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We've already learned that sugar is making us fat and miserable. What's worse, the most dangerous bad sugar—fructose—has been marketed as a "low glycemic, healthy" alternative.
So, what sugars are safe? How are they different? What should you know about good sugar vs. bag sugar? Sweeteners like honey, cane sugar, and agave have varying ratios of glucose to fructose. This determines how they affect your blood sugar levels, liver function, and immune response.
Here's a breakdown of the glucose/fructose content of the most common sweeteners, and how they rank on the good/better/best scale.
The Factors:
To determine good sugar vs. bad sugars, we'll weigh the ratios of glucose to fructose and the glycemic index and glycemic load of each. Glycemic load values below are based on a serving size of one tablespoon.
courtesy of Precision Nutrition
Wait… What Does Glycemic Index / Glycemic Load Mean Again?
Glycemic Index (GI): How fast a food's sugar content is absorbed into the bloodstream
Glycemic Load (GL): How a food's sugar will impact your insulin response – taking into account the carbohydrates, fiber, and serving size
While GI measures how fast sugar is absorbed, it doesn't take into account the amount of sugar that food contains relative to it's fiber and portion size. Thus, as health columnist Dr. Laina Shulman explains, "Although the sugar in the carrots is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly [GI of 74], there is not a lot of sugar to begin with [GL of 2]. As you can imagine, the same amount of dense white pasta would have both a high glycemic index [78] and a high glycemic load [32]."
Glycemic Index
Low GI = 55 or less
Medium GI = 56 – 69
- High GI = 70 or more
Glycemic Load
Low GL = under 10
Medium GL = 10 – 2
- High GL = 20 or more
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
Derived from corn starch, HFCS undergoes processing that converts half of the naturally-occurring glucose into fructose.
Chemically, HFCS appears very similar to sucrose: both are made up of 50 percent glucose / 50 percent fructose. But they behave very differently once metabolized.
HFCS fructose molecules are "free and unbound" – ready to be converted into fat immediately. In contrast, Princeton researchers report, "every fructose molecule in sucrose [table sugar] is bound to a corresponding glucose molecule and must go through an extra metabolic step before it can be utilized." Thus, HFCS fructose is immediately available for fat conversion, whereas sucrose needs further breakdown.
The two most common HFCS mixtures are HFCS-55 (containing 55% fructose) – typically added to sodas, and HFCS-42 (42% fructose) – typically added to processed foods.
History Lesson:
High fructose corn syrup wasn't discovered until 1971. In 1982, when the cost of sugar imports jumped, it became cheaper to sweeten food/drink with domestic HFCS. Thus, HFCS's popularity skyrocketed – just look at that line graph climb:
courtesy of Precision Nutrition
Agave Nectar
- Contains 90 percent fructose (that's more than HFCS!) – making it one of the highest fructose levels among sweeteners.
- Be wary of the "raw" claim. This syrup is made from agave juice which is filtered, hydrolyzed, then boiled to concentrate the sugars – this is hardly a "raw" product.
- Because of it's high fructose content, the sugars are metabolized in the liver, and don't enter the blood stream – resulting in a deceptively low rank on the GI & GL scale, but don't be fooled (we learned about the dangers of fructose above).
No nutritional value, all vitamins and minerals are stripped out during the refining process. This is a bad sugar, indeed.
Read our complete analysis of agave here.
True, agave has a low glycemic index, but what it does is far worse than raise insulin levels: it can raise your triglyceride levels, trigger inflammation, and otherwise damage your liver. So don't fall for the agave hype.
–JJ Virgin
Raw Honey
Raw honey has a glycemic index of about 30, relatively low among sweeteners, but be wary of processed honey which has a much higher GI (around 75).
Another reason to choose raw: In order to increase the sweetness, processing destroys much of honey's natural benefits.
Contains natural antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and enzymes. Studies claim it can boost immunity and even reduce allergies.
My Favorite Sweet SnackI love morning oatmeal with honey, raisins (make sure they're the unsweetened kind), and pistachios. Or try a snack of sprouted grain toast with almond butter, honey, and cacao nibs. Another favorite is sweet potatoes roasted with coconut, raw cane sugar, and coconut oil.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is the concentrated sap of the maple tree, collected from a tap bored into the truck, then boiled to evaporate the excess water.
Although low in free fructose, it is made up of about 66 percent sucrose (which is half fructose).
A significant source of manganese, iron, and calcium.
- Choose darker grades, which have higher levels of vitamins and minerals.
Molasses is actually a byproduct of sugar processing
Equal parts fructose/glucose
Natural source of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, copper and zinc (which are usually extracted in table sugar production)
- Great for baking
Coconut Palm Sugar
Made from the nectar of the coconut palm
Low in free fructose, but is comprised of 70 to 79 percent sucrose (which means it's still 35 – 45 percent fructose)
Not to be confused with palm sugar, which derived from a different type of palm tree
Contains iron, zinc, calcium and potassium, along with some short chain fatty acids, polyphenols, antioxidants – and even a little inulin fiber to slow the insulin spike
Fairly new on the market, its nutritional profile is still contested, read a further analysis from Authority Nutrition here.
Fruit Sugar
Because nature is awesome, and she's been doing this whole glucose/fructose thing for centuries, eating fruit sugar is safe. However, some fruits have better ratios of sugar to fiber, which prevents an insulin spike, and delivers more sustained energy.
Super Awesome:
Blueberries, strawberries, and grapefruit: Super high in antioxidants and fiber, these fruits are powerhouses of taste and nutrition with relatively low sugar.
Still Awesome, But Don't Go Craycray:
Mangos, papayas and nectarines: Super high in sugar and low in fiber, these fruits are still delicious and natural, but are more likely to give you a blood sugar spike. Still, they're way preferable to a snickerdoodle.
How Fruits Rank:
Shoot for high-fiber, low-sugar fruits for the most health benefits and steady energy (e.g. the lower right-hand quadrant of this graph):
Mark Sisson of Mark's Daily Apple outlines his picks for best and worst fruits according to his Primal Diet.
So, What Sugars Can I Eat?
Let's be real here. I'm not saying don't eat sugar ever, ever. Because we all know our willpower has limits. But if you choose fruit over refined sugar, and pay close attention to added HFCS, you won't be at risk of sugar-induced heart disease and chronic stress.
Our Verdict:
- Eat fruit.
Sure, it might not satisfy your HFCS-loving sweet tooth at first, but you can beat sugar cravings. And you will feel so liberated.
- Eat naturally-occurring sweeteners occasionally.
Look for low-fructose, raw, and unrefined sweeteners. A lil' maple syrup and honey won't hurt you, but shoot for no more than a teaspoon per serving.
- Stay away from HFCS.
Get off the corn crack, guys. Eating high fructose corn syrup will make you fatter and more addicted. Watch for it on ingredient lists and nutrition labels.
[Tweet "Sugar craving? Here's what to eat when an apricot just won't cut it."]
TIP: If you gotta get your sugar fix ('cause sometimes an apricot just won't cut it), splurge on a raw cane sugar cookie or small raw cacao chocolate bar. Sucrose is much easier to metabolize than HFCS. It will still give you a sugar high/crash. But small indulgences will keep you from binging later on. Our rule: Be kind to yo'self. But avoid the sugar health risks.
Advice from the experts:
Mark Sisson:
I'd suggest paying closest attention to the total sugar content first, then to any nutritional benefits, and finally to the fructose content. Blueberries might have a relatively equal fructose/glucose ratio, but they offer huge antioxidant benefit. On the other hand, dried apricots have a lower fructose ratio, but their overall sugar content dwarfs many fruits ounce for ounce. Raw honey and coconut sugar likewise offer solid nutritional benefit for their sugar content compared to other sweeteners.
Steve Kamb:
If you're going to eat sugar, get it from fruit or naturally occurring sweeteners. With that being said, to minimize the effect on your blood sugar, minimize sugar consumption across the board if your primary goal is weight loss.
Further reading:
Precision Nutrition's All About Natural Sweeteners
JJ Virgin's Guide to Alternative Sweeteners
What's So Bad About Sugar Anyway?
Ready to kick the sugar habit for good? Consider doing a sugar cleanse. I tried it, and wrote about it here: How I Took My Life Back in 10 Days. I Quit Sugar.
What are your thoughts on sugar alternatives? What works best for you? Let us know in the comments below.
Photos courtesy of: HyperVibe, Ryan Andrews, Bill Krist, David Gillespie, Bado, Alyse Co-cliff, Spencer's Market


