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3X3 The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration, Honorable Mention
3X3, The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration's 14th Annual International Illustration Competition. I received Honorable Mention in the Picture Book/Children's Illustration(Published) category.
My work will be featured on the competition's website, along with the other winners.
The illustrations I created for "Lizard and Chamelon" were the pictures that received the award. I'll include images from the book here.
"Lizard and Chameleon" is the 3rd book in the KuduAdventures series of books for children, published by Ndowe International Press. Enenge A'Bodjedi is the client, and Jennifer Keenan is the book's designer.
You can see all the books, and purchase copies, at kuduadventures.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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A senior environmental official has taken the Tehran Municipality to task by challenging the mayoralty to be more transparent with their spending, especially when it comes to pollution tax.
Polluting industries are charged 1% of their annual revenue as environmental (or pollution) tax, according to Article 38 of the Value Added Tax Law which went into effect in 2009, ILNA reported.
"The law is full of holes," Saeed Motessadi, deputy for human habitats at the Department of Environment, said at a press conference on Sunday.
For instance, pollution tax must be calculated based on the emissions of an industry, not its income, he elaborated.
"What portion of that money has the TM spent on addressing environmental concerns?" the official asked, adding that having industries pay the levy to the municipality makes little sense.
He said the DOE is preparing an amendment to the law which will go into effect as part of the next economic development plan (2016-21) that should come into effect on March 20.
"Reports suggest that the municipality receives between $555 million and $833 million a year in pollution tax," Motessadi said.
The money has to be spent on developing and expanding infrastructure, such as renovating public transportation and expanding the city's green spaces which are shrinking at an alarming speed, he noted.
Tehran's perennial struggle with air pollution has pit the DOE and TM against one another for years with no end in sight to the public war of words between the two organizations with the latter almost always singled out for special castigation for its environmental performance or the lack of it.
The capital's air pollution and smog has extended for months this winter, with the air quality index hovering above 100 for too long to be considered normal. Based on the World Health Organization guidelines, an index between 101 and 150 is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Tehran Mayor Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf has repeatedly claimed that his office can effectively end the air pollution and challenged the government on more occasions than one to grant the municipality "the legal authority to do what we must." This prompted a response from DOE chief Massoumeh Ebtekar, who suggested last week that the TM would do a great service if it fulfills its own responsibilities.
The sprawling capital is said to be home to around a third of the country's industries, which add to the city's pollution woes caused mainly by the five million vehicles that ply the overcrowded streets.
Since the onset of the cold season, the stat-run radio and TV has been urging the people to avoid the streets of the capital and stay indoors due to the dirty and polluted air.
Other major cities have not been spared as they too continue to register high levels of air pollution coupled with particulate matter, smog and dust storms.


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- ARPDAUPosted 8 years ago
- What's an impressive conversion rate? And other stats updatesPosted 8 years ago
- Your quick guide to metricsPosted 8 years ago
Value My Time, Don't Time My Value
This guest post is part of a regular column contributed by Mark Sorrell. Mobile games have understood the importance of treating people's time with respect for years now. They load swiftly, get you into the actions quickly...
- Posted 6 years ago
Are mobile games killing consoles, why I don't believe in "freemium" and other questions
I was recently interviewed at the FT Digital Media Conference about many topics ranging from the Hollywoodisation of games to the nature of the Curve and why I don't believe in freemium (spoiler: freemium typically has a...
- Posted 7 years ago


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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE - Free pack of 3 replacement oven screens. Free pack will automatically be added to your cart. Limited to one per order.
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Make magical moments - combustion is old news. PAX provides a seamless transition for switching to vapour - it's simple, special, and all about you.
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Have it your way - PAX 3 comes with two options to enjoy - stick to dry herb if that's more your style, or easily switch to concentrates. Match your preference to performance, no matter your mood.
Smart and savvy - PAX communicates with you through LED lights that show heating status, battery life, and temperature settings. Save settings and design an experience that you can replicate time and again. Use the PAX mobile app for even more precision.
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- Dimensions: 4" x 1 " x 1"
- Temperature range: 360 - 420F
- Oven size 0.3 g
- Average heat time: 20 seconds
- App support via bluetooth
- Bluetooth range: 10 feet


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Theory: Trimming vs. Split and Delete?
I'm using Premier Elements 11 and Windows 7 (but my question may be applicable universally).
Both Steve's and Adobe's books briefly note that when using the TRIM tool on the timeline, for example as to shorten a clip so that it ends at a particular frame, no material is being deleted from the original file in the hard drive, but Premier Elements and the timeline know what to show.
Another way to the desired result, is to (1) SPLIT the clip at a point then highlight the balance of the clip (i.e., to the right of the new split and continuing to the end of the clip), then (2) DELETE the unwanted portion of the clip (i.e., to the right of the new split and continuing to the end of the clip).
Question: Does the SPLIT/DELETE method actually remove that segment from the hard drive, or, like the TRIM tool, does it merely get rid of the deleted portion of the clip from the visible timeline, but retain the file on the hard drive in tact?
The Underlying Question: With respect to either method, but particularly, one might think, with respect to the use of the TRIM tool, does that mean that long after the TRIM was executed, one can return to that spot in the sequence of clips on the timeline and, beginning at the current end of the clip, extend that clip to where and how it was originally?
And if the answer is yes, can one also return to the spot of the SPLIT and DELETED clip segment and bring those frames back?
Another Interesting Question: And lastly, when one saves the finished project as a Premier Elements ".PREL" file (before exporting it to the desired format for play), what is one saving? Is it a file containing the entire original underlying project elements, but adjusted for what one did in Premier Elements, or is it just the much shorter file of/for finished product?
As a new user still learning, my project began with a downloaded one hour movie from which I wanted only ten (well edited) minutes. My initial two steps were to delete the final 45 minutes of the movie using the SPLIT-clip then DELETE method, and a minute or so in the middle of the remaining clip using the SPLIT-clip then DELETE method. That being so, does my Premier Elements ".PREL" file still hold those unwanted minutes hidden away? One wouldn't think so. But . . .
Thanks to anyone who would care to answer questions of underlying theory (perhaps a bit more time-consuming than a "how to do it" question).


