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Life’s Current

One of the destructive myths about changing careers is that it’s all about you. Your decision, your talents, your initiative, your success or failure. In reality, the change has an effect on your family and friends, and your decisions are also influenced by them.

You’re also not the only one chasing a dream.

Three years ago, Arpita moved from her small state in India to Bangalore, the IT capital of the nation and a megacity of over 10 million souls, to begin her career. Having moved from a small town in rural New England to attend college in Chicago, I know her spiritual journey was greater than the physical. Nothing about small-town life prepares you for the energy, confusion, and danger of city life. But with the support of her family, newfound friends, and a nurturing employer, Arpita has found the success she had been seeking.

Arpita also uses a river analogy to describe her journey, and there’s a lot you can do with that metaphor. Rivers provide life, but contain a power that can be deadly if not respected; they follow a current that never flows perfectly straight; they can flow dreamily for long stretches, then suddenly erupt into roiling rapids.

I’m not sure where this river I’m on is taking me, but I know it will flow with the current of life. The going won’t always be smooth, but it will always propel me forward.

Review: How to Make a Living with Your Writing

Joanna Penn’s book was one of the first I read when I began to investigate writing professionally seriously. It was refreshing to review my notes from last year for this review, and realize how much of its practical advice I’ve been able to carry with me as I made my career decision. How to Make a Living with Your Writing didn’t convince me to go down this path, but it did help me realize my ambition, while difficult, could be realized.

There are a number of ways I could summarize this book, but I’ll go with a list of its most salient advice for novice writers like myself:

  • Develop multiple streams of income — Penn earns her writing income from multiple sources — blogging, article writing, nonfiction and fiction book sales, and public speaking, among others. At any one time, one or more of her revenue streams will run dry, yet other streams will help alleviate the drought. Of particular interest is her discussion of scalable and non-scalable income; work for hire (such as magazine and technical writing) pays only once and is non-scalable, while a nonfiction book or novel will generate revenue over the course of many months, even years. Penn states her writing income was 0% scalable at the start of her career, and a decade later had increased that portion of her income to 80%. That’s a career progression that’s ambitious yet attainable.
  • Nurture good work habits — as in any endeavor, its important to act like a writer before one can have success in the industry. Penn describes a number of habits that can lead to success — scheduling time to write, having a dedicated writing space, obtaining the right equipment, honing researching skills, joining writers’ communities, developing resilience to and appreciation of criticism. And my personal favorite, getting enough sleep. Over the past year, I’ve been dismayed at the number of times I’ve been advised (often by people with no involvement in the writing profession) that I need to get up at the crack of dawn every day and start writing if I wanted to make this profession work for me. That’s not how I operate; I can push on to way past midnight, but if I have to get up early to make a living, I might as well return to my somnambulant career in corporate IT. It is refreshing to read a successful author such as Penn argue that individual writers need to identify their own best working hours.
  • Come up with your own definition of success — Penn identifies many types of criteria for success — literary or commercial fame, genre fiction or literature, traditional book and magazine publishing or their online equivalents, working with agents and publishing houses or self-publishing. Penn has a clear preference for digital media and independent publishing, and argues the profession of writing is headed towards these trends, yet she also presents a convincing case for traditional publishing. Penn also describes a hybrid approach to book publishing: beginning as an independent, building your resume and readership, and then looking to get an agent and pursue traditional publishing. Penn lists the opportunities and challenges available to the writer, then lets the reader decide which to chose — or as she puts it, “your publishing choice is more a question of the outcome that you want to achieve and your definition of success.”

I’ve read several books about writing both before and after my first read of this, and I can’t say I’ve been more inspired by any other. In fact, I think it’s time for a second reading.

Untitled Story, Part 9

[At some point, I’m going to have a title for this story, which began here. But I’m not reaching that point today.]

Agent Marcel grabbed the notebook with both hands, and smiled with satisfaction. This was her third solo jump, and while her first two had been rated Successful since no timeline aberrations were generated, she had not accomplished the primary objective of either mission. The patronizing assurances of her commander (You’re demonstrating how time jumps can be performed in a safe manner — there’s nothing more important you can do for the advancement of chronological research) had done little to comfort her.

Holding this notebook, which had not been seen since this day in November 1990, lost for 46 years — this was proof that time jumps were not only possible, but could meet real objectives.

The agent leapt out of the dumpster, and after placing the notebook into her backpack, closed the lid, and engaged its lock. The stench of the garbage she had been wading in for the past hour still permeated her nose, so she kept to the shadows on the walk back to her hotel. At a few minutes past three in the morning, the building’s lobby was empty, save for the clerk at the reception desk. Agent Marcel waved to her as she passed quickly, relieved that her checkout would be fully processed.

She took the stairs up to the seventh floor, avoiding an uncomfortable conversation — or worse, a recognition — from a potentially shared elevator ride. Entering her room, she undressed immediately and showered, relieved to be free from the stench. She placed the clothes she’d been wearing into a bag, which she stuffed into the backpack, then dressed in the same outfit she had worn at the diner the previous morning. Wearing a business suit might seem odd for this time of the morning, but she had only brought two outfits for this jump; years as a missions assistant had shown her the importance of taking as little as possible.

Fully dressed and packed, Agent Marcel approached the door of her room, and retrieved the device she had used earlier that evening. A few taps on the surface, and a moment later a message — Scan complete. No anachronisms detected. She placed the device in the backpack, and went down to the hotel lobby, announcing she was checking out of room 712.

The clerk took her keys, then turned back towards a panel of shelves on the rear wall. She retrieved papers from the shelf labeled 712, and studied them a moment. “You paid a deposit, in cash?” Agent Marcel nodded, and asked for the balance. “Forty-three eighty seven. How would you like to pay that?”

Agent Marcel had already retrieved a wallet from her backpack. “Cash.”

“Very well.” As she waited, the clerk continued, “You know, they say in the future you won’t be able to pay cash for hotels any more. Credit cards, only.”

“That’s right.” Agent Marcel bit her lower lip. “I mean, yeah, that’s what I heard too.”

Moments later, the agent who would be born a decade later exited the hotel. It was a little after four A.M., and while the sky was no less dark than when it had been two hours earlier, there was more activity on the street. She knew she needed to act quickly.

She walked two blocks south, and located the alley where she had arrived twenty-five hours earlier. She stopped at the curb, as if looking to hail a taxi, and visually scanned the area. A passenger car passed, and turned into a side street; no pedestrians were on the streets; lights illuminated several windows, but she saw no one looking out them. She then hustled back into the alley, and when she was outside the street light beams, turned and ran.

The alley ended in a wooden fence. Agent Marcel retrieved her device from the backpack, and tapped in a command to perform another scan. Human activity detected nearby. She performed a deeper scan, which identified two people working in the adjacent building, which had no window or door to the alley.

It was time.

She secured her backpack, and tapped in the commands for the return jump into her device. With one last visual scan revealing no other immediate presence, she lowered herself to her knees, bowed her head until her chin touched her chest, folded her arms across her body — and pressed the confirmation button.

She fought the vertigo that always struck first, then the nausea rising in her stomach like a humid swamp. Pain stabbed through her closed eyes, and she held herself from yelling — this was not the time to be overheard, for a moment later, as a searing heat shot through her body, Agent Marcel would appear to simply vanish, as if she were nothing more than an image on a television screen that had just been powered off.

Keeping It Real

I’ve expressed my appreciation for Depression Comix a number of times — oh, here’s another — and today I’ll attempt to explain why I find these vignettes so meaningful.

At its best, comics can be a powerful storytelling format, especially when thought balloons are utilized effectively. Seeing character’s inner thoughts allows the reader to make additional observations on the dialogue, setting, and action in the narrative. Many mainstream comics have all but abandoned thought balloons, but they are an essential element in Depression Comix — and for good reason. Silence is a common side effect of depression; I know when I get down, I don’t want to talk about it, or anything else for that matter. And if I succumb to that instinct, my mood tends to become more acute, which makes me want to talk even less. It’s one of many vicious cycles that come with the disease, along with loss of appetite (I get depressed and don’t want to eat; being hungry makes the feeling worse, which further reduces my appetite… and so on).

Clay Jonathan, the artist of Depression Comix, often has his depressed characters not say anything to the people around them, or has them refrain from talking until the final panel. But in their thought balloons, these characters reflect on their experiences in a way they can’t verbalize to their friends and family. (Comic 394 is a good example of this technique.) This is how depression works — we can explain it to ourselves, but lack the power to explain it to others. By not forcing his characters to speak, Jonathan allows them the dignity of their silence, while still revealing the truth of their struggle.

In addition to being insightful, Jonathan is also a talented artist — his depictions of characters looking into mirrors, as in Comic 400, are visually stunning. And like any great cartoonist, he draws fantastic furniture. There’s a lot to like about Depression Comix, and I hope the artist continues with the site for a long time.

Untitled Story, Part 8

The diner closed at 10 that evening, as activity on the street outside diminished, many people having already left for downtown Chicago, others to their homes. An hour later, the streets were mostly quiet; a few hours later, quieter still.

