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Your Flat Abs Plan

One of the most frequent questions that I’m asked is, “How can I get great abs?”

You may have pondered this question at some time or another.

Many people are frustrated by their stomachs, to the point of giving up after doing dozens of crunches with zero improvement.

Thus, it’s time to forget everything you’ve heard about how to sculpt your abs.

Quite simply, crunches alone won’t give you a six pack.

Moreover, doing crunches with the hope that it will transform your abs from flabby to muscular is to believe in one of the most widely held fitness myths. I’m talking about the spot reduction myth.

Training one area of your body will not specifically burn fat from that spot.

Are you training as if spot reduction worked? Doing dozens of crunches in the hopes that as a result layers of fat will disappear?

Because sit-ups, crunches and planks will not flatten your abs.

But a drop in overall body fat will do that for you.

So you want the secret to great abs?

The secret is a winning combination of fat burning cardio, resistance training and clean eating.

Therefore it is fully possible for you to dramatically shape up your waistline.

Yes, Y-O-U.

My clients routinely lose weight and transform their bodies. You can do it too.

Answer the following questions to see how your current routine measures up:

How often do you exercise? If your answer was anything less than 4 times a week, then that’s the first thing getting between you and flat abs.

How do you define a fat burning workout? A routine including intense cardiovascular training coupled with effective resistance training. Do you do this?

I’m sorry to be the one to break this to you, but walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes isn’t a fat blasting routine. Neither is a leisurely 20 minutes on the elliptical machine. The truth is that you can dramatically increase your results while investing less time when you exercise right.

Cardio exercise is all about maintaining an effective level of intensity. But this doesn’t mean that you should be out of breath or gasping for air. It does mean that you need to push yourself.

Resistance training is the second key part of a fat burning workout. This means working your major muscle groups against resistance in a way that stimulates your metabolism. Hence the key here again is to find the right intensity and to keep each muscle group guessing.

Do you eat a clean diet? Diet is a big stumbling block for most people especially as it relates to their midsection. Here’s a fact: If your diet is out of control then your abs will be too. You can’t trim your waist without trimming the junk out of your diet, regardless of how hard you exercise.

Keep calories in check. Do you know how many calories you eat? The best way to find out is to record everything you eat for a few days. Tally the number of calories that you eat each day and do an evaluation—feel free to recruit me to help out with this part. Together we’ll chart improvements for your diet and adjust your calories for maximum results.

Just say “No” to junk food. While this may seem obvious, your definition of “junk food” may need an alteration. Refined sugar is one of the biggest culprits in the junk food world—it is found in soft drinks, blended coffee drinks, cookies, cakes, packaged snacks, and other sinfully sweet treats. Processed fat is another monster. Thus, as a rule of thumb you can safely view all processed or refined items as junk food.

Eat more frequently. The key here is to never let your metabolism “crash” by going hours without eating. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to skip breakfast—as this is the meal that ‘breaks the fast’ that your body goes into each night. Stick with eating small meals every few hours and always avoid stuffing yourself.

You should now understand why you are better off not wasting time on crunches—while it is important to exercise your abs a couple of times a week, you won’t expect fat to fall of that area after 100’s of crunches.

Do you want to flatten and sculpt your waist once and for all? Simply decide that you really want it and commit to yourself—you deserve it.

See me for fat-blasting workouts that deliver results. Together we will get you on a program that will melt the fat off your abs, exposing shape and definition.

Call or email me today to get started.

Time to Exercise

Don’t allow past failures get you down. It can be frustrating waiting for results, but by a combination of cardio exercises, a healthy diet, and the right resistance workouts, you will reach your goal. Never. Give. Up.

Greek Omelet Waffles

2016-6-26Here’s a fun way to eat your eggs – cooked in a waffle maker! In this recipe the subtle flavors of Greek omelet are served up in a convenient waffle shape – complete with Kalamata olives, feta cheese, roasted red bell peppers, chicken sausage and broccoli. Hence, this is the perfect recipe to enjoy for brunch or to make on the weekend and portion out for a week of quick on-the-go breakfasts to grab and enjoy on your way to work.

Servings: 4

Here’s what you need…
Olive oil spray
6 eggs
¼ cup milk
¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
½ cup roasted red bell pepper, thinly sliced
¼ cup Kalamata olives, seeded and chopped
¼ cup fresh broccoli, chopped
2 links chicken sausage, chopped
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

1. Preheat your waffle griddle on medium-low heat. Spray generously with olive oil.
2. In a large bowl combine the eggs, milk, feta, bell pepper, olives, broccoli, sea salt, black pepper and chicken sausage. Mix well until fully combined.
3. Transfer ½ cup of the omelet batter into the waffle iron, close, and cook until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and continue cooking the remaining batter in ½ cup scoops. Enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 279 calories, 18g fat, 6g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, and 18g protein.

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Review: The Queen of Nothing

“For what we want most, we will take almost any chance.”

Rating: 3/5 stars
Format: Physical copy

26032912._SY475_He will be destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne.

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.

Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.

And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…

The Verdict

Let me preface this by saying I’ve always been honest in my reviews and I’m not about to start sugar-coating things now. So, if you loved this book and are willing to down fighting tooth and nail over it, do you. You’re entitled to your opinions and they’re totally valid since we all have different reading experiences. If you loved this book, I’m happy for you but this just wasn’t for me. And it’s not that it was bad, I mean, I devoured it in one day. But basically on every single level this book did not live up to my expectations which was something I worried was going to happen.  To put it simply this was underwhelming AF and instead of writing some nice cohesive review let’s just break it down, shall we?

What I Liked

👸🏻 Jude. Jude is basically the one thing in this book that felt the most authentic from start to finish. I think out of everyone in the book her character development was the best. And I will always appreciate how badass she is and the fact that she basically takes what she wants out of life, no questions asked.

🌎 The worlds. I really liked that there was more of a clash of Faerie and the mortal world in this book. It added a nice element to the story imagining some of the fae characters doing things like eating pizza or learning what gummy worms were and left a nice lighthearted touch to the story. I also loved being back in Faerie. This fae world is without a doubt my favorite and I’ll always love how Holly Black is basically the master of creating all things faerie. The TRUEE Queen of Faerie.

👵🏻 Grima Mog. The MVP of the story. Don’t even try and change my mind.

What I Didn’t Like

🧚🏻♂ Cardan. Let’s start with my first biggest issue with the book, and that’s Cardan. Now, I know that obviously a hate to love story is not going to stay on the “hate” side forever. I get that. However, what I was not expecting is to have two books filled with so much hate and then book three Cardan turns around and is just all mushy, gooey, head over in heels “I’ll die without Jude by my side”. Like what?! Meanwhile homeboy would have killed her with a smile on his face during the last two books. Where is the growth? Don’t just expect us to believe it. SHOW US. Show us how much pain Cardan was in while Jude was in exile IN. THE. STORY…not in the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition all the way at the end that most reader’s won’t get to experience!!! Honestly, I’m low-key heated about this whole thing. When I read the letters in the back of my book I could not believe that they were not included in the story. That was such a bad move since those letters would have given Cardan just an ounce of decent character development.

📈 Pacing. The beginning of this book didn’t necessarily drag, but it also didn’t do anything for me either. With the first two books if anyone even looked at me while I was trying to read they would have gotten screamed at, however, with this one once I hit chapter five I was like “alright nothing’s happening let me take a break.” Things eventually did start to pick up once you hit part two but that’s halfway through the story. At that point I was shitting bricks thinking there was no possible way everything was going to be resolved in the next 150 pages. Much to my surprise it was, but it was mediocre as hell.

⚔ Battle Scene. Where was it? Because I’m still waiting. I legitimately cannot believe Jude got strapped for battle and then it just literally lasted like 2.5 pages…maybe less. It was so anticlimactic and predictable that I had to laugh. Where are the twists and turns books one and two delivered?! Why was there nothing that shocked me in this book?Holly Black’s plot twists usually take my breath away and it was all just so predictable and underwhelming.

🔚 The end. In terms of wrapping up the series it was pretty weak and again super underwhelming. After the whole battle scene I knew that any hope of a truly good wrap up was out the window.

All in all, this was definitely the weakest out of all three books for me, but I don’t think three stars is a bad rating. It’s average and that’s exactly what this book was for me. The Wicked King will always be my favorite and I’m perfectly fine with having the first two books be basically perfection. So, am I sad to see these characters go? After this book not really. But would I read more books written in the Faerie world? Absolutely.

Until next time,

10 thoughts on “Review: The Queen of Nothing

    1. YES! But only in the Barnes and Noble exclusive editions which I thought was so stupid because they add a little more depth to Cardan’s character in this one!

      I’m glad to hear you loved this!

  1. WHAT? I didn’t know that the B&N exclusive edition got Cardan’s letters in the back?! Now I am disappoint. I’m currently reading The Queen Of Nothing (I’m about half way through), so I’ll be interested to see which aspects of your review I agree with at the end. Personally, I’ve had issues with the pacing of all three books in the series and I’ve been disappointed that Cardan has barely been in this book so far, but I loveeee Jude—I love her strength and her fire and her vulnerability.

  2. I agree those letters should have been in every edition.
    I live in the UK and I was shocked to hear they were published in a B&N exclusive edition – feels like a big middle finger to people who pre-ordered online or don’t live in the USA.

