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Platinum Pearl Blessing Bracelet
The Blessing bracelet is a timeless and classic design, elegant when worn alone or stacked together – but more so the bracelet is a gift, a precious reminder of all we already have to be grateful for and a starting point in the practice of Gratitude. Includes card explaining how to pass such a special message along to those you love.
- Sterling Silver & 12mm Platinum Swarovski Pearls
- Adjustable elastic to fit most wrist sizes
- Each bracelet comes attached to a notecard which reads:
- "This is a Blessing Bracelet. Whenever you wear it acknowledge one blessing in your life for each pearl on the bracelet. Each time you are drawn to the bracelet, silently find four people or things you can be grateful for. Be grateful for: Your children, a flower, your dog, a perfect cup of coffee, a roof over your head- just find something. The more you wear the bracelet and the more blessings you find, the more you will be blessed. In one year, if followed, you will be aware of a profound change in your life."
- Gift box included


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40mm Modular Quartz Worktops, Matching Acrylic Splashbacks & Upstands.
50ml Twin Pack for Edging
Click on the brochure icon below to view the online Product Portfolio including further information on all product ranges.
National Sales Line:0161 224 0333
Fax:0161 224 9961
*Subject to vehicle and stock availability.
Copyright © 2018 Plasman Laminate Products. All Rights Reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


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Are you a crafty type? A DIY diva? Or do you have kids who love to express themselves creatively? Then you've probably been to more times than you can count! But do you know how to shop this major craft store the savvy shopper way? Read on for the tips and tricks that you need to know to make the most of your craft supply budget...
Collect All The Coupons
Michaels often has coupons online and in your Sunday circular, and the deals update every Sunday. They offer a 40% off or similar high value coupon for any one item fairly often, so make sure to grab that for any big purchases! The coupons tend to expire after seven days and turn over on Sundays.
Michaels also does one or two day high value coupons for individual items as well, so make sure you check your app or Sunday paper before you go.
They'll Accept Competitor Coupons (Sometimes)
Michaels stores will often accept competitor coupons for individual items for up to 50% off, but not for entire purchases. The competitior store has to be in your area and this is done at the manager's discretion, but its always worth asking!
You Can Stack (In Certain Instances)
For instance, you can stack a coupon for an individual item or even the aforementioned competitor coupons with an Michaels coupon for a percentage an entire purchase. The savings can really add up!
Get The App And Mobile Alerts
Michaels has a handy smartphone app, and you can also sign up for mobile to get deals like 20% off your entire purchase along with better deals for certain brands and types of products (e.g. 40% off beading tools or a certain brand of yarn).
Framing Deals For The Non-Crafty
Even if you're not super into DIY, Michaels offers pretty affordable custom framing and usually has a pretty decent selection of common shapes and sizes in-store as well. For instance, sometimes there are deals for up to 60% off custom frames, which you really can't beat.
Delve Into The Dollar Bins
Most Michaels stores have dollar bins filled with fun little things as well as a "big savings" aisle with clearance and markdowns, and you can find all kinds of treasures in those, especially seasonal clearance. Stock up for next year's holidays early and save.
Use Your Credentials
Michaels offers educational (student and teacher), senior, and military discounts, so you apply, show your ID and save.
Happy shopping and creating!


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The Great Debate: Will Final Fantasy XIII-2 reclaim lost fans?
The sequel to the much criticised Final Fantasy XIII is trying to steer the series back towards its roots, but has Square Enix done enough to reclaim its lost fans, those who were left alienated by Final Fantasy XIII's never-ending corridor? PS3 Attitude's Stefhutch20 and Seanoc offer their verdicts.
Staff writer Stefhutch20 roars yay
While there are those gamers who will defend Final Fantasy XIII to the very end (myself among them), there can be no denying that Square Enix's story-heavy adventure has become somewhat of an elephant in the room for diehard Final Fantasy fans.
With its strictly linear path to follow, no towns to explore, a re-designed battle system, and various other changes from the tried and tested Final Fantasy formula, the game was the victim of a severe backlash upon its release two years ago.
However, Square Enix is far too clever a developer to make the same mistake twice, so XIII-2 is a much more traditional Final Fantasy game, which I firmly believe has the power to bring back their disillusioned fans.
Clearly the main area Square Enix needed to work on was the incessant linearity of FFXIII, not only in the shape of the world, but also the story and gameplay. For many, the problem with XIII was that they were given virtually no freedom whatsoever, which isn't great for any RPG, and even worse for a Final Fantasy game.
The main reason for this linearity was so that Square Enix could give the story the justice it deserved, and this wouldn't have been possible in an open world. Naturally, FFXIII-2's more open structure means a less concrete story, hence the game's multiple endings (although only one is canonical).
Although not a completely open world, Final Fantasy XIII-2's map design is also a definite improvement over its predecessor, with multiple paths and rewards for exploration. There are even non-playable characters to talk to and receive quests from, just like in the good old days.
Speaking of side quests, it was thought to be sacrilege to make a Final Fantasy game without them, but, in XIII, all fans got was a bunch of hunting missions. It was fun to try for five stars on all of them, but the game was crying out for a bit of diversity, which is where XIII-2 comes in.
Combat is also a lot more varied this time around, largely thanks to the monster collection feature. Noel and Serah are the only two permanent members of the battle party, and the third slot is taken up by any defeated enemy, which can be swapped at any time. With over 150 monsters to recruit, the player is able to shape the party to their liking, in a way that simply wasn't possible in XIII.
And let's not forget all the other fan-favourite features Square Enix has pumped into FFXIII-2, including the franchise's trademark minigames, random encounters and the return of the moogle; the company has clearly gone out of its way to appease its fans.
If you ask me, the idea that a Final Fantasy devotee would ignore XIII-2, just because it has the word 'XIII' in, is ridiculous. In fact, if you're a fan of a game franchise and choose to abandon the entire series when it takes a new direction, then in my opinion you were never really a fan in the first place.
Features editor Seanoc cries nay
My esteemed colleague will tell you Final Fantasy XIII-2 has righted most of XIII's wrongs, and he would be correct. Square Enix has worked tirelessly to reintroduce the traditional Final Fantasy features that were missing in XIII, such as minigames, sidequests and chatty NPCs – even basic exploration. Square has listened to and acted on the vocal criticisms and they deserve praise for this. But I'm afraid they're fighting an uphill battle on this one.
The problem is that those who don't frequent specialist gaming sites or read gaming mags are unlikely to know this. They will see the trailers and screenshots showing Lightning and Serah and the same art style and they will think it's more of the same. This won't appeal to those left disappointed by XIII. Once bitten, twice shy – as the old idiom goes.
Can you blame them? It still has XIII in the title. That -2 hardly offers any reassurance that this is anything other than a closely related mini-sequel, not a proper sequel. Long-time fans who remember the last (and only) Final Fantasy with -2 in the title will be entitled to expect baby steps.
Even if Square can successfully convince those disappointed in XIII to give it another go, where is the appeal here for fans who skipped XIII?
The gameplay trailers, as much as I enjoyed them, are geared towards winning back disillusioned XIII players. It's as if they're saying, "Sorry about that, it was a blip – we'll do better this time". That's all very good, but it only appeals to a very specific audience. The case hasn't been made to convince everyone else that they can jump in on XIII-2 without playing XIII. It'll be particularly tough getting those who have never played Final Fantasy on board. Starting off with a sort-of sequel, to a thirteenth iteration in the series: that's daunting.
This all comes down to Square's ongoing issue concerning their management of the Final Fantasy brand. From the outside looking in, it looks as though their strategy has been to attach Final Fantasy to any game they're working on, no matter how tenuous the link is. A casual observer might have heard about Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Final Fantasy Agito/Type-O, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, Crystal Chronicles, and more.
One of the key rules in marketing is to keep it clear and simple. If a customer doesn't know or understand what you're offering, you're about to lose a sale. The Final Fantasy range is over-saturated and potential customers must be confused, and if they're not confused, then there is a good chance they feel like they're being taken for a ride. When they see that -2 at the end of XIII, the words "milking it" must spring into their heads. It says something when Square Enix can only generate modest sales in Japan.
I'm not convinced the fans have ditched the series completely, but I suspect many are waiting for the next proper sequel (as in the Final Fantasy definition of the word) before coming back. That would be Final Fantasy XIV then – but, oh wait, isn't that an MMO? Oh, bloody hell, now I'm confused…


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Funeral service announced for Rev. Ben Haden
A local pastor with a worldwide reach, Ben Haden rarely raised his voice. But he managed to make a strong impact on millions with his "Changed Lives" ministry. Haden passed away Thursday morning in Chattanooga at the age of 88. He was born on October 18, 1925 in Fincastle, Virginia.
Although most Chattanoogans knew him from his 31-year stint as pastor of First Presbyterian Church (1968-1999), Haden's own life had changed many times before settling into the ministry. He had been in the newspaper business in Kingsport, Tennessee, earned his law degree, and even served for a time in the Central Intelligence Agency. He earned degrees from Washington and Lee University and the University of Texas at Austin before being called to the ministry. He graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in 1963.
Prior to coming to Chattanooga in 1968, Haden pastored the Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church in the Miami area. Richard Nixon, who would soon be elected president, attended the church, and would continue his relationship with Haden while in the White House.
Haden's program,"Changed Lives" was syndicated to radio and TV stations nationwide for more than 30 years, and was a Sunday morning fixture in Chattanooga on WFLI radio and WRCB-TV. Rev. Billy Graham was known to be a regular viewer. Haden was only the eleventh pastor in the church's rich history, having been established around 1840. Haden's leadership at First Presbyterian resulted in unprecedented growth, requiring a closed-circuit television system in the chapel and fellowship hall to accommodate the overflow of new church members. After his final sermon at First Presbyterian on March 28, 1999, Haden focused on his online ministry, expanding his reach even further.
In addition to his weekly sermons, he wrote several books, and hundreds of his videos are accessible online http://changedlives.org/. For many years, his broadcasting headquarters were located in the Four Squares center on Mountain Creek Road in Chattanooga.
One of Haden's many friends, Chattanooga radio host Earl Freudenberg described the pastor as quiet man with a big laugh. "Many people don't know this," Freudenberg said, "but Ben spent Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings visiting his church members in hospitals. He'd visit with other folks too. It's hard to find anyone who loved people more than him."
He was preceded in death by his wife Charlyne, who died in 2009. He is survived by his daughter, Dallas Haden Gibbons; his son-in-law, Arthur Gibbons; and his granddaughter, Haden Gibbons;
Funeral services will be held Tuesday October 29 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 544 McCallie Avenue in Chattanooga. Visitation will be at the church after the funeral. There will be no visitation prior to the funeral. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.


