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Landmark Information Group welcomes Safe Working Charter to restart England’s property market

Landmark Information Group, the leading provider of information to the UK’s property market, is today welcoming the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, to today restart England’s property market, which includes a Safe Working Charter plan.

Landmark Information Group was one of three leading organisations in the home moving process that recently presented a four-step plan to government on how to kick-start the housing market. The aim was to include the progression of transactions and safe home moving in the first phase of the easing of lockdown restrictions.
In doing so, this would restart the property industry and release over 380,000 properties that were sold subject to contract but unable to complete, as well as provide an important fiscal stimulus for the economy.

Simon Brown, Chief Executive of Landmark Information Group, said: “The announcement by government’s Housing Minister not only supports consumers who have been caught in house moving limbo since March, but protects jobs across the entire property industry. Today, estate agents, conveyancers and removal firms can return to work and get the country moving again, within strict safety parameters.

“The move also supports new-home construction industry who have to turn costs in to income through the sale of their new-house stock, be that on or off plan transactions”

“Importantly, the property market acts as an important catalyst for the wider economic recovery, with home movers spending £12 billion per annum, on average, on furnishings, improvements and appliances, which also supports small businesses, the high street and the wider economy.”

For more details regarding Landmark Information Group, visit


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Japanese sweets include this mochi filled with cream fresh strawberry and red bean paste

Mogu Mogu! Japanese Sweets by Sound

A melodic trip through dessert history

One lifetime is not enough to try the sweets in Japan, from traditional wagashi to pastries and chocolates from famed French confectioners to hybrid creations melding East and West.

Japanese language sparkles with onomatopoeia (words formed from an existing sound and intended to imitate that sound). Charin charin (the sound of a bicycle bell). Potsu potsu (light rain). Kuru kuru (sushi conveyor belts). Come along a sensory tour of Japan’s most delectable desserts!

Mogu mogu (to chew a lot) — Mochi

The first sweets in Japan were dried fruits and nuts. In the 8th-century, buns and dumplings arrived from China. The Japanese started making rubbery mochi from steamed and pummelled rice. Today, it’s dipped in soy sauce or filled with bean paste, fruit, cream or ice cream.

Japanese traditional sweet mochi filled with cream fresh strawberry and red bean paste
Mochi filled with cream, fresh strawberry and red bean paste

Children are shown a rabbit pounding mochi with a mallet on the moon. Celebrities thwack it on TV. It’s thrown at neighbours to celebrate new buildings. Sadly, every New Year, a number of elderly people die choking on the customary blobs.

Warabi mochi (from bracken root starch) are softer, jiggly cubes topped with kuromitsu brown sugar syrup and kinako roasted soybean powder.

Tsubu tsubu (chunky, small bits) — Matcha Parfait

From the 16th-century, wagashi evolved with tea ceremony culture. They’re exquisite miniature artworks but some Westerners might find them an acquired taste. Like yokan — brown seaweed jelly blocks with sweet potato, red bean or chestnut.

More modern matcha green tea treats draw crowds at cafes like Saryo Tsujiri, in Kyoto. The parfaits are subtly sweet, textural delights with mochi balls, berries, matcha ice cream, whipped cream and sponge.

Japanese sweet matcha green tea parfait sundae from Saryo Tsujiri from Kyoto
Saryo Tsujiri, Kyoto Station

Japanese food is generally less sweet than in the West. Europeans imported cane sugar in the 16th-century. It was an expensive rarity until the Japanese cultivated it in the 17th- century and not widely used until after the mid-19th-century.

Fuwa fuwa (soft, fluffy) — Western Style Cakes

Westerners introduced baking with flour, butter and sugar. The Portuguese brought kasutera castella in the 16th-century via Nagasaki. Try this moist sponge at Bunmeido, a chain from Nagasaki.

kasutera castells sponge cake from the bunmeido chain. A sweet introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century
Bunmeido, Ginza, Tokyo

Japan has relatively little domestic baking tradition. Many people don’t own ovens and go out for cake and pastries. Strawberry shortcake (sponge, cream, fresh strawberries) has become Christmas custom (shared after Kentucky Fried Chicken).

Zaku zaku (crunching) — Dove Sable Biscuit

Kamakura’s famous souvenir, the Hato Sabure, is also sold in nearby Tokyo and Yokohama. First created in 1912, each butter biscuit is handmade perfection.

Japanese biscuit and famous souvenir from Kamakura the Hato Sabure dove sable shortbread butter biscuit
Dove Sable shortbread made in Kamakura

From 1853, America forced Japan out of around 200 years of near isolation and Western influences streamed in. Baked goods gained favour. Post-World War II ravaged Japan, unable to grow enough rice, received bread and flour from the US. In 2011, spending on bread surpassed rice.

Sube sube (smooth, rounded) — Dairy Desserts

Dairy was another Western concept and initially, commonly deemed repulsive. Today, fans gush over pancakes toppling with cream. Queues swarm for cheesecakes at Osaka brands Pablo (choose from rare and gooey or medium and firm) and Rikuro Ojisan.

Toraya, founded in early 1500s Kyoto, provides sweets to the Imperial Palace. Old-style wagashi sales have fallen. Toraya’s Omotesando Hills Tokyo café serves updated desserts like pudding with kuzu (root starch), caramel sauce and a citrus jam centre.

Japanese sweet from Toraya cafe in Omotesando Hills Tokyo
Toraya, Omotesando Hills shopping centre, Tokyo

Yokohama claims Japan’s first ice cream shop from 1865. Soft serve in Japan, called “soft cream”, comes in flavours wacky even to the Japanese. Squid, spinach, sea urchin, corn soup, wasabi, whitebait, seaweed…

Don’t miss Cremia — crammed with Hokkaido whipped cream and milk fat. It`s sinfully lush.

Toro toro (melts in the mouth) — Chocolate

It’s believed Dutch sailors introduced chocolate to Japan hundreds of years ago but it really caught on after World War II during the US occupation. American soldiers tossed it to smitten children. High-end chocolate stores boomed from the early 2000s.

KitKats arrived in 1973 as a marketing dream, sounding like “Kitto katsuto” (“win for sure”). They became good luck charms, especially for exam students. Hundreds of zany flavours have included pineapple, soy sauce, sake, sports drink, aloe yoghurt, ginger ale and apple vinegar.

KitKat Premium Chocolatory shops sell more expensive concoctions like Hokkaido butter or Uji matcha with sakura (cherry blossom).

KitKat display at KitKat premium chocolatory store in seibu ikebukuro tokyo
KitKat Premium Chocolatory, Seibu department store, Tokyo

Hokkaido cream is the star again in Royce nama fresh chocolate. The Calbee snack brand’s Royce-smothered potato chips are a sweet/salty mashup.

Older Japanese may feel nostalgic pangs for the baked sweet potato vans that still ring with vendors’ cries, “Yaki-imo, yaki-imo!but most sweet tooths today crave more than a cooked tuber.

Japan is a food obsessed nation. You’ll be in a constant state of doki doki (heart pounding) and waku waku (excited anticipation) discovering its endless treats. It really is the best place to gaba gaba (guzzle with gusto)!

Sources: Richie, D., A Taste of Japan, Kodansha International Ltd, 1990
Sosnoski, D., An Introduction to Japanese Culture, Tuttle Publishing, 1996
Sakamoto, Y., Food, Sake, Tokyo, The Little Bookroom, 2010
Confectionary, Begin Japanology,
(documentary), NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), 2012
Mochi Rice Cake, Begin Japanology
, (documentary), NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), 2013
Wagashi, Japanology Plus, (documentary), NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), 2014

10 thoughts on “Mogu Mogu! Japanese Sweets by Sound

  1. I didn’t feel toro toro recently because I forgot to buy chocolate. Dark choc is so good and don’t need to eat a lot, you will feel toro toro and satisfied by just a little bite.

    Some cheap choco can’t make me feel toro toro because there’re too much sugar.

    Great post, I hope to see your post about food and dessert more. ;3

    1. Thank you! I get what you mean about cheap, waxy chocolate. Toro is also the word for ‘fatty tuna’, the expensive, melt in the mouth tuna. I might write a story about my favourite food anime but I have to watch some more. Hard work – watching anime for research 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I’ve tasted Mochi before and few different Japanese Kitkat flavors. The parfait also looked good but I’m not sure if I’d actually eat it. LOL

    thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. This was a great, and salivating, post. I hadn’t known about any of these, but now I’m drooling all over those pictures and descriptions aaah.
    I’m always fascinated by how Japan grew and absorbed when they opened their doors to the western influences. This was a neat history lesson mixed with the best of desserts 😻😻😻👌
    One day I’ll experience all those Japan exclusive sweets for sure 🙏

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Yum! All of these look so delicious. Ah, now I’m craving something fuwa fuwa and toro toro. I’ll probably go outside later and buy something…ugh, and it’s going to be all your fault.
    Just kidding! But I’ll still go out. I really am craving something sweet to eat. This is such a lovely post. Thank you for sharing it at my blog carnival. My carnival usually receives anime/manga-related posts, so posts about Japanese sweets like this are great change of pace. Thanks again. Cheers!

    1. Thanks again for doing the blog carnival! I’m relatively new to anime so feel more comfortable writing about other parts of Japanese culture but I’m getting more and more passionate about anime! Love the food in Japan so much. Every trip I come back with boxes of biscuits and sweets 😀

      Liked by 1 person

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Bitcoin Drills Into $22,000 Level – But Not All BTC Investors Are Jubilating

Bitcoin (BTC) is now showing signs of vigor, after weeks of being smothered in crimson, and drilling past the $21,000 level, to the delight of some crypto investors.

