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Tag Archives: homemade

I’m Baaaaack! And Now You Have a Dinner Idea…

I know, I know…it’s been nearly a year and I come back at you with a lame (but delish) recipe?! Please believe I have more in store, so calm the f down already!

Chicken Sausage Stuffed Portobellos

2 large portobello caps, cleaned and hollowed
2 greenwise hot italian chicken sausage links (I used Publix but I’m sure Al Fresco would work great too)
1/3 sweet onion, chopped
1 mini sweet orange pepper, chopped
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
1/4 block 1/3 fat cream cheese
Shredded parmesean cheese to taste
1 tbsp olive oil (or coconut oil)

Preheat oven to 375

In a medium skillet heat the oil to medium heat, add chicken and cook through. Add onions, pepper, pepper flakes, spinach, garlic salt and sauté until soft. Add cream cheese and let all the flavors blend for a moment. Take mixture off the heat and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Stuff the chicken mixture into the caps, top with desired amount of parm. Bake uncovered for 10-15 min.

Bam! Enjoy your healthy homemade dinner betches! I served it with left over green beans and a small portion of zesty sweet potato fries. Hubs approved :)

PS- have no fear, a comical baby mama drama story is near!

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Jalapeno Pineapple Mahi

Hola Betches! Here is a recipe I concocted yesterday and it turned out fab! Its a little heat and sweet and would probably do well with chicken or pork chops too. FUN FACT: whenever I type or write jalapeno I always say Ja-lap-en-oh in my head. Told you I’m a bit off haha!  Let me know what you think if you whip up a batch :)

Jalapeno Pineapple Mahi

Pretty, right!?

  • 2 4oz Mahi filets (I used frozen)
  • 1/2 can pineapple tidbits & juice
  • 2 tbsp diced canned jalapenos
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp salsa (I had Newman’s black bean & corn on hand)
  • Dash salt
  • 1/2 tsp flour
  • Cooking Spray
  • Mrs Dash Table Blend
  • 1/2 tbsp butter
 Combine the first 7 ingredients and place in refrigerator for 30 min. Heat skillet on medium Season filets with Mrs Dash. Melt butter in pan and add fish. Cook 4-7 min (depending on thickness of filets) on one side. Remove half cooked fish, spray pan with cooking spray and return fish to pan for another 4-7 min. Plate fish and top with sauce. Serve with your favorite veggie or side item (I used a birds eye steam fresh with asparagus, gold and white corn and baby carrots that I added garlic salt to).
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Half Milli Spaghetti: Hot Mess Express Cooks Dinner

Apologies for the lack of posts, but you know the deal. New goal for the remainder of 2012 is to blog once a week on SOMEthing. Be it food, my daily drama or whatever, I need to step my game up!

I have been pinning like a champ the last few days (My Pinterest) and decided to try out a recipe for Sunday fat dinner. Yes, that’s a real life thing here in our house on most Sundays. I actually decided to do a healthier twist on this popular pin Million Dollar Spaghetti via Being Grown Up so that I could down some vino in the process. OK and maybe the leftover cold stone! So here is my version of this fab dish!

  • 1lb 93/7 ground turkey
  • 1 jar of your fave spaghetti sauce
  • 1 cup cottage cheese (I did 4% because I can’t deal with small curd)
  • 1 package 1/3 fat cream cheese (8oz)
  • 1/4 cup fat free sour cream
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 10 oz whole wheat angel hair pasta
  • 1 tbsp italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • Red pepper flakes (to taste)
  • 1/2 bag reduced fat shredded italian 4 cheese blend

Preheat oven to 350. Boil noodles (apprx 6 min). While those bad boys are in the jacuzzi, mix the cottage cheese/sour cream/cream cheese/seasoning/garlic salt together. Slice up half the butter and scatter it in the baking dish. Cook and drain turkey, mix with sauce. Put half the cooked pasta on top of the butter and spread entire cheese mix over that. Layer the other half of noodles on top of the cheese mix & top with remaining slices of butter (1/4 stick). Spread sauce over the top and sprinkle on as much pepper flakes as you can deal with. Bake at 350 for 30 min, take out and top with shredded cheese, bake again for 10 min or until bubbly. CHOW DOWN!

I didn’t calculate this in myfitnasspal yet, but it has to be better (for you) than the original recipe. I served it with a salad topped with my variation of the Olive Garden dressing. And chardonnay, DUH. If you’re lucky I’ll post that this week too. LOL. No, I will tomorrow.

Boom! Dinner is served…now someone come get these leftovers!

Nighty night betches!

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Category Archives: Tolstoy

Meeting the Characters: Volume I, Part I, Sections I-XI

I really had no preconceived notions about the narrative of War and Peace before opening its pages. I didn’t know any of the plot points, I have never heard anyone really talk about the book before, and I certainly did not know any of the characters. This book might, in fact, be the closest thing to a tabula rasa that I have ever encountered; generally speaking, I have a pretty good idea what a book will be about before I decide to read it. Not so in this case.

The opening scene, which begins at a soirée held by the most gracious of hostesses, Ánna Pávlovna Schérer, captivated me for several reasons. The main topic of conversation centered on various international intrigues between France, Russia, Prussia and Austria. I enjoyed this scene both because it illustrated how news was spread during times when newspapers and other media were limited, and because I studied international relations and history. Napoleon’s execution of Louis-Antoine, duc D’Enghien, and the scandal that followed led into a debate about Napoleon’s moral character—monster or hero. Since the person recounting the duc’s assassination was an émigré vicomte, a French nobleman who had fled his patrie to avoid persecution by the revolutionaries, his perspective was distinctly negative; others in the group, notably Prince André and Pierre, argued that as Emperor, Napoleon showed the steadfast character to make a final decisions and then did not shirk from taking full responsibility for its outcome, no matter what.

A secondary conversation dealt with the idea of perpetual peace and the European balance of power. The abbé Morio, an Italian guest and specialist on the topic, had this to say about saving Europe from France: “The means are European balance and the droit des gens (rights of nations)…Let a powerful state like Russia, famous for its barbarism, stand disinterestedly at the head of a union having as its purpose the balance of Europe—and it will save the world” (P&V, 14). Because the supporters of Bonaparte recognize in him the distilled, and possibly over-potent, essence of the Revolution, the abbé’s and the vicomte’s positions should be understood as counter-revolutionary. The abbé seems to believe that Russia could become a disinterested yet “barbaric” savior for all of Europe, and his aristocratic Russian audience approves. The cognitive dissonance in this statement clearly reveals that the ideas of the French Revolution (liberty, equality, fraternity) have not yet taken hold in the salons of Petersburg, which is an irony in itself, since the dissemination of Enlightenment ideals spread through France using these same sorts of gatherings to increase support for republican government and democratic representation.

What the soirée scene provides the reader is a look at how proper “society” functions. Tolstoy even goes so far as to draw a direct comparison between industry and society.

QUOTE:  As the owner of a spinning mill, having put his workers in their places, strolls about the establishment, watching out for an idle spindle or the odd one squealing much too loudly, and hastens to go and slow it down or start it up at the proper speed—so Ánna Pávlovna strolled about her drawing room, going up to a circle that had fallen silent or was too talkative, and with one word or rearrangement set the conversation machine running evenly and properly again (P&V, 10).

This passage provides a picturesque overview of how the scene is playing, deepens the reader’s appreciation for Ánna Pávlovna’s savior faire, yet also hints at the personal machinations that go on behind the scenes at parties such as these. Favors and transactions, if not it wool and gingham, will be undertaken.

Two such occurrences take place on this opening evening. To explain these, it is first prudent to introduce some of the characters. Ánna Pávlovna is the hostess. She speaks first with Prince Vassíly, who has two sons, Ippolít and Anatole, and a daughter, the stunningly beautiful Eléna. His eldest son, Ippolít, is also at the soirée and has the reputation of a dullard, while the younger son, Anatole, characterized as being young and irresponsible, does not attend the party. Together, these four entail the clan Kurágin.

Ánna has told Vassíly that she will attempt to speak with Princess Líza, the “little princess,” wife to Prince André Bolkónsky about setting up Anatole with Princess Marie Bolkónsky, sister of André and confidante to Líza. If this pairing were to go off, then Ánna would be responsible for joining two of the three major families in the story—the Bolkónskys and the Kurágins. Vassíly, who claims, “My children are the bane of my existence. It’s the cross I have to bear, that’s how I explain it to myself,” (CG, 4-5) would be very grateful to Ánna for removing one of his most expensive burdens. We are left to wonder what reward might be in the offing for the unmarried, yet highly cultivated Mlle. Schérer.