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The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was the longest war in which the united States took part in. This heart breaking war began in 1957. Vietnam is a small country in Southeast Asia that was divided into the Communist-Democratic Republic of Vietnam, known as North Vietnam, and the non-communist Republic of Vietnam, called South Vietnam. North Vietnamese and Communist-trained South Vietnamese rebels goals were to overthrow the government of South Vietnam and to eventually reunite the country as one. The united States and the South Vietnamese armies tried to stop this but soon realize that this was a challenge.
At the time, Vietnam was part of the French colonial empire In Indochina. The united States sent France military help but the French was easily defeated In 1954. This conflict then split Vietnam Into two. The united States aided France and later on non-communist South Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a conflict between the forces of the South Vietnamese and United States military against the North Vietnamese government, army, and the Vietcong. This Cold War led to many casualties to both sides of the factions. President Harry S.
Truman declared that the united States must help any nation in any sort of need or being challenged y Communism, that was the United States government responsibilities. This was also adopted by the next three presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. They feared that If one Southeast Asian nation joined the Communist, the others states would also fall into their power. As the fighting between the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese continued, the U. S. continued to send many advisers to South Vietnam, so they can teach and provided military support for the soldiers of South Vietnam.
North Vietnam fired directly upon two u. s. hips In International waters on August 2nd and the 4th, of 1964, this was known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, Congress responded with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This resolution gave the President the authority to escalate U. S. involvement in Vietnam. President Johnson's goal for U. S. Involvement In Vietnam was not for the U. S. to win the war, but for U. S. troops to bolster South Vietnam's defenses until South Vietnam could then take over. President Lyndon Johnson used that authority to order the first U. S. ground troops to Vietnam in March 1 965.
The Vietnam War had several stages. From 1957 to 1963, North Vietnam aided rebels opposed to the government of South Vietnam, later know as Viet Cong. From 1 964 to 1969, North Vietnam and the united States did most of the fighting, protecting civilians, and teaching the South Vietnamese military proper training and tactics. Some countries came to the aid of South Vietnam. These countries are Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. By April 1969, the number of U. S. forces in South Vietnam had reached its peak of more than 543,000 troops.
North Vietnam wanted to end U. S. support of South Vietnam and to reunite he north and south into single nation. China and the Soviet Union, at that time is the two largest Communist nations, they gave the Vietnamese Communists war materials but not troops. The North Vietnamese armies was manly the Viet Cong. The Vietcong were North Vietnamese guerrillas who sought to overthrow the southern 1 Communist troops left in hideouts in South Vietnam after the Geneva Conference of 1954. In 1957, South Vietnamese President Diem began to crack down on Communists and other political groups.
Whoever resisted his rule is to be described s a Viet Cong. Whether they were Communists or not, nothing really mattered at that time. The term Cong is a slang that stands for the word Communists. President Diem's actions soon increased opposition to his rule and drove many non- Communists into an alliance with the Communists. The troops was later supported and directed by North Vietnam, the Viet Cong first tried many tactics to overthrow the South Vietnamese regime, and then finally resorted to open warfare. With North Vietnamese backing, the Viet Cong waged a successful guerrilla war against Diem's army.
The United States, wanted to stop the spread of Communism, so they responded by sending thousands of troops to South Vietnam in 1965. North Vietnam, in turn, sent thousands of its troops. U. S. troops fought a Jungle war, mostly against the well-supplied Viet Cong. The Viet Cong would attack in ambushes, set up booby traps, and escape through a complex network of underground tunnels. For U. S. forces, even Just finding their enemy proved to be a very difficult task. Since the Viet Cong hid in the dense brush, U. S. forces would drop napalm bombs which cleared an area by causing the leaves to drop off or to burn away.
This was a tactical strategically to show the location of hidden Vietcong. In every village, U. S. troops had difficulty determining which villagers were the enemies. This was because the women and children could build booby traps or help house and feed the Viet Cong. U. S. soldiers commonly became frustrated with the fighting conditions in Vietnam. Many U. S. soldiers suffered from low morale became angry, and some became frantic. The Vietnam War soon caused widespread disruptions and sufferings to both sides, having much causality. The United States causalities in Vietnam were more than 50,000 deaths.
The South Vietnamese causalities gone up to over 400,000 people, but the Vietcong and North Vietnamese people causalities escalated over 900,000 people. As the war stretched on, some soldiers came to mistrust their government's reasons for keeping them there. As the war dragged on, it divided many Americans into hawks and doves. The hawks supported the fight against Communism, but they disliked Johnson's policy of slow, gradual troop increases and urged a decisive defeat of North Vietnam. The doves are the one who opposed the U. S. involvement and held mass protests.
Many doves believed that U. S. security was not at risk. While others see that their nation was supporting a corrupted and undemocratic government in South Vietnam. The growing costs of the war, however, probably did more to arouse public uneasiness in the United States than the antiwar movement did. In a television speech on May 14, in a speech before the United Nations, President Nixon set forth the government's peace proposals in great detail. "We have offered the complete withdrawal of all outside forces within 1 year. " "We have proposed a cease-fire under international supervision. We have offered free elections under international supervision with the Communists participating in the organization and conduct of the elections as an organized political force. And the Saigon Government has pledged to accept the result of the elections. " -President Nixon. The U. S. has indicated that we are willing to discuss the proposals that have except the right of the people of South Vietnam to determine their own future. In the end Hanoi has refused even to discuss their proposals. The North Vietnamese arrogantly refuse to negotiate anything but an imposition.
They demand the government's unconditional acceptance of their terms, which are that they must withdraw all American forces immediately and unconditionally and that they must overthrow the Government of South Vietnam as the troops leave Vietnam. All the North Vietnamese want is the ultimatum that the United States imposes a communist regime on 17 million people in South Vietnam. The United States found out this is a waste of time for trying to negotiate with them. The peace talks failed to produce agreement, and more and more Americans became impatient for the war to end.
The length of the war, high causalities, and the war crimes has led United States people against the Vietnam War under the leadership of President Richard M. Nixon. President Nixon soon felt he had to reduce U. S. involvement in the conflict. On June 8, 1969, he announced a new policy known as Vietnamization. This called for stepped- up training programs for South Vietnamese forces and the withdrawal of U. S. troops from South Vietnam. The U. S. troop withdrawal began in July 1969. In March 1972, North Vietnam began a major invasion of South Vietnam. Communist armies of North
Vietnam launched a massive invasion on South Vietnam; their army consists of tanks, artillery, and other advanced offensive weapons supplied by the Soviet Union. Nixon ordered the placing of explosives in the harbor of Haiphong, North Vietnam's major port for importing military supplies. Even so North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops won an easy victory when they attacked Phuoc Long, northeast of Saigon. In March 1975, the North Vietnamese forced South Vietnamese troops into a retreat from a region known as the Central Highlands. Thousands of civilians fled and died in the gunfire or from starvation on that horrid day.
This retreat became known as the Convoy of Tears. Although some South Vietnamese army units fought on, few soldiers or civilians rallied in support of the failing South Vietnamese government. The war soon ended on April 30, 1975, when the North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon, the South Vietnamese government formally surrendered to them. Saigon was then renamed Ho Chi Minh City, but till this day many of us South Vietnamese people still call our home, Saigon. Till this day we are trying to fight for our freedom, our rights to live, treated, and free speech like a human being.


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- 2 tsp. cumin seeds
- 2 tsp. coriander seeds
- 4 medium red tomatoes (about 1¼ lb.), cored
- 6 garlic cloves
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup fresh orange juice, divided
- ½ cup salted dry-roasted peanuts, plus more crushed for serving
- 4 limes, halved, divided
- 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
- 3 lb. chicken thighs and drumsticks
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
- Chopped dill and cilantro and chili oil (for serving)
Special Equipment
- A spice mill or mortar and pestle
Recipe Preparation
Toast cumin seeds and coriander seeds in a dry small skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until very fragrant and just beginning to darken, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate; let cool. Reserve skillet.
Finely grind seeds in spice mill or with mortar and pestle. Transfer ground cumin and coriander to a blender and add tomatoes, garlic, orange zest, ½ cup orange juice, ½ cup peanuts, and 1 cup water. Purée until sauce is smooth.
Arrange 6 lime halves, cut side down, in reserved skillet and cook, undisturbed, over medium-high heat until charred, 5–8 minutes. Transfer to a large plate.
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, cook chicken, skin side down, until golden brown and crisp, 6–8 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and browned, about 5 minutes. Return chicken to pot and pour sauce over. Bring sauce to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper; cover, leaving lid slightly askew. Cook, stirring in 2 charred lime halves halfway through (reserve remaining charred limes for serving), until chicken is very tender, about 1 hour.
Transfer chicken to a platter, leaving sauce behind. Squeeze juice from uncharred lime into sauce. Add remaining ½ cup orange juice and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Spoon sauce over chicken. Top with herbs and more peanuts; drizzle with chili oil. Serve with reserved charred limes.


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Washington D.C., D.C. Armory: October 18 – October 27
Official Website |Instagram | Get Tickets | #29rooms
This beautiful, interactive "Expand Your Reality" experience will create new, bold and thought-provoking moments that bring Refinery29's mission and multi-sensory spaces to life in collaboration with global artists, creators, visionaries, meaningful causes, and brands. Each room will put visitors at the center of the event with hands-on activities and several phone-free experiences, sparking engagement and igniting self-expression, storytelling and dialogue.
29Rooms will also feature city-specific collaborations with local artists Washington D.C. Additionally, some audience favorite rooms including: Teenage Bedroom, a technicolor fur bedroom that transports you back to the 90s teenage years and Inner Beauty Ball, a dance party where guests are invited to express, celebrate and dance will be included in the experience.
Check out the two local Washington, D.C. artists Trap Bob and Jamea Richmond-Edwards they've joined the national tour and will be doing individual room themes for 29Rooms.
THE TRAVELING BILLBOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. In Collaboration with Jamea Richmond-Edwards: At each stop along the 2019 29Rooms Expand Your Reality Tour, guests will be welcomed by a massive billboard treated with a mural by a locally-based artist. As an iconic silhouette of the urban landscape, the billboard will act as a spectacular canvas highlighting Washington, D.C. collaborator artist Jamea Richmond-Edwards.
THE ART PARK In Collaboration with NNEKKAA, Yvette Mayorga, Dan Lam, hanski, Trap Bob: Refinery29 has invited five artists from around the country – one from each tour stop – to transform our geometric playground into a canvas for creativity. The Art Park explores new ways of showcasing art and creating space at 29Rooms through playful composition and discovery.


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You'll like this one.
Software glitches at HMRC are being blamed for the fact that the system cannot correctly work out how the dividend allowance, the personal savings allowance (a tax-free limit for savings income) and the tax-free personal allowance all fit together.
HMRC said the move only affected a "very small percentage" of self-assessment taxpayers and that no tax had been wrongly paid.What happened to all the decent public sector IT contractors?Last month Telegraph Money highlighted the errors HMRC had made recording "Class 2" National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for self-employed people. From April 2015, workers' "Class 2" National Insurance contributions have been declared on self-assessment tax returns. Previously they were paid to HMRC by direct debit.
HMRC again blamed the errors on a "technical fault" with its systems, and said it had only involved a few people. But after publishing the story we received many emails from those affected.


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This Truth is Dedicated to a Dear Brave Girl friend of Mine and she knows who she is. I will not name names because I feel that is private. But though this is dedicated to her, this IS also for me.
How many times to we talk down to ourselves? How many times do we make a mistake and then say mean things to ourselves for those mistakes? How may times do we think we are less than perfect or think we are less than Perfect? We talk Mean to ourselves so often and we would NEVER talk to others the way we talk to ourselves. When I saw this truth, at first I thought, Well, that isn't me, I don't do that. But then one of the Brave Girls posted this Perfect song in My Music and playlist folder and I thought, Hmm ok I need to be listening to my Truth Teller here and pull that Truth out and really listen.
I chose to do this on on a Journal page and not on a Truth card because for one, I have been struggling with my journal pages and I have yet to really share them a lot. So I am doing more of that. Two, my journal pages are very personal to me and something I look back on more often. I wanted to be able to look at this often and remember this. As I said, I also did this for my BG Friend. As well, I wanted to dedicate the song to her. No more mean talk. She is perfect. god made us in his image and he did not make any mistakes.
I struggle with wanting to be prefect. Wanting to say the right thing, be the right thing, not put my foot in my mouth, not offend someone, not tick someone off, not be overbearing, not be too clingy, not desire too much attention, not need to be pandered to, or not want too much or need too much. I struggle with wanting to have the right hair, the right body type and not matter how much weight I lose or gain I feel I will never be perfect. I know I barely eat and I know this concerns my friends and family.
So you see, it doesn't matter -everyone's perception of themselves can be skewed. Someone once told me - it all matters with which the lens you are looking through. In that process, and through Soul Restoration we need to learn to accept ourselves for who we are and move on to dream big and amazing things. But we have to stop being so mean to ourselves.
This image I chose and I drew as a reminder of that. To me - this a a beautiful me. A fashion I drew - me no one else. And the words to remind us - No More Mean Talk. We are Perfect. Prefect Beautiful You and you and you...yeah...YOU ------------> the ones reading this right now...I am talking to you too :)
Lyrics listed here
Made a wrong turn
Once or twice
Dug my way out
Blood and fire
Bad decisions
That's alright
Welcome to my silly life
Mistreated, misplaced, missunderstood
Miss "no way it's all good"
It didn't slow me down
Always second guessing
Look, I'm still around…
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing
You're perfect to me
You're so mean
When you talk
About yourself
You are wrong
Change the voices
In your head
Make them like you
So complicated
Look how big you'll make it
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
It's enough
I've done all i can think of
Chased down all my demons
see you same
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing
You're perfect to me
The whole world stares while i swallow the fear
The only thing i should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in lying and I tried tried tried
But we try too hard, it's a waste of my time
Done looking for the critics, cuz they're everywhere
They don't like my genes, they don't get my hair
String ourselves and we do it all the time
Why do we do that?
Why do I do that?
Why do I do that?
Ooh, pretty pretty pretty,
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothing you're
perfect, to me
You're perfect
You're perfect
Pretty, pretty please don't you ever ever feel
like you're less then, perfect
Pretty, pretty please if you ever ever feel
like you're nothing you are perfect to me


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You Ain't No Picasso
This algorithm can create a new Van Gogh or Picasso in just an hour
For great artists, creating a masterpiece is the culmination of a career. Years of practice, creative musings and experimentation with styles build up to the genesis of something truly original and timeless.
A story is often told about Pablo Picasso charging an enormous sum for a portrait. The physical act of drawing it took only a few moments, so the subject complained to Picasso. He is said to have responded, "Madame, it took me my entire life."
While the great art of yesteryear was an exhaustive process to create, today the style of those masters can be mimicked in minutes. Last week German researchers released a paper detailing how a computer algorithm could be used to pump out images borrowing the styles of the world's greatest artists.


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Interview with Emma Rothwell: Maker, Rothwell Collection
Q: When did you know that you had a passion for art?
A: As a youngin' spending quality time in solitude with colored pencils and markers in hand was customary, (paint was far too messy for a kid of my rambunctious nature to wield). Throughout the years this interest continued to grow as I attended various art camps and got involved with art clubs during high school. I deeply enjoyed the comradery of other creative people and working with my hands. Although, despite being a part of these communities I didn't yet consider myself an 'artist'. Often when I made art during that period I would get frustrated that I wasn't able to replicate a photo-like realism that others were able to achieve. I instead turned to a more cartoony style, casually making colorful watercolor paintings outlined with black ink. As I began to share my pieces the positive feedback received gave me more confidence in my work and I was inspired to become increasingly experimental and produce more.
Q: Where do you get your ideas from?
A: My art is often inspired by nature, but I also like to project my sense of humor into my pieces as well. Adding an air of goofiness into my doodles allows me to connect with people who may not normally get satisfaction out of 'fine art' because comedic relief breaks that barrier.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you face with the creative process?
A: The biggest constraint I face with creating is time itself. Often sitting down to work on a project, doodle, etc. for a knowingly limited amount of time feels rushed rather than like a mindful creative practice, so I tend to procrastinate on starting anything. But alas, it's rare to find large stretches of time in the day to solely dedicate to studio time. To combat this, I've started to allot time in each day to going out and sketching my surroundings, working on a small portion of a project, and doodling out rough drafts for future print ideas so I'm developing my skills even if I'm not necessarily inspired to intensely create in that moment.
Q: Have you tried other art forms besides printmaking?
A: Yes! I love creating animations with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as well. When I'm not working on my laptop I collect old books, magazines, and newspapers in order to collage. Watercolor is my go-to paint of choice for more of a sketch style, but if I have the time experimenting with the slightly daunting, hard to remove from clothing, slow drying substance that is oil paint gives me thorough satisfaction. I'm pretty well versed in traditional graphite drawing techniques, but usually if I'm drawing I prefer to use micron pens for a less smudgeable line. My plan, however, is to eventually become a master of relief printing.
Q: When you're not drawing and painting what do you do for fun?
A: I am a collector! or a hoarder, depending who you ask amongst my loved ones. I live for spending hours scouting through thrift stores for unique pieces to take under my wing amidst piles of discarded clothing and furniture. I'm also currently cultivating a jungle in my home. After working several years in a greenhouse, I have an impressive number of house plants I am attempting to not kill. On my days off, I love driving up the north shore, soaking the geological feat that is the Superior coastline, and hiking in the dense forests surrounding the area. As of recent, I'm an amateur climber in the process of getting over my engrained fear of heights. Surprisingly, even during nippy Duluth winters I try to get out of my burrow of blankets occasionally to get out and snowboard as well!


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The food processing industry today faces increasingly conflicting challenges: producing quality products to tighter margins, addressing ever tighter regulatory issues and creating new, innovative products for an ever-wider and more demanding customer base.
Food & Beverage
We at AxFlow have an extremely wide portfolio of centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, valves, heat exchangers, homogenizers, mixers and agitators as well as analyzers for the food and beverage industry. All our products meet the most stringent hygienic standards and certifications such as EHDGE, FDA, EU Food EC 1935/2004 and more.
AxFlow Systems is our engineering center of excellence where we build tailor-made pumping systems.


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Here's the other pair of fabrics that I recently purchased to make a second hip skirt for myself (!):
As before, I'm using the large print (on left) for the top layer and the small print (on right) for the under layer of the skirt. I've actually already the cut out all the pieces and the under skirt will extend about 1.5 inches beneath the over skirt.
In answer to Beth's question from last week, the fabric is a (slightly heavier-weight) cotton.
In case you don't remember from last week, this is the pattern:
As I mentioned, I've already cut out the pieces. I should have pictures of both skirts for you (along with a pattern review) next weekend! Yup, you'll be seeing these babies soon! They're in the queue! :)


text: The subjects who support our projects with regulat donations of above 10$ per month or who helped us once with the sum of above 250$ can become an Angel of Kindness. A list of the Angels of Kindness will be published each year on our website! The Angels of Kindness receive diplomas, photos and souvenirs from our Actions as an expression of appreciation for the manifested generosity. Become the Angel of Kindness and make a donation for recovery of ill children. Promote prevention and healthy lifestyle!


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Alexion Pharmaceuticals has secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Soliris to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive.
The NMOSD is a rare and severe autoimmune disease, which attacks the central nervous system without warning. Also referred as relapses, the attacks may result in progressive and irreversible damage to the brain, optic nerve and spinal cord.
The FDA approval was based on data from the phase 3 randomised, double-blind and placebo controlled Prevent study.
Soliris has achieved its primary endpoint of prolonging the time to first adjudicated relapse and reducing the risk of relapse in the Prevent trial.
The patients with NMOSD who were anti-AQP4 antibody positive have been treated with Soliris or placebo in the study. The effect was noticed through 144 weeks of treatment, with 96% of patients treated with Soliris relapse free compared to 45% of patients in the placebo arm.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) are evaluating Alexion's applications to add the treatment of NMOSD to the marketing authorisations for Soliris.
Alexion already secured orphan drug designation (ODD) to treat patients with NMOSD in the US, EU and Japan.
Alexion research and development head and executive vice president Dr John Orloff said: "In NMOSD, disease progression is driven by attacks, and so preventing future relapses is the primary goal of treatment. Today, for the first time, adults living with anti-AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD have an approved treatment to reduce the risk of an unpredictable relapse – or attack."
Soliris is a first-in-class complement inhibitor, which works by blocking the C5 protein in the terminal part of the complement cascade, a part of the immune system.
Activation of the complement cascade may result in severe rare and ultra-rare disorders such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), ), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody-positive generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG) and anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).
Soliris secured approval in the US, EU, Japan and other countries as a treatment for adult patients with PNH and for adults and children with aHUS.