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Two women who have been a part of President Benigno Aquino III's public and private life topped Google Philippines' list of 20 Filipina personalities who grabbed the greatest online mindshare in 2010.
Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, Aquino's former girlfriend, topped the list that Google Philippines drew up to mark the centennial of International Womens Day.
"Soledad... made waves last year as she supported her then-boyfriend Benigno Aquino III during the presidential campaign, to their breakup later in the year," Google said.
Following her breakup with Aquino, Soledad has kept herself busy with her duties as councilor, and as a co-host of a television game show.
Second on the list is Aquino's sister Kris, who was talked about for her breakup with then-husband basketball star James Carlos Yap.
Kris also gained controversy as questions were raised about how her career as a television host may affect her brothers presidency.
Third on the list is former beauty queen and television host Ruffa Gutierrez, who emerged strong despite ending her marriage to Yilmaz Bektas and gaining custody of their two children, Lorin and Venice.
Fourth and fifth on the list were Maria Venus Raj and singer Charice Pempengco, who brought honor to the Philippines on the international stage.
Raj, the Philippines' bet for the Miss Universe 2010 beauty pageant, ended up fourth runner-up despite what many perceived as a "major, major" stumble in the question-and-answer portion.
On the other hand, Pempengco impressed renowned television host Oprah Winfrey and wowed global audiences when she appeared on the popular television show "Glee."
Sixth on the list is actress Angel Locsin, proclaimed FHMs Sexiest Woman for 2010.
Seventh was singer-actress Sarah Geronimo, who endorsed Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.'s failed presidential bid in 2010.
Eighth was singer-actress Regine Velasquez, who supported Aquino's presidential bid and wed fellow singer Herminio "Ogie" Alcasid Jr.
Ninth on the list is actress Heart Evangelista, who gained attention when she suddenly ended her business relationship with then manager Annabelle Rama.
Evangelista also announced her new romantic relationship with model Daniel Matsunaga.
Rounding out the Top Ten is feisty Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who took an indefinite leave from the Senate last year for health reasons.
Despite her taking a leave, she earned Filipinos' admiration for her fearless thoughts on public issues such as the Truth Commission, jueteng, and the RH Bill.
11 to 20
Placing 11th on the list is award-winning international Filipino singer Lea Salonga, who gained international fame by playing the lead role in "Miss Saigon" in the 1980s, and made an onstage comback in the musical CATS."
The 12th to 15th include Philippine Daily Inquirer journalist Doris Dumlao; actress Kristine Hermosa, who announced her engagement to and subsequently married Oyo Boy Sotto; actress Toni Gonzaga, who launched a new album magazine; and actress Sharon Cuneta, who launched a new television show.
Rounding out the Top 20 were actress-host Mariel Rodriguez, who married actor Robin Padilla in India; designer Monique Lhuillier, who debuted her Fall 2010 collection during New York Fashion Week; movie actress Bea Alonzo; broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez, who went back to her job as television newsreader; and actress Nora Aunor, who was nominated in the 10 Best International Actresses of the Decade" in Asia category at the 2010 Green Globe Awards. TJD, GMA News
LINK: http://www.gmanews.t...nfluential-list
Edited by Nowelle, 09 March 2011 - 09:12 PM.

subset: commoncrawl


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Inspired Destinations for Families with Small Children
Features & Advice Lisa Iannucci July 19, 2017
Traveling with a small child has its challenges.
You need to find a destination that has activities to keep them busy, as well as activities for older children and adults. In addition, parents need a place that understands a young child's need for kid-friendly snacks, naps and, potentially, changing areas.
With a small youngster of his own, finding a child-friendly destination has been something that even experienced travel agents have been learning about.
Walt Disney World
"The obvious destination is Disney," said Corey S. Determan, Good Travels Advisor & Certified Cruise Counsellor in Jacksonville, Florida.
"Though pricey, you get a lot of value for your money. As any parent who has had to contend with a rowdy toddler on an airplane or crying baby in a car will tell you, they take care of every detail and predict your child's needs better than you can. This is true of the Disney parks, the cruise line and their tour company, Adventures by Disney."
Sandy Nussbaum-Giercyk of Instant Impressions agrees that Disney is the top name for family travel:
"Depending on the age of the child and your desire for activities, family time, parent time, etc., Walt Disney World and Disneyland certainly are action-packed memorable places. Disney's Aulani offers great family activities, along with a kids club to give mom and dad the time to reconnect, enjoy the spa or just relax. Disney Cruise Line offers something for everyone from family games, kids clubs, Broadway shows, sun decks and more."
Theme Parks
If Disney isn't your style, try other theme parks.
"You cannot beat theme parks in general for family travel," said Margie Lenau of Wonderland Family Vacations in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "They cater to small children. There are child care centers in the parks. When I took my grandchildren to one theme park, we went to a child care center. They didn't want to leave, there were movies and so many toys to play with."
Determan suggests SeaWorld.
"Living in Florida, most of us have season passes to either Disney or Universal Studios, but SeaWorld is less common," he said. "The entrance fee is less expensive and unlike their competitors, it is quite easy to see everything in one day (that means no multi-park passes). Our toddler was mesmerized by the animals at SeaWorld and, six months later, she still talks about the dolphins. There are also plenty of toddler-friendly rides, and in the summer there are live concerts."
Determan added that a considerable amount of dollars spent there goes to support their marine conservation and rehabilitation programs.
Think All-inclusive
"What makes a great family destination is the amenities provided along with activities for the kids that will keep them happy and let Mom and Dad have even a nice dinner, just the two of them," said Kim Milnes, Family Travel Boutique in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Milnes recommends three all-inclusive resorts: Azul Beach in Mexico, Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana, and Beaches Turks and Caicos.
"I like Azul Beach for families with toddlers and babies," she said. "It not too big so it is easy to get around. They offer all of the baby items like cribs, changing tables, high chairs and age appropriate toys and have a great kids club. They have great family suites so Mom and Dad can put the baby down and have a spot to sit talk and relax and not fear to wake up the baby!"
Milnes also recommends Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana for its big rooms, kids club, kids' buffet—that also provides options for children with food allergies—and baby equipment. She said that Beaches Turks and Caicos is "one of the best resorts for families."
"They are one of the few resorts that offer amenities and child care for babies and children under three, especially those who are not potty-trainMilnesIlnes said.
"The biggest new offering is support for kids with Autism. They just introduced Julia, the character who has autism from Sesame Street. As well, all of the child care staff have been trained and certified to work with children on the autism spectrum, even the older and teen kids. These families have a hard time traveling , and to know that there are appropriate services at the destination is a game changer for these families."
Samarah Meil, Owner/Travel Consultant of Amarillo Travel Network said that when it comes to traveling with a small child, Amarillo sells a lot of trips to Mexico, but there are several other family-friendly places to choose from.
"Azul's by Karisma offers so much in terms of providing amenities for families in their suites," she said.
"We love to sell the Beaches Turks & Caicos, but clients typically need to plan ahead as this property is very popular. I have recently seen more interest in Universal Studios and feel the property in Orlando has really upped their game. As always, we book out of Galveston many cruises for families via Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International."
READ MORE: Air Travel 101: Coping With Broken Entertainment
Do not rule out a trip to Europe, however, especially if you have a mix of younger and older children.
"Italy is a country that, of course, is known for romance and wine, but we're seeing lots of family travelers heading to Italy as well," said Joost Schreve who is the co-founder and CEO of kimkim, which specializes in curating independent customized tours by local travel specialists.
"Kid-friendly activities have a definite Italian twist when you consider that you can sign your little ones up for something as thrilling as gladiator school in Rome. Active families often enjoy taking their tweens and teens on a bike tour along the Appia Way. We often work with travelers heading to Italy to craft customized family cooking classes led by an authentic pizzaiolo. Budding chefs of all ages enjoy indulging in an Italian feast of pizza and gelato."
When planning a trip to accommodate small children, it might take some research to make sure the destination has what you need. Contacting a travel agent will surely help since they have the experience and knowledge of the resorts.
For more information on Italy, Europe, Mexico, California, Florida
For more Features & Advice News
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DENVER (AP) — Colorado's Level 3 Communications has agreed to pay nearly $1 million to federal regulators under an agreement aimed at improving the reliability of its telephone service in rural areas.
The deal announced by the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday ended an investigation into the Broomfield company and established tougher standards for its rural service.
The FCC said Level 3 would voluntarily pay $975,000. And if it misses quarterly benchmarks, it would pay another $1 million.
The benchmarks require that Level 3 get its call completion rate in rural areas to within 5 percent of the rate in urban areas. It also must tell the FCC about how its intermediate providers are performing and help in any investigations of those carriers.
The chief of the FCC's enforcement division, Michele Ellison, said basic long distance service is failing at "alarming rates" in rural areas and praised Level 3 for tackling the problem.
"We are aggressively pursuing the problem wherever it leads, and there will be significant consequences for those companies that are not fulfilling their obligations to rural America," she said.
Level 3 said it has long supported having clear standards for all carriers to follow.
"Level 3 fully supports the Commission's mandate to improve telephone quality in rural America, and to root out those in the industry responsible for any substandard phone service," Level 3's general counsel for regulatory policy, Michael Mooney, said in a statement.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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An event every week that begins at 6:30pm on Monday, happening 10 times
Join us at the Coolangatta Sands Hotel on Monday Nights!!
We will be dancing in the Retro Lounge area ,which has a beautiful open space for us to bust a groove in and hang out.
Kicking off from from 6:30pm join the every lovely instructors for a night of swing.
Want to keep up with the latest happenings at the Sands?SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST


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"My organization invited the authors to teach us visual collaboration and to test whether a common visual language could enhance cross-departmental collaboration while creating product innovations. We are very pleased with the results. The book is a very successful and practical introduction to this more visual way of working."
"This book gives you the building blocks for meetings, processes or projects. It works as a new language for collaboration. In a world where we need tools and approaches to tackle our complex world this book can help you come up with solutions that work."
"In a world overwhelming us with complexity, confusion, and speed, Visual Collaboration reminds us that the most powerful technology we have is our innate visual processing power. It is an invaluable resource for teams."
"In my current role at Microsoft I don't have the luxury of working with people face to face, so we do a lot of joint visualizations on digital whiteboards while connecting team members from all parts of the world. Visual Collaboration provided an extremely helpful method for clarifying goals, working out joint plans and shared responsibilities, and avoiding cultural or language barriers in our teams."
"Visual Collaboration is one of the best examples I've seen of visual facilitation—balancing structure and process, skills and questions, and knowing how to get started and how to scale. All of these examples are illustrated in a captivating style that is in itself a teaching."
"This book represents the best of what the field of visual facilitation has to offer. The book is clear, high quality, very well structured, very concrete, and practical. It is full of "ah-ha's" not only for anyone wanting to enter the world of working visually, but also for those of us who has been in the field for many years".
Visual Collaboration is an inspiring guide for anyone who is interested in a more visual approach to organizing and hosting meetings and workshops. The book walks the reader step-by-step from discovering a new visual language to enabling others to work more visually. As a reader one doesn't only find helpful hands-on tips but also inspirational templates which can be easily customized for any kind of meeting and workshop
"Visual tools work well for managing meetings, programs, and processes in a way that promotes engagement, ownership, and dialogue. What an excellent resource for complex organizations and anyone who cares about activating the imagination and doing social change work well!"
"I have followed the evolution of the methods described in Visual Collaboration since it's earliest days. I am delighted to see its' core message regarding the power of "making conversations visible" to support collaborative innovation and constructive change in organizations and communities being communicated in engaging and creative ways that can support both the novice and experienced practitioner. The global spread of the World Cafe approach to strategic dialogue and collective intelligence has benefited enormously from the approaches described in this important contribution to the field."
"Visual collaboration enables amazing new forms of collaboration and innovation in organizations. I've had the privilege of working with the authors many times, and this book gives anyone the ability to bring their unique skills and capabilities into their own work."
This book helps you embrace complexity and translate ideas and thoughts into a visual language that works across teams, processes, and cultures. It gives you a framework for making the right decisions. Faster. It's not a read-once book, but a go-to book when you need to handle change and - literally - draw your team together and create alignment or when you just want to make work more clear and fun."
"Visual Collaboration provides readers with a brilliant toolset and roadmap (all presented in an extremely accessible visual format) for groups working together visually."
"This book shows how drawings and visualization increase the bandwidth of collaboration. Something we desperately need, when we work in complex situations. The book is a must-read and has become an essential part of our company toolbox."
"When I first came across visual facilitation, it was a bonus if a consultant was able to draw and visualize for clients. Today it is a must.. This is a very impressive book; it shows how much is possible. It should be on every consultant's bookshelf!"
"One of the most important skills of the future will be 'synthesis': Being able to create overview, see relationships, find meaning and draw it. Those who can see connections, design, model, illustrate, create overview and get others to "see" are the heroes of the future. Any idiot can point out a problem. We must learn to think in - and create - hundreds of possible, enhancing solutions that can be put together in a million ways. This book shows the way."
"As a facilitator, what I most appreciate about this book is how the practice of visual language can start with me learning how to express both simple and complex thoughts visually - and then I can immediately bring the skill into any meeting or workshop. As others engage and see the difference a visual approach makes, they joyfully join in."
"I am quite impressed by how elegantly the authors present their theoretical framework and the ease with which theory is translated into practice. It is fascinating and brave to turn the hopelessly difficult word 'autopoiesis' into an obvious core concept for understanding social processes".
"In my work as leader of strategic corporate governance I am often in situations where I need to explain complex challenges. In these situations visualising and drawing always comes across as a great tool. Once having started visualizing it invites and engages in a whole new way. The visual expression increases the chances of reaching shared understanding of a given challenge. This book helps me develop and improve my skills at working with complex challenges".
"In a world of creative destruction and emergent creation, all organizations face the challenge of orienting and imagining the shared future we all want and need. Visualizing and sharing perspectives are critical to achieving this goal. The authors have defined and practiced 'state of the art' visual collaboration for decades, and in this book, they generously share the ingredients necessary for all strategy development, process planning and implementation steps for the years to come. This work will be a classic 'go to' source for anyone aspiring to develop shared engagement, visual insight, competence, and tools."
"Collaboration is challenging and critical for virtually all companies – the authors have made it accessible and enjoyable with this marvelous book."
"I really enjoyed this book. The visual language is sound, it is conceptually clean, and the tools you get are solid and easy to use. This should be mandatory reading for anyone designing and facilitating meetings, workshops, and strategic processes in their organization."
"This is an extraordinary book. It is accessible, but at the same time offers nuance and depth—good for both the novice and the experienced practitioner. It is well-suited for anyone interested in organizational change, facilitation, communication and group work. Visual collaboration has for years been an integral part of the way we teach at Kaospilot, but also one of the core skills our students learn. This is the book we have been waiting for."
"This book is structured in a very pedagogical and logical way. It is clear and easy to understand and richly illustrated. You quickly experience success with drawing. It is a unique handbook that provides many years of experience from practice in process design and visual facilitation. I highly recommend Visual Collaboration to meeting leaders, process designers, teachers and anyone interested in learning"
"Visual Collaboration is a book I will not only read; I will use it. I want to become better at sketching, and I want to learn how to use visualizations more. A picture is worth a thousand words."
"As a process consultant on participatory processes and strategic conversations, I have learned that visualization promotes collective understanding and memory. Visual Collaboration gives an overview and an introduction to the use of visual tools and techniques in an educational and simple way. It speaks to different levels of experience and practice, whether you are a beginner or a more experienced user."
Order your copy of the book and send your receipt to info[a]biggerpicture.dk
You'll receive our popular booklet of icons as a gift!


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Celebrate February With These Guidelines For Healthy Living
When you think of February, what comes to mind? You likely conjure up visions of palettes of red and pink, scattered with a multitude of cupids and heart-shaped candies. In case your mind jumps immediately to Valentine's Day, do not forget that February also marks American Heart Month.
The next time you pick up a heart-shaped card or box of chocolates, remember that the shape is a celebration of one of your body's most important organs. Since cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death among men and women in the United States, it is important to spend some time thinking about how we can practice more heart healthy habits. Here are a few things you can do to celebrate this important month.
- Eat a more balanced, healthful diet. Make sure you are getting your daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoid processed foods.
- Get moving every day. Just thirty months of walking each day can go a long way towards improving your cardiovascular health.
- Have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Your general healthcare provider will be able to check them, or you can get these readings by donating blood if you are feeling more philanthropic.
- Limit your vices. Quit smoking, or if you have not started make sure you do not. Moderate your drinking. Men are advised not to exceed two alcoholic drinks a day, and women are advised to stick to just one.
While you are protecting your body, are you being protected? Contact Employee Benefit Plans Inc. in Greenwood Village for all of your Colorado insurance needs. We are here to ensure you have the right health insurance for the right price. Our dedicated team is here to serve you this year; call us today!


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January's Report on Jobs by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) revealed a rise in permanent jobs for the fourth consecutive month, while temporary billings also grew for the sixth month running.
This is likely to reflect well on small businesses, which will be among those expanding their operations over the last few months.
REC Director of Policy and Professional Services, Tom Hadley, said: "The war for talent has begun. January saw the sharpest rise in starting salaries in well over a year after a nine-month trend of increases.
"The rise is caused by continued growth in permanent vacancies paired with a reduction in candidate availability."
On January 23rd, the Office for National Statistics confirmed that unemployment fell by 37,000 between September and November last year, suggesting the private sector is continuing to hire new workers.
Posted by Emily Smith