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Reasons for objection to the planning application for poultry rearing sheds at Bage Court, Dorstone.
The Landscape
The upper Golden Valley is an area of outstanding landscape significance which is recognised as such both nationally and internationally. It is of considerable historic interest featuring, amongst other works, in the diaries of Francis Kilvert. The views over the valley from the Merbach are surely amongst the beautiful but sensitive in all the United Kingdom – sensitive because its beauty could so easily be destroyed by wrongful development.
The nearby Neolithic burial chamber known as 'Arthur's Stone' was located at its unrivalled position some five thousand years ago because of it spectacular and commanding location.
It is thus no surprise that this area has become renowned worldwide for its magical beauty and attracts thousands of visitors, local, national, and international, who in turn support the local economy. It cannot be emphasised too strongly how commercial and industrial development in the form of chicken rearing sheds would spoil, more likely sabotage, this wonderful landscape for our own and future generations.
There are chicken rearing sheds at Glasbury, Kinnersley, Sarnsfield, Weobley and Kingstone to name just a few of those with which I am familiar. As best I can tell from satellite images they have usually between four and eight sheds. I have been told that the applicant has said that he can give no assurance that his proposed commercial development would stop at just two sheds and it would seem that all the sites in Herefordshire have progressively expanded the number of sheds and the scale of their owner/managers operations. Thus whilst the present application is for two sheds those responsible for planning decisions should take account of the possibility, or likelihood that there would be follow on applications for more sheds.
To allow this kind of commercial development in the Golden Valley one must assume that other landowners would seek to create identical or similar developments in this precious environmental resource. Future generations would never forgive us. There are many less sensitive areas in Herefordshire where this kind of development would be less destructive. Whilst individual farmers or landowners might own land they do not own the landscape. That is a precious resource belonging to the whole community, so precious that taxpayers are willing to pay farmers to manage and preserve that landscape by giving them a variety of payments and subsidies to do just that – to look after the landscape on our behalf, rather than exploit it just for their own commercial gain.
Risk of contamination of the River Dore
The area for the proposed application is immediately adjacent to the source and headwaters of the River Dore. A chicken rearing operation at this position will lead to substantial run-off from the roofs, concrete yards, and stacked manure some of which will be spread on to adjacent pasture and arable fields. It is therefore inevitable that contaminated surface water will run into the River Dore, and also into the water table from where it will pass into the river.
I own amenity land which includes a section of both banks of the River Dore less than one mile as the crow flies (or the water runs) downstream from the site of the proposed application. I notice that whenever there has been heavy rain the river carries a foam which is obviously due to contaminated run off or drainage. On several occasions I have found a large number of dead frogs and toads in my small lake which is fed from the river. Three years ago I found suddenly a huge quantity of dead fish both in the lake and the river itself.
The Department of the Environment investigated and established that a local farmer upstream (they were not able to disclose to me his name) was responsible for this toxic contamination and warned that person that he would be prosecuted if it recurred. All water born life was destroyed and even now has never fully recovered. Many will remember that the Hereford Times published a report with pictures of the dead fish. The point about this is that even if a farmer was claiming that such toxic contamination could not or would not occur - it has, and it will.
I believe it would be grievously irresponsible of anyone to allow such a development so close to a water course. The effects on water quality further down the river where water is extracted could be dangerous, even tragic to humans let alone fish, and the liabilities and legal consequences for those undertaking or having permitting such commercial activity would be enormous, especially as they would have been warned that this was a foreseeable event.
Road transport – the B4348 through Dorstone – the worst classified road in Herefordshire
The planning application would lead to an increase in the number of very large HGVs using the B4348. These would mostly be 44 ton 3 axle articlulated monsters that would have to negotiate possibly the worst section of classified road anywhere in the county. There is a stretch of about 500 metres just one mile east from the application site which consists of four very narrow extreme right angle bends with pinch points opposite the church and Dorstone House boundary wall, and again at Crossways Farm and Coppy Sally.
At these points the width of the road is hardly enough to allow a single HGV to pass, requiring oncoming traffic to reverse. Sometimes with two HGVs facing each other and with back up queues of up to ten vehicles either side, major route blockage occurs which takes many minutes to resolve. At further points in this section, that is from the playing field entrance and church to Crossways and beyond, vehicles can only pass by driving on the verges, and frequently damaging boundary walls. Almost all the properties on this section have had boundary walls damaged. I myself have had to pay some six times for wall repairs and attempted to reinforce outbuilding walls. In 2013 the church had to undertake repairs to its retaining wall for the graveyard adjacent to the road as a result of substantial vehicle damage. The perpetrators of such damage never leave their details.
Whilst the applicant or his agent may claim that the increase in very large HGVs would not be excessive, one must consider the implications if the commercial development at Bage Court increased the size of its poultry rearing operations in line with what has occurred at most other sites. It is really beyond imagination that planners could consider accepting an increase in the amount of very large HGV movements through this section of the B4348, claimed by many to be the worst section of classified road in the county.
Risk of dust and thus disease spreading to the village of Dorstone
The prevailing wind in the upper Golden Valley is westerly and any dust particles or micro-organisms are known to spread in the wind for a kilometre or more downwind from the sites of chicken rearing sheds. The first houses of Dorstone to the east are around half a mile along the B4348, with the village's and Fairfield School's playing field, St. Faith's Church and Dorstone House less than a mile from the site.
Aerial photos (see Goggle Earth) show the amount of dust that collects around the roof ventilators at other chicken rearing sheds, such 'dust' being little more than dried chicken faeces. It is well understood that the majority of reared chickens in these sheds carry various infections which can spread to humans causing serious illness and even fatalities, mainly E.Coli and Campylobacter. Respiratory diseases are a major hazard for persons who work in these sheds, but the dust and related allergens can cause serious illness to those living downwind of the sheds. As a medical practitioner (now retired) I would have no hesitation in supporting those who would wish to investigate the sheds as a possible source or contributing factor in disease that they might suffer.
There are wild ducks, mallards, in the area and the sheds could become the source or reservoir of avian flu in the Golden Valley. Again the size and scope of liabilities and legal consequences of causing such illness would be potentially catastrophic for the applicant, as they would also be for those who would have participated in approval of such a location for this potentially dangerous commercial activity.
I understand that at these rearing sheds there is a mucking out programme that takes place every five or six weeks and the associated smell is very distressing and unpleasant for those that live nearby. If the sheds at Bage Court were created there might well be numerous complaints of obnoxious smells, which could lead to legal and or enforcement action against the applicant.
The applicant or immediate family members have been granted permission to create eight new houses at Bage Court, although there is no evidence that construction has started yet. It is surprising that the applicant would seek to erect these chicken sheds so close (around 200 metres) to this planned development. The disturbance and potential annoyance might delay sales and might also lead to complaints from new residents.
I respectfully submit that this application is inappropriate for this location, because of its impact on an important and sensitive landscape. It risks further pollution of the River Dore and will generate an increase in large HGV movements through the notorious B4348 at Dorstone. There are health risks to the downwind community of Dorstone village and possible cause of annoyance or distress to neighbours.
In my opinion those responsible for considering this application, making recommendations or coming to a decision, should most carefully consider the views and concerns of the majority of the local population. I understand that the applicant has claimed 'everyone wants cheap meat' as a basis for his application. This is debatable at least, but to that alleged cheapness should be added the cost of the devaluation of our landscape and the associated costs of the various risks I have outlined.
The financial interests of just one family should not, in my opinion be allowed to push aside the interests and concerns of the whole community. I therefore urge all those concerned to weigh up the true costs and benefits of this planning application and compare them with the costs and losses for the rest of the community of Dorstone and its many visitors.
Michael Hession


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Yep, last November, I got me a car! I wasn't sure I was ready for one nor did I really feel I could afford one. But I had been thinking about it. I was beginning to need to get places for the business and on my schedule, not the bus schedule. Then one day in November I received a notice in the mail informing me that my name had finally come to the top of the list for a parking space in Aix. A parking space in Aix! This is like being given an enormous black truffle…a pair of hot high heels that are actually comfortable…a menopause with all its perks and none of its side effects. I'm serious!
I had put my name on that list 2 years before in anticipation of perhaps, someday having a car. Actually, I had signed up for a parking garage a little closer to my apartment but in October, when I went to check my position on the list, I was told I would probably have to wait at least 5 more years. Magically, one month later I got said letter and though it's in a different garage, my spot is actually quite close...maybe only 5 or 6 blocks away. Of course, all I really won was the right to start paying for a parking spot, but this is not nothing. I was told to show up within 2 weeks with the registration for my car and proof of my address. This posed a teeny, weeny problem. I had no registration because I had no car.
Sometimes decisions just seem to be made for us! And thanks to a friend, I did find a car. And pretty quickly, I might add. When he asked what my budget was and I told him no more than 1000 euros his faced dropped and he gently said, "that's not very much, you know".
"Yes, I know but I can barely afford that so if I can't find one for that price, I'll let the parking space go."
He put out his feelers and bless his kind, french heart, he found me a car at a scrapyard owned by a friend of his. The car had been in a teeny accident but its repair costs surpassed its value so...I got myself a lovely, little white Ford Fiesta, wearing only 72,000 kilometres and a