At 2 AM, a solitary figure, face obscured by a hood, walked past the darkened windows of the diner, and continued down the street. Moments later, the same figure walked back, on the opposite sidewalk, this time slowing as it neared the diner, then passing again. Moments later, the same figure returned, this time more stealthily, sticking within the shadows until it reached the alley next to the diner.

It stayed in the alley a long moment, still and breathless, until finally beginning a slow approach to the rear of the building, stopping upon reaching a dumpster, its green paint peeling in the darkness.

The person in the hoodie checked the rear of the building, then reached into a side pant pocket and retrieved an object that no one else in this world would have recognized, because it would not be invented for another three and a half decades.

Slender fingers tapped the surface of the object, which glowed in response. The dim light reflected off the face of the woman Eric had encountered that morning. She tapped the device a few more times, and a message displayed: Scan complete. No activity.

She approached the dumpster, and lifted its black plastic top, only to have it stop suddenly after only an inch, as metal clanked on metal to her left. A padlock; the woman brought her device over to the lock, then tapped on the devices surface a few times. Chambers clicked within the lock; the woman drew the bolt down, and a moment later, she lifted the black top off the dumpster.

It was half full, this being a Thursday and trash collection coming on Mondays. The woman climbed in, forcing herself not to gag at the stench. Once inside, she retrieved her device again, tapping more commands until a message displayed: Object not found.

“Dammit.” The woman thrust the device into her pocket, then looked at the contents of the dumpster. The restaurant used black refuse bags, common for this era, and attempted to seal most. But bags would often become unsealed as they were tossed by staff into the dumpster; crates and cartons would be tossed in as well, often breaking the bags; at times, harried staff would toss unbagged garbage directly into the dumpster.

The woman heard a sound behind her, then felt something brush against her leg. She knew immediately what it was. Despite management’s frequent warnings that the health department would close the diner if procedures weren’t followed, the dumpster lid would be left open for long stretches of the day, and rats would enter freely.

The dumpster, in other words, was a complete mess. Decaying food was everywhere.

Sighing, the woman began sifting through the garbage, checking her device every few minutes. After an hour, she finally found what she was looking for — the red notebook in which Eric, earlier the previous day, had written the current date.

When to Jump: If the Job You Have Isn’t the Life You Want

In preparation for my recent career change, I read a number of books on the subject, of which I’ve only reviewed one so far. Was this lack of reviews due to a reluctance, almost embarrassment, to publicly acknowledge my ambition? Might be on to something there. In any event, there’s no better time than today to overcome that feeling.

Mike Lewis is a former venture capitalist who decided to leave his job and become a professional squash player. If reading that last sentence makes phrases such as mid-life crisis and white privilege come to your mind, I can’t blame you. While the confidence evident in every page of the book he wrote about his journey is assuring and necessary (this book is supposed to inspire the reader to make a bold decision, and hesitation is never a good source for inspriation), it comes with an alarming lack of humility, as if the author’s decision to follow his dream was a right he had earned. Many people dream of careers similar to the author’s, but most of those dreams aren’t as self-aggrandizing as making money playing an obscure sport, and many people simply don’t have the resources necessary to turn that dream into reality. When I walked away from the world of office work for the last time, a prayer of thanks sang in my heart for the opportunity I had been given, and for all the advantages of family, education, and wealth that enabled my decision; it is disappointing, and quite frankly disturbing, to never read a similar sentiment in this book.

However, the book does have its merits. The author conducted a great deal of research into his career change, and in sharing his discoveries provides a valuable resource for anyone contemplating such a move. The “Jump Curve” he outlines (in short — listen to yourself, make a plan, believe in your success, and don’t look back) is both simple and detailed, and I’ve found it helpful in preparation for my own decision. Of even greater value, though, are the dozens of interviews he conducted and which form the basis of the many first-person narratives running throughout the book. The author’s narcisstic journey might be off-putting, but the reader can relate to the people in these sidebar stories. The main narrative satisfies the intellect (how does prepare to make the jump?), but the side narratives give the book its heart (here’s evidence that people like us can do this).

There are also a number of memorable quotes throughout the book, some from the author, others from the side narratives, and others directly from outside sources. Many of these have stuck with me as I contemplated and finally enacted my decision:

[T]here’s a difference between crazy and stupid

[T]he best things in life lie on the other side of fear.

[I]f you bring forth what is in you, it will save you, and if you do not bring forth what is in you, it will destroy you.

When to Jump: If the Job You Have Isn’t the Life You Want is a niche publication, of interest solely to readers contemplating a change in careers. The author’s solipsism can be overbearing at times, but the advice it offers, especially from the anecdotes shared by the interview subjects, makes it a worthwhile read.

Most of the works in this collection of plays, stories, and monologues from Mary E. Weems are intended to be performed rather than read, yet they are still powerful and appealing even in solitude. The author’s language is rich, especially when she writes in the voice of women longing of love. An abused wife despairs that her husband “likes my tears with his breakfast;” another woman laments how love sours “like white milk left out too long;” another observes that she and her husband are mismatched “like a well-made and a raggedy shoe.” Perhaps the most poignant passage comes in the play “Purses:”

Sometimes I think we learn how to love backwards. We learn as babies to love our mamas, our daddies, our grandparents, our sisters and brothers, our auties and uncles — everybody close in our lives but —

Most of the works center on the experience of African-American women, a group that is perpetually underrepresented in literature. However, one play, “Closure,” describes the urban housing crisis of the late 2000s from the perspective of the furniture and appliances abandoned from a foreclosure. A basement light bulb recalls the lives he had once witnessed:

Hope dank as the smell in this basement
that used to hold me, a freezer, and a washer
and dryer for the Ramirez family, their 2 dogs
and three cats. This house once as full of love
as a Valentine’s Day card, emptied like a movie theater
after someone yells fire.

The final play in the collection, “Meat,” is about the 11 Cleveland women murdered by Anthony Sowell between 2007 and 2009. The playwright’s intent is to honor the victims, yet perhaps unfortunately the killer, named Tone in the play, steals the show. As depicted in this play, Tone’s mind is depraved, horrifying, and utterly unforgettable.

The voices of the women, however, rise above Tone’s insanity, and this accomplishment makes “Blackeyed” a compelling anthology.

Trust Imagination

It was some time in November 1990 — I don’t know the actual date, or even the day of the week — when I walked into an office on the northwest side of Chicago and worked my first day in a “real” job. I had just finished the coursework for my doctorate in literature, and my attempts to earn enough money to feed myself through teaching and grants were proving to be frustrating and futile. When the offer of a steady paycheck came up, I was too desperate to say no. My idea at the time was to test the waters for a few months, and if I seemed to be swimming all right, I’d stick with it until I finished my dissertation. Six years later, diploma in hand, I finally left that job — and immediately took on another, which eventually lead to another, and another, until eventually I had close to three decades of experience working with many wonderful and some truly awful people, in addition to a heavy dose of corporate systemic incompetence.

Yesterday, that ended.

After turning in my laptop and identification badge to my manager, I walked out of my most recent office building for the last time. Twenty-seven years and eight months of steady employment, interrupted by a few brief voluntary transition periods, has been left behind in order to pursue making a living as a writer. It’s an ambitious goal, one I had considered as far back as 1990 when it became apparent my academic career was going nowhere. I had known many professional writers during my university years, and they spoke regularly of the occupation’s difficulty, going so far as to actively discourage students like myself from its pursuit. I was easily persuaded (a fault that carries with me to this day), and took the advice to pursue a more practical career.

Yet the desire to write, not as a hobby but as a career — to write as if my life (or at least its creature comforts) depended on it — never left. During those brief periods of unemployment, as well as those times when the mundanity of working life seemed unendurable, I was tempted to finally act on my ambition, only to have those dire warnings from the past urge me to play it safe once more.

So why make the move now? Years of good financial planning, and (let’s be honest) incredibly good fortune, have put my wife and I in a good position. We’re not independently wealthy, but we can afford to take on a little risk in both our careers. My wife runs a cake decorating business out of our home — check it out. We’ll need to earn a living for at least another decade, but if I need to be working, I want to finally do the job, the only job, I’ve always wanted to do.

When I walked out that door yesterday, I started on a new path. journey ahead is full of more uncertainty than I can ever recall. But I’ve never been so certain that I’m on the right path.

On occasion, I use this blog to comment on music. After turning in my notice at work a few weeks back, I was listening to random songs on my phone when a gem from Peter Gabriel started playing. He wrote the song immediately after leaving Genesis, and the decision to pursue his own career left him feeling anxiously excited. I’ve enjoyed the frenetic energy of this song, with its unusual yet uplifting rhythm, for decades, but hearing it now, as I felt my own heart going boom-boom-boom in response to my career move, made me appreciate its power in a way I couldn’t comprehend before. To get what you want, you have to let go of what you have; to stop playing it safe, you have to trust imagination.

Untitled Story, Part 7

As Eric approached the woman, he sensed her awareness of him, as well as a distinct desire to be left alone. He didn’t take offense at her attitude towards him, but enjoyed the opportunity to annoy her even further.

“Excuse me?” The woman looked up at Eric from her thin glasses. “I think you dropped this on the floor.”

She shook her head, and looked back down at the newspaper lying on the table, her mute response as loud as an abusive dismissal.