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To je naša spletna stran. Bi raje nakupovali na naši spletni strani?
To je naša spletna stran. Že prej ste nakupovali na naši spletni strani. Bi radi šli na našo spletno stran zdaj?
Strani drugih držav
Moj račun
Moja torba
Izdelek je bil uspešno dodan na vaš seznam želja.
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Ker bi svojim strankam radi zagotovili najboljšo nakupovalno izkušnjo, uporabljamo piškotke. Če boste nadaljevali z uporabo naše strani, predvidevamo, da ste s prejemanjem naših piškotkov in piškotkov naših partnerjev zadovoljni. Več informacij


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Sony brought out the big guns for its E3 2011 press conference last month, revealing just about everything there is to know about the upcoming PS Vita other than its official release date. The best reveal came, however, when Irrational Games' Ken Levine took the stage and confirmed that a BioShock game would be coming to the handheld. That's all the detail he shared, but it was enough for the time being. Now Levine has spoken a little bit more about his plans for the Vita game, in a new interview with IGN.
"That's a new game. That is going to be strange and surprising to people," he said. "I think when we launched Infinite, people said, 'Wait, what, what are you doing?' I think we always want to surprise people."
"For us, it's like, 'Hey, here's this weird experiment you want to do.' Experiments always carry risks, though. That's been the experience of working on BioShock Infinite. And working on BioShock. People saying, 'This is weird, risky, I don't understand.' I'm fortunate that I get to do things that are risky, my team gets to do things that are risky."
Damn right he's fortunate. Then again, BioShock wasn't Irrational's first dazzling effort; System Shock 2 opened plenty of doors in the early days, no doubt.
Levine also confirmed that this is a game being built from the ground-up for Vita, though he wasn't as clear in separating it from Infinite completely. He did say that the Vita game won't be "mobile" in the sense that we think of the term nowadays; in other words, expect chunks of gameplay that last longer than five minutes. There's more to the interview as well, three pages worth of talk about Irrational and BioShock. Go check it out.
Editors' Recommendations
- The best Xbox 360 games of all time
- The best video game soundtracks of all time
- The best PS3 games of all time
- The best PS Vita games of all time
- The best Xbox 360 games backward compatible on Xbox One


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G-RJXD EMB145 BMA Stand 31 0410
While parked on stand a fire broke out under the aircraft at the rear.
From outside the aircraft looks to be damaged above the right wing.
The fire was caused by a person climbing over the security fence and lighting
a flamable liquid.Police are treating the accident as wil-full fire raising.
The airport reopened to flights about 0910.


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We went to bed in Valletta and by the time we opened our eyes, we were in Mgarr, a town on the island of Gozo, which is part of the Maltese archipelago.
This was supposed to be our "kick back and relax" port of call. We were booked on a Sail and Swim excursion and so, our day was looking to consist of just those two things: sailing and swimming.
We put on our swimsuits, grabbed our towels, and practically ran off the boat, excited for the day ahead. This whole trip so far has been so much sightseeing, walking, and planning. For once, we could abandon that for a day and just suntan on a
Our tour guide/sailors led us onto the boat and after a brief introduction, our ship headed off to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon was described to be a 'slice of paradise in Malta' located between the islands of Malta and Gozo. It was a small bay with shallow, azure
Our captain chose to do this right in the morning before it got busy around noon time. They said that during the peak times of the summer, there could be close to 9,000 people in the entirety of the Blue Lagoon at one time, fighting for a piece of the slice of paradise.
We were given about an hour and a half to swim and snorkel. This wasn't like the other snorkeling adventures we've been on, like in Cabo or the Cayman Islands. Those had more fish and sea life than you could keep track. Every square inch of the ocean or sea floor looked like it was covered with coral that was home to dozens and dozens of fish. The Blue Lagoon was a little different. I only saw about 2 or 3 species of fish (but I did see a couple of small, red jellyfish). The amount of fish that I did see wasn't a staggering amount either. There was very little coral to be seen, and there just wasn't too much to be filmed on my GoPro in general.
At one point, I just took off my snorkel mask and swam around for a bit. Because it was a beautiful place to swim, there was no doubt about that. The water was beyond clear and beyond blue. That is always what I've always loved about the Mediterranean Sea and sky. Everything is just extraordinarily blue, and the camera never quite captures the hue as vividly as you see it. It's as if the universe had a little bit of extra love for the Mediterranean region and just turned up the saturation on all of its landscapes – the sky, the food, the sea and oceans, and the flora.
We climbed back onto the boat and dried ourselves off. Then, came the sailing part of the excursion. Along the way to our second snorkeling destination, the captain sailed past many landmarks and did his best to point everything out to us. The sailing was just as fun, in my opinion. I grabbed my camera and found a comfortable place at the front of the ship to stand. The sun beat down on my back, the salty air tickled my nose, and the ocean wind tousled my hair as the boat continued on, full speed ahead.
One of the most beautiful quotes that I've ever read goes, "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." The sea really does make everything better. There's such a strong sense of peace and happiness that I feel when I'm either swimming in it, sailing it, or just looking at it from a balcony onboard.
We got a glimpse of Elephant Rock, explained by its name.
We saw cliff after cliff, some with buildings, most completely bare.
Our last spot of the day was Crystal Lagoon, which was another popular destination for locals and tourists it seemed, as made clear by the amount of boats that were already anchored there. Instead of an open expanse of water, we were stopped by some caves that allowed swimmers to swim through it, or just into it. One of them had a 'skylight' or in less romantic terms, a large opening at the top of its roof.
Jumping off the boat for what would be the second and last time, we swam over as quick as we could and explored the cave and its open roof more. After getting enough pictures, I just lay flat on my back and stared up at the top of the cave and to the sky. Mind blank, thinking nothing more than the shape of the clouds overhead and of the feeling of the water surrounding me. There was nothing more to think about, nothing to worry about.
There were a couple more groups of fish, but again, nothing compared to our previous snorkeling excursions in the Caribbean.
What I found so interesting was that there were boats selling ice cream going from boat to boat, showing off their sweet goodies. Now that is a smart business plan, in my opinion. There is nothing a tired, parched snorkeler wants more than to bite into an ice cream cone on a hot summer day.
After this, we made our way back to the boat, and then the boat headed back to our ship, the Oosterdam. Head tipped back, I closed my eyes and let the sound of the boat cutting through the waves fill my ears. I let the sun and a sense of total tranquility wash over me.
Malta, you will be missed. I definitely thought it was one of the most beautiful stops this entire trip and what I loved even more was our ability to see the city in Valletta and the sea in Gozo. This one cruise definitely gave us the ultimate 2-in-1 for Malta.
Until next time, then.


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal and Chelsea stunned by Paulo Dybala's Barcelona revelation
PAULO DYBALA has revealed he is prepared to spurn the advances of the Premier League's top clubs to join Barcelona instead.
The 21-year-old Palermo striker is widely expected to leave the Serie A outfit at the end of the season.
Dybala is one of Europe's hottest properties, and reports this week emerged that Chelsea had submitted a £30million bid for his services.
But Dybala has explained that linking up with countryman Lionel Messi at Barcelona would be a dream.
I went to Barcelona to watch the latest Clasico. It's a city I like a lot, and they play very nice football
"If the president, Maurizio Zamparini, says I have to leave, then I want to enjoy these last few games as a Palermo player, I want to do my best," Dybala told French TV station Canal Plus.
"I went to Barcelona to watch the latest Clasico. It's a city I like a lot, and they play very nice football.
Paulo Dybala has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League
"When I was a child I preferred Barcelona, because they had more Argentines.
"Then, of course, there's (Lionel) Messi, who is an idol in Argentina."