    I’m still none the wiser to what was in the letters, and I probably never will unless they get published elsewhere.

    1. Yep, I REALLY felt that like was a pretty bad move on publishing’s part.

      The letters are basically Cardan begging Jude to come back and professing his love for her. I’m pretty sure if you Google “cardans letters to jude” that someone posted them on Tumblr.

      Liked by 1 person

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The last few weeks have been furiously busy with lots of orders from you kind people, so thank you very much!

I'm going to close the store for a couple of weeks now to do a proper stock take and catch up with repotting and maintenance. When the store goes back online some new items should be listed and stock updated, so keep your eyes peeled!

To keep updated, I'd recommend follow my Instagram page @the_cactus_shed, or please subscribe to the mailing list, as I'll send an update before the store reopens.

If you need to get in touch in the meantime, please email me at

Look forward to seeing you soon!

Why not sign up for our (very infrequent) newsletter while you're here?


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The Center of Harmony’s Christmas Festival

11/09/2019 @ 9:00 am - 11/10/2019 @ 4:00 pm

The Center of Harmony’s Christmas Festival

November 9th &  10th 2019

This is a wonderful festival and time of the year.   Historic Harmony and the Harmony Museum have been organizing the “Weinachtsmarkt” or German Christmas Festival for over 25 years.   Each year there are many vendors, activities, food and music to enjoy.    Bring out the whole family for a weekend of shopping and fun.

The Center of Harmony has numerous vendors and activities happening in the Opera Hall and Lot.   There is no admission and all are welcome.   Stop by and get a jump on your Holiday shopping.

Vendor Opportunities

Harmony’s German Christmas Market or “Weinachtmarkt” (Put on by the Historic Harmony Inc, and the Harmony Museum)  is one of the best events of the year and we can be sure of that because we seek out the best vendors in the area. Not to mention over 5,000 people come to shop, eat, and connect over this two day event.

We would like to invite you to submit a Christmas Market Vendor Application attached here and join us on November 10th and 11th 2018. There are a limited number of vendor sports so please be sure to submit promptly!

If you would like to be a vendor or are a returning vendor, please complete and return the form linked below.

2019 Christmas Festival Vendor App

11/09/2019 @ 9:00 am
11/10/2019 @ 4:00 pm
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Center of Harmony – Opera Hall
253 Mercer St
Harmony, PA 16037 United States
+ Google Map

Josh Meeder
(724) 272-3901


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Archive for August, 2012

Believe it or not, I’ve never actually used chalk paint before yesterday.  I see the beautiful pieces come into the barn.  I see them online.  I really love the look and so many of the colors.  But I’ve been reluctant.  Partly because I’ve heard there’s a learning curve involved, and partly because it’s not easy to get.

So I’ve never tried it.

Until yesterday.  As I was looking at this piece:

It’s got such great lines, outstanding construction (it’s actually a solid oak Thomasville piece) but the yellowish, 70’s stain, with slate blue highlights,  just weren’t working for me.   Painting it was the obvious solution.

Some crazy thought flicked into my head that this piece, and this time (3 days before Market Days)  was right for trying chalk paint.

Common sense tells you to try a new technique on something small and unimportant.  Take a good look at this hutch.   It’s so tall that I need a step ladder to reach the top.  It’s about 6′ wide, and weighs more that a small elephant.  And I was planning it for the centerpiece of my Market Days display.  This piece is both huge and important.

Undaunted, I started in with my deep taupy paint.  Just the muted cocoa/grey shade I was looking for.  It was looking great, and going on so easily!  “Wow, looks like it really will cover in one coat!”  I wanted to squeeze myself.  You see a big part of the motivation to try chalk paint was that so many people had told me that this miracle is true:  chalk paint covers in one coat.  And it doesn’t chip, or need primer.

But when I climbed down off of my ladder and gazed back up at my masterpiece, I saw that the paint was drying at least 6 shade lighter than it went on!  It was almost cream colored!  Oh no.

I took a deep breath.  That’s okay.  I’d planned on the antiquing wax.  It’ll make all the difference.

Out comes the wax.  Now I’ve waxed before.  And I know that wax takes elbow grease.  So elbow grease I gave it.   Initially it was beautiful.  The happier I was with it, the more intensely I rubbed it in.  Until – oh horror! – the wax was pulling the paint off.  Throughout the piece I was looking at whole swathes that were just antiquing over the original finish.

I could have cried.

Instead I walked away.   In search of someone to whine to.  I found Fran.  Fran is a seasoned painter, and a master fixer-upper.  “Oh just dry brush some more paint in those spots.  It’ll look great.”  I wanted to believe her.  I wanted to have it all turn out.

My plan?  Abandon it.  Have a limoncello martini (an excellent solution to most summertime problems), a good nights sleep, and paint it with some Farrow & Ball in the morning.

But when I returned this morning, I decided to try Fran’s advice after all.  And look at how it came out:

I am so pleased with the finished product!  I really  love it.  And it did actually cover in one coat.

Turns out my problem was that I should have wiped the wax on gently, not so harshly.   Upon further investigation (and whining to everyone who would listen to me AND knows something about painting with chalk paint) the Annie Sloane paint has quick drying qualities that the paint I used does not.  Additionally, the Annie Sloane wax does not rub off the paint the way the wax I used does.  On the flip side, this wax is completely organic and natural and doesn’t smell at all.  The Annie Sloane wax (though much easier to work with) does reek.  So there’s the trade off.

What do you think?  Do you like the final effect?   You’ll have to wait to see the whole thing, as it’s so heavy, that I have to have 2 men to lift the top back on.

By Saturday morning it’ll be fully decorated, and you’ll see it if you drop in on Market Days.

Another Market Days perk?  Repurposed & Refined, one of the temporary dealers, is offering chalk paint demonstrations throughout the day.  I think I’ll be taking one in!

Thanks for reading,

August 12, 2014:  Here’s a few places to go if you’re interested in learning more, from real experts, on chalk paint and specialty furniture painting:

CeCe Caldwell Chalk Paint (http://cececaldwells.com/instructions-for-use/)
Annie Sloane Chalk Paint (http://www.anniesloan.com/)

And now my favorite paint company in the world, Farrow & Ball, has jumped into the game with some great insights into painting furniture with their extraordinary paint:

Have fun!!

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I was just in the Garden House today, and look what I found!

Doesn’t the painted furniture look amazing against the rough floors.  Rosanna of Bella Villa came in and magically transformed the one-time kitchen with her tiffany blue accents and pretty pieces.
Here’s some more of what I found, and you can see this weekend, along with the all the Market Days dealers and our full barns.

Lothar of German Favorite Antiques has also been working his magic, and here are some of the results:

Thanks for reading,

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Between Tag Sales and renovating the cottage (a.k.a. The Garden House), we’re also putting on our fall Market Days this weekend. It’s a blast – dozens of temporary dealers arrive, put up their tents, bring out their fabulous finds – it’s like Christmas for me!  I mean, think about it – all this coming to your backyard.  You have to admit it’s pretty awesome.

I just loved how everyone embraced the grounds so creatively!

But, as I await the arrival of all these cool dealers, I (and the rest of the Chartreuse & co gang of permanent dealers) have to get the barn ready and picture perfect.

In going through the barn, I realize this time, many of my favorite things are objects I’ve seen many times before, but now see them used in a creative way.

Here’s some of my favorites today:

Love these glamorous chairs.  The textured, graphic fabric is spot on.

So amazing to find this hip, mid-century modern lamp with it’s original shade.  It’s a single object update for any room.

TThe carved details on this table got it on my list of favorites.

Mid-century modern pair – freshly reupholstered in a great basket-weave fabric.

Yup, it’s the birds on these bamboo rugs that got me.

I’m a sucker for channel-back chairs.  This one is spectacular in it’s new fabric.

Love these vintage accessories.  Turning a garden urn into a pencil cup is such a great idea.

The silver rims of this glassware set makes them so versatile and ready for the coming party season.

I just love vintage suitcases, and this little stack is just right.  The train case on top seals it for me.

What a cool, funky cupboard!!!  The window detail at the top, the corrugated metal back, the primitive details throughout – all these make this one a favorite.

I’ve seen vintage bowling pins as sculpture, or funky graphic detail, but I just loved seeing them as bookends.

This pine cupboard is just so cute with the vintage crates inside to organize all the goodies to be stored.

Red is looking so fresh to me right now.  Is it the season change?  The contrast with the neutrals I see so much of?  I’m really not sure.  But this piece is a knock out.

This pair of wing-backs is just so pretty.  The tone-on-tone, textured fabric in such gracious color sets them apart.

Love these bottles.  The deep green color, especially.  And I just love them lined up, popping out of the urns like little plants.  Just plain fun.

These funky little owls are just so cute!  The pale blue color, and their feisty expressions make me love them.

Another clever repurposing that I just love:  using bicycle baskets as file holders.  Adorable.  I also love using the hooks to hold a pretty pencil holder in a handy spot.

I really like the french provincial lines of this china closet/bookcase.  But paired with this swanky chair updates it and makes the ensemble a stand out to me.

And what is the fall without wine tastings, wine festivals, that oh-so-important glass after the homework’s done and the kids are in bed . . .

Possibly the coolest repurpose I’ve seen:  carburetor covers turned sconces.