Eric smiled, and laid the pen on the table. “Know what? I want you to have this. Yours to keep.” He now saw what looked like fear creep onto her face, as she reluctantly glanced at the thin plastic biro on the table.

He decided he hadn’t had enough fun yet. “You could say thank you.”

She looked up at him with pleading eyes a moment, before relaxing and, with a meek voice, said, “Thank you.”

It was as if her voice had the force of a thunderclap. Eric’s head snapped back, his eyes widening, and he responded reflexively, as if his words were being dictated to him — “I know you.”

For just an instant, anxiety returned to the woman’s face, followed by a polite smile. “No, I don’t think so.”

“This is weird,” Eric pressing a palm on the newspaper in front of the woman. “It’s like, I haven’t seen you before, but for some reason you’re entirely familiar to me. I feel as if I should know who you are.”

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to excuse me.” The woman picked up a purse lying on the bench next to her, then opened it and retrieved a few bills, laying them on the table. “I need to get going.”

Eric followed her with his eyes until she left, then was immediately distracted by Kate’s offer of a lift to campus. Minutes later, he left the diner, and would not realize he was missing his notebook until that evening.

The Spirit of Competing

The latest poem from Matt has nothing to do with fencing, but it does express how I feel about the sport. Victory provides a special kind of exhilaration, and I’m curious to know what earning a rating feels like, but I never want the desire to win jeopardize the thrill of pulling a gray meal cage over my face and approaching my opponent, weapons in our hands.


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L’ORÉAl New for 2016

Hey beauty lovers!  My apologies for delays.  I have SO many great new products to review along with my typical monthly reviews yet not nearly enough time!  Those of you who read my original post (New for 2016 Drugstore Edition) and have been waiting to hear about the products may notice I’ve added an additional product to my L’Oréal haul.  I finally spotted the La Palette Lip Palette so naturally I had to snag one!

L'Oreal Haul New Products 2016

 I was pretty impressed with L’Oréal’s latest product additions so enough with the chit chat lets get right to the reviews!

True Match Lumi Cushion L'Oreal 2016

L’Oréal True Match Lumi Cushion: $15-$17.00

The price of drugstore makeup is clearly on the rise, keeping up with the trends of the higher end brands.  The prices in stores vary weekly with their current sale.  I have all 3 major Drugstores (CVS, Rite Aid & Walgreens) just up the road from me as well as an Ulta so I tend to find the Bogos and money back options, such as: CVS Extra bucks when purchasing a major haul.  It saves you a ton of cash.  The majority of these K Beauty created cushion compacts generally range from around $30-$60.00 with a few lesser expensive options found on amazon from Holika Holika and Etude House.

This L’Oréal version has their ‘lumi’ finish that imparts a subtle glow and is available in 12 different shades which is a much wider shade range than most brands offer.

If you are new to the cushion compact concept here is a little bit about the product:  The product comes in a deep compact with 2 compartments.  The top compartment contains a specialized puff applicator which seems to be pretty similar across the board.  The bottom compartment contains the foundation/bb product which is contained inside a sponge of sorts.  The makeup product itself is very thin allowing buildable coverage from light to full.

Lumi Cushion L'Oreal

L'Oreal Lumi Cushion

The first time I tried the K Beauty trend, cushion compact it was a mini version of the much pricier Amore Pacific brand and was brand new to US markets.  I knew nothing of this concept prior and the product seemed bizarre to me.  The product was so thin on my face and with just a swipe or two of the product I couldn’t see how it would offer any real coverage.  The applicator texture was quite different than what i was used to as well. It did not help that it was a tiny applicator designed for the much smaller version of said compact.  I cast it aside and considered it a product I’d no interest in.  A year or more later I was reintroduced to the cushion compact concept via influenster and Laneige (A K-Beauty brand available at Target) by this time the concept was much more widely known and often raved about.  I decided to give it another go.  Knowing much more about the benefits of the product and how to use it by now, it went much better for me the second time around!  The product is thin to allow buildable coverage, a light layer offers light coverage but can easily be built up to a full coverage without feeling or looking heavy like some full coverage foundations can.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way…on to the L’Oréal version:

I love it.  It is a really excellent rendition of this beauty trend.  The ‘Lumi’ concept imparts a beautiful glow to the skin and it builds easily to cover any imperfections including moderate breakouts.  Do not be afraid to keep building up to your suitable coverage.  It still feels lighter and more airy then a typical full coverage foundation.  I have combo skin so it’s very dry, even patchy dry in the winter yet can still get quite oily in my t-zone.  This product made my face look flawless and stayed that way for hours.  After about 4 hours my more oily areas were beginning to show a bit so I used a dry brush to buff it out a bit and once more toward the end of the day to banish the ‘shine’.  Because certain areas of my skin were so dry I used a smoothing primer underneath as opposed to the matte or acne control primers I often use and omitted any sort of finishing powder.  I also wanted to see how this product faired without the use of additional products.  If you have oily skin I would suggest pairing one or both of these options in conjunction with the Lumi compact if you are concerned with looking too oily mid-day.  I think this is an excellent version of the cushion compact concept and a great price for everything that it is.  If you are already a fan of this type of product or are new to it altogether I recommend giving it a try.  I think it offers a better shade range than most similar products, works as well as any I have tried in all price ranges and has the benefit of the added glow which is still a big trend in 2016. Who else has tried this product?  Thoughts?

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Designer

L’Oréal Brow Stylist Definer: $8-$9.00

This is the newest installment in L’Oréal’s brow stylist series: a mechanical 0.5mm precision tip pencil designed to create a defined brow look with a gradual shading effect.  Now this is certainly not a new concept by any means, higher end brands have been using this design for years.  Anastasia has a go to version popularized by beauty fans everywhere, even NYX cosmetic has a lower cost similar version.  The differences are generally quite subtle but as most of us know it is those subtle differences that make one version our favorite; whether it’s simply a particular shade, a better texture or so on.  I myself am a user of numerous versions of this pencil as I am adamant in having ‘perfect’ brows.  They frame ‘the windows to your soul’, after all! 😉 This product is a total hit for me.  It’s as good, if not better than many of the much pricier versions available; the only downfall being a minimized shade range.  This may be the deal breaker for some but it does offer the most common of choices. (blonde, brunette & dark brunette) I know from friends in the beauty industry that despite some of the wide shade ranges available in certain brands one specific shade generally sells out the most quickly and is purchased by people with every hair color and skin tone.  I myself am blonde but chose the brunette shade as it is rare that any of the blonde pencils ever work out for me.  They tend to not deposit enough color on the very sparse areas of the brow, especially when defining the arch.  As long as you use a light hand this works well for even light blonde shades.  If you want a more natural look try using a blonde powder or brow mascara to lighten your brows prior to defining.  Sometimes you will find that a soft brown or other variations can cause your brows to have a red cast to them but this was not he case with this product and I think it will be a quite universal shade. I found that the consistency of this brow pencil was ideal for me.  It is the teensiest bit harder than some popular versions giving me the ideal medium to get the precise ‘hair like’ strokes I desire while some pencils with a slightly softer consistency blur the brow too much for those of us sparse browed people that want an authentic looking arch.  The price point is excellent for such a product.

Brows Me

And Voilà!  (If only you knew how extremely sparse and blonde my poor, puny brows really are.)

L%22Oreal Pro-Contour

L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Contour and highlight palette: $11-$13.00

In the obvious quest to simplify the contouring craze for the masses; this is L’Oréal’s answer:  A simplified two shade palette with a specially designed brush to contour and highlight in one easy swipe.  This little palette has some pros and cons.  The pros being, it’s pretty simple, blends well and the shades are on par with what they should be; though better represented in my compilation photo above, (I blame the lack of sunlight this January) they are toned correctly and not simply a bronzer as with some drugstore contouring products. Cons: While the brush design is good in its shape design for positioning the contour and highlight on your face it is not the best quality and doesn’t pick up the product as well as I’d hoped for.  I ended up with some skipping and bare spots and it is not the easiest to go back over a second time to correct it.  It does take a bit of staring at the brush and how to drag it through the product to have it apply in the proper way to each different side your face. (Maybe that’s just me, haha) All in all it’s a pretty good product for the price.  It blended out well after using a blending brush and you can use additional brushes to use the two shades to contour and highlight the rest of your face if so desired.  With a bit of practice it’s good for achieving quick instantly defined cheekbones, but it’s not perfect.  I’ve no regrets in purchasing as the shades themselves (in light) are a good match for me as is the consistency and blending properties of the product.  It’s definitely the better of the drugstore contouring products around the US (not counting NYX Cosmetics)

Loreal La Lip Palette

L’Oréal La Palette Lip: $12-$15.00

I was SO excited to find this display.  I did not yet own a lip palette so I was anxious for this to finally arrive in stores.  At first glance it does not look like much.  It was hard to tell how the actual product was going to be.  The view of the product inside looked similar to that of the cheapy lip palettes you find at christmas in the drugstore gift sections.  Do not let this sway your decision.  The palette had two available shades:  A ruby version and a nude version.  I chose the nude.  I love nude lips but it is very hard to find the right shade for me.  This palette makes it so easy to find the perfect shade.  The product is super smooth and creamy, blendable, opaque and buildable.  I love the shade selection with various tones and the creamy formula itself.  It does not have the worlds greatest included brush but it works well enough.  It was a great purchase for me and I have used it a lot already.  I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this palette.  If you are looking for a lip color palette definitely go for it.