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Normally, I get this post in on the 30th, but life has been.. well, life, so I'm not going to paste in all of last years plans so we can see how well I did (haha) - you can check back if you want.
Achievements? Well - I ran a wargames show, and it was, if modesty permits, Pretty Damn Good. For those who haven't seen the memo - next year's - oop, THIS year's, is on September 4th. I also kept my pledge to buy no new periods/armies well into the year, until the Mantic KoW2 Kickstarter caught me (they NEVER bring a card reader to shows, so basically it was a great chance to get an elf army cheap, AND there is the argument that I already had 20 elves from a Xmas Chaos box a couple of years ago!). And we DID manage the club game for Salute - the fabulous Dambusters Challenge.
Other than that, I've had an eye inflammation since April (sheesh) which has rather put the kibosh on a lot of painting plans - it IS improving after minor eyelid surgery, so hopefully 2016 will see some stuff painted - watch this space.


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|Please help
Aug 9, 2011
Hey good doctor I must compliment you on the work that you do.You are my last resort because I have no one to talk to because I would be ridicule as to where I am from homsexuality is look down upon and I can be killed for such a lifstyle. My story to you is that I had sex with my boyfriend two months ago unprotected as he said he was hiv negative as I had seen his results.I am also negative as well.Two weeks later he was not feeling well and his doctor did another hiv test on him an he was positive. I did not ejaculated in him.We had sex twice in that night but I was not bruise or anything nor he was.Since then every week I have been doing hiv test and it has come back negative.I did the rapid test an also the ELISA test.I have been experiencing sharp pains in different parts of my body,under my arms,under my chin an muscles pains,under my feet and inside my palm of my hands.The pain comes an goes.My lymph nodes dont hurt but the pain move throughout my body.I am not on meds but I am a healthy person as well I am experiencing acute belly pains for a month an more.My diet is normal but I am very stressed.I read your articles where top a top is hardly likely could get infected but the possibilty arises as well.Do you think my chances of being infected is high risk despite my many hiv test thus far up to 8 weeks came back negative...Please answer me sir because doing hiv tests in my country is very expensive and also meds..Please sir give me some form of information. Thanks in advance
Response from Dr. McGovern
I would not keep getting frequent HIV tests, particularly if it is very expensive for you. I would wait until 12 weeks go by and then I would get another test and then another at 24 weeks. As for the belly discomfort, I would also ask for Hepatitis C antibody testing at 12 and 24 months to be certain you have not become infected with this virus.
If you have never been vaccinated for hepatitis B, I would check a Hepatitis B surface antigen test too.
Liver function tests would be helpful as well.
HIV/ HCV antibody test conculuve 6 months?? Pregnant and scared!
Cure for Inactive HBV
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Eaton Eagles defenders swoop in on a Valley View Spartan running back. Photo by
Sports Photographer Vincent Rush
Posted by professional Ohio photographer Vincent Rush of Cincinnati Sports Photography and Dayton Sports Photography.
Vince Rush can be contacted by phone at (877) 858-6295 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com or visit http://CincinnatiSportsPhotography.com Vincent Rush is a an Ohio based professional sports and special event photographer that primarily serves as a Dayton Sports Photographer and Cincinnati Sports photographer.


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'The Mummy Returns' on HBO with new contests
MUMBAI: Movie channel HBO, which brings Hollywood to our homes, is now promising to take us to Hollywood.
The channel plans to premiere The Mummy Returns, (a sequel to its last year's top grosser The Mummy ) on 22 October at 9 pm. And along with the premiere, it has clubbed an attractive contest called 'HBO The Mummy Returns Ticket to Hollywood Contest'.
To participate in the contest, viewers have to watch The Mummy Returns on the channel, and answer a question that will be flashed in the middle of the movie.
A still from 'The Mummy'
The contest prizes include a return ticket for two to Hollywood, LG DVD Movie Stations, LG Flatron TVs, as well as other exclusive HBO merchandise.
A company release states that the contest has a multi-pronged, interactive solution for the viewers. It enables viewers to respond via Internet or SMS.
SMS can be sent to HBO at 8558. Viewers can log on to www.hboasia.com or contests2win.com for more details.
HBO is promoting the contest through print ads, TV, outdoors, theatres and radio.
Also Read:
HBO looking for 'The Mummy' magic to strike twice


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Saturday, May 7, 2011
The "Thomas Table"
The the roof over the first floor was chemically weathered copper for the 1:12 version we made in class. It simply isn't possible to do that in 1:144, so I used .005" styrene with .010"X .010" ribs. I painted it black, then added a dark brown wash with just a tiny bit of metallic bronze in it , then a verdigris color wash.
The side walls were plastered in the 1:12 scale version; I used gesso for the 1:144 scale version.
My favorite trick learned in the class was making the drain pipe at the bottom of the downspout out of masking tape. Just a few wraps of 3/4" tape, with more wraps of a narrow strip of tape at the top, some paint, and voila! It looked just like the real thing! So that's what I have Noel making on the table.
This isn't quite finished - there will be a Guild School mug full of paint brushes at the back left where that empty spot is. I'm still waiting for it to come, so I'm putting this aside for a bit to start putting the kits for my class together.
13 comments:
- AnonymousMay 7, 2011 at 6:47 PM
Wow! Your work is amazing!ReplyDelete
This is breathtaking in its realism and perfect detail. Wonderful, wonderful work!ReplyDelete
This is so amazing. I love it.ReplyDelete
Wow! I love the attention to detail. That aged roof looks amazing! I'm in your cottage class, and I'm getting even more excited about June with every project you post.ReplyDelete
Wow,this is really magnificent !!! JeannetteReplyDelete
You have certainly proved you deserve your IGMA cube.ReplyDelete
this is amazing... beatiful job!ReplyDelete
AAAH! What a wonderful idea and you have done sucha marvelous job on it! Exquisite and enlarging the pics it gets better and better. No doubt it will do very well in auction. Can't wait to see it.ReplyDelete
Nell, What an incredible piece of art!! You have the most amazing details on that little building and the table!!! I love it!ReplyDelete
Estoy maravillada!! Un gran trabajo, felicidades.ReplyDelete
Un beso
This is really impressive - looks 1:1! Great job!ReplyDelete
felicidades quedo hermosa, delicado trabajo, saludos desde Panamá.ReplyDelete
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Product Description
Bold and edgy designs define the Schutz brand. With silhouettes ranging from daring stilettos to natty flats, the Brazilian-based label has shoes for any occasion, making it the go-to for fashion insiders. Even style heroine Olivia Palermo has been spotted in the 'Irma' pumps more than once.
Schutz red Sancha pumps
Heel measures approximately 110mm/ 4.5 inches
Pointed toe
Slip on


text: The CERN httpd User's guide in section 4.7 mentions that cern_httpd has extensive built-in suffinx definitions. Can anyone tell me where these are listed? I had to add an AddType definition for .hqx files whereas I thought it could have quite possibly been built in. ----------------------------- Monica Berko Email:email@example.com Centre for Networked Information and Publishing Phone: (06) 279 8114 Australian National University Fax: (06) 279 8120


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PlotSandra Carpenter (Lucille Ball) is an American who came to London to perform in a show but now is working as a taxi dancer. She is upset to find out that a friend, a dancer named Lucy Barnard (Tanis Chandler), is missing and believed to be the latest victim of the notorious "Poet Killer," who lures victims with ads in the newspaper's personal columns and sends poems to taunt the police.
Scotland Yard Inspector Harley Temple (Charles Coburn) asks if Sandra would be willing to work undercover to help find her missing friend and the killer. He sees first-hand how observant she is and gives her a temporary police identification card and a gun. Sandra is asked to answer personal ads, with a Yard officer named H.R. Barrett (George Zucco) always nearby, just in case.
By coincidence she meets the dashing man-about-town nightclub owner Robert Fleming (George Sanders), who at first wished to hire her for his stage revue but now wants to pursue a romance. In the meantime, Sandra answers an ad placed by Charles van Druten (Boris Karloff), a former fashion designer who is now mentally imbalanced. Her bodyguard Barrett has to come to her rescue.
She also needs to be saved, this time by Fleming, from a mysterious figure named Mr. Moryani (Joseph Calleia). He apparently recruits young women and whisks them off to South America by offering them a promising opportunity in a new land while, in reality, having something more sinister in mind.
Fleming shares a stately home with Julian Wilde (Sir Cedric Hardwicke), his business partner and best friend. Fleming ultimately does win Sandra's heart, even becoming engaged to her. Inspector Temple thanks her for her efforts and even agrees to come to their engagement party.
During the party at the beautiful home where she will soon live, however, Sandra accidentally discovers evidence that links Fleming to the Poet Killer's crimes, including a distinctive bracelet worn by her friend Lucy.
Fleming is placed under arrest. Circumstantial evidence mounts up, although he adamantly denies any involvement in the crime. Sandra believes him, but the Yard does not.
Lucy's body is found in the river. Wilde assures his incarcerated friend that he will hire the best possible attorney and do everything possible to clear him. It occurs to Inspector Temple that it is actually Wilde who fancies poetry and is in a position to have been the killer.
Just before he can flee, Wilde is visited by Sandra at home. He is secretly obsessed with her, just as he possibly was with the other women he abducted. Wilde at first expresses his desire for Sandra, then removes his scarf and prepares to strangle her. Scotland Yard's men break through the windows to rescue her just in time.
Fleming is set free, and he and Sandra toast with champagne to better days ahead.
- George Sanders as Robert Fleming
- Lucille Ball as Sandra Carpenter
- Charles Coburn as Inspector Harley Temple
- Boris Karloff as Charles van Druten
- Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Julian Wilde
- Joseph Calleia as Dr. Nicholas Moryani
- Alan Mowbray as Lyle Maxwell alias Maxim Duval
- George Zucco as Officer H. R. Barrett
- Robert Coote as Detective
- Alan Napier as Inspector Gordon
- Tanis Chandler as Lucy Barnard


