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Raising Hell – Episode XLVI

R.H. Episode XLVI – March 15th, 2017 – Goddamned Gaslighting

Reality Checks and Mind Tricks w/ Witch Troj!!!

  1. Coterie Communique – Controlling Confrontation (1:00:41)

Available on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, and Facebook!

1 Comment

  1. Thank you for another great episode. I would like to add that quite often when children do grow up with these different forms of abuse, they develop “nice guy” syndrome, which includes passive/aggressive behavior (mostly passive). They can go through life with a “kick me” sign on their back. By DAILY emboldening themselves, and by being determined to stand up for themselves, not only does their assertiveness and self-esteem naturally grow, but the “kick me” sign also falls off. People who embolden themselves to stand up for themselves will walk, talk, and behave differently. Who assholes choose to mistreat is quite often chosen subconsciously. Hail Satan!

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© Rakhesh Sasidharan

[Aside] What doesn’t seem like work?

From this essay by Paul Graham:

If something that seems like work to other people doesn’t seem like work to you, that’s something you’re well suited for.

That essay links to another longer essay about work and doing what you love. Have added it to my Instapaper queue.

[Aside] Some quotes

On passion

I think it’s not exactly true to say that if you do something you are passionate about, the money will come. But, if you do almost anything really diligently then the money will come. And it takes passion to have that kind of diligence. And … if you almost anything really diligently you will figure out what parts of it like and what you don’t and that will help inform your choices (when it comes to choosing a job or doing another thing).

– Isaac Schlueter (from this podcast)

On money

Money is not the root of all evil. The love for money is the root of all evil.

– Apparently this is the original version but somewhere along the line became misquoted. I came across this via another podcast (I think Jonathan Strickland said the correct version on the podcast)

[Aside] Quote (from Chef)

In the movie “Chef” Jon Favreau is a chef who loves cooking and quits (or was he fired?) from his restaurant due to creative differences with the owner. His ex-wife suggests he start a food truck so he has creative freedom to cook the way he wants to and connect with his customers. Replace cooking/ food with computers and this is more or less the story of my life! Of course I haven’t resigned to follow my passion, but that’s the matter for another post …

Jon’s movie son joins him in the truck. And there’s this scene where he cooks something that’s slightly burnt. Jon tells him to throw it away but the son is like why not just serve it to the customers? They won’t know the difference, so no harm done. Jon replies with the following:

I may not do everything great in my life, but I’m good at this. I manage to touch people’s lives with what I do and I want to share this with you.

I think there was a bit more to the actual dialogue but this is all I could find to copy-paste easily from the Internet. What I loved about this quote is how he knows he hasn’t been a good father, a good husband, maybe even a good person due to his single minded passion for cooking but he isn’t apologetic about it. He knows he hasn’t been good, but that’s how he is, and on this one thing that he is indeed good at he want’s to give his very best and share his pleasure with his customers and son. I found the dialogue and the feeling behind it very powerful, especially coz I feel the same way a lot of times. I am a lousy father and husband coz I am more focused on computers and gadgets than a family life, but like Jon’s character I take my work with computers and gadgets very seriously and try to do my best with it. It’s something I am proud of (or try to be proud of at least).

On following your passion …

Read an article yesterday which talked about how the usual slogan of “following your passion” is bad advice. I skimmed through the article on my phone so I don’t have a link to post here, but do a Google/ Twitter for this phrase followed by “bad advice” and you’ll find many hits. I think this video by Cal Newport is what the author was referring to.

Anyhoo, this is a topic that is of interest to me. I work as an IT Manager/ System Administrator and the sole reason I am in this field is because I am following my passion. I love spending time with computers, so back in my teens when it came to choosing a track for college I went ahead with Computer Science. In retrospect Computer Science was a bad choice because what I was really interested in was Information Technology and generally fiddling with computer – but I was stubborn and didn’t ask anyone before making a decision (nor were there anyone to advice me either!) so I ended up in Computer Science. After that I started working and got into the role of a System Administrator, which is where I wanted to be in anyways.

It hasn’t been easy though being in this field. For one, I am over-qualified for it (doh!). For another, I haven’t been able to get the kind of work that interests me. I spent a lot of my undergrad days and the years after that working on Linux – setting up mail servers, web servers, blogs, tinkering with general back-end System Administration stuff – but due to bad luck or poor choices the work I do for a living is more of user support and working with client OSes and software. I keep trying to move on to the other side but it never happens – not for lack of trying from my side though, it just doesn’t click even though I am quite good at what I do.

This has been demotivating obviously. And many a times I’ve been lost and unsure on what to do next. What can I do – within the limitations of where I am, family commitments etc – to get more work that’s interesting to me and makes better use of my skills.

Somewhere along the line I read Wil Wheaton’s book “Just a Geek”. He was asking similar questions about his state of life in the book and he remembered a speech by Patrick Stewart on passion and how maybe he didn’t have enough of it. The gist of Patrick Stewart’s speech was that if you want to follow your passion you have to love it a lot – so much so more than all the hate and negativity that will come against you in the pursuit of that passion. Following a passion is a struggle, something to consciously keep in mind as you constantly badger through all the obstacles. Wil realized that he didn’t have that much love towards acting (his passion). Sure he loved acting, but he tired of sacrificing his time with the family for this passion and wasn’t willing to humiliate himself any more with pointless auditions. He realized that he loved acting but it had come to be that he no longer loved it more than all the other stuff working against it, and that he was now done turning down other things he was equally good at (and loved too) but which he had been turning down so far in pursuit of acting. This realization was a turning point in his career.

I loved that section of the book because it resonated so much with my state of mind. And it got me thinking that perhaps I should stop focusing so much on getting server level work and instead start enjoying the kind of work I am otherwise getting and which I am good at. This has been a good strategy in that while I haven’t managed to completely ignore my pursuit of server related work, I have managed to keep it under control or at least recover from bouts of demotivation when things don’t click. I guess I don’t love it enough – or in my case, I guess I don’t have the luxury of loving it enough to leave everything else behind after it!

A side effect of not trying so hard has been that I also get more time to enjoy other things. Previously once I got home from work, I’d mostly be on the laptop trying something out. Or I’d sleep early and wake up early so I can study Exchange 2010 and fiddle with my virtual machines! But now that I don’t do any more of that, I have more free time to spend with my daughter, read a book, listen to some music, or watch TV. And these are a lot less stressing than constantly trying to break through the invisible barrier.

And then I read the article I was referring to at the beginning of this post. That made a lot of sense too. What the author says is that following a passion is not as easy as realizing you have a passion for it and then everything will miraculously fall into place for it. You have to put a lot of effort into it and have to be prepared to keep at it for as long as it’s necessary. Also, every task has a learning curve and you may currently be doing something that seems difficult or boring and not meant for you – but that’s only because you are still mastering it; once you overcome that curve and get to grips with the task, it might very well turn out to be your passion. In short – don’t blindly discard everything else in pursuit of your passion, keep an open mind at trying other things and developing those if they seem to work out better! (Note: I am paraphrasing all of this from memory, so I could be way off base from what the author said. The above is how I understood the article anyways and what I took from it).

This made a lot sense and it related to what I had read in Wil Wheaton’s book. I realized that during all the time I have been trying to move on to server level work I have been getting better and better at handling users and supporting their demands, at working with client side OSes and software, and generally in terms of managing the IT tasks of an office. My server interest hasn’t been wasted either as I better understand how both sides fit and so am more aware of how the software my users use work, resulting in me being better able to troubleshoot them or work around issues as needed. But at the end of the day – after about 11 years of working as an IT Manager/ System Administrator – this is what I have mastered and this is what I am great at, so it’s time to stop wishing for something else and just focus on working harder at what I am good at and try and do an even better job than what I already am!

So that’s that!


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The Hangover Special – The Story in Pics!

Did you know that there are only really 6 different types of hangover? According to PG Wodehouse, the inspiration behind our January raffles, these hangovers are The Atomic, The Comet, The Sewing Machine, The Cement Mixer, The Broken Compass and the dreaded Gremlin Boogie… This month we were all about curing these hangovers (both the emotional and physical ones) with two events featuring an array of top wordy and tuneful folk!

On Friday 22nd January, Broad and Rally wove separate tales of a bizarre night out… In Rally’s case, being ‘out’ meant being outside her own windows on some scaffolding, while Broad’s night involved trekking hills, and meeting some inspiring artsy types on her way to Leith… Two simultaneous performances in two separate rooms, The Bongo Club played host to a mad-cap tale that culminated in Broad and Rally finally meeting up and going off to see Be Charlotte in a great concluding set…. In Glasgow, we had a five-act stellar line-up on Sunday 24th Jan at Stereo. It was fun. See below! 😉

In Edina!

And then, in fair Glasgow, the marvelous Yusuf Azak, Iona Lee, Stewart Sanderson, Malika Booker and Loki with Becci Wallace!!

And that was The Hangover Specials! Coming up in Feb we have our Ampersand Sessions! We might get out of our jammies for those ones. Mibbe….. 😉 xxx

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We at Rama Thai Restaurant aim to bring all of our customers the very best value for money, services and food around London. Give us feedback.

  • Value for Money
  • Service
  • Product Quality

Delivery man was very positive and courteous. Chicken wings very poor, below par compared to anywhere else. The other starters are very good. The curry was great and the beef very tender. Pad Thai fantastic as always. Prawn toast very good! Thanks.

George, 11Jul17

good food, fast delivery. Portions very good.