So there you have it – my favorites today.  Tomorrow I’ll probably have more.  And I’ll be updating on our barn website, chartreuseandco.com

One more cool thing coming up this weekend:  we’ll have two of the rooms in the Garden House open!  If you’re in the area, drop in and see it.

Thanks for reading,

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Actually, this should be titled, “Before & Now”, because while it’s technically ‘after’ pictures I have, they are not the magazine-ready kinda after pictures you may be hoping for.  Things happen around here in baby steps – mainly because we inevitably run into the unexpected.

So this post is really an update on the ‘cottage’ we’re working on.  And I can hardly express how happy I am to just be this far along in our process.

ROOM #1:

You may recall that all that wood is actually contact paper.  And those parquet floors are stick-on vinyl tiles.

ImageSo here’s what we had after removing the contact paper and vinyl tiles.  Yes, those are holes in the wall. But the hardwood floors had a great patina.Image

This is what we have today.  A bit of patching, a couple gallons of Farrow & Ball’s Pavilion Gray, trimmed with Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, and it’s worlds better.  Don’t you think? It makes me so happy to open the door now!ImageI just LOVE the old built-in cupboard!

ImageHere’s a detail of the colors.  So pretty and calming.Image

ROOM #2:

This room seemed to have the most potential because the lighting is so nice and the wainscoting has so much charm.  But this room had the stickiest floor tiles of all.  We tried everything, and finally ended up using a belt sander to sand the gunk off the floors. Image

We had initially planned on staining the floors after sanding, but I really like the look of the raw sanding.  The patina would be totally lost when covered by stain.  What do you think?ImageRoom #2 BEFORE

(with the ‘parquet’ floor)ImageParquet floor removedImage

And, voila!  The wainscoting did not disappoint.  Nor did the soft natural lighting of the room.  ImageDetail of the wall color in Room #2ImageIt’s the same Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray that’s in the first room, yet look how the lighting changes it.  I just LOVE that about the F&B paints.ImageRoom #3

Again with the floors.  And this wall color was almost like a trip to the Caribbean.  It was super intense.ImageThe ‘parquet’ floors removed.ImageAFTER
We’re still working on this one, but the walls are finished, painted Farrow & Ball’s Blue Gray, with F&B’s Old White as the trim.  The combo is like a softer, warmer version of the colors in the other two rooms.  A really comforting transition.ImageDetail of the wall and trim colors.

Room #4

Moving upstairs, this room is directly above Room #2 with the wainscoting, so it has that beautiful natural light.  Even though it’s the smallest room in the house, it’s one of the prettiest.

And here’s what paint can do.  Farrow & Ball’s Borrowed Light, trimmed with Benjamin Moore’s White Dove.  Upstairs we did stain the floors, using Rustoleum’s Kona stain.  Don’t you just love the deep, rich floors in contrast to the pale walls and trim?ImageBEFORE (Room #4)Image

AFTER (Room #4)

Another angle of this beautiful room.  You just want to stay in there it’s so pretty.

This is the room above the turquoise room.  It had the grungiest walls and trim of any room in the house.  It took 2 coats of primer to make them paintable.  And, like every room in the house, it had the vinyl tiles on the floor.Image

And here it is with F&B’s Blackened on the walls and Cooking Apple Green on the ceiling, and Benjamin Moore’s White Dove trim.  We used the Rustoleum Kona stain throughout the upstairs.ImageAnother view with more of the ceiling showing.Image

So there you are.  We’re about to finish up completely with the renovating process and begin the decorating – my favorite part, of course.  I’ll keep you posted!

Thanks for reading,

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I get asked about sources for affordable, high-end fabric all the time, and thought you might like to get the scoop.  My favorites are right here in the DC/MD/VA area.  They are:

1.  Haute Fabrics in Marshall, Virginia

This is a selection of not just decorator fabrics, but truly high-end designer fabrics.  Bolts that would be over $100/yard can be found for less than half that.  And in some cases 1/4 or less of retail.

2.  Discount Fabrics in Thurmont, Maryland

A warehouse full of fabrics, notions, and fillers for pillows.  Leather, linen, silk – they’re all here, and discounted.  My favorite section is their $5/yard ends-of-bolts section.  You can get up to 7 yds on a bolt this way – enough to do a chair.

3.  G-Street Fabrics in Rockville, Maryland, and Chantilly and Falls Church in Virginia

This store used to be phenomenal, with an entire floor dedicated to designer decorator fabrics.  Again, my favorite section was their end-of-the-bolt area – just piles of fabrics to dig through!  However, with their move a number of years ago off Rockville Pike, it’s just not the same.  (I haven’t been to their Virginia locations; they may be more like the Rockville one used to be.) Hence they get #3 listing here.

And if you’re looking for super-cheap in quantity, I was just scanning Pinterest (okay, so it may have become an addiction), and found a link to Momtastic blog, featuring sources of decorator fabric for under $10.

If you search these with “$10 and under” plus the color you’re looking for, you’ll find a nice selection at super affordable prices.

Here they are:

1. 800Fabrics.com
2. Carousel Designs
3. Fabric.com
4. HawthorneThreads.com

Happy decorating!

Thanks for reading,

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I don’t wear a lot of jewelry. But I love a single, beautiful piece. With fall and winter coming, I begin to think about that just-right piece to finish off my outfit. If you get the right piece, your clothes can be of the simplest form and design, yet your look will be polished and put together.

My favorite designer of such pieces is Fran Simons of & Coco. Here’s a few pieces that she brought into the barn this weekend.

I have a soft spot for cameos. For my 21st birthday (and graduation from college) my grandmother Thomas (for whom I am named) gave me her grandmother’s cameo engagement ring. I gave it to Katherine, my older daughter, when she graduated from my alma mater, Hollins College.
Chip, knowing my weakness for these delicate pieces of wearable art, has given me several over the years, and I love them all. This piece of Fran’s updates the cameo into a chunky necklace, without losing the cameo’s star quality.

Each element of this necklace is is playful and fun. The coin/chip/button – I really don’t know which – shines with that pop of red. The elements all play so nicely together.

Okay, so now we’re into the bling. I think this one’s centerpiece began life as a shoe clip. Can you imagine clipping a pair of rhinestone encrusted clips of this size onto your shoes? I really don’t think I could walk in them. But this necklace? Perfect.

The simplicity of this numbered tag is charming. I don’t even like the number 17 – not sure why, I just don’t – but I really like this necklace.

Imagine this deeply plunging pearl necklace finishing a simple, mono-chromatic dress. Lovely.

These cuffs create glam with the simplest of outfits. Think jeans and T-shirt or turtleneck. One of these finishes it off just right.

If you’ve ever had a rosary, you’ll recognize the origin of the pieces of this bracelet. It’s delicate beauty is accentuated by the lovely Madonna image.

I really think I need this one. Another bracelet created from pieces of old rosaries. I love that the rosary pieces are finding a new life. A simple, yet meaningful piece like this makes me happy every time I see it.

Uber-bling! Nobody’ll miss your entrance with one of these spectacular cuffs on your arm! Love it.

These leather cuffs are enhanced with vintage brass faceplates – you know, the beautiful old backs to drawer pulls. Fran has found a delightful way to use them and really show off how pretty they are.

Have you picked out your favorite yet?  It’s hard, I know.

Thanks for reading,

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It’s been a busy month so far. House guests, renovating the cottage, Chip’s birthday (yes, it was Thursday, the big party is planned for later in the fall – when it’s cooler. ), and the sale this weekend. Here’s a few images of some favorite items from this month’s sale.

Click on any image to see it larger.  Enjoy.

And, thanks for reading.

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It’s a annual ritual I’ve been through for the past 18 years, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

It always begins with the excitement of (my absolute favorite part of school) picking out the new school supplies. There is just something about those freshly sharpened pencils, brand-new pens, gloriously clean pads of paper. I’m happy just touching and gazing at it all.

And I have spread this little bit of wonder to my girls. We’re like kids in a candy shop when all the store roll out their aisles of supplies. Each girl would pick out her favorite things. We’d come home with bags brim-full. Gaze at them, love them. . . But then, what do you DO with all that stuff?

Here’s a few ideas:

I love these old card catalogs with all their cubbies. I especially love that they can be labelled so nicely. Put each family-member’s name on a column of drawers. Label the extra drawers with the supply it holds. For larger items (spirals, notebook paper, workbooks, etc.) place baskets beneath or on top. Organization of school supplies: done!

Another great card catalog.

Brass plate detail of card catalog. I just love brass tags, and find them even cooler when they’re still attached to the object they came with.

For textbooks and workbooks, consider an open hutch. This one is great because it has the ‘bar’ across to catch things before they fall.

An industrial shelf like this one (love the wheels and side bars!) works great as a compact school organizer. Give each child a shelf. Let them pick out a basket (or get a group that are identical to save on stress) to place on his or her shelf. Let each choose a heavy, flat-bottomed object to use as a book end. Fill the baskets with their small supplies. Stack the workbooks, and secure the textbooks with the bookends. Voila! you have all their school stuff in a personalized space that takes up less than 10 sq. ft.! Pretty sweet, huh?

Lockers are another great solution. They not only catch the school supplies, but they also give you plenty of room for sneakers, hats, gloves, and sports equipment. I love the cheerful color of this set, and that the doors flip up to open. Who wouldn’t have fun putting stuff away in this cool locker set?