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Here we sit under 8 inches 0f fresh snow! It was 66 degrees here yesterday. Argh! I had to post this picture of our Dusty Bear looking longingly out our front window. This is absolutely her most favorite weather. This morning when I let her out, instead of doing her business, she just proceeded to lie down and enjoy the snowy, cold goodness.
Notice all the snow on her coat.....LOL


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Every morning I wake up to the pitter-pat of little feet walking across the tile floor of the den and then a wee little 'mommy?' once you enter our room. You almost never make it to our room without me waking up first, but the times that you do usually make me jump out of my skin and then I feel like an asshole because I know when I gasp awake it probably scares the crap out of you.
This week I have learned that you hold a grudge.
A few days ago our dog Miles ran in front of you outside on the patio and knocked you down, giving you a pretty nasty skinned knee. Since then, he has gotten the cold shoulder (you won't play ball with him, no matter how many times he drops his ball at your feet) as well as just your anger. (Every now and then you look down at your knee, scowl and say, "Mean Miles. I think I hit him." To which I reply, yes he was mean to not look where he was going and knock you down, but no, you cannot hit him.
I'm not sure how long this grudge is going to last, but I feel like it's possible you're going to hold on to this a while.
|ball buddies no more.
"Where we going?" "Why we going?" "Which way we going?" (I don't get this one-you want directions??) "Think we pass a combine?" "Think combine be cutting cotton?" "Think we pass combine on way home?" "Where we going?" "Think grandpa's poop smell stinky?" "Think you poop stinky?" "Think you play with me when we get home?" "Think we play cars?" "Think gammy's poop stinky?" "Where we going?"
All of those would occur in about thirty seconds, no joke. I literally tire myself out simply talking as much as it requires to answer your questions.
But, you also say a lot of things that are really hilarious. The other day, we had to dash inside twice while playing outside because you thought you needed to poop, only to have false alarms. The third time we went in, I suggested that you just sit for a while on the potty, because sometimes pooping takes a while. You replied,
"I TWY make poop, but my booty-butt NO LISTEN TO ME!!!"
I know the feeling?
I'm also trying to figure out how you could possibly have seen the movie Borat, because you sound just like him sometimes. You have this way of saying, "HuuuuH?" in a sing-song way just like him after you announce something.
"This big motorcycle I have 'ere, HuuuuH?" "We go to park today, HuuuuH?" I mean you sound like a middle-eastern street vendor. But it's funny.
You have also slyly learned to say, "I ove my family" on a regular basis after I explained to you that sometimes people cry when they are really happy, because you notice that it makes me tear up a little every time you say it.
You are also very excited to know that you are going to have a little brother. You are already calling him Ari. I'm not totally sure why you have promised yourself a brother, since we keep trying to tell you that it might be a girl, but I guess we'll see how it plays out. Love you G baby.


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Web design and graphics using Photoshop, Illustrator, HTML, and Flash
9-1999 to present: The Screenhouse, Boston, MA Web E-Commerce Company Production grqphics, web design using Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash
11-1986 to 9-1999 Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, MA: Museum Security and Fine Arts Library, published department newsletter
List of Graduate courses taken since 1996 at Harvard University Extension School
CSCI E-14 Understanding and Developing Multimedia Spring 1997 4 units. Graduate credit Scott Traylor, BA, President Creating effective multimedia that combines sound, graphics, text, video, and animation with interactivity is a process that involves skill, planning, and practice. In this course, students will develop the skills necessary for producing interactive multimedia projects using professional authoring tools, programs, and sound and video editing packages. Software graphic applications used include Macromedia Director, SoundEdit 16, Adobe Photoshop, and Premiere. Issues surrounding design concepts, computer configuration, performance, single platform versus cross-platform use and development, and file size will be examined. Students will produce self-running interactive presentations that demonstrate their understanding of p production from concept through completion. Prerequisites: sss understanding of the Macintosh or Windows operating systems, and any paint or drawing programs.
CSCI E-16 Digital Media Production Fall 1998 Patrick J. Liddy, BA, Principal, White Heat Media. 4 units. Graduate credit This course will explore the way in which new media artists developers use a variety of digital media types to create an interactive experience. Students will learn how production tools are are used to create graphics, sound, video, and a animation for use in interactive applications. Prerequisite: CSCI E-14
CSCI E-12 Introduction to World Wide Web Site Development Spring 1998 4 units. Graduate credit James H. Scott, BS, Senior Programmer/Analyst, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Computer Services, Harvard University. The first half of this course will be devoted to publishing web p ages &basic webmastering, UNIX web server configuration & maintenance, and tools and utilities. Internet security and advanced topics such as database usage for site maintenance a and construction, as well as database access and CGI code, will be discussed. Prerequisites: some UNIX experience and p programming experience in either C, C++, or Perl.
CSCI E-22 Document Image Processing and Workflow Fall 1997 Bijoy M. Misra, PhD, Consultant. 4 units. Graduate credit This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of document image processing and how image processing is used t the workflow. Students will learn the techniques of digitizing from various media, such as printed and handwritten letters, forms, pictures, slides, audio, video, & voice. The principles of image enhancement, storage, recognition, transport, and retrieval will be studied. Concepts of workflow in various business and office environments will be covered. Color, c composition, layout, and publishing will be discussed. Prerequisite: basic familiarity with Macintosh or Windows Environments
CREA E-130 Desktop Publishing Spring 1997 Workshop. 4 units. Undergraduate credit Prerequisite a basic knowledge of the Macintosh computer environment is essential a knowledge of PageMaker is helpful. This course is designed to provide students with a basic foundation in the strategic, technical, and creative issues related to the many aspects of electronic publishing. The basic core of desktop publishing is surrounded by exercises and projects in interface design, multimedia, home page development, and 3-D design and animation. The overall mission is to help students identify the simplest and most effective tools for producing a printed or electronic publication.
CSCI E10 virtual Communites on the Internet Spring 1999 The Internet is host to millions of human beings who exchange e-mail, post articles to Usenet Newsgroups, and work and play together in on-line Virtual Communities without ever meeting face to face. Such virtual communities have existed for years. This hands-on course offers an historical overview of the virtual community, and a chance to get involved personally with both text-based Multi-User Simulation Environments (MUSEs) and graphics-based virtual worlds. Lecture topics will include educational uses of virtual communities by children and adults; "netiquette" and other issues of virtual self-government; Artificial Intelligent Agents that simulate human behavior or contribute specialized services; issues of security, privacy, and anonymity; and guest lectures by founders and chroniclers of assorted on-line communities. Class assignments will require a substantial amount of on-line time connected to the Internet. Students should be prepared to sign up with an Internet Service Provider for the duration of the course, and will need a Macintosh or Windows (Internet-capable) computer with a modem.
CSCI E-17 Advanced Topics in Multimedia Development
Marc Johnson, AB, Principal, Marcato Multimedia.
Fall 1999 This course covers intermediate to advanced topics in the multimedia development process, approaching multimedia as a combination of arts and computer science. Students will learn about interactivity and programming issues, including object-oriented and modular, reusable project design. The design, creation, and delivery of multimedia content across a variety of platforms and delivery systems, including CD-ROM and the World Wide Web, will be covered. Students will develop solutions involving user interface design, project architecture, cross-platform considerations, color management, animation, and digital audio and video. Other topics include QuickTime VR, Shockwave, and database connectivity.
Also taken courses at Harvard in Drawing, Photography, British Satire, Journalism, Graphic Design, and Essay Writing.
Personal Home Page


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I've been busy working on my sewing vintage apron book and it is turning out to be a very fun and CUTE book! Here are more little snippits to tempt you!
One of these is a placemat and the other is the waist band of the matching apron. There is also an oven mitt that matches this set. I think this is one of my favorites so far!
Although, I also really like the apron, below....I can only show a little bit...but, there is also another part of this apron in a previous post! can you figure it out??? Here is another peek:


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NEW YORK — Commissioner Daniel Nigro says the Fire Department of New York will never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by 12 firefighters half a century ago.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held Monday at the site of the fire on East 23rd Street in Manhattan — the deadliest day in the department's history until 9/11.
Nigro paid tribute to "the heroes of that awful day and the families they left behind."
The FDNY Foundation is launching the 23rd Street Fire Legacy Fund in their honor.
The fire on Oct. 17, 1966 began in an art store cellar. Firefighters were trying to reach it through the smoke-filled drugstore next door when the floor caved in.
A high-rise apartment building now occupies the site.
The department lost 343 members on Sept. 11, 2001.


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Posting ID : A1068510564
Date Posted : 2015-08-19
Category : Food Beverage Hospitality
Hiring Immediately!!!
Caboose Brewing Company in Vienna, VA has opened it's doors & we are packed!! We are currently looking to fill the roles of Host/Hostess and Busser. Please email resume or stop on by to fill out an application.
This is a great place to work in a very friendly environment. We'd love to have you on the team.


