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5 Extra Smart Social Networking Tips

By Sandy Jones-Kaminski

There are ways that everyone can improve their social networking efforts. Where do you need help? Is social networking taking over your life? Are you braver online than you would be in person? Are you an “open networker” versus a genuine connector? The following list of tips can help you get more from your social networking efforts.

I've used social networking tools since back in '97 when they were called message boards, so today I'm sharing a few of my hard-won tips for making the most out your time on today's powerful connecting tools, like LinkedIn.

1. Check Status Updates

Do You Know What You're Worth?

Make a practice of regularly scanning the status updates of your network (wherever you’re connected to them) in order to keep an eye out for opportunities, expressions of interest or stated needs where you might be able to offer help. I note things like:

– Referrals needed

– Request to help spread the word or re-post things

– Subcontractor requests, etc.

Responding to these requests is great way to practice pay-it-forward style networking and is something I see reciprocated more often than I ever expected. I allocate about 10-15 minutes each day to complete this worthwhile task.

2. Initiate Beneficial Connections for Others

Don’t wait for folks to initiate a request to be introduced to your other contacts. Review your own contact lists regularly looking for introductions of potential value to your key connections.

One good way is to offer to introduce them to potential clients or partners is via LinkedIn. Many people use LinkedIn’s functionality to do this so people can see and learn more about the other party and their company or business.

Some people, however, find it’s easier just to email both parties when they know for certain that it’ll be a welcome introduction and then suggest they make the connection on their own. CAUTION: We all know when it may not be a welcome introduction, and in those cases, be sure to contact people individually to get "instructions from the tower" as to how to proceed.

3. Follow Up

LinkedIn is a great tool for doing follow up after meeting someone at an event, over coffee or when you’ve exchanged business cards somewhere randomly. People often send LinkedIn invites as a follow up or simply to add people to their network. They then use it to keep in touch and up-to-date with what is happening with the person they took some time to get to know.

If you decide to use LinkedIn for this purpose as well, make sure that you are more than occasionally updating your own promotions, or publishing articles and are also checking your network’s promotions, events, links, blogs, announcements, articles or whatever else they have shared there.

Try to interact with others when it’s relevant and sincere, and use it as a way to send support via a comment on their article or link-share, a message of congrats on a well-shared article, resources, news or other info you think they might truly find useful.

4. Start a Networking Group

If you can’t find a social networking group on LinkedIn that matches your needs, just create one of your own! It’s a fairly easy process and one where most of the work is actually done before you even create the group.

One of the first things you need to do is describe the group’s mission or purpose, your goals for the group, and then consider deciding on a code of conduct as well. As an example, for my Bella Domain Networking group on LinkedIn one of my “rules” is: Be nice or leave. You might also want to include things like what your policy will be if members post things that aren’t relevant to the group, start contacting members with direct solicitations or are just way “off topic” in general.

When you’re ready to create and promote the group get the word out to your list of members and/or connections and then ask them if they’ll help spread the word as well. As an example, check out this non-profit group for the San Francisco Professional Career Network (SFPCN):

5. Prepare for Meetings and Calls

When I worked on-site in a business and market development role for a client back in 2008, I had two monitors on my desk. The first had Outlook and a browser open with tabs for Salesforce, Gmail, and whatever else I was focused on or researching at the time. And, the other monitor had a browser open to LinkedIn, and this was the case all day, every day.

I used LinkedIn to prepare for every conference or cold call I had or made, and just as often I used it to look up someone that had called me. I saved time and acquired knowledge by doing this, and since time is money and knowledge is power, I highly recommend using LinkedIn to research prospective clients, potential vendor partners, recruiters, company executives or even the people that might be sitting in on your next client pitch meeting.

More often than not, you can get the names of most of these folks in advance because the person that has invited you wants the meeting to be as successful as possible for all parties involved, so they’ll usually send that info along if you ask for it. Sometimes, if the person setting the meeting or call is truly invested in you or your company’s solution, they will just offer this info up in advance, but other times they wait for YOU to ASK and, if you don’t, it will become a little black mark next to your name or the company you represent. Seriously.

Doing this type of research (homework!) gives you an edge and enables you to find common ground with an individual or even potential areas of similar interest or for future collaborations. And, yes, I even use LinkedIn and similar sites to research new Twitter followers (@sandyjk).

Sandy Jones-Kaminski is a self-described networking enthusiast and the author of "I’m at a Networking Event–Now What???" She’s been an executive in the HR industry and was recently the VP of Networking for one of the largest chapters of a national professional development and trade association. Sandy shares her professional insights on personal branding and effective networking via webinars, one-on-one coaching, workshops and by facilitating in-person networking events called Pay It Forward Parties. You can connect with her via her website at or via or 415.613.8508.

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Most people, even non-cannabis smokers, could pretty easily recognize two parts of the cannabis plant: the flower, or bud, that is dried and sold for consumption, and the fan shaped leaves that are often used in advertisements. An important aspect of turning the flower of the cannabis plant into the dried bud that most people are familiar with is trimming. In order to get the bud to look how the consumer expects, cannabis growers need to trim the bud from the rest of the plant. While cannabis looks lush and leafy as it grows, cannabis connoisseurs strive generally try to sell buds that are trimmed down into a round or pointed shape. At INSA, a medical marijuana dispensary in Easthampton, hand trimming is part of what makes their product craft cannabis.