Other characters that need introducing are Pierre and Princess Ánna Mikháilovna Drubetskóy. Pierre is the bastard son of the dying Count Bezúkhov. Princess Ánna is also connected to the Count because he is the Godfather to her son, Boris. Pierre is newly arrived to Petersburg from abroad where he recently concluded his studies. To my mind, Pierre is the most interesting character so far because he is connected to almost ever circle. His father is rich and famous. He is an unwelcomed guest in the home of Prince Vassíly due to his carousing with Anatole’s debaucherous gang of gamblers and womanizers. Pierre is welcomed in the Bolkónsky household like a member of the family, even being permitted to see a marital dispute between André and Líza. And, although socially awkward, he has also gained entrance to Ánna Pávlovna’s evening party. Given all these connections and his fearlessness when stating unpopular opinions, I find Pierre the most compelling character to this point.

Princess Ánna Mikháilovna beseeches Vassíly to secure an officer’s post in the Guards for her son, Boris. Princess Ánna is a widow. She has fallen from society yet still knows the proper strings to pull. The only reason she found her way to the soirée was to speak with Vassily and ask for his favor. Again, Tolstoy allows us to view how social grace is a currency in Russian society. “But influence in society is a capital that must be used sparingly, lest it disappear. Prince Vassíly knew that, and having once realized that if he were to solicit for everyone who solicited from him, it would soon become impossible for him to solicit for himself, he rarely used his influence” (P&V, 16). Luckily for Princess Ánna, Vassíly concedes, and when Boris joins the army, he will do so as a member of the Guards, not the Hussars.

This takes us to the end of section IV. In section’s V and VI, we get a closer look at the troubled marriage between the little princess, Líza, and Prince André. After the soirée, Pierre returns with them for dinner. Líza is upset that André has volunteered to enter the war because he has enough rank to avoid this responsibility, if he so chose. It is unclear whether this is out of selfishness or love. Líza is pregnant, and when her husband leaves, she will be spirited away to the country where she will no longer be able to enjoy evenings such as the one just passed. Neither she nor Pierre can understand his decision, but André’s reason is telling: “If everyone made war only according to his own convictions, there would be no war” (P&V, 25).  I think this line connects to the previous conversation about perpetual peace. While the abbé looks for rear-guard protection from the dangers of political progressivity as a way to balance power and therefore secure peace, André’s cynicism belies the truth. He is going to war because he has nothing else to do and he is unhappy at home. As long as people are bored and easily influenced to support them, war campaigns will always find fuel, he seems to be saying. The discussion ends in tears, and the Princess accuses André of having “changed.” Later, he admits to Pierre that marriage was a mistake:

QUOTE:  Never, never marry, my friend. Here’s my advice to you: don’t marry until you can tell yourself that you’ve done all you could, and until you’ve stopped loving the woman you’ve chosen, until you see clearly, otherwise you’ll be cruelly and irremediably mistaken. Marry when you are old, and good for nothing…Otherwise all that’s good and lofty in you will be lost. It will all go on trifles….If you expect something from yourself in the future, then at every step you’ll feel that it’s all over for you, it’s closed, except the drawing room, where you’ll stand on the same level as a court flunkey and an idiot (P&V, 28).

If you are keeping track, that is one character referring to his children as the bane of his existence and another wholeheartedly disparaging the institution of marriage. The family is no sanctuary for Tolstoy.

Sections VII-XI introduce us to the third major family in the work—The Rostovs. It is the name day for Countess Natálya and her young daughter Natasha, and the family is receiving visitors wishing them well. The Rostov’s live in Moscow, and Princess Ánna is a close friend of Countess Natálya, so she acts as the narrative glue that binds this family to others—at least to this point. Count Ilyá, or Élie, is a much more gregarious character than the other men we have met to this point. He is welcoming to all his house guests and invites every guest to dine with his family. He has a house full of children including Countess Véra, the oldest daughter, Nikolai, the oldest son, Natasha, the younger daughter, Pyótr, the younger son, and  Sónya, the orphaned cousin who stays with the Rostovs. Boris, the son of Princess Ánna, is good friends with Nikolai, and he is also in this scene.

What we learn from these sections is that there are crushes galore among the younger set. Nikolai held the attention of a young lady guest for a heartbeat too long, and Sónya fled the room. He quickly followed to console and reassure her: “The whole world is no use to me! You alone are everything” (P&V, 44). Likewise, the twelve-year old Natasha, still holding a doll and running through the house with childish abandon, has somehow convinced Boris to commit to her once she turns sixteen. While at first I thought Boris may be insincere, when Véra comes to chide the young lovers, Boris defends his actions. It is unclear whether he does so to aggravate Véra, a character for whom Tolstoy has given us little reason to love, or because he is genuine in his devotion to young Natasha. Either way, following on the tails of André’s anti-marriage screed, these romantic dalliances take on a darker hue than one might expect.

With that, I will conclude the synopsis. We have been introduced to the three main clans: the Bolkónskys, the Rostóvs, and the Kurágins, and we have several plot lines taking place. First, Ánna Pávlovna’s attempt to marry off Anatole Kurágin to Marie Bolkónsky; second the marital turbulence between André and Líza Bolkónsky; and third, the effect of the war on young love. I will keep you updated.

When I cite P&V, that refers to the Pevear &Volokhonsky translation of 2007 and when I refer to CG it is Constance Garnett’s translation from 1904.

While you might think that reading the same book in two different translations is overkill, I promise you that in this case, there is much to be learned. First and foremost, the P&V version keeps the original French from the introductory pages, as is, and then footnotes the conversations. You have no idea how this changes the mood of every scene. For example, in the Constance Garnett version you get the line: “He spoke in that elaborately choice French, in which our forefathers not only spoke but thought, and with those slow, patronizing intonations peculiar to a man of importance who has grown old in court society” (CG, 1). This sounds nice, but if you had read the five previous paragraphs, there is no way you would have known that the whole conversation between Ánna Pávlovna and Prince Vassíly was held in French. On the other hand, the P&V translation plants you firmly in this bilingual world, and because of this, you get a better sense of the characters. In fact, I would argue that the artifice of speaking in French to a fellow Russian undergirds Tolstoy’s characterization of these aristocrats as being somewhat fraudulent.

Another problem I have with Garnett’s translation is that it reads too easily. What I mean to say is that she has paved over all of Tolstoy’s style in order to make the book flow in a way that I find boring and bland. Much has been made of Tolstoy’s repetition, but Garnett opts to find synonyms and thus short-circuits the stylistic bumpiness that the author intended. I feel like the P&V version holds closer to the real language, whether it is Russian or French, and while sometimes it is harder to discern exactly what is going on, I like that better because I enjoy working through the text. As for the Garnett version, I feel like I could be reading any author—there is nothing in the words that makes me feel that they are special. It reads as a bloodless replication.

Finally, the P&V translation offers historical endnotes and a list of characters that makes reading War & Peace much more rewarding. Clearly, I am on no strict timetable, so flipping back to endnotes or reading footnotes does not bother me. It actually gives me a second to pause and consider more closely what I am reading, while also convincing me that these are real people discussing real events. That Tolstoy has set fictional characters against a factual historical backdrop makes the story doubly compelling for me.

In Preparation

We had a welcome, yet completely unexpected, house-guest spend the past few days with us, so my proposed timeline is already a bit skewed. I have, however, collected some materials in order to ensure that I complete this little project to my own satisfaction.

One thing that bothers me about reading War and Peace is that I must do so in translation. Because I don’t know Russian, it is impossible for me to read the original. I lived in Germany for two years, and from this experience I learned that there are certain ideas and concepts that the English language just cannot or does not encompass. I know this is not an earth-shaking revelation, but for example, a word like Feierabend, or even better, Feierabendgetraenk (alternately, “closing time,” or “the beverage you enjoy to celebrate the end of a workday”) has no English correlate. It may seem mundane, but something as simple as this idea can bring a sense of closure to the day, and when shared with friends, this event, as enunciated with a single word, creates a different mood and mindset for the rest of the evening. Is it possible for an English translation of a foreign concept to provide that same je ne sais quoi?

As T.S. Eliot said, “It is easier to think in a foreign language than to feel in it….A thought expressed in a different language may be practically the same thought, but a feeling or emotion expressed in a different language is not the same feeling or emotion” (On Poetry and Poets, 1947). If this is true, and I am reading Tolstoy in English translation, then am I doomed to miss out on the “real” feelings and emotions that the text is trying to express? Will the translator’s mediation, in the form of word choice and sentence structure, bias my own reading? How far am I away from the Russian language of 1869? Am I even reading the same story that was originally written?

All of these questions force me to acknowledge the presence of Rumsfeldian “known unknowns.” I know for a fact that there will be ideas from Tolstoy’s novel that are completely lost in translation to me. I also know there will be verbal nuances that I will not grasp, inarticulable chiaroscuro that I will never be able to appreciate. Should these obstacles render me impotent in my attempt to read and enjoy Tolstoy? Should I take the relativistic stance that the Now is the only pertinent point in time, and that the I is the only relevant reader? I can’t answer these questions yet, I suppose I just have to get started and see what happens.