As of this writing, the most sought after crypto asset is trading at $22,200, up 13% in the last seven days, data from Coingecko show, Friday.

BTC reclaimed the $20,000 threshold on Wednesday, seven days after going below it. The cryptocurrency is trading at less than 70 percent of its all-time high near $69,000, but is currently far above its mid-June selloff low of $18,000.

Friday, the market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies increased by about 2 percent over the previous day. On the same day, the global crypto market was valued at $919 billion.

Suggested Reading | Ethereum (ETH) Shifts To High Gear – Crosshair Locked At $1,250?

Bitcoin Green Day – On To The Next Support

The volume of the cryptocurrency market, on the other hand, decreased by more than 18 percent over the past 24 hours, according to statistics from Coingecko. Friday’s crypto market volume was estimated at $55.25 billion.

According to Harris Financial Group Managing Partner Jamie Cox, the “Green Day” on the markets comes in the wake of rising unemployment claims in the U.S., which could indicate that the “pressure on wages may have now peaked.”

After a transition above the $20,500 level, the price of BTC began a steady ascent and tested the $22,200 mark, where it encountered selling interest and proceeded to $22,100.

The next significant support is close to the $21,500 territory, below which the price may fall to the $21,200 level. The next significant resistance level is near $22,500; over this level, the price might climb to $23,000.

BTC total market cap at $415 billion on the daily chart | Source:
Some Analysts Are Not Ecstatic By BTC Rally

Some observers maintain that the crypto’s trajectory remains negative. “Roman” on Twitter said, “Many are growing exuberant and bullish as we have repeated identical candle patterns over the past eight months.”

According to him, BTC’s break of the $22K barrier is the latest in a string of “fakeouts” that will mislead many traders into assuming the bottom has been reached, despite the fact that the trend remains unfavorable.

Suggested Reading | Sandbox (SAND) Having A Blast With 12% Spike In 24 Hours

“Since the last four days, BTC has been on a small uptick… The sentiment on the crypto market continues to be “extreme fear,” and the daily trend for BTC remains within a downward band shape,” analysts at the WazirX said.

Others are less confident. Will Clemente, crypto analyst for the mining company Blockware, cited the 200-week moving average (WMA) of $22,520 as a significant statistic. “The price decline could continue if BTC price remains below this level,” he stated.

Featured image from Finshots, chart from


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Ukraine Is Getting Aid From This DeFi Project

Blockchain networks are decentralized, meaning that they can be used to make payments without centralized authorities deciding which transactions are allowed. While some argue that such systems can enable fraudulent transactions, blockchain networks use advanced mathematical technologies called consensus mechanisms to prevent this. Thus, blockchains can be used by peers to transact without fear of fraud or censorship. In turn, cryptocurrency enables individuals to easily support the causes that they believe in, even when reaching affected groups through traditional means may be difficult.

While discussing this aspect of cryptocurrency, the idea that cryptocurrency is often used for nefarious purposes is often argued. However, over 99% of cryptocurrency transactions are legitimate. In fact, it is often true that cryptocurrency transactions are used for humanitarian purposes. The Giving Block, a large cryptocurrency philanthropy platform, supports over one thousand nonprofit organizations around the world and is projected to facilitate over USD 1 Billion in donations by the end of 2022. When compared to the USD 100 Million in donations that The Giving Block facilitated last year, this figure suggests that overall cryptocurrency donations are growing alongside adoption.

Because cryptocurrencies are universal, that is they are not tied to individual countries, they make accepting donations from anyone in the world possible during times when global political circumstances make doing so through traditional money transfer methods incredibly difficult. As an example drawn from current events, cryptocurrency is enabling Russian citizens who condemn Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to send aid to Ukraine’s government and its people.

Since the first day of combat, the broader cryptocurrency community has stringently supported Ukraine’s independence. Within a month of Russia’s invasion, over USD 63 Billion in various cryptocurrencies had been donated to Ukraine’s official wallet addresses. Since then, donations have only increased; according to, last month’s donations alone topped USD $100 Million. The overwhelming donations being sent by the cryptocurrency community are being used by Ukraine to bolster its defenses and rebuild.

Following their users, countless cryptocurrency projects have jumped on-board in support of Ukraine. Projects of all genres and sizes are participating. For example, projects within the Konstellation ecosystem dedicated efforts to raising charitable donations to Ukraine, one of which is Squid Squad OG, the world’s first Rock, Paper, Scissors blockchain-based play-to-earn game. Once the fundraiser concluded, Konstellation Network, a blockchain protocol, matched the donation. Through fundraisers held by its various products, the Konstellation Network donated a total of over $14,000 USD to Ukraine.

Though the fundraising round has ended, SSOG NFTs can still be bought. In addition to representing the good that cryptocurrency can do, they act as whitelist passes for the second mint of Squid Squad OG’s popular play-to-earn game, SSOG – a unique title inspired by the hit Netflix special Squid Games.

In SSOG, contestants compete for a massive prize pool through high stakes, high rewards games of Rock Paper Scissors. Losers are eliminated, and winners get closer and closer to hitting the jackpot. The final victor wins it all, but only if contestants don’t vote to stop the games early and split the prize pool between themselves.

About Konstellation

Konstellation is a decentralized cross-chain capital markets protocol built on the Cosmos network. The project is aimed to efficiently connect funds and the various components of the asset management industries with investors. Konstellation’s mission is to become the financial services industry hub for Cosmos and other blockchain ecosystems using strategic inter-operable blockchain communications.

The Konstellation network is powered by DARC tokens, which are required for the Konstellation network’s governance and transactions. Powered by features such as cross-chain infrastructure, a simplified interface, high composability, and effortless cross-chain DeFi usability, Konstellation is making headway in achieving its vision.


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No, I do not Desire To Join Your Start Relationship—12 Grounds Tinder Provides Received Crazy AF

Dec - 19

No, I do not Desire To Join Your Start Relationship—12 Grounds Tinder Provides Received Crazy AF

No, I do not Desire To Join Your Start Relationship—12 Grounds Tinder Provides Received Crazy AF

Like most single AF lady, I’ve experimented with my hand at every dating app that there is, thus definitely I’ve utilized Tinder. This indicates impossible to date today and never have a free account. While I’ve had victory in earlier times, the reality is that nowadays, logging on the application try a fitness in creepiness and disaster. Here are 12 grounds Tinder has actually become super weird:

The conventional someone appear to be entirely eliminated.

Back in the day (AKA a couple of years ago), Tinder have some pretty decent men. I might swipe right on a lot of them and carry on actual earliest dates. Every person usually talked-about how strange Tinder had been but we never watched it by doing this. It seemed like an easy way to meet new-people. Today, that’s more. I’m able to swipe for an hour in order to find virtually no regular dudes. It’s all half-naked restroom selfies and far too many bros.

It’s a lot more of a game title than ever.

The biggest critique of Tinder is men use it just for enjoyable and also to see how many fits they could get. They like experience like there are masses of choice around and they’ve got zero curiosity about meeting any person. I never considered that, nevertheless now I’m beginning to inquire. It feels like a-game that features nothing at all to do with relationship.

Dudes content me personally with “hey” following disregard me.

Why does this happen? We have little idea. I usually address because there’s truly absolutely no reason to not ever, and yet as soon as I’ve answered, I never hear with this people ever again. It’s absolutely perplexing.

Anytime I have near to a date, I’m told he’s in an open union.

And sometimes even an open relationships. It’s occurred plenty circumstances in my experience in earlier times month or two, it will be amusing in the event it had beenn’t thus annoying. I’m beginning to think everybody else by using this application is already dating some body. Is it a lot to require one man who would like just one gf?

No one fills aside their own bios.

This might be a fairly major whatsyourprice ne demek issue. If a guy’s in an open union, that is his business, just in case according to him very in his biography I quickly know to avoid them. But if he’s written little or keeps failed to discuss it and he informs me while we’re making intentions to meet for a drink, that is extremely sketchy and very uncool. If guys would give details about on their own, situations was a great deal much better.

I’ve have more terminated dates utilizing Tinder than other things. We entirely have that online dating sites is generally tricky which occasionally, times don’t end up happening. You will find so many factors why, from cooler feet to choosing this individual is not well worth satisfying most likely. It sounds harsh but that is the way in which it goes. I just dislike that when I do are able to bring a night out together on Tinder, I get canceled on. It’s acquiring older.

I get fits that We swear used to don’t swipe on.

Performs this occur to everyone else or myself? In any event, it’s irritating AF. It’s difficult set my personal confidence into an app that tells me that I’ve swiped on people while I have actuallyn’t whatsoever.

I get fits that reside in the usa when I’m in Toronto.

My distance options include rather near however, even though I reside in a Canadian town, I have fits that truly live-in the reports. it is fairly strange.

We don’t need date men who happen to be in town when it comes down to week-end.

After making use of Tinder for a time, I realize that most of the time, I’m swiping leftover perhaps not considering that the dudes aren’t appealing but simply because they don’t actually are now living in my personal area. I don’t need date men who will be best in the city for all the week-end and I also don’t get precisely why this seems to be 90 % with the guys on this software.

There was a restriction on swiping appropriate.

Whenever I’m informed that I can’t swipe for another 12 days because I’ve swiped right on unnecessary men, I want to scream… particularly on time when it seems impractical to have any suits whatsoever. I don’t get why there has to be a limit. Doesn’t that eliminate the reason?