L'Oreal La Lip Palette

LOreal La Lip Palette Swatches

Swatches in the order shown in the palette above

Well…what does everyone think?  I think L’Oréal introduced some really great new products for the start of 2016.

 Below is my finished look using all of the products spotlighted in this haul plus:  New for 2016 highlight and define pencil by Wet N Wild, MUF Step 1 smoothing primer, Kat Von D tattoo liquid liner pen and a quick 1 sweep of Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara.

L'oreal Look 2016

Me 2016 L'Oreal Look

LOreal my look 2016

Again, lack of sunlight 😦 but you get the jest: glowy skin, defined brows, subtly sculpted cheek bones and nude lips.

I hope everyone found any answers you were looking for, if not; ask away! Stay tuned for more in drugstore 2016!

Follow me if you like and share my blog!

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Thanks for reading!

-Kelli xoxo

11 thoughts on “L’ORÉAl New for 2016

  1. Hey Kelli – I am loving your drugstore product reviews! You’ve definitely sold me on this brow pencil (at least for my purse so I’m not dragging my $30 Anastasia pencil around in the bottom of the bottomless bag). Your brows look amazing.

    I’m debating skipping your PopSugar review, I can’t let you sell me on another sub box! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank You!!! I have a few more coming up in the next week… a couple more sub boxes to complete first! Then I’ll head to the higher and high end new stuff! I hear ya on the brow pencil and now they’ve (Anastasia) gone and made a new improved version! I honestly have found myself gravitating to the L’oreal one lately over all of my brow products. I was really impressed with it..and Thank you! Popsugar is SO my guilty pleasure and now I have hopped on the Rachel Zoe, Box of style :O

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in defense of swahili

Update: the ministry of education has disowned the directive discussed here. Apparently there are still a few sane people under Prof. Ongeri’s docket. Now if only they could also tell us where they took the free primary education money…

When it comes to Swahili I suddenly go nationalist. I think there is something to be said about a people having their own language through which they can package their historical and cultural experiences over time. Kenya has 42 languages and many more dialects. As a nation we can’t use all of them to store our collective experiences. However, unlike most other African states, we are lucky to have a Bantu language that is widely used and that we have appropriated to be our national language. Through Swahili and effective government we can make everyone who speaks Pokot, Sabaot, Kikuyu, Luo or Maragoli Kenyan by creating an imagined community of shared experiences.

The reason I bring this up is that the busy bodies at the Ministry of Education have decided to make Swahili optional at KCPE level. Pupils will be given the option of taking Swahili or sign language. This is madness. I am not against people learning sign language. My concern is that those who will readily place out of Swahili are the very pupils who ought to be learning and speaking more of the language. My conjecture is that the only schools that will afford good sign language teachers will be the pricier ones in the urban areas. These schools have students who can barely speak Swahili because English is the only language they can truly claim to speak. This is a shame.

While we continue trying to Kenyanize people in West Pokot, Suba, Mogotio, Maragua and Garsen, we should not forget the youngsters in Nairobi. They need to be educated in Swahili too. In fact I think it is time we had subjects like religious and social studies (at the primary school level) taught in Swahili – along with English, Math and the Sciences which would obviously still be taught in English for practical reasons.

please do away with the “omnipresent smells of donkey dung”

Big business and economic development in “pristine lands” is awful. Especially if you grew up with the comforts of indoor plumbing and general over-abundance of the purest hedonistic-capitalist kind. It is only when you have the choice to pop in and out of “tropical obscurity” that you would find the intellectual courage to defend a way of life that is just above that of man circa 1750 A.D. Suddenly you find yourself forgetting the basic fact that it is underdevelopment that makes infant mortality, HIV infection rates, gender inequality and a whole lot of other maladies most acute in your presumed tropical paradise.

I am beginning to read things to the effect that the development of a port in Lamu (Kenya) is bad – both for the environment and the local people and their culture. I don’t buy most of the stuff though. The likes of Gettleman want us to believe that people in places like Lamu are inherently anti-development. According to him the people of Lamu “say they are not especially well suited for the mechanized world.” Good for them. They would much rather live with the “omnipresent smells of donkey dung” than have a modern port constructed in their district. This is total horse manure.

Firstly, the environmental costs of having a modern port in Lamu will surely be outweighed by the socio-economic benefits. Oil exports from Uganda and Southern Sudan, among other trading opportunities in the wider region will surely create jobs in the area. Secondly, why should we assume that exposure of Lamu culture to the wider (albeit still not completely apparent) Kenyan Culture is necessarily bad? Aren’t cultures supposed to change with time? Plus if Lamu culture cannot keep up after such an encounter it should be allowed to go the way of the dodo. That is why we build museums.

If it can be done – as it should – the construction of Kenya’s second port in Lamu should be a foregone conclusion. The Kenyan government should make this crystal clear to all the environmentalists and anthropologists concerned.


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Is Kettlebell Good For Strength Training

Ava Flores
• Monday, 30 November, 2020
• 26 min read

Tour any modern gym and you're bound to stumble upon a section littered with kettle bells. People may also refer to the weight of a kettle bell in “goods,” which is an old Russian unit of measurement.

kettlebell workout workouts exercise poster fitness training exercises strength chart cardio kettlebells body posters leg printable gym kettle bell core
(Source: www.thefitnessstore.com)

It is unclear as to when kettle bells officially became a recognized tool for strength and conditioning, however it's estimated their history dates back over 300 years. Known as a “girl” in Russia, kettle bells were originally used to help balance scales while weighing crops.

The man most notable for Westernizing the kettle bell is Pavel Tsatsouline, chairman of Strongest Inc. and former PT drill instructor for Smetana. Tsatsouline's authored several books that outline simple but effective kettlebelltraining programs.

Entire workouts can be executed with nothing more than a single kettle bell, whether the aim is strength, hypertrophy, power or endurance. A kettle bell is relatively small (though I dare not say it's “light,” as that all depends on the weight you select) and relatively affordable in comparison to most other gym equipment.

Compared to training with machines or even dumbbells, the kettle bell provides variability and offsets the load so that no one rep is ever truly the same. Kettle bell exercises can at times be the biggest bang for your fitness buck, targeting numerous muscle groups and moving you through multiple planes of motion.

As Tsatouline writes in his book Simple & Sinister, “the kettle bell is an ancient Russian weapon against weakness.” Every piece of equipment brings something unique to the table, and every person is different, so it's foolish to speak in definitive.

kettlebell workout body level swing any
(Source: greatist.com)

Barbells make it easy for a newbie to load a movement heavier than they can handle in a fixed position. A perfect example is that of a Barbell Bench Press, where the hands are pronated and the shoulders are inherently placed in an internally rotated position.

Kettle bells are a great option to keep an individual's load lower while growing their movement competency. It targets the posterior chain and teaches individuals how to hip hinge properly with some force.

This exercise involves holding the kettle bell with both hands (although single-arm and double-bell variations do exist) and using the hip hinge to forcefully drive it out in front of yourself. Your gripping muscles may eventually burn if the set is long or enough or the weight's heavy enough, but your arms and shoulders should essentially contribute no power to the movement.

Once the Kettle bell Swing is mastered, it is an excellent addition to any program or a convenient stand-alone option for a conditioning day. However, that simple act requires a lot of technique, shoulder stability, core strength, hip mobility and focus to execute effectively.

There are also many scenarios where replacing a classic barbell or dumbbell exercise with a kettle bell version can make sense. It might seem like an insignificant swap, but kettle bells naturally lead to better scapular position, making the move more effective and reducing wear and tear on your body.

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(Source: www.baltimorekettlebells.net)

Undoubtedly the kettle bell is an extraordinary tool with a long history of producing excellent results. Treadmills and elliptical machines were no longer clothes drying racks and guest rooms were filled with weights, yoga mats or the latest fitness infomercial sensation.

According to the NPD Group, a consumer data company, there was a 130% increase in fitness equipment sales and all of its categories in March alone. While their appeal may have faded here, Russians fully embraced kettle bells because they offered an effective workout in a small space.

Some people credit the resurgence to Belarusian Pavel Tsatsouline, a former trainer of Soviet Special Forces soldiers and subject-matter expert to the U.S. Marine Corps, Secret Service and the Navy SEALs. But it’s also been noted that a number of ex-Soviet kettle bell athletes who fled to the U.S. after the fall of the Berlin Wall were instrumental in putting this form of training on the radar again.

We’ll explore this strength conditioning option and get the basics from physical therapist Tyler Hewitt. If you’re not a creature of habit and you really enjoy mixing things up when you work out, kettlebelltraining can offer a number of benefits.

“Kettle bells give people more variety in their workouts and offer different variations of body mechanics that allow muscle groups that haven’t been previously targeted to be isolated and challenged,” says Hewitt. The International Sports Sciences Association says that a good amount of kettle bell exercises engage the entire body through multi-joint, functional movements.

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(Source: redefiningstrength.com)

Hewitt recommends having a safe non-slip surface such as a yoga mat for any sort of dynamic movement during training. If you work out regularly, Hewitt says that trying a basic kettle bell workout at home shouldn’t be a problem.

