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As an S.O.S. Mom collaborator, Laila will be offering you various children book reviews accompanied by giveaways. There is no doubt in my mind that she will be bringing you the best for your children of all ages! She is unequivocally a great author with amazing talent and an overall warm and charming personality. I would like Laila to do the honours of introducing herself along with her unique and fabulous children books.
"Writing for children had been lingering on my mind for several years and it is a writing contract with illustrations for a client that became the trigger. I first created Tangerine, a little girl with red skin all rosy. She is perky and cheerful. She wears clothes that evokes her name and there are always one to several ladybugs on her. Then her brother, Kiwi, rather olive-skinned type. He is a playful boy and a little clumsy. His hair is closely cropped, his clothes have a texture suggestive of his name and we never see him without his furry friend, a small worm. In contrast, their father is red headed while their mother is tanned. Thus, without saying more about their origins, we understand implicitly that they are from different backgrounds. In fact, the characters of mixed race Tangerine and Kiwi are a reality increasing in the world. They represent a typical family dynamics in their research of activities challenging and rewarding for all. I wrote in a few weeks 10 stories for children 3 to 9 years of age. My characters goe with their parents to the discovery of food, learn where it comes from and how it is transformed. Each of my albums explores a place, a job, and one food. Until the project to publish my albums happen, I decided to go further and enter the lives of children."
"Since 2001, I have been giving workshops on the awakening of taste in elementary schools, early childhood centers and libraries, with my characters Tangerine and Kiwi. I meet children from 4 to 9 years old. I explore with them the five senses and all the related vocabulary. I choose to talk about food, because I think it's one of the best ways to reach children, regardless of their origin. Reading about food is like opening a door on the eating habits of the family, country of origin and host countries. The integration into the host country requires, among other things, its culture and habits. And, in my opinion, it always encourages the exchange and understanding, even when the children come from elsewhere. In each of my interventions, I want to encourage access to the rich culinary heritage and ensure that the young generation preserve vitality."
You can follow Laila on Twitter, or get the news on Tangerine & Kiwi here.
Visit the Cheese Maker
The first in a series of unique picture books about curious siblings Tangerine and Kiwi who love to learn about food. Visit the Cheese Maker features a trip to the dairy farm, an explanation of how cheese is made, and a kid-friendly recipe for fondue.
Visit the Apple Orchard
Join Tangerine and Kiwi as they visit an apple orchard and learn how apples grow. The latest in a series of unique, informative picture books, Tangerine and Kiwi is a terrific way for beginning readers to learn where their food comes from. Plus, readers can try a delicious, kid-friendly recipe for apple crisp.
Visit the Sugar Bush
Join Tangerine and Kiwi as they visit a sugar bush and learn how maple syrup is made. A series of unique, informative picture books, Tangerine and Kiwi is a terrific way for beginning readers to learn where their food comes from. Plus, readers can try a delicious, kid-friendly recipe for pancakes — topped with maple syrup, of course.
Visit the Bread Baker
Join Tangerine and Kiwi as they visit their grandfather's bakery and learn how bread is made. The fourth in a series of unique, informative picture books, Tangerine and Kiwi is a terrific way for beginning readers to learn where their food comes from. Plus, readers can try baking bread using Grandpa's delicious, kid-friendly recipe to bake bread.


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Gentle, soap-free, paraben-free cleansing, designed for dry, uncomfortable skin. Formula enriched in 10% lipid-rich concentrate and Niacinamide to help restore the skin barrier and replenish the skin's lipids in the shower.
After each shower, the skin is preserved from feelings of tightness and retains its natural comfort and softness over the long-term.
Daily hygiene. Place a small amount in the palm of the hand. Apply to moist skin. Massage gently. Rinse.

subset: commoncrawl


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For many experienced boxers, old habits are hard to break.
Whether it's a training regimen, diet or trying to make weight, most fighters stick with what they think works. But it might not always be the best way.
That was the message conveyed during Friday's fighter safety seminar at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. A four-member panel discussed ways to train properly, look for warning signs of trouble with concussions, prepare mentally and physically for a fight, and to avoid using performance-enhancing drugs and supplements that can have short-term and long-term damaging effects.
About 150 people attended "The Winning Edge," a two-hour seminar organized by Dr. Margaret Goodman, co-founder of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Many in the audience were young amateur fighters who are training in boxing and mixed martial arts at the many gyms in the Las Vegas Valley.
"To see all the kids show up was so encouraging," Goodman said. "But they're the ones who can benefit the most from the information."
Whether it was personal trainer Jimmy Smith explaining how to properly lose weight before a fight by having a sensible diet and gradually dropping the required pounds, or Dr. Charles Bernick discussing how serious concussions are and the need to properly rest after being diagnosed with one, or sports psychologist Dr. Caroline Silby talking about maintaining a proper frame of mind while competing, the information was mostly common sense. But the reality is athletes are habitual in how they prepare, and the message was there's a proper way to form those habits.
"I think time will tell how successful we were," Goodman said of the message getting through to the fighters. "But if they got one thing out of what they heard, maybe it will resonate with them."
Bernick, who was in the news last week for his participation in the Cleveland Clinic's partnership with the NFL Players Association to help former players deal with brain injuries, said fighters aren't the only ones who need to be educated about the risk in their sport.
"We need the trainers to have the information so they can pass it on to the fighters," Bernick said.
Several trainers, including longtime cornerman Kenny Adams, attended the seminar.
Goodman said she plans to make the seminar an annual event.
"We want this to be the beginning where we have these discussions on safety for fighters," she said.
■ PACQUIAO-RIOS CLOSED CIRCUIT — The Venetian is offering two closed-circuit TV options for Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios welterweight title fight in Macau.
The fight will be shown in the Venetian Ballroom, with a ticket costing $50, and at Lagasse's Stadium inside the Palazzo shops. Admission to Lagasse's is free, but there will be a minimum food and beverage purchase required.
The Venetian will be the only local location showing the fight on closed circuit, and tickets can be purchased at the Venetian box office or by calling 414-9000. Doors will open at 5 p.m., with the telecast at 6.
■ TYPHOON RELIEF — Sands China Ltd., which is hosting the Pacquiao-Rios fight, donated $100,000 to the Red Cross to aid victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on Nov. 8. The company also will match 100 percent of all closed-circuit TV ticket sales in China.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at firstname.lastname@example.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter @stevecarprj.


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1. mainly a sacrifice done for the greater good; something that has to be done but is awkward, takes a long time, not something you want to look at or touch, done slowly as to not harm the operation, yet is always completed regardless of self shame. Could be used as revenge or payback, but not exclusively.
Although my friend drunkenly shat his pants at my house, I grannyfucked it and took care of the situation.
by Rachad December 03, 2010


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Forrest City Office
Little Rock Office
Michelle is an Arkansas native growing up in the St. Francis and Cross County areas. She is originally from Colt, AR and now resides in Wynne, AR. She has attended the University of Arkansas where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, she also attended East Arkansas Community College, and is a 2003 College graduate of Arkansas State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology.
Michelle has worked in the insurance industry since 2003 and has obtained her Certified Insurance Service Representative designation (CISR) and has also obtained her Certified Insurance Counselor designation (CIC).
Michelle currently serves on the board of the St. Francis County Community Foundation. She is a member of the East Arkansas Crossroads Coalition Delta Young Professionals, and she is a past member of the Forrest City Junior Auxiliary.
Michelle is married to her husband, Mike, and they have 1 son, 2 weenie dogs, and 1 cat. She enjoyes watching high school and college softball and football. She is a Wynne Yellow Jacket and Razorback fan! She enjoys spending time with her outdoors with her family on their family farm, she also enjoys riding her bicycle, and is an animal lover.