Xavi, 01Jul17

I order take away regularly, I went to the restaurant quite a few times, really nice atmosphere. Food really tasty and give good amount for one person. Staff and the delivery team very nice and helpful. Have recommended people.

Mohi, 27Jun17

Always good food from Rama Thai.

Emil, 17Mar17

Food was very tasty!

Jill, 12Feb17

Always amazing, best food around by miles!

Simon White, 09Feb17

great food and service

Alice , 17Dec16

Eva, 04Dec16

Much better - thank you! The food was piping hot this time and really tasty!

Luci Metcalfe, 01Dec16

Your new website is awesome. Probably one of the best online ordering system I have used for any restaurants

Carmen, 25Nov16

Our favourite Thai takeaway in East London.

Zsolt, 09Nov16

Best Thai in the area. A bit pricey but worth it.

Aj, 14Oct16

Amazing experience! Will come back again for sure ... 5 stars

Pablo, 17Sep16

Lovely food & came quicker than expected. Many thanks!

Zoe C, 21Aug16

Your food is really delicious.

Maryrose Horgan, 16Aug16

My food was cook and deliveried in less than 20 mins!

Dm, 09Aug16

Nice food thanks.

Laura, 29Jul16

Coupons would be welcome for return customers like me.

Oliver Guy, 16Jun16

eat here at least three or four times a month and absolutely love it! great food-never a disappointment!!

Zain Mitha, 11Jun16

30 mins late without notice, but the food was the very best authentic thai!!

Lucien, 21May16

Gppd as per usual

J Quinn, 20May16

Lovely food !

Tom , 29Apr16

Fantastic! Amazing! Mind blowing! Superb! Yes!

Jackie Chan, 28Apr16

Best Thai food I've ever eaten. No exaggeration! The vegetable nasi goreng was incredible and the red seafood curry was packed with flavour. 1010

Steve, 21Apr16

Great authentic Pad Thai!

Fi, 16Apr16

no other

Long Nguyen, 14Apr16


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Perfect Brow Wand

(19 reviews) Write a Review

Finally! A waterproof double duty gel pen, the Perfect Brow Wand takes eyebrow perfection to the next level by combining a universally flattering eyebrow filler and pure highlighter in one easy to use wand. The brow filler works on ANY hair color, from pale blonde, silver or red to medium brown or black. The Highlighter end is colorless and adds pure light to emphasize your arches or wake up tired eyes!

Ramy Tip: Always brush through ANY product you use to fill your brows. This will ensure that it looks like a great eyebrow, not a "made up" looking brow. Draw Highlighter end along underside of entire eyebrow and blend with your finger for a visual "lift" to your brows! Also, add highlighter to inner corner (tear ducts) of eyes and along eyelids to wake up tired eyes!

Who's it for:
Anyone who wants to enhance their eyebrows with natural looking results #EyebrowPerfection!

19 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews

  • 5
    I love how it goes on and blends exactly to the right color for my brows. And love the added highlighter.

    Posted by Laurie on Sep 27th 2018

    Would recommend this product to anyone who wants there brows to look great and there natural color

  • 5
    Perfect brow wand

    Posted by Christine on Sep 24th 2018

    Excellent goes on smooth and perfect for sparse brows or make your eyebrows thick

  • 5
    It's the perfect eye brow pencil!! Best I have ever had.

    Posted by Linda Park on Sep 13th 2018

    Absolutely love this wand!

  • 5
    I love this product applies easily looks natural !

    Posted by Opal Casey on May 30th 2018

    Will always buy it !

  • 5
    Brow Wand

    Posted by Dana Linett-Silber on Apr 5th 2018

    I don’t go a day without using this! So natural looking and easy to use and the highlighter brings it up a notch!

  • 5
    Ana Alosco

    Posted by Ana Alosco on Mar 5th 2018

    Ana Aloscoi have been using the Perfect Brow wand for about 10 years, and I absolutely love this product! Probably the most natural looking, waterproof, and the color is perfect for me. The only negative and I have contact Ramy regarding this is that I don’t use the highlighter part of the wand so I end up throwing away a full size highlighter when I am done withheld wand. Otherwise, I love this product and always order more during their great sales so I don’t run out!

  • 5
    Perfect Brow Wand

    Posted by Leslea Newman on Feb 26th 2018

    I have used this product for years. It's the best!

  • 5

    Posted by Iris on Jan 3rd 2018

    Is a nice color and last all day or evening when I go out love it so much that order 2 more during the holiday sale .

  • 5
    The best.

    Posted by Elana L on Dec 29th 2017

    I've tried everything that everyone says is the best brow tool. I always come back to this. This IS the BEST brow tool. The pencil end gives you great control, and the highlighter end is so nice - I get compliments on my highlighted brow and also my eyebrows all the time. And I have the thinnest brows. The one tool I cannot live without.

  • 5
    Perfect Brown Wand

    Posted by Susan L on Sep 13th 2017

    I love this product!! I started using it over a year ago as I have horrible eyebrows (over tweezed-think 70's/80's). It is simple to use & stays on even when I swim. I have dark brunette/reddish hair & it truly blends right in. Highly recommend this product!! And Ramy has awesome service!!

  • 5

    Posted by Christine on Jun 1st 2017

  • 5
    eye brow pencil

    Posted by opal casey on Apr 1st 2017

    I love this product looks natural I lost my hair when I had chemo it is easy to apply


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0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The information contained in the Organizational Database (ODB) is provided for informational purposes only. There is no implied endorsement by NORD. NORD does not promote or endorse participation in any specific organization. The information is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to ensure that the details for each entry are as current as possible.

Chromosome 9pminus Network

P.O. Box 524
Appleton, WI 54912 USA

Email Address

The Chromosome 9pminusNetwork is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, parent-based support group whose mission is to improve the lives of families affected by 9p Deletion Syndrome. We accomplish this by connecting families and increasing knolwedge by proividing information about this rare genetic disorder. 9p Deletion syndrome (aka 9p-, Alfi's syndrome, or 9p-Syndrome, is a rare genetic anomaly in which a portion of the short (p) end of the 9th chromosome is deleted or missing. The disorder is characterized by varying symptoms and degrees of affliction. The Chromosome 9pminus Network disseminates information to families thorugh yearbooks, newsletters, a Yahoo eGroup, Face Book page and Family Reunions. There is no charge for membership. Currently there are nearly 380 members worldwide, with most based in the US. public.

Please Note

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) web site, its databases, and the contents thereof are copyrighted by NORD. No part of the NORD web site, databases, or the contents may be copied in any way, including but not limited to the following: electronically downloading, storing in a retrieval system, or redistributing for any commercial purposes without the express written permission of NORD. Permission is hereby granted to print one hard copy of the information on an individual disease for your personal use, provided that such content is in no way modified, and the credit for the source (NORD) and NORD’s copyright notice are included on the printed copy. Any other electronic reproduction or other printed versions is strictly prohibited.

NORD's Rare Disease Information Database is copyrighted and may not be published without the written consent of NORD.


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Will Steam’s Nex Gen Console Compete w/ PS4 & Xbox 720?

Steam has all but revealed they are working on what is said to be a state-of-the art home video game console set to compete with the industry at large. Does this mean Steam will go up against Sony and Microsoft’s upcoming creations, currently dubbed PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720? If so, what exactly could this entail?

1. Graphics and Gameplay – The graphical and gameplay of Steam’s console will depend on the parts that are included in the SDK kits as well as consumer finished units. If you don’t have the power you can’t do certain things, as Nintendo’s limitations in hardware have taught us along the way. If Steam is meant to compete with the Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 then it will have to be rocking multiple core processing units and serious graphics setups.

2. Online Infastructure – Steam’s network of social and competitive gaming already exists on the PC and is a huge hit bridging the gap from players on Desktops, Laptops, even Macs together for gaming. This online infastructure can be a huge plus for Steam. Imagine being able to play against friends on other platforms. If this feature is not put to good use it will perhaps be harder for Steam to stand out and compete with the strength of existing brands PSN and XBL (PlayStation Network and Xbox Live).

3. Quad HD and 3D HD – Will the Steambox take advantage of the fact that many of Steam’s computer games (in its digital retail marketplace) already utilize high graphics resolutions and 3D capabilities? This will surely be a great selling point, as if to say that you have the PC graphics without using the PC! With the coming standardization of HDMI 1.4a through next generation hardware this will have to remain cutting edge. The Quad HD standard in the not-too-distant future (better known as 4K) will also need to be implemented with this machine at some point as well.

4. Exclusives – Indie titles, PC classics, up and coming exclusives otherwise relegated to the Steam PC experience will have to shine their hardest as a Steam home console would be in need of many exclusive experiences to compell people away from their existing third party and exclusive content. Valve has an advantage here because they utilize smart business practices of hiring mod developers from within their own game communities. If they are willing to take risks, invest in upcoming technologies such as User Generated Content, not only could they come away with some pretty amazing and unique games but also the online environment could be full of creativity.

5. Third Party Support – With a huge existing relationship with many publishers and developers already, one might think third party support for a Steambox would be a no brainer. However, this is where it’s going to get tricky. Just getting games to release on your system isn’t enough anymore. As seen in the current generation of PS3 / 360 / Wii U there needs to be some sort of exclusive content offering, and/or exclusive spin-off titles and approaches to development to allure the consumer into a unique feeling product. Valve will have to think long and hard about exactly how they want their brand to feel and function before releasing their next generation console and they will want to have a natural fit for developers eager to participate in Steam’s movement.

Editor’s Note: RealGamerNewZ has moved web servers, some older posts can no longer be commented on and have been preserved without their images. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. This article was written by Jon Ireson on 20130217 and was last modified on 20130217 .