“If you are used to working out and are aware of proper mechanics, I recommend starting at home with lighter kettle bells. According to Hewitt, many people make the mistake of starting their training without learning the proper form for exercises, or they don’t pick the right size kettle bells.

It’s always a good idea to master the form and mechanics of each exercise in your set rather than jumping into them with too much weight.” If you’re working out at home and want to incorporate kettlebelltraining into your routine, don’t start by grabbing a kettle bell and swinging away.

You can break a kettle bell workout down into basic movements such as shoulder presses, bicep curls, dead lifts and more. On the other hand, a beginner would benefit from working with a trainer to understand the exercises and develop proper mechanics.

But even if you are experienced, there’s nothing wrong with having a trainer critique your form to help ensure that you’re doing things the right way so you don’t injure yourself down the road.” Hewitt adds that osteoporosis patients might be able to try kettle bell workouts with certain modifications added to prevent fractures.

workout training kettlebell crossfit weight female workouts athlete dumbbell woman loss lifting working tabata fat exercise exercises bell kettle gym
(Source: www.onnit.com)

“It’s OK for people with arthritis in their back or knees to try kettlebelltraining as long as they have the proper form and mechanics down. If you’re not sure if you should try kettlebelltraining, it’s a good idea to see a medical professional or certified trainer first before beginning this workout.

Today, they have become a very popular and trusted part of many fitness regimes, with participants claiming that kettle bells improve endurance and strength, whilst at the same time, burning calories. They are advertised as offering a great way to stay in shape, whilst being fun at the same time, compared to ‘normal’ workouts.

Read on for the top benefits of why training with kettle bells is good for you, based on reputable scientific studies. People spend a lot of time using different forms of exercise to reach their goals, such as losing fat, building muscle or working to improve or maintain fitness levels.

This was confirmed by a study directly comparing the two-handed kettle bell swing with modern intensity treadmill walking (Thomas et al. 2014). Whilst the movements involved in kettlebelltraining act as a cardio exercise, the fact that a weight is being lifted at the same time, also works your muscles.

Studies have found that this form of exercise improves power, endurance (Pinocchio, 2010) and maximum strength (Lake and Lauder, 2012). Another advantage of working and strengthening your muscles is that it increases your metabolism, meaning you can burn fat all day after your workout.

kettlebell exercises beginners strength swing workout swings kettlebells benefits form workouts training fitness build gym soccer power help game muscle
(Source: www.darkironfitness.com)

This combination of cardio and strength training, allows you to get the best of both worlds and reap the benefits that both offer in one challenging kettle bell workout. Another specific benefit of kettle bell movements is that these can work all of your major muscle groups at once and can achieve remarkable results in less time.

The high number of calories that can be burned with this training is accredited to it being a total body movement exercise (Forward, 2010). In this way, it is hailed as being superior to other kinds of weight training, due to forcing your body to work as a unit with every swing or lift.

As kettlebelltraining involves a lot of movement, it is important to perform the exercises correctly, ensuring your back is straight, shoulders are relaxed and head is in a neutral position. Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis, which is caused by the breakdown of cartilage that the body eventually cannot repair, often in older age.

A study found that joints subjected to heavy impact are relatively free of osteoarthritis in older age (Verkhoshansky and Sight, 1998). Thus, the ballistic exercises using a kettle bell, such as the swing, snatch, jerk and clean, appear to be highly beneficial and strength your joints, promoting protection against osteoarthritis in older age.

Having high blood pressure can increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as suffering from a heart attack or a stroke. Making lifestyle changes, such as incorporating regular exercise into your routine along with a healthy diet, can keep your heart and arteries in good condition and reduce blood pressure and its associated risks.

kettlebell exercises workout need squat goblet kettle bell fitness benefits bodybuilding excercises kettelbell lifting routine stylerug three boxing beginners
(Source: www.bodybuilding.com)

With it being both a cardio and strength workout, it can assist in the control of and help to prevent high blood pressure, and therefore reduce the dangers to your health. Whilst it does promote a healthy lifestyle, if you do have high blood pressure, always ask for advice from your doctor first before you start any new physical regime.

There has been an increase in the number of adults developing Type 2 Diabetes, due to living an unhealthy lifestyle and being overweight. Whilst there is no cure for Type 2 Diabetes, blood glucose levels can be managed to minimize the risk of health problems that can develop.

In particular, a recent study found that kettlebelltraining could improve glucose clearance in young, sedentary males (Greenwald, 2014). In conclusion, training with kettle bells is advantageous not only in meeting individual fitness goals but also in protecting against medical conditions.

They sit flat on the floor (no rolling around) and the compact design means no wasted space. Likewise, dumbbells are a great training tool, but you’ll need a lot of them to get a decent full-body workout.

Armed with some savvy training knowledge (you will be by the end of this article), you’ll be able to get a great total-body workout with only 1-3 kettle bells, no matter your strength level. As a fitness coach, my goal is to get new clients feeling comfortable and confident while lifting weights and learning basic movement patterns.

kettlebell workout biceps triceps arm workouts arms exercises strength routines fat
(Source: fitbodybuzz.com)

Because the bell’s center of mass is directly under your grip, dead lifts fly up naturally without much cueing. But no matter your goal, or where you’re starting from, kettlebelltraining can transform your body and performance in ways you never thought possible.

Losing body fat and maintaining a lean physique comes down to controlling calories through nutrition and training. Kettlebelltraining offers many powerful ways to rev your metabolism and burn a mountain of calories in very little time.

The kettle bell swing is a hip hinge dominant movement, like a dead lift or box jump. This means each and every rep engages the posterior chain muscles of the hamstrings, glutes, back, and lats (plus lots of cores if you do them right).

As mentioned above, kettle bells are a great way for beginners to learn the fine art of strength training. The foundational kettle bell lifts cover all the major movement patterns while developing athleticism and a strong mind-muscle connection.

This “what the hell” effect takes place when, after using kettle bells for a while, new reserves of strength and skill suddenly appear to demolish stubborn old personal records. For example, a long-distance trail runner might flounder after a couple laps in the pool… and a swimmer might find cycling tortuous.

kettlebell workout swing exercises calories fitness basic challenge popsugar burn kettlebells weight workouts training want beginner essential kettle try bell
(Source: www.popsugar.co.uk)

No matter your sex or fitness level, nearly every bell size has great value and there’s plenty of overlap in the recommendations anyway. These are your “bread ‘n butter” weights that will serve you well in both lower and upper body training for life.

Finally, the extra 12 kg will give you a great pair for double kettle bell workouts. We follow the same line of reasoning for the fellas, with an assumption of more general upper body strength.

We start with 12 kg as even the brawniest of dudes will get good use from one for mobility-oriented lifts like arm bars and windmills as well as advanced get-up and bottoms-up press work. From here, I like to recommend a pair of 20 kg (44 lb) kettle bells as this seems to be a sweet spot for double bell complexes.

Kettle bells, which look like cannonballs with handles, have become a popular strength training alternative to traditional barbells, dumbbells, and resistance machines. Kettle bell exercises often involve several muscle groups at once, making them a highly effective way to give your arms, legs, and abs a great workout in a short amount of time.

Kettle bells can be used for a variety of exercises that improve both your strength and cardiovascular fitness. Russian strongmen in the 1700s developed kettle bells as implements to build strength and endurance.

kettlebell exercises muscle building kettlebells mass onnit development kettle acid training academy benefits aspartic barbell workout workouts strength bodybuilding build
(Source: www.onnit.com)

Using lighter kettle bells at first allows you to focus on using the proper form and technique for the different exercises. You can always increase the weight once you’re comfortable with the correct form for each exercise.

Fitness experts suggest using kettle bells with the following weights if you’re at an intermediate to advanced level with your strength training : Aim to add more reps each week, then work toward adding more sets as you build strength.

Push your hips backward, and bend your knees to reach the kettle bell handles. Firmly grip the kettle bells, keeping your arms and back straight.

This is an excellent exercise to boost both your muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. While your shoulders and arms will do a lot of the work, most of the effort should come from the hips and legs.

Exhale as you make an explosive upward movement to swing the kettle bell out in front of you. Squats are an excellent lower-body exercise that work your quads, hamstrings, calves, glutes, as well as your abdominal muscles.

steel strength workout kettlebell workouts caveman cavemantraining exercise routines
(Source: www.youtube.com)

Using your leg muscles, with your upper body still, straighten up to your starting position. Alternatively, you can hold a kettle bell by the handle in one or both hands, with your arms at your sides.

Slowly step forward with your left leg, bending your knee while keeping your right foot in place. Make sure your left knee doesn’t extend over your toes.

A great exercise for working your abs and obliques (the muscles on the sides of your abdomen that run from your hips to your ribs), the Russian twist can also be done with a weighted medicine ball or barbell plate. When using a kettle bell, be sure to keep a firm grip so that you don’t drop it on your lap.

Sit with your legs bent and your feet flat on the floor. Holding the kettle bell handle with both hands, lean back so that your torso is at about a 45-degree angle to the floor.