This locker set is made up of shelving and a set of tough locker baskets. Each basket can be completely removed from the shelf, making it easy for everyone to access their baskets at once.

Next, we’re on to desks and some really clever ways to contain your desk-top supplies.
Thanks for reading,

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The last time I saw Paris, it was timelessly itself, very much like the first time I saw Paris over 20 years ago. But this consistency should not be mistaken for lifelessness. Paris, for me, has maintained its freshness, its beauty, and, yes I must say it, its chic in a way only Paris can.

And what made it extra special this time, was that I was seeing it all with my daughter, on her first visit.  Seeing it through her eyes helped me to see it in a fresh way.  It’s the details that shine.  The desire to make every thing they create beautiful sets the Parisians apart.

Here are some images of our visit:

An apartment building on the Isle de St. Louis, the smaller of the two islands in the Seine

I found myself fascinated by the variety, details, and beauty of the doors of Paris.

Katherine’s first real look at Paris, as we emerged from the Metro into the Tuilleries Gardens (the Louvre is in the background.).

The well-known face of Notre Dame cathedral. But this is not my favorite view of it.

The spectacular flying buttresses of Notre Dame, photographed in the delightfully quiet garden behind the cathedral. One of my favorite spots in the whole city.

If you go, look for the side streets and don’t forget to look up. Some of the most charming parts of the city are the quietly elegant quarters where tourists fear to tread. Also – don’t miss the fabulous ice cream shop on the Isle de St. Louis. It’s swoon-worthy.

Thanks for reading,

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Circus Scoop June 2017

The months move quickly, and with them the touring, tenting and special-eventing circuses of the world. Here’s what’s going down in the UK this June. Have you seen any of the shows? Spotted something we’ve missed? YouTube has a whole comments section just for you! We’d love to hear your thoughts 🙂

Leave a Reply


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2020 Australian Kookaburra 1oz Silver Bullion Coin

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The Coin Company is proud to present 2020 Australian Kookaburra 1oz Silver Bullion Coin, produced by the Perth Mint, this 1oz bullion silver coin depicts a kookaburra perched on a roof at dawn with stylised rays of light in the background. Also included in the design is the inscription ‘AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA 30TH ANNIVERSARY’, The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, and the weight and purity.

The obverse of each coin bears a representation of Stuart Devlin’s depiction of a kookaburra on a tree stump surrounded by native foliage, as it appeared on The Perth Mint’s 1990 Australian Kookaburra Silver Bullion Coin. Also included is the Jody Clark effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the inscription ‘1990 2020’, and the monetary denomination.

Presented in a protective acrylic capsule.


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The C Score (2.0)

Posts Tagged ‘Olga Alexeeva

It used to be that Russia desperately wanted to be like France. Remember Peter and Catherine the Great? St. Petersburg? All those Russians hanging out in Paris in the 19th century?

Now it’s France’s turn. A whole crop of young Russian gymnasts are in France for the annual “gala” of St. Petersburg gymnasts, held in Dreux on November 29th, and the Tournoi d’Arques, to be held this weekend.

Olga Vilkova

Olga Vilkova

Naturally, one Russian competitor stands out above the rest: Junior European Champion Tatiana Nabieva. Everyone was excited to see her in Dreux, but she has a (relatively minor) heel injury, and only did an exhibition on bars to rest herself a bit for Arques. Meanwhile, Ekaterina Kramarenko was also present and looking happy. Olga Alexeeva, Polina Miller, Diana Sapronova, Irina Sazona and the tiny Olga Vilkova (twelve years old, in her international debut) also participated at Dreux. Vilkova is totally adorable, though I don’t know much about her.

These girls will also move next to Arques, along with Ekaterina Krilova, Alina Ribalova and Ksenia Povilaynen.

They’ll be joined there by gymnasts from a number of other countries, as listed here on the Web site of the FFG.

There are lots of lesser-known (to say the least) gymnastics countries, including for instance Algeria. However, we’ll also see Georgiana Gheorghe and Madalina Neagu of Romania and supposedly gymnasts from Canada and Brazil, although that is unconfirmed. As you can see from the poster, the tournament directors are not playing down Nabieva’s presence.

Gheorghe was third in the Romanian Junior Nationals Category III competition this year, after Andreea Tufa and Larisa Iordache. Neagu was second in Category II, behind Diana Bulimar.

About The C Score

First there was A score and B score, now D score and E score. Where is the C score? Right here. In the form of my random thoughts about women's artistic gymnastics.

August 2020


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A Cultural Guide to Jerusalem's Culinary Scene

A bread vendor walks down Greek Catholic Patriarchate Street, near Jaffa Gate in the Old City, Jerusalem
A bread vendor walks down Greek Catholic Patriarchate Street, near Jaffa Gate in the Old City, Jerusalem | © Lucas Vallecillos / Alamy Stock Photo
An ancient city with a remarkable history that began over 4,000 years ago, Jerusalem is a site like no other. Transformed into a melting pot where old meets new, it has seen numerous changes shape the gastronomy scene, creating a dynamic backdrop to the next generation of chefs.

Outside Jaffa Gate, the main entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City, a man is selling bread from his stand. But it’s not just any bread. The Jerusalem bagel is a simple food, yet it represents the Israeli capital. Long and oblong-shaped, the soft bread, which is often topped with za’atar or sesame seeds, has become one of the go-to snacks in Jerusalem. For Chef Amir Naor, a graduate of the acclaimed Arcadia Restaurant, “bread symbolises everything, particularly time spent with family.” A frequent baker, Naor hosts a workshop in Studio Arcadia where he prepares hands-on focaccia, boureka (filled pastries), Arcadia rolls made from mixed flour, and Armenian pizza. Growing up in a family of cooks, Naor was inspired by those around him like his grandfather, who wrote a cookbook. “Recipes are written to connect people, and a lot of Jewish cookbooks include Jewish traditions,” he says.

Home to three major religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, Jerusalem is an unparalleled and holy city with an old feel. As you wander around the historic streets, you’re taken on a journey from the distinct quarters of the Old City to the City of David, one of the capital’s most active archaeological sites. And while Jerusalem oozes with spirituality, the city also has a modern atmosphere that is accompanied by a surprisingly bustling nightlife and a thriving food culture.

Here’s our guide to the city’s culinary landscape.

Boy pushing cart with bread along street in Jerusalem
A street vendor pushs his bread cart through the streets of Jerusalem
The Mahane Yehuda market turns into a lively area filled with bars. © Eddie Gerald / Alamy Stock Photo A young boy is seen pushing his cart through the streets of Jerusalem. © mauritius images GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo A street vendor sits by his stand as he waits for customers to arrive. © Alexandre Rotenberg / Alamy Stock Photo

Machane Yehuda Market

Jerusalem’s many cultures have created a space for a wide range of cuisines, offering endless food options, particularly in downtown Jerusalem where you’ll also find the Mahane Yehuda Market. Also known as the Shuk, it’s Jerusalem’s biggest marketplace and one of the most famous in the whole of the Middle East. As you make your way through the lively area, you’re surrounded by large groups of people who all come to the buzzing market when in need of culinary expertise. Food lovers interested in learning about Jerusalem’s cuisine can take part in guided food tours, where a local chef walks you through the market before preparing a tasty meal.

Tucked away between Aggripas and Jaffa Streets, the outdoor market hosts over 250 vendors offering everything from fresh goods to spices to beverages to clothing. Later in the evening, it transforms into a nightlife haven, one that quickly makes you forget that it doubles as a market during the day. Here, festivities continue until the small hours of the morning as music is blasted from the many bars and people flock to the streets to dance and mingle.

Grocery shop at Mahane Yehuda market, Jerusalem, Israel.
Fruits and vegetables stalls at Mahane Yehuda market, Jerusalem, Israel.
Artichokes and garlic are among the many vegetables to be found in Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda Market. © studioraffi / Getty Images A man sits inside his grocery shop at Mahane Yehuda Market. © Y.Levy / Alamy Stock Photo The Machane Yehuda Market is one of the most famous markets in the Middle East. © Y.Levy / Alamy Stock Photo

The Open Restaurants Festival

Jerusalem’s culinary scene has evolved throughout the years, thanks in large part to the food festivals that invite tourists and locals to eat their way through the dynamic city. For Merav Oren, founder of the Open Restaurants Festival, the “idea behind the festival was to combine food with art, culture and innovation,” a task that has proved to be successful for four consecutive years. Alongside world-renowned chefs, Israeli dishes made using Eastern and Western techniques are introduced to the public as the festival showcases the distinct flavours of Jerusalem.

A chef prepares food samples at the Open Restaurants Festival in Jerusalem © Tomer Foltyn

Mona Restaurant

Found in a 19th-century building in the heart of Jerusalem, Mona is a former bar turned restaurant that’s famous for its dainty cuisine and cheerful atmosphere. The sophisticated venue has evolved tremendously over the past couple of years, turning it into one of the city’s most praised restaurants. A mix of Mediterranean and European dishes made from ingredients found at the Mahane Yehuda Market are served in a cosy and relaxed setting where guests can enjoy fine dining surrounded by locals and tourists alike. Drenched in history, the old stone building that houses the acclaimed restaurant is located inside Jerusalem Artists’ House, an art and exhibition space built in 1906.