It appears as though a great deal to ask for a genuine earliest date.

I believe like the majority of ridiculous person previously for thinking that i really could utilize this software and continue a real go out. That feels as though an impossible desire at this point, and I also just don’t bring the reason why. Really does no-one need in fact fulfill anybody?

There doesn’t be seemingly any point.

While I content guys, they don’t response. When dudes message me personally, it’s at 5 a.m. whenever I’m obviously asleep or it is very obvious which they just wish a hookup. The final time I proceeded a Tinder big date was actually last October, therefore is there any aim? I would like to embark on times, not cope with all this strange material. And that’s the reason why Tinder is starting to become much too unusual for my situation.

The greatest dating/relationships suggestions about cyberspace – sponsored. If you are scanning this, check-out Relationship character a niche site in which trained union mentors enable you to get, get the circumstances, and help you achieve what you need. They guide you to through confusing and difficult love conditions like deciphering mixed indicators, recovering from a breakup, or other things you are worried about. Your straight away relate with an incredible coach via text or over the telephone within a few minutes. Simply Click here…

The number one dating/relationships suggestions about the net – backed. If you’re reading this article, discover love character a website where experienced union mentors allow you to get, get your circumstances, that assist you achieve what you want. They let you through difficult and difficult prefer conditions like deciphering combined signals, recovering from a breakup, or anything you are focused on. Your instantly connect with fantastic mentor via book or higher the telephone within a few minutes. Simply Click right here…


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KISS 'Hotter Than Hell' And 'Alive!-Era Rock Iconz Statues Coming In The Fall

June 7, 2017

KnuckleBonz, the creator of the Rock Iconz music collectible series, is rolling out two KISS statue sets.

The KISS "Hotter Than Hell"-era and "Alive!"-era statues are currently in production. These exclusive KISS statues are hand-painted and numbered and come with a certificate of authenticity printed on the base of each collectible statue.

These are officially licensed products. The KISS statues are created using a team of highly skilled artists. Each statue is sculpted and cast in poly-resin and then hand-painted in fine detail. These limited-edition statues created by KnuckleBonz are highly collectible.

Pre-order to reserve your set. Expected to ship early fall 2017.

KnuckleBonz creates high-end sculpture that features rock's most highly influential artists. Dedicated to honoring rocks greatest through master artistry, KnuckleBonz established the music-based sculpture series Rock Iconz.

For more information, visit

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custom ink pricing

Custom Ink Pricing? Quote for Custom T-Shirts + Shipping Cost

custom ink logo

CustomInk is the most popular site online for custom printed t-shirts, apparel, and merch for groups. However, it’s not easy to find their pricing to know how much their products actually cost. We’ve done our homework and found shipping and t-shirt prices plus where to get a quote now without having to design a shirt first.

Here’s how much their most popular t-shirts (white or colored) cost, shipping info, plus the Custom Ink quote calculator.

Placing an order? Get the best savings when you use a Custom Ink coupon here!

Custom Ink T-Shirt Prices:

There are dozens of brand and style options, so let’s look at Custom Ink’s most popular t-shirt for sample pricing which is the Hanes Tagless T-Shirt. Here’s the cost per shirt at Custom Ink:

 White T-Shirts:Color T-Shirts:

Tip: Save money on Custom Ink t-shirts by using fewer colors and ordering a larger quantity, as the price per shirt drops significantly if you order more. Example: Black t-shirts with a 1-color design cost $24 each when you buy 5, but the price drops to about $8 each when you buy 50!

Custom Ink Shipping Cost & Times:

custom ink rush shipping price

All orders qualify for free shipping but if you need your order soon you might have to pay for expedited delivery.

custom ink shipping

Here’s how much Custom Ink shipping costs plus delivery times:

  1. Free shipping: All orders ship free and take up to 2-weeks for delivery
  2. Rush shipping costs an additional 10% of your order total and takes up to 7-days
  3. Multiple Addresses: It costs $6.95 per address to ship directly to each member of your group and takes up to 2-weeks for delivery

Super-rush 3-day shipping is sometimes also available but costs an extra 20% of your order total.

Tip: If you want to know when your order will arrive through UPS or USPS, check Custom Ink’s delivery calendar.

Want an instant price quote for your t-shirt order? You can get one now at

CustomInk T-Shirt Quote Calculator:

There are dozens of kinds of t-shirts and brands that you can customize at and the price varies, although white shirts are cheaper than colored shirts. Why wait until after you’ve designed a shirt to know how much it will cost? Here’s a direct link to get a quote.

custom ink quote

To get a Custom Ink quote just enter:

  1. T-shirt and color
  2. Quantity
  3. Number of ink colors on front
  4. Number of ink colors on back
  5. Delivery Zip code (U.S. domestic shipping is free!)

Get an instant quote at!

*More shipping and cost info: WW, Noom, Vistaprint, Snapfish, Easy Canvas

How Much Do Custom Screen-Printed Shirts cost?

If you are planning to order custom t-shirts in bulk you’ll need to estimate how much your order will cost. CustomInk is the most popular site for customized bulk and group t-shirt orders but the cost varies significantly from $6 to $25 each depending on the following factors:

  1. Style and brand of t-shirt
  2. White or colored t-shirts?
  3. Additional printing on back?
  4. Number of colors in design

Tip: The number of colors is very important and reducing colors might be the best way to save money on screen-printed shirts. That’s because every color requires a separate screen in the printing process, and adding screens requires time and materials.

How to Save on the Cost at Custom Ink:

Is Custom Ink expensive? Screen-printing custom shirts can be costly, so don’t pay more than you need to. To lower the cost per shirt use as few colors as possible, print more shirts, skip printing on the back, use a coupon, and avoid paying for Rush shipping by ordering shirts 15+ business days before you need them.

Remember, all Custom Ink orders ship free with Standard 2-week speed shipping!

I hope you better understand Custom Ink pricing now. Just follow the tips above to get the best possible price on your t-shirt order at

*Related: How much does Nutrisystem really cost?

Thanks for stopping by Black Alliance!


text:
How do you draw a boy?

  1. Start by drawing a large U shape.
  2. Add a cap of hair on top.
  3. Draw the face and hair details.
  4. Continue with neck and shirt.
  5. Add shorts below.
  6. Draw legs and feet under the shorts.
  7. Add simple arms.
  8. Draw a horizon line.

How do you draw a bulldog?

How to Draw a Bulldog

  1. Step 1: Draw a circle as a guide for the bulldog’s head. The circle doesn’t have to be perfect.
  2. Step 2: Draw two intersecting lines inside the bulldog’s head to help you place the facial features later on.
  3. Step 3: Draw two short curved lines on top of the head as guides for the bulldog’s ears.

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MR2 Sp. z o.o., ul.
Wołoska 16,
02-675 Warszawa;
+48 22 842 22 32

Browse current Blaupunkt catalogues to discover the latest products and learn more about our LED lighting range.

Catalog – LED Lighting 2021

All service and support issues will be performed exclusively by our legally seperate and independent licence partners or service providers authorised by them.

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Monday, 2 January 2017

Hanukkah is awesome, guys. Really awesome.

So I didn't know much about Hanukkah until I came over here to live with Mr and Mrs Campbell and help at Above Rubies. They are Christians, not Jewish at all, but that doesn't stop them from celebrating some of the Jewish celebrations out of a love for God, a love for Israel and a love for excuses to celebrate!

Anyway today (January 1st) is the last day of Hanukkah. Now I don't know if you know much about Hanukkah or if (and how) you celebrate it. I'll quickly talk about what we did and then get into the story behind it which is in my opinion the interesting bit.

The Hanukkah candlestick is a nine candle menorah called the Hanukiah (hun-oo-kee-ah). It looks like this.

The hanukiah is lit gradually over the eight nights of Hanukkah. On the first night the middle candle (called the shamash - the server candle) is lit and used to light one of the end candles. The second night the shamash lights two. The third night the shamash lights three. This continues until on the eighth and final evening of Hanukkah you use the shamash to light all eight outside candles! :)
Each evening there are some Scripture readings. We take turns reading them and then discuss them and pray together.

And the story behind Hanukkah?

You can read about the story yourself in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees (found in the Apocrypha - the books Catholic Bibles include but Protestant Bibles often leave out). Or you can google "history of Hanukkah" and find a million different sites telling the same story. :) Or you can just keep reading because I've found a good telling of the story to paste here. (Pasted because I've only heard the story since I've been here and I would probably get something wrong if I tried to tell it! Haha). It's from here.

"In the year 168 B.C.E., the Syrian tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes sent his soldiers to Jerusalem. The Syrians desecrated the Temple, the holiest place for Jews at that time. Antiochus also abolished Judaism, outlawing the observance of Shabbat and the Festivals, as well as circumcision. Altars and idols were set up for the worship of Greek gods and he offered Jews two options: conversion or death.

On the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev in 168 B.C.E., the Temple was renamed for the Greek god Zeus. A resistance movement— led by a priestly family known as the Hasmoneans, or Maccabees—developed against the cruelty of Antiochus. The head of the family was Mattathias, an elderly man. His son, Judah, became the chief strategist and military leader of the resistance. Though outnumbered, Judah Maccabee and his fighters miraculously won two major battles, routing the Syrians decisively.

Hanukkah, which means “dedication,” is the festival that commemorates the purification and rededication of the Temple following the defilement caused by the Greeks during their occupation of that holy place.