With your heels a few inches above the floor, rotate your torso from right to left, swinging the kettle bell slightly across your body. When you’ve completed your repetitions, return to your starting position.

kettlebell workout workouts exercises fat muscles pdf exercise tone burn kettlebells core kettle bell routine killer arms weight shoulder calorie
(Source: bodyspiritual.com)

Push ups target your chest, triceps, and core muscles. When your chest is even with the kettle bell handles, exhale and push your body back up to its starting position.

Hold a kettle bell by the handle so that it rests against the outside part of your shoulder. While exhaling, push the kettle bell upward so that your arm is almost straight.

There are many benefits to working out with kettle bells, for both men and women, across all age groups. According to a 2019 study, a kettle bell workout is a highly effective way to improve your strength, aerobic power, and overall physical fitness.

Compared to resistance circuit-based training, the same study found that a regular kettle bell workout is just as effective at improving cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. A 2013 study reported that participants who completed an 8-week kettle bell training session saw noticeable improvements in their aerobic capacity.

Kettle bell exercises have the ability to restore muscle mass and improve grip strength in older adults, according to a 2018 study. According to Harvard Health, kettle bell exercises can also help improve your posture and balance.

kettlebell beginner training exercises advance guide press clean brave
(Source: muscletransform.com)

You typically use your core muscles more with kettle bell exercises than with dumbbells or barbells. If possible, ask a certified personal trainer at your local gym or fitness center to show you the proper form for kettle bell exercises.

Kettle bells tend to swing, so get used to the feel and movement in your hands before using one. A little mild soreness after a workout is normal, but you shouldn’t feel sudden, sharp pain while working out.

Kettle bells can take a little getting used to, but working out with them is a highly effective way of improving your muscle strength and cardio fitness. The key is to start slow and, if possible, with the help of a certified personal trainer.

Today I’d like to help answer a question I’ve been getting asked a lot recently, Are Kettle bell Workouts Cardio or Strength ? All activities that keep the heart rate elevated and make you breathe hard for long periods of time.

Strength based exercise involves developing the muscular system so you can jump higher, run faster, punch harder, lift heavier etc. However, if you use a challenging weight and put together a selection of kettle bell exercises into a circuit then you will raise your heart rate and keep it elevated for a long period of time.

kettlebell squat exercises workout core onnit strength training form arm workouts motivation body squats exercise fitness hand movement crossfit muskelaufbau
(Source: corestrengthsokuyobi.blogspot.com)

Kettle bell workouts are inherently strength based because you are lifting a weight that challenges the muscular system. As most kettle bell exercises involve the use of hundreds of muscles at a time they require a great deal of energy produced by the heart and lungs.

If programmed in a circuit format kettle bell workouts can promote both strength and cardio gains at the same time. It is time to train like a man again (especially if you are a woman) and get back in touch with visceral impulse that has been locked away for years.

Two kettle bells are all that you need to increase muscular endurance, lose fat and build size and strength. Kettle bells do not take up much space so you can train in your apartment, backyard, garage or go outside and get some fresh air.

If you are a woman that wants to lose weight and tighten up your glutes, quads, abs, and arms, apply a steady diet of kettlebelltraining ballistic work with some low rep kettlebelltrainingstrength work and you are all set. Kettle bell handles are much thicker than dumbbells and will give you a vice grip in no time.

For combat athletes and anyone else that likes it tough, the ballistic shock of kettle bells teaches you how to absorb shock efficiently which is critical for combat sports such as: wrestling, MMA, football, and hockey. The above reasons are why MMA fighters such as Frank Shamrock, BJ Penn and Fedora enhance their workouts with kettle bells.

kettlebell training barbell carry farmer lifts ways barbend improve try
(Source: barbend.com)

Also, it is why top strength coaches such as Ethan Reeve and Louie Simmons recommend kettlebelltraining to their athletes. Members of the entertainment world such as Chris Pontus of MTV's Jackass and Wildly and Harley Flanagan, founder of the legendary NYC hardcore band “The Romans” have attended my kettle bell workshops and are ecstatic about Kettlebelltraining.

Both Chris and Harley talk to everyone they know about the benefits of kettlebelltraining and you will as well after you attend one of my seminars. Continue to go back and forth until you have done three sets of 20 reps. Now if you thought that was hard, imagine making that exercise several times harder with a kettle bell.

No doubt about it, high rep kettlebelltraining is an aerobic workout and great alternative to stepping classes, spinning classes, and anything else that strips you of our manhood and makes you feel like a jack CSS. A balanced kettlebelltraining program combined with a solid worth ethic and healthy nutrition plan is a sure-fire recipe for success.

In addition to being lean and strong, my body has learned how to work as one unit. My muscular endurance and mental toughness have improved tremendously.

In order to keep training interesting, you have to keep it fun and kettle bells are a great fit. You can benefit from kettle bell focused programs or you can incorporate kettlebelltraining into your current regimen.

kettlebell swing glute exercise exercises kettlebells workout gym variations strength legs kb programs form glutes bell butt moves hip bicep
(Source: redefiningstrength.com)

Yes however pushing yourself away from the table more often and cutting crispy crème out of your diet is even more effective. Do not kid yourself into thinking that you train like a professional athlete unless you are one.

Kettlebelltraining can be an effective way to promote a normal healthy metabolism. However, anyone that tells you that you can lose fat with kettlebelltraining and a crappy diet is doing you a disservice.

That said, nothing takes the place of progressive weight training with barbells. A combination approach utilizing kettle bells and barbells is an effective way to go.

Finally, if your testosterone and growth hormone levels are low then forget about putting on muscle. Women for example love kettlebelltraining as it helps them tone up and lose fat without over developing muscles.

Truth be told, building muscle is not easy for men and especially women so that should be the least of your worries. That said, kettlebelltraining is popular with members of the armed services, Secret Service, law enforcement community, and anyone else that wants functional strength that carries over to real world activities such as sitting on the coach and using the remote control ;-) Just kidding.

kettlebell exercises workouts strength kettlebells power training workout gym explosive fitness health exercise tips build mens fitnessrxformen motivation ball swing
(Source: www.fitnessrxformen.com)

Only the smart ones ;-) Yes I work with women all the time at my workshops, and they love kettlebelltraining. Swings and 1-legged dead lifts tighten up the glutes and hamstrings and the windmill is great for the midsection.

Women tend to believe the illusion that they will turn into “Arnold” just be looking at weights. Fortunately, top kettle bell instructors such as Lisa Shaffer and Lauren Brooks of are perfect examples of the benefits of kettlebelltraining for women.

Check out their sites today and get over the irrational fear once and for all that you will turn into “The Hulk” with weight training. Working out with traditional weights has always kept me really strong but about 6 months ago, I started noticing that I was having trouble picking up my muscular 5-year-old (he was about 70 pounds) who also lifts traditional weights as well as kettle bells.

Many celebrities such as Chris Pontus (Movie Jackass) the band “Born” and Harley Flanagan of “The Romans” are also enjoying the benefits of kettlebelltraining. Kettle bells are a natural fit for athletes and this trend will continue.

No doubt their stamps of approval carry a lot of weight as both are highly respected members of the martial arts community. Nope but watching TV and eating junk food is.

strength kettlebells training why effective
(Source: www.gotyourbacktotalhealth.com)

When you are ready to take charge of your health think about getting some kettle bells and actually using them. Having worked for a major fitness club chain in the past, I can tell you first hand that the main goal of a fitness club is to make money and keep liability costs low.

While machines are not as effective as free weights, they are much easier to use and require minimal instruction. Now there is nothing wrong with making money as that is an important goal for every business.

Regardless, few gyms realize that they could make more money by providing exceptional offerings to their clients. Unfortunately, the clients gyms prefer are the ones who sign up for a year and never show up.

No doubt a more progressive gym could make a lot of money with kettle bell classes. Finally, the last thing a fitness club wants you to know is that you can get in great shape at home with a few kettle bells.

Thus, it's better to convince the client that he she needs expensive equipment to achieve his or her goals. Personally, you are better off in smaller gyms which focus more time on their clients.

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(Source: www.quora.com)

The best ones are made by Lifeline USA, Dragon door, Adler and Ironwood. Also, the light bells for the ladies have thin handles which most women do not care for.

The price is not cheap either but given the fact that you can potentially replace your gym membership with a few bells, it is not a big deal. The Adler kettle bells have a nice base which is great for anyone that uses smaller bells for exercises such as the Renegade Row.

Most likely you will be happy with the Adler bells and my friend Lisa Shaffer is a strong advocate of them and sells them on her site. I respect her opinion and her approval carries a lot of weight.

Also do not expect to switch from one weight to another easily with the uskettlebell model. As much as I like the uskettlebell model, I prefer the real thing and will continue to stick with solid non-adjustable kettle bells.

If you are looking to gain strength then Kettle bells can be a great tool to help you achieve your goal. The truth is you can build strength with any type of added resistance, whether that is Dumbbells, Barbells or Power bags.

strength kettlebell workouts exercises workout training complete kettlebells guide kettlebellsworkouts looking routines gain achieve goal tool then help
(Source: kettlebellsworkouts.com)

During the Squat the Kettle bell can be placed in the rack position nicely resting against the upper arm and forearm and enable much larger weight to be held against the body. Efficiency of movement means recruiting more motor units which in turn will activate more muscle fibers for greater contractile strength.