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In light of the release of their new album, Dope Machines, Craig Roxburgh got to talk to The Airborne Toxic Event about the indie scene, what it means to be indie rock, their new album, and their upcoming visit to South Africa for Freedom Festival.
The Airborne Toxic Event were born on the tail-end of an age where indie rock was in-fact independent and truly underground. Despite coming into the scene at a late stage, The Airborne Toxic Event is still hailed to be pioneers of modern indie music. How does it feel to be regarded as one of the leading bands in indie rock?
Honestly I'm not sure what the term means anymore. I think it used to mean bands that eschewed the major-label marketing machine in favor of DYI band ethics and a sense of freedom in terms of songwriting and production. For awhile I think it actually had something to do with clove cigarettes and The Smiths. These days, I see very well art-directed, squeaky-clean bands on huge labels describe their sound as indie and I don't even know what they mean except that perhaps someone is wearing plaid.
It feels good. We've played 1,100 or so shows and we've met many people and the DYI ethic has given us an incredibly fortunate road to follow.
With regards to being at the forefront of the indie scene, with such radical shifts in the climate of modern music and the explosion of popularity of indie music – has there been a sense of isolation as your music so strongly contrasts what is being created by the newer bands, and by the older bands that decided to adapt to the changing climate?
Not really. We stomp and scream and holler and chant in big rooms with crowds and on good nights it feels like something special has happened. A catharsis, perhaps. Or a celebration. A connection. The rest of it is just so much heavy breathing about aesthetics and marketing.
With the distinctive shift in the sonic quality of what is considered to be indie, has there been pressure on you, as a band, to move in that same direction and create music that is slightly more palatable for commercial radio play?
No. If anything, you just focus on songwriting, playing great shows, connecting with fans, thinking hard about your struggles and making art about them.
With regards to sonic shifts, your new album Dope Machine is a step in a direction that is the complete opposite to all your previous work. What inspired this desire to create an album that was built around synths and electronic elements?
James Murphy. Also Radiohead. Also dancing around the house at 3 am with a brandy snifter and a smoking jacket thinking "well this is all really fucking fun."
Dope Machines is interesting as it comes off as tongue-in-cheek commentary about the effects of technology on human relationships, yet the entire album was constructed through the use of electronics. Was this blatant sense of irony deliberate, and if so, were you worried that it may be construed as hypocrisy?
It was deliberate. We can't deny all these buggy little machines have changed our lives: heart monitors and laptops and apps and artificial lungs and smart phones and drones. It's all so terrifying and exhilarating, like we have one foot in the future and one in the deep past, like a billion cavemen standing around an enormous fire as a big as a mountain, trading stories and singing songs.
So our little tongue-in-cheek commentary on all this was to take these terrifying and exhilarating little machines and use them to make a record.
You guys must have been faced with a similar problem that Linkin Park is often faced with when recording new music: the possibility of losing old fans due to your music taking such a rapid departure from your old sound. Did this ever cause you to stop and worry about whether the new album would be a good idea?
Of course not. I always forget anything else exists outside of the song, alone in a room with a guitar or a synthesizer composing for some long lost idea of myself or others. That's all that matters in that moment: capturing the fleeting thought, the overwhelming idea. Then the record is done and it's like, "Oh yeah, people have opinions." It's always a shock.
The interesting thing about the release of Dope Machines is that Mikel took to Facebook to explain each song in excruciatingly great detail – which is rare from bands, especially one of such magnitude as The Airborne Toxic Event. Why is it that more bands don't do this? Is it perhaps the fear of no longer truly owning a song, emotionally, if you so deeply divulge its meaning?
Once a song is done it belongs to the world. They go out and they occupy the minds of others. The song is no longer ours. It interacts with the memories and emotions and events unfolding in other people's minds. This is good and appropriate. The song notes are more like origin stories than anything.
You're going to be performing your debut show in South Africa soon. What attracted you to the idea of performing in South Africa, at Freedom Festival?
The utter awesomeness of being 17,000 miles from home playing music for people. What an amazing world we live in.
What can the South African fanbase expect from the show? Will you be performing more of the newer material, or will you focus on the older songs that they're more likely to know?
We'll be jumping, screaming, stomping, clapping and wailing our way through our set. We will flirt with disaster and seek communion.
Finally, what else do you want to do when you're down in South Africa?
Go on a safari. Meet people. Discuss "the world." Drink.


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Unnatural hairline and the parting of human hair wigs may cause your look fake, so the following video is made to help you make your look more natural by refining your hairline and parting space.
Method 1. Apply Powder to Conceal The Hairline
Starting from the front of your part, then dab powder or concealer that matched with your complexion on the parting and hairline with a makeup brush a little bit at a time. Not too much product or you will mess the stuff up. Use concealer/powder to make your hairline and parting look more natural and real
Method 2: Apply Wax Stick to Mold the Hairline
Apply wax stick directly along the hairline can fuse hair together to make the hairline more neat and natural, which finally can make the whole look much more fabulous.
Method 3: Apply Hot Comb to Lay Hairline And Parting Flat
Run the hot comb along with the parts and hairline, which can make the parts & hairline more prominent, and put heat on the actual part to help it lay flat.
Method 4: Appy Hot Comb & Wax Stick to Creating a Melted Look
Apply the lace wax to your hairline, then go over it with the hot straightening comb, they work together to give you the really melted look.
Do this beforehand on a mannequin will make it a lot simpler for the install.


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In an effort to maintain full disclosure and in compliance with current FTC guidelines, please note the above testimonials are not "typical". Because our system is dependent on your own personal activity and utilization of the software, the leads and markets you are searching, and taking full advantage of the coaching and training materials that we offer, it is impossible to ascertain what is a "typical" or average result. We present to you what some users have accomplished using TaxMama's EA Exam Review Course.
All testimonials have been validated to be from current and recent students of our TaxMama's EA Exam Review Course. Here at TaxMama's EA Exam Review Course, we applaud the FTC at enforcing stricter policies and we join with them in their efforts to provide integrity and transparency on the Internet.
Note: Folks who are not proficient in English will, naturally, have more difficulty. It sometimes takes them two or more attempts to finish passing all the exams since the examinations and the study material are all in English.


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Kathmandu Dhulikhel Kathmandu
Trip features
Trip duration: 3 Days 3 Nights
Dhulikhel lies 32 kilometres east from Kathmandu and the views can easily compete with Nagarkot. Dhulikel is a Newari town with a temple-lined village Square. This place is also often used as a fall out base for shorter and longer treks in the countryside. You will make a trek from Dhulikel to Namo Buddha, a famous buddhist monastery in the Kathmandu Valley. During the hike you will be accompanied by beautiful sceneries.
|Sightseeing in Kathmandu: Boudhha Stupa, Pashupati Temple, Panauti Village.
|Hiking to Namo Budhha Stupa (3hrs) and drive back to Dhulikhel. Overnight in Dhulikhel.
|Drive to Bhaktapur. Sightseeing in Bhaktapur. Drive back Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Upon request
- Road Transport
- 3 nights in 3 star hotel
- Entrance Fees
- English Speaking Guide
Not Included:
- Tips
- Other Food & Beverage
- Historical City Bhaktapur
- Dhulikel
- Bouddha Stupa
- Patan Durbar Square
- Swayambhu Stupa
- Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Pashupati Temple
- Village Tour Panuati
- Namo Budhha Stupa
- Airport Service
- Hotel Upgrade


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What's the difference between being racist and just honestly reflecting feedback? You may or may not have seen this ad doing its rounds around Facebook lately, for a new dating app developed by Singaporean Mr Herbert Eng.
Highblood, the app, already sounds really elitist from the get go. It's obvious that's the theme Mr Eng was going for, an exclusive dating app where every user is carefully selected by existing users before being able to join the community for some swiping action.
As a new user registers, he or she will have to go through a "covenant", made up of five random existing users of the app. Only when the prospective user gets at least 3 approvals, can they be accepted. Should they fail, there is a choice between paying $100 to immediately enter, or waiting 12 hours before facing a new covenant.
This is taking elitism to a new low. Not only are you judging a book by the cover, you're aggressively selecting what sort of books you get to choose from.
That's not even talking about the outright racism in the ad above.
"No banglas, no maids, no uglies"
Either we're all secretly racist assholes, or there's something up with the ad right there. According to the founder, that's apparently the relationship selection criteria for our majority Chinese population. He insisted that it is not discrimination. Is it racist if we have a racial preference for relationships?
This is, of course, an uncomfortable question.
Regardless of the validity of the idea, however, the fact remains that the ad is at worst goddamn racist, and at best incredibly tactless.
We all know many of us do the sort of screening that Highblood does for you by ourselves, in other dating apps like Tinder. Not many of us can claim innocence in this. But to throw it out into the open, to use this unspoken, uncomfortable fact as advertisement is just going to offend everyone.
Gotta give it to them though, they've got some sick publicity from this controversy.
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iOS: https://goo.gl/a0FZdy
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Featured Image: Facebook (Highblood)


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We're rolling out a new episode of The PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT Show! Each week, our podcast--hosted by PGS founder Aeshia DeVore Branch--highlights women who are balancing demanding careers with a healthy lifestyle and hurdling over personal and professional obstacles to reach their goals.
Marquita Smith, author of the book P.S. Pray the Same for Me, blogger, and creator of How I Grew Today, is chatting it up with PGS founder Aeshia DeVore Branch in the latest edition of our podcast. Smith spent the early part of her career working in the entertainment industry, for influential Brands and Artists, such as Reebok, S. Carter Enterprises (Jay-Z) and Roc Nation. In 2011, she stepped away to do some soul searching and to answer her true calling of being a writer.
During this personal conversation amongst friends, Marquita shares the hacks that help her manage her life as a mom and entrepreneur, the daily routines that keep her physically and mentally strong, and how she overcame her battle with bulimia. Take a listen below!
On what PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT means to her:
"Pretty girls take care of themselves physically and emotionally. We sweat and put in the work."
Follow Marquita on Instagram @howigrewtoday, twitter, facebook, youtube, and visit howigrewtoday.com.
You can also listen to the podcast on iTunes by searching PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT. Sweat sisters, show us some love! If you enjoy the podcast, please rate it and leave a review!
Have a question that you want to be answered on the show? Email firstname.lastname@example.com!