London-based chef Lello Favuzzi took part in last year’s Open Restaurants Festival in Jerusalem © Tomer Foltyn

Bulghourji Restaurant

Because of its low-key exterior, it’s easy to pass by Bulghourji when strolling through Jerusalem’s Armenian quarter, as the bar and restaurant is situated in a quaint building that could easily be mistaken for a private house. But step inside the venue and you’ll find yourself in a former bulgur wheat factory that serves the best of Armenian cuisine. An array of dishes are on offer, ranging from tasty meat to tabouleh to chicken wings and Armenian-style pizza (lahmajun). A family-run restaurant, it prides itself in offering bona fide meals – including bulgur wheat – prepared using traditional methods, giving guests a glimpse into Armenian culture. An ample courtyard with a charming ambience can be found in the back of the restaurant, overlooking the Tower of David and the walls of the Old City as well as the King David Hotel. From the ancient stone structure to the cave-like rooms to the mouth-watering cuisine, authenticity is key here.

The Armenian quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City © Mr_Karesuando / Alamy Stock Photo

Jacko’s Street Restaurant

Like many restaurants in Jerusalem, Jacko’s Street handpick their seasonal ingredients from the nearby Machane Yehuda Market. Under the direction of chef Zakka Hooja, the kosher restaurant invites guests into a dimly lit and intimate venue with an open kitchen. Fresh goods influence the zesty taste of the dishes that include Kurdish ravioli, goose breast focaccia, and fish bruschetta. Jacko’s Street’s sprightly atmosphere is noticeable upon arrival as booming music is played from the speakers making it an overall fun environment. After enjoying your meal, head next door to the long and colourful bar for a shot of arak or any drink of your choice. Don’t forget to toast, l’chaim!

Kosher restaurant Jacko’s Street serves a mix of different cuisines made with ingredients from the Machane Yehuda Market © Tomer Foltyn

Where to Stay

The David Citadel Hotel

The David Citadel Hotel
The David Citadel Hotel | Courtesy of The David Citadel Hotel / Expedia

An upscale lodging located within walking distance of Jaffa Gate, the David Citadel is a luxury hotel offering modernity and serenity to solo travellers, families and travelling friends looking to uncover the beauty of Jerusalem. Overlooking the old city, the hotel boasts 385 spacious rooms – all designed with a brown and white colour palette -, a pool, spa and an array of other impressive amenities. Explore the nearby shopping centre when in need of retail therapy, sip on a glass of wine at Mirror bar while overlooking the city or enjoy a dinner at one of the on-site restaurants where a mix of local and international cuisines are on offer. When in need of relaxation after a long day, unwind in the imposing marble bathroom where a large tub and shower awaits.

More Info

Linda Konde was hosted by the Jerusalem Development Authority and Virgin Atlantic on a press trip to Jerusalem, Israel.


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London Diaries 7 – Wednesday 13th February 2019: Instax and Artefacts

Photography is like an addiction. Generally, I manage to get out once or twice a week to shoot street photos, and that seems to feed my habit enough. But occasionally, circumstances prevent me from managing to get into Central London. Which would be fine if I lived in a remotely photogenic area that I could grab half an hour or so to take photographs around here and there, but I don’t. It’s not pretty enough to be typically “British”, nor gritty enough to be interesting – just mundane suburbia.

Whenever these forced hiatuses from street photography occur, I tend to get withdrawal symptoms after about seven days. And then something dangerous happens: I start “researching” things. This is the nicest way to describe my habit of becoming intensely interested in something new, and this time, that “something new” was medium format cameras and 120 film.

When I was considering buying the Fujifilm X100F for my street photography, I researched hard… to the point that when I actually bought one, I’d watched so many hours of YouTube videos about them, I felt like I’d owned one for years. I seem to be going the same way with the Mamiya RZ67 Pro II, my desired medium format camera. This interest has stemmed from my increasing love of Japanese analogue portrait photography, which generally has a distinctive soft, bright aesthetic achieved by using Kodak Portra 400 film. The stylings and compositions are thoughtfully lit, calm, dreamy and tranquil… and I REALLY want to create portrait photographs which are that beautiful. That’s the dream. But that’s for a different blog.

Today was all about getting back onto the streets with the X100F after my ten day break. I’d recently purchased an extra pack of Instax Square film for the Fujifilm Instax SQ6 camera, so I had 12 shots to play with. The light was terrible and Wednesdays are always pretty quiet in Central London, but at least we’d escaped suburbia. I knew I wouldn’t have a lot of time for post-processing this week, so I shot JPEG only, and did my editing on the iPad with VSCO X. Here’s the story of today’s shoot:

I shot with a soundtrack today, which is a new thing for me.

Instax Square

I used 11 out of my 12 Instax shots around Soho at the beginning of the day. I love how unpredictable Instax film is. I have the Instax Share SP-2 printer that uses Instax mini film, which can be wirelessly synced with the Fujifilm X100F to produce prints on the go, but it’s not the same as using an Instant camera. Bonus points to the Huawei P20 Pro this week, for having a neat little scan feature in the camera that makes it really easy to make digital copies of my Instax photos for uploading online.

We initially took the Tube to Oxford Circus station, and decided to wander aimlessly through Soho along streets that were less familiar to us. In preparation for the creation of Curious magazine, I’ve been purchasing a few independent magazines recently to get ideas and inspiration regarding potential layouts, so I was really pleased to find a newsagent that stocked a whole host of them, and bought a couple more (“Huck” and “Hungry Eye”, in case anybody’s interested). I also got some really good Korean Fried Chicken from the @bapfoods food stall in Rupert Street, which was super yummy.

There were even more lanterns strung across the streets of Chinatown than usual after the recent Lunar New Year, but down at ground level the streets were pretty empty. I’ve noticed that Wednesdays are often like this during the daytime in London. We walked our standard one-lap “circuit” of the main streets, found a man cleaning windows who seemed very happy to have his photograph taken whilst he worked, and then decided to try our luck elsewhere.

Bonus photograph of PJ, because it’d be rude not to take such an opportunistic photograph next to a sign like that.

British Museum

“How did they end up in the British Museum?” I hear you cry. Actually, I’m pretty sure you’re not all that bothered, but I’m going to tell you anyway. We’ve been researching potential new street photography locations around London, and had read about Exmouth Market, which is held every Friday and Saturday. Unusually for us, our next street shot falls on a Saturday, so we thought we’d go and scout out the area in advance whilst we were within walking distance today. The route there took us past the British Museum, and it was pretty cold outside, so it seemed sensible to pop inside for a bit. We’ve taken some interesting shots in the past inside the V&A Museum, and were curious what the light was like inside the British Museum. Not great, was the answer. But there were some interesting artefacts, so it was a good opportunity to take some photographs anyway.

Tottenham Court Road to Barbican

So, all in all, it was quite a long walk. And once we arrived at the Exmouth Market location, neither of us were taken enough with it to want to bother coming back on Saturday. However, as well as our detour into the British Museum, we actually passed through a fair amount of photo-worthy locations en route. I particularly liked the Imperial Hotel in Russell Square, with its brutalist concrete facade. I also manage to take my first blossom photographs of 2019, which was surprising given how cold it has been recently.

Given my new-found interest in 120 film, imagine my delight when we stumbled across a camera film wholesaler in Mount Pleasant (I say stumbled “across”… I literally stumbled INTO the shop, thanks to being so fixated on the Portra 400 which I’d noticed on the counter that I didn’t acknowledge the doorstep. Way to make an entrance).

We made a much needed pitstop at a branch of Costa. I don’t even know why I went all MySpace with a mirror selfie whilst we were there, so I’m not even going to try to justify my behaviour. I took a couple of photographs of the same table with different customer sat at it, which I’m filing as a potential idea for a future series. A Day in the Life of a Chair. If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to sit in Costa all day.

We had no idea where to finish our day’s shoot. We were both pretty tired by this point (in fact, we’d never really recovered from our decision to bypass our fellow travellers by power walking up a deceptively long and steep broken escalator at Oxford Circus station). My launderette fetish had reared its head earlier in the day, when I thought I’d found one in Soho, only to discover with great disappointment on closer inspection that it was a manned dry cleaners, so I did a quick google search of launderettes within a mile of Exmouth Market. The “prettiest” one seemed to be located at the Barbican, so we set off to find it.

On arrival, a sign on the wall proclaimed that photography wasn’t permitted. But that’s just one of those rules that’s just made to be broken, so I used my last Instax shot on those beautiful blue dryers, and took a quick snap with the X100F. We wandered around the Barbican Estate, wishing that the light was better for some shadowy brutalist architectural photography, took a few photographs anyway, and as always at the Barbican, got completely lost in the warren of high rises trying to find the Tube station.

Now that we’ve decided to bypass Exmouth Market, our plans for Saturday involve a ridiculously early start and a wander around Camden. Will the light be in our favour? Will we walk such a ridiculous amount of steps as we did today? Will I return home with more random purchases that I don’t need, like the awesomely-named “Lip Shit” lip balm that I bought today? Will I fall down any more steps? Find out in the next instalment of London Diaries.
Stay Curious,

Love from London x

London Diaries 5 – Sunday 27th January 2019: Mood Board

We didn’t anticipate just how much it was going to rain that day.

In all honesty, I’ve had a lot of difficulty writing up this particular Sunday, because it wasn’t a typical London shoot. My original plan was to spend the day experimenting with the photographic capabilities of my newly-acquired Huawei P20 Pro smartphone. The unanimous advice I received from friends was also to take the Fujifilm X100F “just in case”, so that’s what I did.

First up, I learned that selfies captured on the Huawei P20 Pro are unforgiving. And that I look ultra-miserable first thing in the morning.

To cut a long story short, it was apparent pretty much instantly that to take anywhere near a decent photograph with a smartphone, I’d have to stand pretty still – the polar opposite of my usual street photography technique, which can only be described as “hyperactive”. Well, it COULD be described in other ways, but none of them as kind.

So the X100F made its appearance relatively early on in the day. But so did the rain. PJ (@pj.pix) and I spent a little time strolling around Soho, met up with fellow Instagrammer Gav Hardy (@gavhardythings) for a coffee at Soho Grind (home of the “French Lessons Given Downstairs” neon sign that’s a seemingly permanent inclusion on the London Street Photography Bingo Card), and then wandered around in the rain a little more.

Today’s edition of London Diaries has ended up as more of a mood board than a diary, for several reasons. Firstly, I’m not sure what’s going on with me at the moment, but I’m having some kind of creativity overload, which sounds pretentious AF and probably is. I can’t seem to give any one project my complete attention, and instead I’m dipping in and out of things constantly, completely buzzing with ideas. It would be much better to just do one thing well, but it is what it is.

With that in mind, the second reason for this smorgasbord of “stuff” is that once we left Soho Grind, I spent the afternoon playing with the video capabilities on the X100F, something that I’ve not tried before despite owning the camera since October 2017. Interestingly, I discovered the same problem as shooting with the Huawei – any movement made the footage unusable because there’s no in-built image stabilisation. Ive bought a Sony FDRX3000R video action cam for future videography, so that I can actually film and walk simultaneously. I’m pretty sure that a logical step would be to do vlogging, but it’s completely out of my comfort zone, so I can’t imagine that I’ll be doing that any time soon. I’m going to have to find a more creative way to make my videos more personal without having to actually get in front of the camera, feeling and acting ridiculously awkward and self-conscious. Aspergers is a blessing and a curse.

Bonus Huawei P20 Pro photograph. Just randomly inserted here for aesthetic reasons.

I found an abandoned umbrella on a side alley off of Carnaby Street, which cheered me up immensely, and allowed me to shoot more than I would’ve otherwise been able to with my non-weather sealed gear. Below are the results of my day flitting between camera and phone, and photography and videography:

Provia JPEGs with Fujifilm X100F

I set the X100F to shoot Provia simulation JPEGs only. Normally, I tend to shoot ACROS simulation JPEGS + RAW – I like the black and white JPEGs straight out of camera, and use Lightroom Classic CC to edit and convert my colour RAW files. Plus, I prefer using the LCD with a monochrome display rather than colour when shooting, because I can gauge the light and shadows better in my images.

But this time, I opted for Provia JPEGs only, because I knew that the following week was going to be super busy, and I wasn’t going to have the time to spend in Lightroom messing around with RAW files. I get asked a lot about my editing process. Generally, I use a combination of Lightroom Classic CC, Snapseed and VSCO X to edit my photographs. Why? Because I don’t know how to achieve my desired results using just one program. It really is down to ignorance, and nothing else. Having only shot JPEGS meant that I could skip the Lightroom step and just make edits on the iPad with Snapseed and VSCO X. I’ve put before and after edits on here today. I’d have liked to do sliders, but I don’t know how to do that either.

The two photographs above just worked better with a black and white edit. Each photograph has its own individual mood that needs bringing out. I have about twenty base preset options that I’ve created in Lightroom as options, although a lot of the time I don’t use them. In VSCO X, I gravitate towards various strengths of the AGA, B, E, SS or SUM ranges of presets as starting points for most of my second-level edits. And that’s enough spoilers for one day. This is only the fifth instalment of London Diaries after all.

Huawei Pro P20

There’s quite a lot of features to the camera on the Huawei P20 Pro, but as you know, this isn’t a technical kinda blog. If you’re after all the details, Google is your friend. There IS the option to shoot RAW files, but I wasn’t about that today. First impressions: the black tones are REALLY black, aperture priority mode is pretty stunning, and the black and white shots don’t look like they’ve been taken with a smartphone (even a 40MP smartphone). Stick it in standard “photo” mode, and it’ll automatically select the optimum settings for the scene. There’s zero image stabilisation going on, so it’s important to take your time and shoot carefully. It’s never going to be my first choice for street photography. But if I’m out without the X100F and I’m relying on the old “the best camera is the one you have on you” thing, I can think of worse options to be stuck with.

Videography with Fujifilm X100F

I had to just bin all my video taken whilst I was walking around Soho, once I realised that videoing whilst in motion resulted in nauseatingly shaky footage on playback. This little video that I’ve cobbled together with what was left certainly isn’t the best video I’ll ever make (by a long shot. I hope), but it was fun to make, and that’s what matters. I try to remind myself all the time that everybody has to start somewhere – that this time last year, I’d never really shot any street photography at all, and yet now I feel comfortable that it’s my “thing”. I look at my first street photographs and remember how I would nervously “spray and pray”, and then spend time editing the hundreds of pointless resulting photographs with frankly horrendous presets. Maybe in 12 months time, I’ll be making videos that are a million times better than this one. Maybe not, but I can only hope.

Next time, we’re shooting around the East end of London. Will it be with the X100F? Will it be with the Huawei? Or will I have gone completely insane and decided on a whole new project? Find out, in the next exciting instalment of London Diaries, coming…. whenever I find time to write it.

Stay Curious,
Love from London x


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Saturday, April 18, 2020

Political Correctness And The Destruction Of All That Is Good

Today I have an important new podcast where I discuss three important topics. The first is the fact that there really are more single women than EVER before right now using online dating because there is no other efficient way for them to meet men.

In the second topic, I share with you one of most valuable secrets for accomplishing ANYTHING difficult in your life.

And for the third topic, I explain the connection between political correctness and COVID19, and how political correctness is destroying EVERYTHING that is important, from the harmonious connection between men and women, to human health, to global and national security, to culture and entertainment, and why we must destroy political correctness at all costs.

For my special service where I create your online profile that WORKS to attract women, go here:

And don't forget to take advantage of my special "Stay At Home" offers on ALL of my digital programs including my video programs, E-Books, and audio programs for skyrocketing your success with women. This offer EXPIRES on April 20, 2020, at 11:59 PM EST.

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Be cool...

Michael Marks

Thursday, April 2, 2020

The Formula To Attract Women

Today I have an extremely powerful new video
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Ealdor Bealu

Ealdor Bealu is a progressive heavy-psych quartet from Boise, ID. With a focus on shifting dynamics from the ambient to the massive and back again, their sound expands beyond the boundaries of genre to create a mosaic of sonic praise.
As a part of the Northwest music community, Ealdor Bealu has had the honor of sharing the stage with the likes of Earthless, Acid King, Yawning Man, Acid Mothers Temple, Big Business, Junius, and This Patch of Sky among others. Festival appearances have included Treefort Music Fest 2016-2019, Off-Beat Music Fest 2017-2018, and Ranchfest 2016.
The band’s first full-length offering DARK WATER AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN(Independent 2017) drew local, regional, and even international praise as a standout debut offering. With the release of Ealdor Bealu’s sophomore full-length album SPIRIT OF THE LONELY PLACES on July 20th 2019 on vinyl/digital the band has seen new levels of success around the globe.
With outstanding reviews by The Obelisk, Outlaws of the Sun, Stoner Hive, and many more, and accompanied by a 10-date West Coast tour in support, Ealdor Bealu has become a force to be reckoned within the realms of the heavy psychedelic universe.

Dark Swallows

Dark Swallows is Hyrum Haeberle – bass, guitar, vocals. Ivy Merrell – guitar, bass, vocals. Phil Merrell – guitar, vocals. Stephen Samuelson – drums, keys.


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Acer Predator Triton 300 Gaming Laptop offers a 240 Hz refresh rate

Looking for something to handle your favorite games? The Acer Predator Triton 300 Gaming Laptop is a budget-friendly option that doesn’t lack ability. In fact, this gamer laptop has a Full HD IPS display with a 240 Hz refresh rate. Moreover, the Triton 300 laptop runs on a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor. Not only that, but it also boasts NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q graphics. So it can both keep up with your games and display them clearly at the same time. What’s more, this device is just 19.9 millimeters thick, meaning it’s easy to take with you in your backpack wherever you’re headed. With an all-metal body, it looks seriously impressive while offering an overdrive response time of just three milliseconds. You’ll love its 15.6-inch screen and the fact that you can get up to three terabytes of internal storage.

Acer Predator Triton 300 Gaming Laptop offers a 240 Hz refresh rate
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Glass panel by George Walton
Glass panel by George Walton

Cheapside Street Fire

Glasgow City Archives, Deposited Collections

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Cheapside Street Fire

Aerial photograph looking from the north-east at the site of the Cheapside Street Fire in Anderston, 1960. Smoke still rises from the buildings at the centre of the image and three jets of water from fire fighters' hoses can be seen damping down the rubble of the collapsed warehouses.