When I first began considering this blog, I owned a copy of War and Peace in one of those Barnes and Noble Library of Essential Writers editions that also has a copy of The Cossacks and Anna Karenina crammed between the covers. It is a nice book to have on the shelf, but for reasons of size, it is not something that I could carry around. Most importantly, it does not indicate who translated the text. Given this deficiency, I began my search for something else.

At the used bookstore, I found an abridged copy of W&P also published by Barnes and Noble, which named the translator as Alexandra Kropotkin–daughter of the famed anarchist Peter Kropotkin. I can assume then that my edition is also edited by Ms. Kropotkin; already owning that version, I elected to keep looking.

I found the the copy for which I was particularly searching, the one translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky, also on the shelf. This version has met with critical acclaim, and the translators seem to have made it their goal to update much of the Russian Literary Canon using their own words. Because of its newness (published in 2007, I believe), this book will provide me with something contemporary to compare with Constance Garnett’s classic Random House Modern Library translation (1904), which I also purchased for a song.

In the end, I now have three versions of W&P, and I can use each translation to get a feel not only for the text and the story, but each translator’s tendency and interpretation. My intention is not do a full-blown comparative analysis of the different translations, but if I find interesting trends within particular translations, it should certainly give me something juicy to share with You.

Now that I have tools at hand, I should be able to begin in earnest.

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Saturday, 20 December 2014

Christmas with the Skywalkers

One dark December night the whole family had gathered for the traditional holiday photo. This time it was going to be the whole family so Luke had brought his girlfriend and Leia had brought her boyfriend, who had also insisted in bringing his dog, or wookiee has he called it, with him. To be on the safe side they had also brought one of mother's bodyguards.

It started out really nice. All smiles and happiness. Then father might have made a comment about the problems trying to finance a new Death Star, since somebody had blown up the last one. The boys just stood there, smiling very innocently, while mother started to argue with father about the appropriate discussion subjects at family gatherings. As seen by Leia's face it wasn't the first time she had heard that discussion,

Father had also heard this before, and ebates had never been his favorite thing. At that time he started to realize that there might be positives with a body double in the household, something that Luke really didn't like. It was at this moment that Han and Leia started to wonder what had happened with the wookiee.

Luke felt that father started to go a bit far with mother's handmaiden, and draw his lightsabre, only to be thwarted when his girlfriend decided to defend the Empire's best commander. Mara on her side was suddenly attacked by the wookiee. When Han tried to say that nobody could expect him to look after Chewie, after all wookiees are intelligent and independent creatures, Leia got really angry. With tempers flaring it seemed only father was happy with the situation.

As told by Björn (Han), Anna (Leia), Janne (Chewie), Lora (handmaiden), Johanna (Amidala), Jenny (Mara Jade) and Tommi (Luke) from Nordic Base and Tommi (Vader) from Nordic Garrison.

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Book Review, Jeri Smith Ready, Young Adult

Book Review: Shade by Jeri Smith Ready

Like everyone born after The Shift, sixteen year-old Aura can see and talk to ghosts. She’s always found this mysterious ability pretty annoying, wishing only that she could reverse it and have some peace. But when her boyfriend, Logan, dies unexpectedly, Aura is forced to reconsider her connections to the dead…Devastated by Logan’s sudden death, Aura realises that her ability to see ghosts might actually be a blessing. Surely a violet-hued spirit Logan is better than no Logan at all? But just when Aura is coming to terms with having a ghost as a boyfriend, she starts developing feelings for her new friend Zachary, who is understanding, supportive and, most of all, alive. Each boy holds a piece of her heart – as well as vital cues to the secret of the Shift – and it’s time for Aura to choose between loving the living, or embracing the dead...(from Amazon)

I’ve been having a bit of a reading slump recently combined with a hectic schedule. Over the last couple of weeks whenever I found time to pick up a book I really struggled to get into it and abandoned a few after just a couple of pages. Then I picked up Shade by Jeri Smith Ready and by the end of the first page I knew my slump was over.

The world where ghosts walk and talk among the living but are seen by only those born after The Shift is fantastically created. At first I though it seemed kind of cool, but quickly you realise how horrible it actually would be. With the government forcing children to translate in criminal investigations and such, those under 16 are faced with reliving some horrific and traumatic events. Besides, how annoying would it be really to have endless disgruntled ghosts harping on at you? After ten minutes, Very. I thought Jeri Smith Ready got the atmosphere and feelings of her characters spot on and I was able to fully believe in the world she created.

I really liked Aura as a character too. She’s feisty yet incredibly compassionate. I was a little sceptical at first about the love twist between Aura, ghost boyfriend Logan and Scottish Zachary, thinking it may not come across as truly appropriate and real. Would I be able to accept another love interest while she was grieving and her dead boyfriend still hung around as a ghost. Well surprisingly yes, because the author ensures Aura is complex enough and struggles with both her grief and growing attraction in a believable and sympathetic way. As for the love interests, Zachary is amazing-I love him! I live just on the border of Scotland and thought Jeri Smith Ready got his ‘Scottishness’ spot on, down to his wry sense of humour. He was also a lot deeper than I expected and it seems he has an interesting part to play in future sequels. Logan on the other hand didn’t really grab me. He’s a rock star in the making before he dies and extremely self indulgent and spoilt.

The Shift itself remains a bit of a mystery and it’s not clear how it came about, but neither is it to the characters. Throughout the book Aura and Zach find out more about that strange night seventeen years ago and their own involvement in it and their investigations set the scene for a tremendous series ahead. One very very slight complaint I had was the ‘shading’ aspect of ghosts. When a ghost trapped in the real world can’t move on and becomes bitter and angry they Shade, becoming feared dark shadows, yet I didn’t fully get what was so fearful about them as they were quite vague. I’d have possibly liked more explanation and terror here to fully appreciate them. It’s a small niggle though and possibly something that’s followed in the following books.

Overall though Shade was an excellent read and the perfect book to bring me out of my slump. It’s fast paced, original, witty, racy (yes, there’s a particularly steamy scene or two) and sad all at once, with more than a couple of tear jerking scenes and a complete shocker of an ending. I didn’t see that one coming at all! The characters are complex, interesting and I felt I could really care for them. Shade is a fantastic start to an exciting new and fresh paranormal series. Highly recommended!

Published in the UK by Simon & Schuster Children’s Books 2nd September 2010

9 thoughts on “Book Review: Shade by Jeri Smith Ready”

  1. I don't know why I wasn't keen on reading this, but Scottish character? I am so reading this now. (Yes, I am that shallow XD).

    Anyway, awesome review. I love complex characters, especially the MC. =)

  2. I adore Shade and loved loved ZAchary. I was amazed at how well his Scottish accent came through on the written page.

    Great review and I am so glad the reading slump is over and the hectic schedule is easing up.

  3. This was an amazing book and I'm not surprised it took you out of your reading slump 🙂 I was a little wary at first of Zachary and the implications of the strange love triangle, but I was definitely won over by the end of the booK!

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About Me

My name is Matthew Haynes. I was born in North Wales to English parents with their roots in Cheshire and Lancashire. I was educated at Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan and Loughborough University where I eventually left with a BSc and PhD in Economics.

I worked in IT for about 17 years and then changed jobs to become a Communications Consultant – a job in which my interest and skills in writing come in very handy. I live with my partner (a.k.a. ‘Siggy’ for the purposes of this blog) in the East Midlands.

I’m passionate about films and science fiction, and have an eclectic music taste. I used to be a big gamer, but tend to ration myself these days. In my spare time I watch shed loads of films, read a lot of books and write all sorts of stuff.

I have written several books and there is a lot of information about them on this blog as well as my somewhat random musings on film, tv, music, games, books, writing, food, drink and life in general.

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Tales from the New Found Land

Ten strangers, ten charms, ten standing stones, all hold stories to be told –
A butcher and a hidden mage,
A harlequin jests upon a stage,
A banker and a sculpting thief,
A monk has knowledge beyond belief,
A keeper of light immortality,
A witch of fey personality,
A druid and a boy changeling,
A magpie searching for a ring,
Death with tombstones but no graves,
Dryadic pleasure addict slaves,
An errant knight with sword in hand,
These are The Tales of the New Found Land.

My influences

Amongst other things, like most sane men with oodles of free time, I enjoy listening to music, reading, playing computer games and watching films. This book has been influenced by all four activities, although the first activity has taken a back seat on this one. For that book, read The Music.

Tempting as it was to include some choice fan-boy ‘nods’ to my influences, I recently read a book full of such contemporary cultural references and found it detracted immensely from the suspension of disbelief and the enjoyment of the story. Instead I will list my influences here.