With practice, you can educate your body to recruit the maximum amount of motor units during each lift and therefore increase your strength. In fact when most people begin resistance training (lifting weights) it is this efficiency of movement or motor unit recruitment that gives the impression of gaining muscle.

The beginner weight lifter becomes more skillful at lifting over time and this helps improve their strength much more than muscle development. However, there does come a time when efficiency and motor recruitment are maxed out and additional muscle mass is the only way to develop further strength.

I’ve noticed this principle of strength as a skill rather than being related directly to muscle mass many times when training clients and educating personal trainers. If you started training at your max lift of 7 reps x 3 sets it would leave you beaten up and tired for days.

Also remember that more practice time means more development of skill and improved motor unit recruitment. The double kettle bell clean and press or long cycle is possibly the best full body strength training exercise.

mma training kettlebell exercises core strength lean specific hip academy hartford ct west womens bulky toned onnit legs martial arts
(Source: www.onnit.com)

The kettle bell double racked squat exercise will heavily strengthen the legs, buttocks, hips, core and back. You can use the double clean exercise in order to get into the top position ready to begin your set.

You can build a lot of strength with the double kettle bell swing but I would recommend slightly higher reps for this exercise. Extra caution needs to be taken when swinging heavy kettle bells due to the dynamic nature of the exercise.

I really like this exercise because when loaded up nice and heavy it really challenges the core sling system that runs from the hip across to the opposite shoulder. The Central Nervous System (CNS) will fatigue heavily if you push yourself too hard and although you may feel physically ready to exercise again, mentally you will not have recovered.

Again, another reason why training at 50% of your max is so important, you can lift more often without totally fatiguing your central nervous system. For strength building workouts rest periods should be extended to 2.5 – 3 minutes per set.

Double Kettle bell Clean and Press x 5 reps Rest 3 minutes Repeat x 3 sets All efforts should be placed on lifting heavy at 50% of your max and then taking nice long rests between sets.

kettlebell fat workout body calories minute burning shape kettlebells king burn exercises workouts training routine fitness why magazine routines strength
(Source: www.shape.com)

What many believe to be initial physical strength gains through muscle are actually an increase in motor unit recruitment. More frequent strength training practice means more training volume and more exposure to improvement of motor unit recruitment.

Use large full body kettle bell exercises for your training to develop more useful strength. When used correctly, kettle bells are extremely effective training tools for providing total-body strength and conditioning.

As with any technical movement, lift, or skill, proper coaching is required to maximize the benefits. It's a two-for-one exercise, meaning you're able to combine strength training and cardiovascular conditioning into one efficient movement.

Though it looks easy to perform, the swing can take a significant amount of time, practice, and coaching to perfect. Unfortunately, this exercise is often performed incorrectly, which will limit your results as well as any further progressions that are based on this basic movement.

It's a powerful full-body exercise that requires attention to detail and a respect for human movement. For strong, resilient shoulders, improved hip and trunk strength, and enhanced mobility, the Turkish get-up is essential.

rogue kettlebells kettlebell strength training workout conditioning single roguefitness eu
(Source: www.roguefitness.com)

You just feel like you have more power to press efficiently with a kettle bell, mostly because of the more natural plane of motion. Similar to the kettle bell swing, the clean is another explosive exercise for total-body strength and conditioning.

The difference here is that the kettle bell finishes in the rack position as opposed to being projected horizontally away from your body. The kettle bell snatch is physically demanding and technical, but offers outstanding total-body strength and conditioning benefits.

It can help transcend athletic performance to new levels, build explosive strength, and forge strong, powerful shoulders. The snatch requires proper technique, explosive hip power, and athleticism.

This exercise should not be attempted until the kettle bell swing hip-hinge pattern and explosive hip drive are established. Though watching videos is helpful, the best way to learn how to correctly do these challenging movements is to work with a certified kettle bell instructor.

Related Videos

Other Articles You Might Be Interested In

01: Importancia Do Kettlebell
02: Comparing The American & Russian Kettlebell Swings
03: Competition Kettlebell
04: Competition Kettlebell Colors
05: Competition Kettlebell Dimensions
06: Competition Kettlebell For Get Ups
07: Competition Kettlebell Review
08: Competition Kettlebell Set
09: Competition Kettlebell Weights
10: Correct Form For Kettlebell Swing
1 www.menshealth.com - https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a28439541/kettlebell-swing-form/
2 www.stack.com - https://www.stack.com/a/proper-kettlebell-swing-form-a-step-by-step-guide
3 www.onnit.com - https://www.onnit.com/academy/5-key-points-to-performing-the-kettlebell-swing-with-proper-form/
4 livehealthy.chron.com - https://livehealthy.chron.com/correct-form-kettlebell-swings-2991.html


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Jeremiah 50:41-46

41 “Look! An army is coming from the north;
    a great nation and many kings
    are being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
42 They are armed with bows and spears;
    they are cruel and without mercy.
They sound like the roaring sea
    as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
    and his hands hang limp.
Anguish has gripped him,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.
44 Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets
    to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
    Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
Who is like me and who can challenge me?
    And what shepherd can stand against me?”

45 Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
    what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians:
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
    their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble;
    its cry will resound among the nations.
(Jeremiah 50:41-46 NIV)

Chapters 50 – 51 contain the dual themes of Babylon’s defeat and God’s people redeemed.  Today’s passage is focused on Babylon’s defeat.

When you read through today’s text, did the language sound vaguely familiar?  If so, you’re right.  Verses 41 – 43 are very similar to 6:22-24, while verses 44 – 46 are very similar to 49:19-21.

Verses 41 – 43 are written about Babylon’s conquerors coming from the north.  Similarly, the Lord had told Judah that her conquerors (unnamed at the time, but eventually revealed as Babylon) would come from the north in 6:22-24.

Verse 41 says that an army of many kings from the ends of the earth would assemble to take on Babylon.  In the similar passage of 6:22-24, one nation (Babylon) would lead the charge.  All the vassal nations under Babylon’s control would be expected to supply troops for Babylon’s army.

Verse 42 describes the vast array of military power that the conquering power would assemble:  archers, horses, foot soldiers, all well-trained and ready for battle.

Verse 43 shows the Babylonians’ reaction to the news.  The king is terrified, powerless to do anything.  Anguish has gripped his heart; he is overwhelmed and unable to move, experiencing pain like a woman in labor.

Verses 44 – 46 are very similar to God’s declaration of judgment on Edom (see 49:19-21).  The Lord identifies Himself as a lion, coming up to devour whoever is in His path (in today’s passage, Babylon).  The Lord issues the challenge:  Is there anyone who would stand up against Him?  The implied answer is, of course, “no”.

Just like in Judah and Edom, the conquering country would take its best and brightest young people into exile and press them into service for their own country.  The phrase “their pasture” refers to the people left behind.  They would be appalled at the loss of the young people, the future of their country, their land, and the ones to carry on their traditions and customs.

What would the end result be?  The earth would tremble at the sound of Babylon’s capture, and the cry of the Babylonians would resound among the nations.  In other words, the whole earth would know the fate of the Babylonians.

May we remember that at any time, we are only one generation away from losing our Christian heritage.  May we follow Jesus’ command to disciple others, to invest in them and point them to Christ, to demonstrate what it means to walk with the Lord all the days of our lives.

May we remember to pray for the leaders of our respective countries, that they would be the antithesis of Babylon.  May they lead with wisdom, integrity, conviction, and justice, and also with kindness, grace, and mercy.


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Serving Kentucky's Schools and Student Athletes Since 1917

11/21/16 – Wrestling Regular Season Notes

November 18, 2016 Wrestling Blog Updates

Recently, a few questions have been submitted in regards to the use of the alternate uniform:

What happens when your kids cross the border and wrestle against out-of-state teams? Would they go back to the traditional singlets? What occurs when outsiders come into the Commonwealth?

Should teams travel out-of-state for competition, it is advised that coaches check and see if that state will allow the alternate uniforms to be used. The tournament organizer should be able to verify with the officials before our teams leave town. For matches in state, KHSAA Bylaws dictate that member schools must follow KHSAA rules, so the use of the alternate uniform would definitely be permitted. But, our schools should be cautioned to communicate with those out-of-state hosts in advance.

What does the alternate uniform look like?

We have  posted a PDF with photos to help with the interpretation of the “Alternate Uniform”. Please visit this link on our website for information to assist with your compliance of Rule 4-1-1. Alternate Uniform Approved Version Information

The KHSAA staff routinely publishes blog posts to better communicate with its various constituencies and the public. For a list of those blogs, go to


text:
Heartland is a collection about the things we cherish.

We shot locally, in our favourite stomping grounds of St Kilda and the Bellarine Peninsula, and drew inspiration from the amazingness of our local hoods; the colours of a savoured breakfast of baked plums, figs and marmalade, adventures in our unruly jungle gardens, the smell of fresh flowers on our family tables. It’s a beautiful moment when you remember there’s so much to love, right here at home, our very own oasis.

