by getting a model with a small hard drive. If a terabyte hard drive isn't necessary, you don't need to spend money for one. Get something with less storage space for a better deal. You could use the saved cash for processing that's better.
Choose models that have less storage to save money. Many people do not need a large hard drive. Choose something smaller if you want to keep money in your pocket. If you are going to spend the money, you should buy something with a better processor.
If you want a laptop for a lot of gaming, you can easily find one. A lot of the greatest laptops out there are for gaming and they're easy to get features on that will help you to game. You need to know what features you want before you start shopping.
If you need to send your laptop via the mail for service, only do so in the correct shipping container. Shipping stores like FedEx have laptop kits they use for shipping laptops. Buy one from them. Do this even if you use the postal service to ship it to another person.
If you are worried about anyone accessing your laptop without permission, you should do everything you can to keep it secure. Many laptops have fingerprint or facial recognition security.
One of the main benefits of a laptop is mobility. However, there are things you lose when choosing a laptop over a desktop. In order to save weight, smaller laptops may be lacking features like optical (i.e. CD/DVD/Blu-Ray) drives, spacious hard drives, or even connection ports. Ensure you are get everything you desire when you begin shopping for a laptop.
Look at sales papers in the Sunday edition for the best deals on laptops. There are lots of different ads on Sundays. The few bucks you spend on a paper each week can easily be offset by the coupon or ad deal that saves you hundreds on a local deal for a laptop.
Checking user reviews for the laptop that you are considering is a great way to get a true idea of the good and bad things about it. Look at some how-to steps for some expert insight, so that you know a bit about your laptop when it shows up in the mail.
Think twice before purchasing an extended warranty with your laptop. The store makes money from these, but they aren't worth the cost. Usually, if you have an issue with the laptop, it is within the regular warranty period. If you still want a warranty to cover your laptop for longer, try making your purchase from an online store that offers longer duration warranties as part of their typical purchase practices.
If you buy your laptop online, save the shipping box. This is going to be perfect if you ever need to ship it somewhere yourself in the future. At a minimum, it makes for a good box to move your laptop in if you are moving a lot of other things too.
If you have to send your laptop through the mail, or with a shipping company, protect it well and put it in the right shipping package. Mailing stores offer laptop shipping kits just for this purpose. Think about getting this from them even if the postal service will be where you're going to ship your laptop.
Pay attention to the battery life. If you plan on using your laptop out and about with frequency, then you need a battery that can handle it. Your battery should last about five hours. That way, you will always have sufficient power when you are on the go.
You should now have a better idea of what to look for when shopping for a laptop. This article should have given you all the information you need to get started. Refer to this article if anything is unclear.
Are you interested in function or form. There are many different types of laptops available. Before you go and buy a new machine, decide what is most important to you. If you use computers only casually, you may choose a flashy model.


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Speed Up Your iOS UI Iterations 10x with Playgrounds
As a team that practices human-centered design, we place tremendous value on intuitive, simple user experiences at Capital One Labs. Believe it or not, simple UI is still something the finance industry lacks in spades. But simplicity is a funny thing. In the tech world, it's often a double-edged sword. The more magical and effortless the experience is for our front-end users, the more complex and challenging the build is for our developers. Developers may be familiar with this Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde thought: "People are going to love this…but this is going to take forever to implement."
Not anymore! With the introduction of Xcode Playgrounds, and more recently, Interactive Playgounds in Xcode 7.3, I've sped up my UI iterations by at least 10x.
My old workflow for building out iOS custom UIViews looked something like this:
- Make a UI change.
- (~10 seconds) Run the app and navigate through multiple screens to reach the screen for the UIView that I'm building.
- "Oh crap, that doesn't look quite right."
- Repeat 1–3 a bunch.
- "Bravo! It finally looks good! Now, let's show the designer."
- Designer: "Looks good, do you think we can make it (animate faster / bounce higher / a deeper shade of red)?
- Back to step 1 😐
My new workflow with Interactive Playgrounds might look something like this:
- Make a UI change.
- (1 second) See the change instantly reflected.
- "Oh crap, that doesn't look quite right."
- Repeat 1–3 a bunch.
- "Bravo! It finally looks good! Now, let's show the designer."
- Designer: "Looks good, do you think we can make it (animate faster / bounce higher / a deeper shade of red)?
- "Sure, let's edit this playground together to get what you're looking for." Done.
While the number of steps in an iteration hasn't changed, the number of iteration cycles has been reduced dramatically. The time waiting to see the updated UI is about a 10x improvement per iteration. More importantly, Interactive Playgrounds have created a tighter feedback loop between designers and developers by creating a space where we can speak the same language. This is invaluable.
With Interactive Playgrounds, not only can you visually inspect the result of your code changes in real time, you can now test out user driven interactions with your UIViews, such as scrolling through UITableViews, tapping UIButtons, and performing gestures. It's magical!
You know what else is magical? Magic 8 Balls. Let's use the power of Interactive Playgrounds (and a random number generator) to rapidly prototype the UI for our favorite childhood fortune teller! Which, now that I think about it, is like talking to a really poor implementation of Siri. Here's what our final result will look like:
Are you excited about Playgrounds yet? My 8 ball says, "Most Likely". Let's walk through the code:
On the lefthand side, you'll notice our Playground File Navigator. It contains a few source files with Swift code that contains some UIView creation functions as well as some utility functions to help with things like shaking a UIView and speaking text aloud. This code has been abstracted from our main Playground code to make it easier to understand the Playground.
On the righthand side is the live preview or "Timeline". This will update in near real-time as we update our Playground code. This is a huge timesaver vs. running the app each time you'd like to view a change.
Finally, the center pane (above) is where we'll focus the majority of our time.
We start out importing UIKit, which contains libraries for building our our UI, and XCPlayground, which allows for a live preview of our UIView.
Next, we define an Array of Strings, each representing a phrase that the 8 Ball may display.
A function is defined to return a random String out of the array.
Next, we create a UIView "container" of size 400x400 that will contain all of our subviews. We create the child UIViews — an 8 Ball UIImageView, a UILabel to display the phrase, and a UIButton that the user can press. These child views are then added to the container. At this point, our UI is complete, but it is not interactive.
In order to add some "magic", we'll need to define a Responder class that will determine what happens when the button is pressed. We instantiate the Responder, and then configure the button's target to trigger the "buttonPressed" function upon the user touching it.
Lastly, we must assign the Playground's "liveView" to our container. Without this line of code, we won't be able to see the live preview of the 8 Ball on the right hand side and interact with it.
If you want to try it out, make sure you have Xcode 7.3+, and check out my source code here.
Big thanks to Brian Nguyen for helping refactor some code.
Follow me on Twitter @JaredAlexander
Follow us at @CapitalOneLabs
Opinions expressed here are of those individual associates quoted, and not necessarily Capital One. Any third party companies mentioned or marks used are solely marks of those third parties.