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When We Were Young: The Best Pop Culture Of The 80s & 90s

when-you-were-young-3.jpgWe’ve now aired multiple episodes of the When We Were Young podcast, which means it’s officially time to start uselessly ranking things.

That’s right — because I am a millennial (barely), I am obsessed with ranking things that are not terribly similar in any way, and chances are, you are obsessed with it, too. (Thanks, Buzzfeed!) So I am keeping a running tally of which of the movies, TV shows, albums, and other pop culture artifacts from the 80s and 90s hold up best.

Is it completely arbitrary to compare, say, Steven Spielberg’s E.T. to the 90s catalogue of Britney Spears to the entire run of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air? Of course it is! That’s what makes it such a meaningless waste of time!

twister-helen-hunt-sadnessAN ARBITRARY RANKING OF 80s & 90s POP CULTURE:

(Based on my own internal algorithm that combines lasting influence on pop culture, how original and ahead-of-their time they were, and consistency of quality throughout the 80s and 90s and how they’ve aged upon a recent viewing.)

1. Nirvana’s Nevermind & In Utero

2. Buffy The Vampire Slayer

3. The Alien quartet

4. Seinfeld

5. Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3

6. Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion

7. Muriel’s Wedding & My Best Friend’s Wedding

8. Twister

9. Trainspotting

10. Election

11. The Brady Bunch Movie & A Very Brady Sequel

12. Don Bluth movies

13. Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill

14. The Blair Witch Project

15. Molly Ringwald / John Hughes movies

16. Now That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 1

17. The Dark Crystal & Labyrinth

18. Disney pop singles

19. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

20. Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma

21. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb And Dumber

That’s my ranking. How would you rank them? Pick your favorite in the poll below:

My rankings list will be updated accordingly following each episode of the podcast. The poll will also be refreshed with new options as we cover them. You can vote once a week, so if your answers changes when we introduce a new topic, that’s fine!

Listen to the podcast here.

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Youth Group

Where do your kids go that is safe and positive?

One place our children go is youth group. On Sundays, our son enjoys hanging out with his friends at our home church Twin Lakes. Their high school program includes a positive message, worship and games such as dodge ball.

On Monday nights, Young Life offers teenagers a fun hang out complete with food, games and encouraging message.

On Wednesday evening,  Vintage Faith hosts a youth group where they hold small group discussions and play games.

This past February, Austin attended a winter getaway to Hume Lake where multiple youth group joined together for a weekend of camp. I am sure it is the first of many to come.

I am grateful for our community leaders who dedicate their time and resources to mentor our kids. I appreciate them investing in our future.

Blessings,  Rebecca

2 thoughts on “Youth Group

  1. This is so great. I didn’t realise youth groups like this still existed. I know they were a big deal for me growing up but they seem to have closed mostly now near me. It must be such a little safe haven for your children.

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The Colored Military Organization in Hanover County

September 17, 1867

The examination of the number of white and black members in the military and whether or not it is equal for both parties.

The Colored Military Organization In Hanover County-The Examination Concluded. -A week or two since we published the testimony taken at an examination before Justice Dr. J. G. Lumpkin to as certain whether or not a colored military organization existed in Hanover county. Since then the examination has been concluded, the testimony of about fifty witnesses having been taken-about equal numbers of whites and negroes. The testimony of nearly all showed that there was a colored organization called the " Rising Sons of Liberty" at Shiloh Church, and that they were frequently in the habit of drilling-some of them being armed and uniformed. The testimony of the witnesses was reduced to writing, and will be forwarded to-General Scofield, by whose order the investigation was instituted. The acknowledged president of the company is Anthony TiJuian. He was arrest, end previous to the examination on the charge of stealing a watch. At the preliminary examination he was allowed bail, but no one offering themselves as security, was locked up to await further examination.
About this article

Contributed By

Komal Deol

“The Colored Military Organization in Hanover County,” Reconstructing Virginia, accessed November 12, 2018,


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Tag Archives: Postpartum depression

Butterflies, Recovery, and The Stages of Change

Do you ever wonder if change is possible for you? If you’re just going to have to be stuck in despair, your eating disorder, depression, alcoholism, or feeling not-good-enough forever?

I have this posted on my office door:

FullSizeRender copy 6

Butterflies have long been a metaphor for recovery for me. Butterflies (the eggs they start as, the caterpillars they become, the cocoons they build, and the butterflies they emerge into) embody the miracle of transformation that happens in recovery.

In recovery, one model for  change, called the Stages of Change,* divides the gap between thinking-about-change and implementing it into 5 Stages. This model was developed from addiction recovery, but can be used for eating disorder or postpartum depression recovery, or another vision you thought was not possible for your life. As an example (because it clearly embodies tangible hope, which can be hard to do in eating disorder or postpartum depression recovery), I’ll take you through my butterfly garden stages of change. As you are reading, you can fill in whatever vision of yours that you think is not-yet-possible.

  • Stage 1: Precontemplation or The Hopeless-Caterpillar Stage (Not thinking about changing, Do not want to change, or Feel change is hopeless/not possible. This is the stage in which disordered eating, drinking, or depression feels “normal” and/or there is a feeling of resigned this-is-the-way-it-is-and-will-always-be.)

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So with my butterfly garden vision, there were years of thinking about this. (“Oh! I should do this! Oooh what a great way to practice ecological conservation in my own backyard! I love butterflies! I used to study butterflies! What a great idea! Butterflies are deeply symbolic of the transformation that happens in recovery and motherhood!!”etc, etc.)

Clearly, as evidenced by the exclamation points, they were excited, visionary thoughts. They were so excited that they tired me out even thinking them. I went back to changing diapers, trying to survive early motherhood, engaging with my professional work, and maintaining my own recovery self-care.

  • Stage 2: Contemplation or The Asking-Friends-About-Their-Cocoon-Experience Stage (Considering there is a problem, Still ambivalent about changing but willing to become educated about alcoholism/eating disorders)

When I was in the contemplation stage, I would pay attention when my little one and I visited butterfly exhibits in museums or the 12185061_10153638687100120_4790037831536255808_oinsect house at the zoo. I would talk to the butterfly curators. I would get inspired by people planting gardens. I read one blog about a guy who re-introduced an endangered butterfly species just by creating a native garden for their caterpillars. I read educational signs at the museum and zoo and thought “Oh! They’re endangered! I could plant a butterfly garden to help! I could do that thing I’ve been thinking about!” Then I went back to my life and didn’t take any action about it.

  • Stage 3: Determination or The I’m-Not-Always-Going-To-Stay-A-Caterpillar-Because-I-Know-There’s-Something-More Stage (Deciding to stop the behavior such as drinking or disordered eating, deciding to seek postpartum depression support. Beginning to make a plan.)

So in this stage, I was thinking “Well, even though I’m not much of a gardener, I could do this. I could get a book. I could go to the local garden store and talk to the people there. I could start a list of native plants that attract and feed larva, caterpillars and butterflies…” I was deciding that I was going to take action. I was envisioning how I was going to take action. I was less tired about the ideas, more determined, and getting ready to take action. I saved money to buy plants for my future butterfly garden.

  • Stage 4: Action or The Building-Your-Cocoon-Of-TransFormation Stage (Beginning to take actions such as announcing to loved ones they are going to change, seeking support of a therapist or treatment program, beginning to attend eating disorder or postpartum depression recovery support groups or 12 step program)

    Little one helping me. “Mama, this is actually MORE FUN than screen time!”

So at this point, I told my family I would like a butterfly garden book for Christmas. I started actually writing (instead of thinking about) a list of plants. I bought a guide to local butterflies. I made a place on a shelf for my butterfly-garden materials. I posed on a neighborhood list serve about local butterfly plants. I made a special pile of materials that was designated butterfly-garden research. I looked into local gardening stores.

  • Stage 5: Maintenance  or The I-Now-Know-It-Is-Possible Stage  (An alcohol, disordered-eating, or depression-free life is becoming “normal,” and the threat of old patterns becomes less intense/frequent. Relapse prevention skills and support systems are established.)

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This is the stage that my garden is in now. Though this may sound like an end-point, (Ta Da! We’re Done! Now everyone lives Happily-Ever-After, The End), it’s actually a beginning.  Now I have to water the plants. My husband (who is more of a seasoned gardener) helped to replant some of the plants in wire baskets under the soil so they would be protected from gophers, and in full sun (important for butterflies).

People in this stage of recovery CAN have the luxury of resting somewhat, having done some tough work digging in the soil (therapy, treatment, etc) of planting their garden of transformation. However, the work of continued action is crucial in maintenance. If I don’t water my plants, they might not survive. If you don’t go to your recovery support meetings, or practice the self-care skills you cultivated in your recovery from PPD or an ED, you are at risk of relapse. One of the best ways to prevent relapse/stay in the butterfly stage is to connect with a caterpillar. That is why I work in recovery. So I can remember the darkness of the cocoon AND stay in the sunlight of the spirit.

Here’s to your garden, your butterfly-ness, your recovery. Whatever stage it (You) are in.

*Researchers, Carlo C. DiClemente and J. O. Prochaska, introduced a five-stage model of change to help professionals understand their clients with addiction problems and motivate them to change. Here is one summary article that I referenced in this blog: “Stages of Change” by Mark S, Gold, MD

Motherhood as Rite of Passage

IMG_3210The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.