This one is from the heart, with layers of love.


text:
Guy Fieri Acciendtly Becomes New Host Of Extreme Home Makeover

Family: Our House is a BBQ Pulled Pork Slider

ABC executive Dale Grimes was eating lunch at his desk a few months back when he accidentally emailed cooking show host and general weirdo Guy Fieri, offering him the hosting gig on Extreme Home Makeover.

By the time Grimes realized his mistake, the damage had already been done.

“He just showed up in a van.” recounts homeowner Marcy Shaker.

Marcy and her husband Bill, along with their two children Billy and Sarah, were sitting at home one Wednesday evening when they heard a commotion outside.

“It was that weird haired fella from Food Network. He said he was with Extreme Home Makeover. Looking back, I wish we had asked more questions.” Marcy said with shiver.

Cranes, bulldozers and a crew of over 60 were on hand to transform the Shaker’s two story colonial, into what Fieri called “his vision”.

Little did the Shaker’s know, but that vision included over 750 lbs of pulled pork and a giant brioche bun.

Marcy’s husband Bill said he was confused from the start. “We thought he would paint the walls maybe or bring in new appliances, like we had seen on the show. Instead, he had a bucket of BBQ sauce he just dumped all over the carpet.”

Bill remembers asking right then what was going on, to which Fieri simply yelled “We’re Riding the Bus to Flavortown!”

Bill says he thought it was all an act. “I know these shows do some crazy things for ratings, so I guess i just thought we’d go along with it.”

So go along they did.

48 hours later, the Shaker’s stood out front, waiting behind a bus for the big reveal.

“We were hoping that the BBQ sauce and meat were just a distraction. Looking back, we should have known by the bus parked out front that we were dealing with a real psycho.”

When the bus pulled away, The Shakers were horrified to see that their two story colonial was now just a giant pulled pork sandwich.

“Bill was screaming, but Fieri acted as if we should be thanking him.”

“This is money!” said Fieri, who jumped in the Oscar Meyer Weiner Truck, which apparently he had stolen, and drove away. Thankfully police picked him up just 7 miles down the road at a truck stop where he was “chowin down” on a jar of pickled pigs feet.

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text:
Personalized Beauty Summit - Multinational Tech/Beauty/ Personal Care

San FranciscoCA

Event Pass Information

Event Pass Type

Event Details

The Personalized Beauty Summit will bring together leaders from both the technology and cosmetics industry, to showcase cutting edge research and new technological advances whilst exploring key trends and consumer priorities.

Join the event to hear more about the three most prominant ways to personalize; personalized curation, personalized service and personalized manufacuring.  Hear more about how to expand your current portfolio, foster consumer engagement and brand loyalty with data-driven product recommendations and experiences, whilst also balancing profitability, scalability and supply chain flexibility.


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CMI’s conflicted agent Seruga throws insults at the Rwandan leadership as he shapes the already crashed “border closure” narrative

Titus Seruga, alias Serubwa, the Ugandan asylum seeker in Belgium now serving the people he fled from, the CMI, in their evil designs against Rwanda is a funny fella. The CMI mouthpiece is irritated that Rwanda’s reaction was not similar to that of hungry and long besieged refugees upon receiving relief food, when Uganda recently released 9 innocent Rwandans who had been illegally held for more than two years without any charge. This brings out the disdain with which CMI regards Rwandans, because they expected them to forget that there were more Rwandans still incarcerated where the 9 came from.

The denied asylum seeker Seruga and now CMI mouthpiece is definitely voicing the general sentiments of his bosses, who expected that Rwanda would stop advocating for her nationals who are still languishing in Ugandan prisons, no way nine is not all; all Rwandans in illegal detentions should be released unconditionally regardless of anti-Rwanda goons’ yapping.

We should ignore that the faggot refers to the released Rwandans as ‘criminals’ and concentrate on the way this comes out. ‘Everyone’ expected Rwanda’s response to Uganda’s gesture….’ One what does Seruga mean by ‘everyone’? The reality is Seruga’s ‘everyone’ means all those Rwandan fugitives roaming around the globe aiming at smearing Rwanda and undermining her leadership.

We all know that Uganda was not being charitable to Rwanda by releasing the 9 Rwandans and the other dozens they secretly dumped at the border at intervals previously. The ‘gesture’ is rather a reaction to pressure by leaders and other players in the region and around the world who expect Uganda to respect the Luanda MoU for peace to prevail in the region.

Titus and his CMI sponsors know thoroughly well that the release of the 9 innocent Rwandans is not the only issue Uganda should address in the Luanda MoU. There are others like support and facilitation to militias groups that are mobilising to destabilise Rwanda as well as running anti-Rwanda media campaigns that slander the Rwandan Head of State and his cabinet.

It is therefore arrogant on the part of the CMI and whoever else in Uganda expects Rwanda to jump and celebrate the release of the innocent Rwandans because this is just a small step towards solving the impasse. It is myopic arrogance to expect things to go back to factory settings by merely releasing 9 Rwandans, and actually an insult to the intelligence and dignity of Rwandans.

Titus should go and tell his CMI bankroller that Rwanda is not interested in what he calls ‘critics’ of Rwanda, they can keep them. What Rwanda wants is the release of her hundreds of innocent nationals rotting in Ugandan prisons and security agents’ torture cells and halt to facilitation of recruitment and logistics for terror groups who have established bases in DR Congo to destabilise peace in Rwanda.

Seruga should be reminded that EAC Treaty allows free movement of people, goods and services; Rwandans should move freely in Uganda just like Ugandans are freely moving and conducting various businesses in Rwanda, in the spirit of the East African Community. If they expect Rwanda to settle for less, then they need to fully address Rwanda’s concerns.

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text:
Barr, Miss Janet Rhoda Biography 1971

BARR, Miss Janet Rhoda
OBE [Officer of the Order of the British Empire] (1939)
Born: Oamaru, 1880, daughter of John Haddin Barr
Education: Waitaki Girls’ High School, Otago University; MA [Master of Arts]; assistant Southland Girls’ High School 1903; head teacher Melmerly Girls’ School, Auckland, 1905; senior mistress Dannevirke High School 1907; English mistress Pension Grau, Avenches, Switzerland, 1911; do [English mistress] Gisborne High School 1913; headmistress New Plymouth Girls’ High School 1916; Iona 1921; Timaru Girls’ High School 1924-38; Justice of the Peace 1947
Publications: Within Sound of the Bell
Private address: Haddin Cottage, Oamaru

Original digital file

New Zealand Who’s Who 10th edition 1971

Date published

Format of the original

Publication entry

AH & AW Reed

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Please note we cannot verify the accuracy of any information posted by the community.

Supporters and sponsors

We sincerely thank the following businesses and organisations for their support.


text:
October, 2007

Rails and Relics art show

October 30 2007 . 04:16pm

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SOUR – an urban skate documentary

October 30 2007 . 03:29pm

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RVCA / VASF presents Family Tree

October 29 2007 . 10:55pm

Launching the gallery to the public, VASF is proud to announce “Family Tree” – an exhibition with the likes of R.Pimple, Phil Frost, Pushead and Craig Stecyk – a show billed to be RVCA’s most premiere event to date. Opening on Thursday 8th November from 7pm, the show will run until December 31st 2007.
1485 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA

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Malibu photographed by Keegan Gibbs and friends

October 25 2007 . 08:59pm

"I accept chaos, I’m not sure whether it accepts me" – Bob Dylan

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Urb interviews

October 25 2007 . 05:57pm

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text:
Skiing or riding down a mountain is an adrenaline rush in itself, but something that would make your heart race even more – being chased by a massive moose on the way down.

It probably wasn't who they expected to cross paths with on the slopes, but in Breckenridge over the weekend, a bull moose took off running behind a group of people, who amazingly caught the whole thing on camera. For those familiar with the area, the crazy chase happened on Four O’Clock Run. It's important to note that the people were not harassing the moose prior to this happening, and even warned about the dangers of coming too close to wildlife in their post.


text:
Driving in Kumamoto

Upon arrival, driving in Japan may sound like a daunting prospect. The road laws are different, the signs are all in Japanese, and for some of us, everything is flipped! For many JETs, it will be the first time to drive on the left, in a car with the steering wheel on the right.

In fact, it is not nearly as difficult to adjust to driving in Japan as one might think. Road signs are often bilingual or pictographic, and getting used to left-hand driving takes just a week or two. The biggest problem is accidentally putting on the windshield wipers instead of the blinker. Also, not everyone needs to drive. For many rural placements, it is extremely useful (though not necessary!) to have a car. In urban placements, the high cost of parking and the ready availability of public transportation can make cars burdensome rather than useful.

A Few Friendly Reminders

  • Please, oh please, do not drive without a license. If you get caught doing so, you will have to pay a large fine and could face jail time. If you cause an accident while driving without a license, there will be very bad consequences (huge fines, jail time and lightning strikes. Yes, lightning strikes).
  • Please, oh please, do not drive without insurance. You should have two types of automobile insurance: Compulsory Liability Insurance and Optional (but also compulsory) Automobile Insurance.
  • Please, oh please (I’m on my knees for this one), do not drink and drive or ride with a driver who has imbibed any amount of alcohol!!! If you knowingly aid or allow someone who has consumed alcohol to drive, or if you are a passenger of someone who has consumed alcohol, you will be prosecuted just as severely as the driver.

On Driving in Kumamoto: