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Thursday, 31 December 2015

My Month in Numbers 2015: December

You know ... if either of us blink we're going to miss it.

The end of the week ... the end of the month ... the end of the year could easily give us the slip while we're sat here scrutinising the menu in the remaining box of chocolates for something that isn't 'the coffee one' or while we're trying to remove from our chins that elusive bit of glitter that's been there, on and off, since November.

So how about we take this chance to pause and reflect on December before January turns the page on us and starts an entire new year. And how about I throw in a few statistics to help me along the way. Here's my month ... in numbers ...

[If you're new here - hi, you're looking good, all that turkey and tinsel has done wonders for your complexion - if you want to know more about this feature just drop by this page].

The first week of the month saw me spending ...

3 hours 20 minutes in the cinema:
The Bristol Old Vic production of Jane Eyre was brought to the National Theatre from where it was broadcast live into cinemas.

It was a strange, energetic, minimalist kind of production - for example ... this is not just Thornfield Hall ablaze* ... it's the entire set for the 3 hour long production:
Screenshot of the Jane Eyre 'Production Gallery' on the National Theatre site.
****168 year old spoiler alert: it was the mad woman in the attic what done it!

And, at the risk of glossing over all of the merits of the actual performance, perhaps the most impressive element of the evening was the fact that I managed to sit still through each and every one of those 180 minutes.

Well, I say I sat 'still' .... I did definitely sit.

If you like the look of the production [and can face watching the big screen without being able to get up to make a cuppa whenever you fancy] then visit this page on the NT Live site to find out if there are any Encore performances you can catch [simply type in your location and it will find your nearest venue].

Fortunately for you you won't have me jiffling away in the seat next to you.

But then again ... neither will you get to share in my never-ending supply of Werther's Originals and fruity travel sweets. It's all swings and roundabouts.

While we're on the subject of travel sweets ... this is the scene before James and I set off on a trip to Bowes Museum for their Christmas market. Note the temperature ...

16 at 8am on a December morning. 16℃. At 8am. In December!!!
Because I've been doing this number lark for quite a while now [this is, after all, my 72nd Month in Numbers post!] I can consult my statistical back-catalogue to find that in December 2010 [my first MinN year] we were regularly experiencing temperatures of minus 11!

And, while I'm not a huge fan of being freezing ... it just doesn't feel right and proper to have warm hands at any given point in time throughout December. Let alone not needing to wear a hat [whoever heard of such a thing?]

We haven't had a single frosty day here yet and there's something to be said for a crisp frosty day to get you feeling Christmassy. All in all it's a good job there've been other things on hand to make it feel a lot like Christmas. For instance ...

I saw 3 reindeer!
Alas ... they weren't flying over the roof of my house [although I did wave to Tm Peake as he passed overhead in the International Space Station this month!]. Rather they were attending the Christmas market. [Even Santa's helpers need to find those last minute gifts.]

This was also the week I heard 3 people describe reindeer as being like big dogs ...
  1. The first person was me. When a crowd cleared revealing the pen where the reindeer were being kept my flight or [appropriately enough] flight reflexes kicked in until I realised that they weren't actually big dogs. Phew.
  2. Then, as they walked past the pens, I heard a Dad explaining to a toddler he was carrying that "No, they're not doggies".
  3. And finally there was this, from a BBC news report about an escaped reindeer: "Warren Porter, who took a picture of Bjorn as he galloped up Carlton Hill, said at first he thought it was a "big dog"".
And boom! It's not just me who's been fooled into the resemblance!

Although, thankfully, it's a relief all round that this is just a repeated case of mistaken identity. Because, really, the idea of Santa landing on my roof accompanied by 9 big dogs would certainly have taken the edge off any anticipation I'd had as a child!

[BTW you need to visit the actual story about the reindeer for two main reasons ... [1] the headline is a work of bizarre genius: "Runaway reindeer that escaped from Tesco event recovering" and [2] the look of sheer 'couldn't give two hoots now I'm freeeeeee' in Bjorn's body language as he sprints down the road!]

And now, seeing as it's [almost] Christmas, allow me to make the tortured link from an escaped reindeer stalking along the road ... to another kind of deer ...

It was a 2 deerstalker month:
Deerstalker No.1 occurred on our festive trip around York [which I wrote more about here]
Then, a fortnight later, in an antiques shop in Barnard Castle, we came across Deerstalker No.2:
And if casually finding another one wasn't enjoyable enough ... check out the label inside this one:
You couldn't make it up could you?!

Clearly the Gods of Antiquing are also excited about watching the new - Victorian - Sherlock in just one day's time!!

And, now let us glide from one instance of a Cumberbatch to another [entirely arbitrary one]...

In case you're thinking I was in danger of passing up the final chance this year to remind you that I saw him in Hamlet this year [which I may have mentioned ... once or three dozen times] ... then let me share this possibly-Hamlet-inspired car-dirt graffiti I spotted in a car park on the same day ...

Fill in the 2 blanks.[Or should that be the 'To' blanks?]
Surely those 2 wiped-out spaces once read "To be" and "Or not". Surely?

Well ... that is the question.

December was also the month I magically* 'glued' 3 photos together to make my 1st 'gif':
*OK, so, the 'magic' was actually via and the photos show my sister and I trying to get a decent pose of us in our Christmas outfits where it's a wonder our two large 50s inspired skirts actually fit in the room let alone the shot. Then when I flicked between them in my photo-viewer we seemed to move ... and I was moved to conquer the gif! Et voila. Merry Christmas!

Right ... we're almost there now ... I promise there'll be no further mentions of Cumberhamlet all year ... so let me just squeeze in a few more things before I leave you to 2016 ...

CLARIFICATION: someone new here last month inquired about the nature of the relationship between James and I, which was understandable considering that the post she'd read was all about staff Christmas parties and I didn't clarify that we don't work together. So, for the record:
  1. James is my partner. Not in business, or crime. He's my husband if you will. At least he would be if we'd ever gotten round to getting married. Which we haven't.
  2. Neither are we co-workers or colleagues. And please don't suggest he's my 'boss' ... it'll only give him ideas.
And, should you need further proof that one of his roles in life is to keep me happy ... who else could I sweet-talk into dressing in 90s denim for a photo-opportunity?

Whilst seeking out Christmas decorations in the loft James found his 25 year old denim jacket [And I made him pose in it because a blogger's gotta do what a blogger's gotta do.]
It's what he used to wear when we first met. And - to his credit - it still fits him, and yet ...

... just because one can wear 1990s denim ... it doesn't mean one should. Not for a second time round at least!

And while we're talking about slightly misguided wardrobe decisions ...

I bought 40 tea bags for 99p and started saving myself 75p per cuppa.
Now, this statistic might sound far too much like maths for anyone in a post-Christmas dairy/meet-induced stupor to care about, so let me give you the salient points:

  • after years of paying for a cup of tea from the cafe at work I realised it would be much cheaper to just bring my own teabags and buy a plain hot water instead;
  • so I bought a pack of 40 bags from a nearby 99p shop and started keeping a handful of them in a little purse in order to easily take then down to the cafe with me to drop into my hot water.

Which was all well and good ... at first. Until the day I forgot to take the purse out of my pocket and spent the afternoon like this:
As I shared on Instagram
  • Forgot I'd been walking around work with the purse with all my tea bags in tucked in my shirt pocket. #onenormalboob #onebigone
Ah. A mention of Hamlet ... and a boob joke.  I'm ending the old year as I mean to go on.

And so ...

As always you're more than welcome to join me in documenting your own days in numbers:

Now I'll let you get back to deciding what to wear, who to kiss, and which resolution to break first after midnight.

And while you're there ... remember to do a little jump tonight ... right as the 2015 rug is pulled out from beneath your feet, take a deep breath, and then dance, dance, dance your way across the new year's pristine floorboards.

In heels.

Let 2016 know you've landed ...

Julie x

Monday, 21 December 2015

A little something to digest before Christmas.

I really wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas here, of course I did.

I still do.

In fact ... "Merry Christmas!!" there, I've done it now. *Ticks it off the To Do list.*

And I felt I should accompany my greeting with photos of something filled with the spirit of the season ... yet I'm seriously beyond Christmas crafting ... [and I'm saving the photo of the Peppa Pig/ Shrek / Minions nativity scene I saw at the weekend for a post on my Facebook page later this week], so I had a rummage around my files and found just the thing.

It's a collage I made a few weeks back mixing together two of my favourite things to do: listening in to conversations and creating Snipped Tales.

I made up the first half myself ...
But the second half - well, the speech part - is something I genuinely overheard in a tearoom this year:
In real life the man in question mostly appeared to be joking ... yet something in his voice told me he would stick to his guns and not pick whatever it was his lady companion had suggested ...
And so ... I chose to share an awkward conversation over what's supposed to be a nice lunch ...

... because if that doesn't describe Christmas ... I don't know what does!

And with that I'll wish you a Christmastime filled with merry lights and twinkly people ... with not a hint of indigestion in sight.

Julie x

Monday, 14 December 2015

How to do a staff Christmas lunch (when you don't really like other people).

"Are you sure you're not already regretting letting me come?" I asked as we wended our way from the car park, through a back street, past a pub sign that ominously read 'Dogs Welcome!', and towards the city centre of York early on a blustery morning in December.

"No" he replied "I don't regret it. You're not spoiling anything, you're invited. I've invited you to my Christmas lunch."

And, though slightly breathless in the blowy morning air, I smiled one of those smiles that despite trying to keep a lid on your pleasure [for 'playing-it-cool's sake] somehow manages to escape through the side of your mouth anyway.