From left: Derrick Thurston, Ashley Bauer, Daniel Rivera, Rachael Diorio trim marijuana buds at INSA in Easthampton. Jerrey Roberts photo

“We do take a lot of time on craftsmanship,” said Mark Zatyrka, CEO of INSA. “A lot of people can tell the difference and we want the optimal experience for our patients.”

Before the staff at INSA hand trim their bud, the cannabis plants need to be harvested and hung to dry. Conor Dunphy, the harvest manager at INSA, said that the plant hangs for about five days to dry out after it’s cut down. Once it’s dry, the cola of the plant, or the collection of buds that grow tightly together, are taken off of the bulkier stems and leaves and stored until they can be trimmed. Dunphy said that optimal storage humidity is key during this time to prevent mold and that the containers the buds get stored in need to be “burped” everyday to release moisture.

Dunphy and his team then sort through the buds, ensuring that only the best make it through to be trimmed. The rest won’t be wasted: they’ll be used to make other products that INSA sells.

Rachael Diorioand Daniel Rivera, of INSA trim weed. Jerrey Roberts photo

“On any cola you’re going to get (buds) that weren’t able to get a lot of light and are far more suited for an edible product,” Dunphy said.

All of INSA’s products are made in house so it’s easy to make sure no valuable product goes to waste. Once the cream of the crop is selected the buds are brought to the trimming room where Dunphy’s team trims each by hand.

“Practice makes perfect, you just want to be super slow and meticulous,” Dunphy said.

Unlike other big growers that might use a machine to trim their buds, all of INSA’s are trimmed by hand using small butterfly trimmers. Dunphy explained that the trimmers are spring loaded, to make trimming ergonomic for the staff, and that they are small to allow for a lot of precision cutting.

Cannabis buds rest in a bowl after being trimmed. Jerrey Roberts photo

Once they have the buds, the INSA staff cut off any excess stem or leaves, including sugar leaves, which are tiny leaves that look like they are covered in sugar. Dunphy said that smoking the leaves can be harsh and not tasty so they don’t include them among the buds that they sell directly to customers, but these leaves also go to good use and get ground up and used to make the cannabis oil distillate that INSA uses in many of its edible products. Once the trimming is done the finished buds get weighed and packed for sale in the dispensary.

Zatyrka said that having a quality product is essential for their patients who are often connoisseurs themselves.

“Not only do we want to have a good physical effect but a good visual as well,” Zatyrka said.

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Letter to the Editor: The Nursing Home from Heaven

Screen Shot 2016-02-12 at 8

Letter to the Editor:The Nursing Home from Heaven

I am writing to express my gratitude and appreciation to Sombrillo Skilled Nursing Center in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

My mom, who just turned 89 last week, has been living at Sombrillo for the last year and a half.  During this time I have been so very impressed with every facet of the facility.

I live in New York and even though I come to visit as often as possible, I never have to worry about the care mom is getting.  In fact, the staff feels like family to me and when I arrive or when I check in on the phone, everyone is so friendly and helpful.

My sister visits mom at least once a week (she lives in Santa Fe) and she feels the same way about Sombrillo as I do.

We were so worried about mom’s care as she aged and nursing homes can have such a bad reputation – you hear horror stories about them all the time.

Sombrillo is spotlessly clean.  Every single staff member is personable and caring from the nurses to the therapists, from the food servers to the aids. It’s amazing how much they care. You can sense their devotion to the well being of the residents in every interaction.

We are so thrilled and appreciate that our mom is getting the best possible care for her remaining years. I want to spread the word about Sombrillo:

To us it is a miracle!

Ken Ross

New York, NY


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Toy time

We were in Denver a couple weekends ago, staying with my sister. While we were there Will got attached to one of my nephew’s toys. It was a big softish plastic dinosaur and he was in love with it. My sister mentioned that they were only $10 at Toys-R-Us, so we decided a trip to the toy store was in order. Of course, Will fell in love with the $20, twice-the-size version. And sometimes he’s too cute to resist, so that’s what he got.

Yep, that’s Will with a dinosaur that’s almost as big as he is. His crib is a crowded place these days.

4 thoughts on “Toy time

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The Palisades West – 1288 Alberni Street, Vancouver BC V6E 4N

The Palisades West – 1288 Alberni Street, Vancouver BC V6E 4N5

– Situated at Coal Harbour
– 2 Bedrooms (Master Bedroom 10′ x 10′, 2nd bedroom 9′ x 9′)
– 2 Bathrooms
– 1 Ensuite storage area (8′ x 5′ )
– 909 sqft + 2 enclosed balcony
– Fantastic view of English Bay
– North Exposure
– 2 parking spaces
– 1 storage unit
– Unfurnished
– Hardwood living area + bedroom floors (zero carpet)
– Pet-friendy. (Prefer Medium to small pets)

– 24 hour concierge
– Fitness gym
– Meeting rooms
– Library
– Outdoor Garden
– Bike Locker
– Visitor Parking

Minimum 12-Months Lease
Half Month’s Rent Security Deposit
Tenant’s Insurance
Half Month Pet Deposit if you have pet
Credit check will be performed

Location! Location! Location!
The Palisades, luxuriously designed by famous architect James Cheng, centrally located, next to Robson St. One of the best residence in downtown. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, in-suite storage, 2 enclosed balconies, 2 parking stalls & one locker. This 21st floor unit has fantastic view of English Bay. Steps to numerous shops, restaurants, Stanley Park, cafes, groceries, and transportation. 24 hour concierge, gym, meeting rooms & library. Other features include grand high ceiling lobby with fish pond and a relaxing Japanese garden with water falls.