~Rajneesh Look

I remember when I was a brand new first-time mom, like four days brand new, and went to a new mom group. I was in the no-sleep, hormones still rollercoaster-ing daze. I was trying to look like I knew what I was doing, even though it felt like the bottom had dropped out of my body, my breasts were bowling balls, and I was wondering why no one ever tells you about urinary incontinence…

(This is Guest blog- to read full article, go to psychedinsanfrancisco.com )

What causes an Eating Disorder or Depression and if I have it, is my child doomed to have it, too?

The short answer? “It’s complicated.”

The longer answer: Genetics and temperament both play a strong role in the possibility of Depression or an Eating Disorder developing, but do not determine it.

The hopeful answer: Even if your child develops an Eating Disorder or Depression, it is possible to recover.

In this post, I will look at some of the risk factors that can lead to an Eating Disorder or Depression.

Eating Disorders: Are they inherited?

Eating Disorders develop as a combination of genetic vulnerability combined with temperamental traits and a facilitating environment. Some (but not all) risk factors named in Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb’s book 8 Keys to recovery from an Eating Disorder (W.W. Norton, 2012) that can contribute to developing an eating disorder include:

  • being overweight or dieting as a child
  • having a mother who diets or has an eating disorder
  • early menstruation
  • being bullied or teased
  • engaging in sports or activities with a focus on appearance or weight (for example ballet, cheerleading, ice skating, wrestling, gymnastics, modeling)
  • a history of childhood abuse

In a 2000 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, results showed that anorexia nervosa has a heritability of 58%, but the authors were unable to rule out the contribution of environment. However, they did conclude that genetic factors influence anorexia and contribute to comorbidity of anorexia and depression.

Along with genetic links being discovered with both anorexia and binge eating, certain temperamental traits tend to foster the birth of an Eating Disorder. Ovidio Bermudez, in presenting at Eating Disorder Recovery Services conference* this past year discussed the following temperament traits as those at risk of developing an Eating Disorder:

  1. Anxiety, Depression, or OCD
  2. Low stress tolerance
  3. Low distress tolerance
  4. Sensitivity to real or perceived injury

So in other words, if you have a sensitive child who struggles with tolerating “distressing” feelings such as sadness, anger, or shame and you (or a family member) struggle with Depression, Anxiety or OCD, the ground is fertile for the seed of an Eating Disorder to sprout.

What about Depression?

At least 10% of people in the U.S. will experience Major Depressive Disorder at some point in their lives. According to statistics, two times as many women as men experience major depression. (There is a lot to be said there in terms of mis-diagnosis of symptoms, gender bias, and who reaches out for support to mental health professionals, that can affect these statistics, but that is for another blog.)

According to two Stanford doctors writing about genetics and brain function, genetics play a strong role in causing Major Depression (Levinson, Douglas F. M.D. and Nichols, Walter E. M.D., Professor in the School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, 2015). They write:

  • The heritability (or percentage of the cause due to genes) is probably 40-50%, and might be higher for severe depression.
  • The situation is a little different if the parent or sibling has had depression more than once (“recurrent depression”), and if the depression started relatively early in life… the siblings and children of people with this form of depression probably develop it at a rate that is 4 or 5 times greater than the average person.

What else contributes to Depression? And what about Postpartum Depression?

Stressful life events (trauma, loss of a loved one, moving/loss of support, having a baby) can lead to depression in and of themselves. When combined with a genetic risk, there is a stronger possibility of developing depression. And having one (or more) episode of depression increases the risk of having future episodes. (Kendler, Thornton, and Gardner, 2001)

While many women experience some mild mood change or “the blues” during or after the birth of a child, 1 in 7 women (and some recent research says 1 in 5) experience more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety. 1 in 10 Dads become depressed during the first year. (Postpartum Support International)

Risk factors for Postpartum Depression

Some women are more likely than others to develop Postpartum depression. The following factors put you at an increased risk:

  • Previous history of depression
  • History of severe PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder
  • Medical complications for you or your baby
  • Lack of support from family or friends
  • A family history of depression or another mental illness
  • Anxiety or negative feelings about the pregnancy
  • Problems with a previous pregnancy or birth
  • Marriage, Relationship, or money problems
  • Stressful life events
  • Substance abuse

How does Postpartum Depression impact children?

Postpartum Depression and other Perinatal Disorders (Anxiety, OCD, Psychosis) can affect children in the following ways:

  • Behavioral Problems
  • Delays in Cognitive Development
  • Emotional Problems and/or Depression

 According to Zero To Three, a research-based resource for federal and state policymakers and advocates on the unique developmental needs of infants and toddlers, untreated Depression can have detrimental effects on children’s functioning and future outcomes (2009).

The mental health of parents can affect young children… infants of clinically depressed mothers often withdraw from caregivers, which ultimately affects their language skills, as well as their physical and cognitive development. Older children of depressed mothers show poor self-control, aggression, poor peer relationships, and difficulty in school.

Unlike adults, babies and toddlers have a fairly limited repertoire of responses to stress and trauma. Mental health disorders in infants and toddlers might be reflected in physical symptoms (poor weight gain, slow growth, and constipation), overall delayed development, inconsolable crying, sleep problems, or aggressive or impulsive behavior and paralyzing fears. Early attachment disorders predict subsequent aggressive behavior. Some early mental health disorders have lasting effects and may appear to be precursors of mental health problems in later life, including withdrawal, sleeplessness, or lack of appetite due to depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress reactions.

So, if you have had or are currently suffering with and through (because it is possible to recover and get through it) an Eating Disorder or Depression, your child does have risk. But that does not mean they are doomed. It means, even more important than ever, that you get treatment and recovery yourself! When I attended Postpartum Support International’s training on Perinatal Mood Disorders, the message that they gave was: There is Hope and You are not alone. It is possible to recover and in recovering yourself, you help build a more protected base from which your child can thrive and grow.

Wade, Tracey D, Ph.D., Cynthia M. Bulik, Ph.D., Michael Neale, Ph.D., and Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D., “Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors Anorexia Nervosa and Major Depression: Shared Risk Factors,” Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157:469–471.

Eating Disorder Recovery Services The mission of EDRS (Eating Disorder Recovery Support), Inc. is to promote recovery and wellness for those impacted by eating disorders by providing support, information, and education to individuals, families, professionals, and the community at large regarding eating disorders and recovery resources. EDRS.net

Ovidio Bermudez, MD Dr. Bermudez has lectured nationally and internationally on eating pathology across the lifespan, obesity and other topics related to pediatric and adult healthcare, and has been repeatedly recognized for his dedication and advocacy in the field of eating disorders.  eatingrecoverycenter.com

“Major Depression and Genetics” Douglas F. Levinson, M.D. and Walter E. Nichols, M.D., Professor in the School of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (2015) Depression and Genetics

Zero To Three The Zero To Three policy Center is a nonpartisan, research-based resource for federal and state policymakers and advocates on the unique developmental needs of infants and toddlers. zerotothree.org

Link to Depression during and after Pregnancy Fact Sheet

Perinatal Depression Fact sheet

Link to study on teaching sleep with infants to prevent Postpartum Depression:

Link to study on effects of Lexipro on treatment of Postpartum Depression:

clinical trials postpartum+depression

For Partners: Navigating the Land-mines of Postpartum and Eating Disorder Recovery

I just finished reading The Postpartum Husband, by Karen Kleinman.* This is hands down the most fabulous book I have seen for partners (except for the non-PC title that excludes same sex or unmarried partners) supporting women through Postpartum Depression. It is basically the Men are from Mars Women are from Venus of Postpartum Depression Recovery sourcebook. The style is direct, informative, non-shaming and concise. The chapters are 1-2 pages long- perfect for men and partners wanting bullet point versions of information that are most likely sleep-deprived and potentially in-crisis-with-a-depressed-new-mom-and-baby. Some gems that stood out for me were: YOU CANNOT FIX THIS.

And also:

What works for you may not work for her:

You’d want to be alone; she wants you there all the time

You’d get up and out and run yourself through this; she stays inside and can’t get up and go

You’d isolate yourself at work; she craves support and comfort from others

You’d turn your sadness into anger; she feels inadequate and worthless.

As a pragmatic clinician and eating disorder specialist, I am always asking the question, how does this apply to eating disorder recovery? Here are Karen Kleinman’s thoughts on supporting women in PPD recovery followed by my thoughts on supporting women in eating disorder recovery:

  • The single most important thing for you to do to help is to sit with her. Just be with her. No TV, no kids, no bills, no newspaper. Just you and her. Let her know that you are there. (DITTO)
  • This isn’t easy to do, especially with someone who seems so sad or so distant. Five minutes a day is a good place to start. (DITTO)

Here’s what you’re up against:

  • If you tell her you love her, she won’t believe you (Ditto)
  • If you tell her she’s a good mother, think you’re just saying that to make her feel better. (Substitute “good person.”)
  • If you tell her she’s beautiful, she’ll assume you’re lying. (Ditto. If you tell her “you’re not fat,” she will think you are lying or are minimizing her distress.)
  • If you tell her not to worry about anything, she’ll think you have no idea how bad she’s feeling.(Ditto)
  • If you tell her you’ll come home early to help her, she’ll feel guilty. (If you tell her you will eat with her to help her, she will feel guilty, ashamed, anxious)
  • If you tell her you have to work late, she’ll think you don’t care. (If you tell her you have to work late, she will think it is to be with someone else because you hate her company or are sick of her.)