I'd asked the question because, for the last few years, James has gone to York to do Christmas shopping on his own.

Over those years, he's also anticipated and enjoyed the prospect of a long, leisurely [and no doubt, quieter than usual] lunch in his favourite restaurant on his own. [Without me I suspect he feels something of the relief of a parent securing for themselves some 'me time'].

And, normally, I'm otherwise engaged, but not this year. Plus we'd been planning to go 'somewhere nice' to get some shopping done and ... well ... it just made sense for me to break with tradition and join him in York. And so ... there I was, invited to his Christmas outing, with a free lunch thrown in!

And so we did the kinds of things people do on a festive staff day out in York*.

(* This is purely conjecture. I can count on my hands the number of staff parties I've ever attended. My jobs have always been rather peripatetic and I've never spent time with the same colleagues day in day out. Although actually, now, when I'm doing self-employed stuff I spend lots of time with the woman I work for and I know her pretty well. But hang on ... we're meant to be talking about York ...)

Here's how our staff Christmas party unfolded...

(1) We took a wind-blasted 'stroll' around the Minster grounds:

Isn't he splendid?

(2) We had a mooch along The Shambles:
For those of you who don't know The Shambles it isn't some Harry Potter-esque Diagon Alley reconstruction .. it's a genuine medieval street [although most of the current buildings were built in the 14/15th Centuries]. And it's a 'must see' if you're ever in York.

(3) We then continued to fantasise about old buildings:
I have a serious love of buildings on bridges [I don't know why...] and while Minstergate isn't exactly a bridge - you can walk under it.

Since taking this photo I've learned that you can actually rent it out! Oh goodness!

(4) We squeezed ourselves into a five storey second-hand book shop:
James, engrossed in the history section at Minstergate Books.
That is what other people do for office Christmas parties ... right?

(5) Some of us tried on hats.
In the interests of completeness the viewing of this next photo should absolutely be accompanied by this music because ... the game is on ...

(6) We had lunch and toasted 'Team No.1':
Just FYI ... we weren't being particularly boastful there ... that's actually our house number. #WeAreAlwaysNumberOne

Here's James and his big sea bream:
I had tagliatelle ... for good reason there are no photos of me eating it. [Scrolling to the end of this post will clarify that for you ...] ;-)

And, finally ...

(7) We exchanged 'Secret Santa' gifts:
Kind of ...

"We should have done a Secret Santa" I said.
"Ha!" he replied acting out a scene: "Mmmm ... let me guess who this came from!

And then ... he paused ... leaned back in his chair ... and reached into the pocket of his coat which was hanging on a hook behind him ...
... and, after some riffling, he turned and planted down on the table in front of me ... a caramel chew he'd bought earlier that day. [What? Did you think it was going to be diamonds or something?].

And I laughed and laughed at the timing of it, of the serendipity of it, of the brilliant 'punchline' of it all.

Then I had an idea.

And I turned to my own inside coat pocket, rummaged to the bottom ... found what I was looking for ...and then placed my contribution to the 'Secret Santa' moment on the table in front of James.

And that's how we ended up exchanging the gifts of a 20p caramel chew and a glasses cleaning cloth that had been lurking in my pocket for weeks without me once being able to remember where it came from and, as I don't wear glasses, why on earth I was keeping it in there ...

But I guess I had my answer to that; I was keeping it there so we could share with one another two perfect, spur-of-the-moment, serendipitously pocket-sourced gifts!! We couldn't have chosen better if we'd had weeks to plan and shop!

So that's how you do a staff Christmas lunch when you don't really like other people ...
  • you go with someone you do like
  • you do the things you both like to do
  • you eat well and pretend you're Sherlock
  • you rummage in your pockets and find the perfect gifts* [*used tissues not included.]
  • then you return to the car and eat pork-scratchings on the way home while one of you reads aloud from a novel [using a head-torch because it's dark] while the other one drives [true story].
This way...
  • no one gets drunk
  • no one is forced to dance with strangers while wearing tinsel
  • no one gets trapped sitting next to that colleague who finds a party the perfect time to discuss the worst, most anxiety-making, work related issues ... [we've all been there right? Even my limited experience of staff parties involves this one!!]
  • no one photocopies their bottom [not sure if that's a pro or con ....]
  • and no one carries out any form of infidelity in a cupboard! Result!
And I for one am hoping Team No.1 gets to replicate this little festive outing in December 2016, I guess have to check with the boss* first. [He's not my boss. I don't even call him Boss. Not even for Christmas.]

I'm making a note right now to have something interesting in my pocket on standby ...

Feel free to take inspiration from our party any which way you fancy!

[FYI James recommends the sea bream. And the deer-stalker.]

Thursday, 10 December 2015

Do you remember that article you inspired me to write? No? Then take a look inside the Pretty Nostalgic Yearbook 2016.

Hi you.

If you're:
  • [a] looking for something lovely to read over the Christmas break [and beyond] ... OR ...
  • [b] looking for a beautiful gift for a vintage-lover [by which I mean someone who loves vintage and not someone who's old but who's still got it going on ...]
  • OR [c] at all likely to feel happy for me when I reach one of my life goals ... then have I got the book for you!
This also gives me the chance to say thank you to those of you who helped me reach that goal. Even though you probably don't yet know that you did!

The Pretty Nostalgic Yearbook 2016 is the first book from Pretty Nostalgic with their new publisher The History Press. They previously published big, beautiful, magazines with a focus on vintage-inspired living and are now continuing that theme in book format.

And this is how they describe this latest publication:

"An old-fashioned annual for grownups who love traditional things, gloriously illustrated with original vintage images and filled with fascinating facts, pearls of wisdom and heartfelt glimpses into British social and domestic history.

A Passion for the past. Making things last. Putting people first.

This is the perfect read for anyone who yearns for times gone by and respects the past enough to see that not all modern things are good for us."

Here's the contents page:
And ... if we just zoom in a little  ... to the 'Winter' section ... you'll see why this book means something in particular to me:

See that Julie Kirk there?

That's this Julie Kirk here.

That's me that is!

My article 'Addressing Life' is not only the first time I've had any non-crafting-related work published ... it's also the first time I've had work published in a book.

And if we're talking life-long dreams ... then this is one that became reality for me on page 138:
And while I was the one who wrote the article - which is all about the importance of the humble address book - there are many of you reading this, right here, right now, who helped me do it!

To jog your memory ... quite a while ago now ... I struck up a conversation about address books on my Facebook page where I talked about how I'd stopped writing in a 'real' address book around about the time I started to rely on email / social media as my main forms of communication.

  • And many of you joined in the conversation and shared your own address book histories in that thread.
  • And I was completely enthralled by how similar many of your reflections were.
  • And, quite frankly, I found that your responses [many of which were touching and profound, for example, how you can't throw away the address of relatives who are no longer here] were too interesting to allow them to end up floating off into Facebook obscurity; forgotten about; languishing down the bottom of the internet somewhere.
So I decided to take pull out the main themes, reflect on what we can all draw from them and then turn the whole thing into an article which will hopefully inspire more people to hang on to ... or to even begin keeping .. a 'real' paper address book; rather than rely on their less tangible email 'contacts' files.

And I sent it to Pretty Nostalgic, because - as they describe themselves as "promoting creative and sustainable living inspired by the past" - it felt like the perfect fit for them, and they accepted it ... and now it's in print!

I'm not saying you should buy the book purely for 'our' article ... but ...

I am really proud of it ... I mean, I even managed to mention Shakespeare and Game of Thrones in the introduction:
But look, I only take up 4 of its pages, the remaining 160 plus are equally worth a glance.

Here are a few to give you the idea of the mix of vintage images and retro-fabulous topics on offer:
History of the sandwich anyone?
How about fossil hunting?
And there are plenty of shorter features too:

If the Yearbook looks like something you - or someone on your Christmas list - might enjoy then:
For the record: this isn't a sponsored post, I bought my own copy. Likewise none of the above are affiliate links.

However, the gorgeous vintage Christmas wrapping paper in the background of the photos [peeking out from under the book] is available from my Etsy shop here!

So .. there it is ... the perfectly splendid Pretty Nostalgic Yearbook 2016: home to my article on the importance of the address book.

And if there's ever a time of year when we're all reaching for our address book ... it's the time of year when we've all got Christmas cards to send!

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Be careful not to tear it. It's too nice to throw away! Indulge in some vintage Christmas wrapping paper nostalgia.

Hello hello.

Our eyes met across a rammle-filled room.

Well, actually no, because a pile of breathtakingly glorious vintage gift wrapping doesn't really have eyes. Yet what it lacks in the eye department it more than makes up for in every other way imaginable!

I could tell all that the minute I clapped eyes on it where it was tucked away, sitting on an old dining chair, in the back of a junk shop, in a narrow residential street, in a seaside town, in England's North East.

An unlikely first meeting. An unlikely place to meet. An unlikely amount of oh-so-rare UNUSED vintage wrapping paper!!

Of course I bought it. Of course I did:
You want some? Want to share the thrill? Want to fall in love with it too? Then don't let me stop you ... I'll happily step aside so you can start a new life together...

Head over to my Etsy shop to browse the various options available to you young loversHere's how I've described this papery treasure trove there:

"Be careful not to tear it." Give me it here, I'll keep that for next year". "It's too nice to throw away!"

Such is the refrain of the wrapping-paper-lover.

Maybe that's you. Your mother? Or maybe it was your Grandmother.

And with this original, vintage wrapping in exquisitely retro and festive designs ... it easily could be her carefully opening each gift and saving the papery treasure for another year!