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I don't say this about too many restaurants, but I walked out the door of my meal at North last week plotting my immediate return. This is not a real review — the restaurant had only been open 6 days when I went, and I've gotten to know chef-owner Eric Gabrynowicz over the years, so it's hard to be impartial — but my first impressions of this new farm-to-table restaurant are this: North could quickly become a dining destination for people all around the Lower Hudson Valley and the region. The food and the wine are that good.
And yet. It's still a neighborhood restaurant, with just 45 seats and a casual, airy vibe. You could go there, sit at the bar, and order a flatbread with wild mushrooms and lardo and a glass of Burgundy — as my friends and dining companions Derek and Carol Todd of Wine Geeks, the wine shop down the street, swore they'll be doing at least once a week. Or you could call ahead to request a 8-course tasting menu — as chef Eric prepared for every single table of his friends and family in the restaurant after just three nights of practice service. (He opened to the public two days later.)
The restaurant sort of just popped on the scene all at once — no beleaguered delays; no problems with permits. Eric left Tavern at the Highlands Country Club in Garrison in May, and he and partner Stephen Mancini, the general manager, gutted the former La Scala restaurant at the corner of Main and Bedford Road in downtown Armonk.
They installed French windows that open to the sidewalk. They put in new floors, painted the walls, and installed a marble bar.
And they comissioned this waist-high walnut table to separate the bar area from the dining area:
The restaurant opened on June 29 and has been full ever since.
One of the reasons I've gotten to know Eric so well is because he's a chef who believes in celebrating the bounty of the Hudson Valley — as I do. He's always been cooking great food — I realized soon after I my first meal at Tavern at Highlands Country Club about three years ago. There, he bought whole sides of cows from Meiller's Farm in Pine Plains, N.Y., sourced his organic vegetables from Blooming Hill Farm in Orange County, and made hearty, manly dishes gutsy enough sure to satisfy brawny guys in the heart of a cold winter.
Not that you couldn't find sophisticated flavors, too. It's just that now, here at North, they're more refined — more elegant. And he's still committed to using local ingredients on his menu at the peak of their prime. The day I dined at North, Eric had driven from his home in Beacon to Sycamore Farms in Middletown, N.Y. to pick up the first of the local corn. He cut it off the cob to make a succotash of sorts, using just-warmed blueberries (of all things!), which popped open and bled blue into the sea of yellow, crunchy, sweet kernels mixed with silky polenta from Wild Hive Farm in Colombia County. On the top, a Long Island duck breast from Crescent Farms, simply seared.
The wine was a huge part of the success of my meal. If you've never had a meal where a wine made a difference, I urge you to get to North before the summer's over. (Heck before the month is over. ) You will be shocked and amazed at how much more enjoyable your meal will be — not to mention tastier — once you've had someone with experience pair your wines with your food.
Here's owner-GM Stephen Mancini on the left. He was formerly the wine and spirits director for Union Square Cafe and Maialino, two of Danny Meyer's restaurants in Manhattan. (And that's Carol Todd, owner of Wine Geeks on the right.)
See that far-away look in Stephen's eyes? It's how he gets when he talks about the wines on his list: excited, passionate, and yet articulate. That look is really just him pulling the absolutely perfect adjective out of his vast wine vocabulary. This is not to say he's snobby about it. If the right description for a wine is him fidgeting with delight? Then that's how he'll describe it.
And so that's how my meal last week went. Great food, great wine — with just a minor slip-up from the kitchen (too much salt on the salmon) and the service (waiting too long for plates to be cleared). More photos of the food — and descriptions of the wines — after the jump.
When I arrived at 7:30 for my reservation, the bar was completely packed — and everyone was eating. I stopped by North last week on my way home from another meal and it was the same thing. One guy at the bar told me he'd been waiting for an hour and a half before he could sit down. But Eric says sometimes there's a lull, and you might get lucky. Take my advice: if you want to eat at North without a reservation, then get there early.
Even with the crowd at the bar, the restaurant wasn't loud or uncomfortable in the dining room. The tables and chairs are luxurious and the artwork — on loan from photographer Stephen Wilkes — is beautiful without being distracting.
We started with an aperitif of Vouvray Petillant Brut 2005 Domaine Huet and a pumpernickle roll with blueberry butter:
The wine was a wow and the butter just so creative. Such a nice way to let us know that we're in for a fun night.
The menu, which I'll include at the end of the post, is divided into sections with ellipses. Appetizers are either "Chilled…" or "Warming…" Then there are Pastas… Grilled Flatbreads… Sea… Land… and Earth…
A good way to taste from several "Areas…" is to order a flatbread for the table, then get individual appetizers and entrees. We did that, but Eric sent out more than one flatbread so we could sample. Stephen paired Calera Vin Gris of Pinot Noir 2009 — a lovely, bright rose.
Here's Whipped Ricotta, Shaved Asparagus, Arugula, Parmigiano Reggiano ($11):
Here's Mount Kisco Smokehouse Salmon, Quark, Onion Agrodolce ($15):
And here's the one we ordered, Wild Mushrooms, Truffle, Lardo ($16):
All were great. The dough, pizza-like, was crispy and thin, except on the asparagus one, where it had gotten a little too wet from the toppings. The combinations of flavors were satisfying and balanced. We knew we had a lot of food coming and it was hard not to finish every single bite.
For appetizers, we ordered Risotto with Lump Maine Crabmeat, Ronnybrook Yogurt, Vegetable Sofrito ($13):
Creamy and rich, but the acidity of the tomatoes and the cool temperature of the sweet crab gave it great balance. And that's leek oil (!) on the side.
I was worried that this app, Rancho Gordo White Bean Fagiole with Golden Cockles, Speck ($11) —
— was going to be too stew-like on a hot summer night. Instead, it was like a terrific mix of a white bean crostini and clams on the half shell. I sopped up every last bit.
With both of these, Stephen poured a Montlouis sur Loire Sec Chidaine 2008.
Our salad, Boston Lettuce, "Grown Up" Honey Mustard, Tarragon, Ricotta Salata ($9) —
— was safe, but nonetheless delicious. Fresh as a whip, with contrasting flavors and textures.
But the winner of the round was this amazing creation: Steamed PEI Mussels with Strawberries, Fennel, Tarragon, Lamb's Quarter, Quinoa, Tequila ($15):
If it sounds like some crazy combination you might find on "Chopped!", you'd be right. Eric was at his local pub and the show came on the Food Network. As they ticked off the ingredients in the mystery basket — mussels, strawberries, fennel, striped bass— his mind started working: OK, I would put this with that, saute this and steam that and come up with something great. His only downfall was the last ingredients in the basket: marshmallow. (Thank goodness he didn't include that.)
Instead, he came up with a completely original combination. He dehydrates strawberries in a low oven, then when he cooks them with mussels and tequila, they are rehydrated, but with a deep, concentrated flavor. It's a fabulous combination with the mussels and the quinoa. It's good to be stretched sometimes, isn't it!
With this interesting combination — and with the salad — Stephen matched a glass of Krug Grande Cuvee Non Vintage. At $25 a glass, it's very expensive, but I think worth it if you weight that against buying a bottle — even at the wine shop, it's $200. Here, you get to experience something you might not otherwise be able to afford.
For our main courses, we had Pan Roasted Chatham Cod with Vichyssoise, Asparagus, Olives ($24):
Flaky fish with a crisp outside, bright vegetables, creamy broth. The potato leek soup was served at room temperature — not chilly like a normally vichyssoise. Stephen matched a Mary Elke Pinot Noir 2008.
Here's Wild Alaskan Salmon with Frog Hollow Peaches, Vidalia Onion, Arugula, Soubise ($29):
The peaches were ever-so-slightly pickled and so had a nice firm bite on the outside, then gave way to a sweet and succulent inside. The only problem here was the salmon skin — it was over-seasoned and made us pucker. To drink, we had a Frappato 2009 Valle dell'Acate.
And, our final main course — besides the duck, of course, which was paired with a fabulous, earthy zinfandel, Joseph Swan Zinfindel Mancini Ranch Russian River Valley 2005 — was the Pan Seared Shinnecock Long Island Dry Scallops with Miso-Braised Armonk Market Bok Choy, Crispy Potatoes ($27):
The scallops were seared so crisp but yet were juicy and firm. The crispy skin on the potatoes made us wonder how they were done, and Eric told me later: boiled, then chilled, then smashed and then fried. Then tossed in rosemary salt and Paulie Garlic. (You know, like Paulie from Goodfellas? Sliced so thin you might use a razor blade?) With this, Stephen matched a Macon-Verze 2008 Domaines Leflaive.
As much as I can recommend these dishes, I can't guarantee they'll be on the menu when you go to North. The asparagus is gone; so the cod is now served with summer beans — though tomorrow it might be with proscuitto and curried puree of crenshaw melons. Next week, the dish might be completely different. After all, the farmers market is at the height of the season right now.
And I hate to even mention it, but if I don't, you'll wonder if I found even one thing wrong with my experience at North: Our service was professional, friendly, knowledgeable, confident and never intrusive, but our meal was long and we did have to wait quite a while between courses with dirty plates in front of us. I'm sure, with more practice, this will change.
As will Eric's menu. As the season progresses and he gets inspired anew, you'll find completely new dishes, presented in completely new ways. And as Stephen beefs up his wine list, you'll find ever more interesting pairings to match.
The most exciting thing about North is not that it's a work in progress; all new restaurants are that. North is different. It's a work in motion.
Here's a link to the menu from July 7, 2010.
The 411 on North is coming soon. Til then: 386 Main Street, Armonk. 914-273-8686. restaurantnorth.com


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Cool TV
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
|Cool TV
Logo used until 2014. The same logo was kept in 2014 however the gray and red parts would become glossy with the gray part becoming white.
|15 September 2003 (as m+)
4 September 2004 (as Cool TV)
|Owned by
|RTL Group
|Picture format
|16:9 576i (SDTV)
16:9 1080i (HDTV)
|Hungary (registered in Romania)
|Broadcast area
|Hungary and its neighbouring countries
|Formerly called
|m+ (2003-2004)
|Sister channel(s)
|RTL Klub
RTL II (Hungary)
|UPC Direct (Hungary)
|Channel 11
|T-Home Sat TV (Magyar Telekom)
|Channel 40
|Digi TV
|Channel 12
|UPC Hungary
|Channel 33
|T-Home (Magyar Telekom)
|Channel 41
Cool TV is a Hungarian television channel, which migrated to Romania after being threatened with closure by Hungarian authorities. The channel is broadcasting in Hungarian language, the channel it was launched as m+ on September 15, 2003, but a year later, it was relaunched as Cool TV on September 4, 2004.
Original schedule[edit]
Originally Cool TV had the target audience of urban 15–29 year-olds who love music, externals, clothes, trendy lifestyle and extravagance. The channel was first launched as m+ on September 15, 2003, but a year later, it was renamed to Cool TV on September 4, 2004, so the channel could be available in 2.5 million households.[1] The channel broadcast 24 hours a day and aired reruns of series that RTL Klub originally purchased or produced as well as series targeting today's youth.
In 2007, Cool TV launched a series of topical shows produced by the channel, such as Cool Live and Cool Night, featuring younger hosts lent to Cool by RTL Klub; the former being a youth lifestyle show, and the latter being an adult show including interviews with Hungarian porn stars and producers, as well as occasionally showing soft-core porn video clips. These talkshows have now been cancelled.
In 2009, Cool TV purchased the airing rights of the successful Hungarian version of Whose line is it anyway?, Beugró.
The channel broadcast 24 hours a day and aired reruns of series that RTL Klub originally purchased or produced as well as series targeting today's youth. These included: South Park, Married... with Children (Egy rém rendes család), 24, Footballer's Wives (Futbalista feleségek), The L Word (L), Queer as Folk (A fiúk a klubból), The Unit (Az egység), Dead Like Me (Haláli hullák), Weeds (Spangli), Skins (Skins), Desperate Housewives (Született feleségek)
From August 30, 2010 Cool TV changed image and was rebranded, aiming for a wider audience. Since then the channel airs mostly crime procedurals. The move was successful because as of July 2012 Cool TV is the third most watched commercial TV channel, and most watched cable channel in Hungary (target audience 18–49, prime time 19.00-23.00) beating main competitor Viasat 3.[2]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links[edit]
- Official website (in Hungarian)
- RTL Group
- Television in Hungary
- Television networks in Hungary
- Television channels and stations established in 1995
- Television channels and stations disestablished in 1999
- Television channels and stations established in 2003
- Television channels and stations established in 2004
- 1995 establishments in Hungary
- 1999 disestablishments in Hungary
- 2003 establishments in Hungary
- 2004 establishments in Hungary
- Mass media in Budapest