You may (as the partner) be thinking, THEN WHAT IS THE POINT? Anything I do is fruitless. That is where I would encourage you to be aware of the cognitive distortions rampant in depression and eating disorders that you are up against: all or nothing thinking, personalizing, perfectionism, minimizing, control fallacies… However, there ARE things you can do. Here are some examples:

  • Tell her you know she feels terrible. (Ditto)
  • Tell her she will get better. (Ditto)
  • Tell her she is doing the right things (therapy, medication) to get better. (Ditto)
  • Tell her she can still be a good mother and feel terrible. (Substitute “person.”)
  • Tell her it’s ok to make mistakes she doesn’t have to do everything perfectly. (Ditto)
  • Tell her you know how hard she is working right now. (Ditto)
  • Tell her to let you know what she needs you to do to help. (Ditto)
  • Tell her you love her. (Ditto)
  • Tell her your baby will be fine. (Tell her that her eating disorder is not destroying you and that you can handle all of her feelings.)

For eating disorder recovery, I would add the following DO’s and DON’t’s:

  • Do NOT try to be “the food police” or try to be her nutritionist/dietician. DO redirect her to her nutritionist/dietician for advice on her food plan recovery.
  • Do NOT bring up emotionally difficult conversations during meals when she is already struggling. DO know that meals will most likely be uncomfortable for her and keeping conversation “light and polite” or simply giving her a kind look that acknowledges you know meals can be tough for her, but you are right here beside her. DO ask when a good time to talk about difficult things is for her and for you (ex in the morning, at night before 8pm, on the weekend).
  • Do NOT assume she is feeling or will feel better if she is eating according to her food plan, gaining/losing weight as a result of her recovery action steps. Do NOT comment on her body size, even if you think she looks “better” or “healthy.” . She is most likely feeling WORSE. DO validate that she is most likely feeling worse and know that she will cultivate tools for managing these distressing emotions without using her eating disorder behaviors as she continues her recovery (therapy, group, nutrition) work.
  • Do NOT comment on her appearance or “level of fatness,” even if she asks (ex “Do I look fat in this?”) DO instead say “How can I support you through this difficult feeling right now?,” “I trust your ability to find the right outfit that feels comfortable to you,” or “I’m not going to comment on that but love you.”
  • DO access your own support system or if you don’t have one, develop one! CODA and Al-anon are great 12 step resources for partners.

For women recovering from eating disorders/body image difficulties AND postpartum depression:

DO remind her that you love HER and that her body made a baby. Remind her that postpartum media images are NOT realistic. Remind her she is a whole person that you love, not simply a body. Remind her that you are with her as a partner and friend with all of your own age-ing postpartum imperfections.

Above all, try to hold a big picture of this time as limited and it will get better. Take very good care of yourself and put your own oxygen mask on first.

As always, this blog is not intended to diagnose or treat any mental illness or eating disorder. Please contact your therapist for individualized diagnosis and treatment. If you would like to schedule an assessment with Dr Linda, you can call 415-335-2596

* Kelinman, Karen, MSW (2001) The Postpartum Husband: Practical Solutions for Living with Postpartum Depression

http://www.postpartumdads.org/ is a support resource for Dads run by Postpartum International.

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The first chapter of the best nonfiction books ever written

A brief history of time – Stephen Hawking (1988)

A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
Chapter one: Our picture of the universe A well-known scientist (some say it was Bertrand Russell) once gave a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the earth orbits around the sun and how the sun, in turn, orbits around the center of a vast collection of stars called our galaxy. At the end of the lecture, a little old lady at the back of the room got up and said: “What you have told us is rubbish.… Continue reading


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Mine Safety and Health Administration January 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Proximity Detection Systems for Continuous Mining Machines in Underground Coal Mines
Document Number: 2015-00319
Type: Rule
Date: 2015-01-15
Agency: Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration
The Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) final rule requires underground coal mine operators to equip continuous mining machines, except full-face continuous mining machines, with proximity detection systems. Miners working near continuous mining machines face pinning, crushing, and striking hazards that result in accidents involving life-threatening injuries and death. This final rule strengthens protections for miners by reducing the potential for pinning, crushing, or striking accidents in underground coal mines.


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Camille Fronk Olson

cf2's picture

Department: Ancient Scripture

Title: Professor

Contact: Send message

Bio: Ph.D. in Sociology of the Middle East; Master's Degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies; Bachelor's Degree in Education. Dissertation focused on Palestinian families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Previously, taught institute and seminary in the Salt Lake area and was Dean of Students at LDS Business College. Served a full-time mission to Toulouse, France. Born and reared in Tremonton, Utah. Married to Paul F. Olson.

Courses Taught: New Testament; Book of Mormon; Women in the Scriptures; Pearl of Great Price

Areas of Expertise: Palestinian families, women in scripture, early Christian Church, Near Eastern Studies

Areas of Research: New Testament, General Church Doctrine, Life of Christ, Culture and History of the Bible

Languages: Reads French and Biblical Hebrew


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Jaguar X-Type Rear Shock Absorber Replacement Cost

Know what price you should pay to get your vehicle fixed.

The average cost for a Jaguar X-Type shock absorber replacement - rear is between $238 and $280. Labor costs are estimated between $26 and $34 while parts are priced between $212 and $246. Estimate does not include taxes and fees.
Get a repair estimate for your car

Common Symptoms

Shock absorbers can require replacement due to oil leaks, knocking noises, and torn rubber bushings.

Best Practices

Your shock absorbers should be replaced in pairs.

Find a Certified Mechanic

Find a high quality auto repair shop or dealer near you

Shock Absorber Replacement - Rear Cost Estimates

The average cost for a Shock Absorber Replacement - Rear is between $238 and $280 but can vary from car to car.


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In case you missed it: This is the ‘African century’ – by Doug Sanders (Globe and Mail – November 24, 2012)

Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

Are we living in the “African century?” That is what many people in business and politics have begun to call it. You may not have noticed – because so many headlines are devoted to dramatic events north of the Sahara – that there has been a quieter but more dramatic change for so many of the 900 million people living in the lands to the south. In some ways, this has been the larger revolution.

The economies of many once-destitute African countries are taking off. While the economies of the West are barely moving and China has been stalled, Africa experienced economic growth of 5 per cent this year and is projected by the International Monetary Fund to see 5.7 per cent growth next year. Six of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies today are in Africa.

After decades of rising poverty and malnutrition, Africa is moving the other way: For the first time since 1981, fewer than half of Africans live in absolute poverty (defined as an income of less than $1.24 per day). About three million Africans a year escape absolute poverty. This is also having health consequences: In Senegal, for example, the child mortality rate fell from 12 per cent to 7 per cent over five years (though this still means that every other family has suffered a child death).

As Charles Kenny of the Center for Global Development observed this month, the GDP and growth figures from Africa may be disguising larger improvements. He cites the research by London School of Economics professor Alwyn Young, which suggests that even though per capita income has risen only slightly, actual African household consumption has been rising by between 3.4 and 3.7 per cent each year for the past two decades, and other studies showing that TV ownership has grown from 6 per cent of households to 29 per cent, electricity service has gone from one in 10 households to one in four, and six out of 10 Africans now have a telephone (considerably more than have a toilet).

Much of this is rooted in the timeless African economic foundation of having outsiders (including many Canadian companies) come in to your country to pull oil, gas, gems and minerals out of the ground.

But oil and natural-resource wealth does not explain it all. Much of Africa’s growth is due to the virtuous combination of agricultural commercialization and urbanization, the same two factors that ended malnutrition and mass starvation as commonplace factors in Europe and North America two centuries ago. A new report from the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization projects that by 2030, the number of Africans living in cities will double to 600 million – a change that will cause Africa’s fertile land to produce food rather than support poor people, and causing family sizes to drop dramatically.

For the rest of this article, please go to the Globe and Mail website:

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SAVE THE DATES: Holidays in Ballard

BALLARD GIVES BLACK – November 28th, 2014

Now in it’s second year, Ballard Gives Black Friday is an event conceived by local merchants in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. The event occurs on the day after Thanksgiving but instead of long lines, doorbuster deals and crowded parking lots, Ballard retailers welcome shoppers to a different experience; keeping it local. Participating merchants pledge a percentage of the day’s business to a local non-profit as a way of encouraging community, letting shoppers know that more of their hard-earned shopping dollars stay in the community when you shop local.

Shop Small Saturday encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The single day has grown into a powerful movement, and more people are taking part than ever before. Join the revolution, get out and Shop Small on November 29th and make an impact in your neighborhood.

OPEN LATE THURSDAYS -December 4, December 11, December 18

Many Ballard Shops are open late on Thursdays in December, including us! We’re actually open until 8pm Monday thru Saturday, for your shopping convenience. December is the perfect time to shop Ballard after dark with the streets are all lit up with twinkly lights.

For other Ballard neighborhood events, check out the Ballard Chamber or MyBallard.

Hope to see you this holiday season!

XO — team re-souL

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Nicola Billington

Finish time

Hours Minutes Seconds

Distance 5k
Position   (based on gun time)
Overall 43 of 52
Female 24 of 33
Senior female 9 of 13
Speed 8.71 km/h
Pace 6:53 min/km
VO2 max (Estimated) 26.1 (ml / kg / min)
VO2 rating
Chiptime as 21-29 year-old 00:33:47
(Based on age factor)
Participant (#102)
Nicola Billington
Senior female

Age category is calculated based on the age of the athlete. The age at 10 May 2018.

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100 Essential CDs – Number 93 –Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes – The Very Best Of

The Very Best Of Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes (Sony 2014)

harold melvin.jpg

It was back in 1954 that Philadelphian Harold Melvin formed a doo-wop group.  They had a good reputation, were a popular live band and recorded on a number of small record labels.  Commercial success eluded them.  The best of the early tracks is a song called “Get Out (And Let Me Cry)” which became popular in the UK Northern Soul Scene.  (It reached number 35 in the UK Pop Charts in 1975 when re-released on the Route label).  Fifteen years into their existence a drummer joined their touring band.  His name was Teddy Pendergrass and when lead singer John Atkins left in the early 70’s Teddy took over the role of lead vocalist.