Authors which I feel happy to list as influential for this book, and that I have read in the past or purposely read to get a ‘feel’ for writing a fantasy book, are; Neil Gaiman, without whom I would not have dared to write chapter subtitles; Gene Wolfe who has been one of the most exciting discoveries of mine in recent years (investigated after seeing a quote on the back of a Gaiman graphic novel); China Mieville without whom Iron Island would never have happened; Bernard Cornwell for showing me how to ground a book in a chosen ‘reality’ (a strange concept for me I know); George R. R. Martin for his long narrow land; William Shakespeare for his dreams, the musk roses and the snakeskin skirts; Tolkien for everything he has written, and last but not least Terry Pratchett for his humour, inventiveness and witches.

Computer games are obviously a big influence on this story. Amongst many others, those most heavily influencing the structure of this chosen reality were the Assassin’s Creed series, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Oblivion and Skyrim.

Films were less influential as a conscious input into the creative process. However there are obvious links to Tron and The Matrix. While I did want to explore the concept of a person trapped inside a game I always wanted the main character to be a fully formed AI NPC and to be mostly oblivious of his nature. From television The X Files helped with the epilogue and Dr Who showed me how the concept of compressed time could take the place of a training montage, which doesn’t work in words, and explain how the boy becomes the man.

I have discovered after a little pondering on certain plot point choices that there are also parallels to Star Wars. This was not a conscious choice, but I guess to be expected as most of the time while I was writing I was wearing (amongst other things!) a Star Wars tee-shirt and/or Star Wars socks.

Returning to music momentarily, I do remember listening to Wolf Mother, Iron Maiden and Queen II and thinking that I wanted to write a book that when read would make me feel the same way as I did when listening to that music. I am not sure at all if this feeling has been conveyed into the text and whether in fact it can be.

Sequel / Prequel

This book is intended as a sequel to Muta and so a distant prequel to The Music. I tentatively envisage two more books bridging the gap between this one and The Music to make a series. I have made a vague promise to myself that the human Andel Zane has to be discovered in ‘the space in-between’.

The Magpie connection

Those few people who have read The Magpie Diaries will know that Rose and Magimus (aka Mr Magpie) are characters from that trilogy. The assumption is that the Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec in the future holds an electronic interactive copy of The Magpie Diaries. I would like to somehow blame Stephen King’s Dark Tower series for making me even consider such a silly ploy point.

Where to buy Tales

Tales from the New Found Land is available for 99p in Kindle format from Amazon or in paperback on Lulu.

The cover is something I did in Paint.NET using various images filters on a photograph of a tree I had taken in Bradgate Park. The pixelation effect is deliberate to visually reference a computer generated world.

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Bath Time Blues

I know you heard me complaining before about how Owen has been hating baths lately, well his tune has not changed and I think we may have to regress back to baths in the sink. We just dread giving him baths, and I don’t want him to be that kid at daycare, you know the stinky one :/. Our sink is a good size, and I think he can still fit in it. Maybe with it being a smaller area he might be ok with it.  Fingers crossed. It is just so weird to me that he loves playing with the water on the water table, but refuses to sit down in the tub or a baby pool.

We’ve been doing a lot of crib gymnastics/crawling very quietly out of his room this week. I call it crib gymnastics when Owen falls asleep while I am rocking him and I need to somehow lift him up and set him back down without waking him. He isn’t light so this can be challenging. Whatever it takes for him to sleep. I’ve noticed that he has been talking to himself a lot more in the mornings and before he falls asleep. Mind you, I can’t understand what he is saying but it’s kind of cute. He did learn how to say “no” last week and he has been making “buzz” and “moo” sounds. He isn’t sure what animals the sounds belong to, but I am sure he’ll understand soon.

Happy Belated Father’s Day to all the dads out there. We had a nice quiet Father’s Day at home and took another trip to the zoo.

Hanging out in his crib

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Fire Safety Course fees in Ghana

The table below provides more information on the fees for Fire Safety courses in Ghana.There are 1 courses available, the cheapest price is GHS 0.
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Course LocationDuration Fees

Online Fire Safety Training Chris Mee Safety Engineering CMSE

1 Hour GHS 72


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The Words of Rumi or How the Rose Inspires the Depth of Friendship

March 30, 2011

Rose of Eureka II, originally uploaded by creativeisthmus.

What was whispered to the rose
To break it open
Last night
Was whispered to my heart.

I ran across this quote by Rumi some time ago and I absolutely love the meaning, the essence of this phrase. Some sentiments to me are so potent, so true that they practically have a taste to them. These words to me taste like the sweetness of dawn and fresh dew glowing with the light of a new day like so many gems of stardust sprinkled across the earth. This quote speaks to me of hope, of love and of epiphany–the greatness of understanding that can come in the most unannounced of manners.

Today, I ran across this second quote from Rumi:

Stop learning.
Start knowing.
The rose opens
And opens
And when it falls
Falls outward.

This one struck me as well–what can I say? Rumi is renowned for a reason!–and I find here an encapsulated expression of truth for what an open heart can really mean for oneself and for the world. When the heart is open, compassion, love, friendship, joy, empathy and the full song of the human experience can pour forth into the world and into all we do. The petals of the rose may fall as the bud opens but the petals fall outward to touch all that we do in our lives.

How much more beautiful a sentiment can one find? How much more sincere and delicate a metaphor?

For nothing I have experienced is truly as sweet, true and delicate as the human heart in all it’s tossing, turning, caring beauty. I’m not talking Romeo and Juliet melodrama here, I’m talking the heart that comes into phrases like “the heart of the matter” and “pouring out one’s heart” or “putting your heart into it.” The heart that is a portal for the essence of human love and caring, the conduit for the work of the soul and the heart that transcends the moment, transcends boundaries of gender, nation, age and race and directs the ever flowing current at the center of human compassion that never ceases to amaze me.

When I think of the heart and the opening of the heart, this is what I am referring to.

There are moments when I feel the opening of my own heart, my own soul touched and drawn forth by the words, the experience, the connections with another human being and at times even the greater natural world. These moments are poignant for me in their veracity and have a way of shifting my perspective, my outlook on the world. They move me to new places of understanding and all I can do is sit in the stillness of the beauty of life and be grateful for the wonder that abounds all around me.

So beautiful, so true, so much the essence of love.
Thank you.

More Rumi Quotes Here and also daily Quotes and Poems.

One Comment leave one →
  1. tigger permalink
    April 3, 2011 8:36 pm

    rumi’s quote reminds of a sermon by someone here. she said, “write God’s word upon your heart. He asks us to do that, knowing that when our hearts break, the words will fall in.”

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Posted on 18 November 2011

Come Out Swinging: John Michael

I attended John Michael’s performance of sections of his original one-man show “Would You Like Guys With That? And 0-69” at Nouveau 47′s Theatre Appresh at The Magnolia Lounge on 11/14 and found it focused, fresh and engaging. Dallas native and Jesuit High School graduate John Michael Colgin defines himself as a Queer performance artist … Continue reading


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Thanks for visiting!
* When you see the * in my posts that just indicates a new line/paragraph. :)
* To see a lot of fun information, scroll through the side bars and to the bottom of the blog.

27 November 2015

A Look at Nicola M. Cameron & 'Empress of Storms' @YesItsNicolaC #Fantasy #Erotic #Romance

Today we have author Nicola M. Cameron visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Nicola Cameron is an expatriate Chicagoan who has lived in England, Canada, Holland, and Sweden, and keeps a confusing amalgamation of languages in her head as a result. Currently located in the clavicle of Texas, she has finally mastered the proper use of "y'all," much to her Chicago family's dismay.
* Despite a healthy interest in sex since puberty, it wasn't until 2012 that Nicola decided to try writing about it. As it turned out, the skills she picked up during her SF writing career transferred rather nicely to erotic romance. When not writing, she wrangles cats, smooches her husband, makes dolls of dubious and questionable identity, and thanks almighty Cthulhu that she doesn’t have to work for a major telecommunications company any more (because there’s BDSM, and then there’s just plain torture...).