How much would you pay for a single sheet of mass produced gift wrap in a local store?

Now ... how much would you pay for a technicolour glimpse into Christmas Past?

These beautiful sheets can take you right back there, to sitting beneath a tree decorated with all kinds of trinkets and baubles ... [not the colour-themed minimal ones of the 21st Century!] ... right back to watching the pleasure on the faces of the gift-givers and receivers ... right back to saving the paper ... because it's too nice to throw away!"

Some designs are available to purchase as single sheets while others come as a pack of 12 with the original retailer -Boots - label:
And it's from the pre-decimal price on that label that we can at least be sure that these designs are pre-1970s [although the designs alone scream that they weren't made yesterday!].

The larger packs are a considered purchase ... but you do get 12 assorted designs and if  you think what that would cost in a high street stationers right now then it's not so different ... and these are unique and nostalgia-filled and wonderful!! When are you ever going to find more like it?

Similarly ... if you plan to use them in crafting, buying festive scrapbook papers would cost you something similar for a pack of 12x12 sheets  ... and they wouldn't have the history and authenticity that these provide.

Of course I'm biased ... but I just know there's someone who will see them, fall for them, and throw caution to the wind to own them. And I know it's possible ...

... because that's exactly what I did!

Seasons greetings to you!

Hop to the shop for vintage gift wrap, vintage Christmas cards, Christmas junk journal kits, festive washi tape, festive craft packs plus gift ideas [many under £5] for the crafter or vintage book/ephemera lover in your life!

Friday, 4 December 2015

30 Things I learned from leaving 300 blog comments in 30 days

Hello hello.

When I set myself the challenge to leave 300 genuine blog comments over 30 days [across Sept/Oct 2015] my motivations included:
  • to stop pitying myself for receiving relatively few comments [i.e: single figures per post];
  • to maintain the relationships I had within my regular blogging network;
  • and - primarily - to reach out from the safety of that network to make new connections in the blogging world.
When those 30 days and 300 comments were over [OK, I’ll be honest … I actually only managed 270 …] I realised that, alongside achieving the things I’d set out to … I’d picked up all kinds of random insights into blogging in general along the way.

What had begun as an impromptu challenge had subsequently grown into a month’s worth of solid, focused, yet entirely accidental market research into blogging.

Like so much in life, this ‘research’ was actually just a bi-product, something that really only came along for the ride, while I’d set myself a task to do something else. Carving out dedicated ‘research’ time 5 days a week for four weeks is just not something I would ever have deliberately scheduled in. But ... tempt me with a silly project that I can create a hashtag for and get other people involved in? Well hey hey good looking, count me in!

Perhaps there is already a lesson for me to learn in that fact alone …

[If you’re new here then my introductory post to the #300in30days challenge will explain more as will this glimpse at the statistics I racked up during the challenge.]

Many of the things I learned won’t really be of use to anyone but me ... so I won't share those here. [Although I might save them up for a very solipsistic post of their own some time!].

But many of my ‘lessons learned’ will be useful to you ...
  • if you're nosey. Are you? Yeah, me too. Read on for more peeks inside Blogland.
  • if you are planning to take part in the 300 in 30 Days challenge:-  I know it’s a big task but … it's still worth attempting as there’s no way you can avoid learning something from the experience,[even if that ‘something’ is: ‘I can’t do it for 30 days’ or 'I can't make it to 300'!]. And many of those lessons will come in useful for your own blogging.
  • OR if you’re a blogger who - over the years - has become comfortable in their niche, with their regular network, and has started to wonder what else is out there?:-  After you've completed the challenge you'll know what's out there [for good or bad!].
  • OR if you’re someone who enjoys reading blogs and would like ideas on how to find new places to visit.
So ... here are the 30 lessons I learned while leaving 300 blog comments in 30 days ....

Part One: The 'Practical / Technical' Lessons

Lesson 1: 300 is a lot.
In fact if you're honest with yourself it's approximately 200 more than you expected it to be.

When I broke it down [as did many people who supported me over the course of the challenge did - to boost my morale!] 300 comments over 30 days sounded doable because that’s just 10 a day … just  10. 10's a relatively manageable number isn't it? Isn't it? And yet …

Lesson 2: 'Just 10 a day' is relative.
10 comments a day about The British Weather? Easy. Just show me the stranger I need to make awkward non-personal conversation with and I'll rack up that 10 without breaking a sweat.

10 things tidied away / sorted / discarded / deleted from my Inbox a day? Mmmm ... a bit trickier ... would probably take more thought, I'd need to assess each item, double-check it wouldn't 'come in handy' at a later date .. but ... yeah .. I think I could give it a good try.

But leaving 10 blog comments a day is harder still. Maybe not for one single day. But for 30 in a row? That's when you start to meet problems.

Lesson 3: Woe betide you if you take weekends off!
If, like me, you give yourself a break from leaving blog comments on a weekend [until the last weekend when you're frantically trying - and failing - to reach the 300 goal!]  ... just remember this ... if you don't leave the requisite 10 comments on Saturday and Sunday ... come Monday you'll have to leave 30 if you're going to stay on track!

Lesson 4: You have to read a blog post before you can comment on it.
It might just have slipped your mind that in order to leave a a coherent comment on it you actually have to read the post first, so let me remind you ...

You have to read the post first! Why didn't anyone warn me how much extra time that would add to the idea of 'just 10 a day'?

Consider yourself warned ... but don't be put off. Reading the posts really is where the magic happens ... that's where you'll discover if the blogger you've found is someone you'll want to come back and read more from in the future.

Lesson 5: You might not have enough blogs readily on hand to meet the 10 a day goal.
Wherever it is you store the list of blogs you read [I use Feedly] it's going to have to be populated with enough new content each day ... at least 10 posts ... for you to be able to leave 10 comments.

Failing that you'll have to dip into the archives and read older posts OR find new blogs.

I learned that I had relatively little new content coming in to Feedly each day. Or at least ... not content that I felt I could comment on. Which led me to my next lesson ...

Lesson 6: Your blog-reader needs updating from time to time.
How often do you see a new post pop up in your reader and you just scroll past it without even bothering to read it, let alone to click on it to read the full post and then take time to leave a comment afterwards?

During the 30 day challenge I started editing my reader and deleting subscriptions to blogs which no longer grabbed my attention. I need to do this more often. If I'm not going to read the posts why do I need to know they exist? Anything else is just white noise, too much information.

Ironically I learned that while I needed to read MORE blogs [to reach my commenting target and to widen my network] I also needed to weed out ones that no longer suited me.

Lesson 7: Logging into and remembering usernames for several accounts in order to leave comments across the various blogging platforms is one of the dullest activities known to man.

And - after we all threw in our opinions on the 3 main categories of commenting difficulties here - we all know that that single fact contributes vastly to the reduction in commenting / community many of us have felt over recent years.

So ... we know this. But what can we do about it? To paraphrase Tolkien we need one log-in ... to rule them all.

Lesson 8:  'Approval' settings on comments are surprisingly widespread.
Which came as a surprise to me. I've never had to resort to using the pre-approval setting so I was quite intrigued as to why so many people have.

There are either some unfortunate people out there who receive nasty, inappropriate, unpublishable comments and therefore need to preview all comments before approving them for publication. Or else there are a lot of people out there who are concerned that they’re going to receive nasty, inappropriate, unpublishable comments at some point in the future.

Lesson 9: Lots of blogs don’t have any / many comments.
It’s not just mine. Hurrah

It looks to me like there are some bloggers who haven't set out to blog for the community aspect therefore they don’t court comments. Perhaps they're writing more opinion pieces, where they don't want to get into a debate, or else they're more commercial and therefore want to focus on putting content out there ... rather than receive any. Or maybe they're just connecting with readers on other platforms.

I came across some beautiful, well written posts that didn't have a ravenous commenting hoard murmuring away beneath them ... and it helped lighten my concerns about my own content-to-comment ratio!

Lesson 10: If you’re seeking out new blog content then Twitter hash tags are a great way to narrow it down.
Apart from being somewhere you can put content into the world [by tweeting about what your postman just did and what you overheard in the library, just me?] Twitter is also a fantastic place to source information; including where to find new-to-you bloggers.

There's a world of bloggers who are tagging links to their blog using specific searchable hashtags # - meaning when anyone searches for that tag, or clicks on one, their tweet will appear in the list.

Here are some examples of the #s I came across during this challenge ...
  • #Lboggers = lifestyle
  • #Fbloggers = food
  • #Studentbloggers = students
  • #Bbloggers = beauty
  • 30plusbloggers = bloggers over 30
  • 40plusbloggers = bloggers over 40
  • Edited to add ... Deb ... I found 50plusbloggers too! The possibilities are endless ... I'm sure there are more!
Note: Finding these last two in particular made me very happy indeed.

The main demographic of bloggers who know all about how best to hashtag their posts is generally young; teens and twenty-somethings. And quite frankly I spent a good proportion of the 300in30days challenge reading their posts, not connecting with their content in any real way, and feeling really old in comparison.

So when I learned there were communities of older [ie. my age] bloggers out there ... it came as a relief ... and it gave me some new places to visit.

But if you don't fancy narrowing down your blog reading by age how about by location?

Lesson 11:  Twitter hashtags can also help you find bloggers in your local area.
Want to know what bloggers in your area are doing ? Want to read reviews of places to visit, events, etc in a nearby town? Want to maybe attend local blogger meet-ups with real fleshy people? Then use a # to search for local bloggers.