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By Dan Kidder
Managing Editor
I have been loving the Smoke Pro Pellet Grills from Camp Chef. In all, I have reviewed more than 10 of them and I use the Woodwind once or twice a week. Once you discover the ease of use and maintenance of these grills, you won't really have any use for any other kind of grill. I haven't lit up my trusty charcoal Weber or my propane gas grill in years. Everything I could want to do, I can accomplish with my pellet grill, except for one thing. If I want to hang long strips of ribs or links of sausage, I had to fire up the propane Camp Chef Smoke Vault, soak wood chips, keep feeding it damp chips, and frequently check it and manage it.
Well, new for this year is the Camp Chef Smoke Pro XXL Vertical Pellet Grill. Now I get the larger cooking chamber of the Smoke Vault with the exceptional ease of use of a pellet grill. It has 1,950 square inches of cooking surfaces with four smoking grates, three jerky trays, and hanging sausage hooks. We fired this bad boy up at a local BBQ joint and we were able to smoke 4 full-sized pork butts and two full beef briskets, all at once. Special thanks to Pork Belly's Eatery and Catering in St. George, UT.
The temperature range on the XXL is smaller than on Camp Chef's other pellet grills, in part because of the larger surface area of the larger cooking chamber. This allows it to cool more rapidly from outside ambient air. But also, it makes it ideal for smoking at lower temperatures. This so-called "cold smoking" allows you to impart more smoke flavor to meat over a longer smoking time, without actually cooking the meat. It has a range from 150 up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another benefit of "cold smoking" is that it slowly renders out the fat, for succulent and tender meat. It also allows you to smoke things that would melt under higher heat, such as hard cheeses. Adding cubes of sharp cheddar to your brats will blow away your guests.
The ease of use from the Smoke Pro pellet grills is in the control unit. A computer uses sensors to measure the temperature of the main cooking compartment and automatically adds pellets via its large auger to maintain the preset temperature. The firebox holds the pellets and a heating element ignites them and maintains a constant heat and smoke. The vertical shape of the cabinet allows the smoke to waft upwards and a vent in the side allows a controlled amount of smoke to escape and fresh air to circulate for a nice convection current that perfectly coats everything with just right amount smoke and heat for perfectly smoked meat.
The XXl also features n 18-pound pellet hopper, and dual temperature probes, so you can load the hopper with pellets and walk away and prepare a salad for those people who like such things. We all have those strange relatives who would rather eat food's food than real food. Pop back out on the deck and push the big green button to see the internal temperature of one of your pieces of meat. Press it again and see the internal temperature of your other probe. A third press gives you the cooking chamber temperature. Additionally, you can clean the ash out with the pull of a lever.
This ease of use means that I can set the grill temperature and go take a nap, watch the football game, or even run to the store, and I know that my smoker is going to keep on running without any issue as long as the hopper is full and feeding pellets.
Once I have achieved the level of smoke that I desire, a simple turn of the knob to the desired cooking temperature will finish cooking my meat and provide a perfect crust on the outside with a beautiful smoke ring on the inside.
This perfect combination of cooking and smoking was once the sole domain of very patient pit masters who could tease their charcoal or wood fires with just the right amount of heat and air and required constant attention. Now, with the Smoke Pro Pellet Grill, you can set it, walk away, and come back to perfectly smoked food.
The ability to smoke large quantities of meat at once, or to smoke and cook longer foods like full racks of ribs or sausages, make the XXL the go-to choice for those who cater events, cook for a large family, restaurants who may not have room for a large industrial smoker, or those who like to make large batches of jerky or sausage.
For Christmas this year, we will be cooking hams and a beautiful smoked turkey on this baby. If you are considering this as a Christmas gift, make sure that it is an early one, because Christmas dinner can be cooking on the patio and everyone can enjoy more time with the family and less time futzing over the goose. And I have cooked a goose on my pellet grill, and it was amazing.
The large size, ease of use, perfect smoke flavor, and versatility, all make the Camp Chef Smoke Pro XXL our Pro's Pick. If you love good meat as much as the crew at Sportsman's News, you will want to check it out too. Look for it at your local Sportsman's Warehouse.


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Haus Praschberger
Our family-friendly guest house in Ebbs is very close to many popular excursion destinations, especially for people who love nature and animals.
After exiting hikes in the beautiful landscape, the mountain torrents invite you to linger or take a bath. In winter, enjoy skiing in the surrounding ski areas.
Our house offers an unforgettable holiday in a large family apartment with 2 bathrooms and TV in each room. Additionally, we also offer a confortable room (2-3 beds) with shower, toilet and TV, including a varied breakfast. This room can also be booked as additional room to the apartment, thus accommodating up to 9 people.
Our cozy house with conservatory, lawn and sufficient parking is ideal for: Families and groups wanting to spend a great time together, as well as training groups sharing their passion for running, trail running, cycling, and cross-country skiing.
- crib/baby bed
- children's play area
- playground
Facilities / Services
- short stays welcome
- barbecue area (with benches)
- terrace
- drying room
- herb garden
- non-smoking area
- laundry facilities available
- library
- parking space for bicycles
- common room
- breakfast service
- guest refrigerator
- breakfast room
- winter garden
- family friendly
- garden furniture
- TV room
- car parking lot
- garden barbecue
- ski storeroom
- laundry service
- central location
- right on the bike path
- outskirts of town
- breakfast on request
Payment methods
- cash payment
- bike rental
- toboggan rental
Sports / Leisure time
- garden / meadow
- lounge chairs free of charge
- sunbathing lawn
- rock crystal grotto


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Marianne Bergmann (Presenter)
Lillebaelt Hospital
Bio: Recently appointed biochemist at Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark. Two years' experience in developing and validating LC-MS/MS methods in a clinical laboratory. Master in pharmaceutical Sciences from Copenhagen University in 2006.
Authorship: Marianne L. Bergmann and Anne Schmedes
Biochemistry and Immunology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark
|Short Abstract
The LC-MS/MS analysis for plasma methoxycatecholamines has been in routine use at Lillebaelt Hospital since October 2015. During the last 6 months we have experienced an increasing problem with sample chromatograms showing lower peak height for metanephrine and d3-metanephrine, but not for normetanephrine and d3-normetanephrine. The problem only affects a few samples in each run, but these samples also show poor peak shape. We discovered that the problem was caused by metformin – a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. Metformin co-elutes with metanephrine and causes major ion suppression. Because metformin is widely used and in high doses (up to 2000 mg/day), we set out to solve this problem.
Long Abstract
Problem: The LC-MS/MS analysis for plasma methoxycatecholamines has been in routine use at Lillebaelt Hospital since October 2015. During the last 6 months we have experienced an increasing problem with sample chromatograms showing lower peak height for metanephrine and d3-metanephrine, but not for normetanephrine and d3-normetanephrine. The problem only affects a few samples in each run, but these samples show poor peak shape and often double peaks. We suspected that it could be caused by an interfering compound in these samples that co-elutes with metanephrine, causing ions suppression. A full-scan of one of these samples displayed that indeed a massive peak of 130 m/z co-eluted with metanephrine.
Further analysis confirmed that the interferent is metformin – a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Method Information
Method Information: Sample extraction is performed on a Hamilton STARlet workstation, using solid phase extraction on Biotage EVOLUTE EXPRESS WCX 30 mg 96-well plate.
The analysis is conducted on a Waters Acquity ultra performance liquid chromatograph (UPLC) with Xevo TQ-S tandem mass spectrometer operated in electrospray positive mode. Chromatographic separation is achieved with a Waters BEH amide (100 x 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm) column. The mobile phases consist of 2 mM ammonium acetate, 0.1% formic acid in water (mobile phase A) and acetonitrile (mobile phase B). 4 µL is injected at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Gradient elution is as follows: 0-1 min. 10% A, 90% B ; 1- 1.5 min. linear gradient to 20% A, 80% B; 1.5-2.5 min. 90% A, 10% B; 2.5-5 min. equilibrate with 10% A, 90% B. The multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions for normetanephrine, metanephrine and their respective internal standards are: metanephrine 180.12>148.12; d3-metanephrine 183.12>151.12; normetanephrine 166.08>134.09; d3-normetanephrine 169.08 >137.09.
Troubleshooting Steps
Troubleshooting Steps: At a glance metanephrine and metformin are not that similar molecules, and they have different pka values and therefore we thought that it should be possible to chromatographically separate them.
First we tried to get a better separation between metanephrine and metformin by changing the gradient, flow rate and mobile phases (pH and ion strength) in the LC-MS/MS method. However the peaks moved together and the best separation we were able to get was 0.04 min.
Next we tried different HILIC and Amide columns, but again the peaks co-eluted.
Then we turned to the extraction procedure. The Biotage EVOLUTE EXPRESS WCX 30 mg plate and a Phenomenex strata WCX extraction plate was tried with different wash steps (water, 10 mM ammonium acetate, methanol) and elution solutions (acidic, basic, different compositions of methanol, acetonitrile and water). Still, when metformin is washed away, metanephrine is also lost, and the other way around.
Finally we have tried to use the fact that at very basic pH, metanephrine should be neutral while metformin should be positively charged. Thus on a strong cation exchange plate like Phenomenex Strata® SCX we should be able to elute metanephrine with a basic solution leaving metformin bound to the stationary phase. The results from this approach are promising but we have only done preliminary tests with a plasma sample with metformin and one without.
Outcome: We are still trying to solve the problem. So far we have been able to dilute the samples to a point where the chromatograms are acceptable. However, it is time consuming and the risk of faulty results is increased.
References & Acknowledgements:
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IP Royalty: no
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PUBLIC SAFETY | Between 2016 and 2017, Kaiser Permanente's doctors treated more than 11,000 gunshot wounds. Citing the impact of gun violence on its patients, the health system has announced that it would invest $2 million in gun violence research. It will create a task force to identify main priorities for research and award funding for studies. (WaPo, 4/9)
Kaiser Permanente officials said they will use the initial $2 million to identify what new studies and data would help most and what interventions its doctors and hospitals could adopt to reduce gun deaths and injury.
The size of Kaiser's system and its role as a primary health provider presents a unique chance for research, said Garen Wintemute, a leading gun-violence researcher at the University of California at Davis. "Their detailed patient data allow them to conduct research that simply can't be performed in other settings. One possibility: Kaiser would be an ideal setting for research on how best to integrate firearm violence prevention into patient care."
GENDER GAP | A new study has found that women in Maryland, who are employed full-time, earn $10,074 on average less than men. (Baltimore Sun, 4/9)
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | DC Councilmember Charles Allen will introduce legislation today to lower the city's voting age to 16. If this bill passes, DC would be joining three Maryland cities who already allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote. (WaPo, 4/9)
HEALTH CARE | Opinion: Will Virginia finally do the right thing for 400,000 people desperate for health care? (WaPo, 4/9)
IMMIGRATION | Virginia's Governor Ralph Northam has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the creation of "sanctuary cities" in the state. (WaPo, 4/9)
CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY | The Washington Business Journal is now accepting applications for its 2018 Corporate Philanthropy Awards, which recognizes the top corporate philanthropists in the Greater Washington region. Learn more
WORKFORCE | Room to Reflect: The Small-But-Growing Set of Funders Paying for Nonprofit Sabbaticals (Inside Philanthropy, 4/3)
Related: Tamara Lucas Copeland, WRAG's president, wrote about the value of sabbaticals for nonprofit leaders last year.
Want to help name the two eaglets who were recently born in DC?
– Kendra