In 1971, 17 years after their formation, this struggling group got a break and were signed by the very up and coming Philadelphia International Records by the two men behind the label Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff who saw the raspiness of the Pendergrass voice as an excellent foil to the lush orchestration which was to become the selling point of this new Philadelphia sound.

At long last success came, but they are still very much an under-rated group and should have been bigger commercially.  The hit single tally is 4 US Pop Top 2o hits and five UK Top 40 hits for the Philadelphia International label, all of which are included on this seventeen track album.

When fame came there was always going to be an issue and that was the group’s name.  By the early 70’s we were used to performers in groups being pushed to the front – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles the list goes on.  But here the problem was Harold Melvin was not the lead singer, even though the casual listener would have assumed he was.  Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes featuring Theodore Pendergrass was tried but just didn’t exactly slip off the tongue.  It was going to cause tensions.  There were four albums before the group were faced with Pendergrass’ departure.  Even within these Melvin was experimenting with other voices on the tracks, including female singer Sharon Paige. The record label, seeing where the unique selling point of this group was kept Pendergrass on as a solo artist, where he became an R&B legend.  The group found a new lead singer in David Ebo and moved to ABC records and a return to relative obscurity.

These seventeen tracks are taken from the golden four year period and have stood the test of time.  They are a combination of classic soul ballads and uptempo numbers which due to the lushness of the Philly orchestration are early disco classics.  For a long time this group was not best served by compilations.  I favoured the ten track “Super Hits” (Epic Legacy 2000) but there are obvious omissions and a couple of the tracks in their full-length version are a little over-realised.   This compilation adds seven more tracks, generally in their single length or Part 1 versions and is therefore my choice as an Essential CD.

Some of the other hits compilations that have been available over the years

The album kicks off with a bang and one of those early disco classics which is here presented in its full-length six and a half-minute form.  “Bad Luck” became the group’s third US hit in 1975 when it reached number 15 but never became a UK hit.  The opening funky bass-line would have perhaps been more recognisable to us Brits as it was used by The Ritchie Family in their hit disco-medley “The Best Disco In Town”.  From this it explodes into a sing-a-long stormer from the group- not their best uptempo track but close to it.  The standard is maintained for the O-Jays-ish “Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back) which is archetypal uptempo Philly Soul and reached number 32 in the UK when issued as a single in 1974.  This track is inexplicably absent on the “Super Hits” compilation so it is great to hear it here.  It was one of the stand-out tracks on their second “Black And Blue” album.  It features one of the great in-intro grunts on record, sounding  like a bear being awoken from its slumbers.

“Wake Up Everybody” was very much a swan-song for the group, their last US Pop hit reaching number 12 and number 23 in the UK in 1976.  Philadelphia were quite hot on political message songs with songs such as “Love Train”, “Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto”, and “Let Em In” doing well for the label.  In fact, the output of the label was very much either love songs, message songs or have a good time dance tunes.  “Wake Up Everybody” is the Blue Notes’ most significant message song, intended to stir us out of our mid 70’s lethargy and self-centeredness.  (Things haven’t really changed).  Headed off by a lovely piece of piano glissando this is a great tune.  Message songs can come across as naive but there’s something about Teddy’s call to get motivated to help out the community which I’ve always found appealing.

The big hit is next which really kick-started the Philadelphia International career for them.  “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” is a true soul classic and one of Gamble & Huff’s best songs and productions.  It seems like Teddy, in a ten year relationship, is not going to change so it’s a bit of a like it or lump it situation.  In late 72/early 73 this reached #3 in the US and #9 in the UK.  The chart honours for this particular track, however, go to Mick Hucknell of Simply Red who took it to the very top of the US charts and number 2 in the UK in 1989.  I’m sure even he would admit that the original version is the best.

There’s still a couple of disco anthems to be enjoyed beginning with “The Love I Lost” (US#7, UK#21 in 1974).  This benefits from being shortened from the album version where the “I lost you, sorry I lost you” refrain goes on too long.  As a three and a half minute single it is perfection. This song also had a new lease of life in 1993 when West End featuring Sybil took it to number 3 in the UK.  And talking of a song with an extended lease of life…

“Don’t Leave Me This Way,” a Gamble and Huff song written with Cary Gilbert began life as an album track on the “Wake Up Everybody” album.  A slow moody start, with tom-tom intro it ripples into an impassioned disco track.  Over at Motown they decided to give it a Hal Davis “Love Hangover” treatment for Thelma Houston which just exploded causing the Blue Notes version to race up the charts in the UK alongside Thelma.  In the US it gave Thelma her only US number 1 single, the biggest hit of her career.  In the UK it became Harold Melvin’s biggest chart success peaking at number 5 where Thelma had to make do with a number 13 placing.  I love both versions of this song.  To complex matters there was a third even bigger excellent version nine years later when The Communards topped the UK charts in 1987.  I’d be hard pushed to pick my favourite of the three versions of this song.  By 1977 when the group were in the UK Top 5 there was no chance of them capitalising with new material as by this time they were Teddy Pendergrass-less and recording for ABC.  The impetus caused by this re-release did see their ABC debut “Reaching For The World” getting a limited amount of UK action, reaching 48, but that is beyond the scope of this album.

Don’t Leave Them This Way – The Blue Notes, Thelma Houston & Communards

The writing on the wall can be heard on the track “To Be True” which comes from their 1975 album of the same name as the vocalist here is none other than Harold Melvin himself.  It’s a nice enough track but I find myself willing Teddy to make an appearance.  It is certainly still Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes but it’s not Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes as we knew them and that shows why this group was unlikely to do that much after Pendergrass’ departure.  To a certain extent I feel this way about the two tracks which feature Sharon Paige, “Hope That We Can Be Together Soon” is very much a Paige/Pendergrass duet and did in fact top the US R&B charts.  Sharon is given a bigger bite of the cherry with “You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good” and my reservations here apply.  It looks like I’m pushing Teddy into his solo career here, but I’m actually not.  What I really like is the juxtaposition between the group’s vocals and the lead.  You can tell their roots are in doowop and really like Gladys Knight and The Pips it is this interplay which make this group great.  This works so well on the bluesy “Yesterday I Had The Blues” and in the magnificent disco treat of “Tell The World How I Feel About Cha Baby”.  Here they are certainly not relegated to backing singers as they have the song’s hooks  but the group sound and the Teddy lead just work really so well.

Elsewhere on the CD, away from the hits, you get the excellent “Where Are All My Friends” a time-old tale of friends vanishing when you hit on bad times, “Be For Real” which is a musical lecture from Theodore to his lady who looks down on people and “I Miss You” one of the great soul songs about loss which is almost animalistic in its howling passion, which can make it a little difficult to listen to.

The song that really feels out of place is the one minute 45 section snatch of the show-tune “Cabaret” sung in harmony very much in the same style as Motown would occasionally employ with The Four Tops (with “Mame”) and The Temptations (with “That’s Life” and “Hello Young Lovers”).  Was this an attempt at broadening the appeal of the group?  Berry Gordy over at Motown would at one point deliberately record tracks like these for his acts in order to chase the lucrative older white album-buying market which would lead to lucrative supper-club bookings but it feels a little late in the day (1973) to be doing this.  Was it just a way to show that this group were every bit as good singers of more traditional fare as the Tops and the Temps?  I’m not sure but it is less than two minutes out of an hour-plus of super-soulful sounds.

Harold Melvin and Teddy Pendergrass

Harold Melvin continued to plug away with various incarnations of The Blue Notes and died in 1997.  Teddy recorded two of the best singles of all time in his long solo career, his debut release “The Whole Town’s Laughing At Me” which promised so much and even better than that is “Can’t We Try?” which contains one of the most heart-felt male R&B vocals ever.  I preferred him more as a loser of love than the Barry White-esque Love God he was sometimes made out to be in tracks such as “Turn Off The Lights” and “Close The Door”.  In his homeland he recorded a run of big selling albums and was an essential live performer.  In 1982 things changed overnight when a horrific car accident left him paraplegic.  There were years of health issues over the years with musical comebacks and much charity work.  He died in 2010 at the age of 59.

These are the glory days of these Philadelphia International’s superstars career.  Listening to this album shows what a great ballad group and also what a great group of uptempo material they were.

The Very Best Of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes  is currently available from Amazon in the UK for £3.99 and used from £2.72. It can be downloaded for £6.99. In the US this CD is harder to come by but other compilations are available.  In the UK it is also available to stream on Spotify.


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Outraged over what they say are unfair and poor working conditions, employees at Detroit’s John Dingell VA Medical Center are rallying for change…

A group of about 100 workers and supporters protested outside the hospital on Wednesday.

One of those fired employees, LPN Darlene Nolan, believes management retaliated against her as a whistle-blower.

“During my time here I was reporting patient abuse and neglect with other nurses and nursing assistants,” she told WWJ City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas.

“The type of neglect would be they weren’t changing the briefs, leaving them in dirty, soiled briefs, causing bed sores…not helping patients into their bed when needed because they’re amputees, their legs,” Nolan said. “They can’t get into bed so we have to help them to get into bed.”

A spokesperson for the medical center says leadership has always worked closely with the union and meets with union representatives often to discuss any concerns. She added that they are committed to providing excellent care for their veterans.