If a blogger has tagged their tweet with a regional and local # you can find it by searching for that particular # in the search box at the top.
  • For example: I've discovered that bloggers from North East England tag their tweets with #NEbloggers [so I've been using it to, when writing about local events]:
  • Also if I search for the same hashtag in the search box I get a list of tweets by people who've used the tag and who, in all likelihood have blogged about places I have some chance of visiting.
  • [I know there's a place for mooning over exotic travel blogs ... but if I'm looking for a nice place to spend a Saturday afternoon then somewhere 40 miles up the A19 is far more realistic].
I can't say for certain but there's surely an equivalent for wherever you live.

If you get stuck ... try finding something like your local paper / library / gallery / tourist association on Twitter first ... and look to see what phrase they are using to tag their posts.

But, before you disappear head first down the hashtag rabbit hole ... know this ...

Lesson 12: While searching via hashtags will absolutely help narrow down the field a little … it’s certainly no mark of quality!
Just because someone is social-media savvy and knows a hashtag from a handsaw ... it doesn't mean that the post they're linking you to will actually be worth reading!!

After spending 30 days following such links ... and despairing ... you'll know what I mean.

Lesson 13: Before writing anyone off as an good-for-nothing-ignorant-non-replier …just check back to see if they have replied.
I, perhaps naively, thought that more people would visit my blog after I'd visited theirs. But, of course, they don't. [Well, just a few did].

And it shouldn't be surprising ... we're all trying to build up our own space as the place to be ... so, naturally, if we can reply in our own comments section, we do.

I found myself re-visiting a few blogs to see if they'd responded to my comment and many had - beneath my original comment.

I know it takes time, and memory, to go back for a re-visit ... but if you're seeking to nurture new online connections ... it's the only way.

And fortunately ... unlike the difficulties we all have logging in ... some of the platforms make it easier for us to read replies to our comments ...

Lesson 14: It's easy to find replies if you commented using the Disqus app.
If you logged into the Disqus app with your Google account then replies will be sent to your gmail. How simple's that?

Alternatively, if you see the Disqus panel on any other blog you’re commenting on, and you're still logged into Disqus, just click your profile pic in the comment box and your commenting history, plus any replies you've received will show up!

Lesson 15: There's something similar in Wordpress too.
If you're logged into your Wordpress account you’ll see a speech bubble box in the top right of your own blog or of any Wordpress blog you visit. [Or at least that's what I see when using a Windows laptop].

Simply click that speech bubble box and all your latest notifications will be there [just like on Facebook].

If only there was something like this available on Blogger ... which so many of us use!!! If you know of something similar to this on Blogger that I've missed ... or any kind of method which notifies you of replies that I haven't mentioned .... do do do let us all know in a comment today! Thanks!!

Part Two: The 'Style / Content' Lessons

Lesson 16: There's an epidemic of  fuzzy photos on blogs.
I'm not being judgemental [or, come to think of it ... maybe I am] but in my efforts to find lots of new blogs to comment on I also observed that people were using quite a few fuzzy, blurry and out of focus shots.

I'm not talking here about arty farty 'bokeh' techniques, or playing with Depth of Field ... just generally blurry. Maybe they're phone uploads? After all ... as I've learned from my own experience, what looks crystal clear on a 3" screen leaves something to be desired when stretched across a 14" one.

Just an observation ...

Lesson 17: I prefer reading posts that have their layout broken up in some way.
I’m a skimmer. No two ways about it.

And if there's a page of dense text resembling the North face of the Eiger ... then I'm already feeling exhausted before I reach Base Camp; so I'm not really inclined to then strap on my crampons to scale it.

I'd much rather spend time on the grassy slopes of a post broken up with photos, line breaks and bullet points … so it's definitely something I try to do on my own blog.
  • Look ... I'm bullet pointing right now.
  • And now.
But this next lesson in style is a tough, tough one for me to have learned ...

Lesson 18: I struggle not to skim through long posts …
Yet I know I write them.

Hello. Guilty as charged.

This post is approximately 4000 words. Halfway towards a dissertation.

I haven't quite reconciled this lesson with my own blogging practice yet. It's a work in progress ... and, yes, I'm a hypocrite!

Lesson 19: There are so many sponsored posts out there!
So many.

Of course I knew that bloggers were the new ... well, everything apparently, but until I started reading more widely I had no idea sponsored posting was this widespread.

Again, another tricky one for me to reconcile ... making money through my writing is one of my ultimate life goals, but ... at the risk of burning any bridges ... I'm not sure I could bare to be told by a PR what to write about.

[A stubbornness which will come as no surprise to my parents.]

Lesson 20: Beauty posts don’t do it for me
Just like the sponsored post prevalence, beauty posts are everywhere [in fact, the two are often linked with beauty bloggers demonstrating sponsored products].

Beauty bloggers are also seemingly good at the whole self-promotion / Twitter hash-tagging thing so, chances are, in your search to find new bloggers, you'll stumble across many of them. [Do be careful where you stumble ... we don't want a bullet shaped mascara wand doing you an injury ...]

Actually, I've had to change the title of this particular lesson as a few weeks ago, scribbled in my notebook, it read 'I will never ever share my beauty routine on my blog'. But that was before I landed on a way I could maybe do this* ... and kind of make someone smile and still keep my pride.

*Here's where I should say 'Coming Soon' or watch this space'. But, realistically it's more a case of 'I've added it to the ever lengthening [like so many beauty bloggers' eyelashes] topics to blog about list'. See also: outfit posts. [Which I definitely want to do more of ... sometime or other!!]

Lesson 21: ... but fashion posts do.
What can I say? I love clothes. I like looking at outfit posts. Especially the authentic ones where people have actually put clothes together from their own wardrobes or from vintage/thrift shops. Again, sponsored posts don't grab me here [or anywhere!].

Part Three: The 'Personal / Personality' Lessons
Lesson 22: When you step out of the safety of the blogging world you're familiar with ... it definitely feels like you're not in Kansas any more Toto.
I'll admit that I found it daunting to begin with.

Sometimes blog visiting can be like a chain, where you have ready made links, where you can hop between people you see commenting on the blogs of other people you know.

But when you turn up at the gates of a blog brand new to you - not one you've found through a blogger-in-common - not only do you not know anyone - you don't even know anyone who knows anyone you know!

It's a whole new world ... and it's vast ... and a little baffling.

Lesson 23:  It can transport you back to your school days [Remember those? The happiest days of your life ... apparently ...]
When you find yourself in someone else’s comments section where people are already mid-conversation, and they all seem to know one another, it can feel a little like you’re walking up to an existing friendship group and joining in the conversation without being asked.

It’s a bit like school and it could be triggering of you’ve ever had unpleasant experiences related to friendship groups at school. And which of us hasn’t experienced that particular brand of soul-crumpling? So, be careful out there, make sure you've got your shield to hand.

That said ...

Lesson 24: The beauty of the internet means you can elbow your way in boldly, by typing, and they'll never hear your quavering voice, they'll never see your nervous unstill fingers, your anxious furrowed brow, your bottom lip pinched between your teeth as you psyche yourself up to chat!

OK, so you don't know the blogger you find yourself wanting to chat with . But, if you like what they've got to say, there's only one way to let them know. Throw caution to the wind and say something.

Lesson 25: Don't feel silly about 'butting in'.
  • Ask yourself what it is you plan to say in your comment.
  • Is is adding to their current debate, contributing something welcome?
  • Will it make the blogger glad you spoke up?
If so, say it. Who doesn't want to have nice people saying nice stuff to them? You're contribution is as worthy as anyone else's.

[BTW: If you're not planning to say something nice, if you are just there to mutter ‘Your hair/child/cat is gross’ … then maybe put your fingers away. And sit on them until you calm down.] ;-)

Lesson 26: I can’t take bloggers seriously who take themselves too seriously.
And my-oh-my, do some people take their platform as a 'Blogger' verrrrrrryyyyy seriously.

Some speak as if they're imparting some Extremely Vital Knowledge. Or as if they're talking to children. Or writing a school essay.

I like to useful, I like to offer you my company while you're here, I know for sure that some of the things I share about myself help some of you feel you're not alone, and I like to be thorough and thoughtful and non-judgemental ... but equally ...

... I like to talk to you like I would if you were in the room with me. From one [almost-normal] person to another.

Not from a self-important position of authority. Or a pedestal [because the more I'm kept away from anything I can fall off, the better].

FYI: Whenever I ask James what he thought of a particular blog post of mine he almost always says "It sounds like you." And, as the man's spent the last 20+ years listening to me chatter away ... he should know.

Now .. at the risk of taking myself too seriously ...

Lesson 27: Lots of bloggers apologise ... a lot.
I like you. I do. And I'd never deliberately set out to offend you. And yet ... you won't find me apologising very much here.

[Unless I'm being silly .... like apologising for mentioning for the 900th time that I went to see Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet. Because that would be silly. Because I'm not sorry. Come visit me on my death bed and I'll find a way to rattle that tale out again.]

In my 300-seeking travels I saw a lot of [female] bloggers making apologies for all kinds of things; such as:
  • not blogging on the particular days of the week she'd said she was going to;
  • not being able to maintain her blogging schedule while starting univeristy/ a new job etc;
  • and blogging about topics the reader might be put off by [ranging from depression to cold sores.]
And I understand. Truly. I empathise. I know it's scary to think you're trying to build a blogging presence, and you've read 100 'How To's about setting and sticking to a schedule or keeping things professional or shiny or glamorous. And you feel you need to follow those 'rules'.

And I know many women like to please, like to be liked, and don't want to be controversial, or disappointing, or seen in any way as 'less than'.

But the apologising needs to stop.

The sooner the better.