Originally, the eight-day holiday was intended to parallel the eight-day festival of Sukkot. The Books of the Maccabees made no mention of the legend concerning a small jar of oil that unexpectedly lasted for eight days. Only centuries after the Maccabees’ defeat of the Syrians did the story of the jar of oil—which has come to be a part of Hanukkah—appear in the Talmud.

According to the legend, when the Maccabees entered the Temple and began to reclaim it from the Greeks, they immediately relit the ner tamid (eternal light), which burned constantly in the Temple and has a parallel in our synagogues to this day. In the Temple, they found a single jar of oil, which was sufficient for only one day. The messenger who was sent to secure additional oil took eight days to complete his mission, and miraculously, the single jar of oil continued to burn until his return. The rabbis of the Talmud attributed the eight days of Hanukkah to the miracle of this single jar of oil."

Such a cool story, right?

From my perspective, my favourite part is that Hanukah means "Dedication". It's the Festival of Dedication, throwing back to when the Maccabees rededicated the Temple and purified it after it was defiled.

But it doesn't stop there. Hanukkah is a time for us to dedicate ourselves and repurify our lives. It's a time to confess our sin and re give ourselves over to the Lordship of Christ.

I think the Hanukkah story is a beautiful story and using it as an opportunity to dedicate ourselves again to God is a beautiful thing to do. Especially when Hanukkah coincides with the beginning of the year!

Have you heard the Hanukkah story before? Any thoughts?

post signature

  1. We've been celebrating it instead of Christmas for years :)
    How I know the story: they had more oil, but sanctifying it took a week.

    1. That's neat! Do you make the traditional doughnuts for Hanukkah?

  2. This is so cool! I know of people who celebrate Hannukah, but have never looked into it myself!

    1. I'm glad you found it interesting, Hanne! :)
      Blessings to you

  3. Ahem, the *deuterocanonicals*. :P :D The Eastern Orthodox also have the books in their canon.

    Also, I hadn't heard that story behind Hanukkah before. Interesting.

    1. Interesting, interesting!

      I was just waiting for you to comment... I mention something Catholic and wait with bated breath for you to put in your 2 cents :P :P Lol I'm kidding. But anyway thanks for commenting.

    2. Haha, I know. I was thinking of putting "you were probably expecting me to say this" as well :P :D

    3. Lol well you gave me a moment of excitement when I saw your name pop up in my email as having commented :P

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Bundesliga: Bayern Munich in the groove as Borussia Dortmund seek quick response

Things are tight at the top of the Bundesliga. Just four points separate Bayern Munich at the top down to SC Freiburg in fifth place. We have another intriguing round of fixtures to look forward to this weekend, and we will preview two games — Borussia Dortmund v FC Augsburg and Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern Munich keep churning out the wins

Bayern Munich have been ruthless over the past few weeks, and they have been scoring goals for fun. A 3-1 victory away over Greuther Furth took their tally for the Bundesliga campaign to 23 in just six games. Julian Nagelsmann’s men know how to blow teams away, and next up for them is the visit of strugglers Eintracht Frankfurt.

However, the reigning Bundesliga champions will be without Benjamin Pavard in the last German league game before the international break. Pavard was sent off against Greuther Furth. He will sit out the next couple of games after Bayern decided not to appeal against the decision.

Thomas Muller surpasses Bayern Munich legend in win over Greuther Furth

Bayern are looking unstoppable at the moment, and they are intent on breaking more records. Against newly-promoted Greuther Furth, Thomas Muller got on the score sheet to notch up his 218th goal in Bayern colours. The 2014 World Cup winner has now overtaken Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on the list of all-time Bayern scorers. Now only Robert Lewandowski and Gerd Muller are ahead of him.

Who can stop Bayern Munich?

Bayern are just motoring on, and you wonder how Eintracht Frankfurt are going to cause problems? Joshua Kimmich, in particular, has been impressed with the way Bayern have gone about their business this season. He said: “The character of the team is superb. We have players who are hungry and want to improve.”

Eintracht Frankfurt searching for the first victory of the season

As things stand, Frankfurt are still searching for their first victory of the season. They have drawn five on the trot, and have mustered just five points from six games, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. But they are likely to come up against a merciless Bayern side who are hungry for trophies.

Borussia Dortmund desperate to bounce back after disappointing defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach

There can sometimes be an over-reaction to a Borussia Dortmund defeat, as the club sets itself very lofty standards. But against Borussia Monchengladbach bereft of the services of Erling Haaland and Marco Reus, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Bumblebees. Things were made even harder when Mo Dahoud was sent off for two bookable offences five minutes before half-time.

The injury list has been piling up as Haaland (muscular problem), Reus (knee), Emre Can (muscular) were sidelined, and Dortmund were forced to reshuffle the side that thrashed Union Berlin the previous week. However, this isn’t a time for Dortmund to press the panic button.

Meanwhile, Augsburg are at the wrong end of the table. They are just a point above the relegation zone in the 15th spot, having picked up five points from six games. But against Freiburg, they were very ordinary as they lost 3-0. Goals from Lukas Kubler, Lucas Holer and Vincenzo Grifo put Augsburg to the sword.

Borussia Dortmund v FC Augsburg: a look back on past encounters

Dortmund’s loss against Monchengladbach marked their second defeat of the season, and they are four points adrift of table-toppers Bayern Munich. Dortmund will be relishing the visit of Augsburg, as they have recorded 12 wins from their 20 Bundesliga clashes. And recent matches appear to point towards a Dortmund victory.

Indeed, when the two sides met last season at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund ran out 3-1 winners. Thomas Delaney, Jadon Sancho and a Felix Udokhai own goal meant Augsburg left empty-handed. If Haaland and Reus are back for Dortmund, you imagine Augsburg could be in for a long afternoon.

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By Negin Taleb, Video Staff @ntaleb8 Music Enthusiast? Battle of the Bands could be your calling. BU Central welcomed eight bands to play original music and compete for a $500 prize. If you’ve been at BU for a few years now, you may recognize some of these names: Honey Bee Dance Language, Houseguests, The Orphic […]

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Vodafone NZ Launches AWS-Powered Vodafone Connect
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This week, Vodafone New Zealand  launched a contact centre solution known as Vodafone Connect that runs on AWS cloud infrastructure. The solution is designed for contact centres and customer service providers to reduce their operating cost and deliver an improved customer experience (CX).

The move comes as many businesses and governments are witnessing a spike in inbound contact centre volumes since the outbreak of the pandemic. The telecom company aims to help the contact centre industry through its on-demand contact centre suite of solutions that can be scaled up or down according to the organisations’ requirements. It can be combined with existing CRM platforms in a single dashboard for better access to data and resolution support.

Vodafone Connect is built on the AWS Connect cloud contact centre solution and uses data analytics and machine learning tools to automate customer interactions across multiple channels – email, messaging and social media – to support the contact centre agents with real-time information.

COVID-19 has accelerated the move to the cloud

The recent pandemic has seen many organisations make a leap almost overnight to cloud contact centre technologies. Many organisations that previously had concerns around data privacy, and securing customer data – and were thus hesitant about deploying cloud contact centre solutions – have moved to the cloud model. The cloud model helped get agents that were forced to work from home up and running in a short duration. The immediate urgency was primarily due to a massive spike in voice calls and non-voice activity such as emails. During the COVID-19 crisis, many organisations used Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections to their legacy on-premises phone system to enable the remote agents. However, there have been challenges reported by many organisations with that approach such as increases to IT budget, difficulty in scaling easily, and the requirement for more IT support that could have been avoided.

Ecosystm research finds that only 30% of organisations have fully migrated their cloud contact centre solutions on the cloud.   Adoption of Cloud Contact Centres

This indicates a market opportunity for vendors in the cloud contact centre space. The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely triggered a strong move towards the cloud model. It has become imperative for vendors and solutions providers to strengthen their cloud capabilities.

Driving an Omni-Channel Experience has become increasingly difficult

Ecosystm research also finds that organisations find siloed organisational data as one of the biggest challenges in driving consistent customer experience.Customer Experience Challenges

This has been further exacerbated by the high volume of interactions that organisations have been having with their customers, and the need to accommodate work-from-home policies for their customer care agents. At the same time, nearly 60% of organisations want to drive an omni-channel experience to improve CX. This provides a huge opportunity for contact centre vendors and partners to offer consulting services to help organisations bridge the gaps in achieving an omni-channel experience. For many organisations there has been a greater push to integrate CRM, the voice of the customer/surveys, customer journey analytics to the contact centre technologies and this is not an easy task as it involves different stakeholders with different sets of KPIs. Having a single platform that can manage this omni-channel experience will be a huge benefit for many organisations.

New Players in the Competitive Landscape

AWS is a relatively new player in the contact centre market, but it is starting to disrupt the existing players, with a global installed base. However, it is worth noting that Avaya, Cisco and Genesys have a higher installed base and they continue to win new deals. The move to the cloud is witnessing more service providers, telecom providers and other contact centre partners push more cloud-based solutions in the market. Apart from AWS, other important players include NICEinContact, 8×8, Talkdesk, Twillio, Five9, and UJet. The competitive battleground is heating up and there are a lot of options for customers to choose from. It will all come down to working with a vendor that can help them achieve their desired CX outcomes.