What are you going to tell us about today?
* Thanks so much for having me on your blog today! My new novel Empress of Storms is an unusual book for me on a number of fronts. For one thing, it’s my first MF high fantasy erotic romance (and never did I think those words would be used in reference to me).
* Secondly, EoS was prompted by a challenge. Some of you may remember a certain author kicking off a kerfluffle in September by putting up a GoFundMe fund in order to write full-time. Which is totally cool, and I support the Patreon concept 100%.
* That being said, the writer demonstrated a, let us say, unrealistic worldview on professional writing. After receiving both even-tempered remonstrating and plain old ridicule, she lashed out at her critics with the following:
* “I’d like to challenge each and every one of these wonderful women to a writing contest. How about an 80K (that’s 80,000 words people, not dollars!) novel. It needs to be fully edited, proofed and a professional cover designed for it. Oh, and they have only 6 months to do all this. Ok, go.”
* Well, I can’t pass up a challenge. I announced that I would go one better and finish an 80K novel, have it fully edited, proofed, and provided with a professional cover in six weeks, and release it as an ebook and trade paperback in November.
* Let me take a moment to point out that every writer has his or her own speed. Some write fast, some write slow. Any speed you write at is fine. You do you, baby. But taking an 80K novel from zero to “Whoops, it’s on Amazon” within six m/o/n/t/h/s/ weeks is just not as impossible as some people seem to think. Part of this challenge was to show that it’s possible to do this without sacrificing quality, and while still maintaining something of a life.
* I will be perfectly transparent here and state that I did not make my original six-week deadline (due to a killer sinus infection and various stresses on the home front). I did it in seven weeks. Still not bad if I do say so myself.
* I’ve also been asked why I’m using Nicola M. Cameron on Empress of Storms. I lifted the idea from the late, brilliant Iain Banks who wrote mainstream fiction as Iain Banks and science fiction as Iain M. Banks. It was a way of differentiating between the two genres without having to use a pseudonym, and I decided to use the same trick here. Nicola Cameron is pretty much associated with MM/MMM fiction by this point, so if you pick up a Nicola Cameron book that’s what you’ll get, whereas Nicola M. Cameron writes MF fiction with occasional forays into MMF. I like to make readers’ lives easier, you see.
~ Blurb ~
* A king who must offer himself as royal consort to fulfill a treaty. A young queen and mage, unexpectedly married to the man she’s loved since childhood. Two countries, divided by geography and united by a political marriage, are poised on the brink of a golden age. But will vicious magic and unexpected betrayal tear both the royal couple and their kingdoms apart?
* When King Matthias of Ypres has to fulfill a treaty and provide a royal consort for young Queen Danäe of Hellas, the only royal available for marriage is … him. Can he risk letting a blue-haired witch queen into his heart?
* From political necessity, Queen Danäe finds herself marrying the man she secretly loves. Now she must win the heart of a king, prove herself as a mage, and defeat the enemies that threaten them both.
~ Excerpt ~
* “You’re not what I expected, Danaë.”
* “So I gathered. You’re different as well. And I’m very pleased with that.” She reached out and tugged at a curl of his chest hair. “So, shall we try this again?”
* “I think we should.” He held up the taper. “With the light or without?”
* “With, if it’s all the same to you. I want to enjoy the sight of my new husband.”
* “I suspect I’m the one who will be doing the bulk of the enjoying, but as you wish.” Matthias put the candle back on the side table. He was now cast in shadow, but Danaë could still see him well enough. He slid down until he was on his side facing her. “I’m afraid I’m out of practice with bedroom matters. What would you like to do now?”
* She thought. He hadn’t kissed her yet, at least not above the collarbones. “I’d like a proper kiss. The one you gave me after the ceremony may have been acceptable for public consumption, but I hope it’s not how you kiss in private.”
* “It isn’t.” He moved closer, stroking her shoulder with a finger. “And my apologies for that. I suspect I’ll be apologizing for much of what happened this day.”
* “No apologies are needed if you kiss me.”
* He did, a sweet brush of lips that made her mouth tingle with anticipation. The next kiss caught her lower lip between his. He sucked gently on the plump flesh, letting it slide free with a soft pop. Their faces were too close to see him smile, but she could feel it somehow.
* “You have honey in your kisses, Danaë,” he murmured.
* “Only for you, Matthias.”
* “Flatterer.”
* She dimpled. “Kiss me again and find out.”
* This time his kiss was stronger, hungrier. She responded with an equal need, cupping his cheeks and immersing herself in the intoxicating taste of Matthias’s mouth. He tasted of wine and the roast from dinner, and some secret flavor that was unique to him, something dark and very male. It was perfect, sating a hunger she hadn’t known she possessed. She fell back against her pillows and he followed, their tongues sliding against each other in a twisting dance.
* He finally pulled back, gasping. “It’s a good thing I didn’t kiss you like that earlier today,” he said. “I would’ve taken you in front of the entire cathedral.”
* “Perhaps a bit more than the nobles of Ypres needed to see,” she agreed, breathless. “Not to mention my brother and Patriarch Reniel.”
* Matthias tilted her chin up, nuzzling the soft skin of her jaw. “He would’ve had me building shrines in atonement to the end of my days. And your brother would have run me through.”
* “Which would have caused an unpleasant international incident.” She arched when his mouth hit a sensitive spot on her neck. “Not to mention I would have to have him executed for killing my husband.”
* “It’s a good thing we avoided all that, then,” Matthias agreed, licking delicate spirals on her skin down towards her breast. He stopped at the point where the flesh began to mound and kissed his way to her nipple. Dragging the very tip of his tongue around the areola, he then flicked it across the stiff little nub. “Best we save such things for the privacy of our bed.”
Buy Empress of Storms here...
All Romance Books | Amazon - UK | Amazon - US | Smashwords
Find Nicola M. Cameron here...
Website/ Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter
Thank you for joining us here today, Nicola M. Cameron! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

1 comment:

Nicola Cameron said...

Thanks so much for having me on today!


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• Home  /
  • CrossFit Supplements

CrossFit Supplements

crossfit girl training

CrossFit stands out as the most challenging exercise routines on earth, blending different training methods with all the energy in the body in one tiring workout. For some Cross Fitters adding a couple of proven supplements to positively influence their outcomes by improving performance aspects which include endurance, strength, energy and aerobic fitness.

Continue reading for the analysis of a few of the most beneficial supplements to consider in your CrossFit endurance program, accompanied by their mode of work as well as how to use them for maximum CrossFit performance benefits.

Best Crossfit Supplements 2017 Overview

1.Beta Alanine

If asked to pick just a single supplement for my CrossFit exercises, it would be beta alanine. No other item causes me to work harder and longer than beta alanine. It gives me the ability to do more reps and sprint harder before getting exhausted Empowers me to dash harder and more distant and accomplish more reps before I’m exhausted. Causes me recoup quickly between sets as well.

Researchers state that it works by extending the time your muscles take before getting fatigued when doing an intense workout. This implies that it can enable you to last a couple of extra reps towards the completion of a hard set. You’ll likewise notice that you are not exhausted towards completing a given set as well. Taking beta alanine on a regular basis can also enable you to develop more muscle, lose fat and eventually grow stronger. The harder you exercise, the better the outcomes.

Remember that you will notice most beta alanine advantages during high-intensity workouts which last for about three minutes only. Beta alanine is not recommended for low endurance exercises like swimming and jogging. Researchers recommend taking 3-6 grams of beta alanine on a daily basis to ensure you get the best out of beta alanine products.

2.Branch Chain Amino Acids

BCAAS, which is available in both tablet and powder form give many advantages to CrossFit trainees. This supplement helps to decrease post-exercise soreness, builds muscle, burns stomach fat, increases focus and workout energy. This implies that they provide you with a better focus and the capacity to exercise harder and longer. BCAA’s get rid of post-exercise muscle soreness thus provide room for frequent training sessions.

BCAA’s accelerate the fat loss process, particularly the stomach fat thus making you look better and have less weight to carry around when doing pull-ups, push-ups, and several other bodyweight exercises. BCAA’s speed up the muscle building and repair process so you can recover at a quicker rate and grow more muscle.

The amount of BCAA taken depends on the body weight of an individual but beginning with a considerable amount of 5-10grams is recommended

green bcaa pills in the jar

Best BCAA Capsules on the Market In 2017: Reviews

If you are looking for the list of best bcaa capsules to spend your money on, then you are just at the right place my friend! It is obvious that for most of us the main purpose of gaining muscles is to look presentable and stay fit. But, when it comes to choosing the BCAA caps, […]

popular bcaa brands

Best BCAA With Glutamine: 2017 Reviews

Most of us want to look good and have muscles to appear presentable but when it comes to products that we can buy to help the procedure we often get lost in the options. BCAA supplements with glutamine help us to make our body stronger. We have compiled a list of three best BCAA to […]

3. Protein Powders and Protein Pills

Proteins are considered as the building blocks in our muscles and are fundamental for muscle recovery, lean muscle development, and even fat loss. Almost all our proteins needs can be acquired from foods such as eggs, fish, and beef; however, necessary protein supplementation is often employed by athletes undergoing CrossFit training.