Especially if you want to build a following in your blogging career; because no one feels comfortable following someone who's not comfortable leading.

You don't need to be hard, mechanical, masculine, cold or overly professional to lead people. But you do need to stop apologising for things that [a] you can't help and [b] honestly ... no one else cares about and probably wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't mentioned it.

Be yourself and don't apologise for it.

If you plan to say sorry each and every time you dare to be genuine, flawed or authentic ... you'll be a husk of a blogger - and human being - in no time.

Lesson 28: There are a lot of bloggers discussing mental health out there.
Before I go on let me state for the record that I have experienced anxiety and clinical depression in the past and so ... I'm not just talking out of my ... the top of my head here.

And the fact that I know it intimately is probably why the subject kept catching my attention as I searched around for something to comment on during my 30 days. And yet I certainly didn't set out to deliberately find bloggers who were discussing mental health issues.

Yet I found them.

In spades.

And, the fact that mine was a purely ad hoc, wherever-the-wind-takes-me search for new bloggers [I didn't do a Twitter search for #DepressedBloggers] makes me conclude that:
  •  the issue is both widespread in society
  • AND it's being discussed widely in Blogworld.
Now, initially, I took this to be a sign of greater openness and awareness. When I had my issues in the 1990s I was thoroughly, deeply and irredeemably ashamed at how I struggled with the things that ‘everyone’ else could manage on a daily basis. And so I did everything in my power to keep my illness and treatment as secret as possible.

So when, in my 30 days, I saw so many bloggers discussing their mental health problems on their blogs I thought "Wow. How wonderful that they feel they can be open about it. Times have changed. That's amazing." And yet ...

... after I'd read the individual posts, I began to see a pattern emerging. The bloggers - while openly admitting their issues online - often mentioned:
  • how they struggled to tell people in their personal lives, offline;
  • how they felt ashamed of their situation
  • how other people didn't understand
And it made me wonder ...
  • Maybe people are talking about it more ... but the stigma remains.
  • And maybe the shame is part of the illness. Maybe it's not just a cultural thing.
  • Maybe it's a personal feeling that isn't related to how many people are currently talking about it.
  • Maybe it's something depressed people will always experience ... although it's something we can absolutely emerge from with gentle handling over time. With kindness. To ourselves first and foremost.
And maybe that's the great service all these bloggers will ultimately provide, to show that yes it's widespread, yes it's hard but yes, we can get through it.

Dismantling the stigma of mental health issues brick by brick. Blogger by blogger.

Now, on a lighter note ...

Lesson 29: Lots of young female bloggers talk about gin
Gin's everywhere. It's the trendy red-lipstick-wearing-vintage-loving female equivalent of the hipster beard.

I didn't realise it was such a 'thing' now. And I feel old. Because I prefer a nice chilled Sauvignon Blanc and soda.

Anyone for a 'bloggers ruin' and tonic?

And finally ... after visiting a total of 137 blogs, 100 of which were entirely new-to-me, during a 30 day period I can confidently tell you this ...

Lesson 30: You have to kiss a lot of frogs...
... before you connect with a blogger who feels 'just right' to you. [I seem to have mashed-up The Frog Prince with Goldilocks there ... but you take the point ...]

If you're planning to embark on a voyage of blog-discovery of your own then you should know that:
  • It probably won't happen overnight.
  • It might not even happen after 20 days of searching.
  • But it will happen ... you will find someone whose online home you feel comfortable hanging around in and where you want to drop by occasionally.
  • It's just that ... it might literally be someone. One single new blogger.
And to find the Prince/Princess of your blogging dreams ... you'll have had to read a lot of content written by a lot of frogs.

[Most of which will have been sponsored posts telling you about how to style your lily-pad or the 5 best water-proof mascaras.]

As I mentioned in my earlier post [all about the statistics from my challenge] – my attrition rate was fascinating. I visited 100 new-to-me blogs ... added just a dozen or so added to my blog-reader ... had about the same amount reply to my comments ... had a handful visit my blog ... and have struck up something rapport with a couple of new faces and continue to connect with a few using other social media.

 But the thing is ... there's so much out there that you're inevitably going to have to experience a lot of "What are you talking about?" before you land on a "Oh, yes, I thought it was just me ...".

And when you do land on a new blogger who you simply 'get' ... it's a treat. [And a relief ... especially if you've been searching for 30 days!]

It sounds like a lot of hassle doesn't it? And it is. You're not wrong.

Of course ... you don't need to launch full tilt into a 30 day challenge to find quality content, maybe you can challenge yourself to find one new blog a month.

But why bother? Why seek out new-to-you content  at all? Well ...

... if, like me, you enjoy reading blogs [Which Oh.My.Goodness. you must do if you've made it to the end of this post!!] then ...
  • You're going to want / need to refresh your reading matter from time to time.
  • You're going to need to find bloggers who reflect your changing interests and priorities as you move through life;
  • You're going to need to find 'new blood' to replace those bloggers that stop blogging;
  • If you're a blogger you're going to need to refill your well of inspiration ... you need to see what and who else is out that and what they're doing these days. [Hint: it's mainly gin.]
And ... eventually ... it'll be worth the effort.
  • It was worth the effort for me ... because of the lessons I unexpectedly learned along the way [I learned more lessons than I found new favourite bloggers!]
  • It was worth if for me ... for the shift in perspective it offered me including the realisation that my blog's not perfect ... but it's pretty decent compared to some.
  • It was worth if for me ... because, while I could have spent my time reading up on pre-packaged tips on blog design, or content ideas, or marketing strategies ... my 300 in 30 Days challenge actually led me to find out for myself about what I currently like/don't like
Ultimately, like all the greatest odysseys, when setting off on a New Blog Hunt you might think it's to find out about what's out there ... then end up learning more about yourself

Thank you for making it through to the end of this vast post. [If you just landed here by scrolling to the bottom without reading it all then ... fair enough ... at least you're still here!]

If you've found anything in this post useful, fun, interesting, diverting, intriguing ... would you consider sharing it with someone? Especially other bloggers or potential bloggers? But, really, anyone at all. Even your cat.

New sets of eyes landing on their words is the best gift you can give a blogger.

Apart from a comment that is.

Oh and ... a book deal.


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Posts Tagged spike

In Every Generation: 10 Years After Buffy

It’s been exactly 10 years since “Chosen,” the series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, first aired on UPN. I started watching Buffy in its third season, after my sister convinced me to watch some of the season two episodes she had on tape over the summer. It became my favourite show, which it remains to this day. Although Buffy definitely has its flaws (most of them in season seven), I still haven’t found a show that can top it in its best moments. I love the show’s combination of serious drama and silly comedy, its large family of complex characters, many of whom have very interesting story arcs, and of course that excellent Joss Whedon dialogue.

To celebrate the anniversary of the end of Buffy, I’ve put together a quick list of five of my favourite Buffy moments. This is a bit of a random list: I wanted to stay away from the obvious, so I’ve tried avoid all the major events from season finales and that kind of thing. One of the great things about Buffy, after all, is that it did little moments just as well as it did big ones. The whole “high school is hell” premise of the show is based on the idea that the ordinary things in life can have massive significance. Although some of my choices come from important episodes or are big events in the context of the show, they all stand out to me for packing a big punch on a relatively smaller scale.

Xander and Tara in The Body.

“It hurts.”  “The Body” is an episode that’s explicitly built on small moments, and this is a very small scene I find particularly striking. After Xander pulls his hand out of the wall he’s punched, Tara looks at him and simply says, “It hurts.” Just stating the obvious. But coming from Tara, perhaps the most open and kind soul on the show, it means a lot more. The way Xander looks at her after she says it, it’s like he’s seeing her for the first time. Xander and Tara’s relationship is not one the show spends much time exploring; by comparison, Willow and Anya’s somewhat rocky relationship is far more developed. In this moment, though, we know he gets her.

Jonathan presents Buffy with the Class Protector Award at the prom.

Buffy Gets One Perfect High School Moment. Buffy is both an ordinary teenaged girl and a heroine with a grand destiny; generally, much to her dismay, the heroine part gets in the way of the other stuff. By the time graduation rolls around, Buffy has pretty much given up on ever fitting in at Sunnydale High or making her mark on the school in traditional ways like being Homecoming Queen or even having her picture in the yearbook. In “The Prom,” she must save the prom from a demon attack — once again giving up her own shot at an ordinary high school experience in order to preserve it for everyone else. (“No! You guys are going to have a prom. The kind of prom that everyone should have. I’m going to give you all a nice, fun, normal evening if I have to kill every single person on the face of the earth to do it.”) Much to her surprise, though, it turns out Buffy’s classmates have in fact noticed her: after a spontaneous write-in campaign, the class of 99 presents her with the Class Protector Award in recognition of her heroism. It’s a lovely gesture by the students and it makes me cry every time I watch the episode.

Giles in Dead Man's Party.

“Welcome home, Buffy.” When Buffy returns to Sunnydale in “Dead Man’s Party” after her lost summer, everyone is really, really mean to her over the fact that she disappeared for months and didn’t tell them where she went. Everyone, that is, except Giles, who is just very relieved and happy to have her back safely. In public, he’s calm and unemotional. In private, he takes a moment to let himself smile. I love how much Giles cares for Buffy — he is the only person who both fully understands her and loves her unconditionally — and this is a very sweet demonstration of it.

Buffy and Spike in Fool for Love.