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Moonport: A History of Apollo Launch Facilities and Operations
Progress in Washington
In response to a March 1962 request from NASA Headquarters, LOD reviewed its entire fiscal 1963 program. In May six projects were identified that required an early release of funds to avoid slippage in construction schedules: modifications to launch complex 34, support facilities in the Cape area, Apollo mission support facilities, launch complex 39, advanced Saturn or Nova support facilities, and utility installations in the Merritt Island area. Two months later NASA Headquarters was to issue allotments from fiscal 1962 construction of facilities funds for the final planning and design of these projects.22
On 23 May the House voted 343-0 to authorize a NASA budget of $3,671 million for FY 1963 and an additional $71 million for FY 1962. In the Senate, William Proxmire of Wisconsin offered several amendments to the authorization bill. One called for competitive bidding practices to the "maximum practicable extent."* The Senate rejected it by a vote of 23 to 72. He then called for the establishment of a Space Manpower Commission to assess the impact of the lunar landing program on the nation's supply of scientific personnel. The Senate defeated this, 12 to 83. In the end, by voice vote, the Senate authorized a NASA budget of $3,750 million. After the differences between the two houses were resolved, Congress passed the NASA Authorization Act; it totaled $3,744 million. The Launch Operations Center was allowed $328,333,000 for construction of facilities in fiscal year 1963, including $173,550,000 for launch complex 39. The total was $3,000,000 less than the center had requested.23
Because the congressional authorization was less than the amount sought by NASA, and because of newly generated requirements, the Office of Manned Space Flight proposed that NASA request a supplemental FY 1963 grant of $70 million for construction of facilities. The supplemental, D. Brainerd Holmes, head of the Office of Manned Space Flight, felt, was the only possible way to hold to existing schedules. To support this proposal, the Launch Operations Center - now an independent field installation with its own budgeting agency - prepared another series of project documents and forwarded them on 8 September 1962 as its FY 1963 CoF Resubmission and Supplemental.24 These documents reflected new or revised requirements that had come to light since the February budget submittal. In October Associate Administrator Seamans decided not to submit the request.
* This would later prove ironic when competitive bidding cost a Wisconsin firm a contract that had seemed to be securely in hand [see chapter 13-1].


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Sixtrees Jessica Silver Plated Ivory Enamel 8x10 Photo Frame (2-685-80)
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
Software Assisted Pattern Adaptations
It naturally follows that to adapt a pattern, I need some kind of visual reference. Any computer program that has copy, paste, crop, resize, and rotate will do (though I tend to use various Apps on my iPad, because my laptop is usually tucked away in a closet.)
The Priscilla bookmark, for example, started as an edging from the Priscilla Tatting Book #2:
I wanted to see how the pattern would look if I turned it the other way around, so I took a photo of the pattern and cropped it:
I used two copies of the photo, making sure to rotate one of them so I could splice them together:
This gave me a basic idea of how the bookmark would look, though it still needed a corner. To do so, I used a third copy of the image and spliced it onto the end:
I tried pulling the corner out a little more, but found that it looked best as it is pictured above.
Figuring out the stitch count for the corner required only minor adjustments to the chains. However, as is the case with many vintage patterns, this one needed a bit of tweaking to get it to lay flat. I tatted a small sample to test out the corner and to adjust the stitch count:
From this, the final pattern was constructed:
At the beginning of the year, mb duke made a blog post and asked if the bookmark pattern could be converted into a cross. I believe the answer is yes, and that it would be fairly easy to do. Using the same concepts above, I can splice four images of the bookmark together to create a cross:
A bit of adaptation is needed to get the pattern to flow continuously, so I used an App on my iPad to draw over the center portion in white. I also began to draw connecting chains:
From this point, one can add their own ideas of how to stabilize the central part of the cross. I chose floating rings, which I drew on my iPad (please excuse the poor drawing quality!)
I don't have a finished version of this, but I am really confident that the idea would work. All that is needed is to estimate the stitch counts for the inner chains and floating rings. The rest of the stitch counts are already provided in the bookmark pattern itself. This is something that I have added to my ever growing "To Do" list, and if I ever complete it, I will add it to the free patterns section of my blog.
10 comments:
- Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...
I like your idea of splicing together images, but I'm not sure I have the dexterity to do it on an iPad!
- February 12, 2015 at 7:29 PM
- Cindy said...
Great designing - but what a lot of figuring out! It would take me forever and a day to get the stitches counted out. Kudos to you!
- February 12, 2015 at 8:17 PM
- muskaan said...
Superb ! I have done this with some of my line drawings & the magic square series. But definitely not to this level of designing ! I love the way to handle & use software & technology :-)
Thanks for sharing. I will definitely adapt it for myself in future forays .
- February 12, 2015 at 8:45 PM
- Lavi Damian-Boja said...
Your method is very interesting and useful if you want to have multiple motif repeats in the same pattern.
I'm sure you will eventually get the cross done as well, it would be very pretty.
- February 13, 2015 at 2:41 AM
- Jane McLellan said...
- February 13, 2015 at 3:11 AM
- Margarets designer cards said...
Brilliant how you matched up the pattern, I love the bookmark and the cross,
Looking firward to your pattern
- February 13, 2015 at 9:12 AM
Very interesting post. There are many treasures to be found in the old patterns.
- February 17, 2015 at 11:31 AM
- Madtatter80 said...
I love it I do this, but just draw it out, may take less time the way you are going about it :)
Hey I just posted your snowflake on my blog except made with different size thread by accident came out pretty good though check it out!
- February 18, 2015 at 11:34 PM
- Dilaw said...
So lovely and what a great idea! I came up with a bookmark pattern from the same original but connected on the other side. Interesting how different they look!
- January 19, 2016 at 6:45 PM
- Robin Perfetti said...
Very pretty! What a great idea to use rings in each of the four corners to give a balanced look to the bookmark. Do you have a blog? I'm sure many would be interested in tatting this.
- January 20, 2016 at 1:35 PM


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Ruth Westheimer (b. 1928) is an American sex therapist, media personality, and author best known as Dr. Ruth. She began her career in broadcasting in 1980 with Sexually Speaking a radio show taped in the NBC studios of Rockefeller Center.
E! released a short documentary-style video looking at the history of a "celebrity fight" between Miss Piggy and Joan Rivers titled Behind the Feud: Joan Rivers and Miss Piggy. The video features interviews with celebrities and includes doctored photos with Liza Minnelli and Westheimer.
She has appeared as herself on The Simpsons, Hollywood Squares, Love Boat: The Next Wave, Quantum Leap and Moonlighting.


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And these 'haunted houses'...
Friday, 26 August 2011
Ribbon Town
And these 'haunted houses'...
5 comments:
Karen from flying lessons... love your work! I see you participated in Kat's Liberate Your Art postcard swap, I did too. I will have to look for your link in the blog hop.ReplyDelete
Stopping in from flying lessons. I love your little ribbon town. I think it's ok if it doesn't look like Flora's work, you took her technique and style and made it into your own. Love the interview with yourself, um I mean us, the readers! Reminds me of talking to myself and answering back. Great work!ReplyDelete
Hi! I am from Flying Lessons also, I love how this painting turned out & loved seeing the photos along the way. I like how you used the interview style to tell us about it :)ReplyDelete
Wow, you are so talented. I wish I can paint like you.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous5 September 2011 at 06:25
You are too funny! I had to go back and check out who was interviewing you. I love "the process" of this painting. Thanks for sharing it....it is a good learning process for the reader (ME!) You got a little of Flora in you, which is always a good thing, but you have definitely created your own style. You pass! JulieReplyDelete


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Within-Day Contracts
Trading on the Within-Day Market is possible 24/7. Each hour continuous trading is offered for 45 minutes leading to a 15 minutes call phase and ending with the auction's price determination with a random end at the end of each hour.
Besides the fact that the Within-Day Market's main purpose is to enable balancing imbalances in the market area by the Market Area Manager (AGGM), it is a great opportunity for active members of CEGH to use it to optimize their trading activities.
The Within-Day Market is part of the newly implemented Virtual Trading Point and the entry/exit system which started by January 2013 in Austria.


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On Saturday, over 30 young women from across Chicago gathered to prepare for the relaunch of Girl Talk on January 15th. Together we discussed our values, shared our anxieties about doing the work, and learned about how trauma impacts girls in trouble with the law. Special thanks to our leadership team member, Caryn Moore, for her insightful and important presentation about how trauma impacts girls in conflict with the law and how program facilitators should practice their own self-care to prevent vicarious trauma.
We can't wait to get started in the New Year! Special thanks also to our leadership member Deana Lewis who secured our meeting space and handled other important logistics to ensure that our meeting was comfortable and successful.


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Ei Chaw Po and Aung Say Paing Say Movie Scenes Snapshots Album (1) Photos. See more
Ei Chaw Po is beautiful Myanmar Actress and she always active on Facebook to connect with her fans. She is now starring in new myanmar movie "Aung Say Paing Say" with other popular actors. Her character is to star as village girl from Myanmar and her dress and outfit look so cute in Myanmar way. This movie will be big hit for Ei Chaw Po and her favorite fans.


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Examples from the Web for duane
Contemporary Examples of duane
Duane and Dicky lope backstage afterwards to "do some sniff," as Dicky terms it.
Dicky catches sight of Duane and guffaws: "Hey, brother, you got coke all over in your muss-tache."
Duane grabs a towel and mops his streaming face while Dicky spoons out the coke.
An hour later, one of the stewardesses remonstrates repeatedly with Duane to return his seat to the upright position for landing.
Dicky Betts, alternate lead guitar to Duane, whiles away the flight swapping comic books with the bassist, Berry Oakley.
Historical Examples of duane
"Perhaps that was the lady herself," said Duane, who knew better.
She gave Mr. Duane a slip of paper with a few typewritten words on it.
Duane was simply a blackguard, of a type better understood now than then.The Life of Albert Gallatin
Henry Adams
It pulled up in front of the house and stopped and Duane stepped out.
And then I looked at Duane and saw that he was smiling more than ever.


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|You are in: Entertainment: Film
Monday, 29 April, 2002, 17:34 GMT 18:34 UK
Bollywood greats gather for festival
Five Bollywood greats are to perform for the first time at outdoor shows in Manchester and London.
Amitabh Bachchan will join Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Preity Zinta for the From India With Love shows at Old Trafford football stadium on 29 June and Hyde Park on 30 June.
The organisers say the only comparable Hollywood equivalent would be if Sean Connery, Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan were assembled for the same show.
The festival, a mixture of dance and music, with lavish costumery, will be seen by up to 115,000 people.
Amir Khan said: "It is going to be a fantastic occasion and a great opportunity to bring the very best of Indian cinema to such a wide audience."
Khan said he felt the industry was "finally attracting the kind of recognition that it deserves".
The three-hour showcases will delight Greater Manchester's large Asian community, as well as a new generation of Bollywood fans in the capital.
Indian summer
Also featuring are the cast of cricket-themed hit musical Lagaan, which along with Monsoon Wedding has helped drive the current enthusiasm for the genre.
Jonathan Ross, a big fan of Bollywood films, helped launch From India with Love.
Bachchan is one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema topping a BBC News Online poll in 1999 as the greatest star of stage and screen of the millennium, ahead of Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir Alec Guinness.
Also contributing to the Indian summer are events at Selfridges in London and Manchester, with several film sets erected at the department stores by Nitin Desai, set designer for Salaam Bombay and the Oscar-nominated Lagaan.
Bombay's movie industry produces about 800 films each year, making India the most prolific film-producing country in the world.
Major exhibition
Andrew Lloyd Webber is also launching his latest West End musical, Bombay Dreams, in June and has promised to include the visual imagery of Bollywood musicals.
Lloyd Webber has collaborated with film director Shekhar Kapur, the man behind the Elizabeth movie, as well as comedian Meera Syal and Bollywood soundtrack composer AR Rahman.
Also this summer, the first major UK exhibition of posters and hoardings from Indian cinema will go on display at London's Victoria and Albert Museum.
Cinema India: The Art of Bollywood, which starts on 26 June, will show the history of Indian film posters from the 1950s through to the present day.
See also:
06 Apr 02 | Film
Lagaan scoops Bollywood awards
20 Feb 02 | Film
Indian entertainment 'about to boom'
21 Mar 02 | Film
Bollywood goes on display
06 Feb 02 | Film
Bollywood goes to LA
20 Dec 00 | Entertainment
Wax debut for Bollywood star
01 Jul 99 | Entertainment
Bollywood star tops the poll
31 Aug 00 | Entertainment
Indian cinemas are Millionaire losers
15 Jul 99 | South Asia
Bollywood superstar 'surprised' by vote
Internet links:
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The Wyoming Department of Education has granted a waiver to a number of school districts in the state who cannot meet a classroom size mandate.
The state legislature passed a law in 2011 to require Kindergarten through 3rd grade classes to have an average student-teacher ratio of 16 to one. Interim Education Director Jim Rose says it's been a challenge for districts to comply with the law.
"Some districts have hired additional staff, they are requisitioning space that wasn't used for independent classrooms, K-3 classrooms before."
But Rose says some districts just didn't have the space in their schools, so the State Department granted a waiver to 22 school districts for the next school year.


text:
Filed under: Historical Materialism Conference, Marxism, Palestine, Rob, Theory
The backdrop to the talks is the increasing resistance to American imperialism and the lack of a clear socialist alternative to it. This leads – on the part of the Socialist Register, who organised the plenary – to a crisis of agency. It therefore becomes necessary to analyse the new movements that have arisen so as to conceptualise the current conjuncture.
Gilbert Achar – Imperial Uses of Islam
Achar began his talk by examining the 'clash of civilisations' paradigm, one which he described as pervasive on both a conscious and unconscious level. This view basically suggests that Islam and the West are engaged in a clash of civilisation and there can be no middle ground between them. This view is common to both Western Islamophobes and Islamic fundamentalists – who tend to characterise Islam and 'the West' is implacably in conflcit with one and other, and view this conflict as defining our current age.
But Achar notes that this is not the view of Western governments. Western governments tend to differentiate (in their rhetoric) between 'good' Muslims and 'bad' Muslims, they don't view things as a clash with Islam but a clash within Islam. Achar also argues that Huntington himself doesn't hold with the way in which his theory has been interpreted. Achar argued that Huntington is in fact a 'global multiculturalist', insofar as he thinks it's a good thing to have different 'civlisations' existing worldwide, he opposes mutliculturalism nationally because he wants to preserve Western culture in its heartlands. Furthermore, Huntington dismisses universalism as imperialism (in the perjorative sense) and argues that a project of imposing Western values will end in disaster. In other words Huntington appears as a traditional realist.
Achar argued that it is this realist Huntington that has informed US policy towards Islam. His first (and very good) example is the United States' alliance with Saudi Arabia, a state which is in fact the US' oldest ally in the Middle East. It has historically (and still does) served as the cornerstone in the US global stratey, particularly in combatting anti-imperialist nationalism. But of course Saudi Arabia is probably the most 'fundamentalist' state in the whole of the middle-east. In fact the US supported Saudi fundamentalism in Afghanistan. He further notes that plenty of fundamentalists were willing to colloborate with the US invasion of Iraq.
The point for Achar is that the US has used fundamentalism for its own ends and fundamentalism has often been (and is still) willing to colloborate with US imperialism when they had the chance. He then listed the examples of the Muslim Brotherhood and assorted other instances.
Achar's basic point here was that at best we can call Islamic fundamentalism 'anti-Western' but it is only sporadically and inconsistently 'anti-imperialist'. This of course has implications for how Marxists should approach Islamist resistance to US imperialism. At the very least when struggling with them it is necessary to view them with 'distrust' and attempt to spread our own ideas within their ranks.
One person's attempt to critique Achar's approach was based on the argument that notwithstanding our 'subjective' opposition to the domestic policies of the fundamentalists, they might nonetheless be 'objectively' anti-imperialist, since they are fighting imperialism. I wasn't there was the response, but surely Achar's argument is not about the political programme's of Islamists, it's about their record of supporting imperialists when they think it is to their advantage. Such a position of course means that while they may be 'objectively anti-imperialist' in a given instance the question is whether they will consistently hold this position. Achar's analysis seems to suggest they won't (and also that the imperialists won't consistently target them either) so this has to be the position to proceed from.
Bashir Abu-Manneh
For my money Abu-Manneh's speech was probably the most interesting of the lot, particulary because he engaged in some interesting theoretical anaylsis. Abu-Manneh's speech was composed of three arguments:
- The Palestinians have been in a state of seige since 1991
- The Palestinian elite has collaborated with the Israeli state
- The above two factors have led to the emergence of a specific form of resistance, one which has entrenched militarisation and depoliticisation
The first thesis is simple enough to understand. Israel has continuously interevened in the occupied territory, denying the right of freedom of movement throughout the West Bank and Gaza strip and within Israel itself. This process has culminated in the creation of the apartheid wall, which has formalised the process by physically closing off vast swathes of the West Bank. This – of couse – is all very uncontroversial stuff. But Abu-Manneh further argued that this has destroyed any meaningful sense of spontaneity amongst the Palestinians. It has tended to eliminate any proper sense of the Palestinians as a collecitive entity who are capable of collective action. Palestinians have been alienated into individuals, families etc.
The second thesis is another one which I think is uncontroversial. It seem incontrovertable by now that the Palestinian Authority has collaborated with and legitimated the occupation – corrupting and nearly destroying the Palestinian's national aspirations. Abu-Manneh related an anecdote whereby the PA would always be there to stop attacks on settlers but would be mysteriously absent when there was an Israeli attack in the occupied territory. In line with this Abu-Manneh argued that the PA has consciously undermined any attempts to organise outside of the PA. To top it all off, when the PA did stop collaborating it was attacked by the Israeli authorities.
The combination of the two above factors leads to Abu-Manneh's third argument. The point of these factors is that they have pushed Palestinian strategy towards militarisation. Firstly, this is because any meaningful political resistance seems impossible. The Palestinian's traditional representation – Fatah – has been collaborating since Oslo. Furthermore, it is difficult – if not impossible – to develop political positions and mobilisation when freedom of movement is physically restricted. Furthermore, political action seems so difficult precisely because the Palestinians have lost their faith in their own capability for collective action. This depoliticisation means that solutions based on mass action seem impossible, which naturally seems to lend support to the idea that small acts of military resistance are necessary.
But it is not just the content (military acts) that are shaped by these social conditions, it is also the form. This is because the small military action per se is – in some respects – a collective political act. This would certainly seem to be the case when one considers the links between militants and political parties. The ultimate culmination of the tendency towards atomisation is the emergence of the suicide bomber as a 'weapon' in the struggle against of Israel. This of course makes a lot of sense, because the suicide bomber is the precisely opposite of a collective political struggle. Thus, the tendency towards atomisation and depoliticisation, combined with the concomitant process of militarisation tends to produce the ultimate individualist military act – the suicide bomber. Although, as Abu-Manneh points out, we shouldn't exaggerate the degree to which suicide bombing has become the norm, and ultimately as a tactic it has proved counter-productive, since it tended to fit the Palestianian struggle into the discourse of terror.
What I really like about this analysis is the way in which it traces the particular configuration of Palestinian resistance back to the social conditions in which it operates. This is a much better position to take than just 'condemning' particular forms of resistance without understanding why they gain popularity or the opposite but related one of just saying 'it's understandable because they endure so much'. It's therefore good to see someone take a materialist position on this issue. What's also interesting is the degree to which Abu-Manneh's position dovetails with Lukacs in History and Class Consciousness. This is because capitalism itself has a natural tendency towards depoliticisation (reification), alienation and fragmentation, of course these tendencies are often counteracted.
I think invoking Lukacs is useful for another reason. Abu-Manneh's preferred solution to the problem is to replace this strategy of individualised militarisation with one of collective self-mobilisation. Well, this is fine in practice, but the whole point is that the situation Abu-Manneh outlined has already shown precisely why this collective self-moblisation is going to happen, and certainly not spontaneously. This is where Lukacs is especially relevant. Because Lukacs core insight is that the proletariat can't just spontaneously organise against capitalism. What is needed is something that can take the viewpoint of the proletariat but do so in a way that transcends the reifying tendencies of capitalism. That is to say a vanguard party. In the Gramscian analysis this Party is composed of the organic intellectuals who arise from the class in the midst of struggle. And this is what Abu-Manneh's analysis really seems to lack – the need for a conscious organising element of the Palestinian people able to mobilise them against the Israelis. But of course the other problem is that the people who you would expect to be able to fulfil this role in Palestinian society are – as Abu-Manneh argued – completely compromised. This – perhaps – is why he didn't delve into this question, as it is one to which there doesn't seem to be much of an answer.
Unfortunately I missed the last talk because I needed to get home, so I can't comment on that. More stuff will follow over the rest of the week. This will reveal how horribly theory-obsessed I am, however, and no doubt I will be much looked down-upon for it.