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Ryan Barrett for ESPN
I posted a teaser shot from this shoot a week or two ago, but recently I shot a bike check feature with Ryan Barrett for ESPN BMX that went up today. In addition to some photos of his set up and the customization process, we shot a couple photos at Nemo Design where he works, and took a trip down south to Myrtle Creek, OR for some action. Check out the whole thing here. The action shot above is a fastplant over a railing that sits atop a pipe at the Myrtle Creek park. It's nuts in itself, but it was nearly dark when we got to the park. Neither of us had been there, but as soon as we pulled up he said "you can go over that rail." Ryan got out of the car, and immediately figured out the speed line so we could shoot it. No warm up, he just got it done.


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Bringing you the best stories from Columbus business owners, cbuzz is presented by the Columbus Chamber in collaboration with the Columbus Dispatch and CD1025. Our host, local comedian Dan Swartwout, talks with entrepreneurs every other week in Columbus' first business-focused podcast.
Groove U is not your average music industry education program. Founded by industry professional Dwight Heckelman, Groove U is changing the landscape of music industry education one student at a time right here in Columbus. Following an approach that is unique for the Higher Ed level, Heckelman has created a program at Groove U that has seen great success with its job placement rates for graduates, due in large part to the Ohio native's will to go against the grain.
"We graduated our first class last year and had 100 percent employment in the field with them," Heckelman said.
Groove U's students have greatly benefited from the level of involvement that they have in the Columbus community.
"A big part of what we do is putting our students out in the Columbus community every month doing different events," Heckelman said. "They're always out there so that hopefully gives us a little bit of credibility."
A two-year program that largely differs from most four-year music programs at larger institutions, Groove U is all music, all the time. Offering five majors for students ranging from production to independent, Groove U gives its students a tremendous ability to get in the music business and make valuable connections while still in school.
"Unlike a lot of industries that are formally credentialed, the music industry isn't one," Heckelman said. "The music industry is interesting in that, while it's hard to kind of get in, once you're in, you develop a very unique skill set, you're kind of always employable."
Starting the program in 2010, Heckelman consulted with industry professionals to create a unique curriculum for Groove U.
"When we started the program, you know I wanted to shake off my own conceptions or misconceptions about Higher Ed," Heckelman said. "The way we did that was before we built curriculum and opened the doors or even had a building, I put together an advisory panel of industry people and we asked them one simple question and that was 'if it's 2013 or 2014 and we are graduating a class, why would you hire them?'
"They told us what they wanted and the sort of people they would work with and from that we built the curriculum."
Coming to the creation of Groove U after spending a year at the legendary Berklee College of Music in Boston, Heckelman made a career move that not many in the industry would have the courage to make.
"People told me 'You're nuts, people work their whole lives to get to Berklee, why are you doing this?'" Heckelman said of his decision to leave Berklee and create his own program.
Coming to Columbus to start Groove U, Heckelman has been impressed with the level of activity and interaction that exists within the community, and especially on the music scene.
"Columbus is so cool, it's young and it's highly collaborative as a city," Heckelman said. "I can't ever say for the most part that I feel alone in this. That's the great part about Columbus; the support network here is great."
Groove U has become a staple in Columbus' music industry, and we are very fortunate to have them right here in the heart of it all.
Podcast (cbuzz): Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS
Published on:
November 4, 2015
Dan Swartout, Host; Dwight Heckelman, Groove U
Thanking our partners


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- Steve Grand Came Through As Gay Marine's Date to Marine Corps Ball
- Post navigation
- On Marines, equality, and my date to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball (Part 4)
- 325 thoughts on "On Marines, equality, and my date to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball (Part 4)"
But having the ability to tell my story on a platform like YouTube has opened more doors than I would ever have guessed it could. McCabe believes that defining people by their sexuality is damaging in the extreme. A photo posted by Russ Marine russmarine on Oct 17, at 1: We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future.
Visit our adblocking instructions page. My details. My newsletters. Upgrade to Premium. Home News Sport Business. Lifestyle Men. He said he knew I was only parroting what my father and family said, and that he was so afraid that I would break our friendship, not because he was gay, but because he was not honest with me. I was taught that they were different and believed those lies for acceptance into our society.
Mark was not anger at me for my hatred of everyone, he was never angry with me. After a few years of talking, he had all those that I hated in his family, an eclectic mix of humans all from different branches of the proverbial tree … I felt like a heal after realizing that I basically insulted him and all he loved, yet he did nothing but love me.
It was as if a great weight was lifted, and from that second on, my whole perspective changed, I was anew. I taught myself to read, so as I could understand what I believed. I dug deep and, within my journey, I changed so many of my thoughts. Proudly I stand a different man. From that moment on, I took to the faith that I would, could, take what Mark taught me and bring it back home, spreading the word…I accepted, in Marks example, not tolerated. I am a leader in equality in my area, though I teach by example and not protest… I do not force another to understand or even except what I believe, I encourage them to travel in that direction I took, to understand what you believe, by finding the root of your beliefs.
I would like you to know that there are many-many people out here wanting you and yours , those you love in your own ways, to be free to love in your own ways. If I can do anything in support , to perpetuate, to spread, to excel your freedom, please hit me up. I do what I can, yet understand that you must do for yourself if you want to be as nature intended, that is free.
I sincerely am a changed man, with his very own loving eclectic proud family! But because you taught yourself to read in order to teach yourself to THINK, that is cause for celebration. This is such a beautifully written, poignant story. You are an incredibly brave and honorable man, which is exactly what we need in the armed forces. You are the epitome of how wrongheaded all the derogatory gay stereotypes are. Thank you for serving our country—in more ways than one. Really like your thoughts, and perspective.
Your human side of this story is both uplifting and heart breaking. Thank you for making such a contribution to society and the change needed in this country.
One more step toward our goal of a free country. Now all we need to do is separate Church and State as required by the constitution and allow legally recognized partnerships that are exactly equivalent for M-F and M-M couples. The Defense of Marriage Act becomes a total sham when celebrities marry legally for 72 days.
- gay teenage dating advice.
- Dating a Marine.
- dating sites for gay men with very small penis.
- gay men sites.
I too think that DoMA is a feverish symptom of a national mania, one that has blinded any number of otherwise patriotic and vigilant Americans to an unConstitutional usurpation of government by religion. That usurpation is not just unConstitutional, in fact; it is furiously, violently destructive of the power of the Constitution, most obviously of its protections FROM religiosity, inherent in its protection OF religion.
Steve Grand Came Through As Gay Marine's Date to Marine Corps Ball
Well done! This is a powerful reminder: I rarely actually see the qualities that make one…. Integrity, honesty, true strength, and bravery. Gay, straight, bi…whatever. You sir, are a man that others should look to.
Post navigation
May God Bless you forever and ever. I applaud your actions to support your beliefs, feelings, and in general what represents you.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. I was a tank mechanic. Being such meant I was often the only female in the entire platoon, never mind the only woman in the shop. I was hazed, harassed, forced to listen to the filthiest comments by men who outright hated me. He had spent His entire career. I was always having to prove myself, no matter what my rank, because of my gender. I miss the Army in some ways: This was a very good post, thank you. Hopefully this country and this world will be a better place with the hard work and dedication you and others have.
Thank you for sharing this, and thank your for sharing your voice toward the cause of same sex marriage and equality. Thanks so much! That is because I raised him that way. When DADT was being enforced, all it amounted to was legalized discrimination. A homosexual soldier can fire a gun, drive a tank, push a button, or do any other job just as well as a heterosexual soldier. The less discrimination against homosexuals, transgenders, and bisexual, etc. You explain so well how hard it was to have to have to appear to not be who you were. To try to speak of a joint life but always being non specific in how I phrased information, deliberately vague.
It was such an effort and that was in civilian life in the UK. Since civil partnerships were legalised here just over five years ago our society has become much more tolerant than even just beforehand. Great post, man. I am glad that there are people like you who are doing more than just donating money though that is important.
Looking forward to part two.
On Marines, equality, and my date to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball (Part 4)
You are inspirational. This is a great link from Get Up! Australia that promotes gay marriage: America definitely needs something similar! It is indeed a very nice blog, thank you very much. It opens my mind. Brilliant blog and I really admire your desire to stand up for who you are. The most poignant piece for me is the story of a senior officer talking about his wife and then gay and lesbian military not being able to share stories of their lives and loves.
How can carrying around a pretence make you and your colleagues better at doing your job. It is asking someone to deny part of their identity. Hope it all goes well from here on in and it feels like you are resourceful enough to get there anyway…. Thank you for taking the time to post this and thank you for your service. I hope as a Soldier who happens to be gay, that I will be able to touch life of someone like you have done today.
325 thoughts on "On Marines, equality, and my date to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball (Part 4)"
Thank you so much for your bravery. A friend of mine recently attended a military ball with his partner who is in the military.
- Men latest.
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- 223 thoughts on "On Marines, equality, and my date to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball (Part 1)".
Looking at the pictures and hearing that everything went well brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. Reading your post I felt the same thing again. I am so very very glad that DADT is over. What does it matter? But I never could fathom the whys behind them all. Probably a good thing too. That was absolutely beautiful. Thank you and congratulations. That was truely inspirational thank you for doing your job and protecting others. The fight for Gay rights is still going on in more ways than you think.