“Is there something I can do?” In the end I suppose Spike comes close to matching Giles’ love for Buffy (although in a very different way). This scene from the end of “Fool for Love,” in which Spike sits quietly with Buffy while she allows herself a private moment of weakness over her mother’s illness, speaks volumes about their relationship. For one thing, they’ve spent the whole episode fighting and he stopped by with the intention of killing her. This is also a preview of season six, where Spike becomes Buffy’s go-to non-person for escape from a harsh reality. Spike’s desire to be worthy in Buffy’s eyes ultimately leads to a very grand gesture, but it all starts with a bit of silent, friendly comfort.

Buffy in The I in Team.

Buffy Takes The Initiative. This one isn’t as emotional as all my other picks. In this scene from “The I in Team,” Buffy attends a briefing at the headquarters of The Initiative. I’ve always found this scene hilarious just because of the image of Buffy in her orange halter top standing with all those commando guys. Aside from being funny, though, it also provides a nice visual summary of the entire conflict of season four, with Buffy’s feminine, mystical, “unpredictable” energy noticeably disrupting the male, technological, structured Initiative way of doing things. Buffy’s insistence on asking questions gets laughs from the soldiers at this point, but it’s her undoing with Professor Walsh later in this very episode. Season four is Buffy‘s most underrated year, in my opinion: The Initiative storyline, which is extremely well-developed over the season, explores some very interesting issues and this is a key scene from a key episode.

What are your favourite smaller Buffy moments?

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Desktop dispensers

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Space saving leaflet dispenser in three convenient sizes. The A4 variants come with dividers to convert them to 1/3A4. Finished in black powder coated wire mesh.

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Three tier unit available in A4, A5 and 1/3 A4 formats, moulded in crystal clear styrene. All units can be joined together with optional clips.


text:
miércoles, 28 de diciembre de 2016

Cosmetic surgery insights and trends from 2016 revealed with predictions for the year ahead

Less is more as ‘mini facelifts’ look set to be biggest trend for 2017, with enquiries up 589% in past three months

  • Breast implants top the list of 2016’s most popular surgical procedures
  • Enquiries into Liposuction up 64% and Tummy tucks up 56% in 2016
  • Mini facelifts set to be the procedure of 2017 with 589% increase in enquiries in the last 3 months of 2016
  • Dimple creation enquiries up 82% in 2016

    Most popular cosmetic surgery procedures of 2016:

    Breast implants remain the cosmetic procedure of choice in the UK despite a slight decrease of 9% in enquiries compared to the previous year. Yet the numbers seeking this cosmetic enhancement surgery almost doubled those of the second most popular procedure, eyelid surgery. At number two on the top ten list, is eyelid surgery, with an 8% increase in enquiries, and an average cost of £2,691, in the UK.

    Fat reducing surgeries also featured on the list, showing double digit growth in enquiries during 2016. Liposuction saw a 64% increase in enquiries and jumped to third place on the most popular procedures list. Enquiries for gynecomastia, or male breast reduction surgery, saw a 58% increase on 2015 figures and costs £3,567 on average. Despite its higher average price tag of £5,168 in the UK, tummy tucks have also seen a huge increase in enquiries in 2016, up 56% in the past 12 months.

    Dr Foued Hamza, Cosmetic Surgeon, Queen Anne Street Medical Centre, London said, “More and more patients are seeking less aggressive and less invasive procedures, in particular ones that have faster recovery times. Patients are seeking ‘lunchtime procedures’ which means they are in and out quickly and get more subtle treatments.”

    Mini facelifts are the fastest growing trend of 2016, with enquiries up by 135% over the past 12 months. The youth-enhancing procedure is set to continue its domination as a key trend for 2017 since figures from WhatClinic.com show a massive 589% increase in those seeking mini facelifts during the last three months of the year.
2016's top 10 most popular cosmetic surgery procedures based on volume of traffic to WhatClinic.com
Change in enquiries over the last year
Average price UK
1. Breast Implants
2. Eyelid surgery
3. Liposuction
4. Rhinoplasty
5. Tummy Tuck
6. Fat Transfer
7. Gynecomastia
8. Breast Reduction
9. Facelift
10. Breast Lift

Fastest growing cosmetic surgery treatments in 2016

Topping the list of 2016’s fastest growing cosmetic surgery trends was the mini facelift, which costs £4,745 on average in the UK. Coming in at number two was dimple creation surgery, which was up by 82% in 2016. Liposuction at number three, and also featured as one of the most popular treatments, remains a very common cosmetic surgery enhancement, while abdominal etching, which contours and shapes abdominal fat to give patients a flatter stomach, increased by 57% in 2016. Alarplasty, a procedure to pins back the ears, and cheekbone reduction both saw a 47% increase in enquiries in 2016.

2016's top 10 fastest-growing cosmetic surgery procedures (by increase in enquiries)
Change in enquiries over the last year
Average price UK
1. Mini Facelift
2. Dimple Creation
3. Liposuction
4. Gynecomastia
5. Abdominal Etching
6. Tummy Tuck
7. Alarplasty
8. Cheekbone Reduction
9. FFS - Facial Feminization Surgery
10. Butt Lift

Trends to look out for in 2017

Data from the past three months suggests that mini facelifts will continue to increase in popularity in 2017, as will vaginoplasty, a process of strengthening the muscles and tissues of the vaginal canal and removing excess or damaged tissue. Vaginoplasty, in the number two position on 2017’s predicted top trends, saw a 130% increase in enquiries in the last three months of 2016. Celebrity favourite, nose jobs (rhinoplasty), has long been one of the most popular cosmetic procedures but saw an uptick at the end of 2016, with enquires up 71% in the past three months, indicating that it could be even more in demand in 2017. Chloe Madley and Charlotte Crosby both admitted to having the procedure done in 2016.

2017's new trends
Change in enquiries in the past 3 months
Average price UK
1. Mini Facelift
2. Vaginoplasty
3. Rhinoplasty
4. Cheek Implants
5. Facelift

Commenting on the data trends, Philip Boyle, Head of Consumer Matters for WhatClinic, said:
 “The cosmetic surgery industry continues to thrive in the UK and 2016 saw an increase in enquiries for some procedures, with mini facelifts clearly the stand out procedure this year.”

“This is an industry that moves quickly and demand is high, but in some cases, so is the risk. That’s why it’s so important for patients to have realistic expectations, and to not be swayed by offers or deals. Sometimes it’s better to wait for the ’latest’ thing to become tried and tested before you sign on the dotted line. Nothing is risk free, so start by researching the treatment, and read reviews to make sure you pick the right clinic for you. ”

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Wednesday, March 07, 2012

The Talpiot Tomb and the Beatles

Over on the ASOR blog, I comment on the statistical case for the identification of the Talpiot Tomb with the family of Jesus, playing with the analogy from the Beatles that Simcha Jacobovici so likes:

Mark Goodacre

For my earlier posts that played with this topic here on the NT Blog, see The Beatles and the Jesus Family Tomb and The Statistical Case for the Identity of the "Jesus Family Tomb", both from February 2007.

Geoff Hudson said...

Is there any archaeological evidence for the earliest christians in Jerusalem? I don't think there is any. In Pompeii, an inscription CHRISTIANOS, a plural noun, written in Latin, was found.

Geoff Hudson said...

I wonder if Richard Bauckham would write an essay about the CHRISTIANOS inscription.


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NuGet 3.0

Rating:        Based on 7 ratings
Reviewed:  4 reviews
Downloads: 5796
Released: May 7, 2015
Updated: May 7, 2015 by feiling
Dev status: Beta Help Icon

Application NuGet Package Manager for Visual Studio 2015 RC
application, 3609K, uploaded May 7, 2015 - 5796 downloads

Release Notes

NuGet 3.0.0-RC

Reviews for this release

Beta Release I'm facing unhandled Exceptions that let VS 2015 CTP 6 crash immediately when Manage NuGet Packages UI is opened. Windows 10 x64 on Hyper-V, VS 2015 CTP 6, Nuget 3.0 Beta build anyone else seeing that?
by ChrisRichner on Feb 24, 2015 at 12:09 PM
Is there a Nuget 3.0 Beta Build for VS2013??
by MatthiasG on Mar 18, 2015 at 7:53 PM
by egyed on Aug 7, 2014 at 9:13 AM
I know it's alpha, but it breaks a lot of projects when updating. Sometimes it "forgets" to add references, then I can do it all over again. Will update this rating when a new version is available... * Update: 2015-03-06 * [sorry for late reply, didn't receive notifications by codeplex :-(((, when are you moving out of here?] I have updated to the latest version. Still unstable in some parts (NullReferenceExceptions) and very slow, but that might be VS2015 CTP 6 itself.
by GeertvanHorrik on Mar 26, 2015 at 8:52 AM
Would you please file a codeplex issue and probably create a simple repro project for us to better diagnose the issue? e.g. what is the list of packages installed, to which type of project. Thanks.
Reply by danliu (N/A) on Aug 12, 2014 at 7:48 PM


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Wednesday, April 27, 2016

A Tutorial on Libra: R package for the Linearized Bregman Algorithm in High Dimensional Statistics - implementation -

Here is an implementation in R of an l1 solver. All compressive sensing solvers implementation show up under the CS and implemntation tags.