There are other important elements in CX that are growing in importance and these include conversational AI, voice biometrics, knowledge management systems, machine learning and CX management solutions. Contact centre solution providers are having discussions around these areas with tech buyers. This will mean that we can expect deeper partnerships and acquisitions in the short to medium term. Security has also emerged as an important issue to be resolved, especially with agents working from home. This is from a compliance perspective and pertaining to how agents are viewing and handling customer data. These new trends indicate that customers will need to work with different vendors to solve the variety of issues they are facing.

The Vodafone Connect solution on AWS Connect is one of the many examples of how more partners of contact centre solutions are gearing up for the rapid move to the cloud. Globally, Vodafone also sells contact centre solutions from Cisco and Genesys. The next 3 years will see a great movement in the market and this will include vendors from North America that will set up operations to push their offerings across Europe and the Asia Pacific.

Click below to access insights from the Ecosystm Contact Centre Study on visibility into organisations’ priorities when running a Contact Centre (both in-house and outsourced models) and the technologies implemented and being evaluated

Contact Centre Best Practices

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One of the foremost multi-disciplinary analysts in the APAC region, Audrey boasts an eclectic set of expertise, in segments as diverse as enterprise collaboration, unified communications-as-a-service (UCaaS), video, contact center, CX, outsourcing as well as artificial intelligence, enterprise mobility and digital transformation. Audrey has a proven track record both as an analyst and a business leader, having spent close to two decades in various analyst roles at Frost & Sullivan, providing counsel to C-level executives on go-to-market strategies – most recently as Head of Research and Senior Fellow at the firm’s ICT practice in Australia and New Zealand. As one of the pioneers of the firm in the region, Audrey played a pivotal role in its regional expansion, including building and mentoring a team of analysts across various markets in Asia-Pacific, including Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. Beyond her involvement as an analyst, Audrey is also a prominent keynote speaker, having delivered over 150 speaking engagements addressing various technology segments. She is regularly quoted in the media for her insights into ongoing technology trends and news. Audrey is an honours graduate from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administration (ICSA) in the UK. She also holds Diplomas in Management Accounting and Financial Accounting from the London Chamber of Commerce Institute (LCCI). In her free time, she loves to read literary fiction and is a jazz enthusiast.

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carrageenan on a food label

Carrageenan: A Food Additive That’s Not as Safe As You Think

If you look towards the back of the ingredients list on many processed foods you’ll frequently see an ingredient called carrageenan. Like lots of other confusing sounding food-stuffs, most people blithely consume it daily without a scintilla of awareness about what it actually is or whether or not it’s good for you.

Overall carrageenan is (mostly) harmless, but it has a variety of troublesome side effects that shouldn’t go unnoticed, most notably high correlations to colon cancer, inflammation, and a depressed immune system.

What Is Carrageenan?

Carrageenan is a polysaccharide that’s derived from red seaweed. On a molecular level it’s actually very similar to plastic and is popular for that reason. It bends easily but snaps back into place, which makes it a useful additive to foods, gels, and foams.

It’s long been used to improve the texture of food, and the earliest reported uses of red seaweed to improve a food’s characteristics dates back to 600 BC in China. It began to be used commercially in the west starting in the 1930’s, and about 80% of the world’s red seaweed is harvested in the philippines.

Carrageenan is cheap, fairly docile, and easy to crank out. So it’s used in a lot things. You’ll often see it in milk products to improve viscosity, especially plant milks since they don’t have any cream. Its others uses include but are not limited to:

  • toothpaste
  • gummy products
  • dairy products/plant milks
  • beer
  • shoe polish
  • shaving cream

And the list goes on. You’ll often see carrageenan used in conjunction with agar, guar gum, or xantham gum.

commercially grown carrageenan
Carrageenan is grown commercially in southeast Asia

So Is Carrageenan Bad For You?

Carrageenan has always gotten a free pass from the health community. It’s frequently used as a vegan alternative to gelatin and recently herbivores have come to its defense because dairy companies have been framing it as a “weird additive” in its milk commercials.

Andy Bellatti recently wrote an article defending carrageenan as an additive, and most health/eco-oriented pundits seem to condone it since it’s often used in products they otherwise deem worthy…..most notably plant milks.

However, I think most of these people are suffering from the fallacy of mood affiliation.  Carrageenan helps make foods they like more palatable, and therefore they defend carrageenan as well.

I believe this sense of affiliation is incorrect.

Why, you ask?

Because carrageenan has a long and notable history of significant correlations to different types of cancer and acute-inflammatory responses which are not good for you, to say the least.

Whenever I write a summary article like this one of my first tasks is to type in the subject line into google scholar to see what studies come up.

When I did this for carrageenan I was surprised to see that the most relevant, cited papers had little to do with carrageenan as a food additive, but instead focused on its ability to induce acute inflammation in rats. Here’s the page I saw:

carrageenan and inflammation

After digging a little deeper into the literature I was surprised to find that by far the most notable aspect of carrageenan in medical research is its clockwork like ability to induce oedema and other inflammatory responses in rats. They’ve been doing it in labs for more than 40 years.

Carrageenan ingested in large amounts promotes inflation in two ways: it depresses the activity of macrophages (big immune cells that act like garbage collectors) and induces the creation of histamine,  Cox-2 and prostaglandins, all inflammation inducing compounds.

Regular ingestion of carrageenan also has a high correlation to different sorts of gastrointestinal cancers in rats. Most of the research done on the carrageenan/cancer relationship has been done in southeast Asia, and thus is not as well publicized as other harmful food additives like MSG.

However, the trail of research on this issue is long, and pretty consistent. Carrageenan (particularly the “degraded” kind) regularly induces carcinogenesis, neoplasia, and intestinal lesions. Ouch!

By far the most impressive research in this issue was carried out by a professor named Kazuo Wakabayashi, who’s centered in Japan (I believe).

I won’t bore you and write The Unabbreviated Scholarly Review on Carrageenan and Carcinogenesis, but let me point out two relevant studies for you to chew on:

  • A clinical study conducted by Wakabayashi found that rodents were fed daily with a 5% carrageenan aqueous solution had a 100% incidence rate of colon metaplasis after 15 months.
  • As far as I know there have been no clinical studies conducted on humans, but they have been performed on mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice and they all show a connection between carrageenan and colon cancer.
Food for thought.

So Is Carrageenan Safe?

Throughout most of the world carrageenan has been deemed “generally safe.” And in modest quantities it is, just like most other additives you consume in processed food.

However, I’m a bit miffed at the lack of attention its received for its potentially harmful side effects. The health community typically likes to throw stones at any and all preservatives added by the industrial process, and are quick to point out any harmful correlations that have been brought up in medical research. For example, the correlation between MSG and obesity has received a lot of scrutiny.

So I’m not sure why carrageenan gets a free pass.  It shouldn’t.

Research and References on Carrageenan

Vinegar, R, et. al “Quantitative Studies of the Pathway to Acute Carrageenan Inflammation” Federation Proceedings.  1976,  pgs. 2447-2456.

Di Rosa, M, et. al. “Studies of the Mediators of Acute Inflammatory Response Induced in Rats in Different Sites by Carrageenan and Turpentine” Journal of Pathology. May, 1971. Pgs 15-29.

Wakabayashi, Kazuo, et. al. “Induction by Degraded Carrageenan of Colorectal Tumors in Rats”  Cancer Letters. January 1978, pgs. 171-176.

Watanabe, Kenshi, et. al. “Effect of Dietary Undegraded Carrageenan on Colon Carcinogenesis in F344 Rats Treated With Azoxymethane or Methylnitrosurea”  Cancer Research. December 1978, pgs. 4427-4430.

Tobacman, Joanne. “Review of Harmful Gastrointestinal Effects of Carrageenan in Animal Experiments”  Environmental Health Perspectives. October 2001, pgs. 983-994.

Guay, Jocelyne, et. al. “Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema in Rat Elicits a Predominant Prostaglandin E2 Response in the Central Nervous System Associated with the Induction of Microsoma PGE2 Synthase-1”  Journal of Biological Chemistry. June 2004, pgs 24866-24872.

Salvemini, Daniela, et. al. “Nitric Oxide: A Key Mediator in the Early and Late Phase of Carrageenan-Induced Rat Paw Inflammation”  British Journal of Pharmacology. Pgs 829-838.

190 thoughts on “Carrageenan: A Food Additive That’s Not as Safe As You Think”

      1. Steve the fact that is natural doesn’t mean is good for you. There are a lot of plants in the world that are poison to humans. For me Carrageenan is poison I am allergic to it big time just like others are allergic to peanuts and other fruits and vegetables.

  1. Carrageenan gives me migraines every time I eat it, so I usually avoid it and another 30 ingredients that trigger my migraines, preservatives and additives in our American diet. I eat fresh organic foods now and I keep a tight food diary, but I didn’t double check the “organic” cottage cheese last night and carrageenan strikes again!!! 6 pills later, terrible sleep last night, and almost vomiting from the pain I am finally almost back to my old self. I HATE CARRAGEENAN!

    1. Andrea – be sure to contact the company and ask them to take it out of their product. The more they hear from people the greater the chance they will remove. Hood removed carrageenan recently from its buttermilk. Many of the dairy and non-dairy milk manufacturers have been listening to consumers and removing carrageenan from their products. For e.g. So Delicious Coconut milk products even now state on their labels – Now without carrageenan! For many of us with gluten issues – seaweed alone in for e.g. canned beans, processed into carrageenan (red seaweed) or processed as align/alginate/sodium and other alginate (brown seaweed) causes a multitude of issues – very similar if not identical to gluten. (I have tried to encourage the researcher, who identified that several other proteins in wheat not just those in gluten cause celiac folks to respond, to test the proteins in the major seaweed species used in food products . At one point the organic folks were big on seaweed – it’s natural, it’s safe. Right. It’s cheap and plentiful as an emulsifier. Don’t feel badly from time to time my husband and I miss it in ingredients. We now look at all labels in our kitchen before using anything as a double and triple check before we use anything.

