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Monday, September 30, 2013

San Antonio: Holiday Ole Market

If you live in the San Antonio area then you may have heard about Holiday Ole Market. Here is a little snippet about the event from the Junior Leaugue of San Antonio's website.

"Find unique, boutique-like SHOPPING with premiere merchants offering apparel, jewelry, children's items, home goods and original holiday items. Experience a wide array of ENTERTAINMENT options including great food, music, auctions, and much more! Net proceeds from Holiday Ole Market benefit the community programs and projects of the Junior League of San Antonio, Inc."

I'll be attending the bloggers sneak peek for this event on Wednesday. Be sure to check back here Thursday for a post all about Holiday Ole Market and what you can expect. I am beyond excited! Interested in going? Enter below for your chance to win a ticket. The giveaway will end THIS Wednesday. It's a short entry period and I'll announce the winner on Thursday! Good Luck and as always, Happy Shopping!!!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Face to Face Fridays Link Up

Face to Face Fridays is back this week. Just to clear up any confusion you might have your video does not have to be a new or current video. Any YouTube video or blog post containing a video can be linked up. It has to be family friendly. No nakedness or twerking please. Keep it classy around these parts. Can't wait to check out everyone's videos this weekend.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Baby M's Many Faces...

One day I was taking pics of all of Baby M's expressions. I thought it would be fun to make a little something with them. So funny!

Love all his little faces, haha!!!

San Antonio: PB & J Kids Shop

Last week I had the opportunity to check out a brand new kids shop in San Antonio. PB & J Kids is located in The Alley on Bitters and it's the cutest kids store I've visited in a long time. The owners are a sweet married couple who initially started the store because they wanted to sell crafts. After doing a little research they added baby and children's items to their store and PB & J Kids was born.

I absolutely loved that the store had an area for kids to play. What I liked even better was that because of the intimate size of the store you could actually take a look at everything while your kid played.

There were so many cute things to see. I really loved the knitted hats and leggings hanging from the clothing pins.

PB & J is also the only store in San Antonio that carries the Lollacup that became famous on the tv show Shark Tank. See them on the middle shelf in the yellow box...

I personally loved these hot pink leggings with the leaf detail. So cute...

PB & J had tons of novelty toys and gifts. I loved the one of a kind bibs and toy airplanes...

 Here are the bibs. The owner is a retired Air Forch pilot. This "Captain" bib was my favorite of them all...

All of the bloggers enjoyed yummy snacks and we each took home one of these floral gift bags...

If you live in San Antonio be sure to check out PB & J Kids. Happy Shopping!!!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Dinner Idea: One Arm Chicken

Sunday I made the famous crockpot chicken tacos that are floating around Pinterest right now. I only used half of the chicken breasts from my pack for the tacos and needed to use the other half. I normally don't have luck with chicken breast. I asked my twitter friends to tweet me some of their favorite chicken breast recipes and I was very happy with the suggestions.

I got a tweet from Walmart. (yes that Walmart) They suggested that I check out their chicken dinner Pinterest board. (I didn't event know they were on Pinterest.) There were a lot of good recipes on their board. I found a picture of a meal that looked pretty good and easy enough for me to whip up. I couldn't find the actual recipe to accompany the photo so I tried my best to replicate what I saw. Here it is. My "One Arm Chicken". I will explain how I named this dish after the recipe.

Season both sides of your chicken breasts with this...

Heat your frying pan/skillet and pour in some olive oil and a scoop of butter...

Also pour in a little white cooking wine and some minced garlic (not pictured)

Once your butter is melted a good bit add your chicken to the pan...

Cook until done... Flip the chicken to brown it on both sides...

Once the chicken is done remove it from the pan...

Pour a little of the white cooking wine in your pan to loosen up any of the chicken bits and flavor...

For the sauce: Add some minced garlic (to taste) and dried basil (i sprinkle in A LOT) to your pan. Pour in a cup of cream. Drain a can of diced tomatoes (you can always use fresh) and add that as well. Cook this on low for a few minutes. Drain the mushrooms. Add them to the pan...

Once your sauce thickens a bit. Add the chicken back to the pan and cover it. Cook on low for about 15 minutes...

chicken breast in cream sauce recipe dinner

It should look like this once it is done... (I know it looks a lot like the first pic but you should see a difference.)

This is my husband's plate...

The potatoes were roasted in the oven and the broccoli was steamed... This chicken was AMAZING!

And I called this recipe "One Arm Chicken" because I cooked it with one arm, haha! I know this may not be the healthiest meal with all the cream but every now and then I have to cheat. I don't normally use canned mushrooms but they were a great alternative. It would have been really hard to chop mushrooms holding a baby. Normally I'm able to put the baby in one of my wraps or carriers when he's fussy but today he wanted the real thing.

Oh. And not to be out done Savannah drew an entire picture on the counter tops. Thank goodness for anti-bacterial wipes. They clean everything.

Will you be trying this recipe? What are some of your favorite chicken breast meals?

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Video Diary 9222013

The first day of Fall and I'm a little excited!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Chic Mom Style: A Tee and Jeans

Today we went out to run a couple errands and grab lunch. The typical family Saturday outing. I wanted to wear something relaxed, casual and cute. I decided to wear a cute tee and some skinny jeans. I scored the tee shirt during the big Labor Day sale that Express had. My sneakers are the Steve Madden wedge sneakers that I've been wanting since last year. I was able to get them at half the price during the Nordstrom Labor Day sale. The jeans are my favorite skinny jeans. They're probably six years old by now and they have the best fit. Skinny but not skin tight.

sequin american flag tee fashion blogger mom style

Oh. And I wore my hair up in a top knot. It's so rare that my hair is straight and I'm loving wearing it up. I bought some of the marley hair I need to make twists so I'm thinking about attempting that this coming week. We're having our family portraits done tomorrow so I may start them after that.

What do you think of my easy Saturday style?

Friday, September 20, 2013

Give a Minute. Help Make-A-Wish

Happy Friday! Although none of us want to admit the holiday season is THIS CLOSE to rearing is cheerful head. One of the best ways to get in the spirit a little early is to give back. During the month of September Straight Talk Wireless is donating $1 to Make-A-Wish for each person that takes a minute to  learn about Straight Talk at their participating Wal-Mart.

Straight Talk will donate a minimum of $500,000 and up to $1,000,000. If you don't live near a Wal-Mart you can still give back by sharing and viewing this video. Your views will help toward the overall million dollar goal. Great, right?  This is the second year that Straight Talk has hosted this program. Last year they were able to meet their million dollar goal!

Like Straight Talk, we want to help grant a sick child's wish. So, if you're in the market for a new cell phone or thinking about gifting one this holiday season please learn more about Straight Talk's service. They have an unlimited plan for $45 per month that is perfect for a texting talking data needing teenager.

I participated in this sponsored campaign for One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Mommy Reflections: What I've Learned So Far

I can not believe my baby girl is three already. Whoa. Time sure is flying. I remember the day she was born. She was a tiny little angel with bright pink lips. Her hair was jet black. I held her as much as I could and she went every where I did. Always. She was my precious sweet little baby.

Fast forward three years and here we are. She's a big girl now. She's full of imagination. Her bright eyes fill me up. She's still my baby but she's a big girl now. I find myself thinking about how we got to where we are. She's so smart and funny.

This past three years has taught me a lot. I've learned to be less stressed about the little things. I still struggle with it but it helps so much not to get all worked up over every little thing. Perhaps the biggest lesson that I have learned is to keep things simple. As parents we want to create all these amazing memories for our kids and I think sometimes we forget that you don't always have to be over the top and perfect. Savannah has reminded me that it's the little things that she enjoys. I don't have to throw her big parties or fancy play dates. I don't have to spend a lot of money or buy her the latest greatest toy. All she wants from me is my attention and time. Both of those things are free.

I am reminded that children are just like adults in many ways. All they want is to know that someone is paying attention to them. They want to know that someone cares about what they have to say and how they feel. You don't need superMom powers for that. You don't have to be the craftiest Pinterest pinning Mama for that. All you have to be is yourself. After all, God chose me to be her mother so I am enough just the way I am. Of course, there's nothing wrong with trying or learning new things but I am enough just like this.

As I am coming into my own as a Mom I keep reminding myself that the tough times are temporary. She won't always be this little. She won't always be this busy. She won't always need me. While she still does it's important that I soak it up. I have to learn to slow down and not just go through the motions of the day. I am learning that every moment that we have together (even her sassy testy moments) are times that I should enjoy. I've got to become better at taking a deep breath and not letting every time she misbehaves send me to a bad place. It's not always that serious.

I must remember that she's only three. It's not fair to her for me to expect her to behave any older than that. So I've learned to appreciate the days where she acts five and understand the days where she struggles with growing up. It's going to happen. I won't always be the perfect Mom and she won't always be the perfect kid -- And it's all going to be OK.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Giveaway: The Juppy Baby Walker

We haven't done a giveaway around here in a while. Since I just had a baby I've been looking at all the new baby products that are out now. Of course there are tons. When I came across the opportunity to check out the Juppy baby walker I couldn't pass it up.

It's so cool. When I was teaching Savannah how to walk I remember it being a very fun but crazy time. She was wiggling all over the place and there I was trying to help her. My back would be all hunched over and she'd be doing her best to show me her new moves. A product like the Juppy would have come in so handy for me then. Luckily, I'll have one when Baby M starts learning to walk.