A Tutorial on Libra: R package for the Linearized Bregman Algorithm in High Dimensional Statistics by Jiechao Xiong, Feng Ruan, Yuan Yao

The R package, Libra, stands for the LInearized BRegman Al- gorithm in high dimensional statistics. The Linearized Bregman Algorithm is a simple iterative procedure to generate sparse regularization paths of model estimation, which are rstly discovered in applied mathematics for image restoration and particularly suitable for parallel implementation in large scale problems. The limit of such an algorithm is a sparsity-restricted gradient descent ow, called the Inverse Scale Space, evolving along a par- simonious path of sparse models from the null model to over tting ones. In sparse linear regression, the dynamics with early stopping regularization can provably meet the unbiased Oracle estimator under nearly the same condition as LASSO, while the latter is biased. Despite their successful applications, statistical consistency theory of such dynamical algorithms remains largely open except for some recent progress on linear regression. In this tutorial, algorithmic implementations in the package are discussed for several widely used sparse models in statistics, including linear regression, logistic regres- sion, and several graphical models (Gaussian, Ising, and Potts). Besides the simulation examples, various application cases are demonstrated, with real world datasets from diabetes, publications of COPSS award winners, as well as social networks of two Chinese classic novels, Journey to the West and Dream of the Red Chamber.

 The packahe is here:
Join the CompressiveSensing subreddit or the Google+ Community or the Facebook page and post there !
Liked this entry ? subscribe to Nuit Blanche's feed, there's more where that came from. You can also subscribe to Nuit Blanche by Email, explore the Big Picture in Compressive Sensing or the Matrix Factorization Jungle and join the conversations on compressive sensing, advanced matrix factorization and calibration issues on Linkedin.

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Women in the Indian military

An article about women in the military that I found on “The Daily Mail” website:

WHIPLASH: Why ignore our Jhansi ki Ranis?

PUBLISHED: 21:08 GMT, 20 September 2012 | UPDATED: 21:08 GMT, 20 September 2012

Clearly, women are second class citizens. Why else would the Army’s statement that women cannot be granted permanent commission in the force be forgotten in a blink?

The reason: the Army’s Junior Commissioned Officers from rural India are not yet ready to accept a woman as their combat leader. How is that for equality? It’s the same state in the Navy and Air Force.

To add insult to this, defence minister AK Antony says with pride that there are 2,595 women officers in the three branches, forgetting to mention the total strength — 11,29,900.

Apparently the experience with Short Service Commission women officers has not been encouraging. When women and child development minister Krishna Tirath stressed the need for “empowerment of women”, she forgot about our defence forces.

How long will the combined forces of the government and defence take to wake up to change?

Forever, I should think. Instead of becoming an equal opportunity employer, they intend to play the benches. Therein lies the problem.

Armies of Israel, Canada, France, Italy, Germany and Australia permit women in combat roles. Women have flown combat missions as fighter pilots for Britain, Pakistan and the US.

Scandinavian countries that allow women in combat positions also have difficult climactic conditions and terrains.

Canadian women serve as soldiers in Afghanistan. According to a research by Live Science, women are capable of performing admirably on the front lines, just like men can be. But no one is asking or even checking. Maybe it’s time to do some research.

Rani Lakshmibai, the queen of Jhansi, and Captain Lakshmi Sahgal are not figments of our collective imagination. They did exist and they did well.

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Really, Kansas? Really?

We could barely bring ourselves to write about this.

The Kansas House has passed what would probably be the most restrictive abortion bill in the country, described here by the Huffington Post.

Lawyer: I think the two most troubling provisions (obviously?) are the ones mandating that doctors tell women certain things, and those authorizing doctors to withhold certain information.

Nurse: Yeah. . . this seems like it completely undermines the doctor/patient relationship. You can no longer trust that your doctor is telling you what he really thinks is in your best interest. This seems a little. . . facist? I don’t know. The state doctor is going to tell you the state facts about your body now.  True? What do you mean? The state scientist said so. This is coming from the political party that wants the state to intervene less? Um. Ok. I think we really have 3 parties– democrats, fiscal conservatives, and religious right-wing nut-jobs.

Lawyer: We can look at it both from the perspective of the rights of the patients and the rights of the doctors.  (Let’s not forget that the First Amendment not only prohibits restraining speech — but also compelling speech.)

Nurse: Good one. Plus, I didn’t even get into the fact that, um, the birth control/breast cancer link which is part of this whole argument is not what any informed person would call solid evidence. So there’s another way the state is telling doctors to lie.

Lawyer: It also raises a really thorny question about the relationship between science and law, reminiscent of the debate about teaching creationism. If a legislature deems something fact, that doesn’t make it true — but they do (and properly, I think) have some control over a curriculum. It’s harder to argue that the government has any role in dictating what can happen in the exam room with the door closed.

Nurse: Yep, that was my reaction as well– it’s similar, but worse. Private physicians behind closed doors should not have to tell patients any particular thing. Public schools. . . . more debatable. But, then, how the h-e-double-hockey-sticks are they going to enforce that law? Big brother?

Lawyer: It’s also just really gross.

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City Archives
New Orleans Public Library

Digest of the Acts and Deliberations of the Cabildo
Coat of Arms

Introduction to the Digest

Subject Book Volume Page Date Description
Coat of Arms 3 I 164 3/30/1787 Governor: Miro; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. - The Governor presents a Royal Order from His Majesty in which he orders that the Coat of Arms of this city be changed - that in place of the lillies at the upper part of the Arms, the Castle and Lion of Spain be placed.
Coat of Arms 4 III 37 6/7/1799 Governor: Gayoso; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde - At this meeting Cristobal Prevost presented a model of the Arms of this city which must be placed in the main door of the Cabildo Building, and also presented another model of the wicket doors to be placed in all the doors of these chambers. - At the next meeting of the Cabildo, (page 38), the Commissioners who were appointed to arrange a price with Prevost, reported that they had arranged a price for the Coat of Arms, also for the other work Prevost must do in the Cabildo Building.
Coat of Arms 5
39 1/14/1803 Governor: Salcedo; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde - At this time the City Treasurer, Don Juan de Castanedo, mentions a writing set of silver (at present in use by the Cabildo) which he bought at public auction of the estate of Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos; consisting of an inkstand in the shape of a mortar, a sand box in the shape of a barrel, a wafer seal in the shape of a drum, a small bell, and another box to hold the quills for the pens. All pieces engraved with the Coat of Arms of Gayoso. He asked that the Cabildo approve this purchase and authorize payment out of the city funds.

Back to the Introduction to the Digest


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NutzWorld SportzNutz EntertainmentNutz ComputerNutz GamezNutz TinyStart InfoTiki News

Once Upon a Time: First look at Emma’s wedding dress in musical

By Michael To read more from EW’s Summer Movie Preview, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday, or buy it here. Don’t forget to subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW. Emma and Hook will soon tie the knot on Once Upon a Time — and EW has the exclusive […]

…read more

Via:: EntertainmentNutz


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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Getting Back in the Groove

Almost a year ago, I began the journey to write my first memoir. A few months into the project, I became distracted with the usual suspects; family medical illness, unpaid bills, and wavering confidence. Well, I'm back at it. This time, I'm going to write until the first draft is complete. I will not allow one day to pass me up without writing for at least an hour. Wish me well.
And while you're wishing me well, go ahead and pray that when I finish this project, a literary agent and publishing house is waiting for me be their next successful author.

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The first and only NYC tourist guide in Farsi

The New York Persian Cultural Center (NYPC) is excited to announce one of its products to the Persian speaking communities around the world. The first and only New York City Farsi Tourist Guide is now available to purchase. This guide will help you to visit most popular attractions of the New York City and learn about its history and background. […]

Read more


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What ridiculous world record are these comics going for?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — If it’s March, it must be time to try to set another arcane world record in Grand Rapids.

Gilda’s LaughFest organizers in the past three years have overseen record-setting attempts for donning false mustaches, wearing chicken beaks and tossing rubber chickens.

The fourth annual festival of laughter kicks off Thursday with an effort to set a new world record for the most people wearing sunglasses at night. Participants are to be given official bright yellow LaughFest sunglasses.

Guinness World Records says the current mark was set in July 2012 by 1,642 people at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

Gilda’s LaughFest will run through March 16. It honors the memory of comedian Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989.

What do you wish you held the record in?

Community Guidelines


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Local Outreach

Helping Neighbors in our Community

  • Through a partnership with Oakton Elementary and High Schools, we are working to assist a number of needy local students and families, including some who are homeless.

  • Monthly meal preparation and delivery to the Lamb Center in Fairfax, a resource center for the needy and homeless.

  • Ongoing donations of clothing, food and household items to CHO (Committee for Helping Others) in Vienna

  • Backpacks and school supply donations each fall for Rising Hope Mission Church in Alexandria and Northern Virginia Family Services

  • Our Daily Bread (local food pantry)

  • Alternative House (refuge for abused and homeless children and youth)

  • Ongoing donations of food for local hungry children through Marshall Road ES

  • Shepherd’s Center (Support Center for the elderly, located in Oakton)

Global Outreach

Helping Neighbors Overseas

  • RISE AGAINST HUNGER (Stop Hunger Now):  Twice-yearly meal-packaging to aid those in crisis spots throughout the world.  Each event provides at least 10,000 nutritionally balanced meals.

  • Helping Children Worldwide:  OUMC is among 13 Northern VA churches in partnership to support the Child Rescue Center (a school and orphanage) and Mercy Hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone

  • Shoebox collection of Christmas goodies for Operation Christmas Child each year in November

  • School, health & layette kits, and Flood Buckets for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)

  • Imagine No Malaria (global partnership to stamp out malaria)

  • One Great Hour of Sharing (global disaster relief)


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Menu Home

Up until the 18thCE both malting and brewing took place on an essentially domestic scale for local consumption. The term oast was used for buildings drying both barley and hops . The hop counties of England were not major malt producing districts but many oasts/kilns were used inter-changeably for barley and hops in the 17th and early 18thCE in Hampshire, Hereford , Worcester, East Sussex and Kent.