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The wide range of delicacies and value-added products that could be made from the humble jackfruit will take anyone by surprise. The list is pretty long and includes 'chakka varatti' (a preserve made with ripe jackfruits, jaggery and ghee), jam, candies, tender jackfruit pickles, sprouted grain-based health powder and 'puttu podi' from jackfruit seeds, among others. Apart from these, Reeja Bai also churns out jackfruit-based sweets such as 'payasams,' 'unniappam,' and 'kumbilappam' from Samrithi Food Products, a unit run by this home-maker near to the municipal bus stand at Vadakara in Kozhikode district.
Plunged into business after training
The turning point in Reeja's business life was the training she underwent in the production of jackfruit-related products six years ago. She got a 10-day exposure to the manufacture of processed jackfruit products at the College of Agriculture at Velayani in Thiruvananthapuram, and also received technical help from the Jackfruit Promotion Council.
Reeja started the venture three years ago and began selling the products after duly testing them and checking their quality. Initially, the production was carried out without any machines barring a dryer. Reeja introduced the products in the market by participating in the Kozhikode 'Chakka Ulsavam,' and the response from the public gave her the confidence to proceed with the business venture.
Fairs and exhibitions
Reeja mainly concentrates on local fairs and exhibitions to generate sales, besides business orders from nearby shops. On an average, Reeja will participate in 20 fairs in a year. Now, two distributors have come forward to market the products.
This niche market has many advantages, and one of them is that there isn't much competition. The products, devoid of any preservatives or artificial colour, are equally good for adults and children.
"Jackfruit can be preserved for at least one year if it is dried properly. We always strive hard to maintain the traditional taste in our products. And we also make it a point to make jackfruit delicacies live while attending the fairs and exhibitions. These all will help in the marketing of products," says Reeja Bai.
Jackfruit and its seeds are usually dried in sun, and a dryer is used when the weather is not good.
As part of mechanization, many machines were installed to ease the production process. Machinery, including oven, freezer, halwa maker and grinder, worth Rs 3 lakh were bought. Everyday 5 kg to 10 kg are produced in the unit. There are two workers to help Reeja, and her husband Venu Prasad chips in with the marketing of products.
Though jackfruits are aplenty in Kerala, harvesting is a problem, and a system should be in place whereby there is steady supply of jackfruits, says Reeja.
Sale of Rs 3 lakh per month
Presently, the firm records a sales turnover between Rs 1 lakh and 3 lakhs per month, and a profit of Rs 40,000. As part of the expansion process, this home-maker is planning to install automatic machines to increase productivity for which 10 more people would be employed. Distribution should be spread to other states, new agents roped in, and the supermarkets should be fully utilized, adds Reeja.
Tips to new entrepreneurs
There is immense scope for food processing units that uses locally available raw materials. This could be started as a family business.
This business venture can be started by using domestic cooking equipment. Modern machines could be added as the business grows.
One could earn a profit not less than Rs 25,000 per month with a capital investment of Rs 1 lakh.


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Morris will share life lessons from his unexpected career change from high school gym teacher to Major League pitcher, presented by Cisco Umbrella
BOSTON – August 31, 2017 – Continuum®, the exclusive provider of the only vertically integrated, intelligent IT management and service delivery platform that enables MSPs to reshape how they deliver IT services, has announced that Jim "The Rookie" Morris will present a keynote address at its fourth annual Navigate 2017 user conference. The keynote, sponsored by Cisco Umbrella, will be held at 9:15 a.m. PT on day three of the conference, which is taking place October 2-5 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
Jim Morris will take the stage at Navigate to share the inspirational story of how he went from being a 35-year-old teacher in Texas to a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 1999, Jim made a bet with his high school baseball team that he would try out for the Major Leagues if they won the district championship. When they did, he kept his end of the bargain, and his 12 consecutive 98mph fastballs caught the eye of the Devil Rays scouts.
Jim's Cinderella story, which has since been adapted into the major motion picture "The Rookie" starring Dennis Quaid, serves as a testimony to the power of dreams. His keynote will draw lessons from his own life experience, sharing the importance of chasing dreams and inspiring others to become mentors and leaders.
"I always appreciate the opportunity to share my story with people around the country, and the world," said Jim Morris. "I want people to know that dreams don't have to be vanquished, that the barriers we might put in place to achieving them can be overcome if the mindset is right. I turned a bet with my high school baseball team into a brief, but life-changing career as a Major League pitcher; and, if only a handful of the audience go out to pursue their own lifelong dreams, I'll consider it a win."
Cisco Umbrella, the cloud security platform that provides the first line of defense against threats on the internet, is the presenting sponsor of Jim Morris' keynote. In addition to hearing Jim's inspirational story, attendees will also have the opportunity to meet "The Rookie" himself and have him sign a free copy of his book, "The Rookie: The Incredible True Story of a Man Who Never Gave Up on His Dream."
"Over the past four years, Navigate has become an event for our partners to not only take away best practices, but to gain inspiration," said Michael George, CEO, Continuum. "That's why we want to ensure our keynote speaker program includes both groundbreaking technological expertise, in the form of Kevin Mitnick's security-focused session, and stories from beyond our industry that give us the drive and determination to lead our organizations to success. We're grateful for Cisco Umbrella's sponsorship of this keynote, and for Jim Morris in sharing his incredible experience with us at Navigate 2017."
For information on the event and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.continuum.net/navigate and click here to register for Navigate 2017.
Elizabeth Bassler
About ConnectWise
ConnectWise is an IT software company that empowers Technology Solution Providers to achieve success in their As-a-Service business with intelligent software, expert services, an immersive IT community, and a vast ecosystem of integrations. The unmatched flexibility of the ConnectWise platform fuels profitable, long-term growth for our Partners. Visit ConnectWise.com.


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Vine Antiques
Vine Antiques Ltd started trading more than 30 years ago and has built a reputation for selling British sterling silver and the silk-woven Stevengraph pictures produced by Thomas Stevens of Coventry. Their silver stock is strongly focused on Georgian and later novelty items.
Vine Antiques was formed by Diana and Richard Apsimon in 1978 and gradually evolved into two businesses, one selling British and Irish silver, and the other Stevengraph silk woven pictures. Later they merged the two and became a limited company in 2000.
Some of these changes were prompted by two moves to Geneva, Switzerland, where Richard worked on particle physics experiments at CERN, including on the Large Hadron Collider.
The mainstay of Vine Antiques' silver stock is still British novelty and collectors' pieces and Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco silver. They try to locate unusual pieces of silver that intrigue, amaze and perhaps amuse their customers.
They are respected dealers in Victorian and Edwardian silk-woven Stevengraphs and endeavour to carry a selection of pieces in first class condition.
Based in London, their shop is in the Grays Antiques arcade, beside Bond Street tube station, but they also exhibit at the BADA, Olympia, Harrogate and NEC fairs.
c/o BADA, London
Diana Apsimon
Richard Apsimon


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A Centre of Biosciences was started in 1980 and upgraded to a full-fledged academic Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology in 1986. It was renamed as the Department of Biotechnology in the year 2002. The department has teaching and research programmes which encompass various basic and applied aspects of modern biotechnology. The main objective of the Department is to provide academic training and conduct research in the interdisciplinary areas of biotechnology with a particular emphasis on extending the knowledge generated from these studies towards the development of technologies of commercial significance. A B.Tech.(Biotechnology) course has been started in 2005.
Glimpses of Departmental Farewell 2019