Water was drawn from the nearby River Clyde to help put out the fire. Hoses were even mounted on a dredger moored at Anderston Quay, at the centre of the photograph, to direct jets of water from a height on the fire as it spread south towards the river. Vessels moored at Springfield Quay on the south side of the river, shown in the background with a ship moored alongside, reported burning embers landing on their decks.

The building with the ridged roof behind the warehouse site, on Warroch Street, was a timber store belonging to the shipbuilders Harland & Wolff. The fire brigade watched the building closely throughout the night of the fire, extinguishing promptly the small fires which spread from the warehouse and which, had they caught hold, could have sparked another devastating conflagration.

Reference: TD1431/51/26/3

Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries, Information and Learning

aerial views, Anderston Quay, bonded warehouses, Cheapside Street Fire, disasters, dredgers, fire fighters, firemen, fires, Glasgow Fire Brigade, Harland & Wolff, quays, River Clyde, ships, Springfield Quay, timber stores

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About Us

The Green Room was founded by Dawn Wilding in 2007.  It was a dream to create a complimentary health centre where people could come to receive affordable treatment that would support them with their pain and discomfort, both emotional and physical.  A decade ago this dream was realised when Dawn managed the renovation of an historical building in Old Tannery Square and gathered together a team of highly qualified and experienced Practitioners to staff the Centre.

Dawn’s interest in Complementary Therapies began over 30 years ago.  In her quest for more understanding she studied extensively and built a practice using the knowledge she gained in Homeopathy, Nutrition, Medical Massage and, more recently, State of Mind Coaching using The Three Principles understanding as the basis for her work.

Billie Jo Hadley has been at the Green Room with Dawn since it’s inception in 2007.  She began working as a receptionist but soon developed an interest herself and gained qualifications in Reflexology and Foot Health Care.  Billie now has her own clinics offering these services here at the Green Room.

Gavin Roberts has also been at The Green Room since it opened.  Gavin is a highly qualified and experienced Hypnotherapist and holds regular weekly clinics here.

For more information on any of our services please Contact us.


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#187 carrot cake

A cake like no other, this recipe guarantees a moist & rich bread that pairs perfectly well with a thin frosting, for a sweet decadent treat!

#107 after-eight cheesecake

There’s a fine line between delighting your body & abusing it! This one-of-a-kind cheesecake will surely floor anyone who tries to endulge a little too much, but for those of you who can resist, it’s quite a delicacy!

#74 chocolate cake

A rich & moist choco-explosion that fills the hearts of those of us who rejoice in everything chocolate, introducing Honduran cocoa powder as the star of our show, learn more about that here!

#29 four-egg yellow cupcakes

With this yellow cupcake recipe, we take the first step into learning the art of baking, the importance of ingredients, measurements, processes, & instructions. Not to be taken lightly, the results if followed accordingly are always so good!


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Mixed Berry Colours Cocktail Hat

A mouth-watering souffle of rich Berry tones have been blended perfectly to create this memorably unique hat. The 6" buntal base in Deep Magenta is lightweight and suits all face shapes. It has been lined in silk and fitted with a metal comb and elastic to make it easy and comfortable to wear. A delicate layer of embroidered and beaded tulle has been layered over the base, giving visual contrast and subtle texture. A fine silk rose in Plum is in 'full bloom' and perches prettily on one side of the crown. Supporting the rose from behind is a dramatic asymmetric double sinamay bow in Burgundy and Magenta, cinched with Grape petersham - a feast for the eyes of any of your audience seated behind you. A flurry of bobbing feathers spring up from behind the rose, giving movement and a little added height for the wearer. Simply Delicious!
Colour: Burgundy
Material: Tulle
Occasion: Special Occasion
Season: All seasons
Size: One Size
Style: Cocktail Hats
Target market: Women
Weight (g): 0
  • Handmade Unique Hats and Headpieces - ideal for Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom.

    I have been making bespoke occasion wear hats for discerning customers since 2011 in my Rose Garden Studio at my home in Winchester, UK. My hats have been worn to many elegant weddings all around the world, graced the covers of glossy magazines and I have designed for the British Royal Family.

    My exclusive Ready-to-Wear collection of unique hats range from colourful perching pillbox hats, beautifully detailed cocktail hats and dramatically chic fascinators. Trims include delicate silk roses, hand-curled feathers and genuine Swarovski crystals.

    I keep each design lightweight and elegant so that it maintains a presence in the photographs on the special day, but is also very comfortable and easy to wear.  Most of my designs have details at the back for your audience behind you to enjoy - I ensure that my designs work well from every angle.

    Customers have often said to me after the event "I'd forgotten I had one of your beautiful hats on, until I caught sight of myself in a mirror!"

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Few would benefit from US escalation in Syria

Few would benefit from US escalation in Syria
© Getty Images

The United States has a rare opportunity to avoid another conflict in the Middle East and the financial penalty future generations will have to bear.

In response to Saturday’s nerve or chemical agent attack against Syrian civilians, maybe done by Syrian government forces as they press their offensive against the last rebel strongholds near Damascus, the White House has announced “major decisions” were imminent in the next 48 hours, even though the U.S. isn’t sure who did it.

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's visit to battleground Ohio overshadowed by coronavirus New polls show tight races for Graham, McConnell Yates spars with GOP at testy hearing MORE (R-S.C.), who never met a war he didn’t like, declared this “a defining moment in his [Trump’s] presidency” as he tries to push President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden says his faith is 'bedrock foundation of my life' after Trump claim Coronavirus talks on life support as parties dig in, pass blame Ohio governor tests negative in second coronavirus test MORE and all of America further into the Middle East morass.

Instead, Trump must stay focused on eliminating the surviving remnants of ISIS and not be distracted by the suffering of Syrians at the hand of their regime, bad as it is.

The first thing Trump should ask the generals and the members of the war party is, “Who pays?” The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which have been no net benefit to the U.S., have cost $1.6 trillion per a 2014 accounting, though some estimates put the cost as high as $3 trillion. And the Chinese have stopped buying U.S. Treasury Bills in recent weeks, so we may have to finally spend our own money on our own wars.

Why ignore the suffering in Syria? Because there are more critical issues at play in the region, and the U.S. must decide if it will work harder for its preferred outcome than the belligerents who have local and particular interests.

In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is trying to reform his economy and society. He recently declared “Bashar [Assad] is staying” but indicated that Assad’s interests lie in not doing Iran’s bidding. The House of Saud knows the Assads very well — they have been enemies for a long time — and the Saudis don’t need the distraction of dealing with a new government made of resistance leaders who fight each other more than Assad’s regime, and whose first official act will be to ask the rest of the world for money.

Turkey is furious at the West’s support of the Syrian Kurdish forces, who it considers allies of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkey, under strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hasn’t acted the part of a NATO ally lately, but a NATO ally it is and so is more important than the Syrian Kurds, who need to do a deal with Damascus to blunt the Turkish incursion into Syria and to create leverage for the political jockeying in post-war Syria.

Russia has plenty to show for its Syria venture. It is back in the Middle East in a big way, after the humiliation of having its military advisors ejected by Egypt in 1973. Moscow has a naval facility and air base in Syria and, most satisfyingly, has agreed with Cairo to operate combat aircraft from bases in Egypt. It has disagreements about Syria with Turkey but the leaders understand they will benefit if they mute their differences.

Russia used Syria as a demonstration of its new weapons and tactics and reaped record arms sales and made the point that it stands by its friends, no matter how odious they may be.

Iran is also using the Syria conflict to show it stands with its friends. It has invested heavily in propping up the Assad regime, reportedly providing billions of dollars a year in cash and in-kind support, even providing credit lines so Syria can buy oil and other goods from Iran.

Iran has deployed the Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian Army to Syria and has lost more than 2,100 troops and three general officers.

What has it achieved? It has kept Assad in power, established air and land bridges to Syria, and ensured the terrorists of Hezbollah can continue to menace Israel and control Lebanon.

Against this our military sees an unfinished job in Syria and is resisting the president’s wish to evacuate the area soonest and leave the stabilization and reconstruction mission to the neighbors. Our military leaders will want to avoid answering the president’s “who pays” question, but if the U.S. deepens its involvement in Syria, it will be expected to fund a large part of the reconstruction that is estimated to cost $100 billion to $350 billion.

What to do? First, complete the mission against ISIS and avoid escalating conflict with Turkey and Russia. Then, continue to support Israel against Iranian forces and Hezbollah. Last, help Syria’s neighbors deal with the over five million refugees they are hosting, in particular Jordan (over 600,000) and Lebanon (over 900,000).

The U.S. shouldn’t lose the chance to do the right thing in Syria by doing less.

James Durso (@James_Durso) served as a U.S. Navy officer for 20 years specializing in logistics and security assistance, retiring with the rank of commander. His overseas military postings were in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and he served in Iraq as a civilian transport advisor with the Coalition Provisional Authority. He was a professional staff member at the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission and the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is presently managing director of Corsair LLC, a consulting firm specializing in project management and marketing support in the Middle East and Central Asia.


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Marine vet lawmaker: US should arm Iraqi Sunnis

Marine vet lawmaker: US should arm Iraqi Sunnis
© Greg Nash

Rep. Duncan HunterDuncan HunterHarris endorses Democrat in tight California House race Democrats go big on diversity with new House recruits Lobbying world MORE (R-Calif.), a Marine veteran who served in Iraq, is urging the Pentagon to directly provide weapons to vetted Sunni tribal fighters who were recently routed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

In a May 27 letter to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Hunter said that it is his "firm belief" that the U.S. must arm Sunni fighters and embed U.S. special operators and coalition forces to call in airstrikes alongside Iraqi forces.