Please send an email to if you would like to see the unit quoting “PALISADES 2BED”

Unit leased & managed professionally by Patty Ho @ EasyRent Real Estate Services Ltd.

Patty Ho
Vancouver Property Manager
EasyRent Services Ltd.
#100 – 1290 Homer Street Vancouver, BC, V6B 2Y5 Canada

Property Details

  • Beds: 2
  • Baths: 2

    Video Tour


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Feel free to get in touch if you are looking for a Quantity Surveyor or Project Manager, or have any questions.

Varsity’s HQ is in St Ives Cambridgeshire, with satellite offices in Cambridge, London, and Peterborough.

ST IVES Cambs (HQ) 01480 583 026 Unit 3, Bramley Road, St Ives, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE27 3WS

CAMBRIDGE 01223 298 000 Future Business Centre, Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge, CB4 2HY

LONDON 020 3983 3080 150 Minories, Tower, London, EC3N 1LS

PETERBOROUGH 01733 609 360 Future Business Centre, Peterborough, PE2 8AN


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Wedding Cars

Kamini Santorini Villas

Newly Exclusive Villas in Santorini
360˚view, property 10.000 m2

Special Car Rental Offer

for September & October
20€ per day for one week

Quads, Atvs, Buggies

Ride and get the feeling of freedom

Santorini Transfers

From Santorini airport/port to Oia
VIP Services, Luxury Cars


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Evidence-Based Nutrient Recommendations

Please Support Vegan Health!

Vegan Health needs your support!

We’re funded by Vegan Outreach whose mission is to spare animals from suffering by spreading a vegan ethic. At Vegan Outreach, we believe in providing the vegan community with evidence-based information and recommendations.

Vegan Outreach’s flagship program is to help people transition to a vegan lifestyle through our 10 Weeks to Vegan and Get Healthy programs, which we’re now actively promoting in Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and Vietnam.

Over 250,000 people signed up for these programs in 2020. In 2021, we hope to expand to many more countries and with your support, we will!

Please click here to donate.

Thank you!

Jack Norris, Registered Dietitian
Executive Director, Vegan Outreach

P.S. I’ve been working diligently on an article about the EPIC-Oxford bone fracture study that was released a month ago. It opened up a lot of lines of research which I want to exhaust before publishing Vegan Health’s commentary and any recommendations.

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Before you comment, please read:

  • If you have a question about whether it's okay to cut supplements in half or combine supplements to achieve the dose we recommend, the answer is “Yes.” Be aware that nutrient recommendations are only estimates—it's not necessary to consume the exact amount we recommend every single day.
  • We aren't able to respond to questions about which brands of supplements to take.
  • We cannot provide personal nutrition advice for specific health conditions. If you need private counseling, here's a list of plant-based dietitians and we especially recommend VeganHealth contributor Taylor Wolfram, MS, RDN, LDN.
  • We urge you to consult with a qualified health professional for answers to your personal questions.


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The 10 Best Vegetarian Restaurants In Madrid

The vegetarian restaurants in Madrid may surprise you. They have a compelling way of transforming traditional Spanish cuisine into a culinary experience.

best vegetarian restaurants in Madrid

Spain is known around the world for its unique cuisine and Madrid culinary culture exists in the heart of it. Spanish cooks use their imagination and creativity to create new spins on traditional dishes. Because of this, vegetarian restaurants in Madrid are booming. If you’re looking for animal-free food while you’re exploring Spain’s capital, here’s where to look.

1. Copenhagen

Address: Jose Ortega y Gosset 73
Hours: 1:30pm-12am Daily
Phone: +34 911 28 18 00

vegetarian restaurants in Madrid

Copenhagen is a modern restaurant influenced by Scandinavian elegance and interior design. From the decor to the food, everything there is modern, simple and sophisticated. Copenhagen is changing the stereotype of vegetarian food and surprises with every dish. Eating in Copenhagen makes for an excellent dining experience.

2. Viva Burger

Address: Costanilla de San Andrés, 16
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am to Midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-2am
Phone: +34 913 66 33 49

best vegetarian restaurants in Madrid

As the name indicates, Viva Burger is a great place for vegetarian burger lovers to get their fix. With unique creations and colorful presentation, it is a new favorite among the city’s vegetarian restaurants.

3. Artemisa

Address: Calle Ventura de la Vega, 4
Hours: 1:30pm- 4pm and 9pm-12am Daily
Phone: +34 914 295 092

Artemisa is the first restaurant that comes to mind of the locals if you ask them about a vegetarian place. It offers home cooking and rustic design, bringing large crowds every day. It’s so well respected that you may just see a celebrity or two the next time you’re in. Everything here is delicious, from the traditional dishes to the quirky creations to the superb desserts.

4. La Encomienda

Address: Calle Encomienda, 19
Hours: Tue-Fri 1pm-12:30am, Sat 11am-1am, Sun 11am-5pm
Phone: +34 910 291 300

Madrid vegetarian restaurants

La Encomienda is a vegan, ecological bar-restaurant that offers a few unique culinary inventions that are worth trying. It is a modern place with an alternative touch, perfect for a pleasant, relaxed lunch or dinner. On Saturdays and Sundays it is a place to eat tasty brunch. Try the carrot sparkling wine, beetroot hummus, or one of the many vegan tapas.