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Monday, June 25, 2007
Brown & Harman at the top of Labour.
Against all the odds (literally) Harriet Harman will now be at Gordon Browns side as deputy leader of Labour.
What is so interesting is that, like her leader, she has spent her entire career - 25 years - in the bubble that is Westminster politics. Harman, just like Gordon Brown, (and Jack Straw and Alistair Darling) is a lawyer elected to Parliament as a young activist in the 'old Labour' doldrum years has been a senior Labour politician ever since.
So we are set to have a Government dominated by a small clique of life-serving parliamentarians who, just like Gordon himself, lost what little touch they ever had with the real world more than twenty years ago.
Because make no mistake, as soon as you enter the palace of Westminster 'normal' becomes a thing of the past; MP's are instant VIP's everywhere they go outside the Palace and inside the Palace the 'real world' is a million miles away.
That is not a problem to begin with; but over time MP's memories of being 'ordinary citizens' begins to fade. Just like the famous or the super-rich they quickly take for granted that they get invited to every party, show opening or product launch, sit at the head of every table, always get upgraded on airlines and always travel first-class on the train.
But think about it. When they were still among us as ordinary citizens Human League were in the charts; Pacman was the latest thing in computer games, you could still buy a brand-new Ford Cortina, Brezhnev was in the Kremlin, Spain still had no border with Gibralter, Breakfast TV and Channel 4 were yet to arrive and EastEnders was still three years away.
I wonder how a group of people who have not lived like you and I since before the Falklands war 25 years ago are going to make decisions today?
12 comments:
I wouldn't worry about it Marcus. You've got an example much closer to home in Barrie Wood.
If ever there was an example of somebody not living in the real world it has to be him. The only people who list the Bible as their favourite reading matter are scary Middle Americans whose fanaticism is legendary. Intriguingly they are ultara conservative (Small C) and I wonder whether they'd approve of the other Mr Woods Libby-Labby views.
Tie him to the stake and burn the political heretic I say!
- 1:29 pm
That's not very grown up Martin. It's not helpful to malign another persons religion. But Marcus makes an interesting point. Is he intending to buck the trend I wonder?
- 1:32 pm
Oh give over you boring old fossil - IT'S A JOKE!
That's what's wrong with this Labour run country - Political correctness taken so seriously everything is an insult to be counselled about. I'm sure Barrie Wood is big enough and ugly enough to fight his own battles and is equally strong in his beliefs not to worry about being teased over them.
What are we in a police state? How long before dissent/disagreement is officially illegal under Controller Brown?
- 1:35 pm
Ho Ho Ho
1 down only another 190 to go!
- 3:20 pm
- Barrie Wood said...
Dissent and challenge is fine - a lack of civility, lazy stereotyping and being unpleasant is not so.
As a theologically liberal questioning Christian I am as far removed from your ridiculous quoted stereotype as could be.
Many Christians from Wilberfore to local Christians working with the homeless in the bay are similarly far removed from how you imagine Christians to be.
Still if the Tories want to write off Christian voters that is fine by me !
Lastly, you clearly have not read my contributions here and / or on my own blog - nowhere do I advocate any Lib-Labbery.
Whilst I shared with the left a commitment to social justice and a bias to the poor in terms of policy priorities, I did not and do not adhere to top-down centralism. I never will be told what to think or act politically !
Other issues where I depart from 'New Labour' othodoxy can be summed up as such :
commitment to green issues and inclusive grassroots co-operative practice with power devolved to the lowest practicable level (eg credit unions, time banks, mutuals, town/parish councils, community associations)
firm believer in electoral reform (STV)
opposed to the state 'policing' of families (asbo/parental orders)
believe in free university tuition (as experienced by most of the Labour cabinet)
entirely believe in upholding individuals' civil liberties (anti-terror legislation, trial by jury, 'house arrest',equality before the law). I distrust the potential power of private monopolies and the state equally.
internationalist in outlook (pro reformed and more democratic EU and UN)
Accept that open and COMPETITIVE markets usually provide well the consumer goods and services we expect, but am less convinced about private engagement in public service provision such as schools, hospitals, probation service et al. New Labour [like the Tories] has a dogmatic private good, public bad philosophy.
These are my own personal views and hopefully give an outline why I am a contrary Lib Dem and not a Labour member. And 'Conservative' - never !
- 6:21 pm
I think Barry Wood is a good advert for the Liberal Democrats, probably very at home there.
Totally lacking a sense of humour!
- 9:42 am
Thanks for the reminder as to how unpleasant your party can be ! Beyond the PR man at the top you remain the same as before.
- 4:42 pm
- Barrie Wood said...
After your splendidly humourous, knowledgeable and insightful comments on my Christian beliefs I do look forward to your searing critique of Islam next ;-)
If only the Lib Dems could match the level of witty sophistication Tories on here display.
- 4:51 pm
Just an observation from an atheist Labour voter,
1) I enjoy the blogs on offer from both versions of Mr Wood - Barry and Marcus.
2) I have met the Lib Dem Mr Wood on a number of occasions and he is an all round decent bloke who says it as he sees it - without spin. I voted for him in May, despite the Lib Dem party label
3) Basically get off his case. Can you not stomach even a token Liberal presence on this blog ?
4) Richard Y-R : what a buffoon he made of himself at PMQs !
- 3:22 pm
- Windsor Tripehound said...
"Dissent and challenge is fine - a lack of civility, lazy stereotyping and being unpleasant is not so."
"And 'Conservative' - never ! "
No lazy stereotyping there then, Barry?
- 8:32 pm
I don't "...imagine how Christians to be" for the simple reason I am one. Unlike you however I am proud to add a denomination - RC!
I shall turn to the good book for inspiration and solace. I shall "turn the other cheek". I suggest you do the same.
PS. Don't you think your post was long winded and a rather good impression of a pompous Tory of the old school?
PPS. To Red Flag - You really ought to be ashamed of that non-de-plume. The Red Flag flew over Hungary and Czechoslavakia, courtesy of the Russians and their export of communist suppression! Or perhaps your knowledge of world history is limited.
- 11:56 am
You are right my long post was not my finest contribution on this blog - self-righteous and a touch pompous perhaps !
As for biblical inspiration - what about an eye for an eye, rather than turn the other cheek !!!
Still glad you read the good book and don't leave the interpretation of it to your priests !!!
Denomination - none - it's about personal belief and a relationship with God - not traditions or practice. From charismatic to RC and most points in-between I've experience of - some never to be repeated.
'Windsor' you comment makes no sense. I'm not a Tory, never will be - no big deal.
As for the Red Flag it has surely connotations with democratic Labour and social democratic parties too, although the Rose symbol has superseded it in use from the latter period of the 20th century onwards in Western Europe.
Back to discussing local and national politics anyone ? Methinks the Tories might have under-estimated the 'clunking fist' of Gordon Brown. Maybe he will be seen as change enough ala Major in 1992 ? A test of nerve at least for Cameron and the Tories following a year of few hiccups. Certainly Dave should ignore the likes of Edward Leigh's 'Cornerstone Group' if the Tories are to have any chance of breaking beyond their 30pc core vote. Any Tory views ?
- 4:19 pm


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AUSTRALIA has a rich history in film making, from laying claim in 1906 to the world's first full-length feature-film, The Kelly Gang, to the formidable team of Raymond Longford and Lette Lyall, with their 1919 movie The Sentimental Bloke and on to Charles Chauvel's In the Wake of the Bounty in 1933 (Errol Flynn's first film).
But it wasn't the gathering strength of Australia's film industry that in 1945 turned a young boy's life around, to become one of the doyens of documentary film-makers and photojournalists, but the gift from his dad, for his 14th birthday, of a Vest-Pocket Kodak camera and the first picture he took with it. The teenager was Kev Franzi.
I've known Kev and his wife Jennette for more than two decades. A delightful couple, they live in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, about two hours north of Brisbane, in the charming Mary Valley. There, nestling into the side of a steep hill, is CinemaWorks, combining Kev's Production Studio and Showcase Cinema, where he illustrates every major advance in cinema technology, from our first films of 1896 to today's digital wonders.
His Australian Cinema Heritage Collection of working equipment and his two-hour show, Capturing the Australian Image - Past, Present and Future, celebrates the finest work of our film-makers and photographers.
As a documentary film maker and photo-journalist, Kev's passion has never diminished, if anything it is still growing. At 88, he's engaged the digital-age with all the enthusiasm and delight of a chocoholic, having just been told that "dark chocolate is good for you".
Now looked to as an elder statesman and historian of the film industry, he started his career in film making as a message boy and rose to cameraman, producer and director. Kev's career has covered TV commercials, education and industrial films and his favourite, historical documentaries. He was also seconded by the great Hector Crawford to be senior film editor for many of Crawford Productions' biggest shows, including Homicide, Hunter, Division 4, Showcase and numerous documentaries.
Since 1990 his Museum and Electric Theatre has been one of the many "must-sees" on the Sunshine Coast, with tour organisers including it as on their itinerary. From glass plates to celluloid and now digital, it shows how our image makers record and preserve our history, and in doing so capture our Australian spirit.
Is he slowing down? Not a bit. Last year Kev produced three two-hour productions for screening at CinemaWorks and this year the most exciting project yet, The Seven Keys to Dynamic Filmmaking, an instruction kit to create capsules of living history.
Kev says by combining the simplest forms of film-making - the video diary - with an understanding of basic videojournalism, anyone can create living history capsules of value and potential, to tell their Australian story, whatever their interests. It's simple and can be budget free, but it takes time and effort.
Kev Franzi, the man who captures time, laments that today's screens overflow with violence and disaster. "We need more creative and inspiring stories - stories of achievement by people in all walks of life and with a little instruction anyone can become an Australian image maker, with a purpose".


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Find the nearest Animals & Wildlife in Seaham
Our Animals and Wildlife category brings all Coast Radar's Seaham listings related to looking for something to do or a place to visit together where they offer some form of animal or wildlife activity.
Finding the best things to see and do on a Seaham Durham day out with your family or friends is easy – simply explore the animal and wildlife links below, hit the jump to my location button or use the search bar to plan your next Seaham activity.
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Demetrius Knight II
High School: Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals … Tabbed as the No. 30-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the nation by 247Sports … Two-time first-team all-region and all-area honoree … Four-year starter at quarterback and two-time team captain … Threw for 1,025 yards and ran for 682 yards as a junior in 2017 and eclipsed the 1,000-yard marks in both passing and rushing as a senior in '18 … Holds the school record with a 99-yard touchdown run … also played wide receiver and running back during his prep career … Was named MVP of the USA Football Invitational when playing for the U.S. national team versus Canada at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas … Will become the first NCAA Division I football student-athlete to ever come from Strong Rock Christian, which has fielded a football team for 12 seasons … Coached by Tommy Webb … Versatile athlete was a four-year letterwinner in basketball and baseball as well as football … once broke a rim during a slam dunk in a basketball game, causing the game to be delayed for 30 minutes.
Personal: Majoring in industrial design … Cousin, DeAngelo Hall, who was an all-America defensive back at Virginia Tech (2001-03), went on to be selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and become a three-time Pro Bowler during a 14-year pro football career with the Atlanta Falcons (2004-07), Oakland Raiders (2008) and Washington Redskins (2008-17) … Is also a distant cousin of R&B legends Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin.