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2017 Honda Odyssey
Welcome to lacuocapasticciona.com at this time you might be opening a submit titled 2017 Honda Odyssey. For these of you who are at present searching for references automobiles that will likely be launched in 2017 or 2018 you'll be able to look at this web site. 2017 Honda Odyssey is one of the automobiles to be launched in the next 12 months among the many many sorts and varieties of varied brands of automobiles that will promote the brand new products with the various benefits of every. if you wish to purchase a new automotive like this 2017 Honda Odyssey perhaps you want to contemplate a number of issues before deciding to purchase it. Many people dream of shopping for a new automotive, partly as a result of they assume, sometimes wrongly, that it will likely be completely reliable and they'll never have an actual problems with it. While a new automotive generally could be very reliable and may have a producer's guarantee for a interval of years, some individuals do have problems with new automobiles, though fortunately it's fairly uncommon. Different individuals will purchase a new automotive merely for the fun of getting the latest mannequin, and due to that sure feel that a new automotive has, that used automobiles merely lack..
Honda 2017 Odyssey Exterior Interior Design And Release Date inside 2017 Honda Odyssey
If somebody is intent on buying a new automotive, then one of the issues that they really should keep in mind is literally when to purchase it, i.e. at what time of 12 months. This in some methods goes in opposition to the grain of someone wanting to purchase a new automotive and the whole sense of impulse buying that goes with it. If somebody is prepared to bide their time, they can often get a new automotive at a significantly higher worth than they might do at another time of 12 months. There are lots of causes for this, but perhaps the obvious one is that all manufacturers and automotive gross sales have an annual cycle when new automobiles are introduced. It is a part of the momentum of any manufacturing base, and the automotive/auto industry is commonly at the forefront. Releasing a new mannequin with new features and new toys, as a part of it, is a vital a part of producing curiosity and keenness in the mannequin and hopefully producing gross sales. It follows closely that when a new mannequin is introduced, the worth of what was the mannequin beforehand immediately loses a lot of its enchantment.There's a lot to be said for individuals to use this as a chance to purchase their new automotive, i.e. what is now the outdated mannequin, as soon as the brand new mannequin is introduced. As soon as the brand new mannequin comes out, the dealership may have a list or stock of the outdated mannequin that they are going to be keen or determined eliminate. Anybody who understands the mechanics or finances of shopping for a new automotive will respect that a purchaser has considerable leverage at this level. There may be also another really good cause for doing this. When any producer introduces a new mannequin there is an obvious sense of pleasure, but there can also be teething problems which will take a while to iron out. This is most clearly seen in the software industry, where it's often a extremely good concept to attend a 12 months or two before buying a new computer or upgrading to a new operating system just because it takes a little bit of time to take care of any problems or bugs there may be. This applies also very a lot to the automotive/auto industry where it will possibly take a sure amount of time for a mannequin to stabilise and grow to be embedded in the manufacturers portfolio of vehicles. It is usually worth being aware that if a dealership has stock that they should get rid at any given time they may offer significant financial savings through various inducements, loyalty provides and incentives to purchase. These might or might not run at the side of a new mannequin being produced, but they can even have sure particular occasions of 12 months when they should unencumber their stock. These occasions of 12 months are normally opportunities for excellent financial savings. As soon as an individual has determined what type of automotive they need to purchase it's worth researching what occasions of 12 months a producer or dealership is likely to offer theses financial savings after which be prepared to attend until such a time in the calendar to buy the car.
2017 Honda Odyssey have the latest designs and concepts like a futuristic automotive that should prioritize comfort and passenger security in driving anyplace, anytime. 2017 Honda Odyssey hopefully some photos that we present can provide an image of the automotive according to your comfort.


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What lies beneath… Size does matter
There used to be a time when lingerie was considered a hush, hush conversation that well-brought-up young ladies absolutely did not discuss in company. But this is the 21st century and with a little help from some great ad campaigns, i.e. Victoria's Secret and Marilyn Monroe, the world has started to embrace the concept that 'it was what was on the inside that mattered – not the outside' (literally).
The lingerie business boomed from being discreetly tucked away in the corner of a store to smack-bang in the middle of everywhere creating a lifestyle around it that made it more of a statement as opposed to a necessity. Lingerie went from demure and delicate pastels to super sexy blacks, hot pinks, fuschia's, emerald greens, turquoise blues (and let's not forget the reds). Bras went from being basic matter of fact, practical underwear from Fruit of the Loom to Balconettes, Bandeaus, push-ups, multiways, racer backs, stick-ons and the whole nine yards (not literal) all the way from La Perla in Italy to Victoria's Secret in New York.
In an industry that is evolving rapidly in terms of design and marketing concepts, brands in the industry have found that they have to start thinking outside the box every single time in order to stay one step ahead of the competition and as with all things '21st century', lingerie manufacturers have turned from lace and satin to technology in order to push the envelope a little further.
Gone are the days that you walked into store tried on 15 different things until you found the perfect fit. You can still do all that; but with just a click of a button.
True & Co. is an online company that helps women get the best fit for their bras. The website works off a questionnaire where customers are asked a series of questions, an algorithm suggests 30 possible options from which the customer chooses five to be sent home without charge and eventually pays for those that she wants to keep. In the two years since the company started collecting data, the developers have been hard at work trying to piece together the information they have received to date to help narrow down to the best match and with revenues up 600% in a few months, this goes to show that research always pays off.
If you think you've just about heard the most unusual way to buy lingerie, think again; ThirdLove is an app developed by former Google employee Heidi Zak after realizing how body measurement, even those taken by professionals, are extremely fickle and can easily ruin your attempt to find the best fitting lingerie. ThirdLove's patented computer vision technology allows your iPhone to act as a body scanner to measure your body and after taking pictures of your front and profile, the app works out your bra size…for the perfect bra.
Have we caught your attention yet?
A company called Curvessense solved the ultimate problem that almost every woman has either learned to live with or live without – an underwire! The bra is built with nylon polymers that are sculpted to the woman's chest and remembers her shape in order to adapt the customer's exact needs. Priced at around $200 for a bra, $120 for panties and $500 for bodysuits, this upscale brand is changing the game!
Well ladies, all said and done, I love what technology is offering here and I appreciate the options, but it will be a cold day in hell the day I let technology take away the fun, mayhem and therapy only a giggly shopping spree with the girls can deliver!


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There are always the early trailblazers in government that embrace the latest innovations in ways that serve as a case study for other agencies.
A prime example is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an agency continually on the forefront. In fact, for its early adoption of the cloud, last week, the FCC was selected as a 2017 CIO 100 honoree, the second time the agency has earned the global accolade under the leadership of Chief Information Officer David Bray.
In 2015, we ran a GovTransformer story about how the FCC announced its "all in" strategy for the cloud. This included a dual-pronged effort to physically move servers out of FCC's current headquarters while modernizing current and future applications for cloud use. Fast-forward to today and his year's award recognizes the agency's sustained and successful shift.
"It's truly a team honor," Bray told FCW. "We don't have anything at all on-prem at this point … an eighth year of no budget increase, we're showing we can still do things."
Bray is bringing is cloud-forward vision to the entire U.S. government by chairing the GSA's Federal Cloud Center of Excellence. "We showed that we could fund additional IT on a flat budget," Bray added in the FCW article. "Now the push is to demonstrate that other agencies can do that too. If the government put a man on the moon in less than nine years, surely we can get 75 percent of systems to the cloud in 2.5 years."
Moving forward, Bray plans on issuing a cloud playbook this summer, where recommendations will be provided to inform future government-wide cloud policies.
For being the driving force of the government to effectively adopt the cloud, we are naming David Bray as this week's GovTransformer. Stay tuned for our ongoing coverage of other federal executives and their agencies that are truly transforming how they support mission goals through the most effective use of IT.


