text:
In the evening of 2 May, the first boat with Zespri kiwifruit arrived at the port of Zeebrugge. "The first shipment was SunGold, Green will follow in about two weeks. The first kiwifruit will therefore be on the shelves soon."
Last year's estimate was 80 million boxes for Green. "This year we'll have a bit less. The past two seasons were exceptional for Green. The yield per hectare was very high compared to previous years, around 2,000 additional boxes per hectare. This year, Green will be back to its regular level." SunGold is still rising. "Mostly due to the fact that more orchards are gradually getting into full production. Compared to last season, SunGold grew by ten million boxes. For SunGold, this means a total production of about 55 million boxes. Of these, approximately 11 million boxes are meant for Europe," says Nele Moorthamers from Zespri. "Sizes are larger than last year. This is due to many factors that positively influenced sizing, including the weather."
New reefer boat
Besides supply in traditional reefer boats, the kiwifruit will also be shipped in a new reefer boat; a reefer that will transport containers for the first time. On a 'regular' container boat, the containers are always on deck, but with this new method, they'll be below deck. In the past, containers couldn't be cooled properly below deck, but a solution has been found for that now.
Zespri thinks it's the company's responsibility to make consumers aware that a healthy diet is important. "We promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle. It doesn't always have to be the same, variation is good. People shouldn't just eat kiwifruit the entire day. They are tasty and very healthy, and we present the fruit as one of the tastiest, and, moreover, healthiest options, but people shouldn't feel forced to eat them. We want people to eat kiwifruit because they like them!"
Twenty years of Zespri
"In 1997 the situation was completely different from 2017. We only grew Green then, there was no Gold or SunGold at the time. We launched Gold in Asia in 1999, and in Europe in 2000. By now, we have become much more professional in many fields, such as cultivation techniques, market approach and branding. Green's flavour has also evolved. A green kiwifruit naturally still has that slightly sour flavour, but over the years, our growers have worked hard on offering that flavour consistently."
The introduction of Gold was a game changer for Zespri. "In apples, we have many varieties, but that was unheard of in kiwifruit. In the past five years, many new varieties have entered the market. In kiwifruit, the green Hayward was the only one for a long time." This also means competition has increased. "Especially in the northern hemisphere, such as Italy and France." Nele thinks consistency in quality is an important distinction with other kiwifruit. "We make extremely high demands on our growers and they ensure that the fruit is as tasty as possible. We want to be at the top regarding quality. Where and by whom they're grown: Zespri kiwifruit is always the same." She indicates this is an enormous challenge at the end of the season. "The Green on the shelves during the first months of the year is less new than the one soon arriving. That's true for all fresh products, there's more loss towards the end of the season. That means we also have more work around that time to guarantee that consistency. We have to repack, inspect and inspect again more often before supplying. It's up to us to also ensure supplying the best fruit to trade and consumers at that time."
Gold nearly completely gone
One of the biggest lows was the disease PSA affecting the Gold kiwifruit. "We came out stronger, and growers can now better protect themselves against PSA. Individual growers had major losses at that time, but the industry has also proven cooperation is an important weapon in similar situations. Growers have found a way to handle the disease, and are now dedicated to prevention. The disease won't disappear, but it can be controlled." From 2012 to 2015, Zespri had a few very difficult years. "There was an enormous slump in supply of Gold because of PSA. Fortunately, we gradually started growing again. In 2012 in particular we nearly lost all Gold. We only had a fraction of what we're now selling. On the other hand, we also had a few rays of hope. It was the time of the launch of SunGold as well, and that variety is now an important pillar for the future."
Brand recognition
The Zespri brand has also developed in the past 20 years. "From a regular trade tool we have grown into a well-known consumer brand. We have built a good name and recognition for ourselves in many countries. For the Benelux we are between 76 and 79 per cent regarding brand recognition. In a number of other European countries we are at the same level. Unfortunately, the spontaneous brand recognition is still very low. This year, we will work very hard to increase that spontaneous brand recognition. We'll spare no expense, with an effective TV campaign, and a longer presence than last year. Besides, we'll also do an event tour in Belgium and the Netherlands. By means of this Summer Tour, we want as many people as possible to taste the kiwifruit. Our focus for that is on experience. Using VR glasses, people can 'visit' kiwifruit orchards, and find out how the fruit is grown. The countries in which Zespri has already been traditionally expanded, are Spain, Germany and the Benelux. Besides, we want to develop Italy and France more to get these countries to the same level."
Besides New Zealand, the kiwifruit is grown in Italy, France, Greece and Spain. Production in New Zealand currently amounts to 13,000 hectares. Of that, 60 per cent is Green and 40 per cent is SunGold. After New Zealand, the area in Italy is the largest, and that is still growing considerably. "We started the cultivation there in 2001, and decided to expand the SunGold area by 800 hectares per year for the next three years. That will also have an enormous impact on volume." Green kiwifruit is available year-round. "SunGold from New Zealand is available from September/October. After that, we have supply from Italy until Christmas. These seasons practically seamlessly follow each other, and we are also working towards that this year."
No new varieties yet
There are currently no new commercial varieties. "In our development programmes, new varieties are repeatedly tested, and right now we still have a number of interesting things, but it's still too early to make a decision about that. We have also done a few trials with red varieties, but these were also very susceptible to PSA. With plant & food in New Zealand, we have the largest kiwifruit development programme in the world, and we invest a lot into that, and a broad range of kiwifruit varieties are researched by it. We even have kiwi berry in our cultivation programme, but these also come with many challenges. Especially shelf life is a tricky point. We only want to market something when it's truly distinctive regarding flavour, colour and prevention, and we haven't found that yet. We definitely have varieties in the pipeline, but they're still far from commercial development."


text:
This section describes how to configure the date range selector in a report pane.
Open the form containing the report pane and select the date range selector.
You can now use the Properties window to change its appearance and behavior. You can change the appearance by changing the number of fields per row, as well as changing the captions used for the from/to fields.
You can change the behavior by choosing whether or not the from/to fields should be shown, as well as the minimum and maximum years that can be entered.
Finally you can add additional fields to the date range selector by right-clicking on it, choosing 'Add Field' and then choosing the type of field you would like to add.
You can choose to add fields allowing users to choose year, quarter, month and week, or add a period field which lets users choose from several predefined periods.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
[pep-luh s]
noun, plural pep·lus·es.
or pep·lus
[pep-luh s]
noun, plural pep·los·es.
a loose-fitting outer garment worn, draped in folds, by women in ancient Greece.
Origin of peplos
First recorded in 1770–80, peplos is from the Greek word péplos (masculine)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for peplus
Historical Examples of peplus
"That were easy to tell," Nigidia murmured over the end of the peplus she held.Nicanor - Teller of Tales
C. Bryson Taylor
There was no garment, like a cloak, to be worn over the peplus.
The Peplus was covered with embroidery worked by virgins of the noblest families in Athens.Stories of Old Greece and Rome
Emilie Kip Baker
Is it a question of classical dress—what a tunic was like, or a chlamys, or a peplus?
As the peplus was open at the sides, the girdle was the second most important article of feminine attire.
noun plural -loses or -luses
(in ancient Greece) the top part of a woman's attire, caught at the shoulders and hanging in folds to the waistAlso called: peplum
Word Origin for peplos
C18: from Greek, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
[pĕp′ləs, -lŏs′]
n. pl. pep•los•es
The coat or envelope of lipoprotein material that surrounds certain virions.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.


text:
San Francisco – Everyday Insider! (TM)
Continuing with a list of Everyday Insider! (TM) events or venues which tourists to San Francisco can use to enjoy California life with the locals. See more of the series at links below.
Check the days of the week and other pertinent details, as well as a map to try to make an itinerary which makes sense. Once you leave the City of San Francisco, driving distances and times can be considerable, so it makes sense to put a plan in place.
___ Napa Valley Wine Train:
This is a beautiful part of the California Wine Country, and especially St. Helena is very walkable, if you get the chance.
___ Golden Gate Fields – Horse Racing in Berkeley:
1100 Eastshore Hwy, Berkeley, CA 94710
Sundays are Dollar Days meaning admission, parking, hot dogs and warm cups of cheap beer are one buck each; betting and the amounts on the races, however, is your choice.
It is the last of the Bay Area racetracks, Golden Gate does not have a year-round racing schedule. The two other beautiful SF racetracks were transformed. Locals fought the good fight, but lost – Tanforan has been demolished for a shopping mall, for decades, and Bay Meadows lost in 2008. It is now being made into a huge green-architecture housing development, still called "Bay Meadows", on the Peninsula, in San Mateo.
Most horses which run at Golden Gate are not exactly Triple Crown contenders, but you will still have a pleasant afternoon, if you like racing.
The views from Golden Gate Fields are breath-taking, maybe the best in the entire Bay Area. I kid you not. From the parking lot you can see the entire Bay: both bridges, San Francisco's skyline, Marin's hills, and more. It is a hidden gem that anyone can appreciate.
___ The Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory is in San Leandro, just South of Berkeley and Oakland and part of a day trip which could include either Golden Gate Fields OR on the way to Ardenwood Historic Farm, in Part 1 (link below).
Ghiradelli has a small retail factory store in San Leandro, across the Bay, that sells their various products at a significant savings.
In San Francisco, you can also visit their flagship store and Ghiradelli's Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop at the original Ghiradelli Chocolate Factory near the Fisherman's Wharf. It is now called "Ghiradelli Square" and you'll enjoy its 1850's architecture and the hip stores and cafes there!
The present factory's store is at:
1111 139th Ave. (Between E. 14th & Washington Ave)
San Leandro, CA 94578
Sorry, no tours of the factory are offered.
(510) 346-3146
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Ghiradelli Square:
900 North Point Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 771-4903
Part 1: San Francisco Everyday Insider
Part 3: San Francisco Everyday Insider (TM) – Flax Art and Design
©2010 mystic at Travel Vacation Review


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Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
404 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuu defeated Nodoka-oneesan by TKO with the Katahajime (7:38).
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuka Sakazaki defeated Rika Tatsumi with the Magical Magical Girl Splash (13:25).
3. 3 Way Match: Yuna Manase defeated Hyper Misao and Yuki Aino when Manase pinned Aino with the Kakato Drop (8:09).
4. Sakisama, Azusa Christie & Martha defeated Shoko Nakajima, Yuki Kamifuku & Hikari when Sakisama submitted Hikari with the Versailles Foot Choke (12:19).
5. Miyu Yamashita, Maki Ito & Mizuki defeated Miu, Raku & Hinano when Ito pinned Hinano with the DDT (10:28).
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: Yuu defeated Yuka Sakazaki with the Last Ride (9:44).
For the 2nd time Yuu has won the TOKYO Princess Cup! The final rounds took place today with Yuu beating Nodoka-oneesan and Yuka Sakazaki beating Rika Tatsumi to set up the main event. Yuu's big win happened when she caught Sakazaki in midair and Power Bombed her. She then hit the Last Ride Power Bomb for the three count. Yuu let out a big cry when she won.
Yuu said she first won the Princess Cup two years ago. She wasn't afraid of anything back then because she was undefeated and she had a lot of fun with wrestling. This time however there is a lot on her mind. She lost the TOKYO Princess Title, the girls around her a getting stronger and there are new juniors underneath her filling up the Tokyo Joshi Pro roster. It has her wondering where her place in Tokyo Joshi is. But the one thing she can do without fail is believe in her strength. She believes in her wrestling and is happy to be a part of Tokyo Joshi. She might be in a better place now than she was two years ago. That leads to something else Yuu wants to do. She called out Miyu Yamashita and challenged her to a TOKYO Princess Title match! Yuu believes she has to be at a certain level to fight for the championship and today she reached it. Yamashita said of course she accepts the challenge. Yamashita knows her strength the best and told Yuu not to limit herself. Yamashita wants both herself and Yuu to be at their mental and physical best until one of them runs out. The match will take place on the 25th August Korakuen Hall show. Yuu promised she will be standing in the ring at the end of the summer as the TOKYO Princess Champion!
In the semi-finals, Nodoka was beaten with the Katahajime but she never gave up. The referee had to stop the match when she lost consciousness. Nodoka thanked everyone for their support and said she changed a lot of minds in just three matches. She wants to take the next step this summer.
Tatsumi threw everything she had at Sakazaki including a surprise attack to start the match. Sakazaki was able to escape the Dragon Sleeper by rolling out of it. She then countered the Dragon Twist Of Fate into the Merry Go Round. That put Tatsumi in position for the Magical Magical Girl Splash to give Sakazaki the victory. It was a blow for Tatsumi because she anticipated reaching the final.
Maki Ito Headbutted her way out of trouble and score the win for her team.
NEO Biishiki-gun won their match in spite of some tension between Azusa Christie and Martha. Christie got in the way whenever Martha & Sakisama did double team moves together. Hikari from the Up Up Girls almost got a surprise win over Sakisama with a Cobra Twist and a Sleeper Hold but Sakisama eventually made her give up to the Versailles Foot Choke. Christie and Martha continued to bother each other after the match so Sakisama ordered both of them to sit down. She told both of them how ugly they were acting today. Sakisama loves both of them equally. Christie protested and said she only wants Sakisama to love her. Sakisama asked Christie if she trusts her and Christie eventually replied with "Only Saki's love is the truth". Now calm, Christie admitted she may have judged Martha too soon. She promises to be more strong, friendly and beautiful for Sakisama in the future. Christie and Martha reconciled and look to be back on the same page. For now.
Hyper Misao thinks Yuki Aino needs a heroic awakening to win a match so she gave her a superhero mask similar to her own to wear. When Aino put the mask on, she found out that the mask allows Misao to talk directly to her heart. Yuki Aino turned into Hyper Yuki and she did a lot of Misao's mannerisms. The power did help Aino when she fought Yuna Manase but every time she made progress, Misao ran in to try and steal the pin. Aino had enough of Misao taking advantage of her and wrestled the rest of the match without the mask. But without the extra power, Aino fell to Manase and lost the match.
Two new trainees introduced themselves. Mahiro is from Gunma. Himawari Unagi is a Youtuber and an actor. Both girls began their training in May.
A one day tag team lottery tournament will take place at the Tokyo Joshi Pro Beer Garden show on 4th August. The Yeah! Metcha Tag Team Tournament 2018 Summer will feature between 6 to 8 teams made up of random pairings. The winning team will receive a gorgeous prize named after the summer.
Priscilla Kelly returns to Tokyo Joshi in August. Her confirmed shows so far are 18/8 in Nagoya and 25/8 in Korakuen.


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The way millennials have been dating makes romance today very confusing. Men in their 30s and 40s want to date women half their age, and these women also look at dating men half of their age. The first wave that brought this up is the emergence of cell phones. We often see people in restaurants talking to their phones instead of the person across the table. Social media has allowed people to post their best versions online. Putting your best face forward isn't wrong. Just make sure that it is your real face. The last thing that's been messing with romance today is the rise of feminine energy for both men and women.
In this show, we talk about the details about what's going on, what's happening with romance and relationship. What happened to passing notes and phone calls? Now it's text messages and swiping left and swiping right, and everyone's confused and no one's very gratified. We talk about what's happening with the millennials and how that's affecting the rest of the society. We invite Dimitra to come onto the show and she blows me away with her wisdom. It was supposed to be a coaching session, but it turns more into a dialogue about what she's seen as a modern woman living in today's society. She throws down some serious wisdom about what's been happening in her world and also what she sees in her kids.
Listen to the podcast here:
WTF is up with Romance Today?
This is an awesome show because it's about the concept of romance in the modern century. I'm quite excited about this show and what it means. It really is, on some level, the foundation of the work I do. Let's begin on this concept of romance in the 21st century. This is pretty much the most fucked up romance has been that I've ever seen and ever studied of any generation in terms of society. I also want to give recognition the book, The Way of the Superior Man. I might not particularly like David Deida all that much, I'm not a huge fan of his per se, but I've been reading the book again because my book is going to be the 21st century version of it twenty years later.
I have to give it up to the guy. He did an amazing job giving people a lot of the reality of things that are fucked up between men and women. That was an important thing to do because he eases people's soul to know that what they're thinking and what they're feeling were right. That book was written in 1997, and now in 2017, we're living in a completely different, more fucked up world than ever possible. It is just crazy out there. There's something about that book that gave people permission to have the thoughts and the feelings that they want.
I Googled "millennials dating," and here are the titles of the top articles that came up. From the Huffington Post, Dating's Dead, Long Live These Ten Millennial Mating Patterns. From Rolling Stone, Inside the Awkward World of Millennial Dating. From Good Men Project, A Less Cynical Explanation of Why Millennials Suck At Dating. From Bolde.com, Why Dating As A Millennial Is So Screwed Up. From Bustle.com, How Single Millennials Feel About Dating In 2017, Because It's Pretty Complicated. We can get the point that the top five articles when you type in millennial dating is basically a negative thing about what's happening. This is the experience I've had when I talk to people that they're having.
Here are some of the reasons I perceive that things are screwed up in current-day dating. What the millennials have brought to the world in terms of dating is affecting all the generations. It is not like millennials are isolated in this fucked up way we're dealing with romance. No, it's permeated throughout the rest of the world. Men in their older ages, in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, are still looking to date millennial women. They are still looking to date younger women. Millennial women are looking to date older men. It is because the millennial men do not have EQ, emotional intelligence or emotional viability, and millennial women are looking to date older. I'm an example of that. I'm dating someone fourteen years younger. It's because of what she was looking for in a man. Because of that, young men are not getting the training of how to engage and relate with the women and older women are not having the viability because of this dating skew. Because of the difference and what's happening currently, it's affecting everyone, and everyone's a little confused.
Here's some obvious things that are happening. There's the cell phone which is now our most intimate partner. I love sitting in restaurants looking around at other tables and noticing that more people are engaged with their phones, with someone else at the table, than they are with the people. I do this too. I take my phone out of my pocket and put it on the table. I always put it face down. I don't want the distraction of the flash, but most people talk, then engage with their phone. Talk, then take a picture of their food. It's a way that our cell phones have become our most intimate partners, even more than our romantic partners.
The second thing that's happened is the social media. Social media has come in and screwed up a lot in terms of relationship. I love social media. I live on social media. I promote through social media, but also what's happening is that we're putting optimized versions of ourselves online. We're putting our best face forward, which isn't a real face. We're putting a fake face in front of us. We're not putting our real, handsome, authentic, personal, pimple, dimpled, scarred faces. No, we're putting great head shots. We're putting great color. We'll take our little filters to make sure that our balance is right. We're in this place now where we're not even showing who we truly are. When you engage in social media, you're looking at people that aren't real. Guess what happens when you meet them in real life? It's like a prostitute bait and switch. You're not engaged with that person. You're engaged with the optimized version, and it's killing us.
The Tinder revolution, the swipe left swipe right mentality, has given people an excuse to bail the second things get challenging. This is something I hear time and time again. People are like, "I'm going to schedule a date. If the date doesn't go well by 9:00,I'm on my phone, on Tinder, looking to engage with someone else." I've been doing some research and I found out there's been 100 million downloads of Tinder by the middle of 2016. 79% are millennials. Millennials are dominating the Tinder market. Also, Tinder is only 40% in North America. The rest is throughout the rest of the world.
The last thing that's happening, which is a little harder to see, is the belief of mine that we're seeing the rise of feminine. Not the rise of feminism, but the rise of the feminine. What's happening is that finally, after all these centuries of pushing down and fighting and avoiding the feminine, it's finally coming to a station near you. It's coming to a place close to you, and it's affecting you. Because of that, women are feeling more empowered. The pay gap is shrinking. You're seeing time and time again that women are rising to power. There's people like Trump trying to push her down, but it's still not happening. The feminine is rising.
A friend of mine relate to me about a dating experience she had. This is a good synopsis of what's been happening in the world. She's a very attractive 28-year-old woman. She does a lot of yoga. She told me the story of how she connected with this guy on social media and they started talking. She lived in a different state, he was in California, and relating and flirting and getting to know each other. Finally, they connected. She came to Los Angeles and she was spending time with him. When she went to see him all excited to find this deep connection, what happened was he didn't relate to her in person the way he was relating via electronics. There was some falsehood that he was presenting, some kind of intimacy he was projecting over the electronic medium that he couldn't sustain in person. She felt confused.
Then he said to her, "Let's hang out." What do you do nowadays when you want to hang out? You watch a movie. "Why don't you come over and we'll watch a movie?" She went over to his house, they're touching, they're flirting, and eventually they were playing around, and they make out. She had a good time. She said it was a nice experience. She felt turned on by the experience, but then the after effect was she felt ditched. What happened is he could not sustain the intimacy. She was totally confused by this guy who was so intimate and so connected, but disappeared in the aftermath of the sexual experience. There was this rush to sex. There's this definitive strange thing that's happening with genders, especially with men, that there's an obsession with having a sexual experience as some kind of completion and validation. If we don't have sex, it's not a complete experience and that's messing up the relationship.
I'm all for sex. I'm not against sex on the first date. I'm not against anything. Whatever your body, your mind, and your souls want to do, but after you have that experience, show up afterwards. Be connectable afterwards. If you don't bond to have a long-term thing, don't sneak in sex with the illusion of some long-term thing. That sucks. If you do want to have just a one-night stand, be clear you just want to have a one-night stand. Be willing to say, "I'm not looking for something, but you really turn me on, and this is an experience I want to have." Give both partners the opportunity to make the chance rather than the falsehood, the lie, that's withholding the fantasy of something deeper. She felt hurt and confused. She felt like she did something wrong. I called her, "You didn't do anything wrong." This is the plague that's been happening in society where people are not staying connected. They're not staying with that person pass that first experience.
We're having greater quantity and numbers in relationship, but we're having much less quality. In the old days, when I was a mere slip of a youth in the '70s and '80s, we didn't have the instant email back and forth. You had to pass notes. In the old days, we would write notes and then we would slip them in the lockers. I don't know if they're doing that. We would write notes, we would write letters, and we would have phone calls. I remember sitting on the phone, looking at posters on my wall, and talking for hours with my girlfriend. We were on the phone and we're connected. Now what's happening is that things are moving so fast, and the movement to sex, even for teenagers and pre-teenagers are immense. The pressure for ten, eleven, and twelve-year olds to have sex is immense in today's society.
This is from Bolde.com, and the article is Why Dating As A Millennial Is So Screwed Up. They say number one, we ghost as a way to end things. We ghost. We don't complete relationship, we just ghost by. Number two, we're hyper-focused on sex. Sex is currency. Sex is some way to feel completed and connected. Three, this is awesome and sad at the same time, we're in competition of who can care the least. Doesn't that say it perfectly? "I am just not going to put my cards in until something. I'm going to act all cool, calm, and collected and not available." Four, we are too strategic about our responses. We focus on looking perfect and maintaining that facade. We do so much work to look cool rather than real. We're just hyper focused on the responses from the details. Number five, we expect a perfection that doesn't exist. We're looking for something in our fantasies, in our books. We're looking for something that doesn't exist. We're not looking at the person across from us. We are expecting them to be something and someone they may not be.
Number six, we're overloaded with options. In my business alone, I've got seven different ways to contact me. Email, text message, Instagram, Slack, LinkedIn, Facebook. There's all these different options. For dating, it's the same as intensity. We have all these different apps. We have OkCupid, Tinder, Hinge. Hinge is a strange one. There's always different options and we're totally multitasking rather than being with who we are and what we're with. Seven, we have been content with being alone. This is true too. We are like, "This isn't worth it. Fuck it. Why bother?" Eight, we're always stuck in a gray area.
We're not willing to be vulnerable and truthful to say what we want and how we want things, so we're willing to stay in the je ne sais quoi, this unknown of what's happening. Nine, we don't feel accountable for the pain we inflict on others. "Sorry, your feelings, it's on you. I may provide the stimuli, but you are responsible for your feelings," which is true. When we do a stimulus that's not kind, we can apologize. We can say, "I made a miscue. I'm sorry. This was my intention." The last one is we're all jaded as fuck. "Why bother? It doesn't exist any way."
As I'm working on the book, which is now Beyond Hidden Man is the working title, I shifted from my Tuff Love general into a men's book that's why I'm into David Deida. These two viewpoints from both sides are the foundation of it. The complaint for women that I've experienced is men are not willing or open or able to emotionally sustain the extent of a woman's feelings and character. There's an underlying communication of "you're too much," or "this is too much," or "why can't you handle your ship?" There's some underlining impatience men have and don't allow women to be the full dynamic, impressively expansive beings they are.
Men have lower amplitude of available emotional range in nature as a general rule. What we find acceptable in terms of needs is very small. If you think about a sinusoidal wave, it's much thinner to the dynamic nature of the feminine, of the woman, which is high. It's like a rollercoaster ride. Men aren't taking the time to learn the skill to go on the rollercoaster ride. Because of that, women are holding it in and women are not showing who they are. These men are getting dumber and dumber and women are getting angrier and angrier. A common complaint is that men are not willing or interested to say, "I want to learn to go on your rollercoaster."
On the flip side, the complaints from men are they still feel persecuted for their emotions. There's the MRA, which the Men's Rights Activism. When I first started looking at that, I thought, "This is dumb. Men don't need activism," but the more I looked at it, there is cause because men are not able to feel the extent of their emotion. They are persecuted if they cry, if they show emotion, if it's an inappropriate time. I did research of when it's appropriate for men to cry. If you want to laugh, search that on Google and read some of those articles.
It's sports events, a daughter getting married, or a dog dying. There's a very limited range of when men can actually cry and be approved of by society. You might think, "No, we're evolved." We're not. We still have viewpoints about keeping that small around their emotions. Feminism to men is causing rifts. It's not that the men necessarily are against the rise of a woman, but the methodology of it. They're feeling apt blame for the feminine being kept down.
I'm not saying men aren't, but I'm also saying women co-created the situation. Men feel like they are the reason that women can't be women. This is true, but it's also women who have taken this route for their benefit. You might not understand the benefit of women staying small for , but think about it a little bit and you might start to draw that there are definitive benefits for women staying small. They don't have the same responsibility. There's a different victimhood mentality that's going on. Feminism is keeping men feeling persecuted and wrong. From that, they're not feeling the approval that they so deeply desire from women.
In each show, I try to give a pragmatic side to what's available and how do you do this. I'm so lucky to have a partner where I get to practice this concept that I'm about to say. It's very simple and it's very challenging. Number one, be nice. My teachers once taught me that if you want to know how to interact with the world, just be nice. Be nice in terms of paying attention. Let your partner feel the extent of their feelings. Don't personalize every little thing that comes out of their mouth. Be willing to listen and hold and show curiosity.
Be willing to ask questions. Be willing to also reveal different parts of yourself. I have been with Morgan for over two years and I revealed something that I never talked to her or anyone about, and the relief I felt down to the core of my being, the ability to share that part of me was so comforting. When you tell the truth to your partner, they know who you are and they authentically get to deal with you. Be nice, speak honestly, and listen authentically. This is a step for us to have deeper connection and improve romance in the 21st century.
Live Coaching
I'm coaching a new friend. I'm going to bring her now to the show. Hi, how are you?
I'm good. How are you?
Thanks so much for being on the show.
My name's Dimitra.
How can I best serve you? What would you like to talk about?
I enjoyed everything that you had to say. One of the challenges for me is very much what you had mentioned. Feminism has caused much of the rift. It's almost taken as much from women as it has for men. Showing up as a woman, which includes honoring women and things that we've gotten through, but also still showing up as a feminine woman is highly challenging, to be able to fully say, "This is what I want," part of it is old fashioned and part of it is new age, but being able to authentically be myself and not look back and say, "That relationship was this and that relationship was that," and blame it all on the guy for not having the emotional IQ.
When I look back it's like if I had shown up fully with the woman that I am, with all of the intricacies and all of the things that I am assuming another man cannot handle, if I tone myself down, then I would've never started the relationship with certain men, and the relationships would have ended quicker, or I would have attracted the more suitable partner without blame and taking responsibility for my shit on my end.
Thank you for acknowledging and being vulnerable enough to say that. I said a bunch of charged stuff at the end of that show and I talked about feminism. For you to say, "That's my experience," I'm grateful for that. I want to say thank you. Did you walk in believing the man could not handle you?
No, I don't think it was frontal lobe. It's like a response. I think we gauge it. It's like the first time that we get emotional and the first time that we want to talk about how we feel, we get first initial response of, "I know I can't do anything right." You care for him and he's a good man in so many other levels and you know that he's telling you, "It's too much for me. I can't go there." Then the question becomes, "Do I back off and we approach it in a different way or do I just shut my mouth for twenty years?"For me, in my first relationship, it was effective. I shut my mouth for twenty years, but he wasn't a bad guy. He's still very good friend. He's a wonderful human being.
That's the detrimental piece in our society. You need to tell the truth and every single incident about every single thing. That is my basic core line. The second you start to withhold and not speak the truth, that's where the relationship starts to move towards mediocrity. We do it constantly. We're constantly withholding, "I don't want to deal with it" or "We had an argument, I want a sweet day," but you have to. Relationship is a practice. You cannot let things slide and most people are not up for it themselves and not willing to put that into practice with another person.
What happens is that we are afraid of the relationship ending if we truly push it. It's like, "I understand you don't want to talk about it right now. You're busy and you got to get to work, but when are we going to talk about it?" If I'm going to give that up, it not only goes into mediocrity. It goes into a certain level of apathy. People say, "What's the opposite of love?" In relationships, for me, it's apathy. "He's never going to change," or, "She's never going to change. It's just what it is," and we go on autopilot. That is not serving anyone. That's misery. I'll never be there again, that I know.
What do you want next? Are you dating someone now?
No, I got off of a five-year on-again-off-again relationship. The seductiveness of my alone time is getting real comfortable, being able to read what I want and do what I want. I co-parent my two children, so I have plenty of time for them. It gets to the point where it's like, "This isn't worth it." I'm right there, but I'm still open. I'm taking the decent amount of time to digest what I learned from the last relationship. I'm ready to go forward.
What do you want next? Let's create a little dream, little inspiration, and a little attraction. What are you looking for? What guy would turn you on?
Economically, we do have to be equally yoked. It's very difficult if a woman is in a different socioeconomic place in her life than the man is. I want somebody who appreciate some more traditional values, some old school stuff, like note passing. I am not into anyone who has any inhibitions when it comes to sexuality. On the other hand, I don't want that electronic sexuality man because I find sexually, he's not going to be there in an intimate way.
What does electronic sexuality mean?
The porn guy. I have nothing against porn if you want to use it together, but porn has become extremely detrimental to human development. Facts of what is happening on these phones in 200 years is going to thwart a man's ability to hunt. I want that. That's what I want. I want that man. That man that knows that that's what he wants. It's not the Tinder man who, "If it's too difficult, I'll just swipe left or swipe right." I'm not going to put up with that anymore.
I'm in total agreement and we didn't even touch on porn, which is a whole other topic and detrimental in all aspects. I like porn and I am a fan of porn. I saw the effect on me and what was happening and you're exactly right. It's when it's so available and there's so much variety and so much possibility. I love that you said that it takes a man's ability to hunt, to claim and to put attention.
I want to be hunted. I want to be claimed. I believe that we are fighting against millions of years of human development. There is a masculine role of hunter and there is that feminine role, and they work together. They're like a battery. One is a positive charge and one is a negative charge. I don't want to be the hunter. I appreciate and I welcome protective masculine energy. I'm a lawyer by trade. I am a feminist, but I am what I like to call a "femininist." I did not lose my femininity and I will use every part of that to find my way in this world. The only part that I ever gave up was believing that he could have held that space emotionally. I'm pretty intact. I didn't lose too much as far as the rest of it. I still have a pretty good handle on that it is out there. It is rarer.
I'm very self-contained. I have a very strong ego structure. I can handle my shit. I've been through a lot of work. I'm still always relieved when Morgan says, "Let's talk about this."She holds me emotionally and she gives me the space just to be myself. I'm not looking to her to be my mom. I'm not looking to her to do it all the time, but those times where I need my partner to stand up and say, "I'm here emotionally for you. You can just relax," is such a relief and vice versa. When she needs it, I can stand up and hold her. That's a piece to the puzzle that is not happening enough in relationships. People need to know they can handle their shit, but they can also be vulnerable and connected to their partners.
One of the most important things when we get down to that level is to recognize that we're not different. Yes, we're masculine and we're feminine, but I have masculine in me and you have feminine in you. Where can we be heard? The vulnerable thing is to know that my partner hears me. He notices the little nuances of who I am and not the Tinder version. Sometimes I'll deal with friends of mine who have husbands who have strayed. When I talk to men who usually will be the type that will stray, I honestly and genuinely ask them, "How different is each vagina? What is going on that you have to continually look for the next one? What are you running from?" That's what I feel like. I don't want somebody to say, "You're so beautiful." We appreciate that too, but what are my nuances? What are the things that I enjoy? Am I fascinated by your nuances? That's a key thread, remaining fascinated with my partner. That goes because you don't communicate.
Most people cheat because they don't feel like they can reveal themselves to their partner. Some people like to cheat because they like the thrill of cheating. I had a client that was a high-end New York City escort and she would tell me, "These guys would rather be doing these things with their wives. They don't want to be doing it with me, but because the wives aren't even open to go crazy kinky with who they are, they don't feel comfortable revealing it. From that, they have to look elsewhere."
Even if somebody were to get with you and want to get kinky with you, they have to communicate that first. That means that what that man really wants, first and foremost, is to be heard. It's getting heard. Kink comes after talking or texting even, however the mode of communication is they're not getting heard. If you talk to escorts and prostitutes, they definitely say a lot of that is the top part of it. They want to be heard. I can't tell you how many times I've talked to women that tell me, "I got his phone, and I saw who he was talking to, and it wasn't even sexual."
Men want the approval. That's a big piece of the puzzle. Men do not feel approved of in today's society by women because they're not acting in a way that women will approve of them. It's this downward cycle of separation, isolation, and lack of enjoyment of a relationship.
I've seen myself in relationships where I'm on one side of the room wanting what he has, and he's on the other side of the room wanting what I have, but there's this huge chasm that has taken the time to slowly fill or to say, "We're ready to bust through it no matter what. It doesn't matter if the relationship remains intact. Let's do this. If I don't do this, I will carry this to the next relationship." I see it manifesting through my children. I have a fifteen-year-old son and an eleven-year-old daughter. It's like the macrocosm of what's occurring in the divine feminine and the divine masculine is happening in front of my eyes as they're growing up.
How do I not emasculate a fifteen-year-old boy and teach him to be good with the cycles of her emotions? She literally will come crying to me and saying to me, "They shut me down." That kills me, because as a woman you do know that feeling. They don't even have to say it, and they're the sweetest. Both of them are wonderful human beings, her father and her brother, but they are afraid of her emotions, and they shut her down. That happens a lot.
Two things I said that is the foundation of it is that men have to learn to hold women and all their emotions and not personalize it. There is something about men's fragile egos and lack of connection to their emotions that are trying to minimize women.
Who caused that? The woman who raised those boys caused them to not be in touch with their emotions. Let's say I'm fluid, because I'm overall more so, and I'm looking for a rigid container to hold me safely. How is that rigid container, if that's all he's totally supposed to do, understand that he also has some fluidity and some emotion in him too? I'll never forget the time that my son slammed a door in the house when he got pissed off about something and I thought, "This cannot get out of control," so I came down hard on him. He was crying and he said to me, "I don't understand how you and Sophia can get so pissed off, and you're allowed to get so pissed off, and then it just passes. One time I get pissed off and I get in trouble." That was our mom. I couldn't hold his anger, but I expect him to hold mine. It's happening.
Thank you so much for being on the show. I usually coach people with problems, but it was a great dialogue. We do agree on it and you definitely added an angle that I can't see being a man. I appreciate the forthrightness and honesty.
I appreciate you too. It gives me hope that there are men out there that are going to teach these boys that are coming up, so that maybe this millennial thing, maybe we'll leave it better. We don't know, but it takes us as women showing up too fully. The one thing that is working to our advantage is the fact that you guys do still seek our approval. I don't think there's any man out there that doesn't want to feel like he has satisfied his woman. You guys live for that. When you see a man who's angry, it's usually because he feels like he let her down. He's not even angry at her. He's angry because he didn't get there. I wish more women would understand that.
Thank you so much for being on show. That was a little unexpected, the advantage of the improvisational and making stuff as we go along. You never know what's going to happen on the show. I'm grateful for that experience. If you would like to make a donation to the show, we love them and accept them at Patreon.com/TuffLove. Thanks so much for being with us. I appreciate it.
Thanks so much for joining us on Tuff Love. Thank you so much Dimitra for coming on the show and joining us and sharing your wisdom. I appreciate the perspective. It turned from a coaching call into a dialogue. The most amazing thing about Tuff Love is we get to share wisdom. For more shows, please visit us at TuffLove.Live. Go forth, live your life, be happy. Thanks so much.
Resources mentioned:
- The Way of the Superior Man
- Dating's Dead, Long Live These Ten Millennial Mating Patterns
- Inside the Awkward World of Millennial Dating
- A Less Cynical Explanation of Why Millennials Suck At Dating
- Bolde.com
- Why Dating As A Millennial Is So Screwed Up
- Bustle.com
- How Single Millennials Feel About Dating In 2017, Because It's Pretty Complicated


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Robeco has been incorporating sustainability in the analysis of emerging markets companies for over 15 years. What started as a corporate governance survey in 2001 evolved into an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) survey in 2014. In this year's survey, South Africa continues to be in the lead, while India and Mexico are the biggest risers.
Empirical evidence supports our belief that there is a positive relationship between ESG criteria and financial performance. In a 2015 study, Friede, Busch and Bassen collected evidence from more than 2,000 studies to search for such a relation. Their findings suggest that ESG outperformance opportunities exist, particularly in emerging markets.
To us, this makes intuitive sense. When there are fewer external institutions to protect minority shareholder interests, good governance becomes more important. Dealing with pollution has become a priority for governments in emerging markets, creating both opportunities and challenges for companies there. Social issues, such as income disparity and the risk of social unrest, are equally crucial as illustrated by several high profile cases of protests and labor strikes in recent years.
These considerations become even more relevant as emerging markets companies are adopting developed market standards to expand the global market share of their goods and services, and tap into new capital markets.
Our ESG analysis is part of the bottom-up investment process, which seeks to select attractively valued stocks with a high return potential. We believe that a by-the-numbers approach, without reference to quality indicators and the structural long-term sustainability of business models risks ignoring intangible factors which increasingly explain companies' market value. Our survey aims to capture some of these intangible factors, which are listed below:
The table below shows the changes since the previous ESG survey came out in 2014.
While our data collection and analysis are done at the individual company level, we have aggregated the 865 ESG scores here to provide a snapshot of the results at a country level. This gives an indication of the markets where, within our core universe, more sustainable companies are clustered.
As in our 2014 survey, South African companies (ZAF, Figure 1) continue to lead, doing particularly well in the area of Board and Management. This is unsurprising given that South Africa has adopted the King Corporate Governance Code, which is considered a global leader that has set the standard in terms of governance and sustainability.
The biggest risers since the previous survey are India (IND) and Mexico (MEX), which have seen improvements in Management Discipline and Social Performance, respectively. At the bottom of the table countries such as Egypt (EGY), Indonesia (IDN) and China continue to perform poorly.
While the aggregated results at a country level offer interesting insights, they do not tell the whole story. It is important to look at the results across different categories to form a more complete and balanced view of sustainability factors within countries. For example, Figure 2 breaks down the performance of South African companies into the different categories of the survey. The chart shows that South African corporates perform above average in most categories but many underperform in the critical category of Financial Risk. The survey's identification of such red flags tempers our conviction on the sustainability of South African companies.
Drilling down deeper, it is the company-specific analysis that offers the most relevant contribution to our investment process. Figure 3 shows an example of our ESG Survey's output for an Indian company, which we will call XYZ. In company XYZ's case, the Board & Management category scores particularly poorly, which is a reflection of a number of issues with their board structure. Our chart also indicates that there may be opportunities for XYZ to improve its environmental performance. Our more detailed survey output also highlights a number of red flags which need to be explicitly addressed to form a comprehensive investment case.
These red flags also feed into Robeco's approach to company engagement. We select a number of companies where we believe we can contribute to the improvement of their ESG profile and engage with company management. These initiatives have shown positive results over the years and companies have been showing an increasingly positive reaction to our engagement efforts.
The input from the ESG survey is combined with other resources that are available within Robeco. For in-depth analysis we make use of RobecoSAM's Corporate Sustainability Assessment. For country allocation, a country sustainability ranking is calculated using the knowledge of Robeco's Fixed Income Investments department and RobecoSAM.
Integrating ESG factors into our investment process does not mean that we invest in companies because they have perfect ESG scores. Rather, we take ESG factors into account by integrating these into our investment cases and valuation models. In some cases we may come to the conclusion that a company is attractively valued despite its ESG challenges. This is also where we find an opportunity to engage with companies. We therefore see the integration of ESG analysis and engagement into our investment process as an important contributor to performance.
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The contents, however, are not intended for non-qualified investors. By clicking "I agree" below, you confirm and acknowledge that you act in your capacity as qualified investor pursuant to CISA or as an "independent asset manager" who meets the additional requirements set out hereafter. In the event that you are an "independent asset manager" who meets all the requirements set out in Art. 3 para. 2 let. c) CISA in conjunction with Art. 3 CISO, by clicking "I Agree" below you confirm that you will use the content of this website only for those of your clients which are qualified investors pursuant to CISA.
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Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): https://github.com/giosac/plastik
Simple Theme
Theme created by an amateur, if you want to contribute with other environments (xfce, gtk2, budgie desktop, etc ...), contact me firstname.lastname@example.com
How to install?
Copy or move the folder in the directory /home/youuser/.themes
New Version 3.30
7 months ago
7 months ago
Please could you make both a light and dark shell theme for Plastik? It's literally my favourite GTK theme, and I'm using it in my new operating system (do you mind about that by the way?) Thanks


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Talent recruitmentfre
your mental and physical level can be fully meets fashion, young, enthusiastic new photography community.
A constant pursuit of higher goals, progressive learning team.
Competitive salary + study double room for growth and management + hand, career goals of continuous improvement plan.
If you! Creative enough, enough to have executive power, enough aggressive enough fashion sense!


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What a difference since this last post; Car driving lessons update, there has been a slight change with my driving later that day on 16th June. (Although my instructor would say a big change.) I am thinking as in small change to how I feel the car currently. As you know, my concern is knowing when to change gears, whether up or down. I can now feel when it is time for the gear to go up, so a sense of achievement on that part. 🙂 So I am happy I can now tell this way, even though on the dashboard it will tell me too. Although I now have this reassurance, my confidence is still low and my anxiety high. I feel an extra lesson a week would help me, but sadly the instructor could not fit me in as I observed my phone to see if I may receive a text to see if I was available, should there been. So I knew he just could not fit me in.
The lesson I had the week after, (23rd June), I had still improved from the previous week. Although I still had anxiety, it was better and my confidence was a little better in places too.
I was driving with prompts when I needed them and in places where I had no experience in situations I was in, I was guided. To say I was now driving on a more public road and when permitted, at higher speeds, my anxiety levels kept at the same level with just the odd peaks. With my anxiety in check the best I could, I felt a bit more in more control with what I needed to do.
When I was in areas where I could do up to 60mph, I could see I was doing nearly 55mph, but my instructor said I did 57mph at one point. He could see I was not comfortable with this, as I warned him prior. He said he would not have put me in this situation, if he did not think I could do it.
What I did not think I would end up doing, but I did, was to drive myself home. Although relieved when home, I felt good. 🙂
I tried a different pair of trainers for my lesson, having my others as a back-up, just in case there were not suitable. I turned out I was ok with them and an added bonus that I could feel my feet touching the clutch, break and gas pedals, so this gave me some reassurance as a deaf person. It has made me realise I rely on sense of touch more than I thought.


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Whereas it wasn't how I planned to spend an evening, baking cookies on the Nile is one thing only a few people can say they did, and the rewards kept coming as people commented how delicious they were every time they popped one other one into their mouths. Traveling typically is a somewhat adventurous thing to have interaction in and a travel weblog can seize that journey and allow the traveler to share it with others. Many eating places and companies will close on holidays, so look them up earlier than you travel to save yourself the trouble. In the event you're traveling with people who find themselves continuously consuming and snacking you then might have a bit of a problem traveling with them.
These corporations or companies provide every kind of cars and automobiles on lease for better traveling within the Indian state of Rajasthan. The Yellow Submarines are in 16th position in the La Liga table, which speaks volumes about their terrible season thus far. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson stated sections of the new travel order probably amounted to a violation of the First Modification's institution clause , which forbids the federal government from disfavoring sure religions over others.
Many travelers succumb to the temptation of fast … Travel More


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Road hockey
On Sunday, Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to around 6 p.m., kids ages 5-10 can play in a road hockey tournament at the Terrace sportsplex. Games are a half hour and teams will be 3-on-3, with different age divisions. For more, check out "Terrace Road Hockey Rumble 2017" on Facebook.
Drag racing
Hot August Nites is coming up this weekend. Street legals are Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. and the races are Aug. 6-7 at the airport.
Time trials are at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, and races start at 7 p.m.
Mixed slo-pitch tournament all weekend, starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, and continuing all day Saturday through Monday, Aug. 5-7. Played at different ball parks including Riverside Park, Rotary Kerr Field and Thornhill Regional Field.
Beach volleyball
The 17th annual Beach Blast volleyball tournament is Aug. 6-7 in the Mr. Mikes parking lot. For more check out "17th Annual Mr Mikes Beach Blast Volleyball Tournament" on Facebook.
The Riverboat Days soccer tournament is Aug. 4-7 at the two Thornhill school soccer fields. There's 5 women's teams, 8 men's, 5 masters competing in their divisions and finals are Monday. For more including a schedule check out the Facebook page called at Riverboat Days Open Soccer Tournament.
A drop-in co-ed soccer league for adults runs Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Caledonia Secondary soccer fields. For more information, call 250-635-3790.
The annual Riverboat Days Freestyle Motocross Madness is in the Skeena Mall parking lot at 2 p.m. Aug. 5.
The first Terrace Ice Cream Run is Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with free ice cream for race participants from the Terrace Chill Shop. Proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver and early-bird registration ends in mid-Aug. For more details, search "Run for Ice-Cream" on Facebook or call Kristine at 250-922-5229.


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More Fans
12 June 08
Sorry for the late posts, my son is in the hospital right now...so I am posting via the automatic publication system of blogger.
See even Silverman is tuned up for the big football event...even though there are demonstrations and a lot of fans around, he stood still watching...unless of course given a coin...
Below, the man is wearing two different shawl/scarf as he speak with 3 Asian youngsters....wonder which team he really is rooting for...
12 comments
il est génial ce fan de l'équipe d'Autriche. Malheureusement comme l'équipe de France, juste un petit passage pendant la compétition ;o(ReplyDelete
it is this great fan of the team of Austria. Unfortunately as the team of France, just a small passage during the competition ;o(
What happened to your son? I hope he is all right now.ReplyDelete
I've been watching Euro too and I want either Germany or Netherlands to win!
G, I hope your son is feeling better. You're still blogging so I'd assume it's nothing serious.:DReplyDelete
Love the top photo...fun shot!
Hi Gizelle! Sorry for having taken so long to get back here again. Another hectic week… and a disaster against Germany to end it... ;)ReplyDelete
Great shots of the fans! Unfortunately we won't see the Portuguese in Vienna... :((
Wiener schnitzel should come together with Leberknödel Suppe und Apfelstrudel... ;))
Thanks for your comments at Blogtrotter, still in Santiago de Compostela, now inside the Cathedral… Hope you enjoy, and have a nice weekend!
He reminds me of the living statues in France. Vienna does look very busy at the moment.ReplyDelete
I do hope your little boy will be right very soon. Hugs.ReplyDelete
Hope your little boy is alright. Hang in there.ReplyDelete
Giessel, sorry to hear your boy's in the hospital. Hope it's not too serious!ReplyDelete
Clever post of the Tin Man!
Your son is in the hospital! Oh mY! I'll pray for him! Me too, I'm so sick right now! Just decided to pass by some blogs.ReplyDelete
Grabe ang bagyo dito! signal no. 2! bukas dadaan talaga dito sa atin yung bagyo! hay! four days na akong may sakit! sna maging ok na ang lahat especially to your son.
God Bless!
Sorry for you son :(ReplyDelete
Hope to here good news fast.
Uma por dia
Its so nice to read your blog, I am originally from Vienna but moved to the States recently. Say hello to my hometown and enjoy the rest of the EM days :)ReplyDelete
Wow..is that a real statue?ReplyDelete


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Well, I haven't posted anything for a while. I have been quite busy these past few weeks. I have been busy with portrait sessions, and then there are the orders, but I have been busy with a marketing campaign for maternity/newborn clients. So, a lot of thinkin' and designing. It isn't very easy to do this when you have two children at home!! I am ready for a mini vacation, but all is good!
Here are a few images from a few of my past sessions. Enjoy 🙂


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Current view.
With the desert climate here in Dubai (currently having sand storm), seeing this view in my desktop is something that reminds me of home (Philippines). Rain and leaves.
|by Alexa Brown
"In my life, I've lived, I've loved, I've lost, I've missed, I've hurt, I've trusted, I've made mistakes, but most of all, I've learned."
|by Alexa Brown


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Tuesday, May 19, 2015
FFA: Norm Macdonald Says Farewell to David Letterman
As should already know, David Letterman is riding off into the sunset after Wednesday's episode of The Late Show. One of my favorite comedians, Norm Macdonald, appeared one last time on Dave's show to perform. There's some funny stuff here although it's not Norm's best work, but the real hook here is watching Norm pay tribute to a guy who clearly means a lot to him. It's so out-of-character and genuine and excellent.
Thanks to Rolling Stone for
sharing this as part of their "Dave Watch."
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Late Show with David Letterman
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Wrestling fan since 1984/1985, grew up on Saturday's at 6:05, and Joe Pedicino's wrestling block.
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One of the most surprising powers that Glimmer demonstrated was her ability to fly as witnessed in the season two She-Ra episodes "Return Of The General" and "Portrait of Doom". Granted the second occurrence was due to the writer using the same scene and dialogue, but it was a surprising ability nonetheless! It was never explained how Glimmer whose ability to control light could fly. As with her rarely used teleportation powers her ability to fly would have gotten her out of many a dangerous situation...
23 August 2007
Glimmer can fly?!
1 comment:
- Kevin Martinell said...
What a coincidence! I was watching my video copies of both these episodes last night (Getting ready for the final She-Ra DVD release, this coming September). :)
This duplicate scene was just as amusing as the repeated scene, later on in both episodes, featuring She-Ra slicing Hordak's ship in half with her sword ... In "Return Of The General," Hordak was the victim, while in "Portrait Of Doom," Catra was the victim ... They even had similar dialogue:
"She missed!"/"Drat! Drat!" :)
Thanks for posting and reading! God Bless...
~KevyGuy :)
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Resort map
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Add some sparkle to your next boo boo with these super cute band-aids via Cynthia Rowley. A paper cut never looked so fashionable! Find them here.
Ordinary to some. Extraordinary to us. Wife, hubby, little and a cat living by the ocean. Life Just Ordinary.
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Switching to Blender from Maya for over a year, I feel I'm still learning every day. So this blog is like a memo for me to note little things I've learn from every day use of Blender. Might be useful for someone seeking for quick tips to do certain things.
I'm trying to make them definitive, precise, and as short as I can.
head over to here for the tips.


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Thirteen years later
Jensen could hardly believe that Jared was eighteen years old. He wondered where his little boy went.
Jared had gone from an adorable little boy to a beautiful omega that pushed Jensen's control every time he got a whiff of Jared's scent. Jared managed to retain his kind heart and shyness that made him all the more adorable in Jensen's eyes.
He wasn't the only one - other alphas were beginning to notice his Jared and Jensen didn't like it one bit. Jared was pure sunshine; he lit up Jensen's life and filled it with warmth. Jared was the best thing in his life and he wasn't ready to share Jared with anyone.
Jensen wasn't ready to let go of Jared even if was only for college. 'College is full of alphas who can't keep their hands to themselves I have every right to be worried about him.'
Jensen's inner thoughts weren't helping him calm down any.
"Man, you're making me nervous here. You're acting like Jared's run off to get mated." Chris was absolutely no help in trying to calm Jensen down. In fact, he seemed to take pleasure in riling him up every chance that he could.
For the past thirteen years, Chris had been closely watching the bond between Jensen and Jared. He had a front row seat to watching it change over the years. There was no doubt left in his mind that Jensen and Jared were true mates, even if those two were too blind to see it.
"Did you come over here for some reason other than to rile me up and drink all my beer?" Jensen demanded crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at his so-called best friend.
Chris thought about it for a moment before sending a smirk Jensen's way. "Nope, I'm pretty much here for the first two reasons." As if to prove his point, Chris settled down further into the comfy couch and lifted the bottle to his lips.
"I need a better best friend," Jensen growled under his breath.
"Well you could always call up Steve, but since he and Danneel have mated they've been pretty much locked in their house, thankfully for all our peace of minds."
Jensen made a face, while he was happy for his two friends Steve and Danneel, they weren't the best at keeping public displays of affection down to a minimum.
'Something tells me that you and Jared will be just as bad or worse, that is if you two can ever open your eyes and see what is right in front of you.'Because the way they were going Jensen was going to kill someone, Chris actually felt sorry for anyone foolish enough to actually try and date Jared. It should be clear to everyone that he was taken.
"Jensen! I'm home!"
Chris wanted to roll his eyes at the look of pure happiness that overtook Jensen's face just from the sound of Jared's voice. 'My friend you have got it bad.' It was reaching the point that it was almost pathetic at this point watching Jared and Jensen dance around one another.
Sparkling eyes and a wide dimpled grin on his face, Jared barely noticed Jensen's best friend on the couch. He only had eyes for Jensen. "Hi, Chris."
Raising his beer bottle in greeting, Chris wondered just how in the hell Jensen managed to miss the hearts-in-eyes look Jared had going on considering that he always looked at Jensen like he hung the moon.
"Hey Jared, how's it going? Anything happening at school today or is it just as lame as I remember it?" Chris asked, in an attempt to remind them that he was here as well, so they wouldn't be tempted to stare all lovey-dovey at one another.
Before Jared could begin to answer Chris, a low growl came from Jensen and his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "Why do you smell like an unknown alpha?" Jensen had long ago learned all the scents that lingered on Jared, the strongest usually was Chad's considering that the other omega didn't know the meaning of personal space when it came to Jared and Jensen didn't mind as long as his was the only alpha scent to linger on Jared.
A faint blush appeared on Jared's cheeks at the possessive tone in Jensen's voice. 'That's the last time I listen to Chad.' His best friend assured him that he didn't have an alpha's smell on him. "Well, you see, it's Stephen Amell's scent. He asked me out."
Jensen wondered if he should have seen that coming sooner. He knew that there had been alphas beginning to take an interest in Jared and he didn't like it. "And do you like Stephen like that?"
'Okay, this is my time to leave.' Chris knew that this was not any of his business and he could see Jensen's alpha side beginning to come out. There is no way that Jensen's alpha would allow his true mate to be courted by another. "I'll talk to you later Jensen, Jared."
Neither really noticed as Chris took his leave.
Jared couldn't hear anything above his heart beating in his chest. He was surprised that Jensen couldn't hear it with how loud it was pounding. Nervously he licked his lips, his heart fluttering when he noticed Jensen's eyes drawn to the movement.
Jensen wanted nothing more than to claim that tempting mouth with his. For two years he had been fighting his attraction to Jared. Ever since Jared was sixteen and he went into his first heat, it had been a nightmare for Jensen trying to control himself from stopping to claim what was his.
Jensen's shower still had the imprint of where he had slammed his fist into the wall of his shower. Jared's heat made the omega's sweet smell all that more irresistible to the alpha. He wanted nothing more than to slip into that bed with Jared and help him with the pain but he couldn't. For one, Jared was still too young for him and secondly, he didn't know if Jared thought of him like that, but it was a test of his wills not to give into his alpha side and aid an omega... his omega out.
Jensen needed to get his hands on some suppressants. He couldn't trust himself around Jared without them.
"Did you say yes?" Jensen could barely believe that rough voice was his.
Jared knew who his omega side longed for, and he just wishes that it wasn't so impossible for it to be. "I didn't answer him yet."
"Why not?" Jensen tried not to let hope get the better of him. Just because he was in love with his step-son didn't mean that Jared shared his twisted and wrong feelings. "Do you like Stephen?" It tore at Jensen's heart to ask that question and he dreaded to hear Jared's answer.
"I like him as a friend but that's about it. I don't have romantic feelings for him." Jared admitted in a soft voice. 'How could I when I'm in love with you.' Jared had been shocked when he realized that he was in love with Jensen.
Chad was the only person that Jared had ever told. More like Jared blurted it out to him in a state of panic
Chad had just looked at him like he announced that the sky was purple. "You just figured that out? Man, I knew that ages ago."
The vise that had started to squeeze Jensen's heart loosened and he could breathe again.
"But I think Stephen might have those kinds of feelings for me and I don't want to lead him on." Jared finished, looking shyly at Jensen beneath his bangs.
"I think you need to be honest with Stephen and tell him that you see him as a friend and that's it. It's better to tell him that now instead of leading him on to think that he has a chance." If Jensen had it his way, Stephen would stay far away from his Jared.
"I will, thank you for the advice," Jared whispered. He wasn't even sure when he moved in closer to Jensen - enough that he could breathe in the scent of his alpha. To Jared, Jensen smelled like a fresh ocean breeze.
Closing his eyes, Jensen breathed in the scent of Jared, of his omega. He loved Jared's scent; he smelled like fresh rain on a field of sunflowers. There was no scent in the world that Jensen loved more than Jared's.
'His lips are right there, how easy would it be for you to bend down and finally have a taste of that which you have craved for years?' The little voice taunted Jensen and there was nothing more than he wanted to do but to give in, to finally feel what Jared's lips felt pressed against his.
'Please let him kiss me.' Jared begged silently, his eyes trained on Jensen's mouth.
Jared forced down the disappointment he felt when Jensen pull away. It felt like it was one step forward and ten back. He wanted his alpha and he knew Jensen wanted him as well, if only Jensen would let himself act on his feelings.
"Why don't you get to work on what homework you have and I'll get supper started." Jensen needed to clear his head; he needed Jared out of the room before he forgot why this was wrong and gave into the temptation that was Jared.
"Okay," Jared , the moment lost and he could see Jensen steeling himself once again from whatever he might feel for him and Jared's heart broke again.
Chad was the greatest best friend ever, even if it was himself praising, well, himself. But there was no denying that he was awesome. After all, how many people would listen to Jared gush about the color of Jensen's eyes, which shade of green they looked like today, did Jensen have new freckles and so on without losing it. Yep, Chad was pretty awesome, if he said so himself.
So when Jared showed up looking like a kicked puppy it was Chad's best friend duty to hunt down and mess up whoever hurt his buddy. Even if that person was Jensen Ackles.
"So what happened?"
Jared let out a dramatic sigh as he flopped down on Chad's bed. "Stephen asked me out again."
Chad wasn't sure how he felt about the alpha who wasn't hiding his interest in Jared. "Well, you could always go out with him to make Jensen jealous," Chad suggested. Jared had told him how Jensen reacted to Jared telling him that Stephen had asked him out the first time.
Jared's eyes widened. "I couldn't do that! It wouldn't be fair to Stephen. He has real feelings for me and I can't lead him on like that."
Shrugging his shoulders, the blond omega looked at his friend. "It's what I would do." But then again, Jared wasn't him and he didn't like the idea of using people.
Chewing his lower lip, Jared mulled over Chad's suggestion. On one hand Jensen had almost kissed him but he couldn't - it wasn't him. "No, I'm going to tell Stephen tomorrow when he comes over to work on our project that I can't go out with him. That I see him as a friend and nothing more."
Jared had been surprised when he had been assigned to work with Stephen for the English project instead of Chad, like normal. He got along great with the alpha but it had shocked him when Stephen asked him out.
Chad wasn't sure if he liked the idea of Jared being alone with Stephen. "Do you want me to come around tomorrow for support?"
While Jared would feel a lot more comfortable with Chad there, he shook his head no. "I know for a fact that you have your own project to finish and Gen did threaten to remove your balls if you bailed on her again."
Chad shuddered. "What's wrong with that woman? You don't go threatening a man's manhood." Genevieve might be a tiny omega but she was scary. "I still don't know if I pity Misha or am envious of him for finding his true mate in her."
"Gen is one of a kind and she's good at keeping Misha out of trouble." Jared loved his friend but he agreed with Chad, she was one scary woman.
"Still, if you need me at any time you call me and I will come running. I know that you see Stephen as a good guy but it never hurts to have a little backup. Promise me you will call either me or Jensen if you feel uncomfortable at any time." Chad had heard the same horror stories that Jared had growing up, how sometimes an alpha cannot accept the fact that they have been rejected and will force themselves on the omega regardless of their wishes.
That was one of the worst crimes - to force an omega to mate against their will. If that happened, once the crime was reported, the bond was terminated and the alpha could face jail time.
"I will." Jared was touched by Chad's worry. Most people only saw him as a douchebag; they didn't see how loyal of a soul he truly was.
Jensen was not in a good mood. He had damn near ripped off the head of his personal assistant when she popped in to remind him of his meeting. He apologized. It wasn't her that he was angry with but with Stephen Amell, the alpha who had the nerve to ask out his Jared; the alpha that was working with Jared on a project right now at their house.
Jensen wanted to hunt down Stephen and rip that alpha apart for daring to ask out his omega.
It was safe to say Stephen Amell was not Jensen's favorite person right now.
Jensen disliked Stephen Amell the moment he laid eyes on the man and it had nothing to do with the alpha sniffing around his Jared. There was just something about Amell didn't sit right with Jensen.
Never did Jensen hate two words more than he hated the name Stephen Amell. The alpha couldn't seem to take a hint that Jared was not interested in him. Personally, Jensen thought that it showed how low of a class the alpha was when he refused to take Jared's no as the rejection it was.
Technically Jared hadn't said no yet because Amell hadn't asked, but it was clear to anyone who looked, that Jared wasn't interested in Stephen like that. But really Stephen should have taken Jared's lack of response as proof Jared wasn't interested in him.


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It's often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Such was the case for Ames Laboratory physicist Adam Kaminski who took the research challenge he was facing and turned it into a new solution that will help advance his research.
Two years ago the National Science Foundation closed the synchrotron in Stoughton, Wisc. More recently, Brookhaven National Lab closed its synchrotron light source to make way for a more advanced and powerful facility. Concerned that this would leave him without the low-energy light source he needed to study the electronic properties of new materials, he improvised, and the result was the development of a new technique that provides a home-grown, laboratory-based solution.
Kaminski uses a technique called angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) in which light energy (photons) is directed at a sample being studied. The photons cause electrons in the sample to be emitted into a vacuum. An electron analyzer measures the energy and momentum of these electrons, providing details about the electron properties within the material.
Besides using synchrotron beam lines, lasers can provide the input energy needed, but there were problems with the existing technology. High-energy, tunable lasers offered variable phonon energy, but lacked the resolution necessary for good results. Low-energy lasers provided excellent resolution but the fixed photon energy limited their usefulness.
So Kaminski, who admittedly knew little about lasers, set about finding a way to make a low-energy laser that was tunable. In searching the literature, he found that such a tunable laser had been suggested, but had never been used in ARPES systems. The laser used a potassium beryllium fluoroborate (KBBF) crystal to quadruple the frequency of infrared laser converting photons to the required "vacuum ultra-violet (UV)" range.
Obtaining such a crystal wasn't easy. Kaminski found that the main source for the KBBF crystals, China, had embargoed their export. However, he found a research group at Clemson University that was able to grow him the crystal he needed. He was also able to obtain funding through the DOE Office of Science to build the new system. As an added bonus, the crystal growth and preparation was commercialized by Advanced Photonic Crystals, LLC. This will make them available in U.S. for applications such as UV photo lithography, spectral analysis and defense.
In simple terms, Kaminski's system uses a pair of lasers, with the first acting as a pump for the second one. The resulting beam consists of very short pulses (one quadrillionth of a second) and very high (400 kW) peak power and is directed into a vacuum chamber that contains lenses, mirrors and the above mentioned "magic" crystal. This process quadruples the energy of the photons. By tuning the wavelength of the second laser and rotating the crystal, one can then tune the energy of the produced UV photons. The beam is then focused at the sample in an ultra-high vacuum chamber and a connected electron analyzer measures the electrons emitted from the sample.
"Development of a laboratory-based solution was really important," Kaminski said. "Our beam is smaller, photon flux is higher by one or two orders of magnitude, and energy resolution is better by a factor of 5."
For certain experiments, such as Kaminski's, that can translate into significantly better data. As illustrated by the graphs (directional), synchrotron results of magnesium diboride show a surface band that curves relatively smoothly. Results from the tunable laser ARPES shows a dramatically enhanced plot with a sharp peak and a slight dip before leveling off.
"Our system has significant advantages," Kaminski said. "It offers much higher resolution. When a researcher has a sample they want tested, we can usually do it the next day. "
Kaminski has performed ARPES measurements for a number of research groups at Ames Laboratory as well as researchers at Sandia National Laboratory and Princeton.
"It's great to have the capability to perform measurements right here in the Lab," he said, "and it's busy 24/7!"
This work was supported by the DOE Office of Science.
Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory operated by Iowa State University. Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies and energy solutions. We use our expertise, unique capabilities and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global problems. DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.
DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.


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Our Large Wooden Rustic Trays are locally made from sustainable wood sources and are based on the design of the original Wooden Apple Crate.
They make great winter storage for Apples when placed one on top of the other, allowing air to circulate and keep the fruits in good condition. Good also for storing Spring Bulbs and Tubers.
The Vintage Style Lid will also fit this this crate making it even more adaptable. If you would like to purchase the Lid please select from the drop down menu.
Buy a Large Wooden Rustic Tray for Shop displays or Home and Garden Storage from our range of Apple Crates and Boxes. Handmade in the UK for vintagecratesuk.co.uk.
One only is included in the indicated price.
Dimensions:- L 54 cm x W 36 cm x H 15 cm The overall height is increased by 5mm if a Lid is fitted.


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Novartis Loses Bid On Cancer Drug
Public Health Advocates and Doctors Jubilant
On Monday, The Supreme Court rejected a patent application by Novartis for a major cancer drug, which will allow poor patients continued access to many of the world's best medicines at a cheaper rate.
Swiss Pharmaceutical Giant Novartis had made a plea for its anti-cancer drug Glivec, which is patented in forty other countries. The company had been previously denied the patent in the year 2007 by the Madras High Court, where it sued Ranbaxy and Cipla for making generic versions of Glivec. In simple terms, a patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a government to an inventor or applicant for a limited amount of time, usually somewhere between 5-20 years.
Glivec is used in treating chronic myeloid leukaemia and a few other cancers. The difference in the cost of buying one month's supply of Glivec is a something more than one lakh rupees, while the same version (generic version) of the drug produced by Indian Company Cipla is worth under ten thousand rupees.
As per Section 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act, companies which modify the existing combinations of a drug can apply for patents, but they must establish improved "efficacy"- the drug's effectiveness and efficiency must be perceptible. The Supreme Court said that the drug Glivec showed no new innovation or invention. Had Novartis gotten the patent, it would have quite effectively cut off access to such an effective anti-cancer drug for people who couldn't afford it.
With this ruling, patients won't have to pay ridiculous amounts for already existing drugs with minor changes or modifications. It is no doubt a verdict that will save many lives. The prices of similar life-saving drugs will surely go down with time with so many generic versions of expensive drugs. India's part as a major provider of cheap medicines will continue, which will help fight diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS and many more with efficiency.
Novartis' representatives' reaction was rather odd saying that India doesn't allow for incremental innovation and that not only Novartis, but other MNCs would plan to research in India anymore. It does seem like the company was using certain excuses and loopholes to make some more money out of a drug, whose patent had expired in the year 2008.
India, being the world's leading exporter of generic medicine, ships 10 billion dollars' worth of product every year, so similar cases are expected to arise in the future. But this one feels more like a win for the present, not the future. While this is a massive win for cancer patients and organisations around the country, a question does arise over the money needed for innovation of newer drugs.
With lesser payments, the funds for any research on new drugs would lessen considerably. Glivec has been one of the most vital medical discoveries in the past years and with the refusal to grant patents for critical medicines, this strategy might not support future discoveries.
In a nation with so many diseased citizens, the ruling to keep cheaper medicines available for the time being seems like a logical and sound decision, even though it may be undermining the matter of innovation. It was either to keep cheaper medicines in the market (saving lives in the present at the cost of innovation money) – or – allow the permit, see the market monopolised with steeply priced drugs, which would facilitate enough money for future innovations, but at the cost of denying the country's poor proper life-saving treatment in the present.
Akhil Thakur
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