      1. One more point – I maintain and unless I am proven wrong – and I tried to tell Dr. Tobacman (see early on her comment in this blog) back in 2011 that it is not simply carrageenan processed from red seaweed, but the seaweed itself, and brown (kelp) seaweed alone or processed into algin or an alginate salt – there is something innate in the seaweed likely a protein that is similar to one – a non-gluten (not a glutenin or gliadin) protein in wheat. I know a doctor whose kid is gluten sensitive and could not understand the reason her kid got desperately ill as if she ingested gluten after eating maki rolls with gluten-free soy sauce. She acknowledged I was right – it was the seaweed. Again, a women I know with celiac disease was unhealed for years (I have told this story many times before). She showed me a bag of candy that made her sick – bemoaning the ingredients must be missing gluten – then I saw the carrageenan. It would be nothing for the researcher who identified the several non-gluten proteins in wheat that folks with celiac react to, to analyze the three or four major seaweed species used in our food products to identify a protein match to one in wheat, then manufacturers would take this crap out. In high school I remember in Biology an adjunct reading book – I thought it was the Silent Spring but have never checked it – that seaweed was the “wheat of the sea.” How ironic.

  2. I am curious whether this is the cause of the digestive issues my kittens are having. The vet even thought they might have coccidiosis, because they were having bloody, mucousy stools. Tests for parasites were negative. I noticed that their canned food was going through a formulation change, at that time, and when we would get some of the “old label” stuff, that still had carageenan, their diarrhea and blood in the stool would show up. Symptoms went away when we got cans of the newer formula, that had a substitution for carageenan, or had them eat dry kitten food.

    1. When I had to go gluten free my GI and other systems issues cleared completely. My health turned completely around. Had a taste of choc cream pie with whipped cream both had carrageenan (made from red seaweed) in ingredient list, and symptoms returned taking 3-4 weeks to clear. Considered it was the dairy (and three years later did develop dairy and soy protein issues) except weeks after I had a can of organic beans with kombu a brown seaweed and became ill. In the subsequent years got sick from bagels and breads made with algins or sodium other alginates (brown seaweed based) and agar another seaweed-based product.

      Increasingly, product manufacturers are taking these seaweed-based gelatins and emulsifiers out of products esp. the dairy and dairy-free milk products and GF bread products.

      Person who sold me my makeup bemoaned that 20 years later her intestines still not healed via scope and said there must be gluten undisclosed in foods and in this candy she was eating. No, but there was carrageenan! GI docs several years ago and still today do not choose to warn their patients with bowel disorders to completely eliminate food products with these seaweeds in them but rather put them on expensive drugs with horrific side effects rather than first work w diet to eliminate foods with this additives known to inflame the bowel. It is still widely used in ice cream – my brother and his wife until they switched to carrageenan-free brand had GI and severe leg muscle cramps and spasms. Nestle had to take it out of their baby formula because of many reports of intolerance. The European version of the FDA banned it from baby formulas.

      There was a study done three years back at Columbia that separated out a dozen or so proteins in wheat. They tested known celiacs and demo’d that in addition to reacting to the proteins in gluten most responded to several others if not all. I have to contact the researcher – we’ve talked in the past – because my hypothesis is that seaweed while it may be gluten free contains other proteins found in wheat that folks react to even if not a person with celiac disease.

      My former doctor’s kid had gluten issues – not sure if celiac but askedme reason her kid was getting sick on maki rolls w GF soy sauce. I said likely the seaweed. Now I’d also say consider the soy.

      Wheat/gluten-dairy-soy three big ones to try to eliminate for GI system issues with assist of doctor and reg dietitian. When lactose-free milk made me sick then even butter on toast I knew it was the proteins in the dairy I was reacting to at that point. Kind bars even a bite made me ill with the soy lecithin. My son brought home a fried tofu dish – a few pieces of that sealed the deal. Was fine for a year then gradually got quite sick – doctors doing all sorts of testing – turned out one vitamin D and oil-based magnesium I was taking had soy in it. Once I switched these out my health and symptoms started to improve. One caution w dairy – I foolishly missed this. I used to take just 600 mg of calcium a day bc I had 2-3 dairy servings daily. I should have increased to 1200 calcium a day once I stopped the dairy. So I started to have some minor bone loss and I was actually building bone post menopause because my intestine healed, and I was properly absorbing before I eliminated dairy. Now many of the non-dairy mills have added calcium and Vitamin D.

      At any rate, I wouldn’t give man nor beast anything with seaweed or seaweed derivatives under multiple extract names listed above. And chances are if that helps, eliminating gluten and possibly dairy and soy will also help.

      1. Caraganeen and all forms of seaweed extracts makes my tinnitus scream. MSG is made from seaweed too, I’m sure you know. Caraganeen is in ice cream and all
        kinds of foods, I’m not gluten or dairy intolerant but seaweed extracts blow my head noise up.

  3. Carrageenan and all other excitotoxins (msg and all such) cause tinnitus spikes. I never see this mentioned in the list of health issues exacerbated by these additives.

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text:
Lecture 10: Stochastic Petri Nets and Markov Chains

Introducing probability to Petri nets through continuous time and transition firing rates. Markov chains, and variations thereon: Discrete Time Markov Chains (DTMC); Markov decision procedures (MDP); Continuous Time Markov Chains (CTMC). How this last one is appropriate to capture the behaviour of a stochastic Petri net. Brief mention of the PRISM probabilistic model checker.

Link: Slides

Read §§1–3 of this tutorial article.

The first assignment is now out. See the coursework web page for more information.

Comments are closed.


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Intershop Blog
Your hot spot for insights in technology and market trends of digital sales.
Take it from here if digital commerce is your mission, too.

A screw is a simple and rather inconspicuous article. But what if ever-stressed Marc Smith, 31, construction manager, notices his team is running out of the right size of screws? Sure enough, the workers could take a spontaneous break, but this very moment, Marc is faced with another delay in the site's progress.

This is exactly where a modern manufacturer could step in with new digital solutions, no longer only offering c-parts on the shelves of his shops, unavailable for online search.

Here are three ideas to innovate stock keeping:

  1. Click and Collect

As soon as he notices the issue, Marc could browse his favorite tools shop online, choose and order the desired screws, all on the go, already heading to the nearest (partner) store of the manufacturer, where the digital order has been submitted to. By this, the construction site is back to business quickly.

  1. Smart Shelf

The issue could have been prevented, if the manufacturer or wholesaler of screws (and building materials) had already installed a smart shelf in Marc’s warehouse. Combined with a personal subscription, all sides benefit from lean processes. The smart storage solution ensures that the supplier automatically receives an order from the customer when the stock of screws reaches the minimum quantity. He then delivers the necessary c-parts automatically, taking into account the consumption of the past few weeks. By this, never too much capital is bound, while at the same time the risk of falling short is reduced.

  1. Automatic reminder

A third preventive action and a solid foundation for a loyal customer/supplier relationship could be initiated by the manufacturer via e-mail:

“Dear Mr Smith, based on the usual weekly consumption of ASSY plus FBS steel galvanised AW, your usual stock may fall below 1,000 pieces next week. Please find attached a quick order template for your convenience.”

With intelligent commerce platforms, personalized services can be offered that guarantee customer loyalty and ensure sustainable customer relations. Augmented reality, sensor technology, mobile access, artificial intelligence - or just good ideas – begin to contribute to this.

Intershop is your partner in B2B, no matter what your idea may be.


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Saturday, April 8, 2017

April 7th – Dune Bashing in Abu Dhabi

When you're in amongst the manicured parks and green lawns of Abu Dhabi City, (all watered by hugely costly desalinated water), it can be a little difficult to appreciate that 50 years ago this was all just desert. So, to get back to the Emirate's roots out there in the shifting sands of the desert, you have to drive out of town and get out onto the evocative dunes.

In the old days, the mode of transport was obviously the camel, but these days there's a new Ship of the Desert – in the slightly less enigmatic form of the Toyota Land Cruiser. So, we drove out of town to the sands, deflated our tyres and began bashing those dunes. The whole ride had a feel of a sand-based rollercoaster, as we bounced about, cruising up the steep dune with blue sky the only thing we could see out of the windscreen; before zooming back down again, with a windscreen-ful of sand the only thing in sight.

The most hair-raising thing was when we slid sideways down a steep dune, sand flying everywhere, the engine screaming, the wheels spinning, feeling like we were out of control. We were at such acute angles that it seemed certain that we'd topple over. Of course, as with most things in Abu Dhabi, the fear was slightly manufactured, because the skilful driver knew exactly what he was doing.

The whole experience oscillated between exhilarating and slightly nauseating as I hung on for grim death, praying for deliverance; but overall it was great fun (although not an experience I want to repeat for a good couple of years).


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Five reasons to study design in London

1 February 2016

2 mins

A city with numerous creative opportunities, design is one of the most popular subjects for students in London. The capital is truly alive with inspiration and top talent.

London is famous throughout the world for producing high quality and cutting-edge design graduates including James Dyson and Stella McCartney.