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Have you heard of the 101 Things in 1001 Days Challenge featured on the Day Zero Project? I came across it recently on several websites and knew immediately that I wanted to do it.
What I will be doing:
Completing 101 specific, measurable, preset tasks that I deemed for myself for a period of 1001 days.
Why 1001 days is the time frame:
The key to accomplishing goals is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 days (approximately 2.75 years) is a better period of time than one year. It allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as international trips, continuing education, and milestone life events.
When I will be doing it:
July 25, 2016 to April 22, 2019
I will continuously update this page so you can see my progress. And I will write individual posts. Hopefully, I will motivate you to do the challenge too. If so, let me know because that is #79 on my list!
My 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days
Updated 3-26-18
- Learn and practice the basics of Pilates
- Attend an official Food and Wine Festival
- Hang out with just my Daddy for a day
- Gain 1,000 blog subscribers
- Learn to locate all of the countries on a world map
- Go on another field trip with my son's class
- Finish Christmas shopping by November 30th at least once
- Learn how to bake
- Land a book deal with a large publisher
- Complete two 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles with my son
- Update my son's scrapbooks
- Put $5 into savings account for every goal completed
- Write a list of 101 things that I accomplished prior to this list
- Visit New York City NEW YORK
- Publish Book #2
- Publish Book #3
- Lose 40 lbs-lost 10 so far
- Gain 10K Twitter followers
- Host a fabulous 10th birthday celebration for my son-DONE!
- Learn how to french braid my hair
- Create up-to-date photo print albums
- Start my own business
- Tread deep water for 1 minute
- Go on another girls trip
- Make a television promotional appearance
- Make a radio promotional appearance
- Visit Los Angeles
- Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days are over
- Begin work on a short story
- Attend a writer's conference
- Gain 10K Instagram followers
- Make the NY Times Best Sellers list
- Watch a movie from every year I've been alive
- Take an online class
- See 32 movies in the theater-I have seen 3
- Read 64 books-1 so far
- Take a trip with my sister
- Do something unique on my 45th birthday-DONE! I did an Instagram LIVE video for the first time
- Visit friends in Atlanta
- Gain 2K YouTube subscribers
- Paint another canvas
- Make 6 dishes that I have never made before-Seafood Paella is the only one so far
- Go on a wine tour in California
- Upgrade my blog site platform-DONE! I upgraded to Customizr Pro for WordPress on 9/8/16
- Take a professional family photo
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
- Participate in three 5K Walk/Runs
- Visit Paris FRANCE
- Attend a Broadway show in New York
- Drink 500 gallons of water
- Embrace a new hobby
- Leave a large tip for great service
- Take a wine tasting class
- Learn CPR
- Improve my credit score
- Have my portrait painted
- Visit Washington D.C.
- Become a member of Toastmasters International
- Say yes to 5 things that I would typically say no to
- Perform 32 random acts of kindness
- Complete a 365 day photo challenge-started #CY365 on January 1, 2018
- Find a personally inspirational quote and work it into a piece of art or home decor
- Go vegetarian for a month
- Learn to locate all 50 US states on a map-I got 31 correct on my first attempt
- Teach my son how to do laundry-Done!
- Do volunteer work as a family
- Speak in front of a crowd of over 100
- Take a photography class
- Complete 3 DIY hardware projects
- Cook 5 meals from 5 different countries
- Attend a costume party
- Attend a local art show
- Join a book club
- Attend a blogging conference
- Visit 5 historical sites
- Go on a picnic
- Host a dinner party
- Grow something from a seed
- Inspire someone to make a 101/1001 list
- Learn 50 new things by clicking the random articles button on Wikipedia
- Create another 101/1001 list to do in the near future
- Donate money to charity
- Watch 64 movies with my son-5 so far
- Buy a DSLR camera
- Find a church home for my family
- Go to a live sporting event
- Join 2 local civic organizations
- Tie a note to a balloon and let it go
- Try 50 different types of beer
- Hit 1,000 page views in a day on my blog
- Serve as a mentor for at least 2 girls
- Enter 320 online giveaways-23 so far
- Be featured in a magazine
- Cook with 6 spices that I have never used before
- Create a new vision board
- Start a wine collection
- Buy a Michael Kors handbag
- Upgrade my laptop
- Make a list of 5 successful people and learn their habits
- Organize the documents on both of my computers
- Do a major purge for all of my e-mails
Had you heard of this challenge already?
Does it interest you?
What would you put on your list?
See ya later,


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We are in a pickle. At least we were until President Trump stirred the pot and decided to address the trade war with China that has been going on for more than a decade, encouraged and abetted by former President Obama and his religious belief that the biggest threat to civilization is not nuclear holocaust, chemical poisoning of people and the earth or super-volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural phenomena, but climate change, all man-made of course.
Let us compare the economies of China and the U.S. in raw numbers.
1. Concrete. China produced 51.4% of the world's cement in 2015, USA produced 1.8%. China's production was almost 30 times larger.
It takes a lot of concrete to build artificial islands so they can take control of the South China Sea.
2 Steel production. China produced 50.3% of the world's crude Steel in 2015, USA produced 4.9%. China's production was over 20 times larger. Some of this steel was dumped below production cost to crush our domestic low end steel industry. An example: Rolled steel to make steel cans were exported at about $200 a ton, the production cost in the U.S. is more like $400 a ton.
3. Aluminum (or Aluminium as the British and IUPAC call it) China produced 41% of the world's raw aluminum in 2010, USA produced 4.5%. China's production was nearly 10 times larger.
This is easily rectified. Aluminum is produced where electricity is abundant and cheap, like in Norway and Iceland. Aluminum is produced whenever there is excess electric capacity, never on peak hours. Even here China dumps their excess Aluminum.
4. Coal. China burned 51.2% of the world's coal in 2012, USA produced 12.5%. China's production was more than four times larger.
This of course with the Paris accord in mind. U.S. and the European countries are to limit their emissions and slowly diminish them, down to a per capita emission comparable to the mid 1800's, while China, being a developing country is allowed to increase their emissions until 2030, and then stabilize them, not decrease them.
If this seems like we have already sold out to China, it is nothing compared to
5. Rare Earth Metals. First, rare earth metals re not rare at all, they exist in small quantities together with Thorium and sometimes Uranium wherever other metals are mined.
The Lanthanides occur in quantity in Monazite, a byproduct of mining Phosphates, but also as a byproduct of mining Titanium, and even from some Iron ores. The rare earth metals are free to begin extraction if it was not for one thing, they also contain Thorium, and Thorium is radio-active, so in the mid 1980's the NRC and IAEA reclassified Monazite and anything containing Thorium as a "Source Material" and after that it became too costly to comply with all the regulations for nuclear material, so all production of rare earth minerals ceased in the U.S.
China saw an opportunity to grab the world market for Rare Earth Metals and is now controlling about 94% of the supply of all rare earth metals.
So what are rare earth metals used for?
China now has a de facto monopoly on all usages of rare earth metals, and in the case of war or an embargo, not only are our precious cell phones and computers in jeopardy, so is our defense, night vision goggles, aircraft engines, navigation systems, laser guidance, just to name a few uses.
And not only that, we import the completed parts from China, even for our most sophisticated military equipment, such as the F35 aircraft, after telling the Chinese how to make the components. The very same components are now in China's version of the F35, still under development, but in a year or so China will have their faithful copies made!
This is clearly unsustainable, so in 2014 Congress tried to pass HR 4883 and S 2006 to remedy the situation, but the bills got killed in review by none other than the defense department, citing National Security!
We are no longer under the Obama "Strategic Patience" doctrine, so an updated version of these bills need to be introduced ASAP, or we will be on the hook from China forever!
After all this, the current spat with North Korea seems like a nuisance.


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Sauerkraut – a Microcosm of Cultures
The early settlers to Pennsylvania were mostly from Germany. Colonial Philadelphia, one of the biggest cities in the British empire, is nowadays remembered as a hub of the American Revolution. It was thriving; Benjamin Franklin was printing leaflets while the city went up around him. But before all this there was a Quaker governor of the state who decided to let in persecuted Anabaptists from Germany. This sect of ultra orthodox conservative Protestants were called the Mennonites. The Mennonites had earlier split off into the Amish, forming their own communities; it was these communities that moved into Pennsylvania. Amish believed in isolation from the rest of the sinful world, cutting themselves off from modern conveniences. That may have been easier in 1800, but it's an ethos that has persevered to this day.
The result is that a few hours drive from the glistening hub of sin, technology and progress that is New York City, sits a community of farmers who have changed little in the past 150 years.
Change, however, is inevitable. Culture and language will always develop. The German spoken by the original settlers has become a hybrid language called Pennsylvania Dutch, no relation to New Amsterdam to the west, but from the word Deutsche meaning German. The Amish have slowly been using washing machines, powering their farm tools with propane generators and slowly moving towards modern technology. Sharing the inherent ability of language to adapt, is food. As the Amish tend to decry visual arts as a waste of time, the best way to observe and experience the culture and understand its history, is by looking at its food.
The land in Pennsylvania is hard, it requires work to get vegetables out of the soil, and the staple crop is corn. This is in harsh contrast to the Rhineland vineyards and the fertile soil of the Palatinate. The Amish food system had to adapt. German recipes were pared down to their simplest form, and the ingredients were substituted with what was at hand. The result is a fairly typical rural cuisine but with the twist of a German culinary tradition that never made its way into the age of refrigeration.
The hams and salted beef are combined with sauerkraut and oatmeal, the scrapple of pig's head is mixed with cornmeal and made into fritters. In a community where refrigeration was a relatively recent turn of events, curing and preserving food remains incredibly important to the cuisine. As the rest of Pennsylvania took their cue from the smoked meats of the south as a method of preservation, the Pennsylvania Dutch gleefully piled salt and sage on their beef or pork, mixing it with innards to create sausages that, while not entirely German, were entirely American.
Typical Amish cooking completely inhabits natural approaches to health. No artificial chemicals are used, only what they can make themselves. This incorporates pickling, salting and preserving. The most common pickle is, of course, sauerkraut. The difference in pickling various vegetables all comes down to the ratio of vinegar, salt, and water. Vegetables that have a fairly thick structure need to be broken down, things like cucumbers are mostly water, so the ratio of vinegar to salt would be much more vinegar to much less water. Things like cabbage, as for sauerkraut, can use heating to break down fully, or time and salt but this was not common in Europe. As an example:
The Amish Version of Sauerkraut from Cooking with the Horse and Buggy People is as follows:
Shred cabbage like for slaw. Press tight in quart jars. Fill jars with boiling water. For 1 qt. add 2 t. vinegar, 1 t. salt and 1 t. white sugar. Cover and let set for 6 weeks.
The German method is slightly more involved. The typical recipe would go something like this:
Shred cabbage. Toss with salt and allow to sit for 45 minutes or until a large amount of water has been drawn from the cabbage. Massage the cabbage, squeeze it and get as much liquid from it as possible. Then place the cabbage and brine into an airtight jar and allow it to ferment for a week or two.
What is the difference in these recipes? Well, the Amish method adds vinegar and sugar instead of allowing the liquid from the cabbage to do the pickling. In essence the Amish are creating a brine of salt, sugar, vinegar and hot water then adding it to the cabbage and allowing the bacteria to grow and ferment over time. The heat is the main catalyst for both bacterial growth and breaking down the tough cabbage. In the German version the cabbage is broken down with the addition of salt, which draws the moisture out. Note the huge difference in preservation time. The Amish let their cabbage sit for 6 weeks before eating it, whereas the more typical German recipe simply waits for, typically, a week. Based on these recipes we can assume, correctly, that the Amish sauerkraut has a milder flavor than its German cousin.
Why did the Amish start boiling the water to add to the cabbage? The Amish sauerkraut method is quicker to do, the time from cabbage to jar is much less, and the shelf life is extended considerably. The German method has a more time consuming prep process, and is better suited to the world of refrigeration and shorter patience. The Amish recipe is an adaption of a classic to better suit the needs of a place without refrigeration and a real need to preserve the crop in a more efficient way. They may refuse modern technology, but the Amish are evolving and adapting, creating better ways to do things, finding new solutions to almost obsolete questions.
I hope you enjoyed this story! I am developing a delicious reuben with the sauerkraut I told you about in this blog, so stop by your local Atlanta Bread and check it out as soon as it's available. In the meantime, we would love to hear your feedback so please visit our Facebook and Twitter and let us know what you would like to hear about in future blog posts.
– John
John Hutt has been a chef all of his professional life and has traveled around the world to experience new cuisines and cultures. Based in New York and Atlanta, he is the head chef of Atlanta Bread where he is currently developing exciting new menu items while also refining many current offerings. He is also a writer, focusing mostly on contemporary art.
Main photo taken by Konstantin Sergeyev.