There are so many things to love about the Juppy. I personally love the fact that you can take it with you because it fits into a pouch small enough to go in your purse. This means that when I take Savannah to play dates or the park I can use the Juppy with Baby M. Perfect!

From the Juppy Baby Walker site:

What is The Juppy Baby Walker "Momentum"?

"The Juppy "Momentum" is a solution to a previously recognized but unsolved challenge for parents of babies beginning to walk. Babies strong enough to  begin walking but not strong enough to walk alone. The Juppy builds confidence in your baby and teaches balance while you maintain your  natural posture, eliminating the grueling task of hunching over while teaching your baby to walk. "

Enter now for your chance to win! Good Luck!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Chic Link Up: Face to Face Fridays Week Four

Hi everyone! If you're new to this link up thanks for joining us! We don't have many rules here. The only thing that I ask is that your link contain a video. It can be a link to your blog post with video or a link to a video on YouTube. All are welcome!

Feel free to tweet, FB, Google+, grab the button (it's in the sidebar) and share. I'd love to see some new faces around here. Have a great weekend!

The Chic Stay at Home Mom

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

The Beach vs. An Amusement Park

So here's the thing. My baby girl asked for a trip to the beach for her birthday. Of course the weekend that we're suppose to be frolicking in the sand and sun mother nature decides to call for a little rain. Now I'm stuck with trying to figure out a quick plan B. My husband has already taken off from work so there's a part of me that feels like we should just go and make the best of it.

I considered taking her to a local amusement park as a plan B. After calling and speaking to someone about their water park admission I learned that it would be $75 for our little family. Our general admission is free since active duty military get one free trip to the park this year. However, I just can't see spending $75 to go swimming.  Maybe I'm being cheap but I see that $75 as gas money to the beach. Round trip.

So in true Mommy fashion I have spent the day researching other activities for us just in case we get rained out. Hopefully the rain will provide cooler weather for the baby. One can only hope. Anyway, I will be doing laundry and packing for this getaway for the rest of the evening. I can't believe my baby girl will be three next week. Time flies. What is she going to want for her birthday when she's 16 if she's already asking for beach trips at three?

Monday, September 9, 2013

Chic Mom Style

Alright. I said that I was going to share when I wore the Pinterest inspired denim cut off shorts outfit. I feel like this pic isn't really doing the outfit justice, haha! It looked great! Instead of the Tory Burch leopard print shoes from the inspiration pic I paired my outfit with my gold spiked toe Sam Edelman flats.

Since I was planning on getting matched up for some new makeup my face is fresh.

Here I am trying on some booties. (That are now living in my closet!) Check out my husband wearing the ergo and photo bombing me in the background, haha!

Shirt - Express (The Portofino Shirt)
Shorts - H&M
Booties - Steve Madden
Flats - Sam Edelman
Watch - Michael Kors
Bangle - a gift

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Face to Face Fridays Week Three...

Welcome to week three of Face to Face Fridays! Every week the link up gets more interest from fellow bloggers. Very exciting! Hopefully, we'll start seeing some of those faces around here soon!

Remember, on the First Friday of the month we'll be chatting about a certain topic. This week we're sharing five things we're most proud of ourselves for. The link up will be open until Tuesday.

I hope you enjoy my video. Of course, Sav makes a brief cameo. :-)

I'll be checking out everyone's videos this weekend. Happy Friday!

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

eShakti Fall Collection

I wanted to quickly share a promo offer that just hit my inbox! You all know how much I love eShakti. Well, their Fall Collection is now available and it's full of feminine classic modern items. Remember eShakti always has your size because you can provide your measurements and have the items customized to fit you. It's like having a personal seamstress and tailor via the web and I love it!

You know I've been doing a lot of online shopping lately and any time I find out about a great sale I spread the word on my Facebook page. Here is another offer. Take 20% off while you shop eShakti's Fall Collection. They have everything from the very now menswear inspired look to the very pretty cobalt blue. I can not wait to start scrolling through their new line. Check me out in some of my past favorite eShakti looks.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Hello September...

I can not believe it is already September. This is a very fun month for our family. I spent the majority of Labor Day weekend laying in bed fighting sinus pressure and shopping online. I got some great deals! Very excited about getting all those shipments this week.

All of Savannah's activities start back up this month and I could not be more excited. It is going to feel so good to have a scheduled activity every day. We'll be out and about Tuesday thru Thursday. On Mondays and Fridays we'll do more "Preschool at Home" activities, run errands, clean and do whatever else the house needs. Savannah will also be turning three in a couple weeks. This year she wanted a trip to the beach for her birthday so we'll be having a family party/getaway. I'm not even mad or sad about her not wanting a party. That's one less thing for me to plan...

We'll probably at least have cake and ice cream with her girlfriends though, but that's it.

I've been trying to gather things for our beach trip and plan my outfits. I found a cute outfit on Pinterest that seemed really easy and comfy. Since it was repinned over 200 times I decided to recreate the look. Cute, right? Can't wait to share my finished look!

I also want to try something different with my hair. I'm not sure if I want to put in some marley twists or if I should invest in a good flat iron and wear my hair straight or blown out. I would really love to do the twists but from the reviews I've read they don't really last that long. We'll see.

I'm so ready for this much needed break. My husband's birthday is at the end of the month so we'll be celebrating all month long. As I've said before Fall is my favorite season. I'm looking forward to this season and all the changes that will come with it!


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by / 5 Comments / 160 View / April 15, 2015

Being moderate is an increasingly novel idea in our current extremist political landscape.

What exactly does it mean to be moderate? We can view politics as ranging across several spectrums, and a middle ground within these spectrums as being moderate. Perhaps the two most descriptive and useful factors viewed on a spectrum are the Progressive-Conservative scale, which we refer to as Left-and-Right, and the Totalitarian-Anarchist scale, which we call Up-and-Down. Policies that are more progressive deal with more change whereas policies that are more conservative preserve the status quo. Additionally, the totalitarian wants more power in the hands of the rulers whereas the anarchist wants more power left to the individual.

America is becoming more polarized over time when it comes to politics. We more consistently exist in echo chambers, surround ourselves with like-minded individuals, and see opposing political parties as a threat to our nation. This is unfortunate. Perhaps the internet is partly to be blame; it is becoming easier to reinforce our own beliefs while filtering out unpleasant opposition. Even Congress has become more extreme, reflecting the voters’ preferences.

There are some obvious problems with this. People cherry-pick facts and twist reason to justify their already (and emotionally) established stances. (Facts and reason should, in contrast, be used to find objectively correct solutions.) We get emotional and make enemies over unimportant topics. And, considering that we are individuals living in a society, extreme positions place more strain on the rights of a greater number of citizens.

There are also, for good reason, fallacies in following the the progressive or conservative mindset; we refer to these as the Novelty and the Tradition fallacies, respectively. Novelty reasons that whatever is progressive is an improvement whereas Tradition reasons that whatever is established must be better. Clearly, both perspectives cannot be correct as they lead to inconsistencies and, in practice, neither is valid. The progressive might argue that the abolition of slavery and the women’s suffrage movement were progressive and therefore proof that “society moving forward” is always a good thing. However, this is a selection bias as it ignores failed progressive movements. In the early 20th century, eugenics was a progressive policy that would be considered an atrocity by today’s standards. In the 1980’s in America it was a great new liberal idea to say that single mothers were well-equipped to do it all, yet study after study after study has since shown that children raised by single parents (especially never married mothers) have more emotional problems, are at a higher risk of drug abuse, and are more likely to have sexual issues and become single parents themselves. There should be a push and pull between change and tradition, and we should not assume one direction is always the best.

A similar lesson applies to the degree of authority the state holds. Anarchy technically means “no rulers” but it is unclear how rules can be enforced without rulers (in that case, the “rules” are merely suggestions). Anarchists disagree on what anarchy really means, which makes it difficult to function as a system. Originally, anarchists were against all hierarchies. Their philosophy was “property is theft” as the anarchist movement aimed to destroy capitalism. The anarchist believed that property rights were an invention of the states and that no person should be able to own land. This is in contrast to a newer wave of “anarcho-capitalists” who believe that complete anarchy is the only means for pure capitalism (anarcho-capitalists say “taxes are theft” while claiming property rights are okay). There are arguments why authority is necessary (or at least, moral) in some instances. Consider negative externalities that imposes costs on third parties. Anarcho-capitalists, who are extremists within the libertarian movement, love “voluntary exchange” but ideologically ignore any possibility of a market failure (which negative externalities are). It is immoral to impose costs on unrelated parties of the voluntary exchange, and the best practical solution for this failure is to bring in an independent third party (namely, the state) to correct that cost imbalance. On the top end, we have ample historical evidence why totalitarian states are dangerous and I doubt I have to cover that direction in depth. Those who argue that the only logical solution is total anarchy or total tyranny are committing the Continuum Fallacy.

It is a mistake to argue for extreme positions. Many incorrectly believe that this is “logical.” In reality, logic helps us analyze problems and often leads to moderate, complex, and nuanced positions. Intelligent people are more likely to be politically moderate as extreme points of view (whether left, right, up, or down) appeal to dogmatism, which requires less thought. Politics on the far end of the scale also tends to use more coercion (whether that be the tyranny of the state or the tyranny of the masses) to force policies on others who do not agree to them. If we want to function as a society we have to learn to be more moderate.