5. Level Veggie Bistro

Address: Av. de Menendez Pelayo,51
Hours: Wed-Fri 1pm-4pm and 8pm-11pm, Sun 1pm-4pm
Phone: +34 911 275 752

vegetarian restaurants in Madrid

Food and art blend together at this beautiful restaurant. The delicious food is even placed artfully on the plates. The interior is charming and suits the elegance of the food. Despite the polished experience, Level Bistro feels like home. On a warm evening, enjoy your food on the terrace overlooking the vibrant park of Retiro.

6. El Estragon Vegetariano

Address: Plaza de la Paja, 10
Hours: 11:30am-12:30am Daily
Phone: +34 913 658 982

Madrid vegetarian restaurants

Photo source:

El Estragon is an old tavern converted into a vegetarian restaurant. The menu is created to surprise non-vegetarians with rich flavors and textures, despite the non-use of animal products, so bring your non-vegetarian friends and family here.

7. Yerbabuena

Address: Calle de Bordadores, 3
Hours: Mon-Sat 1pm- 4:30pm and 8pm-12am, Sun 1pm-4:30pm
Phone: +34 915 994 805

Yerbabuena is a place to try original vegetarian creations that will satisfy even the most demanding customers. The place is mostly loved for the inviting atmosphere, excellent service, and tasty and colorful food.

8. Pura Vida

Address: Calle Lopez Silva, 4
Hours: Thu-Sun 1pm-11:30pm, Mon-Wed 6pm-11:30pm
Phone: +34 910 827 328

vegan restaurants in Madrid

All of the food in Pura Vida is made from scratch in their kitchen using the freshest organic ingredients. It’s a place to relax in the vibrant center of Madrid and a perfect meeting point for a cocktail with friends.

9. Rayen Vegano

Address: Calle Lope de Vega, 7
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 1pm- 4:30pm
Friday 1pm- 4:30pm and 9pm- 11:30pm
Saturday 11am- 4:30pm and 9pm- 11:30pm
Sunday 11am- 4pm
Phone: +34 675 382 072

The cooks in Rayen use only organic ingredients. The food served there is not only healthy but also beautiful. New creative dishes are introduced from time to time so for regular customers, there is always something surprising.

10. Reineta Vegetariano

Address: Calle del Infante, 5
Hours: Tue-Sat 1:30pm-4pm and 9pm-11:30pm, Sun 1:30pm-4pm
Phone: +34 914 201 832

best vegetarian restaurants in Madrid

Photo source:

Affordable and delicious – that’s the main goal of the chefs at Reineta. And they succeed. The food and the staff are compelling, the location is comfortable, and the experience is delightful. Every moment is designed to make you feel at home, despite being in the presence of master vegetarian chefs.

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Anna is a psychotherapist with a passion to travel. Anna discovers the world through food. She is a founder of a travel blog where she shares her stories and discoveries.

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Sergio Ramazzotti October 22, 2010

Posted by Geoffrey Hiller in Nigeria.

Ego, a rural village near Benin City, Nigeria 2009

Sergio Ramazzotti (b.1965 , Italy) he has written and photographed more than two hundred stories in as many countries for most of the leading Italian and international magazines. As a writer and novelist, he published Vado verso il capo (Feltrinelli 1996), currently used as a textbook at the IULM University in Milano, where he is a regular lecturer at the Faculty of Sociology. His other books include: Afrozapping, a collection of African stories (2006), the novel Tre ore all’alba , set in Iraq (2005). His book on Afghanistan titled Afghanistan 2.0 was just published. In 2005 he won the Enzo Baldoni Prize for Journalism of the Province of Milano, and the International Photography Award (Los Angeles) in the “Editorial” category. He is one of the founders of the photojournalism agency Parallelo zero.

About the Photograph:

“This photograph is from a feature I shot in Nigeria titled ‘Stories of ordinary slavery’. Every year, at least 50,000 girls travel from Nigeria (mostly from Benin City, one of the country’s poorest cities) to Europe. A trafficker, with the help of a voodoo, or juju, priest, who makes them swear an oath of allegiance and convinces them that a decent job awaits them in the promised land. The journey is often nightmarish, trying to reach the coast of Italy or Spain on a precarious rubber boat. Many of the girls die of fatigue or drown at sea before reaching their destination. Those who make it, soon realize that the promised job does not exist: after their papers are seized by the traffickers, they are sent on the street as prostitutes. Sometimes, one of them manages to escape her captors and, back in Nigeria, to find the courage to denounce the people who trafficked her. This is the situation in the photograph: the girl on the left, barely 20 years old, is confronting the woman who sold her to the traffickers, after the police has taken both of them to the juju shrine, where the oath has been revoked.”

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Gears 5 (Xbox One), V Games For U,

Gears 5 (Xbox One)

  • Description

    Gears is one of the most critically acclaimed and celebrated franchises in gaming history. The latest installment of the series has been hailed as the best-looking game of its generation. The large combat areas not only make for epic battles but also give you many great opportunities to take perfect screenshots of your character in action.

    Outside the stunning graphics, cinematic cutscenes, and gritty writing, the gameplay in Gears 5 gives the player a lot of fun. The game designers deliver their signature brutal action across five exciting game modes:

    • Campaign Mode: With the escalation of the war, Kait Diaz breaks away to uncover her enemy connections and discovers the true threats to Sera herself.
    • Escape Mode: In this brand-new co-op mode, you play as a member of a small suicide squad that needs to penetrate the enemy hive and destroy it from the inside.
    • Versus Mode: In Vs. mode, you try to take your team to victory in more than 10 different game types through new and classic environments.
    • Horde Mode: This mode challenges you to endure more than four dozen waves of enemies while updating your abilities, weaponry, and powers.
    • Map Builder Mode: The fifth mode allows you to create fully-customized escape scenarios and share it with your fellow players.