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It's nearly 41 years ago to the day, Malaysia witnessed a landmark event in its history. The event is known as the May the 13th Incident or the Sino-Malay Sectarian violence of Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia after getting its independence in 1963, Kenyans keep note of that year, saw increasing economic inequality between the Chinese and the indigenous Malay people. The newly formed Malaysia included Malaya (the Malaysian Peninsular), Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak. However in 1964, race riots brought about by the perceived inequality between the wealthy Chinese and the poorer Malay. Most Malay were angered by the fact that the government was willing to look the other side placating Chinese interests at the expense of the indigenous Malay. These issues persisted up till the elections of 1969.
The government that took over from here saw that they could no longer placate Chinese interest at the expense of the Malays and they responded by implementing affirmative action policies that were referred to as the New Economic Policy (NEP) of 1969. Some saw this measure to be draconian as it further entrenched very strong Malay priviledges into the constitution. Years on the affirmative action measures have failed to bear any tangible benefits for the Malay as the inequality still exists. It is so bad that the national statisitcs office does not release official income statistics due to their sensitivity. This has lead to the government lead by the prime minister Najib Razak unveiling a New Economic Model.
In Kenya, we face the similar situation. We have the choice of staying on the current path and facing similar tensions in 2012 or we have the chance at least to take the monumental leap and create a new constitution. However, there is a great deal of noise over this process and as each day passes the chances of getting a new contitution gets slimmer and slimmer as the noise gets louder and louder.
For me the church for too long has gotten away with spiritual blackmail to further their ends. They use this same blackmail to get concessions with their schools, universities, construction permits and so on. It is a sense of "if you deny us this, then curses be upon you". I think it is about time for common sense to prevail and a utilitarian sense of doing for the greater good prevail. Let us learn like the Malaysians did and not drive our country into deep problems. The difference between progress and stagnation is adapting and learning rather than sweeping stuff under the carpet. The new constitution is our chance to adapt and learn and hopefully undo a sense of perceived inequalities. We should not look back and regret that we had a chance to change but we didn't.


text:
1 egg2 tablespoons lemon juice1 teaspoon dry mustard3/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon white pepper1 cup vegetable oil
Combine egg, lemon juice, mustard, salt and white pepper in a blender container or food processor bowl. Cover and blend at low speed until mixed. Increase speed to high; uncover and remove center cap. Add oil in a thin, slow, steady stream. Blend until all oil is added and mayonnaise is smooth and creamy. If necessary, turn motor off and stir occasionally. Replace cover before turning motor back on.
Keep mayonnaise refrigerated and use within 7 to 10 days.
Makes 1 cup.
To Search---First choose a Category from the drop-down list below,
enter an ingredient name or the name of a recipe your'e looking for in the
Search Box. Click the Search Button! Search Results will come from the
Category you Selected.


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Pools put in a really poor display at The Northern Gas and Power Stadium and were punished by Cambridge United.
Hignett's side made it too easy for the visitors as they scored five second-half goals to take victory on a really disappointing afternoon.
Pools had made a positive start to the game, with a new formation encouraging a more attacking approach from Hignett's side.
Nicky Deverdics sent a cross in from the left, which picked out Paynter but his flicked header was held by Will Norris.
Deverdics, who is the biggest threat from deadballs for Pools, put a lovely freekick in from the left that saw Norris fumbling at the far post under pressure from Paynter and Nsiala, and the keeper carried the ball out for a corner.
Toto Nsiala rose highest to win it in the air from the corner but he sent his header over the bar.
Pools saw the majority of the ball in the first half but Cambridge looked a real threat on the break – with former Pools loanee Brad Halliday a catalyst for most of these breaks.
Trevor Carson was called on in the 19th minute to make his first save of the game and he got down solidly to save well from Luke Berry who tried a strike from distance.
Pools won another corner which was again sent in by Deverdics and again met by Nsiala; the big defender knocked it down for Josh Laurent who saw his effort from close range kicked off the line and clear.
Berry got in a good position for the visitors just after the half-hour mark but, with only Carson to bear, the Cambridge forward sent the ball high over the bar.
Piero Mingoia was next up for Cambridge as they pushed to open the scoring but his curling ball in from the right scraped the far post as it went just wide of goal.
Padraig Amond made up for a slip but chasing in and curling a cross in from the right but that was headed over the bar by Leon Legge under pressure from Paynter.
And for all of Pools' possession and attack in this first half, there wasn't enough to really test Norris in the Cambridge goal and it was in fact the visitors who looked the more like scoring.
Pools gave their opponents a helping hand just before the break when Toto Nsiala made a clumsy challenge on Berry inside the box, handing them a penalty kick.
Berry stepped up to take the spotkick himself only to be denied by Carson who pulled off a great save to deny the goal.
Pools went in all square at half time but that didn't last long into the second half.
After a quiet start, it was Cambridge who took hold of the game; Trevor Carson made another brilliant save to block the first shot in from the visitors, before Matthew Bates threw his body in the way of the next.
But when James Dunne stepped up to smash in the third effort in from the edge of the box, there was no one in the way and his strike sailed through the area and into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
It was 2-0 just minutes later as Uche Ikpeazu did well down the right before playing it in for Berry who struck the back of the net.
Pools had a quick chance to pull one back after a nice bit of play, which was finished off with a neat cross in from Hawkins on the right to find Amond who sent his effort over the bar.
The third goal came on 65 minutes as a corner from the right picked out Leon Legge rising highest and he was allowed the space to head home to make it 3-0.
Pools looked so disorganised at the back following the first goal and Cambridge took full advantage, looking like scoring with every attack.
Ikpeazu was given the space to collect a cross in from Berry and he made it 4-0, shaking off the defender to put the ball over the line.
Max Clark was again given too much space by Pools late in the game as he made it 5-0 to round off a horrible afternoon.
Full Time: Pools 0 Cambridge United 5
Attendance: 3261 (205 Cambridge United)
Booked: Nsiala (46)
Pools: Carson, Donnelly, Bates, Nsiala (Oates 71), Carroll, Laurent, Hawkins, Featherstone (Woods 81), Deverdics (Alessandra 59), Amond, Paynter.
Subs Not Used: Bartlett, Carroll, Harrison, Walker.
Cambridge United: Norris, Taylor, Dunne, Roberts, Legge, Mingoia (Williamson 82), Berry, Maris (Dunk 46), Newton (Clark 72), Ikpeazu, Halliday.
Subs Not Used: Gregory, Adams, Dallison.


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Why is taking the first step the hardest? The following steps somehow seem easier.
I am writing this because I find myself in the ironic situation of…I was in much better shape in the middle of chemo than I am now. It's crazy. My motivation for exercise has evaporated. I'm sure it is partly due to the Dutch winter weather and that I no longer have the structured "chemo-cise" program. It is difficult to remember where I was a year ago and realize what I need to recover. Some days it feels almost impossible to get myself up and moving. Almost.
I have been trying to be more disciplined and can feel my fitness level improve (which helps my motivation). But the biggest hurdle I need to overcome every time is just changing into my running gear. Somehow the thought of changing makes me sink deeper into the couch that I am sitting on. Facebook becomes more interesting or I remember that "one thing" I need to look up. It takes a conscious choice to move the computer and take the first step. There are days when my desire and determination win and there are days when it doesn't. But I always feel so much better when I run.
These decisions to move aren't limited to exercise. The first step is the hardest in almost every process. Especially the ones where we can't see the full path. Are there changes you want to make? Do you want to learn to cook? Are there habits you want to form or break? Does not seeing the the full path keep you from starting? Identify the first step and just start…because without that first step you will always stay where you've always been.
Happy Monday!


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Archive for August, 2016
How to read Excel files in Javascript/Jquery and convert the value to Json
Posted by A2H in JavaScript, JQuery, JQuery,JavaScript, JSON on August 13, 2016
We have multiple ways to read excel file in C# and then convert it to JSON or insert the data in to database etc. However there are not much options available when it comes to reading the Excel file using javascript. In this article I will explain an option using a Jquery Plugin called SheetJS.
SheetJS is Excel parser which supports multiple formats of excel files like 2007, 2010, 2013 office versions etc.
To use the SheetJS user need to add the reference files first. You can do this either by downloading files from here and then refer these js files to project. Another option is to use the online CDN available.
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.11.1/jquery.min.js"></script> <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/xlsx/0.7.7/xlsx.core.min.js"></script>
Reading the Excel File
To read the excel file we use the read method in SheetJs like below
var workbook = XLSX.read(data, { type: 'binary' });
Converting Excel value to Json
To convert the values to Json will use "sheet_to_json" method
var sheet_name_list = workbook.SheetNames; sheet_name_list.forEach(function (y) { /* iterate through sheets */ //Convert the cell value to Json var roa = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(workbook.Sheets[y]); if (roa.length > 0) { result = roa; } });
Complete Code
Sample Excel I used for this Demo


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-Barbara Kingsolver, from High Tide in Tucson
Thursday, July 30, 2009
This may or may not have been in an Oprah Magazine...
-Barbara Kingsolver, from High Tide in Tucson
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Andrew - the man previously thought of as my (and my lap top's) hero - called from the computer place. My hard drive is toast; all files on it are irretrievable.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! (Cue thunder crashes, and perhaps a strike of lightning for dramatic effect.)
Farewell to hours of library time and thousands of words (aka my university research/papers/projects).
Seyonara to background melodies, pump-up tunes and the wannabe soundtrack of my life (aka my entire music library).
And a final, tender goodbye to hundreds of happy and wondrous moments collected in close to 10 different countries and on who knows how many celebratory occasions (aka all of my photos from the past 4-5 years).
What a colossal loss. (Which I say without an ounce of sarcasm or bravado). Back in the good old days I would have mix tapes, handwritten first drafts, and negatives to console myself - but not in our fantastically modern digital age! Oh no... instead I have facebook photo albums and a selection of graded papers buried in a box in my basement. Small consolation indeed.
However a lesson was learned today: one must BACK UP ONE'S WORK. A seeming nuisance, like paying insurance premiums, but like insurance, sure as hell comes in handy when the unthinkable happens.
Monday, July 27, 2009
ah, the Good Old Days
I so often wish that my life was more glamourous - and not just in the typical jet-setting, cocktail parties, fabulous people with fabulous wealth kind of way, but in an everyday, 1950s glamour kind of way. Of course I write this while lazing on my bed wearing shorts, a t-shirt, no make-up, damp unstyled hair and mocassins that are a half size too big.
And so to get that horrid image out of your mind, and gently guide your imagination towards idea(l)s of a more glamourous nature, I will share these:
Friday, July 24, 2009
Loser Alert!
..and/or this one.
While I hold my dear laptop in my heart and prayers, I have a confession to make: I still can't get a certain Hp designer netbook out of my head. Oh Vivienne Tam Mini 1000 how I covet thee..
...judge all you want but who would not want to own one of these beauties:
I rest my case.
(PS. I love you Inspiron 6000 - Get Well Soon! And please don't devour all of my music, files and photos!)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Here's to the Internet Explorer
I've been away for the past week sans computer (as my laptop was unable to come with due to its current malady) and it was rather lovely. I was surrounded by family, the weather was warm, I saw some amazing music - Stewart Park Festival = awesomeness - did some Ottawa touring and had a fantastic time.
Now that I back home, where life is much less exciting, I realize just how much I rely on the internet to entertain me. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing although I think that I feel much better about spending X amount of time reading, writing, researching and learning online than sitting like a zombie in front of the television. So here's to the internet! Welcome back into my life dear friend: you, your blogs, search engines, video clips, and infinite wealth of knowledge have been missed.
While I have missed the internet (and continue to miss my laptop) dearly, there are some perks to brief online separation. It's like putting on a top found in the depths of one's closet and discovering that it fits like a dream and looks fabulous.
Par exemple:
- Was treated to a hefty amount of friend requests, posts, messages, event invites, new photos, and all other creepster things on facebook when I logged on this afternoon
- Felt immensley popular when greeted by a myriad of email messages in my inbox [Note: This feeling of popularity and slight elation only occurs when checking personal email accounts. Arriving at work after vacation to 275 emails, the bulk of which are spam and scams, the rest of which are mainly obnoxious queries is quite ghastly.]
- Am pumped about the undoubtedly wonderful things which have been posted on the many blogs/sites I reguarly visit. How exciting to have so many wonderful things to read!
Only con when venturing back online after vacation:
- Online Bank and Visa Statement. This ain't gonna be pretty my friends...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Horrible Turn of Events
Yesterday I was sitting on my porch in the sun, (as I like to do) browsing the web, and ripping some cds when my laptop froze. Ok fine, no panic - perhaps it's just had a bit too much sun - I just shut it down and gave it a break. Later that afternoon I open up and turn on my faithful companion and am greeted by a blue screen with a bunch of numbers the words 'UNSURMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME' and a message telling me an error has occured in Windows, due likely to recently installed hardware or software.
First thought: Karma. That's what I get for downloading cds I haven't paid for. Then I realized music files are not hardware or software so this must be a temporary glitch in need of a simple rebooting, as the lovely white font tells me. So...
Blue screen re-appears. Damn. Notice instructions for starting Windows in 'Safe Mode' so
>>REBOOT (Safe Mode Please)
Blue screen re-appears! Aargh! As frustration kicks in I attempt to restart my computer several more times....all in vain. Blue screen is not cooperating and seems to be here to stay. So I give up. You want to be stubborn Mr. Blue Screen? Well that's fine; I am a patient lady and I will outsmart you.
Time passes and last night (after a few more unsuccessful start-up attempts) something occurred to me: Technical Support! Eureka! The computer-savvy folks at Dell will tell me exactly what needs to be done to banish this evil Blue Screen. So to the household desktop I go.
Dell.com - enter!
Technical Support - click!
As the page loads, I cannot believe I have never thought of this before! How easy this will be - just a simple click on the "What to do if your laptop has a blue screen and refuses to start-up" link and voila: simple answers to all of my problems!
Dell.com/support does not work that way, oh no. Simplicity is not a word or mantra they employ. Words they are fond of include HAL.DLL, NTDLR, PBR Descriptor and debugger. ?????
Apparently technical salvation is not that easy to achieve. (Not unlike personal or religious salvation I suppose...) No matter, I shall persevere! My darling laptop is counting on me! So this morning I resort to the dreaded last resort: the 1-800 number. (dun dun dun...)
Tea in hand, frustration in check, I dialed 1-800-WWW-DELL. (Not because I believe this is the correct number to call, but because it is the only phone number I could find on the Dell website.) Five minutes and several menu selections later a perky woman named Danielle informs me that I have indeed called the wrong number and kindly points me in the right direction.
"Thank you for choosing Dell, have a great day!"
The second phone number puts me in touch with an overly soft-spoken man whose name I believe was Raif but I cannot be sure. He asks me for my Service Code, my phone number, my laptop edition, my name, my postal code, my email address and then tells me that he thinks that my hard drive is the problem. Unimpressed, I ask him to quantify "think" and am told that yes, blue screens usually signify a faulty hard drive, and if I would like to run some tests to be sure that is the issue he can give me (yet another) phone number where - for a nominal fee (?!!) - I can get further customer support.
"Thank you for choosing Dell, have a great day!"
I asked if this means I will lose all of the information on my hard drive (a Bachelor's degree worth of papers and essays, 4 years worth of photos from trips to half a dozen countries, etc.) and Raif says "maybe, it depends". That and "your warranty expired September 2008 so you will have to pay for your new hard drive."
Mr Blue Screen appears to be winning this battle. He is a far more worthy adversary than previously thought. I cannot describe how upset I will be if all of my items are irretrievable. If this has ever happened to you, I am dreadfully sorry because it truly is a horrific ordeal.
Hang in there, my little laptop! Hang in there! We can get through this!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Something to think about:
On-demand services can rarely satisfy our old-fashioned desire to sometimes be surprised. We've read too many reviews and PR quips about the show before clicking to download it - we know exactly what to expect. What's lost in this process is the joy of stumbling upon something new and exciting—the accidental discovery. Lost, too, is the thrill of the chase for that elusive something that, in ancient history, led members of our species to many a dusty shelf or bin in an old fashioned brick and mortar store.
On-demand media exerts conflicting pressures on us. It draws us away from our co-workers and neighbors while simultaneously connecting us to a global community thousands strong. It dilutes the dwindling pool of cultural touchstones we share, but in doing so, exposes each of us to a vast ocean of possibility. It gives us virtually anything we could ever want at our fingertips, but threatens to overwhelm us with such abundance."
— We Are United in Our Digital Isolation, PopMatters (via somethingchanged)
My friend Tessa, who is a much more adept blogger than I, posted this on her site yesterday. I like it. It is interesting and quite true. I am curious as to what else this person has to say...
Ah sunshine, thank you for joining us
Friday, July 10, 2009
Gotta love Greeting Cards
Song of the Day
I just discovered this guy this morning while watching In Fashion. He was on the show for his impeccable sense of style but I love the Motown quality to his music. Nothin' like a golden oldie, and Saadiq has the look and feel of classic soul...and I LOVE it. Check him out.
New Beginnings
Out with lame-o sunsets and in with a predictable pun!
When I was first toying with the idea of a blog, this is the first title that popped into my head so here's hoping it's a better fit.
Also, on the subject of 'New Beginnings', I bought a necklace for myself today. It has a lotus on it, which in the yogic tradition symbolises renewal, transformation and new beginnings. It being the eve of my birthday I thought it was a fitting purchase, and especially pertinent given the current state of flux I find myself in. I am searching for the next chapter of my life, and I like the idea of having a reminder that just as the lotus embodies infinite potential, so do I.
(As an aside, check out Satya Jewelry. Beautiful stuff...)
Monday, July 6, 2009
If you're looking for some stunning photography to brighten up your day check out Aronaeveryday - I recently stumbled upon it and quite like it; Blognote knows what he's doing. (And may just be living my fantasy life - Italy? Isles of Rhodes?! YES PLEASE!)
Another good option for great photography is Daily Dose of Imagery which I like to browse through every so often. The photographer apparently lives in Toronto - yay Canada!
Blogs like these are great reminders of the beauty in every day.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Someday I will live in a house like this... (or not..)
Big dig house
Shared via AddThis
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Tales of a Hermit
Okay fine, I have barely left my house all week. I can actually list the number of times I have left my house since last weekend:
- Dinner at grandmother's house (me preparing, her trying to eat with one hand as other is broken and in cast)
- Playdate with niece all afternoon
- Lunch with Grandfather
- Shopping downtown - bought dress and jeans as was aforementioned
- Gym twice - once for yoga class, once for half-hearted cardio workout
- Pity dinner date with mother and her friend
- Daily walks with Toby, man's best (and apparently my only) friend
What I am trying to say is that I am bored off my rocker. I had intended to go to Toronto this past week which makes my incredible inactivity that much more unbearable. The other fact that makes my 'current state' unbearable is that it is of my own making. All I need to do is leave my house. If I want activity in my life all I have to do is take a deep breathe, step outside and be active. One of my weaknesses is that I too often wait for life to happen to me instead of voraciously seeking out life adventures.
I've been finding it hard these past few days because I don't really feel like there is anything for me in Halifax. All of my friends are away for the summer, I am living at home which I truly resent, I'm not really working, save for the occasional catering shift, and am no longer inspired or excited by this place. My plan has always been to do something amazingly wonderful in a far off place come autumn, and to take the summer to prepare for that. Only trouble is haven't yet figured out what amazingly wonderful thing it is I want to do. Sorting through a world of opportunity is no easy task and I feel kind of like I'm treading water with no sign of dry land. BUT I suppose all I can do is suit up, swim for some alien shore and hope the locals are friendly. (That will be the end of the poorly writ swimming/treading water analogies, I promise).
Next week it's back to what has been my mantra as of late: Forward Motion. I will be better - you'll see.
Today it is raining. Raining!
The humidity is finally leaving the sky and falling unabated to the ground. While this doesn't bode well for the Virgin Music Fest happening today I could not be happier. Here's hoping that once the clouds have emptied they'll clear off and let the sun come out.


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I can't believe there is only less than 2 weeks until Summer is over. I'm not ready and my body is definitely not ready. Even though I'm excited for the new Fall TV Shows, I'm so sad that Summer is ending oooo so soon. This Summer was actually really fun. I'm going to miss the long nights, waking up late, the weather, Florida and the clothes. O Summertime Sadness you are creeping up on me. The only things that are amazing about Fall is Starbucks Seasonal Drinks and themed cups, Fall Boots and new returning and new TV Shows. Today's blog post is just a guide on the new Fall TV Shows I'll be checking out. Ahh I love Fall TV Shows ♥ View Post
TV Talk: Pretty Little Liars
Season 5 of Pretty Little Liars is already 9 episodes in and to be honest I'm having a bunch of WTF moments. First of all Ali and her crazy kidnapping story. Allison literally has lied about almost everything since she's returned. I really don't understand why she lied when she could have just told the truth.The craziest thing now is that some fool has come forward and confessed to kidnapping. My question is what the hell does A have up her sleeve. (I think A is a woman tbh) Emily hooking up with Ali was definitely another WTF moment. I know there is some deep romantic history between them but come on Emily you know who she is why would you go there for. Aria on the hand needs to stop feeling guilty for killing Shana. She shot Ezra and almost killed all of them too, in my book she deserved what she got. Since the season started and Ali returned Hanna has been out of control. She drinking, spilling secrets, wearing clothes to match her mood and just letting herself go. OMG and that sleaze Zach who knew he was such a perve. So glad Caleb got his shit together, punched out that little nastiness and Aria told her mom what Zach did to Hanna. Aria's mom didn't need to marry that man. She is definitely better off. I am still holding out hope that Aria's parents will get back together. Mona and her little revenge team scare me. This girl takes crazy to a whole new level. Ali has so many people after her. There is Mona and her team, A and now Noel has all this evidence on her just in case she "throws him away." I've never watched a show where one of the characters has so many enemies. Pretty Little Liars this season is confusing the hell out of me. What I want to know is what secret does Melissa and her dad have that is so bad that Veronica decided that she wanted to end her marriage. I have so many more questions like Who is this new A? Can Ezra really be trusted? Who blew up Tobi's house? Was it A or Allison trying to kill Noel? Why is Ali lying so much? Whoever is this new A has the goods on everyone. There is no secret these girls can hide and A is making sure that every lie is revealed. Pretty Little Liars is leaving me so confused and mad after each episode. I really do hope we get some answers before the Summer Finale because I can't wait until the second half of season 5. Are you watching Pretty Little Liars? What are some of your WTF moments so far this season? If you need to get caught up on Season 5 of Pretty Little Liars you can download Season 5 on iTunes below
Download Season 5 of Pretty Little Liars
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TV Talk: Hit The Floor (Behind The Back)
Last nights episode of Hit The Floor was very revealing. It hurts my hurt that Chase is in jail for Olivia's murder and everyone knows that it wasn't him that killed her. Even though the shovel was found in his car with his fingerprints on it, it just sucks to see him taking the wrap for a crime he didn't commit but you know what he shouldn't have moved her body in the first place.
- Jelena and her scheming ways.
This girl pisses me off. Why does she constantly get away with everything she does. Last night episode the Jelena hurricane struck again and she got what she wanted. She played it so well that at the game the kiss cam would spotlight German and Asha and they would be forced to kiss. Unfortunately Derrick saw and he got jealous. 🙁 This forced Asha to go above to reassure Derrick that she was in the relationship. The only good thing that came out of this whole situation was Derrick telling Asha he loved her which absolutely wrecked my heart. I knew he loved ahhh. Anyway Jelena being the devil she is had them followed by this photographer and he snapped a couple of pictures of them and then sold it to TMZ. OOOO Jelena is such a sleaze.
- Lionel wants Pete back.
Lionel is doing way to much to try to break up Pete and Raquel but that ship has sailed. She left him because she supposedly wanted to teach him a lesson but when he didn't come back she felt stupid. Pete is so over and falling madly in love with Raquel. Sucks that because of Lionel and her constant scheming he is always trying to prove to Raquel that he is committed. The moment between them in last nights episode was really touching. Even after all Raquel had been threw with him she let her guard down and introduced her son to Pete. Let's just hope he doesn't mess it up and do something stupid.
- I Love Kyle.
Kyle, this season is on fire. This woman is just doing her thing her week. Three episodes in and she's managed to already to swindle two men out of there money. Last night we saw the return of her Swedish Boy Toy Palve (forgive me if I'm spelling this wrong) but she totally saved him from marrying one crazy rival of Kyle's and also a gold digger. She managed to even get the 14carat diamond ring Palve gave the girl. Kyle you have a way with men teach me your ways darling. I'm so excited for her character this season and her storyline. I wonder who her next victim is going to be.
- Zero is getting way to clingy.
Jelena is using Zero so bad. He's such a sucker though. He's falling for her and to her he's just another toy that she is playing with until Terrance forgives her. He really doesn't know who he is sleeping with to be honest. I could see him being the one who figures out who the real Jelena is because they are so alike.
- Who killed Olivia?
- I think Jelena is Olivia's daughter
- What does that investigator really have Sloane doing at the Devil's Arena?
- Will Lionel get Pete back?
- What is that secret Olivia was talking about in her note to Jelena?
- I think Jelena killed Olivia.
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TV Talk: Hit The Floor (Passing)
Last nights episode of Hit The Floor was off the chain crazy. The second episode of the season opened showing the aftermath of everyone dealing with the murder of Chase's wife Olivia. The entire Devils atmosphere was in turmoil. Oscar was going crazy revoking everyone security clearance to avoid anyone leaking out the Devils business. Kyle caught Derek and Asha having a moment and Asha freaked out because she doesn't want anyone finding out that she's dating Derek Roman but to be honest I think that if Jelena who is the Devil Girls captain and also a Devil girl can date a player why can't the other girls do the same. Pete and Asha's father daughter relations is on the mend and growing and I love it. I'm happy that he felt that he could tell her that he was dating Raquel because they're at a place now where they can be open and honest with each other about anything. Sadly, Pete and Raquel's relationship might be over because of Lionel scheming with Jude (Oscar's son) to get them to break up. Lionel doesn't want Pete dating Raquel because she says it's bad for her image but to be honest I think it's more. I think she wants him back. Lionel got Jude who will literally do anything to please his father do her dirty work. All he did was place that seed of doubt into Raquel's mind by telling her some thing about how Pete still cares about Sloane and when Asha told Raquel mistakenly that Pete and her mom slept together that sealed the deal. I really hope they can work it out because Lionel is not going to win. Pete doesn't need to be with any of his exes. I really loved him and Raquel together. German also started his new job as assistant coach to Pete on the Devil's team. He got his own office and everything. I could so see him giving Derek hell when he finds out that Asha is dating him. Derek is whipped, Asha told him to play nice with German and the look on his face was the most cutest and sincere facial expression ever. Ok I need a Derek Roman in my life. I can tell that he really loves her. He wants to be that attentive, caring and loving boyfriend but Asha's like NO, not in public. I feel so bad for him. Kyle is trouble. She needs to stop swindling this rich men for the all their money. I know her husband left her to clean up his debts but karma is a bitch and sooner or later everything you do catches up to you. This poor dude who she messes around with Teddy literally invested in her dummy project. This guy himself is stupid, all you have to do is promise him something or show him a good time and he is cutting checks like tomorrow doesn't exist. I feel so bad for him because when he finally gets his life together he is going to realize that he was being played. Olivia's funeral was funeral was just crazy. Jelena turned a somber event into a joke. Jelena gave the eulogy but during her eulogy she started to laugh which was so disrespect. Thank goodness Zero spoke up on her behalf before Chase blew up on her but if you watched last nights episode it was all an act she wasn't mourning and Zero is complete bullshit artist. He talks a good game but his actions are very questionable like him and Jelena having sex after Olivia's funeral at the church in the confessional. Jelena needs to be stopped and Zero and his antics and way with words is just killing me OMG!! The last two scenes of last nights episode really made me mad. Jelena finally got the ammunition she needed to take down Asha (she found out Asha is dating Derek) I love her character don't get me wrong but omg she is so heartless and so fixated on being in control and having power over people. Poor Chase got framed for murdering his wife Olivia. Chase getting arrested just threw me off I didn't expect it at all and when Oscar smirked I saw guilty all over his face. OMG what on earth is going on, on this show. It's so crazy but I can't get enough of it. This episode left me thinking way to hard and asking myself these two questions "Who in the Devil's stadium killed Olivia? and What did Brent mean when he told Derek he got Zero from TN for him? " Two episodes in and this show is already explosive. I don't think I can handle this season but you know me I'll still be watching it. Don't forget to watch Hit The Floor Monday nights @ 9pm on VH1.
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May Playlist ♥
May is officially over. Tomorrow is the 31st and then June is like right next door. I can't believe it!!! May wasn't really too hectic. The craziest thing was me probably starting a new set of classes that had me super busy during May so I didn't have much time to blog. I also booked a flight to Florida for $180 woohoo!!! 😀 I even figured out the next step I'll be taking my blog this summer, which will definitely involve people. I'm so excited for this next step. It's going to be one interesting summer but first here is some of the songs I loved and discovered in May.
Happy Listening 🙂
♥ Tove Lo-Habits
♥ Coldplay-Sky Full Of Stars
♥ Betty Who-Somebody Loves You
♥ Charli XCX-Boom Clap
♥ ZZ Ward-Last Love Song
♥ Jennifer Lopez-First Love
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Born and raised at the foot of the Scottish Highlands. Sam is no stranger to a mountain landscape, Having travelled extensively he shows no sign of slowing down! He is Currently heading out to New Zealand for a few years of work and travel.
A true entrepreneur he has helped guide the business areas of the company to where they are today. Providing useful insight using his education within business as well as his practical experience running his own enterprises.