5 Comment

  1. Just a correction. Anarcho-Capitalists that I’ve seen do not ignore externalities. They take into consideration that if you are harmed, you have a right to legal restitution, so the cost of the externality is actually included in the transaction cost between the two parties. If you hire a concrete contractor to redo your driveway, and he accidentally spills concrete all over my lawn, then either you, or the contractor would have to fix my lawn as restitution. The risk of these kinds of accidents is covered in the operating costs that are taken into consideration when negotiating price.

  2. Another correction. haha. I said “legal” restitution when talking about anarchists. Poor choice of words. But there are arguments for how “law” could be done in a purely voluntary society.

  3. Rhino, how would an anarcho-capitalist deal with pollution? Let’s say that I own a business called Company Z in Denver, Colorado, but I happen to live in Maryland. I sell a product, Good X, to you. That is a voluntary exchange between you and I but the poor folks in Denver have to deal with pollution created by my factory. The way we operate now is add costs to the company, such as through taxes, that wouldn’t be present in a voluntary exchange between two parties. Basically, I think “voluntary exchange” is too simplified.

  4. I think a lot of people are biased towards moderates/centrists because “extremist” has a negative connotation attached to it, even though an extremist position may be perfectly correct. I don’t identify as a moderate, but I do identify as pragmatic. IE in the long run I support having a total govt spending and taxes of about 20% of GDP, (as opposed to something like 35 now when including federal, state and local) which is considered rather “extreme” these days but I think its worth it from the increased growth. I also specified the long run because as a pragmatic, I don’t believe nearly halving government’s role in the economy overnight is political feasible or desirable, as a cut that large would have to take a huge chunk out of entitlements or welfare, hurting those who are dependent on them. That’s why I support gradual welfare/entitlement reform and cuts, so people aren’t severely harmed in the short to mid run in order to promote growth in the long run.

  5. We could also save money on healthcare (one of the largest parts of the federal budget) by simply making it more efficient. Currently, doctors have incentive to order any and all tests, which are expensive, since they get paid more even if those tests are unnecessary.

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Nadastrom – “A Milli” (Remix)

Tired of hearing every rapper, R&B singer, has been and baby mama try to rap over that “A Milli” beat? Then check out this remix by my boy Dave Nada and Matt Nordstrom, aka Nadastrom. Their new album will be dropping real soon on Switch’s Dubsided label. (first spotted at Ddoff)


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Aidy Bryant, Tim Robinson, Cecily Strong: Meet the New ‘SNL’ Cast Members

‘Saturday Night Live’ overlord Lorne Michaels announces three new young comedians who will join the cast this fall. Take a look at their best comedy bits.

09.10.12 9:36 PM ET

Saturday Night Live fans may still be mourning the loss of Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, Abby Elliott, and (maybe/maybe not) Jason Sudeikis from the venerable late-night sketch series, but three promising fresh faces are set to enter the halls of Studio 8H to fill their comedic voids.

SNL overlord Lorne Michaels announced Monday that newcomers Aidy Bryant, Tim Robinson, and Cecily Strong will join the cast as featured players this year and make their late-night debuts on this Saturday’s season premiere (hosted by Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane with Frank Ocean as musical guest).

Aidy Bryant
Like many of SNL’s most celebrated vets—Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch—Bryant is an alum of the Second City improv troupe, as a member of the Second City E.T.C. stage. She trained at iO Chicago and performed at Chicago’s Annoyance Theater. Her comedic sensibility makes it seem that she could pick up right where Kristen Wiig left off. Her slightly off, yet still helplessly adorable “entrepernerd” in this clip, “Short Squeeze,” is reminiscent of the Bridesmaids star’s quirkiest characters.

As The New York Observer points out, Bryant represents a “first” for Saturday Night Live: she’ll be its first plus-size female cast member. In this slightly more unusual comedy clip, “Let’s Share,” she proves particularly gifted at physical comedy, while exhibiting a refreshing lack of vanity.

Tim Robinson

Robinson also hails from the Chicago comedy scene, where he performed with Second City. He also appears in at least one episode of CBS’ midseason comedy Friend Me, which stars Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad’s McLovin) and is set at the headquarters for a Groupon-like deal website. Judging by this trailer for a sketch comedy series called My Mans, his style is very John Belushi-ish—over the top, fully committed, and almost dangerously energetic. (Robinson actually starred in a My Mans pilot for Comedy Central, which was eventually declined.)

He also seems perfectly suited for SNL’s famed commercial parodies. “Missed Connections,” for example, mocks the Missed Connections section of the Craigslist website, on which romantics attempt to locate strangers they felt a romantic attraction to, but were too afraid to approach in public. He enters about halfway through the clip as man at a bus stop whose attraction to a female on the bench next to him quickly becomes unsettling.

Cecily Strong
Strong also comes from—you guessed it—Second City, where she was a member of the national touring company. Her gift for accents is on display in “The Real Quebec,” in which she plays the city’s worst tour guide. (“Some Quebec history: Here lives the biggest slut in Quebec.”) The character could easily be the focal point of one of SNL’s typically more bizarre sketches that air at the tail end of each weekend’s broadcasts.

The other major clip featuring Strong floating around the web also proves what a natural fit she’ll be for the show. A fake commercial for a feminine product called “Douche 2 Go,” the clip is as outlandish and uncouth as recent ones for “Annuale”—a medicine that allows women to have only one, albeit dramatic, period a year—and “Neutrogena Coin Slot Moisturizer,” for women wearing low-rise jeans.


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Friday, November 27, 2015

Three new David Austin beauties head to America in 2016

I attended the Chelsea Flower Show in May 1991. That year, a Silver Medal was awarded to a garden called Gothic Retreat. If I saw it, the plants and design have completely slipped my mind. You see, I was so gobsmacked by the enormity of the show and the variety of blooms, I didn’t know which way to turn.

I trained Cottage Rose as a climber
That year a hybridizer named David Austin introduced three roses I later grew in my Maryland Garden. Cottage Rose, The Dark Lady and Evelyn remain among my favorites.

But Mr. Austin was not new to Chelsea – in 1983 he unveiled two of his new, old-fashioned “English Roses” to the world, Graham Thomas and Mary Rose.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Chelsea photos courtesy David Austin English Roses
In 2014, David Austin English Roses secured an 18th Gold Medal in the Great Pavilion awards. Their team of eight worked for five days to prepare the display in the main marquee. Those readers who recall my posting about the 2013 Austin stand may not believe it, but that year’s presentation was even more stunning.

And in 2014, the show was a also family affair.

David Austin Senior, David Austin Junior and his son Richard were on hand to celebrate the award.  In addition, one of the 2014 Chelsea introductions was named Olivia Rose Austin after David Junior’s daughter.

Olivia Rose Austin (courtesy David Austin Roses)

Because the variety is named for a family member, it had to be something special. Olivia is the first offering in their disease-free line and has been in development for almost ten years.  The rose features soft pink rosette blooms and a fruity fragrance.  The Austin folks believe it might be their best rose to date.

Now, this stunning rose and two other English beauties will be available to American gardeners in 2016.

The second new introduction, The Poet’s Wife, has really caught my eye. Technical Manager Michael Marriott says it is a rare color in the David Austin pastel palette – an unfading rich yellow. It is a low grower, ideal for the front of the border. The fragrance is described as lemony, becoming sweeter and stronger with age.

The Poet's Wife (courtesy David Austin Roses)

The final new rose to make its debut next spring is The Lady of the Lake, only the fourth rambler to be added to the English Rose collection. It promises to grow 10 to 15 feet or more with long, slender flexible canes.

Unlike many ramblers, it repeat flowers throughout the summer and boasts a fresh citrus scent. Michael Marriott reports it may only be hardy to USDA Zone 7, but I intend to give it a try here in the mountains, even though we are Zone 6b.

Lady of the Lake (courtesy David Austin Roses)

So there you have it. The roses that caused crowds to swoon at Chelsea year before last are headed across the pond. You can place your orders now at David Austin Roses for spring delivery.

If you have a rose lover on your Christmas list, you might want to give a gift certificate. My family gave me one last Christmas and I used it to get a Darcey Bussell tree rose for my new garden. What a holiday treat!

Of course the Austin folks presented three more roses at Chelsea this year: Desdemona, The Ancient Mariner and Sir Walter Scott.

Since I’m married to a former officer in the Royal Navy, The Ancient Mariner will be on my must-have list when it becomes available

Wait a minute – I’m already getting my heart set on another rose before the 2014 Chelsea winners make their appearance at my front door?

If you have a bad case of English rose fever like me, I suspect you can relate.

Sunil Patel said...

Hi Lynn, I planted a couple of the roses you've mentioned in the front border and they've taken off very well this year, I can't wait to see them flowering again next year. If you'd come over in summer you would have had a sneak preview of what's coming over the pond next year!

Lynn Hunt said...

Hi Sunil! I remember you pointing those new Austins out to me during my wonderful visit. I hear Olivia Rose is hugely popular in the UK and has not suffered any disease. Can't wait to see mine bloom here next summer.

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Health Care Update

Updated March 21, 2009

The House just passed the Senate health care bill by a vote of 219 - 212.

Echoing Sen. Jim DeMint's characterization of health care as Obama's "Waterloo," former Bush speech writer David Frum labels the passage of health care legislation today the "most crushing legislative defeat since the 1960s" for conservatives and Republicans.