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Eagles keep up offense but need more D
With eight goals in their first two games, the New Life Academy Eagles aren't lacking for offense.
The defense, on the other hand, is definitely a work in progress. While scoring eight, the Eagles boys soccer team has allowed six goals in two games.
New Life and visiting Nova Classical Academy fought to a 3-3 tie in overtime Friday in a match at Bielenberg Sports Center.
Coupled with a 5-4 win last Thursday in the opener, it gave the Eagles a 1-0-1 mark for the first week of the season.
"Defensively we just can't give up three goals," Eagles head coach Robb Rupp said. "We scored five yesterday and three today, but then we gave up seven in the last two days, too. That's not going to work. We have to clean up our defense a bit more and be disciplined in our positioning, pressing the ball when we need to, our outside mids need to get back. We need to defend as a team and not let our back line do all the work."
Nova took a 2-1 lead at halftime. Nate Mueller scored New Life's lone goal in the first 40 minutes.
The Eagles then powered in back-to-back goals by Henry George and Charlie Tourek within a minute of each other in the second half to take a 3-2 lead. But just like the Eagles did, Nova got the equalizer quickly to tie the game at 3-all with about 10 minutes remaining.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the final 10 minutes of regulation, or in overtime, although the Eagles had several good scoring chances.
"When we got possession, we used the possession well," Rupp said. "We got it out wide, we got into our positions and we played well.
"I think what hurt us is that we started trying to play direct, where we just knock the ball over the top and try and get something that way and that really didn't work for us. But when we slowed it down and played more of a possession game, that really worked."
Evan Atkinson and Johnny Lassen had assists for New Life.
New Life continued its season-opening tour of St. Paul schools, hosting Humboldt/Open Word Learning Tuesday and St. Paul Highland Park on Wednesday.


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If your mother is anything like mine, dinner always includes something home grown, whether freshly picked from the garden or pulled from the shelf of canned goods put up in the last season. One of my favorite family meal memories is the year of the "big, fat, ugly beans". It's a long story, but in… Continue reading {Eat Local} For Mother's Sake
Tag: Tour D'Coop
Beat the Gray Gloomies with Pretty Posies
This hasn't been our "normal" Spring. Cooler with more gray than blue skies. At least it feels that way. The one bright spot I've found is in the selection of fresh cut flowers available at the markets this season. I couldn't resist a big mixed bouquet of white ranunculus, purple tulips, iris and sweet peas… Continue reading Beat the Gray Gloomies with Pretty Posies
{Eat Local} From Farm to Market
The big Piedmont Farm Tour weekend is upon us once again! Farm fans will pack cars filled with family and friends April 27th & 28th (1 to 5 pm both days) and travel around the Triangle to see working farms. The "connection" between farmer, farm and market becomes clearer as we see exactly where and how our food… Continue reading {Eat Local} From Farm to Market
{Eat Local} Ready. Set. Market.
This is it farmers' market fans! Spring has sprung and many of our area markets start the 2013 season with earlier hours this week. Are you ready!? Are your reusable totes clean and yearning to be filled with fresh, locally grown produce? And don't forget the cash - smaller bills are especially helpful when making… Continue reading {Eat Local} Ready. Set. Market.


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Only Sport Court can deliver the "original and authentic" backyard game court, a registered brand that's become known throughout the world for innovation, quality and performance. They invented the concept way back in 1974, and have continually developed and supported the industry's leading products through rigorous testing and research. Don't be fooled by those who claim that "they're just as good as Sport Court."
Sport Court athletic surfaces have been recognized by many leading sports organizations throughout the world. Sport Court has been the official playing surface of USA Volleyball for the past 18 years, and has been the only court surface chosen by the Men's and Women's NCAA Volleyball Championships for the last 16 years! In addition, in 2008 Sport Court was named the "Official Supplier for Futsal Surfaces" by the U.S. Soccer Foundation.
The "heart" of their backyard game courts is a modular sports floor that is durable, attractive and safer for active athletes of all ages. Over the past 30 years, they have developed sports systems for indoors and out, and for residential and commercial installations. Surfaces are available in a wide variety of colors, and your court can even be customized with a team logo, family crest or other favorite image.
Sport Court outdoor sports surfaces are specially engineered and manufactured with UV protectants to resist color fading, and the patented open-grid design allows for quick drainage and drying after bad weather. An enhancement to any home, a Sport Court game court can be installed in just a matter of days.
With a Sport Court multi-purpose court in your backyard, the kids can play basketball or roller hockey, and Mom and Dad can play tennis minutes later. There is virtually no limit to the number of sports and activities your family can enjoy, and friends and relatives will love it, too.
All of Sport Court's flooring products are made right here in the USA, with over 90,000 SF of manufacturing, office and warehousing space in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sport Court products are made to the highest standards for safety and performance—standards that we strive to set for our industry, and then exceed with new product innovation, design and development. If you value the highest levels of quality, performance and safety, you'll settle for nothing less that an authentic Sport Court game court or sports floor.
Sport Court specializes in building true professional-quality practice greens, using only turf that meets our strict specifications. Anyone can lay down outdoor carpet and call it a putting green, but our greens are designed for durability, attractiveness, and the truest ball roll and break you'll find short of the country club. While anyone can enjoy some friendly competition to see who can hit the most putts, serious golfers will see immediate results as they lock in an improved putting stroke.
For more information, please visit the Sport Court website.