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I've been given a cover for DREAM WALK, my September 9th release from Samhain Publishing Ltd.
The cover is gorgeous! The hero is perfect — the background almost exactly what I imagined. Suffice to say, I LOVE IT! But I can't share it yet. (pout) Samhain has this rule about not sharing or posting your cover before the boss okay's it. It's a great policy — one I totally support. However…I really, REALLY want to post this cover anywhere and everywhere I can!
But I can wait. Heck, it took me this long to get the story done… But as soon as I'm allowed to, I'm sharing its lovely face with the world! 😉


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It's official, the days of the internal combustion are numbered. Germany are to stop producing internal combustion engines by 2030, the rest of Europe to follow suit by 2040.
So what does this mean? ....., a main stay of the auto world for well over a century. How can we take any of the cars released over the next decade seriously if we know a few years later it's basis is gonna be obsolete?
What will happen to the values of appreciating classics powered by petrol, will their values just plummet down to earth like an 80's cassette tape player or vcr?
What will happen to the all powerful oil Arab states when one of its biggest draws are no longer needed?
I sense big changes a comin ....... thoughts?


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Sales Have Ended
Sales Have Ended
For writers who are serious about getting their manuscripts through the publishing doors - this masterclass is for you. In this intimate and exclusive event with Lisa Hanrahan, one of Australia's leading independent publishers, discover vital points of pitching manuscripts, understand key elements of delivering great ideas to the table and learn how Australian publishers think.
Lisa Hanrahan is the Director of Rockpool Publishing, home of Australia's leading Mind, Body, Spirit authors. Hanrahan has worked in the publishing industry for over 20 years, including 10 years at Random House where she worked on critically acclaimed books such as producing The Ballad of Desmond Kale by Roger McDonald, winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award 2006 and My Life as a Fake by Peter Carey, which was a winner of the Book Design Awards in 2004. Lisa has produced over 3000 books and in various genres and is also a leading publisher of successful card decks.


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Unabomber Ted Kaczynski Updates Harvard Alumni Report: 'Awards: Eight Life Sentences'
Unable to make the 50th reunion for Harvard University's Class of 1962 on Wednesday, Ted Kaczynski, who is serving life in prison after being convicted as the Unabomber, still submitted an entry for the alumni report.
Kaczynski's entry was less than 10 lines and pretty simple. Classmates who were eager to know just exactly how the most infamous of their fellow graduates was doing could read:
Theodore John Kaczynski
Home address: No. 04475-046, US Penitentiary- Max, P.O. Box 8500, Florence, CO 8126-8500.
Occupation: Prisoner
House/Dorm: Eliot
Degrees: AB '62; MA, Univ. of Michigan '65; PhD, ibid. '67.
Publications: Technology Slavery (Feral House, 2010).
Awards: Eight life sentences, issued by the United States District Court for Eastern District of California, 1998.
The controversial entry attracted mixed reactions from the reunion class where some defended Kaczynski's poking fun at his life after college, the Boston Herald reported.
One way or another, he has just as much right to be in there as I do, classmate Richard Tucker, a retired investment manager from Newton, Massachusetts, told the Herald. He is a Harvard graduate.
Kaczynski's submission was a little bit brave, he added.
Chris Wadsworth, the Class of 1962 secretary, told the paper that the information was confirmed as Kaczynski's.
He has a sense of humor, I guess, in spite of everything, Wadsworth said.
Kaczynski was arrested in 1996 and convicted two years later for killing three people and injuring 23 others with bombs sent through the mail between 1978 and 1995.
While some may find his entry a bit funny, others found it disappointing that Harvard included it.
Susan Mosser, widow of Thomas Mosser, a 50-year-old advertising executive killed in 1994 when a package exploded in their kitchen, told the Boston Globe that Kaczynski is a con artist.
He's a serial killer; he's a murderer, she said. Everything is a game for him to push people's buttons.
The Harvard Alumni Association later apologized for the entry.
We regret publishing Kaczynski's references to his convictions and apologize for any distress that it may have caused others, a statement to the media read.