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Explode Your Profits - Stock Trading
Achieve the Results Brokers Don't Want You to Know are Possible!Enroll in Course
Have you always wanted to learn how to invest in the market but didn't know where to start?
You most likely know how financially rewarding stock trading is by now. Millions of dollars are made every day in the stock market. But yet statistics show that 75% of people end up losing money in the market over time, 20% end up breaking even or just keeping up with inflation and only 5% end up making money over time. So who are the 5% that are making money and how are they doing it?
David Hall is an avid investor who has made and lost lots of money in the stock market. As a boy who grew up in poverty, he always dreamed of a better life, and so he easily got hooked to stock trading from Junior High School. Years on after reading many books, getting a Masters degree in stock analysis, and following every news and trend, David realized that all of it was useless for making better than average profits.
Today, David owns 10 companies (all funded from his stock
trading), a real estate investment portfolio and a stock portfolio. He has
built wealth and he continues to build it. Losing money over the years has
helped him hone his system and make the complicated very simple. Unlike many
gurus who teach based on theory, David has spent years in the trenches making
money with the system. Now, he is offering the knowledge gained from his life
experiences in form of this course,
Experts say if you want to cross a minefield, it's always great to follow an expert who has already crossed it safely! "Explode Your Profits- Stock Trading" by David Hall will provide you with the necessary information starting from the basics to the key points of successful trading. Each video in the curriculum will lead you through all the proven steps you need to follow to excel at trading. You will learn:
- Start wisely as a beginner
- Understand the basics of trading
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Many people JUST LIKE YOU are learning the keys to successful stock investing and avoiding the pitfalls through our video training program.
The Explosive Stock Profits training may be right for you if:
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This is NOT Day Trading
Although we have the greatest respect for people that can sit all day long and watch the market, we don't have time for that. David developed his system to work regardless of market conditions and in a way that doesn't take all of his time. He owns multiple companies and other investment portfolios and this has allowed him to manage his stock investment portfolio in 5-10 minutes a day and roughly 1 hour per quarter.
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Enroll today and enjoy bonuses worth thousands of dollars. If you don't decide to take control of your future, no one else will!
You get lifetime access to this initial program. Any updates I make or additions in the future belong to you at no extra charge!
When you enroll today, you'll get the following bonuses:
Bonus 1 - Risk Tolerance Questionnaire ($100 Value)
You'll get a risk tolerance questionnaire to help you determine how risky you can be and how much of your money you should consider investing.
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The stock search tracker is a downloadable form that I use to keep track of my watch list and why the stocks are on my list, This makes it significantly easier to track your buy and sell signals and ensure that you have the right stocks in your list.
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The investment tracking record is the very best way to keep track of what you buy, why you buy it and what happens. It is also the best way to keep track of all your signals and keep from making amateur mistakes.
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One word: Leverage. That's why you want to learn to use stock options. Stock options give you the ability to make more money using less of your own money that purchasing just stocks. This intro will give you the basics of how options work to help you along the path to leverage.
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Do you want to learn how to not only make money on your stocks, but significantly increase your profits with options while also creating a monthly income to pay your bills with? This will help you learn the process that professional investors and institutions use to make income safely and consistently.
Your Instructor
With over 27 years experience as a business owner, business consultant as well as business leadership and development expert, David has over 29,000 hours of coaching and development experience. David is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, Mentor and JMT Founding Partner. As well he has worked with some of the top leaders in the world from Tony Robbins to Zig Ziglar.
Having come from extreme poverty, surviving death twice and fought against all odds, David has learned that success in life is about persistence, growth and serving others. David's core philosophy is "You can have everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want."
David's fierce determination and no sugar-coating attitude has led his clients to break through barriers and achieve new levels of success. He has worked with over 400 start-ups and small businesses at the ground level as well as large corporations and Fortune 100 companies. His client list spans companies such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft, United States Marine Corps, New York Life, Southwest Airlines and more. In 2007, David won the Golden Eagle Leadership Award.
David has created over 60 coaching and development programs, books and systems and is continually learning, creating and growing to provide his clients the best possible methods of personal and professional growth.


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Help your child become a reader !
All children, even tiny babies enjoy books, stories and rhymes – they need lots of opportunities to do this as this is how they will become a reader!
- Sharing books with children, toddlers and babies is a great way to help them learn about their world
- Talking about the pictures will help your child begin to talk
- You can share books anywhere, any time and a bedtime story is a lovely way to end the day
- Enjoying and sharing books will help your child to see them as a source of pleasure and interest
How can I help my child to enjoy stories and rhymes?
- Try to make time to enjoy books every day
- Take time to look together at the words and pictures in a story
- Use your hands and face as well as your voice – your child will love to see you smiling
- Make funny noises e.g. animal sounds like woof, growl and hoot – this will really help to bring the story to life
- Stories and rhymes can be shared with the whole family so why not invite siblings or other family members to join in?
- Don't be shy, relax and enjoy – if you are having fun so will your child