One of the benefits of being in London is being able to interact with professionals and tap into the industry and design labs that are based here – Erik Boehmia, Programme Director, Institute for Design Innovation at Loughborough University London

Taken from Study London’s ‘Best Design Schools‘ guide, here are five reasons to study design in London:

  1. Internationally respected design schools and colleges

Loughborough University London’s Institute for Design Innovation epitomises excellence in research, teaching and enterprise. We offer four design programmes that allow students to engage in globally connected creative projects, gaining skills craved by organisations within the contemporary design industry.

2. Choose from 400 design degrees

London universities offer a wide selection of courses from animation to graphic design and games design.

3. A booming creative industry

London is known as the ‘design capital of the world’ and the creative industry is the city’s second largest sector. There are many opportunities to get a design internship or work placement with the design agencies located here.

4. An international and inspirational city

London is alive with inspiration – the city is full of galleries, museums, buildings, festivals and people from different backgrounds.

5. The best talent

Students can work and study alongside some of London’s 400,000 industry professionals. Our design programmes will equip students with advanced knowledge to enhance their career opportunities in design and branding consultancies, in-house design and marketing departments as designers and design managers.

To find out more about our Institute for Design Innovation and the programmes we offer, visit our website or email our Director, Mikko Koria

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TEAMWORK - MEC centra catalogue now available

Cover 2014 englisch

"The view into the distance opens up space for ideas. Good ideas are TEAMWORK”

centra and MEC have pursued this guiding principle over recent years and become a strong team. However, our shared company philosophy has not just resulted in close collaboration, it has also given rise to a 164-page product catalogue.

Both companies value quality and precision – two things that can be found in abundance in the seven sections devoted to the sport of shooting. A special feature of this year’s catalogue are the product ranges for supported shooting and three-position shooting. The products are also enhanced with articles on topics such as SCATT MX-02 and iris apertures.

Finally, the 2014 product catalogue is rounded off with numerous photographs from the world of sport shooting and the two companies in Dortmund and Rheinfelden. Copies of the new catalogue can be order by phone, by e-mail or directly through the website.

12 Responses to “TEAMWORK - MEC centra catalogue now available”

  1. David says:

    Would like a Catalogue Please

  2. Peter says:

    May I have a catalog, please?

    Peter Zimmerman

  3. Mr e cable says:

    Hello,I am trying to get 3 rubber knop black for my free position butt hook ,having problem to get,please can you help thannkyou,Mr e cable,18 lavenham way,Lowestoft,Suffolk,nr32 3 DX, UK.

  4. Arnaldo Mendonça says:

    Would like a catalog.

  5. BERTRAND says:

    May I have a catalog, please.Merci
    1 rue des tilleuls/Altenstadt

  6. Carlos Samuel says:

    Please, may I have a catalog?

    Best regards.
    Carlos Dupont
    e-mail: cdupontmuoz@yahoo.com

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Move over, Logan Paul, because a new sensation has spread across Japanese YouTube!

Fading are the days of real live people interacting with audiences on the popular streaming site. The new trend revolves around people creating virtual anime avatars using motion capture technology. The reasons as to why fans are flocking to these avatars are quite varied. Some people enjoy watching virtual presenters when they are playing games; some people feel that they are getting a raw and real version of Japanese culture that they can’t get from a live person; and some folks just find the freedom of the virtual world to be a perfect catalyst for a few funny or crazy adventures that they can share with the host. No matter what their reasons are, though, they and others like them are tuning into these virtual hosts in droves.

Kizuna Ai

The Virtual YouTuber trend was pioneered by Kizuna Ai (a name that uses the kanji for “Bonded Love”), who is easily the most famous of all virtual YouTubers. Debuting in the tail end of November 2016, Kizuna Ai has become a superstar in the field. In her introduction video, she states that her goal is to one day appear in a commercial. And while, to my knowledge, she hasn’t gotten her own TV spot, she has appeared in multiple video games and anime titles, and she’s become the first virtual YouTuber to get a verified Twitter account. On top of that, in 2018, she was named as the official tourism ambassador of Japan.

Ai’s not the only one, though. To date, there are literally thousands of these characters on Japanese YouTube (an exact number is impossible to guesstimate, as new virtual YouTubers are now appearing and disappearing almost daily). With so many new presenters making their debuts over the past couple of years, it can be hard to know where your attention should go, exactly. That said, most of the more popular avatars have some kind of defining characteristic that makes them stand out from the pack.

A simple search on Google will pull up many different options to pick from, including a Japanese idol who speaks perfect English, a catgirl who loves FPS games, a tsundere student council president, and many, many others.

It’s not always easy to break into this industry, though. Becoming a virtual YouTuber can take a lot of hard work and patience.  Also, it can’t be understated that sometimes, a little luck will go a long way towards success, as was the case for the woman behind the virtual avatar named Rhythm Otonashi. Chosen via raffle to appear at Kizuna Ai’s first live event in March 2018, she traveled all the way from Germany and soon caught the performing bug, herself. Catching the audience’s eye right away, it was only a month later that Otonashi was invited to join the same talent agency as Kizuna Ai, Project upd8. It’s one thing to start performing on YouTube, though.  It’s another thing entirely to keep it up for a sustained amount of time and gain a legitimate following.

Rhythm Otonashi.

“I try to upload 1-4 videos a month and on my current schedule, I stream 4+ times a week. Personally, I’m sort of a niche producer and don’t feel pressured to create videos on things that are currently trending, so it’s more of a matter of finding the time to record, edit and sometimes figure out how to pull something off from a technical point of view,” Otonashi told me via an interview. When asked about the varying demands of the audience and if it’s difficult to please such a wide range of people, Otonashi spoke of the difficulties she’s had up to this point. “It is definitely difficult, yeah. Many Virtual YouTubers make a large variety of content instead of focusing on one specific niche, which is why I think establishing a personality that people enjoy is really important.”

It’s difficult to pinpoint a single reason why this trend has exploded in popularity but one popular theory is that being presented by a virtual avatar allows people to be more free and expressive with their emotions and interests. Otonashi, for example, stated strongly that her virtual persona is a big part of who she really is though she also admitted to having a bit of stage fright when she first started.

Regardless of the why’s, the popularity of these virtual presenters is still climbing and while some fans believe that the trend is either currently at its peak or is close to it, others don’t feel that way at all. Rather they’re of the opinion that this is only the beginning as the technology is still becoming more widely available to people outside of Japan.

“I absolutely believe in the phenomenon surviving and evolving in the future though. Virtual YouTubers are about far more than just making YouTube videos by now and we’ve seen them appear in events, concerts, games and show off their skills as creators beyond just talking in videos,” Otonashi said after careful deliberation. “I don’t think Virtual YouTubers will grow to the point where they *replace* other types of entertainers but there are still many, many possibilities for them.”

With the trend still rising in popularity and scope, it’s impossible to predict where this trend will go in the future. Will we see more virtual YouTubers appearing to the point that a real person appearing on the site is a novelty? Doubtful but it appears that those with a terrible case of the shys have a new avenue when it comes to self-expression.


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MBM: 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Be A Writer, by Sharon Belknap

Welcome to the fourth day of MARCH BOOK MADNESS!

.Today, author Sharon Belknap is here. Sharon and I have been friends for about eight years. When I found out she was a writer, I was astounded because she’s one of those people who seems to do everything: crafts, photography, composing music, interior designing. She’s always stylish. She’s super nice. Plus, plus, plus, she has eight kids AND a clean house. So…yeah.

Sharon and I swap manuscripts, which means she’s read my stuff early on when it’s ugly and confusing. Yet, she makes comments that are not only helpful, but don’t tear out my soul. :) I really value her insight. (And her book is awesome, btw. It’s a time-travel romance. I can’t wait to see in print someday.)

2012 Sep SMWC dinner Sharon
Rebecca & Sharon at LDStorymaker’s Midwest Writer’s Conference

Last September, Sharon drove across the country with me to attend the first ever LDStorymaker’s Midwest Writer’s Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. We spent 30 hours in the car together, and I don’t think there were more than 3 minutes of silence. At the conference, she and I split up to hit as many classes as we could. Then we spent the whole ride home talking about how to make our books better with all we learned. She’s great. I love her.

Here’s Sharon..

Sharon Belknap: Why Everyone Should Be a Writer

I believe there’s a writer in each of us.

I believe one of our greatest desires, above happiness, is the desire to make our lives mean something. What better way to make our mark on the world than to leave our stories, histories, insights, and words of wisdom? Recording these is a way to insure we won’t be forgotten. Think of all the stories, both fiction and nonfiction, we know throughout history. We only have these stories because at some point they were written down.

I believe this ability is something that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. If other creatures have thoughts and feelings, they don’t have the same means to express them. As humans, we have unique gifts. We can express ourselves in so many ways and by so many means. We can talk, dance, paint, and sing. And we can WRITE.

So why should you, sitting at the computer, take time to write?

Here are five reasons:

1) Record your own histories

I look back to my ancestors. What evidence do I have to their existence? I have a few pictures. I have many names. But more meaningful, I have their stories.

I have some background stories, some examples of the history of the lands and times in which they lived. I have several secondhand accounts of events surrounding some of them. But what speaks most intimately to me, what draws me to want to know and understand my progenitors are first-hand accounts: their journal entries, letters sent to loved ones, the thoughts and feelings they memorialized by putting them to pen.

2) Writing is therapeutic

Writing can be a great way to relieve stress. It can help analyze what you’re truly feeling and why. It can also help work through those emotions.