Frum lays the blame for the defeat squarely on Republican party leadership:

At the beginning of this process we made a strategic decision: unlike, say, Democrats in 2001 when President Bush proposed his first tax cut, we would make no deal with the administration. No negotiations, no compromise, nothing. We were going for all the marbles. This would be Obama’s Waterloo – just as healthcare was Clinton’s in 1994.

Only, the hardliners overlooked a few key facts: Obama was elected with 53% of the vote, not Clinton’s 42%. The liberal block within the Democratic congressional caucus is bigger and stronger than it was in 1993-94. And of course the Democrats also remember their history, and also remember the consequences of their 1994 failure.

This time, when we went for all the marbles, we ended with none.

He also reserves a share of blame for what he calls "the conservative entertainment industry."

... overheated talk has made it impossible for representatives to represent and elected leaders to lead. The real leaders are on TV and radio, and they have very different imperatives from people in government. Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination. When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted President Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say – but what is equally true – is that he also wants Republicans to fail. If Republicans succeed – if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office – Rush’s listeners get less angry. And if they are less angry, they listen to the radio less, and hear fewer ads for Sleepnumber beds.

Read the full commentary.

Hat tip to for the following:

  1. Pollster John Anzalone found that in Democratic congressional districts likely to be contested:
    • 60% of likely voters want health care reform and want it to pass this year, including 64% of swing voters.
    • As we've noted previously, once voters learn about the plan a majority supports it. Fourteen provisions were supported by more than 60% of those polled. Coverage of pre-existing conditions was the most popular provision.
    • Swing voters are as concerned about insurance companies as they are about any potentially negative consequence of reform.

    Anzalone also found that swing voters wanted more information about the reform bill before taking a firm position.

  2. Writing in American Enterprise Institute blog (yes, that American Enterprise Institute), Resident Scholar Norman Ornstein labels as "ridiculous" the "level of misinformation and disinformation over the use of reconciliation"

    and the self-executing rule that would permit the House to pass the Senate health-care bill without voting on it directly. Ornstein notes that between 2005 and 2006, then-House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier used the self-executing rule 35 times, including a $40 billion deficit reduction package, "so that his fellow GOPers could avoid an embarrassing vote on immigration."

Earlier, we noted these two items from Nate Silver's

  1. Setting aside the issue that voters think they oppose the health care bill, but actually support its provisions, Silver observes that's summary of numerous polls on the popularity of the health care bill shows that public support now is virtually unchanged from what it was when the measure passed the House
  2. This from February that shows that both times Congress approved a health care bill (House and Senate), Democrats got a bounce in the polls from their own party voters "without suffering any further harm from Republicans and independents."

As the debate proceeds this evening leading up to the health care bill vote, Republicans are repeatedly claiming that it will increase the deficit and destroy Medicare, in direct contradiction of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis:

Comprehensive health care reform will cost the federal government $940 billion over a ten-year period, but will increase revenue and cut other costs by a greater amount, leading to a reduction of $138 billion in the federal deficit over the same period, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.... It will cut the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the second ten year period.

[The bill] also extends Medicare's solvency by at least nine years and reduces the rate of its growth by 1.4 percent, while closing the doughnut hole for seniors, meaning there will no longer be a gap in coverage of medication. The CBO also estimated it would extend coverage to 32 million additional people.

More here.


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Tuesday, April 5, 2016

LoppStyle Wardrobe Inspiration: Shine On

Happy trend Tuesday! From the runway to the red carpet and the streets, clothing has been getting a lot shiner. The shimmery look is on trend and you it doesn't have to be the holidays for you to get your shine on. This is the perfect look for a night out. So get your shine on with inspiration from this look.

1. MARCO DE VINCENZO metallic striped v-neck dress, available at MATCHES FASHION. 2. TOM FORD 'Mason' silver metallic python sandals, available at HARRODS. 3. DEBORAH LIPPMAN metallic nail polish in 'Glamourous Life', available at BEAUTY.COM. 4. NAPIER polished silver metallic stud earrings, available at KOHL'S. 5. PROENZA SCHOULER small silver lunchbag clutch, available at SSENSE.

  1. I wish Lupita and her stylist had seen this post before her last red carpet disaster.


text:
The Buzz Latest News

Jourdan Dunn Is Designing Children’s Clothing

Just when you thought that model Jourdan Dunn’s life couldn’t get any more exciting, her agency Storm Model Management has just announced that she’ll be designing a children’s and young adults’ clothing line. It’s already proving to be quite the year for her, after winning her first solo Vogue U.K. cover and starring in Burberry’s spring campaign, the opportunities just keep flooding in, and it’s still only March.

A photo posted by Jourdan Dunn (@officialjdunn) on

She’ll be teaming up with the distributor that brought Hello Kitty to the U.K., Fluid World, and is signed to create at least two collections, which are set to include everything from sweatshirts and jeans to accessories. Now, all that remains is for a willing retail partner to create the range, and we’re pretty sure that Jourdan won’t be short on offers.

Oh so now you want to act shy Riley……. @kenzo

A photo posted by Jourdan Dunn (@officialjdunn) on

With a collection that’s set to cover so many different products, it sounds like she’s going to be quite the busy bee, and she’ll no doubt be turning to her own young son Riley for a spot of inspiration. The little cutie already pops up on her Instagram making his own mini fashion statements, which is hardly surprising. When your mum’s a high-profile model, you’re undoubtedly going to be one of the best-dressed kids at the playground.

Now, let’s just see which retailer manages to snap up the opportunity first.


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Download PDF

A Solitude of Spirit

The day that Joseph died, Jesus wept. Though the son of God knew who He was God did not permit him to resurrect his earthly father. The agony of that day is only surpassed by the Garden of Gethsemane.

The sorrows of the Spirit

Being perfectly sensitive to the Spirit exposes you also to all the imperfection of man.  Knowing how wonderful God is and trusting Him implicitly, when those around you dwell in sin, is a special agony of soul and spirit.

Jesus had to wait, knowing that his friend Lazarus was dying. God says,

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.”

John 11:31,32

The desert of this world

So Jesus followed the Holy Spirit no matter what anyone else did or said.  No matter how difficult it was to see others not realize what He was or what was available to them in Him.  Jesus submitted his whole life to God for one purpose: to manifest His glory to the world.  In so doing, he died alone, hanging on a cross for each one of us.

In our lives, when we dare to believe God we also become men and women of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  Follow God separates us from men and takes on a path that others cannot or will not follow.  Ultimately, we are left with God alone on our own cross as we go to meet our maker.

No longer of this earth

As the men and women of God come to perfection the things of this life become strangely dim.  We take no pleasure in the things of the Earth for we see eternity before us.  We sacrifice all we know in order to obtain a better resurrection.  People we meet become spirit or they become nothing.  We walk on the high places where one slip can mean certain disaster.  Yet, because we follow His Spirit our feet become like hinds feet on high places.

Oh, how I long to live in heavenly places.  I cannot wait to be fully united with God and my brethren.  Increasingly this life is becoming like fingernails on slate.  Let all those who worship God worship Him in Spirit and in truth so that we can leave this place for our eternal home.

My prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus. open the heavenlies to us so that we may become one with You.  Take the fear and pain from our lives so that we may rest with each other in faith, love and harmony.  Help our unbelief so that we can walk with you in the cool of the day once again.  Help us rise up on the wings of eagles to soar with You in heavenly places.


text:
“Why Didn’t He Design Anything Else?” Looking at Mikhail Kalashnikov’s Forgotten Firearms Portfolio

Last weekend, I took the major arguments of Kalashnikov conspiracy theorists head on, and one of those – which I hear rather frequently – is why he did not design any other weapons besides the AK-47.

The reason is… He did. Kalashnikov was a skilled and fairly prolific designer who by the mid-1960s had a near-monopoly on the designs of platoon-level small arms (excluding the Makarov handgun and short-lived Stetchkin machine pistol). This was of course partly due to the universality of his AK assault rifle design, but also because of his excellent PK machine gun – a weapon that borrowed many of the AK’s mechanical features but married them to an extremely well-designed and reliable belt-feed mechanism.

Kalashnikov’s career as a designer spanned several decades, beginning in 1942 as he was recovering from a shoulder wound he received the previous year when the T-34 tank he was commanding was hit. His first firearm design was the submachine gun chambered for the 7.62x25mm Tokarev round, shown below:

Kalashnikov first used the MP40-esque folding stock design on his 1942 submachine gun design.

Kalashnikov’s submachine gun did not get far; it was not judged competitive with Sudaev’s already-adopted PPS-43 submachine gun. However, the design brought Kalashnikov recognition as an extremely creative and dedicated designer. In 1944, Kalashnikov was given samples of the new 7.62x41mm round, and set to designing a selfloading rifle for it, resulting in the rifle below:

By late 1944, the focus had shifted from selfloading rifles, to assault rifles – avtomats – and Kalashnikov accordingly began work on his first prototypes in this class. The rifles below are often collectively called “AK-46”, although they are properly two different designs. Both use the same rotating bolt design as his selfloading rifle above, something he adapted from John Garand’s M1, and which – along with his robust and reliable magazine design, also present in these early prototypes – would form the heart of his world-famous AK-47:

img010 img011

These weapons, however, were short-stroke, and sported left-hand charging handles as well as left-side switch-type controls. In trials, Kalashnikov’s initial prototypes suffer problems, and so he went back to the drawing board, creating the substantially simpler and more robust AK-47, the first version of which is shown below:

Mechanically, AK-47 No. 1 is 100% Kalashnikov as we recognize it today; only secondary features would change on the road to adoption.