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Play in Nelson - The Gateway to the Outdoors
Accents accommodation in Nelson is a great place to base yourself while enjoying the regions spectacular outdoor activities.
Our Hostel is right in the centre of town and all of the Local Tourism operators and buses will pick you up from our door. Our lovely staff will be happy to help you organise your adventures and make suggestions as to how you can make the most of your time in this great region.
Three stunning National Parks
There are so many options it can be confusing – let us help you decide the best way to spend a day or longer in our beautiful National Parks. We can arrange pick ups from our Hostel door.
Abel Tasman
Relax on golden sand beaches, swim in crystal clear waters, kayak, check out the seals, go for a boat cruise or walk and explore. Great on a sunny winter's day too! Even if you only have limited time you can't visit Nelson without at least a short venture into this park.
We can help you plan your trip to the Abel Tasman, either as a Day Trip from Nelson or if have the luxury of time to walk the 3-5 day Coastal Track and stay overnight in the Park
Website: www.doc.govt.nz
Nelson Lakes
Best known for it's lakes, the park offers tranquil beech forest, craggy mountains, clear streams, open tussock lands & river edge clearings.
The gateway to the park is St Arnaud, a 75minute drive from Nelson. There is a great DOC information centre there which is well worth stopping at. Camping is available at Kerr Bay beside the Lake... just take some insect repellent with you and look out for the friendly Weka around the campsite.
Website: www.doc.govt.nz
Kahurangi is New Zealand's second largest national park. Weaving through the park, is a network of tracks from easy day walks to the very challenging, including the famous Heaphy Track. If you are planning to walk the Heaphy track The Heaphy Bus will pick you up from our Hostel and bring you back afterward. The Heaphy is open to experienced mountain bikers from May to September
Website: www.doc.govt.nz
Stay with us and store your luggage
while you walk the Abel Tasman Coastal Track
Stay in a modern yet relaxed, family run central Nelson backpackers. Our hostel is a place to relax, meet new friends and plan your next adventure or just step out into Nelson City. Cook your favourite food, listen to some great music, watch that movie you haven't seen yet.
Biking - a great choice
Bike rides in and around Nelson are varied and cater for all levels of recreational and mountain bike riders.
Our friend Dave, from Biking Nelson, has the latest Mountain Bikes and Hybrids which you can hire for a Half day or Full day. We have his Bikes here at our hostel, complete with helmets, gloves and break down kit. We have trail maps and can give you suggestions depending on your ability and the amount of time you have available. Dave can also provide Guided mountain bike trips if you prefer.
Urban & Close to CBD
Nelson's cycle way network has bike rides suitable for family outings and relaxed riding. Many of these urban rides link up and can be combined for longer rides.
Tasman's Great Taste Trail
Nelson to Kaiteriteri (1-4 days, 38-175km)
Tasman's Great Taste Trail starts from the Nelson i-SITE and offers panoramic coastal views over Tasman Bay, Waimea Estuary and the Western Ranges. This trail will eventually be a loop trail.
It is an easy cycling trail where you pass vineyards, breweries, orchards and no end of places to stop and enjoy some of Nelson's finest cuisine. As a loop the trail is 174km long, but it can easily be broken down into bite sized portions
Mountain Biking
Nelson's mountain bike trails have received a gold ranking from the US-based International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)..... and Nelson is a worthy contender for the mountain bike capital of New Zealand.
Dun Mountain is one of the most accessible back-country alpine cycle trails in the country, it requires a good fitness level and all riders should be competent mountain bikers - a great days ride.
Codgers Mountain Bike Park is at the first section of the Dun Mountain trail, this bike park has a variety of tracks ranging from wide, flat beginner tracks to extreme downhill trails for the experts. There are also mountain bike parks at Silvan Forest in Richmond and Kaiteriteri MTB Park.
It is also possible to mountain bike the Heaphy Track in the winter months.
Fun in the air - Skydiving, Hang gliding and Paragliding
Feel like a rush of adrenalin?........get your feet off the ground and see Nelson from the air. Our great climate and beautiful scenery make the following a great option while you are in town....
Free-falling from 16,500ft is just stunning, taking in views of both the North and South Islands of NZ.
If you are going to do a skydive…. this is the one to do! The only skydive company that goes to 16,500ft in the South Island with views of the Abel Tasman National Park, mountains and ocean. If this is just too much ...why not try 13,000ft or 9,000ft first.
Free Pick up from our hostel, Book at reception.
Hang Gliding, Paragliding
No experience necessary to do Tandem Hang Gliding. You may even get the chance to have a go at flying the glider yourself if you're keen.
The Tandem paragliding flights are longer than at other more crowded sites in NZ and the views out toward the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks and Tasman Bay are amazing.
Fly with Stew Karstens, the NZ tandem distance record holder or sign up for Lessons and learn how to harness the wind yourself. The winds are usually good on Barnicoat Hill, but ask at Reception and we can check the conditions and Book you in.
Nelson - Water Sports heaven
With rivers, lakes and the sea on our doorstep we are surrounded by water in Nelson. As a result there are plenty of water sports to enjoy...
Sea Kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park is spectacular. There are several Kayaking companies that will pick you up from our hostel and offer day trips of various lengths, some include a mix of walking the coastal track and kayaking the gorgeous coastline. If you prefer you can rent kayaks independently. Multiday trips offer you the chance to stay within the park at campsites, huts or lodges.
Cable Bay Kayaks offers half and full day eco sea kayak tours just 20 minutes from Nelson. Clear coastal waters rich in marine life and unique cave formations navigable only by kayak. Snorkeling gear is provided.
Half, full and multiple day options are available in Nelson and around the Abel Tasman National Park with Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures. Book at Reception.
Also popular is the Wednesday night racing organised by the Tasman Bay Cruising Club at Nelson Marina. Walk down to the marina and invite yourself onto a boat as crew. If you want to learn to sail, Sail Nelson is a registered RYA sailing school offering accredited courses to suit your sailing skills and experience.
Kite Surfing & SUPs
Tahunanui Beach, is Nelson's city beach and one of the best places in the country to learn to Stand Up Paddle board or Kite Surf.
Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) is an exciting way to explore the water and beaches, even catch some waves. It's a fun work-out!
Moana Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Mornings are generally ideal conditions for SUP. Afternoons when the wind picks up is perfect for kite surfing. Kite surfing Course options range from an exciting 1 Day Introduction to the 6 day long Zero to Hero course.
Nelson - Tramping Mecca
From easy urban walks to tramping along stunning coastal tracks and through sub tropical forests and mountain passes - Nelson has it all....
From our hostel there are City walks and bush and river walks to suit all ages and fitness levels.
The Centre of New Zealand
The Centre of New Zealand on Botanical Hill is one of Nelson's most popular urban walks. The starting point is the Botanical Reserve, at the end of Hardy Street, or you can start at the Nelson Visitor Information Centre and follow the Maitai Walkway to the Hardy Street footbridge.
In 1870 the first rugby match in New Zealand was played at Botanics Reserve. So it has great historical significance to our rugby crazy nation! From the Reserve to the top of the hill the walk will take between 15-30 minutes and gives you a great view out over Nelson from the summit. There are several routes you can take on your way back down the hill, one heads along Sir Stanley Whitehead walk and down to Founders Brewery where you can sample a local brew.
Gateway to Great NZ Walks
There are nine Great Walks in New Zealand and the Nelson Region is lucky to have 2 of them, The Heaphy Track and the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. These are premier tracks that pass through diverse and spectacular scenery.
Transport to the start of these walks is easily arranged from our Hostel, so ask our Reception staff. Stock up on tramping supplies from the many outdoor stores in Nelson before you leave. We also have cookers and utensils for hire. Ask us about free gas canisters.


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Mozart's Rascal
Roger Parker
- Mozart in Vienna 1781-1791 by Volkmar Braunbehrens
Deutsch, 481 pp, £17.95, June 1990, ISBN 0 233 98559 X
- The Mozart Compendium edited by H.C. Robbins Landon
Thames and Hudson, 452 pp, £24.95, September 1990, ISBN 0 500 01481 7
- Mozart and Vienna by H.C. Robbins Landon
Thames and Hudson, 208 pp, £16.95, February 1991, ISBN 0 500 01506 6
- Mozart's Thematic Catalogue: A Facsimile introduced and transcribed by Albi Rosenthal and Alan Tyson
British Library, 57 pp, £25.00, November 1990, ISBN 0 7123 0202 6
- The Compleat Mozart: A Guide to the Musical Works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart edited by Neal Zaslaw and William Cowdery
Norton, 351 pp, £19.95, April 1991, ISBN 0 393 02886 0
Scholarly biographies of composers, once a sure way forward in terms of professional advancement, often the culmination of a distinguished career, are now unfashionable in the academy. For musicologists, virtually all of whom are still preoccupied with formalistic concerns, the genre is redolent of earlier, less severe periods: of fat, comfortable books in which the documents of a musician's life would be lovingly assembled, often with the stated purpose of bringing us closer to 'the music', but rarely offering concrete ways in which such a conjunction might be attempted. Perhaps contemporary neglect of the genre also raises larger issues. We have now become rather wary of narrative histories of music, whether of periods or genres, and so it is probably inevitable that the stories once embedded in these grand designs – among which 'lives of the great composers' have always figured prominently – are also in decline. Whatever the case, the business of musical biography has recently, and with a few notable exceptions, been continued mostly in books intended for the general reader. These are rarely critical, and even more rarely sustain a level comparable with the best of literary biography.
Mozart has probably suffered more than most from this attention, since the romantic myths that rose around him during the 19th century have proved extraordinarily tenacious. So cliché'd is the sad tale of his last years that we can, aping Humbert Humbert's laconic account of his mother's demise – '(picnic, lightning)' – get by with a telegram: isolated artist – writing for posterity – bohemian life – society misunderstands, ignores – faithless, feckless wife – dies young, in poverty – the Unmarked Grave. And this picture has of late been injected with new life and massively disseminated by the success of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus, whose veneer of shocking realism and occasional flights of pure fancy hardly conceal its basic reinscription of the romantic image. It was time for scholars to hit back, and Amadeus was cited by H.C. Robbins Landon as a main reason for his 1791, Mozart's Last Year(1988), a book soon followed by his volume on Mozart's 'Golden Years' in Vienna and by the Mozart Compendium. Landon's efforts are now joined in this country by Braunbehrens's book about Mozart's last ten years, which first appeared in German in 1986.
Between Landon and Braunbehrens, and with, in the latter case, help, which is often unacknowledged, from recent German and Anglo-American scholarship, the record of Mozart's later career has probably been put about as straight as it will get. There remain a few mysteries, as the documentation of these years is – considering Mozart's growing reputation during the period – surprisingly sparse. Few of his letters survive, fewer still that were written to him; many were undoubtedly hastened to oblivion by his widow and her second husband; the evidence that remains thus constantly threatens to present a distorted picture. However, of the basic facts there can now be little doubt.
After his move from Salzburg to Vienna in 1781, and after his acrimonious departure from the service of Colloredo, Archbishop of Salzburg, the 25-year-old Mozart fashioned for himself a highly successful career as what we would now call a 'freelance' musician. He received money from private piano pupils, from opera commissions, from selling music to publishers and, most of all, from a glittering career as composer-pianist, playing and sometimes organising concerts in which he would star as the soloist in his own piano concertos. By 1785, he was living in a spacious apartment in the centre of Vienna, doing very well indeed.
The second half of the 1780s saw a significant decline in his fortunes. The Turkish wars caused many of Mozart's aristocratic patrons to withdraw from Vienna, and his concert career seems virtually to have collapsed. Although a series of opera commissions (Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte, La Clemenza di Tito, and The Magic Flute all come from his last six years) brought in considerable sums, and although he netted a modest court appointment and continued to profit from sales to publishers, his income decreased, perhaps sharply: he was obliged to move into less luxurious accommodation and, increasingly, to borrow from friends. However, by 1791 he was again in the ascendant: the success of The Magic Flute was impressive, he was paying off debts, sending his son to an expensive boarding-school, considering lucrative offers from impresarios in other capital cities. His fatal illness, probably a kind of rheumatic fever, was sudden and unexpected. He was buried in a communal grave, unattended by mourners not because he died in obscurity – far from it, his international reputation was steadily growing – but in accordance with Joseph II's draconian brand of rationalism: as well as banning corsets, bell-ringing in thunderstorms and the making of honey cakes, the Emperor had strictly enlightened views on how to economise on and sanitise burial of Vienna's dead.
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Vol. 13 No. 10 · 23 May 1991 » Roger Parker » Mozart's Rascal
pages 17-18 | 3346 words