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Call It CourageBook - 1940
From the critics
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CommentAdd a Comment
This book was great, however you may want to talk to your kid beforehand about some of the subjects in this book, there are mentions of cannibalism and lots and lots of worshiping Polynesian gods.
Have ta say - the racism in this book rather shocked me. Not knowing anything about this book except that it sounded interesting, it didn't surprise me to learn that it was written in the '40s. It also has a view of nature that I thought was rather chauvinistic as well. Usually I love books about adventures for kids but this one was a total dud, for me anyway...
A great Polynesian adventure. The is a action packed thrilling book. Recommended.
This is a well written story of a boy who finally reaches a point in his life where he is willing to step beyond very reasonable childhood fear to find courage. The dramatic moments are action filled while giving an excellent understanding of what true courage is and why it is so valuable. The last two paragraphs give a surprise that puts a different weight to the whole story, so no peeking at the back!
Parents may want to know that as it is a Polynesian tale, as the writer says before the days of missionaries and explorers, the boy's tribal belief in the good and evil gods is intertwined through the story.
(Spoiler Alert/Content advisory) As well, the boy is inhabiting an island used as a taboo worship place for human sacrifice by a tribe of "eaters of men". While the author does a commendable job of carefully presenting the reality of these tribes and showing the hero as able to violate the taboo without the god's wrath on him, for my more sensitive readers, the description of the idol, the taboo, and the piles of human bones was very distressing to her imaginative mind. That particular scene can be skipped if you are aware of it but the dramatic tension of the hero always watching for the return of the eaters of men is still prevalent.
How could you not love the tale of this brave young island boy? So adventurous, a great little story for young children to enjoy.
This book was awesome. I really enjoyed reading it. Lots of action.
AgeAdd Age Suitability
Ninja_kitty thinks this title is suitable for between the ages of 8 and 12
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Mental health and mental illness are two things that are often woefully misunderstood in mainstream society. Mental illnesses of all kinds have been stigmatized and blamed for decades now but there are currently numerous podcasts that aim to have hard conversations about mental health and other emotional problems. These shows are a reminder that you are not alone if you're struggling with mental illness and they serve as a way to better understand these issues.
The following shows are just some of many resources on mental health/illness but they are by no means a substitute for professional health. Therapy and medication are two really important parts of dealing with mental illness. If you need help but don't know where to look, the National Institute of Mental Health is a great place to start. Plus, the Make It Okay campaign has resources on how to start talking about mental illnesses and other resources.
Dames With Demons
Dames With Demons is a show hosted by two best friends, Anjulie and Lachrista. These two both have anxiety disorders and the show is all about how they've dealt with mental health/illness throughout their lives. There are currently only 14 episodes but they've covered issues like medications, dealing with anxious folks, and the mental and physical manifestations of anxiety.
The Hilarious World of Depression
Hosted by comedian John Moe, The Hilarious World of Depression is a hilarious and utterly relatable conversation about mental health. Each episode is an interview and conversation with different comedians, writers, and other generally funny people who also struggle with depression and other mental health problems. The show is a reminder that even some of the seemingly happy and successful people struggle with mental illness and you're not alone in your experience.
- "The Hilarious World of Depression" an Unflinchingly Necessary Podcast on Mental Health by Wil Williams
Mental Illness Happy Hour
Paul Gilmartin hosts this weekly podcast and interviews creators, artists, friends, and even the occasional doctor about things like mental illness, addiction, and trauma. With over 400 episodes so far, there are so many topics covered in this show. On the podcast's website, Gilmartin wrote that his hope for the show is that it "will give people a place to connect, smile and feel the return of hope. The biggest myth about mental illness is that you are alone and there is no help."
Terrible, Thanks For Asking
From American Public Media and hosted by writer Nora McInerny, Terrible, Thanks For Asking isn't strictly about mental health but it is about all the moments and events in life that are actually not that great. It's about all those times when you wish you could just say "I'm terrible, thank you for asking" when someone asks how you're doing. There are episodes about losing spouses, siblings, children, parents. Other episodes deal with sexual assault or abuse or surviving a massive house fire or dealing with mental health issues like suicidal thoughts or OCD.
Each episode is a vulnerable, honest conversation about tough issues and emotions. This show is a reminder that life is filled with a mix of wonderful and terrible moments and there are times where your life might drastically and negatively change. It's also a reminder that talking about these things is hard and brings out all sorts of awful memories and feelings but sometimes, talking about them is a reminder that you are not alone.
Each episode gives a glimpse into someone's worst possible moments but in such a loving way. McInerny and her team have a way of letting folks tell their own stories in their own voices and offering the occasional words of wisdom. This show is a reminder that radical empathy can make all the difference, that listening and being present with someone as they go through (or tell) the worst parts of their lives is sometimes the best you can do. It's a reminder to be kind, understanding, and loving.
UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy In America
UnErased is a podcast about gay conversion therapy in the United States and was created in part by the filmmakers behind "Boy Erased", a recent film based on a true story of a young man going through conversion therapy after being outed to his parents. This podcast is a collaboration between Focus Features, Anonymous Content, and Limina House; the team also worked with The Mattachine Society to gather unheard recordings and documents from important conversion therapy groups.
It may seem odd to include this show in a list about mental health shows but gay conversion therapy practices have and continue to perpetrate harm on too many folks, especially on young people. Conversion therapy is, simply put, a pseudoscience that attempts to change gay people (usually gay men) into being straight. However, this practice is utterly ineffective and instead, often fuels intense self-hatred in patients and other mental health problems. There are some who have gone through conversion therapy and later reported mental health issues years after the fact.
- Gay Conversion Therapy Survivors Describe Horrors: Listen to 'Boy Erased'-Inspired Podcast by Omar Sanchez, The Wrap
Honorable Mention: The Bright Sessions
This show is a fictional show about a therapist and her rather unusual patients. While the show is fictional, scripted, and about folks with superpowers, there is an undercurrent throughout the show about the importance of therapy and community.
The shows here aren't a substitute for professional help with mental illness but serve as a reminder that no matter what you might think, you are not alone. There are so many others also struggling with mental health issues and there's a community for you if you need one. There are so many amazing ways to get help, including talk therapy (finding the perfect therapist might take some time!), medication, and even pets!
Additionally, these shows (and others) have personally helped me to better understand my own mental illnesses, as there are so many ways that mental illnesses physically, emotionally, and mentally manifest. Illnesses like depression, anxiety, OCD, and others manifest in more ways than most might realize and the shows above often do a really great job of talking about mental health and illness in ways that destigmatize them.
If you (or a loved one) are struggling with mental illness, addiction, or trauma, there are plenty of resources for you. As mentioned so many times before, you are not alone in this journey and deserve to be happy and healthy in whatever way that looks like for you.


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The ShutterBus, Summer Market Photo Fun Returns, and Here's How It All Began
Laura and Travis had a vision of travel and photography, so of course they decided to convert their VW bus into a photo booth and get on with business and fun!
Photo Credit: Blackbird Media
FF: How did your business and creative adventure begin?
SB: My husband and I got our own VW bus, a 1974 Westfalia Camper, just before we were married about 9 years ago. We loved that thing and roadtripped all over in it! We also are photographers and happen to love photo booths whenever we come across them. Travis came up with the idea to combine these two things into a unique business - a photo booth inside a VW bus.
Photo Credit: Drake & CO Photo+Films
FF: What was your inspiration?
SB: I explained a little about that in the background info, but basically we were just really excited about the idea of creating a business around a VW bus. We love the nostalgic charm they have, the retro and quirky appeal they bring. We loved the idea of having a beautifully restored bus not only as a design piece at an event, but also having a function - creating a memorable experience for guests and leaving them with a piece of that (a photo strip) to take home.
In general, our inspiration comes from road trips and travel, unique and beautiful imagery, experiencing the beauty of our world, the energy and light of our little boys, and love of community.
Photo Credit: Brian James Photo
FF: What excites you about the future?
SB: We're excited to be constantly learning, improving, and revising our methods to provide excellent customer service and a top-notch experience for our clients and their guests. We're expanding this year, so we can't wait to grow into the new cities and definitely learn a ton in the process. We're excited to expand our family of employees and build an amazing team. We can't wait to become even more involved in the community, using the business to give back and support causes we care about.
Photo Credit: Rebecca Caridad
FF: Any advice for makers and biz entrepreneurs new to our creative community??
SB: Building new relationships has been incredible both for our business, and for our own personal fulfillment! We have loved getting to know other entrepreneurs, clients, artists, etc and have found the community to be so collaborative and welcoming. We just love that starting this business has brought people into our lives that we would've never crossed paths with otherwise!
Have free photo fun with The ShutterBus at Firefly Handmade Summer Market, July 23-24, 10am - 4pm, Twenty Ninth Street shopping district , 1710 29th St. (between Canyon & Walnut), Boulder, CO.


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We need rest.
We are exhausted. Emotionally, physically, spiritually exhausted. It is hard to admit that our crew has reached maximum capacity, but it is true. We need a break. Typically we push through the exhaustion, but this time it is just too much. We have poured all of our energy, time, and resources into foster care lately, and it is time to let our cup be filled with other things.
We need rest. It feels like the opposite of what we should be focusing on when our state just released the numbers on the deficit of foster homes. The news is devastating. After years of advocating for the most vulnerable children among us, we have even fewer foster families to meet the growing need. Foster families are depleted, discouraged, and desperate for justice. After staying in the battle, they are weary and walking away feeling defeated.
Yet, we have hope. We are not finished with foster care. A friend reminded me this morning that foster care is a marathon, not a sprint. We must pace ourselves and plan for endurance so that we finish well one day. After a season of refreshing, we will be ready to pour out again.


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I'm working on a talk about Disruption and Innovation. Here are my top 10 insights so far:
- Innovation is just Disruption in Disguise.
- The things that have made companies successful in the past may be the very things that holds them back today.
- Innovation must be pervasive. You don't get to say "I'm done".
- If you are not innovating and staying relevant, you must be therefore, by definition, stagnant and irrelevant.
- Innovation is a combination of technology and mindset.
- To become a though leader, you must have visibility. Your Thesis does not matter if no one knows about it.
- Technology alone is not innovation, it requires true transformation to be innovative.
- Every Innovate solution fits into a well defined Design Pattern – a new and scalable solution to a well defined
problem within a niche context.
- Paranoia, intellectual property debates and secrecy kills innovation – just because your idea could be worth a
million dollars, it doesn't mean that it is, unless you execute on your thesis.
- No man is an island, standing on the shoulders of giants we see further.
Coming soon.