    The game allows you to create a fully customized gaming experience by giving you more access than ever. Some of the new accessibility features include: full remapping options, moving your character with a single stick, adaptive controller support, narrated menus, more subtitle option, and many, many more. Get Gears 5 today and try the options out for yourself.


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Great Resources For Going Vegan

As some of you may know from my Why Veganism Is For Me post, I finally went vegan on April 6, 2018! For a couple of years before that, I had been about 70% vegan, but I finally made the switch to being 100% vegan. Before I finally decided to make a change, I decided to do some research. I found a lot of different resources that really inspired me and pushed me to turn my vegetarian lifestyle into an ethical vegan lifestyle. Today I thought I would share some different kinds of resources for going vegan. There are so many great resources available that provide lots of education, information, and facts about how going vegan can not only save animals, but also help the environment and have a positive impact on our own health.

Websites that promote veganism are a good place to start. It’s definitely where I started. They provide so much information about being vegan and the reasons for being vegan. There are so many websites that I spent good time looking through to really educate myself on how being vegan (in all aspects of life) is the best thing anyone can do for themselves, for the environment, and for animals. These are some of my favourite websites that provide a great deal of information, facts, recipes, resources, and more.

One Green Planet
Vegan Outreach
The Vegan Society
Mercy For Animals
Farm Animal Rights Movement
Compassion Over Killing
Animal Equality
Happy Cow
21-Day Vegan Kickstart
Vegan Starter Kit
The Save Movement
Challenge 22

There are so many amazing vegan blogs on the Internet! I honestly can’t even begin to list them all. There are vegan lifestyle blogs, vegan food blogs, vegan activism blogs, and so much more. Vegan blogs are great because you get to read about someone who follows a vegan diet, and who’s living a vegan lifestyle, and how it is for them. One search for “vegan blogs” on Google will bring up a ton of different vegan blogs. They’re all unique, valuable, and helpful in their own way.

There are also a lot of YouTubers and Vloggers who share a lot of information about being vegan. YouTube is a great resource for just about anything, but it’s an excellent resource to connect the vegan community. It nice to be able to watch videos of like-minded people who share your same values. We all live different lives and have different lifestyles, but YouTube is great at connecting with those we really relate to. There are so many vegan YouTubers who like to share their lives, experiences, recipes, beauty tips, and more all related to being vegan. A few of my favourite vegan YouTubers are:

Earthling Ed (vegan activism)
Tashina Combs (cruelty-free vegan beauty)
Rhian HY (ethical vegan beauty & lifestyle)

There are so many vegan Youtubers — from all walks of life! Check out some of these!

I love documentaries! I find them so inspirational and educational. What I really love about them is that they expose things that we wouldn’t normally see — like factory farms and the constant abuse and suffering that animals raised on these farms face every day. Without the people who go undercover and speak out against factory farming, very few people would know what actually happens. There are numerous vegan documentaries that expose not only the animal abuse on factory farms, but also the living conditions of the animals and the consequential health effects of eating meat, drinking dairy, and consuming eggs. These are some of the best vegan documentaries, in my opinion, that show the truth and provide so much information. I will say, however, that some of these are pretty graphic, but it’s important to know why being vegan is the best thing for animals and our own health.

What The Health
Forks Over Knives
Live and Let Live
Peaceable Kingdom
Speciesism: The Movie
Food, Inc.
Vegan: Everyday Stories
The Ghosts In Our Machine

I haven’t personally purchased or read any vegan books since becoming vegan, but I know that there are many really great ones available — in bookstores, in libraries, online, etc. Books can be a great resource because they tend to provide a lot more information in more detail. As far as cookbooks go, there are all kinds of vegan ones available that feature vegan recipes ranging from basic to gourmet. I prefer more simple dishes, myself, so I don’t really use any vegan cookbooks, but they can definitely be super helpful for anybody who likes following specific recipes. It all depends what you’re looking for! Some popular vegan books are:

Forks Over Knives The Cookbook: Over 300 Recipes for Plant-Based Eating All Through The Year by: Del Sroufe

Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking: 101 Entirely Plant-Based, Mostly Gluten-Free, Easy and Delicious Recipes by: Dana Shultz

The Oh She Glows Cookbook: Vegan Recipes To Glow From The Inside Out by: Angela Liddon

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism by: Melanie Joy, PhD

Mercy For Animals: One Man’s Quest to Inspire Compassion and Improve the Lives of Farm Animals by: Nathan Runkle

Main Street Vegan: Everything You Need to Know to Eat Healthfully and Live Compassionately in the Real World by: Victoria & Adair Moran

A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion by: Matthieu Ricard

I really hope this blog post is somewhat helpful to those of you who may be contemplating going vegan. Veganism is still relatively new to me, but having a lot of resources at my disposal and being able to connect with other vegans is so helpful and inspiring. Consuming anything from an animal is just not worth it because of all the negative effects on animals, the planet, and our own health. Animals are worth far more than our taste buds and we don’t need to be using products that contribute to animal suffering. Animals are sentient beings who deserve nothing but happiness, love, and freedom. They don’t deserve to be used, abused, and murdered — and we have no right to do that to them.

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Raeven and Daniel definitely brought the party on their wedding day! This wild wedding party was taking shots and selfies all day long and hyping up the bride and groom for their big day! From the girls popping champagne in the morning and the guys sharing a nice scotch all the way to the crowded […]

Crazy Yet Classy Wedding at Loft Lucia – Raeven & Daniel

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AHHH! It’s almost your wedding day! With so many moving parts and preparation before your big day, it’s a good idea to get some things done ahead of time. Here is a list of some things to do in the week before your wedding so your day is as stress-free as possible!  For the “getting […]

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There are so many different people involved in your wedding day that you may forget to even think about who to tip, how much, and when to do it! For some vendors it’s expected and others are optional, so I’ve come up with a list of who you should tip and some rough guidelines on […]

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She remained professional while also turning into a friend for my husband and I. We dealt with the unfortunate circumstance of having to postpone our original May wedding due to COVID, and Victoria was constantly reassuring, made sure we knew she was there for us to help navigate less than an ideal situation. Flash-forward to our August 16th wedding - it was absolutely perfect. She was a constant BLESSING the entire wedding day. We are forever grateful!"

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I know planning your dream wedding can be stressful, heres the thing though, you don't have to do this alone!! I got you! I will be your Chicago wedding guide helping you navigate the not so fun parts of planning your best day ever! I believe you should have FUN on your wedding day! I know, crazy right? Let me prove it to you!

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Primitive Photo Series – Winnipeg

Photos from the series “Primitives”, taken in various locations in downtown Winnipeg, MB, Canada on August 11th, 2014. This is an experimental series and I’m still working out if this will be presented in a gallery as just the final photos, stand alone sculptures or a mixture of both. I’ve posted almost all the cleaned-up images here so I can reflect on the next steps – maybe continuing the series here in SF.


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Pharmacist: A Primary Healthcare Provider.

(World Pharmacist Day 25th September 2020) Primary healthcare can be described as a patient’s first contact point in the health care system. As such, pharmacists are an important part of primary health care because they are the most easily accessible in the community. the position of the pharmacist extends beyond the traditional product-oriented role ofContinue reading “Pharmacist: A Primary Healthcare Provider.”

Prescription Drugs Misuses

Globally, prescription drug diversion and misuse is a growing public health issue and its impact is associated with a high risk of poor healthcare outcomes, increased hospitalization and higher death rates. Misuse of prescription drugs means taking a medication in a manner or dose other than prescribed; taking someone else’s prescription, even if for aContinue reading “Prescription Drugs Misuses”

Introduction Thanks to the evolution of medicine and the advancement in pharmacotherapy, a lot of diseases has become a history, while those still lingering around, their severity and situated risk have been greatly reduced, but as the saying goes; “Every rose has a thorn,” so do the Pharmaceutical drugs. A drug is a blessing to humanity,Continue reading “Ecopharmacovigilance”

World Hepatitis Day 2020

World Hepatitis Day is commemorated on 28th July Every year to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, a liver inflammatory disease that causes a series of health problems, including liver cancer.  This year’s theme is “Hepatitis-free future.” It is therefore, more essential to know the nature, prevention and treatment of these viral diseases.  Viral hepatitis remainsContinue reading “World Hepatitis Day 2020”

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The basic component of Pharmacovigilance processes is summarized below. Data generation; Data generation is the first stage in pharmacovigilance in which data is sourced from spontaneous reporting or mandatory reporting 1-Spontaneous reporting.  The most common form of adverse drug reaction reporting. Healthcare professionals identify and report any suspected adverse drug reaction to their national pharmacovigilanceContinue reading “The pharmacovigilance processes”

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Pharmacovigilance (PV), also known as drug safety, is the pharmacological science that is related to the detection, collections, assessment, monitoring, and prevention of adverse drug effects with pharmaceutical products or any drug-related problem. The word “pharmacovigilance” is derived from two Greek words; Pharmakon (for drug) and Vigilare (to keep watch). As such, pharmacovigilance heavily focusesContinue reading “Pharmacovigilance and its significance in healthcare.”

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Theme for the 2020 International day for drug abuse…

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On a sustainable path

By Anitha PailooronAug. 02, 2016in Environment and Ecology
Constructive work: The desilted pond in Kattanbhavi village.
Constructive work: The desilted pond in Kattanbhavi village.

Community efforts led by Shivaji Kagnekar have transformed the lives and landscapes in many villages of Belagavi district, writes Anitha Pailoor

Smoke-free kitchens, productive farmlands, abundant natural resources and active participation of people in local administration — these are some of the features that make over a dozen villages in Belagavi district stand apart. Life has changed for the better in these villages that are located on the fringes of forests in Khanapur, Belagavi and Hukkeri taluks of Belagavi district. Take Kattanbhavi in Belagavi taluk, for instance. The verdant landscape and confident people do not remind one of the tough times the village had to undergo just three decades ago.

“We are equipped with knowledge, know our drawbacks and believe in our strengths. As a community, we want to improve the village life in all possible ways,” say farmers of Kattanbhavi, pointing at the village water body that brims with water. The pond, desilted through voluntary work (shramadana), stands as a fine example of community effort. The concept of enhancing rural livelihoods through active participation of people was introduced in this region by Shivaji Kagnekar, 67, a social reformer, who has successfully explored the possibilities of sustainable rural development.

Creating awareness

It all started in the early 1970s when Shivaji, a BSc student, quit formal education to work at the grassroots level with the avowed objective of empowering people. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, Shivaji made it a point to become a part of the village, where he was working, and consider it his home. In those days, these villages were ridden with poverty, illiteracy and other socio-economical problems. Only a few people owned land and others worked as labourers. The farming methods aimed at only short term gains. Overdependence on forest produce had led to the decline of forest. Deforestation had affected the availability of water and quality of soil in the villages. Shivaji moved from village to village, creating awareness about the importance of proper management of natural resources.

While he led from the front, he ensured that people take the ownership of activities. The initiatives are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s words, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” The turn of events made villagers realise that if they want to improve their living conditions and work towards it, nothing can stop them. Shivaji became a link between the outside world, specifically government and the villages, and made sure that they get the best opportunities to become self-reliant.

When Shivaji visited Kattanbhavi in the 1970s, he was moved by the plight of people there. The entire village was reeling under poverty, which was augmented by water scarcity and unemployment. In summer, people were forced to ration drinking water. The agricultural activities suffered, people were debt-ridden and there were instances of bonded labour also.

While people became dependent on the forest for firewood and other needs,  cattle was let free in the forest. All these factors led to the decline of natural resources. The village reminded him of the famous Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra. Shivaji along with other like-minded people and villagers visited Ralegan Siddhi and understood the basics of watershed management and sustainable agriculture. He incorporated those aspects in Kattanbhavi and made it a point to involve people in all stages, right from planning to implementation.

As a part of water and soil conservation efforts, the team planted saplings in government and private lands. Awareness about the significance of each activity motivated them to be a part of the programme. Indigenous water harvesting structures like contour trenches that suited the landscape were made. A local committee was formed to safeguard the saplings.

Jana Jagran, a Belagavi-based non-profit organisation, supported these activities. Gradually, the results of the efforts became evident in the village and its environs. Water sources got recharged, farming gained momentum and dairy became a major source of livelihood.

As every household started rearing cattle, Shivaji took proper training and started installing gobar gas plants. To make the process more effective and sustainable, he also trained local youth. Gobar gas plants improved health condition of women, saved time and energy for people, and helped protect trees. He was the first person in the region to link human waste to the gobar gas plant. Though he faced initial resistance while implementing the idea, gradually he was able to convince the people.

A steady income led to the formation of self-help groups and people were introduced to microfinance and income-generation activities. Literacy campaign is another important effort that involved both students and elders. While schooling was made compulsory for kids, elders attended night school. Though many villages had school buildings, teachers never used to turn up. Shivaji motivated villagers to fight for the cause and ensured that schools became active. After Kattanbhavi, he worked in other villages like Ningenatti and Bambaraga.

Apart from the ones where Shivaji directly got involved, many more villages have followed the model and improved their lives and landscapes. The uniqueness of the effort is that in none of the villages, Shivaji became indispensable and villagers have successfully continued the effort even in his absence.

Catalyst for change

“Unlike other efforts, Shivaji offered solutions that could benefit both the individuals and society. While he stressed on environment protection, he also gave importance to improving the livelihoods of people. He was a catalyst for change,” says Sharada Dabade, a social activist, who has seen his work for the past two decades. During his journey, Shivaji has associated with different organisations both government and non-government, but people identify him as an individual crusader.

The statistics mentioned here indicate enormity of the work undertaken with his guidance — plantation of over three lakh saplings with a survival rate of 80%; gobar gas connection to about one lakh households; motivating people in about 26 villages to engage in voluntary service and take up sustainable farming practices; reaching to over 10,000 people through literacy campaign.

Since 2006, Shivaji, along with political activist Dileep Kamath, has been striving to ensure proper implementation of works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), which he feels provides an appropriate opportunity for rural development. The team has been able to involve more women in the programme and thus prevent their migration from the village. He has also been creating awareness about the provisions of different acts that will be of use to villagers, particularly women.

Clad in khadi half pants and shirt, Shivaji sees the realisation of Gandhian ideals in the motivated people of these villages.

First published by Deccan Herald

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Seed festivals put spotlight on conservation of indigenous seeds

By Rakhi GhoshonMar. 13, 2020in Food and Water

As we commemorate International Women’s Week, in remote villages of Odisha, women farmers, traditional custodians of seeds, are conserving indigenous seeds, reviving soil health and nutritional biodiversity

Women who had conserved and preserved indigenous seed varieties brought the same to the festival that encouraged them to revive agricultural biodiversity (Photo by Rakhi Ghosh)

On an early morning in December, farmers, especially women farmers, moved in a rally, singing and dancing. They were on their way to Gambharikhola, a small remote village in Odisha’s Nayagarh district, passing through hills and lush green forests.

Women farmers from 18 villages gathered in Gambharikhola to participate in the first ever indigenous seeds festival in Nayagarh district. Each woman farmer carried indigenous seeds in a small decorated earthen pot, placing it on her head, which showed their respect towards seeds, farming and farmland.

It was a different experience for visitors from cities, to witness such kind of a festival where more than 200 varieties of paddy, pulses, millets, sorghum, maize and vegetable seeds were displayed at the indigenous seeds festival in a village surrounded by forests.

The seed festival drove home the importance of indigenous seeds among farmers, the benefits of local varieties and the need to conserve the same to revive agricultural biodiversity.

Seed festival

The indigenous seeds festival had been organized by Nirman, a non-governmental organization working in the field of agriculture and organic farming in Odisha. The festival showed the possibility of a pesticides-free environment.

In 2012, Nirman organized Burlang seed festival in Kandhamal district, among the Kutia Kondh tribes, after the harvest of crops. The idea was to encourage tribal farmers to conserve indigenous seeds, and give the farmers an opportunity to celebrate the revival of biodiversity by displaying local seeds and farming practices.

The aim of Burlang festival was conservation of seeds, farming systems and on enhancing crop diversity, to improve food and nutrition security. There was also exchange of seeds, experience and knowledge on farming practices.

Indigenous seeds displayed at a seed festival that helped spread awareness among farmers on the importance of conserving local seeds (Photo by Rakhi Ghosh)

The intent of the indigenous seed festival in Nayagarh was also to spread the knowledge of seed conservation and promote women farmers conserving seeds. “Seed festivals give us an opportunity to display the indigenous seeds that we preserve and conserve,” said Pratima Jani of Raisora village in Nayagarh district.

Hybrid seeds

“Farmers used to pass on their knowledge of seeds and conservation to the next generation,” said Prasant Mohanty, executive director of Nirman. “Of late, farmers, even the marginalized ones, started depending upon hybrid seeds that have an adverse impact on their food habits, health, food security, income and climate.”

Farmers who own only 2 or 3 acres of land also prefer buying hybrid seeds from the market than using indigenous seeds. As the small and marginal farmers started depending upon hybrid seeds, they had to spend extra amount on fertilizers and pesticides.

“We learnt the technique from our forebears and have been preserving indigenous seeds for generations. But, as hybrid seeds are easily available in the market and there is a misconception that hybrid seeds give more yield than indigenous seeds, farmers are opting for hybrids,” said Pratima Jani.

Speaking to, Pratima Jani said that her husband agreed to sow indigenous seeds only in one acre of land out of the 3 acres of land that they own.

For better health

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its first ever report on the state of biodiversity has noted that loss of biodiversity in agriculture and excessive use of fertilizer for cultivation are the foremost reasons for malnutrition.

Local and endemic crops that have evolved over time are a rich source of nutrition. Rapid commercialization of agriculture has led to the cultivation of a few commercial crops at the expense of local crops, resulting in the virtual extinction of nutritional biodiversity.

Some data also indicate that diseases like cancer, skin diseases and lifestyle diseases may be caused by eating food loaded with pesticides. There is every chance that not only urban dwellers, but rural poor will also be affected by these diseases as use of pesticides and chemicals is increasing in remote villages.

Women farmers singing and dancing their way to seed festival, carrying an indigenous seeds that would improve the nutritional status (Photo by Rakhi Ghosh)

According to Siba Prasad Sahu, secretary of Ahimsha Club, who educates villagers in Bargarh district (with the highest number of cancer patients), high use of pesticides on hybrid seeds has spoiled soil health. “It’s high time we improved soil nutrients by using organic manure, and sowing indigenous seeds,” he said.

Choice of right seeds

Many farmers who attended the seed festival know the importance of indigenous seeds, but are reluctant to use them, as they feel that indigenous seeds are not resilient to climate change.

“There is a need to do characterization of seeds and segregate them based on their yield, climate resilience and pest resilience; this will encourage farmers to use indigenous seeds,” Bidhyadhar Maharana, climate change expert, told

He said, farmers need to follow certain processes before sowing indigenous seeds in their fields – these include segregation, proper storage and testing of seeds before sowing on their field. “Sometimes, due to fungus, farmers do not get the expected yield,” he said.

“If farmers choose the right variety of indigenous seeds even if the yield is less, they can sell it at a premium price. Because the price of organic food is higher than conventionally farmed food,” he said. He emphasized that there are specific indigenous seeds proven to give more yield than hybrid seeds.

Empowering women peasants

Kanchan Behera of Raisora village, who had brought a variety of seeds to the festival said, “I hope to get a different variety of seed (paddy) to sow in my one acre land.” She learnt conservation and preservation of seeds from her mother. After marriage she and her mother-in-law continue the practice.

A woman farmer who understands the importance of seed conservation participated in the indigenous seed festival (Photo by Rakhi Ghosh)

“In our 2 acres, we follow organic farming. The yield is enough to feed our four member family. We sell the surplus in the market,” said Behera. “If you use hybrid seeds you have to invest on fertilizers to increase productivity. So, women in remote villages need to preserve seeds for the next season’s cultivation.”

Earlier, in remote villages, women had the knowledge of conservation and storage of seeds and this empowered them at home as well as in the community. Of late, as their husbands started using hybrid seeds, most of the seed preservation knowledge was lost.

Way forward

According to Maharana, in remote villages, seed bank concept needs to be encouraged and women peasants should be taught conservation, preservation and storage of seeds. It would help in exchange of seeds, improve nutrients in soil and have a positive impact on agricultural biodiversity.

“When farmers sow hybrid seeds, government provides subsidy for water, electricity, tractor, fertilizer, weeder, fuel and pesticide. But there is no subsidy for sowing indigenous seeds,” Maharana told “To encourage the farmers, government needs to support them.”

“Ecological farming practices need to be strengthened and if farmers follow proper procedure in selecting indigenous seeds and practice organic farming, it will increase productivity and have a positive impact on soil health, biodiversity and human health,” said Mohanty.

First published by Village Square on 11 Mar. 2020

Read an older article on Seed Saving tradition in Odisha Experts Stressed Revival of Millet Farming in Odisha

Read a paper Community Self-Organisation from a Social-Ecological Perspective: ‘Burlang Yatra’ and Revival of Millets in Odisha (India) by Lopamudra Patnaik Saxena on Burlang Yatra or community seed festival.

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