Source: Detroit VA Hospital ‘Like A Third World Country’ Claim Protesting Workers


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Exploring my local Swiss Alps, motivated by the VeloViewer Explorer score

I explored some incredibly beautiful Swiss Alpine valleys this summer and autumn on the bike and by foot due to having the goal of visiting all of the VeloViewer Explorer tiles in my local cantons of Vaud and Fribourg.

New goal needed

For the first half of 2018, my main motivation for Riding Far was to prepare for the TransAtlantic Way Race in Ireland. I was extremely pleased with my 12th place finish, the beautiful route, the unexpectedly mild weather, and a fantastic experience with great people; I do plan to write a ride report eventually. I found it odd to have a primary goal that was completed so early in the season, mid-June, so I needed something else.

Back home in Switzerland, the higher roads in the Alps had taken longer than normal to be snow-free after a reasonably snowy winter, so I was keen to get up high and tick off some more of the VeloViewer Explorer map tiles that I hadn’t yet visited. I explained this concept in this post last year; briefly, the VeloViewer site performs many additional analyses on your Strava data, which includes dividing the map into tiles that measure approximately 1.7 x 1.7 km and counting how many you’ve ridden through. There’s even a Strava group devoted to people like me who try to Ride Every Tile.

I’d slowly been ticking off all of the local tiles and was trying to complete certain regions when I realized that I’d finished all of the tiles in the two nearby Swiss cantons of Geneva and Neuchatel without visiting everywhere in my home canton of Vaud (a Swiss canton is similar to a British county). Vaud is the 4th largest canton in the country, covering 5,224 km2 and so contains around 2,000 VeloViewer Explorer map tiles, of which I’d visited all but about 100. Unsurprisingly, the remaining tiles were all in the more challenging Alpine part of the canton.

My new goal for the season therefore became to explore every corner of the Vaudoise Alps, as much of it as possible by bike, but I had to do some hiking to reach some of the more remote tiles.

Serious climbing

A typical “Explorer ride” often involved taking an early morning train to get closer to my starting location then heading into the mountains for about 80-100 km of tough riding during which I’d climb 3-4,000 metres on a variety of paved roads, dirt roads, farm tracks and hiking trails, on which I’d occasionally have to walk. It was slow progress and I was often happy if my average speed stayed above 16 km/h during those sections. By late afternoon I’d be completely exhausted and would then ride the most direct way home, often up to 70 km away.

Here’s an example, which you can also view on Strava.

My biggest single climb on the bike started on the bank of the Rhone river at 400 meters elevation, passed through the village of Morcles and continued up a gravel road until reaching the ruins of the Rionda military base at 2,150 meters. I had climbed 1,750 meters in just 14 km for an average gradient of over 12%! It’s even listed as one of the Top 10 hardest cycling climbs in the world.

You can view my complete ride on Strava, but the important part is shown in the Google Earth image below:

I did the Rionda ride at the end of the season in mid-October when I was at my fittest and it was a perfect way to get my final tiles in Vaud. Just 10 days afterwards, the first snow of the season fell so I had timed it just right, otherwise I might need to wait another 8 months before the higher sections are snow-free again.

Hiking High as well as Riding Far

The Les Diablerets massif contains the highest point in Vaud at 3,210 meters above sea level (10,530 feet) and while visiting that tile I reached my highest elevation for this year during a hike with my friend Lillie and brother-in-law Daniel to the Dôme des Diablerets peak at 3,016 meters elevation (9,895 ft.). We took this photo at the top:

That hike included traversing over the Les Diablerets glacier, but that was on a flat, well-used trail; the tough part was climbing up there starting at only 1,300 meters. Fortunately, there was a cable car nearby to save our knees from the pounding of walking back down. This was one of only two occasions when I had to leave the bike at home because the entire route was a hike. Here’s the route, which you can see in more detail on Strava.

Extensive planning

I spent a lot of time making plans for how to reach every tile in Vaud reasonably efficiently and as much as possible by bike. I combined information from various maps and some local knowledge. The hardest part was deciding whether to reach a higher-elevation tile by climbing up from a certain valley during one ride, or leaving it until a different ride and using an entirely different access route from a different valley. Also, would it be better to access all of the higher tiles by staying up high and using more slow paths and trails or is it better to descend down and go back up further along to use more of the faster roads?

Tile hunting in the Alps is a massive three-dimensional puzzle and optimization problem that I find very addictive.

There is just one tile in Vaud in which there are no roads or official hiking trails. It’s along the northern edge of the Les Diablerets massif and I spent a lot of time looking at satellite images to decide which would be the easiest part of the tile to access. I thought about ignoring that tile, but eventually decided that I could ride to within 1.5 km of the edge and then hike across some fields then scramble up a scree slope and I should just make it into the tile before reaching the base of a cliff.

My track is shown in this Google Earth image or you can see the complete route on Strava.

The terrain and scramble looked pretty daunting on the satellite images, so I was relieved that in reality it wasn’t too bad. I was immensely satisfied when my GPS showed my location to be inside the trickiest-to-reach tile in Vaud and I took my only selfie of the year:

I obviously needed to visit many tiles that span the border between Vaud and the neighboring cantons of Bern, Valais and Friboug. I then realized that after visiting all of Vaud, I’d have very few tiles left in canton Fribourg, so I should try to visit all of the tiles in that canton at the same time. In the end, I finished Fribourg a few weeks before doing the final tiles in Vaud. I’ve therefore now visited all of the tiles in 4 cantons as well as visiting some tiles in every one of Switzerland’s 26 cantons and many in the surrounding countries.

Focusing on the goal to visit all of the VeloViewer tiles in Vaud and Fribourg made me explore some incredibly beautiful valleys this summer that I would have otherwise never gone to. It’s also given me some more variety in my activities by doing more hiking than I’ve done for at least 10 years. Going to more remote places has also allowed me to see many wild animals, including the first ibex and snakes that I’ve seen in Switzerland for several years – special moments indeed.

Despite progress generally being quite slow on these kinds of rides, it’s kept me motivated to ride a lot. Now, with less than two months remaining in 2018, I’ve ridden over 18,000 km and am on schedule to achieve another goal for the first time, which is to ride more than 20,000+ km in one calendar year (in the previous 8 years, my total has been between 11,000 and 18,500 km).

Here’s a map showing the rides in the Vaudoise and Fribourgoise Alps that I’ve done in 2018 and highlighting the map tiles that I passed through.

I didn’t bother to revisit many of the tiles that I’d visited in previous years, so here is another map showing every tile that I’ve visited since I started recording my rides with a GPS in 2011. If you click on it to zoom in then you can just see the cantonal borders marked with dashed lines, or refer to this map at Wikipedia.

My ‘any road or trail’ bike: Specialized Diverge Future Shock

I’ve mostly been using my Specialized Diverge gravel bike for these rides, equipped with 40 mm wide tires. The Diverge has a mini suspension inside the steering column called the Future Shock that gives some comfort and helps to keep the front wheel on the ground during rough descents, which I’ve found to work quite well, see this post for more details. I also have a minimalistic aerobar mounted to the drop bars to make the long rides home a little easier after I’ve finished all the climbing.

On some sections of some rides, a mountain bike with more suspension and wider tires would have performed slightly better, but overall the gravel bike is the best tool for such a variety of terrain and the distances that I ride. I actually find the term ‘gravel bike’ is a bit too restrictive – I prefer the less catchy but more apt ‘any road or trail’ bike.

I normally bring 3 water bottles and have enough bags to carry the food and extra clothing that I need for a long day in the mountains – I find backpacks to be uncomfortable. Below are some more of the technical details about the bike because some people always ask, but you’re welcome to ignore this section:

Low gearing and mechanical disc brakes

My lowest gear is a 33-tooth chainring and a 42-tooth rear cog, which yields about 6.3 km/h at 60 rpm. That gearing allows me to keep pedaling even on sustained unpaved climbs of up to 20% gradient, when it gets steeper than that then I walk. My top gear of 46-11 gets me up to 55 km/h at 100 rpm, which is more than enough. I therefore have 14 well-spaced gears with a spread of 532%; the currently more fashionable single chainring setup with only 11 gears and 420% range would not be sufficient for my type of riding.

The derailleurs and shifters are Shimano Ultegra Di2 (6870) because they work so well and I can have shifters in multiple positions on the bars. I’m lucky that the bike’s stock derailleur hanger is long enough for the long-cage rear derailleur to shift to the 42-tooth cog without needing any modification – this would not be the case on most frames.

The brakes are Shimano cable-operated disc brakes (RS305) because I hate messing around with hydraulic fluid. Having cable-operated brakes does mean that I need to manually re-tighten the pads quite frequently as they wear down, so I wouldn’t recommend them for someone who doesn’t maintain their bike frequently.

Tires – tubeless and tubed

I’ve been using Schwalbe G-Ones tires, but they’re nothing special and I’d happily use many other similar models. For most of the season one tire has been tubeless and the other has had a tube inside due to an unrepairable hole. I have extremely mixed feelings about riding tubeless – it’s nice when it works, but it can be a lot of hassle to get it setup initially and it’s not entirely puncture-proof.

When the tubeless sealant and a tire plug don’t fix a puncture then you either have to throw away an otherwise good tire or use it with a tube, so what was the point in setting it up tubeless in the first place? Also, for the sealant to work well it needs to be changed every few months, which is generally more frequently than I get a puncture on any given tire. Finally, when you have a slow leak on a tubeless tire it’s difficult to determine whether the issue is with the tire, valve-rim interface, valve core, rim tape, etc.