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Designs on a Hook challenges/cal from, "Crochet in Common" will be found here from now on. Here you will find my original designs as well as patterns I have designed with multiple designers. Also a bit about my life, which I take one day at a time.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Well my week started off good, Monday night I was up late that night, Aiden fell asleep early, and stayed asleep all night except around 5 am when he was drenched!!! I got up got him a change of pajamas and a new mat for the bed........we usually lay one under him...............got him changed and he was so cute, playing with my phone with those big brown of eyes of his just looking all around, and he was making scrunchy faces at me! cute cute!! anyway got him changed and laid back down, but took another hour to fall asleep, and NEVER heard my alarm go off..........I woke up and looked at the clock it said 8:35!! Got Aj up really fast, he got dressed, opened the door, got him something to eat really fast, and I am thinking we missed the bus, because by this time it was past 9:45 and I was not able to watch for the bus like usual.....so called the school to explain and to have them check if the bus came yet...........She called me back telling me the bus was about 3 minutes away, it got stopped by a train, and the train had been stopped in the middle of the road for awhile she said, which I believe, because trains do that all the time here and it drives me up the wall!!! ok that sounded a bit nerve wracking, but the rest of the day was good........... Wednesday came around and started out fine, a friend came over so I could do her taxes and I went into the bathroom to clean up after someone got mud on the floor, and I hear AJ come in the house crying, I thought nothing of it, but then it started so sound serious, So I was coming out and he told me that he was running outside and his jeans fell down to his knees, and he fell and flipped forward landing on his shoulder and hearing a crunch, his shoulder did not look right, So I took him to Immediate Care, and we had X-rays done, but the dr knew before she got them back what was wrong, because when you looked at his shoulder it was hanging really low, and she came back and said he had broken his collar bone!! It is completly seperated from his shoulder!! that is why its hanging so low. so we got a figure 8 collar sling and left and was given very strict restrictions!! She said its very important that he does not fall again. So we got home and gave him some loratab, and off to sleep he went, the next day i called his regular dr, who was furious that they did not give him an arm sling as well, saying his arm had to be up not just dangling! The reason I had called, since to me that didn't seem right to have it hanging. He woke up Thursday in a lot of pain, and there was no way he was going to school, and the dr said no school until atleast Monday if he is feeling up to it. Thursday night, we did some shopping and Friday Aj was doing a bit better, Aiden just didn't understand his brother was hurt, so he ended up climbing on his arm a few times, we finally just locked Ajs door, to keep the little one out. Friday we woke up to a lot of rain......and very cold temps, it rained all day with a few claps of thunder, it was funny, my father got home from work and he and my mom went out with Aiden, and while they were getting into the car, this huge loud clap of thunder happened, and two boys were walking and then ran after that up to the car asking if they could use the phone to call their mom!! LOL the thunder shook the houses!! later that night it turned to snow. When my parents got home, my little Aiden had red carnations for me!! What a sweet little guy, my mom said he "picked" out the flowers. I love carnations. Friday night they also bought Aj two movies, charlottes Web and Flushed.
Posted by Dragonflymom
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(scene below the cut)
Pavlis, forty seven summers ago
Katarinne of Narles sat in the middle of a busy pub in Pavlis, her back straight and her eyes closed, utterly unconcerned over the two young men at the corner table oggling her and her friend. Drunk or not, lecherous or not, they were immaterial, invisible, mere transparent shades in the quiet sphere of her mind.
Magic, however, glowed from the generals meeting in the room behind her, an intriguing pile of smallish items buried by an outhouse at a farm on the far side of town, and from an armed rider rushing from the North. And, of course, from Ori.
Still all clear. Katarinne sighed and opened her eyes. But couldn't we have met somewhere, anywhere, but a crappy old pub? The stink of cheap pipe smoke, frying fish, and old beer had only increased her nausea. One hand fell to her glurgling belly as her friend, Oriana, finally returned with a mug of water.
She plunked down onto the bench beside Katarinne, back to the two lechers, and handed over the mug before sipping her own beer. "You sure you don't want me to get some mint leaves? I know I saw a patch by that shed near the creek."
Katarinne braved a sip. "No. We both need to stay." Her belly clenched as the water landed, but decided to hold its contents a little longer. One of the fellas in the corner winked at her. She rolled her eyes and looked aside. "It's too bad about Millien."
"Yeah," Ori said before taking a deep draught of her beer. "And Faie, and Birril, and Glerra."
"And all the others dead this past moon," Katarinne sighed. With her eyes open, she let her gaze refocus and the tavern's front wall faded to nothing, its patrons, the houses and shops outside... Nothing but people moving through an empty void.
She looked to her right and left, and saw no magic other than on the rider, only a furlong or so away now. Magic always shone as beacons in an otherwise transparent world, and using line-of-sight to Seek was as easy as breathing. Full-sphere Seeking for more than a few moments, however, often left an unpleasant tickle in her head. Thank the Goddess Ori had come to watch behind; she didn't need a headache to go with the nausea. "You clear?"
Oriana leaned back, elbows on the table, and she stretched out her legs as she took another sip. "Yup. Still just buried at the farm and with the guys. Nothing else as far as the mind can see. Oh, geesh, Brushgoat's upset about something again. Isn't that a surprise?"
She sighed, head falling back until her dark braid pooled on the table, then turned her head to frown at Katarinne. "This is bullpiss and you know it. They're in there planning the end stages of the war and we should be part of the decision. Hells, each of us has killed more mages than all of them put together." She nodded her head toward the rider dismounting outside. "Including Siddael."
"Can't," Katarinne replied around a burp. Ah, relief! "We're common. They're Royal."
Oriana returned to watching the western arc and muttered around her beer, "You mean they all have dicks and we have to piss sitting down."
"I didn't say that."
"Yeah, well, they'd be dead if it wasn't for us." Without looking back, Oriana flung a furious salute at the door as a road-weary nobleman limped in, coat speckled with sleet and bandages visible on his neck and hands. Lord Marrick's dark gaze met Katarinne's and she nodded a returning hello.
"He looks awful," Katarinne whispered.
Still staring at the back wall, Oriana finished her beer. "Yeah, I know. But Millen died, didn't she?" Siddael walked past and Oriana called out, "She died saving an idiot's ass, didn't she, Sir?"
Katarinne laid a quieting hand on her friend's arm. "Ori, don't."
Siddael Marrick sighed and returned to face Ori. "Now is not the time," he whispered. "You, of all mage killers, should know there are risks--"
"Nuobir bounces me all over the Goddess damned continent to do you Royals' dirty work," Ori snapped, leaning forward and gesturing at the closed meeting-room door. "I've saved every one of your asses Goddess knows how many times, but no one could bother to send me to Deitrel to help Millen? She was only fifteen and facing her first bone mage, and you all knew it! With Reid! Reid! He can't even point his finger at a measly mind mage follower without wearing a goddess damned diaper."
"Ori," Katarinne whispered, watching the bar patrons and their sudden, wide-eyed attention. The barkeeper flinched and struggled to maintain a grip on the glass he'd been wiping. Katarinne let her right hand fall to her dagger. Dangit, Ori. Not here, not now. People are staring. "Shh. Please."
"Oh, shush yourself. No one gives a piss what I'm saying." She took a breath and snarled at Siddael, "They're hunting us mage killers and none of you pegging cares. How the hells can you win this war if we're all dead?"
The meeting room door burst open and Sett Nuobir, the King's High Sage, rushed through, his homely, mashed face reddening. "We'll talk about this later. Privately," he muttered, then Katarinne's vision blurred white as he drew a sigil before his chest and muttered four lyrical syllables.
The white rapidly faded, and, as Katarinne blinked past the last wisps of brightness, she saw that the barkeep had returned to whistling while wiping glasses and the lechers to their drunken leers, Oriana's outburst wiped from their mundane minds.
"Goddess-damn cowardly asswipes!" Ori called out to Nuobir's hunched back. "We never talk about shit later!"
Nuobir merely followed Siddael to the meeting room and closed the door.
Oriana cursed and stood. "I need a refill."


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Working with the City of Lone Tree, Corum provided one-source project management for their $7 million Lincoln Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. Lincoln Avenue is a busy thoroughfare, serving as many as 89,000 cars a day, and the creation of the bridge will enable walkers, joggers and bicyclists to safely cross over Lincoln Avenue. Designed to maintain Lone Tree's experience as a single community, the bridge will specifically connect "traditional" Lone Tree to the new RidgeGate area via the Willow Creek trail to the RidgeGate Open Space.
Spanning 170 feet, the Lone Tree Pedestrian Bridge is a cable-stayed structure, with a large mast in the shape of a leaf rising 78 feet on its southern end.
Corum worked closely with the architect, contractor and City Council to hone the most cost-effective design while still maintaining community aesthetics. Additionally, our team managed the project's budget, schedule and City, County, and Department of Transportation (DOT) logistics as required.


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Nicholas Kniel creates handmade masks out of fine fabrics, lace and embellishes each mask with the finest feathers, crystals, pearls and jewels. These masks can be made for an occasion balls, wedding, New Years Eve, Mardi Gras or any special occasion.
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