Studies show that:

  • Most people feel happier and healthier after writing about deeply traumatic memories
  • College students had more active Tlymphocyte cells, an indication of immune system stimulation, six weeks after writing about stressful events
  • People tend to take fewer trips to the doctor, function better in day-to-day tasks, and score higher on tests of psychological well-being after writing
  • Expressive writing can ease the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis

3) As a writer, you become a student of human nature

Writing opens your eyes to the world around you. As a writer, you focus more on the minute details that would be otherwise ignored.

I can’t watch a movie anymore without noting facial expressions, reactions, conversations, and interactions. I mentally articulate descriptions in the setting around me. How would I describe the song of a bird or the mood of a person?

I notice more. I enjoy more.

4) Writing enhances your communication skills

This may sound like a no-brainer as writing is a form of communication, but hear me out.

Often our communication is hampered because we don’t know how to accurately express ourselves. Writing regularly helps hone the skill of self-expression. Just as with everything else, practices makes perfect. Or at least better. Good writing takes an element of organization. Written organization can translate to the way you speak. It can even make you think differently.

5) Writing helps you stay organized

At the very least, we should all use writing as a tool of organization. Using lists and setting goals are two ways in which writing helps us make the most of our time. A written goal brings clarity and focus. It gives you a direction.

Writing lists allows you to unload your mental RAM. When you don’t have to use your mind’s resources for things such as shopping lists and calendar events, it becomes easier to think clearly. There are only so many thought that can bumble around in your head at once. Writing these things down makes room for more important things. Many times, the solution to a problem will present itself if it is clearly written and defined.

Have you been converted yet?

  • If you aren’t writing regularly, I would encourage you to do so. Start small. Write about your own life experiences.
  • If you do write regularly, kudos! You already know the joy and satisfaction that writing adds to your life.

Once you’ve been bitten by the bug…

The road to writing is full of adventure. But there are dangers as well.

Many who travel this road are bitten by the writing bug. The bite starts as a little itch, but that itch grows until it becomes a full-fledged disease. It’s a disease similar to the chickenpox: once in your system, it’s always present, though its symptoms may have periods of dormancy.

Here are some of its symptoms:

  • Do characters invade your mind, depriving you of sleep?
  • Do you hear voices at random times and in the most unlikely places?
  • Do you turn off the radio in the car and talk to characters, or contemplate what they’d be shopping for?
  • Does writing make your heart beat faster?
  • Do you carry a notebook wherever you go, including bed?
  • Do you find your ability to enjoy a book infringed on by the thought that the author should have done something different?writing-bug-surrender
  • Do you find yourself opting out of social invitations to write instead?
  • Have you stopped volunteering at your children’s schools in order to write?
  • Are you on a first name basis with your local librarian?

If you exhibit four of these symptoms, you’ve been infected.

Okay, maybe there is no such disease. But writing is infectious. And rewarding. Maybe you already know all of this. Maybe you’ve been writing for years.

Perhaps you’re contemplating writing as a profession

If you write, you probably read. A lot. You’ve read good books, but more that aren’t so good.

“I could do better than this,” you say to yourself. “I could write a book and make millions of dollars. Any schmuck can write a book, right? All it takes is a little talent and a lot of dedication.”

The idea starts to grow.

“I could work from home, spend a year writing. My book could be a bestseller.”

You see yourself walking down the red carpet, Stephen King on one arm and Stephenie Meyer on the other, wads of money spilling from the tails of your evening gown.

Stop right there.

If this is why you’re writing, STOP. RIGHT. NOW.

One reason not to become a writer

If you imagine that you’ll make your fortune by writing, think again.

The hard facts aren’t pretty. The average published author is reported to make $30,000 a year, according to The New York Times. And that’s if you count writing as your day job. Most writers can’t do that. Most people who qualify themselves as writers must maintain a supplemental income.

According to the Author Advance Survey, the average advance on a published book is $5000. For a book. That takes years to write and edit.

What about self-publishing? According to The Guardian, half of self-published authors earn less than $500 in 2011.

I don’t bring this to your attention to discourage you. I convey this information so that you can ask yourself this question:

Why do I write?

we write to taste life twice

I believe we all have unique and valuable stories to record, whether they’re from our own experiences or from those we invent. But the desire to write needs to come from within. Each writer should have a motive other than financial gain that drives them.

The road to writing is one of self-discovery. It’s filled with great adventures and amazing characters. It opens your eyes to the world around you. It can lead you places you never thought you would go. But it’s a road not often paved with gold.

Now go out and write, but do it for yourself!

MBM: Sharon Belknap For the Love of ReadingBio:

Sharon Belknap is an avid reader and aspiring writer. She enjoys listening to and composing music, decorating, photography, Pinterest, and anything crafty. But most of all she enjoys her full-time job as a wife and mother to eight children.

(Check out Sharon’s post on MARCH BOOK MADNESS last year where she talked about the love of reading.)

See. I told you. Awesome.

Thank you, Sharon. I love all the reasons you state why everyone should be a writer — especially #2. Writing is definitely therapeutic for me. My hubby can tell when I’ve gone a few days without writing. It’s not pretty.

And I love the analogy of the writing bug.

I’ve mentioned this on my blog before, but I never planned write books. My dad is an author. Growing up, I loved reading his books, but writing was his thing. As I got married and had a few kids, I started journaling, writing our family histories, and I loved, loved, loved writing our Christmas letters. Thanks to Sharon, I realize I was a writer even back then. I just didn’t know it. :)

And once I started this fiction thing . . . Man, that bug bit me hard!

When people ask me why I write, my answer is, “Because I can’t not write.” I think that’s true for most authors.

  • (Sorry about the double-negative grammar peeps.)

Now it’s your turn. Everyone has a different writing story. I’m curious to know yours.

Why do you write? How did you get started? Did you plan to write, or did the writing bug bite you out of nowhere? Join the discussion below.

Don’t miss any MARCH BOOK MADNESS posts. Subscribe here or enter your e-mail address below. #marchbookmadness

You can read more about March Book Madness here, but basically it’s an excuse for me to discuss everything about writing, editing, and reading books with some amazing authors and readers.

Fun, fun, fun!

Here’s the schedule:

The collective talent listed above . . . Wow! It’s going to be a great month.

Check out last year’s MARCH BOOK MADNESS here.

12 thoughts on “MBM: 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Be A Writer, by Sharon Belknap

  1. Great post, Sharon! I definitely have been bitten by the writing bug and enjoying every minute of the “disease.” I think my family sometimes gets tired of me saying, “That could’ve been written better”, while watching a movie or reading aloud together. I’m so happy that other authors understand that the voices I hear in my head are not a sign of mental illness but, rather, just characters wanting their stories told.

    Thanks, Sharon, for the insight, and Rebecca, for sponsoring this MBM!

    1. Haha, very true. I think writing has ruined reading for me. I’m constantly editing the author without even trying to. I have to remind myself to knock it off and enjoy the book. And you know Shannon Hale’s quote about writing? It’s my favorite. Writing sounds more like a mental illness than a profession. :)

  2. Yes, the writing bug is contagious and a chronic illness (but pleasant and not full of pain…most times). Thanks, Sharon, for the upbeat post. Writing is the best way to get to know yourself and what you really think . And it’s fun and therapeutic (almost as much as chocolate).

    1. You are right! I wonder if I had to give up chocolate or writing, which one would I chose? Hopefully, I will never have to make that decision. How else would I reward myself on a good writing day??

      1. Indeed. I guess you just answered our question. Writing and chocolate go hand in hand…the one rewarding positive, uplifting behavior. Writing does have better results if done in excess though–chocolate not so much, unless eaten while on the treadmill.

          1. Hopefully your husband doesn’t get after you about making him cookies from that bag. Mine swears I never make cookies with the chocolate chips I buy…but I think he just has short term memory. I use at least half the bag for cookies each time.

            1. Haha. Usually if there’s an open bag of chocolate chips, it doesn’t last until cookie-making time. Then I buy more chocolate chips and the cycle repeats. The only time we get cookies is if I resist the urge to open the bag. Usually depends on the kind of week I’m having. :)

              1. This seems to be a common thread among mothers (my mother-in-law taught me this bad habit, and I will forever be grateful for her for it)

              2. That’s why we buy the Costco bag! That ensure both my chocolate needs and our Sunday chocolate chip cookies!

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SIGGRAPH 2022 Conference Chair Munkhtsetseg Nandigjav (Savannah College of Art and Design) sits down with Morenike Dosu (DreamWorks Animation), Theodore Kim (Yale University), Magdiela Duhamel (Nickelodeon), and Nora Dommer (Scanline VFX) to discuss how the industry — and our listeners — can be more inclusive.

11 Things You Can’t Miss During SIGGRAPH 2021

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Still undecided about joining the SIGGRAPH 2021 action? Already registered and overwhelmed with where to start watching? We’re here for you! This list spotlights content you can’t miss during the live week, 9–13 August.

Panel Preview: 4 DEI Resources Worth Reading to Help You Understand Inequality

Panelists from the SIGGRAPH 2021 session “Creating a Diverse Workplace With Authentic Multicultural Voices” offer resources to prepare participants for their planned discussion of the future of DEI in the computer graphics workplace.


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adidas Consortium Rivalry Lo

For their Consortium line, adidas Originals brings back a classic from 1986 – the adidas Rivalry Lo. It comes in two colorways, the OG color based on the colors of the New York Knicks and the other one in the Bulls team colors. These will hit the stores November 23rd and we will of course carry them at Sneakersnstuff.

More information about price and the release later…

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