I find inner tubes to be far more straightforward and because I prefer to run a decent amount of pressure in my tires, I very rarely get punctures. If I do get a puncture, changing the tube is much easier and cleaner when there’s an old inner tube to remove instead of liquid sealant.

In my experience, using a tubeless setup instead of a tubed setup has at least as many disadvantages as advantages. However, your preferences, experience and situation may be very different so you should use whatever you’re happier with. Just don’t blindly believe that tubeless is always better – it annoys me when people say that.

Do you need a specific gravel bike?

I’ve also ridden my road bike with skinny tires on some pretty rough dirt/gravel roads and occasionally on trails. You certainly don’t need to have a specific gravel bike to ride a variety of terrain – just ride what you’ve got, explore the world and enjoy yourself!

4 thoughts on “Exploring my local Swiss Alps, motivated by the VeloViewer Explorer score”

  1. “just ride what you’ve got.” Yes! My first few years climbing super high unpaved stuff was on the cheapest of cheap hybrids. No worries, I had pedals and wheels that worked fine.

    One thing I love with your tile obsession is how it makes you familiar with every part of the region where you live (and beyond). I am nowhere near as strong or as adventurous as you, but I enjoy exploring as much as possible … including trying to visit anything potentially fun locally. As your post clearly shows, exploring often pays fun dividends.

    Thx for post

    1. I remember seeing pictures of that hybrid bike on your blog and it showed that you were just riding for fun rather than to impress anyone. In terms of inspiring people to explore, my occasional reports are nothing compared to the wealth of info you’ve put on your Cycling-Challenge blog, so I should be thanking you rather than the other way around.

  2. Got me addicted. Luckily in my canton of Basel its not too hard to do all the tiles!

    A nice read thank you

    1. Yep, I need to come visit you to finish another canton – Basel City is the smallest canton in the country at only 37 km2 and I’ve already visited 14 of the 29 tiles! Even if you include Basel Country it only ranks 18th in size (see Wikipedia), so probably no more than 2-300 tiles. Plus, riding all of the tiles in the Swiss Jura mountains is one of my next goals.

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BREAKING: President Trump Hints At Something Massive He’s About To Do… YES!

Chris “Badger” Thomas RIGHT WING TRIBUNE

President Trump on Saturday took aim at social media tech giants for “discriminating” against Republicans and conservatives — saying that “too many voices are being destroyed” and promising that his administration would not allow it to happen, FOX News reports.

Twitter and Facebook have been heavily censoring accounts and only allowing what they desire, specifically targeting anyone and any groups that are not Democratic and left leaning.  Both have ignored any violations by those that they see as democratic and leftwing and they allow these crybabies to target republicans, right-wing views, constitutional views, pro firearm and the list goes on.

Despite plenty of evidence proving that social media companies have been censoring, shadow banning and targeting conservatives, the left-wing media continue to either deny it or excuse it.

Speaking Friday with Breitbart, GOP congressional candidate Elizabeth Heng of California outlined exactly why it’s fundamental this issue be acknowledged and addressed.

“Once again, we have these huge tech giants that continue to stifle conservative voices,” a day after Twitter blocked her campaign video ad and roughly a week after Facebook pulled the same stunt on her. “You can’t get that message out. What if this had happened with Facebook and Twitter five days before the election? That could completely swing elections for us going forward as they censor conservative voices.”

She was right. It’s quite remarkable, really. The left continually accuse the right of colluding with Russia and whomever else (aliens, gremlins, Santa Clause) to cheat in political elections, BizPacReveiw reports.

It is baffling how people do not care so long as it does not interfere with their little bubbles, they ignore the attacks and blatant violations of our rights and that is why these companies can get away with it.  No company has the right to violate the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, yet many left lunatics believe a company is a private entity can do as they please, while yes they can to an extent, they cannot override your actual rights.

Chris “Badger” Thomas is a Veteran who served our country as an Army Combat Medic.

Be sure to follow us on Nation In Distress and America’s Freedom Fighters on Facebook

Facebook Has Banned Us!

The leftists at Facebook decided they didn't like our message, so they removed our page and are censoring us. Help us fight back and subscribe to our newsletter so that you can stay up-to-date with everything Facebook doesn't want you to see!


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Clean laminate floors wisely: dos and donts.

Laminate floor is a cost-efficient solution for those, who want the look and texture of a real wood floor. This kind of flooring comes in many grains and colours, identical to the real wood. Laminate floor consists of 4 layers, that increase its durability. Generally speaking, laminate is highly resistant to moist damage, stain and fading, which makes this floor material even more appealing, especially to those with kids and pets.

To prolong its life, one should know how to properly clean such type of floor and what should be avoided.

Do not use traditional broom for sweeping laminate floor, because rigid bristles of such brush can leave small scratches and marks on the surface.

Do not use harsh detergents, they can leave streaks on the floor.  It is safer to use mild detergent. You can even use baby’s shampoo (not standard!) as a detergent, just rinse the floor afterwards.

No bleach.

laminate floor, home renovation toronto

Use hot water for cleaning. Wash the floor with a damp cloth, but never puddle water on the floor.

Microfiber cloth is the best, it doesn’t leave marks and scratches, it is gentle and wipes off excessive water very good.

Take proactive approach in cleaning stains: clean them right away. Blood stains can be treated with window cleaner.

For different types of stains and ways to clean them, please visit this post

2 thoughts on “Clean laminate floors wisely: dos and donts.

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Popular hashtags for deloadingsucks on Twitter and Instagram

NEW Get the full report on 100% of Tweets containing #deloadingsucks with sentiment data and more. Get report

Not sure which hashtags to use for deloadingsucks? These 2 are often used along with the word 'deloadingsucks':

Use these hashtags to get seen now

#fitness Get report 388 62 1,004,675

Good only for Instagram

Hashtags related to #deloadingsucks

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Popular hashtags for volti on Twitter and Instagram

NEW Get the full report on 100% of Tweets containing #volti with sentiment data and more. Get report

Not sure which hashtags to use for volti? These 13 are often used along with the word 'volti':

Use these hashtags to get seen now

#berlusconi Get report 12 55 470,121
#gameinsight Get report 233 0 18,225
#salute Get report 50 25 135,567

Use these hashtags to get seen over time

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Do not use these hashtags, very few people are following them

Hashtags related to #volti

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About single-cell RNABIO & organoids meeting

Single-cell RNA sequencing is a breakthrough technology enabling transcriptomic and even multi-omics research at the single-cell resolution. It has great potential for understanding cellular heterogeneity, dynamics, and gene regulation, opening new horizons for biomedical applications.

The complementary technology is developing human organoids, the next-level model systems for translational medicine. Organoids grown of human cells in vitro are used to understand biology of self-organization as well as mechanisms of diseases, and provide new system for drug discovery and testing.

Goals of the meeting:

  • introduce the single-cell and organoids-based approaches to study biology and disease (especially, of human brain);
  • gather biologists, engineers, and computational people to dive into scRNAseq technology and data analysis;
  • introduce researchers and engineers to building and applying microfluidics device for single-cell biology.

The meeting will consist of two major parts:

September 28, 2018

Talks day. You can find the list of confirmed speakers by the link.

September 29-30, 2018

Workshop on building microfluidic device. You can find what it is about by the link.

The meeting is powered by Fabricator / FabLab.

Registration is open.


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Rolls-Royce Immortalized in a Fabergé Egg

The world's most iconic automotive brand has crafted a priceless homage to its legacy.

Spirit of Ecstasy Fabergé Egg Photo: Courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Since being formally relaunched under the aegis of BMW in 2003, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has produced some 4,000 vehicles a year, which include the Ghost, the Wraith, the Dawn, the Phantom, and the Cullinan. And now the marque has something truly unique to unveil—not a car, but a work of art that pays homage to the brand’s beauty with a one-of-a-kind work of art.

The artifact? An imperially inspired “Spirit of Ecstasy” Fabergé egg.

As for what prompted the egg’s production, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, had this to say: “The Spirit of Ecstasy’ Fabergé Egg was born from an intrinsic desire to further the realm of bespoke personalization for one discerning patron.” With just 50 pre-1917 Imperial Fabergé Eggs in existence, these exceptionally precious creations have become some of the most valuable and coveted objects ever to have been made. “What better way is there,” he asks, “to celebrate the heritage of both our brands than to create a unique piece?”

The concept for the egg was conceived by Rolls-Royce designers Stefan Monro and Alex Innes, was engineered by Fabergé’s lead designer Liisa Talgren, and, in the words of the company, was “brought to life” by Fabergé’s work-master Paul Jones. Crafted over the course of two years by Jones and a team of seven dedicated artisan jewelers, goldsmiths, and gem-setters, the one-of-a-kind gilded cage—an exercise in opulence that reflects the level of artisan detail that goes into each Rolls-Royce automobile—stands just 6.3 inches high and weighs some 14 ounces. The egg’s rose gold arms, which are lined with 10 carats of diamonds and more than 390 carats of amethyst, open like a flower by means of a discrete, intricate mechanical device that’s so small and complex it had to created using computer-aided design systems. When activated, it reveals a tiny sculpture of the marque’s mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy, executed in frosted rock crystal. The whole of the affair is mounted on an 18-karat white gold, purple enameled guilloché base.

The egg will be unveiled on October 23 at the House of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex, England—where the marque is headquartered—after which it is to be on public display in the window of Fabergé’s London outpost during Christmastime.

Spirit of Ecstasy Fabergé Egg

Rolls Royce’s latest offering, a Spirit of Ecstasy Fabergé Egg  Photo: Courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

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