Once Mikhail’s AK-47 was accepted by the Russian military, he set out to design a new submachine gun, once again, this time in the brand-new 9x18mm Makarov caliber. This rifle was an open-bolt, select-fire weapon sporting a collapsible stock. It also featured an invention that many probably believe came much later with Marc Krebs: A bolt-hold open notch on the Kalashnikov-style safety.

On modern closed-bolt AK-47 rifles, this notch is a convenience, but on this open-bolt submachine gun, it’s a major safety feature. Its inclusion means that this weapon could be cocked, and then the safety engaged to absolutely prevent any possibility of the bolt slipping the sear and firing a round unintentionally. This mechanism was typical of the simplicity and effectiveness of Kalashnikov’s inventions.

Nathaniel F

Nathaniel is a history enthusiast and firearms hobbyist whose primary interest lies in military small arms technological developments beginning with the smokeless powder era. In addition to contributing to The Firearm Blog, he runs 196,800 Revolutions Per Minute, a blog devoted to modern small arms design and theory. He is also the author of the original web serial Heartblood, which is being updated and edited regularly. He can be reached via email at nathaniel.f@staff.thefirearmblog.com.

  • Raginzerker

    I really like that first submachine gun, looks like it should be in fallout, good read.

  • Denis

    Sorry for my English, but main argument – the Kalashnikov machine gun PK.

    • ZMD

      Yep, the PK/PKM was his other big design and common everywhere you can find AKs.

      • PK

        …except the USA. I cry about that, at times.

        At all times.

        • wysoft

          I always hoped for lots of Romanian PKM kits if they adopted 7.62 NATO
          It will probably never happen.

          • jcitizen

            All PKM kits dried up instantly after the Sandy Hook disaster. There was someone making excellent semi-auto receivers for them, but because the parts kits dried up, they quit making them.

      • wysoft

        It’s funny how simple the execution was.

        We need new GPMG
        “Okay, make AK bigger and put bipod”
        We need belt feed, quick barrel change, and eject to left side
        “Okay, flip AK internals upside down, now rifle is loading from top”

        Project complete

  • JustAHologram

    Is that a Tommy gun grip?

    • PK

      From a Thompson? No, it’s only similar.

      Inspired by a Thompson? Yes, possibly, although it was already a feature on some prototype Russian arms by then, so it’s likely Kalashnikov had exposure to the concept from multiple sources.

      • Joe

        Yep, definitely not a Thompson grip, but we did Lend-Lease several thousand M1928’s to the Soviets, which I assume is where Kalashnikov got it from.

        • iksnilol

          Or he could have gotten the idea from Fedorov?

          • Anonymoose

            We gave the Soviets a Thompson with every tank purchased (but never any ammo afaik). Kalashnikov was a tanker originally, so he may have seen some Thompsons firsthand. Still, having an integral, ergonomic foregrip like that is a good idea on any submachinegun or automatic rifle.

            On a side-note, they used those Thompsons in movies later on, like the original Stalker film from the 70s.

          • iksnilol

            Yeah, but Fedorov automat was made in WW1.

            Yeah, Tommies are popular, high ROF made it well liked by my uncle in the 90’s in Ex-Yu.

          • ostiariusalpha

            As a tanker, he would have been far more likely to run across a Thompson than one of the few thousand Fedorov rifles that had been issued for the faraway Karelian front.

          • Jonathan Ferguson

            True, but he was very familiar with Federov’s work and cited his book on automatic weapons as a major inspiration (read it whilst recuperating).

          • ostiariusalpha

            That’s true, “Evolution of Small Arms” even has an illustration.

          • Jay

            The Russian tankers weren’t very impressed with the Thompson that came with their tanks. Few weeks ago i read the memoir of a Russian M4 Sherman tanker. The guy was happy with his tank and preffered it to the T34, but they got rid of the Tommy gun quick. The guy said the gun was too big and bulky to maneuver inside the tank and they found out the performance of the round to be poor, in the winter, when soldiers wore heavy clothing. They quickly got rid of it and replaced it with an MP-40. He said that all tankers loved the compact mp40. That’s what he carried for the rest of the war.

          • Rock or Something

            Commanding the Red Army’s Sherman Tanks: The World War II Memoirs of Hero of the Soviet Union Dmitriy Loza

            His story is fascinating for sure. He recalled a time in (Yugoslavia?) where the high center of gravity from his Sherman pretty much saved his life. When it was knocked on its side due to a mine, everyone in his tank survived, but the other tanks behind him pressed forward and were destroyed in a well planned ambush.

            Crewman would often find little gifts in newly shipped lend and lease Shermans, like hard liquor from the factory workers here in the states.

            Another thing about the Thompson is that I don’t think they shipped over enough 45 caliber ammo, so even if the Russians wanted to use them, they couldn’t for any long periods of engagements.

          • PK

            My thinking exactly, and one of the earlier guns in the area to feature such a grip.

  • kyphe

    The common opinion I run into is that the Ak46 is Kalashnikov but the 47 is the committee gun he was told to build using technical drawings and examples of all favored parts from all the other submissions from the other designers in that same test.

    The level of difference between the two is one of the main reasons some people don’t class the AK47 as primarily Kalashnikovs

    • That opinion is baseless, so far as I know.

      Kalashnikov clearly did take ideas from the AB-46 Bulkin, but where in the West this would be a scandal, in the USSR this kind of idea-sharing was encouraged. So in using the best elements of the AB-46 to simplify and ruggedize his design, Kalashnikov was actually doing his job.

      Despite the similarities between the AK-47 and AB-46, I still think Kalashnikov designed the AK-47. I’ll explain why in a post some other day.

      Regarding how different the AK-46 and AK-47 are… That’s very normal. Garand’s T3 and T1 rifles are very different than his previous models, for example, and Eugene Stoner’s AR-10 prototypes are likewise substantially different than the work he was doing before. We must remember that designers learn from their experience and especially their mistakes. Kalashnikov’s AK-46 was criticized in trials, and so he took it back to the drawing board to correct those errors.

      • Steve_7

        Kalashnikov himself always gave evasive answers when people started to look into the details of how he designed the rifle. It clearly was a group effort.

  • Sasquatch

    That smaller open bolt smg makes me think of a scorpion.

    • PK

      It’s the nose and wire stock, for sure. It’s like a stretched receiver Sa61.

      • Sasquatch

        Yea I wish the would import some….

        • PK

          You could always make one? Even if it were importable, they weren’t ever really made in great numbers since you’re looking at a prototype. It may have even just been a one-off. PPS-43 parts kits are cheap and abundant, and with some work you could end up with just what you want!

          Or did you mean a Sa61? Those are commercially available in the USA, and in Canada there are parts kits and 80% receivers available as well.

          • Sasquatch

            The Sa61. Yes commercially available but no more imports as far as I can see. Also where can you find these parts kit and receivers?

          • PK

            For the USA or for Canada?

            The pistols are still brought into the USA and sold by Czechpoint, and Recon Ordnance has kits and receivers (100%) for sale.

            For Canada, I’m unclear on the status of the finished gun and I’m unaware of any company selling them, but Dlask sells 80% receivers, blueprints, and parts kits.

          • Sasquatch

            US and that’s sweet I will have to check them out. Only place I thought they were anymore was gunbroker.

          • PK

            No problem! Czechpoint doesn’t do much advertising, but their customer service is fantastic. I own a few of their Sa61s, one of each caliber. Great guns, and they’ll be bringing in the .22lr kits soon as well.

          • Sasquatch

            I know what santa will have in his sack for me this year…..

          • PK

            Make sure to read the whole FAQ on Czechpoint’s website.

          • jcitizen

            APEX gun parts has a lot of kits most of the time. (when they don’t run out)

  • jimmy craked corn

    How much of this is true and how much is Soviet propaganda? Can you even separate the two?

    • Considering none of the above weapons ever actually appeared in Soviet propaganda, none of it.

  • Audie Bakerson

    Why did they ever adopt 9×18 when better pistol cartridges were widespread by the time it was introduced?

    • PK

      Direct blowback pistols are incredibly cheap and easy to manufacture. When you need a few million of something, you tend to attempt cost reduction per unit.

      • Audie Bakerson

        Ah, so they deliberately made a worse cartridge so it was low power enough for that. That makes sense.

        • RJMBI

          If I recall, and someone correct me if I’m wrong, I believe the Soviets wanted to adopt something different enough that if their depots were overtaken, western enemies wouldn’t be utilize the munitions.

          • PK

            Likely apocryphal.

          • SlowJoeCrow

            Maybe for the pistol round, but the 82mm mortar was almost definitely designed to prevent enemies from using captured ammunition, since 81mm mortar bombs will work in an 82mm tube but 82mm bombs won’t fit in an 81mm tube.

          • Tritro29

            I think it’s more of a by product than the goal. Plus that’s our dear Rezun’s line, don’t fall for it.

          • n0truscotsman

            Them pesky Russians. Very tricksy 😉

        • PK

          That was pretty much the raison d’etre behind the PM and 9x18mm’s development, yes. The simplest pistol with the fewest parts firing the heaviest bullet at the highest velocity that could still easily kill out of a handgun barrel, but would be dead simple to make a blowback pistol to accommodate.

          It worked for the mission goal, and very well. It isn’t a “worse” cartridge, it’s just lower powered. For the purpose required, it’s fine.

    • Kivaari

      It delivered near 9×19 performance in a blow back pistol and could not share ammunition with the enemy. Pistols don’t have a big roll in combat. Perhaps they felt it was enough.

  • I wasn’t describing your comments specifically, just generally pointing it out.

    • Jay

      You are absolutely right. Usually they share research and the final product usually incorporated good design features from competing designs.
      In some cases, research institutes, not involved in the actual competition shared new discoveries with all competing teams to improve the final product.
      A perfect example is the use of long LERX ahead of the wing on combat aircraft. Sukhoi discovered the advantages of the LERX and they informed the central aeronautical research institute, who did all the wind tunel testing and the math and then shared the info with the other aeronautical companies, MIG, Yak, Tupolev. That’s how Mig 29 and Tu-160 and later yak 130 got their LERX.

  • David B

    There was a Hillary Clinton ad in the middle of this article. Almost ruined it for me.

  • Steve C

    You forgot the best weapon he ever designed = The PKM light machine gun in 7.62x54R. The most prevalent soviet era machine gun, and it is still being used in the Russian Army and variants of it can be found and are made all over the world. This is probably the best gun of it’s type on the battlefield today. Not because it is finely crafted and made from the finest materials, but because it works – in fact it will even continue to operate with a broken firing pin. It’s basically an inverted AK action beefed up to handle the 7.62x54R round. It requires less maintenance and care than any other machinegun – belt or magazine fed, and it weighs less than most of the guns in it’s class. Kalishnikov perfected the quick change barrel with the PKM, and it’s probably the fastest barrel to change of any weapon in it’s class. It has a controllable rate of fire, doesn’t care about rain/wind/snow/ice/heat/dirt/sand/water or any other condition you can throw at it, it just works and keeps working. Like the AK47, the PKM is a loose tolerance weapon, somewhat crudely finished but it is accurate and mobile and that is what you want in a light machine gun.

    • Second paragraph.

      • Steve C

        Sorry, apologies… I’m using a tablet and it isn’t always accurate and the ads scramble the articles… damned Android OS. Anyway,

    • Max Glazer

      Not loose tolerances, but big clearances

  • Kivaari

    Nathaniel, This is an excellent series. I’ve heard the disbelievers repeating the negative claims for 40 years. After 40 plus years if being around and using AKs and reading quite a few books on the man and the guns I developed a deal of respect for him.

  • Kevin Gibson

    Again, excellent job Nathaniel; thank you. Also remember, Kalashnikov is credited with inventing the PK machinegun, which, while not perfect, is an excellent machinegun.

    • Hi, Keith, thanks for the kind feedback! I do mention the PK in the second paragraph.

  • DiverEngrSL17K

    Great condensed article — thanks! The association of Mikhail Kalashnikov with the AK-47 is so ubiquitous that we often fail to see beyond to his numerous other designs. All supported, of course, by a design bureau that also tends to be overlooked for the same reason.

    A similar fate appears to have befallen most other well-known firearms designers and design teams throughout history when one or a handful of their products becomes the primary symbol of their success, except perhaps for John Moses Browning.

  • There are also a bunch of sporting guns. None of them went into mass production (or at least were popular as far as I know), but the Kalashnikov exhibition at St.-Petersburg Artillery and Signal Corps Museum had several of his post-war prototypes for civilian self-loading rifles and shotguns.


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Anderson's Crosswire Bird of Prey - October Caddis
Anderson's Crosswire Bird of Prey - October Caddis
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Default Anderson's Crosswire Bird of Prey - October Caddis

Anderson's Crosswire Bird of Prey - October Caddis
Anderson's Crosswire Bird of Prey - October Caddis Click the image to open in full size.
Type of Fly Caddis Pupa
Originator of Pattern Rick Anderson
Tied and Submitted by MoscaPescador
Level of Tying Experience Needed to Tie This Pattern Intermediate
Materials Listed in Order of Tie In:
Hook TMC 2457 or equivalent, size 6
Bead Tungsten bead, 7/32"
Weight .030" lead wire
Thread 6/0 Uni-Thread, Black
Tail Gadwall flank feather tip.
Body Three strands of small Ultra Wire spun together: hot orange, hot yellow, silver
Thorax UV Ice Dub, pearl.
Wing Gadwall flank feather tied on using a distribution wrap
Collar UV Ice Dub, black. Peacock herl can be used as a substitute.
Note 1 The tools that are needed to spin the wires are a vise and a set of rotating hackle pliers. Take three strands of wire (about a foot in length) and lock it in the jaws of a vise. Grab the other end with the jaws of the rotating hackle pliers. Start spinning. Keep spinning until you get the twisting consistency that you like. From there, the spun wire is wrapped just like any other single strand wire.
Note 2 For different effects, other feathers can be used for the tail and wing. Mallard, Teal, or Wood Duck flank feathers have different coloring and barring. Partridge could be used as a substitute also.
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By Pocono on 10-14-2010, 08:35 PM
Default Re: Anderson's Bird of Prey - October Caddis

Nice caddis pattern, Dennis!

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The Fresh Loaf

News & Information for Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts

bake revisited

yozzause's picture

bake revisited

Hi Folks

i was reminded by work colleauges that i had not baked for a little while and that they were feeling deprived of some nice bread. So with that thought ringing in my ears and the thought that i hadn't baked since i had changed my feeding regime for the sourdough culture  where it now spends more time in the cool room than out, coming out for a couple of days for a few feeds and going back in the fridge for a longer stay.

I decided to come in early to work and put through a white dough 3kg flour 2 litres of water and 1 kg of culture(100%hyd) 75g salt 1x 50g egg and 150g of butter.

The dough was mixed well as i had decided that it would get no stretch and folds just a bulk fermentation which lasted for 4.5 hours so the dough was scaled and shaped after my lunch and placed on linen couches for an overnight stay in the cool room. 4 @750g 5 @ 500g 4 @ 250g

Again i came in early and baked off the dough before my scheduled 7.45 start

I managed to get a cut shot just before the loaf was eaten at lunch time, please disregard the cutting board with coffee stains

I have also included a couple of pictures of bread that was made recently during a visit from fellow TFL follower Betsy Teo, im sure she is about to do her write up  about her Aussie Aventure whilst on holiday from Malaysia ( the pressure is on)

Home brew stout with torrified wheat sourdough to the left,  with cottage loaf and stick made  from black sesame white dough (No time dough)

Turmeric with Haloumi Cheese and Spring Onion Sourdough loaf inside and out.

Kind regards Derek

Mebake's picture

Your breads are terrific, Derek! And this sourdough starter of yours should be very active! Is the starter fed only white flour?

best wishes!

yozzause's picture

Hi Khalid

At the present time the culture is just fed on white flour, but I would probably use it for the base  for any other starter that i wanted to get going. this was originally purchased some 3 years ago as Brett Noy's award winning starter and it has performed quite well. i was also  able to get a different culture sample from fellow TFL'r Ross n Roller  that i still maintain and use from time to time although there appears to be very little difference between the two now.

Hopefully we will see Betsy Teo complete the story of her visit to Perth, otherwise i will have to elaborate on the TORRIFIED WHEAT  and the TURMERIC, HALOUMIE CHEESE AND SPRING ONION myself.

kind regards Derek

isand66's picture

Beautiful spread of breads Derek.

Thanks for sharing.

yozzause's picture

Thanks Ian just waiting for Betsy to do her write up now.

dabrownman's picture

recipe for the stout so i could make an authentic rendition of your terrific stout and torrified wheat SD bread!  It is finally cold enough to do some brewing in Phoenix.  The rest of the breads look amazing and must be tasty as usual too!

Happy baking and brewing Derek!

yozzause's picture

Hi Dab more than happy

the formula is based on the standard 3:2:1 that i use for S/D

1500g white flour 1500g whole meal flour = 3000g

2.1 litres (3 x 700ml bottles) of home brew stout  the one i made recently was an Australian kit from a company called Deliverence  which has been really nice. I also added dark malt at the bottling stage  2 teaspoons or about 7 grams per 700ml bottle.

1 kg of culture (100%hyd)

60g salt

50g egg (1)

60g butter

500g torrified wheat that i got from the brew shop and is used by brewers for better head retention i believe,

I soaked the wholemeal with the stout for 3 hours i also think this formula could take 200mls more liquid as the torrified wheat definately sucked up a lot of moisture during the 24 hours in the cool room.

Perhaps add the torrified wheat to the 3 hour soak with the wholemeal

Mixed the dough well and as this was a demo dough that i was showing the stretch and fold techniques every hour x 3 sets on the 4th hour scaled and shaped onto couches and boards into the cool room.

This dough was going to be handled and baked off by a class that i got together quickly when Betsy was going to be in Perth on a visit from Malaysia.

So the class got to place the dough pieces on trays wash and slash and into the oven, I could feel the thirst that the torrified wheat had created in the dough when handling hence my recommendation of another 200mls.

The other dough the Haloumi cheese and spring onion was the dough we mixed and handled stretch and folds  scale and shape and into takeaway containers to refrigerate and bake the following day or two. I in fact baked loaves over 3 days

With that dough i would have probably left the onions  in chunkier 1/2" pieces but one of our chefs chopped them up quite finely and very quickly i turned around and they were all done, the Turmeric was used to highlight the cheese and onion pieces.

 I have seen a few people refering to spent grain being used after brewing so perhaps i should try the Torrified wheat in the brew and then add it to a dough after that what do you think? it will certainly take up its thirst .

kind regards Derek

dabrownman's picture

what torrified wheat is.  It is unmalted puffed wheat,, very dry and thirsty that has the enzymes killed off though a higher heat puffing and drying process.  If used in brewing, it has to have enzymes attack the starch in it from other malted grains that have enough diastaic malt power to convert the malted grain plus the torrified non malted wheat portion and needs to be mashed at no more than 150 F.  Like you said, It is supposed to help with head retention in the poured stout.  I've never tried in in beer and the guys at the brew store haven't either but better head retention got their ears perked up so they ordered some it to test it out:-).

I think in bread, it needs to be in the autolyse with the whole grain and maybe some diastatic malt powder to add some enzymes?  It should be much dryer and more thirsty than a whole grain so the extra liquid you think it needs.... it probably does need it.  Since we aren't into head in bread, maybe it will help the rise and spring:-)  I do put diastatic and non diastatic malt in beer all the time though for extra starch conversion for the white malt and color and flavor enhancement for the red malt - just like bread.  Barley Malt Syrup has no diastatic power since it is made at too high a temperature that kills off the enzymes.  BMS makes home brewing convenient and less time consuming since the sugar is already converted from the starch in the barley.  I use it as an additive for color and flavor in both bread and beer all the time too.

I've never figured out why to use spent brewing grain in bread.  When we make beer, we make sure to get all the starch converted to sugar we can for the yeast to turn into alcohol so.... i don't know what it would do for bread other than to be an extender or, if used whole, impart a mouth feel for chew or possibly flavor?  It won't be supplying any food for the yeast to eat .

Thanks for the recipe Derek.  I have some double chocolate stout just waiting for a bread like this one!

yozzause's picture

Hi Dab i shall look forward to seeingthe bread and hearing how the head retention went.

I shall be giving it another go myself too but with a darn good soak mostlikely in the stout.

kind regards Derek


text:
Montauk Linen King Flat Sheet - Sandstorm

RRP $190.00
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Montauk 100% Linen Flat Sheet - Sandstorm

The super light Sandstorm flat sheets are woven from the purest French flax. Pre-washed for that relaxed, lived-in look and feel, the more you wash it, the softer it becomes! Breathable and absorbent, our flat sheets will keep you cool in summer and snug in winter. They’re just made to be loved!
100% Pure Linen
Queen: 210 x 210cm
King: 240 x 210cm
Please see below to purchase coordinating accessories.
Care Instructions:
Cool to warm wash
Do not tumble dry
Launder stains immediately

The Difference Between Linen & Cotton

‘Linen’ can loosely refer to the many bedding items around the house such as sheets, quilt covers and pillowcases, however not many people know that linen is also a stand alone textile, completely unique and different from cotton material.  Both possess a multitude of amazing properties, but let's get to the root of how these two super-fabrics differ...

100% PURE LINEN: The lowdown
Linen or pure linen, (referred to throughout this article) is a textile made from the stalk of the flax plant and is laborious to manufacture.  Flax plants must be pulled rather than cut from the ground to protect the full length of the fibre. Microbes then decompose the woody sections allowing easy separation of the fibre, which is then rolled and stored for 3 months for softening.  Combing separates the impurities and shorter fibers from the long fibers which are processed and spun into smooth, soft yarn.  The longer more refined fibers of the flax plant are used for bed linen whilst the short fibers form a heavier yarn and are used for sturdier applications such as upholstery and heavy apparel items.

100% COTTON: The lowdown
 Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of cotton plant.  Cotton is harvested mechanically, by a cotton picker machine that removes the cotton from the boll without damaging the cotton plant.  Cotton fibre surrounds the seeds of the cotton plant.  Cotton in its raw state is not naturally strong. To turn it into a strong yarn, it needs to be twisted or spun. It can then be woven into cotton cloth.

cotton bol

Uncut stems of the flax plant and bolls of the cotton plant ready for harvest.

So what is the difference between cotton and pure linen you may ask …?

Both produce robust fabrics, however pure linen is known to be the world’s strongest natural fibre and is 2-3 times stronger than cotton. Correctly cared for cotton sheets should last for 4-5 years, whereas pure linen sheets only begin to hit their stride after this time.

Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch.  Pure linen thread is naturally thicker than cotton so by comparison has a lower thread count.  Average pure linen fabric will have a thread count of between 80-180.  Because cotton yarn is finer, cotton fabric only starts at about 200.  Pure linen is not categorized by thread count whereas nearly all cotton sheeting is.  The Thread Count Fallacy is a great misconception that a high thread count equates to a superior quality sheet but this is not always the case and most bedsheets companies in Europe have removed thread count from their packaging.

 Pure linen absorbs water a lot faster than cotton. Water will penetrate to both sides of pure linen in a very short time whereas cotton will take a longer time for water to penetrate through the fabric.  This is why cotton sheets can feel rather damp for an extended time when you begin to sweat.  The moisture takes longer to evaporate from the fabric.  Pure linen can gain up to 20% of its dry weight in moisture before it begins to feel damp.  This property allows pure linen to still feel comfortable and relatively dry, by its ability to remove perspiration from the skin.

 The rate a fabric transfers heat is referred to as its heat conductivity.  Heat conductivity and air permeability combine to make a fabric feel fresh and cool.  Pure linen’s long fibers have the highest heat conductivity of any fabric and has the ability to lower skin temperature.  Pure linen will keep the body cool in summer and warm in winter.  Cotton also transfers heat away from the body but not as efficiently as pure linen and is best used in average temperatures.

Pure linen is cool to touch and is thicker than cotton.  It’s a weighty fabric without being stuffy or stifling like some heavy thread count cotton sheets.  Pure linen fibers contain a natural resin called lignin which at first can make the fibers stiff, and appear somewhat rough, however through normal use and wash pure linen will soften, becoming smooth and lustrous.  Cotton is comfortable on the skin, light and soft to touch and is quite soft straight from packaging.

 Pure linen is costly to due to the timely and laborious process to harvest and manufacture it.  Premium linen is cultivated in France and Belgium, both having optimal climates and conditions for growing the flax plant.  The cotton plant is versatile and resilient and can be grown all over the world.  Production is mainstream as well as easier and faster than pure linen, reflecting in a less expensive purchase price.

 So there you have it - head to head, pure linen and cotton are superb natural textile heavyweights each with a long list of advantages.  Both are soft, durable fabrics and deciding which to purchase comes down to budget, purpose, aesthetics and of course personal taste.

Barcode # FL-SAND
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History and Traditions of the Royal Artillery

Image - Historic image of a Royal Artilleryman

The first recorded use of cannon on the battlefield was by Edward III at the Battle of Crecy in 1346 during the Hundred Years' War. Up to the eighteenth century, artillery ‘traynes’ were raised by Royal Warrant for specific campaigns and disbanded again on their conclusion. This changed on 26 May 1716, when by the Royal Warrant of George I two regular companies of field artillery, each 100 men strong, were raised at Woolwich, leading to the title "Royal Artillery" (RA) which was first used in 1720.

On 1 April 1722 these companies were expanded to four, and grouped with independent artillery companies in Gibraltar and Minorca to form the Royal Regiment of Artillery, commanded by Colonel Albert Bogard. In 1741 the Royal Military Academy formed in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich (RWA). The regiment expanded rapidly and by 1757 there were 24 companies divided into two battalions, as well as a Cadet Company formed in 1741.

During 1748 the Presidential Artilleries of Bengal, Madras and Bombay, India were formed and then in 1756 saw the creation of the Royal Irish Regiment of Artillery. The Regiment grew to 32 companies by 1771 organised into four battalions, as well as two Invalid Companies comprising older and unfit men employed in garrison duties. 1782 brought the move of the Royal Artillery to RA Barracks (front parade) on Woolwich Common.

The Napoleonic Wars saw the need to provide fire-support for the cavalry so a formation of Horse Artillery was created in 1793 with two troops of Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) being raised, joined by two more in November 1793. The Royal Irish Artillery was absorbed into the Royal Artillery in 1801 to produce twelve RHA troops and a hundred RA companies in 10 battalions. Before 1825 batteries had been called after their commander's name this was to cease and RA batteries known by a number and RHA batteries a letter. During 1805 RWA moved to Woolwich Common for all RA and RE officers.

Image - Battle of Waterloo uniforms

The Crimean War saw the increase of the Royal Artillery to 199 batteries and in 1855 the abolition of the Board Ordnance, which had until then controlled the Royal Artillery. Thereafter the regiment came under the War Office along with the rest of the army. A School of Gunnery was established in Shoeburyness, Essex in 1859. In 1862 the regiment absorbed the artillery of the British East India Company – 21 horse batteries and 48 field batteries – which brought its strength up to 29 horse batteries, 73 field batteries and 88 heavy batteries.

Image - WW1 Uniform

On 1 July 1899, the Royal Artillery was divided into three groups: the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery comprised one group, while the Coastal Defence, Mountain, Siege and Heavy artillery were split off into another group named the Royal Garrison Artillery. The third group continued to be titled simply Royal Artillery, and was responsible for ammunition storage and supply. The RFA and RHA both dressed as mounted soldiers, whereas the RGA dressed like foot soldiers. The First World War brought with it a massive expanse of the Royal Artillery By 1917, there were 1,769 batteries in over 400 brigades totalling 548,000 men.

In 1920 the rank of Bombardier was instituted in the Royal Artillery. The three sections effectively functioned as separate corps. This arrangement lasted until 1924, when the three amalgamated once more to became one regiment. The Royal Horse Artillery, which has always had separate traditions, uniforms and insignia, still retains a separate identity within the regiment, however, and is considered (by its members at least) to be an élite.

Before the Second World War, Royal Artillery recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 4 inches tall and men in mechanised units had to be at least 5 feet 8 inches tall. In 1938, the Royal Artillery Brigades were renamed Regiments. In the Second World War over a million men were serving in over 960 Gunner regiments. With the coming of peace the Gunners reduced to 250,000 men and 365 batteries in 106 regiments.

At the end of the Second World War, the RA was larger than the Royal Navy. In 1947 the Riding Troop RHA was renamed The King's Troop RHA, and in 1951 the appointment of regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief became Captain General. Following the end of National Service and the Cold War, the Royal Artillery fell further to its lowest strength since the 1820s; 14 Regular and 7 Territorial Artillery Regiments.

Traditions of the Royal Artillery

Image - Badge of the Royal Artillery

The Royal Horse Artillery on parade with its guns, takes precedence over all other Regiments and Corps of the British Army. Otherwise the precedence is LG and RHG/D, RHA, RAC, RA followed by other Arms and Services.

The Colours of the Royal Regiment of Artillery are its Guns or Guided Weapons. When on parade on Ceremonial occasions the Guns and Guided Weapons are to be accorded the same compliments as the Standards, Guidons and Colours of the Cavalry and Infantry.

Mottoes and Arms
The Regimental Mottoes and Arms were granted by King William IV in 1832.
Ubique - Everywhere,
Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt - Where Right and Glory lead.
A general Regimental Order was published in 1833 which stated that the word ‘Ubique’ was to be substituted in lieu of all other terms of distinction hitherto borne on any part of the Dress of Appointments, throughout the whole Regiment. The motto 'Ubique' thus took the place of all battle honours conferred on the Regiment prior to that date and all which have been earned by the regiment since then. The Regiment proudly refers to ‘Ubique’ as its Battle Honour.

The Coat of Arms of the Regiment is the Royal Arms and Supporters over a gun with the mottoes Ubique and Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt on scrolls above and below the gun.

The Regimental Tie is a zigzag red line on a blue background. The line represents the lightning which, according to legend, killed Dioscorus in retribution for beheading his daughter Barbara for refusing to marry a heathen suitor. Before her death she turned to Christianity and was later canonized. In the early ages St. Barbara was frequently invoked to grant safety during thunderstorms and on the advent of artillery became the Patron Saint of Gunners.

The White Lanyard
There has long been a tale about the Gunners wearing a white lanyard for cowardice, allegedly for deserting their guns. Of course, the story is nothing more than a myth. However this tale still seems to be told and it is time it was put to rest.

Lanyards associated with dress came into use in the late 19th Century, when field guns, such as the 12 and 15 pounders, used ammunition which had fuzes set with a fuze key. The key was a simple device, and every man had one, attached to a lanyard worn around the neck. The key itself was kept in the breast pocket until needed. The lanyard would hanging loose and soon become dirty and for the day-to-day barrack routine it looked out of place on an otherwise smart uniform, so for peace time purposes, the lanyard was plaited, and blancoed white, to match the white bandolier and the white waist belt worn by the Gunners of the day.

Prior to the South African War, Gunners were issued with a steel folding hoof pick, carried on the saddle or in the knife. In about 1903 these were withdrawn and replaced with jack knives, which were carried in the left breast pocket of the Service Dress attached to a lanyard over the left shoulder. In the war years that followed, the lanyard could be used as an emergency firing lanyard for those guns which had a trigger firing mechanism, allowing the gunner to stand clear of the gun’s recoil.

About the time of the Great War, the lanyard was moved to the right shoulder, simply because of the difficult problem of trying to remove the knife from the pocket underneath the bandolier. By now the bandolier and belt, worn with the battle dress, had long ceased to be white, whilst the lanyard remained so.

The knife was removed in 1933 and then became a straight cord, worn purely as an ornamental item of dress. In 1955 it was, for a short time, re–introduced in the plaited style currently worn today.

Regimental Marches
The Royal Artillery Quick March (1983 to date) is an arrangement of the British Grenadiers and the Voice of the Guns.
The Regimental Trot Past – The Keel Row.
The Regimental Gallop Past – Bonnie Dundee.
The Royal Artillery Slow March (from c.1836 to date).

The Royal Artillery Standard (approved in 1947) is for ceremonial use only, and is flown by RA Headquarters and formations, units and sub units during visits by Royalty and the Master Gunner, the representative Colonel Commandant and the DRA. When flown at a Regimental Headquarters the Regimental Number is inserted in white Arabic numerals in the lower portion.

Regimental Flag
The Regimental Flag is flown for day-to-day use at Headquarters but is not carried on parade.

Honour Titles
Honour Titles may be granted to individual batteries to commemorate exceptional acts of service by the unit or a major part thereof. they are not to be confused with Battle Honours such as are conferred on cavalry and infantry regiments.

The Royal Artillery Collect
The Royal Artillery Collect may be used on occasions when appropriate.

Lord Jesus Christ, who dost everywhere lead Thy people in the way of righteousness, vouchsafe so to lead the Royal Regiment of Artillery that wherever we serve, on land or sea or in the air, we may win the glory of doing Thy will.

The Royal Artillery Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ,
Who dost everywhere lead thy people in the way of righteousness,
Vouchsafe so as to lead the Royal Regiment of Artillery,
That wherever we serve, on land or sea or in the air,
We may win the glory of doing thy will


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Ambassador Francisco Suarez poses for a photograph June 14, 2013 in Ottawa. (Dave Chan FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL)
Ambassador Francisco Suarez poses for a photograph June 14, 2013 in Ottawa. (Dave Chan FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL)

Mexico pushes for direct ties with Canada, apart from U.S. influence Add to ...

New Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto wants ties with Canada to be a priority in the country’s foreign policy, rather than the on-again, off-again interest of two countries distracted by relations with the United States, Mexico’s ambassador says.

Ambassador Francisco Suarez Davila arrived in Ottawa a week ago with a mandate to pursue a new deepening of relations between the two countries – not just for dealing with the U.S., but also as direct trading partners, and potential diplomatic allies on the world stage.

“I think I have arrived at a very opportune time. The political stars are aligned,” Mr. Suarez said in an interview with The Globe and Mail. “That’s the indication I have received from President Pena, to go beyond the rhetoric to really establish that Canada is a priority for Mexico’s foreign policy. It’s a real priority: Canada, itself, apart from the North American [regional dynamic].”

It is a simple but important signal in Canada-Mexico relations: that the two countries should see each other as important for more than just what that means in dealing with the United States. They have been trade partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement since 1993, and from time to time expressed a desire for stronger ties. But the interest has blown hot and cold. Both countries’ perspectives on North America are, of course, dominated by relations with the U.S.

“It’s a fact of life that we have this big elephant in between. It’s there. But we don’t at all like the idea of an off and on approach,” Mr. Suarez said. “Sort of, you know, oh now Mexico is important, but until that time, no, it’s more important for us just to have a relationship with the United States.”

The “political stars” that Mr. Suarez refers to is that changes in both capitals are coming at the same time as Ottawa tries to re-focus Canadian foreign policy around major emerging markets, and Mr. Pena is signalling new interest in Canada.

Mr. Suarez, an economist who has served as Mexico’s envoy to the International Monetary Fund and to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, noted the two countries are already important to each other in economic terms, as each other’s third-largest trading partners.

He noted that Mexico and Canada joined together to fight protectionist U.S. meat-labelling rules, known by the acronym COOL, by challenging them at the World Trade Organization, winning a decision from a trade tribunal.

“We acted together with the WTO. We’ve got the decision. And we’re ready to act, taking possible reprisals if they don’t fulfill the WTO. Common vision and common action,” Mr. Suarez said.

He said that Mexico and Canada can strike a similar alliance in 12-nation talks for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, to ensure that the talks stay focused on economics and trade, and that it is not used by the U.S. to jockey with China for political influence.

Within North America, Canada and Mexico have common interests in integrating the continent’s three economies, by pushing for better-aligned infrastructure – notably railways and oil-and-gas pipelines – across the continent. That, and cheap energy – from the U.S. shale-gas revolution, and extensive oil and gas in both Canada and Mexico, can lead to a revival of North American manufacturing if it’s combined with integrated infrastructure and better transportation costs, he argues, leading to “the re-industrialization of these countries.”

For many in the United States and Canada, however, the question is whether it is Mexico, with lower labour costs, that will benefit primarily from a revival of North American manufacturing. American auto manufacturers and Canadian companies like Bombardier have built plants in Mexico to take advantage of lower wages.

But Mr. Suarez argues that’s a short-sighted argument. Mexico, with a young population, can offer a labour force to the U.S. and Canada, but also a market with a middle class of 50 million people. And Canadians can benefit when their companies manufacture in Mexico, he argues. “You developed Bombardier as a very successful enterprise in Canada,” he said. “They are building airplane parts [in Mexico]. Those airplane parts are sent to Canada, and they integrate the Bombardier full units here. But at a cost where they can where the Bombardier planes can compete better with the Brazilian planes, or whatever.”

Editor's note: A earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the number of countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This version is now correct.

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