The malthouse process involved more stages than hop drying:

  • oats or barley were soaked in water in lead or stone basins called “steeps”;
  • the wet grain was laid out on the malting floor to germinate;
  • then it was transferred to a kiln to be heated, halting further germination;
  • finally the grain was cooled and mashed up and bagged for use in a brewery;

Braourne drawingThe Malthouse, Penstock Place Brabourne, nr Ashford, is an example of a multi use building. The original brick building, probably late 17thCE had one kiln. A round hop kiln was added in the 19thCE.

The diagram below shows the interior as it was in 1960; the hop drying installations, dating from the late 19thCE were still in place. The whole building is now converted to dwellings, as shown in the modern photographs.

Brabourne 2015

Brabourne Aug 15 (3)

Brabourne 2015

1960 Photo

In 1960 this group of buildings in Easole Street, Nonington, East Kent was used by a grain merchant. Remnants of the “steep” for barley germination in water were still present in the front part of the building. While the cowl remained over the kiln the drying floor had gone by 1960. Now the premises are used as a business centre for a number of companies.

Boxley Maltings geograph

Boxley Maltings

At Boxley , close to Maidstone, Kent there is an example of a dual purpose oast from the early 18thCE. I did not identify this building in 1960, so there are no diagrams of it from that time.

Categories: 17th Century


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Gratien Bidondo Obituary
Share Your Memories

Use your phone to record a message sharing your fond memories of Gratien Bidondo and to share with visitors to the audio guest book.*

To record a message, call:
Code: 6076310

*Standard phone charges apply. All messages are subject to the family's approval before being published to the audio guest book.

Voice Mail for the Bidondo Family

There are currently 0 published audio guest book entries. Click any of the links to listen to a message from friends and family of Gratien Bidondo. If you wish to leave your own audio condolence or to share a memory of Gratien, you only need to make a simple phone call. Callers should dial  1.855.284.8686 and enter 6076310 when asked. International callers should dial +1.513.449.2226 and enter 6076310 when asked.

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United For Global Change | 15.10.2011 | Globe To Unite

Wednesday October 5,2011

15october.net has initiated an invitation for the Globe to unite on October 15,2011 ” United for global change”. “It’s time for us to unite . It’s time for them to listen . People of the world rise up”.

All this follows in the footsteps of the #OccupyWallStreet Movement. It’s time for the 99% to Awaken, and Suppress the 1%.

watch the YouTube video below [15 October – United for Global Change]


text:
Welcome login | signup
Language en es fr
We are the 99 percent

Articles tagged occukitchen

Thank You Letter from OccuKitchen To Food Fund Donors

Posted 4 years ago on Oct. 7, 2012, 7:19 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Tags: occukitchen

Carrots and potatos

My name is Ethan Murphy and I’d like to share some of the things the OWS People's Kitchen accomplished last week, largely thanks to your support. I also wanted to tell the story of how I got here and what we're planning next, I share this on my own birthday, just three days after feeding 6,000 people for the S17 anniversary weekend.

I assisted in the coordination of feeding our visitors from around the country (and the world) who joined us for the weekend leading up to our birthday march on Wall Street. Your donations allowed us to serve homemade sandwiches, wraps, granola bars, quiche and fresh fruit every day, and also a hearty family-style buffet dinner each night that included fresh produce from our allied farms. Our service culminated in three types of birthday cake (with candles) for more than a thousand people. So, thank you very much for helping make this all possible! Though we are unable at this time to physically serve our community every day, we will continue to provide nourishment for activists and protesters whenever we can.

What follows is the story of how I ended up here:

For the past few years the need to reform our way of life has increasingly become apparent to more and more of us. For me, events such as the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, rampant wildfires throughout the U.S. and fracking that causes earthquakes and flammable water have generated feelings of fear, despair, rage, sorrow, misery and hopelessness. Not to mention anger at a government that shields corporate wrongdoers from any repercussions, even waging wars without our consent in order to protect the interests of a destructive system. It’s been clear to me from a very early age that our dependence on non-renewable energy would have to change one day, and I had passively “supported” reform, basically giving lip-service to a progressive idea of change and liberal progress for decades. Obviously, that attitude does not serve a greater good.

This realization resulted in a drastic personal transformation of my worldview and compelled me to action. I realize there have been others screaming this exact sentiment for longer than I’ve even been alive, but like many Americans, I’d allowed myself to be hypnotized by the industrial infotainment complex.

But last year, when I witnessed innocent young people, right here in New York City, brutalized and arrested for publicly stating that they believed our world was in peril, it triggered in me an uncontrollable desire to help. This is something I hadn’t ever felt before and didn’t know how to start, so I went to investigate what these kids were doing in Zuccotti Park - rather, the newly-anointed Liberty Plaza - and found at least a sliver of hope in the bravery of these young’uns.

I also found out it wasn’t just kids. The people I met in the Financial District included all ages, races, religions (and, like me, non-religious types), every kind of political philosophy and gender identity you could imagine, the homeless and hungry, union workers, veterans, a retired police captain, the middle class and the poor, even some sympathetic 1%ers (though many in the movement were not ready to accept the inclusion of the bourgeois). Each of these people independently came to realize that, as the slogan goes, “Shit’s fucked up and bullshit.”

Man holding sign: shit's fucked up and bullshit

OCCUPY, THEN AND NOW: An Occupy mainstay waits on the meal line, right, on September 17, 2012.

Thousands upon thousands of people kept showing up. Occupy spread first nationally and then globally, and a network has since formed that isn’t going anywhere.

I kept trying to find a way to utilize my (admittedly very narrow) skill set to actually benefit this growing movement. I learned some of the techniques of Outreach and Facilitation that the activists preached so much about, and I continued to seek ways to plug in that I felt would be a substantive contribution.

This is when I began to volunteer for the Kitchen Working Group of Occupy Wall Street. My professional experience, after all, has been in the food and beverage industry. For six months I helped organize volunteers in a donated professional kitchen Monday through Wednesday, then I worked my “real” job tending bar Thursday through Sunday. Over time, my day job became secondary and I found myself yearning to be back in the kitchen cooking for OWS all the time because that’s where I felt the most useful. I was recently asked why I don’t cook professionally here in New York, to which I replied without even thinking, “Cooks don’t get paid enough in this town.” After a pause I added defiantly, “And since they can’t pay me enough to cook professionally I’ll just give my skills away for free!” It was a joke, but it resonated with me because I increasingly found that my happiest place was cooking for scores of strangers who were each, in their own way, trying to build a brighter future.

We prepared food for hundreds of activists and protesters in the park every day, and then, after the eviction, wherever the Occupation ended up each day. We even fed two thousand people on Thanksgiving Day, just days after being violently forced from our peaceful encampment, and it was so moving! Over the winter we moved our operation indoors, serving our buffet on Wall Street proper. It felt like we were giving The Man the stiff middle finger every time we delivered our donated bounty to the atrium at 60 Wall Street, or on the steps of the Federal building. This was real to me; every day there were tangible results, and I worked myself to exhaustion before I discovered this was not sustainable for me or for the movement.

I took a break after May Day - an enormous action feeding thousands all over Manhattan - as did many of the volunteers responsible for the daily feedings. Since then I have been working on ways to sustainably support not just the movement, but the world. Last week we reunited to serve the needs of the Occupation for our anniversary. We assembled a dedicated team and even recruited some additional service industry professionals, but we still pushed ourselves to our absolute limit, cooking for nearly 100 hours in five days. We will continue to serve actions on an as-needed basis.

I have also been working on Occupalooza/Occupicnic, a free concert and information expo for the 99%, with one of our primary kitchen delivery drivers and a few others for months now, the idea gaining steam during those long drives to Zuccotti. We were admittedly wide-eyed when we began planning the event, and expected much more support from our fellow Occupiers, but since then we have learned a great deal and will continue pursuing this event by building up to it with a series of small fundraisers and festivals. Here is a link to our website, <www.occupalooza.info> / <www.occupicnic.info>, and what follows is an overview of our upcoming Occupalooza / Occupicnic.

The purpose of Occupalooza / Occupicnic is to demystify the OWS movement, to broaden our outreach and to demonstrate the importance of standing together in unity. We aim to create better opportunities for people who have suffered the injustices of greed and poverty.

We will represent the Vision and Goals and the Declaration of the Occupation of New York City under the Occupy umbrella with the following themes: Occupy Peace, Food, Health, Knowledge, Environment, Ethics, and Liberty

The second project I want to mention, and the one most most directly related to my kitchen work with Occupy and my professional life experience (and the one closest to my heart), is a nonprofit community center /restaurant/event space. We call it Public Domain. This is a long-term project that will be occupying my time for possibly years to come. It is also something that I believe will be of long-lasting benefit to all people, not just activist and organizers, but whole communities.

Our mission is to nourish body and mind by establishing a venue, open to all, where people can safely and comfortably gather, dine and work together, while sharing knowledge and incubating community based projects.

We serve this mission by pursuing the following goals:

  1. To establish member owned and operated multi-use facilities focused on community building, conversation and education, where delicious and healthful food is served on a donation basis. The food we serve emphasizes organic, locally grown, unprocessed ingredients supporting local farmers and promoting a healthy well informed population.

  2. To nurture a more equitable society by establishing a solidarity economy based on principles of mutual aid, sustainability and environmental justice. All decisions will be made in accordance with a non-hierarchical cooperative model outlined in the bylaws of the organization.

  3. To reform patterns of food production, distribution and consumption in New York City and beyond. We will feed people in need, reduces waste in the food industry, create volunteer and employment opportunities, as well as provide a venue for skill-sharing workshops and education about food and food industry related issues.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Your support means a great deal to me.