Proteins supplementation is not only necessary but also economical and free from fats and carbs. This is an advantage since one can increase the number of proteins taken daily without taking in way too many calories and accumulate body fat. There exist so many types of proteins, all with different benefits and amino acid levels. The main protein elements in the market include:

  • WHEY protein which is a quickly digested protein having the leucine,
  • CASEIN which is digested slowly and it’s recommended to be taken before bed,
  • BCAA which is the purest form of healthy proteins which has already been broken down into three of the fundamental proteins needed in high dosage by crossfit athletes

chocolate protein shake

10 Best Cheap Protein Powder for Women 2017

If you are a woman who needs to bring more proteins into your nutrition or just want to improve your muscle mass and increase the intensity of your training, then protein powder could be the right, helpful choice. Even if you want to lose weight and you need to drink the best protein shakes for […]

chocolate protein bar

4 Best Cheap Protein Bars To Buy Now (July 2017)

Protein bars seems like a miracle ѕnасk: They рrоmiѕе the рrоtеin уоu nееd to feed уоur muѕсlеѕ, while bоаѕting flаvоrѕ ѕо delicious уоu’ll want tо trade them for dеѕѕеrt. But the ѕаd truth iѕ, many оf these cheap рrоtеin bаrѕ аrе juѕt candy bаrѕ in disguise. They’re chock-full оf ѕugаr, empty саlоriеѕ, and shoddy sources […]

scoop of protein powder and protein pills on the table

Protein Pills Vs Protein Powder: What Is Better?

Anyone who needed more proteins to improve his workout performance must have once asked himself at one point –should I go for protein pills or protein powder? Proteins are molecules which are made of hundreds of amino acids and they are pretty essential for the proper functioning and structure of our organs, especially the muscles. […]

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Best Protein Rich Mass Gainer of 2017: Reviews

For gaining mass, one needs to increase their calories intake. Period! There is no way around it! One needs to live like a madman, which involves enough of calories to gain shaped and well-built muscles. So, just keep in mind that for getting big, you must eat even bigger. Pro gainer obtains a greater percentage […]

4. Fish Oil

From my research, I found out that this is one of the most popular supplements among CrossFit enthusiasts. By consuming at least 2 grams of oil on a daily basis will help you experience less inflammation of your body joints after workouts. Fish oil is always recommended over pain-killers for neck and back post workout pains. Fish oil also improves your mood and concentration thus more energy is directed towards a particular exercise routine.

Moreover, fish oil helps to build muscle and decrease cravings for carbohydrates and sugar rich foods which highly contribute to weight gain. While fish oils benefits may not be instant, it’s highly recommended by experts to include it in your supplements as a crossfitter.

5. Pre Workout Supplements

Combined with the energy boosters these are very important means for extremely demanding CrossFit workouts. Use with caution though because some cause side effects.

side effects of pre workout supplements

Pre Workout Side Effects – Is Pre Workout Bad For You?

Pre workout supplements do give you immediate results. They can be great as strength boosters and provide greater muscle pump. However, they are to be used in a very strict way, at proper timings and combined with proper diet. Failing to do so may result in some serious side effects. Hence, they are best used […]

how to buy best pre workout powder

Best Pre Workout Powder: 2017 Supplement Reviews

Physical fitness is something which should never be compromised. A fit person, not only looks great, but is also happier in a lot many ways. Having superior health allows you to have control over almost every aspect of your life. You will be able to get more out of yourself and lead a more balanced […]

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Best Pre Workout Energy Drink for CrossFit in 2017

Whether it is fat reduction or muscle gain that you are looking for, results are only achieved if you push yourself harder at the gym. No pain, no gain. But more than often, losing motivation is not so difficult. Some days, we drag ourselves out of the bed only wanting to go back again. Then […]

how to buy best pre workout pills

Best Pre Workout Tablets: 2017 Top Pills Reviewed

Sweating it out at the gym is always going to give you results, but it depends on you, how far you want to take it. Although gyming is all about pushing your limits and going to that brink, not everyone will have the strength and the willpower to do so. It is a studied fact […]

6. Supplements For Weight Loss

Below articles will introduce you to the best crossfit supplements for weight loss, fat burners and  great appetite suppressants with its additional benefits:

empty jar of diet capsules

Best Diet Pill on the Market in 2017: Reviews

Stress and lifestyle without physical activity can bring you a severe weight gain. When this happens, you will have to find diet pills that actually work. There are a lot of supplements of this kind on the market, but not all are the best! The key element is to get diet pills that are safe […]

1 comment
girl with fit body

Best Fat Burner Powder in 2017: Reviews

We all have this urge of getting a toned and proper body nowadays, and we would go to any lengths in order to get that…really? Now how many of us actually chose the option of visiting a gym to get fit? Rather we would take up the option that is way easier to do and […]

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Best Appetite Suppressant on the market in 2017

We are rushing around almost all day, and it is impossible to keep track of what we are eating and whether they are healthy or not. Many times, we lose control and eat almost twice the amount of what we should eat, just out of desire. Hence, it is very important to know about the […]

2 herbal suppressants

Best Tea to Suppress Appetite: 2017 Reviews

We all want to be healthy, we all want to be good looking, and then we all want to be slim and fit. The want for these certain things is so high that it is not easy to keep track of it anymore. So what can be done? There are certain tea’s that help in […]

taking belly measurements

Best Fat Burner on the Market in 2017: Reviews

We all are craving for eighty-six packs nowadays. We don’t talk lesser than that, anything below that is almost a family pack i.e. fat. With all the rush around us, it is really very hard to keep track of what we eat and how healthy it is for us. Most of the time, we ignore […]

These substances combined have a significant number of benefits for a CrossFit trainee, including improved muscular strength, energy, sprint speed and reduced exhaustion.

A lot of people say you do not need supplements, which very true if you don’t wish to increase your daily performance. However, for most athletes, that extra force can make a significant difference in their overall training results, and most essentially, be the difference between 1st place and 10th put in place any competition they take part in.


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Phoebe Palmer on Christian Perfection

phoebe-worrall-palmer‘The perfection to which your attention is urged, does not imply perfection in knowledge or light, but a state of supreme love to God, where all the powers of body and mind are perfectly subject to love’s control, and ceaselessly offered up to God through Christ. This is Christian perfection; not angelic perfection, neither Adamic perfection, but Christian perfection. To think disparagingly of Christian perfection, implies, to my mind, thinking lightly of the atonement. To undervalue the efficacy of the blood of Christ to cleanse is sinful. And if would be sinful to doubt whether the offering presented to God, through Christ, is holy and acceptable.

What you need, in order to bring you into this state, is an offering up of yourself through this purifying medium. Now do you still ask, How soon may I expect to arrive at this state of perfection? Just so soon as you come believingly, and make the required sacrifice, it will be done unto you according to your faith. Christ came to take away our sin, to destroy the works of the devil, and to purge us from all iniquity. The purpose of man’s redemption is not accomplished until he is presented perfect in Christ Jesus. When the Savior said, “It is finished!” then this full salvation was wrought out for you. All that remains is for you to come complying with the conditions, and claim it. As it has been purchased for you, it is already yours. If you do not now receive it, the delay will not be on the part of God, but wholly with yourself.’

source: From Faith and Its Effects (1848), Letter No. VII.

Read also: “On Christian Perfection” and “An Explanation of 1 Peter 3:21 by Experience” by Tom Torbeyns.

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On Election Day, New Congressman Wraps Tefilin

New York State Sen. Lee Zeldin paused last week on Election Day from shaking hands and doing some last-minute campaigning to make an important stop—he visited a local Chabad center to wrap tefillin and recite Jewish prayers.

The 34-year-old legislator was assisted by Rabbi Motti Grossbaum of Chabad at Stony Brook in Suffolk County, N.Y.

Zeldin did this on the day he was vying for a seat in Congress, which he won, beating out incumbent Tim Bishop in New York’s 1st Congressional District to become the sole Jewish Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This was not the first Election Day meeting between the rabbi and Zeldin. Longtime acquaintances, they got together at Zeldin’s campaign headquarters a few months earlier on the morning of the primaries to do the same.

While Grossbaum was adamant to steer clear of partisan politics and noted that he has friends on both sides of the aisle, he wanted to acknowledge the fact that Zeldin “took time on what was probably the biggest day of his professional life, to wrap tefillin.

Congratulating the Jewish politician afterwards, Grossbaum wrote: “You recognize that as important as it is to do everything we humanly can to get a victory, we need G‑d’s blessing to succeed, both through a hectic campaign season, but more importantly, with your work now in Washington. … Jewish people across the country will be impressed and inspired by you.”

For his part, Zeldin responded by thanking the rabbi for his “prayers and support.”

That support goes both ways.

During Israel’s summer war with Hamas in Gaza, Zeldin attended a rally at the Chabad center on behalf of soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. More than 100 people attended the event and prayer session, including Zeldin, who put on tefillin then as well.

As care packages were being prepared for the soldiers, Zeldin gave a short speech in which he stated that Israel and its leaders should know that “there are people here in America who stand with them. The challenges that Israel faces right now are so important. It’s beyond just achieving temporary peace.

“Israel is fighting for its stability, its security and its country for a very long time to come, and we must stand with them. Israel is our strongest ally in the entire world.”

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NYPD Releases New Video of Bus Arson Suspect

from VIN News by Sandy Eller:

Ten days after an unidentified man torched a well known Crown Heights “mitzvah bus” police have released clear video footage of the suspect and are turning to the public for assistance in the case.

The newly released footage shows the face of the man who is believed to have set fire to the iconic mini bus wearing a white t shirt decorated with in a design that is reminiscent of an American flag.

The vividly painted bus belonged to artist Lev Schieber and was parked on Troy Avenue between Maple and Midwood streets when it was set on fire just before midnight on June 26th.

A Go Fund Me campaign started by Schieber said that the bus was completely destroyed in the fire.

The artist used the bus both for transportation and as a mobile art studio and Schieber estimated that $1,000 in tools, children’s bicycles, car seats, bicycle helmets and other artwork were destroyed in the blaze.  The bus had been also used as the backdrop for a Benny Friedman music video about Jewish pride that garnered more than 2,700,000 YouTube hits.

In a Facebook post, Schieber said that one of his original pieces, a painting by of a Jewish man being harassed by Nazi soldiers that has been displayed in local art shows and was stored under a table, somehow managed to escape the fire.

Police said that the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline by phone at 800-577-TIPS, by text at 247637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577 or online at www.NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.

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Contributor Level: Cruise Director

Review by Cruiselovers123

Awesome from start to finish!

In response to review, Jheretired says ...

Good balanced review! It is a pleasure to read a review that is neither just a bunch of fluff nor a scathing diatribe of complaints. The overall experience is what I am looking for. If the cruise has the right itinerary, plenty to do on ship, decent food, and a comfortable place to sleep, I can forgive a less-than-spectacular show.

Tags: Carnival Cruise Lines Caribbean - Western Carnival Sunshine

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an ok cruise

Caribbean Princess Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern

Contributor Level: Deck Hand
Experience: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 0

Overall Rating:

3.0 out of 5
Sail Date: November 01, 2009
Ship: Caribbean Princess
Cabin Type: Inside
Traveled As: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 8 years ago
no comments

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Pros: entertainment

Cons: elevators didnt work for the entire cruise and they didnt post out of order for several days

Recommends Caribbean Princess? Yes!

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Not a good time

Carnival Triumph Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

Contributor Level: Deck Hand
Experience: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 3

Overall Rating:

1.0 out of 5
Sail Date: October 01, 2009
Ship: Carnival Triumph
Cabin Type: Oceanview
Traveled As: Family (young children)
Reviewed: 8 years ago
First time cruising with Carnival on the Triumph and not very happy with it.

Food and Dining

1 out of 5
The buffet on the lido deck was terrible. Long lines with waiting up to 15 mins. Its like a cafeteria and the food selection was very limited and the quality of the food was average. No kid food items on the buffet unless you child ate with Camp Carnival. Was not allowed to use that food and not happy with that. Got tired of asking for milk when they only put it out for breakfast. Limited drink stations. The dining room wasn't much better. The location is terrible when the ship is moving and you feel the engines. The food, again was average and they only offered a kids menu at dinner. The portions were o.k, and not a enough vegetables at the buffet or the dining room.

5 out of 5
Great shows with beautiful costumes and wonderful entertainment. The Rio Lounge is small and get there early for the shows or you'll be left standing.

Children's Programs

5 out of 5
Camp Carnival was great and my 5 yr old had a wonderful time and didn't want to leave. They kept her very busy and she had many crafts when she returned. Very surprised at the trick or treatin' the last night.

Service and Staff

3 out of 5
Other then our cabin steward I thought the rest of crew wasn't very nice. Never went out their way to be nice or helpful. A few times I asked for something it was done, but acted as I put them out. The information and excursion desk crew were o.k., but it seemed everyone except those pushing the alcohol were never in a great mood.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5
The layout is confusing at time with having to use different elevators to get to different parts of the ship. Way to many open areas for the smoking. Ship was always smelling of smoke in many ares. Overall clean ship and the decor was nice.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Very happy with our ocean view room. Roomy for 2 adults and one child and very clean. Our cabin steward was great and very nice. Great towel animals every night. Did smell smoke a lot going down the hallways.

Pros: Camp Carnival, Shows

Cons: Buffet, smoking, layout of the ship

Recommends Carnival Triumph? No.

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Loved our cruise!

Celebrity Solstice Cruise Review to Alaska

Experience: 2-3 cruises
Reviews: 0
Helpful Vote: 1

Overall Rating:

3.0 out of 5
Sail Date: July 01, 2013
Ship: Celebrity Solstice
Cabin Type: Balcony
Traveled As: Couple
Reviewed: 4 years ago
We loved the ship! The stateroom was roomy\, the food was good\, the service was excellent. The entertainment was good. We hated the tendering process! There were some people on our shore excursion in Juneau that were very late . We had to wait on them and the excursion was cut short. I think tendering could be streamlined more effectively\, somehow. the line was tedious and tiring\, not to mention stressful for those trying to make shore excursions not booked through the ship.

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
The bed was a little hard\, and the sheet would not stay put. Also there was no real blanket. That is my only fault with the stateroom. Otherwise it was roomy and well laid out. The bathroom was excellent!

Pros: The roomy stateroom

Cons: Bed sheet did not stay put\, and no real blanket. The bed could have been more comfortable.

Recommends Celebrity Solstice? Yes!

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Not the best cruise I've had.

Independence of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

Contributor Level: Purser
Experience: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 12

Overall Rating:

3.0 out of 5
Verified Review
5 Night Western Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)
Sail Date: January 30, 2016
Ship: Independence of the Seas
Cabin Type: Balcony
Cabin Number: 9678
Traveled As: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 1 year ago

Still not sure why, but embarkation was a nightmare, stood for 2 hours in line (Diamond) member because there were immigration issues?? Ship is in good shape, room fine, food ok, not great. Ice show lots of fun, spa fine, Cozumel was great as always. Big disappointment as we couldn't dock at Costa Maya because of high winds and waves. Heard dock wasn't well built and this is a constant problem with this new port. So, 5 day cruise and 1 port...ugh!!! Disembarkation was fine. RCL should have communicated better about embarkation issues, started cruise off badly and there was no effort to assuage anger and then it would have helped if we could have had another port on Friday so we didn't spend another day at sea.

Food and Dining

3 out of 5
Some good, but spotty.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Good cabin, steward Duria was great!!!
3 out of 5
Really busy, lots of mega ships, arrive early!!

Cozumel, Mexico Did not visit port

Chakanaab by cab is always great!!!!!
1 out of 5
Didn't dock, bad wind and seas. Maybe not a good choice for port!!!!
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WOW! what a cruise, it was GREAT!!!!

Maasdam Cruise Review to Canada, New England, New York

Contributor Level: Deck Hand
Experience: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Vote: 1

Overall Rating:

5.0 out of 5
Sail Date: September 01, 2006
Ship: Maasdam
Cabin Type: Oceanview
Traveled As: Couple
Reviewed: 11 years ago
Holland America is the forth company that we have cruised with, they are a step above the rest. The crew was the best I have seen on a cruise ship
always smileing and acomadating. The food and waiters were out of this world, they seemed to know what you wanted before you asked for it(they were amazing) The wine selection was fantastic and priced right.
We loved the entertainment, the shows were on a par with Vegas and the multi piano bars are above and beond the competition. The only problem I have after this cruise is getting back into my clothes.
We will use Holland America and book it thru Alaska Air in the future---the really big thing, all those air miles. I like the pre payment of tips, it saves a lot of time.

Food and Dining

5 out of 5
best I have had on any cruise

5 out of 5
Best I have seen on any cruise

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Always cheerful and helpful

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
the size of the ship was perfect, not too big not too small. The decorating was beautifull

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
perfect, never saw the room stewart, he seemed to know when he should take care of our room. IT WAS ALWAYS PERFECT!!!!
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
my favorite Island stop
5 out of 5
I felt that I was in Europe, Loved it

Pros: the attitude of the crew and the service

Cons: the shore boats

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High winds ruined the cruise

Majesty of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

Contributor Level: Deck Hand
Experience: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 2

Overall Rating:

3.0 out of 5
Verified Review
3 Night Bahamas (Miami Roundtrip)
Sail Date: December 02, 2011
Ship: Majesty of the Seas
Cabin Type: Oceanview
Traveled As: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 6 years ago
Smaller size was nice, easier to get from one end of the ship to another. Comfortable lounging areas.

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

1 out of 5
Shore excursions got cancelled due to high winds. At times there were no activities. Deck got too crowded, could not find deck chairs in the sun.

Service and Staff

3 out of 5
Cabin attendant managed to keep room without annoying us all the time.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5
Tiny for two people. Ocean view window turned out to be a port hole.

Pros: World famous trained marching flamingos at Nassau

Cons: Cancellation of CoCoCay island day due to high winds, not enough activities on the ship to compensate

Recommends Majesty of the Seas? Yes!

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Good Trip

Norwegian Sky Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

Contributor Level: Purser
Experience: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 2

Overall Rating:

3.0 out of 5
Verified Review
3 Night Bahamas (Miami Roundtrip)
Sail Date: August 19, 2016
Ship: Norwegian Sky
Cabin Type: Oceanview
Cabin Number: 4227
Traveled As: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 1 year ago

Overall it was a good cruise - the over tone was Latin

The staff were generally friendly and ready to answer questions/assist

DJ Viper was good, but should play music for different cultures including Caribbean - reggae, calypso (Trinidad, Barbados etc)

The gift shop items on sale has a thrift shop appearance, many items - jewelry and evening bags were broken, seams coming apart etc

The Crossings and Palace complimentary restaurants carried the same menu

Breakfast same everyday

Shows were good

Youth program - not interesting for teens

I needed to rest and hoped that I could have the option of watching movies in my room (On Demand Program selection) and even the Olympics - too many channels showing the ship

I would recommend it though

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Ship Tip

There is music everywhere
The Staff - great and ready to help

3 out of 5
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Had my best time swimming with Stingrays Umbrellas/shade should be complementary
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The Challenge of Racial Discrimination in Queensland

Image: Queensland Police cultural liaison officers attend World Refugee Day celebrations in Brisbane (Courtesy of MDA Ltd.)

By Dibley J. Hanify (Originally published March 2014)

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has co-signed an open letter calling on the Queensland community to unite against racial and religious vilification. Drafted by the Police Ethnic Advisory Group (PEAG), the letter was also co-signed by Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Mr Kevin Cocks.

PEAG is an advisory group to the Queensland Police Service (QPS) comprised of police, service providers and community members.

The letter follows recent acts of vilification targeting members of Queensland’s Muslim community.

“Australia is recognised as one of the most peaceful and stable countries in the world, and it is well understood that multiculturalism has significantly contributed to making Australia the great nation it is today,” said the letter.

“We must all stand against acts by any individual or group that unfairly discriminates against others or breaks our laws. We must not let fear or suspicion divide us. We believe that the majority of Queenslanders stand with us on this.”

A QPS spokesperson said that the letter “clearly demonstrates the commitment from the Senior Executive and throughout the organisation to not tolerate, and to deal effectively with racially motivated incidents.”

PEAG Vice Chair, Sultan Deen says that while drawing on recent past events, the letter carries a proactive message, calling on all Queenslanders to move forwards united against racial and religious vilification.

Since its origins in 1991, PEAG has helped deliver important policing initiatives in Queensland including the Police Liaison Officer (PLO) program and changes to police recruitment and training practices.

A community under pressure?

The open letter also confirmed the sorrow of Queensland Muslim community leaders and the wider Muslim community towards acts of terror occurring around the world.

It’s an important message to share, says letter co-writer and PEAG Vice Chair, Sultan Deen, but one that Queensland’s Muslim community is tired of having to articulate on terms outside its own control.

“It seems to be the case that every time something happens, we’re called on as a community to explain ourselves and defend ourselves,” said Mr Dean.

“Take ISIS for example. Our community here is disgusted by what’s happening, and we condemn their actions absolutely. But when we’re called on to restate our position time and time again, it becomes really frustrating. Again, why should we as a whole community need to come out to explain ourselves in light of events that we are equally as saddened by.”

“The message we’re left with as a community is that a large part of the wider community doesn’t trust us,” he said.

It’s a pattern that the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland (ADCQ) has seen repeating itself since the September 11 attacks more than a decade ago. ADCQ Commissioner, Mr Kevin Cocks says that this ongoing pressure is discouraging many victims from coming forward to report instances of vilification.

“We see here quite regularly how the broader Muslim community are feeling quite vulnerable because the issue has been significant since 9-11, and at different points has spiked for whatever reason – whether it’s politically motivated or whether the media are overcooking the way they portray or report incidences – and so certain people find it a very difficult step to make a complaint,” Mr Cocks said.

Trends and patterns

Although the baseline has remained relatively unchanged in recent years, spikes in acts of religious and racial vilification have coincided with widely televised news events over the past 12 months.

But ADCQ Commissioner, Mr Kevin Cocks says the “random and opportunistic” nature of recent cases is a particular cause for concern.

“We’ve heard of quite a lot of instances where people might be waiting at a bus stop and others driving past yell out obscenities and threatening sorts of suggestions. Sometimes criminal assault is involved. We’re finding it’s targeted mostly at women and children, and usually by men,” Mr Cocks said.

“Other areas, of course, include the vandalism of mosques and individuals’ private homes or cars. And we now often see anonymous posts on blogs or facebook where individuals are making very generalised statements that sometimes cross over to serious vilification of the Muslim community,” he said.

“Also, it’s just not people from the Muslim community who are being targeted – anybody who may look different, or who wears other religious clothing such as Sikhs, are also being targeted.”

An effective systemic response

For perpetrators of racial or religious vilification to be brought to account, various factors need to fall in alignment.

Victims must be aware that they’re protected from vilification by Queensland law and, if so, must perceive the benefits of making a complaint to outweigh the costs. Police, where involved, need a sound applied knowledge of the Anti-Discrimination Act (1991), in particular Section 131A which draws the line between acts of vilification treated as civil matters versus those subject to the criminal legal code. Where present, bystanders can play an important part through recognising what they see, by offering support to victims and through later recalling important evidence.

The shortfall of available evidence is a recurring issue given the isolated and sudden onset of many instances. A QPS spokesperson said that successful prosecution by police is made more challenging for serious acts of vilification where the burden of proof shifts from ‘balance of probability’ to ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ under the criminal legal code.

Another legal challenge includes the increasing prevalence of vilification online where perpetrators who commit acts outside of Queensland (even where Queensland residents are targeted) are not subject to the Act.

The biggest challenge to successful prosecution though remains the persistent gap between incidences of vilification and people subsequently coming forward to lodge a complaint, either with the QPS or ADCQ.

“There are a few reasons for people not reporting, and one of the primary ones is that many people who have recently arrived in Australia come from countries where authorities are not trusted and perceived as corrupt,” said Mr Cocks.

“Those individuals are often suspicious and reluctant to come forward to the police or the ADCQ to make complaints. Or they might not even know that they’re protected under serious anti-vilification laws.”

Building trust and positive community relations has been an important part of the PEAG, the QPS and ADCQ’s strategy for nurturing a climate where people feel protected by law and free to make a complaint.

Another key strategy of the ADCQ has been the establishment of an online reporting portal where victims can lodge complaints anonymously. Such reporting allows the ADCQ to identity trends in racial or religious vilification as they emerge; information that in turn supports police on the front line.

The ADCQ also provides information to witnesses as part of its bystander strategy.

“We have developed a bystander video to encourage people who might witness these attacks to tell them what they can do in a safe way. Even just to help gather evidence through their iPhones during the incidents and taking notice of number plates and then making sure the person who has been attacked is alright and to be supportive of them in that process,” Mr Cocks said.

Mr Cocks also highlights the ‘I’ll Ride With You’ (#IllRideWithYou) campaign that went viral during the December Sydney hostage crisis as another “heart warming” example of how bystanders and everyday people can make a difference.

Moving beyond vilification

“Queensland has quite a diverse population…I think it’s just important to build relations with people and get to know each other. I’ve heard of people who may have been not supportive of people from the Muslim faith, (but) once they’ve had those opportunities to meet, they realise, ‘were all just people; parents, workers, business owners…there’s not a lot of difference’. That stems from the Golden Rule, which is to try to build relationships with your neighbours, and that one should treat others as one would like others to treat ones’ self,” said Mr Cocks.

“If we can all try to adhere to that rule, we will all go a long way towards building relationships and getting to know our community much better as Queenslanders,” he said.

A QPS spokesperson said that similar neighbourly actions have brought about positive resolutions in specific cases.

“Some hate filled graffiti was daubed on the outside of a prayer room and was reported to police.  Whilst the complaint was taken and investigations continued into bringing the offenders to account, the congregation made it clear that they were willing to forgive the perpetrators and wanted to work with them to help them better understand the congregation, rather than try to fight against it.”

(Originally published at

Helpful links

The open letter co-signed by Queensland Police Commissioner, Ian Stewart can be accessed at

The ADCQ website contains lots of valuable information, including case studies that illustrate racial and religious vilification along with information about how to make a complaint –

For information on the Police Ethnic Advisory Group (PEAG), go to

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CSIR in the news..

An aggregation of news on the web about CSIR and its laboratories

Lectures, competitions mark CSIR’s 73rd foundation day

26 September 2015

CHANDIGARH: The 73rd foundation day of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was observed in the city with CSIR establishments organising guest lectures by scientists and opening up their laboratories to the general public.At the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Prof Ajoy Ghatak, former Professor of Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, highlighted the importance of research in the area of fiber optics.In addition to their phenomenal use in communications, he also talked about several experiments in fiber optics such as fiber laser and super continuum generation due to non-linear effects, which find important applications in the scientific field…

Written by csirindia

September 27, 2015 at 7:39 am

Posted in Uncategorized

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