"I believe any such military support can be provided directly," Hunter said. "Doing so will counter both the Iranian threat and the presence of [ISIS] by enabling Sunni tribes to hold their territory."

Hunter's comments come after Sunni troops were pushed out of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, by ISIS fighters.

The setback sparked criticism in Washington, with Carter questioning whether the Iraqi troops had the "will to fight."

The Obama administration has also opted to send all military assistance to Iraq's Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad. But Sunni forces who fought in Ramadi complained they never received pay or weapons from the government. Critics accuse Baghdad of favoring Shiite militia forces, many with close ties to Iran.

U.S. forces worked closely with Sunni tribal fighters during the Iraq War, successfully turning them against al Qaeda during the "Anbar Awakening" that led to a massive drop in violence in the area.

However, the U.S. has this time left the task of training Sunni fighters to Baghdad, out of deference to concerns about a Sunni uprising.

The U.S. hopes Baghdad will train a force of 22,000 Sunni tribal fighters throughout Iraq to become part of a National Guard, with Sunnis protecting their own areas.

However, progress has been slow, and the Obama administration is now supporting Baghdad's plan to send in Shiite militia fighters to regain control of Ramadi, despite opposing the idea just last year. The U.S. had worried that sending Shiite forces to a Sunni part of the country could inflame sectarian tensions.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have said sending in Shiite fighters into Ramadi would be a bad idea.

"Sunni tribes, armed with American weapons and fighting to their areas of interest, present an opportunity for the U.S. to acquire a tenacious and effective ally in the region," Hunter said.

The Republican congressman also told Carter that his comments on Sunday that Iraqi forces lacked the "will to fight" were correct, despite blowback from the administration.

After Carter's comments, Vice President Biden called Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi to commend his "brave" troops and assure U.S. assistance.

"Your recent comments regarding the failure of the Iraqi military in Ramadi were correct — despite the Administration's best efforts to soften your remarks," Hunter said.

"By taking the necessary action, I believe we can prompt a turn of events in Iraq," he added.


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News & Articles

The Battle of Preservation Methods

Feb 22, 2014

When it comes to wine preservation wine drinkers will try anything to be able to make that open bottle last longer than a few days.  The most common forms of preserving wine are pumps and gases. Unfortunately neither of these tends to fully achieve the job.  Instead they leave wine drinkers disappointed in a wine they once loved.

To better understand why these systems can fail to work, it is important to understand what happens to wine once you pop the cork.  After a bottle is opened, volatilization begins.  This means that wine’s aromas begin to disperse into the air. How quickly volatilization occurs depends on the amount of oxygen the wine is in contact with. We want some volatilization to occur, as this allows for certain aromas, often harsher aromas, to “blow off” and for other, softer aromas, to become more evident. Another thing that occurs is oxidization. This does not happen instantly, but as the wine is exposed to oxygen for long periods of time it begins to lose aromas, body, and flavor. Left in a bottle, often even when ‘preservation’ methods are used, wine begins to oxidize within 8-12 hours. Oxidation is the main culprit of wine going “off” in open bottles.

Knowing that, the idea behind the pump is to take the oxygen out of the bottle in order to prevent or slow down further oxidation. There are numerous reason why this doesn’t work, especially if you are trying to keep the wine’s flavor and body intact. The biggest problem is that we often open a wine around dinner and don’t pump it until right before bed, allowing the wine to be in contact with oxygen for hours.  However, the main reason they don’t actually work, is the lack of a gauge on the pump to let you know that you have really ‘pumped out’ all the air. Pumps also tend to leave a wine less aromatic than other options due to the pumping.

Inert gases are meant to work in a similar way, by keeping the oxygen away from the wine.  A neutral gas which is heavier than oxygen, such as argon, rests between the wine and the oxygen in the bottle. The same problem with the pump occurs with these; typically we do not gas and re-cork our wine until it has been open for hours. Therefore the wine will begin to oxidize due to its interaction with oxygen prior to gassing it. That being said, the gas will help in keeping the wine for approximately 5 days after opening, but there will be changes in the flavors and body of the wine.

The cheapest and most effective method for preserving wine is to pour it into a smaller bottle. The bottle needs to perfectly fit the remaining amount of wine. Similar to above, this needs to be shortly after opening. This method is not used often due to the fact that finding the perfect sized, sanitized bottle is not easy. That being said, this method does work better than the pump or gas methods.

Hopefully by this point you aren’t completely discouraged, there is in fact one method that will completely eliminate pouring wine down the drain. The Coravin is the latest in wine technology. House of Wine just recently brought the Coravin to Idaho and is excited to show off its amazing capabilities. The Coravin allows you to pour from the bottle without every pulling the cork. It has a small needle that pierces through the cork, the wine is then displaced using argon gas, and pours through the needle. The gas then fills the bottle so the wine is never in contact with oxygen, which is the main problems with the above methods. The Coravin allows you to test vintages to see if a wine is ready, to indulge in an expensive wine, or is perfect for those faithful wine students. The Coravin may not be the perfect solution for all wine drinkers, but it does provide drinkers with an exciting and educational experience every time.  The major barrier to this method is the price as the Coravin retails at $330.  That said, even if you “save” one half bottle per week that is worth $20 or more, the Coravin pays for itself in six months.

Whatever type of wine drinker you are, learning how to preserve your favorite bottles of wine is key. Every method has its pros and cons and it is important to consider what you need from a preservation system when choosing. If it is a less expensive wine that you will finish the next night then using a pump or gas is the perfect way to keep it.  For more expensive bottles, the Coravin may be a great option.  However, the only foolproof option to protect an open bottle from oxidation is to drink the bottle completely.  But, that has its own consequences. . .


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Targeted for our needs. Field proven by our experts.

We know what works for us, and we know what doesn't. The gear we offer is tailored the needs of our mission specialists, because it fills the requirements of our demands and enables us to the do our job to the best of our abilities. When bringing in any equipment or gear, the following is considered:

Does it do what it's intended? Does it do more? Our offerings are useful for the intended purpose, but adaptable across a broad range of environments and operations.

Does it enable the efficiency, safety and effectiveness of the soldier? What you see here is assistive and enabling to the soldier, so they may focus on the conduct of their skill at arms, and not on adapting to their equipment.

Does it integrate with existing provided equipment, and other COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) items? Yes.

Does it meet the quality and the price accessibility, demanded? Absolutely.

We strive to offer the best our country and continent has to offer. The products we offer are from companies either resident in Canada, the USA, and are designed, manufactured, or sourced in and from as much North American content as possible. They are proud of this, as are we.

Should you choose to navigate to our manufacturers home sites, please explore the full product offerings of each manufacturer. What works for us, may not work for you. Therefore, if there is something you would like us to bring in for your needs, please let us know, and we will do our best to facilitate your request.

CTOMS™ Inc.      215 GEAR™      Condor®      Gatorz

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Natty Shafer Law

Utah lawyer for criminal and immigration cases

Undocumented Immigrants Can Be Denied Firearms

Yesterday, the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld a federal law that makes it illegal for undocumented immigrants to own firearms. The Tenth Circuit includes Utah, but the case, United States v. Huitron-Guizar, arose out of Wyoming when Emmanuel Huitron-Guizar was arrested for owning three firearms. To challenge the constitutionality of the congressional law, Mr. Huitron-Guizar relied on language in District of Columbia v. Heller, which seemed to suggest that owning a firearm is an “individual right.”

The Tenth Circuit didn’t say whether a permanent resident or other immigrants can be denied firearms. The Supreme Court generally allows Congress to distinguish between citizens and non-citizens or to distinguish between undocumented aliens and legal aliens. As the Tenth Circuit noted, Congress has the power under the Constitution to determine rules for citizenship and to govern immigrants who seek citizenship.

What most interests me about this case, however, is that Mr. Huitron-Guizar has lived in the United States since he was three years old. He is now 24 years old, and he has lived in Wyoming for the greater part of 21 years. Now he is waiting deportation to Mexico, where he likely does not remember living. The particular firearms he owned would not have been illegal for him to possess if he had been a citizen.

Author: Natty Shafer

Attorney practicing immigration and criminal law

2 thoughts on “Undocumented Immigrants Can Be Denied Firearms

  1. This bothers me. It is unfair to say that the language “people” under the 14th Amendment includes undocumented immigrants as “people,” but precedent cherry picks which constitutional rights immigrants get. A quick read of the Second Amendment clearly is meant to also protect “people” yet this constitutional right is not allowed for immigrants. I hope this goes up to SCOTUS. I’d be interested to see the outcome.

    • I’d be interested to see it in the Supreme Court too, but, according to the opinion, other circuit courts decided this issue the same way. Both the Eighth Circuit and the Fifth Circuit. I’m not sure the Supreme Court is going to overrule this.

      Court precedent consistently holds that aliens have fewer rights, depending on their status. Even permanent residents can be excluded from police forces or other positions that involve discretionary decision making. I have no idea what evil wold befall this nation if, say, an Argentine national was allowed to investigate a robbery, but the Supreme Court was worried about it.

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