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Monday, August 18, 2008

Putting the Livestock to Work

We love having fresh eggs from our own laying hens. The girls are very easy to care for and the eggs help us keep our grocery bills trimmed. But it occurred to me that I haven't really pointed out the other virtues of the domestic chicken. We use them as workers too.

Chickens love to scratch the earth, looking for tender green shoots, grubs, worms, and insects. They are natural scavengers, and their clawed toes are adapted to help them find these treats they so love. Though we knew this as an abstract fact before we got the hens, we were soon given a more concrete lesson when we started rotating their pen around our lawn. Even when moved every single day, they scratched right through the grass and into the turf, leaving sizable bare patches. So we started letting our grass grow longer before putting them on it. That helped it stand up the abuse from our energetic poultry.

But we soon realized that our girls could be put to work doing what they love to do, for our benefit. So after harvesting my garlic, we positioned their pen over the empty garlic beds. Within two days there was little greenery left in what had been the weedy rows between the different varieties of garlic. In a matter of days, they tore out every weed, scratched up the dirt to make holes for dust bathing, and generally had a great time.

After all the weeds were gone, I made sure they got plenty of extra greens from elsewhere. Like beaten up leaves of chard from the garden, or dandelions. Having hens gives me a good reason to pull dandelions, and makes me see them as assets to be managed, rather than enemies to be exterminated. I'm generally not fond of weeding, but knowing that the girl relish these weeds provides plenty of incentive. I also started pitching a few five-gallon buckets of compost into their pen each morning. The girls tore into this stuff delightedly. I was delighted too. I've composted for many years, but I am a very lazy composter. I don't enjoy turning the pile and rarely get around to that chore. Our girls were more than happy to turn it for me, breaking it down much faster than it would when left to its own devices, and working it into the soil. And at the same time they were adding manure to my garden beds.

In about ten days, our four hens had meticulously prepared a patch of the garden roughly 6'x12', twice the size of their mobile pen. I moved them off the garden and back on to the lawn. Then I followed the "lasagna method" of mulching. I laid down about 3" of free compost from the township yard waste center, covered that with heavy layers of newspaper, and then covered the newspaper with free mulch from the township too. The bed looks wonderful, and it took almost no effort on my part. The chickens enjoyed the change of scenery and the dustbathing.

Now that my squash crop is nearly ready, I am eyeing that larger patch of soil in our large garden bed. If all goes as planned, I will use the girls as before to clear the weeds and scratch up the earth. Then I'll sow a fast-growing fall or winter cover crop and let it grow while the girls work on other patches of the garden, each the exact size and shape of their mobile pen. The cover crop will grow somewhat this year, and continue in the spring. It will use its head start of this year's growth to outcompete any opportunistic spring weeds. As bonuses, the cover crop will: loosen the soil with its roots, add organic material, and feed our chickens in the spring. By putting the girls back on the same plot in the spring, they'll do the harvesting of the crop themselves, save me a few days' of feed, and loosen up the soil one more time before I plant. Having the chickens in the garden means they're working their own manure directly into the soil as well.

I offer this experience and these plans to those of you who might have been curious about keeping chickens. Maybe delicious eggs alone aren't quite enough to convince you to give it a try. Perhaps thinking of the hens as pieces of autonomous garden machinery might tip the balance. In any case, I've been well pleased with the contributions of our hens. They've saved me time and effort in the garden, which I appreciate a great deal. Eggs, manure, weeding, and soil preparation. They pull their weight, that's for sure.

Related Posts:
Going Mobile with a Backyard Flock
In Further Praise of Domestic Poultry
Meat Rabbits On Pasture

Claire said...

It makes absolute sense, but I think it's absolutely hysterical that your hens can do your soil preparation for you! Who would have thought they could do that too? Talk about ingenius...

Kate said...

It's a hoot, isn't it? I've wondered for a while now whether we could get a goat to use instead of a lawn mower. I once saw people using rabbits as lawn mowers. They had a little hutch that was open on the bottom. They just dragged it around the yard, which is what we do with the chickens. But the rabbits left the grass looking actually trimmed and neat. The chickens leave it looking like a frat party was there.


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Friday, December 12, 2008

Further Thoughts on Holiday Giving

I know I'm very late to chime in on the topic of holiday gifts. I meant to finish this post earlier, but I've acquired a nasty case of the creeping crud, which has laid me pretty low for the last week or so. Anyway, here are a few thoughts on the topic.

I've posted previously about thinking (way) ahead for holiday gift giving. As you can well imagine, I'm no fan of the commercial and obligatory nature of gift exchange around the winter holidays. I'd rather skip it altogether, frankly. But I am a child of my culture, and the truth is I haven't managed to escape it, either as a giver or recipient of gifts. So I've given some thought to handling the gift situation in my own home and among my slightly extended family. I've also had a few general thoughts about gifts that have meant something to me over the long term.

As it happens, there are a very few things I actually need to buy for myself anytime soon. Things like socks and turtlenecks, which are half of my winter uniform. Most of my socks and turtlenecks are worn and threadbare. I'll continue to wear the turtlenecks until they fall apart a bit more, but I do want to get some that look more or less presentable. So turtlenecks and socks are going on my wishlist for Christmas. There's also a cookbook I've screened through the library which I would really like to own. So that's on my list as well. Basically, my approach then is one of asking for things I would otherwise almost certainly end up purchasing myself. My husband is taking the exact same approach, so that works out very well for the two of us.

As for my extended family, I'd just as soon get nothing from them other than the pleasure of their company. But I know that's not going to happen; they're going to spend money on something for me and my husband. So we're going to diplomatically steer them to gift cards for Powell's Books, and Home Depot, businesses we will certainly patronize sooner or later. Although this candor may seem crass, we know our families well enough to know they'll be happy to getting us something we'll use and appreciate.

I have young family members who are pretty much deluged with gifts around the holidays. It's so depressing to see how jaded they are by the 25th present they open that I've given up buying them anything at all. Instead I've resolved to do things with them. I know from my own childhood that I can remember very few of the Christmas gifts I received. Most of those I can remember are books that I still own. But I remember many events that my aunts and uncles took me to. Their involvement in my life was more of a gift to me than any toy ever could have been, and I remember many of them fondly. So this is what I'm going to do with my nieces and nephews. The frugal upside is that I can almost certainly have a memorable day with them for less money than I would spend shopping for a soon-to-be-forgotten present and wrapping it up.

For my older relatives I'm going to cook or bake gifts, which I've already been told would be most welcome. If I didn't know that already, I would probably take the approach of asking them if there were anything they planned to buy for themselves in the near future, much as I've done with my own wish list. For other family members and friends, I've already got a number of handmade gift ideas.

I did want to make one gift recommendation for recent college grads and young people just setting up their first household. One of the very best purchases I made when I first left home was a set of four cloth napkins. More than twenty years later, I still have these napkins, and they get regular use. I highly recommend a gift of 4 to 6 high quality cloth napkins for young adults. Pick something attractive enough for every day use, but not overly fancy, and avoid very light colors, which show stains far too much. This gift has the potential to steer the habits of a young gift recipient towards a frugal path. The habit of using cloth napkins instead of paper will save not only scarce natural resources, but money too. I'm all in favor of gifts like this that may cost a little, but will let the gift recipient save money for decades to come. Who knows? Having those cloth napkins may even open their eyes to a wider world of frugality.

I also heard a great story about a young woman who got a college graduation gift from her father. It was a set of basic tools that he had taken the time to paint pink. His daughter wasn't a girlie-girl; the pink color was not there to accessorize a Barbie lifestyle. No, the father had a more clever motivation. He wanted his daughter to have a hammer, a set of wrenches and screwdrivers, etc. The pink paint would make the tools easy to find in any construction area and against almost any background, so it would be hard to misplace them. And he knew that tools are often borrowed and never returned. He knew that no one would ever forget who these tools belonged to, so there was no chance of "forgetting" to return any item borrowed from this set. Nor would any man deliberately purloin a pink monkey wrench - it just wouldn't do. I think this is a great example of a truly thoughtful gift that is sure to be very frugal over the long run for the gift recipient.

If gifts must be exchanged, then I'm all for practicality and frugality in gift giving. Give gifts only when you know they will be useful to the recipient. Don't be afraid to ask what will be most useful to them. Maybe they could use a gift card for the grocery store. Maybe a young person needs a few items for the kitchen. Maybe something they use on a regular basis has worn out or broken and needs replacement.

Most of all remember that the best gift we can give or receive is the gift of time, attention, and care from those we love and those who love us. These gifts cost us nothing at all, and cannot be bought for any price.

Letters to Myself said...

Thanks for helping me clarify my own thoughts on this (part of why I love to read various blogs). Unfortunately, there are some family members who want big piles to open and do not really care what it is. As I get older, I've stopped apologizing for NOT acting like that. I give handmade gifts, gift cards, and things that are appropriate for who I give to.

I totally agree that the best gift is that of time and happy memories. There are years that tickets to a concert or play are what made Christmas. We don't remember the gifts, but we remember the events.

Kate said...

LtM, I hope that over time you can help steer the trend in your family's gift-giving towards the more meaningful and useful. Thanks for stopping by.

A Trivita Mom said...

Funny it seems this is the way a lot of families are going this year including our own, we are not going to spend ourselves into bankruptcy to impress with gifts.

One Frugal Girl said...

I love the idea of spending time with your nieces and nephews! Doing something special with them and for them is a wonderful idea. Come to think of it I can't remember any gifts my aunts and uncles gave me for the holidays either :-) I'm too late for Christmas this year but I will certainly take this into account for the next holiday season. Thanks!

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Sir John A. Macdonald
The Great Lone Land

Called "The Great Lone Land" by officers who traversed it, "Rupert's Land" by the Hudson's Bay Company and "home" by nomadic buffalo-hunting native tribes, the Canadian Northwest officially became a part of Canada on July 15, 1870. A small part of it along the banks of the Red River became the new province of Manitoba. The remainder, extending across the prairies, was designated the Northwest Territories, federally administered by a lieutenant governor and council.

Sir John A. Macdonald and the North West Mounted Police

In the 1870s a new wave of traders from outposts of the American northwest crossed the border (to compete with the Hudson's Bay Company) into the foothill country of present day Alberta, the tribal home of the Blackfoot. These tough, adventurous men, representing many nationalities, often veterans of the Civil War, had little concern for the welfare of Canada's aboriginal peoples. They soon established themselves in fortified posts whose colourful names reveal something of their picaresque character – Slide out, Kipp, Standoff and the most notorious of all, Whoop-up. By 1873, these "free traders", as they were called, had captured most of the Blackfoot trade. The newcomers brought cheap whiskey from Chicago and St. Louis distilleries; it was often adulterated with various ingredients to potentiate its effect and increase profits.

Several observers reported the deteriorating conditions on the western plains to Ottawa. One of these observers, Lt. Butler, after traveling across the northwest in 1871, wrote: "The institutions of Law and Order, as understood in civilized communities, are wholly unknown." Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, became directly responsible for establishing Canada's authority in the newly acquired territories.

The violence which had accompanied American expansion onto the western plains in the previous decade was uppermost in Macdonald's mind as he considered the problem of establishing law and order on Canada's frontier. A series of wars with native tribes on the plains followed the rush of settlers and miners into the American West. These wars cost the United States government millions of dollars and the lives of hundreds of troops and settlers. Macdonald was aware that Canada did not have the resources to repeat the American experience. He was determined that law and order must be established in advance of settlement. Macdonald's answer to this thorny problem was a paramilitary force of mounted police, trained and equipped for plains warfare, but with primarily civil responsibilities; it would be the advance guard of settlement, establishing friendly relations with the Indian tribes and maintaining peace as settlers arrived. The model for the proposed force was the Royal Irish Constabulary, which had been used as a pattern for organizing numerous police forces throughout the British Empire.

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Cat Toys & Accessories North Kingstown RI

Cats are active creatures by nature and different toys and play things can add fun and variety to their daily routines. They also often require products, such as litter boxes, food dishes, grooming tools and carriers or cages, to maintain optimal health and care.

Cat Pillows North Kingstown RI

Cat pillows are fun cat toys and can also be used as cat beds. See below for pet stores in North Kingstown, RI that give access to catnip pillows, cat body pillows, catnip body pillows, and refillable catnip pillows, as well as related content on cat supplies and cat accessories.


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30 August 2011 @ 03:15 pm
TF Meme....

Day 11 - There need to be more of this character

The eyes and ears of the Decepticon which makes him the most scariest if not the most creepiest. It's like having a stalker only he's in your group and he can tattle you out w/o you knowing it. Oh and tentacles.....that's scary too. >_>;;;

Day 12 - Favorite comic series
I do recommend these two if you're interested but yea I do enjoy reading the movie prequel comics, most especially Pre-war vr of Bayverse versions. Defiance from ROTF & Foundation from DotM are a close continuation of one another and its setting is base on Cybertron.

Day 13 - Favorite pairing

Pair 1

that lasted through MANY universe:

Pair 2
Starscream x JetFire

Optimus & Arcee

 Knockout & Prime's Rims

Day 14 - Best character design

Well not this:

or this:

But this:

I really like it...much better than all the other Bee.

So when the toys come out this Nov/Dec 2011

Kaprisun: Eunjung got yo nosekapricia on August 30th, 2011 07:41 pm (UTC)
Agreed there so needs to be more of Soundwave. I love his creepy I'm ALWAYS WATCHING you thing. Out of all the 'Cons he is truly the scariest!

Starscream and Megatron OH YEAH <3

YAY someone else who loves baby Bee x3 I am going to have to get myself a Bee too no doubt I have to have ALL of team Prime OwO Oh and that first Bumblebee gif is HILARIOUS xDDDDDDDDDDDD BEAT HIM BEAT HIM GOOD!
梵天丸lokcha on August 31st, 2011 02:04 pm (UTC)
inorite?! Lurking in the shadow, spying on you while you're doing your dirty deeds ie; talking out loud of your plan is almost like talking to a wall but this one will tattle tale on you like a Ninja!

Screamy and Megatron are like the oldest couple who you can't deny their love for one another.

Bee is too cute, esp Prime bee. He nearly made me cry in Ep 23. ; ^ ;
lob_lob on August 30th, 2011 07:54 pm (UTC)
梵天丸: FF Dissidia: Blushy Frionellokcha on August 31st, 2011 02:05 pm (UTC)
We all have a little Knock Out in us.


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Monday, June 28, 2010

Lacking motivation...need help!

So I am four weeks into P90X.  Oh wait.  Except I was sick for two weeks, and since P90X works on the theory of muscle confusion, I can't just pick up where I left off.  So, this week we are going to actually repeat Week 2 instead of starting Week 5 (or even Week 3 since that was the week in which we got sick).  This is so we don't hit a recovery week too quickly.

I am SO frustrated.  I need motivation.  I got on the scale this morning.  NOT GOOD.  This is the heaviest I've been post-GB.  I weigh 233 pounds!!  And I am starting a new medication soon...which generally guarantees me a 15 pounds weight gain within a couple of weeks.  I can't afford that.

I am in a catch-22.  I am exhausted.  All day.  Everyday.  I get in bed.  Wide awake.  It makes it difficult to get up at 5 a.m. to work out during the week.  And if I work out at night, my sleep pattern will be even more messed up (not to mention, its so much easier to wiggle out of working out when you get home from work and you're tired).  When I'm not working out, I have a hard time sleeping.  So I don't work out, can't sleep, can't get up in the morning, and don't work out.  How do you break this pattern?!

Don't get me wrong, I haven't gone completely inactive.  In fact, last week alone, I got in two trampoline sessions at Sky High Sports in Concord, plus a 5k.  On Wednesday, I did some strength training with a couple of my Twirly Girls (and I'm STILL sore from that, five days later!!).  Saturday, I did the 5k and tramps on the same day!  But I'm still fat.  And getting fatter by the minute.

Of course, I still have my Twirly Girls.  But I don't have my pole set up at home yet and the summer has been busy so I've only been able to make it to class three times this month.  And, at the end of the day, the strength stuff is great, but I need more cardio to lose weight (refer back to Rule No. 1!!).  I feel out of touch with my pole skills right now too.  I am still not climbing or holding for long.  Definitely can't invert.  I WANT TO DO ALL OF THE COOL TRICKS!!!  But I am also not practicing like I should.

I don't eat terribly but I have a sweet tooth lately.  If I could eat cookies for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I think I would!  I'm glad they make me sick because at least I have to stop sometime.  I don't pretend I'm the most disciplined gastric bypass patient, but I sure have tried to be good more often than not, so why am I starting to fail now?  Over six years later?  Maybe because I'm happy?  When I'm depressed, I don't eat.  Lately, I feel good.  Rob and I are happy.  Work is busy (which I like).  I have great friends.  What is there to hate?  Perhaps I need to find someone/thing to dislike.  Then I can go back to being sad and starving myself.

I'm kidding, of course.  But I am looking for motivation.  What motivates you?  All the regular stuff clearly isn't working.  I'd love to look great in a bathing suit or be healthy and actually run an entire 5k.  But cookies are yummy.  :-)

Thursday, June 10, 2010

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.  Right?  What if scientists came in with all of their tools and poked and prodded said rose?  What if they dug a little deeper and changed the rose's cellular make-up?  The rose basically looks the same but it smells sweeter and lives longer.  It's a better rose, right?  But what if you didn't know that the rose now gives off a completely odorless gas that will kill you?  But not for 50 years.  Do you still love your rose?

This is how I feel about fake sugars.  Yeah all of that fake stuff basically looks like the real stuff, and it seems nicer because there are no calories, but you can tell it's just not right.  People report headaches or stomach aches.  We have more sugar-free crap than ever, yet obesity is still an epidemic.  Some even may cause cancer?!  After gastric bypass, we were told not to eat sugar.  Anything with "sugar" in the first three ingredients was a big no-no.  Do you know how many words out there mean "sugar?!"  Check out this blog.

I was careful right after surgery, making sure I chose the "sugar free" or "no sugar added" options.  However, I quickly learned that fake sugar (sugar alcohols) made me more sick than real sugar!  So, I have learned that I would rather eat small amounts of real sugar than any amount of fake sugar.  Here is a blog about sugar (they suggest you avoid it completely).  And another blog about real sugar vs. sweeteners.  I've read a lot of articles about how drinking diet soda actually makes you fatter because the fake sugar makes you crave MORE sugar and you eventually go for it.  There's a lot of information out there.  But I know for me, avoiding fake sugar is more important than avoiding real sugar.

I did a 5k a few months back.  A lady there was telling people their body fat percentage.  She did mine and told me I need to lose about 40 pounds (good, because that's about how much I want to lose...I expected her to say more like 50).  She said that she believes that women especially need to AVOID white flour and sugar.  Don't limit it.  HAVE NONE OF IT.  Wow.  And no fake sugars for me, so nothing sweet ever again?  (Well, I guess I would have to go for some of those natural sweeteners mentioned in one of those blogs above.)  My usual attitude is "everything in moderation."  So completely cutting out all white flour and sugar would go against everything I believe.  I do have a couple of friends who believe this is the way to go.  They say once you get past the first few days, it's not bad.

I'm still on the fence.  I can understand that other people have benefited greatly from taking sugar or flour or gluten or other things out of their diet.  I'm just not sure I have the willpower to do it!  Didn't I have this surgery so I wouldn't have to worry about this kind of thing anymore?

Does anyone have experience with removing these things from your diet?  I'd love to hear about your experience!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

A picture is worth a thousand words

I love photography.  Landscapes.  People.  Weird things.  Cool things.  Beautiful things.  Sunsets are the best!  The ocean.  Horses.

Ansel Adams is one of my favorite photographers.  I have five or six of his photos in my house.  I love the black and white landscapes.  So simple yet so striking.  My all-time favorite is a photograph of a graveyard.  I understand it was a time release photograph, so the moon is high in the sky, yet the grave stones are still lit up as if they were in sunlight.  I love it!

My friend, Andrew (Liquidpulp Photography), takes amazing photographs as well.  He also takes beautiful landscapes.  And when he photographs people, he is often looking for a look that is interesting, more than something beautiful by society's standards.

I've always loved photography.  I have a camera in my purse at all times.  I am constantly snapping photos of the sky with my iPhone as I'm driving down the road.  This is how my love affair with Creepy Tree started.  One day I took a picture, posted it on Facebook, and now Creepy Tree has his own fan club!

I dream of one day buying an expensive digital SLR and traveling the world to photograph cool and interesting places.  In fact, if I am one day blessed by the lotto gods and win my $350 million (wait, $317 million), that is exactly what I will do!  Until then, my fantasies and little camera will have to do.  :-)

 Sunset while driving home from Alameda (Oakland), California

Full moon from Concord, California a couple of years ago

The flag in Las Vegas, Nevada (outside of Mandalay Bay) in July 2009

Sunset and Creepy Tree's cousins in Walnut Creek, California

Creepy Tree in Clayton, California with no leaves in late 2009/early 2010

Creepy Tree with the sun peeking through in early 2010 (and growing leaves now!)

A photograph Andrew took of me in March 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Let the insanity begin...P90X

After three weeks of talking about it, Rob and I finally got our front room cleaned up a little and started P90X yesterday.   I know a few people who are following this program and they talk about how hard it is.  Luckily, I am the queen of modification, so I am only following it to the best of my ability (for right now).  Yes, this probably means I am not pushing myself as hard as I SHOULD but, with Rob there watching, I am pushing myself harder than I normally would while working out alone. If you're a member at Beach Body, add me!  Here's my profile

I took my Day 1 photos in a bikini.  YUCK.  I offended myself.  I am so unhappy with how I look.  My lower back is all swollen out and my thighs are fat and dimply.  Once I see some results, I will post the photos.  But not yet.

So, the first day on the program is chest and back (with the ab ripper at the end).  I actually didn't have heavy enough weights.  The heaviest weight I have is 12 pounds.  So, it was kind of easy.  I need to go pick up 15's and 20's.  Also, we haven't found the brackets to set up the pull up bar.  So, we tried to use bands to simulate a pull up.  It wasn't enough.  They want you to hook it to something in the ceiling, so you're pulling down.  We didn't have anything to attach it to, so we were more doing chest presses than pull downs.   I was kind of aggravated about it yesterday, because I felt like we didn't properly prepare.  However, when you go from doing very little to working out six days a week, any activity will be a benefit.  So, I'm over it today.

This morning, we did the plyometrics DVD.  It was 5:00 a.m. and, even though we are on the bottom floor, I was scared that two of us jumping around might be bothering our upstairs neighbors.  So, I modified some of the exercises.  My heart rate averaged 160.  I burned around 520 calories.  Normally, a good workout for me is 600 calories burned.  A great workout is 800.  So, once I get into it and feel more comfortable, I will bump up the intensity.  I've realized that even if you can't do high impact, you can often do things to make the workout more intense.

P90X is definitely an intense program, and not for the faint of heart.  Beach Body offers many programs to help people get in shape.  My plan isn't to get completely ripped.  I am currently not planning to follow the food plan.  I just want to lose my 25-45 pounds and feel better about myself.  I workout to eat yummy food.  As I've said before, I try not to overindulge too often but I definitely don't want to feel like I'm on a diet.  I am closely tracking my progress through weight, body fat, measurements and photos.

P90X is a 90 day program.  Interestingly enough, it ends on my birthday.  So, I hope to still hit my weight loss goal (set earlier this year) right on time!

If anyone else is doing P90X (or another Beach Body program), I'd love to hear about your experience!


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Thursday, April 30, 2015

LGC Newsletter – April 2015

In mid-April, media reports, mainly in the Washington Post and The Independent, stated that British resident Shaker Aamer is likely to be released in June along with two other prisoners who have long been cleared for release, Moroccan Younis Chekkouri and Mauritanian Ahmed Ould Abdel al-Aziz.
This comes as part of reported plans to release at least 10 cleared prisoners in the coming weeks and all of the 57 prisoners cleared for released before the end of 2015.
However, the Miami Herald reports that no steps have been taken to start the release procedure for any prisoners, which takes at least one month.
In March, a Foreign Office junior minister told a House of Commons debate about Shaker Aamer that he still has to undergo security clearance prior to being approved for release. In 2009, the Obama administration cleared him for release only to his native Saudi Arabia, but he has insisted, as has the British government, that he be returned to the UK where his family lives. Although the media has reported Aamer may be released soon, there has been no indication that his release will be to the UK.
The reported desire to step up the release of prisoners comes ahead of a vote on a bill tabled earlier in the year by Senator Kelly Ayotte to prevent the transfer of any more of the 122 remaining prisoners before a new US president takes office in 2017. President Obama has said he would use his power of veto to block this bill if passed.

Former British resident, 36 year old, Jamal Kiyemba, was arrested in Kampala, Uganda, on 8 April, along with several other men suspected of murdering Prosecutor Joan Kagezi who was shot dead on 30 March ahead of the start of a trial into bombings allegedly by Al Shabab in 2010. Kiyemba, who had grown up in the UK, was released from Guantánamo in 2006. He was to be released to the UK; however he was refused entry and was sent to Uganda instead, where he was born. He was not arrested on charges of involvement in the murder of Ms Kagezi but on unspecified and unrelated charges. The US authorities were involved in the swoop which led to the arrests. There has been no further information since as to whether he has been released or charged. Held at Guantànamo for 4 years, Mr Kiyemba was never charged or tried there.

Guantánamo Bay:
Four of the six prisoners released to Uruguay last year as refugees have been holding a sit-in protest outside the US Embassy in Montevideo since 24 April demanding financial assistance from the US. The four, two Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian, were accepted by the country as refugees and are receiving some aid in that capacity. However, they feel it is not enough and is only being provided for one year and have demanded that the US take responsibility for their situation after having imprisoned them for 12 years without charge or trial and effectively turning them into refugees. The Uruguayan authorities have asked the men to sign documents so that they can receive the assistance they are entitled to, however the men went to the US Embassy on Friday and when they were told that no one would be there until Monday continued their protest. They are demanding to meet officials from inside the embassy and want the US to take responsibility for them.
In a statement the men released on Sunday 26 April, they stated that the US authorities “can’t leave their errors to other people, they should help us with houses and financial support. We think that it is the least they could do.
Earlier in the month, Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez demanded that Obama gives the former prisoners financial assistance when he met him at the Americas Summit in Panama. Aid and housing is being provided by the UNHCR.

Pre-trial hearings in two separate military commissions at Guantánamo Bay have been cancelled indefinitely. The case of 5 men accused of involvement in the 9/11 attacks in New York has been cancelled for the third time this year.
Nonetheless, with respect to one of the defendants, Mustafa Al-Hawsawi, on 10 April, the judge released a judgment refusing to order medical care for him, stating he did not have the power to do that. According to the Miami Herald, “While held at CIA secret prisons, he was subject to torture that amounted to rape and as a result has caused him long-term physical problems and continued bleeding, for which he has yet to receive adequate treatment, more than a decade later. When making the request in February, it was the first time his lawyers had spoken about the torture he suffered, following the release of the redacted Senate CIA torture report. His lawyer “specifically cited a reference to an investigation of allegations that CIA agents conducted medically unnecessary rectal exams with excessive force on two detainees, one of them Hawsawi, who afterward suffered an anal fissure, rectal prolapse and haemorrhoids.””

In the case of Abd Al Nashiri, accused of involvement in an attack on a US navy vessel in the Gulf of Aden, off Yemen, in 2000, the case has been adjourned pending two appeals in his case and an MRI scan, although the necessary machinery is not available at Guantánamo. If an MRI scan proves he has brain damage, he may be spared the death penalty.
On 29 April, following a request by his lawyers in March, the military commission judge refused to allow the full US Senate report into CIA torture to be disclosed to his lawyers. The public part of the report shows that Al Nashiri was waterboarded but his lawyers want further evidence of what he suffered at the hands of CIA interrogators when he “disappeared” for several years into CIA secret prisons in Asia and Europe.

Abdul Shalabi, 39, a Saudi prisoner who has been on hunger strike for the past 9 years and is alleged to have been a bodyguard for Osama Bin Laden, had his periodic review board hearing on 21 April. He asked to be sent home.

According to information given by a prisoner to lawyer David Remes, at least 14 prisoners at Guantánamo Bay are still on hunger strike and are being force fed by nasal feed on a regular basis.

On 24 April, Alberta federal judge June Ross granted former Guantánamo prisoner Omar Khadr bail pending the outcome of his appeal in the US of his military commission conviction there. A further hearing will be held on 5 May to decide the terms of his bail. His lawyer Dennis Edney QC has already offered him accommodation and a university in Edmonton, Alberta, has offered to allow him to enrol as a mature student. The Canadian government, however, has said that it will appeal this decision. For Khadr, this will be the first time since he was 15, in 2002, that he will be outside of a prison environment.

Extraordinary Rendition:
As part of an ongoing investigation into torture flights passing through and refueling at Scottish airports, police in Scotland have said there is inconclusive evidence to say prisoners were on board any of the six flights under investigation, ruling out this line of investigation.
The investigation will continue, however some say that the police have not been thorough   enough in their investigation. Police in Scotland have demanded access to the full CIA torture report to help in their investigations.

LGC Activities:
The LGC April Shut Guantánamo demonstration was attended by 3 people. The May demo will be on Thursday 7 May:

Aisha Maniar from the LGC gave a presentation to the St John’s Amnesty Group in Camden Town about Guantánamo Bay and extraordinary rendition on 16 April.


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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Simple Pleasures

A pretty still life enlivening a quiet corner of a room.

(photo via brydiebrown)

Atelier: Shop Fog Linen

I've loved the beautiful clothing and kitchen, table, and bath linens of Japanese designer Yumiko Sekine’s Fog Linen Work for ages, so I'm really happy to hear that these lovely designs will continue to be available internationally, thanks to the brand new Shop Fog Linen, an online store that's a collaboration between Yumiko, Julie the shop-keeper/product developer and Julie's husband Michael, the book designer/print-and-web go-to. Eventually they will carry the full range of products from the Fog Linen Work site — and as a welcome they're offering their first 75 customers a free copy of Around Fog Linen, a wonderful 132-page look book featuring Fog products as used by designers and artists from around the world. Have a look here.

advertise on automatism

Thinking of becoming an automatism sponsor? A couple of ad spots are available for the December holiday season — with rates that are perfect for small creative businesses. Find out more here.

(photo by ania on flickr)
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Author Finds More Couples Aren’t Letting Age Dictate Their Sex Life

MARINA DEL REY ( — Hollywood often wraps the idea of sex and sexuality around youth, but author Iris Krasnow says she’s fascinated by the sexual exploration that’s happening in older generations.

“People care about sex ’til the day they die,” the author told CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Lisa Sigell.

Krasnow, known for “The Secret Lives of Wives,” has delivered another page-turner in “Sex After…,” a book that finds sex can get better with age.

Therapist Greta Hassel and attorney Dennis Cohen, a newly-married couple in Marina del Rey, definitely agree.

“I was a late bloomer, but I have to say, my best sexual experiences have been in my 50s,” Hassel said.

They say laughter is key, along with communication.

“Explore, explore; try and fail,” Hassel said.

“It’s an adventure,” Cohen said.

Krasnow interviewed more than 150 doctors, sex therapists and women of all ages for her new project.

“This book is called ‘Sex After…’ but the sub-head is really the most important part of the book, how intimacy changes as life changes,” the writer said. “Women over 70 have told me that they’re having the best sex of their lives.”

So are lots of people. And Krasnow tackles it all, starting with sex in younger adults. She says 20-somethings aren’t only looking for random, loveless sex, as many older people fear.

“Most of the young people, yes, they want sexual pleasure, but, you know what, they want emotional commitment and love. Ninety percent of young people hope that if there is sexual chemistry they hope something else will happen — men and women,” Krasnow said.

She also talks about sex after living together, which she says is not always the best way to get to commitment, no matter what age.

“All those annoying habits you come to know when you live with someone before marriage, it ain’t so hot anymore,” the writer said. “I always tell young people, they say, ‘My boyfriend isn’t talking about marriage.’ And I say, ‘How long have you been together?’ And they say, ‘Four years.’ And I say, ‘You’re not even married and the honeymoon’s over.'”

And then there’s sex after having a baby: “You’ve got a squealing baby and saying, ‘I’m not sleeping. I don’t want to have sex. I’m 50 pounds overweight and I have postpartum depression.'”

Doctors say you can resume sex six weeks after delivery and the husband may be counting the days. But Krasnow suggests a little patience because most women are adjusting to the sleep-deprivation that comes with having an infant and may be too tired to get it on.

Which brings the author to a chapter devoted to a different type of intimacy, “Adventures in Outercourse.”

“‘Outercourse’ is everything, but even if it’s just holding hands or a kiss or a nuzzle, it’s so life-affirming. It gets you out of bed in the morning,” Krasnow said. “I talked to one couple, they’re just not having sex anymore and they consider themselves intimate and in love, and she’d rather take a walk…”

As for sex after 50, Krasnow says it’s alive and well.

“The shop is so not closed,” the author said.

But it can change: “It’s not that women wither up and dry up after menopause, sometimes guys don’t want it either.”

The writer says that’s the time to make sure that hormones are in balance. She also recommends talking about what you want individually, and as a couple. Then, it’s time to focus on each other, and not what others around you may or may not be doing.

“We know how to really talk about what we want, and hear each other, and really connect,” Hassel said.

“I’d like to release everyone from feeling like someone else is having better sex, more sex or perfect sex,” Krasnow said.

And now for sex after 60: Krasnow says it’s the Baby Boomers who are transforming and reinventing sexuality at that age.

“We’re the generation who’s watching Mick Jagger writhing on stage in his 70s, and he looks pretty good. We have forged a cultural, a political and a sexual revolution in the 70s. So we’re not going to grow old knitting in our rockers. We’re going to be rocking grannies!”

Hassel and Cohen agree completely.

“In 20 years, we’ll have more stories to tell about how unusually beautiful that sex continues to be,” Hassel said, with a smile.

Cohen says, while feigning an older voice and pretending to walk with a cane, “We’re going to be saying, ‘Honey, honey, it’s still pretty good!'”

For more information on Iris Krasnow visit

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• LoveWaffle

    This Wednesday (aka like 5 minutes ago), Michael Emerson appeared in an interview on G4's Attack of the Show. During his interview, he talked about the finale. He said that he's now looking forward to giving people answers about the show now that it's over. He also said that the finale, specifically the nature of the Flash-Sideways, could be interpreted as anything the audience wanted it to.

    However, the most interesting thing he said was about the Season 6 DVD. He said that it would contain an extra scene that served as "the epilogue to the show" that "bridged the gap between Hurley becoming the protector of the Island" and the end of the episode.

    So yeah. Feel free to post about your own theories as to what this "epilogue" may be. Pe…

    Read more >
  • LoveWaffle

    Really, who the hell finished the donkey wheel? The well it was in was filled in with earth. Who dug it up?

    Actually, here's my thoughts on the subject:

    Initially, I thought that the wheel was tied to DHARMA. They found the well, went down it, saw the wheel, and someone (probably Radzinsky) said "WHAT THE F*** DOES THIS DO????" Realizing that tampering with any ruins would get them killed by the Hostiles (and after tonight's episode, it's kind of obvious that keeping DHARMA away from using the wheel was probably the whole reason that was part of the truce), they built a station over it. The fact that it was buried might be a damn good excuse for pretending to not knowing it was there. Anyway, they build a station over it, and, realizin…

    Read more >
  • LoveWaffle

    1. The Season 3 DVD emits a small, subliminal noise during Through the Looking Glass that causes you to fall asleep halfway through the episode so that when you wake up you have to go back.

    2. All new episode commentary from Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse, most of which consists of the phrase “Oh &%#@ we forgot about that.”

    3. If you play the DVD on your PS3, you can import characters from your most beloved PS3 games as skins for your favorite characters. Imagine how different your LOST experience would be if Nathan Drake, Solid Snake, and Kratos were among the survivors of Flight 815.

    4. Sneak peek at the yet unannounced Season 7 premiere episode, LA W. It’s like the Flash-Sideways Timeline, but Walt is still important. That’s right – it’…

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October 22, 2014

A Giveaway

lace cat ears ariana grande

If you haven't heard yet, we are giving away one of our Lace Cat Floral Headbands for Halloween on our Instagram feed. We've recently reached over 2000 sales online, and to give thanks, we are giving away one of our Cat Ears Headband!

Here's how to enter:
1. You must follow us on instagram @loveatfirstblush
2. Re-post the image above (one repost per day!)
3. Hashtag us with #LFBcatears, and tag us @loveatfirstblush
Contest ends on 10/24! Good luck!

October 7, 2014

In the Studio: Cat Ears

lace cat ears for ariana grande

detail of floral lace cat ears headband

Earlier this month, we were sent a custom request for a floral trimmed lace cat headband.

After searching along fashion district for some floral trims to add to the headband and coming up with nothing special, I decided to make the flowers by hand by sewing blush pink chiffon together and hand beading tiny rhinestones and pearls on the top.

We've gotten such a huge response from our Facebook post, I've added these to the our online shop.

October 1, 2014

Made in Canada: Etsy Pop-Up

Our table at the Pop-Up Etsy Made in Canada event
photo credit: Ele Willoughby

I had such an awesome time popping up last Saturday for  Etsy's first Made in Canada event. It was so busy I didn't get a chance to instagram or live tweet from the event.

From the large turn out of people it's obvious that Canadians, and especially Torontonians, love handmade and vintage! If you had a chance to make it out, thank you for supporting small businesses and crafters.

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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Cheryll. You won the class.
Please email me...and I'll send you the details!

I'm finishing off my summer with a few more FLOATs in the pool!
I'll get sewing!!!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

birds and spiders

I'm a finisher.
(Don't misunderstand...
I DO have UFO's at my house....It's just that...
they PREY on my mind...
and I TRY hard to get them done!)
 I finish quilts that I didn't even BEGIN!
This is a scrappy quilt that I've been working on
bit by bit when camping in my trailer.
I FINISHED getting the blocks together last week!
All it needed was a border...
and I DIDN'T have border fabric WITH me!

This is how it all began.
With this BOX sent to me early in the year.
The box was EASY to pack and carry when camping.
I'd love to give credit to the quilter who STARTED this quilt.
I'm pretty SURE who sent it...
but don't want to be WRONG!
Are you like that too??
My brain does NOT cooperate sometimes.
My poor memory is faulty.

She sent scraps and papers.
Half finished blocks....
Lots of PURPLE.
I'm not a purple fan...
but I used the purple.
HAPPY that I did!

I've always wanted to make a spiderweb quilt
and THIS was my CHANCE!
I'm SOooo happy with the border fabric I had!
I LOVE it!
In my humble opinion...
It ties the WHOLE quilt together!

You can see I didn't have quite enough....
so I added some polka dots.
Polka dots make EVERYTHING better!
Does it matter that ALL the spider web edges don't match?
I figure that's just part of the process
when you're finishing someone else's quilt!

This is a finish.
It won't get to go on ANY more trips with me.
Technically it's NOT a finish...
because it's not quilted.
I always call a quilt top a finish!
The quilt top can be folded up
and saved for a rainy day!
It'll be almost READY to GIVE away!
SO much easier to STORE!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Class giveaway

It's almost September......
and all of my kiddos
are heading back to class this week.
I took a class too!!!
How to make a SEVEN blade fan block.
Also known as...
an Amish Buggy Wheel.
The class is Online.
No tests!
Even better...
NO grades!!!
There are many classes available online these days.
This was a first for me.
I was offered a class
so that I could give a quick review
AND also
 to give a class AWAY!
I was reminded in the class
to SLOW down!
Concentrate on 1/4" seams...
and PIN. PIN. PIN!!!
I need ALL the reminding I can GET!
Since there were two people
sewing/teaching together in the video class...
It never got boring.
There was a nice give and take
as they gave instruction.
I chose this class because it is based on
a BEAUTIFUL antique quilt.
Here's a little video advertisement
about this "SCHOOL" for crafters.
There's also a GREAT review of the video classes here.
Alyce did an excellent job giving LOTS of details
about the craft videos!
Let me know if YOU'D like to win a class of your OWN!
Leave a comment.
I'll let Mr. Random Generator help me
choose a winner THIS Saturday.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Scrappy baskets

I'm always drawn to basket quilts.
Aren't you?
This is my very first block of a new quilt!

It all began while I was away.
I took TWO important things on my camping trip.
A BIG bag of scraps...
and a phone book.

I pulled out some colors I liked.

Then I began sewing them onto paper triangles.

Now that I'm home...
I can make some small half square triangles
with my small scrappy squares.........
and Make a WHOLE BUNCH of baskets!!!
I love beginnings!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Gone camping

Be back in a few days.

Monday, August 19, 2013

String love

This scrappy quilt has been unfinished for a while now.
It has been sitting in a little basket on my sewing table...
Calling my name!

I love the soft colors in this one.
I love the greens, pinks.....
the little bit of orange.
I love the white strips as well.
White provides such a nice contrast...
don't you think?

I make lots of baby quilts.
This one is NOT a baby quilt.
It's actually a generous 60"x80"!
Just the RIGHT size for the bed
in my sewing room!!!
I'm going to LOVE looking at this one!

Friday, August 16, 2013

I admired my friend's recent purchase.
A handwoven baby blanket.

Could I WEAVE a baby blanket???

I had to try.

I have a small table loom and thought
I needed a WIDER loom
to make blankets.
I saw this.

I HAD to to try it!

I was able to weave some color in.
Love that!
And then....
two pieces of woven cloth together.

It's not GREAT.
A bit wobbly in the middle.
For a FIRST project using this technique..
I'm not going to be too hard on myself!
I'm going to try it AGAIN!
"Practice makes PERFECT".
Not in MY world. know what?
That's O.K.!!!!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Looms and dogs

Another project on my Rigid Heddle loom!
I began with a variegated yarn. It took 2 skeins
because I'm making this EXTRA long.
It wasn't quite wide enough for me...
so I also added a pale blue to the left side there.
Hoping to cut this project in half and join the sides
to make a baby blanket.
Here's a link to my inspiration!
I'm skipping the crotchet part.
This is a FIRST...
so I'm not sure how it's going to work.
That's how you learn.....right????

I had the white yarn
and LOTS of old leftover balls of yarn to use.
I'm trying to sneak the colors in between the white
 to give this blanket some color.
Having fun
and LEARNing as I go!

Tried to get my OLD dog Pretzel on a quilt
for the annual Pets on Quilt show.
Didn't quite work.
He's old
Wasn't IN THE MOOD to sit OR lay on a quilt
Thank you very much!!!!

That's o.k.
I can lay the quilt ON TOP of him!

He doesn't seem to mind THAT!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The next size up

I was Wondering....
What if I began with 6" squares
instead of 5" charm squares like my last quilt??
Found out....
It's Fiddly.
I ended up trimming my scrappy 2 1/2" squares to 2 3/8".
Not sure I want to do that for a whole quilt.
I've never been of FAN of any 1/8th inches!!!
I have a hard enough time with 1/4 inches!!!
We'll see.
I DO want to use some 6" scrappy squares.
I DO have a FEW.....(cough, cough..sputter, sputter...)

Here's a little more info on the above block.
Mostly 2 3/8" squares
plus 2 3/8"x4 1/4" creams
Make TWO of these.
Trim to 6".
Find two 6" scrappy squares.
Add 2 3/8"x 6" sashing
with a small 2 3/8" square right in the middle!!!
***Emily over at Em's Scrapbag interviewing me today
about SCRAPS!!!
My favorite kind of FABRIC!!!!
She's got a great lineup of guests.
ALL of them talking about SCRAPS!
Hop on over to Em's blog
and say HI!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Stepping stones

Haven't shared about a finished quilt recently
on this QUILTING blog!
This little number is now complete....
Ready for the next BABY!!!
It started with a small charm pack.
There were only 23 charms
so I needed to add a few 5" squares of my own.
Not. a. problem.

I also added LOTS of 2" squares.
NOT a problem.

of white fabric.
I think I'll BUY a BOLT!!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

After hosting a party recently,
I was given a LOVELY bar of soap.
I haven't wanted to SHARE my special soap.
There's only ONE soap dish in the shower
and more than ONE person that uses the shower.

I made a bag.

Cut off the label.
Added a seam at the bottom.
Scrunched it together a bit.
This plastic mesh is VERY forgiving!!!

Rescued a small 2 1/2' strip
from the scrap drawer.

Folded it over and added it to the top of my bag.

I almost added a SPECIAL label:
But didn't.
I think they'll get the HINT!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Bright little bag

My daughter asked me to make her a little bag.
A BRIGHT little bag.
"NO batting please".

Just a little zipper bag.
She has a plan for this little bag.

It's NOT makeup.

It's NOT jewelry.

NOT sewing!!!!
WHAT could she NEED this little bag for???

A girl after my OWN HEART!


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From Trash to Treasure – DIY Hurricane Lamp Candle Holder

From Trash to Treasure – DIY Hurricane Lamp Candle Holder

There isn't always paint involved, or sanding or even glue in every DIY project.

A friend was dumping a bunch of old deco at Goodwill and offered to let me look through her box.

Woohoo! A DIY'ers hayday!
I'm working on four projects today, this one was a 30 second redo…
No paint. No glue. No sanding. Nada.
Here is a hurricane I picked out of her box. I thought it had potential. But I had no idea what that was when I took it.
A single large votive paired with a candle stand
Don't toss out your old votive holders
It was a very nice piece, but the bottom wasn't solid or large enough to stand on its own. This morning when I was putting away some of my decor I had sitting in a pile (we're working on our guest master bedroom), I got the idea to pair this up with a wooden candle holder I paid about a buck and a half for a couple of years ago at a consignment shop.
Wooden candle holder paired up with a large votive becomes a treasure
It looked fine as it was, but when I took off the candle and added the glass hurricane, WOW! they were meant to be together!
Give new life to old decor pieces
I'm thinking I might add some rocks to the bottom of the hurricane to fill in the glass around the candle.
Here's an idea from Target…looks like they put dried cranberries around the candle.
I like!
And to think this piece of glass was going to Goodwill to sit on a shelf along with dozens of pieces of glass that were no longer wanted. Be still my heart! I love DIY! Hobby Lobby sells pieces like this for boku-bucks.  I longingly drool over them every time I go but the frugelista in me won't let me buy any of them. Well, OK, my wallet won't let me buy any of them.
Let me encourage you to be on the lookout for ways to use something old and turn it into something trendy. We need to re-use, not discard. We need to be good stewards. These are hard economic times. Even if you make a lot of money, its prudent to use it wisely!
For just a couple of dollars I have a new hurricane lamp for my guest master bedroom.
Reuse your old decor by changing it up
Are you one to pitch old decor or do you DIY and turn trash into treasure? Please leave a comment and tell me about your trash to treasure project.

  1. What a great way to give new life to an old item! Your photo looks great. Thanks for sharing at My Favorite Things Saturday!

  1. […] I told you about the cast off treasures I got from a friend in my first From Trash to Treasure post here. […]

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What is Your Favorite Pro Cyclist Doing This Off Season?

Between November and January of each year, our favorite pro cyclists enjoy what could be defined as the off season…..but how much off time do you think they actually have?

Unfortunately I’m not good buddies with any of the pros, but from what I’ve read and heard over the years it all depends on a bunch of factors.

Pro cyclists suffer through intense physical and emotional stress during their riding season, and without some kind of time off they would surely burn out.  The typical pro will take at least two to four weeks off usually in November.  This time off might include some mountain bike riding, but generally they will stay away from the road bike.

All good training starts by having a look at where they want to be at some future date.  So depending on what their personal and team goals are, their training will be strategically designed to peak at those most important times.

This year Chris Froome will be the first cyclist to target the Giro/Tour double since Marco Pantani back in 1999.  With a specific and grueling goal like that one, Chris is in for a serious off season of training.

It’s also become kind of a thing for pro cyclists to spend some time on a fixie at this period.  They say that this type of riding allows them to focus on a smooth stroke and cadence, and concentrate on where their best power is coming from.

Of course their actual training schedule is very confidential, but it’s safe to say that the rest of the off season is full of training in the gym, riding in a warm climate, and sticking pretty close to their in-season diet.

From there, it’s all about individuality and what works best for each cyclist.  But from what I’ve heard, most cyclists recognize the benefits of working on their base foundation.  With a strong base, everything else is more possible.

A while back, we did a Cycling 360 podcast focused on off season training.  If you’d like to learn more about how you should handle this off season, have a list to Tips for Off Season Cycling and Training.

Photo c/o Wikimedia.org

Enjoy Your Ride
Pin It

One Response to “ What is Your Favorite Pro Cyclist Doing This Off Season? ”

  1. Terry on November 13, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    Glad to hear your sharing! I am a cyclist, so i always try to ride the most miles as possible. I like the feeling when the wind blows into my face. So good!

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Sugar Alternatives for Energy and Hydration

Question: I am using the homebrew sugar formulations (sometimes added to green tea).  I am also trying to wean myself off 1/2 dose adrenalean “lip tonic delivery system” (biorhythm brand- caffeine, hoodia g, synephrine, yohimbe) capsule for energy.

My question is other than juice, can you suggest modifications in lieu of table sugar for energy and hydration.

Both raw/organic honey or agave can work great in the homebrew (substitute in the same quantities for the sugar, or to taste), but you do have to shake well in order to make sure they don’t settle out.  Have you tried either of these?  Also, make sure to use at least the minimum amount of salt recommended in the homebrew as the temps rise, you need the sodium replacement if you’re sweating.

Sports Drink Homebrew

Please send us your questions for our Expert Sports Nutritionist, Kelli Jennings to “Ask the Sports Nutritionist“. Kelli Jennings is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for healthy eating, wellness, & sports nutrition. For more information go to www.apexnutritionllc.com.

Nutrition Tips


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Thursday, March 8, 2012

A weird but beautiful day in this weird but beautiful city.

So today was weird.
It was such a beautiful day in New York.
Absolutely beautiful.  I literally kept getting butterflies.
Like it all finally made sense why I am here.
I think it really hit me when I was sitting with my coworkers
on the rooftop deck, sipping my ice coffee.
I couldn't stop feeling so happy to be where I was at that very moment.
At a job, in a career that I love, with the most amazing people,
on the most gorgeous day in this beautiful city, surround by
jaw dropping architecture.  There's really no way to describe it.
I feel so lucky.

Anyways... I left my office to go purchase some floral
for one of my downtown store's windows.
After stumbling out of Whole Foods with three bags full
of little potted flowers I flagged down an SUV cab.
Woo! Yaa! Got one! So in my frantic hurry to get my bags
in this guy's trunk and into the backseat I slammed the trunk down...
and onto my head.  Annoyed at my clumsiness I climbed into
the cab and directed the driver where to go.  I put my hand up to my
head to feel if there was a bump and my head was wet.
When I pulled my hand away it was covered in blood.
Uuuuhh gross?

I get to my store in the West Village and the manager
looks at me and says.. "ok.. I don't want to freak you out...
but you need to go to the hospital. Taryn? Go to the hospital.
Like seriously... just to be safe. Go to the hospital.. now."

Luckily my coworkers are awesome and
helped me find a walk in clinic to go to, to get checked out.
Everyone was great. Everything was fine.. NO STITCHES!!! Yaaaayyy!
Got a tetanus shot... so NO INFECTIONS!! Yaaayyy!
Bad news? I'm still an idiot.. Booooo!

But everyone was so sweet and helpful and caring
throughout the hour that I was convinced I would pass out,
by myself and bleed out alone and die.

But seriously,
the whole annoying experience left me feeling even more at home in this city.
It's nice to know you're surrounded by good people.
It gives ya the fuzzy wuzzies!

Now I'm home.. I washed the blood out of my hair...
ate some friggin fantastic Chinese food, and now I'm going to go pack
because I leave for Boston tomorrow at 2pm.

Moral of the story?
Your day could always be worse...
you could bleed out in the backseat of a cab...
and die.

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thoughts?..... comments?...


text:
Estrella Mountain Community College Registered Nursing Program Information

Campus: Estrella Mountain Community College,Avondale,AZ

Type: Public

Institution Accreditation: NCA

Enrollment: 8,832

Net Price: $7,723.00

Net Price Change: 4.69%

Graduation Rate: 12.20%

Transfer Out Rate: 36.60%

Loan Default Rate: 17.40%

Median Borrowing: $7,356.00

Median Payment: $76.81

Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

Award Levels: Associate

Program Accreditation: ACEN

Offered as: Campus

School Resources: School Site | Net-Price Calculator

Data sources come from US Department of Education, various schools, State Boards of Nursing, and the IPEDS system
Find RN Programs in Arizona | RN Programs in the United States | Rankings: RN Program Rankings | Guide: LPN to RN / BSN Careers | Database: Search Top RN and BSN Programs | Jobs: LPN Jobs, LVN Jobs, RN Jobs, Nursing Jobs


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Westminster College Registered Nursing Program Information

Campus: Westminster College,Salt Lake City,UT

Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Institution Accreditation: NWCCU

Enrollment: 2,295

Net Price: $22,688.00

Net Price Change: 1.78%

Graduation Rate: 57.10%

Loan Default Rate: 3.40%

Median Borrowing: $17,936.00

Median Payment: $187.27

Programs: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

Award Levels: Bachelor

Program Accreditation: CCNE

Offered as: Campus

School Resources: School Site | Net-Price Calculator

Data sources come from US Department of Education, various schools, State Boards of Nursing, and the IPEDS system

Westminster College is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.  They offer a traditional BSN track or an RN to BSN track.  They also offer a direct entry option for incoming freshmen.  The RN to BSN program is online, but the students do have to meet face-to-face a few times throughout the program.

Find RN Programs in Utah | RN Programs in the United States | Rankings: RN Program Rankings | Guide: LPN to RN / BSN Careers | Database: Search Top RN and BSN Programs | Jobs: LPN Jobs, LVN Jobs, RN Jobs, Nursing Jobs


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Peru losing mining competitive edge due to growing red tape-CEO

martes 22 de septiembre de 2015 22:11 GYT

LIMA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Peru is losing its competitive edge in mining because of a growing tangle of red tape that is holding up exploration projects already hit by weak metal prices, the chief executive of a top Peruvian precious metals miner said Tuesday.

"It's getting harder and harder to work," Buenaventura's Roque Benavides said at a mining convention on a panel with a top mining official.

The criticism was a rare public display of friction between miners and government officials as slumping metal prices sap investments in Peru, a top copper, zinc and gold producer.

Deputy Mines Minister Guillermo Shinno denied that permitting has gotten worse. Shinno was sitting in for Energy and Mines Minister Rosa Maria Ortiz, whom he said could not attend the Perumin convention because of a key cabinet meeting.

"Companies always want more," Shinno said. "I've explained to them how we have made progress. There is definitely more we can do but we are advancing."

President Ollanta Humala's government has cut environmental fines and introduced several reforms aimed at streamlining permits during an economic slowdown over the past two years. (Reporting By Teresa Cespedes; Editing by Michael Perry)


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Kings get past Scorpions with four power-play goals

Published: Sunday, March 04, 2007

There was a power surge at City Bank Coliseum Saturday night.

The Lubbock Cotton Kings matched a season high with four power-play goals, and they snapped a two-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over New Mexico in front of an announced home crowd of 5,722. Team captain Bobby Brown led the way with two goals and an assist, while veteran defenseman Craig Minard and rookie forward Corey Rutt each added power-play scores in the second period.

Rookie goaltender J.F. Perras stopped 30 of New Mexico's 32 shots on goal to win for the fourth time in five starts, and the Cotton Kings (21-27-6) moved to within three points of Rio Grande Valley (22-25-7) for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference. Lubbock has 10 games remaining, and it also trails Austin (19-22-12) and Odessa (21-26-7) in the conference standings.

Konrad Reeder and Ryan McLeod each scored for New Mexico (27-20-6), which has a five-point lead in the Southwest Division.

The Cotton Kings will go their third straight home victory when they host Arizona at 5:05 p.m. today.

New Mexico 1 1 0 - 2

Lubbock 1 3 0 - 4

First period-1, New Mexico, Reeder 13 (Guinn, McLeod), 12:23 (pp). 2, Lubbock, Brown 17 (Callahan, Nosan), 19:06 (pp). Penalties-Brown, Lub (hooking), 2:12. Falk, New (hooking), 5:21. Harvey, New (hooking), 9:27. Hobson, Lub (hooking), 11:40. Harvey, New (interference), 18:18.

Second period-3, Lubbock, Minard 5 (Brown, Strome), 6:03 (pp). 4, Lubbock, Brown 18 (Bauman, Levesque), 10:10 (pp). 5, Lubbock, Rutt 7, 18:55 (pp). 6, New Mexico, McLeod 20 (Reeder, Herrington), 19:09. Penalties-Brown, Lub (hooking), 3:18. Herrington, New (slashing), 4:47. Harvey, New, bench minor (too many men), 5:27. Falk, New (tripping), 9;12. Reid, New (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:10. Callahan, Lub (slashing), 11:15. Callahan, Lub, major (fighting), 11:15. Hartinger, New, major (fighting), 11:15. Prpich, New (slashing), 17:06.

Third period-No scoring. Penalties-McBrien, Lub (roughing), 7:24. Beatty, Lub (charging), 10:04. McBrien, Lub (hooking), 13:43.

Shots on goal-New Mexico 6-15-11 32. Lubbock 13-14-2 29.

Power plays-New Mexico 1 of 7. Lubbock 4 of 8.

Goalies-New Mexico, Reid 6-6-3 (29 shots-25 saves). Lubbock, Perras 15-14-2 (32 shots-30 saves).

A-5,722. T-2:40.

Referee-Ian Croft. Linesmen-Tim Hamel, Ryan Hissong.

© 2017. All Rights Reserved.  | Contact Us


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Palestinians nullify calls for Israel's destruction

Published: Friday, December 11, 1998

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - The Palestinian leadership on Thursday scrapped constitutional clauses rejecting Israel's existence and said it would try to stem violence that has jeopardized the peace - moves that may smooth President Clinton's visit to the region.

A group of senior Palestinians led by Yasser Arafat voted overwhelmingly to declare clauses of the PLO charter calling for Israel's destruction null and void, a key condition of the Clinton-brokered Wye River agreement two months ago.

Jibril Rajoub, the Palestinian security chief, said the Palestinian Authority would take steps to curtail riots sparked by Israel's refusal to release prisoners jailed on anti-Israel charges. Selim Zanoun, who announced the decision by the Palestine Central Council to nullify the offending passages, said the larger Palestine National Council will not vote again on the matter when it meets Monday.

Israel insists the full council formally vote to void the passages and has said that if there is no vote Monday, it will not implement the next troop withdrawal scheduled under the Wye Agreement.

The Monday meeting "will be only to listen to President Clinton's speech and President Arafat. ... There will be no vote," said Zanoun, chairman of the PNC.

Clinton is arriving Saturday for a three-day visit meant to celebrate Wye, but that has turned into an effort to salvage it. David BarIllan, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praised Thursday's vote, but warned that Israel hasn't dropped its demand for a PNC vote on Monday. "We expect that they will ... vote in an unequivocal matter," Bar-Illan said, if Israel is to continue to implement the Wye agreement.

The Palestinians have said that the meeting Monday will "affirm" the annulment of the offensive passages but have not said exactly what that means. Arafat said the procedure was an internal Palestinian matter: "It's not their business."

It is unlikely Clinton would side with Israel in such a dispute because it would mean that the main purpose of his visit, to usher in the next stage of the Wye agreement, has failed.

Zanoun said Thursday's vote by 95 Palestine Central Council members present was 81 for, seven against and seven abstaining. Twenty-nine members were absent for the vote, which reaffirmed a letter that Arafat had sent Clinton declaring the articles null and void.

White House spokesman David Leavy described that as "an important and welcomed step toward implementing the Wye accords."

Immediately after the PNC session, 5 percent of the West Bank is to be transferred from Israeli control to joint

© 2017. All Rights Reserved.  | Contact Us


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I am working in a group with:

Wednesday, 3 November 2010

Timo Maas - Pictures

My ideas for a music video for this song...
  • The lead singer is shown walking down the street and then into a bar. He then orders a drink and sits on a bar stool.
  • Pictures of him pulling funny and strange faces would also be used and edited into it.
  • Canted/ dutch angles would also be used to emphasise the strangeness of the song.
  • I would also include lots of shot variation, and lots of colour filters to make it more interesting.
  • The video would also feature lots of shots of people in the background dancing, talking, and having a good time.
  • People playing instruments (such as drum machines and synth's) would also be in the bar within in the background.
  • The lead singer would sometimes also grab onto the camera so that the audience feels like their privacy is being invaded, this also would make the proximities really close so the audience feels intimidated.
  • Fast moving and flashing images would also be used as well as lots of close ups of the lead singer.

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text:
Posts Tagged ‘nds’

In for experience

Posted by (twitter: @RawBits)
Monday, August 15th, 2011 3:34 pm

This will be my first LD and I never done a game in 48 hours. I don’t have the tools or anything and most importantly I’ve got a lot of work to do…

So yes I’m in and will be on it with 6 senses and with all my braincells! I’m working on a NDS demo for a hungarian demo party called Function. Go checkit and make a demo. So my entry will be on the NDS platform.

I’ll ue devkitPro and Gimp 2.6. Sound? WHAT? A game has sound too? Ugh… I didn’t code sound until now… maybe the offered Sfxr. I’ve used Buzz before though.

This will be about 2000 XP for me on one weekend! :)

Oh yeah! And I’ll use No$GBA for testing but it will certainly run on real NDS as well.

[cache: storing page]


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Hitachi CW40 Schroll Saw: No dust blower...

  • Advertise with us

« back to Scrollsawing forum

Forum topic by RandyinFlorida posted 11-09-2014 07:07 PM 1257 views 0 times favorited 4 replies Add to Favorites Watch
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218 posts in 1641 days

11-09-2014 07:07 PM

Topic tags/keywords: cw40 schroll saw bellows hitachi

It looks like the bellows in my Hitachi CW40 scroll saw has gone bad. Without taking it apart I don’t know if it’s bad or plugged. I have found a parts breakdown. But the saw has been discontinued and I don’t think I’ll be able to get a replacement from Hitachi.

Is anybody aware of a source for replacement parts. Here is the PDF parts breakdown: “” The Hitachi PN for the bellows is 0DF6. Does some other company make an identical saw with there name on it?

-- Randy in Crestview Florida, Wood Rocks!

4 replies so far

View RandyinFlorida's profile

218 posts in 1641 days

#1 posted 11-09-2014 07:14 PM

It looks like I have answered my own question… The Porter-Cable Model #: PCB370SS 16” scroll saw has the exact same parts breakdown with the same PN. Now to find a source of supply.

-- Randy in Crestview Florida, Wood Rocks!

View distrbd's profile

2245 posts in 2020 days

#2 posted 11-09-2014 08:50 PM

Randy,a small aquarium air pump is usually the cheapest alternative to a broken scroll saw blower,get a good one for under $25 (plus some air hose) and you are back in business.

-- Ken from Ontario, Canada

View sawdust703's profile

270 posts in 994 days

#3 posted 11-09-2014 11:03 PM

You can still get all the parts for the CW – 40, except the circuit board. I own one myself, and have for several years. Go to eraplacementparts/hitachi tools, can find the scroll saw listed, & the complete parts schematic with numbers. Parts can be ordered right from the site. And no, the saw is no longer made, but, parts are still available.

-- Sawdust703

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Jim Finn

2473 posts in 2496 days

#4 posted 11-09-2014 11:40 PM

I have tried all sorts of ways to blow the sawdust off the cut line and finally, I just have a small fan setting next to the saw blowing the sawdust away.

-- "You may have your PHD but I have my GED and my DD 214"

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Estrela Editor

Estrela Editor is our wxLua-based editor primarly serving as Luxinia IDE, of course it can be used for any Lua coding. It has code completion, api tooltips and is (open-source/free). Hosted on SourceForge. Estrela has its origins in a wxLua sample by J. Winwood & John Labenski.

Paul Kulchenko has extended Estrela and turned it into ZeroBrane Studio, with ZBStudio? leading the future.

Simply grab the latest-snapshot from git, it will include required binaries, however all relevant files are pure lua:

zbstudio github repository

zbstudio graphicscodepack github repository

original repository:

sourceforge git repository

Where is estrela.exe?

zbstudio IDE integration can be found in the luxinia repository.

  • written in Lua, so easily customizable
  • automatically loads several 'plugin' like classes
    • specs: file syntax, lexer, keywords
    • apis: for code-completion and tool-tips
    • interpreters: how a project is run (e.g. starting luxinia, lua commandline, or integrated lua shell)
    • config: contains style and basic editor settings
    • tools: additional tools, e.g. cg compiler, dx fxc compiler
  • lua-shell to directly test code snippets
  • auto-completion for functions, keywords...
  • function tips
  • function list in file (quick jump to)
  • function call highlighting
  • project file browser (create new files in selected subdirectory)
  • experimental type/class guessing for auto-completion
  • different editor styles possible

auto-completion with partial matching

auto-completion with api resolve

api tooltips

project browser

lua shell for running code directly

function highlighting

functions in file list

experimintal type guessing / type assignment

LuaJIT? FFI to Estrela API

converts structs, enums, consts...


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Saturday, March 25, 2017

ACTIVE BEAUTY-Help for Tortured Tresses

Hair Masques At Home Treatments

toss-able hair...needs good hair product help to achieve

The old and the new hair masques and bond healers (Olaplex/Brazilian Bond Builder/Aloxxi -3 of our favs)-all heal and repair hair a single at home treatment options.

Easy enough to use- all are best applied on dry locks, that gets tucked into plastic cap-let 'stew' at least 30 minutes...

Multi-taskers -good for all hair types-and specific treatments- coincidentally-our favs-are by cult favs  French based Lenore Greyl and JF Lazatigue...both brand that leave out the ingredients luscious locks need to avoid (SLS, paraben, silicone, coal tar, sodium chloride FREE).

Masque Quintessence
-indulgent blends of healing Cupuacu and Manketti nut oils heal and moisturize so much-that after the first treatment-hair is noticeably more touchable/softer... AND even hands will thank-you after applying. Bonus Points: Packaging that befits a luxury product...worthy of dressing table placement-with gold metallic jar elegantly set inside premium cardboard box with metallic fold trim.
J.F. Lazartigue's Masque-Shea Butter- is a go to thick hair revitalizer for those famous ladies that can afford any hair savior. Loaded with African shea butter's nutrient dense,  rich help that protects tresses -revitalizing fried/dried for whatever reason..At $54-thickest luscious value hair masque we use. Smells divine too.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Part 4

There's a variable vertical limit for concert goers---
ha ha especially after "...having a bottle of vodka..."

Some options for comfy seating -camp furniture - beyond the blanket on a hard ground-are lightweight, portable and aimed at festival flocks who plan on spending time int he great outdoors.

Possibly our fav company for outdoor lifestyle...SNOW PEAK's Asian aesthetic of simplified beauty...includes this multi-tasking lounger-surprisingly lightweight.

Kelty -re-invigorating what we call the casual camper-outdoorsy -portable coolers, tents, haulers can be transported easy enough-in the Festival Essentials including the above folding cooler + Built to Wander Collections.

Thursday, March 23, 2017

top pick-raw edge fedora-woven faux leather band
Bump up the're a grown-up so why not lose the caps of team spirit-and opt for more sophisticated style of summery fedoras, panama, cowboy and lifeguard wide brim hats-made of woven materials, linen, paper and cotton- with sleek trim details.
CHAOS HATS-has so many styles of toppers-impossible not to find at least three silhouettes that pack and wear easy-from crushable straw wovens with ribbon details like these unisex fedora shapes...
wide brim structured and floppy hats for women

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Outdoor Festivals-Footwear: Part 2

Ready for whatever twists outdoor music fun conjures up-comfortable footwear that withstands the OBOZ, ROCKPORT, CHACO, TREKSTA

finally-OBOZ---who makes our fav waterproof/supportive and cute(!) winter boots the MADISON Bdry-has a collection of flip-flops for Spring 2017...with the label's legendary BFit. deluxe footbed, spring EVA midsole and rugged outsole..applied to these easy to wear, webbed thongs.
carbon rubber pods on outsole
OBOX Ocoee and Selway flip-flops for women-$55

Monday, March 20, 2017

Outdoor Festivals-What to Wear

Best Gadgets, Gear, Footwear, Clothes that can multi-task for  outdoor camping-to indoor city life.
KELTY-camping gear and backpacks from Boulder...reaches out to the millennial with everyday gear -that looks stylish -not the most tricked out tech gear-but in reality they're not going to scale Mt Everest-they're rocking' out to tunes at Coachella-maybe camping out in a tent or RV, making day trips under big blue skies. New slogan #BuiltToWander   gets that...

Part One-Beyond the tees/cut-offs/board shorts: KRIMSON KLOVER, MOUNTAIN KHAKIS, BERGANS, FJÄLLRÄVEN

Wearing fashionable apparel from outdoor brands has become, for selfie promoting types- Instagram opportunities for 'what to wear'- when attending outdoor events.

Patron Saint=Kate Moss at the Glastonbury festival (2005) and Hunter boots.
Krimson Klover-out of Boulder Co.-tops and frocks-in the prettiest prints in cotton/wool/viscoise/rayon/spandex blends- -that are soft,  travel well, AND look so stylish...attire that is patio party perfect-to sportier actives endeavors-one of our fav labels to wear, wherever, Pictured Skyline Open back tee
Krimson Klover  -Swoon print abstract floral

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Active Beauty -Tech: VISIA Complexion Analysis

Part 2

At the recent IBS-IESCS tradeshow-the Visia Imaging System-revealed its 7th version of  its awesome Complexion Analysis system-that captures/interprets 3D images of skin's top and lower layers (pictured below-the facial 'camera')...conjuring up true selfies of what lies beneath with regard to various measurable skin conditions  (like UV damage, textures, pores/poryphrins, fine lines/wrinkles, spider veins, red/brown spots),.
Selfie Alert: Why stop at the surface...
Similar to earlier versions that we've tried...three images-three angles (left-center-right) are photographed -skin cleansed, eyes closed-chin placed on the cup shape holder-while the Visia camera part-rotates around-taking the pictures. The instant images-are then analyzed in a software database that records/measures in three modes-dubbed Intelliflash®, cross-polarized and UV lighting.

What one sees-is unique and color differentiated...of the (your) measured skin type/conditions-including sun damage, hyper pigmentation, acne and rosacea (VAESTRO™ Image Analysis). Since seeing is believing-skin subsurface conditions- not visible to the eye-get revealed too. Impressive (or scary).

And competitive types-will love how ones/age/ethnicity/skin color-get analyzed vs a database of like minded faces-scoring up one's "TrueSkin Age®."

Handy-stimulated aging and hypothetical results  of targeted recommendations of treatments (from facial fillers-plastic surgery tweaks)-can be seen too-via stimulated visions of perfection. a visually necessary way to track facial treatments and outcomes over time-especially the price-y kind!. The new Visia Complexion Analysis even offers eyelash analysis -to evaluate and measure eyelash treatment. (Note-we did't get to try this at the show- as our eyelashes had some mascara on them).

Thursday, March 16, 2017

IBS-IECSC Conferences-NYC

Selfie alert-salons and spas are getting etched out-for your selfie best.

At the most recent International Beauty Shows...and International Esthetics's, Cosmetics & Spa...we saw more technology on display along side popular items-hair+ eyelash extensions, organic -(natural leaning), cosmetics+treatments, effusive hair coloring options, and micro-needling -hand rolling devices.

DYSON SUPERSONIC™ Hair dryers--a price-y option sold over 500 of these slick beauties at this show...which included a "professional' smoothing nozzle attachment, concentrator attachment and a diffuser. Beautifully packaged as one would expect of this high end hand held-we asked how this sleek machine was conjured up by James Dyson -who is well know for his tricked out vacuums..."HIS WIFE'" apparently admonished him for not re-inventing a staple of people with hair, used everywhere practically n planet earth.
After 4 years (investing $71 million-600 prototypes)  of tinkering in the garage-so to speak---and cornering the London market on available human hair-all types/ethnicities-to test on (1010 miles, tested) -yielded this winner. Yes it really is better than any hair dryer we have ever used. It works because there is more air concentrated out (air velocity via "Dyson digital motor V9) and more of it (Air Multiplier™)-hard to  just feel it except if hands wonder down to the end of the handle where the motor is located-hence where the air is sucked in from the bottom -like-well, a vacuum cleaner.
Lightweight-and more quiet...the 3 speed air flow hair dryer which kinda requires one to hold it upright (some stylists use a hair dryer upside down -though on oneself hold it correctly)...has 21st century touch 'buttons' that controls on/off, cold shot...and LED lights indicate the heat (4 settings) /constant cold air temp levels-internally measured  20x/second (!!!)  that max out at a non-burn level (212º) for all types of hair-controlled by a microprocessor-located in the barrel shape part. The attachments easily attach/detach by magnetic constructs. Stats-1600 watts, weight 1,8lb, 9 ft cable cord, and Negative Ionizers to reduce static. A splurge-retail price is $399-the consumer version.
REVIEW: As drip dry types-we rarely blow dry our hair-one reason is TIME. The Dyson Supersonic Hair dryer is a major improvement over our hand held hair dryer-that granted, is a few years old. It took maybe all of 5 minutes to 80% dry our long tresses-nothing special  done prior-except towel drying-what we usually do. It usually takes at least ten minutes to get our hair drip free but still slightly damp! Half the time. YAY. Bonus-we felt out fine hair (mixed straight/wavy naturally)- smoother too-we barely used any calm down product afterwards. An investment-but def worth it-of course we asked about future models-maybe the handle design will change better for those who hold the hair dryer differently. From what we could tell...righties or lefties can easily maneuver this well balanced hair dryer.
Micro-Current -devices were popular-even more so than last year's red/light LED devices-targeting anti-aging skincare pros -enthusiasts. Several sizes of platinum coated metal rollers were shown at ReFa's exhibit-a brand that has gotten press buzz-microcurrent power needs are attained via solar panels built into the handles. Benefits- purportedly to encourage lifting-tone the skin, increase absorption of serums or face masks, and as we felt-the rollers offer a pleasing massaging on areas though we didn't feel any electric current at all...and imo-probably need to regularly use a micro current device to see any benefits. Not inexpensive-the above device retails for $300.


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Rumer Construction

Open Map

Rumer Construction can be found at Po Box 301 . The following is offered: B2B Contractors. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Marmora there are 24 other B2B Contractors. An overview can be found here.
by opendius on March 27, 2015 from opendius


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Glenwood Restaurant

2588 Willamette St EugeneOR97405

Open Map

Glenwood Restaurant the can be found at Willamette St 2588. The following is offered: Cafes. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Eugene there are 14 other Cafes. An overview can be found here.
by opendius on August 30, 2015 from opendius

Information from the business

Chosen as one of the best places to have Sunday brunch, at Glenwood you will enjoy casual food and atmosphere. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have a second location at 1340 Alder Street.
by yahoolocal on December 08, 2011 from yahoolocal


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CNA Logo
March 27, 2017
The Church is our mother, Pope Francis explains to Neocatechumenal Way
Pope Francis addresses members of the Neocatechumenal Way at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, March 18, 2016. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Related articles:

.- Pope Francis told members of the Neocatechumenal Way that they have received a great charism to maintain. On Friday he spoke with them about Church unity, how to engage the world, and the difference between worldly and divine glory.

“You have accepted the call to evangelize: I bless the Lord for this, for the gift of the Way and for the gift of each of you,” he said March 18 at the Vatican's Paul VI hall.

The Church is not “an organization that seeks followers” or a group that merely follows the logic of its ideas, he said. Rather, the Church is “a mother who transmits the life received from Jesus.”

“The Church is our mother,” he stressed. “After baptism we no longer live as isolated individuals, but we have become men and women of communion, and we are called to be operators of communion in the world. Because Jesus not only founded the Church for us, but he founded us as Church.”

The Neocatechumenal Way was founded in Spain in 1964 by Francisco “Kiko” Argüello and Carmen Hernández. It provides “post-baptismal” Christian formation in small, parish-based communities. The movement claims to have a presence in 900 dioceses in 105 countries, with more than 20,000 communities in 6,000 parishes.

Since its foundation, the group has sometimes been cautioned by the Vatican for inserting various novel practices into Masses organized by the movement. These include practices such as lay preaching, the reception of Holy Communion while sitting, and the passing of the Most Precious Blood from person to person.

Pope Francis said the Neocatechumenal Way has received “a great charism for the baptismal renewal of life” that can intensify communion with the Church, but warned that “this charism can deteriorate if you close in or if you boast about it, when you want to distinguish yourselves from the others.”

He praised “humble and obedient unity” as a way to safeguard their charism.

“If there is this, the Holy Spirit continues to operate, just as it did in Mary, who was open, humble and obedient,” he said.

Pope Francis reflected that the fruitfulness of the Church “is expressed through the ministry and the guidance of Pastors.”

The institution of the Church's pastors “is in fact a charisma,” he reflected, because it is “rooted in the same source, which is the Holy Spirit.”

The Pope encouraged the Neocatechumenal Way to quench their thirst from the fountain of the Holy Spirit while showing “delicacy and respect” for the whole Church, “because all grow together, harmonious and faithful.”

He reflected on Christ's prayer that his followers be “brought to perfection as one,” as he is one with God the Father.

“It is his last request before the Passion, the most heartfelt: that there be communion in the Church. Communion is essential.”

The Pope warned against specific temptations that harm the Church.

“God’s and man’s enemy, the devil, is no match for the Gospel. He cannot compete against the humble power of prayer and the Sacraments, but can do much harm to the Church by tempting our humanity,” the Pope continued.

“The devil provokes pride, being judgmental of others, he causes closures and divisions. He himself is 'the divider” and often starts off by making us believe that we are good, perhaps better than others: thus the land is ready for the sowing of discord. It is the temptation of all communities and can it can insinuate itself even in the most beautiful charism.”

Pope Francis reflected on the “new glory” of Christ. While worldly glory comes from secular importance, admiration, and success, God’s glory is revealed on the Cross. This glory “shines out” and wins no gain or applause.

“This is the only glory that makes the Gospel fruitful,” the Pope said, adding that the Church is fruitful only when it imitates God’s merciful love.

“It is humble, it’s like the rain on the earth, like the air we breathe, like a small seed that bears fruit in silence.”

God so loved the world that he sent his Son, Pope Francis recalled from the Gospel of John.

“He who loves does not stay away, but goes towards,” he said. “God is not attracted by worldliness, in fact, he detests it; but he loves the world he has created, and he loves his children in the world, just as they are, wherever they live, even if they are ‘far away’.”

“Show the children the tender gaze of the Father and consider the realities you will encounter as a gift,” he continued. He encouraged the Neocatechumenal Way members to become familiar with local cultures and languages and respect local customs, “recognizing the seeds of grace which the Spirit has already spread.”

If the good news of the Gospel is not at the forefront, he warned, “faith risks becoming a cold and lifeless doctrine.”

The Pope also thanked the Neocatechumenal Way for their efforts to evangelize as families,  calling this “a proclamation of life” and “a beautiful witness.”